Samuel and Ann Brown Ferguson
Samuel Ferguson (Fargeson) of Culpeper (mid-1690s to 1772)
Samuel Ferguson (actually spelled Fargeson in most records) was the youngest son of John Ferguson and Ann Stubbleson of Essex County, Virginia. The year of his birth is unknown but various dates have been published in genealogy forums ranging from 1693 to the early 1700s. We know that he was the sixth child of John and Ann who were married in about 1682. If we assume on average a year and a half between births, Samuel would have been born sometime in 1691, for an average of two years between births, he would have been born in 1694, and for an average of two and a half years, he would have been born in 1696.
Samuel may have been born on his parent’s 150 acre estate (known as Cherry Walk) near the town of Tappahannock, located on the Rappahannock River. Samuel certainly grew up on this estate because records show that his father paid quit rent taxes on it in 1704. It is not clear, however, whether or not this land was purchased by John and Ann prior to Samuel’s birth.
Samuel does not show up in Essex County records until 19 March 1717 when his father’s Will was presented in Court. The landed portion of the estate was left to two older sons (John and James), but the Will does state that “it is my will and desire that if my wife do marry that then immediately after such her marriage, my two Negroes, Nacher and Bess, and all my personal estate shall be appraised and the whole value thereof be equally divided (after my just debts and funeral charges are paid) between my loving wife Ann and my two youngest sons, Joseph and Samuel Fargeson.” Only about six months later, Samuel’s older brother, Joseph, also died leaving Samuel “all my land as I have in Beverley Park Patent.” This land was located in present day King and Queen County (exact location unknown) and the number of acres involved was not stated in the Will. Because Joseph was relatively young when he died, the estate probably was not large, however.
Marriage. Samuel’s father’s Will was witnessed by Daniel Brown, a long-time family friend. On 20 February, 1722 [actually 1723 if this date uses the old style calendar] Daniel granted his daughter Ann and his son-in-law, Samuel, a 100 acre plot of land in Essex County that he had inherited from his father Francis Brown. This may have been part of Ann’s dowry, or perhaps a wedding gift. Because of this gift, it is generally assumed that Samuel and Ann were married sometime in 1722 or 1723. We know for sure that it was not later than this date.
Move to Culpeper County. Samuel continued to live in Essex county until the time of his mother’s death in 1735. In addition to being a planter, he shows up in a number of court records as an estate appraiser, bondsman and constable. On 8 October 1735, he purchased 300 acres in the Gourd Vine Forks area of present day Culpeper County (the purchase record is found in a list of patents in English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records) and presumbly moved there at this time. Samuel then shows up in numerous County Road Orders in this area, apparently located very close to a Daniel Brown, Jr. and other Browns
Samuel Ferguson (Fargeson) of Culpeper (mid-1690s to 1772)
-- possibly brothers or first cousins of his wife, Ann Brown. For example, the 24 May 1739 Court Order states:
“On Petition of Samuel ffarguson & Daniel Brown in behalf of themselves & others for a road from the Divils run out of the old road through ye Gourdwine fork to Thorntons Mill. Its ordered that ye said ffarguson, Brown & David Kinkead or any two of them view and lay off ye said road & make return of their proceedings to ye next Court.”
Samuel purchased relatively large land holdings in this area during the 1740s. For example, on 25 February, 1747 he acquired 1,124 acres “lying in the Pitch of the Gourd Vine Fork” from James Pendleton. Interestingly, on the same day a James Farguson (probably the son of his brother James) purchased 1,020 acres for £400 from James Pendleton in the same location -- “in the Pitch of the Gourdvine fork (being part of the 3,563 acres purchased of Henry Willis, Gent., dec’d in partnership with Mr. Joseph Thomas, Gent.)”. The next month (26 March 1747) Samuel bought 400 acres near Gourd Vine Fork from Robert Green for £40, but later in the year sold this tract to Reverend John Thompson for £25, taking a £15 loss (or perhaps considered a kind of donation). In any case, these were rather large sums at the time indicating that Samuel was reasonably well-off. Samuel was an Elder of St. Mark’s Parish in Culpeper County.
Family. Samuel’s Will dated 15 February 1772 indicates that he and Ann had eight children – three sons and five daughters (see attached chart). We do not know the birth order of the children or any of their dates of birth. However, since Samuel and Ann probably were married in 1722 or 1723, it may be safe to assume that most of their children were born between 1723 and 1740. Two of the sons pre-deceased their parents – first Benjamin in about August 1760 and then Francis in 1768. The third son was named Samuel Jr. (my ancestor). In addition, one of the daughters (name unknown) died prior to Samuel and Ann leaving three grandchildren to be raised by their father, (FNU) Clayton. The Will also suggests that Samuel was well connected with prominent Virginia families including the Pendletons, Strothers and Claytons. Samuel’s Will was proven in Court on 18 May 1772, indicating that he died earlier in the month, probably in his late 70s.
Prepared by John Ferguson
Jferguson3@cox.net
12 November 2007
Map from “Atlas to Accompany the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies”, plate XXII, map 5. Map dated July and August, 1862. Red dot is approximate location of Samuel Ferguson holdings in the 18th Century. Larger perspective can be seen in the map below.
