James "Great White Chief" Maxwell

Sunday, March 11, 2012
James "Great White Chief" MAXWELL Major

aunt minerva collection
envelope from Jean Leeper of Knoxville IA postmarked Jan 27 '97

Family Group Report 26 Jan 1997
Husband James "Great White Chief" Maxwell Major
birth 15Aug1745
place Augusta, VA (another says Ca 17502 in Ulster, Ireland)
death before 27Mar1821
place Tazewell co VA
father??John Maxwell (1719-1786)
mother ?? Mary (1723-)
Marriage before the Declaration of Independence was signed 1776? PA
wife Jane ROBERTS
children
1. Elizabeth MAXWELL
born circa 1767 VA, 83 in 1850 VA census and living with William
death circa 1851 from TB? living with son in 1850
spouse Henry (Big Creek Marrs) MARRS
marriage 1785
2. Margaret (Peggy) MAXWELL
born circa 1776 Tazewell co, VA
death 19Dec1851
spouse David WHITLEy
marriage 24Jan1797 Washington Co VA
3. Mattie MAXWELL
death 1782
4. Jennie MAXWELL
death 1782
5. James MAXWELL
birth circa 1780
death 1866
spouse Mary WITTEN
marriage 25Feb1804
6. Robert MAXWELL
birth 5July1786 Southwest Va.
spouse Mary MAXWELL
7. Thomas MAXWELL
8. John MAXWELL
spouse Jean MAXWELL
9. Mary MAXWELL
spouse Audley CAMPBELL
10. Nancy MAXWELL
spouse Paul WHITLEY
marriage 10Jun1801
11. Jane MAXWELL
spouse John MAXWELL Jr.
marriage 8 Jan 1809
12. William MAXWELL

husbands notes....
Notes:
The Maxwell family came from Ireland to America in the eighteenth century. They were of Scots Irish descent. Think that the John and MAry listed above may be his parents but can not prove. James and his brother Thomas came to Tazewell County VA in 1772. James and Thomas were in several skirmishes during the revolution (Indian skirmishes) James was big built, had a powerful voice, straight coarse hair. Was fair complected with blue eyes, and considered as a very powerful man. He reared a family during the hostilities with the Indians. The mothers lived in forts for protection, with their chidren. He had a nice farm raised horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs and was considered well to do. His stock ran at large. He kept four large dane dogs for protection. When he went in search of his stock, he kept one dog in front and the another behind, his gun in his shoulder and his knife in his hand. He never looked to the right nor to the left, but looked straight forward. The Indians never molested him, they were deadly afraid of him, they called him the "Great White Chief". He and his sons worked hard, clearing the timber from the land, built a large crude loghouse and out buildings, had a garden and planted an orchard. Autumn rolled around and he took his sons and horses to Kings salt works, to get salt to save his meat and for his stock. While gone some stray Indians passed through and came to the house in the forest and tomahawked the two little sisters, Jennie and Mattie. They had gone out into the orchard to feed their pet lambs. The farm had been an Indian village. The cabin stood south of the road and opposite the residence of the late Captain James s. Perry. There were still large mounds of peri-winkle shells the Indians had gotten from the Creek and Clinch River to use them for soup.

I have attempted to find his marriage record and have failed. A note from the Rockbridge County, Virginia researcher I hired by the name of Angela M. Ruley "Marriage were not generally recorded by the Courts prior to 1778. I seriously doubt you will find a record of this marriage unless someone had the date from a family Bible along the way....Marriage Liscences were recorded to be filed by the Court clerks in 1778 and thereafter." There is no record of it in Augusta County, Virginia where I think they may have been married ca 1767.

Will of James Maxwell recorded in Tazewell County, VA
In The Name Of God Amen
I James Maxwell of Tazewell County being weak in body but of sound mind and memory calling into mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die I therefore do make and ordain this my last will and Testament as
followeth (to wit)
First I appoint my two sons William and Robert to be my Executors to settle all my affair and after paying all my Debts to make the following Distributions.
Itm. First I will and bequest unto Jane my well loved wife all my personal Estate to her use while she lives and at her decease it all that remains to my daughter Mary as to her use as long as she lives and at her decease it and all remains to her son Maxwell Commell (?spelling)
Likewise unto my daughter Mary I will and bequest 150 acres of land in the Back Valley being part of a Survey of 665 Acres att the upper end joining lines with James Harrison and at her deceas to fall to her son Maxwell Campell.

