These are my own abstracts culled from original sources except were noted
with comments and interpretations in blue italic
23 April 1681 Patent: to Charles Turner, 2,400 acres in New Kent County, south side of York River in the freshes. Beginning in the head line of Doctr. William Phillipps land on south side of Tottopotomoyes Creek…butting upon Mr. George Gibbs head line… branch of Chickahominy Due by and for transportation of 48 persons: ….Tho. Roundtree, Wm. Roundtree…[ Virginia Patent Book 7, p80.]
Whether these two men were related to the Rountrees who appear in New Kent County 40-odd years later is unknowable, but it is intriguing that this land was located in the part of New Kent County that is present-day eastern Hanover County. Owing to the complete destruction of New Kent County records, we have no more sightings of these two men.
It is likely, but not certain, that they were indentured servants. Servants were typically in their teens or early twenties. Those that survived the first year or two of unfamiliar diseases and humid climate could expect to live about twenty years after conclusion of their contract. It is likely that neither of these two Rountrees lived much past the year 1700. Most male servants did not marry, owing to the 3-to-1 ration of men to women.
4 July 1702 Militia List: New Kent County, list of Lower Company of Foot under command of Col. John Lightfoot: …William Roundtree… [“County Militia records taken from Public Record office, London” Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck, Virginia’s Colonia Soldiers (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988), p218.]
This could be, probably is, the same William Rountree used as a headright in 1681. If he was a teenager or early twenties in 1681 (which is likely for an imported servant) they he might be fortyish in 1702.
1704 New Kent County – “A Rent Roll of the Lands held of her Maj’s in the Parish of St. Peters & St. Pauls, Anno 1704” …William Round Tree 100 acres. [The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 31, No. 3 (Jul., 1923), pp. 215-231.]
Each landowner in the fourteen counties subject to it paid the King an annnual “quit rent” of one shilling per fifty acres. Only one such list survives, for the year 1704, found in the British Public Record Office.
13 October 1725 At a Vestry Held for Blisland Parish at the Brick Church… The Names of the Delinq’ts: Returned by Mr. John Doran late Collecto’r: are as Follows… Jno. Rountree – 1 (tithable). [C. G. Chamberlayne, ed., The Vestry Book of Blisland Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia 1721-1786, p21.]
The precise geography of Blisland Parish in 1725 is somewhat uncertain, but it encompassed eastern New Kent County and part of James City County. In 1725 Wilmington parish, which spanned both sides of the Chickahominy River, was disbanded and the part above the Chickahominy was added into St. Peter’s to the west, Blisland in the middle, and James City parish to the east. No records of Blisland parish exist prior to 1721. Whether John Rountree lived in New Kent or James City County is unknown owing to the complete destruction of records of both counties.
Note that John Rountree did not have a son aged 16-21, nor any tithable slaves.
15 June 1728 At a Vestry held for Blisland Parish… John Rowntree is appointed a teler of Tobb with Benj. Richardson in the place of Mr. Daniel Allen and Ordered that he be sworn accordingly. [C. G. Chamberlayne, ed., The Vestry Book of Blisland Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia 1721-1786, p33.]
A “teler” of tobacco was an inspector. Virginia’s law specified that to resolve disputes over the quality of tobacco, two or three men “reputed to be skillful planters” be selected to verify its quality, for which they were paid 20 pounds of tobacco per day. If he was a “skillful planter” he must have owned land. There are no patents to either Benjamin Richardson or Daniel Allen, so we don’t know where this precinct might have been. But is was probably in New Kent rather than in James City, as Daniel “Allyn” was on the 1702 militia list. I wonder if “RIchardson” has any significance? A Thomas Richardson was on the 1702 militia list.
4 January 1728/9 “Dudley son of Wm. & Dorcas Rountree born Jan. 4 bap. March 2nd 1728-9. [The Parish Register of Saint Peter’s, New Kent County, Va. 1680-1787, p103.]
Virginia and England were still using the Julian Calendar, so this was 1729 in the modern calendar. There are no other records in the St. Peter’s vestry book before or since for Rountree, despite a fairly rich set of births and land processioning records. We might suppose that any Rountrees in the area were living in Blisland parish, that is, in the part of New Kent County east of St. Peter’s parish. Indeed, since William Rountree was living in Blisland in 1749, one wonders why the single entry in the St. Peter’s records.
16 June 1729 At a Vestry held for Blisland Parish… The Vestry being this day met pursuant to Law do proceed to Appoint and Constitute the following Persons Viewers & telers of Tobo plants planted in the said Parish this present year, to wit: John Allen & John Hankins are Continued; Benjamin Richardson & John Rountree are Continued… in their respective precincts. [C. G. Chamberlayne, ed., The Vestry Book of Blisland Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia 1721-1786, p37.]
The Blisland vestry book does not record births or processioning records.
15 October 1741 At a Vestry held for Blisland Parish at the Lower Church … (a list of payments made out of the parish levy) …To Mr. William Rountree Jun’r his Acct. – 160 (pounds of tobacco) [C. G. Chamberlayne, ed., The Vestry Book of Blisland Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia 1721-1786, p77.]
