Sarah

Family/Spouse: James Presnell. James (son of James Presnell and Hester) was born on 27 Mar 1662; died in 1705. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Who were the parents of Jacob Presnell?

Most Presnell genealogists make the assumption that the parents of Jacob (b. about 1680) were James and Sarah Prenell since we find James Presnell recorded in the same location at the right time. Could Jacob be the son of George? That is also a possibility as he is of the right age, and is found in Middlesex County records. We assume that George and James are about the same age, but don't have definitive proof of that. Both George and James are found in Middlesex County. We know that George is in the Virginia Militia at about the time of Jacob's birth, and we know James is in Middlesex county into the early 1700s. Most Presnell genealogists claim it was James, and were not aware of the records that we have for George. There is also a possibility that the father of Jacob is someone else entirely, although that would be highly unlikely.

Who was the wife of Jacob Presnell?

I believe with 99% certainty that it was Mary Hedgecock. We have pretty solid evidence to lead us to this conclusion.

There are many whom still today claim it was Marie Julie Maupin, but they have done no homework, and are "copy and paste genealogists."

I must however admit, that when I was first starting out in family research, I too had inserted this wonderful story into my ancestry. Today, we now know that Maupin story to be false, a complete fabrication that was the result of someone's creative writing. I have since removed all of this Maupin story from my database. It surprises me greatly, that some people feel the need to hold on to that crazy story, because they like it, even when all the evidence clearly shows it to be false. The problem is that this story has spread enough, that we may never get it cleaned up. There is a book published by Dorothy Maupin Shaffett, titled "The Story Of Gabriel and Marie Maupin." The stated purpose of this book was to dispell the myth of a Presnell connection.

The Marie Julie Maupin Myth

Today, we know this supposed connection is absolutely ridiculous. The Presnell and Maupin families were not even in the same area of Virginia, and Marie would have been 6 years old at the time of the birth of the daughter Sarah Presnell. At the time of the creative writing project, the birth date of Marie Julie Maupin was only "assumed," and it was assumed to fit their story. Additionally, we find that she was not married at the time of the will of her father. The Maupin Family Society also strongly dismisses this fabricated story.

The story was very impressive and fanciful. Marie Julie Maupin was supposedly the daughter of Gabriel Maupin and Mary Spencer. Gabriel was the son of a famous General, and Mary was the daughter of the Earl of Spencer. Obviously a very wealthy and well-connected family. The creative writer didn't do much homework however. Gabriel Maupin’s wife Marie is not a Spencer. Her surname is Hersant (confirmed by the Maupin Family Society), and records are found in the archives in Amsterdam. The title “Earl of Spencer” did not exist yet, as Earl Spencer is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was created on 1 November 1765.

The story continues that our Jacob Presnell, was Jacques (so he could fit in with the french family Maupin) Presnell and that he married Marie Julie Maupin in 1700, and then traveled with the Maupins to Virginia on the ship Le Nassau. Again, our creative writer failed to do any homework. Jacob Presnell has no French connection. His name is never spelled Jacques anywhere. There is no single piece of reference material anywhere in the world that documents his name as Jacques, only where people have saved it themselves as such and created a record. No Presnell was ever in France in the 1600 and 1700's. Jacob Presnell did not travel with the Maupin family on the ship LeNassau as was claimed. We now have a copy of the ship manifest, and we find there was no Presnell name anywhere.

The Nassau received a permit to depart Kensington, England, for Virginia, January 18, 1701 under command of Capt. Tregian. It arrived March 5, 1701 and went up the York River. Only 23 went on to Manakintown. List of French, Swiss, Genevese, German, and Flemish Protestants embarked on the ship named the Nassau to go to Virginia. Gabriel Maupin is on the ship manifest with his wife and 3 children.

We now know that the "famous" Gabriel Maupin was a tailor from Amsterdam. He married Marie Hersant in 1691. This is recorded in the Walloon Church, N Holland, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Their daughter, Marie Maupin is born in 1696 (baptized on 16 April 1696).

