It is not the case that all 18th century people in Virginia were descended from colonists of old, for, English settlers followed in the footsteps of earlier family members, in a process of continuous settlement. An ingrained habit of enquirers is to only look for an ancestor born in Virginia, preferably reaching back to someone with ‘ancient settler’ status; as futile a project as attempting to ‘attach’ a medieval ancestor to ‘a companion of the Conqueror’, of which only 6-8 instances reliably exist.

An example of later immigration probably concerns the Baldwin family of Diddlesborough, Shropshire, from which John Baldwin,bapt. Feb. 28, 1720, in Diddlesbury, was probably he who d. in 1770 in Amelia County, and very likely the grandfather of Agnes and Elizabeth Balwin, who m. Ralph and Graves Harris.

What is seen in his example is the process of the continuation of association between closely connected (kinship) families, in his case these included those of Adams, Harris, Holland, and Lewis. Associations in 18th century Virginia between families of English origin identify the ancestry of those concerned, as they replicate their original (recorded) connections. As the sheer number of such connections increase, so does the certainty of family identities.

Without such underpinning of identity, the only thing left is a ‘genealogical darkness’; a void into which assumed ancestors are welded to those of recorded history. Almost the entirety of genealogical reconstructions of this time are this – desperate shots into the dark, that, if repeated often enough, form the basis of enduring (though sand-castle) belief.

Ancestry of this time is absolutely nothing more than a method of survival based on arranged marriages that brought about best advantage. When looking at associations in Virginia, ask what previous associations could have best brought about such best advantage. This is the first principle.

THE BALDWINS WERE CORBETTS AND LEIGHTONS

1. William Bawdewyn, of Diddlebury, fl. 1458, Matilda, da. of Thomas Corbett, of Longnor.
2. John Bawdewyn, of Diddlebury, b. bef. 1418, m. Elizabeth, da. of John Leighton of Wattlesborough.
3. John Bawdewyn, of Diddlebury, fl. 1473, m. a da. of Robert Parker, of Norton Lacy.
4. John Bawdewyn, of Diddlebury, fl. 1495, m. Alice, da. of John Botterell, of Aston Botterell.
5. Richard Baldwyn, of Diddlebury, m. (1545), Margery, da. of Lawrence Ludlowe, of Stokesay Castle.
6. William Baldwyn, of Elsich, in Diddlesbury, m. Barbara, da. of Richard Brooke, of Whitchurch.
7. Charles Baldwyn, of Stokesay Castle (b. 1593), m. (1617) a sister of Mary Holland, dau. of Francis Holland of Burwarton (fl. 1606) and Thomasine Cressett, sister of Elizabeth Cressett, wife of Adam Lutley, whose sister, Joyce Lutley, m. John Holland Sr., enfeoffed in Lamberhurst, Kent, father of John Holland Jr., of Lamberhurst, who m. Mary Barham; having issue: David Holland, who m. Anne Burton; their elder son John Holland (PAR/498/37/14. Oct. 23, 1654), being John Holland of Nansemund, father of Michael Holland of Goochland.
8. Edward Baldwyn (b. ca. 1620), of Diddlesbury, d. 1683.
9. Gertrude Baldwin, m. Robert Leighton, M.P., of Wattlesborough, d. 1689, son of Edward Leighton, d. 1636; son of Robert Leighton, of Wattlesborough (and Ann, dau. of Sir Edward Devereux, of Castle Bromwich; son of Thomas Leighton; son of Sir Edward Leighton, Sheriff; son of Sir John Leighton, son of Sir John Leighton, of Wattlesborough, M.P., d. 1532; son of Sir Thomas Leighton, of Wattlesborough, Sheriff, and his second wife, Elizabeth Devereux ….

