James Binford, Richard Pace and Their Many Relationships

To discover what relationship there was between James Binford and Richard Pace, Jr., records were reviewed to locate where the two men lived in the 1680s, who their neighbors were and with whom they interacted. The records reveal that both men lived in the same area of Charles City Co., VA, and therefore knew a lot of the same people. James Binford lived about a mile west of the Richard Pace, Sr., homestead in 1683. Dr. John Coggin’s property acquired from his step-son, Thomas Boyce, and Emelia Craven lay between the Binford and Pace farms and shared a boundary with the Pace farm. (A map of this area is located on this website.)

On November 20, 1683, Col. Edward Hill was granted 980½ acres in Westover parish in Charles City Co., 680 acres that was lost by James Warrendine for “want of seating,” and an adjoining 380½ acres.(1) His land was adjacent to 1,250 acres on his western boundary that was granted to Major Francis Poythress on the same date. Poythress’ land was surrounded by Sampson Ellis, Henry Batte, John Woodlief, James Munford and Robert Wyatt and was located south of the James river, in Jordan’s parish of Charles City Co. Poythress’ land crossed the great swamp, Horse branch, Ham branch and ran along Dry Bottom run. Col. Hill’s land crossed to the north side of the great Road and ran along the road until it crossed over to the south side of the road to Poythress’ land. Hill’s land was bounded by Roger Tilman, James Binford (1645-aft. 1722) and Robert Abernathy on the east, by James Wallace on the northeast and by Daniel Higdon on the south.

Hannah [-----] Aston married Edward Hill (1610-1663) as her second husband. Major Francis Poythress (1639-1688) married Rebecca Coggin (1660-bef. 1721). Henry Batte (1642-1699) was the father of Mary Batte (c. 1664-1760) who married John Poythress(3) (c. 1661-c. 1730s), son of John Poythress (1640-1712) and Christian Peebles (1656-1717). John Woodlief (1650-1722) was the father of John Woodlief (1673-aft. 1741) who married Mary Poythress(3), the daughter of John Poythress and Christian Peebles. James Munford (1648-1690) married Sarah [Wyatt?] probably the daughter of Robert Wyatt. Munford’s step-father was Captain Morgan Jones. At Munford’s death, his daughter, Wilmoth Munford, was placed under the guardianship of Elizabeth Hamlin Peebles the wife of William Peebles (1670-1727), grandson of Captain David Peebles. Lt. John Bannister died before October 1661 when probate of his will was given to James Wallace (1640-1690) who had married Bannister’s widow, Joan [Wheeler?]. In 1678, James Binford petitioned the court for delivery of land to Sarah, his wife, the daughter of Thomas Chappell. This land was left by Banister to his wife, Joan, for her lifetime and then it was to go to Sarah Chappell. The land was held by James Wallace by right of his wife, Joan, and he agreed that the land should pass to Sarah as heir of Banister. Banister was noted in court records with Richard Baker (1660), John Coggin (1659) and Robert Wynne (1658/9). He also held a lease at Bon Accord (1658/9) that was owned by Captain David Peebles (1593-1659), the father of Christian Peebles Poythress. Richard Baker (1612-1655) was Richard Pace, Sr.’s father-in-law (1638-1678). Roger Tilman (1650-1704) married Winifred Austin and Susannah Hunt Parham, the daughter of William Hunt. Tilman’s daughter, Christine, married Robert Abernathy (1656-1730), son of Captain Robert Abernathy (1632-1685) and Sarah Cubisha. Merchant’s Hope church is located adjacent to modern Highway 641 and south of Highway 10 on the emigrant Robert Abernathy’s 100 acres. Daniel Higdon (1660-1739) and Charles Goodrich, Sr. (1654-1726), shared a boundary with Major Francis Poythress on the north side of their properties. Daniel Higdon shared a boundary with Richard Pace, Sr. (1638-1678), on his eastern line and Francis Poythress also shared a boundary with Pace. Pace’s southern boundary bordered Daniel Higdon, Roger Reese (1660-1738) and John Williams. Pace’s homestead was about one mile north of this property and was adjacent to Dr. John Coggin (1621-1698) and Richard Baker, later John Jane (bef. 1650-1697) and wife Elizabeth Tye (1650-1697). Charles Goodrich, Sr. (1654-1726) and his wife, Elizabeth, were the parents of Annie who married John Hamlin, Jr. (1685-1725). Annie Goodrich’s brother, Edward Goodrich (1688-1720), married Margaret Wynne. Their daughter, Mary, married Roger Tillman (1705-aft. 1732). Charles Goodrich, Sr.’s last wife was Mary Eppes, the widow of John Hardyman (1654-1711). Mary Epes was the sister of Littlebury Eppes (1665-1743) who bought 500 acres from Joshua Wynne who had bought the property from Rebecca Coggin Poythress (1660-bef. 1721). Many of the men mentioned above, of militia age, would have been under the command of Col. Edward Hill when mustered, drilling or called to arms. All of these people lived in a small area of Prince George Co. shown on the map on this website. Their property locations, intermarriages and court records provide insight into the many relationships. As was the case in colonial Virginia, neighbors married neighbors and near neighbors and this was evident in the familial relationships of those involved with James Binford and the Pace family.

