(Comments are added in italics)
Headrights: The Gorham name is relatively rare in early Virginia. A John Gorram was a single headright in a 1694 patent by John Keyton in Nansemond County [Virginia Patent Book 8, p340] Another John Goram was one of 21 headrights of Stephen Cocke for a 1693 patent in James and Charles City counties [Virginia Patent Book 8, p300]. Neither person appears in any subsequent records. Hotten reports a 1635 English order to transport several persons, including Thomas Gorham (age 19) and John Gorham (age 18), to Virginia [Hotten, The Original Lists of Person of Quality, 1600-1700, p94] although whether they actually arrived or not is unknown. Miles Gorham does not appear among the recorded headrights.
21 Jan 1660/1 Deed:
Hugh Lee of Northumberland County to Mathew Rhodon, 393a granted to Lee adjoining
Capt. John Rogers “called Coll. Mottran’s land”, Col. John Mottran, John
Trussell, James Claughton…a swamp of Kings Creeke... Release by Hannah Lee. Witness:
Miles Goreham (Northumberland County Deeds & Wills 1658-1662, p51.)
Miles Gorham is living on the west bank of the
Yeocomico River, on 200a of land for which I could not find an acquisition
record.
10 Feb 1662/3 Miles Gorham witnesses a release by Mary Sech for sale of land adjacent to above. (Ibid., p86)
21 Dec 1664 William
Thomas and Frances his wife deed to Miles Goreham, 100a…land of Richard Holding…land that we now live on…Witness: James Robinson, Henry Pratt.
(Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 1, p305.)
This was part of a 1657 patent to William Bacon,
which he assigned to William Thomas. The land was on the south side of the
Potomac, in Sandy Point, on the west bank of the mouth of the the Yeocomico
River where it runs into the Potomac, bordered by the Yeocomico River, which
forms the border between Northumberland and Westmoreland counties. Knott’s
Creek was evidently a branch of the river, probably what is now called the
northwest branch. The land Miles Gorham owned in Northumberland (see below)
was on the opposite side of the Yeocomico in Northumberland County.
20 Jan 1664/5 Miles Gorham ordered to be paid as a witness for Robert Hitchcock. (Northumberland County OB 1652-1665, p408.)
20 Nov 1668 Miles Gorham acknowledges debt to William Rust of 960 lb. tobacco. (Fleet, Volume 1, p601.)
23 Jan 1668/9 Miles
Goreham bond to Hugh Statham, of three cows and calves, to protect Statham
from damages if Goreham fails to pay debt to William Rust. Witness: William
Rust, John Oldham. (Northumberland County Deeds & Wills 1666-1670, p74.)
Statham was the surety for Goreham’s debt. Miles
Gorham apparently is living on the opposite bank of the Yeocomico in
Northumberland County, as the suit would have had to be brought in his county
of residence.
-- Dec 1670 Miles Gorham a witness to deed by Andrew Gray. (Northumberland County Deeds & Wills 1670-1672, p151.)
10 Jan 1670/1 Miles
Goreham mortgage to Richard Lynney of James Cittie, 1,075 pounds tobacco,
pledges 200a in a neck commonly called Jericho in Northumberland…adjoining
Robert Sech, Samuel Griffins, Richard Cox…Witness: John Roberts, Richard
Pierce. Miles Gorham appoints John Roberts his attorney to acknowledge.
(Northumberland County Deeds & Wills 1670-1672, p147.)
“Jericho” was one of the many spellings of “Yeacomico”.
This is on the Northumberland side of the river.
23 Jan 1670/1 Miles Gorham witnesses dower release of Mary Colton in sale by her husband Benjamin Colton to Thomas Shoosley. (Northumberland County Deeds & Wills 1670-1672, p150.)
27 Feb 1670/1 Miles
Goreham witness to assignment of a servant from Simon Richardson to Thomas
Chetwoode, recorded in Somerset County, Maryland (Maryland Archives, Volume 87,
p97)
This is the only citation I could find for a Gorham
in Maryland. It might explain where Miles Gorham was during his absences from Virginia.
28 Apr 1671 Miles
Goreham and Alice Goreham his wife of Northumberland deed to Robert
King of Westmoreland, 100a on a creek formerly called Knott’s Creek…adjoining Widow
Hull and Samuel Bonam. Witness: John (x) Browne, Richard Smith. Alice (x) Gorham appoints John Browne attorney to release dower. Witness: Thomas Colton,
John Oldum. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 1, p377.)
This is apparently the land purchased from William
Thomas in 1664, located on Sandy Point on the west side of the Yeocomico River at its mouth.
18 Oct 1671 Miles Goreham a witness to sale of patent of Thomas Towers. (Northumberland County Deeds & Wills 1670-1672, p201.)
15 Nov 1671 Miles Goreham a witness to sale of patent of Jonathan Howes to William Hill. (Northumberland County Deeds & Wills 1670-1672, p203.)
18 Jan 1671/2 Miles Goreham, cooper, and Alice Goreham his wife, of Northumberland, deed to John Eveines, 200a “…head of Bever Dam Swampt issuing from Kings Creeke…oak upon a branch of Mattapony…” adjoining Richard Cooke, John Oldham. Witness: Thomas Colton, Samuel Poole, Edward Elleit, John Nicholes. 20 February 1671/2 Alice Goreham appoints Samuel Poole attorney to release dower. Witness: Abigail Oldham, Thomas Colton. (Northumberland County Deeds & Wills 1670-1672, p225.)