So if you do a little bit of simple math, and look at the Christ Church Registry, and see that the first child of Jacob Presnell and his wife Mary, have a baby Sarah, born in 1702. You would realize the mother (if it were Marie/Mary Maupin) is 6 years old! Even if Marie was born in the first year of the marriage of Gabriel and Marie, she could have only been 11 years old!

Experienced Genealogists also point to the fact that Mary Julie Maupin was not marred yet at the time of her father's death in 1720, as she is still listed as a Maupin, not married. The Maupin Family Society denies any claim that Mary Julie Maupin was married to Jacob Presnell.

With all this evidence, there will still feel a few out there, that will ignorantly hold on to this fanciful myth. ... oh, and let's not forget the part in the story, where the ship Le Nassau sprung a leak, and Gabriel Maupin being the important and pius man that he was, prayed for divine assistance, and the leak stopped, and when they arrived in port a large fish was found wedged tightly in the hole.

The wife of Jacob Presnell is Mary Hedgecock

As I stated previously, I am about 99% certain that the wife of Jacob is Mary Hedgecock. We simply don't have any documented evidence to prove that 100%.

Mary Hedgecock, the daughter of Thomas Hedgecock was born between 1680 and 1686. Thomas Hedgecock died in 1704. In his will, his estate is left to his wife Margery Hedgecock and his grand-daughter Sarah Pressnon, daughter of Jacob Preson (witnessed by William Carter, Mary Carter, and William Jones). here is no Pressnon family in this region, although we find Jacob Presnells name spelled different ways over the years, a problem that continues for our family for another 300 years

When you look at the baptismal records for Christ Church, Middlesex County Virginia, you will note that of the children of Jacob Presnell and "Mary" they only have their oldest "Sarah" at the year of Thomas Hedgecock's death in 1704. Their next child Mary is born in 1705. So, Mary Hedgecock is most undoubtedly our spouse for Jacob, particularly when you look at the Middlesex records and realize that there are no other surnames that begin with Pr that would come close to making a connection.

Additional Records for Jacob Presnell

06 April 1714 - Order Book 5 (1710-1726) Middlesex County, Virginia page 175
Jacob Preston (Presnell) states that Thomas Wood died without a will and he is made the administrator.

A Bill of Sale recorded in January 1717 showed that Jacob Presnal died February 1716, his personal property was sold on 05 November 1716 in the amount of £8.13.10 to John Dweny, Wayne Curtis, John Gutherie, Robert Blackly, and George Carter. (Will Book 1713-1734:86).

Jacob married Mary Hedgecock about 1700. Mary (daughter of Thomas Hedgecock and Margery Simmons) was born between 1680 and 1686; died on 3 Sep 1717 in King and Queen, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Virginia had passed a law which required all males between the ages of 15 and 50 to serve 2 years in the Virginia Militia. The tour of duty was generally 2 years. The Quakers opposed serving in the Militia and they would not pay taxes to support the War.

We find Jacob every year between 1747 and 1754 tax rolls. Jacob and other Quakers refused to pay their taxes and to serve in the militia.

It was recorded on 26 August 1754 that, "Leave is Granted to Peter Holland, James Turner, Jacob Presnell, William Stone, William Stone Jr., James Orrick, and J.Fite." Further, "To clear road from Goose Creek up Falling Mountain. The said Holland is appointed overseer, William Stone Sr. the assistant. The said mountain road to be known as Mobberley Road and the persons convent with this tithe (tax) to attend sd. Stone and Pate are appointed as surveyors from Ridge to Goose Creek."

It was recorded on 25 August 1755:
Phelps -vs- Jacob Presnell
Iden -vs- Jacob Presnell

Recorded on 12 September 1755:
Callaway -vs- Jacob Presnell
Phelps -vs- Jacob Presnell Phellps was the Tithe (tax) Lister, Callaway was a member of the court.

