Editing John Echols (born 1736)

{{Infobox person
| name = John Echols
| image = ...
| born = ...
| died = February 13, 1826 (Madison County, AL)
| parents = [[Richard Echols]] and [[Catherine (Evans) Echols]]
| spouse = [[Lucy Annah (Moore) Echols]]
| children = [[Samuel Moore Echols]], ...
}}

== Summary ==

'''John Echols''' was born to Richard and Catherine Echols in Halifax County, Virginia. His father patented several tracts of land, at least some of which were passed down to John. In Virginia, John Echols and his immediately family acted as witnesses for several deeds (land sales) and sold a section of land that he had inherited from his father.

Eventually, John and his family left Virginia. He may have originally intended to settle in Georgia; however, he served on a committee to locate sites of public buildings in Morgan County, Alabama and later died in the neighboring Madison County, Alabama.

He is mentioned in several deeds, chancery records, and a surviving will.

== Virginia ==

Unverified data about Echols in Halifax during the time period: [https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~janet/genealogy/Echols.html rootsweb]

=== Deeds ===

Mentioned (along with wife, Lucy, and daughter, Prudence) as witnesses to a land sale ([[Deed Book, Halifax County#A27, March Court 1778]]).
* Also a witness (along with wife, Lucy) for [[Deed Book, Halifax County#363, January Court 1778]]
* Sold a section of land given to him by his father, Richard Echols, who himself received the land via patent ([[Deed Book, Halifax County#Book 9, page 378]])

=== Chancery Records (Virginia) ===

This may also be the John Echols (and related family) involved in some Chancery Records:
* https://old.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=083-1795-007#img
* https://old.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=083-1804-031#img (there appears to be an Echols moving to Georgia which could corroborate the Virginia to Alabama move)

=== Personal Property Tax Records ===

These are the personal property tax records for John Echols in Halifax County in 1782-1786, 1789, and 1797:

* [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS47-1?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9X 1782], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS43-B?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9X 1783], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS4S-Y?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9X 1784], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS49-5?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9X 1784], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS49-B?view=fullText&keywords=Echols%20%20%20John%20Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9X 1785], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS49-2?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9X 1785], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS49-B?view=fullText&keywords=Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9X 1785], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS4M-S?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9X 1786], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PSWV-X?view=fullText&keywords=Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9Z 1789], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS44-4?view=fullText&keywords=John%20Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9D 1797], [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQK-PS44-4?view=fullText&keywords=Echols&lang=en&groupId=M9NT-Z9D 1797]

== Virginia to Alabama ==

Most sources suggest (or implicitly require) this John Echols (husband of Lucy Echols and father of Prudence Echols) to have traveled from his birth region of Halifax County, Virginia to Madison (or Morgan) County, Alabama. Despite the lack of an original source explicitly stating this move, I believe it is well-substantiated. 

Consider this table where we compare John Echols of Virginia with John Echols of Alabama (per his will).

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:33%;" | John Echols of Virginia
! style="width:33%;" |
! style="width:33%;" | John Echols of Alabama
|-
| 
* Named John Echols
* Has a daughter named "Prudence" who married "Christopher Irvin" ([https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:685P-2CRL?lang=en FS])
* Has a daughter named "Temperance" who married "John Rodgers" ([https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:68TS-R55B?lang=en FS])
|
* There is a "Samuel M. Echols" born in Virginia per Alabama census records ([[1850 Federal Census, Alabama]])
|
* Named John Echols
* Will mentions a "Prudence Irvin"
* Will mentions a "Temperance Rodgers"
* Will mentions a "Samuel M Echols"
|}

The latest I can reliably place John Echols in Virginia is 1797 (through the payment of taxes in Halifax County)

== Alabama == 

John Echols has connections to both Morgan County, Alabama and Madison County, Alabama. These are both adjacent counties in northern Alabama, so it is likely he either lived near the county border or moved the small distance at some point.