This might refer to our William Rountree, or to his son, or to some other William Rountree. If this refers to the son of our William Rountree, then he must have been born before 1720, since this implies that he was of age. If it refers to William Rountree himself, it implies the existence in the same parish of an older William Rountree. Note that the great majority of residents are not mentioned in the vestry book.
30 September 1743 At a Vestry held for St. Paul’s parish… precincts for processioning assigned – no Rountrees. [The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Parish 1706-1786, pp238.]
William Rountree is not yet a landowner in Hanover County at this date. Hanover County was created from the western portion of New Kent County in 1720 and St. Paul’s was its parish. The next processioning record is not until 1751. He apparently bought his land sometime between 1749, when he was still styling himself a resident of Blisland parish, and 1751 when his land in St, Paul’s parish of Hanover County was processioned.
25 March 1749 Deed: Philip Webber of St. James Parish in Goochland County to William Rountree of Blisland Parish in New Kent County, for £145 current money of Virginia, 700 acres “…lying and being in the parish afores’d containing seven hundred acres… Beginning at a corner pine between Chas. Johnson’s & Mr. Mayo’s so along the sd Mayo’s line to a white oak thence to another white oak…” Signed: Philip Webber. Witness: Wim. Webber, Wm. Ford, Phil Webber Junr., Rob’t. Hughes. [Goochland County Deed Book 5, p555.]
William Rountree buys a tract larger than a square mile in Goochland County, but apparently doesn’t move onto it. Did he buy it for one or more of his sons? The metes and bounds in this deed are nearly impossible to plot but they are much clearer when he sells the land to his sons William and Randal. By locating adjacent patents, we can place William Rountree’s purchase as being east of Genito Creek on the upper reaches of Mill Creek (now called Dover Creek) in eastern Goochland County, perhaps a mile or two south of the Hanover County line and perhaps five or six miles west of the Henrico county line.
30 September 1751 At a Vestry held for St. Paul’s parish… Ordered into one precinct for processioning the lands of Jno. Howard, Sam’l Wooddy, Jno. Murfield, Ja’s Jarrett, Wm. Rountree, Jno. Thurmond, Richd. Thurmond, Jeremiah Lindsey, John Barker, Micajah Wooddy, Robt. Brain… [The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Parish 1706-1786, p250.]
In 1739 and 1743 this particular precinct (#17) listed the same landowners in the exact same sequence. In 1751 the same names appear in the same sequence, except that John Garrat (Jarret) was replaced by William Rountree. So we might guess that William Rountree bought John Garrat’s tract.
St. Paul’s parish was established in 1704 from St. Peter’s parish and in 1720 Hanover County was established with the same boundaries. Prior to this time William Rountree was in New Kent but has evidently bought land in Hanover County and St. Pau’s parish.
28 March 1752 In obedience to the within order we have processioned all the within mentioned lands and the several tracts of land are transferred as follows: the land of James Gerrard to Thomas Hooper, and the land of Jno Merfield to Anthony Winston & John White, and the land of Richd. Thurmon to Wm. Thurmond done in the presence of William Rountree and John White, Daniel Booz, Jno. Foster, Jno. Barker, Jos. Crew, Mica. Wooddy, & P(rocessioners) Jno. Howard, Sam’l Wooddy. [The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Parish 1706-1786, p250.]
3 November 1753 Deed: Charles Johnson to Randol Rountree, both of Goochland County, for £11 current money of Virginia, 50 acres in the parish of St. James, part of the tract on which the said Charles Johnson lives and which was granted to him by patent… “Beginning at a corner pine being a corner of William Rountree’s and Philip Mayo’s and running thence along Mayo’s line North 38 poles… along (William Rountree’s) line S50e 240 poles to the beginning corner…” Signed: Charles (x) Johnson. Witness: William Cook Hugh Moss. [Goochland County Deed Book 6, p342.]
17 November 1755 At a Vestry held for St. Paul’s parish… Ordered into one precinct for processioning the lands of John Howard, Samuel Wooddey, Anthony Winston, Thomas Hooper, William Rountree, William Thurmond, Farq’r. Matheson, John Barker, Micajah Wooddey, John White’s orphans, Robert Brain in possession thereof… [The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Parish 1706-1786, p276.]
8 March 1756 Processioners Return: “John White in the room of William Rountree” (that is, that John White substituted for William Rountree during the walking of the boundary lines). [The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Parish 1706-1786, p276.]
John White substituted for William Rountree during the walking of the boundary lines. Might this have been due to the sickness that his will speaks of?
14 November 1757 Deed: John Wright and his wife Ann Wright and John Woodson of St. James Northam (parish) in the County of Goochland, to William Rountree Senr. of the parish of St. Pauls in the county of Hanover, for £157:10 current money of Virginia, 700 acres of land lying and being in Saint James parish in Goochland County on the branches of Beaverdam Creek beginning at a corner pine on Maj’r Josias Payne’s line thence on the sd line to a corner white oak I hickory thence on the Dividing line to a corner pine on William Drumrite’s dec’d line… Signed: John (x) Wright, Ann (x) Wright, John Woodson. Witness: Jacob Oglesby, Charles Christian, Obediah Wright. [Goochland County Deed Book 7, p206.]
