Early Offills in Virginia and nearby On the internet there are many different versions of the relations between the various Offills in early Virginia. Since there are not enough records to show the complete picture, many, including me, have made various guesses. This is an attempt to show what can be backed up by records - mostly land, tax, probate, and county records especially the “Order Books.” Hopefully this will show that some of the guesses that have been made in the past do not correspond to the known records, and that this will lead to better, educated guesses or proof to fill in the gaps. First to be considered are the colony land records abstracted in the several volumes of Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants by Nell Marion Nugent. The two records for William Offill were head right records. . A head right was a grant of 50 acres of land for every man, woman, and child who arrived in Virginia to settle. Someone else got the land grant for William, meaning that someone else paid for his passage. This usually meant that a person like William was then someone’s indentured servant for four to seven years. In this source there are two of these records for William where he was included on someone else’s list “for ye importation of ...persons into this Country.” They are both in the third volume of Cavaliers and Pioneers, and are both dated 25 Oct. 1695. The first is a grant to "Ralph Wormeley, ESQR,” for land in King and Queen County (page 3). The second is a grant to Charles Wilks for land in Nansemond County (page 5). But there is an earlier, similar county record in the Middlesex County, Virginia Orders at a court meeting on 2 Dec, 1689 (Middlesex Order Book 2, p. 438, FHL film #32,449) a "Certificate according to Act is granted to Ralph Wormeley, Esqr. for ye importation of ...persons into this Country …Wm Ophil… .” I am sure the William Offill or William Ophill in these three records represent the same person as many of the other names of imported persons on the three lists are the same, even though the names are in different order and some attempts were made to change the spelling of some of the names. At least 17 names on the Middlesex list were on the other grant to Ralph Wormeley, and at least 32 names on the Middlesex list were on Charles Wilkes’s list. It looks like some rules were bent. One should not assume these are arrival dates for a person. All that can be assumed from these is that William arrived before 2 Dec. 1689. Nor should it be assumed that William first settled in any of these places. Before any of the land right records above there is an earlier record for “Wm Ofeild.” It is a record of a debt in Old Rappahannock County in 1687, and there was another there in 1689. Old Rappahannock County split in 1692 into Essex and Richmond County. Richmond County has a long common border with Westmoreland County where there are later records for William Offill. The next possible record for William was a suit in Richmond, County on 4th Apr 1694 (Richmond County Virginia Order Book 1, p. 181. (FHL #33,741). Possibly because the name in the record is “Wm Offitt.” They are clearly t's and not l's in the record. But there seem to have been no Offuts in early VA, including in the early indexes to Pioneers and Cavaliers. There were Offuts who were early migrants to Maryland, and later in Virginia. There is a debt record in Westmoreland County in 1699 that name “Wm Offill and Mary his Wife.” (Westmoreland County Virginia, Order Book 1698-1705 Abstracted and Compiled by John Frederick Dorman, Washington, DC 1978). There are more debt records for William in Westmoreland, two in 1701 and two in 1704. A land record in Westmoreland in April 1705 between John Butler and John Elliott includes in the land description [the land is near] “all those plantation thereon now in the several tenures of William Awfill.” (Westmorland County Virginia Deeds and Wills #3, 1701-1707, Abstracted and Compiled from the 1852 transcription of the Original Volume which is no longer extant" by John F. Dorman, Washington, DC, 1967.) From this record one can figure out that William’s tenure was just west of what is now The George Washington Birthplace National Monument. William’s wife and her new husband received letters of administration for the estate of her late husband “Wm: Offile” on 25 June 1712. (Westmoreland County. Virginia, Order Book 1705-1721, Part 4: 1711-1713, by John Frederick Dorman, Falmouth, Virginia: 1992. p.34.) Thus, it is probable there was a William Offill who died a little before 1712 and who lived in Westmoreland County, Virginia or in nearby counties since at least 1687, and that he came as an indentured servant. His origins in England should not