The following is from https://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=richardsorrells&i...

First mention is found in records of Goochland Co., which was formed from Henrico, in 1727. Later when Albermarle Co. was formed 1744, it placed him in that county and still later, when Amherst was formed in 1761, that county became his home, and there he died in 1783, being "ancient" in 1780, the date of his will. It is quite reasonable to suppose that he may have come from the Elizabeth City Co or the Charles City Co. Sorrells, traveling up the James River to Henrico and Goochland Counties and settling in the beautiful foot-hill section that later became Amherst Co. (Ancestry of Foy-Macy-Herron-Swindell-Hamilton. pp 51-57 Mormon microfilm #29883-the last item on the film)

He died 1783 in Amherst Co., (now Nelson Co-originally Albermarle) VA. His daughter, Priscilla, is said to have been born in James City County, VA. The Martin Dawson family said that he lived to be 115, as well as Martin Dawson who lived to be 115.

There is a John Sorrell in Prince George Co., VA, someone owed him money on an estate.

From the Wills of Amherst co., VA 1761-1865, published by Davis:

John Sorrell--Book 2, page 140--written Mar 25, 1780; proved September 1, 1783. Witnesses: Terisha Turner, Benj. Moore, Ephraim Blaine, Saml. Anderson. Wife, Molly Coleman Sorrell-my land; daughter Katy Howard; granddaughter, Mary Ann Snead and two oldest children, Frances and Jno. Snead; grandson, Martin Dawson--as long as he is a gospel preacher; grandsons, Thos. and Wm. Dawson; great-grandson, Jon. Sorrell Dawson, son of my grandson, Jno. Dawson and wife, Sally--land on north side Hickory Creek. Jno. S. is to pay his brother, Pleasant Dawson, when of age, and brother, Benj. Dawson, when of age--sons of Jno. and Sally Dawson; also his brother, Martin Dawson, when of age; great-granddaughter, Susannah Dawson, daughter of my grandson, Jno. Dawson and wife, Sally, when of age. Great-granddaughter, Mary Dawson, daughter of Jno. and Sally, when of age or married: great-granddaughter, Priscilla Dawson, daughter of Jno. and Sally Dawson, when of age or married. Great-granddaughters, Nancy and Betsy Dawson, daughters of Jno. and Sally; grandson, Jno Dawson, son of Martin Dawson and wife, Priscilla. Executors: grandsons, Jno. and Martin Dawson and wife, Priscilla. Executors: grandsons, Jno. and Martin Dawson and Peter Lyons.

Book 2, Page 143--Administrators Bond--Jno. Dawson and Martin Dawson, Jr., Wm. Harris, Jno Loving, Jr., Jas. Turner, October 6, 1783, for J. and Martin Dawson. Book 2, Page 157--Inventory--Two pages so numbered; no total; March 1, 1784. Terisha Turner, Benj. Moore, Saml. Anderson.

From Our Southern Ancestors: JOHN SORRELL OF GOOCHLAND-ALBEMARLE-AMHERST COUNTY, VIRGINIA Chronological Order

If no citation to sources is given, the Goochland County records came from Goochland County, Virginia, Wills and Deeds 1728-1736, Benjamin B Weisiger, III, abstracter & compiler , 1983.

If no citation to source is given, the Albemarle and Amherst Co. deeds came from The Deeds Of Amherst County, Virginia, and Albemarle County, Virginia, !748-1763, Rev. Bailey Fulton Davis, 1970.

The Rucker Family Genealogy with Their Ancestors, Descendants and Connections (CS 71 R8879 19329 Va. State Library), Sadie Rucker Wood, 1932. JOHN SORRELL was paid 36 Ibs. Tobacco in Prince George County out of the estate of THOMAS JACKSON, 13 Sept. 1714. [Don't know if this is the same John Sorrell. TFCP}

JOHN SORRELL married first, MARY ____, who signed many deeds, and who died before 1770. Early in 1770 he married again, MARY COLEMAN ELLIS, a widow who survived him. No record has been found to give us the age of JOHN, but probably he was born about 1693, married about 1710 to his first wife, and he died in Amherst Co. Va. in 1783, leaving a will, which will be abstracted last.