This is a second tract of 700 acres. He gifts the first tract the following day to sons William Jr. and Randol. Notice that he is still living in Hanover County but is now in St. Paul’s parish. Unfortunately, no records for that parish survive.
15 November 1757 Deed of Gift: “I William Rowntree of St. Paul’s parish in the County of Hanover… for Father like Love which I Bear to my Son William Rountree have Given Granted Infeoffed and Confirmed… a plantation situate lying and being in the County of Goochland with 350 acres of land thereunto joyning and bounded as followeth, Vizt Beginning at Moss’s line on the Cross Road known by the name of the Mannikin Town Ferry Road thence along the said Road to Johnson’s line…” being “the upper part of a Tract of Land I Bought of Mr. Webber.” Signed: Will’m Rowntree. Witness: Jacob Oglesby, Charles Christian, Obediah Wright. [Goochland County Deed Book 7, p203.]
15 November 1757 Deed of Gift: “I William Rowntree of St. Paul’s parish in the County of Hanover… for the Father like Love which I Bear to my son Randol Rountree have given granted Enfeoffed and Confirmed… a plantation situate lying and being in the County of Goochland with 350 acres of land thereunto joyning and bounded as followeth, Vizt Beginning at a corner pine between Charles Johnson and Philip Mayo… along the said Moss’s line to the Cross Road known as the Ferry Road, thence along the said road to Johnson’s line…” being “the lower part of a Tract of Land I Bought of Mr. Webber.” Signed: Will’m Rowntree. Witness: Jacob Oglesby, Charles Christian, Obediah Wright. [Goochland County Deed Book 7, p204.]
15 November 1757 Court: William Rountree acknowledges deeds to his sons William Rountree and Randol Rountree. [Goochland County Order Book 8 (1757-1761), p103. Also in the respective Deed Book 7 pages following the deeds.]
4 November 1759 Marriage: Will. Rowntree to Jean Fenton, in Henrico County. [W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, p63.]
The Rev. William Douglass did not become minister of St. James Northam parish in Goochland County until 1750. He did not begin recording marriages until 1753 and did not begin writing the “register” until 1756. However, he inserted earlier marriages performed by him as well as births for parents who wanted them recorded. Henrico County borders Hanover to the south.
19 November 1759 Ordered into one precinct for processioning the lands of John Howard, Samuel Wooddy, Anthony Winston, Thomas Hooper, William Rountree, William Thurmond, Farquhar Matheson, John Barker, Micajah Wooddy, John White’s orphans Robt. Brain in possession thereof… [The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Parish 1706-1786, p308.]
The processioners reported on 21 March 1760 that they had processioned the lands, but did not list the persons participating. William Rountree had not yet sold his Hanover land as of March 1760.
17 June 1760 Road Order: William Roundtree is appointed surveyor of the road from Hill’s old Ordinary to Goochland Court House with his tithables, Phillip Walker’s, Barnett Owens’, & the Rev. William Douglas’s at his Quarter. [Goochland County Order Book 8 1757-1761, p296.]
I tripped across this record by accident. Whether this is William the father or the son is unknown, but suspect that it refers to the son, as his 350 acres bordered the road that led to the Mannikintown ferry. The location of the courthouse in 1760 is uncertain, but it may have been near the Mannikin Town Ferry across the James River..
3 June 1761 Marriage Bond: Callam Bailey to Betty Rountree, “daughter of the above bound Wm. Rowntree.”. Security William Rowntree. [Goochland County Original Marriage Bonds, also abstracted in The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 2, p101.]
28 September 1763 Marriage Bond: Drury Murrell of Louisa County to Dorcas Rowntree, “daughter of the above said Wm. Rowntree.” Security Will’m Rowntree. [Goochland County Original Marriage Bonds, also abstracted in The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 2, p104.]
Marriage reported the following day in The Douglas Register, p85.
18 October 1763 On the Motion of William Rowntree, a License is granted him to keep an Ordinary at his dwelling house, Samuel Pryor entering himself Security for the same. [Goochland County Order Book 9 1761-1765, p237.]
This explains the Ordinary accounts listed in his inventory.
30 November 1763 At a Vestry held for Saint Paul’s parish… Ordered into one precinct for processioning the lands of John Howard, Saml. Wooddey, Anthony Winston, Thomas Hooper, Wm. Round Tree, William Thurmond, Farquhar Matheson deceased, John Barker, Micajah Wooddy, Jno. White’s orphans Robt. Braine in possession thereof… [The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Parish 1706-1786, p337.]
29 February 1764 Processioners Report: …processioned the land of John Howard, Sam’l Wooddey, Anthony Winston, Thos. Hooper, the land of William Roundtree transferred to Thos. Hooper, the land of William Thurman transferred to Thomas Bates… [The Vestry Book of St. Paul’s Parish 1706-1786, p337.]
William Rountree evidently sold his land in Hanover sometime between November 1763 and February 1764. But clearly he was already in Goochland County.
27 March 1764 Deed: Richard Stith of Bedford County on behalf of the executors of Richard Randolph deceased, to Dudley Roundtree of (location obscured), for £15, 310 acres part of a patent of 6,000 acres to Richard Randolph deceased…on a branch of the ___ fork of Otter River… Signed: Richard Stith. No witnesses. Acknowledged same day by Stith. [Bedford County Deed Book 2, p340.]
