Some months ago, I posted a record found in Roger C. Dodson’s Property Lines from an Old Survey Book Halifax County, Virginia 1741 to 1901 VA-NC Piedmont Genealogical Society 1987 regarding 820 acres on Wynn’s Creek and Powells Branch surveyed by Sherwood Walton for William Harris, Sr. & Jr 19 february 1750. At the time, it was assumed that the date was in error and that the record referred to the 820 acres patented by William Harris 15 dec 1758. I have since viewed the microfilm of the Index to Halifax County Deeds and found that the index book also has the 1750 date with the names William Harris, Sr. and William Harris, Jr., both referenced to Survey Book 1 (FHL US/CAN Film 31940 Survey Book v. 1 1751-1901, which includes surveys done ca. 1746-1747 when Halifax was part of Lunenburg Co.) Since that time, I have found more records that seem to suggest that a William Harris acquired more than one parcel of land in the vicinity of Wynns Creek. Following are the relevant records: p. 24 2 oct 1746 Surv.d S.W. Thomas Finny enters 400 acres of land on the Head Branches of the Bear Br. transferr’d to Wm. Harris formerly Marvills overseer Entry record book 1737-1770: land entries in the present Virginia counties of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry, Franklin and Patrick Marian Dodson Chiarito 1984 (Bear Branch is a tributary to Wynns Creek) p. 34 6 oct 1746 Surv.d S.W. Thomas Finny enters 400/acres/of Land on the Middle Br. of Wynns Cr. Beginning at the Buffaloe Bed thence up and down. transferred to Wm. Harris of Finnywood Entry record book 1737-1770: land entries in the present Virginia counties of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry, Franklin and Patrick Marian Dodson Chiarito 1984 (Buffalo Bed is on Wynns Creek) 19 feb 1750 820 acres surveyed on Wynns Creek & Powels Br for William Harris, Sr. & William Harris, Jr. (FHL US/CAN Film 31940 Survey Book v. 1 1751-1901). Lunenburg co, VA DB 4: 337-338 26 apr 1756 Robert Wooding of Antrim Parish in Hallifax Co. owes money to John Hood, Merchant, in Prince George County; Wooding mortgages property to Field Jefferson of Cumberland Parish in L for 400£ to be repaid by 8 sep 1756: (1) 200a in L both sides Smith’s Cr...(2) 245a in sd county lying on Taylor Cr, waters of Meherrin...; also 400a being in Halifax Co, lying on Wynn’s Cr purchased of William Harriss of Lunenburg Co; (3) 400a in Halifax Co. purchased of Thomas Finney; ... Wit: John Camp, William X Conventon, Hugh + McCay Sign Robert wooding Rec 4 nov 1756 (Lunenburg county, Virginia Deed Book 4 1754-1757 Abstracted by June Banks Evans Bryn Ffyliaid Publications New Orleans, LA 1990) 15 dec 1758 William Harris patented 820a branches of Wynns Creek by Buckner Stith (Lunenburg County, Virginia Land Patents, 1746-1916, T.L.C. Genealogy) Halifax Co, VA Deed Book 2 Page 72. 20 August in the 33rd year of our reign. Commision to Matthew Marable, Richd Witton, Henry Deloney, John Speed, or any two, to take the relinquishment of dower of Frances Harris of Lunenburg County, wife of William Harris and certify same. Signed: Geo. Currie CHC. Halifax Co, VA Deed Book 2 4 December 1758 Frances Harris relinquished her right of dower in a certain tract of land conveyed by her husband William Harris to John Camp. Signed: Mat. Marable, John Speed. (marginal note, This dedimus is so recorded here by mistake. Not indexed in Halifax County). Halifax Co, VA Deed Book 2 Page 70. 7 August 1759. William Harris of Lunenburg County to John Camp of same, for (pounds) 50, 400 acres, part of a tract patented by said Harris 15 December 1758 of 820 acres, beginning at Sizemore's corner pine thence south...Buckner Stith's corner....a dividing line running south....all houses, orchards, trees, etc. Signed: Wm. Harris Witness: C. Read Jr., R. Wooding, Paul Carrington, Mat. Marable. Recorded: date not given. HalifaxCo VA Plea Book No 2 Part 2 August court 1759 p. 455 A deed from William Harris to John Camp, was proved by the oaths of Clement Read Jr. and Paul Carrington, 2 of the witnesses thereto. Clement Read also proved the endorsement thereon. Ordered to be Certified