Richard Deane Jr. was born on September 2, 1698 to Richard Deane Sr. and Jane Unknown. Richard Deane Sr. died sometime before April 1706 when Richard Deane Jr. was admitted to Christ’s Hospital. He was 8 years old. We do not know what happened to his Mother Jane – whether she also died or had to put him in an orphanage. She was probably alive because the Hospital records don’t list her as deceased. It is not known if Richard Deane Jr. had any siblings. I know from the official records he is the only Deane admitted to Christ’s Hospital between 1617 and 1778.
Christ’s Hospital
Christ’s Hospital was not a hospital in the traditional sense. It was really a school. Children were accepted to the school after being presented by a governor. From the late 17th century, up to 150 children were admitted annually on recommendation of their parishes, and a further ninety or so under the terms of charitable endowments.
Christ’s Hospital was established in 1553 for the benefit of orphaned children or those impoverished or orphaned children made homeless. The original Christ’s Hospital, also known as the “bluecoat school” because of its distinctive uniform, was founded by Edward VI. The age of admission of pupils has varied at different dates. It has always admitted both boys and girls. If they were legitimate children of free men of the City of London, over four years of age and free from obvious infirmity, they were to be educated and prepared either for entrance to a university or apprenticeship to a trade. But as early as 1617 large numbers of these children left England to serve apprenticeships in America. Beginning with those children apprenticed to the Virginia Company in 1617, about 1,000 Christ’s Hospital students left England to take up such apprenticeships.
Richard Dean was probably recommended by his local parish so he parents were probably of some stature.
According to Peter Coldham’s Complete Book of Emigrants, Richard Deane was apprenticed from Christ’s Hospital to John Bolling, merchant, in Virginia at the age of 15 after spending 7 years at Christ Hospital.
Name : Richard Deane
Date “clothed” (i.e. admitted) : April 1706
Parent(s) : Richard Deane, Citizen and Weaver, deceased
Date of birth : 2nd September 1698
Admitted from : St Giles Cripplegate
Name of presenting governor : Mr Edmund Dummer
Date of discharge : 2nd January 1713
Discharged by : John Bolling
Circumstances of discharge
“Richard Deane is this day taken and discharged from the charges of this hospital for ever by John Bolling, merchant, in Virginia with whom he is to serve for 7 years witness his hand hereunto subscribed” (Bolling signed his name).
Edmund Dummer
Edmund Dummer was the presenting governor in 1706 for Richard Deane Jr. Edmund Dummer was officially carpenter of the Hampton Court, but Joseph Allin was actually performing the duties in December 1685, when it was under consideration to fill the vacancy of Master Shipwright at Woolwich owing to the death of Thomas Shish.
In 1677, Dummer assisted Sir Anthony Deane who had been appointed Controller of the Victualling Accounts on the Navy Board, and given the responsibility for establishing for the first time standardized sets of dimensions of ships of the line to be applied to the “thirty new ships“, the largest single shipbuilding programme hitherto undertaken. For his work on establishing the new standards, Dummer was “singled out by the Navy Board for his extraordinary ingenuity to lay down the bodies of all the thirty new ships“.
To assist the Board of Admiralty in selecting the most suitable officer for this post, the Navy Board supplied them with a summary of the qualifications of the applicants for promotion.
Dummer presented the Navy Board with a written account of his own career. He stated that “he was bred a shipwright under Sir John Tippetts at Portsmouth,” and that “he was singled out by the Navy Board for his extraordinary ingenuity to lay down the bodies of the 30 new ships and afterwards sent abroad by the late king for making observations upon all foreign shipping, the effects whereof are now rendered to His Majesty.”
[Samuel] Pepys at this time speaks of him as an “ingenious young man but said rarely to have handled a tool.”
Joseph Lawrence, the Master Shipwright at Sheerness, filled the Woolwich vacancy. He was succeeded by Daniel Furzer, the First Assistant Master Shipwright at Chatham, and Dummer filled Furzer’s vacancy.
Dummer was appointed Assistant Surveyor of the Navy in 1689, and on the death of his old master, Sir John Tippetts, Surveyor of the Navy in 1692, he was promoted to succeed him.
He was suspended from duty in 1698, being accused by one Fitch of several irregularities.
Both Fitch and Dummer appeared before the Board of Admiralty in June 1699, when the matter was under investigation. Dummer denied all of Fitch’s charges and said he had commenced a suit at law with him. The Admiralty seemed anxious to get rid of Dummer, perhaps for reasons other than those under investigation, and proceeded with the case, instead of awaiting the result of the civil action at law. They again had the accuser and accused before them for further investigation, and on June 23rd resolved to represent to the King that Dummer was a person not fit to be employed longer in the place of Surveyor of the Navy and that they did not think it fit for the good of His Majesty’s Service to take off his suspension or the employing of him again.
