Whence I Came

Although we don't know the exact marriage date for John Thurman and Judith Hooper, we do know that they were living in Goochland County, Virginia by October 7, 1777.  This was the day that "John Thurman and Judith of Goochland" signed a Charlotte County deed to sell 460 acres of land on a branch of Cubb Creek to Charles Jordan.  A transcribed version of the deed is provided below. Exactly how John and Judith came into possession of these 460 acres is uncertain.  However, a year and a half before the Thurmans sold their land to Jordan, John Thurman was listed as part of an indenture with Meredith Catchings and Ann Catchings in the Charlotte County Virginia Order Book 4, page 81.  As you can see from the below entry, the purpose of the order was not made clear and finding this indenture in the Charlotte County deed books has proven fruitless.  Another look for the indenture is certainly warranted.  But it is possible that this indenture pertained to Joh...

A few years back, I came across the below 1778 Virginia Gazette advertisement while researching my Thurman family.  This Revolutionary War era ad created more questions for me than answers.  I couldn't help but wonder why "Mr. John Thurman", a young man originally from rural Hanover County, was acting on behalf of Dr. William Pasteur , the eminent 18th century Williamsburg surgeon and apothecary.  Pasteur's Beaverdam Creek plantation, mentioned in the ad, was comprised of 700 acres on the north side of the James River.  Today, there is a historic home known as Mount Bernard which proudly stands on a small portion of the original plantation which maintains sweeping views of the James River valley.  According to a historic survey of the property prepared by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources , it is believed that Mount Bernard was built upon an 18th century foundation - the time frame of the below subject ad.    1778 Virginia Gazette...