Culpepper County, Virginia Research
The Finney Connection
Researchers have not found the name of HENRY TURNER’s father, though there are several other men named Turner in and around his residence in Culpepper County, Virginia. Culpepper County records are not complete, and this hampers the research. Apparently, too, the families in question came to the area predating the formation of Culpepper County in 1748. Since HENRY was born in 1721, he would have been an adult at the time the county was formed. The earliest mention found of what is our HENRY in church records, is in 1769, when he received cash for one bushel of salt from the vestry. Pre-dating our HENRY’s majority, though, there are one or two records that connect both him and other men named Turner to the “Finney,” family in the area. This family was also referred to as “Finnell” and “Finalson.”
Since deeds in most of the eastern portion of the country are in “metes and bounds,” deeds frequently mention lands that “adjoin” other lands, or “corner to” someone’s lands. This listing of the neighbors’ lands gives us some general idea who lived or owned land nearby. In this particular case, where many other records are missing, these deeds become very important for researchers.
The earliest Turner Family~Finney Family connection seems to be with a Mr. Robert Turner, who was resident there in 1731, and who was church warden for a couple of years, beginning in 1732. [HENRY would have been about ten years old at this time.] One of the other vestry men at the same time was “Major John Finlason, Gentleman.” The very fact that these two men were appointed to these two posts shows that they had some substance and influence in the community, which, at that time, was still pretty much a wilderness. In order to “make sense” of the sequence of things we must first point out HENRY’s connection to the Finney family [“Fennill and Finalson”], then “back track” and see if we can find an earlier record that might give us a clue to follow in future research. The most important piece of evidence is found in the will of James Finney of Culpepper County.
James Finney-i, in an instrument dated February 18, 1764, willed a piece of property in Culpepper County, Virginia, to “my well beloved brother-in-law, HENRY TURNER,” land at “Rawlin’s” and Rice’s dividing corner. He named his children: John Finney-ii, James Finney-ii, Mary Finney-ii, William Finney-ii, and Elizabeth Finney-ii.
A deed dated March 12, 1767, in which “Jeremiah Rowline of St. Margaret’s Parish, Caroline County, sold to William Plier, of Louisa County, Bromfield Parish, land which Rowline purchased of Ware, late of Caroline County, adj. [adjacent] land of James Finney and Michael Rice. Land now owned by Nathan Underwood,” seems to refer to this land.
An earlier deed, dated June 27, in Book 10, page 74-75, mentions lands that were “part of Orange called Augusta …part of patent granted to Thomas Zackery and James Finney for 400 acres in St. Thomas Parish in the Little fork on Rappadan River.”
A letter from Shirley Hern to the author says, “Notes from Bible Records of Josiah Turner [William Gaston DAR Chapter] grandson of HENRY TURNER, SR., said HENRY had a sister who married James Finney and brothers by the names of George, James, Rentley, Walker, Underwood, Barber, Throgmorton and Madison Turner.” It continued. “Old Aunt Dolly Harris lived with HENRY and came to North Carolina with him.” Shirley commented on the above, “I have not found any Turners with the unusual names listed above which are, of course, surnames, that may point to some family connection. I have seen a Martin Turner, possibly short for Throgmorton.”
It is also possible that the unusual given names were the “middle” names of these Turner men, by which they were familiarly called, but official records might identify them by their “first” names and surname, i.e., a man named “John Underwood Turner” might be called “Wood Turner” within the family, but official courthouse records might call him “John Turner.”
Interestingly enough, the surnames mentioned by Josiah Turner are found in families surrounding the area of HENRY TURNER’s residence in Culpepper. Culpepper’s records are not complete, which hampers research somewhat, but there are a few deeds and some church vestry minutes still existent. So, we will back-track a bit to the area that became Culpepper County in 1748. St. Mark’s Parish contained the lands that would become Culpepper, and some of the church records still exist.
