In an earlier post I mentioned that I thought 4th Great Grandfather Daniel Joseph lived in Augusta County, Virginia with a business interest in Rockingham County, Virginia. Contrary to what I said, a Feb. 12, 1791 land deed does indeed place his residence in neighboring Rockingham County. The personal property tax lists for Rockingham County include Daniel as early as 1789. He didn’t own any taxable items in 1789. In 1790, 1791, 1792 and 1794 he was taxed for a horse. Daniel was taxed for an ordinary in 1795. An ordinary is a tavern, inn or saloon. Generally, wherever a person is taxed for personal property is the place that person lives.
When I was researching at the Rockingham County Court
House some years ago, I found an entry in an unmarked notebook which appeared
to be a tax list for 4th Great Grandmother Eve (Hanger) Joseph dated
1787.
Eve Joseph from Snid V D to lot
Kes; quarterly rent of lots
The 1787 Rockingham County land tax lists indicate Eve
Joseph was the owner of 1 lot in Rockingham County which was rented yearly for
a total of 3 Pounds with tax @ 1 1/2% for 3 shillings. It looks like D. Snider
rented the lot. Now I
would like to point out it is very unusual for a woman with a living husband
to own land in her own name. Perhaps Eve’s father, Frederic Hanger, gifted her
with the land.
In 1788 Daniel was taxed for his 85 acres in Augusta
County, Virginia while his wife Eve was taxed for 1 lot of land on yearly rents
in Rockingham County. Between March and April 1788 when taxes were assessed Eve
Joseph's lot in Kesle Town, Rockingham Co., VA was assessed 3 shillings for
yearly rent of her lot totaling 3 pounds and 10 shillings.
Daniel’s name started to appear in Rockingham County
court records June 24, 1783 while he was living in Augusta County. Let’s say he
was no stranger to a courtroom. Daniel was involved in court cases too many
times for me to give details each instance his name appeared in the
proceedings. Great Grandfather was involved in numerous court cases as both the
plaintiff and defendant. Most of the time he was in court to either collect or
pay a debt.
Daniel Joseph and John Hanger were in debt to George
Keisle May 28, 1788. Leave was granted to Daniel Joseph to ‘keep ordinary’ in
Rockingham Co. July 28, 1788. The court realized he couldn’t pay his debts
without running his business. (Remember an ordinary is a tavern or inn and this
might be the lot Eve Joseph owned. If Daniel and Eve Joseph were tavern
keepers, this would explain why they were in court regularly.) In August the
case was dismissed when Daniel agreed to pay all the costs involved. More
serious legal issues would erupt with George Keisle some years later. On August
24, 1791 a jury trial found Daniel and Eve not guilty of theft after accusations
initiated by Keisel.
Daniel was fined by the Commonwealth for selling
‘spiritous liquors’ Dec. 24, 1792. A few years earlier on August 23, 1790 he
was fined 5 shillings perhaps for a similar offence. In April of the same year
in Augusta County Anthony Mustoe filed a slander charge against him.
It wasn’t until March/April 1793 that Daniel appeared in a
Rockingham County land tax list owning 1 lot that was assessed for 6 Pounds and
taxed at 1 1/2% for 1 shilling, and 3 pence. I don’t know whether this is a
different lot than what Eve owned but she isn’t included in any more land tax
lists. He still owned the lot per the March/April 1794, 1795 and 1796 land tax
lists.
March of 1793 found Daniel facing another jury trial. He
was being sued by John Kring for a debt and he needed to pay twenty six pounds
ten shillings. In most of the court cases from this date forward Daniel was the
defendant showing he was having some financial difficulties.
When Jacob Harshberger filed a petition against Daniel
for a debt owed Feb. 25, 1794, Daniel appeared in court and took an Oath of Insolvency
since he didn’t have any property. Things became worse for him on July 27,
1795. He was taken into custody by the sheriff because of his debts.
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Rockingham County,
Virginia Minute Book 2, page 270
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Rockingham County,
Virginia Judgments, page 43 (con’t on page 44)
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Rockingham County,
Virginia Judgments, page 44
I learned of Daniel’s death in a Feb. 22, 1796 court
action ‘Andrew Jamison Plaintiff against Eve Joseph executrix of Daniel Joseph
Deceased’. Eve didn’t appear in court when summoned. On June 27, 1796 the
Sheriff was ordered to sell Daniel’s estate after Eve had refused to serve as
administratrix. The Sheriff provided a statement and vouchers to the court
after the sale of the estate Feb. 28, 1797.
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Rockingham County,
Virginia Minute Book 3, page 182
The Rockingham County land tax lists continued to include
a lot owned by the estate of Daniel Joseph in 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801 and
1802. I don’t know whether the lot is the one originally owned by Eve Joseph in
1787/8 or if the Sheriff sold enough of Daniel’s estate to pay his debtors
without the lot being touched.
Eve (Hanger) Joseph married again Jan. 5, 1799 to Warner Peters in Rockingham County.
Eve (Hanger) Joseph married again Jan. 5, 1799 to Warner Peters in Rockingham County.
Previous Daniel
Joseph posts:
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