My Pittsylvania County Connections

Generation 1
 
Edward Polly (my 7th great grandfather) is believed to have been born about 1700 in Surry County, Virginia.
 
In 1753 Edward Polly's boundary line is mentioned on the Banister River [Entry Record Book, p. 135].

The Banister River runs west from the Roanoke River through the width of present day Halifax and Pittsylvania Counties.

At a Court held for Halifax County, 19 September 1754, Edward Polly was exempted from paying public and county levies on motion of his son, David Polly [Halifax Co. Pleas Book 1:450]. There are several deeds that name Edward Polley, Sr. and Jr. On 20 November 1757, a deed from John Watson of Halifax County to Thomas Watson was witnessed and proved by Edward Polley, Sr. and Joseph Polley [Halifax Co. Deeds 1:372].

These deeds, along with one recorded in Pittsylvania County in 1769 where Joseph and Peter Polly are witnesses [Pittsylvania Co. Deeds 1:313] give us the basic identifiable family for Edward Polly, Sr. Peter Polly is also on a tithable list with Edward Polly in 1770, while David is on William Witcher's list where he continues until 1781 [Pittsylvania Co. Tithes, List 19, p. 39; List 23, p. 50; List 146, p. 266]. There is a James Pauley on the 1767 tithe list along with David Polly (list of Hugh Innes) and Edward Polley, Jr. (list of John Wimbish) [Pittsylvania Co. Tithes List 9, p. 17; List 11, p. 20; List 14, p. 27].

 Edward Polly, Sr. died before 30 August 1770 according to a court order of John Cook against Edward's estate [Pittsylvania Co. C. O. 1:230]. At the March 1771 Court, Edward Polley (Jr.) was granted Letters of Administration on the estate of Edward Polley decd. 'John Watson & Allen Adams came into court & deposed on oath that they heard Edward Polley decd in his lifetime give a feather bed to his daughter Margaret which is ordered to be certified.' [Pittsylvania Co. C. O. 1:275-6].

Generation 2

 Edward’s oldest son, David Polley (my 6th great grandfather), born in about 1735, is known to have been living in Pittsylvania County in 1767 when he appears on the list of Land and Tithes taken by Hugh Innes for Pittsylvania County.

 David’s children are all believed to have been born in Halifax County, however two (Henry and Lydia) were born in Pittsylvania County. It is entirely possible that they were living in the same place the entire time and the only change was the establishment of the new county. Five of his children (Joseph, Edward, David Jr., Lorany and Lydia) were married in Pittsylvania County.

On June 26, 1767 David paid the sum of 10 pounds for his half of 150 acres planted in Pittsylvania County, VA with Francis Bucknall. Although it uses the word planter for both persons, this is recorded as a deed so it may have been a land purchase.

 On December 7, 1774 David Polly received a land grant for 384 acres on both sides of the Rudice Creek, and adjoining his own land, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. [Source: Land Office Patents No. 42, 1773-1774, p. 886 (Reel 41).]

 The 1777 Oaths of Allegiance list for Pittsylvania County shows David Polley on the list enumerated by William Witcher.

 David Polley had 440 acres beside Widemouth Creek (Pittsylvania Co.) surveyed October 23, 1777, according to Property Lines From the Old Survey Books by Roger Dodson. There is a land grant listed on February 1, 1781 for this same property.

 Although I have not been able to locate Widemouth Creek yet, according to Dodson’s map it is located in the same area as Reddies Creek, which is also referenced on other family deeds. Reddies Creek runs off of the Pigg River in the Sandy Level area of the northwest corner of present-day Pittsylvania County, just south of Smith Mountain. Reddies Creek runs roughly parallel to VA-40. In comparing Dalton’s proximity drawings with his current maps it would appear that David’s property was between present day VA-751 and VA-990. This land is largely undisturbed today.

