This is an ongoing compilation of historical records to sort out the sons of Whittle and Judah who left Virginia.
Land Transactions Among Scattered Family
On 20 Mar 1826, at Breckinridge Co KY, Charles and Elizabeth Flanagan sold to James Flanagan of Perry County, Indiana, for $1,950, land on the waters of Clover Creek and Panther Creek, a total of 850 acres that Charles acquired by three separate deeds, as stated within the deed.1
- Charles purchased the first parcel from Robert Rose out of James Madison’s 200 acre tract and part of Madison’s 500 acre tract on Clover Creek and the tar fork of Panther Creek.
- He purchased the second parcel of 250 acres from Thomas Mason from James Madison’s 500 acre survey, which adjoined the first 300-acre survey.
- The third deed for 300 acres, he purchased from John Shelton out of Philip Taylor’s 1,000 acre survey on the head waters of Panther Creek.
These three original deeds are being tracked down.
On 17 Nov 1829, James and Elizabeth Flanagan of Breckinridge Co KY sold to Reuben Flanagan of Limestone Co AL, for $225 in silver, 300 acres lying on Panther Creek in Breckenridge County, and part of Phillip Taylor’s 1,000 acre tract which was laid off for John Shelton and sold for taxes on 2 Nov 1813.2 Following this deed is the certification, which reads:
State of Alabama – Madison County
Personally appeared before us Grant Taylor & Thomas W Scott two acting Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid James Flanagan who acknowledged that he signed the above deed on the day & year above mentioned Given under our hands & seals this 22nd Jany 1828. Grant Taylor JP {seal} Thos W Scott JP {seal} Examined & Delivered to J W Kincheloe Atto
Then, on the same date, James Flanagan and Elizabeth his wife of Breckenridge Co KY sell to Whittle Flanagan of Louisa County and State of Virginia, for $1,650, two parcels of land in Breckenridge Co KY, the first being 300 acres (a part of James Madison’s survey), and the second being 250 acres surveyed in the name of Thomas Mason. Within the deed it says the tracts were transferred to Charles Flanagan 14 Oct 1819.3 Also in the margin is the certification:
State of Alabama – Madison County
Personally appeared before us Grant Taylor & Thomas W Scott two acting Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid James Flanagan who acknowledged that he signed the above deed on the day & year above mentioned Given under our hands & seals this 22nd Jany 1828. Grant Taylor JP {seal} Thos W Scott JP {seal} Examined & Delivered to J W Kincheloe Atto
On both of these deeds, Allen Jennings, Deputy clerk of Breckinridge Co KY court, acknowledges receipt of the deeds on 8 Mar 1828.
The second land transaction is between Charles and his father Whittle. This is evidenced by the 1833 Tax Book for Breckenridge Co KY, page 16.4
The entry for Whittle’s land says Charles paid the taxes due for “the heirs of Whittle Flannagan” for the 550 acre tract he had purchased. This is Whittle Flanagan of Louisa County VA, who died about 1830 or so, versus his son Francis Whittle Flanagan of Madison Co Alabama.
What’s happening here? Because the certifications are made by officials in Madison County, Alabama and then sent back to Breckinridge Co KY where that court acknowledges receipt, it seems that James and Elizabeth were in Madison County AL at the time the deeds were made.
There is a James Flanagan on the 1830 census in Madison County AL – it seems this may be the same James, now joining his brothers in Alabama at the same county.5 His age range is 30-39 (born 1791-1800) with a male age 10-14 (born 1816-1820), a female under age 5, a female 10-14, and a female 30-49.
An 1860 Chancery Cause Names the Brothers
A chancery suit brought in 1860 at Louisa County, Virginia, pertains to land that Francis Whittle received a grant for in 1747.6 Elizabeth Flanagan, daughter of Whittle and Judah Flanagan, married Ambrose F Bellomy. The dispute was over the land having possibly been sold by Ambrose Flanagan, grandson of Francis Whittle, without having first divided the land between himself and his brother Whittle.
This land had first been inherited back in 1750 by Francis Whittles daughter, Sevena. Sevena had deeded 133 1-3 acres to married They were both to have 266 2/3 acres (their brother James having 133 1/3 acres, which he wisely had laid off by a surveyor for him). Ambrose and Whittle never had their portions laid off by a surveyor. At any rate, the Bellomy descendants name all of Whittle and Judah’s surviving children in the suit. They claim the sons and the sons’ heirs live out of state. They name those sons as Reuben, Ambrose, Whittle, Charles and James.
- Breckinridge Co KY Deed Book G p 411 ↩︎
- Breckinridge Co KY Deed Book H p 316 ↩︎
- Breckenridge Co KY Deed Book H p 318 ↩︎
- Breckenridge Co KY Tax Records, 1833, page 16 ↩︎
- 1830 US Census, Madison Co AL, page 26, James Flanagan ↩︎
- Louisa Co VA Chancery Cause, Bellomy vs Page and others, Library of Virginia Index No. 1898-082 ↩︎