Whence I Came

Horsley's Mill was referenced in The Vestry Book of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia 1706-1786  as a landmark in two procession years; 1731 and 1739.  In both years, Horsley's Mill was a starting point in describing the precinct it bounded: Ordered into one precinct for processioning all the Lands below Horsley's Mill, upon a Strait Line to Chickahominy Swamp, and to the Extent of this parish downwards... Which meant that the precinct included all the land between Horsley's Mill Pond, the Chickahominy Swamp, and the border with St. Peter's Parish (New Kent County).   In 1731, land owners within this precinct included Mr. Joseph Baughon (Vaughan?), Simon Woody, William Bostick, John Philips, William Leak, Richard Leak, Anthony Waddy, Walter Leak, Walter Chapman, Col. John Fleming, William Reynolds, John Hopkins, John Goodwin, Robert Wood, Henry Crumpton, Henry Kerby (Kirby?),  Thomas Longwood, John Thorp, Richard Crafford (Crawford?), Abraham Burnet, D...

While researching the Burnetts of Hanover County, Virginia, the name William Reynolds Burnett came up repeatedly.  Apparently, William took his middle name of "Reynolds" very seriously as he is referred to in full Christian name in many early records.  The first entry of his full name is in the 1739 St. Paul's Parish procession record for Precinct 19.  In the same precinct, Abraham Burnett was also listed but with no middle name or initial.  In fact, most of the Burnetts in the extant Hanover County, Virginia records were recorded with only a first and last name.  Occasionally, a middle initial would be used to differentiate Burnett men with the same first name.  But rarely was the full middle name used with such emphasis; William Reynolds Burnett.  Below is an example of Burnett's full name copied from the 1763 Hanover County Quit Rent Roll (transcribed) showing that he paid his land tax for 100 acres to the King of England. Each time I came acro...