On May 1, 1706, Richard Pace was granted 640 acres on the northeast side of the Moratocke river (Roanoke) in Chowan precinct of Albemarle Co. in NC. His eastern boundary bordered James Binford’s land and his southwestern boundary ran along the Roanoke river.(2)

Richard Pace, Jr., and his family never lived on this land. James Binford, who owned the neighboring property, was known by Richard Pace as they lived near each other in Virginia. Pace used this land on the Roanoke river in his trade business. He and his brother, John, an Indian trader, made many trips to this property from his home in Virginia.

On May 1, 1707, Joshua Wynne, John Hamlin and James Binford witnessed a deed for 176 acres at Jones Hole and the mouth of Reedy branch that ran between William Rains plantation and Captain Mallory’s plantation sold by James and Mary Salmon, of Surry Co., to William Rains, of Westover parish in Prince George Co. On the reverse of this deed, William Rains gave land to his sons, Richard and Thomas.(3) 

Joshua Wynne (1661-1715) was the son of Robert Wynne (1622-1678) and Mary [Sloman?] Poythress Wynne. John Hamlin (c. 1640-bef. 1720) married Elizabeth Taylor (c. 1660-1720), the daughter of Richard Taylor and Sarah Barker. Thomas Mallory (1635-1678), the husband of Mary, was the son of Thomas Mallory (1605-1671) and father of Francis Mallory (1665-1719) who married Elizabeth Goodrich. John Hardyman (1654-1711) married Mary Eppes. Their daughter, Mary, possibly married John Poythress (1681-1724) and their daughter, Lucy, possibly married Joshua Poythress (1688-1740). Their son, John Hardyman, (1686-1738) was the husband of Henrietta Maria Taylor. William Raines (Rainey) (1666-1722) married Elizabeth Shands and their son, Richard Raines, married Jane Williamson. William Steward, the son of Charles and Anne Pace Steward, married Mary Shands, granddaughter of John Roberts whose property was very near the property of Richard Pace, Jr., in 1724. John Roberts’ land separated William Raines’ land from Richard Pace’s 1,220 acres.

On June 16, 1714, James Binford was granted 261 acres in Prince George Co. near Merchant’s Hope upon the poplar level called Robert Jones’ level beginning at the fork of the cross swamp, land that had escheated from the late John Banister and was surveyed by Robert Bolling, October, 1703. On March 23, 1715, James Binford was granted property halfway between Richard Pace’s 1719 property and Pace’s 1724 property in Surry Co.

On November 8, 1720, Francis Poythress the Elder, of Westover parish in Prince George Co., son of Major Francis Poythress and Rebecca Coggin, sold 150 acres called Powell’s to his brother, John Poythress, Jr., of Westover parish. The land was bounded by Richard Bland on the north and by land on the south “lately in the occupation” of Joseph Patterson, easterly on the Deep Bottom and westerly on the land of his brother, Thomas Poythress. The witnesses were Edward and Margaret Goodrich and Thomas Binford.(4) 

Francis Poythress, Sr. (1677-1754) married [Hannah?] Worsham, daughter of John Worsham (1653-1729) and Phoebe Burton. John Poythress, Jr. (1681-1724), married Mary [Hardyman?]. Thomas Poythress (1683-1749) married Elizabeth Pleasants Cocke. Edward Goodrich (1693-1720) married Margaret Wynne (1694-1729) the daughter of Joshua Wynne and Mary Jones. Richard Bland’s (1665-1720) son, Richard Bland II (1710-1776), married Anne Poythress, the daughter of Peter Poythress (1674-1762) and Ann Jones. Thomas Binford, (1705-1752) the son of James Binford, married Elizabeth Kinsey.

