The Courthouse Burned: Deed Book 1 (1869)
Lands of John M. Harris. Photo by Joanne L. Yeck
Many nuggets of Buckingham County gold can be unearthed if you dig deep enough.
After the courthouse burned in 1869, many wills and deeds were re-recorded, including a deed originally made in 1856 by my ancestor, Col. John M. Harris, in the new Deed Book #1.
THIS DEED made and entered into this 13th day of November in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-six between Jno M. Harris and Harriet C. his wife of the county of Buckingham of the one part and Henry St. Geo. Harris of the County of Albemarle of the other part, all of the state of Virginia, Witness: that for and in consideration of the sum of sixteen thousand dollars, payable as follows . . . do grant unto that said Harris, all their rights, title, interest and claim, in and to a certain tract of land in the county, adjoining the lands of Ro. Bolling, his old place, Skyler Thomas, Geo. A. Scruggs, Est., E. G. Jefferson, James Harris and Dr. L. Bolling, containing nine hundred acres. . . .
For me, this deed re-recorded on September 13, 1869, is priceless Buckingham gold.
If you are looking for information about Buckingham County families prior to the courthouse fire in 1869, be sure to look for re-recorded deeds and wills in Deed Book 1, available on microfilm at The Library of Virginia.
slate river ramblings . . . . 
When will this book be available?
Karen, I’m not sure which book you are referring to. I’m currently working on several projects. Give me a hint! Joanne
G A Scruggs and S. Thomas are my direct line ancestors. The Scruggs land went to my G N Tapscott and is where their cemetery is today. And we know how much the Bolling, Harris, and Jefferson men meant to the neighborhood. I think it’s really time to make a neighborhood map with more precise property lines. I’m already so close.
We all await your map, eagerly.
Thank you so much for posting this info and the picture, as I was honestly about to give up on any hope of finding my HARRIS tracks, although I know they existed . Could it be that Joanne Yeck and I are cousins ? 🙂 Keep up the search, and just maybe, you can bring the family that help build America back in the fore ground once again, for all to see how much they contributed and their genuine morals that made us great. Here’s a quick help tip: I was told and taken to Buckingham to the many places owned by the Harris families and one of them was what became “BoatWrights Orchard” (where the original Harris home was located) plus in my earlier searches back in the 1970’s, it showed evidence of this, but has gotten lost somewhere in the history of Buckingham, and I would be eternally grateful for info and pictures of this and any info pertaining to the Harris families. God Bless America Gloria Harris Mays
On Thu, Mar 16, 2017 at 7:12 AM, slate river ramblings . . . . wrote:
> Joanne Yeck posted: ” Lands of John M. Harris. Photo by Joanne L. Yeck > Many nuggets of Buckingham County gold can be unearthed if you dig deep > enough. After the courthouse burned in 1869, many wills and deeds were > re-recorded, including a deed originally made in 185″ >
Gloria,
Many thanks for your comment. As I’m sure you have discovered, there are several unrelated Harris families in Buckingham County during the 19th century.
I have written extensively about mine here at Slate River Ramblings and at “A Family Memoir” on Instagram, where you will find lots of images. https://www.instagram.com/joanneyeck/
Additionally, I have deposited manuscripts at the Virginia Historical Society and at Historic Buckingham’s museum, tracing my Harris family back to their entry in York County before 1700.
The Harris farm pictured here runs south of Bridge Port Road, in Buckingham County. The double-pond feature is near the entrance to the property.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7125021,-78.4650439,15z Let me know if you think we are related.
Joanne