John & Gideon Via of Amherst and Buckingham Counties
Was Robert Via who married Frances Parker the son of Robert Via and ____ Lane?
Analysis of parentage of Pleasant B. Via
Analysis of the parentage of Robert Via who married ___ Lane
Thoughts on why the Amer/William I/William II/William
III descent is in question
Who were the parents of William Via of North Carolina?
Judy
Nohome Via d. 26 March 1688 St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co., Va
Robert Via b. ca 1694 New Kent Co., Va d. 1759-1763
William Via b. ca 1696 New Kent Co., Va d. 1782-83 Albemarle Co., Va
Judith Via baptized 11 April 1699 St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co.,
Va married Henry Wade
Margaret Via baptized 3 Aug 1701 St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co.,
Va married Daniel Maupin
Mary Via baptized 27 Feb 1703/04 St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co.,
Va (Possibly Jane who married Robert Thompson)
Robert was probably the eldest son as he shows up first in the land processioning in Hanover Co., Saint Paul's Parish. He seems to disappear from the land processioning records between Nov 19, 1759 when he is listed in the same precinct as his sons Robert, Gideon and Josias. On 30 Nov 1763 only his son Robert is listed, leading to the assumption that Robert Via I had died.
William shows up for the first time in these records 29 Oct 1731. And it appears as though he was living on the land of his father Amer Via. Some of the neighbors in his precinct were the same as listed for Amer. (Talley, Anthony, Peace, Blackwell). Apparently Margaret died between 1716 and 1731. In Sept 1734 in Hanover Co, William witnessed the will of Thos Glass Jr (another neighbor). William's land in Hanover Co is in the processing records through Sept 18, 1743 at which time he apparently left for Albemarle Co.
At this point these are the only children I have listed for Amer.
But the possibility exists that he had other children.
--thanks to Judy Pons
1. From Gideon's pension application - "doth on his oath make
the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he entered
the service of the United States under the following named officers and
served as herein stated, that is to say; That in or about the month of
September A.D. 1777 being a resident of Augusta County Va "
Notice this says that he was a resident of Augusta County. I
don't believe we have anything showing John or his sons as living in Augusta
County.
2. Also from his pension record "That in the fall of the year
1780 at Rockingham Co Va where he then lived he was again drafted for a
term of three months"
Same situation. I don't believe we've documented John or his
sons as having lived in Rockingham Co. Although this is after John's
death and his sons could have moved anywhere I still don't see them as
having lived in Augusta County and then Rockingham County.
3. The biggest reason I believe this Gideon was the son of David
Via and Frances Stringer (Frances married John Eddy after David's death)
is because of the following deed of John &
Francis Edde to Gideon Viah, Francis Edde being Gideon's mother.
Gideon held this land until 1818 when he sold it to Clemintious
Swearinggin.
By 1820 Gideon was in census records for Gallia Co., Ohio
I cannot say positively but I believe David Laird had something to do with the 10th Va Regiment...may have commanded it at times. And Gideon, son of David and Frances was bound out when a youngster to David Laird.
I'd like to see if we can sort these lines out but I definitely need help from everyone else. Jewell and I have been working on census records trying to complete them as much as possible.
I believe (although have no documentation to prove it) that John and Gideon were brothers. I also believe John was born later than the 1710 that is usually given for his birth. There are several reasons I believe his birth year was more likely in the 1720's. One of them being when he wrote his will in 1781 he referred to his daughters as Susannah Via and Mary Ann Via. If John was born in 1710 he most likely started having children by mid 1730's. Even if he had the girls in 1740 they would have been about 40 years old in 1781 and not married. Just a minor point but I do think he was born later than 1710. Gideon from a deposition in Buckingham stated he was born in 1730.
We know that John Via (we'll call him Sr. so as not to confuse the John's) had 6 children living when he wrote his will; John, David, Susannah, Mary Ann, Gideon, and William Via.
Let's try to pool our resources and see how much of this family we can put together. John's will was proven in court 6 March 1786 so he was deceased by then. However he is not in the 1785 census for Amherst so may have died by 1785.
