John May, of Richmond County

• Not the same as John May, of Pitt County or of John Mays, of Kentucky
• Not the son of Mattox Mays

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From Doug McBroom, Allen, Texas:

John MAY was b. c1705 in ?Scotland (?Virginia), d. will written 17 Mar 1785, will proven 11 Nov 1786 in Richmond County, Georgia. His date of birth is based on the ages of his children.

He m. _____. She was b. ?c1710, d. bef. 1786.

Ida BROOKS KELLAM in BROOKS and Kindred Families, said that John MAY "...landed near the mouth of the James (River)...(and that) he m. Jane WILLIAMS, daughter of Roger WILLIAMS of Wales." Some of her other information was inaccurate, and she is the only source for the information on that John's marriage. She stated that John MAY of Richmond County, Georgia, came from old Orange County, North Carolina, based on land records from John & Jane [MAY] BROOKS in the Little Lick Creek area.

Juliann MAY believes that John MAY came to North Carolina from Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Research by Juliann MAY, Robert E. JOHNSTON, & Florinda PORTER seems to confirm that John MAY of Richmond County, Georgia was in Orange County, North Carolina by 1752, in that part which became Chatham County, North Carolina in 1770. He has been confused with the John MAY who remained in Orange County, North Carolina, in the Eno River area, St. Mary's Parish.

Juliann MAY stated that John MAY & his son, William, were Regulators in the 1766-71 resistance movement against the governing officials and their taxes in Orange County, North Carolina. The resistance was crushed at the battle of Alamance Creek, near Hillsboro in MAY 1771, when Governor William TRYON and his troops defeated 2000 Regulators. Harmon HUSBANDS was also one of the Regulators.

He was not the John MAY, Planter who received a Land Grant in 1756 in Orange County, North Carolina for 520 acres from the Earl of Granville, signing his mark as “JM.” See that line listed in Addendum 1 of this file. See Addendum 2 for a list abstracts of the various early Georgia records for men named John MAY whose identity remains uncertain at this time.

John MAY probably came to Richmond County, Georgia in c1775, settling on land located on or near Brier Creek & near Rocky Comfort Creek. John MAY’s will in 1786 in Richmond County, Georgia was witnessed by Ambrose JONES, Michael McNEILL, & Mary JONES. John signed this will with his mark, "J M." In 1786, Thomas CHILDREE, Joseph ?BEASLEY, & James SIMPSON appraised the estate of John MAY. Much of this appraisal is illegible, but it included "2 Negros boys." John's estate was inventoried in 1786 by Ambrose JONES, Benjamin MOSELY, & Michael McNEIL. It consisted of 3 horses, 6 cattle, 20 hogs, 170 bushels of corn, & a man's saddle. It was valued at £55.15s.

The sons of John MAY of Richmond County, Georgia were John MAY, Jr., James MAY, William MAY, & Joseph MAY. In a 2002-2003 Y Chromosome MAY DNA Study was done through Family Tree DNA whose lab work was done by the University of Arizona. A male descendant from the lines of these early Georgia MAY families of: John MAY who d. c1785 in Wilkes County, Georgia; Joseph MAY of Wilkes & Warren Cos., Georgia who moved to Pike County, Mississippi in c1803; & James MAY who d. 1789 in Warren (now Wilkes) County, Georgia, participated in this study. The results were a 25/25 match for these three lines. Given these matches, along with the research on those line, the preponderance of evidence would show that these men are the sons of John MAY of Richmond County, Georgia.

We are in the process of merging all of this information but have not yet changed what was previously thought about the origins of these newly discovered sons. Any input in that direction will be appreciated.

The children of John as listed in his will were:

• A. Jane MAY, b. 1729. Line continued because of amount of information.
• B. John MAY, Jr., b. c1730 in ?Scotland
• C. Joseph MAY, b. 1732 in Virginia/North Carolina/South Carolina
• D. Sarah MAY, b. by ?1740. She m. _____ SUTTON. We have no further information on this line but note that Joseph SUTTON bought 640 acres of land from Derby HENLY in 1760 in St. Matthew's Parish, Orange County, North Carolina. A Joseph SUTTON was on the 1779 tax list of Randolph County, North Carolina. There was a Joseph SUTTON in the Hillsborough District, Randolph County, North Carolina on the 1790 census with 2 males over 16, 5 males under 16, & 4 females.
• E. Sealy MAY, b. by ?1740. She m. _____ ORRICK. We gave no further information on this line but note that John, Samuel, & William ORRICK were on the 1779 tax list of Randolph County, North Carolina
• F. Milley MAY, b. by ?1740. She m. _____ HOLIDAY. We gave no further information on this line but note that Henry HOLLIDAY was on the 1755 tax list of Orange County, North Carolina. He bought 262 acres of land from William BRAXON in St. Luke's Parish, Orange County, North Carolina in 1761. A Henry HOLLIDAY was on the 1779 tax list of Orange County, North Carolina. In 1790, a Henry HOLLADAY, Sr. & Jr. were on the tax list of Hillsborough, Chatham District, Orange County, North Carolina, along with William & Robert HOLLADAY.
• G. James MAY, b. c1740 in Virginia/North Carolina
• H. William MAY, b. ?c1745

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Wife named is Mary. (She may be a Stafford, but people are confusing her with the Mary Stafford dau. of William Stafford IV that married to a different John May of Pitt, North Carolina and secondly to a Mullett. She lived to be 106 years old.)