On July 4, 1722, James Binford, of Martins Brandon in Prince George Co., sold 150 acres in Lawnes Creek parish in Surry Co. on the lower side of Three Creek to Nathaniel Harrison, Esq. (1677-1727). The land was originally granted to James Binford on March 23, 1715. The witnesses were William Cocke, William Short, John Poythress, John Woodlief, John Hamlin, Charles Lucas, James Baker and John Hardyman.(5)

The Will of William Short (1694-1757), of Southwark parish in Surry Co., May 15, 1757, mentioned daughter, Sarah Cocke, and children, William Cocke, Susannah Cocke, Sarah Cocke, Elizabeth Cocke; son-in-law, Joshua Poythress (1720-1782), daughter Mary Poythress’ children, Joshua Poythress (1751-1794), William Poythress (1753-1794), and Elizabeth Poythress (1795-aft. 1795); daughter Martha Reade; wife Martha Short; son William Short; nephew William Harris.

On February 1, 1726, Margaret Wynne Goodrich, widow of Edward Goodrich, sold 100 acres to Abraham Odium in Prince George Co. bounded westerly on the old Town run, northerly on Philip Jane, easterly on Edward Hill, deceased, and southerly by Richard Pace (1690-1759). On April 4, 1728, William Binford, Timothy Rives and Richard Flewelling witnessed the sale of 100 acres from Abraham Odium to Bernard Sykes in Prince George Co. This was the exact same land Odium bought from Margaret Goodrich in 1726.

William Binford was the son of Thomas (1705-1752) and Elizabeth Binford and grandson of James Binford. Philip Jane (1684-1719) was the first cousin of Rebecca Poythress (1678-aft. 1721). Richard Pace (1690-1759) was the nephew of Richard (1665-1738) and Rebecca Pace (1679-aft. 1736). Timothy Rives (1670-1719) was a younger brother of George Rives (1660-1719) who leased land from Charles Bartholomew (1654-bef. 1721) and Rebecca Coggin Poythress Bartholomew (1660-bef. 1721). On July 10, 1759, Bernard Sykes, Catherine Short and Richard Cate were witnesses to a deed from Joseph Halsey to John Gramer adjoining John Bonner’s line, a line that was made by Thomas Eldridge, John Lovesay and Francis Pace (1718-1791). Francis Pace was a grand nephew of Richard and Rebecca Pace. In 1721, Burrell Green, Anne Bartholomew Green and Francis Poythress sold 200 acres on Easterly run to Abraham Odium.

On July 2, 1759, in Prince George Co., a report for the Dower of Mary Binford, widow of Joseph Peoples, deceased, was returned to the Court by George Noble, Thomas Poythress, Joseph Carter and Holmes Boisseau.(6) On July 11, 1759, in Prince George Co., by order of the Court, Mary Binford, widow of Joseph Peeples (1716-1752) was assigned her third of his estate (£38/5/11) by George Noble, Thomas Poythress, Joseph Carter and Holmes Boisseau.(7)

Mary Barker Peebles married William Binford on July 18, 1756, in Pr. Geo. Co. Thomas Poythress (1729-1800) was the son of Thomas (1683-1749) and Elizabeth Poythress. Joseph Carter lived on Richard Pace’s plantation in 1718 in addition to Edward Crossland, Thomas Kirkland and Michael Rosser, Sr. Richard Pace was a nephew of Richard and Rebecca Pace. On November 11, 1718, three deeds involving Francis Poythress, Richard Pace and Thomas Goodwynne (1665-1730) were witnessed by Peter Wynne (1688-1770), John Bonner and Thomas Poythress (1683-1749). This land was bounded by Peter Grammar. Peter Wynne, the son of Joshua Wynne and Mary Jones, married Frances Anderson. In 1752, James Boisseau, Francis Pace and Jesse Bonner were witnesses of Thomas Burge’s will. Thomas (1675-1751) and Mary Burge were the parents of Sarah who married John Pace (1725-1780), the brother of Francis Pace. In 1754, the estate of Arthur Biggins, Jr. owed debts to Joseph Carter, Ann Pace and the late Francis Poythress. John Woodlief was an administrator for the estate. Ann Pace (1720-1791) was the wife of Francis Pace and possibly the daughter of [Arthur?] Biggins. In 1718, Arthur Biggins sold 50 acres on the main run of the Great Swamp, bounded easterly on James Pace, the brother of Richard Pace, Sr. Edward Goodrich was a witness to this sale. Joseph Peebles was the great grandson of Captain David Peebles.

There were many relationships identifiable in the records. The Poythress and kindred families knew the Pace family. James Binford lived very near Richard Pace in 1683 in Charles City Co. and they held adjacent lands in Bertie Co., NC, in 1706. Binford sold 150 acres on the lower side of Three Creek in 1722 in Surry Co. This land was 3½ miles east of Richard Pace’s 1718 property. There is no doubt that Binford and Pace knew each other.

