TENTH GENERATION

16. John COUNTS ^(1)(10) was born about 1765. He died on Oct 1 1843 in Cleveland, Russell Co., VA.

John Counts of Cleveland
Sketch by Elihu Jasper Sutherland
Counts Reunion - 1953
John Counts was born about 1765 and died October 1, 1843, at Cleveland, Russell Co., Virginia, where he had lived for more than 55 years. For that reason and because there have been so many John Countses in Russell County, he is known as "John Counts of Cleveland." His parents were John and Mary Magdeline ? Counts, who moved from Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1789, and settled in Glade Hollow, Russell County, Va. For that reason his father is known among his descendants as "John Counts of Glade Hollow." The first known record of "John Counts of Cleveland" is found in the personal property tax lists for Shenandoah County for 1787, which reports him as a tithable over 21 years of age in the family of Jacob Raresnake, his brother-in-law. His name does not appear in any subsequent tax list for that county. He moved to Russell County during the same year, and the Russell County tax list shows a John Counts assessed as of 21 June 1787, the owner of one horse, and living in the Upper District. The one tithable listed in his family indicates that he was married and head of a family at that date. Russell County Entry Book No. 1, at page 23, gives this data: "1787, Nov 20 - John Counts enters 50 acres of land by part of warrant NO. 14803 dated Nov 9, 1787, lying and beginning at the Widow Lard's old place between that and the River, lying on both sides of a branch that runs into the river." This tract is included in the town of Cleveland on the south side of Clinch River. He probably established his first home in Russell County on this tract. One June 17, 1797, the Grand Jury presented: "A bill found against Obediah Payne for abusing John Counts and Robing said Counts of his papers and forging an order in the name of Frances Hines presented by the oath of John Counts." (L O B 1, p 103) The Grand Jury acted again on 26 June, 1791, with a "Presentment against Patrick Coye and John Counts for fishing and breaking the peace the 26th day of April, 1797." He was an enthusiastic follower of Nimrod the Hunter and roamed the mountain wilderness near his home year after year in search of game. That he was successful is shown by the County Court records, which reveal that he was allowed the following claims: 23 July 1793 - 12/6 (twelve shillings and 6 pence) for "killing one old wolfe;" and 28 October, 1798 - 25/6 for "killing two old wolves." Mr. Counts occasionally sat on the county juries, and only one civil case of record shows him as a party. At the June 1974 term of the County Court he was sued by George McCoy. The case was continued and tried 24 September 1794, the jury finding "that the defendant did not assume upon himself as in pleadings he (McCoy) hath alleged," and it was "considered by the court that the plaintiff take nothing by his Bill." McCoy's witnesses were Joseph Kiser, Edward Kelley, Abram Childris (Childress), William Smith, James Roberts, and John Craig. Counts' witnesses were Henry Willard, Joseph or James Hatfield, Luke Kelley, and John Damaron. On 1 October 1790, John Counts entered fifty acres of land "on north side of Clinch River adjoining the land of Cornelius Robt. Dec'd on his east line and on both sides of the path leading from sd. Roberts to Dumps Creek that crosses the low gap." However a marginal notation states "This entry void war'd Ass'd to Rich. Price." On 24 May 1800, "John Counts, Junr." entered "fifty acres of land by Virtue of part of a Land Office Treasury Warrant No. 2438, dated March 14, 1798, lying in Russell Co. on the south side of Clinch River Beginning at a walnut on the line of sd. Counts land and running up the River on the said line till about two poles below the mouth of Joseph McRenals Spring Branch then nearly a south course thence westward then to the Beginning." In March 1798, he purchased a ract of 165 acres from Richard and Lucy Price on Clinch River. This tract was on the north side of Clinch River, opposite his 50 acre entry in 1787, and is the tract on which he lived the latter part of his life. We are meeting today on this tract of land. His first residence on this tract stood near a bold limestone spring near the north end of the present bridge. Later this log house was moved up the hill about one hundred yards,John Counts of Cleveland Sketch by Elihu Jasper Sutherland Counts Reunion - 1953

