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| Research Notes for John SEAWRIGHT | ||||||||||||||
| John Seawright was thought, by some, to have been the son of Samuel Seawright and Elizabeth Templeton who died in South Carolina. However, from information in "The Saga of the Seawrights" by Nell Seawright Reeves, page 111, it has been determined that, the John Seawright, son of Samuel, was a different man. He was born before 1747 in Ireland and died in 1807 in Orangeburg District, S.C.. He lived on Beaver Creek. John Seawright of this Family Group Sheet was in Augusta County, Virginia at least by 24 July 1740. He had a survey in 1738 for 819 acres on the North side of Cathey's River. "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia," by Lyman Chalkley, Vol. II, page 375: "(74) ( ) ber ye 16, 1738, survey for Jno. Seawright, beginning at said Seawright's White Oak, corner ye Beever Run, corner George Hutchison, 919 acres. This survey returned for Jm. Preston Surveyed April ye 23, 1739." Same page: "(75) 9 ber ye 16, 1738, survey for Dr. Seawright, begiming m No. Side Carthrie's River." (Who is Dr. Seawright?) On page 374 of same volume: "(56) 8 ber 20, 1738, survey for George (Seawright, bright?), begiming (ok) on West side South Fork of Shenandore below ye mouth of a Spring branch..." (Number of acres not given)(Who is George Seawright?) "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia," by Lyman Chalkley Vol. I, page 42, "April 1804 ... 1505 acres on Naked Creek, including a tract of 230 acres of a patent to John Searight, 26th April, 1742, and also a patent to James Leeper, 12th July 1746.." (James Leeper was John's father-in-law.) It was legal in Virginia in those early days for land to be purchased in any name, regardless of age of that person. However, it is believed that John Seawright was an adult man when he came to Virginia and if he were 21 when he had a survey in 1738, he would have been born in 1717. (His exact birthrate is not known.) His Will dated 17 February 1784. Probated 3 August 1811 in Staunton, Augusta Co., Virginia. Since wills were not made until a man thought he was about to die, we can be assured that John Seawright probably died in 1784, in Augusta Co., VA. Therefore, this John could not have been the son of Samuel Seawright and Elizabeth Templeton. My John is a generation older than the John in SC, who died in 1807. That John may have been married to a Sarah but not Sarah Leeper. "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, by Lyman Chalkley, Vol. II, page 176 and 177: "Seawright vs. Seawright --O. S. 220; N.S. 78-James Seawright died intestate in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. George Ayler (Ohler) deposes he is son of Anthony and Am Catherine Ayler, witnesses to John Seawright's will. Ann Rankin, daughter of John Seawright, whose will is dated 1784, deposes. George Ayler deposes, 1811, that Anthony Ayler died about 10 years ago and Anna Catherine about four years before him John Seawright has no nephew named John Seawright. Bill filed by John Seawright, is grandson of John Seawright who died 1784 testate. He is same person as called nephew in the will. James Seawright, son of testator John, is dead intestate, leaving widow who is administratrix, and children viz: Sarah, Polly and James, and widow pregnant, the other heirs and representatives of testators are Robert Curry and Jane, his wife; Samuel Curry and Polly, his wife; Nicholas Curry and Sarah, his wife; Samuel McPheeters and Margaret, his wife; Isaac Rankin and Arm, his wife. Will of John Seawright, dated 17 February, 1784. Wife Sarah; son James; daughter Arm; nephew John Seawright; niece Margaret Seawright; (Also Margaret Henderson, late Seawright, wife of John Henderson, living in Georgia. She is complainant's sister); Robert Curry and wife, Samuel Curry and wife, Nicholas Curry and wife, Saml. McPheeters and wife, and infant children of James Seawright, live out of Virginia." George Seawright, son of John and Sarah Seawright, died in 1783. The John and Margaret Seawright mentioned in the above paragraph where children of George and Jane King Seawright. (Vol. I, page 237 of "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia") Sarah Leeper was the daughter of James and Margaret Leeper: "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia," by Lyman Chalkley, Volume III, page 93: "Page 443.--22d October 1765. Margaret Leeper's settlement, recorded of estate of James Leeper--Paid to the heirs, viz: To Isah (sic) Curry, Andrew Leeper, Wm. McMullen, Geo. Leeper, Jno. Seawright, Nicholas Leeper, Jno Leeper. Margaret Leeper, Jr., Saml. Henderson, Jas Leeper, Jr. in his life time." Sarah Leeper Seawright's part to her husband Jno. Seawright. (Isaiah frequently misspelled). From "My Augusta" by C. E. May, page 336, there is a story entitled, Seawright Spring. This Spring was developed into a type of resort. It passed through hands and there was a George Seawright in March 1884. Who this George was is unknown. By June 20, 1890, George had died and his land was partitioned. The waters from the spring were thought to be medicinal and was bottled and sold. From "A Record of the Seawright Family" by William Seawright, page 182: The Seawright Family. I. Augusta County, Virginia, Seawright Family. "The founder of this family was George Seawright, who came from Londonderry, Ireland, to Georgia. He had one son, John Seawright, who came to Virginia, married and reared a family of four children: George and John, now dead; James, who removed from Virginia; and Mrs. Anne Myers. George and John Seawright were in good circumstances. John being worth over thirty thousand dollars, and George nearly that amount. John Seawright left one child, and George had four." From records concerning John Seawright's will, we know the information about John's children was not totally correct. He had two sons and five daughters. It would be very interesting to find the George Seawright, supposed to be the father of John Seawright who married Sarah Leeper. It is uncertain if George Seawright was in Virginia when the survey was made for him in 1738. He could have been in Georgia at that time. Perhaps this George was brother of William Seawright who married Esther Thompson.18 | ||||||||||||||
| Last Modified 25 Nov 1999 | Created 14 Aug 2005 by Eric Aldhizer----www.aldhizer.com/genealogy |