An American Family History

The Terrell Family

He probably married Susannah Waters.

They made their home in New Kent (Hanover) County, Virginia on Polecat Creek. Polecat Creek is currently in Caroline County, Virginia.

Susannah and William's children may have included:

William Terrell, Jr. (1685, married Elizabeth Lewis),
Mary Terrill (1687, married Matthew Mills),
Joel Terrell (1792)
Anne Terrell (1695, married David Lewis),
David Terrell (1697, married Sarah Allen),
Henry Terrell (1702, married Sarah Woodson and Anne Chiles),
Timothy Terrell (1705, married Mary Martin),
James Terrell (1707, married Margaret Watkins), and
John Terrell (1708).

William died before April 3, 1744 when the Henrico Monthly Meeting's minutes identified Henry Terrell as the son of William Terrell, deceased.

John Terrell was born in New Kent County, Virginia between 1705-1710. He was probably the son of William Terrell and Susannah Waters.

He married Sarah.

The mother of his children was Elizabeth Harrison. Their children included:

Lohamer Terrell (1731, married Jacob Bledsoe),
Jeptha Terrell (1733)
Hezekiah Terrell (1735, married Phoebe Martin),
John Terrell (married Susannah Douglas),
Anne Terrell Martin (1739, married William Martin),
Agnes Terrell (married Robert Washington).

The children were born out of wedlock and Elizabeth was tried by the court when the first three children were born.

In 1730 John Terrell of Caroline County patented 800 acres in Spottsylvania County, Virginia in the first fork of the Rapidan River in St. George's Parish.

In 1736 he bought land in Caroline County from Zachary Martin.

In 1738 Elizabeth and John left the colony and the court bound out their three children, to be raised by other families. They were required to help with the family to pay for their keep.

They settled on 500 acres in Edgecombe County in an area that became a part of Granville in 1746. In 1764 his land was in Bute County when it was created from a part of Granville. In 1779 Bute was split and his land was in the part that became Franklin County.

On April 10, 1741, John's wife, Sarah, sued him for divorce.

In April, 1742, John conveyed property to Sarah with John Mouldin acting as her trustee.

In 1745, John sold John Scott 400 acres on the north side of the Rapidan River.

On December 1, 1747, in Joseph Hunt vs John Terrill

will either Murder him or do him some Bodily hurt.

The court ordered that he "stand committed to the custody of the Sheriff" until he paid 40£ bond for his good behavior for a year. James Paine and William Person were his surties.

On August 30, 1748, John petitioned the Granville County Court to keep a public house.

In 1749, his legal wife, Sarah was granted permission to take over John's estate in Caroline County.

In 1750, John and his son, Jepthah, were on the Granville County tax list.

In March, 1751, John sold land in Caroline County.

In April, 1751, the court ordered John to place two enslaved people, Beck and Amey, and one grey mare in the possession of John Mauldin, in trust for Sarah. She was to

receive the profits from these for her maintenance during her separation and until she shall cohabit with the defendant or until the time of her death.

In 1764 James Terrell the conveyed 700 acres he was granted in 1761 on both side of the Mill Run to John Terrell.

In 1762, John and his son, James, were listed on the Granville County tax list.

In 1764, John transferred people he had enslaved to his children Lohamer, Anne, Jeptha and John and to granddaughter Agnes Martin Washington.

On January 18, 1765, John made a bond for building and maintaining a bridge over Sandy Creek for seven years.

In 1771 he was charged with twelve tithables in Bute County.

On September 4, 1779 he sold 135 acres on the south side of Sandy Creek which was then in Franklin County.

On September 7, 1779, he sold 25 acres on the south bank of Sandy Creek to Peter Tatum for 266£

On March 15, 1780 Richard Caswell, governor, granted John 640 acres in Franklin County on the south side of the Tar River.

John wrote his will in 1783.

In the name of God amen I John Terrell of the County of Franklin in the State of North Carolina... ordain this my last will & testament as followeth that is

I give & bequeath my soul to God...

I give & bequeath to my reputed wife Elizabeth who is called & known by the name of Elizabeth Terrell & with whom I have Cohabited [unreadable]

• my furniture
• I desire is then provided 5 Negro slaves to wit
  • Mingo
  • big Jack
  • old Saul
  • Lidia &
  • Willy
• also my Mill on Sandy Creek
• & all my household Furniture
• & such of my stock as she may think fit during her life

& after her Decease to be Disposed of as hereafter shall be Decreed.