be assumed. There are scattered records for Offills in England at this period. None of these should be connected to William or any other Offills in early Virginia unless there is more evidence other than just a date and a name that seems reasonable. Most of the early Virginia records for Offills used one of the usual spelling variations of the name. But a few records used “Offield” or “Offeild” or a variation. Later some Offills changed their name to Offield or Orfield. The Charles Wilkes list above also has “Jno. Ofell, and Hannah Ofell.” Lots of people have assumed various relationships for the three Offills, but lacking evidence, none of these should be assumed. No further records of this John have been found unless the 1713 records for John Okill in Middlesex, County, Virginia are considered to be for John Offill. I've looked at the original of one of the two records on film and it does not look at all like the name was "Offill." They sure look like "Okill." The two records are: 1. "The Vestry Book of Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia 1663-1767" by C. G. Chamberlayne (Richmond: Old dominion Press, 1927, p. 138), "the 8th of October, 1713, ordered that Jno Okil be appointed Clke of ye lower Chappel for ye ensueing yeare instead of Nathon Underwood." 2. "Parish Register of Christ Church, Middlesex County, Virginia from 1653 to 1812 (Richmond: National Society of the Colonia Dames in the State of Virginia, 1897 - 1964 reprint, p. 84) "John Okill dyed ye 25th of October & was buried 27th Ditto 1713." No other Offills or Okills were found in the Parish Register (lists baptisms and marriages) of Christ Church, which seems pretty complete for the period around 1700. Speaking for the fact that “Okill” might be an Offill is the mention of Nathan Underwood in the church records there. There were descendants of Nathan Underwood who lived near some of the Offills for more than 100 years, and there have been at least five marriages between an Offill and an Underwood. Allen Offill, who died in Carter County, Kentucky in 1854 lived near, or possibly next to, Underwoods. There were several records for Underwoods in the Parish Register of Christ Church. So if John Okill was really an Offill, then William and John might have been brothers as they died within a couple of years of each other. The next records for a John Offill that I have found are from 1755. There are scattered early records for possible other Offills or Offields, but never more than one, for the following: 1. Henry Offeild, 1650 in Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. 2, p. 209; 2. Tho. Offeild, 1664 in Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vil. 5, p. 148; 3. Thomas Ofield, 1669, a mariner, probate in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, had land in Boston, no children mentioned; 4. Alexander Ofeild, 1704, on Quit Rent Rolls in Gloucester County, Virginia; 5. David Ophal, 1729, a J.P. in Nansemond County Virginia, in English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records; 6. Rob:t Offall, 1746, noted in Colonial Soldiers of the South; 7. Roger Offall, 1746, noted in Muster Rolls from King George’s War; [Actually several records from same source and year.] 8. Ransom Offeild, 1749, on a tax list from Orange County, Virginia. He was probably not an Offill but was more likely Ransom Allphin. 9. Job Offill. Someone reported he was on a pay roll for Capt. Barns’s Company for Feb 1780 – Connecticut. This is on FHL digital film 7106941, image 409/657 – US Rev. War Rolls, 1775-1783, Connecticut, Jacket numbers 132-1 through 134-2. The name on the image is pretty clear, that is “Job Offitt” although the bar across the t’s is faint. The name was indexed as Job Offitt. The same name in on the muster roll for Feb. 1780 was spelled “Uffoot.” (Image 322/657). I found about 14 other entries for Job in the muster rolls on the same film (images 232 to 322). All of these entries spelled the name with the first tree letters as “Uff” and all ended with a “t” or a “tt”. The vowel(s) before the t was either “I”, “e” or “oo”. Between 1712 and 1729 I have found no records for an Offill or an Offield in Virginia or nearby. From 1729 to 1754, the only Offill for whom there is more than one record is William. This William has many records from 1729 to at least 1755 and lived for most or all of this period in present day Madison County, Virginia. Madison County in that period was first part of Spotsylvania, then Orange, and then Culpeper County, and there are records for William from all three of these counties. Some of these records are: 1. 1729, Spotsylvania County, Wm Offill mentioned with regard to bounties on wolf heads. 