This recommendation received approbation, Dummer was discharged and Daniel Furzer, the Master Shipwright at Chatham, succeeded to the vacancy.
The action at law ended in Dummer being awarded £500 damages.
In 1702 Dummer inaugurated the first Transatlantic mail and passenger service between England and the West Indies, and at the beginning, managed it himself.
In 1709, he built two sixth-rate ships, the Hind and the Swan, at Rotherhithe.
He was one of the Governors of Greenwich Hospital from 1695 until his death in 1713. In view of his dismissal it is surprising to find that in February 1714, his daughter Jane was granted a pension of £150.
It is interesing that Edmund Dummer had a daughter named Jane and also had dealings with Anthony Deane. This has to raise the question whether Anthony Deane was Richard Deane’s Father? And, was Jane the widow of Richard Deane, Edmund Dummer’s daughter. This is very coincidental that warrants further investigation.
Richard Deane left London in January of 1713 with John Bolling to serve 7 years as his apprentice in Henrico County, Virginia.
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico County was the scene of the second settlement in the colony of Virginia and was established in 1634 as one of its eight original shires. Its boundaries incorporated an area from which ten Virginia counties were later formed in whole or in part, as well as the cities of Richmond, Charlottesville, and Colonial Heights. The county was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of King James I of England.
This is how the Virginia Counties looked in 1713 when Richard Deane came to America. As can be seen to the left Henrico County extends all the way to the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west.
Richard must have developed an excellent relationship with Maj. John Bolling because in 1725 he bought 350 acres of land on the South side of the James River very close to some of Maj. John Bolling’s land and they appeared as witnesses on several documents together. He started his apprenticeship with John Bolling in 1713 for 7 years or until 1720. Within 5 years he had 35 shillings to buy 350 acres of land. John Bolling had to be a mentor to Richard. This also makes sense if Richard came from a family of some stature in England.
Richard Dean, 350 acs. (N.L.). Henrico Co., on S. side of James River adj. John Stephens & John Sanders line;10 Feb. 1725, p. 339 35 Shill.
Richard was very fortunate to have Maj. John Bolling be his Master. From Wikipedia, we know that Major John Fairfax Bolling (January 27, 1676 to April 20, 1729) was a colonist, farmer, and politician in the Virginia Colony. He was the second son and only surviving child of Colonel Robert Bolling and Jane (née Rolfe) Bolling. His maternal grandfather was Thomas Rolfe, the son of Pocahontas and John Rolfe.
Maj. John Bolling
John Bolling was born at Kippax Plantation, in Charles City County, a site which is now within the corporate limits of the City of Hopewell. He made his home at the Bolling family plantation “Cobbs” just west of Point of Rocks on the north shore of the Appomattox River downstream from present-day Petersburg, Virginia. (Cobbs was located in Henrico County until the area south of the James River was subdivided to form Chesterfield County in 1749).
John Bolling married Mary Kennon, daughter of Richard Kennon and Elizabeth Worsham, in December 29, 1697 at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia. They had the following 6 children:
Jane Bolling (1698-1766), married Colonel Richard Randolph.
John Bolling Jr. (1700-1757), married 1. Elizabeth Lewis; 2. Elizabeth Bland Blair.
Elizabeth Bolling (b. 1709), married William Gay.
Mary Bolling (1711-1744), married John Fleming.
Martha Bolling (1713-1737), married Thomas Eldridge.
Anne Bolling (1718-1800), married James Murray.
Major Bolling served in the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1710 until his death. William Byrd II of Westover Plantation is said to have remarked that Major Bolling enjoyed “all the profits of an immense trade with his countrymen, and of one still greater with the Indian.”
John and Mary Bolling’s descendants are the only American descendants of Pocahontas, and include Edith Bolling Wilson, wife of U. S. President Woodrow Wilson, Percival Lowell, who mathematically discovered Pluto, Harry Flood Byrd and Richard Evelyn Byrd, and the Randolphs of Roanoke.
I have to laugh because until recently when we found out about Christ’s Hospital and Richard’s origins, I thought that since Richard bought property he could not have been an indentured servant. I don’t think he was an indentured servant in the traditional sense, but he did come over as an indentured apprentice to Major John Bolling. I suspect it turned into a much closer relationship.
