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From: jwcouch <>
Subject: Info on Thomas nad WM. Couch Lunenburg
Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 12:20:54 -0600


I found this Info mentioning Thomas Couch and W.M Couch If any one can
expand on this I would appreciate itÂ….


Jeff Couch

The Land of Jesse Saunders

On 12 Dec 1768 Susanna Fleming of Cumberland County sold to Jesse Saunders
of same
county, 708 acres on the South Fork of Meherrin River, at the mouth of
Mitchell Creek, "it being part of a tract of land which Colo John Fleming,
late of the County of Cumberland, attorney at law, purchased of Hugh Miller,
and by him devised to the said Susanna Fleming by his will, of record in
Cumberland County." (rec. 18 Jun 1769 Lunenburg DB 11:269, from Jim Lewter)
In 1780, Jesse Sanders [Saunders] was granted 392 acres on branches of
Meherrin, adjoining Burwell, Erskine and Duprie.(GB E:536,537) The "three
pines" landmark on the east of the tract at Burwell's line was a landmark in
the later John Gregory tract.

In 1786, Jesse Saunders sold to Lewis Deupree, 190 acres of the above grant
(leaving 202 acres). "From a white oak on small branch near Daniel
Weatherfords spring to a dividing line of marked trees run by agreement of
the two parties to a pine in Erskins line to Deupre's patent line." The
bounders Erskine and Deupree suggest to me the land conveyed was the western
portion of the grant.

On 11 Aug 1790 (Lun. DB 16:179; ack. 13 Oct) Zachariah Davis of Lunenburg
conveyed 290 acres adjoining said Sanders and bounded by his own lines, by
Col Lewis Burwell, Weatherford's, Brown's lines.

Jesse Saunders died in 1800. He owned land in Cumberland and Buckingham
Counties, as well as Lunenburg. His Lunenburg land was willed to four of his
five sons: Stephen, Robert, Hyde, and David Saunders "all the land I now own
in county of Lunenburg to be divided between them, respect being had in the
division to the quality as well as quantity of land allotted to each." It
appears from the Deed Index that Stephen sold to Hyde and Robert in 1804.
David's name doesn't appear on the Deed Index.

In April 1809, Hyde Saunders [Lun. DB 22:34] conveyed to Edward Jones of
Mecklenburg, 176 acres in Lunenburg adjoining land of Robert Saunders,
Richard Boyd [the adj. Boyd tract should be the later 840-acre John Gregory
tract/js] and Alexander Erskine. (no measurements)

This may bear out to be the two 88-acre tracts mentioned in the land
descriptions of John Gregory: 88 acres conveyed by John Goode to Thomas N.
Gregory (became part of the Joseph F. Ellis farm) and 88 acres to John
Gregory by Richard R. Jones. Edward Jones died in Mecklenburg County about
1810; Richard R. Jones an administrator.

1824 Land Tax Mecklenburg County Robert Saunders of Lunenburg 94 acres
Meherrin adj Hyde Saunders 9 NW Hyde Saunders of Lunenburg 276 acres
Meherrin adj Robert Moore estate 9NW
_____

Hyde Saunders Land and Estate

Land survey of Hyde Saunders estate
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~valunenb/familiessf/hydelnd.htm>; ; text
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~valunenb/images/hydetxsm.jpg>; (images) - files of
James Lewter, also current map
<http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Ejolee/1858hyde.htm>;
Lunenburg DB 27:170; 3 Sep 1826 Hyde Saunders of Lunenburg to Robert
Saunders of Lunenburg, acres 452 & 279 Cons $1 ...for sundry good
reasons...said Hyde Saunders ... convey to his brother afsd Robert Saunders
in trust all the property both real and personal...for purpose of
maintaining him during his lifetime...one tract of land in county of
Lunenburg on both sides Meherrin River containing 452 acres bounded by lands
of said Robert Saunders, John Gregory, Thomas Couch, Alexr M. Hepburn and by
the south branch of the Meherrin River. Also one other tract lying in county
of Mecklenburg on South side of Meherrin River containing 279 acres by land
of said Robert Saunders, William Coleman, Boller Dobbyn and by the south
branch of Meherrin River (also slaves etc.
Sig: Hyde Saunders, Robert Saunders. Witnessed by John H. Saunders, Emily C.
Saunders, Samuel G. Osborne, Elizabeth Osborne.

