Buckingham Notables: Nicholas Maynard, Part I
Deed Maps for Nicholas Maynard’s Land. Courtesy Les Campbell.
In August of 2019, a post about Maynards Church (one of Buckingham County’s original four parish churches) and the location of John Patteson’s land resulted in a lively and fruitful exchange among Slate River Ramblings readers. Follow these links to learn more:
Buckingham Mysteries: Maynards Church
Buckingham Mysteries: Maynards Church, Part II
Buckingham Mysteries: Maynards Church, Part III
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Karen Williams also shared information about Nicholas Maynard, almost assuredly the man behind the church’s name. The church may have sat at a spot called Maynard’s Corner, possibly indicating a crossroads. Did he donate land for the building of the Anglican Church in the newly established Tillotson Parish in Colonial Buckingham County?
Karen sent the following land records for Nicholas Maynard. The acres in Albemarle County lay in what would become Buckingham County in 1761.
12 May 1759 400 acres Albemarle/ bs Davids Creek
27 Aug 1770 177 acres Buckingham/ on Kings Branch
According to Karen’s research, Nicholas Maynard (b. circa 1732) emigrated from Cornwall, England to Virginia, living in Charles City County, Albemarle County (later Buckingham), and left a will in Mecklenburg County. Sometime before 1758, he married Elizabeth Wagstaff, possibly in Lunenburg County, Virginia.
What brought the Maynards west to Albemarle County? Karen offers a clue. In 1754, James Freeland’s will was recorded in Albemarle County, stating: “My wife and my son James FREELAND to be the executors, and they are to make a good deed to Francis WAGSTAFF for certain lands on David’s Creek.” Francis Wagstaff was the father of Elizabeth (Wagstaff) Maynard. Nicholas Maynard’s will offers another clue, which will be revealed in the next post.
During the Revolutionary War, Nicholas Maynard was a patriot, contributing 650 lbs of beef, 61 lbs bacon, 100 lbs of fodder, 2 bushels of corn, 14 lbs of fodder, and 2 head of cattle to the cause. By 1782, the Maynard had removed to Mecklenberg County, where he was taxed on 11 whites and 25 blacks. He died there and his will was recorded in Mecklenberg in 1785.
Coming next: Buckingham Notable: Nicholas Maynard, Part II
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Ed,
Thanks for adding these comments. It is always good to know about alternate spellings.
Joanne
Apparently the 400 acre tract on both aides of David’s Creek, adjacent to Fendley and Mayo was surveyed in 1752, but not patented until 1759. The 177 acre tract was described as on the branches of David’s Creek, adj. to Fendley and Gibson, when it was surveyed in 1755, but was described as on kings branch when it was patented in 1770. Maynard is sometimes spelled Mainyard.
curious about the William Clark line on the map? I am a Clark, however the genealogy is pretty hairy as there were many kids who then had many kids all named the same! We can not get our line out of the Worthington area of Ohio…but know lots of land in Ohio came from war grants from Virginia.
Patricia,
I don’t know more about this William Clark. Perhaps, another Slate River Ramblings reader will!
Joanne