The word "Leave" was used because they would not pay taxes or serve in the militia, when granted leave, they would not be sentenced, rather, given leave, to construct roads.

Recorded on 19 November 1757, in the South Creek Quaker Monthly Meeting was that Jacob Presnell is appointed Chairman of the Goose Creek Quakers, a newly formed group that desired to migrate to the wilds of North Carolina.

On the "Tax Rolls" are the following families that moved to North Carolina before 1765, settled close to Back Creek in what is now Randolph County, North Carolina: (Presnell's married into many of these families)

William - James, John, Robert, Giles
Harvey - Michael Sr., Michael Jr., William, John
Richardson - Stephen, Thomas, John, Amus, Abel, Joseph
Hudson - Stephen, Thomas, Peter
Hayes - Mark, William
Atkinson - Richardson, Priegler
Green - John, Benjamin, Henry
Stone - William Sr., William Jr.
King - Joseph
Wright - Thomas
Furr - Joseph


Birth:
South Side of Dragon Swamp

Christened:
Christ Church

Jacob married Martha about 1740. was born about 1720. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Middlesex County, Virginia Will Book A 1698-1713, p 166.

Thomas Hedgecock...6 June 1704/ 4 Sept 1704,,, Wife Margery Hedgecock estate for life and then to Sarah Presson (Presnell), daughter of Jacob Presson (Presnell), the latter to be Exor. Wit: William Carter, Mary Carter and William Jones.

Family/Spouse: James Cole. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There is considerable difference in opinion as to the children of James Presnell and Ann Daniel.

Experienced genealogists have varying opinions on the early Presnell families in the new world because records are very scarce.

It is believed that James Presnell grew up on the family farm in the rural area of Dragon Swamp (present day Urbana Virginia) on the shores of the Rhappahannock River

On 14 May 1732 James Presnell was married to Ann Daniel, daughter of Captain William Daniel and Mary Moseley. Her father William was a Captain of Huguenot forces. It was not long after being married, that James, Ann and their children moved from King and Queen County (Dragon Swamp) to Amelia County Virginia (most likely to the area which is present day Prince Edward County, southeast of Green Bay, Virginia).

In March of 1743 James purchased 400 acres of land on Snail Creek and Nottoway River, Amelia County, Virginia. On 10 September 1750 James sold this 400 acres of land to Andrew Harrison of King and Queen County Virginia. Andrew's brother Benjamin Harrison, who lived in Charles County, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who was also the father of the ninth U.S. President, William Henry Harrison.

On 27 February 1752 James again purchased 400 acres of land in Nottoway Parish, Amelia County Virginia, located on both sides of Deep Creek and Head of a Branch on the Lazaritti River. On 27 November 1755 he sold 150 acres of that land to William Parnell. Records show that Ann Daniel died by 1755 because in the land records it shows that "Relinquist Rights on Land for Anne Daniels."
On 15 October 1766 James sold the remaining 250 acres of land to a Thomas Paine- some claim it was the American Patriot, and politician ( I no longer believe this claim, as Thomas Paine, the author of Common Sense did not arrive the colonies until 1774. Was there another Thomas Paine?). On this transaction it shows that "Relinquist Rights on Land for Ruth." This record would lead us to believe that James married a second time to "Ruth." In the 1756 Tithe (Tax) list is shows; James, James, and a slave Jane.
On 2 September 1768, James again purchased 210 acres of land on the south side of the Dan River in Rowan County, North Carolina which is now Rockingham County, North Carolina. He sold this 210 acres of land to William Asten on 18 ovember 1777. It is assumed that at this late age of 69 years that James Presnell moved in with his son at this time on Little River, Randolph County, orth Carolina. A few genealogies show that James Presnell died in 1792.