The map below is of the James River in yellow. As you can see it goes through Richmond. The Deans lived just to the west of Richmond on the boarder of Henrico and Goochland Counties
John Bolling also owned property on the south side of the James River close to Richard Dean. In addition they continued to show up as witnesses on legal documents. Their association continued until Richard’s death.
Over the next twenty years Richard was a witness for several property transactions including one involving property Thomas Jefferson sold to Robert Early. Also, he must have had some education because he knows how to write his name. Henrico Co., Va., Record Bk. 1725-37, pp. 303-04.
The court orders of 1723 show that Phillemon Childers’ brother Abraham and his Elizabeth sold him land. This must be the land he was to receive from his patents, Abraham as the eldest son and heir making a good title. On 28 April 1731 Phillemon Childers sold to Thomas Bethel, Jr., for 2000 pounds of tobacco 100 acres near Four Mile Creek, a spring of water and the main road, bounded by Phillemon Perkins, which he had acquired from his brother Abraham. Witnesses were Richard Deane, Humphry Smith and Thomas Bethell, Sr. Phillemon signed his name and his wife Elizabeth relinquished her right of dower.
p. 585 3 Aug. 1724 Henry Hatcher to Richard Martin, for 30 pounds, 1 1/4 acres in Henrico Parish on north side of James River, on a branch of Gilleys Creek along with 1/4 part of a grist mill standing on said branch.
Wit: George Cox, Richard Dean
signed: Henry Hatcher
Recorded 8 Aug. 1724
Henrico Co., Va., Wills & Deeds 1725-37, pp. 131-32.
The Deans are prevalent in association with the Bollings of Halifax.
Richard Dean, 350 acs. (N.L.). Henrico Co., on S. side of James River adj. John Stephens; & John Sanders line; 10 Feb 1725, p. 339 35 Shillings. Vol III Caaliers and Pioneers
The March Court, 1728 records of Goochland, is a suit between Rowland Thomas, plaintiff, and Gilbert Gee, defendant. A countersuit was filed by Gee against Thomas for trespass in the December Court. In April, 1730 Gilbert sold to John Roberts for 33 shillings, 100 acres on the south side of the James River by the French line, John Wooldridge and Richard Dean; being part of 400 acres granted Gilbert Gee and John Trent by patent in March, 1725.
Abraham Childers III received 100 acres of land from his grandfather Henry Pew in 1702 and was given any undevised land in Henry Pew’s will. This land was on Four Mile Creek and Myery Branch. At March Court 1723 a deed from Abraham Childers, Jr., to Philemon Childers, dated 6 Jan. 1723, was acknowledged and Elizabeth, Abraham’s wife relinquished her right of dower.1 On 2 Sept. 1725 Abraham purchased for 1400 pounds of tobacco from his brother John the 100 acres bounded by John Price his cousin and Joseph Atkins his half-brother he received from his grandfather Henry Pew by will. Witnesses were Richard Dean and John Davis.
John Bolling, 350 acs. formerly in Henrico Co. now Goochland Co.: on S side of James Riv.; adj. John Stephens & John Sanders; 10 Jan 1735/36, p. 512 Pound 1 Shillings 15. Gtd. Richard Dean by Pat. 10 Feb 1725/26 [PB 12 p. 339] who failed to make Cultiv. & Improv. and John Bolling Gent. made humble Suit & obtained a G. for the same. Patent Book No. 16. p. 99 – Vol IV Cavaliers & Pioneers
P. 39 Edward Scott and Ann his wife of Henrico co., for love & affection to our brother Joseph Scott of New Kent Co. 3 negroes: Bobb, Tabb and Dick, given unto said Ann by will of George Cox, late of Henrico Co., dec’d. dated 1 Aug 1726
Wit: J. Thornton, Richard Deane
Recorded Aug. 1726
19 May 1727 p. 114 John Woodson of St. James Parish, Henrico County., for 40 pounds to Thomas Massie. 400 acres in St. James Parish, adjoining an entry of John Thornton. Land is called “Locust Thicket” and was warranted to me by patent. Dated 19 May 1727
Witness: Joseph Mayo, Richard Deane, Thomas Jefferson
Signed: John Woodson Recorded 5 June 1727
5 June 1727 p. 105 Thomas Jefferson to Robert Easly, 100 acres bounded by said Jefferson, William Easly and Fine Creek
Witness: Richard Deane, Charles Griffith
Signed: Thomas Jefferson Recorded 5 June 1727
p. 131 2 Oct. 1727 John Childers to Abraham Childers, for 1400 lbs tobacco, land on north side of James river near Four Mile Creek, 100 acres, bounded by John Price and Joseph Atkins; being land devised to said John Childers by will of Henry Pew, dec’d.