Dudley Rountree may have remained on his father’s land in Hanover County, as there are no records of him in Goochland County, but is now some distance away in Bedford County. Note that Goochland County records never refer to William Rountree ask “Senior” or “Junior”, implying that only one William Rountree was in the county.
22 May 1764 Deed: Dudley Rountree to Frederick Maybery, both of Bedford County, for £10:2:6, 84 ½ acres “being part of a tract of land of 310 acres being granted the said Dudley Rountree by Richard Stith in behalf of the executor of Richard Randolph deceased, situate in Bedford County on the head of a branch of the south fork of Otter River… Signed: Dudley Rountree. No witnesses. Acknowledged by Dudley Rountree same day. [Bedford County Deed Book 2, p361.]
20 February 1765 Court: William Rountree against John Winston. Judgment for plaintiff for 38 shillings and 4 pence plus costs. [Goochland County Order Book 9 (1761-1765), p213.]
14 July 1765 Marriage: Anthony Haden & Drucilla Rowntree, both of this parish (meaning Goochland). [W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, p24 and p85.]
1 October 1765 Will of William Rowntree of St. James Northam parish in Goochland County… (abstracted)
Item: unto my son Richardson Rowntree 200 acres all my land that lies on the other side of the creek commonly called the middle creek…
Item: unto my son Thomas Rowntree 250 acres, a tract known as Brocks adjacent to Richardson Rowntree’s tract, also a boy named George and a feather bed.
Item: unto my son Turner Rowntree my manor Plantation and a girl Lucy, a feather bed, a copper still.
Item: unto my son Randall Rowntree a wench named Nan.
Item: unto my son Dudley Rowntree a fellow named Jamie.
Item: unto my son William Rowntree a girl named Nell.. also the sum of £10 Curr’t Money as a Recompence for his Tending me in my sickness in the County of Hanover, also five head of cattle.
Item: to my Grand Daughter Molley Bailey a girl Sally to be delivered to my daughter Betsy Bailey to bring up & to be delivered to Molley Bailey at the age of eighteen or marriage.
Item: to my grandson John Murrell girl named Jean to be delivered to Drury Murrell to bring up & to be delivered to his son John Murrell at the age of twenty one years.
Item: to my Daughter Druscilla Haden a boy named Ben.
Item: to my daughter Molley a wench named Philis, a sorrel “mair”, & colt a horse, one best feather bed, thirty (Six?) dollars & thirty geese & one double loom for her kindness to me in my sickness…
Item: profits of the hire of man Ripp to my daughter Isebell and her children to be laid out every year at the discretion of my executors once every year in clothing etc.
Item: the residue to be divided among the following children: Turner, Molly, Darcus, Drusiller, & my grandson John Bailey (to be paid at age 21).
Item: To my grand daughter Martha Goldsmith 15 shillings to be made into a ring & delivered at the age of 15 years.
Item: to my grand daughter Massie Goldsmith 15 shillings to be made into a ring & delivered at the age of 15 years.
Item: to my grand daughter Lewsy Goldsmith 15 shillings to be made into a ring & delivered at the age of 15 years.
Item: to my grand daughter Eliz’a Goldsmith 15 shillings to be made into a ring & delivered at the age of 15 years.
Item: to my grand daughter Lewsender Goldsmith 15 shillings to be made into a ring & delivered at the age of 15 years.
Item: to my grand daughter Milley Goldsmith 15 shillings to be made into a ring & delivered at the age of 15 years.
Appoint my son William Rowntree, Turner Rowntree, Randall Rowntree & my loving friend Stoakes McCaul executors,
As a reward I give and bequeath to each of my executors the sum of £40 to be equally divided between my four executors which £40 I am now at law for in the county of Fairfax…
Signed: Will’m Rowntree. Witness: Josias Payne Jr., James Coalman. [Goochland County Deed Book 9, p38.]
December 1765 An Exact Inventory of the Estate of Wm. Rowntree Deceased taken December 1765: (summary) 11 slaves, 5 feather beds, copper still, large parcel of books, 7 horses, 23 cattle, 17 sheep, 55 hogs, 60 geese, long list of household and farm equipment, bonds due the estate plus a long list of Ordinary accounts, most of a pound or less. Signed by all four executors. [Goochland County Deed Book 9, p39.]
He had operated the Ordinary for about two years..
16 August 1766 Deed: John Williams of Bedford County to Dudley Roundtree of Bedford County, for £48, 280 acres on the branches of Otter Rivers beginning at a white oak by a great rock on the said River bank… Signed: John Williams. Witness Robert Ewing, Mary Ewing. (uncertain name). [Bedford County Deed Book 3, p7.]
Dudley Rountree’s whereabouts prior to his move into Bedford County are unknown, since he doesn’t appear in Goochland records.
25 August 1766 Marriage: Turner Rountree and Sarah Woodson, both of Goochland [Register of St. James Northam parish, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 15, No. 1, p29.]
This marriage appears in W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, as a “presumptive marriage” with the date 23 August 1771, which merely reflect the birth of a daughter on that date.