THE HARRIS WERE CORBETTS AND LEIGHTONS

(1. John Harris,* b. ca. 1475, m. Margaret Leighton, b. ca. 1491, dau. of Sir Thomas Leighton and his first wife, Anne Barker; his second being Elizabeth Devereux.
2. Richard Harris, b. ca. 1508, m. Eleanor Jennyns, dau. of Thomas Jennyns, of Wallybone, Salop.
3. John Harris, esq. (of Cruckton), b. ca. 1532, m. Eleanor, dau. Thomas Prowde, of Shrewsbury.
4. Rowland Harris, of Ludlow, b. ca. 1560, d. 1605, m. (Sept. 14, 1595), Jane Langford, bapt. Oct. 10, 1567. She m. 2. Edward Lewis, by whom: William Lewis, who m. (Aug. 21, 1634), Anne Lutley, of Burwarton (dau. of Robert Lutley and Mary Holland), having issue: Edward Lewis, probable father of William Lewis, bapt. March 16, 1661, in Diddlebury, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of Robert Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co., who was a patentee of 450 ac., with William Harris (son of Major William Harris), etc., on “White Oak Swamp”. Rec. May 1, 1707.

(1. William Lewis, m. Elizabeth Woodson, b. ca. 1670.
1.1. Mourning Lewis (b. ca. 1692), m. Robert Adams,* on Feb. 4, 1712, in Henrico Co. Her Will was proven on July 24, 1764, making bequests to daus.: Mary and Elizabeth Moorman, Susssanah and Lucy Graves; *Sally Harris. (D.B. 4, p. 126).
1.1.1. Sussanah Adams, m. Matthew Graves, bapt. Oct. 23, 1710, St. Peter’s Parish. (D.B. 4, p. 118).
1.1.2. Lucy Adams, m. John Graves, Matthew’s brother.
1.1.3. Sally Adams, m. William Harris, of Wolf Creek.
1.1.3.1. George Harris, m. Sarah Hudson.
1.1.3.1. Graves Harris, m. Elizabeth Baldwin, see anon.

By way of the briefest of ‘connective’ sketches:

1. Thomas Adams, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Higgons, of Longdon, and sister of Peter Higgons, who m. Catherine Barker (sister of Ann Barker, wife of John Harris), having issue: George Higgons, who m. Eliz. Farmer, parents of: (1) Richard Higgons, bur. 1626, St. Alkmand’s, Shrews., who m. Eliz., dau. of Richard Baldwyn, of Diddlesbury, bur. Pontesbury, 1638. (2) Edward Higgons, b. 1562, bur. 1614, St. Julian’s, Shrews., m. Ann Sherar, parents of Judith Higgons, b. ca. 1603-1605, who m. William Owen,* April 30, 1628, St. Chad; having issue: Edward Owen, bapt. Feb. 5, 1629, likely named after Judith’s father; Thomas Owen, bapt. July 16, 1635; William Owen, bapt. Feb. 2, 1637. *Obviously Cotymore variety.
2. William Adams, of Longdon, m. Eleanor Jennyns, second-cousin of Eleanor Jennyns, b. ca. 1500, whom. Richard Harris, b. ca. 1495, son of *John Harris and Margaret Leig
3. Thomas Adams, d. 1580, m. Ursula Newton.
4. William Adams, m. Ann Newton, May 30, 1567, in Ludlow, presumably, a degree of cousin.
5. Richard Adams, of Ludlow.
6. Thomas Adams, bapt. Dec. 18, 1603, in Ludlow, m. Jane …
7. William Adams, bapt. Feb. 18, 1638, in Ludlow; probably he who d. Nov. 18, 1690, in James City, and who m. Mary Walker; of the family of William Walker, a tithable in St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent Co. in 1698, who owned 650 ac. in New Kent Co., and 500 ac. in Henrico Co. in 1704. His son, William Walker of St. James Parish, Goochland Co., granted to John Bibey – on N. side of James River & N. side of Castle Branch, 300 acres, bounded by John Curd, Nicholas Parkins, Meadowy Creek, William Harris (of Wolf Swamp), and Phillip Walker. Wit. Robert Woodson, May 16, 1741.
8. Robert Adams, b. ca. 1680. patented 400 ac. in Goochland County on br. of Licking Hole Creek, adj. Hollon’s (Michael Holland’s) land, Aug. 25, 1731, p. 264. His Will was proved June 17, 1740, in Goochland. He m. Mourning Lewis, the dau. of William and Elizabeth (Woodson) Lewis – the probable great-grandson of Jane Langford, grandmother of Major William Harris.