John Counts was born about 1765 and died October 1, 1843, at Cleveland, Russell Co., Virginia, where he had lived for more than 55 years. For that reason and because there have been so many John Countses in Russell County, he is known as "John Counts of Cleveland." His parents were John and Mary Magdeline ? Counts, who moved from Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1789, and settled in Glade Hollow, Russell County, Va. For that reason his father is known among his descendants as "John Counts of Glade Hollow." The first known record of "John Counts of Cleveland" is found in the personal property tax lists for Shenandoah County for 1787, which reports him as a tithable over 21 years of age in the family of Jacob Raresnake, his brother-in-law. His name does not appear in any subsequent tax list for that county. He moved to Russell County during the same year, and the Russell County tax list shows a John Counts assessed as of 21 June 1787, the owner of one horse, and living in the Upper District. The one tithable listed in his family indicates that he was married and head of a family at that date. Russell County Entry Book No. 1, at page 23, gives this data: "1787, Nov 20 - John Counts enters 50 acres of land by part of warrant NO. 14803 dated Nov 9, 1787, lying and beginning at the Widow Lard's old place between that and the River, lying on both sides of a branch that runs into the river." This tract is included in the town of Cleveland on the south side of Clinch River. He probably established his first home in Russell County on this tract. One June 17, 1797, the Grand Jury presented: "A bill found against Obediah Payne for abusing John Counts and Robing said Counts of his papers and forging an order in the name of Frances Hines presented by the oath of John Counts." (L O B 1, p 103) The Grand Jury acted again on 26 June, 1791, with a "Presentment against Patrick Coye and John Counts for fishing and breaking the peace the 26th day of April, 1797." He was an enthusiastic follower of Nimrod the Hunter and roamed the mountain wilderness near his home year after year in search of game. That he was successful is shown by the County Court records, which reveal that he was allowed the following claims: 23 July 1793 - 12/6 (twelve shillings and 6 pence) for "killing one old wolfe;" and 28 October, 1798 - 25/6 for "killing two old wolves." Mr. Counts occasionally sat on the county juries, and only one civil case of record shows him as a party. At the June 1974 term of the County Court he was sued by George McCoy. The case was continued and tried 24 September 1794, the jury finding "that the defendant did not assume upon himself as in pleadings he (McCoy) hath alleged," and it was "considered by the court that the plaintiff take nothing by his Bill." McCoy's witnesses were Joseph Kiser, Edward Kelley, Abram Childris (Childress), William Smith, James Roberts, and John Craig. Counts' witnesses were Henry Willard, Joseph or James Hatfield, Luke Kelley, and John Damaron. On 1 October 1790, John Counts entered fifty acres of land "on north side of Clinch River adjoining the land of Cornelius Robt. Dec'd on his east line and on both sides of the path leading from sd. Roberts to Dumps Creek that crosses the low gap." However a marginal notation states "This entry void war'd Ass'd to Rich. Price." On 24 May 1800, "John Counts, Junr." entered "fifty acres of land by Virtue of part of a Land Office Treasury Warrant No. 2438, dated March 14, 1798, lying in Russell Co. on the south side of Clinch River Beginning at a walnut on the line of sd. Counts land and running up the River on the said line till about two poles below the mouth of Joseph McRenals Spring Branch then nearly a south course thence westward then to the Beginning." In March 1798, he purchased a ract of 165 acres from Richard and Lucy Price on Clinch River. This tract was on the north side of Clinch River, opposite his 50 acre entry in 1787, and is the tract on which he lived the latter part of his life. We are meeting today on this tract of land. His first residence on this tract stood near a bold limestone spring near the north end of the present bridge. Later this log house was moved up the hill about one hundred yards.

