[spine of document] What the Records of Pittsylvania County Show Concerning the Russell Family— Prepared by Mrs. N.E. Clement, Chatham, Va. [page one of document] -- Russell -- Deeds Book 3—page 371 This indenture made Jan. 15, 1773 between George Russell of North Carolina in Surry County of one part, and Absolom Bostick of Pittsylvania of the second part. For the consideration of £60 the first part sells to the second part 164 acres on Cascade Creek. Signed George Russell Recorded-March 25, 1773 _________________ Deed Book 3 --165. This Indenture made the 15th day of January 1773, between George Russell of Surry County, North Carolina and John Brown of Pittsylvania. For the sum of £25 the first part sells second part 16 acres on Cascade Creek. Signed George Russell __________________ Deed Book 3 –274. September 15, 1773, David Kirby sells to Peter Russell of Pittsylvania, for £25, 100 acres on Pig River. [page two of document] Book 6 -- 67 Sept. 15, 1777— John Modding of Pittsylvania and William Chandler of Halifax Counties sell to Buckner Russell of Halifax for £40 200 acres on Double Creek of Dan River. ____________________ Book 7 – 682- Jan. 25, 1780— Robert Walters of Pittsylvania sells to William Russell of Pittsylvania for 100£, 198 acres— ________________ March 14, 1781, William Russell of Pittslyvania sells to John Wilson of Pittslyvania for £6,000 current money of Virginia, 192 acres on Burcher Creek, beginning at Robert Walters corner pine?. Note. You will observe the large sum paid for above tract of land. It was the closing year of the Revolution and money had very little purchasing power. I have observed this in other land sales of the same period. ____________________ Bill of Sale Jan. 7, 1786—William Russell of Pittsylvania sells to John Jones 2 beds, 6 heads of cattle for £19, 6 sh. [page three of document] Other Russell names appearing in the Deed Books— 1795 Anne Rusell- Ezekial Russell 1804 John C. Russell and Wife— _____________________ There are no Russell Wills on the Pittsylvania Records— _____________________ I do not find the name Russell on Marriage Register and early bonds of Pittsylvania. I do not find it on early marriage bonds of Halifax (not prior to 1780). In Brunswick County we find marriage recorded of John Russell to Sarah Edmundson, date 1758. [page four of document] In a “List of Tithables of Pittsylvania County, taken by Peter Perkins for the Year 1767—“ We find the following names— whites bl. land William Bean and son William 2 1083 acres John Bean Jun 1 George Russell Land 180 Note—This List of Tithables was the first census and tax list taken of Pittsylvania County, the county being organized in year 1767. As you will observe the land of George Russell was listed, but not himself. The name Russell does not appear again in this list of Tithables so none of his family appear to have been living within the limits of Pittsylvania at that time. It is entirely possible that they were living in Halifax County and moved over into Pittsylvania later. You will notice that they patented a good deal of Lands in Halifax. [page five of document] Surveyors Book of Land Patents, dating from 1738, when Brunswick County extended Westward to the Blue Ridge Mountains embracing what later became the counties of Lunenburg, Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick Counties. Aug. 18, 1755. William Russell 400 acres on the Lick Branch of Terrible Creek. (Terrible Creek lies in eastern Halifax County) Sept. 1753. William Russell 400 acres on the Ridge between the North and South Fork of Terrible Creek. 1760. William Russell 400 acres on Polecat Creek— (Polecat Creek lies in Halifax County). Nov. 15, 1758. William Russell Jun. enters for 400 acres on the fork of Terrible Creek, beginning on James Parish’s and Fontaine’s Lines where they part. Jan. 8, 1758. Nathaniel Russell 400 Acres On East Fork of Cascade Creek beginning on John Russell’s Line. August 29, 1762. George Russell enters for 200 acres of land beginning at John Russell’s Lower Corner on Cascade Creek. (Cascade Creek lies in South Western Pittsylvania. [sixth page of document] 1765. William Russell, Jr. 400 acres Land on Branches of Double Creek adjoining his own and Tally’s Line. (Double Creek lies in eastern Halifax.) ____________________________ March 26, 1739— John Russell entered with Major Stith 100 acres on both sides Hunting Creek above Nash’s Line. Transferred by note from John Russell to William Russell, from William Russell to William Haymer and by verbal agreement in presence of James Anderson to Pater Fontaine. (In eastern Halifax County) 1753—John Russell 400 acres on East Fork of Russell Creek- April 1751. William Russell 400 acres adjoining his Survey on Great Toby’s Creek on south side running towards Byrd’s Line. June 1751. William Russell 400 acres on the Ridge Path that goes from Hilton’s to Ephraim Hills, to include the Wolf Trap. Also 400 acres on a Branch of the Lower Double Creek beginning at Jack Walker’s lower corner. [seventh page of document] In a list of soldiers who did service during the French and Indian wars, & were paid for their services according to County, we find listed the names of William Russell – from Lunenburg County. In the same list I find the name of Benjamin Clement, who was living at the time in what was then Halifax, now Pittsylvania. I suppose in those early frontier days a man’s location was not very important. You will find list above mentioned in Henings Statues, Vol. 7, page 227, year 1758. ________________________ Note. You will observe the name Bean in the Tax List of 1767, which you later find in Tennessee. There was quite a large migration from Pittsylvania County to Tennessee, and some of my family went with Col. John Donaldson in 1779. Col. Donaldson was one time County Surveyor of Pittsylvania and a man of much prominence, and under his leadership a large party of Virginians went out to Tenn. in winter of 1779-80. You no doubt have read accounts of this trip. A young man named Hutchings was one of Donalson’s party. But George Russell seems to have gone out earlier and by way of Surry, North Carolina. ================================================== Transcription copyright © RoaneTNHistory.org 2005. All rights reserved. Archivist: Transcription and scan by G. Anne Sloan