THE CORBETTS WERE CRESSETTS AND HOLLANDS

1. Roger Corbet (d. 1468), Sheriff of Shropshire, m. Elizabeth Hopton
1.1. Richard Corbet (d. 1493), m. Elizabeth Devereux , dau. of Sir Walter Devereux, 1st Lord Ferrers of Chartley, who m., in 1494, (2) Sir Thomas Leighton, Sheriff of Shropshire
1.2. Jane Corbet (aunt of Maud Chalmondly), m. (2) Thomas Cressett, Esq.; estate probated on April 12, 1524. Sir Thomas Leighton m. (1) Ann, dau. of Roger Barker; having issue: Margaret Leighton, who m. John Harris, ancestor of Major William Harris, etc.
1.2.1. Elizabeth Cressett, m. Adam Lutley, whose sister, Joyce Lutley, m. John Holland Sr., enfeoffed in Lamberhurst, Kent, father of John Holland Jr., of Lamberhurst, ancestor of Michael Holland of Goochland.
1.2.1.1. Robert Lutley, of Burwarton, m. Mary Holland, dau. of Francis Holland, whose br., Thomas Holland of Burwarton, was the husband of Alice Cocke, second-cousin of Richard Cocke of Bremo, bapt. Dec. 13, 1597 at Sidbury, Shropshire; obit. Bremo Bluff, Henrico, 1665, whose son, Thomas, was named as a friend in the Will of Major William Harris. (‘Colonial Wills’, 1677-92, p. 68).
1.3. Elizabeth Corbet (aunt of Elizabeth Cresset), m. Sir Richard Cholmondeley.
1.3.1. Maud Cholmondeley (cousin of Elizabeth Cresset, sister-n-law of Joyce Lutley), m. Sir Peter Newton.
1.3.1.1. Thomas Newton.
1.3.1.1.1. Ursula Newton, m. Thomas Adams).

5. (Captain, the second so called), Thomas Harris (bapt. Sept. 4, 1603, in Ludlow), removed to Virginia, ca. 1650, having land on Curles Swamp, m. Alice, dau. of Evan Lewis, bapt. Nov. 20, 1603.
5. John Harris, bapt. March 5, 1604, in Ludlow, m. (1) Mary Holland, bapt. Sept. 11, 1608, Ludlow, dau. of Roger Holland and Eleanor Lewis, who m. Jan. 13, 1598, Ludlow. Roger Holland was probably a younger son of Thomas Holland and Alice Cocke, second-cousin of Richard Cocke of Bremo (whose son was another “friend” of Major William Harris), and uncle of Alice Holland, who m., in 1632, Thomas Harris, Esq., of Prescot, first-cousin of John and Thomas Harris, and of Mary Harris, who m. (in 1673, as second wife), Fleetwood Dormer, b. May 21, 1616, son of Sir Fleetwood Dormer (d. Feb. 1, 1638), and Mary Isham, aunt of Henry Isham, who resided at Bermuda Hundred, Henrico Co. (who m. Katherine Banks, relict of Joseph Royall); their issue being: (1) Anne Isham, who m. Col. Francis Eppes, father of Francis Eppes II.*, (2) Mary Isham, who m. Col. William Randolph, named as a “friend” in the Will of Major William Harris. Fleetwood Dormer’s first wife was, to repeat, Katherine Ligon, second-cousin of Thomas Ligon, whose son and namesake m. Mary Harris.