Buried:
Near Asheboro on his original land

James married Ann Daniel on 14 May 1732 in Christ Chruch Parish, Middlesex, Virginia, USA. Ann (daughter of William Daniel, Sr. and Mary Mosley) was born on 12 Oct 1716 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co., Virginia; died about 1753 in Notttoway, Amelia, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mary Freeman. Mary (daughter of William Daniel, Sr. and Mary Mosley) died about 1800 in Randolph, North Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

We do not know with confidence that Robert Presnal belongs to this family. His death is recorded in the Yearly Quaker Meeting November 1710 at Philadelphia. Quakers have Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Meetings, and keep detailed records. Had the Jacob Presnell family become Quakers already at this time? Unfortunately we do not know, although we know for fact, that the next generation were. Robert's death record is not found in the Christ Church Registry at Middlesex, although we know the records are not complete. Since the family of Jacob and Mary Presnell is the only Presnell family we have at this time, we will place him here, for lack of a better option.

Died:
Recorded at the Quaker Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

Notes:

Many genealogies claim that James who married Sarah Harvey was the son of James (b. 1708), however we can be reasonably sure that James (husband of Sarah Harvey) was the son of Jacob.

He served in the Bedford County Virginia Militia during the French and Indian War. His wife Sarah Harvey, was the daughter of Michael Harvey, a member of Jacob's Good Creek Quakers moving to old Rowan-Randolph County before 1760.

James became a large land owner in Randolph County and one of the leading citizens. He was Judge on the Little River. He left Randolph County in 1805.


Died:
This date, his last will and testament was presented to the Orphans Court of Clark County already deceased

James married Sarah Harvey in 1759. Sarah (daughter of Michael Harvey and Elizabeth) was born in 1741 in Edgecombe, North Carolina, USA; died in 1771 in Rowan, North Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rachel married Benjamin Ellis about 1761 in Old Rutherford County, North Carolina. Benjamin (son of William Ellis and Mary Clarke) was born on 19 Sep 1741 in Kent, Maryland, USA; died in 1802 in Hartsville, Smith, Tennessee, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Military Service in North Carolina.

Listed under Capt. John Knight for three months against Cherokee Indians under General Rutherford.
Continued to serve until discharged in 1779 or1780. Again volunteered as a substitute for Sam Brogden under Captain John Knight and Colonel Belfort's Regiment.

In 1807 he is found living in Burke County, North Carolina (now Alexander County).

Family/Spouse: Christian Voncannon. Christian (daughter of Johann Peter Voncannon and Katrina Vonstaa) was born in 1747; died in 1772. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Center Monthly Meeting of Guilford County, North Carolina was established in 1757. The Daniel Presnell family was associated with this Center Monthly Meeting prior to 1792. The minutes of this meeting were destroyed by fire in 1825.

Daniel Presnell appears on Jacob Shepard's List in Randolph County in 1779 (age 31), the year the county was formed. His worth is listed as 170 pounds.

The Back Creek, North Carolina Quaker Meeting (Randoloph County) was established in 1792 and the Pressnall family was associated with this group from its start.

The Back Creek Quaker records show:

June 25, 1797, Stephen, son of Daniel of Randolph County, married Hannah Rease.

March 7, 1798, Lydia, daughter of Daniel of Randolph County, married Nathan Hutson.

June 6, 1804, Daniel, son of Daniel and Martha of Randolph County, married Pleasant Modlin.

Daniel Presnell appears on Capt. Burn's District in the 1815 Tax List of Randolph County, and is listed as having 650 acres on Back Creek.

The Milford Quaker Meeting Minutes of Wayne County, Irdiana record the following:

March 26, 1825, A committee was appointed to inspect the situation of Daniel Pressnall Sr. and his wife and devise such methods for their relief as may appear necessary.

July 23, 1825, The committee reported that the matter of relief for Daniel Pressnall Sr. and his wife be discontinued and no longer be a meeting concern.

March 25, 1826, Daniel Preasnall Sr. of Back Creek and his wife report that they need immediate assistance of the Friends.