The 814 acres from Hyde Saunders estate to Dr. William E. Dodson; then to
Martha A. Swepson-Saunders, wife of Dr. Samuel Saunders, son of Robert
Saunders:
In 1850, the land of Hyde Saunders in Lunenburg and Mecklenburg was surveyed
to be 814 acres plus 160 poles, adjoining in Lunenburg: Robert Saunders on
the west, John Gregory and Mitchell's Creek on the north, and Hepburn on the
east. In Mecklenburg, the land adjoined Tucker and Oliver on the southeast,
Oliver on the south, and Robert Saunders again on the west. Land tax records
for Hyde Saunders describe his land as being 13 miles southwest of the
courthouse, no stated value of tax for buildings. Possibly Hyde lived on the
adjoining grounds of| the old Saunders home site. The 1850 census lists, one
after the other in three households, the families of Robert Saunders, Hyde
Saunders and Robert Saunders, Jr.
Hyde Saunders, unmarried, was deceased by 1858, when his tract of 814 acres
was sold to Wm. E. Dodson for $13,197, land bounded by Josephus Gregory, Wm.
Couch, Ebernezer ____? [maybe Hepburn], John G. Oliver and the estate of
Robert Saunders. (Rec. 11 Feb 1861, Lun. DB 27:24, files of James Lewter).
This land transaction was mentioned in a letter written by Josephus Gregory
to his son Jackson, 8th Dec. 1858
"I informed you of the sale at Saunders. I will however again give you
some points at that sale. In the first place, William Couch and myself bid
as high as $16.20 per acre for the land. I was to take 564 and he 250. He
would have had the best [illegible] of the tract but was willing to pay
considerable more for his per acre than I was to pay. If we could have
bought it the 564 acres which I should have got would have made one of the
best situations in the county. If you could have been up at the time and
wished it and backed us in it we would have carried it to $20. But I did not
know you feelings about it. Couch says he regrets it more than any act of
his life not buying the place. Doctor Dodson is the owner. It will never be
in market again in our day, and if it was put up even now at highest bidder
it would bring the rise of $20 per acre. Lands are advancing every day."
(Files of JoLee Gregory Spears)
The 1860 Lunenburg Census
<ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/lunenburg/census/1860/pg00001.txt>;
shows the Dr. Dodson family listed next to H. E. Hepburn, who may have been
Dr. Dodson's father-in-law [UPDATE: Charity A. Swepson was married to
Alexander M. Hepburn (brother of H. E. Hepburn), and it appears she was the
same person remarried to Dr. Wm. E. Dodson before 1860. See: Some
Descendants of William Mallory Swepson
<http://home.inu.net/sadie/wmswepson.htm>; .]

Incidentally, the "Sweheston" name in the linked census transcription of the
Hepburn household is actually "Swepson." Possibly the Swepsons also were
related to the Hepburn family. A letter written by Josephus Gregory 2 July
1861 mentions the funeral of Mrs. Dodson, adding: "I had not seen Mr.
Hepburn for a length of time before yesterday. He looks very feeble indeed.
I should not be surprised if this heavy affliction takes him off." It was
mentioned that Mrs. Dodson left two little children." By 1865, W. E.
Dodson was styled "of Charlotte" in land tax records, still no building or
house valued. William Edward Dodson died in 1867 and is buried in the
Hepburn cemetry at Ravenscroft
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~valunenb/familiessf/ravhse.htm>; .
The Hyde Saunders tract was conveyed to the wife of Dr. Samuel Saunders.
By deed recorded 3 June 1871, George W. Swepson bought the Dodson tract, the
amount paid by R. R. Swepson, substitute purchaser. Same date, R. R. Swepson
gave the land to his sister, Martha A. Saunders, with consent of Doctor
Samuel Saunders. Samuel Saunders, son of Robert, Sr., married Martha A.
Swepson on Dec. 19, 1861. [Files of James Lewter] In 1872, Martha A.
Saunders was taxed with the 814 acres, and for the first time, building(s)
show a value, which was $200.
In 1875 Margha A. Saunders was taxted with 814 acres, 13 miles southwest of
the courthouse, $2000 added because of buildings. "R. R. Swepson '71 New
buildings" is written in the comment section.
No later records were obtained on this tract of land, though I have seen a
deed [need copy] showing the Samuel Saunders tract (or part of it) was
conveyed to an Ellis. See portion of WPA map showing " Ellis Farm
<http://lvaimage.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/vhip_subjects/vhip.pl?res=1&size=1&subjec
t=Dwellings&select=&select=&ox=648&oy=1683&lastres=1&filename=lun.sid&title=
Lunenburg+County&fullwidth=3897&fullheight=3815&point_flag=&mclick=zoom&Curr
ent=&All=&image.x%20> ."
See Dr. Samuel Saunders Family
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~valunenb/familiessf/families/saunsam.htm>; .
See Hyde Saunders Estate
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~valunenb/familiessf/1858hyde.htm>; (94KB)
See Ravenscroft: Hepburn and Dodson Families
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~valunenb/familiessf/ravhse.htm#hepburn>;
_____

Robert Saunders Senior
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~valunenb/familiessf/saunders.htm>; Land and Estate

Robert Saunders and Hyde Saunders were picked up on the 1827 Lunenburg land
tax records. Robert was taxed with 668 1/2 acres, house valued $350,
described as South Meherrin River, 13 miles southwest of the courthouse.
Hyde Saunders was taxed with 452 acres, no building valued, described as
Mitchell's Creek, 13 miles southwest of the courthouse.