The Vestry Book of St. Mark’s Parish mentions Mr. Robert Turner, in 1731, living near Isaac Norman, who was the father of Karrenhappuck Norman Turner, the wife of James Turner. Robert Turner was the Rector of the Parish levy for 1733. In 1735, James Turner, possibly the same James Turner who was married to Karrenhappuck Norman, was also listed in the parish. These are some of the men named Turner who lived in the area previous to HENRY’s majority.
Robert Turner and Katherine, his wife, of St. George’s Parish, Spotsylvania County, deeded to James Rawlins of said parish and county for 20 pounds current money, 40 acres in Spotsylvania County, part of tract coveyed to said [Robert]Turner by Rowland Thomas and part of a patent granted said [Rowland] Thomas, June 16, 1727. The deed was witnessed by Edmund Waller, Z. Lewis, and George Woodroof. [Spotsylvania County Records, pg. 153.] Spotsylvania predated the division of lands creating Culpepper.
The earliest mention of what is probably this man that has been found is the St. Mark’s Parish Levies 1731-1783, when in 1731, Robert Turner received 100 pounds of tobacco as “pay” for “assisting church wardens.” The same list mentioned “John Finlason, Gent, assigne of George Hoome for surveying, 800 pounds.”
In 1732, Robert Turner was paid by the St. Mark’s vestry for “delinquents and other charges” 1,304 pounds of tobacco. John Finalson, Gent, was paid 200 pounds for “services.” On page 12, Robert Turner was appointed Rector of the parish levy. He was directed to receive of the 755 tithables a tax of 69 pounds each. John Finlason was one of the two church wardens that year.
In 1733, the church wardens on behalf of the vestry offered the “Honorable Colln. Alexander Spotswood, esqire, the prfarance of chooseing a place in the New Church for aseate for himself and his family and that the church Wardens make return of his Hnrs. Answer to the next vestry.” [St. Mark’s Parish Levies, pg 14.]
There is a mention in the records in 1735 of James McCullough suing Jonathan Finney for assault on April 15, 1734. Jonathan Finney “by his attorney, Robert Turner, says he is not guilty…the plaintiff made an assault on him.” Later, “Jonathan Fennill, commonly called Jonathan Finney, not guilty of assault.” At the time this event took place, HENRY TURNER-1 would have been but a boy [age 13 or 14.] These records tie together the Turner and Finney families, at a date when HENRY was a child. These records also give an approximate date of birth for this Robert Turner of at least before 1714. [This would make him at least an age-peer of James Turner, who married Karenhappuck Norman, though he may have been older.] If this is the same Robert Turner mentioned earlier, a birthdate of before 1712 is provable, but is probably much earlier. A birth date of between 1690 and 1700 is much more likely.
It might also indicate that Jonathan Fennill was the stepson of Robert Turner. If that were the case, then it is possible that HENRY TURNER could be the son of Robert Turner, and James and Jonathan Finney/Fennill be the stepbrothers, or “brothers-in-law” to our HENRY. This is conjecture, of course, until we find more data to support this possibility.
Thomas Finnell witnessed a deed in November of 1748. In 1753, a deed had mentioned that Jonathan Finnel and Mary, his wife, of Orange County, had sold lands to Richard Vernon. In 1754, a deed mentioned “formerly a corner Jonathan Finnell, now Richard Vernon…south side Cave’s road, North side main road to corner.” Culpepper had been formed in 1748, so this would indicate that Jonathan Finnell/Finney had moved from the area into Orange County at least by 1753 or 1754. [Everton’s Handy Book for Genealogists, pg 302.]
In August of 1755, Seth Thurston sold lands to Richard Wayt of Orange County, and the deed was witnessed by James Finney.
July 28, 1757, a bond was taken of Nathan Turner concerning some lands. On April 14, 1761, Alexander Waugh of Orange County gave some land to his son, Alexander, Jr., “in the low grounds of Cedar Run, corner to Nathan Turner,” and witnessed by William Finnell. What is apparently this same land was sold by Alexander Waugh, Jr., of Orange County, and mentioned the “corner to Nathan Turner.” The first mention of these lands had been in 1751 when Alexander Waugh of Orange County bought them from John Spotswood. Nathan Turner was already “cornering” to these lands in 1751, and the deeds indicate he was still there as late as 1757.
