Virginia Land Records

Halifax County Courthouse and Associated Information

The land that Jacob Cox purchased from Robert Wooding in 1762, Deed Book 3, is located just west of the intersection of Highways  640 (Riceville Road) and 677 in current Pittsylvania County. The closest town is Mt. Airy, which is 1.75 miles north. Samuel Cox bought land from James Mackendree at the same time that is probably just to the west of the land the Jacob bought. Their land would very nearly border each other. Jacob bought the land in March and Samuel in December.

Pittsylvania’s 18th Century Grist Mills. By Herman Melton

Footprints from the Old Survey Books of Pittsylvania County

Survey Book Part 2

Page 166, #6 The 27th of October 1755, survey for Jacob Cox 210 acres of land on Horsepastor Creek beginning at Woodsons corner Red Oak thence down lines by 6 e30 poles crossing the creek to a ? H20 and 60 poles to a Hickory J25 and 130 poles to a whit oak J12 and 136 poles to pointers j15w40 poles to pointers j16 and 70 poles crossing a branch at a red oak j32w 26 poles crossing the said creek to pointers I Woodsons line and thence along the same east 60 poles to the beginning.  S?Walton (may be Sherwood Walton)

Drawing denotes an elongated piece of property from north to south. It shows Jacob Cox, then text adds transferred to George Jefferson for the ? it  brings  more unreadable Wooding 1769 and by his order was transferred to James East the 5 June 1775 or 1795

Robert Brewes had 400 acres of land surveyed on Sparrows Spring Branch of Difficult Creek in May of 1750. (Page102-reverse side)

Page 160 (Survey for Robert Wooding, later sold to Jacob Cox)

April 20, 1757 Survey for Robt Wooding 89 acres of land on both sides of Stinking River beginning at Thomas Faris’s corner pointer on the north side of the River thence on his line N64E109 poles crossing a small branch to pointer thence new lines S57e48 poles to pointer S31W90 poles crossing a branch to pointers s6E20 poles crossing the river to a red oak S721/2W223 poles to pointer on Joseph Mayes’s line thence his line N10E80 poles to a pine on the river thence down the river as it meanders to the beginnings plantable). Robt Wooding (Drawing indicates “Sold to Jacob Cox by Robt Wooding—River appears to meander in S curves as it heads north west.)

Deed Book 1, Page 478

This indenture made this Thirtifirst day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Nine between George Walton of the County of Lunenburg of the one part and Jacob Cox of the County of Halifax of the other part whereforth that the said George Walton for and in consideration of the full and just sum of Five Pounds and Nineteen Shillings and Six Pence current money of (several words missing due to missing parts of the page) the said Jacob Cox the receipt or hereof the said (missing words) hath given granted bargained and (missing words) give …deliver and confirm unto (missing words) one certain tract or parcel (missing words) being in the County of Halifax containing by Elimination (missing words) and a half acres of land be the same more or less on both sides (missing words) of Two Thousand and two Hundred acres granted (Missing words) dated the tenth Day of April last past and bounded(missing words) beginning at a Spanish Oak corner of the said (Missing lines)…River thence along the patent lines north seventy five degrees east one hundred and sixteen poles to a red oak south seventy five degrees east one hundred and seventy five poles to a red oak north thirty degrees east along the said patent line to a new corner in the same thence by a new line of marked trees to the river aforesaid and thence up the same as it meanders to the first station. Together with all and singular the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any ? apportioning to have and to hold the above sold land and premises with all the appurtenances unto the said Jacob Cox his heirs and assigns forever to have hold and occupy possess and enjoy the same with every part and parcel thereof to him the said Jacob Cox his heirs and assigns forever against him the said George Walton his heirs or assigns and against the claim and demand for any other person or persons whatsoever shall and will by these presents warrant and forever defend in witness whereof be the said George Walton hath herunto set his hand and seal the day and year first within mentioned, signed sealed and delivered in presence of us Paul Carrington George Watkins Shadrich Trible James Dillard. Deed is recorded on March 6, 1759, proven by the oaths of George Watkins, Shadrah Tribble and James Dillard.

The following page shows the agreement made between George Walton and Fulker Fulkerson. Fulker pays 24 pounds, 19 shillings, and six pence for 499.5 acres of land lying on the north side of the south fork of the Mayo River, patented on April 10, last past. The agreement is on the same day, January 31, 1759. The land is described as traveling east to Jacob Cox’s corner. The deed has the same witnesses, and it is recorded on the same day as Jacob’s land.

The previous page is another agreement between George Walton and Jacob Cox; however a great deal is missing. It is impossible to see the number of acres or the amount paid, or the date. The previous record is in August of 1758.

Joseph Faris purchased 632 acres of land from Luke Smith in Halifax County along Allen’s Creek (east branch) going to the foot of the mountain, October 18, 1758. Paid 50 pounds. Witnesses included James Faris, Benjamin Lankford, and John Hearnes?. Jacob Faris bought land from Luke Smith on the same day; 100 acres for 6 pounds. Begins at a rocky hill and is also on the east side of Allen’s Creek.