Halifax Co, VA Plea Book No. 3 December court 1759 (3) p. 2 A deed from William Harris to John Jeffris was proved by the witnesses thereto and ordered recorded (John Jeffries: Inventory & appraisement of John Wilbourn estate, William Harris, executor, 1757; Mecklenburg County November Court 1830 Susannah U. HARRIS......plaintiff against John S. Jeffries and Thomas B. Puryear execs of Reuben HARRIS dec'd and Patsey Puryear wife of said Thomas B. Puryear....Defendants) Halifax Co, VA Deed Book 4 p. 11 1 jun 1762 John Jeffries of Lunenburg Co. to John Camp of same, for £80, 420 acres on Bear Br., granted by patent (torn)...beg. at Margery Sizemore’s Corner...crossing Bear Br. and Bufflow Bed...All houses, gardens... Signed: John Jeffries Wit: Robert Woodsing, Thos. Cobbs, Robert Wade, Jr. Richd. Brown Recorded 17 jun 1762 Halifax Co, VA Deed Book 5 p. 199 13 sep 1764 William Harris of Lunenburg co. to John Camp of same for £30, 400 acres, part of a tract granted by patent 15 dec 1758 containing 820 acres, beg. at Sisemore’s cor. thence south...Buckner Stith’s cor... Signed: William Harris Wit: Mathew Marable, John Coleman, Edward Wade, Armd. Watlington Recorded 20 sep 1764 Halifax Co, VA Deed Book 5 p. 393 14 feb 1765 William Harris of Lunenburg co. to John Camp of same, for £30, 420 acres, part of 820 acres formerly granted by patent to William harris, on both sides of a branch of Wynns Cr. called the Bufflow bead, beg. at Margery Sizemore’s cor. thence south...the Bear Br. of Bufflow Bed... Signed William HarrisWit: Edward Wade, Andrew Wade, Jeremiah keen, Thomas FargusonRecorded 20 jun 1765 Halifax County, VA Deed Book 8 p. 19 5 dec 1769 from Michael Mackey & Susannah his wife of Lunenburg Co. to Benjamin Hall of H, 30 £ 10 sh, about 196 acres, on a branch of Wynns Cr., bounded by Harris. Signed Michael Mackey,Susannah (X her mar) Mackey Wit: Anthony Irby, Sarah Irby, John Irby, Mary Irby. Rec. 21 jun 1770 Observations: I had previously questioned how it was possible for Frances Harris to relinquish her dower rights 4 December 1758, when William did not sell the land to John Camp until 7 august 1759. These records show that in 1746 Thomas Finny patented two parcels of 400 acres each on branches of Wynns Creek and transferred them to William Harris. Further, the 1756 Robert Wooding mortgage indicates that he had purchased 400 acres on Wynns Creek from William Harriss. Therefore, the land that William Harris was selling in 1759 may not have been the land that he patented in 1758. The land that Frances Harris released in 1758 could have been land that William had acquired from Thomas Finny. This record is particularly interesting: Halifax Co, VA Plea Book No. 3 December court 1759 (3) p. 2 A deed from William Harris to John Jeffris was proved by the witnesses thereto and ordered recorded As far as I know, the deed from William Harris to John Jeffris is not found in Halifax County records. Given that it was ordered to be recorded at the December Court of 1759, we would expect to find this deed either in Deed Book 1 or Deed Book 2. Marian Dodson Chiarito notes that pages 1-6 and 473-476 are missing and pages 477 and 478 are partly missing from Deed Book 1. What we do see is that John Jeffries sells 420 acres on Bear Branch (of Wynns Creek) to John Camp in 1762. A John Jeffries was an appraiser in 1757 with John Camp of the estate of John Wilbourn; William Harris was an executor of Wilbourn’s will. William Harris sold 400 acres in 1764 and 420 acres in 1765 to John Camp, and those deeds specifically designate the land as part of the 1758 patent. As late as 1769, there is a reference to land on Wynns Creek bounded by Harris. These records do not explain the 1750 record which refers to a William Harris, Sr. and a William Harris, Jr. However, the 1756 Wooding mortgage does prove that a William Harris had land on Wynns Creek prior to his patent of 820 acres in 1759. The land that Wooding mortgaged may have been some of the land included in the 1750 survey or it may have been some of the land patented by Thomas Finny in 1746 and subsequently transferred to William Harris. Pat Seaver