[Most of the birth and death dates are approximations.]

(1) Chas. City Co., VA, PB 7, p. 338-339, grant to Edward Hill, 20 Nov 1683. 

(2) Chowan Co., NC, DB C-1, p. 75, grant to Richard Pace, 1 May 1706.

(3) Pr. Geo., James & Mary Salmon to William Rains, 7 May 1707.

(4) Pr. Geo. Co. VA, Deed, p. 425, Francis Poythress to John Poythress, 8 Nov 1720.

(5) Surry Co., VA, Deeds, Wills, Estate Accounts & Inventories, p. 420, James Binford to Nathaniel Harrison, 4 July 1722.

(6) Pr. Geo. Co. records, Bk 1759-1760, Wm. and Mary Quarterly, Jan. 1931, p. 42, Report of Dower, Mary Binford, 2 July 1759.

(7) Pr. Geo. Records, Wills & Deeds, 1759-1760, p. 116, Order of Court, Mary Binford, 11 July 1759.

Charles City Co. to Prince George Co., VA

 No in-depth maps exist for the late 17th century or early 18th century for Charles City Co./Prince George Co., VA, covering the area running east and west between Bailey's creek and Powell's creek and north and south between the James river and the Blackwater river and swamp. This map was created from scratch from the extant records of the area. There are only a fraction of the original deeds in existence and those are supplemented by abstracts and any other record that could be located.

From the records, tracts of land were plotted with the original dimensions while noting "anchor points" and neighboring tracts. Where no dimensions were located, estimations and approximations were utilized. Surveyors in Virginia during the 1600s utilized poles (16 1/2 feet), two-pole chains (33 feet) and chains (66 feet) vice feet and inches. They also used the 32 point compass for direction. 

In order to create the map, the measurements from the deeds were converted to feet and 32 point compass directions into regular degrees. Once this was completed, the dimensions of the properties were plotted on graph paper. In this case, the scale for the graph was placed at 2 1/4 inches per mile. Despite close adherence to the dimensions, some accuracy is lost as some dimensions were less than 200 feet and some dimensions were 2 miles in length.

Once the properties were plotted on graph paper, the whole graph was transferred onto a transparency. At the same time, a topographical map was enlarged to a scale of 2 1/4 inches per mile. Once the transparency was placed onto the topographical map, the property descriptions were used to "anchor the map." A Delorme Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer Topographical map, 4th edition, 2000, was used for this purpose.

Original anchor points included placing Robert Abernathy's 100 acres over Merchant's Hope church and cemetery and along Merchant's Hope road. The top part of the transparency was placed over Captain John Woodlief's 530 acres on James River. Robert Lucy's 1,000 acre Saw Tree plantation was bordered on the west side by the Blackwater swamp. Thomas Bailey's 100 acres and Captain Francis Poythress' 750 acres were bordered on the west side by Bailey's creek. Thomas Wheeler's 990 acres was bordered by Powell's creek and the Charles Sparrow and Richard Tye tract of 2,500 acres was crossed by Powell's creek and Birchen's swamp.

Once the above anchor points were in place, other features mentioned in the deeds were located. The Jackson/Baker tract of 1,500 acres mentioned, in the deed, that there was a "great swamp" and a "cross swamp" on the tract. These features were identified and marked on the map where Richard Baker's and Richard Pace, Sr.'s properties were located in 1664/5. Poplar branch was mentioned in a deed regarding James Wallace's 200 acres and Richard Craven's 650 acre tract. Poplar branch was identified and marked on the map. Poplar branch was a branch of Wall's run. Burleigh Plantation was identified in records as located on the old Sparrow and Tye tract, on the east side of Old Town road and north of Pole Run road. This was identified and marked on the map. Easterly Run, presently called Manchester Run, was located and marked. Its north to south leg ran parallel to Major Poythress' 1,250 acres of land that he was granted in 1683. 

There are several other anchor points on the map. Dry Bottom run is presently crossed by Route 655. The old deeds of Major Francis Poythress, James Munford, Anthony Wyatt and Thomas Cureton mentioned this topographical feature. Deep Bottom run is presently traversed by Ruffin road. Deep Bottom was mentioned in the old deeds of John Woodlief, Anthony Wyatt, John Poythress, Francis Poythress and Thomas Poythress. By the beginning of the 18th century, others on or around Deep Bottom included the Young, Winningham, Stainback, Patterson, Evans and Lovesay families.

This map provides an introduction to the people and tracts of land for old Charles City Co. and Prince George Co. It can be a starting point for anyone doing research on individuals and their properties during the 1600s. Hopefully, others will be able to add to or refine the map.

