John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 1430

I continue with a few more selections from the Warrants and Surveys.

• “Henry Huffman/Hoffman, 10 Sept 1766 - 10 Oct 1766;
• 369 a. to include his patent [from the Crown] with this entry in one deed; resurveyed a parcel of land for Huffman being part of a greater tract granted to William Deatherage 10 Jan 1735 & a part sold to Huffman 24 Mar 1747 (recorded in Culpeper Court), plus 41 a. waste & ungranted land;
• adj. William Tapp, Williss br., Deatherage (now Huffman’s), Frederick Fishback, Fitzhugh’s old field, & a poison field.
• CC - Herman and Joseph Huffman,
• Pilot - Frederick Fishback.
• Surv. Richard Young.”

This is the “other” Henry Huffman, the one that is not a brother of the 1714 John Huffman.  Notice that the land (in the Little Fork), which sold in 1747, was not recorded until after Culpeper County was formed in 1748.  The poison field that is mentioned was the result of Indians burning the trees and grass in an area to allow a better crop of grass to grow.  This attracted the deer.

John Huffman had a survey 27 Apr 1752 for 3,525 acres (this was in the Robinson River Valley on Deep Run).  (He had been accumulating land since 1728.)  On the reverse of the survey notes, it says, “to be drawn & sent to Jacob Holtzclaw.”  I have always wondered why John wanted Jacob to see it.  Was this a case of “kick the tires and slam the door”?

Picking another name at random,

• “Adam Kilby, 16 Mar 1776 - 9 Apr 1776;
• 42 a. in the Great Fork ca. two miles from Hazel River;
• adj. John Kilby, decd., himself, John Vawter, William Thompson, Jno. Reynolds.
• CC - Jno. Kilby & Jonathon Wall.
• Surv. George Hume.”

The previous did not say, but it was probably waste land, meaning land never before patented or granted.

Here is another Little Fork Warrant & Survey,

• “Jacob Nay of Orange; no warrant, date from survey, 10 Jan 1748 - 24 Jan 1748;
• 146 acres on br. of Negro Run;
• adj. William Harris, Charles Dewit, Otterback, Button.
• CC - Harman Miller & Joseph Conts.
• Surv. John Bayliss.”

After the surveyor had surveyed a plot for Henry Otterback & John Button in 1748, Jacob Nay, 16 years old, an orphan, claimed 100 acres within the survey, which had been bought by his Mother of Cha: Dewit.

• “By Jacob Houlsclaw I am informed Nae has got 140 a. & is satisfied.  Draw deed as surveyed.”