2. A deed 1633/34, from John Rucker for 100 acres in “St. Marks parish Spotsylvania County” “for ye love & affection I bear to my Sister Mary Rucker & in Conformation of ye Just Sum of one pound Sterling …paid by ye s[ai]d Mary Rucker & William Offall her lawfull husband.” The date in the original, much quoted as the date of their marriage, in the deed was “One thousand, Seven hundred & thirty & in ye seventh year of ye reign of out Sovereign Lord ye King.” The date should be 1733/4 as in the acknowledgement by John Rucker, below the dead. George II became king in 1727. The clerk assumedly left out "and three" And it should not be assumed this is the marriage date. All it shows is that they were married before 6 Feb. 1633/4. (Deed Book B, Spotsylvania County, p. 496) 3. 1736-1750, Orange County, Virginia. William on 3 lists of tithables, involved in suits, mentioned in court suits and probates of others, in land records of others, and jury duty, 4. In a written deposition made April 24, 1745, by "Wm Offall aged Thirty seven years or thereabouts" His signature was spelled "William Offill." (Orange County “Judgement Papers”, May 1746, 10th from end, on FHL film #1869674) 5. 1752, Culpepper County. Involved in probate of another, and as a security in another’s debt case. 6. A deed, dated 4 Nov. 1755, William and Mary Offill, of Brumfield Parish, Culpeper County, sold to John Offill the 100 acres “granted formerly to John Rucker” for ₤10. (Culpepper Co. VA Deeds Book B, pp. 301-304). William may have been ailing by 1755. He has sold his land to John, and Mary only was a legal witness in 1756 and 1763. There are a couple of later records for a William Offill that could pertain to his son William. I have found no record that indicates who William’s parents were or where he was born. As for his father, there are four options. First, his father was the William whose probate, with no mention of children or a will, was in Westmoreland County, Virginia in 1712. Secondly, John Okill was really an Offill and may have been William’s father. Thirdly, William was born in Virginia to a father who has barely left a trace in the records. Or lastly, he was born in England to some unknown father. His birthdate is now known to be around 1708, too late for a birth in England much before this as some claim. Care should be taken in assuming an English birthplace and date. More than an appropriate birth date and place in England needs to be shown to prove that the English William is the same person as the William in Virginia. There are scattered records for Offills in England in the 17th and 18th century England. The biggest concentration of them is in south-west England, especially in Cornwall. So, that William’s father was the earlier William is, at best, probably the best guess one can make. Starting in 1755, records began to appear for a John Offill and a William Offill whom one has to assume to be sons of William and Mary Rucker, because there seem to have been no other Offills around. Commonly accepted daughters of William and Mary include: Elizabeth who married Joshua Jackson; Mary who married David Vawter; Margaret (Peggy) who married Jonathan Underwood; and a daughter who married a Cofer. There seem to be various opinions on what the first names of the last couple were. There was a Phoebe, wife of Joseph Payne whose maiden name has been given as Offill, but there are some who say she was not a daughter of William and Mary and was not really an Offill. I’ve not seen any good proof of the birthdates of any of these and that these were children of William and Mary. The names Cofer, Vawter, Underwood, and Jackson often occurred near or in connection with an Offill. A John Offill bought land from William in 1755. The deed does not state a relationship between the two. A third, younger William made a deposition in Franklin County, Kentucky on 30 March, 1805. In this he mentioned his sisters Elizabeth Jackson and Peggy Underwood and that he lived with Joshua Jackson in 1793. He also said Joshua Jackson lived in Sullivan County, Tennessee for three years. It is not clear if William lived with the Jacksons when they lived in Sullivan. ("Macey vs Jackson," 30 Mar 1805, Franklin Co. KY Circuit Court, bundle 59 in the State Archives in Frankfort.) Since Elizabeth Jackson and Peggy Underwood are thought to be daughters of William Offill and Mary Rucker, William is probably their son. Thus the only likely sons of William Offill and Mary Rucker who lived to adulthood are William and John. Starting in 1755 records for John and William Offill start appearing from all over the map from Maryland to South Carolina. The assumption is that they were looking for better opportunities as were many in the Colonies at this time. This was an era where most people were farmers, and population had increased to the point where good farm land was not available to those with limited means in the areas east of the Allegheny Mountains. The land west of the Allegheny Mountains was officially closed to settlement by England shortly after the end of the French-Indian War. