Twelfth Generation

3584. John MUSE Sr was born on 13 Oct 1633 in Souldrop, Bedfordshire, England. He died on 5 Apr 1723 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Reference "A Southern Legacy: Descendants of John Muse of Virginia" Compiled by Dr Roger David Chambers (1994).
There is no evidence that John Mewes / Muse Sr was a son of Edward Mewes of Bedfordshire, England or that he was descendant of the Mewce family of Northamptonshire, England or of any other English family.

Published information through generation six is in the before mentioned book, and is only referenced here in support of direct family lineage. Our family genealogy starts at generation seven where this subject book left off with descendants of Rev. Jason Christopher Muse Jr, and focusing on descendants of Jessie William Muse. Also crossed referenced is the Muse Family Genealogy by Wilma (Littlechild) Muse for the same six generations.

Notes from Greg Howearth:

Rappahannock Co VA Deeds 1668-72, pp. 15, 181 & 232, in Essex Co;and Records of Old Rappahannock Co VA, Vol 4, p. 54 & 92; per West &Fauntleroy:
"On 18 Sep 1668 Thomas Green and Richard Wharton of RappahannockCo., each deeded to John Mewes 50 acres of land. On 3 Jun 1679, JohnMews conveys to Ignatius White for the term of 99 yeas, a tract ofland adjoining on the land of Roger Cloathwork, and containing 100acres. July 1683, George Jones of Rappahannock Co, Gent. conveys toJohn Mewse, for 6000 lbs tobacco 108 acres of land."

Northern Neck Grant Book No 3, p. 2; per West and Fauntleroy:
"31 Mar 1692 John Muse made entry of 360 acres part inRappahannock Co now Richmond Co and part in Westmoreland Co upon asurvey dated 15 Oct 1691, on which survey there is an endorsementdated 16 Oct 1699 signed by Nathaniel Pope, then Clerk _____ alledgingthat he (Muse) hath been in possession of the land since the date ofthe survey and said Muse having assigned over his right in writing tohis son John Muse ______ beginning at a certain stumped gum in themain swamp of Rappahannock Creek _____ touching the land of EdwinThacker and John Bowen, decd. This patent John Mewes assigned to hisson, John Mewes, Jr., on 7 Jun 1703."

See Virginia Magazine of History and Bigraphy; Vol 53, No 2, Apr1945.

* * * * * * * * * *

Notes from HOPKINS OF VIRGINIA:

At the time this book was written, there was no evidence of thedate of arrival of this family in Virginia, nor of their point oforigin in England. "In the Isle of Wight, England, the family isfound as far back as the 15th century. In Kingston Church, built inthe 13th century, is a small brass inscribed: 'Mr. Richard Meweyswhych deceassyd the iii day of March in the yere of our Lord GodMCCCCC and XXXV.' He is represented as wearing a long gown liberallytrimmed with fur. A small plate on one side of the figure is engravedwith four sons similarly clad, and on the other side is a shield ofthe Mewes arms--Paly of 6 on a chief 3 crosses pattee." The authorwas certain that the name is originated in France. "On the otherhand, Thomas Muse, Jr., of Westmoreland County, Va., who wrote thewill of Elizabeth Muse, widow, in 1734, spells the word daughter as ifpronounced 'dafter,' which, it is said, is a north of Englandcolloquialism."

Earliest records of the Muse family in Virginia: On Sept. 1, 1666 (D.& W. B. I, p. 316, West'd Co.) Robert Muse was a witness to a deedfrom Thomas Wilsford to his son Andrew Wilsford, and on July 4, 1683,George Jones deeded George Mewes 680 and John Muse 180 acres. (Recordsof Old Rappa Co. Vol. 1680-1688). In 1707 Michael Mewes is named inthe will of John Elliott of Westmoreland Co. On Mar. 26 (D. & W. B.5, p. 415, West'd Co.), Nicholas Mewes of West'd Co., deeds BrooksAllington (or Abbington) of same Co., 50 acres of land, which he,Nicholas Mewes purchased from Brooks Allington on Feb. 1, 1708. OnDec. 7, 1720 (D. & W. B. 7, p. 538, Richmond Co., Va.), Catherine Mewsgives bond as Admx. of the estate of Ann Lewis, dec'd.

On June 7, 1703, John Muse, Sr., assigned his son, John Muse, Jr., apatent to 360 acres of land lying partly in Richmond and WestmorelandCounties, upon which he, John Muse, Sr., entered and had surveyed Mar.31, 1692. (Northern Neck Grant Book No. 3, p. 2).