Wit: Richard Deane, John Davis
Signed: John Childers
Recorded 4 Sept 1727
29 May 1728, p. 214, Thomas Farrar of St. James Parish, Henrico County., to William Harlow of St. Pauls Parish, Hanover County., for 20 pounds, 400 acres in St. James Parish, bounded by Chickahominy Swamp.
Witness: Richard Dean, George Farrar, Thos. Osburn, Jr.
Signed: Thomas Farrar Recorded 1st Mon. Oct. 1728
7 Aug. 1728 p. 209, Thomas Wilson of Surry County. and William ? of Henrico County., to Thomas Dance of Surry County., for 5 shillings 100 acres, bounded by Seth Perkinson and Philip Jones.
Witness: Richard Kennon, J. Boiling, Jr., Richard Deane
Signed Thomas Wilson, William Wilson Recorded 1st Mon Sept. 1728
2 Sept 1728, p. 203, Thomas Edwards, Sr. of Henrico County., to his son Thomas Edwards of same for 8 pounds, a tract by name of Newland, 250 acres, formerly purchased of Francis Cater and Philip Turpin dec’d, now in possession of Thomas Edwards, Jr.
Witness: Charles Griffith, Joseph Wood, Richard Deane
Signed Thomas Edwards Recorded 1st Mon. in Sept 1728
p. 209 7 Aug. 1728 Thomas Wilson of Surry co. and William Wilson of Henrico Co., to Thomas Dance of Surry co., for 5 shillings, 400 acres, bounded by Seth Perkinson and Philip Jones.
Wit: Richard Kennon, J. Bolling, Jr., Richard Deane
Signed Thomas Wilson, Williamson
Recorded 1st Mon Sept. 1728 Amy, wife of Thomas, relinquished her dower rights.
p. 253 28 Nov 1729 Gilbert Bowman of County & Parish of Henrico, planter, to John Bolling of same, Gent., for 20 pounds, 206 acres on south side of James River, bounded by Swift Creek, on 3rd branch next to said Bowling; and part of a patent of 1146 acres of John Bolling, Edward Bowman and John Bowman, dated 10 Oct. 1705.
Wit: Ja. Keith, Fran’s Epes, Richard Deane
Signed: Gilbert Bowman
Recorded 1st Monday Dec. 1729
The following land record also shows that George Abney lived in Hanover County just to the north of Henrico County. More importantly bought property in the Henrico County area where the Dean’s lived, so they must have known each other. The association and intermarrying between the Dean’s and the Abney’s continued for many years in several states. Rebecca Abney married Edward Dean. This is important to me because one of my challenges to to prove whether her Father was Nathaniel Abney or George Abney.
p. 206 30 Aug. 1728 Thomas East, Sr. of St. Pauls Parish, Hanover Co., planter, to George Abney of same, for 1900 lbs tobacco, land on north side of James Rives on Gillies Creek, bounded by John Bailey and the creek, 200 acres; part of 400 that East purchased of John Robinson 1 Aug. 1704, the 400 being divided between George Abney and John Lefon.
Wit: Thomas (T) East, Jr., John ( ) Robertson, Alex’r (+) Robinson
Signed: Thomas (T) East
Recorded 1st Mon. Sept. 1729
p. 207 Deed 18 Aug 1730. Daniel Hix of Goochland Co., to James HOlman of same, for 20 pounds, land on morth side of James River on branches of Tuckahoe Creek, 150 acres, bounded by Holman, John Williams, Moss’s line.
Wit: Richard Deane, Georg Thomson, JOhn Morris
Signed: Daniel Hix
Recorded 16 Aug. 1730
Joan, wife of HIx, relinquished her dower right.
p. 318 3 April 1730 Gilbert Gee of Henrico Co., to John Roberts of same for 33 shillings, 100 acres on south side of James River bounded by the French line, John Wooldridge and Richard Dean; being part of 400 acres granted Gilbert Gee and John Gent by patent 24 March 1725
Wit: Richard Dean, John Wooldridge, Wm Wooldridge
Signed: Gilbert ( ) Gee
recorded 4 Oct 1731
Capt. Thomas Friend, 400 acs. (N.L.), Goochland Co.; on rs of Licking HOle Dr; adj. Leonard Allow; Thomas Ballow; Davson’s line, & Richard Dean; 25 Aug. 1731, p. 268 40 Shillings. Vol III Cavaliers and Pioneers.
It appears that Richard Dean lived in the greater King Williams Parish for he was seldom mentioned in the records. In 1732 he was on the tithable list of “Richard Dine” with a count of two heads registered under his name as tithables.