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following are possible records for William, son of William and Mary Rucker. Some of the early records could be for his father. 1. 1751, Aug 23, Orange County Virginia, fined for being drunk. 2. 1755, Orange County, North Carolina [much larger than the present day county]. On tax list with two white polls. 3. 1756, Dec 10, Orange County, North Carolina, witness to a will. 4. 1763, Nov 21, Amelia, County, Virginia, witness to a deed. 5. 1763, Amelia County, Virginia, on tax lists for Nottoway Parish, upper end. 6. 1767, Prince Edward County, Virginia, on tax list for eastern section of the county, 1 tithe, no land listed. [many others had land listed] 7. About 1770, Signed the “The Ten Thousand Name Petition” – signatures probably mostly from Madison and Culpeper Counties, Virginia. This could possibly pertain to the William who was baptized in 1755 in Orangeburg, South Carolina and who is presumed to have died young or changed his name. 8. 1795, Clark County, Kentucky tax records, 1 M > 21, 1 M 18-21. [Perhaps not on later tax lists because he was too old. People over a certain age were often exempt from paying property taxes.] Three possible grandsons of his were on the 1796 tax lists of Clark County and on later tax lists there and in Montgomery County, Kentucky. Possible grandson John was also on the Bourbon County, Kentucky 1793 tax list, possibly with two brothers. [Or was this the older John with the two younger sons?] They probably lived in present day Bath County, Kentucky, which was first in Bourbon County, then Clark County, and then Montgomery County, before Bath was formed. 9. 1805, Mar 30, Franklin County, Kentucky. William gave a deposition in a court case “Macey vs Jackson.” Mentions his sisters Peggy Underwood and Elizabeth Jackson. Since Elizabeth Jackson and Peggy Underwood are daughters of William Offill and Mary Rucker, William must be their son ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A William Offill was baptized in 1755 in Orangeburg South Carolina. No further records attributed to this William have been found. Someone has claimed that he is the William Feely of later records. Feely seems to be a fairly common Irish name, and there were increasing numbers of Irish immigrants with this or similar names in the 19th century. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The following are records for early John Offills/Offields. They are tentatively assigned to five different people. And their relationships are tentative. Keep in mind that there were at least 4 adult John Offills/Offields alive in 1790. Two were on the tax rolls in Greenbrier County, Virginia/West Virginia. John (Sr.) Offill was on the Greenbrier tax rolls from 1786 to 1792. In 1786 there was one pole [same as a tithe]. In 1787 there was 1 tithe for himself, > 21, and 1 tithe for someone 16-21. In 1792 there were two separate entries “Jno Afill Junr” and one for “Jno Afill Sen”. The other two John Offills/Offields were in the 1790 census for Baltimore County, Maryland (not in the city of Baltimore). John #1. Married Elizabeth Rice (Was she a second wife?), son of William and Mary Rucker. Some of the records mentioned through 1775 could be for John #4. 1. About 1730, born. 2. 1755, Mar. 10, Culpeper County, Virginia, witness to deed. 3. 1755, Nov. 4, Culpeper County, Virginia, bought 100 acres from William and Mary Offill. 4. 1764 Library of Virginia, Misc Reel 4623, Brock Collection, "Fairfax Family" Series V, Rentals. "A rentall for Culpeper County for the year 1764" "Offill, John, 100 acres, AR [arrears?], 1 [Is this the land that John bought from his father? Did he mortgage it to the Fairfaxes?] [1764 is the only year for rent records in Cupeper Co.] 5. 1779 - From "Cuppeter County 1779 Rental List" by Barbara Vines Little in "Magazine of Virginia Genealogy" Vol. 59 #4, p. 325 (Nov 2021) - From "Fairfax Family Northern Neck Proprietary Papers, 1688-1810". Landholder Name: John Offill; acres: 100; arrears in years: 1; 5s, 0d. 6. 1755, Dec. 29, Orangeburg, South Carolina, Married Elizabeth Rice [2nd wife?]. Son William, born 20 Feb. 1750, baptized. Son John, born Aug 1753, baptized. 7. 1757, March, Orange County, NORTH CAROLINA. Suit in court. 