- Charles Featherston, evidently from Chesterield County, came 40 miles to court in 1758 as a witness for Bartholomew Dupree, for which he was to be paid 315 pounds of tobacco (Suit vs. Frederick Baugh)
Sources: (1) Nottoway County, Virginia, Will Book 1, 1789-1802, Page 25; (Jan. 12,1791)
Will of Charles Howell Featherston--
'To Lewis Featherston, son of Elizabeth Featherston, the tract of land,whereon I now live, which said land I desire to be rented out at the discretion my Executors, until the said Lewis Featherston shall arrive to the age full age of twenty-one years and the profits arriving from such rents likewise given to the said Lewis Featherston, when of full age; it is also my will and desire that fifty pounds of current money of Virginia be raised and levied out of my Estate for the said Lewis Featherston to be kept for him until the time above mentioned. It is my desire that my personal estate be kept together, until a Crop be made on the plantation and then equally divided between BURWELL Featherston and Luke Clarke...' Burwell Featherston and Luke Clarke to be executors.
Whatever I have given or willed to Lewis Featherston, son of Elizabeth Featherston, shall return to Burwell Featherston and Luke Clarke equally provided the said Lewis Featherston should die without a lawful heir or before he arrives to full age but not else.'
Joyce F Hawkins, 21 June 2001.Jean Wright F, d. 16 November 1812 Jean Wright married Charles Featherston circa 1755. As of after 1755, her married name was Featherston. Jean Wright left a will on 26 May 1783 at Brunswick County, Virginia, American Colonies; ...Jean Wright Featherston, daughter of Mary ____ and Robert Wright of Brunswick Co., Virginia. He made his will 11 Aug. 1781, proved 26 May 1783.(Brunswick Co., Virginia Order Bk. 2, p. 438), and named his daughter Jean Featherston. He left her a Negro girl named Fib and in 1784 on the personal property tax list of Brunswick Co., Virginia, Charles Featherston haw, for the first time, two slaves, 'Fib and one young one.' Jean Wright married at a time and place unknown Charles Featherston who's will was made in Brunswick Co., Virginia, 3 Apr 1788 as Charles Feariston (Brunswick Co., Virginia Will Book 5,pp. 342-43). The Feariston will was proved 25 Jan.1790 by Jesse Turner and John Porter. Brunswick Co., Virginia Order Bk. 15,p. 261, shows that the will of Charles Featherston was proved the same day by the oaths of the same two men. There can be no doubt that the will of Charles Featherston is that written as Charles Feariston. A careful genealogy of the Kentucky branch of the Featherston family done by Mrs. Elizabeth Featherston Selliers in the early 1930s says that Jean Wright Featherston, who died 16 Nov 1812, was the mother of Hezekiah, Carolus and Jeremiah Featherston. Interestingly, she does not give their father's name. The Feariston/Featherston will appoints 'Kyai' as one of the executors. I presume this is a nickname for Hezekiah. Jeremiah is called 'orphan of Charles Featherston' in Charlotte Co., Virginia Order Bk. 10,p. 12 Jan. 1796, when he chose Moses Eudaly as his guardian. I have found nothing, other than circumstantial evidence to show that Carolus was also a son of Charles Featherston, but I believe he was. Charles Featherston had at least seven children and very possibly a wife before Jean/Jane/Gen Wright. source: The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 23, No. 1 - Jan/Mar 1979 'Beware of the Charlotte Co., Virginia Marriage Bonds: The Featherston Family' by Mrs.Margaret T. Macdonald, Chapel Hill, NC. She died on 16 November 1812.
AMELIA COUNTY
Abraham Burton of old Henrico, later of Chesterfield Co., married Ann Featherston, removed to Amelia County where he died about 1736, when his will was entered for probate. His widow Ann died in 1745. At the time of making her will she mentioned grandchildren Charles and Abraham Burton, sons of her son Charles. Their removal to Amelia may have been the reason for the going into that county of Charles Featherston.
We find that Charles Featherston, evidently from Chesterfield Co., came 40 miles to court in 1758 as a witness for Bartholomew Dupee, for which he was to be paid 315 pounds of tobacco (Suit vs.Frederick Baugh).
From the family Bible still preserved in the family and now owned by Frederick M. Featherston of Richmond, Virginia, we find that Charles Featherston was born in the year of 1743, married Ann Frenchin 1781, their marriage bond being dated 23rd Nov. of that year. We have no record proving an earlier marriage, but at the time of early marriages it was unusual for men to marry earlier. (Marie Rutledge: “Mrs. Fothergill obviously intended to say that it was “Usual” for men to marry earlier”.) He seems to have been in Amelia much earlier than the date of his marriage to Ann French, as on July 23, 1767 he, Charles Featherston of Amelia County, purchased 210 acres of land on Flatt Creek from James and John Murry, executors of the estate of James Murry deceased of Prince George County which he had purchased from Thomas Eldridge and his wife. It was described as lying in Horsepen Branch of Flatt Creek. The consideration was L305 current money. (Deed Bk. 9, p. 185) This was the land which long continued in the family and on which their home was located until the late 1880s.
