Dear List Members, While searching through the Digital Archives of the Virginia Gazette... http://www.pastportal.com/browse/vg/ ...(a must read for anyone searching families in 18th Century Virginia), I ran across these newspaper articles about a Felon named Moses Cornelius from "Charlotte" in Virginia... http://www.pastportal.com/VA_Gazet/Html/C/Corneck-Coryell's%20ferry,%20P a..htm Scroll down the index to CORNELIUS, MOSES and click on each issue to read about his sentence and fate. "Charlotte" is probably the present day Charlotte Court House in Charlotte County, but I'm not 100% sure. Does anybody know anything about this Moses Cornelius or has identified any other Moses Cornelius living in Virginia between 1750-1780? If so, please contact me. I'm researching any and all Moses Cornelius in Virginia during the second half of the 18th Century. In the 1767 List of Tithables for Pittsylvania County, Virginia taken by John Dix, a Moses Cornelius is listed as giving one (1) tithe. The next Tithable list available for Pittsylvania County I've seen was in 1770 and there was no Moses Cornelius listed. On June 24, 1768 (Pittsylvania Co. Court Records Book 1, 1767-1772, page 60) a court case between Richard Conner against a Moses Cornelius, was recorded. Conner vs. Cornelius "Richard Conner, Plaintiff, against Moses Cornelius, Defendant "This day came the Plaintiff by his attorney and came also William Wynne, the Garnishee, who in his solemn Affirmation saith that there is an unsettled amount between him and the Defendant which, when settled, will leave effects in his hands and the Defendant not appearing, the Plaintiff proved his demands for six pounds, five shillings to be just. Therefore it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against Defendant his debt together with his costs. And it is ordered that whatever balance of money or other Effects shall appear to be due from the Garnishee to the Defendant on a settlement, be condemned and that he pay the same to the Plaintiff toward satisfying his judgment." On the next day, in the June 25, 1768 Court of Pittsylvania Co., VA (Court Records Book 1, Page 64), the court case of "Wynne vs. Cornelius" was dismissed. William Wynne was the Plaintiff and Moses Cornelius was the Defendant. In the September Court of 1773 Pittsylvania County Virginia (Deed Book 2, Page 246), the following record is found. "Cornelius's to be bound out ORDERED that the Church wardens of the Parish of Camden in this County do bind out Moses and Jepheth Cornelius Orphans of Moses Cornelius deceased in such manner as the law directs." This tells me that the Moses Cornelius, of Pittsylvania County, died sometime between June 25, 1768 and September, 1773. Since he was not listed in the 1770 Pittsylvania County Tithable List, perhaps this Moses was the same Moses mentioned above in the Virginia Gazette articles between 1768 and 1772, serving time for a felony he committed? Is it possible that he died in prison or was put to death for his crime? Others mentioned in the articles were sentenced to death. The Moses Cornelius of Pittsylvania County wasn't the most model of citizens according to the Court Records, so perhaps he went to prison in Charlotte for a felony, and wasn't present in 1770 for the taking of the Pittsylvania County Tithable List, then he died in prison between Oct. 22, 1772 (last newspaper article) and September, 1773 when his sons were bound out back in Pittsylvania County. On September 1, 1780, Ann Cornelius of Pittsylvania County, VA was granted by the State of Virginia, 202 acres of land on both sides of Buck Branch on Frying Pan Creek in northern Pittsylvania County (Land Office Patents "E", 1775-1776, 1780-1781, page 786). On January 30, 1790, the above mentioned 202 acres on Buck Branch of Frying Pan Creek, was sold by Ann Cornelius and two of her sons, WILLIAM CORNELIUS and JEPTHA CORNELIUS. This deed was recorded in Pittsylvania County, Virginia Deed Book 8, pages 526-527. A transcription of this deed, with spelling and punctuation intact, is provided here. "THIS INDEBTURE made this 30th day of January one thousand seven hundred and ninety Between Anne Cornelius and sons William Cornelius and Jephtha Cornelius of Pittsylvania County of the one part and Daniel Kreyder of the same place and County aforesaid Witnesseth that the said Ann Cornelius Wm Cornelius and Jephtha Cornelius for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds to them in hand paid by said Daniel Kreyder, the receipt whereof the said Ann Cornelius, Wm Cornelius and Jeptha Cornelius doth hereby acknowledge hath bargained granted sold ----- and confirm and doth by these presents bargain, grant, sell, ---- and confirm unto him the said Daniel Kreyder his heirs Executors and Administrators forever a certain tract of land lying and being in the County of Pittsylvania containing two hundred and two acres on both sides of Buck branch of Frying Pan Creek, be the same more or less and adjoining the lands of Jacob Barger, David Ross and the order land and bounded as followeth to wit, Beginning at a white oak thence new lines South fifty and half degrees east eighty poles crossing a branch to a small white oak North forty seven degrees east one hundred and eighty poles to pointers North forty six degrees West one hundred and eighty four poles to a white oak South fifty seven and half degrees west one hundred and forty poles to a white oak South twenty one and half degrees East one hundred and forty poles to the first Station, to have and to hold the said bargain and granted premises with all the appurtenances and brevilidges thereunto belonging to the the said Daniel his heirs and assigns to his or their own proper use and behalf's forever. And the said Ann Cornelius Wm. Cornelius and Jephtha Cornelius doth by these presents warrant and forever defend the said land unto the said Daniel Kreyder and his heirs forever against the lawful claims or demands of any person or persons whatsoever in Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and year first above written. her Signed, Sealed and delivered } Ann + Cornelius, L.S. In presents of us. } mark his Jos Robinson, James X Henson William Cornelius, L.S. mark Jacob Barger Jeptha Cornelius, L.S. At a Court held for Pittsylvania County the 19th day of April 1790 The within Indenture was proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto to be the acts and deed of the above named Ann Cornelius, William Cornelius and Jeptha Cornelius and the same was ordered to be recorded by the Court. Teste Will Tunstall C.C.". Ann, William, and Jeptha were all living in the Greenville District, South Carolina during the 1790's and 1810's. Not sure yet where the younger Moses Cornelius was living. This William Cornelius was the Father and Revolutionary War Patriot Ancestor of the Blount County, Alabama Cornelius Clan. Any additional comments or records that would help identify more about the Moses Cornelius, Felon, and Moses Cornelius of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, or of any other Moses Cornelius in Virginia between 1750-1780, would be greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays! Robert C. Johnston, Jr. 139 Eagle Creek Drive Wetumpka, AL 36092 [email protected] Only a Genealogist regards a step backwards as progress! - Unknown