8. About 1760, served in French Indian War (From “Virginia State Land Office Index, Land Bounty Books, French & Indian War (FHL Film #29634), “Offill, John as a non Comishd officer in the late war. Land assigned to Reuben Underwood …, 200 acres, warrant number 1286.” The actual warrant is on film # 29,661 and is very hard to read. The only thing it seems to add is a date in 1781. When the warrant was issued, it had already been assigned four times.) 9. 1761, May 22, Culpeper County, Virginia. Witness to deed. 10. 1763, Aug 20, Culpeper County, Virginia. Sued for debt. 11. 1764. Culpeper, County, Virginia. In “Fairfax Family Rentals”. 100 acres, in arrears 1 year. [Did he mortgage the land he bought from William?] 1764 is the only year for these records. 12. 1773, 13 Nov. Culpeper County, Virginia, witness to a deed between James and Ann Rogers and Joshua Jackson. 13. 1773-1775, owned a mountain tract, built a house on it and lived there for a year or two. From Madison County, Virginia Chancery suit 5A. Suit also mentions Reuben Underwood, Francis Kirtley, and others. For this John or John #4?] 14. 1783. Baltimore County, Maryland. On tax list for Middle River Upper & Back River Upper Hundreds, “Jno. Offell” 4 white persons on a list of Paupers [less than £10 worth of property]. 15. 1790. Census for Baltimore County – not Baltimore city. “John Offall 1 male > 16, 4 females. John Offield 1 male > 16, 3 females. (These two are listed together, but the list is more or less alphabetical). John #2. Son of John #1 1. 1753, March, born according to baptism record in Orangeburg, South Carolina. 2. 1776-1781. Various records from Baltimore County, Maryland and Harford County, Maryland relating to service in the Revolutionary War. 3. Before 1780. Harford County, Maryland. In 1780 Testified that he lived with Susanna Bussey, widow of Thomas Bussey. [Implied that he lived with her at a previous date.] 4. 1781, Harford County Maryland. Drafted in the militia. 5. 1783, Harford County Maryland. Charged with a felony - charge not stated. 6. 1783, Baltimore County, Maryland. On tax list for Middle River Upper & Back River Upper Hundreds, “Jno. Offell” 4 white persons on a list of Paupers [less than £10 worth of property]. 7. 1790. Census for Baltimore County – not Baltimore city. “John Offall 1 male > 16, 4 females. John Offield 1 male > 16, 3 females. (These two are listed together, but the list is more or less alphabetical). Note that these 1790 censuses both have households with one male and 3 or 4 females which could explain why this Offill line seems to have disappeared. There are no obvious candidates for them in the next few censuses anywhere, not just in Maryland. And I’ve not been able to find any Maryland records for them after 1790. Perhaps the felony charge caused them to move and change their name. Also it appears that John #2 is the John whose age is most appropriate for a soldier in the Revolutionary War. It should be noted there is no good proof that that the elder John of the Maryland records is the same John who was baptized in 1755 in South Carolina. John Offield #3. Son of James. Married Agnes Kirtley. 1. Born about 1774 2. 1797. Madison County, Virginia. Witness to deed of John Delaney. 3. 28 April 1800, date on will written by John Delaney, “... unto my two grandsons and sons of Diannah Offil, deceased, namely Lewis Offil and John Offil, 4. 1803, Apr. 30, Madison County, Virginia, "... I John Delany Senr of the county of Madison and State of Virginia for and in Consideration of the Natural love and Affection which I bear to John Offield my Grand Son of the Aforesaid County and State as well as for the further Consideration of Five pounds specie ... paid by the said John Offield ... have given and granted ... unto the said John Offield ... One Negroe Boy by the Name of Oliver about ten years of Age. Also one bay horse ... about eight years old ... 5. 19 Nov 1805, Madison, County Virginia, married Agnes Kirtley, daughter of Francis Kirtley. 6. 1810 Census. There seem to be no records for Orange County. Doesn’t seem to have been in Madison County. 7. 1820 census, in Orange County, Virginia. 8. 1824, bought land in Orange County, Virginia 9. 1830, June 11. Wrote will. 10. 1830, Aug.25, Orange County, Virginia, will of John Offield proved. 11. 