This is the same land mortgaged a year earlier to Richard Lynney. But how did Goreham acquire it?
2 July 1675 Samuel Earle deed to Thomas Sanders, both of Cople Parish, Westmoreland County., land on Yoacomaco Neck know by the name of Nicholas Denialls plantation…between Nich. Jones and Mr. Robt. Jadwin… Witness: Miles Goreham, Susannah (x) Goreham. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 1, p240a.)
16 Apr 1676 “Whereas Capt. John Rogers hath kept John Goreham, sonne to Miles Goreham sometime & the father of the said child hath absented himself out of this country with the consent of the said John…” the court orders that John Goreham serve the Capt. John Rogers until he reaches the age of 21. (Northumberland County OB 1666-1678, p134.)
21 Aug 1678 “Whereas Miles Gorham petitioned this court to hand his child, who pretends he was bound to Capt. John Rogers in the absence of him the said Gorham…” ordered referred to the next court (Northumberland County OB 4, 1678-1698, p3.)
16 Oct 1678 “Whereas
(at the last court) Miles Goreham did present a petition whereon he
complained that Capt. John Rogers did binde his son John to him without
his privity or knowledge and prayes that he might have his son again, whose
cause was referred to this court…” Said Miles Gorham did pray that he might
have his sonn, & did make oath within six months after he was bound…court
orders the son delivered to Gorham by Capt. Rogers. (Northumberland County OB 4 1678-1698, p8.)
The son John Gorham must have been bound to Rogers after July 1675 (when Miles Gorham witnessed the deed above) but before April
1676. The court record states that the son John gave consent to his
apprenticeship. Although children normally had to be 14 to bind themselves,
the law permitted orphans and poor children aged 10 or older to bind themselves
out as apprentices. In this case, for his apprenticeship to benefit his family,
John was probably a teenager.
28 Jul 1680 Miles Goreham on jury. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p187.)
22 Feb 1681/2 Miles Goreham ordered to pay debt of 800 lbs tobacco to Daniel Ocany. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p247.)
10 Jan 1682/3 Thomas
Youle order against Miles Goreham for one levy paid by Youle. Gorham to reimburse
300 lbs. John Garner indebted to Miles Goreham for cooper’s work, 414
lbs. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p274.)
The “levy” apparently refers to a tithable paid by
Youle, although 300 lbs. of tobacco is an extraordinarily high assessment for
the time. The tithable must have been for June 1682.
24 Sep 1684 Miles Goreham vs. John Garner for 214 lbs, for 3 days attendance as a witness for Garner. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p358.)
9 Feb 1683/4 Deeds referenced: Elionias and Margaret Moore sold to Miles Goreham 9 February 1683/4…Miles and Susannah Goreham sold to Stephen Bailey 13 September 1684. Land between Yeocomico and Nominy in Westmoreland County. (see 5 Feb 1733/4 entry below)
24 Nov 1686 Miles Goram, cooper, of this county “lately ran away and left behind him his wife and several of his children in great necessity and poverty, and his wife Susannah Goram did by contract made with Robert King binde over Michael Goram her son with Susannah her daughter unto King for a term of years 5 November 1686 being by order of this court recorded” Court orders Michael and Susannah serve their term under King “notwithstanding any claim that shall be made by their father Miles Goram.” (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p528.)
Same date. Attachment of Miles Goram estate by William Paine. Goods of Miles Goram returned by Sheriff…consisting of cooper’s tools...sheriff to deliver goods or value in tobacco to William Paine. Appraisal dated 19 October 1686, valued at 170 lbs. tobacco. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p529.)
23 Feb 1686/7 Miles Goreham vs. William Twineing and Miles Gorham vs. Southall & Twineing, both suits referred to next court. Goreham apparently represented by an attorney, not clear if he was in court himself. Both suits dismissed at court of 27 April 1687. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p557-8, p571.)
27 Apr 1687 “Miles Goram of this County lately run away out of this County and left behind him his wife and Mary Goram a small child in great necessity and poverty and his wife by contract made with Henry Wharton bind over Mary Goram her daughter unto Henry Wharton for a term of ten years 10 March 1686/7 until she arrives at the age of 17 years or she shall be legally married, not withstanding any claim that shall be made by her father Miles Goram…” (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p561.)
13 Jul 1687 Francis
(x) Gorhum witness to power of attorney to Richard Gibson by August and
Mary Kneton to acknowledge their deed to William Mansbridge. (Stafford County
Deeds & Wills 1686-1689, p57.)
There are no other references to this person – this
may be a mistranscription by the clerk.
31 Aug 1687 Miles Goreham vs. James Johnson for two days attendance as witness. The suit was heard at this court. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1675-1688, p595.)
29 Jan 1690/1 Samuel Griffin vs. Miles Goreham, suit dismissed. At same court, John Newton issues order for nonappearance of Miles Goreham to answer plea of debt. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1690-1698, p6a, 8a.)
30 Jul 1691 Miles
Goreham arrested to answer Nathaniel Pyecroft “,,,covenants broken to
damage of 1,000 pounds (tobacco)” Pyecroft did not appear, and Goreham prayed
a non-suit. Similar entry at same court for suit of Henry Wharton…William
Paine, attorney for Goreham, prayed a non-suit. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1690-1698, 36.)