April 22, 1826, Twenty dollars was raised for the relief of Daniel Sr. and his wife.

Daniel married Martha in 1775 in Holly Spring, Wake Co., North Carolina. Martha was born in 1750 in Virginia, USA; died between 1786 and 1790. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Daniel married Christian Stone on 17 Jul 1791 in Guilford, North Carolina, USA. Christian (daughter of John B. Stone and Catharine) was born on 16 Nov 1754 in Perquimine County, North Carolina; died in 1853. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Stephen married Ruth Lamb in 1781. Ruth (daughter of Esau Lamb and Elizabeth Newby) was born on 20 Jul 1764 in Perquimens, North Carolina, USA; died after 1817. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: William Williams. William (son of Jonathan Williams and Mary) was born in 1740 in of Randolph County, North Carolina; died on 22 Feb 1811 in Randolph, North Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nancy married John Langford in 1770. John (son of John Langford and Winnifred) was born in 1750 in Virginia, USA; died in 1783 in Newberry, South Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: William Calk. William (son of James Calk) was born in 1765 in Prince William, Virginia, USA; died in 1831. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Clues to determine this branch of the family primarly come from the John Langford Letter in the Draper Manuscript Collection.

The letter was written on 05 May 1874.
According to John Langford:

His (John Langford) father was: James Langford and was about 6 years old during the Revolutionary War (thus born about 1770-1775).
His uncle was: Asa Langford (was about 8 or 9 years old during the Rebolutionary War) (we know now that he was born 1773).
His Grandmother was: Nancy Presnell (Langford) (Calk). Was married to John Langfrod before the Revolutionary War.
His Grandfather was: John Langford, was wounded at the Battle of the Regulation.
His Great-Uncle was: Jacob Presnell (died at the age of about 75, when John Langford was about 12 or 13 years old).
His Grandmother's (Nancy Presnell) father was Daniel Presnell. According to the letter, Daniel Presnell moved to Newberry, South Carolina around 1780.

We know that the author. John Langford was born 19FEB1818 and died 02DEC1892. Therefore, his great uncle, Jacob Presnell was 75 years old at about the year 1830 (when John Langford states that he was 12 years old. This would make the estimated birth year for Jacob to be about 1755.

"THE JOHN LANGFORD LETTER" .
Near Lorena, Lexington Co., South Carolina
May 5th, 1874 . Mr. L.C. Draper Dear Sir:

"As far as my memrory goes, Lord Rawdon and Col. Cruger, both belonging to the same Army, camped at Juniper Creek but in the morning separated. Rawdon kept up the direct road to Ninety Six, and Cruger took up the Lee's Ferry Road."

"Col. John Hampton who commanded the Americans, had spies out, and engaged him at Weaver's Old Field, to the Big Hollow Creek, crossed, and eluded the fight in what is called Vansant's Old Field. They killed several. I recollect of seeing places shown me by an old lady who said that she and a Miss Weaver went and buried them at three places. There was another place in the Vansant Old Field under a large elm tree, where they (the British) deposited their sick and wounded during their stay there. Several of the wounded died and were buried under the elm tree. The next morning they took out two men (Thomas and Sylvester Stokes) and hung them to a post oak, and while hanging, the British took fright and ran off and left them hanging. In about three months after, my father (sic. actually it was Mr. Vansant) cut them down and buried their bones."

"I have an inquiry of an old gentleman of the name Vansant, who has given me a description of the fight at Weaver's Old Field between the Americans and the British. He says the British were commanded by Lt.Col. Cruger (error, L.C.D.) and as well as my memory serves me, I have heard my stepfahter William Calk say that the British were six hundred strong, and the Americans under Col. John Hampton, one hundred sixty strong. The numbers killed and wounded is uncertain. Mr. Vansant says he has seen four British graves that the occupants were said to have been killed in the fight, and four American graves, and the two that he says were left hanging so long on the post oak."