1814-1834. Orange County, Virginia personal property taxes. • FHL film #1870188, 1782-1800, No Offills or Offields, • FHL film #1870199, 1801-22. First record for an Offill/Offield was in 1814, Upper Dist for John Offield, 1 white tithe, 1 black tithe, 1 horse. • There were entries for John Offield then from 1815 to 1837, never with more than one white tithe, and with 1 or 2 slaves > 12. In 1832 there was a "John Aufill" with 0 Slaves > 12, and 1 horse and a "John Offill" with 2 slaves > 12, and 3 horses. In 1833 and 1834 there was an entry for "John Offield". From 1835 to 1837 there were records for "Agatha Offield". [Agatha's husband John died in 1830.] John Offill #4. Son of? William, the son of William and Mary Rucker? When one tries to figure out who John's father was, there are not many possibilities. A thorough search of Virginia records from the 18th century found William, the husband of Mary Rucker, as the only Offill with any records from 1713 through at least 1750. So the best place to look for John of Augusta and Greenbrier seems to be among the sons of William and Mary Rucker. They had two or possibly three sons. One, Ransom, is known from only one record. This Ransom was probably Ransom Allphin. This was a tax record from Orange County Virginia from 1749. That leaves John #1 or William. John #1, spouse of Elizabeth Rice, had two sons, William and John, baptized in Orangeburg, South Carp;oma in 1755 and possibly James. There are not many records for William, but he is a son of William and Mary Rucker and he died after 1805. So that leaves John #1 or William as a possible father of John #4 of Augusta and Greenbrier. Even if he's attached to the wrong father, it seems probable that John of Augusta and Greenbrier is a descendant of William and his wife Mary Rucker, because there seem to have been very few Offills around in the middle of the 1700's in the Colonies. That William is a better choice as a father ties in with the assumption that the two Johns with records from Maryland are descendants of William and Mary Rucker. The Maryland John Offills/Offields cannot be the two Johns of Greenbrier as there are contemporaneous records from both places. One of the Maryland Johns was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The best fit for this John based on estimated birthdates is the John who was baptized in Orangeburg in 1753 who was the son of John. If John #1 was the father of John #4, John #1 had two sons named John. So that leaves William as the best choice for the father and grandfather of the Johns #4 & #5 of Greenbrier. 1. 1773-1775, owned a mountain tract, built a house on it and lived there for a year or two. From Madison County, Virginia Chancery suit 5A. Suit also mentions Reuben Underwood, Francis Kirtley, and others. [For this John or John #1?] 2. 1778, leased land in Augusta County, Virginia. Suits about this in Augusta County, 1780-1781. 3. 1779, Mar 31. Augusta County, Virginia. Mentioned in will of Ambrose Powell. 4. 1782-1785 on personal property tax rolls of Augusta County, Virginia. Not on land tax records. John is on the 1782 Bath County, Virginia tax list quoted in the Annals of Bath County, Virginia. This is probably an Augusta tax record as Bath County was not formed until 1791, partially from Greenbrier and Augusta Counties. 5. 1783, May 20. Augusta County, Virginia. Administrator [sic] of Ambrose Powell’s will. 6. 1785, Mar 15, Augusta County, Virginia. “John Awfull” received a bounty for “one old Wolf”. 7. 1786. Augusta County, Virginia. Tax records “John Aufold removed” [moved] 8. 1786-1792. Greenbrier County, Virginia [now in West Virginia]. On tax lists. In 1786 there was one “pole”. In 1787 and 1788, there was 1 white tithes, for himself, > 21, and 1 tithe for a male 16-21. In 1789, 1790, and 1791 there were three white tithes. In 1792 there were two separate entries, one for “Jno Afill Junr” and one for “Jno Afill Sen”. [A “poll” and a “tithe” both mean an adult male who had to pay a set tax each year. Slaves also counted as polls or tithes.] 9. 1787. State warrant for land in Greenbrier County. 10. 1789, Sep 19. Greenbrier County [Court] Ordered that the Overseer of the Poor bind Sarah Knight, a base born child of Rachel Knight's to John Offal according to law." [this John or his son?] 11. 1791, April 7. Greenbrier County. Proved the will of James Richards. 12. 1792, June 1. Greenbrier County. Received 52 cents for attendance at court for being a witness. John Offill #5, son of John #4, married Jane Richards in Greenbrier County. Later he lived in present day Bath County, Kentucky, which was formed in 1811 from Montgomery County, which was formed in 1796 from Clark County, which was formed in 1792 from Bourbon County. John had two brothers, Lemuel and Elzaphan. They were usually on the same tax lists. Elzaphan died in Kentucky, but the name lived on. The censuses imply Elzaphan had only daughters. Lemuel went to Menard County Illinois. 1. About 1771, born [Based on the tax records, this is probably pretty accurate] 2. 1789, Sep 19. Greenbrier County, Virginia/West Virginia [Court] Ordered that the Overseer of the Poor bind Sarah Knight, a base born child of Rachel Knight's to John Offal according to law." [This John or his father?] 3. 1792. Greenbrier County. First named on a personal property tax list as “Jno Afill Junr”. 