This is the last appearance of Miles Gorham in the
records. Whether he was actually in court this date is unclear, but he was
clearly alive.
27 Sep 1693 Winifred Goreham granted administration of the estate of her husband Miles Goreham. Thomas Walker bondsman. The court ordered an inventory and an appraisal by Robert Smith, John Bailey, and Francis Self. At same court, dower releases by Joanne Butler and Margaret Rust recorded, both witnessed by John Goreham – deeds were dated in December 1692. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1690-1698, p105, p104.)
27 Sep 1693 Deed
of gift, Thomas Moore to John Goreham.
This deed is not in the Westmoreland deed books (or
I could not find it), but is referenced when the land is sold (See entries for
14 January 1740 and 27 June 1709.) However, the following is dated this day.
Deed of gift of land from Thomas Moore to Thomas Walker bearing date 27
September 1693 acknowledged in court on 29 November 1693 (Westmoreland Order
Book 1690-1698, p111.)
Thomas Walker is apparently the trustee for John
Goreham, who was about ten years old at the time. One theory is that John
Goreham’s father had married a daughter of Thomas Moore, perhaps one who was
deceased by this date, and Thomas Moore was gifting part of his estate to his
grandson. Thomas Moore’s will (dated 5 February 1709 and proved 5 January 1713)
leaves his estate to his sons William and Thomas and a daughter, Margaret
Moore, and appoints his wife Margaret executrix. It’s questionable if Thomas
Moore had a daughter old enough to have had a 10-year old child in 1693. An alternate
theory is that John Goreham was the son of a sister of Thomas Moore.
29 Nov 1693 John Goreham a witness to deed recorded this court. Winifred Goreham records inventory and appraisal of Miles Goreham. (Westmoreland County Order Book 1690-1698, p111.)
28 Feb
1699/00 Will of John Goreham proved by David Thomas, and probate
granted to William Butler “executor in the will named.” (Westmoreland County
Order Book 1698-1705, p72a.)
This is the court record only. Unfortunately, there
are gaps in the Westmoreland records, including missing wills in the period
1699-1701, and this will is apparently among the missing records. However,
there being no other Gorhams in the neighborhood (or in all of Virginia for that matter) this is clearly the son of Miles Gorham and father of John Gorham
II. The witness, David Thomas, was living on land owned by William Carr in 1703
when Carr mentioned him in his will. William Butler, the executor, is tough to
identify – there were several of them. John Goreham II was about 16 at this
time, old enough to choose a guardian. There is no court record of any
guardianship, but I’d guess Thomas Moore is a likely candidate.
1704 Virginia Rent Rolls: Westmoreland County rent roll is not preserved. There are no Gorhams in any other county of Virginia.
Note on
Gowen/Going and Gorin Families:
There are some names in Virginia which are similar
to Gorham. By 1700 there are people named Gorin (Goran, Goring) and Gowen/Going
(Goin, Goins, Goen) located in the general Westmoreland area, and later in Prince
William, Stafford, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties. Although they appear to be
completely different and unrelated families, they can easily be confused with
the Gorhams. In at least three cases I’ve seen, records of these people were
mistranscribed in print as “Gorham” or some variant. John Gowen/Going, a
mulatto, was in Westmoreland County by 1693, with perhaps brothers named
William and James. They and their descendants followed a similar migration
path, to Stafford, Prince William, and Fairfax counties.
27 Jun 1709 Thomas
Moore deed to John Froud, 10a on a branch…by the name of great hole…oak marked
by Thomas Moore for his son William Moore…line between land of the guift (sic)
to Goreham and Moore… Witness: John Goreham, Robert Sparrow.
(Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 5, p226.)
This is John Gorham II making his first appearance
other than the 1693 deed of gift, and signing with his distinctive mark.
21 July 1716 John
Pyecraft, planter, deed to John Gorum, carpenter, both of Westmoreland
County, 60a in the forest of Nominy …near dwelling houses of Peter Smith and
John Pyecraft…adjoining Thomas Walker and James Smith…part of 150a purchased by
Nathaniel Pyecraft (father of John Pyecraft) from William and Susannah Webb on
25 August 1692, part of the western half of a 500a tract to Edward Witherington
and William Webb of 1679…originally patented to William Baisely and Edward
Hawley in 1665. Witness: Sampson Damouvel, Hugh (x) Dunnahaw, Richard (x)
Hamack. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 5, p574.)
When he acknowledged the deed at July court, the
seller’s name was written as Pyecroft.
10 Jan 1716/7 John Pyecroft deed to James Coleman, 100a adjoining the land of Peter Smith, Thomas Walker and Richard Tidwell, and of Wm. Harper and John Goreham. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 6, p134.)
24 Sept 1717 Patty
Haile and Sarah his wife deed to John Froud, 66a between the two main branches
of Nominy Creek commonly called Red Cross Tavern Branch…Witness: Thomas Harper,
John (I) Goreham, John Lamkin. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills
6, p174.)
This is the first record I’ve viewed in the
original in which John Gorham used his distinctive mark, which clearly
identifies him as the John Gorham who later lived in Loudoun County and died
there ca1769.
22 Feb 1723/4 John
(I) Goreham, carpenter, deed to George Walker, planter, both of
Westmoreland, 60a in the forest of Nominy adjoining Peter Smith, Richard
Coleman…purchased by deed of sale bearing date 25 July 1716. Witness: Peter
Smith, Joshua Williams. Personally acknowledged by John Goreham in court on 29
April 1724. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 8, p10.)
The clerk scrupulously recorded dower releases, so
the absence of one here indicates that John Gorham II was not married in 1716
when he acquired this land.
1 Oct 1729 John
Gorum paid by estate of Captain John Morton, according to an estate
accounting filed this date. (Richmond County Account Book 1724-1751, p30.)
Richmond County is just south of Westmoreland and
Morton, who was quite wealthy, had interests in both counties. Probably being
paid for carpentry work, perhaps a casket.
20 June 1730 Richard Coleman deed to John Bailey Jr., 100a on branches of the Nominy, part of 1665 patent to Beasley and Halley “bounded by the lands late of … John Goreham”. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 8, p143.)
3 Sept 1733 Nicholas Smith of Prince William deed to John Lamkin of Westmoreland, 50a Witness: John (I) Goram, John Brown, William (x) Fryer.
5 Feb 1733/4 James Bailey Sr. deed to his son James Bailey Jr., both of Westmoreland, 50a in the forest between Yoacomaco and Nominy…where Edward Young now lives…adjoining Richard Dunahaw…part of 250a…which 50a was formerly vested in Richard Searles who sold to Elionias Moore 17 January 1679/80…Elionias and Margaret Moore sold to Miles Goreham 9 February 1683/4…Miles and Susannah Goreham sold to Stephen Bailey 13 September 1684…Stephen Bailey devised by will dated 8 December 1697 to his son John Bailey. Witness: John Sutton, Garland Moore, Robert (x) Moore. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 8, p228.)
4 Mar 1733/4 John Goram paid by estate of Mathew Thornton, according to an estate accounting filed this date. (Richmond County Account Book 1724-1751, p69.)
18 Nov 1737 Will
of John Lamkin of Westmoreland County witnessed by John (I) Goram and
William Grove. Will proved 31 Jan 1737/8 by oath of William Grove alone. The
will names only “my two daughters” Wenefrett Howell (wife of John Howell) and
Jane Moor (wife of Samuel Moor). (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 8,
p328a.)
This is the last of the three records in which
Lamkin and Goreham appear together. It’s a real stretch, but John Lamkin’s
wife in a 1693 court record is “Susanna”, perhaps Gorham’s aunt? Why did Sanford Gorham name a son Lamkin? The connection may be a different one, as there were
Lamkins living in Loudoun County several years later.
1 Oct. 1740 Willoughby Newton of Westmoreland lease to John Gorum of Prince William, planter,...by a certain contract between them dated 11 October 1739... for 200a in Prince William County... whereon Paul Howell formerly built a small house... on a branch that makes out of Bull Run commonly called "Little Rocky" and is part of a tract of 1719 acres... granted Willoughby Newton... rent free for three years and in 1743 rent should be paid...Willoughby Newton doth lease to farm let to John Gorum and Mary, his wife, and Thomas Gorum, his son, ... annual rent 530 lb. tobacco... Signed Willoughby Newton, John (I) Goram. Witness: Fielding Turner, George Duren, Jacob Remy. (Fairfax County Deed Book A, pp45)
Willoughby Newton had received the patent only 12 days earlier (Northern Neck Patent Book E, p172) so
it is likely that the lease was delayed until Newton received title to the
land. Willoughby Newton leased part of the same patent to Richard Omahundro,
second husband of Ann Sanford, and another part to Joseph Brown (see later).
The land was at this time in Prince William County, but fell into Fairfax County at its formation in 1742. (The lease was not recorded until 19 May 1743,
when it was Fairfax County.) In 1757, Loudoun County was created, with the
eastern border being Little Rocky, and the Gorham land lay just on the Loudoun
side. This part of Loudoun was returned to Fairfax County in 1798, so that it
appears on modern maps as part of Fairfax County.
The plat for this patent actually shows “John Gorum’s house” (located on the western bank of Little Rocky Run) as well
as the houses of Jacob Remey, Richard Omahundro, Joseph Taylor and others.
c1740 Virginia in 1740: A Reconstructed Census (TLC Genealogy, 1993) mentions John Gorham, drawn from two citations: King George County Court Orders 1735-1751, and Westmoreland County Court Orders 1739-43. The latter is the proving of the deed immediately below on 30 June 1741. I have not read the former, but I suspect it would be similar to the entries above for neighboring Richmond County (King George’s predecessor).
14 Jan 1740/1 John
(I) Goreham of Cople Parish, Westmoreland County deed to James Baley of
same, 60a “being the land which Thomas Moore gave to said John Goreham by deed
of gift bearing date the 27 September 1693” adjoining James Baley, Thomas
Moore, and Benjamin Walker. Same date, a bond to James Baley for indenture
above. Witness: William Grove, Garland Moore, Robert (x) Moore, Robert (x)
Smith. Proved 30 June 1741. (Westmoreland County Deeds & Wills 9, p161.)
Not sure why he is described as “of Westmoreland” when
he had already signed the lease above. Again the mark is his distinctive “I”.
William Grove, who witnessed this deed and the will of John Lamkin, was the first sexton of the Little Rocky (Anglican) Church, built in 1747 very near John Gorham’s land which he had leased from Willoughby Newton. Newton donated land for the church and recommended Grove for the job.
June 1749 Jno.