Thomas Edwards, 400 acs. (N.L.) Goochland Co: at Treasurers Run, on N. side of James Riv, adj. David Paerson; land of Major John Bolling, dec’d, Alexander Logan; Thomas Dawson; Richard Dean & John Man; 26 June 1731, p. 163, 40 Shillings.
p. 303 28 April 1731 Phillemon Childers of Henrico Co., to Thomas Bethell, Jr. of same, for 2000 lbs tobacco, land in Henrico Parkish near Four Mile Creek, next to Philemon Perkins, 100 acres.
Wit: Richard Deane, Hum’y (S) Smith, Thos. Bethell,Sr.
Signed: Phill. Childers. Recorded 1st Mon. in May 1731
Jane, wife of John Smith, relinquished her dower right.
His property must have also ended up in Goochland County when Goochland County was created from Henrico County in 1728. Goochland County line is just to the west of Richmond close to Little Tuckahoe Creek and Dover Lake. He may have served on the jury in Goochland County, but since he was close to Richmond and the county seat of Henrico County, he signed on many documents and probably did most of his business in Henrico County.
GOOCHLAND COUNTY ORDER BOOKS (GCOB).
GCOB 1: 107 May Court 1728. In the Action of case between Thomas Nolun, Pltf. and William Wotars, Deft. The following Jury are sworn: Richard Dean. Wiliam Lansdon, John W. Brid?, Jook? Chandler, Alfeford? (Alfred) Hughes, Jon Webb, Richard Oglesby, John Paitis?, Jacob Michaux, Howell Burton, Samuel Allin, John Lewis who after deliberation find and return with their verdict to be awarded and is as follows: The Deft. by ___? ___? that the Deft. was to fulfill his duties without any consideration. We find by the ___? ___? that the Deft. had a job of work to do in Hanover and that he told him so. If the law be for the Pltf. then we find for the Pltf. seven? shillings and six pounds current money the wife of the Deft. for the arguing of which verdict is offered.
and
GCOB 2: 2 March Court 1730. Action of Debt between John Quin, Pltf. and Agnes Nolun, Administrator of the Goods, Chattels, Rights, and credits? of Thomas Nolun, deceased, Deft. for eighty eight pounds current money do bond the following jury are sworn: Richard Dean, Thomas Edjwas? (Edwin),? Thomas Turpin, Anthony Hoggat, Nicholas Cox, Stephen Woodson, Joseph Watkin, George Southerland, John Williams, Joseph Binals,? James Nevils,? Thomas Edwards who after deliberation? their verdict which at the Pltfs. motion is ordered to be recorded and is at the followeth: “We find for the Plaintiff several? Fourteen shillings and one penny half penny current money in force from this 19th day of September 1729.” Richard Dean ____? whereupon it is reordered by the court that Pltf. do ___? again the Deft. The sum pg seventeen pounds fou_? (four) shillings and a half penny current money interest? therein after at a rate of six per cent per anum from this nineteenth day of September 1729 by the jurors aforesaid in their said verdict ___? and all the costs of this suit of the Goods, and Chattels which were of the aforesaid Thomas Nolun’s at his death in the hands of the said Agnes to be administered if so ___? in her hands thereto and if not so ___? thou the case of the aforesaid of the proper Goods, and Chattels of the aforesaid Agnes to be levied.
Jacob Michaux, 150 acs. (N.L) Goochland Co., s. side of James Riv., on Mahook Cr. adj. Major Bolling, Richard Dean, Bartholomew Cox, land Quin sold to Noland; 28 Sept 1732, p. 468. 15 shill.
Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 3, Page 239, March Court 1733/34. In the Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant and Thomas Walker.
Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 3, Page 262, May Court 1734. In the Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant the Defendant appears but failing to plead Judgment by _____ __irit is granted against him for what damages shall be recovered in this Suit to be discharged nevertheless if the Defendant shall plead at the next Court.
Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 3, Page 279, July Court 1734. In the Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant the Defendant with leave of the Court files pleas and time is granted the Plaintiff to reply.
Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 3, Page 302, October Court 1734. The Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant continued at the Defendant’s cost.
Deed Book 2, p43 16 SEP 1734 John Woodson to Robert ADAMS for œ10 250 acres on branches of Tuckahoe and Dover Mill Creek next to 200 acres sold to Thomas Wadlow and 96 acres on both sides Mill Creek being east of land bought by ADAMS of John Woodson dec’d. wit: Arthur Hopkins, Richard Deane.
Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 3, Page 327, January Court 1734/35. In the Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant the Plaintiff files a Replication.
Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 3, Page 357, May Court 1735. The Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant is continued at the Plaintiff cost.
Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 3, Page 395, September Court 1735. In the Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant the Defendant _____ issue of the Plaintiff Replication.
Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 4, Page 71, June Court 1736. In the Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant the following Jury are Sworn, Henry Chiles, Thomas Christian, David Walker, John Prior, James Robinson, Charles Lynch, Thomas Bailey, John Laine, John Cox, Septhen Cox, John Biby and John Twitty who after sometime bringing their verdict which on the Plaintiff motion is admitted to Record and is as followeth. We find for the Plaintiff nine pounds, twelve shilling and six pence current money, Thomas Christian foreman whereupon it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff do recover against the Defendant nineteen pounds, five shillings current money being the penalty of the Bond to be Discharged on the payment of nine pounds, twelve shilling and six pence like money by the Jurors assessed in their said Verdict assessed together with the Interest thereon after the rate of six per centum per annum from the nineteenth day of July MDCCXXXV (1735) till the same shall be paid with costs and a Lawyers fee.
p. 102 Deed 20 May 1735 Nicholas Cox of St. James Parish, Goochland Co. to Hezekiah Mosby and Elizabeth his wife, of same, because of a marriage heretofore held between Hezekiah Mosby and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of said Nicholas Cox, and good will and affection, 700 acres on south side of James River bounded by Maple Swamp of Muddy Creek, John Scott, James Roberts, William Mayo.
Wit: Richard Deane, John (IM) Man, John (I) MIns
Signed Nichoas (N) Cox
Recorded 17 June 1735
Deed 10 June 1735 Nicholas Cox of St. James Parish, Goochland Co., to William Spears of same, for love and goodwill 400 acres on south side of James River, bounded by William Mayo, Stephen Hughes, Maple Swamp.
Wit: Richard Deane, Jacob Moseby, Alex’r Farg, Sr.
Signed: Nicholas (N) Cox
Deed 10 June 1735 Nicholas Cox of St. James Parish, Goochland Co., to JohnSanders and Sarah his wife, in considerration of a marriage before had between John Sanders and Sarah Sanders, daughter of Nicholas Cox, for goodwill and affection, land on Maple Swamp, a branch of Muddy Creek.
Wit: Richard Deane, Wm Walker, William Easely
Signed: Nicholas (N) Cox
Recorded 19 Aug. 1735
Patent Book No. 17 Vol IV Cavaliers and Pioneers. p. 107
Isham Randolph of Goochland Co., Gent., 3,000 acs. in sd Co., N side of James Riv., in Rock Castle Point, including an Island in the Riv.; adj. Tarlton Fleming, John Bolling, John Hankin, Thomas Carter, Thomas Ballow, Daniel Johnson, Richard Dean, Leonard Ballow, Joseph Jackson & Walter Clapton; 5 Jun 1736, p. 61. pound 10 shilling 5. 190 acs. Part of a Pat. gtd. John Bolling, Gent. for 320 acs. 1 Apr 1717 [PB 10 p 311] & by him Sold to Thomas Pleasant and by sd Pleasant conveyed to Isham Randolph; 378 acs. other Part gtd. Joseph Bradley by Pat. 17 Aug 1720 [PB 11 p. 44] & by him Sold & conveyed to Isham Randolph; 400 acs. other part gtd. Thomas Friend by Pat. 25 Ag 1731 [PB 14 p. 268] & by him Sold & Conveyed to sd Isham Randolph.
June 1736 Stephen Cox’s judgmt vs. Rd Dean
Judgmt 624 lb tobo
Fees 99 85
Total 709
Nevils paid it all to me except 20 lb Tobo
I paid it to Cox.
Source: Genealogical Records: Virginia Colonial Records, 1600 – 1700
Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume III, Henrico County 0 Southside, 1736, page 405
Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia 1737-1781, May Court 1741
Will of Daniel fore presented by Mary Fore, executor; proved by Morris Roberts and Stap Roberts, witnesses. Francis Flournoy, Richard Dean, John Perce, and James Harris to appraise.
Will of Pierre Martin
Will of Peter Marton of Goochland Co. “sick & weak”
To son Anthony, 1 negro Will and negro girl Jenny, plantation where I live, plus items
To son John, plantation my father John Martin left me by will adjoining the plantation of William Randolph at Tuckahoe.
Also 1 negro Betty, 1 negro Matt, livestock and items.
To son Peter, 200 acres joining his uncle Daniel Pero’s plantation, 2 negroes Kate & Hannah, also L 60, also livestock and items.