He was married to Margaret "Peggy" KELLEY in 1785 in Russell Co., VA. Margaret "Peggy" KELLEY⁽¹⁰⁾ was born about 1769. She was born about 1769. She died on Jul 6 1835 in Near Cleveland, Russell Co., VA. She died on Jul 6 1835 in Near Cleveland, Russell Co., Virginia. John COUNTS and Margaret "Peggy" KELLEY had the following children:

+34 i. Sarah "Sallie" COUNTS.
35 ii. Joseph COUNTS⁽¹⁰⁾ was born in 1789 in Russell Co., VA. He died in Mississippi. He was buried in Iuka, Mississippi. His education was above average for his day. He taught several
schools on
Clinch River and at Sandlick. On 6-3-1817, he was appointed a
constable of
Russell Co. and executed a $500 bond with John Howard as surety.
About this
time he moved to Tilda Anderson Bottom near Sandlick, the home of his
brother
in law, Richard Colley [C14 husband]. They lived there about 8 years.
Their

nearest neighbor, except Dick Colley, was Henry Sutherland - 20 miles
away
across Sandy Ridge on Dumps Creek. In October 1835, Joseph became a
member of
the Reeds Valley Baptist Church. The following May he moved his
membership to
Castlewood Baptist Church where his wife had been a member since
December
1835. He represented his church as a messenger to the Washington
Dist.
Baptist Association in 1837. On 6-15-1827, he bought from Truelove
Brown and
others an interest in a 100 acre tract of land at Carterton on Clinch
River
and moved to this homeplace. Then on 8-21-1832, he bought from Polly
Brown
and others their interestin the same tract known as "The Brown Farm".
He was
Overseer of the Poor in 1852. About 1859, a brother-in-law, James
Long, who
was a large slave owner in Alabama, willed five of his slaves to
Joseph and
Sallie Long Counts. Joseph made a trip down there to secure these and
other
slaves bequeathed to Russell Co. relatives by James Long. He liked
the
country so well that he soon moved to Tishomingo Co., Miss, where his
brother
in law, Henry Long, had been living for several years. Joseph
conveyed a
tract of land in Russell Co. to John H. Jessee on 4-2-1860 (Tish Co.
Miss D B
14, p 449). His last years were spent at the home of his son, Andrew
J.
Counts, near Iuka, Miss, where he and Sallie are buried.
- Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow by Elihu Jasper
Sutherland
36 iii. John "Jackie" COUNTS⁽¹⁰⁾ was born in 1789 in Reeds Valley, Russell Co., VA. He died in 1863 in Reeds Valley, Russell Co., VA. They lived on a farm on the Clinch River, about one mile above
Cleveland, VA.
- Jim Jessee diskette.