Goreham – 1 white tithable. Fairfax County.
This is the only one surviving tithable list for Truro Parish, Fairfax County. John Gorham is living on the leased land, as he is in the
part of Truro that shortly became Cameron Parish. If the tithable is for
himself, he has no sons who are yet 16.
20 June 1753 John Gorham recovered 1£ 15s 7½p and costs in a suit first mentioned in 1749. [Courtesy of James Gorham, reading Fairfax Order Book p368 and p407.]
12 Sep 1754 John
Bailey Sr. deed to his son John Bailey Jr., sells same land (now 50a) purchased
from John Gorham in 1741…”corner tree of John Self’s and John
Goreham’s”…stony spring branch…cross tavern run…(Westmoreland County Deeds
& Wills 12, p211.)
Obviously, the description is from an old survey.
June 1760 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thomas Gorham, overseer for Wm. Bronough (Francis Peyton’s list)
John
Gorham, John Gorham Jr. – 1 tithable (James Lane’s list)
John Gorham, Sr. is evidently exempted due to age.
There was no automatic exemption for age or infirmity. The amendment of 1748,
still in effect at this time, required all males over 16 be taxed “excepting
such only as the county court, for charitable reasons appearing to them, shall
think fit to excuse.” There are only 70 households on James Lane’s list, seven
of them in Fairfax County. Among them are Willoughby Newton and Jacob Remey.
Thomas Gorham is located on Brounough’s land on Goose Creek about 20 miles
northwest, in what would eventually become the eastern edge of Shelburne
Parish.
June 1761 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thomas Gorham, overseer for Capt. Wm. Bronough (added later by court
order)
John Gorrum, John Gorrum Jr., Sanford Gorrum – 2 tithables (James Lane’s list)
June 1762 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thos Gorham, overseer for Capt. Wm. Bronaugh (Charles Tyler’s list)
John
Gorham, John Gorham Jr., Sanford Gorham – 2 tithables (James Lane’s list)
George Vandiver is on same list in 1761 and 1762,
consecutive with the Gorhams in 1762.
15 Dec 1762 John
(I) Goram “age 79 or thereabouts” deposition in Loudoun County. Three depositions were recorded this date in support of a deed of gift in 1757 of
slaves from Thomas Brown to his son Joseph Brown. Adam Mitchell and William
Landrum also deposed. John Goram “aged seventy nine years or thereabouts
deposeth that he has long been a near neighbor to Thomas Brown and was at his
house in or about the month of October 1758…” He signed with his distinctive
“I” mark.
The distinctive mark used to sign this deposition
is identical to the mark used by the John Gorham in Westmoreland County. If he is indeed the same person, he must have been the John Gorham given the deed of
gift by Thomas Moore in 1693. All four persons named in this case are on the
tithables lists of James Lane for this period. It may be a coincidence, but
there is a “Gorham Brown” living in Halifax (later Pittsylvania) County,
Virginia as early as 1760. Perhaps there was some other relationship between
these two familes.
21 Mar 1763 Willoughby
Newton deed to George Vandiveer, 3a in Cameron Parish, Loudoun County on the Mountain Road…” (Loudoun County Deed Book C, p531.)
This may the location of the ordinary (tavern)
operated by George Vandiver and later by Sanford Gorham.
June 1764 Tithables, Loudoun County: 8 of the 10 lists are missing this year, but a court record adds Thomas Gorham to the 1764 tithables. (Loudoun County OB B, p437.) A Chancery Court case (M2491) includes lists which are some of the tithables for 1764 or 1765, and a list of receipts by Charles Tyler shows John Goreham paying a single tithe.
16 Aug 1764 Will
of George Vandiveer, proved 9 October 1764. Ann Vandiver to have house and
land during her life, then to son Edward. Personal property divided equally
among “my four children” Edward, Sarah, Tabitha, and Amenthia. Witness: William
Smith, John Tyler, John Field, Johan Spencer, James Hall. (Loudon County Will
Book A, p120) Ann Vandiver renounces executorship in favor of James Lane (Will
Book B, p474)
George Vandiver owned 216a near Thomas Gorham at
his death, as well as a small plot neighboring John Gorham’s leased land. Vandiver
had operated an ordinary (tavern) at his house 1761-4. Edward Vandiver was
baptized on 21 January 1753 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Either he or
Sarah was the eldest. A fifth child, George Vandiver Jr., was born
posthumously.
June 1765 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thos Gorham, James Dennison – 2 tithables (Francis Peyton’s list)
John Gorham Jr. – 1 tithable (William Carr Lane’s list) Same precinct as earlier
A receipt showing that Jno. Goreham paid one tithe is in Surviving Cameron Parish Records, Loudoun County, Virginia, Tithable List of 1765, June Whitehurst Johnson (Willow Bend Books, 2001), p4. This is apparently not the same list as William Carr Lane’s. On p12, Thomas Goreham appears on a copy of one of the 1765 tithables lists.
12 May 1766 John
Goram Junr. appointed constable from Cub Run to the Ox Road Fairfax and Fauquier lines. [Loudoun County Order Book C, p76, from Historian's Guide
to Loudoun County, Virginia: Volume 1, Colonial Laws of Virginia and County Court Orders, 1757-1766, John T. Phillips II (Goose Creek Publications, 1996),
p---.
