Too Many Williams

The name William was so frequently used within the family that it's easy to combine two different men - or mistakenly identify one.  The following entries were gathered on the assumption that they might be William, son of Benjamin and Martha Jones Ragsdale.  They have defied my attempts to identify them with any certainty, so like the also numerous Johns, they've been lumped - or dumped -into one file.   The reader should also consult Generation 4: William Ragsdale.

 In Prince George County, Virginia:

13 Aug 1785: Along with David Goodgame, Edmund Ruffin Junior, and William Simmons, William Ragsdale was mentioned as an adjoining landowner in a deed from Joseph Simmons of Dinwiddie County to George Ruffin of Prince George.[1] 

21 Oct 1786: William Ragsdale Senior, Fred Ragsdale, and Benjamin Ragsdale witnessed a trust deed from George C. Lacy to Edmund Ruffin Junior, both of Prince George County, for six slaves.[2]  This William could possibly be Benjamin and Martha's son, as he had a grandson named Frederick and a brother named Benjamin. 

14 Mar 1787: Richard Gregory, C. Russell, and William Ragsdale Junior witnessed a deed from Robert Harrison Junior, attorney in fact for William Jones, to John Morison for a tract in Martins Brandon Parish bounded by Thomas Harrison, John Hobbs, Betty Harrison, and William Epes.[3] 

24 May 1788: William Ragsdale mortgaged 300 acres to Robert Harrison to secure a debt of £317.1.3.  The parcel "where the said Ragsdale lives" adjoined the lands of Edmund Ruffin Junior, William Green, George Ruffin, William Wilkins and David Goodgame.  Witnesses: Robert Harrison Junior, Edmund Ruffin Junior, and William Epes.[4]

28 Apr 1788: William Ragsdale Junior, John H. Fitzgerald, Francis Epes, and George Ruffin witnessed a deed from Thomas Woodleif to Noel Quesnell for 800 acres on the north side of the James River adjoining Richard Bland, Peter Woodleif, and Edmund Ruffin Senior.  Then  he, John H. Fitzgerald, Francis Epes, George Ruffin, and Daniel Melaren witnessed a trust deed from Noel Quesnel, Petersburg merchant, to Edmund Harrison for 800 acres on the James River.[5]

8 Apr 1789: William Ragsdale, William Green, and Francis Epes witnessed a deed from William and Frances Burge of Prince George County to Richmond Rawlings of Dinwiddie County for 264 acres in Prince George.[6]

25 Apr 1789: William Ragsdale of Prince George sold 300 acres "where said Ragsdale now lives" to Mary Harrison, widow of Robert Harrison, to secure a debt of £332.10.4.  The mortgaged parcel adjoined Edmund Ruffin Junior, William Green, George Ruffin, William Wilkins, and David Goodgame.  Witnesses: W. Harrison, W. Poythress Junior, Richard Bland, William Green, and Frederick Green.[7]

28 May 1789: William Ragsdale was mentioned in the accounts of the Thomas Littlewood estate.[8]

9 Jun 1789: The appraisal of the Lucy Hamlin estate, taken by William Wilkins, Robert Harrison, and William Ragsdale, was turned into court.[9]

17 Aug 1789: William Ragsdale was among the buyers at the estate sale of John Burrows.[10]

8 Sep 1789: An inventory of the Benjamin Wilkins estate, taken by Richard Bland, William Wilkins, and William Ragsdale, was recorded in court.  Also on that date, William Ragsdal, Edmund Ruffin Junior, and John Sturdivant Junior proved the will of Thomas Peterson, who'd apparently made his will on 24 Jun 1782.[11]

26 Sep 1789: William Ragsdale Junior and George Ruffin witnessed the sale of three slaves (Sukey and her children Poll and Answil) from Peton Scarborough to Isaac Donaldson.[12]

