Richard Echols
| Born | Ante 1715 |
| Died | After 1777 |
| Parents | John Echols (born 1650) and Mary (Cave) Echols |
| Spouse | Catherine (Evans) Echols |
| Children | Moses Echols, John Echols (born 1736), James Echols, Bejamine Echols, Obediah Echols, Joseph Echols, Mary Echols, Drusilla Echols, Sally Echols, Anna Echols |
Summary
Richard Echols owned significant land in Halifax County, Virginia. There are several surviving records of land grants and patents for "Richard Echols" or "Richard Eckholds", which are described in their own section.
Some of this land appears to have been sold by his son, John Echols. (See more under September 10, 1755)
In addition, there is a land grant said to be adjoining that of Richard Echols: Land grant 25 September 1762 (LOV)
Sale of land (mentions wife, Catherine) (FamilySearch)
According to Milner's The Echols Family History, Richard had a daughter named Mary who married a "Thomas Wynn". This is corroborated by additional evidence: FamilySearch.
Richard is mention as a "first settler" in the area around Sycamore Creek of Staunton River according to a surveyor's record, as written in 1741 (The History of Pittslyvania County, Virginia Page 42).
Richard took an oath to be a vestryman as a part of the Church of England (The History of Pittslyvania County, Virginia Page 60). A digitized record of the oath is also available (FamilySearch).
Richard is mentioned extensively in Halifax County Road Orders.
According to The History of Pittslyvania County, Virginia (Page 73), "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". Also see: Old Survey Book 1 (Pittsylvania County).
The Echols group also used the "Eccles" spelling. For instance, in this petition (LVA). The summary of this petition (which directly substantiates a claim made in The History of Pittslyvania County, Virginia), per the Library of Virginia, is the following (additional note: the document itself mentions Joseph Echols, the fourth of the Echols group, despite his absence in the abstract):
Abstract : Contains a petition of Paulin Anderson, Richard Anderson, Jr., Roger Anderson, Pierce Butler, William Eccles, Thomas Eccles, Abraham Eccles, & Richard Eccles to [Lieutenant Governor William Gooch] asking for leave to survey & patent six thousand acres of land below Stock's Creek or Bent Creek in Spotsylvania County.
Land grants
Land grants are organized by date granted. Most of the relevant information in this section stems from the Library of Virginia.
April 6, 1734
Transcribed (to the best of my ability):
Richard Echols 397 acres and ? page 3?
George the second and all on know ye that for divers good causes and confirmations but more especially for and in consideration of the sum of forty shillings of good and lawful mony for our now paid to our ? General of our Reverend in this our Colon and Dominion
(next page)
of Virginia We have given granted and confirmed and by these presents for us our heirs and successors do give grant and confirm unto Richard Echol and one certain tract or parcel of land containing three hundred and ninty seven acres lying and being in prims? George County on the side side of appamattox river adjoining Abraham Echols lower ? and bounded as followeth (to wit) Beginning at the said Abraham Echols lower corner ? upon the river thence adjoining his line east thirty six degrees north ? hundred poles to a corner Sycamore on appamattox River thence up the same as it meanders to the first station ?
…
The land is said to be adjoining the land of Abraham Echols, his brother.
Source: LOV, FamilySearch
June 25, 1747
Transcribed (to the best of my ability):
Echols, Richard
221
George the second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith.
To all whom these Presents shall come Greeting. Know Ye that for ? good causes and considerations but more especially for and in consideration of the sum of Twenty five shillings of good and Lawful Money for ? ? paid to our Reroive? General afore ? in this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia
We have given granted and confirmed and by those presents for us ? and ? DO give grant and confirm unto Richard Echols ? ?
…
Source: LOV
August 20, 1748
Richard Echols
332
George the second by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith to all to …
Source: LOV
August 5, 1751
Transcribed (to the best of my ability):
Richd Echols
180
George the second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Know ye that for diverges and causes and by considerations but more especially for and in consideration of the sum of twenty shillings of good and Lawful money for our use paid to our Receiver General of our Revenues in this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia We have given granted and confirmed and by these Presents? for us our heirs and ? ? do give grant and confirm unto Richard Echols one certain Tract of Parcel of Land confirming one hundred and eighty acres lying and being in the County of Lunenburgh on both sides of Umphrey's mill Creek and bounded as followeth to with Beginning at a white oak on the said Umphrey's Lane thence South thirty six Degrees West fifth eight Poles to a Pine thence North seventy seven Degrees West one hundred Poles to a hiccory thence south one hundred and fifth poles to a black oak thence East eighty eight Poles to a red Oak thence North sixty six and an half Degrees East two hundred Poles to a black Jack North thirty six Degrees West fifty Poles to Ponters? on Humphuys? Line thence on the said Line Wesst fifty Poles to his Corner white Oak thence along his Line again North forty seven and ? Degrees West eighty two Poles enforcing? his mill Dam to the Beginning With all Woods Underwoods Swamps Marshes ?grounds Meadows Feedinsg and his ? thare? of all Veins Mines and Luauries? as well discovered and not discovered within the Bounds aforesaid and Being Part of the said Luantity? of one hundred and eighty acres of Land and the Reverd? Maters? and Mater? Courses therein contained together with the Privileges of Hunting Panking? Fishenig? Forlong? and all other Crafts Commodities and Heredetaments? whatsoever to the same or any Part thereof belonging or in any wise appertaining to have hold …
Source: LOV
February 5, 1753
Richd Echols's
Pd: 400 A
…
Source: LOV
September 10, 1755
Transcription (to the best of my ability):
Richd Echols's
Pat: 650 Acres
? Page 2
…
Received land via patent near Banister river and Turable creek.
A subsection of this land (identified by date of patent) was sold by his son, John Echols, as detailed in Deed Book, Halifax County (Book 9, page 378).
Source: Library of Virginia
August 7, 1761
Richd Eckhols
?00 Acres
…
Richd Eckhols
550 Acres
…
Source: LOV
Revolutionary War
The Daughters of the American Revolution (dar.org) lists a "ECKLES, RICHARD" (Ancestor #A214041) which matches this Richard Echols, with the following information:
- Service: VIRGINIA
- Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE
- Birth: ANTE 1715
- Death: POST 12-16-1777 PITTSYLVANIA CO VIRGINIA
- Service Source: MAG OF VA GENEALOGY, VOL 23, NO 1, FEB 1985, P 8
- Service Description: 1) TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE, 1777
- Residence: 1) County: PITTSYLVANIA CO - State: VIRGINIA
- Spouse: 1) CATHERINE X
The "Service Source" (VGS Magazine Vol. 23, No. 1) (vgs.org) lists both "Joseph Echols" and "Richard Echols" under "Charles Kennon's List" for "OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE".