Loyal Company: 800,000 acres and a 79-year lawsuit

I am trying to find information about a group called the Loyal Company. They were issued a grant of land by the crown in 1749, west of the Allegheny Mountains, in the amount of 800,000 acres! There were a large number of company members including Peter Jefferson (father of President Thomas Jefferson), Dr. Thomas Walker, John Lewis, Thomas Meriwether, Joshua Fry, Rev. James Maury, Edmund Pendleton and Richard Jones. A stipulation of the grant was that it had to be surveyed and settled within four years. This requirement proved impossible and extensions were required until disallowed in 1763.

This cessation of extensions resulted in a barrage of lawsuits involving the surveyed land, suits that lasted until 1842. I found a deed this past weekend, in Mecklenburg County, Deed Book 24, 446-447, that spells out part of my ancestry. Edney Haskins, my great-great-great-great-grandmother ,was noted as a daughter of Robert Jones and that Richard Jones (d. 1779 in Halifax County) was his father. Richard was a founding member of the Loyal Company, and at least one of the surveyors of the 800,000 acres. Edney was giving a lawyer power of attorney to represent her claims in the aforementioned lawsuits. It is amazing that the grandchildren of Richard Jones were going to court over his involvement with the Loyal Company.

I am not sure how the lawsuits ended up and if we got any money...if we did, it is gone!

As a note, I am also related the Dr. Thomas Walker. He is my uncle on a line from my mother's family whereas Richard Jones is a connection on my father's side. This was a great document in that it extended my line back two additional generations. I just wonder what happened with the lawsuit?

Genealogy Fair at the Family Life Center of Fincastle, Virginia, October 11, 2008

I wanted to pass this along. I am going to try to attend but I do not know that for certain at this point...

"October 11, 2008 - Genealogy Fair being held at Fincastle in the Family Life Center at the corner of Church & Academy St, Fincastle, Va. Hours 9-3 . Plenty of free parking available.

Our speakers are, Pam Young will talk about the holdings in the Virginia Room at the Main Library in Roanoke on Jefferson St., The Botetourt Historical Society will tell us about early Botetourt County and their holdings in the museum, Loretta Caldwell will tell about researching Botetourt County Courthouse Records, Susan Mason will give a short lesson on writing your personal history, Harry Gleason will talk about the history of Buchanan, & Sally Eads about Colonial Women.. The Botetourt Genealogy Club will be showing photos from the cemetery photograph project all day. There will be a book vendor with local authors and Botetourt history. Botetourt Genealogy Club, Botetourt Historical Society & Museum, Alleghany County, Rockbridge County, and Bedford County Historical & Genealogy Societies along with several about 20 researchers have tables with many Botetourt County surnames .. There will be a large display of churches, schools and people in the African American Communities. A tour of Fincastle will be provided, weather permitting. We will have some door prizes for both the vendors and the public. The event is Free. Donations accepted.

Friends of the Fincastle Library will serve food. Funds from the sale will be earmarked for the Fincastle Library Genealogy Room.

The Courthouse is open 8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday. The library is open 9-9 Monday & Thursday, 9-6 Tuesday & Wednesday, 9-5 on Friday. Normal Saturday hours are 9-1, however the day of the fair the library will be open 9-3. The Museum is open 7 days a week. 10-2 except Sunday 12-4.

I hope this helps you with your plans to visit Fincastle."