6. Mary Harris, bapt. April 3, 1625, Ludlow. In 1689, Mary (Harris) Ligon gave a deposition stating her age to be 64. “John Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co. to Edward Lester, land next to Richard Cocke, next to land formerly William Harris’s on Curles Swamp, next to land given by *Thomas Harris to his (step) dau. Mary Ligon. Thomas Harris being Mary’s uncle.

Captain Thomas Harris, of the 1624/25 Muster, deceased by 1646, when an act of the Assembly of Virginia of that year ordered a fort to be erected at the Falls of James River, to be called Fort Charles; an abstract being: “And, whereas, there Is no plantable land adjoynlng to fort Charles, and therefore no encouragement for any undertaker to maintnaine the same, lt is therefore, thought fitt and inacted, that if any person or persons purchasing the right of Capt. Thomas Harris* shall or will settle or inhabit on the south side of James River right opposite to the said fort, soe it be done this or the ensueing yeare”. (Act of the Assembly of Virginia, 1646). *His “Longfield” was for sale; he dying without heirs. Thomas Harris held land on the south of the James river called “Longfield”, a distinct entity from the 300 ac. acquired on August 15, 1637, north of the river, by Robert Craddock and John Davis. John Davis also called his land “Longfield”, a common enough English practice concerning long strips of land. William Randolph (named as “friend” in the Will of Major William Harris) purchased, from the colonial government, the escheated lands of Nathaniel Bacon in this locality. This land, on Curles Swamp, was adj. to that of Major William Harris, p. 386: The Broadnax versus Soane case of 1700 shows the “Longfield” of Captain Thomas Harris to be Crown property, to be re-granted as an escheat, its last owner having died without issue, hence allowing “person or persons purchasing the right of Capt. Thomas Harris”. Property law in England at this time was based on the doctrine of estates – that all land in England (and Virginia) was owned by the Crown, so that any subject held only an ‘estate’ in that land. Such tenures were of two main types; a “fee simple”, in which land is completely owned and, therefore, is capable of being inherited by the owner’s heirs – whether under a will or the statutory rules of intestacy. A “fee tail” was a form of trust established by a settlement deed which restricted the sale or inheritance of an estate by the tenant-in-possession, causing it to pass automatically to an heir determined by the settlement deed – almost invariably to an oldest son.

7. Richard Ligon, m. Mary, dau. of William Worsham, and Elizabeth …, who m. (2) *Francis Eppes II.
7. Col. Thomas Ligon.*

6. Major William Harris, bapt. Jan. 13, 1627, in Ludlow. On June 22, 1663, acquired 450 ac. in Henrico County, on the north side of the James River, to a 4 mile creek, called by name “the Slashes”, adj. to Daniel Llewellin, E. upon the Malverne Hills plantation of Richard Cocke, p. 304.

7. William Harris, named in father’s Will of 1678 as an infant. He was involved in the determination of the lands of Thomas Langford, deceased, in a report dated February 26, 1731: ‘the line between Wm Bird esq. & Alex Cock cannot be found, Edward Hundley present for Wm. Bird, present Henry Hix for Mr. Sam’l Welden, Daniel Patrick, William Harris, Jr. … William Ford hath got ye Lands of Langford’s Orphans’. He is also mentioned in a deed of his stepfather, George Alves, to George Dabney, c. 1716, New Kent Co.: ‘As also Another Certain tract of land lyeing upon the North … line of … said George Alves’s Tract containing 300 acres lyeing in the Parish of Saint Paul bounded beginning at several marked trees of William Harris’s line … to a corner of several mark’d trees in the said William Harris’s Upper Line, thence along said William Harris’s Line to the beginning. Two tracts of land are part of a greater tract of land George Alves by patent 16 Dec 1714’ (2).