 “[Blank month and day], 1777 from David Polly of P, to Ephriam Witcher of P, for 15 pounds, one certain tract of land in P, about 302 acres bounded by Ready Cr. Signed - David Polly. Wit - Patrick Morison, William Maples, William Smith. Recorded Nov 27, 1777. Agnes, the wife of David Polley, relinquished her right of dower to the lands conveyed." [Pittsylvania Deeds 1774 - 1778,Page 438].

The 1782 Census of Pittsylvania County, Va. lists David Polley as a head of household with nine white persons. The only other Polly listed (of any spelling) is a John Polley by himself. David had a son named John who would have been about 22 years old at the time of this census.

David died before August 26, 1785 in Pittsylvania County.

David’s estate in Pittsylvania County was appraised for a total of £55.2.6 on 26 August 1785 by Jeremiah Ward, William Justice and James Mitchell.

In 1787 Agnes Polley bought 100 acres on Corn Branch from Daniel and Susannah Witcher and then in 1790 Agnes Polly sold the same 100 acres to David Polly (Jr.). David and Elizabeth Polley (David's son and daughter-in-law) then sold the land to James Parker in 1804.

David’s wife Agnes (Adkins) died in Pittsylvania County after 1798. She is mentioned in her father’s (William Adkins or Atkins, Jr.) will in 1784.

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Edward’s second oldest son Joseph I. Polley was living in Pittsylvania County on March 31, 1769 where he and (brother) Peter Polley were witnesses to a land transaction between David Terrell and Dutton Lane. He was about 32 years old at the time. By 1784 Joseph is living in Montgomery County.

Joseph Polley was granted 400 acres on the Banister River 15 Oct 1764 [Entry Record Book, p. 265]. At the time this area was in Halifax County.

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 Edward’s third child, Edward Polley, Jr. was born about 1738.

A deed of 16 August 1759 names Edward Polley, Jr. as grantee for 125 acres on Mill Creek [Halifax Co. Deeds 2:57].

Mill Creek is located in present day Pittsylvania County, between the town of Chatham (Pittsylvania county seat) and the community of Sheva.

A deed of 16 August 1759 names Edward Polley, Jr. as grantee for 125 acres on Mill Creek [Halifax Co. Deeds 2:57]. In 1763 Edward Polley, Jr. was granted 400 acres on a branch of Cherry Stone Creek, adjacent to Edward Polley's upper line and Mill Creek. Cherrystone Creek is a branch of the Banister River in Pittsylvania County.

In 1763 Edward Polley, Jr. was granted 400 acres on a branch of Cherry Stone Creek, adjacent to Edward Polley's upper line and Mill Creek.

 Edward Polley (Jr.) is believed to have died in Pittsylvania County in 1770 (unverified). He was about 32 years old.

 William Prosize of Pittsylvania County sold to Edward Polley of said county one black horse with a star on its forehead and one white gray mare; the bill of sale was recorded April 20, 1771 [Deed Book 2, page 374].

 On November 29, 1771 Edward Polley of Cambden (sic) Parish in County of Pittsylvania sold to James Cox of same for 60£ 125 acres lying on the sides of Mill Creek. This land was conveyed to Edward on December 10, 1767 from Anthony Street.

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Edward’s sixth child, Peter Polley, was born about 1745 in Pittsylvania County.

Peter Polley and Joseph Polley were listed as witnesses to a Pittsylvania County land deed on March 31, 1769.

Peter paid a tithe of five scalps in 1770 in Pittsylvania County.

Peter owned land along Shocko Creek in June 1771 where it is referenced in an adjacent land purchase. (Pittsylvania Co., VA Deed Book 3, page 150).

By the time her married in 1781 Peter had left Pittsylvania County and was in Montgomery County, VA.

 
Generation 3

David’s oldest son, Joseph A. Polley, (my 5th great grandfather) was born about 1757 in Halifax County. He married Levinia Midkiff on June 13, 1785 in Pittsylvania County.

 Peter Polley and Joseph Polley were listed as witnesses to a Pittsylvania County land deed on March 31, 1769.