Here's the records I have that may pertain to this John Via Sr.
1 December 1751...James Johnson and John Branch complain of John Via
that on 1 Dec. 1751 he became in debt to them for goods, etc. Order
to sheriff of Bedford County arrest Via in above suit, dated 16 Feb.
A non suit granted at June Court 1756 (2 items). (This record
is in Albemarle County - so I've often wondered by the above mentions order
to sheriff of Bedford County to arrest Via? Was John living in Bedford
and shopping in Albemarle?) This record may or may not relate to
this John Via Sr but I believe it does.
******************************************************************************
********************
On 15 February 1755 John Via had surveyed 125 acres on the north side
of Rocky Run of Appomattox River in Albemarle County, Virginia. John
Staples surveyor. This area apparently later became Buckingham County.
(Again we do not know positively that this pertains to John Via Sr. but
most likely does as the Via line was in Buckingham and Appomattox).
******************************************************************************
****************
John Via
290 acres
Exam'd
Thomas Jefferson Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to
all to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye That in Consideration
of the Ancient Composition of Thirty Shillings Sterling paid by John Via
unto the Treasury of this Commonwealth there is granted by the said Commonwealth
unto the said John Via a Certain tract or pacell or parcel of Land Containing
by Survey made the Eighth day of November one thousand Seven hundred and
Sixty eight Two hundred and ninety acres lying and being in the County
of Amherst and is bounded as followeth to witt: Beginning at a white oak
Saplin and
running thence new Lines north Thirty Eight degrees west Thirty four
poles to a pine North forty eight degrees west sixty two poles to a Hickory
at a Branch North three degrees west one hundred and one pole to pointers
north forty degrees west thirty nine poles to a pine North Sixty Eight
degrees east at fourteen poles a branch forty four poles to a Spanish oak
South eighty one degrees east one hundred and fifty four poles to a pine,
South Thirty degrees east one hundred and Twenty one poles to a pine South
Twenty two degrees west Ninety two poles to a white oak South forty five
degrees west one hundred poles to pointers and South seventy Seven degrees
west at fourteen poles a Branch Twenty two poles the first station
This tract of Land lyes on the north branches of fishing creek with its
appurtenances to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with
its appurtenances to the said John Via and his heirs for ever. In
witness whereof the said Thomas Jefferson Governor of the Commonwealth
of Virginia hath hereunto set his hand and Caused the lesser seal of the
said Commonwealth to be affixed at Richmond on the first day of September
in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty and of the
Commonwealth the fifth.
Tho Jefferson
(Amherst Co Patents Book E, p. 897)
(This we know is John Via Sr. and this is the land he left to his 4
sons)
******************************************************************************
********************
In the name of god Amen. I John Via of the County of Amhurst being Very Sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given unto God, Calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all, I give and Recommend my Soul unto the hand of all mighty God that gave and my Body I Recommend to the Earth nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall Receive the same again, and as Touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bles me in this life, I give Demiss and Dispose of the same in the following manner and form First, I give and bequeath to my four Sons my Lands and Tenements and Also I give to well belove Daughter Susanah Via and Mary Ann Via _ all my movible Estates to be posessed and enjoyed By them for Ever and I do hereby utterly Disannul all wills and Ratifying and Confirming this my Last will and Testament in witness whereof I set my hand and Seal this Seventeenth Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty one.
Signed Sealed and
Acknowledged
John Via LS
by the said John Via as his Last
will Testament in presents
Test
Daniel Perrow
Milley Perrow
Elis X Evens
At a court held for Amhurst County the Sixth Day of March 1786 This
Last will & Testament of John Via Dec'd was presented in Court And
proved by the Oath of Daniel Perrow & Elizabeth Evans Witness thereto
And Ordered to be Recorded.
Test. Wm Loving Clk
[Amherst Co., Va. WB 3:4]
[John Via Sr's will - Elis Evens was a Horsley. Milley Perrow
may have been a Via.]
