Prepared by Don Wilson, RELIC. Prince William County Library, August 2022
David – From an Ancestry.com family tree, it appears that Peter Cockrell (Moses’ father), died 18 July 1803, in Prince William County. No source is given. His birth is estimated as 1725. His father was Thomas Cockrell (born 1699) who married Elizabeth Ramey “probably ca. 1721.” The family lived in Northumberland County, Virginia, until about 1750. Peter married (2) abt. 1766 Frances Carter, daughter of Sarah (Muse) who m (1) ---- Carter, (2) William Thorn and (3) Henry Wilson of Prince William County.
It looks to me like the tombstone is intended to mark the grave of Peter Cockrell, who had many descendants. Could the “B” stand for “born”? Don’t know whether the stone or the family record is more accurate for the date of death. The birthdate on the stone is probably based on a belief in an exaggerated age.
PW DB 1244-1034. 1983. Battlefield Builders to Richard T. Yezzi and wife Catherine A. All of lot 34, section 2, Fernbrook, as platted in DB 1159-426 and DB 1175-1386. Portion of property acquired in DB 1158-1214 “subject to a 10’ ingress-egress to the existing cemetery” (see plat).
PW DB 1158-1214. 1981. Clover Hill Development to Battlefield Builders Inc. Parcel one: 51.73864 acres, schedule A = Section 1, Fernbrook. Parcel two: 10.54292 acres, schedule B = Section 2, Fernbrook. Being a portion of property acquired DB 1136-1336. (Doesn’t mention cemetery)
PW DB 1136-1336. 1980. Robert A. Barnett, trustee, to Clover Hill Development. All those three certain tracts in Coles Magisterial District. Second party will pay certain notes. (1) Deed of trust, 1972, DB 619-730, modified in DB 703-357. C. Scott Winfield and wife Lenora A. to Stanley A. Owens, T. G. Underwood and Thomas O. Beane, trustees; securing Piedmont Federal Savings and Loan Association for $16,000 ($11,974.51 unpaid). (2) Deed of trust, 1966, DB 381-578. Robert A Barnett and Carrington Williams, trustees, to C. Lacey Compton and Edwin P. Latimer, trustees, securing C. Lacey Compton and wife Lenora A. Original amount $84,156 ($11,320 unpaid). (3) Deed of trust, 1973, DB 703-570; modified in DB 715-705. Robert A. Barnett and Carrington Williams, trustees, to C. Lacey Compton and Claude T. Compton, trustees, securing C. Scott Winfield and wife Lenora A. Original amount $91,684.72 ($55,010.80 unpaid). (4) Deed of trust, 1977, DB s910-411. Robert A. Barnett and Carrington Williams, trustees, to E. A. Prichard and A. Hugo Blanksingship Jr, trustees, securing Teimourian and Azaras Investments. Original amount $156,043.60 ($78,021.80 unpaid).
This is where the search becomes difficult. In the first trust, it looks like the Winfields are borrowing money from Piedmont S&L with Owens, Underwood and Beane as their co-signers. If they default, the cosigners get to sell the property. The second trust seems to be transferring security from Barnett and Williams to Compton and Latimer, and the people owing the money are C. Lacey Compton and wife Lenora. The third trust is similar to the second: Compton and Latimer are becoming the new securities. The fourth note shows Barnett and Carrington transferring security to Prichard and Blanksingship. Teimouriand and Azara Investments owe the money. Maybe I’ve got that wrong; am never sure I understand mortgages. At any rate, several different people own the property, and in some way Robert Barnett became the trustee authorized to sell the property.
So I went to the 1974 REDI real estate atlas, which identified this property as Tax Map 76-1-20. The associated directory identifies the owners as R. A. Barnett and C. Williams, trustees, 228.312 acres in Coles Magisterial District. Acquired in DB 381-575.
PW DB 381-575. 1966. Deed of trust: C. Scott Winfield and wife Lenora A. to Robert A. Barnett and Carrington Williams, trustees. Tract description from survey by J. Horace Jarrett. (metes and bounds) Describes leases that will expire in 1966: L. A. Phillips, lumbering rights; Northern Virginia Gun Club. 228.312 acres. Does not identify previous seller.
