Joshua Stapp, Jr.

Other Events:

• AFN: RSV0-04

Notes:

Joshua Stapp Jr first appears on the Orange Co VA records March 28, 1771 when he is the grantee from his father of 109 acres of land (deed book 15, page 306, Orange Co.) The next year, April 23, his father sold Thomas Burbage 200 acres of land in Orange Co. and in the description it was noted that the land had a corner that bounded the land of Joshua Jr. (Deed book 15, page 465) Sept. 28, 1775 Joshua was the grantee from his father of two slaves, Narick and Frank. (Deed book 16, page 352) Another deed, John Payne to Achilles Stapp, notes that the 1000 acres conveyed was bounded by the land of Joshua Stapp Jr.(deed book 18, page 3, Sept 27, 1781) Joshua Jr. Appears on an Orange Co tax list in 1782 with nine "White souls" and three blacks. In 1787, having decided to remove to Western VA, now Central KY, he began to sell his real holdings. He conveyed to J. White 209 acres "being part of the land they said Joshua Stapps's Father bought of Mr. John Walden of Caroline Co. In 1788, Joshua Jr shows on the Fayette Co VA tax list. By 1790 Joshua Stapp and his wife Hannah, were growing old, he being about 65 years old, an age considered old for the frontier. Since the aged couple no longer owned land their son Achilles, who had also migrated to KY, leased a tract of land on "South Elkhorn" for their natural lives. The land leased to Joshua and Hannah was near the home of Achilles Stapp and the consideration was one barrel of corn annually.

In 1800 Joshus Jr. shows on the Green Co KY census. A study of the records indicates that Hannah DURHAM STAPP has deceased about 1796. Since there are no deeds of Joshua Jr recorded in Green Co we conclude that he was not now possessed of any land and was living on the prepises of a member of his family. In 1810 Joshua Jr is listed on the Adair Co KY census with a female, between the age of 26 and 45 and seven slaves. There is a doubtful inference to be deduced from this Adair census that he had remarried to a much younger woman with slaves, but this conclusion is quite unacceptable when we consider that he was about 86 years old. He was probably the head of a household of a widowed granddaughter, her name uncertain. According to the manuscript notes of Dr CF Colgate, Joshua Stapp Jr died in 1814 at the approximate age of 90 years.

Achilles Stapp, the most prominent of Joshua Stapp's sons, was the leader of the Stapp family migration into KY in 1787. The composition of the immigrant party is obscure and we must rely upon KY land records to attempt to piece it together. Joshua Jr and his wife, Hannah Draham Stapp, although a bit old for the frontier, wanted to go. Thomas and James, brothers of Achilles, were eager to remove. There were others of the Johsua Stapp Jr family who assented to the long journey. Three of these were his daughters; Lucy, who had married John Wilhite and who would eventually settle on the South Elkhorn; Sarah who had married a Creel; and Martha who had married a Hubbard. In 1790, Joshua Stapp Jr and his wife Hannah, acquired an unspecified acreage from their son Achilles on the South Elkhorn bounded by the line of John Branham and "near said Achilles Stapp" and was conveyed for "their natural lives" This is seen as a provision of a son for his landless parents. William Vawter signed the instrument as one of the three witnesses and on Dec 1 he appeared in the Woodford County Court to make oath as to the validity of the transaction.
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Reference:
Dianne, AZDEE@aol.com, 16 November 1998

Joshua married Hannah Durham Abt 1750. [Group Sheet]