12 Oct 1789: William Ragsdale, Peter Williams, William Wilkins, and William Wilkins Junior inventoried the estate of David Williams.[13]

8 Mar 1790: William Ragsdale, George Batte, and George Ruffin witnessed the will of William Green.[14]

29 Jun 1790: William Ragsdale was listed among the buyers at the estate sale of William Green.[15]

13 Jul 1790: Richard Bland, William Scott, and William Ragsdale Junior witnessed a deed of gift of land and slaves from Robert Batte to Robert Batte Junior.[16] 

1 Mar 1791: William Ragsdale Junior, George Ruffin, and Peter Woodleif witnessed a trust deed from Ann Poythress to Edward Bland.[17]

25 Aug 1791: William Ragsdale, Edmund Ruffin, and William Wilkins divided the slaves owned by Robert Harrison, deceased, among his children.[18]

13 Sep 1791: The name of William Ragsdale was included in the accounts of the David Williams estate recorded in court.[19]

13 Mar 1792: Along with John Alfriend and Peter Baird, William Ragsdale Junior witnessed a deed from William Mattox to James Cureton.[20]

In Lunenburg County, Virginia:

12 May 1759: John and William Ragsdale, his son, obtained a patent for 625 acres on both sides of Crooked Creek.[21]

14 Feb 1761: William Ragsdale patented 400 acres on the south side of the Meherrin River adjoining Buckingham County.[22]

1764: Lunenburg County Tax List (List of Edmund Taylor): William was assessed for 3 tithes and 300 acres of land.[23]

1777: William, Daniel, and Frederick Ragsdale signed an Oath of Allegiance, appearing on the list of Daniel Pain.

25 Nov 1794: William Ragsdale and Milley Gee were married.

1798: William Ragsdale was appointed Justice of the Peace.

In Other Virginia Counties:

Date Unknown: William Ragsdale and William Kennon proved the will of John Bevil of Bristol Parish in Henrico County.  The Bevils resided on Old Town Creek.[24]

1756: The Virginia Legislature authorized payments to a William Ragsdale for services performed during the French and Indian War.[25] 

1757: A William Ragsdale was listed on the roster of Captain McKenzie's Company, 10th Regiment.  Another entry contains a physical description: age 18, 5'9 1/2" tall, "fair complexion, light hair, round shoulders".  From Amelia County, he had enlisted at Winchester.[26]

Sep 1758: The militia roster in Bedford County listed a Sgt. Richard, a William, and a Peter Ragsdale.[27]  Our William, son of Benjamin and Martha Jones Ragsdale, had brothers named Richard and Peter - but was this actually another William?  These three Ragsdales were either listed once again in Oct 1765, or the dates have become confused.

17 Aug 1770: William Ragsdale of Pittsylvania County purchased 20 acres on Elkhorn Creek in Pittsylvania from Richard Murphy of Rowan County, NC for £4.

27 Jun 1771: William Ragsdale was mentioned as an adjoining landowner in a deed from Richard Jones to Richard Jones Junior in Nottoway Parish, Amelia County.  The parcel had been purchased from Abraham Cocke and was described as lying on both sides of Woody Creek.[28]

23 Sep 1771: William Ragsdale sold two properties.  The first was 58 acres in Nottoway Parish, Amelia County, to Richard Jones Junior for £47.10.0.   This was described as adjoining William Hudson, the John Irby estate, said Jones' own line, and land William "sells to William Hudson".  Witnesses: William Fitzgerald, Thomas (x) Wynne, Francis (x) Belsher, Abner Bates, and William Hudson.  The second parcel William sold was 149 acres in the forks of Woody Creek sold to William Hudson for £120.  This adjoined Richard Jones, the said Hudson's line, the middle of Woody Creek, Ragsdale's Spring Branch, and Henry Robertson.  On 31 May 1773, wife Mary relinquished any dower right to both parcels. Was Ann actually Mary Ann, was William married three times, or was this man another William?   The deeds were proved 24 Feb 1774.[29]

1777: A William Ragsdale took the Oath of Allegiance in Pittsylvania County.  He appeared on the list of Stephen Coleman.  On Reuben Pain's list were Daniel and Frederick Ragsdale.[30]

21 Mar 1780: William Ragsdale was granted a bounty warrant of 50 acres in Pittsylvania County after Col. Andrew Lewis testified to his service in Capt. John McNeill's Company in 1762.  See below,  Kentucky 1783.

