DAR Register
LAUGHLIN, James Sr. Pvt from Virginia b. 1736 d. 3-27-1810 m. Jane Dunkin
http://alonzo.onu.edu/genealogy/notes/not0147.html#NI09909---From Jerry Jones, via e-mail received October 23, 1998:
James Laughlin and family probably moved to the Holston River Valley area about the same time as the Duncan family in 1767/1769, since he was married to John's sister and they settled together in an area farther north and west of the Sharps and other Laughlins.
James Laughlin and Thomas Price manned the home station at Elk Garden Fort, under the command of Sgt. John Kinkead sometime between 1766 and 1774 ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their
Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association].
By 1768, James and his three siblings (Alexander, John, and Jane and her husband) had moved to Carvin's Cove, on Carvin's Creek, north of Roanoke, Virginia.
In 1771, James Laughlin received 136 and 34 acre grants for previously surveyed plots in Carvin's Cove on Carvin's Creek [Gary Glen Price information].
In February, 1777, James Laughlin was appointed constable for the area from Glade Hollow to Elk Garden.
James Laughlin settled 200 acres on Watts Creek in Knox (later Whitley) Co., Kentucky after
October, 1799 ["William King and Virginia Watkins, Their Ancestors and Descendants" by Maellen
King Ford; file from Duncan Surname Association].
Following from the family file of Dick Burkard (provided by Jerry Jones): In 1770, James Laughlin appointed to "take a list of tithables and of the quantity of taxable land in the Co. (Washington Co.)," from Glade Hollow to upper settlement Elk Garden. (p. 259)
He was a Washington Co. constable 1777-1784. (p. 836) His son, Alexander was overseer and surveyor of roads for the Co. 1777-1784. (p. 843).
October 14, 1772 James Laughlin and wife Jane bought 136 acres at Calvin's Creek branch Roanoke in Botetourt Co., Virginia from Thomas Trouton. (p. 549).
Jan 29 1770, [the Co. court] ordered that James Laughlin be constable from Glade Hollow as high as the upper settlement in Elk Garden. (p. 952)
May 19, 1778 [Co. court] ordered that Richard Price be constable in the room of James Laughlin.
Aug 18, 1778, at Co. court, Washington Co., Virginia: The last Will and Testament of Robert Gillespey deceased exhibited in Court proved by the oaths of Archeball Buchanan, John McFerren, and James Buchanan witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and on motion of William
Gilmore and Charles Hays executors therein named who made oath thereto and gave bond with
James Dysart and James Laughlin their securities in the penalty of 800 pounds. Certificate is granted them for obtaining letters of administration of the said Robert Gillespeys Estate and the said Will annexed in due form. (pp 996-997).
Court 29 May 1779, Washington Co., Virginia ordered that James Laughlin, Thomas Price, James Scott, Richard Price or any three of them being first sworn appraise the estate of David Kinkead deceased and make return to next court (p. 1032)
Court Aug 17, 1779, Washington Co., Virginia. On motion of Elizabeth Litten and James Laughlin administration is granted on the Estate of Burton Litten deceased who made Oath thereto and gave Bond with John Kinkead and Samuel Vanhook in the sum of One Thousand Two Hundred pounds for the faithful administration of said decedents Estate. (pp 1040-41) and Ordered that James Laughlin is privileged to build a mill on Spring Creek on his own land. p (1041).
Court March 20, 1781, Washington Co.. On motion of James Laughlin and John Litten by the
consent and order of the court they are appointed Guardians of the Estate of Captain John Dunkin and Solomon Litten prisoners with the Enemy in Canady and to use all legal methods for saving and securing the said Estate whereupon they together with William Davidson and John Vance entered into and acknowledge their bond in the sum of Eight Thousand pounds for the faithful performance of the same (p. 1072).
All of the above from: Lewis Preston Summers, "History of Southwest Virginia 1740-1786:
Washington Co. 1777-1870," 2 volumes,( Johnson City, Tennessee: The Overmountain Press,
1989).
James Laughlin listed as a private in Revolutionary War and fought at the battles of Gilford Court House and Kings Mountain.