8. Elizabeth Harris, bapt. Nov. 27, 1698, in St. Peters Parish, New Kent Co., m. John Hudson,* br. of Robert Hudson.* Admin. bond, 1734, ‘We Elizabeth (Harris) Hudson, William Harris and Daniel Patrick are held and firmly bound unto Nicholas Meriwether, Gent., Justice in the Commission of the Peace for Hanover Co. in the sum of L200 sterling. March 1, 1733. Condition: above bound Elizabeth Hudson Adminr. of John Hudson, dec’d., do make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all goods, chattels and credits of the sd dec’d and if it shall hereafter appear that any last Will and Testament was made by the dec’d shall request to have it allowed and if required deliver up her Letters of Admin then this obligation to be void. Elizabeth Hudson, William Harris, Daniel Patrick; ack. by Elizabeth Hudson, William Harris, and Daniel Patrick. This William Harris is Elizabeth’s father, still living in 1735. John Hudson held land adj. the 1,000 ac. patented by Charles Fleming, 0ct. 26, 1690, on Mattadequin Creek, husband of Susanna Tarleton, dau. of Stephen Tarleton. His estate was settled by his son and executor, John Fleming,* the br. of (1) Ursula Flemming, who m. (April 3, 1710), m. her cousin, Tarleton Woodson, and (2), Judith Fleming, who m. (Oct. 16, 1712), Col. Thomas Randolph, second son of William Randolph of ‘Turkey Island’, named as ‘friend’ in the Will of Major William Harris. *John Fleming was the son-in-law of Samuel Jordan of New Kent Co., whose Will was probated June 11, 1719, bequesting: It is my will that my beloved friend (br.-in-law) John Fleming have the plantation of Thomas Langford, dec’d & the management of his estate & the bringing up of his son Thomas Langford as wholely to himself.

These Langfords descended from a brother of Jane Langford (wife of Rowland Harris, as herein given), whose grandson, William Langford, m. Jane Jordan, of Stone Acton, Shropshire, (6), neighbour of Henry and John Fleming. Shropshire Archives, 5001/4/1/4). The Flemmings were benefactors of Diddlesbury Church. Henry Fleming was born in 1624. His Will was proved in 1656 (P.C.C. Wootton 124, 294), which mentioned his “brother Fleming” and “brother (in-law) Bassett”. The salient point is that Henry Fleming’s brother was probably the John Fleming who died in New Kent County, April 27, 1686, whose son, Charles Fleming, owned land land next to his cousin, William Basset, whose Will was proved May 14, 1724. Samuel Jordan was likely to be of the family Stone Acton.

8. John Harris, bapt. March 28, 1703, in in St Pauls Parish; land processioned with Paul Thilman , Mazy Wingfield, George Hudson, Daniel Fitzpatrick.
8. George Harris, bapt. April 13, 1701, in St Pauls Parish. At a Vestry held for St. Pauls Parish, 1719, it was recorded that: ‘The Lands of Mr. Geo Alves, Thos. Harris, Geo. Harris, Rich’d Clough, Geo. Dabney Junr., John Crenshaw & David Crenshaw, of which Mr. Geo. Alves and Thos. Harris were Overseers who made this return, the above Order perform’d. Geo. Alves, Tho. Harris’.

Thomas Harris was the likely br. of George Harris, and, as him, would have been peripheral kin of the Stanley/Harris family. The confusion between two distinct lines of Harris arose from the widow of Major William Harris marrying George Alvis, who subsequently, had a son, David Alvis, who married Elizabeth Stanley, da. either of John Stanley or his brother Thomas Stanley. Two seperate groups of Harris held nearby lands; one on the upper Pamunkey River, the other to the east of along Cedar Creek, Taylor’s Branch, and Wolf Swamp. When George Harris witnesses a deed from John Stanley to William Hicks, on Sept. 6, 1734, he did so as a neighbour and peripheral kinsman (through his step-grandfather’s second marriage), and not as a member of the family of the Cedar Creek Harris.

9. William Harris, lived along Wolf Swamp, St. Martins Parish, Hanover Co., first appeared in the land tax list in 1762. Property taxes of William Harris in 1799 and 1800 were listed as ‘William Harris estate on Buffelow‘. His estate was last mentioned in 1805, when Graves Harris and George Harris were involved as executors of the estate. William Harris probably m. a dau. of Mathew or John Graves, as follow.
10. George Harris, m. Sarah Hudson.
11. Ralph Harris, m. (1) Mary McCaul, (2) Agnes Baldwin, Dec. 16, 1790. George Dabney’s Will, of 24 Oct 1729, names a son George Dabney, who was very likely he who witnessed Ralph Harris’ marriage to Mary McCaul, in Goochland Co., December 18, 1785, ‘Ralph Harris to Mary McCaul, daughter of Stokes McCaul. Security William McCaul. Witnesses: Redford Whitlow, Susanah Lacy, Thomas Williams, George Dabney, and Claborne Duval’. Mary McCaul was the daughter of Stokes McCaul and Agnes Williamson. Taxes were paid on 507 acres of land in Prince Edward Co. in the name of William Harris, 1782-1801. This is probably the land bought in 1767 from Caleb Baldwin (who was the second-cousin of the Baldwin sisters the Harris brothers married – M.S), on the Buffalo River (with H. Caldwell as witness) and the 6 ½ acres bought in 1771 from Andrew Wallace on Falling Creek. In 1780, William and Graves Harris petitioned the court to let them repair the water grist mill built by Caleb Baldwin. Henry Caldwell sued William and Graves Harris about the mill damaging his orchard. The mill was ordered to stay in service and William and Graves to pay damages to Henry Caldwell. In 1805, Ralph and Graves Harris and their wives sold 539 acres of land on the Buffalo River to Samuel Carter’ (Carol E. Barron, 2005.).
11. Graves Harris, m. Elizabeth Baldwin, sister of Agnes, Nov. 20, 1787. John Graves Sr. was the surveyor of the road from the mouth of the Tye River to the branches of Harris Creek, and all the titheables betweem Buffalo and Fluvanna Rivers were to assist him. The Adam Graves who m. Martha Holland (b. April 8, 1745), on May 4, 1769 (Douglas Register), may have been a son of John Graves Jr., or his br., Matthew. (Tyler’s Quarterly, vol. 1, p. 81, 1981). She was a granddau. of Michael Holland of Goochland.

(1. John Graves Sr., m. Elizabeth. John and Elizabeth Graves, of Goochland, sell 400 ac. on Ballenger’s Creek to William Barnett, May 28, 1737.
1.1. Matthew Graves, bapt. Oct. 23, 1710, St. Peter’s Parish, m. Sussanah, dau. of Robert Adams (D.B. 4, p. 118).
1.2. John Graves, m. Lucy, dau. of Robert Adams (ibid. p. 248) and Mourning* … whose Will, proven, July 24, 1764, makes bequests to daus.: Mary and Elizabeth Moorman, Susssanah and Lucy Graves; *Sally Harris, ibid., p. 126). *The dau. of William Lewis and Elizabeth Woodson. Mourning Lewis m. Robert Adams on Feb. 4, 1712, in Henrico Co.

Goochland County Virginia Wills: Will of Mourning Lewis Adams, proved Aug. 8, 1765 – “To all to whome these presents shall come, I Mourning Adams, send greeting. Know ye that the said Mourning Adams in pursuance of the last will and testament of my well beloved husband, Robert Adams, deceased, as well as to requite the dutifull and tender of my sons Robert and James Adams likewise for diverse good cause and consideration and in consideration of the sum of five shilling to me in hand paid by each of my said sons Robert and James Adams at and before the sealing and delivery hereof have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant my sons Robert Adams and James Adams to be the heirs forever … and provided likewise that my said sons Robert and James Adams their heirs to do after my decease pay or cause to be paid until each of my Daughters to Witt: Anne Sanders 40 shillings; Judith Clarke 40 shillings; Mary Moreman 20 pounds; Elizabeth Moreman 20 pounds; Aggey Fergerson 20 pounds; to the children of Susanah Graves 20 pounds to be equally divided. To Lucy Graves 20 pounds; Anna Douglas 40 shillings; Sally Harris 40 shillings which said is given in full of any demands that they or either of them might or could have against the estate in my possessions. Witnesses: John Bell, William Carrell, Lewis Cradock, Charles Cox.