In a biographical sketch of Peter Ragsdale, son of Benjamin and Martha Jones Ragsdale, Gary Carl Aden wrote that "Peter and James (sons of John and cousins of our Peter) were killed in the war.  William, another son of John's and a cousin of Peter's, served as a Lieutenant and also was assigned as aide-de-camp to General Washington during the war."

1783: William Ragsdale sold 170 acres in Pittsylvania County to John Miller.[31]

The 1783 personal property tax list in Halifax County listed a William Ragsdale, but in July of that year the Sheriff's returns stated that there was "no person named William Ragsdale in this county".[32]

In South Carolina:

1790 Census, Laurens County, SC: There were two William Ragsdales in Laurens County.  The first, enumerated next to David Ragsdale, had 3 white males over age 16 1/2, 1 under, 3 white females and no other free persons or slaves.  This William was enumerated next to Jacob Wright, who moved to Warren County, KY c. 1797. In 1789 or 1790 David Ragsdale purchased 100 acres on Reedy Creek adjoining Jacob Wright from George Madden and his mother Ann.  Witnesses: David Madden, Thomas Ragsdale, and George Anderson, J.P.[33]

  The second William Ragsdale was listed closer to Mark Moore and several Rowland families.  This William had 2 males over 16 1/2, 2 under, 4 females, and no slaves.[34]  I'm assuming this man was the son of Benjamin and Martha Jones Ragsdale.

1 Oct 1798: William and Lithey Ragsdale sold 60 acres on the Saluda River.[35]  This William is believed to have been the son of a John and Mary Ragsdale.  Wife Lithy was Mary Elizabeth Smith. Their children were John, David (m. 1st Alse, m. 2nd Hannah), Thomas (m. Elizabeth Campbell 10 Oct 1799), Susannah (m. George W. Wright, son of Jacob Wright), Mary "Polly" (m. Robert Walker), William (m. Sarah Campbell 8 Jan 1801), and Robert "Bob" Ragsdale (13 Sep 1779 -     , m. Elizabeth Wright 15 Aug 1784, daughter of Jacob Wright).

24 Oct 1798: William Ragsdale sold land in Laurens County to Leonard Ellington of Pittsylvania County, VA.[36] 

In Kentucky:

12 Jun 1780: Military Warrant #1105 was issued to Nathan Farris, assignee of Thomas Huthings, assignee of William Ragsdale.[37] 

1783: William Ragsdale was granted 50 acres on Dick's River in Lincoln County for service in Captain McNeelis' Company.  See above, "Other Virginia Counties", 21 Mar 1780.  This parcel was apparently sold.[38]  In another source, the location is given as Warren County.  Was this the same 50 acres described above in Military Warrant #1105.  If so, one date must not be correct.

1799: William Senior, William Junior, David, and Thomas Ragsdale were listed on the tax list in Warren County.[39]  In 1803, William Robert, Thomas, and David Ragsdale were listed.

1810 Census, Barren County, KY: William Ragsdale was listed with 1 male over 45; 1 female over 45.[40]

c. 1820: William Ragsdale died in Barren County.

If you have material about any individuals included in Nancy's Dead Relatives, can add well-documented family lines, have corrections and/or comments, or wish to establish a link to or from this site, please contact me at nancy@nancysdeadrelatives.com.  However, the decision whether or not to include any submitted material is the webmaster's (mine) alone. 

Nancy Denty Breidenthal

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