Records found in Goochland County naming JOHN SORRELL

p. 40. 16 Nov. 1728. ROBERT ADAMS to JOHN SORRELL, for 10 lbs, 100 acs., Tuckahoe Creek. Wits: GEO. PAYNE, JOSEPH ASHLIN.

RUCKER FAMILY, Sadie Rucker Wood, 1932. GEORGE ALVES brought suit against JOHN SORRELL, Dec. 18, 1728, Goochland

p. 156. 16 Dec. 1729. JOHN SORRELL to SYLVANUS, MARGARET PUMFREE, and SYLVANUS PUMFREE, JR. for 10Ibs, 100 acs. bounded by Broad Branch of Tuckahoe Creek. Wits: ROBERT ADAMS, JOHN BOWIE.

p. 248. 18 May 1731. CHARLES JOHNSON, St. James Parish, Goochland Co., to JOHN SORRELL, same, for 5500 Ibs tobacco, 150 acs, on North side of James River. Wits: ROBT. PAYNE, JAMES BARRET, BENJ. WOODSON. Signed CHARLES (X) JOHNSON. ELIZABETH, wife of JOHNSON, relinquished her dower right.

p. 337. 13 Dec. 1731. SYVANUS PUMPHRY & MARGOT, his wife, of Goochland to JOHN SORRELL, same, for 19 pounds, 100 acs in St. James Parish, adjoining WADLOE and COLLINS, on Broad branch Tuckahoe Creek, adjoining land purchased by PUMPHRY of said SORRELL. Wits: GEORGE PAYNE, MATTHEW COLLINS, ROBT. PAYNE.

ROBERT and GEORGE PAYNE, JR. to JOHN SORRRELL, July 1732.

In August 1732, a suit against JOHN SORRELL was brought by THOMAS WADLOE. JOHN SORRELL brought suit against WILLIAM MOSELY. WILLIAM MAYO brought suit against JOHN SORRELL, January 1733 (Order book 3,, p. 89, 106, 222, Goochland).

JOHN SORRELL patented 100 acs land in Goochland County on the branches of Tuckahoe Creek beginning at his own land on WEBBER?S line, east to CHARLES JOHNSON?S, north to ADAM?S line. 6 April 1734/ (Book 15, p. 199, Land Grants.)

Goochland Co. Deed Book #2, 1734-1736 p. 12. 17 September 1734. JOHN SORRELL, Goochland, to THOMAS OWEN, Henrico Co. for 100 bushels wheat, 150 acs land on north side James River, bounded by Broad Branch. Wits: J. WILLIAMS, THOS. ANDERSON, THOS ALLEN. MARY, wife of JOHN, relinguished her dower right.

14 July 1735. JOHN SORRILL, Goochland, to CHARLES JOHNSON for 10 lbs, 100 acs on Tuckahoe Creek, land granted said SORRELL 6 April 1734 on WEBBER?S line, sa id CHARLES jOHNSON, said SORRILL. March 25, 1735, MARY, Wife of JOHN, relinquished her dower right. Deed Book #2, p.135.

21 January 1741. WILLIAM PERRY sold 220 acs of land to JOHN SORRELL in St. James Parish, southside of the Rivanna River, adj. CHARLES LEWIS. Wits: PRISCILLA DAWSON, MARTIN DAWSON. (Deed Book #4, Goochland)

Albemarle Co. records begin.

28 March 1745. Order Bk. B, p. 9. JOHN SORRELL, ROBERT ADAMS, CHARLES BOND, MARTIN DAWSON were appointed appraisers of the estate of CHARLES BLANE, deceased.

27 Sept 1745. Order Bk 1745-48, p.75. JOHN SORRELL in a suit against THOMAS FITZPATRICK, administrator of CHARLES BLANY, for 25 shillings, which he is to recover and 94 and ½ lbs tobacco for his cost.

12 November 1747. Order Bk 1745-48, p.314. JOHN SORRELL was ordered surveyor of the Three Notched Road from No. 12, in the room of JAMES DEFER.

12 May 1748. Order Bk 1745-48, p. 360. ALEXANDER PATTEN was appointed Constable in the room of JOHN SORRELL.

23 Oct. 1749. Deed Bk 1, p. 139. THOMAS MERIWETHER of Hanover to JOHN SORREL for 40lbs, 200 acs both sides Mychunk or Beaverdam fork adj. BENJ. WHEELER. Patented to THOS. MERIWETHER 10 June 1740. Wits: THOMAS WALKER, JNO. LEWIS, WM. HILL.