16 September 1766 Court Suit: Turner Rountree against James Waddill, debt. Judgment for plaintiff for £4:10:0 due by note together with his costs… [Goochland County Order Book 10 (1766-1767), p213.]
16 September 1766 Court: The last Will and Testament of William Rountree dec’d is presented in Court by Stoakes McCaul an Executor who makes oath thereto… certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate… Ordered that John Payne, Humphrey Parrish Junr., David Mims, and William Robards or any three of them… appraise the estate of William Rountree… [Goochland County Order Book 10 (1766-1767), p213.]
16 September 1766 Court: An inventory of the estate of William Rountree dec’d is presented in Court & ordered to be recorded. [Goochland County Order Book 10 (1766-1767), p214.]
The executors not only waited several months to prove the deed but they presented the inventory nine months after it was taken. I wonder why the delay..
4 December 1766 Estray Notice: Taken up by the subscriber in Goochland County, a sorrel mare… Turner Rowntree. [Virginia Gazette issue of 4 December 1766, page 3.]
This tells us two things: Turner evidently preferred the “Rowntree” spelling and, as a subscriber to the newspaper, he almost certainly was literate. The Virginia Gazette, incidentally, was not a paper for local news, its four pages were mainly filled with advertisements and foreign news.. In fact, no local newspapers existed at this time.
6 July 1767 Marriage; Thomas Rowntree to Letitia Barnard, in Albemarle. [W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, p42.]
This is surely William Rountree’s son. The marriage took place in Albemarle County (mostly formed from Goochland in 1744), but was performed by William Douglass, the minister of St. James Northam parish in Goochland County.
17 November 1767 Deed: Thomas Whitlock to Mary Roundtree, both of Goochland, for £40, 150 acres on waters of Beaverdam and bounded as follows… beginning at three corner pines on the three Chopt road on John Goode’s line… Signed: Thomas Whitlock. Witness: James Mayo, Champion Napier, Drury Murrell. [Goochland County Deed Book 9, p113.]
The Three Chop Road was originally an important Indian trail that ran along the northern boundaries of Goochland County. US Highway 250 from Richmond to Charlottesville covers roughly the same route.
17 November 1767 Court: Drury Murrell, assigned of Stoakes McCaul who is executor of William Roundtree, deceased, plt. Against William Groom & Drury Howard, def’ts on petition… defendants failing to appear… considered by the Court that he recover £3:12 due by note… [Goochland County Court Minute Book 11, p134.]
15 December 1767 Court: Randol Rowntree, William Rowntree, Turner Rowntree and Stoakes McCaul, executors of William Roundtree, deceased, pl’ts against John Parrish & Ansil Parrish deft.s, on petition… Ansil failing to appear… it is cons’d by the Court that they recover ag’st the said deft. 40 shillings…And this petition as to the other deft. Is dismissed. [Goochland County Court Minute Book 11, p142.]
The executors are collecting notes to the estate. It isn’t clear who the defendants are or why William Rountree might have taken their notes (IOUs). Notes would typically be taken in exchange for the same of something, but these small amounts might be owed to the Ordinary.
22 December 1767 Marriage: William Whitlock to Mary Rountree, both in (St. James Northam] parish. [W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, p85.]
20 June 1768 Accounting, estate of William Rowntree by Stoakes McCaul, executor dated “1767” but not examined until June 1768. Among the payouts were:
To Wm Rountree a Legacy £10
To Wm. Goldsmith 6 children 15/ each a Legacy £4:10:0
To Mary Rountree a Legacy £14:6:3
Ditto for her portion of the estate remaining £26:9:2
To Turner Roundtree his portion ditto ditto £26:9:2
To Drury Murrell ditto ditto £26:9:2
To John Bailey by his guardian. ditto. ditto £26:9:2
To Anthony Haden. Ditto. ditto £26:9:2
Other payments made for good or services to clerks and others. £1 paid to “Col. Fleming for advice on how to proceed in the Inventory & Sales , it being done in the time of the confusion about the Stamp Act & no courts of record held.”
Balance in the estate £1:12:4
[Goochland County Deed Book 9, p154.]
25 September 1768 Mortgage Deed: Richardson Rowntree of the province of South Carolina to Randol Rowntree of Goochland County, for £15:19:1, 200 acres more or less “and is a part of the Tract whereon William Rowntree dec’d lived and devised by his last will and Testament to the said Richardson Rowntree… (summary: this indenture to be null and void if Richardson Rowntree should pay Randol Rowntree the mortgaged sum…) Signed: Richardson Rowntree, Randol Rowntree. Witness: John Payne, Thomas Rowntree, Josias Payne Jr., Ben. Woodson. Proved by Thomas Rowntree and Benjamin Woodson in Court on 17 April 1769. [Goochland County Deed Book 9, p207.]
20 February 1769 Deed: Thomas Rowntree of Goochland County to George Robertson of same, for £80, 250 acres on waters of Beaverdam Creek… which said land was devised to the said Thomas Rountree by his father William Rountree deceased and bounded by the lines of Turner Rowntree, Josias Payne Jr., Richardson Rowntree, William French, and the estate of Jeremiah Cannon dec’d. Signed: Thos. Rowntree. No witnesses. Acknowledged same day by Thomas Rowntree. [Goochland County Deed Book 9, p188.]
