Jacob Burrus, Sr.

Biography

Jacob Burrus was the son of John Burrus, Jr. He spelled his name Burroughs and Burras {see will, below}, both accepted variations of the name. He was probably born in King William County in the 1690's, based on the ages of his two brothers. He married Mary (unk.) and had nine children, all of whom survived him. Mary is believed to be a Tandy, another prominent family of that area, but this has not been proven. Others speculate her surname was Redd or Bibb.

Jacob's name first appears in deed records of King William County, Virginia in 1706. He received lands from his brother Thomas Burrus, who was allocating land to Jacob as a part of their father's estate. There are published histories from the Nathaniel Burrus line, who claim, Jacob immigrated about 1714. It is most likely, if his name appeared on a passenger list, it was because he was returning to Virginia from England, possibly receiving his education in England, as was customary for the time, since the education available in Virginia during Jacob Burrus' lifetime was limited at best.

In 1725, Jacob received another land patent for 400 acres in St. John's Parish in King William county. This is in addition to 130 acres received from his brother Thomas Burrus in 1706 which Jacob apparently sold to Orlando Jones, the same year. The land mentioned in Jacob's will, that was given to son Thomas on Hicoury [Hickory] Creek in Hanover County, is part of an original 400 acre land grant patented by Jacob in 1735, book 17 page 29.

Jacob was a well-respected member of Caroline County. He served as a Juror, and the Caroline County order books show he provided the security to post bonds for several of his neighbors. He obviously was a man of financial means. Land owners took turns maintaining and constructing the roads adjacent to their property. Jacob first appeared as a Supervisor of Roads in 1733, the first year such duties were recorded.

Jacob died c.1755 in Caroline County, Virginia. He left a will date 1742, in which he mentions his wife Mary, his five sons and his four daughters. The will was contested and was not settled until May 1767. [see text of will below]

Children of Jacob Burrus (or Burroughs) and wife Mary:

• William Burrus, probably the first born son, named as executor in his father's will.
• Henry Burrus born c.1710 died in 1760 in Louisa County, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Terry
• Jacob Burrus, Jr. born 1714 died 1778 in Caroline County, Virginia. He married Martha Harris
• Justinana Burrus born 1718-1720 married Robert Fleming Bibb
• Thomas Burrus born 1721 died 1789 in Surry Co., NC and married Sarah Martin
• Charles Burrus born 1722 died 1797 in Amherst County, Va and married Sarah Woolfolk
• Ann Burrus born 1726 married Jonathan Johnson
• Mary Burrus born 1730
• Elizabeth Burrus born 1732

Will of Jacob Burruss

1685 - 1755

Caroline County, Virginia

In the name of God Amen, the twentieth day of March, Anno Dommi 1742.

I Jacob Burroughs, of the Parish of Saint Margaretts and County of Caroline, being well in body and perfect in memory thanks be to Almighty God for it, and calling to rembrance the uncertainty of this life, and that all flesh must yield to death when it pleases God to call, do make and declare, this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

First - being penitent and sorry for all my sins and most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same, I commend my soul to Almighty God, my Savior and Redeemer in Whom and by whose merits, I trust and believe assuredly to be saved, to have full remission and Forgiveness of all my sins, and to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decedently buried at the Descretion of my Executors hereafter named, and for the sttling of my Temporal Estate and such Goods and Chattles as it hat pleased God to bestow on me, I do Order, give and bestow them in manner and form following:

Imprimize: I give and bequeath to my Dearly beloved wife Mary, one third of all my estate, real and personal with the Plantation whereon I now live, in Caroline County, during her natural life and after her decease to my son Charles and his heirs; in case of his dying in his nonage, to my son William and his heirs.

Item: I give to my well beloved son William, twenty-five pounds current money to be raised out of my estate and also one bed with furniture, a cow yearling and two ewes.

Item: I give to my beloved son Jacob, one young mare.

Item: I give to my beloved son Henry one cow and yearling; two ewes.

Item: I give to my beloved son Thomas, two hundred seventy three acres of land, being part of four hundred acres granted to my letters Patent bearing date the fifteenth of March 1735, lying on the side of Hicoury Creek in Hanover County to him, and his heirs and in case of his dying childless, to be equally divided among his four brothers above mentioned, or the suvivors of them, and also one Feather bed, a cow and yearling and two ewes;

Item: I give to my son Charles, besides the Plantation whereon I now live, after my wife's decease, a feather bed and furniture, a cow and yearling and two ewes, one iron pot, two puter [sic] dishes with six puter [sic] plates.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth, one feather bed with furnature [sic] a cow and yearling and two ewes, tow puter dishes and a bason [sic] and as for the rest of my estate that is not bequeathed nor given, I give and bequeath to my daughters, Ann, Justiniana, and Mary to be equally divded amongst them, and I hereby make and appoint my beloved wife Mary, and my beloved son William executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking, disannulling and making void, all former wills by me made.

Declaring this only to be my hand and seal the day above mentioned the 24th line being underlined and the word (forever) being raised in the 21st, 22nd and 30th lines

 Jacob Burras [seal]

Sealed in the presence of Mary [x] Burrus Reuben Harris James Fr Edwd Robbins
The above will was filed in suit papers in the clerk's office, Circuit Court Louisa County, Virginia.

Suit entitled Isaac Dvis vs William Burruss in the March, April, and May terms 1767.

For additional material see:
The Families of LOU DRAPER & CHARLIE MARTIN of Johnson and Henry Counties, Missouri by James M McMillen, Arlington, Texas. Published in .pdf format 13 January 2010

Jacob's estate administrator was Robert Fleming Bibb.

Call Number 31921
Title Burrus family genealogical chart.
Material 1 leaf.
Summary Descendants of Jacob Burrus (d. 1742) of Caroline and Orange Counties, Virginia. Other surnames mentioned: Brockman, Bush, Delaney, Embrey, Graves, Quisenberry and Tandy.
Format Photostat (negative).
Subject - Personal Burrus family
Burrus, Jacob, d. 1742, progenitor.
Brockman family
Bush family
Delaney family.
Embrey family.
Graves family.
Quisenberry family
Tandy family
Genre/Form Genealogical tables.
Genealogies -- Virginia -- Caroline County.
Genealogies -- Virginia -- Orange County.
Series Genealogical charts collection; 31921.

System Number 000493033On May 22, 1759, Thomas Burrus and wife Sarah sold 273 acres of land in Hickory Creek, Louisa (where I was born—W.E.B.) "left me by my father Jacob
Burrus, but his wife did mot sign the deed. On Aug. 28, 1759, Thomas Burrus and
wife Sarah sold 350 acres of land in Fredericksville Parish, Louisa (now Albemarle)
"acquired from Joseph Martin." Joseph Martin mentioned daughter Sarah Burrus in
his will, 1761, and named Thomas Burrus as one of the executors.

Magazine of Virginia Genealogy Vol 24 1986, No. 4; Page 63
Virginia Land Patent Book 17
Jacob Burrus of Caroline County, 400 acres in Hanover County both sides Hickory Creek; bounded by said Burrus corner and George Bracks line. 15 March 1735/6

Magazine of Virginia Genealogy Vol 24 1986, No. 4; Page 63
Virginia Land Patent Book 17
Jacob Burrus of Caroline County, 400 acres in Hanover County both sides Hickory Creek; bounded by Col. Symes and George Brack's corner and Mr. John Aylett's line. 15 March 1735/6

References

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 21 2023, 20:54:34 UTC
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I6272...
• THE BURRUS FAMILY < PDF >
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Burrus-237
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/208893641
• http://burrusfamily.com/burrus_book.htm