******************************************************************************
*****************
20 Jul 1795. Jno. Christian & wife Judith, AC, to Chas. Christian,
AC, for 20 lbs, 300 acres surveyed for both of them, 3 May 1780, and pat.
to them, 10 Apr 1781. Branches of Creek. Lines: Geo Hylton, Wm. Horsley
dec'd, Eliz. Evans, JNO. VIA dec'd, Jno Swanson (formerly Reuben Tyre),
Jno. Olds. Wit: Jacob G. Pearce, Henry Stoneham, Jas. Turner. Del.
to Walter Christian, Jr.
15 Dec 1798. (This only shows John as being deceased and that his neighbors included Wm Horsley, Eliz Evans who's maiden name was Horsley.)
I do not have any documents that show John's wife's name. She was apparently deceased prior to 1781 when he wrote his will. I know her name has been reported as Mary Powhatan but I have not seen any documentation that even gives her first name.
Does anyone have any other records that may pertain to this John Via? John does not appear to be in the Personal Property tax lists for Amherst or Buckingham county that started about 1782. Maybe he was exempt from paying taxes. Or maybe he died in 1781 after writing his will and it wasn't proven it court until later. That was not uncommon.
I have the Personal property tax lists for Buckingham, Amherst and Nelson counties from 1782 (later for Nelson since it wasn't established that early) until about 1840. Can anyone think of any other records that might help us with John Via Sr??? I will order the microfilm for Amherst County Land records and see if that will shed anymore light on him for us.
One other observation when John went to Amherst county in 1768 for the most part it seems like he stayed there as did his children for awhile while Gideon stayed in Buckingham and seems like again for the most part those in Buckingham came from the Gideon line.
Any comments, additions, corrections???
--Judy
We now know that the sons of William Via II were not Micajah Via who married Mary Mills and William Via III who married Mary Craig. Since we now know that is incorrect it really messes up the using of the designations of William I, II & III.
I now believe we are missing an early generation in the William line and that the son of Amer was born nearer 1684, and is not the William that we have generally referred to as William Via I. We can guess an approximate birth year for William that died about 1779/1782. Based on when his children were born this William was probably born about 1738. I will try to refer to William's now as William b. ca 1738, etc. to clarify which William I am referring to.
I am also beginning to believe that the first William b. ca 1684 was most likely the father of William b. ca 1704, John b. 1710, Robert and possibly a Francis Via.
In addition to the above information we know that a William, Robert & Francis Via were in either Louisa or Albemarle Co. Robert & William in Fredericksville Parish. And John Via in Albemarle Co.
I know sometimes new ideas are hard to accept especially since we've all seemed to believe in past research. But, we have now proven past research was incorrect regarding the sons of William Via b. 1738. I think it's really important for us to keep looking, and to keep an open mind to new research developments.
It is also starting to look like Micajah Via Sr. b. ca 1740 was the ancestor of all Albemarle Co. Via's.
Like most ofther I too thought the William Via (son of the immigrant), hi son William and William Via who married Mary Craig fit and it seemed to make sense. Although it has always bothered me greatly that Amer was in America by 1677. The first record of a child was the death of Nohome (or No name) in 1688. There were most likely children born between 1677 and 1688...so who were they? Then we have from 1688 until 1699 when Judith was baptized. Another 11 year period. Again it is most likely there were children born during this time frame. The William theory (the son of Amer dying much earliner than we thought and born much earlier than we thought) just makes sense to me. That would account for the parentage of several Via's we have not been previously able to place such as David Via who married Frances Stringer and John Via who married Mary Powhatan. I think a careful examination of the land records for St. Paul's Parish and hopefuylly land records in Louisa Co. may shed further light on this theory.
When William and Micajah, the sons of William Via b. ca 1738 and grandsons
of William Via are placed correctly (Halifax Co.) that only leaves Micajah
Via as the possible parent of the Albemarle Co. Via's. If anyone
has any other information to place someone old enough to have been the
ancestor of the Albemarle group, please let us know.
-- Judy