| Notes |
- Abraham Stapp was looking for land in the Chesapeake Bay region and everywhere it was cheap and plentiful. There were great patents, in part or whole, for sale that STAPP could choose. He found what he wanted in Old Rappahannock, now Essex County and the fragmentary records of the now extinct county still extant. In the present Essex clerk's office notes the purchase of a part of a "Pattent" from James Gaines or Games. Joint purchaser with Stapp was James Anderson. The date was 17 November 1670. The instrument is recorded in Deed Book 4, Page 365 Rappahannock County records at Rappahannock Virginia.
Most immigrants had little money but Abraham Stapp had enough to buy a one-half interest in a vast land patent and this fact leads us to believe that he had been a successful tobacco planter in Virginia many years before he sought the Rappahannock. The conveyance reads: "Know all men by these presents that I, James Gaines do from me and my heirs asigne all my rights and title of the residue of the land of the within mentioned Pattent unsould to Cornelious Noell and unto Abraham STAPP and James Anderson their heirs and assigns for ever. In witness hereof Sett my hand and seale this 17th day of November 1670. Sealed signed and delivered in presence of John Cantlett Daniel Gaines. James Gaines (Seal)
In the succeeding years and up to his death in 1714 there is a steady flow of legal notations on the Old Rappahannock and Essex records, their great number testifying to the promineice of Abraham Stapp in official affairs. He acquired slaves, appraised estates, bought and sold land, appeared as a witness many times, witnessed wills and acted as juror.
Previous to 3 February 1678, Abraham Stapp had married for on that date he and Dorothy Stapp acknowledged a deed to James Andres. Subsequent deeds required her signature. We know that she was a daughter of Robert Moss for her father mentioned her in his will, dated August 8, 1685, probated April 3, 1689 in Rappahannock County. Robert Moss names his wife, Rebecca and other legatees, including "to my 2 granddaughters, Rebecca and Martha Stapp, daughters of my daughter Dorothy and her husband Abraham Stapp." He, too, mentioned in the will brothers, William and Thomas, who with the testator had received a land patent Nov. 20, 1684, in Lancaster Co. VA (pat bk 3, page 309) for 800 acres.
By 1710 Abraham Stapp, tobacco planter, was growing old and Oct 2, 1710 he wrote his will. Having been born ca 1650, he was about 60 years old. His will was probated in Essex 8 April 1714. To his son Abraham Stapp Jr he devised all the land he owned on the north side of the road at "my now dwelling place"; to his son William all land on the south side of the road; to son Jacob the "upper part of the land bought by Edward Moseley"; To son Joshua the lower part bordering on Mr. Robert Brookd; to sons Joseph and James 25 acres each of the lower land; to wife Dorothy all property during her lifetime; to daughter Ruth cattle and certain incidentals; to two daughters Rebecca and Martha a shilling each. Jacob and Joshua, sons, were also directed to buy 100 acres each elsewhere. The instrument was witnessed by his father-in-law, Robert Moss, with Peter Hollon and Will Harte. At the time the will was probated his widow gave bond in the sum of 300 pounds sterling as executrix.
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Reference:
RootsL, Scott A. McElfresh, 1994.
Dianne, AZDee@aol.com, 26 November 1998
"The Stepp/Stapp Families of America - A Source Book", Henry P. Scalf & Rudolph B. Stepp, 1973, p ?.
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1649 - 1714 (65 years)
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