| The Northern Neck Grants to Lewis, Jacob and Henry Pence |
| The Northern Neck Grants to Lewis, Jacob and Henry Pence |
These three land grants from Lord Fairfax were located just to the east of the present-day town of Stanley in what is now Page County. The land was in Frederick County when the grants were made, was in Shenandoah County from 1772 until 1831, when Page County was formed.
The original warrants and surveys for the Northern Neck Land Grants are in the Library of Virginia in Richmond. The warrants and surveys for the grants to Lewis, Jacob and Henry Pence are filed under their names. The author has obtained copies of the Hawksbill Pence files, but short descriptions of the warrants and surveys relating to them as given in Peggy Shomo Joyner, Abstracts of Virginia s Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys, Frederick County, 1747-1780, Vol. II (Portsmouth, Va.: 1985), 120:
Lewis Pence, 440 acres, warrant dated 20 Nov. 1749, no date on the survey. Pence is assignee of John Price and the grant is for the land where Price lives on the Hawksbill. Adjoining John Lyenberger [Lionberger]. Deeds.
Jacob Pence, assignee of John Nicholson of Augusta Co., Va., warrant on 7 July 1749, survey on 8 Dec. 1749; 262 acres whereon he (Jacob Pence) lives in the fork of the Hawksbill; adjoining John Price and Mungas his brother. Deeds.
Henry Pence, in his own right and as assignee of Adam Pence, both assignees of John Walker of Augusta Co., Va. (in warrant of 4 Jan. 1749/50) and of Orange Co., Va. (in survey of 17 Mar. 1750); grant for 474 acres at rich Mountain and the head of Hawksbill adjoining John Price, John Nicholson, Jno. Baylis and Jacob Okerboker [Offenbacker]. In October of 1760 John Walker sold to Adam and Henry Pence and Adam relinquished his right to Henry. Deeds.
| Deeds in Shenandoah County Relating to the Grants to Lewis, Jacob and Henry Pence |
| Part I: Lewis Pence Land Grant |
SCDB C, 25 May 1779, 223. John Pence and wife (not named), for 5 shillings to Michael Wise lease "land lying on the branches of the Hawksbill Creek," being part of a greater tract of 440 acres granted to Lewis Pence by proprietor (date not given) and "after the decease of Lewis Pence descended to the said John Pence as being his eldest son and heir at law"; total of 109 acres. Bounded by Henry Bellus. Signed by Johannes Bentz. (This same land mentioned in the following deeds.)
SCDB C, 26 May 1779, 224. Between John Pence and Elizabeth his wife of Shenandoah County and Michael Wise for 100 lbs. said John Pence released Michael Wise from lease and sold same land as previous deed. Johannes Bentz signed, Elizabeth made mark. Release ordered recorded 25 Nov. 1779.
SCDB C, 25 May 1779, 225. John Pence to Henry Bellus (Bellows); tract of land on the branches of the Hawksbill Creek, part of a grant to Lewis Pence; leases for 5 shillings for one year. Johann Bentz signed. Lease recorded 25 Nov. 1779.
SCDB C, 26 May 1779, 226. To Henry Billes (Bellows) from John and Elizabeth Pence, part of grant to Lewis, for 100 lbs; adjoining land of John Lineberger. Johannes Bentz signed, Elizabeth made mark. Same land as previously leased.
SCDB F, 22 Feb. 1787, 289. Michael Wise and Susannah, his wife, to John Pence; 157 lbs, 5 shillings; 109 acres, part of a greater tract of 440 acres granted to Lewis Pence from the lord proprietor and after the decease of the said Lewis, the same descended to the said John as being eldest son and heir-at-law. The said John Pence did convey the following part thereof to the said Michael Wise and now the said Wise doth convey the same again to the same Pence. Corner Henry Bellows. Michael and Susannah make marks. Recorded 27 Feb. 1787.
SCDB H, 29 Sep. 1791, 204. John Pence and Elizabeth, his wife, to Jacob Koonts, for 160 lbs., "parcel of land containing 109 acres, it being a part of a tract of 440 acres granted to Lewis Pence" ... "the same descended to John Pence as being the eldest son and heir at law and the said John Pence did convey the following part thereof to Michael Wise, who conveyed the same again unto the said John Pence and the said John Pence doth hereby convey the same to the said Jacob Koontz"; adjoining Henry Bellows. John Bentz signed, Elizabeth made mark.
SCDB H, 16 Mar. 1792, 373. John Pence and Elizabeth his wife to Rudolph Baker for 12 lbs., "a certain small piece parcel or tract of land lying and being on the branches of the Hawksbill Creek," part of 440 acres granted 7 Nov. 1757 to Lewis Pence, deceased, and devolved to John Pence as being his eldest son and heir at law. Contains 6 acres. Signed John Bence. Recorded 27 June 1792.
SCDB K, 9 Sep. 1795, 51. John Pence to Henry Pence. "John Pence and Elizabeth, his wife, the said John Pence being the eldest son and heir at law of Lewis Pence deceased...."; for 30 lbs., "a certain piece, parcel, or tract of land lying and being in the county of Shanandoah on the branches of the Hawksbill Creek, it being part of a tract of four hundred and forty acres granted to the said Lewis Pence by deed from the proprietors office of the Northern Neck of Va. bearing date of the seventh day of Nov." 1757. Signed John Bentz. Recorded 8 Dec. 1795.
SCDB N, 7 Nov. 1802, 313. John Pence and wife Elizabeth, eldest son and heir at law of Lewis Pence, deceased, of Shenandoah, to Joseph Pence for 480 lbs., land on the bank of the Hawksbill, part of a tract of 440 acres granted to Lewis Pence by deed from proprietor 7 Nov. 1757. Signed John Bens, Elizabeth made mark. Recorded 12 Sep. 1803.