On Oct. 30, 1707, Thomas Muse, of West'd Co., and John Muse, Jr., ofRichmond Co., Va., were granted 265 acres in West'd Co. On Nov. 10,1711, Nicholas Muse of West'd Co., received a grant of land of 179acres in West'd Co. on Holling Branch on Great Rappahannock Creek,between the counties of Richmond and West'd. (Northern Neck GrantBook No. 4, p. 60).

"Later records prove conclusively that John Muse, Jr., and ThomasMuse, Sr., were brothers, and sons of John Muse, Sr., who was born in1633 and died in 1723 at the age of 90 years. On the 7th ofSeptember, 1715, Edward Barrow, Nicho A. Smith, John Tayloe and JamesIngo, were ordered to take the depositions of John Mews and WilliamCarter, which they did, and on Oct. 5, 1715, presented them in Court.In the deposition of John Muse, Sr., he stated that he was thenEight-two years of age. (Miscellaneous Records and Depositions, p.93, Richmond Co., Va.).

"Robert, George and Michael Muse may have been brothers of John Muse,Sr., but from the records it appears that the latter was the only onewho left male issue."

WILL OF JOHN MUSE, SR., dated April 5, 1723, prob. Oct 8, 1723, asfollows, omitting the preamble:
"My last will and testament is that all debts and funeralexpenses be fully paid and discharged. My will is to give to ThomasMuse my son one shilling my daughter Jane Pritchett one shilling mydaughter Ann Willson one shilling my daughter Mary Quisenberry oneshilling and all the rest I give to my daughter-in-law Ann Muse, asWitness my hand this 5 day of April 1723--John Muse mar. (Seal) RobertSanford, George Dunbar, Westmoreland. ss I.
At a court held for the said County the 25th day of September1723--The last will and testament of John Muse deceased was presentedinto Court by Ann Muse his daughter-in-law who made oath thereto andbeing proved by the oath of Robert Sanford one of the witnessesthereto is admitted to record. And for that no Exr. is ordained inthe sid will upon mocon of the said Ann (as greatest creditor) and herperforming what is usual in such case certificate is granted her forobtaining lettere of admicon on the said decedts. estaet with the willannexed in due form--

INVENTORY OF ESTATE, John Muse, 26 Nov 1723, recorded 4 Dec 1723,presented by Ann Muse, Westmoreland Co, VA, Records & Inventories,1723-1746. The estate was appraised by Humphey Pope, Thomas King, andMatthew Boan.

(From Greg Howearth relative to the will of John Muse: WILL: VAWestmoreland Co. Will Book, GHL 975.524W761 Mesa? "Evidently movedto Westmoreland Co VA after the death of second wife and lived withJohn, Jr. and Ann, which is probably the reason Ann got the whole ofhis estate.")


From Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume 1, Richmond County Records1692-1704:
p. 280: p. 20-A Misc. Records: John Muse is listed as owed $62 inprobate papers of Wm. Brockenbrough, Dec. On p. 303 John Muse islisted as paid the $62.
p. 302: p. 73-A Misc. Records: Both John Muse and John Muse, Jr.,are listed as signers of a report of land survey.

From letter from Bob Muse dated 10 Dec. 1997:
John Muse Sr.'s will was written 5 April 1723, probated 25September 1723, and recorded 8 October 1723. Thusly, he probablydied September of 1723.

"A Southern Legacy" lists a number of documents naming John Muse, RDC11.

BIRTH: That John Muse was born in 1633 is documented by: 5 Oct 1715,"Deposition of John Mews & William Lewis" referencing "John Mewes AgedEighty two years. (From "Southern Legacy")

DEATH: Christy Flynn lists date of death as 8 Oct 1723. Jeanne Muse and Rev.McLeod agree on 5 April 1723. See note on will. Bob Muse surmisesthat based on the date of will, he probably died in September of 1723.