6 July 1769 Deed: Dudley Roundtree of Bedford County to David Beard of same, for £47, 226 acres being part of a patent to of six thousand acres granted to Richard Randolph deceased on a branch of the south fork of Otter River known by the name of Asam Beard Run…beginning at a white oak on Beard’s line… Signed: Dudley Roundtree. Witness: William Adams, Eusibious Stone, Thos. Pullen. Susannah the wife of Dudley Roundtree relinquished dower. [Bedford County Deed Book 3, p329.]
There are several deeds and court records for Dudley Rountree in Bedford County before he moved to Kentucky that are not included here.
His wife is supposed to be Susannah Roberts, though I do not know the source.
27 November 1770 Deed: Richardson Rowntree of the province of South Carolina and Randol Rowntree of Goochland to Samuel Coleman Morris of Goochland County, for £50, 200 acres on the branches of Beaverdam Creek (the same land mortgaged in 1768.)… devised to the sd Richardson by his father William Rowntree deceased… which land was conveyed from Richardson Rowntree to Randol Rowntree by a deed of mortgage… Signed: Richardson Rowntree, Randol Rowntree. Witness: Geo. H. Opie, Geo. Robertson, Bourn Price, Turner Rowntree. [Goochland County Deed Book 10, p123.]
7 February 1771 Marriage: Rob. Wade to Rebekah Rowntree, both in Goochland. [W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, p85.]
13 June 1771 Deed of Gift: Randol Rowntree of St. James Northam parish in Goochland County “for the father like love which I bare(sic) to my son in law Robert Wade” a plantation with 100 acres… “beginning at a corner tree on the Mannikin Town Ferry Rode(sic) in James Johnson’s line… along the said branch to James Moses line on the said Johnson’s Spring branch… said tract of land is part of the tract of land that I live on which was conveyed to me by a deed of gift from my father Wm. Rowntree which he purchased of old Mr. Phill Webber…” Signed: Randol Rowntree. Witness: James Johnson. Acknowledged by Randol Rowntree in court on 17 June 1771. [Goochland County Deed Book 10, p143.]
Randol had bought 50 acres and been gifted 350 acres by his father. So he is now gifting one-fourth of his 400-acre plantation. Note that there is no indication that his wife is still alive
23 August 1771 Birth: daughter Mally, to Turner Rountree and Sarah Woodson. Baptized 18 December 1771. [W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, p287.]
20 January 1772 Birth: son John, to Anthony Haden and Drucilla Rountree. Baptized 22 April 1772. [W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, p205.]
17 February 1774 Birth: daughter Fanny, to Callam Bailey and Eliz. Rountree. Baptized 3 March 1774. [W. Mac Jones, ed., The Douglas Register, p154.]
17 May 1774 Petition: “of a number of Presbyterians, Members of a Presbyterian church or congregation in the County of Bedford known by the name of Peaks of Otter” Among the signatures: Dudley. Rountree. [The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 12, No. 4, p420.]
The petition was referred by the Virginia House of Burgesses on the above date to its committee on religion, but the General Assembly was dissolved just a few days later.
18 August 1775 Will: I William Rowntree of the County of Goochland… (heavily abstracted)
Item: unto my son Thomas Rowntree the plantation whereon I now live with all the land on the same side of long branch..,
Item: all the rest of my land to be equally divided between my other two sons Samuel Rowntree and William Rowntree…
Item: unto my daughter Jane Rowntree a negro girl Agg
Item: unto my daughter Nancy Rowntree £40 & feather bed
Item: unto my daughter Jane Rowntree a feather bed
Cattle, tools and carpenters tools divided among “my three boys” and rest of estate to be divided between daughters Jane and Nancy.
“my will and desire is that my Children shall be kept and live together on my plantation and as they come of age each one to have their legacy paid unto them but while they are under age my Estate to be kept together and the produce thereof to be laid out to the support, maintenance and education of my children… appoint my loving brother Randolph Rowntree and Maj’r Hugh Moss (executors)… Signed: William Rowntree. Witness: Thomas Chancellor, William (x) Rian, Sarah (x) Charselor(sic). Proved 16 September 1776. [Goochland County Deed Book 11, p133.]
21 October 1776 Deed: Turner Roundtree & his wife Sarah to Drury Murrell, all of Goochland County, for £200, 200 acres (apparently his inherited land) Signed: Turner Roundtree, Sarah Roundtree. No witnesses. Acknowledged in court same day by Turner and Sarah Roundtree. [Goochland County Deed Book 11, p139.]
Turner Rountree is preparing to join his brother Richardson Rountree in South Carolina.
6 December 1776 Appraisment of the estate of William Rowntree dec’d. Among the items: 3 feather beds, a parcel of shoemaker’s tools, a parcel of carpenter & joyner tools, a parcel of books, two heifers, two horses, 11 hogs, 5 sheep, 10 cattle, 23 bushels of wheat, two enslaved women and 2 children. Total value was £285 of which £185 was the slaves. Presented in court almost a year later on 17 November 1777. [Goochland County Deed Book 12, p62.]
A curiously insubstantial estate for a member of this family.
