David Pugh Court Documents

“As Time Goes By”
Website belongs to Sharlee Farrell

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David Pugh, Sarah Greer and Nancy Minton; various documents.

"David and Sarah Pugh lived on the Pigg River in Franklin County Virginia where they had (according to a 1786 Personal Property List) one child, three slaves, three horses, and five cows. In 1792 they left Franklin County and bought property on Wilson Creek in Grayson Co VA.

In an ironic twist of fate, Sarah's life would parallel that of her great grandmother Sarah Day Greet. It seems that many years before, Sarah's great grandfather, John Greer, had fathered four children with another woman while married to Sarah's great grandmother. Sarah's husband David Pugh, became entangled in a similar situation by fathering a child (many children) with his mistress, Nancy Minton in Ashe County North Carolina.

In 1806 David and Sarah separated, but apparently never divorced. A deed book dated Aug 27 1806 records David's last act before his departure with Nancy Minton. "Whereas: David Pew is about to travel to remote parts and has adjudged it expedient to dispose of his estate before he sets out, therefore in consideration of love and affection for his children, he grants to them and to Gaines, as trustee for his wife, all his estate, real and personal except a negro man, his riding horse, a saddle, gun and wearing apparel which he reserves to his own use. (Family tradition says he took also a gallon of seed corn.) He wants his children paid off as they arrive at age 21 and wants Violet, Samuel, Robert, John and Ruth to receive as good an education as the others had. Witnesses: Alexander Smyth, Wm Ballard, George Currin and Martin Dickinson."

Notes from Phyllis Parker e-mail [email protected] (Phyllis Parker). David was sent away, for marital indiscretions. Court apparently award his wife Sarah (Greer) Pugh something, not sure yet. She write further, “I do not know where David is buried. He may not have returned to VA., and is buried in another state. It puzzles me a bit that we know his death date and there is record of the dower being assigned to his wife Sarah. This is something."

Acquisition of land on Wilson Creek, Grayson Co., VA

Wythe co. Va. Dees, 1:103, 1 May 1792.

Solomon Cox of Wythe Co., Va., conveys to David Pugh of Franklin Co., Va., a tract of land containing 330 acres in the county of Wythe on the waters of Wilson Creek, a branch of New River. Signed, Solomon Cox, Neomi Cox. Wit, Enoch Osborn, Shadrick Greear, Samuel Cox. 1:352. "Solomon Cox and wife to David Pugh. The Commonwealth of Va. to Enoch Osborn and Shadrack Greear, Gentlemen Justices of Grayson Co. Greeting. Whereas Solomon Cox and Neomi his wife by their indenture bearing date the 1st day of May 1792..sold unto David Pugh 330 acres of land in the county of Grayson formerly Wythe and whereas the said Neomi cannot conveniently travel to our county court of Wythe to make her acknowledgement of the said conveyance. We do therefore require you that you do go personally to the said Neomi and receive her acknowledgement and examine her privily and apart from the said Solomon Cox her husband whether she doth the same freely and voluntarily without his persuasion and threats, eac. 15 April 1795. They certify to her acknowledgement and that she consents to have the deed recorded, 22 April. 1795.

After being married to Sarah Greer for approximately 15 years, and having 8 children, Sarah discovered that David had another woman on the other side of the creek, and had 5 children with her. Sarah had them arrested, and the following court document exists:

Dated Aug 1806. (PLEASE NOTE THE SPELLING OF THE LAST NAMES ON THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS) David Pew who was committed to jail by a justice of the peace for failing to give security to be of good behavior and keep the peace toward the citizens of the Commonwealth and particularly toward Sarah his wife, appeared in custody and upon hearing testimony, the court are of the opinion David Pew shall be bound himself in the sum of $1000, with his two securities in the sum of $500 each, conditioned upon his being of good behavior for the term of one year or be in custody until he comply with the order. Nancy Minton, also having been committed to jail by a justice of the peace for failing to give security to be of good behavior and keep the peace, appeared in custody and the court after hearing the testimony ordered her bound in the sum of $50, with two securities for $25, each, conditioned that she be of good behavior for the term of one year and to remain in custody until she comply with the order. The following information is recorded in a deed book: (Aug 27, 1806) Whereas: David Pew is about to travel to a remote parts and has adjudged it expedient to dispose of his estate before he sets out, therefore in consideration of love and affection for his children, he grants to them and to Gaines as trustee for his wife all his estate, real and personal, except a negro man, his riding horse, a saddle, gun and wearing appeal which he re severs to his own use. (Family tradition says he took also a gallon of seed corn.) He wants his children paid off as they arrive at age 21 and wants Violet, Samuel, Robert, John, and Ruth to receive as good an education as the others had. Witnesses: Alexander Smyth, Wm Ballard, George Curring and Martin Dickinson. August, 1808, Matter of Custody: Rhoda Pugh, Violet Pugh, and Samuel Pugh, children of David Pugh, having chosen William Bourn and Jonathan Thomas as their guardians, and the said William Bourn and Jonathan Thomas being appointed guardians by Robert Pugh, John Pugh, and Ruth Pugh, children of the said David Pugh under the age of fourteen years, they entered into bond with Shadrach Greer, their security, accordingly. Remote parts referred to above was what is now the State of Tennessee. Descendants living in Grayson Co., VA believe David Pugh is buried somewhere in Ten., which considered wilderness back then. Pugh, David, deceased. Dower assigned wife, Sarah, June 1823.