Item I Give & bequeath to my reputed Daughter Loruhimah born of the body of Elizabeth Harrison aforesaid reputed wife the Four Negro slaves to wit

• Mourning
• Phebe
• Patch &
• after her mother's Death old Sal

together with the said Negros increase

Item I give & bequeath to my reputed son Jeptha called & known by the name of Jeptha Terrell born of the body of the aforesaid Elizabeth the labour of the 5 negro slaves following During his life & after his decease to his children as he shall think proper to them & their heirs forever to wit

• Sare & her child & their increase
• James &
• little Jack &
• after his mother Deceases big Jack

Item I give & bequeath to my reputed Daughter Anne born of the body of the afsd Elizabeth the 4 following Negro slaves to wit

• Judy & her Child
• little Amy old Amys Child &
• little Jenny Lidias child together their increase to her & her heirs For Ever

Item I give & bequeath to my reputed son Joel born of the body of the aforesaid Elizabeth

• 7 Negro slaves to wit
  • Bob
  • Sam Old Amys Child
  • Amy old Sals child
  • little Saul
  • Peter &
  • Priscila
  • Sabina Lidias Child
  • & after his mothers Death Lady
• I also Give him the plantation & tract of Land whereon I now live together with another tract adjoining thereto to Him & his Heirs & assigns for ever.

Item I give & bequeath to my Reputed son Timothys children called & known in his lifetime by the Name of Timothy Terrell born of the body of the aforesaid Elizabeth the 4 following Negro slaves to wit

• Andi Buck & his increase
• Nat
• & after their grandmothers Decease Willy & his increase

to be Equally Divided among them as they come of age that is the boys to the age of 21 & the girls to the age of 18

It is also my will & Desire that the widow of my reputed Son Timothy shall have a childs part during her life that such part to return to the to the children of the said Timothy & be Equally Divided among them.

Item I give & bequeath to my reputed son Johns children who was called & known in his Lifetime by the name of John Terrell begotten of the body of the aforesaid Elizabeth as followeth

• to his daughter Elizabeth one Negro Slave old Amy to her & her heirs for ever.
• To his son Richmond one negro Girl Lucie to him & his heirs for ever.
• To his daughter Susannah one negro boy Will to her & her heirs forever
• I also give & bequeath to my reputedson Johns Children above mentioned the value of One Good negro to be Equally Divided among them

& lastly my will & desire is that all & every part of my Estate which I have not herein before particularly mentioned & disposed of in Legacies together with my Mill on Sandy Creek before mentioned be divided into 6 Equal lotts & Equally Divided by Drawing for the same by my 4 reputed Children to wit Jeptha Joel Lorihuma & Anne aforesaid & the Orphans of the two Deceased John & Timothy & whoever receives the Mill is not to have his till the Death their Mother or Grand Mother as the case may happen.

I hereby Nominate & appoint Jeptha Terrell & Joel Terrell & Jenkins Devaney Executors of this my Last will & testament hereby revoking all other Wills heretofore made or Executed.

In Witness Whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand & seal this 20 Day of Septm. 1783 cs. Signed sealed & acknowledged in the presence of
Elias Daviney
Luckey Daviney
Susannah Brooks

John Terrell (Seal)

To William Terrell,
16 June 1714,
300 acres of land
on the southwest side of Pole Cat Swamp in the county of King William
(Land Bk. 10, p. 147.)

To William Terrell
23 Mar. 1715,
100 acres of land
on the north side of the Pamunkey River in King William County.
(L. Bk. 10, p. 175.)

To William Terrell,
31 Oct. 1716,
400 acres of land
on both sides of the upper fork of the north fork of Pole Cat Swamp in King William County, beginning at a hickory standing between two poplars and a white oak on the side of a hill, and on ye south side of a run, etc.
(L. Bk. 10, p. 302.)

To William Terrell and Robert Chandler,
1st day of Apr. 1717,
300 acres of land
on the south side of the south fork of Pole Cat Swamp.
(Bk. 10, p. 316.)

To William Terrell and his son William,
18 Mar. 1717
400 acres
on the north side of Pole Cat Swamp. One of the lines ran to the land of William Terrell, Jr. who had perhaps been given some land by his father.
(Bk. 10, p. 366.)

To William Terrell, of New Kent County,
22 Jan. 1718,
400 acres of land issued in the name of King George
lying and being on both sides of the north fork of the south fork of Polecat Creek in St. Johns Parish, in King William County. The line beginning at two red oaks, thence west 440 poles to a willow oak, sweet gum and white oak on the south side of the north fork of Polecat above the mouth of a branch, thence south 168 poles to two white oaks and a red oak on the east side of a branch, thence south 85 degrees, east 442 poles to a stake standing between two white oaks and a red oak on the west side of a branch and on the south side of a run, etc.
(L. Bk. 10, p. 410.)

To William Terrell, Sr. of New Kent County,
22 Jan. 1718,
220 acres of land
on both sides of the north fork of Pole Cat in King William County, beginning at a corner hickory of William Terrell, Sr. standing between a white oak and two great poplars on the south side of the south fork of the north fork of Pole Cat, etc. .... Thence t William Terrell’s lower corner of Raven Neck tract .... Thence along his line north, etc.
(Bk. 10, p. 410.)

To William Terrell, of King William County,
22 Feb. 1724,
237 acres of land on the south side of the north fork of Pole Cat in St. Margarets Parish in King William County.
(Bk. 12, p. 119.)