Book 3, page 260

This indenture made this eighteenth day of March and in the year of our Lord Christ, One Thousand seven hundred and sixty two between Robert Wooding of the county of Halifax of the one part and Jacob Cox of the same county of the other part Witnesseth that the said Robert Wooding for and in consideration of the sum of Ten Pounds Current money of Virginia to him in hand paid by the said Jacob Cox the receipt whereof the said Robert Wooding do hereby acknowledge have given, granted, bargained, sold and confirmed unto the said Jacob Cox and to his heirs and assigns one certain parcel of land containing 89 acres more or less situated on both sides of Stinking River and in the County of Halifax, and bounded as followeth, to wit, Beginning at Thomas Farris’s corner pointer on the north side of the river thence on his line north thirty nine degrees east one hundred and nine poles crossing a small branch to pointer thence a new line south fifty nine degrees east forty eight poles to a pine south thirty one degrees west ninety poles crossing a branch to pointer south six degrees east twenty poles…Beginning with all woods, underwoods,, swamps, marshes, sowgrounds, meadows, feedings, fishing and fowling together with all houses outhouses orchards gardens fences water and watercourses, ways commodities and all other appurtenances thereunto belonging in any ways apportioning thereto to have and to hold the aforesaid ….etc….No witnesses. Recorded on the same day as written, March 18, 1762.

Page 269

March 20, 1762, Jacob Dye sold land to Samuel Cox; 230 acres, 25 pounds; Land is on Mill Creek. No witnesses.

Page 27

William Thompson of Chesterfield County, October 7, 1760, sold to John Coleman, 400 acres on the Piney Branch of Difficult Creek. 100 pounds. Witnessed by Robert Wooding and James Brewis, and John Morefield. James Brewis by mark.

Page 40

Frederick Fulkerson bought 137 acres of land from Daniel Obarr that he had purchased from David Haley. 53 pounds, land location is not described. Witnesses include James Bates, John Coleman, John Cox, and William Wright.

Book 4 page 130, Samuel Cox buys land from James Mackendree that appears to bound land owned by Joseph Mayes (or it could be that Joseph Mayes previously owned the land—page is torn and information is missing), and is on the Stinking River. Purchase is made on December 16, 1762. Bounds land owned by Thomas Daughtery. Kennon received the land patent.

Page 132, William Thompson of chesterfield County sells land to Joseph Pulliam of Lunenburg County on July 29, 1762. Land is on the south side of Difficult Creek. Witnesses include Crispin Shelton, Abraham Shelton, Gabriel Shelton, Richard Ellis.

Page 192, George  and William Seamore sells John Coleman 200 acres of land on January 1, 1763. It is the land on which George William Seamore was living and bounded by William Sax  Ephraim Hill, Timothy Chandler, James Brown, laying on both sides of Difficult Creek. Witnesses include Anaron? Wade, Sam Watlington, Susannah Watlington and James Brown.

Book 29, Page 518

This indenture made this 30th day of August in the year of Christ 1821 between Isham Britton of the county of Halifax of the one part and Coleman Cox of the said county of the other part whenceforth that the said Isham Britton for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred and eighty five dollars current money of Virginia to him by the said Coleman Cox in hand paid the receipt whereof the said Isham Britton doth hereby acknowledge had granted bargained sold and conveyed by these presents doth grant bargain sell and convey unto the said Coleman Cox his heirs and assigns a certain trct or parcel of land containing one hundred and thirty acres lying on the waters of Difficult Creek bounded by the lands of John R Cocke Lucy H Thompson, Mary Love and Frederick Stegall. To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with the appurtenances thereto belonging to him the said Coleman Cox heirs and assigns to the only proper use thereof of the said Coleman Cox heirs and assigns the said Isham Britton for himself his heirs executors and administrators doth herby covenant and agree to  with the said Coleman Cox his heirs and assigns that the said Isham Britton his heirs the said tract or parcel of land. In witness whereof the said Isham Britton hath hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal the da and year above written. In presence of Michael Roberts, Philip Howerton. Recorded the 31st day of August, 1821.

Book 4 318 and 319 316 363

Jacob Cox sells land to James Roberts on June 16, 1762 on both sides of Green Creek on the Mayo River. Land had been granted to Robert Walton, 119 acres. Sold for 10 pounds. Jacob Cox signs his name. Witnesses are missing.

Next page, 317, Jacob sells land to Leonard Vandergriff, also on June 16, 1762, also 10 pounds. North side of the south Mayo River. Part of a larger tract patented to Robert Walton. 100 acres. Wife relinquishes right of dower, but she is not named.

Page 319

This indenture made on the 16th day of June in the year of our Lord 1762 between Jacob Cox of the County of Halifax and Anna his wife of the one part and Fulker Fulkerson of the same county of the other part witnesseth that the said Jacob Cox and Anna his wife for and in consideration of the sum of seventy pounds current money to them in hand paid by the said Fulker Fulkerson at or before the seal  in gains delivery of these presents the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge have granted bargained sold alined released and confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain and seal in release and confirm unto said Fulker Fulkerson his heirs assigns forever a tract or parcel of land which the said Jacob Cox (sheet torn) purchased…and conveys by deed bearing date (Missing) 89 acres. Includes a grist mill that Jacob Cox will complete in a workmanlike manner. Also give up the estate right and title for Jacob and Anna. Spelled as Anne when giving up right of dower and also Anne lower in the document. Samuel Cox sells land on the 7th day of August, 1763 to Phillip Smith. The land lies on the north side of the South Mayo River. 120 acres for 20 pounds. Granted by patent to George Walton. Bounded by Fountains line, Henry Short, Roberts. Samuel Cox signs by mark, has no wife who relinquishes dower