The History of Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Summary

Book written by Maud Carter Clement which includes details from 1700s Halifax County. It was first published in 1929 and should be corroborated by primary sources.

The index has the following entry for Echols:

Echols, 55, 87.

Abram, 73.

John, 73. 74. 84.

Joseph, 73.

Louisa, 199.

Richard, 42, 60, 73.

William, 73.

There are several more references to an "Echols" that have not yet been investigated.

Notable excerpts

Page 42

In 1741 Benjamin Clement, of Amelia, patented land on Sycamore Creek of Staunton River, where a few years later he made his home. The names of William Blevin, Richard Echols and William Muncus, three first settlers, appear on the surveyor's record at this time; also Mary, Henry and Ephriam Sizemore, one of whose patents was on Peter Mitchell's Creek, beginning at "the Roads"; and another included the place on which Ephraim lived.

Source: FamilySearch

Page 55

Charles Carter and Dame Maria Byrd, executors of the will of Colonel William Byrd, deceased, began in 1746 to sell his lands north and south of Dan River, which were a part of the Order of Council for 105,000 acres granted to Col. Byrd in 1735. The great tract of land was called "The Havila," and the records of the sales fill many pages of the deed books of Lunenburg and Halifax Counties. Among the first purchasers were Alexander Irvine, Hugh Lawson, William Douglas, William Fuqua, Gideon Smith, David Evans, John Boyd, Hugh Moore and the Echols'.

This quotation is not yet linked to any page due to its vague wording. Note that John Echols (born 1736) married a Moore.

Source: FamilySearch

Page 60

The Church of England being the established church of the colony, as new counties were formed new parishes were laid out co-extensive with the counties, and the parish of Antrim was established in Halifax, probably taking its name from Antrim, Ireland, former home of Irish settlers. Certain official duties were entrusted to the vestrymen, such as the care of the poor and the marking of boundary lines. The following gentlemen¹⁶ took the oath of vestrymen and entered upon their official duties: James Terry, Richard Echols, Thomas Dillard, Thomas Calloway, Richard Brown, William Irby, Merry Webb, William Wynne, John Owen, Peter Wilson, John Gullington, Paul Carrington, Samuel Harris and George Curry

Note that a few surnames are familiar (Wilson, Wynne).

Source: FamilySearch

Page 73

Captain Robert Wade's company of Halifax Militia took a range along the frontier in the summer of 1758. John Echols, ^[27] a member of the company, was probably detailed to keep a record of the expedition, for in his journal we read that in the month of August, "Capt. Robert Wade march't from Mayo Fort with 35 men in order to take a range to the New River in search of our enemy Indians. We marcht about three miles that day to a Plantation where Peter Rentfro formerly lived and took up camp. Next morning we marcht along to a place called Gobling Town where we Eat our Brakefast, and so continued our march and took up our camp that night at the Foot of the Blew Ledge (Blue Ridge).

Next Day we crossed the Blew Ledge and marched to Francis Eason's Plantation and continued there that night. Our hunters brought in a plentiful supply of venison. Next morning being Tuesday the 15th we marcht down to Richard Ratcliff's plantation on Meadow Creek where we continued that night. Next morning sent out Spyes and hunters to Spy for emeny signs and hunt for provisions."

Echols told how they spent several days there, and then one day five Indians came very unexpectedly upon them. He said the Indians "stood in amaise and Reason they had, for I suppose there were twenty guns presented at them. They said they were Cherokees. I made signs to them to shew me their Pass But they had none. They had with them five head of horse and Skelps that appeared to be whitemen. Four of the horses appeared as tho' they had been recetnly taken, the other was vary poor."

There was a hunter with them named Abraham Dunkleberry who said the Indians were Cherokees, but that they evidently were rogues. The Captain was doubtful of what he should do, but finally allowed the Indians to depart, which greatly displeased the men who said there was no use in ranging if the enemy were to be allowed to go after catching them. So after the hunter Dunkleberry had packed up his skins and gone the Captain appointed twelve men to go after the Indians, and over-taking them in an Orchard they killed four and wounded the other. Then finding so many Indian signs about and their ammunition running low, they decided to return home.

On Tuesday the 22nd they ate dinner on Blackwater Creek and spent the night at Robert Jones' Plantation at the head of Pigg River. The following day "myself and four more left the company and went across by Gobling Town and came to Mayo Fort that night. The Captain and the rest of the men tells us that they came to Hickey's Fort that night and the next day to Mayo Fort. I remember no more worth making a Remark of, so courteous Reader, I Rem

Yrs. etc.

John Echols."

At the bottom of the page:

²⁷Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. I, p. 254. John Echols, the author of the Journal, was probably a son of one of the four Echols, Richard, Abram, Joseph and William who in 1728 with others, patented 6,000 acres in Spottsylvania County on Bent Creek. In 1745-6 Richard, Abram, Joseph and William Echols patented lands in Pittsylvania and adjacent counties.

Source: FamilySearch

Page 84

John Echols is robbed

Source: FamilySearch

Page 87

Refers to a "Quaker Echol"

This quotation is not yet linked to any page due to its vague wording.

Source: FamilySearch

Page 199

¹⁶Thomas Hill Wooding was the son of Colonel Robert Wooding of Halifax. He married Susanna C., and had issue: 1. George Wooding. 2. Nathaniel Wooding. 3. Thomas W. Wooding. 4. John Wooding. 5. Robert Wooding. 6. William Henry Wooding. 7. Louisa who married Echols. 8. Eliza who married Williams.

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