It appears that the land of Robert Saunders in Lunenburg generally lay west
of and adjoining the land of Hyde Saunders.

In Mecklenburg, their land south of the river was taxed in 1824, 94 acres
for Robert Saunders adjoining Hyde Saunders, and 276 acres for Hyde Saunders
adjoining the Robert Moore estate.

Robert Saunders died 11 Dec. 1857. His wife having preceded him in death 26
Mar. 1857 (Lun death records), Saunders made a codicil to his will re his
land. "It is my will and desire that my estate be kept together until the
next November or December after my death and my two single daughters, Lucy
A. Saunders and Anna E. Saunders or either one that remains single, together
with my son Saml. Saunders shall live at my house on the estate, free of
charge of any description until that time. At that time, that is in November
or December next after my death, I wish my executor to deliver to each
legatee, his or her specific legacy and sell the residue of my estate and
distribute it according to my will and or Mary C. Saunders, wife of Robert
Saunders, which(?) has provided means to purchase them a home. It is my will
and desire that my son Robert and family remove off the land they now live
on at the fall or by the first day of December next after my death, or pay
full rent for the same as long as he keeps possession and the possession
shall be at the option of my son Samuel and my two daughters Lucy A.
Saunders and Anna E. Saunders."

The sale to William T. Spencer and John A. Spencer.

By deed dated 12 Jun. 1871, recorded 24 Jul. 1871, Samuel Saunders,
executor, conveyed the 880 acres to William T. Spencer and John A. Spencer,
"(with the exception of one half acres of said land the title to which is
reserved to the estate of said Roberts Saunders deceased because it contains
the burying ground of the white family of said Robert Saunders deceased)."
The deed described two parcels adjacent to each, the larger, 792 acres in
the counties of Lunenburg and Mecklenburg on the waters of Maherrin river
and is bounded by the land of that formerly belonged to the estate of Hyde
Saunders deceased, C. Wood, Mrs. E. B. Boswell, David J. Bigger, David
Thompson, Mrs. Ann Lipscomb, Mrs. Mary Burnes, then by the corner only of
the smaller parcel of land belonging to the estate of Robert Saunders
deceased, then by Josephas Gregory to the beginning.

The smaller parcel, 88 acres, in Lunenburg on the waters of the Meherrin
bounded by Mrs. Mary Burnes, A. A. Burwell, C. J. Thompson, J. F. Ellis, J.
Gregory and the larger parcel of land belonging to the estate. (The smaller
tract must have been in the area of Five Forks./jgs)

The Spencer land partition.

In July 1871, John A. Spencer and William T. Spencer partitioned the land in
the following manner:

To Wm T. Spencer, 384 acres, the lands east of the new line, beginning at
the gate on the
road on the south side of the river in Mecklenburg, then a straight line
northward to the center of the ford crossing the river at the old bridge,
then northward along a straight line to a sassafras stob westward of the old
dwelling house, then northward a short distance to a dogwood stob, then a
straight line northward across the lower end of a small field in...near the
road leading to the farm formerly owned by Hyde Saunders deceased, then to
J. Gregory corner on Wm. T. and John A. Spencer at a hickory sapling.

And all of that part, 44 acres, commencing where J. Gregory, W. T. & J. A.
Spencer and Mrs. burns corner on a post oak on Saunders Road., then
northwestward along the line of Mrs. Mary Burn to a blank corner, to
pointers on an old path running into the farm of said Mrs. Burns. Then
eastward a new line made as a dividing line to pointers on Saunder's Road of
the corner of J. F. Ellis fence, and then southward along sd road to the
beginning.

To John A. Spencer for his part:

All that part west of the new line, 480 acres, and all that portion, 44
acres, of the smaller beginning at pointers on the path near Mrs. Mary Burns
farm, running northward along the line of Mary Burns and A. A. Burwell, then
along C. J. Thompson eastward to corner post oak in Saunders Road., then
along the road to where WM. T. Spencer's corner by the new line on J. F.
Ellis and then the new line westward to the beginning.

The use of the turn or angle in the road immediately on the south bank of
the river is reserved for the use of said Wm. T. Spencer and John A.
Spencer, their heirs, etc.
(Lun. DB 38:285, files of James Lewter)


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