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Facts and Events
Will Transcript
- 20th June 1801
- In the name of God, Amen, I James Bush being very sick and weak but of perfect memory and sound judgment do make this my last will and testament. First, I recommend my soul to the mercy of Almighty God, my body I decree to by decently buried, and do dispose of the wordily goods in manner following.
- (After my just debts being paid), I do give my wife, Mary Bush, my possessions where I now live to support her during life and to be managed by my son, Austin Bush.
- Item: I give to my son Drury Bush, 1 Dollar.
- Item. Give to my son Austin Bush the land whereon William Noble lives, being part of the tract Austin Bush lives on. I leave the land whereon Thomas McDaniel lives to him, the said McDaniel, for six years from the time of his first setting the same rent free, then said land to return to my estate.
- Item. I give all my lands save that given to my son Austin to be equally divided between my three children or their heirs, namely Ann Neafs (Neece) dec'd, Austin Bush and Mary Turner, also all my stock of every kind and household furniture, and plantation utensils with all my estate of every kind to be equally divided among my above named children or their legal Representatives, to be divided at the death of my above named wife. Lastly, I appoint my son, Austin, Executor of this my last will and testament.
- [Signed] James Bush
About James Bush
Notes:
From:Butch Bohl
(Source: (1) Gordon Aronhime Papers--Southwest Virginia index card #85 & #86,
"A son of Philip Bush (d 1772) WB 2 p 153 Orange County Va.", (2) Will James
Bush 1808 Will Book 2 page 166., Russell County Virginia.) was born Abt. 1739
in Orange County Virginia, and died 18 November 1808 in Russell CTY. VA.. He
married Mary ______ Abt. 1757.
"Records show James Bush purchased land 130 acres in Amherst County Virginia, in
Aug. 1771 (patent no. 40 p367) . Moved to Washington County Va. some time
prior to 1776 . In 1776 James help build Hamblin's Fort , which is in Castles
Woods, this is also the place James and his wife Mary moved (North East of
Abingdon Virginia). Records show in April 1782 he purchased 100 acres in
Washington County on south side of Clinch River known as Russians Place ( land
grant not registered until 23 Aug 1788 grant no 18 p165, however copy of
actual grant shows 5 April 1782.) James was instrumental in getting Russell
County formed from a part of Washington County in 1785. (See Petition to Form
Russell County in book of documentations . In June of 1796 James purchased an
additional 80 acres in Castles Woods on both sides of Mill Creek, adjoining
Charle Beckleys land ( grant no. 36 p17 ). The land was purchased from Henry
Hamblin for 80 Pounds Virginia money, here he built his home and a Grist Mill.
James fought in Dunmore's War (Dunmore's War Record, pp. 229-238 & 269) which
was fought before the Revolutionary War 1774. "
Book II
James & Mary Bush to William Elam 1794.
Pg. 1 26 May 1794 James Bush & wife, Mary, to William Elam for 30#, 45A
surveyed 13 Dec. 1782, granted James Bush by Commonwealth patent beginning at
corner of Joh Heals land. Filed: 26 May 1795. Signed: James & Mary Bush.
From: Marylyn Eschelman
Need ... information on James BUSH, father of "tomahawked" Ann BUSH. He was born between 1739 and 1756 (I've seen several
dates), and died in Russell Co., VA in 1808. His daughter Ann (who was
reputedly tomahawked and scalped) was born between 1765 and 1782 (depending
on source), but her daughter Virginia NEACE had to be born by 1785 at the
very latest.
Julie Adams' BUSH website says that this James was the son of Josiah BUSH(1733-1781) and Sarah Lewis.
Ken Bush's BUSH website says that Josiah's son James was born 1759 and died in 1849, and married a Lydia.