My wife’s mother to take one of my children to bring up and have one of the rooms in the new house for life and to be supported out my estate for life. If my wife remarries then her mother toe enjoy my house, solely, for life.
To my three sons, my part of my father John Martin’s personal estate after my mother’s death.
To my wife, 3 negroes Peter, Daniel and Dick for life, and she to be executrix
Dated 6 March 1742
Wit: Richard Deane, Daniel (P) Pero, John Ford
Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia 1737-1781, June Court 1744
p. 261 Will of Edward Bryers, dec’d, presented by Sarah Bryers, the exec. and proved by Elizabeth Morison and John Morical witnesses. John Fore, Jacob Trabue, Samuel Jordan, and Richard Dean to appraise.
1 Jul 1745 – William Trent of Henrico County sells to Stephen Watkins of Goochland County, for 41 pounds, 218 acres on West side of Trabues branch, joining main branch of Tomahawk creek; being part of 400 acres granted to Francis Flournoy 9Jul 1724 and deeded by him to said Trent. Witnesses: Richard Dean, Jeremiah Hatcher, Charles Ballow; signed: William (X) Trent, Ursilla (X) Trent.
Recorded 1st Monday July 1745, Ursilla, wife of William, relinquished her dower right. {Henrico County, Virginia, Wills & Deeds 1744-1748, page 42}
Richard Deane was also appointed the Clerk of St. John’s Parish in 1745. When he died three years later in March 1748 it was Ordered That the Church Wardens take the necessary method to recover 6,706 pounds Tob’o, Levied in 1746 for the use of the Parish, w’ch was collected by Richard Deane, and not Accounted for. What happened? From all accounts he seemed to be a very honest person.
Source Vestry Book of St. John’s Church, Henrico County. Virginia p. 84
Do. Parish Cr. For the year 1745
Ordered that Richard Deane is appointed Clerk of the Vestry.
Source Vestry Book of St. John’s Church, Henrico County. Virginia p.75
Henrico Parish for the year 1745
To the Rev. Mr. William Stith, Minis’r, Sallery and Cafk 16,640 Nett Tobacco
To Mark Clark, Reador 1,789
To John Eals, Reador 1,789
To William Street, Reador 1,789
To Richard Deane, Clerk of the Vestry 450
Source Vestry Book of St. John’s Church, Henrico Co. Virginia p. 74
John Wooldridge Date: 1 Oct 1747 ref [Patent Book 26:116-1] to 8) John Wooldridge, 35s, 314 acres contract 35s Ref: 314 acres Henrico/North side of Falling Creek of South side of James Riv (John Tillot/Tullit Henrico/North side of Falling Creek of South side of James Riv (John Tillot/Tullit. 0. John Tillots Corner Spanish oak on North side of Falling Creek HYD line N11W; 38 poles on said Wooldridges old line – Point B) 1. Black oak line N3E; 96 poles – Point C) 2. White oak line N63W; 208 poles – Point D) 3. Black oak dividing John Roberts Richard Dean &said Wooldridge line N57E; 134 poles on Deans line N57? 1??p – Point E) 4. White oak cornered on the line of the French Parish line S78E; 490 poles on said line – Point F) 5. Tillots/Tullits Corner White oak on the French Road line Southwest 70 poles – Point G) 6. White oak line Northwest 100 poles – Point H) 7. Shrub oak line W; 60 poles – Point I) 8. Ash line Southwest 210 poles – Point J) 9. White oak line S64W; 30 poles – Point K) 10. Red oak line S60W; 36 poles to beginning.
From Otis we have information from the book Turff and Twigg. Right before Richard Dean died on December 1, 1748 he received a patent (1047) for 224 acres #27/58 Not New, Map location L-24.
On the south side of the James River in Henrico Co. (now Chesterfield): Beginning at Furkrun’s (John Forcuron) corner gum and red oak, thence on him S 30 W 332 poles to a pine thence N 55 W 64 poles to John Robert’s gum corner (the preceding line runs on the French line. Roberts did not have French land. Roberts Branch is a SE tributary of Lower Manakin Cr. (Bernard’s Creek) and was probably named after John Roberts who had some of this property on the head branches of Roberts Branch. Waterways were normally named after surnames of owners whose land touched upon the same, though in some cases, such as Matthew’s Br. in Powthatan Co. the first name of the landowner was used.) thence on him S 156 poles to Wooldridge’s corner red oak thence on him N 55 E 134 poles to Wooldridge’s adjoin on its southern line. This was at least the second patenting of this 54 acres. As the original patentee of Dean’s land has not been proven, the acreage is unknown. It is quite likely the original patent contained 170 acres, without including the southern tip of 54 acres, which would have made it totally within the French bounds.
