John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 1426

Let us take a look at some folders of Northern Neck warrants and surveys in Culpeper County. I’ll take these from volume 3 of Peggy Shomo Joyner’s books on Northern Neck Warrants & Surveys. Forgive me if I emphasize in the selection those that pertain to people with whom I am acquainted.

“Michael Blankenbeker of Orange Co.;

20 Sept. 1748 - 17 Nov., 1748,

50 a. at head of Pass Run in the Great Fork in Orange Co.;

adj. his own land.

CC - Lawrence Garr & Jacob Blankenbaker.

Marker - Zachary Blankenbeker.

Surv. - Philip Clayton.”

There are two separate documents on which this is based: The Warrant and the Survey, with the two dates shown. Peggy Joyner reports the two as one single entry. Sometimes the information does not agree in the two documents, and she informs the reader when this is the case. Looking at Michael’s case above, Lawrence Garr married Michael’s sister, Dorothy. Jacob and Zachary were brothers of Michael. The three people assisting Michael and the surveyor are two brothers and a brother-in-law. Now, this is an extreme case of using relatives to do the dirty work. Zachary, as a marker, had the task of building monuments or signing trees to mark the course and corners of the plot.

“Adam Broyle, assignee of George Moyer;
10 Mar. 1753 - 10 Apr. 1753;
375 a. on Island Run, now called White Oak Run;
adj. his (Moyer’s) own land where he lives & patented 24 Jun 1726, Adam Yager, Michael Kafer, Christopher Moyer. [The last three names are more neighbors.]
CC - George Holt & Adam Wilhite.
Surv. - Philip Clayton.”

In the above folder are included the results of a Chancery Cause between Adam Broyle/Broil, Complainant, vs. George Moyer, Defendant. The above land was awarded to Broyle, 6 Aug. 1754, by the Culpeper Court. Wit. Robert Cobman and Wm. Brown. Roger Dixon, Clerk.

This shows that, in addition to the actual Warrant and Survey, the folder also may contain other relevant documents. In this case, there are aspects that not easily understood. Why did Moyer assign to Broyle before the court case was decided? I am making the following assumption: George Moyer had paid for the warrant on 375 acres of land. Adam Broyle believed that he had a prior claim. He brought suit. Before the suit was decided formally, Moyer assigned the warrant to Broyle, who had the land surveyed. Later, the court case confirmed these actions. [If anyone can correct me, please do so.]

Whether there were any relationships between the people is hard for me to say, as there were two Broyles in Culpeper Co. at the time. We would be looking for a relationship between Adam Broyle/Broil and George Holt, and a relationship between Adam Broyle/Broil and Adam Wilhite. George Holt was the son of Michael Holt and Elizabeth Scheible. George Holt is said to have married Mary Magdalena, the widow of John Caspar Stoever, Sr. He (George Holt) would not "seem" to have a relationship to Adam Broyle/Broil.
(08 Jul 02)

[ For all data on Surveys and Warrants :
a. = acres

adj. = adjacent (other property adjacent to the land in the Survey or Warrant;
shows names of "neighbors")

CC = Chain Carrier (person who carried the "chain" to measure the land)

Surv. = Surveyor
]

We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.