Children of John May and Mary

1. Martha Ann May b. 1715 d. 21 Nov 1796 m. William Nance

2. John May b. 11 Jan 1725 d. 31 Mar 1760

3. James May b. 6 Feb 1726 d. Abt 1773

4. Mary May b. 2 Jun 1727 m. Ragsdale

5. Dorothy May b. 9 Dec 1728 d. ? m. Alexander Bruce, Jr.

6. Elizabeth May b. 2 Oct 1730 d. Sept 1770 m. Robertson
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other branches:

1 Mary Stafford b: 1727 d: 1823 + John May b: May 1723 d: 1764
2 Sarah Hetty May b: From 1746 to 1749 d: Abt 1863 + Robert Evans b: Abt 1726 d: Abt 1830

WILL
Will of John May, written in 1759, Probate and Inventory, 1767 - Amelia Co. VA
Amelia County, Will Book 2 x, Page 187
In the name of God, Amen. I John May of Amelia County being very infirm in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for the same but calling to mind the Mortality of the body and that it is appointed for all flesh to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament and as touching on my worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the Following manner and Forms

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my Son John two Acres of land lying in Dinwiddie County (more or less) On the Old Sappony Road it being part of that Tract of Land I Sold to Mr Robert Rudfin (?) Also every thing else he is now possessed of that was my own heretofore.

Item I leave to my Dearly beloved Wife Mary the use of my negro Tom during her natural life and after her decease to be Possesd by Son James.

Item I give to my Daughter Martha Nance four Pounds also a bell Mettle Kettle.

Item I give to my Daughter Mary Ragsdale four pounds.

Item I give to my Daughter Dorthy Bruices Four pounds

Item I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Robertson four pounds

The above four Legasies left my Daughters to be paid in good and Lawfull money of Virginia by my Executor hereafter mentioned to be levy'd out of my Personal Estate.

Item I Give to my well beloved Son James whom I likewise Constitute make and Ordain my Only and Sole Executer of this my last will and Testament all my land negroes & Estate both Real & Personal by him freely to be Possed & Injoy'd for ever AND I as hereby revoke Disanul all former wills Testaments Legasies and Executers Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and Seal this eighteenth day of Maye One thousand Seven hundred and fifty nine.

Signed & Declaired by the said John May as his last will and Testament in the presence of the subscribers John I May Saml Sherwin Richard R Wilson Gideon Winper

At a Court held for Amelia County this 28th day of May 1767 This Will was proved by the Oaths of Saml. Sherwin and Richard Wilson two of the Witnesses thereto Sworn to by the Executor therein named and Ordered to be Recorded And on the motion of the said Executor who entered into and acknowledged Bond with Security as the law Directs Certificate was granted him for Obtaining a probate in Due form.
Inventory
Inventory of the Estate of John May, Decd.
Amelia County Will Book 2x, pages 210-2
To Wit:

• Tom a Mulatto Slave

Copper Kettle, 3 Iron potts, 3 Flatt Ditto, 3 pott hooks & pott Rack , 1 Old kettle, Curry knife and Steel, Rundlet, Spice Morter, 2 Tables 6 Old Tubs, 2 Bread Trays, 5 Casks, Flax Wheel part of an Old Whip San & Tiller a garter Loom Chests 2 Old Trucks and bottle Case a frying pan a pair of fire tongs a pair Stillards a Spinning Wheel and Spindle a Buckett Sugar looking Glass and Candle Stick a pair pincers a pair snippers a shoe Hammer a gun and Bayonett a Small Box 2 Beds & Bed heads, Old Horse, a box Iron, Flax hatchel, 3 Rugs 2 Blankets a pair sheets, pillow, chamber pott 2 Old Books & a pair of Do, Single pott hooks a Jointer, Crows Howel (?) Taper bitt & stock a Cowel bitt 2 Bung Boarers and Coopers axx a handsaw 2 Augers Square and Compass a foot adds a Hammer 2 Chisels, Pewter dishes 6 plates 2 Basons 2 porringers 2 Earthen plates 3 butter Potts, Earthen Bowle & a pint Mug & 21 head of Cattle
October 22 1767 James May