On March 25, 1790 Charles Featherston qualified as executor of the estate of Thomas French deceased. (Order Bk. 1788-91, p. 220) Charles Featherston added to his land holdings 22 June 1797 when he purchased from John Walke and Hannah his wife 100 acres which adjoined his other land, that of General Eveard Meade, John and James Robertson. (Deed Bk. 20, page 333) Then on 9 Dec 1809, we find that his son Charles H. Featherston bought 53 acres of land from Richard E. Meade on Genitoe Creek, adjoining John Lane and James Robertson, Sr., for the sum of $593.60. (Deed Bk. 28, p. 175) Charles Featherston, born in 1743, died in 1828, married Ann French 1781. They had 3 children: (1) Dorothy French, born May 1783, married 25 Sept. 1800, Cadwallader Jones; (2) Charles Henry Featherston, born 3 May 1786, married Elizabeth Short Thornton, dau. of Col. Sterling Clack and Mary Jones Thornton, in Prince Edward County, 15 Jan 1807; (3) Calphurina (Pheny) Wherry Featherston born 21 Feb 1799, married William H. L. Tabb, 2 Dec. 1822, in Amelia County. (Family Bible Records and Amelia Co. Mar. Rec.)
We see that Charles Henry Featherston was married in Jan. 1807, so the couple probably lived with his father and mother, since he does not seem to have acquired land until 11 July 1810, when his father and mother, Charles and Ann Featherston, John R. Archer and Charles E. Featherston - the latter of Chesterfield County - conveyed to Charles E. Featherston, for love and affection 210 acres of land on the Lower Horsepen Branch; 26 negro slaves, sheep, cattle, silver plate, household furniture, plantation tools, in trust; the death of her said husband, and to be supported in such manner as she has been accustomed to live while a member of her husband’s family; and after her support is paid for by said Charles Featherston during his life it is to be continued at his death by such persons as he shall appoint but in case he should not appoint some person to direct matters it would be divided amongst the children he may have at his death or among their children. Signed by Charles Featherston, Ann M. Featherston, Charles E. Featherston and John M. Archer. The witnesses were: Francis Drake, D. Rottray, Charles Walthall, Daniel Rowlett, James Farriss, and R. Chastain. This was recorded in Deed Bk. 24, p. 107, Amelia County. 1 July 1810 Charles Featherston of Amelia Co. conveyed to Charles A. (Joyce F. Hawkins: “I believe this should read Charles H.”) and to Charles E. Featherston for and in consideration of love and affection for his daughter Dorothy F. the wife of Cadwallader Jones and the sum of $20 cash, 10 negro slaves which are not in her possession, for the term of her natural life and then to her children. Witnessed by Philip Dunnivant, William Warrimer, Henry W. Roverson. (Deed Bk. 28, p. 238) On 23 Oct. 1813, Charles Featherston of Amelia conveyed to Charles H. and Charles E. Featherston for the benefit of his daughter Calphurnia Featherston 12 negro slaves, 1 dozen silver spoons, 1 feather bed and furniture, a horse, bridle and saddle for her life and then to her children. Witnesses: Christopher Walthall, Daniel Bowlett, James Ferriss, R. Chastin, Jr. (Deed Bk. 28, p. 660) (This daughter married Wm. H. L. Tabb in 1822) 22 Oct 1813, Charles Featherston conveyed to Charles H. and Charles E. Featherston as trustees for the benefit of his grandchildren Cassandra Calvin Jones, Cladius Cicero Jones, Camelius Jones, Canddolas Jones and Charles H. Featherston at the age of 21 years 2 negro slaves each. (Deed Bk. 28, p. 661) 29 April 1816, Charles H. Featherston gave a deed of trust on the 100 acres of his land called the Crab Orchard, to secure a debt which he owed to Cadwallader Jones, his security against him in a case. The above deed of trust was released 18 Feb. 1817, as said Featherston had paid the amount due. (Deed Bk. 24, p. 368) Charles and Elizabeth S. Featherston, on 15 Dec 1827, conveyed to John T. Leigh, Trustee, and John Booker, executor of James H. Conway, said Booker has obtained judgement against John B. Archer and said Charles H. Featherston for the sum of $747.83 and said Featherston have undertaken to discharge the said judgment therefore they convey to said John T. Leigh 153 acres of land called the Crab Orchard. Said trust deed certified to by William J. Barksdale and Hodijah Meade. (Deed Bk. 30, p. 14) 28 July 1831 John Booker and John T. Leigh purchased the above tract of land, having been sold under the above deed of trust. The above Charles Henry Featherston was born 3 May 1786; married to Elizabeth Short Thornton January 1807 and died in the year 1865. We know that her parents lived for some years in the lower part of Amelia Co. in the neighborhood of Spinners Branch and the Namozeen Road. They moved to Prince Edward Co. where they lived for some 10 years or more, about one mile from Hampden-Sidney College, where their only son William Jones Thornton, was educated; later they removed to Lynchburg, where they both died. It is most likely that their daughter Elizabeth returned to Amelia Co. to visit relatives. Her father, Sterling Clack Thornton, had an Aunt Prudence Thornton who married Samuel Pryor in Glouchester Co.; then, a niece Mary Thornton married Everard Meade and made their home at the Hermitage, adjoining Featherston lands. Elizabeth must have visited some of these relatives where she could very easily have met the son of their neighbor, Charles H. Featherston, and married after her return to Prince Edward. The original bond, with a note of consent for her marriage, is of record there, signed by her father, Sterling C. Thornton.
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