It is probable that most of Dean’s patent was issued to John Livingston. In the 1722 tally of landowners in the vestry book, Levingston was credited with 170 acres in King William Parish which is extremely interesting in view of the above-mentioned figures, coupled with the fact that Levingston witnessed several documents of immediate neighbors of this patent of Dean’s. No record can be found in patents or deeds for Livingston, Livingston, or Le Vinston/Vinston, as sometimes seen, that would apply to this land. Benjamin Harris still had his 54 acres thirteen years later. Note: There seems to be no connection with patentee Richard Dean and the Family of Richard Deans of Chesterfield of which there are records of the same time period. This land was left to his son Samuel when he died.
There are no extant deeds for Henrico County during the period between 1737 through 1744. Possible in this time frame Richard Dean’s 224 acre tract was deeded to him by the first patentee of this land or he acquired it through marriage or inheritance. Nevertheless, it belonged to his estate by 1 December 1748. The most southerly tip of the patent was not part of the French land. This is shown by a line of demarcation, which is a patent line, also being the French boundary line, drawn from (1448) Benjamin Harris’es 54 acre patent. This southern tip was repatented by Harris on 7 July 1763.
There was much confusion between landowners in this area. Just one angle a few degrees off or one line anumber of poles too long or too short, created havoc for miles, and it happened on a regular basis. Ricochets scattered in every direction, forming a chain reaction of ill-fitting surveys. The true intent of a surveyor in such a case, can only be determined by tracing deeds for the whole area, considering several square miles. In this location it was evident that the miscalculation originated in a 17,653 acre patent by John Tullit, (890) in 1705 which was chiefly surveyed by mariner’s compass, making an automatic sacrifice of accuracy a factor, but a valid basis for corrections was not reached until a 1776 deed was found for land adjoining Richard Dean’s former property. Thus a period of 71 years passed between surveys before the evidence could be proven for alterations in this area. Deeds for land in troubled areas had no surverys. Finally, the 1776 deed on the French line, but not within the bounds, was the first one which which I could work. (Turff and Twigg)
We know that Richard Dean died between October 1, 1747 and January 19, 1748 when the Vestry moved that “Solomon Carey be appointed Clerk of the Vestry in the room of Richard Deane, deceased, and that John Bryant be appointed a clerk in the room of John Eales, who is become incapable of executing his office. His salary to commence from the first day of June last.
/s/ Richard Randolph
/s/ John Coles.
Source Vestry Book of St. John’s Church, Henrico County. Virginia p.80
His will was presented to the court of Henrico Co., VA in July 1748 by Sarah Dean, having had Richard Dean’s property appraised at 37 pounds, 5 shillings, 11 pence by Isaac Sharp, Henry Sharp, and John Redford, Jr. Source: Matthew Dean
From Otis Fuller we have learned more about his land dealings. His patent for “French land” was awarded posthumously in December 1748, about a year after his death. He renewed 224 acres within the lower part of the first 5,000 acres in what is now Chesterfield County. Dean had a patent 23 years earlier in the present county of Powhatan. It was located on the James River a short distance downriver from Rock Castle which is on the north side of the river; Dean, of course, was on the south side of the river. This land was too far from King William Parish for him to have been considered in the parish records which explains the scarcity of his name in Manakintowne. Some people who were not in the parish were included in the records, but they did live in the immediate area. Richard Dean’s Powhatan patent was approximately ten miles from the eastern boundary of the French territory.
Richard Dean TYPE: Patent Date: 1 Dec 1748 ref [Patent Book 27:58-1] to 66) Richard Dean, 25s, 224 acres contract 25s Ref: 224 acres Henrico/(Furkrun John Roberts & Wooldridge Henrico/(Furkrun John Roberts & Wooldridge. 0. Furkruns Corner gum & red oak line SWxS; 332 poles on his lines. Corner pine line W40N; 64 poles. John Roberts Corner gum line S3W; 156 poles on his line. Wooldridges Corner red oak line N57E; 134 poles on his line, – Point E) 4. Wooldridges Corner White oak line N3E; 2 poles – Point F) 5. Martins Corner pine line N40.5E; on his lines – Point G) 6. Corner White oak line N51E; 42 poles. Corner Pine line NExN; 261 poles; Corner hiccory on Martins line N50W; 87 poles to beginning.
Sarah Dean died three years later in 1751. Her estate was appraised 24 November 1751. John Redfore, Thomas Jordan and Alexander Long. John Redford, Jr. presented this appraisement in court which was duly recorded in June 1752.