On 11-20-1924, Mahala Kiser Sutherland recalled: "Uncle Jackie Counts
lived
just over the hill on Clinch. His wife Phoebe died first - suddenly.
She had
got out of bed one morning and was preparing breakfast. She was
fixing to
wash some meat and went to the fireplace to arrange the pot rack, when
Uncle
Jackie heard her fall. He ran to her but she was already dead. I
remember
seeing Canaan (her son) come over Granny Phoebe Sutherland, and he
said 'Ma is
dead.' Uncle Jackie was a small 'scrooched-up' man. He was a mighty
good and
honest man. He wore his beard cut short, was a farmer. Both belonged
to the
Baptist Church. He died of fever and Granny Phoebe Sutherland helped
wait on
him." Noah Sutherland remembered: "Grandpa Jackie Counts was the best
moral
teacher I ever had. He was good and kind ... and took pains with us
kids.
Grandma Counts was small." Both are buried on their farm in unmarked
graves.
- Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow by Elihu Jasper
Sutherland
37 iv. James COUNTS⁽¹⁰⁾ was born on Oct 8 1792 in Russell Co., VA. He was born on Oct 8 1792 in Russell Co., VA. He died on Jun 8 1872 in Carterton, Russell Co., VA. He died on Jun 8 1872 in Carterton, Russell Co., VA. Owned several tracts of land on Clinch River. Both were members of
the
Castlewood Baptist Church. In July 1827, she was recieved into
fellowship of
the church by letter from Reeds VAlley; in October 1835 he joined by
baptism.
In August 1837, James was chosen by the church as one of its delegates
to the
Washington District Association to be held at the Deep Spring Meeting
House in
Lee County. On July 2, 1872, his will was probated: "... First I give
and
bequeath to my beloved son James M. Counts and his heirs my house and
louts
around the house including the corn crib stables and orchard and ten
acres
extra for taking care of me and his mother. I also give him a certain
boundary of my land lying in the southwest corner of it ... beginning
at a
poplar near the spring next widow Dickenson's corner of my land thence
runing
north with the mill road to the foot of Cedar hill, ... thence through
the
barn field to two white oaks near the northeast corner of the orchard
lot,
thence ... to the blacksmith shop ... And the balance of my land I
give to my
beloved sons John, David and Noah, to be equally divided ... if my
Sons wishes
to sell their portions ... I request that they would sell to each
other and
give them a reasonable time to pay ... the balance of my loose
property I give
to my beloved daughters Catherine, Margaret, Susannah and Elizabeth
... My
dear Sons see that You fall not out with each other." No appraisal,
alse bill
or settlement is of record; nor was an executor ever appointed. James
and
"Evey" are buried on their homeplace.
- Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow by Elihu Jasper
SutherlandOwned several tracts of land on Clinch River. Both were
members of
the
Castlewood Baptist Church. In July 1827, she was recieved into
fellowship of
the church by letter from Reeds VAlley; in October 1835 he joined by
baptism.
In August 1837, James was chosen by the church as one of its delegates
to the
Washington District Association to be held at the Deep Spring Meeting
House in
Lee County. On July 2, 1872, his will was probated: "... First I give
and
bequeath to my beloved son James M. Counts and his heirs my house and
louts
around the house including the corn crib stables and orchard and ten
acres
extra for taking care of me and his mother. I also give him a certain
boundary of my land lying in the southwest corner of it ... beginning
at a
poplar near the spring next widow Dickenson's corner of my land thence
runing
north with the mill road to the foot of Cedar hill, ... thence through
the
barn field to two white oaks near the northeast corner of the orchard
lot,
thence ... to the blacksmith shop ... And the balance of my land I
give to my
beloved sons John, David and Noah, to be equally divided ... if my
Sons wishes
to sell their portions ... I request that they would sell to each
other and
give them a reasonable time to pay ... the balance of my loose
property I give
to my beloved daughters Catherine, Margaret, Susannah and Elizabeth
... My
dear Sons see that You fall not out with each other." No appraisal,
alse bill
or settlement is of record; nor was an executor ever appointed. James
and
"Evey" are buried on their homeplace.
- Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow by Elihu Jasper
Sutherland
+38 v. Lucrethia Cristinia"Crissa" COUNTS.
39 vi. Christinia "Crissa" COUNTS⁽¹⁰⁾ was born on Dec 11 1793 in Russell Co., VA. She died on Dec 16 1855 in Sand Lick, Dickenson Co., VA. She was buried in Colley Grvyd, Sandlick, Dickenson Co., VA.
40 vii. Margaret COUNTS⁽¹⁰⁾ was born about 1797 in Russell Co., VA. She died in 1858 in Iuka, Mississippi. Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow by Elihu Jasper
Sutherland
says: "Margaret Long moved to Iuka, Mississippi, about 1830...died and
buried
there."
41 viii. Elizabeth "Betsy" COUNTS⁽¹⁰⁾ was born in 1799 in Castlewood, Russell/Tazewell Co., VA. She died in 1880 in Castlewood, Tazewell Co., VA. She was buried in Jessee Cemetery, Russell Co. - unmarked. Not sure where, but some dates may be off. By current dates, Betsy
would have
been 59 years old when she gave birth to her last child!
+42 ix. Joshua COUNTS.
+43 x. Nancy J. COUNTS.
+44 xi. Ezekiel COUNTS.