He was paid to $26 for 13 days of work helping to select the cite of public buildings in Morgan County, Alabama ([[Probate Records, Morgan County]]).

In addition, John Echols was a candidate for the position of Clerk of the Circuit Court in Cotaco County (now known as Morgan County ([https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/9s161690d Tufts]). He received 67 votes whereas the winner of the election received 159, with a total of 6 people listed as receiving votes.

In November 1819, John exchanged an enslaved girl named Jenny for some land in Limestone County, another county in the same northern Alabama region ([[Deeds Vol 01 1819-1825, Limestone County#Page 47]]). The other party in the transaction was a "James C. Moore", who is likely related to John Echols' wife, [[Lucy Annah (Moore) Echols]]. (I have read an as-of-yet unverified claim that James was the name of Lucy's grandfather)

Many more references to John and his son Samuel in the area need cataloging: https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text/results?count=100&q.groupName=7834190&q.text=Echols, https://huntsvillehistorycollection.org/hhc/vl/docs/Valley_Leaves_v14n04.pdf?a=vl

He may also be connected to a "William F. Echols" of Morgan County around the same time period. More research is needed on this possible connection ([https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text/results?count=100&q.groupName=7834190&q.text=Echols FamilySearch]).

=== Chancery Records (Alabama) ===

Source: appears to be a typed copy rather than the original [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C957-H467?view=fullText&keywords=Johnston%2CSamuel%20Johnston%2CDavid%20Bailey%2CJohn%2CJohn%20Echols%20David%20Bailey%20and%20Samuel%20Johnston%2Cand%20David%2Cand&lang=en&groupId= FamilySearch]

=== Will of John Echols ===

{{Quote|
In the name of God Amen. The fifth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, I John Echols, M.T. and Madison County being week in body but sound in memory do make this my last Will and Testament at the same time revoking all former wills by me made declaring this to be my last will and testament.

First: I give to my son Samuel M Echols, five hundred dollars in money, one horse called Pompy, one iron pot, and one feather bed all of which he hath received.

I lend to my son John Echols two Negroes Pompy a Negro man and Silva a Negro girl during his natural life and if he should die without an heir lawfully begotten of his body, I will the said Negroes to be sold and one third of the money arising from the sail I will to my son John Echols widow and if my son John Echols should have an heir lawfully begotten heirs, but if my son John should die and have no heirs of his body then I will the two Negroes aforesaid to the lawful begotten heirs of Samuel M. Echols.

I lend to my daughter during her natural life five Negroes (viz) Hearuner a Negro woman, James a lad, Jonathan a boy, Silva a girl, and Sarah a girl these five Negroes with all their increase I will to the lawful begotten heirs of Lydia Standifer to be equally deviled among them at her death. I give to my daughter Lydia also two iron pots, one dutch oven, one iron tea cittle and copper spice mortor, all she hath received.

I give to my daughter Patsy Ellis one Negro girl Doll which she hath received.

I give to my son James Echols one Negro boy by the name of Glasgow and two feather beds all he hath received.

I lend to my daughter Temperence Rogers during her natural life one Negro girl named Lucy and at her death I will said Negro girl with all of her increase to my granddaughter Caty Rogers, I give to my daughter Temperence Rogers one fether bed and furniture and one cow and calf all she hath received.

I give to my daughter Prudence Irvin two cows which she hath received, and also the whole residue of my estate not mentioned in my will at the same time I appoint my son John Echols and my friend James Irvin joint Executors of this my last will and Testament to which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixteen

John Echols ( Seal )

In presents of John I. Owen

Daniel Yong

David L. Owen, State of Alabama, County Court of Madison County this 13th day of February 1826, The last will and testament of John Echols, deceased, was this day produced in open court... and ordered to be recorded, etc.
}}

Source: [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GB3T-R2K?view=fullText&keywords=Echols&lang=en&groupId= FamilySearch]