Itm. Unto my four daughter Elizabeth Margaret Jane and Nancy I bequest and Equal share of one tract of land in the rich mountain containing 250 acres and likewise an equal share of 515 acres of land in the back valley be the residue of a tract of 665 acres in which Mary has her share.

Itm. Unto my two sons John and William I bequest one Dollar each they having received there share before.

Itm. Unto myson James I bequest one dollar having received his share before.

Itm. Unto my son Robert I will and bequeath the land I now live on and a small tract lying between the tract I live on and James Peerys with all its appenteuences. My negro man Dan I will to my wife during her life and at her death I will him to my son Robert.

I now make the above my last will and Testaments and renounce and do away all other and make ordain and establish this my last will and Testament.
Signed sealed acknowleged in the presents of us this 287th day of August 1820. signed by John Laird, Thomas Witten and James S. Witten.
James Maxwell (Seal)

In Tazewell County 27th March 1821 This the last will and testament of James Maxwell decd. was exhibited in Court and duly proved by the Oaths of John Laird, Thomas Witten, and James S. Witten the subscribing Witnesses there to and Ordered to be recorded &
On the motion of William & Robert Maxwell the Executors named in the within will who entered into Bond with Thomas Witten & James Perry their securities in the penalty of $500 conditioned as he Law directs. Probate of the said Will is granted them in due form.
Tester Jacob T. Fishback, D.C.

Tazewell County Deed Book 3 p256 28May1822 "This indenture made this twenty-eighth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand and twenty two between David Whitley and Margaret his wife, Henry Marrs and Elizabeth his wife, Paul Whitley and Nancy his wife, John Maxwell Junior and Jane his wife of the one part and MAry Maxwell and Maxwell Campell of the other part, all of the county of Tazewell and the commonwealth of Virginia. ......a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Tazewell on Maxwell Creek a branch of Clinch River containing five hundred and fifteen acres being the residue of a tract of 655 acres which was patented by James Maxwell the 17th. day of Oct 1804...(It appears these are the daughters of James MAxwell and relate to the will above. I quote from the will
"Itm. Unto my four daughters Elizabeth Margaret Jane and Nancy I bequest and Equal share of one tract of land in the rich mountain containing 250 acres and likewise an equal share of 515 acres of land in the back valley be the residue of a tract of 665 acres in which MAry has her share." We clearly know who the girls married but do not know the spouses of all the sons.

last modified 21Jan1997
please report corrections or additions to Jean Leeper
Posted by tallulah jane at 2:58 PM 0 comments
information on Maxwell History wanting to know more about the Marrs Family History (her husbands family) Grundy Co.

aunt minerva collection
brown envelope from Jean Leeper of Knoxville IA postmarked Jan 27 '91 postage $0.78

Descendant Report-26 Jan 1997
1. James "Great White Chief" MAXWELL Major (15 Aug 1745-Before 27 Mar 1821) & Jane ROBERTS

1.1 Elizabeth MAXWELL (circa 1767-Circa 1851) & Henry (Big Creek Marrs) MARRS (6 Jul 1762-Circa 1830)
1.1.3 James MARRS (19 Apr 1789-24Sept1859) & Sarah (Sally) WORKMAN (11May1789-)Nov1879)
1.1.3.8a Thomas MARRS* (Jan1825-11Mar1908) & Milla Ann (Milly Ann) RUNIUN (RUNYON) (1823-May1882)
1.1.3.8a.4 Nancy Elvira MARRS (28Dec 1856-15Apr1914) & Alden Darrow ARGO (2Spe1852-26Jul 1926)
1.1.3.8a.4.1 William Ernest ARGO (22Aig 1875-26Aug1958) & Sibbie (Sybbie) Ann HOUK (4Nov1879-20OCt1989)
1.1.3.8a.4.1.1 Una Vivian ARGO (3Apr1897-21July1985) & William Robert (Bill) LEEPER (9July1897-6June1959)
1.1.3.8a.4.1.1.7 Richard Ernest LEEPER (14Jun1937-) & Betty Jean HALLOWELL (me) (10Oct1939-)
1.1.3.8b Thomas MARRS* (Jan1825-11Mar1908 ) & Sarah WOODS (25Jan1846-3Apr1900)

handwritten note at bottom:
Hi!
Enjoyed our talk.
Here is what I have on James Marrs, Henry Marrs, & James Maxwell (signed) Jean

deb's note: did you notice the dates on Sibbie Ann? 1879-1989! wow!