4. 1792, March 7. Greenbrier County. Married Jane Richards. 5. 1793. Bourbon County, Kentucky. On tax list, no land listed. 6. 1796. Clark County, Kentucky. On tax list. 7. 1797. Montgomery County Kentucky. On tax list, no land listed. 8. 1799. Montgomery County, Kentucky. On tax list. No column for land on this list. 9. 1800-1801. Montgomery County, Kentucky. On tax list, no land. 10. 1802-1804. Montgomery County, Kentucky. On tax list with 130 acres of land. 11. 1805. Montgomery County, Kentucky. On tax list, no land. 12. 1806. The Rev. Joseph Payne preached on “Wednesday Oct 8 at Jno Offields.” 13. 1807. The Rev. Joseph Payne preached on “Sat May 16th at the Widow Offield’s.” 14. 1807. Montgomery County, Kentucky. Not on tax list. Brothers Lemuel and Elzaphan were on the list. 15. 1810. Census. Montgomery County, Kentucky. “Jane Offield” is head of household. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The earliest James Offill. Records for him from Virginia use the “Offill” spelling or a variant. Tennessee & North Carolina records use both “Offill” and “Offield.” Most of his sons used “Offield.” He seems to be universally considered to be the son of John #1 although I’ve seen no justification of this. He could just as well be the son of either Williams - William, Mary Rucker’s husband or their son William who was alive in 1805 in KY. James’s known wives include Diana Delaney (perhaps the “Annah” of a land sale record) and Elizabeth Holiday. His birthdate and place are unknown. He probably was not born in Albemarle County as some claim. I’ve seen no proof of this. Perhaps some have assumed he was born there because his second marriage took place there. Not all the known records for James are listed below. 1. About 1770, signed “The Ten Thousand Name Petition” – signatures around his probably mostly from Madison and Culpeper Counties, Virginia. 2. 1773. Orange County, Virginia. Deed witness. [Published book of abstracts gives the name as "Offitt" but it looks like "Offill" on the original.] 3. 1777. Culpeper County, Virginia. 13 Mar. James Offill was a witness to a land indenture between Richard Vawter and John Vawter. 18 Aug. “James Offill, Jesse Vawter, William Vawter” were witnesses to a deed between Richard Vawter and Maximilian Berryman, a deed that mentions “James Offils line”. 4. 1779, May 17, Culpeper County. “James Offill, James Eastham, Russel Vawter” were witnesses for Angus Rucker’s purchase of land in Bromfield Parish of Culpeper County. 5. 1779, May 17, Culpeper County. “James Offill and Annah his Wife of the Parish of Bromfield and County of Culpeper” sold property, 100 acres, to Joseph Early for £200. [is this a clerical error or was “Annah” short for Dianah?] 6. 1782. Washington and Sullivan Counties, Tennessee. “James Offill” received £2/4/0 for something related to the Revolutionary War. 7. 1782, Oct. 23. “Land grant no. 128 … State of North Carolina … to James Offield, 50 shillings for every 100 acres; 200 acres in Sullivan County, North Carolina, on the south side of the Holston River…” [Tennessee was then a part of North Carolina.] 8. 1787, Mar. 15. Albemarle County, Virginia. Marriage bond for marriage to Elizabeth Holaday. The original bond was in an office in Charlottesville in April 2015 in a Volume of loose papers called “Marriage Bonds 1786-1787.” These were later copied in to a Volume called “Marriage Register 1, 1780-1805” and in the case of James’s bond, it was copied twice - on p. 34 and on p. 150. There are two transcriptions of the “Marriage Register”. In one of them James was called “William James”. The “William” may be an error explained as a misreading from the transcription records. The original starts with “We James Offill and James Kofer…”. The “We” was probably misread by a transcriber as “Wm”. The original bond clearly has no “William” or “Wm”. James’s signature was clearly “James Offill” on the original. 9. 1796. Sullivan County, Tennessee, tax “Offill, James 600 acres, 2 white polls.” (Males between 21 and 50) 10. 1797. Sullivan County, Tennessee, Tax “Offill, James, 600 acres” No white polls. Many others on same page had a number of white polls listed. [So does this mean he was over 50 and was exempt from taxes and was born about 1747?] The name in this record has possibly been transcribed as “Office”. It looks like “Offill” on the original. 11. 1800, April 28. Will of John Delaney in Madison County, Virginia. Mentioned “son in law James Offill”, “my two grandsons and sons of Diannah Offill, deceased, namely Lewis Offil and John Offil”. (Madison County, Virginia Will book 1, pp. 409-411. On FHL Film #32,570, items 2 & 3. Available digitally in Family History Centers.) Note the abstracted record of this will, John Delaney’s son-in-law James was wrongly transcribed as “John.” ("Will Abstracts of Madison County Virginia (1793-1813), Books 1 & 2" abstracted and published by Ruth and Sam Sparacio, 1986. p.54) 12. 