By Lula Belle "Lou" (Moffett) Laughlin: James Laughlin, first child of John and Jane Mathews Laughlin, was born in 1736 in Co. Downe, Ireland. He came to America with the family probably in the 1750's He was married January 29, 1758 in Lancaster, PA to Mary Jane Duncan Mary Jane was born about 1740 in PA, and died after 1817.
During the 1760s or 1770s the family moved to Virginia and settled first in Botetoute Co. near Fincastle and later moved to present day Washinton Co. near Abingdon. Settled near mouth of Spring Creek on the north side of the Holstein River. Probably under the Holstein Resevoir now. James died March 27, 1810 in Washington Co. and is buried near Abingdon. Probably in old cemetery at Spring Creek Presbyterian Church. Possibly under resevoir also.
His will is recorded in Will Book #3 page 119 Washington Co., Virginia
James and Mary Jane had eleven children possibly in the following order. Dates from one source
given in parenthesis, and others are from another. Perhaps neither are right.
References to land owned from Kegley's "Virginia Frontier"
James Laughlin grant 136 and 34 acres on Carvin's Creek in 1771
In 1772 - a deed for 136 acres on Carvin's Creek from James and Jane Laughlin to Thomas Trouton.
From various sources on Virginia:
James Laughlin in Augusta Co. had a mill on Spring Creek (his land) Washington Co. Virginia 1779
James Laughlin at Elk Garden Fort (Lord Dunsmore's War 1774)
James Laughlin - Constable from Glade Hollow to upper settlement Elk Garden Washington Co.
1777-1764
James Laughlin 1782 - 456 acres in Sullivan Co. TN on the north side of the Holstein River.
THIS IS A COPY OF JAMES LAUGHLIN'S WILL FROM WILL BOOK #3 PAGE 119 IN WASHINGTON CO. Virginia:
In the name of God, Amen. I James Laughlin of Washington Co. and state of Virginia being but frail in body & in a low state of Health; but of sound and disposing mind & memory do make & publish this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following viz. After all my just debts and funeral expenses are discharged, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Jane Laughlin my household furniture, also my negro girl named Agnes, her choice of my horses and two choice cows. Then to my son Alexander D. Laughlin the plantation on which I now live with my mill & one still & furniture. Also all the debts due to me by note or otherwise. Likewise to him the said Alexander D. Laughlin I give & bequeath my two negros viz, my negro man Sam, & my negro girl Ann under these conditions that he discharge my just debts & funeral expenses. Note the above plantation with its appurtenances is willed to him the said Alexander D. Laughlin on the condition that he suffer my wife Jane Laughlin peaceably & unmolested to occupy one of the back rooms in the house thence during her life furnish her horses & two cows in sufficient food & pay to her yearly twenty bushels of wheat & twenty bushels of corn. Then to my son-in-law Willson Cox, I give & bequeath the third choice of my horses likewise my farming utensils & horse gear. The balance of my personal property viz, horses, hogs, & cattle I wish vendered by my executors & the proceeds there of applied to the payment of the legacies herein after mentioned and the surplus if any remains applied as an assistence to my son Alexander in discharging the debts herein before.
Concerning a claim of land I have in Prices settlement in the State of Kentucky I wish my son Alexander to examine after if it be recovered I wish him paid his expenses & troubles out of said land & balance of the value divided equally between him the said Alexander D. Laughlin & Wilson Cox. Also I give & bequeath to each of my other children not here in mentioned viz, Elizabeth Smith, Jane McFerron, Peggy Stephens, Milly Dilwood, Ann Duncan, Sally Young, Polly Porter, John Laughlin & James Laughlin the sum of one dollar.
I further hereby do appoint my trusty friends Alexander D. Laughlin, Thomas McChesney executors of this my last Will & Testament.
Signed, sealed, & published & declared this 26th day of March 1810. In presence of
Thomas McChesney
James Laughlin
John Dunkin
John Laughlin
At a court held for Washington Co. the 18th day of April 1810 this last Will & Testament of James Laughlin desceased was produced in Court & proven by the oaths of Thomas McChesney & John Laughlin two of the witnesses there to & ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Thomas McChesney & Alexander D. Laughlin the executor there in named who took the oath of an executor prescribed by court entered into & acknowledged their bond with John Campbell & David Craig securities in the sum of two thousand dollars conditioned in the law directs a certificate is therefore granted them for the probate of the said Will in due form
Teste
D. Campbell DC