The 1766 tithables are lost, but he is not listed
in this district in the 1767 tithables. The district in which he is constable
is the one in which his father lived.
11 Aug 1766 Zachariah
Jenkins, 10 years old last April, and Elizabeth Barrett, 6 years old next
October, bound to John Goram, shoemaker. [Loudoun County Order Book C,
p148, from Phillips, p361.]
This is probably not John Gorham Sr., who was about
83 at the time, and who had been identified yeas earlier as a carpenter. It is
probably John Gorham Jr. There is a Zachariah Jenkins who was about 6 years
older according to tithable records, and who is listed as a tithable for a
variety of people in the area from 1767 onward – including a tithable of Thomas
Gorham in 1774 and of William Cotton in 1775.
June 1767 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Sanford Gorham, negro Sarah – 2 tithables (James Hamilton’s list)
Thomas Gorham, James Dennison, Bartholomew Connelly – 3 tithables (Levin Powell’s list)
1 June 1767 William
and Jane Gladden of Loudon deed to William Triplett of Fairfax, 245a granted to
Gladden 7 January 1767. Witness: John Gorham Jr., Edward Bland, William Carr Lane. (Fairfax County Deed Book G, p271.)
John Gorham Jr. may have been living on the other
side of Little Rocky in Fairfax County, accounting for his absence from the
Loudoun tithables. Gladden does not appear on Loudoun tithables through 1767,
though the two other witnesses do.
23 Mar 1768 Accounting
of estate of Christopher Neale includes a 1765 debit to “Mrs. Ann Gorham
for making breeches” (Fairfax County Will Book C, pp19)
This apparently the wife of Sanford Gorham, married
by 1765. I would note than an earlier accounting, in 1764, listed payments to
George Vandiver.
June 1768 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Sanford Goreham – 1 tithable (William Carr Lane’s list)
Thomas
Gorham, Barthol Connelly – 2 tithables (Levin Powell’s list)
Thomas Barden is listed consecutively with Thomas
Gorham in this list.
13 Feb 1769 Sanford Gorham witnesses deed of land and a mill from James and Martha Dozer to James Lane and William Carr Lane. (Prince William County Deed Book R, pp97.)
June 1769 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Sanford Gorham, Edward Vandiver, negro Will – 3 tithables (William Carr Lane’s list)
Thomas
Gorham, Bartholomew Connelly, Jno. Mason – 3 tithables (William Carr Lane’s list)
This year, only three households separate these
entries, though the position in the list is not necessarily meaningful.
Sanford Gorham may have married the widow of George Vandiver, which would
account for his paying the tax for Edward Vandiver from 1769 (when Edward
turned 16) through Sanford Gorham’s death.
June 1770 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Sanford Gorham, Edward Vandeveer – 1 tithable (William Carr Lane’s
list)
Sanford
Gorham is listed as a county patroller exempted from tax. Thomas Barden again
listed consecutively.
Thomas Gorham, Bartholomew Connelly, John Mason – 3
tithables (Levin Powell’s list)
1770 Sanford Gorham a witness to renunciation of estate by Ann Lane, widow of William Carr Lane. (Loudoun County Deed Book H, p159.)
13 May 1771 Inventory and estate sale of John Gorham Sr. recorded. “Pursuant to an order of the worshipful court of Loudoun County bearing date 10 October 1769…we the subscribers being first duly sworn have valued and appraised all and singular the estate of John Gorham Senr. deced as was presented to our view…” valued at 40 pds, 19s, 3p… Enoch Grigsby, Wm. Buckley, Thos. Cockerill. (Loudoun County Will Book A, p312.)
Sale
of the estate of John Gorham totaling 30 pds, 17s, 2 ½ p recorded same
court: Buyers included Mrs. Mary Gorham, Thomas Gorham, Sanford
Gorham, Jacob Remey Jr, Charles Eskridge, William Carr Lane, William Lane
Sr., Paul Turley, John Morris, Edward Smith, Robert Thomas, William Lane
Summers, Frederick Nichols…most household goods purchased by widow. The estate
included “a parcel of old books”. An accounting by Sanford Gorham
follows, dated “1769” with payments listed to Sanford Gorham, Alexander
Sanderson, Thomas Gorham, Jeremiah Cockerill, Charles Eskridge, and a local
merchant. (Loudoun County Will Book A, pp314.)
June 1771 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Sanford Gorham, Edwd Vandeveer, Jno Kelley – 2 tithables (Simon
Triplett’s list)
Sanford
Gorham again listed as a county patroller exempted from tax.
Thos Gorham, Bartholomew Cornely, John Mason – 3 tithables (Levin Powell’s
list) Shelburne Parish.
Shelburne Parish was formed in late 1769 from
Cameron Parish, and encompassed everything west of Goose Creek, but didn’t
begin operating until 1771. Thomas Gorham was in eastern part of Shelburne
Parish well before its formation and appears in Shelburne Parish tithables 1771
and after. Sanford Gorham appears in Cameron Parish, on or near his father’s
land.
June 1772 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Sanford Gorham, Edward Vandiver, John Kelsey, negro Toby – 3 tithables
(Samuel Love’s list)
Sanford
Gorham listed as a county patroller exempted from tax.