The area between Bailey's creek and Jordan's Point is highlighted with broken lines as exact measurements have not been located for the early tracts of land. The plots of land in the center of the map are approximations as well. Francis Poythress and Richard Pace were involved in several deeds in 1718 involving land in this area of which there are few records. The locations for Grammer (1715), Goodwin (1718), Richard Pace (1718) and Whitmore are approximations. However, the deeds of Williams (1683) and Higdon & Reese (1683) note that their northern boundaries abutted Richard Pace's line. This land is not the original homestead of Richard Pace, Sr. Richard Pace, Sr.'s homestead was located on the 1,500 acre tract of Patrick Jackson and Richard Baker near the great swamp and cross swamp.

How should this map be used? If a researcher knows that a particular person or family lived in this area of Virginia in the 17th or 18th century or has an idea where the property was located, it is possible to narrow the focus and utilize the location of tracts or topographical features and neighboring properties to not only discern the particular person's lands but to also discover the neighbors. Research requires detective-like skills. Clues come in all shapes and forms. Neighbors married neighbors. Neighbors were often family members and close friends. Neighbors were witnesses to deeds and wills and were also called upon to value estates and attend estate sales. 

It is impossible to build a year-by-year map or even a map by decade during this period of Virginia history as so many records have been lost to war, fire or inadequate safekeeping. As a result, it requires thinking outside of the box to glean the requisite information that a researcher desires.

Hopefully, this simple map will create some new ideas and thoughts and give insight on where things were located in this area of Virginia in the 1600s and 1700s.

Jones, Green, Bradford, Aycock, Lane and Pace Relationships

James Jones, Sr., and Philip Jones, sons of Henry Jones, Sr., and Catherine Judkins, married sisters, Frances and Rebecca Bradford, granddaughters of Richard and Rebecca Pace. Philip died in 1760. His will was recorded in Johnston Co., NC. He had six children including Captain Etheldred Jones. Rebecca Bradford Jones married as her second husband, John Wrench, Sr., in 1764. The first mention of James Jones, Sr., was in his father’s 1733 will.

John Green, the brother of Robert and William and son of John Green, Sr., was married to Amy Pace by 1725. Amy was the daughter of Richard and Rebecca Pace and the sister of Rebecca Pace who married John Bradford and William Aycock. Rebecca Pace Bradford Aycock was the mother of Frances and Rebecca Bradford.

In 1725, Henry and Catherine Jones sold Peter Poythress land on Flat Swamp in Surry Co. and moved to their 640 acres on Oconeechee Neck on the Roanoke river in NC. Henry Jones, Sr., was deceased by 1739. Henry Jones, Jr., gifted 240 acres of his father’s land to his brother, James, and 230 acres to his brother, Philip, in 1739. Philip Jones’ land adjoined Barnaby Melton’s land. Barnaby Melton’s wife, Mary, was a first cousin of Rebecca Aycock and a cousin to her children. William Pace was at the estate sale of Henry Jones, Sr., in 1740, with James and Philip Jones. Peter Poythress was Rebecca Poythress’ first cousin.

Sarah Bradford (-d. bef. 1790) married Joseph Lane and Winifred Aycock married Jesse Lane. Both men were sons of Joseph Lane and Patience McKinne, the daughter of Barnaby McKinne and Mary Ann Exum. Frances, Rebecca, Sarah Bradford and Winifred Aycock were all daughters of Rebecca Pace Bradford Aycock. Winifred married December 16, 1755, and Rebecca and Frances married before they left Northampton Co. in 1748. Frances died by 1759. James Jones was married to his second wife, Mary [------], by 1764.

James Jones’ land in Johnston Co., NC, on Swift creek was adjacent to the land of William Aycock on Marlowe’s creek prior to 1756. In 1765, when James Aycock, son of William, sold 50 acres on the north side of Swift creek, his witnesses were his brother, Richard Aycock, and his nephew, Philip Jones. In 1765, Philip Jones and Richard Aycock were deputies under Sheriff John McCullers of Johnston Co. Philip Jones was the son of James Jones, Sr., and Frances Bradford, and Richard Aycock, was the son of William Aycock and Rebecca Pace, the mother of Frances Bradford Jones. In 1770, Sheriff Philip Jones, of Johnston Co., deeded 500 acres on the south side of the Neuse river to Richard Aycock.

John Bradford, the brother of Rebecca and Frances, had a daughter, Tabitha, who married Thomas Wootten who was an executor of James Aycock’s will. James Aycock and John Bradford were half-brothers. Tabitha Bradford Wootten was Rebecca and Frances Bradford’s niece.

4/4/24