In July of 1760,Thomas Chew sold lands “corner to Zachary Finney.” In 1762, Julius Christy sold land “corner to James Finney and John Zachary. These deeds, and the Christian name of Zachery coupled with the surname of Finney, might lead us to believe that there is a marriage bond between the Finney family and the Zachery family somewhere predating the deeds by a generation.
In 1767, a mortgage, to secure 112 pounds due November, 1767, with interest, was given by Thomas Oxford, of Culpepper, for a slave named Bimbo, and one named Bell, “now in the possession of William Turner of Culpepper by virtue of his marriage with my mother Margaret Oxford at whose death the property becomes vested in me….” The next year, William Turner gave a lifetime lease to John Hume [“Hoome”] for 50 acres of land, with a rental payment of 500 pounds of tobacco yearly. [Dorman, Culpepper Deeds, pg. 613-614.]
In 1767, James Duncanson and his wife, Mary, and Hannah McCawley and James Finney and Ann, his wife, sold to James Barbour, Jr., land divised by Dr. William Lynn, late of Fredericksburg, deceased, to Mary McAwley, the now wife of James Duncanson as by will and test of William Lynn October 1, 1757, 230 acres devised by his will to his daughter Ann Dent, now the wife of James Finney. In 1768, James Finney and Ann, his wife, mortgaged several slaves to Samuel Pritchard. Since his father, James Finney-i, was deceased by this time, this man was James Finney-ii, who had married Ann Lynn.
Other deeds of interest are intertwined with records mentioning James Turner, who married Karrenhappuck Norman. Usually, these may be distinguished by the mentioning of either Karenhappuck or of the Norman connection. However, several of the deeds concerning other Turners and Finney/Finnell deeds are in close proximity to the Turner/Norman lands, underscoring that there still may be some connections between our TURNERS and the James Turner who married Karrenhappuck Norman.
James Turner, who married Karenhappuck Norman, is frequently mentioned in the court minutes, deeds, and other records in the surrounding counties and in Culpepper County. He bought and sold, traded, and inherited lands, as well as received gifts from his wife’s father. He may be a relative of HENRY’s, but he is not likely to be HENRY’s father. There is a well-researched line from this man, and HENRY is not among his known children. Karenhappuck Norman Turner was a gallant woman, and nursed her wounded son after the battle of Guilford Court House. She has had a monument erected attesting to her bravery.
James Turner, in 1751, received a mortgage from Robert Frogit [later, this name was shortened to Frogg] of St. Mark’s Parish, Culpepper, and James was listed as “of Hamilton Parish, Prince William County” at that time. [Culpepper Co. VA Deeds & Court Records.]
In 1753, James Turner, acknowledged by Karrenhappuck, his wife, “of Prince William County,” sold land to John Ashley “dividing a tract of land by them taken up in partnership granted to them by patent June 19, 1735.” This would put the date of birth of James, husband of Karrenhappuck, as at least before 1714. It would make him old enough to be the older brother of our HENRY, at the very least. Researchers of this family, however, do not find the name of our HENRY connected to this family. [Culpepper Co. VA Deeds & Court Records.]
A deed in Book C, Culpepper, dated April 28, 1757, mentions land “formerly purchased by [Mr.] King of Isaac Norman and James Turner by deeds of lease and release acknowledged in the Court of Spotsylvania by Norman and [James] Turner 2 Feb 1730/1 corner to Thomas Turner….on top of the Mountain.” The mention of the date this land was acknowledged gives us an even earlier date of birth for James Turner, the husband of Karenhappuck. If he acknowledged lands in 1730/1 [OS/NS], he must have been 21; therefore, born by 1709 or before, making him at least 12 years older than HENRY TURNER. This and estate records for James Turner almost eliminate his being HENRY’s father, but might make him a candidate for a brother.
In 1757, Nathan Turner gave a bond acknowledging his interest to some land purchased by Robert Johnson. Several deeds list Nathan Turner as living on Cedar Run above White’s spring.