Thomas Gorham, Jno Mason, negro Guy – 3 tithables (Levin Powell’s list)
9 Oct 1772 Will
of Sanford Gorham, proved 25 January 1773. The will directs that “all
my stocks of every kind be sold…also to dispose of all my household goods
exclusive of 1 bed & furniture which I give my daughter Sarah Vandiver as
her choice…” but to “keep sufficient of corn & meat for the support of my
wife & family and dispose of the remainder of every kind, also my crop of
tobacco.” Servant John “Kelsie” also to be sold. Any surplus after paying
debts to be applied to support of wife and children. “My negroe wench Aive
belonging to my wife Ann Gorham…” to wife Ann and at her death to be given to
“my sons Lanken, William, and Harving Gorham…” Wife Ann Gorham and friend
Simon Triplett executors. Signed by Sanford Gorham. Witness: William Millan,
John Orr, Jane (x) Millan, Sarah (x) Vandiver. Ann Gorham qualified as sole
executor. (Loudoun County Will Book B, p29)
It is impossible to tell from this document alone
if there were one or two Sarah Vandivers. If Sarah Vandiver were a daughter,
she could not have legally witnessed the will. However, if she were a
stepdaughter, her witness would have been perfectly legal since she would not
have had an interest in the estate beyond the specific bequest. Either way,
the daughter was clearly old enough to have had a use for a bed and furniture.
30 Nov 1772 Thomas Gorham paid 872 pds tobacco by Shelburne Parish as “assignee of (Valentine) Corngiver” [The Anglican Parishes of Loudoun County, Virginia…1736-1804, Margaret Lail Hopkins and Nancy Hopkins Phillips (Willow Bend Books, 1997), p86.]
13 Sep 1773 Inventory
and appraisal of Sanford Gorham recorded. The servant John “Kelcher”
was valued at 25 pounds, more than a quarter of the total of 93 lb, 2s, 4p.
The inventory consisted of farm tools, livestock, 3 beds and furniture, and an
“old pray book and testament”. (Loudoun County Will Book B, p48.)
The will and inventory show that Sanford Gorham
owned no land, yet had several cows, horses, and hogs, as well as a crop of
tobacco. Either he was renting land or he was living on the land left to his
wife by George Vandiver’s will.
June 1773 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Ann Gorham, Edward Vandiveer, John Kelcher – 2 tithables (Samuel Love’s
list)
Thos Gorham, John Mason, negroes Sam, Guy, Betty – 5 tithables (Thomas Lewis’s list)
16 Nov 1773 Thomas
Gorham paid 712 pds tobacco by Shelburne Parish (Hopkins & Phillips,
p88.)
This and the 1772 reference are among the only
surviving records of the parish. Thomas Gorham must have been performing some
small regular service to the parish.
June 1774 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Ann Gorham, Edward Vandiver, John Kelsher, William Cox – 3 tithables
(Samuel Love’s list)
Thomas Gorham, Zachariah Jenkins, John Mason, negroes Sam, Guy, Betty – 6 tithables (Levin Powell’s list)
June 1775 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Ann Gorham, John Ketcher, William Cox – 2 tithables (George Summer’s
list)
Edward Vandiver listed in his own household this
year.
Thomas Gorham, John Mason, negroes Sam, Guy, Betty – 5 tithables (Thomas
Lewis’s list)
1 Jun 1775 Thomas Gorham a witness to the will of William McClellan. (Loudoun County Will Book B, p269). Also entry for 23 Sep 1775 inventory and appraisal of William McClellan by Thomas Gorham and others. (Loudoun County Will Book B, p136.)
19 Mar 1776 William Lane Jr. lease to “Edward Vandivere, Helena Vandivere his wife, and Sarah Vandivere his daughter". (Loudoun County Deed Book L, p191.)
Nov 1776 Date
of inventory and appraisal of Thomas Barden by Thomas Gorham and
others. (Loudoun County Will Book B, p166.)
See entry of 13 March 1782 below.
18 Dec 1776 William
Lane Jr. lease to Joseph Frost, Tabitha Frost his wife, and “Harvin Goreham,
orphan of Sanford Goreham deceased”. Edward Vandiver a witness. (Loudoun
County Deed Book L, p294)
Harvin Gorham, probably aged 10 or under, is
apparently in the care of the Frosts. Tabitha Frost was a daughter of George
Vandiver.
June 1777 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thomas Goreham, negroes Sam, Guy, Betty – 4 tithables (Levin Powell’s
list)
16 May 1778 Thomas Gorham an appraiser of the estate of William Musgrove.
June 1778 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thomas Goreham, John Goreham, negroes Sam, Guy, Tom, Betty – 6
tithables (Simon Triplett’s list)
This list is actually undated, but appears to be
for 1778. It generally matches the 1779 list and 1778 is the only year for
which Simon Triplett’s list is otherwise missing.
14 Dec 1778 Thomas Gorham appointed surveyor of road from Little River to Canby’s Mill. (Loudoun County Order Book G, part 1, p137.)
6 Mar. 1779 Thomas Gorham, Charles Pullen, John Tyler, and John Alexander are appraisers of the estate of Wm. Musgrove. (Loudoun County Will Book B, p269)
June 1779 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thomas Goreham, John Goreham, negroes Sam, Guy, Tom, Betty – 6
tithables (Thomas Lewis’s list)
Docr. Gustavs Richard Brown’s Qtr, William Mitchell (overseer), John Goreham,
James Richardson, 4 negroes – 8 tithables (also on Thomas Lewis’s list)
This appears to be two different John Gorehams, as
there is no court record of a duplicate tithe. Dr. Gustavus Richard Brown was
from Maryland, the brother of the Dr. Gustavus Brown who was the friend and
physician of George Washington. William Mitchell, the overseer, was apparently
the same William Mitchell who was the son of Adam Mitchell mentioned in the 1762
deposition.
