1717 - 1779
Virginia
Our next ancestor, William Sams, was born ~1717 in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia, although his family soon moved west to Spotsylvania County. His father James died when William was about 9 years old; the property was divided between William and his only surviving sibling, James jr, but they didn't come into their inheritance until James jr had turned 21 (in 1739). Oddly enough, no special provision was made for their mother - no portion set aside for her use until her death. Perhaps she was wealthy in her own right? She was still alive when the property was finally turned over to her sons, but after that nothing more is known of her. James jr stayed in Spotsylvania, but William joined the movement west.
In 1742, he was recorded as present at a muster of Captain Gill's in Augusta County, Virginia. His age was given as 25. Augusta is/was further west than Spotsylvania - it was the border country, the frontier - plenty of Indian-fighting going on. Perhaps this was an young man's adventure - but it seems that he liked the country further west, because in 1744 he started selling off his property in Spotsylvania, and in 1749 he was on the tax list for Lunenburg County. He had probably moved earlier, though, because his wife witnessed a will there in 1746.
He had married a woman named Mary (possibly her last name was Webb)(another
researcher says she was his cousin, Mary Sams - SFOV says niece Mary married William
Dawson) before 1744 - her name is on the deeds to the land he sold:
1744 June 4 - deed to John Paine of 100 acres of land left to him by James.
(William & Mary)
1745 June 4 - deed to brother James 18 acres left by James sr. (William & Mary)
1745 June 27 - deed to James Stephens 34 acres left by James sr to James jr,
conveyed by James jr to William 1745 June 4. (William & Mary)
And in 1746, as I already mentioned, Mary witnessed a will in Lunenburg County.
Now begins one of those county dances. In all likelihood, William and Mary moved just once, to Savile Creek, a tributary of the Smith River - about 10 miles north of Martinsville. This was south-west of Spotsylvania, near the border with North Carolina, and at the beginnings of the Blue Ridge Mountains (gorgeous country - I applied for a job there.) Lunenburg County was formed in 1746. Then the western half was split off in 1752 to form Halifax County. Then the western half of Halifax was split off to form Pittsylvania in 1767. And finally, in 1777, the western half of Pittsylvania was formed into Henry County, which is where the property is today. Phew. Crawford Sams has found records of William and Mary in each successive county.
Lunenburg Co
1746 Mary witnessed a deed in this county
1749 William listed as tithable in Lunenburg. Also John Tolburt his friend and neighbor
from Spotslyvania.
Halifax Co (formed 1752)
1753 - in court for owning money to Thomas Calloway
1754 - ditto to Edward Gray
1755 - ditto to Richard Parsons
1758 - ditto to John Tolburt
1758 - ditto to James Carry
1759 - ditto to David Haley
1767 - ditto to Daniel Hanking
1768 - ditto to Unknown Deathbridge
Pittsylvania Co (formed 1767)
1767 William Sams tithable - also John and James - no land mentioned
1770 William Sams tithable - also John and Littlebury
(James went to Surry Co, NC - on tax rolls 1771, 1772 - back to Henry 1774 -
then to South Carolina, then to Burke Co, NC)
1773 William Sams tithable - also Edmund and William Sams jr
Henry Co (formed 1777)
1779 recorded survey for 411 acres for William Sams and X Watkins - Saville Creek.
Transferred to Watkins without recorded compensation to William.
This is the last record of William Sams.
Crawford Sams suggests that William was either "a gambler, a dead-beat, or . . . down on his luck" because of all the times he was hauled into court (in Halifax County) for debt. Crawford says it was for a few pounds in each case. It certainly is curious - and it makes one wonder if the problems had begun before he left Spotsylvania. Another thing we'll probably never know.
William and Mary had seven sons - any daughters they might have had have not been
remembered.
The sons:
John 1749 moved to Tennessee & later to North Carolina
James 1750 to NC, back to VA, to SC, then to Buncombe Co, NC
Littlebury 1754 probably died shortly after his 16th birthday - no other records
William (our next ancestor) 1755 moved to Buncombe, NC, then to Kentucky, then
Illinois
Edmund 1757 moved to Tennessee & later to North Carolina
Elijah 1760 stayed in Virginia
Rice 1766 to Tennessee & later to North Carolina
Crawford Sams says that it is probable that William died in 1779 and is buried in Henry Co, some 10 miles NW of Martinsville. There is an old cemetery with field stones marking grave sites before 1800 and carved stone marking other grave sites after 1800 when stone carvers became available.
Back to Sams Home page
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Forward to Children of William I and Mary
Forward to next ancestor, William Sams (1755)
contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
page last updated 6 September 2004