Comments: Was a Quaker. His will was dated March 15, 1751, proved April
12, 1759. He had made a second will which was not signed or
witnessed, so was not admitted to record. David is mentioned in
a deed by William and Susannah Terrill of Hanover Co. dated
March 16, 1725, where they give him 400 acres, being then in
King William Co., but in 1727 it became part of Caroline County.
It is clearly the same tract granted to William on January 22,
1718. David must have been of marriageable age in 1725 and
wanting to establish a home of his own. He held this tract of
land until his death, when he bequeathed 200 acres each to sons
Chiles and Micajah. David and Agatha made their home in Caroline
County at Golansville, about 40 miles north of Richmond, and
there they were buried. There are no tombstones marking their
graves. Dicken devotes the entire Chapter 14 to David and his
descendants. David was not born a Quaker, but was one by choice.
In the first Quaker meeting in that part of Virginia in Hanover
Co., David was appointed one of the overseers. His brother Henry
also was an overseer, and both contributed to the expense of
erecting a meeting house.
Part of the children of David and Henry belonged to the Friends
Society, but most of the grandchildren joined churches of
another faith. Some were disowned for violations of the strict
rules and some for marriages to persons who were not Quakers. We
are fortunate that the Quakers kept such good records and
David's children are quoted in "Our Quaker Friends" by Bell, and
Dicken says that she also consulted original records in the
Valentine Museum in Richmond. David gave each of his six sons
200 acres in his will, and the daughters, 25 pounds apiece.
(Susannah and Jonathan were born after will was made). See O.B.
1755-1759, p. 25: O.B. 1758-1763, p. 338 and O.B. 1765-1767, p.
438. Ellsberry's
Terrell Bulletin in 1972 says that the "Honorable Alexander W.
Terrell, Austin, Texas, Ambassador to Turkey under President
Cleveland, is a descendant of David Terrell Sr. "I don't know if
she means this David or not, as she does not identify him
further. She further states that the "Honorable Benjamin Terrell
of Texas is a descendant of this branch of Terrell's"... don't
know who he is.
Spouse: Agatha Chiles (Married)
Children: David II Terrell, Henry Terrell, Micajah Terrell, Pleasant Terrell, Mary Terrell, Milicent Terrell, Ann Terrell, Chiles Terrell, Christopher Terrell, Rachel Terrell, Susannah Terrell, Jonathan Terrell
David's Heritage
Parents: William Terrell, Susannah Waters
Siblings: William II Terrell, Mary Terrell, James Terrell, Joel Terrell, Betty Ann Terrell, Henry Terrell, Timothy Terrell, John Terrell