Ancestors

Joseph Colvell Sr.

Joseph Colvell farmed on the west side of Opequon Creek in Frederick County, Virginia, in the northern Shenandoah Valley near Winchester. Where and when he was born is not recorded, and no known record says where he came from. The Opequon settlement was largely Scots-Irish and Presbyterian.

He bought 360 acres on the Opequon from Jost Hite, who held the original patent to the Opequon lands and sold them off to settlers in farms. The deed was recorded in Orange County, which covered the valley before Frederick County was organized. Later deeds recite it the same way in 1755, 1765 and 1794. A researcher's abstract of the Frederick County deed books dates the purchase 6 March 1744, with David Vance, Robert Worth and Thomas Little as witnesses.

He was one of the founders of the Opequon Presbyterian Church, at what is now Kernstown, the oldest church in the valley. On 19 February 1745/6 William Hoge Sr. conveyed two acres "near the Presbyterian Meeting house where it now stands on the Land of the said Wm Hoge." The price was five shillings. The land was to serve "for a Burying place as now its laid out," and the congregation could take timber to repair the meeting house. The deed ran to sixteen men of the congregation, Joseph Colvill among them. It was acknowledged on 7 May 1746.

On 8 and 9 September 1755 he gave part of his land to his eldest son. The lease and release run from "Joseph Colvell of the County of Frederick" to "Joseph Colvell Jun of the said County farmer." The price was two shillings, a token sum. The land was 200 acres "on Opeckon Creek ... part of a Tract containing three Hundred and Sixty Acres purchased from Jost Hite by the said Joseph Colvell as by the Records in Orange County Court." The deed book's abstract calls the grantee "Joseph Collvell, Junior his son."

Thomas Cartmell's history of the valley, published in 1909, says the settlers built a stone fort on the Opequon called Colvin's Fort. It adds that "Joseph Colvin, who first settled near the site of this fort, removed his family to a place on upper Cedar Creek and there built a small fort." Cartmell does not say which Joseph he meant, or give a date.

He made his will on 17 October 1757. It reads in part: "I Joseph Colvell of Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia being Sick and Weak of Body ... Item my oldest son Joseph hath Received his Portion already in Land. Item my second son Andrew is to have the remainder of my Land according as already Settled & agreed upon out of which said Lands my son Joseph Colvell and my son Andrew Colvill is to provide for and give my well beloved Wife their Mother a Sufficient Maintainance ... my son Joseph & Andrew shall Keep for their mother two Cows and one Horse to Ride."

His sons Joseph and Andrew also owed legacies to "their younger Brother that is my third son Samuel." Part was to be paid at once "& the other Ten Pounds after the Troubles is Ended." The troubles were probably the French and Indian War, then at its worst on the Frederick County frontier. The rest of his movable goods went in thirds to "my beloved wife Elizabeth," his son Samuel and "my Daughter Marthew." He named "my well Beloved Wife and my son Joseph Colvill" as executors, and "my son William Vance" as guardian. William Vance was his son-in-law.

He died within the next six months. On 2 May 1758 Elizabeth Colvill and Joseph Colvill presented the will to the Frederick County court. It was proved by the oaths of James Colvill, William Reynolds, Samuel Newell and John Wilson. William Vance and James Colvill stood security on the executors' bond. John Wilson, Robert Glass, William Reynolds and Samuel Pritchard were named to appraise the estate.

James Colvill farmed on Cedar Creek, south of Winchester. The records do not say whether he was Joseph's brother, cousin or no relation. Joseph's eldest son probably married James's daughter Martha.

His son Andrew inherited 157 acres. In 1765 Andrew and his wife Mary sold it to Joseph Jones, and the deed recites that it was "bequeathed unto his son the above named Andrew."

If Joseph Colvell Sr. is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "Joseph Colvell Sr.", https://heirology.com/ancestors/joseph-colvell-sr-026f2c.