"My great uncle Jacob Presnell was in the fight, posted by a tree firing at the British, saying, "Dam' em, let 'em come on!" Hampton, seeing he was outnumbered, called a retreat, saying, Boys, follow me! Presnell, not hearing the order, stood his ground till the enemy was close to him; then looking back for his commander and men and discovering they were gone, he jumped on his unbridled pony, but the animal would not move a step; when he jumped off, seizing one hand in the pony's mane, and holding his rifle in the other, and kicking the wild pony in the side, and keeping on the side not exposed to the enemy, regaining his party in the Holow Creek Swamp."

"I have seen my great uncle Jacob Presnell many a time at my father's house. He departed this life at about the age of seventy-five years, when I was about 12 or 13 years old.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"At the convention to consider ratifications of the Federal Constitution, held in Hillsborough (Twp, Randolph Co) in August 1788, NC voted against the new Constitution. As a result of the pro-ratification campaign which followed, the General Assembly, meeting in Fayetteville on November 17, 1788, received many petitions urging the call of a new convention to reconsider the Constitution.

The manuscript Dept of Perkins Library at Duke University holds petitions from 19 counties in its collection "NC State Papers, 1788-1789." Among these petitions is one drown up by the militia companies of Randolph County. This is a valuable roster of the county's citizens in late 1788, and the Journal is pleased to publish it, with kind permission of the Manuscript Dept.

As those who have puzzled over and deciphered eighteenth century manuscripts know all too well, this material can be hard to read, especially lists of proper names. Fortunately in this instance company leaders signed for all of the men in the group and there is thus some uniformity of handwriting. With the help of Mrs Carolyn Hager and other researchers in the Genealogical Society, the rosters have been carefully deciphered and compared to those of contemporary documents for the county. It is likely that some inaccuracies have gotten through, however. If you note ways the list can be made more accurate, we will be more than pleased to hear from you." Joe C Rees, Duke University Library.

Undated document: Probably prepared between Sept & October, 1788.

To the honorable the General Assembly of NC now siitting at Fayetteville
greeting
The petition of sundry inhabitants within the county of Randolph humbly
sheweth - -
That our minds are deeply impress'd with the truth of that maxim by which
was brought about our glorious revolution to wit
"By Union we stand by Disunion we fall" and we think that union is as
necessary at this time, as any period during the war, for the preservation of
our Independent Republican form of government as well as for the preservation
of our lives, libertys, and propertys- - -
That we have a just sense of the Miserable State we must shortly be
reduced to should we separate from our Sister States with whom we have
fought, bled, and nobly conquered - - and who to shew their great
willingness to continue in union with us have given up one of their greatest
local benefits for the general good to wit their Imposts a sum sufficient for
the present to pay off our part of the Interest of the Foreign debt and which
may in future by the increase of commerce be also sufficient to pay the
principal - -
That we believe in our concienses the future hapiness & prosperity of
this State depends on our firm Union with our Sister States and the speedy
ratification of the Federal Constitution what ever the opposers of it may,
from ill grounded fears, prejudices, or self interested motives, say to the
contrary - -
Not doubting but that the Congress when organiz'd will in a
Constitutional manner make any amendment which may be thought necessary for
the general good of the Union
Under this firm belief we pray that your Honourable body will call a new
Convention to reconsider the federal Constitution & Ratify the same on the
part of this State that we may, in Union, haave ashare in common with the
other States in framing the Federal Laws, Choosing the great officers of
government, and making all the necessary amendments to the Constitution - -
and your petitions as in duty bound will ever pray.
(2nd group to sign:)
Capt. KNIGHT Company, mannering BROOKSHEAR (BROOKSHIRE) L(ieutenat)t (?)
(includes)
W(illia)m PESSNELL (PRESNELL) (this would be William, Sr, son of James and Ann Daniel
Absalom PRESNEL
=========================================

William married Mary Cabeness about 1755 in Amelia, Virginia, USA. Mary was born about 1739; died in in Newberry, South Carolina, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]