13 February 1750. Deed Bk 1, p.277. JNO. SORRELL to BENJ. SNEED for 5lbs, 200acs Beaver Dam, fork of Machunk Creek, formerly that of THOS MERIWETHER. Wits: JNO. MORRIS, JAS. DEFOOR, WM. McGHEE..

8 May 1750. Deed Bk 1, p. 188. WM HARRIS to STEPHEN ROE for 5 lbs, 100 acs Beaver Dam adj. grantor?s new line, side of mountain, THOS. SORREL. {This is only time THOS. SORREL is found. Who was he?}

20 Dec. 1750. Deed Bk 1, p. 279. JNO. SORRELL to JNO. HENDERSON for 33lbs, 90 acs Southside North Rivanna adj. PERRY Creek. Wits: BENJ. SNEAD, JNO. MORRIS, WM. McGHEE, ROBT. HARDWICK.

RUCKER FAMILY, Sadie Rucker Wood, 1932. 20 Jan. 1755. Deed Bk. 7, p. 536. JOHN SORRELL, 260 acs on the S. branch of Rivanna River, part of a grant , to WILLIAM PERRY. The wife of JOHN SORRELL relinquished her dower rights. Signed: JOHN SORRELL. Wits: JOHN HENDERSON, JOHN DAWSON. [Note on record: "The above deed recorded 1783 as the book in which it was recorded was burned by the enemies."]

8 July 1762. Deed Bk 3:197. JNO HENDERSON, to son JNO. JR. for 125 lbs., 490 acs 200 of it pat. To HENRY RUNALLS 11 April 1732; N side Rivanna and bought from Runnalls, 90 acs S side Rivanna and bought from JOHN SORRELL and joins where JNO. HENDERSON lives. 200 acs pat. To ARTHUR HOPKINS, 20 April 1732, on Lewis Creek near Red Bank falls- has manor where I live. Wits: GUY SMITH, CHRISTOPHER CLARK, JNO. COLEMAN.

7 March 1763. Deed Bk A:96. HENRY ROBERTS, Amherst Co. to BENJAMIN MOOR, Amherst Co. for 50 lbs for 384 acs. This land used to belong to MORRICE ROBERTS, deceased. Lines: JOHN LYON, JOHN SORREL, JOHN CRAWFORD.

7 May 1764(?) Deed Bk A:200. BENJ. MOORE, Amherst, to JOHN DAWSON, Amherst, 20 lbs for 100 acs, Fork of Cove and Hickory Creek of Rockfish. Lines: JOHN LYON, JOHN SORRELL, JOHN CRAWFORD.

Amherst Co surveys: 14 April 1767, JNO. SORREL, 95 acs.

RUCKER FAMILY, Sadie Rucker Wood, 1932. Land Grants, Bk 37, p. 378. 20 July 1769. JOHN SORRELL patented 95 acs land on the south branch of Cove and the north branch of Hickory Creeks

Amherst Deed Bk C:146. 3 November 1770. Marriage contract between JOHN SORRELS, Amherst Co. to MARY COLEMAN ELLIS. Wits: CALEB COLEMAN, JNO. DAWSON, SAML. GAY. (Data on Mary may be found in Nelson Co. Va. Will Bk A:153, 242. She outlived her husband. She received support from John's estate after he died until her payments stopped May 3, 1810.)

Amherst Deed Bk D:373. 1 October 1776. NATHAN CRAWFORD of Amherst Co. to BENJ. MOOR, of Amherst Co., 200 acs in Rich Cove and both sides of Cove Creek. Lines: BENJ. MOOR, TERISHA TURNER, JNO. DAWSON, JNO. SORRELS. Orig. delivered 27 July 1804 to J. MOORE.

JOHN SORRELLS on Amherst Co. tax list 1782. 495 acs land paid tax on. The estate paid the taxes the following year on 2 whites and 26 blacks.