3585. UNKNOWN.Children were:

	i.	Jane MUSE was born about 1660. She died after Apr 1723. Jane is named in her father's will, dated 5 Apr 1723 and presented tocourt 25 Sep 1723: "my daughter Jane Pritchett one shilling."
1792	ii.	Thomas MUSE Sr.
	iii.	John MUSE Jr59,60,61,62,63,64 was born about 1673 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.59,61 He died on 26 Dec 1722 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.59,61,62 Rev. McLeod only lists two children: William and Edward. Note from Greg Howearth: Northern Neck Grant Book No 3, p. 2; per West and Fauntleroy: "31 Mar 1692 John Muse made entry of 360 acres part inRappahannock Co now Richmond Co and part in Westmoreland Co upon asurvey dated 15 Oct 1691, on which survey there is an endorsementdated 16 Oct 1699 signed by Nathaniel Pope, then Clerk _____ alledgingthat he (Muse) hath been in possession of the land since the date ofthe survey and said Muse having assigned over his right in writing tohis son John Muse ______ beginning at a certain stumped gum in themain swamp of Rappahannock Creek _____ touching the land of EdwinThacker and John Bowen, decd. This patent John Mewes assigned to hisson, John Mewes, Jr., on 7 Jun 1703." Note from HOPKINS: On Oct. 30, 1707, Thomas Muse, of West'd Co., and John Muse, Jr., ofRichmond Co., Va., were granted 265 acres in West'd Co. On Nov. 10,1711, Nicholas Muse of West'd Co., received a grant of land of 179acres in West'd Co. on Holling Branch on Great Rappahannock Creek,between the counties of Richmond and West'd. (Northern Neck GrantBook No. 4, p. 60). Notes from SOUTHERN LEGACY: John Jr. predeceased his father and was not mentioned in his will.However, John Jr. is proven by the Oct 1699 endorsement in which JohnSr. references "his son John Mewes" and 1703 patent assigned "to hisson John Mewes, Jr." Also in 1725 John Jr's brother Thomas conveyed to Thomas Muse Jr. a"piece or parcel of land which I purchased of my brother John Musedecd" by deed dated 28 Jul 1718. The children of John and Ann Muse are proven by Ann's will andfamily records. Ann's will names nine children, and family recordsname a tenth child named Elizabeth. (Ann's will: Va Will Bk 8, p.170). Vital statistics on John's children based on "Family Record ofJohn Muse Jr and Descendants," "a small book . . .[ in which] theentries appear to have been made at or close to the dates." Ted Mitchell's records indicate the death year as 1722. "John Jr.moved from Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Pittsylvania, Virginia."Rev. McLeod gives date of death as 26 Dec 1722. Another source gave13 May 1719. He certainly died before his father John Sr., as Ann(daughter-in-law) presented the will of John Sr. and was his chiefbeneficiary in April, 1723. From HOPKINS: "probably in 1722, as theInventory of his estate was returned on that date."
	iv.	Mary MUSE65,66,67,68 was born in 1677 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.68 She died after Apr 1723. Mary is named in her father's will, dated 5 Apr 1723 and presented to court 25 Sep 1723: my daughter Mary Quisenberry one shilling. Rev. McLeod gives the date abt 1671.
	v.	Ann MUSE was born about 1669 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. She died after Apr 1723. Ann is named in her father's will, dated 5 Apr 1723 and presented tocourt 25 Sep 1723: my daughter Ann Willson one shilling.
	vi.	Nicholas MUSE Sr69,70,71,72,73,74 was born about 1685 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He died in 1716 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.74 From HOPKINS: On Oct. 30, 1707, Thomas Muse, of West'd Co., and John Muse, Jr., ofRichmond Co., Va., were granted 265 acres in West'd Co. On Nov. 10,1711, Nicholas Muse of West'd Co., received a grant of land of 179acres in West'd Co. on Holling Branch on Great Rappahannock Creek,between the counties of Richmond and West'd. (Northern Neck GrantBook No. 4, p. 60). NOTE: Nicholas is not listed in HOPKINS as one of the children ofJohn Muse, Sr.--probably because he was not confirmed by being listedin the will. Later researchers list him as preceding his father indeath From "A SOUTHERN LEGACY": "Despite the claim of parentage by West &Fauntleroy, John's purported son Nicholas, who also predeceased John,is unproven." "However, based on naming patterns and place ofresidence, the compiler suggests that Nicholas was a possible son." From Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol. I, Richmond County Records, p.308: p.84. Indenture. 11 Aug. 1715. Nicholas Muse planter of onepart and William Woodward of the other part. Woodward agrees "to bindmy Son Thomas Woodward unto Nicholas Muse and Mary Muse his wife orthe longest liver of them untill he come to the Age of Twenty OneYeares x x the said Thomas Woodward being eaight Yeares onto the 14day of Febuary before the date hereof." Muse agrees among otherthings "to learn him to read the Bible and also to learn him the Tradeof a Carpenter and Cooper in the last Two Yeares that he hath toserve." Signed William Woodward, Nicholas x Muse. Wit: RichardClaxton, James Sandie. Rec. 7 Sept. 1715. [Note from abstractor:Difficult for Muse, who could not write while Woodward could. B.F.] From SOUTHERN LEGACY: In his will dated 9 Jan 1707, and probated 31Mar 1708, John Elliott [Nicholas's father-in-law] directed "Nichl.Mewes to have the house which he hath built and ground to tend forhimself for corn and tobo. for three or four years till he settlehimself". Several land transactions involving Nicholas and Mary Mewes arelisted. (Chris Perry says b 1675.)