James Coleman

JAMES COLEMAN of Essex, Spotsylvania and Orange Cos. VA

• b. ca. 1705
• d. Will dtd. 13 Oct 1764, prov. 22 Nov 1764 \(St. Thomas Parish, Orange Co. VA\)
• m. bef. 31 Jul 1732 Eleanor/Ellender Madison Spotsylvania Co. VA (daughter of John Madison II of King & Queen Co. and Isabella Todd\)

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Children of Mary E. CLAYTON and Robert E. COLEMAN are:

ii. James COLEMAN was born 1705 in Virginia, and died 1764. He married Mary Eleanor MADISON 31 JUL 1732 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, daughter of John MADISON and Isabella Minor TODD. She was born 1700 in King & Queen County, Virginia, and died 1751.

No evidence has been found to indicate Isabella Todd was a Minor. She may even have been the widow of a Todd. Eleanor was a sister of Ambrose Madison whose will, dated 31 Jul 1732 devised to James Coleman./a> and his wife 600 acres adjoining the plantaion then owned by James Coleman. \(Spotsylvania Co. Records, Will Bk. 3, p. 172)

Eleanor was still alive in May of 1751. From Orange Co. VA Deed Bk. 12, p. 1, May 1751: "James Coleman of St. Thomas Parish, Orange Co., Gentleman, and Eleanor, his wife, Deed to Elizabeth Willis./a>, Orange Co. VA, 18 acres-corner to Mr. Richard Todd & John Minor – beginning at a pine in a branch, etc., west to the main road." Signed, James Coleman, Eleanor Coleman, Elizabeth Willis. Wit: Thos. Scott, James Scott, George Merrill.

James Coleman and Colonel George Taylor were godfathers to Ambrose Madison, born 27 Jan 1755. Ambrose was a brother of President James Madison. James Coleman was a Justice in Orange Co. 1737, and Churchwarden and Vestryman of St. Thomas’ Parish in 1757. Among other church duties, James insured that no one except doctors rode a horse on Sunday other than to church, punished the use of profane language, arrested the rector if he drank too much on court day, and jailed Baptists for preaching without a license.

At the time James married Eleanor (date unknown), he lived in Spotsylvania Co. His land became part of Orange Co. \(St. Thomas Parish\) in 1734. Deed records of Orange Co. VA \(Deed Bk 9, p.52, 1734) show this James Coleman in the county. "Elijah Daniel of Caroline Co. and Mary, his wife, and Edward Spencer and James Coleman, Gentlemen, Church Wardens of the Parish of St. Thomas, 200 acres purchased by the vestry, also 307 acres for the use of the Parish, for 20,000 lbs. of tobacco...deed to the above men, Churchwardens aforesaid." Signed: Elijah Daniels. Witness: Thomas Scott.

Orange Co.VA Order Bk. 6, p. 192, 1755: "James Coleman qualified as Deputy Sheriff". In 1757 (p. 367) "James Coleman qualified as Sheriff".

His will was dtd. 13 Oct 1764 and was admitted to probate 22 Nov 1764. James’ will does not name a wife, evidence she predeceased him. Named in his will were children Betty Scott, Ambrose Coleman, Mary Holland, James Coleman and a niece, Mary Coleman Ellis.

From Orange Co. WB 2, pp. 353-355, 1744-1778: Ex: Thomas Scott, Wit: James Madison, Philip Eastin: "Unto my niece Mary Coleman Ellis, 15 lbs. current money, also one old bed and furniture & chest which she has the use of and one spinning wheel". Daughter Betty Scott received 2 negroes. Son Ambrose received negroes Sampson & Jacob and Orange Co. land. Daughter Mary Holland received negroes Harry & Sarah. Son James received 200 acres from a patent of Henry Bailey, 200 acres from a patent of William Ogilvie, 300 acres from "my own patent" 20 Sep 1745, 133 acre patent, all in the county of Albemarle.

From part of Essex Co. came Spotsylvania. From parts of Spotsylvania came Orange Co. It is evident that the James Coleman in Essex Co. in 1729 and 1730 was the James who was living in Spotsylvania Co. by 1732 and in Orange Co. in 1734:

Essex Co. DB 19, p. 79: James Coleman and Nathaniel Sanders, "tenn" thousand pounds of tobacco 16 Dec 1729. Above bound James Coleman hath obtained a license to keep an ordinary at Sanders’ ordinary. One whole year from the day of the date hereof....16 Dec 1729.

Essex Co. DB 19, p. 169: James Coleman, Richard Willshire and Robert Greaves, ten thousand pounds of tobacco 15 Dec 1730. Above bound James Coleman hath obtained a license to keep an ordinary at Sanders’ ordinary. One whole year from the day of the date hereof....15 Dec 1730.

"Therefore the sd James Coleman doth constantly provide in his said ordinary good wholesom and cleanly lodgeing and diet for Travellers and Stableage, fodder & provender or pasturage and provender as the season shall require for their Horses, for the term of one whole year from the date hereof, and shall not suffer any unlawfull gameing in his house nor on the Sabbath day permit any to Tipple or drink more then is necessary that then the above obligation to be Void else to remain in force."

In a 1737/8 petition Orange Co. VA: George Eastham sheweth he is overseer from James Coward’s to Hanover line, which is very ill convenient for one overseer. He prays it may be divided at the second bridge about Mr. Coleman’s and that Col. Grymes’, Mrs. Madison’s and Mr. Minor’s tithables work on the lower part of the road, and the tithables at Mr. Todd’s two quarters, at Capt. Todd’s quarter and at Mr. Coleman’s work on the upper part of the road, and that John Botts or his brother Aaron Botts be appointed overseer of the upper part.

Orange Co. DB’s 3 & 4, 1738-41, James Coleman witnessed a deed on 22 Mar 1738 between Richard Phillips of St. George’s Parish, Spotsylvania Co. to John Cook of St. Mark’s Parish, Orange Co. On the same date, he witnessed a deed between Richard Phillips and Moses Harris of St. Mark's Parish, Orange Co.

Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mobjackbaycolemans/index.html