9 January 1782 Marriage Bond: John Dennis to Sarah Rountree, security Robert Wade. Randall Rountree gives consent for his daughter [Goochland County Marriage Bonds, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 7, No. 3, p198.]
10 April 1782 Goochland County Tax List:
Randol Rountree – 2 white tithes, 7 taxable slaves, riding chair. 5 horses, 15 cattle
Sam’l Rountree – 1 white tithe, 1 slave, 1 horse, 7 cattle
This is the first surviving tax list. Dudley and Samuel Rountree are in Bedford County.
17 May 1783 Marriage Bond: John Curle & Elizabeth Rowntree, security Randal Rowntree. [Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853, p28.]
17 August 1783 Marriage Bond: John Gordon & Mary Rowntree, consent by father Randal Rowntree, security John Curle. [Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853, p28.]
24 May 1785 Deed: Randol Rountree (sic) and Elizabeth his wife to John Gordon, all of Goochland County, for £66:5, 53 acres on the waters of Tuckahoe Creek… beginning at a corner pine in Joseph Mayo’s line thence N13.5W 86.5 chains, to a pine on Phillip Childress thence S52W 54.5 chains to the sd. Randol Rountree’s line… Signed: Randol Rowntree, Elizabeth (her “x” mark) Rowntree. Witness: Elliot Lacy, John Rowntree, Randol Rowntree. Acknowledged by Randol Rowntree 19 September 1785. [Goochland County Deed Book 14, p183.]
19 February 1786 Marriage Bond: John Rountree to Lucy Gordon, security her brother, her father John Gordon who writes consent for his daughter, and Randall Rountree who consents for his son. [[Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853, p276. Also Goochland County Marriage Bonds, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 2, p91.]
23 February 1786 Marriage: John Rountree to Lucy Gordon. [Minister Return in Goochland County Deed Book 15, p408, recorded in Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853, p393.]
25 October 1786 Notice: To be sold, the land whereon I live, in the County of Goochland, 18 miles from Richmond; it adjoins Col. Carrington’s and did formerly belong to Philip Mayo deceased. The tract of land contains 350 acres, lies very level, brown soil, very good for tobacco or wheat. There is a good dwelling-house; dairy, corn and other outhouses. Contains 1,000 fruit trees which will produce 3 or 4,000 gallons of cyder. The land is very well timbered, with many conveniences too tedious to mention… Randal Rowntree. [The Virginia Gazette, issue of 25 October 1786, p4.]
A very interesting description (4,000 gallons of cider!). However, note that he already sold 100 of his 350 acres, and 53 more (which may have been his 1753 purchase of 50 acres). Is he selling inherited land?
ca1787 Petition from Goochland County in support of the Thousand Name Petition… Randol Rowntree… [Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 38, No. 3, p237.]
29 February 1788 Marriage Bond: John Brown to Jane Rowntree, security Sam’l Rowntree. [Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853, p39.]
19 June 1788 Settlement of Estate of William Rountree by Randol Rountree, executor. (Selected disbursement items)
1776 For boarding three small children seven months
For making shoes
To writing paper for childreb
To getting in and securing estate’s corn
To my trouble and expenses attending courts three years in suits with McCall Johnson Senr. , Johnson Junr., Lewis etc.
Income was mainly from the estate sale and rental of the land and slaves from 1776 through 1788. Total income was £209 less $101 paid out, leaving £108 in the estate.
The committee appointed to settle the estate commented that William Rountree died with bonds payable amounting to £74, which the executor had not collected and “owing to his indulgence it is probable that some of them can never be recovered”. They recommended the bonds be charged to the executor. [Goochland County Deed Book 15, pp107.]
There doesn’t seem to be a record of disbursements to the heirs.
An almost identical entry for this item appears in Deed Book 16, p205 (see below)
18 September 1788 Will of Randal Rountree of St. James Northam parish of Goochland County… to my dear and loving wife for the term of her natural life the house and plantation whereon I now live…to my son John Rountree 100 acres of land whereon he now lives to be bound by Mosses line and his fence nearest me to a white oak in the path and standing in Cockes slash thence to corner on John Gordon Junr.’s line… after the death of my wife I give all my other lands … to my son Randal Rountree… (and a list of other items including a still and a riding chair)… legacies to daughters Mary Gordon and Elizabeth Curle, granddaughters Jenny Wade and Polly Dennis (a minor)… a contingent legacy to be “equally divided amongst my children, vizt: John, Randall, Rebecca, Mary and Elizabeth, Remainder of estate to be divided “amongst my following children, vizrt: John, Randall, Mary and Elizabeth” (note: Rebecca omitted) and “my very good friends Jacob Smith and Stephen Ellis” to be executors… Signed: Randal )his “X” mark) Rountree. Witness: Nath’l G. Morris, Isaac Perrin, William Williams, Nancy Rountree, John Ellis, Stephen Ellis. Proved 20 October 1788 and Stephen Ellis qualified as executor. [Goochland County Deed Book 15, p166.]
His wife is not named in the will but was presumably the same Elizabeth identified as his wife in the.24 May 1785 deed.
25 October 1788 Inventory of estate of Randal Rountree: two pages of items totaling £557. Present at court on 15. December 1788. [Goochland County Deed Book 15, p169.]