SCDB O, 26 Aug. 1805, 394. John Pence and Elizabeth his wife, of Shenandoah Co., sold the last of his land there. This deed lists how the entire 440 acres of Lewis' original grant were disposed of: 110 acres to Henry Bellis, 110 acres to Michael Wise, 40 acres to Joseph Pence, 10 acres to Henry Pence and 6 acres to Rudolph Baker; the remaining 164 acres by this deed to George Rodecap and Joseph Spitler. In a deed dated the previous day, John and Elizabeth sold to Rodecap and Spitler two other tracts of land of 148 acres and 80 acres, these described as being patented to John from the Commonwealth in 1796 and 1799, respectively (DB O, 397).
| Part II: Jacob Pence Land Grant |
SCDB C, 29 Aug. 1782, 498. "Between Barbara Pence, widow and relick of Jacob Pence deceased and Frederic Pence and Mary his wife eldest son and heir at law of the said Jacob Pence," of Shenandoah County, and Abraham Neesley, eldest son and heir at law of Henry Neesley, deceased. For 20 lbs. Barbara and Frederick sell "land lying on a branch of the Hawksbill Creek" being part of 262 acres which was granted Jacob Pence by the proprietors 30 Aug. 1766, "in or near Henry Pence's line;" 15 acres, more or less. Frederick signed in German, Mary made mark.
SCDB F, 26 Sep. 1787, 458. Frederick Pence and wife Mary to Lewis Pence for 110 lbs., land on the branches of the Hawksbill Creek, it being the lower part of a tract of 262 acres which was formerly granted to Jacob Pence, deceased, from the proprietors 30 Aug. 1766. On John Pence's line, formerly John Price's, containing 131 acres. Frederick signed, Mary made mark. Witnesses included Daniel Pence. Recorded 27 Sep. 1787.
SCDB M, 9 June 1800, 196. Lewis Pence and Barbary [Kibler], his wife, to Emanuel Pence for 110 lbs. "land on the branches of the Haucke bill creek," part of a tract of 260 acres granted to Jacob Pence, deceased, 30 Aug. 1766. "bounded according to division survey which was by the said Frederick Pence conveyed by deed as followeth to Lewis Pence" ... "in the old line of John Pentz formerly John Price's," "to the piece of land which the said Lewis Pence conveyed to Henry Pence." Lewis signed Ludwig Bentz, Barbara made mark. Acknowledged and recorded to Emanuel Bentz 9 June 1800.
SCDB M, 9 June 1800, 196. Lewis Bence and Barbara [Kibler], his wife, to Henry Bentz, for $20 current money, land on the Hawksbill Creek, part of 131 acres conveyed by Frederick Pence and Mary to Lewis on 26 Sep. 1787. "Beginning at a white oak and white oak stump being an old corner on the north east side of the Hawksbill Creek near said Henry Bence's sawmill and running thence with the old line" ... "crossing a branch of the Hawksbill"; 2 acres and three-quarters of an acre. Ludwig Bentz signed. Recorded 9 June 1800.
| Part III: Henry Pence Land Grant |
Frederick Co., Va., Deed Book 15, 26 July 1771, 181. Henry Pence and Mary [Blimly] to Michael Wise; 237 acres, half of a grant of 474 acres upon which Henry now lives, on the Little Hawksbill, adjoining John Bayless, Jacob Offenbacker. Recorded 5 Nov. 1771. Henry signed name; she made mark.
SCDB K, 9 Sep. 1795, 53. Henry Pence to Henry Pence Jr. "... between Henry Pence and Mary [Blimly] his wife of Shanandoah county ... and Henry Pence Junr of the same county" for 30 pounds current money land "on the rich mountain at the head of the Hawksbill Creek," part of a tract of 470 acres granted to Henry from the proprietors office of the Northern Neck 30 Mar. 1770; 80 acres. Signed by Henry Pence in German; Mary made mark. Recorded 8 Dec. 1795.
SCDB M, 10 Mar. 1801, 378. Henry Pence Jr. to David Pence for 100 lbs., land "on the rich mountain at the head of the Hawksbill Creek" ... "the same tract of land which was granted to the said Henry Pentz by deed of bargain and sale the 9th day of Sep. 1795 from Henry Pence and Mary [Blimly] his wife." Heinrich Bentz signed in German, no wife's signature (indicating first wife probably deceased by then).
SCDB O, 10 June 1805, 213. Henry and wife Mary [Blimly] sell to Martin Kite of Rockingham Co. for 650 lbs., land on "Rich Mountain" at the head of the Hawksbill Creek, 150 acres, residue of a tract of 474 acres granted to Henry Pence by patent 30 Mar. 1770, Pence having sold 230 acres to Michael Wise and 87 acres to Henry Pence Jr. The other tract adjoining the said tract was conveyed to the said Henry Pence by John Pence and Elizabeth, his wife, by deed, 9 Sep. 1795. "... to a branch of the Hawksbill." Signed in German by Henry, Mary made mark. Recorded "From Henry Pence senr" 10 June 1805.
Other deeds involving Henry Pence:
SCDB S, 24 Sep. 1811, 370. Henry Pence and Mary Magdalene, his wife, of Champaign County, Oh., to Jacob Koontz, for $1,800, part of a larger tract of land granted to Lewis Pence, the one tract containing 110 acres. John Lionbarger's line, the line of John Pence, Henry Widock's line. Recorded 10 Dec. 1811. (This appears to be the land his son George Pence once mortgaged to Koontz.)
