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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
French in 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.