Don’t you find it fascinating when your lines cross before they, well, cross? Check this out: a sale of land patented by James Massengill, my potential 8th great-grandfather, to Samuel Davis, my 6th great-granduncle. My maternal grandfather descended from James on his mother’s side. Possibly twice. Probably. The Massengill family is tricky. Due to record loss, it’s difficult to figure out how many generations there were, and how they fit together. Samuel Davis is from his father’s side. My great-grandparents didn’t get married until about 1904.
From Isle of Wight County Deed Book 5, p. 45 (Note: I’ve modernized the capitalization. Honestly, it’s not only easier to read that way, but easier to type.):
This Indenture made the twentieth day of Octo: Anno Dom: one thousand seven hundred and thirty six Between Edward Jones of Isle Wight County of the one part & Samuel Davis Gent: of the same county of the other part Witnesseth that the said Edward Jones for and in consideration of the sum of eighty pounds currt: money of Virginia to him in hand paid at or before the ensealing & delivery of these presents the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge & thereof doth acquit & discharge the said Samuel Davis his heirs and assigns for ever Hath given granted bargain’d sold alien’d released and confirm’d unto the said Samuel Davis his heirs & assigns forever two separate parcels or tracts of land scituate lying & being on the north side of Maherin River in the County afores:d (viz) the first being a pattent of two hundred & sixty five acres granted by the Honourable Hugh Drysdale Lieut: Governour of Virginia to James Massingall bearing dated the fifth day of Septemb: one thousand seven hundred & twenty three & by the said James Massingal sold to the above Edward Jones by deeds of lease & release bearing date the twenty first and twenty sixth days of March one thousand seven hundred & twenty six & being bounded as in the said pattent & lease is specified the other being a pattent of one hundred & eighty acres granted to the said Edward Jones by the Honourable William Gooch Esq: his Majestys Liut: Governour of Virginia bearing date the twenty eighth day of September one thousand seven hundred & thirty being bounded as is in the said pattent specified the whole being four hundred & fourty five acres….
The witnesses were Nicholas Bourden and George Washington. No, not that George Washington. He would have been only 4 years old!
Here’s the original patent to James Massingall.
Unapologetically Nerdy 