In 1758, James Turner was still living in Prince William County. He was listed on a deed in Culpepper as buying lands from Margaret Johnson, widow of Peter Johnson.
In 1761, Conrad Kabler and his wife, of St. Mark’s Parish, Culpepper County, sold to James Turner of same [Culpepper County], planter, 9 ¾ acres in the Great Fork of Rappahannock River on south side of Mount Poney. September 18, 1765, James and Karrenhappuck were listed as of “St. Mark’s Parish” when they leased land to Samuel Stigler and also the 9 ¾ acres they got from Kabler in 1761. This might indicate that they had moved back to Culpepper.
In 1765, James Turner gave a bond to William Lightfoot for l500 current money to convey the dwelling house and plantation of his former residence, together with 100 acres adjoining the plantation of Lightfoot. “Which Isaac Norman gave unto Turner on the marriage of his daughter Karrenhappuck for the consideration of 50 pistoles.”
November 14, 1768 William Turner of Culpepper sold to George Roberts 100 acres on the mountain run for the term of his natural life. William Turner and his wife Margaret …that his heirs shall at the expiration of his and his wife’s natural lives deliver up the 100 acres unto George Roberts. In another deed on the same date, George Roberts and his wife, Elizabeth, deeded to William Turner the same 100 acres for their natural lives. William Turner, on the same date, leased land to John Hume [Hoome?] for Hume’s natural life. That land was also on mountain run. [Culpepper Deeds pg 613-14.]
In 1758, John Shotwell of Culpepper transferred lands to his brothers “above parish which my father, John Shotwell, deceased, bought of Nicholas Copeland,” in Norman’s & Turner’s lines. [Dorman, Culpepper County Virginia Deeds Book C 1757-1762, Book B. 1753-1756.]
In 1765, Edward Turner, Junior, of Culpepper, bought lands. In May of 1765, Charles Turner witnessed a deed. The Waugh lands had been bought by Elizabeth Willis from Alexander Waugh, Jr., in 1762, and in 1764, she sold those lands to John Willis, her son, and the “corner to Nathan Turner” was mentioned again. [Ibid.] [Where was Edward Turner, Senior?]
At this time, we can’t connect all our pieces of this “fabric” into the “patch-work quilt” that makes up this community and these families, but at some future date, perhaps we can.
Will of James Finney
Dated 18 February 1764
James Finney of Brumfield Parish in the county of Culpepper being in an ill state of health.
To my well beloved brother in law HENRY TURNER a certain tract or parcel of land lying in Culpepper County and bounded as followeth viz. Beginning at Rawlin’s and Rice’s dividing corner thence with Ware’s line to three white oaks corner in Ware’s line and George Anderson’s line, then north 10 degrees west 72 poles to a pine red oak and hickory in a line of Moses Battleys thence with Battlerys line two hundred poles to a dead pine stump.
Unto my much respected friend Thomas Buford 116 acres of land in Culpepper….Battley’s line, Beautiful run, Mayfield’s line, to John Blueford.
I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth all and every [part of] my estate both real and personal during the time of her widowhood and no longer. If my wife Elizabeth shall marry again after my decease she shall have and can and I do lend her a child’s part of all my estate for and during her natural life and no longer, my lands only excepted.
After my decease and the decease or day of marriage of my wife Elizabeth all and every my lands to be equally divided between my two sons John Finney and James Finney.
….Equally divided between my well beloved children John Finney, James Finney, Mary Finney, William Finney, and Elizabeth Finney. My son William Finney shall remain with my son James Finney as my son William is non compus menties…..”
Exhibited in Court by Elizabeth Finney 16 August 1764.
An indenture from 25 November 1775, between John Finney, James Finny, Elizabeth Finney, HENRY TURNER and ANN TURNER of Culpepper County of one part and William Walker of the other part. In consideration of the sum of [those named] do grant land in Culpepper County in the Robinson fork containing 360 acres and bounded by John Buford and William Walker…and James Finney, and John Tinsley to Jonathan Underwood….a tract of land lately held and deeded by My Lord Fairfax for James Finey in Culpepper County 1757. [Culpepper County, Virginia, Deed Book H, pg 164-167.]
