The Humphries Family
Works Progress Administration of Virginia Historical Inventory
The Humphries Family in Alleghany County, Virginia
|
This write-up is a part of the Virginia W.P.A Historical Inventory Project sponsored by the Virginia Conservation Commission under the direction of its Division of History. Credit to both the Commission and W.P.A. is requested for publication, in whole or in part. Unless otherwise stated, this information has not been checked for accuracy by the sponser. Research made by L. Blanche Bess, Potts Creek, Va., March 1937 |
The first Humphries to come to Alleghany County, and indeed, on of the first families ever to settle in Alleghany County, came here sometime prior to 1766. This is shown by the fact that there are papers extant that show that John Humphries was in Richpatch in 1766. These papers are part of many that were in the possession of Mr. O.L. Humphries of Rich Patch, one of the many descendants of this John Humphries. He states that there used to be a trunk full of this old papers, but unfortunately, they were burned a few years ago. The particular paper referred to is a not acknowledging debt.
It is not known where he came from when he came here. Some seem to believe that he came here from Pennsylvania. Still other believe that he came from eastern Virginia, and still others believe that he came from Ireland or England direct. No one with whom we have met actually knows where he came from, or of what nationality he was. It is believed he was either English or Irish, chiefly because of the name Humphries is common in both England and Ireland.
He was in Rich Patch in 1766 (probably sooner), as witnessed by his being ordered out to work on the road in 1766, and naming him as being of Rich Patch. He was granted 540 acres of land in Rich Patch on May 21, 1794. Though we have been unable to find out when or how he acquired this land, he undoubtedly acquired it prior to 1794, because there is no record of his having acquired any land in Augusta County from which Botetourt and this prt of Alleghany County was formed. Since Augusta COunty was formed in 1744, the deed or grant for his land would have been recorded there or later in Botetourt, which was formed in 1744. There is no deed in either county, so we assume that he acquired his land while these counties were part of Orange County, to which county we have not gone in our search. It is positive that he had land, because upon his death in 1795, or 1796, he had land as evidenced by a deed made by his heirs in 1812, conveying a tract of land near Michael Kimberlin and Carpenter's mountain to Henry Persinger. Some may be interested in the deed transferring this land to Henry Persinger, who married one of John Humphries' daughters. We give it herewith in part:
|
"On the waters of the James River containing 540 acres and bounded as follows: Two hickories, a whie oak, and black oak, thence S. 10 degrees west 146 poles to three black oaks and hickory sapplings, corner to Michael Kimberling (or Kimberlin), thence S. 40 degrees west 60 poles to two sugar trees, a soaly hickory in a valley, thence up the valley, S. 22 degrees west 34 poles to 2 poplars, locusts and hickory, thence 9 degrees east 38 poles to a sugar tree and ironwood saplings thence S. 49 degrees west 22 poles to a white oak and ash, thence S. 60 degrees west 54 poles to two red oaks and a white oak sapling, thence northwest 140 poles to a black oak and a white oak in a valley thence S. 70 degrees west 96 poles to two black oaks and a gum on the point of a ridge thence N. 65 degrees 160 poles to three chestnuts and a black oak and a hickory on the brow of a hill thence N. 55 degrees east 54 poles to two chestnuts and chestnut oak thence N. 46 degrees east 180 poles thence S. 53 degrees east 162 poles to the beginning (this extract from deeds in Botetourt COunty, Fincastle, Va.)" |
Henry Persinger sold this land in 1820 to Jacob Bennett, 360 acres, and Stephen Hook 180 acres. It is still owned by the Bennetts and Hooks. In Will Book A, page 341, we find the settlement of his estate, of which the following is part:
William Reid ----------------- 15 pounds
Eliza Russell ----------------- 2 pounds, 5 shillings
W. Thompson ----------------- 5 pounds, 5 shillings
Cash on Hand ----------------- 18 pounds, 15 shillings |
The total appraisment was 134 pounds, 157 shillings and 20 pence. Of course at that time the English monetary system was in effect, and the amounts named refer to pounds, shillings, etc. He died in 1795, leaving the following heirs to sign the deed named before in 1812. Whey the land was not sold earlier is not known. The heirs were: William and his wife; John and Mary Robinson, his wife; Henry and Anges Johnson, his wife; Jane Humphries and John Humphries. Martha Humphries also signed the deed as being an heir. Mrs. Margaret Humphries was his administratrix. Whether she was his wife, a sister or someone else, is not known as we can find no mention of any Margaret Humphries any place near here, except a Mrs. Margaret Humphries, who was prominent at the Bethel Church. The discovery was recently made that there was an old church in Rich Patch called Bethel, and very likely was the Bethel mentioned in which Mrs. Margaret Humphries was prominent.
It is believed that the John Humphries who settled in James City County, Va., in 1644, was the great-grandfather of John Humphries who was in Rich Patch, Va., in 1767, and died there. We have found no direct connection there, but this is the belief of the Humphries family. Many of the Humphries spelled their name with the "rays" or "rey" while this is the only one of the early settlers who spelled the name the same as the Humphries family of Alleghany County.
It is not definitely known whether John Humphries had any relatives here or not. Uriah Humphries took up land in 1795 about fifteen miles from that of John Humphries, at the intersection of Ugyle Creek and Dunlaps Creek, and below. As this is very close to where John lived, it is thought very probable they may have been brothers. A great part of this land is what is now known as the D.N. Byer estate.
It is firmly believed by the Humphries families of Alleghany that John Humphries was one of the first settlers to come to Alleghany. A search of all available records show that there were settlements about the mouth of the Cow Pasture River about 1750, but nothing further west.
Back to Humphries Family Notes
|