Another descendant has suggested that James (father of Ann) was son of Philip P (1709-1772) and Mary Bryan, but he was not mentioned in Philip's will
___________________________________________________________
See Map of land holdings in eastern (Upper) Castle's Woods]
___________________________________________________________
Children per oger L. Crum & Julie G. Adams
1.Ann (1782-?) m. Henry Neece (Ann was captured & scalped by Indians as a child)
2. Mary b. 1784 d. ?? m. ________ Turner (Mary was captured & scalped by Indians as a child and also as an adult)
3. Drury b. 1780 d. ??
4. Austin b. 1778 d. 1855 m. Nancy ________ (said to have been Cherokee)
References
- RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project.
Capture of Ann and Mary Bush and Killing of William Dorton
By Emory L. Hamilton
From the unpublished manuscript, Indian Atrocities Along the Clinch, Powell and Holston Rivers, pages 84-85.
James Fraley in his Revolutionary war pension statement filed in Floyd Co., KY, says:
In April, the date has escaped him, 1780, he enlisted for one year, in the County of Washington and State of Virginia, as an Indian Spy, under Col. Campbell, Capt. Snoddy and Lt. Cowan, to spy in the same section. Early in June the Indians made their appearance in his quarter of Washington county (later Russell Co.). They first stole many horses. In July they killed one Dorton and stole two girls, to-wit: Ann and Mary Bush, and made off for Canada. They succeeded in getting down on the waters of Sandy with them as far as Jenny's (1) Creek in Floyd County, about twelve miles from the courthouse. At that time there was not a single white person living in Floyd County (Ky). It was certainly an Indian country then. Our company came up to the Indians when they were in the act of skinning a buffalo they had just killed. Our men fired on the Indians and they retreated to the camp about 200 yards distant, and as they ran by they tomahawked Ann Bush. Mary jumped down the bank and escaped any violence. Ann Bush got over it (the tomahawking) and was afterwards tomahawked again and still survived.
Ann and Mary Bush were the daughters of James and Mary Bush of Castlewood, Russell Co., VA. Ann Bush married Henry Neece, and by him had the following children: James, Henry, Jane, Austin, Jacon and John. That she was dead before October 4, 1825, is evidenced by this order of the court of Russell Co. (2): "Ordered that it be certified to the Registrar of the Land Office, Mary Bush, devisee of James Bush, deceased, and Polly, James, Henry, Jane, Austin, Jacon and John, who are all the heirs at law of Ann Neece, deceased, devisee of the said James Bush, deceased, are entitled to the land mentioned in the last will (3) and testament of James Bush, deceased, which have been surveyed, but not patented in this county."
Mary, the other daughter of James Bush, who was captured by the Indians, was born in 1765, married a Mr. Turner, and was still living in Russell Co., VA, with her son, Hugh Turner in 1850 (4), at the age of 85 years.
The "one Dorton" whom James Fraley says the Indians killed, was probably old William Dorton, who built Dorton's Fort, about one mile southeast of Nickelsville, VA, in the present Scott Co., on what was later known as the Combs Farm.
The will (5) of William Dorton is recorded in Washington Co., VA, but the date of will or probation is not shown. He leaves his estate to his wife Elizabeth, and his children, William, Moses, Edward, and Sally. One the 17th of June, 1783, the will of William Dorton was produced in court and proved by the oaths of John Damron and William Dorton, Jr., and ordered to be recorded. That William Dorton was dead prior to 1782 is proven by the fact that his widow Elizabeth Dorton only appears on the 1782 tithable list of Washington Co.
William Dorton, Jr, was one of the party who went in search of the Indians led by the half-breed Benge when they murdered and captured the Livingston family, the last raid on the Virginia frontier in 1794.
(1) So named because Jenny Wiley crossed this creek after her escape from the Indians in 1790.
(2) Russell Co., VA, Court Order Book B
(3) Russell Co., VA, Will Book 1, page 41, dated June 20, 1801. Probated August 2, 1808.
(4) 1850 Census of Russell Co., VA.
(5) Washington Co., VA Will Book 1, page 40.
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~varussel/indian/41.html
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