The 1757 date of patent for this land by James Finney-i gives us a rough idea of James Finney’s age as “born before 1736,” since he would have been at least 21 in 1757.
It was signed by James Finny, Elizabeth Finny, and by HENRY TURNER [H] his mark, and ANN TURNER [+], her mark. Presence [Witness?] Josh Wood to HENRY TURNER & his wife. William Kirtley & Elizabeth Finny, William Grayson, John Walker, Finny & Wife.
The “H” mark of this HENRY TURNER, who was married to a woman named “ANN,” closely matches the “H” mark on the will of our HENRY. The preponderance of evidence is that the “Henry” in Culpepper is our HENRY. Another deed in Culpepper, signed June 13, 1772, and exhibited in court March 9, 1774, from Martin Rouse and his wife, Frances, of Brumfield Parish, Culpepper, to Joseph Earley of same, was witnessed by Adam Gaar, Michael Gaar, and HENRY “H” TURNER, his mark. This mark also corresponds to our HENRY’s mark on his will. A deed in 1779, after our HENRY left Culpepper county, from Joseph & Jane Early & Adam Gaar was witnessed by John Finney.
In Colonial Virginia, a woman had to relinquish dower on any lands sold by her husband. The courts protected a wife from having her husband “force” her to sign a relinquishment against her will. A wife had a “dower right” to a life estate in one-third of her husband’s real estate at his death. If he sold land and she did not relinquish her dower right, after being “privately examined,” then at the death of her husband, she had a lifetime claim upon that land. Few men would buy lands unless the wife of the seller relinquished her dower because she might subsequently claim the land. Women did sue and win suits about lands sold by their husbands, either against their will, or with insufficient “private examinations.” Because married women were presumed not to have a will of their own, and were subject to the wills of their husbands, the courts made every attempt to protect the wife’s dower rights. Virginia usually took this relinquishment of dower very seriously and numerous lawsuits were successful in overturning sales of lands because the “relinquishment of dower” was not properly worded in the deed, even though it had obviously followed the form.
For some reason, probably distance from court or pregnancy, ANN TURNER and Elizabeth Finney were examined by sending someone to them, rather than having them come into court to be examined.
George the third to Joseph Wood and William Kirtley Gent, Greetings whereas Henry Turner and Ann his wife, John Finney and James Finney and Elizabeth his wife have conveyed unto William Walker 360 acres and whereas said Ann and Elizabeth cannot conveniently travel to our said county court to make acknowledgments of the said conveyance we do give you power to receive the acknowledgments which said Ann and Elizabeth shall be willing to give and when you have received their acknowledgments that you certifie us thereof in our said court. [Dated] 22nd day of November in the XVI year of our Reign 1775.
On the 23 day of November the same year, the above entitled men certified that they had examined ANN and Elizabeth privately and they willingly signed. The indenture was proven June 17, 1776.
The term “mother-in-law” and “brother-in-law” were sometimes used to mean “stepmother” or “stepbrother” as we use the terms today, not “brother of my wife/husband” or “husband of my sister.” There are at least four ways in which our HENRY TURNER could be the “brother-in-law” of James Finney, Sr.
James Finney, Sr.’s wife, Elizabeth, could be HENRY’s sister, “Elizabeth Turner.”
ANN __?__ TURNER, could be James’ sister, ANN “Finney” TURNER.
HENRY TURNER’s father could have married the widowed mother of James Finney.
James Finney’s father could have married the widowed mother of HENRY TURNER.
James Finney could be HENRY’s “brother-in-law” in any of the above cases. Even knowing these possibilities, however, does not give us a definitive answer about the connection to the Finney family. The Finney will, along with the tantalizing evidence of the deeds and church records, still leaves us unable to make a solid connection at this point. There seems to be some “oral history” connected with #1 above, but as yet, this author’s mind is open.