June 1780 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thomas Goram, John Goram, negroes Sam, Guy, Tom, Betty – 6
tithables (Cuthbert Harrison’s list)
John Lewis, John Goram, 3 slaves – 5 (John Lewis’s list)
This person may actually have been “John Gorin”, as
he is listed the following year with John Lewis as “John Goran”. He may have
been one of the Gorin/Gowen family members in Loudoun.
June 1781 Tithables,
Loudoun County:
Thomas Gorham, negroes Sam, Guy, Tommy, Billy – 6 tithables (William
Bronaugh’s list)
12 Mar 1782 Revolutionary
claim: Thomas Gorham allowed 612 pounds of beef supplied to the troops by
the Loudoun court (Loudoun County Minute Book 1780-1783, p73, two entries.)
The original DAR application based on this claim
was filed 30 May 1944 (National #34655) by Mary Schooler Gorham, with the
assistance of genealogist Mrs. W. B. Ardery.
13 Mar. 1782 Miles
Barden, orphan of Thomas Barden, dec’d. comes into court and makes choice of Thomas
Gorham for his guardian. (Loudoun County Minute Book 1780-1783, p108)
The estate of Thomas Barden, his father, was not
settled until 1802, when Miles Barden was administrator. Thomas Barden
probably married Thomas Gorham’s sister. His wife was Elizabeth, who remarried
to John Wells according to 1782 and 1795 court records. There were four Barden
children: Thomas, Mary, James, and John. Miles Barden was named “Miles Gorham
Barden” in a 1786 estate accounting (Will Book C, p216) and in the 1786
tithables.
8 July 1782 On the motion of Thos. Gorham, ordered that John Wells and Elizabeth, his wife, administrators of Thos. Barden, be recommended to settle their account of the administration of the estate of the said Thos. Barden. (Ibid.)
ca1778-83 The children of George Vandiver all move to Camden (later Fairfield) District, South Carolina, apparently taking Harvin Gorham and William Gorham, sons of Sanford Gorham, with them. Edward Vandiver last appears on the 1777 tithables, and according to his Revolutionary pension application (R10845) he enlisted in Camden District in 1779. His brother George and his sisters apparently followed him within a few years. Interestingly, Edward Vandiver named two of his sons Sanford and Lamkin. The Vandivers are in Pendleton by the 1800 census, while Harvin Gorham is in Chester County.
Note: The following item is actually a citation for Kentucky, and is included here as a transition. Kentucky was part of Virginia until 1792, so this reference is among Virginia’s records.
14 Aug 1786 Patent
to Thomas Goarham for 500 acres in Fayette County, in consideration of a
treasury warrant dated 15 October 1779. Survey dated 23 March 1784. The land
lay “on the ridge between Grassy Lick Creek and the middle prong of Kingston’s
(sic) Fork” adjoining Temple Smith, John Darnal, James Hardage Lane. (Virginia
Land Office Grants No. 4, p346)
Note that all three adjoining landowners were from Loudoun County. This land is located in the northern part of what is now Montgomery County,
Kentucky. At the time, it was in Fayette County, Virginia, which became Kentucky in 1792. Also note that this is a purchase-money grant, not a grant for military
service.
30 Jun 1787 Will
of William Cotton, dated 30 June 1787 and proved 9 June 1788. Names wife Mary,
sons William and John Cotton, daughters “Margrett Ghoram” and Frances
Spurr. The daughters each received “a mourning ring of the value of thirty
shillings”. (Loudoun County Will Book C, p345.)
Both sons, William and John Cotton, died in Fayette County, Kentucky. Both daughters had moved to Kentucky within a year or so of the
will date.
11 Feb 1788 Richard Spurr and wife Franky (signed as Frances) of Loudoun County deed to Thomas Gorham of Loudoun County, 100lbs, one-third of 800a tract in Fayette County, District of Kentucky (then part of Virginia). Witness: William Cotton III, Eliza Cotton, Ann Cotton. (Bourbon County, Kentucky Deed Book A, p196.)
The following two items are not really part of a Virginia Chronology, but I add them here as a sort of transition.
1880 Letter
written by a granddaughter of Thomas Gorham in 1880: “…My grandfather, Thomas
Gorham crossed the ocean from England with two brothers; one of them a
lawyer with one arm, the other a farmer. They settled in Virginia, from there
they moved to Pennsylvania and lived there until it was made a free state. An unknown brother sold his slaves and went to Massachusetts and Thomas
Gorham went to Loudoun Co., Virginia with his slaves…”
I would note that the author of this letter could
not have known either of the “two brothers” nor is it likely that she knew her
grandfather, except as a young girl. This is an excellent illustration of the
accuracy of family legends – there is some truth to it, but also considerable
fiction. One wonders if Sanford was the one-armed lawyer.
1930s A great-great-grandson of Thomas Gorham, writing in the 1930s, stated that his great-grandfather “Jack Gorham (a son of Thomas Gorham), was one among the pioneer settlers of Fayette County, Kentucky it was either 1767 or 1776 when he came there from Lonadall (sic) County, Virginia…”
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