1809, Aug. 21. Sullivan County, Tennessee. James Sr. sold 10 acres on Holston River to James Jordan George. 13. 1811, Feb. 16, Sullivan County, Tennessee. James’s executor sold 44 acres of his land. Other parcels were sold by the executors from 1816 to 1819, and one possibly on 18 Aug, 1810. The relations between many of the early Offills is problematical. Much surer are the descendants of the earliest James Offill and of John Offill Sr. of Augusta and Greenbrier Counties. Starting with the late 1700s it seems to become much easier to figure out familiar relationships between the various Offills, Offield, and Orfields. The notable exception is finding proof that Preston Orfield’s parents were Lewis Offill and Elizabeth Dulany. There is circumstantial evidence only. By about 2010 I had a fairly large database of Offills, Offields, and Orfields from my research and the research of others, especially that of my cousin Thomas Offill. In the 1960’s and 1970’s he wrote to many Offills, etc. for any information on their families they could provide. I searched the censuses from 1790 through at least 1900 for any Offills, Offields, or Orfields. Amazingly I could find most of them in this data base or use the census results to add to it. In this searching sometimes more research had to be done to eliminate some that didn’t fit in by doing further research in censuses or elsewhere. Most of the Offill’s that I could not identify in the censuses were ones living in one person households or one Offill living in a household with non Offills. This leads me to the conclusion that most if not all Offills, etc. are descendants of either John Offill Jr. of Greenbrier, Virginia, or of James Offill/Offield, who died around 1810 in Sullivan, Tennessee. And since these two are probable descendants William Offill and Mary Rucker, the descendants of these two are also probably descendants of William and Mary Rucker. An exception is that there was one family of Offields that came to the US later and were probably not descendants of William and Mary. Also, in later censuses one can find a few persons with names that look like one of the usual variations of the name "Offill", but at least part of the family was born in Germany. These are almost always not found with the same name in any other census. Thus the implication is that these were German names poorly transcribed. Offers, Orills, Offriels, Offleys, Oldfields and Offutts are probably not Offills. The name "Offutt" can look like "Offill" if the "t" is crossed faintly or not at all. There were few or no Offitts in early Virginia, but there were some in Maryland. There are several Offutts/Offitts that were indexed as “Offill” in various censuses. Oldfields in earlier English records may not be related to Offills. In Augusta County and nearby counties in Virginia there was a Morris/Maurice O’Friel/Offril. There are records for him from about 1740 to his probate in 1778. He and his family often show up in searches for Offill/Offield. His wife was named Catherine and he had sons Daniel and Jeremiah and perhaps others. Many or most of the Offills or similar names on lists of Virginia Revolutionary War veterans may belong to this family. The Aufills, desendants of William Henry Aufill (c1826-1864) and Mary Stark who lived in Kentucky and Texas, are probably not Offills/Offields. Someone thinks that they may be Offitts who changed the name. And finally there is a name, “Offila” or something similar, that are not Offills. That name probably has a Spanish origin and sometimes shows up in searches for “Offill”, etc. Assumptions were used in assigning relationships for some for whom there a few or no records. If any of these are wrong, some of the assumed relationships could be wrong. Three important assumptions are: 1. That John Offill Sr. and Jr. on the tax records in Greenbriar County were father and son. Sometimes in times past “Sr.” and “Jr.” were used to separate two people with the same name who were not father and son. Could they have been uncle and nephew or grandfather and grandson? 2. That the two John Offills/Offields with the records in Maryland in the late 1700’s were related to the Virginia Offills. 3. That the William Offill baptized in 1755 in Orangeburg, SC died young or changed his name as some claim. When trying to make a family tree of these early Offills, one needs to look at the whole picture - that is all of them. And hopefully someone will find more information so the early ones can be more definitively sorted out.