On the 1787 Pittsylvania County tax list, District of Griffith Dickerson, for the Polley family we find Joseph, Edward, David and Henry (brothers) listed [1787 Census, 1:459-460]. In 1807 Joseph and wife Levina sold their land to Joseph Hatchitt and Obediah Taylor [Pittsylvania Co. Deeds 8:16, 19, 479; 14:65, 109, 132, 155, 418].

March 22, 1791 from John Cox of Henry County, to Joseph Polley of P, for 10£, about 50 acres in P on Big Cherrystone Cr, & bounded by Jefferson, Jeffersons Road, Ridge path, Taylor. [Pittsylvania Deeds 1791-1794, page 154].

April 16, 1792 from Joseph Polley of P, to Thomas Hightower of P, for 20£, about 100 acres in P, and bounded by Stephen Yates, Woolf Branch [Pittsylvania Deeds 1791-1794, page 168].

In 1807 Joseph and wife Levina sold their land to Joseph Hatchitt and Obediah Taylor [Pittsylvania Co. Deeds 8:16, 19, 479; 14:65, 109, 132, 155, 418].

Joseph’s children Samuel (B about 1790) (my 4th great grandfather), Joseph and Meredith are believed to have been born in Pittsylvania County.

Joseph and his wife, along with other members of their families, which may have included his brothers John and Henry, migrated from Pittsylvania County to western Virginia on the North Carolina border around 1807.

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David’s second child, Edward was born on December 21, 1758 in Halifax County (pre Pittsylvania). He married Mary Agnes Mullins on May 25, 1785 in Pittsylvania County.

At the March 1771 Court for Pittsylvania County, an Edward Polley was granted Letters of Administration on the estate of Edward Polley decd. Since this Edward’s uncle Edward was deceased by this time, this is most likely the correct person.

The Revolutionary War pension record of Edward Polly states that he was born December 21, 1758. While residing in Pittsylvania County, Virginia he enlisted about six weeks after the Battle of Camden, South Carolina.

On October 22, 1773 Edward Polley of Cambden (sic) Parish and Pittsylvania County sold to John Henry of same for 25£ 100 acres on branches of Mill Creek [Deed Book 3, page 378]. Edward had purchased this same land from John Gorman for 15£ on May 28, 1772 [Deed Book 2, page 489].

 There is a land record for an Edward Polley dated March 16, 1774 for 400 acres beside Horseshoe and Mill Creek [Property Lines from the Old Survey Books, Pittsylvania County, 1746 to 1840, by Roger Dodson]. In comparing birth and death dates it appears that the owner is this Edward. Mill Creek is rather long but again comparing Dalton’s proximity drawings with his current maps it would appear that this piece of property is located south of present-day VA-649 and west of present-day VA-689.

In 1787 Edward and Agnes sold 250 acres on both sides of Redies Creek to Daniel Witcher. (I’m not sure if this is the correct Edward for this transaction but it makes the most sense given the date.)

In 1850 Mary Polly made an affidavit stating that she and her husband lived in Pittsylvania County for about eight years after their marriage and then about 1792 they moved to Tennessee.

Edward and Mary’s children Sarah (Sally), Andrew and Mary were born in Pittsylvania County.

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David’s third child John was born in Halifax County in about 1760. After leaving the military in 1783 he returned to Pittsylvania County before moving to South Carolina.

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David’s fourth child, David Polley, Jr. was born in Halifax County in about 1765 (unverified). He married Elizabeth Justice on March 21, 1785 in Pittsylvania County. By 1830 he is in Pike County, Kentucky.

There is a property of David Polley with a deed date of October 23, 1777 for 440 acres beside Widemouth Creek (which is near Reddies Creek). [Property Lines from the Old Survey Books, Pittsylvania County, 1746 to 1840, by Roger Dodson] This may not belong to this David given his apparent age.

David is on the 1787 Pittsylvania County tax list, District of Griffith Dickerson, for the Polley family.

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David’s seventh child Henry is on the 1787 Pittsylvania County tax list. Henry was living on Big Cherrystone Creek as late as 1804 when Henry and wife Atha (Athalia) sold their property to John Midkiff, Jr.