D. B. 2, p.114. Jul. 15, 1735: ‘To William Adkinson for 200 ac. N. side James River on branch of Licking Hole Creek, being part of survey by Adams, the other to Michael Holland bounded by Thomas Sanders, Francis Coley, Robert Adams and Michael Holland wit: Thomas Sanders, Richard Parke, Jno Bowie.’

BALDWIN cont.

8. Thomas Baldwyn, Recorder of Shrewsbury, 1677 to 1685.
8. Charles Baldwin (b. ca. 1645), m. July 28, 1669, in Diddlesbury, Mary Baldwin.
9. Edward Baldwin Esq. Bawdewin v Bawdewin. Edward Baldwin gent, of Diddlebury, Shropshire. Defendants: Richard Baldwin (alias Richard Baldewyn). Subject: The plaintiff agreed to provide his younger brother with £30 pa, minus a sum to cover board and lodging whilst living at his house. 1712. (C 6/374/26).
10. Ann Baldwin, bapt. June 22, 1712, in Diddlebury.
10. Thomas Baldwin, bapt. Dec. 31, 1713, in Diddlesbury, d. bef. Oct. 21. 1767, Prince Edward Co., VA.
11. Caleb Baldwin.
10. Devereux Baldwin, bapt. Sept. 26, 1716, in Diddlesbury.
10. William Baldwin, bapt. Jan. 10, 1719, in Diddlesbury. 1745: William Baldwin sells to John Baldwin , both of Amelia Co. Baldwin, William, Will 1760, Amelia Co.
10. John Baldwin,* bapt. Feb. 28, 1720, in Diddlesbury. He, as his brothers, do not appear in any known subsequent record. his. Will was proved in Amelia Co., VA, Sept.. 27, 1770. He names his wife, Elizabeth; his sons: William Baldwin (eldest), John Baldwin; * George Baldwin, daus. Sarah Farley, Elizabeth Whitworth, Mary Smith, Martha Atkins, Edith, Prudence, and Lucy Baldwin. This fits perfectly with the notion that someone b. 1720 would have three daus. b, after 1755 who would not be m. in 1770. *July 22, 1797: Indenture betw. Thomas Elmore, Efford Bentley, William Wood, James Gills, Thomas Ligon, etc., of Amelia County, trustees of Ligons Town, sell to Levy Wright one lot situate in the above mentioned town. Wit. Richard Ligon, Thomas Ligon, *John Baldwin. (Amelia co., D.B. 20, pp. 303-4). These Ligons were sons of William Ligon III., d. bef. October 27, 1796, in Amelia County, son of Wiliam Ligon II, d. 1764, in Amelia County; son of Maj. William Ligon and Mary Tanner; son of *Colonel Thomas Ligon, son of Thomas Ligon and Mary Harris, bapt. April 3, 1625, in Ludlow.
11. *John Baldwin. John Baldwin, Jr., P. vs. Edward Stuart, D. Upon an attachment obtained by the P against the D’s estate for five barrels of corn, to be settled at 18/ per barrel and his costs, the said D having privately absconded, so that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon him – As above, except Sheriff served the attachment to John Farley, and summoned him to court. Farley’s debt to D was 26/. Court awards judgment to the P, and rules that the P recover the 26/ from Farley, towards satisfying this judgment (Amelia County Order Book, 38b, 1785).
12. Agnes Baldwin, m. Ralph Harris, Dec. 16, 1790.
12. Elizabeth Baldwin, sister of Agnes, m. Graves Harris, Nov. 20, 1787, surety: John Baldwin.

Continuation of settlement.

Continuation of association.

Survival of your branch (species) of a family.

This species of Harris were represented by a branch in Hanover.

copyright m stanhope 2021

p.s.

Thanks to several enquirers of my health: it’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.