29 October 1789 Marriage Bond: Stephen Johnson & Ann Rowntree, security Sam’l Rowntree. [Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 3, p6. Also in Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853, p394 supposed to be in Order book 18, p328 dated 13 October 1789. And in Marriage Register p 400 as performed by William Webber on 13 October 1789.]
14 April 1791 Deed: John Rountree and Lucy his wife to John Gordon, for £30:15, 20 ½ acres …white oak in Cocke’s slaxh corner on Randal Rountree and John Rountree… Robert Wade’s line… Signed: John Rountree, Lucy Rountree. Witness: John Lewis, Randal Rowntree, Will. Farrar. [Goochland County Deed Book 15, p488.]
18 January 1793 Deed: William Rowntree of Goochland County to Charles Johnson of same, for £224:5., 121 acres on Broad branch beginning at Samuel Rountree’s corner dogwood on the sd. Broad branch… Charles Johnson’s line…Thomas Chancellors line… Signed: William Rowntree. Witness: Sam’l Rowntree, Joel Raglan, Stephen (x) Johnson. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p212.]
2 April 1793 Deed: Randal Richardson Rowntree to Stephen Ellis, for £334:10, 160 acres on the waters of Tuckahoe Creek… beginning at a white oak on John Gordon Junior’s line and running thence S52.5E 33 chains to a pine on John Ellis’s line…James Moss deceased line… John Rowntree’s line… Signed: Randal R. Rowntree. Witness: Heza’hPuryear Sr., Sam’l Rowntree, John Crouch, Stokes McCaul. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p185.]
21 May 1793 Court orders that Stephen Ellis, executor of Randol Rountree, who was executor of William Rountree, settle the estate of William Rountree. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p205.]
15 July 1793 Settlement of estate of William Rountree, submitted by Stephen Ellis. Includes debits past 1788 continuing the accounting of 1788 above. Paid out to Thomas Underwood, Samuel Rountree, others… Mentions lawsuit against estate. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p205.]
14 December 1793 Mortgage: MIcjah Sinkclur(?) mortgages livestock, slaves, and furniture to Thomas Rowntree for £42, due on or before the 14 October next. Signed Micajah Sinkclur. Witness: Wm. Rowntree, Sam’l Rowntree. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p294.]
7 January 1794 Deed: Thomas Rountree to Elisha Leake, both of Goochland County, for £20, eight acres on broad branch “and is part of a larger tract held and occupied by Thomas Rountree…” Thomas Rountree’s line, East 74 poles to two post oaks standing on the Mannakintown Road… Elisha Leake’s line… Signed: Thos. Rountree. Witness: Gideon Hatcher, Heath J(?) Miller, Hez’h Puryear Sr., William Hale. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p331.]
21 February 1794 Accounting: Estate of John Dennis by John Gordon Jr. Includes expenses of boarding and clothing the orphan Polly Dennis for 1793 and 1794. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p332.]
21 May 1794 Marriage Bond: Thomas Rowntree and Sally Sinklur, security Samuel Rowntree. [Goochland County Original Marriage Bonds, FHL Film 7736797, image 262. Also reported with bride’s name as “Tinkler” in Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853, p283.]
24 May 1794 Above Marriage performed by Rec. William Webber. [Ministers Returns, Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853, p339.]
21 May 1794 Consent: You have my consent to grant to citizen Thomas Rowntree a license to intermarry with my daughter Sally Sinklur. Signed: Micajah Sinkler. Witness: Sam’l Rountree. [Goochland County Original Marriage Bonds, FHL Film 7736797, image 269. Reported erroneously in Goochland County Marriage Register 1730-1853.]
This is mis-reported as a marriage bond in the Goochland County Marriage Register. It is merely a note of consent and it is actually dated 1794. (The “4” looks a lot like a “6”in his handwriting.)
20 October 1794 Deed: John Rountree and Lucy his wife, to Elisha Leak, all of Goochland County, for £43:15, 17 1/2 acres on the branch(es) of Tuckahoe Creek… beginning on the branch joining the said Leak, S809E 34 1/4 chains… to the branch joining Robert Wade… Wade’s land… Signed: John Rountree, Lucy Rountree. Witness: Wm. G. Payne, Robert Wade, Jos. Wade. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p317.]
20 October 1794 Deed: John Rountree and Lucy his wife, to Malcolm Morrison, all of Goochland County, for £37:10, 55 acres on the branches of Tuckahoe Creek… beginning on Leak’s line… line of Moss… land of Stephen Ellis… said Morrison’s land… Wade’s land… Signed: John Rountree, Lucy (x) Rountree. Witness: Wm. G. Payne, Elisha Leak, Jos. Wade. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p318.]
20 October 1794 Deed: John Rountree and Lucy his wife, to Robert Wade, all of Goochland County, for £74:16:7, 29 ¼ acres on the branches of Tuckahoe Creek… beginning at an oak stump on Capt. Leak… Morrison’s line… along the branch…. Signed: John Rountree, Lucy (x) Rountree. Witness: Wm. G. Payne, Leak, Jos. Wade, Malcolm (x) Morrison. [Goochland County Deed Book 16, p319.]
John Rountree is preparing to move to Kentucky.