Amherst Deed Book H:343. 18 Dec. 1797. JNO. S. DAWSON and wife, JANE, to JNO. DAWSON for 80 lbs N side Hicory, part of tract left to JNO. S. by will of JNO. SORRELL, deceased, Amherst Co. Lines: ZACH ROBERTS, grantor, on a ridge near Rock spring, JNO. DAWSON. Wit: MARTIN DAWSON, JNO. LYON, JNO. BAILEY, JR.

Amherst Co. Deed Book H:345. 18 Jan. 1798. JNO. DAWSON and wife, SALLY, to JNO. S. DAWSON (orig. delivered as above) for 40 lbs, 40 acs Cove Creek. Bought by JNO. Of BENJ. MOORE, deceased. Lines: JNO, and JNO. S. DAWSON, Spring Branch of JNO. SORRELL?s widow. Wit: MARTIN DAWSON, JNO. LYON, JNO. BAILEY, JR.

The John Sorrell above in the records is the same person as the DAR record below.

JOHN SORRELL, b. ca. 1693, probably in Virginia, and d. in 1783, Amherst Co. Va. John's will was made 25 March 1780 and probated 1 Sept. 1783 in Amherst Co. The will mentions the following: wife, Mary Coleman Sorrell; daughter Katy Howard; granddaughter, Mary Ann Sneed and her two oldest children, Frances and John Sneed; grandson, Martin Dawson, preacher of the Gospel; grandsons Thomas and William Dawson; great-grandson, John Sorrell Dawson, son of my grandson, John Dawson and his wife, Sally. John Sorrell Dawson's brothers, Pleasant and Benjamin Dawson also mentioned. Great-grandson, Martin Dawson, son of John Dawson and Sally; great-granddaughters, Susanna Dawson and Mary Dawson and Priscilla Dawson, all children of John Dawson and Sally, also Nancy Dawson and Betsy Dawson, children of John Dawson and Sally. To grandson, John Dawson, son of Martin Dawson (b. ca. 1715, married Priscilla abt 1735)) and Priscilla, his wife. Grandsons, John Dawson and Martin Dawson, and Peter Lyon were made executors [Amherst Co. Will Bk 2:140].

John Sorrell is on the 1782-83 Amherst County tax list. He was a patriot during the Revolution, living in Amherst Co. See Amherst County Revolutionary Claims for provisions impressed or taken for use 1781, Archives, Richmond. On 21 Jan 1741, Goochland Co. Va., Priscilla and Martin Dawson were witnesses to a deed whereby William Perry sold 220 aes land to John Sorrell in St. James Parish on the Rivanna River adjacent Charles Lewis [Deed Bk 4,Goochand.]

Priscilla Dawson, wife of Martin, was a daughter of John Sorrell. From this deed, we know she was already married in 1741. The compiler notes that John is found in the deed books of Goochland as early as 1728, and the order books of Albemarle County as early as 1745. He probably was born before 1700.

Priscilla Sorrell Dawson was the ancestor of Fey Ruth Montgomery. She gave her line as follows; John Sorrell and his first wife, Mary (Mary Coleman was 2nd wife); Priscilla Sorrell and Martin Dawson; John Dawson and ,Sarah Carroll; John Sorrell Dawson and Jane Lyon; Elizabeth Dawson and Elliott Roberts; John Preston Roberts and Julia Wingfield; Rosalie Roberts and William Rufus Cross; Ethel Rosalie Cross and William Henry Fomby, her parents. Fey Ruth Fomby married Edward Layton Montgomery, 9 June 1925, in Magnolia, Arkansas.

For further details of the Sorrell-Dawson lines, see Sadie Rucker Wood, The Rucker Family Genealogy with Their Ancestors, Descendants and Connections (CS 71 R8879 19329 Va. State Library) and Dixie Hammonds, Southern Relatives(CS 69 H3 Vol. I, II, III, IV, Va. State Lib.). Also see DAR lineage Natl. 61626, Sadie Rucker Wood.

See this link for a research reports done by Dick Baldauf on John Sorrell and a connection with Benjamin Snead and his wife Mary Ann who was a grandaughter of John Sorrell and also general research on the Snead family in Virginia: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~lksstarr/html/snead.html

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Parentage not known. I removed the following as parents: Son of Sir Thomas Sorrell; John Sollers; Madam Elizabeth Sorrell (O'Canny) and Ann Sabrett

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Sep 8 2018, 11:51:59 UTC