PW DB 149-157. 1950. Elizabeth McCombe Winfield, widow, to C. Scott Winfield and wife Lenora A. 2 adjacent parcels in Coles Magisterial District. (1) From plat by Silas Butler, county surveyor, 1868, adjoining Cornwell and Florence, west side of Lick Branch [old name for Purcell Branch?], 185 acres. Conveyed by John B. Peale and others to C. S. Winfield, 1914, DB 66-84. First party obtained it from C. S. Winfield. (2) 12 (or 13) acres, described in deed from Thomas H. Lion, special commissioner, to J. B. Winfield, 1925, DB 81-142, Adjoins John Burke, C. S. Winfield and Georgia Gallahan, Mrs. Robert Fair. Same land which J. S. Winfield devised to C. S. Winfield (Will Book 2-134). Heirs conveyed it to first party. [Seems to be the right property, but not sure. / DW]
PW DB 81-142. 1925. Thomas H. Lion, special commissioner, to C. S. Winfield. Whereas at June 1925 Circuit Court, it was decreed, in chancery cause, Ella C. Bibb etal vs. Austin Beavers etal, Lion was appointed to sell land to Winfield for $250. C. S. Winfield directed deed to be conveyed to his brother J. B. Winfield. Being same land bequeathed to George T. Cornwell for life with remainder to said George T. Cornwell’s children and grandchildren as set forth in will of M. F. Cornwell, deceased, Will Book X (2?)-p. 134. Contains 12 acres, bounded by John Burks, C. S. Winfield, Georgia Gallahan, Mrs. Robert Fair.
PW DB 66-84. 1914. John B. Peale and wife Florence R, J. A. Riddle and wife Sarah R, all of Rockingham County, Virginia, to C. S. Winfield of Culpeper County. For $2000. Plat made by C. B. Allen, county surveyor. The buildings on property to be kept insured until the debt is paid. 185 acres, same conveyed to C. H. Bieber by John H. Renoe and wife, 1885, DB 35-465; and to J. B. Peale and J. A. Riddel by C. H. Bieber and wife, 1909, DB 58-215.
PW DB 58-215. 1909. Clinton H. Bieber and wife Catherine S. of PWC to J. A. Ridel and John B. Peale, both of Rockingham County, Virginia. $2000. Tract in Coles District, according to plat by Silas Butler, 1868 (metes and bounds), to agree with deed of John H. Renoe and wife to said C. H. Bieber.
PW DB 35-465. 1885 John H. Renoe [indexed as “RENVER”] and wife Mary T., to C. H. Bieber [indexed as “BIELER”]. $1000. Tract in PWC below Occoquan Run. That part of “the Cockrell tract” lying in he west of Lick Branch adjoins Florence, Bradfield and others. 185 acres.
PW DB 32-46. 1879. Hampton Brenton and wife Lucy F. to John H. Renoe. $550. One undivided half of tract in PWC below Occoquan Run and known as the Cockrell tract, being the same land conveyed to said Hampton Brenton by A. Nicol, special commissioner. Contains 194 acres 1 rood and 32 poles. See DB 31-144 for details.
PW DB 31-144. 1870. Aylett Nicol, special commissioner of Circuit Court of PWC, under a decree, Oct. 1870, cause of Joseph J. Cockrell vs. William Coleman and others. To Hampton Brenton. Certain tract, 194 acres 1 rood 32 poles, to be sold at public sale. Jos. J. Cockrell became purchaser and transferred his conveyance to Hampton Brenton. Includes plat of parcel by Silas Butler, 1868.
Chancery Case PWC 1875-02, Cockrell v. Coleman can be seen on the Library of Virginia’s website:
https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=153-1875-002 (107 pages)
Image 2: Silas Butler’s receipt for $10 to survey “a tract of land belonging to the heirs of Moses Cockrell, deceased.” A Moses Cockrell died in Prince William County before 1833 when a “division” was recorded (WB N-517). This chancery lawsuit seems to show good evidence of the heirs of Moses Cockrell (children and grandchildren). I have not looked through this file in detail.
I’m not finding a deed for Moses Cockrell’s purchase of this land, and think it may have been inherited or (more likely) the deed is missing. Next step is to check the land tax lists before 1833 to see what he owned.
Here is what I’ve checked so far:
1835 land tax, below Cedar Run:
Cockrell, Moses Est., [res. PW], [fee simple], 166 acres, joins J. Brown, 6 mi. E [of Ct Hse], assessed at $5/acre, $160 improvements, $830 total value, $0.68 tax.
1832 land tax, below Cedar Run
Cockerel, Moses Est., PW, fee, 166 acres, joins J. Brown, 6 E, $5/acre, $160 impr., $830 total, $0.68 tax.
1830 land tax, below Cedar Run:
Cockerel, Moses, PW, fee, 166 acres, joins J. Brown, 6 E, $160 improvements, $830 total, $0.66 tax.
A family tree on Ancestry.com says Moses Cockrell was born abt. 1783, son of Peter Cockrell and Frances Carter. He died 28 Sept. 1828, PWC. His wife was Sarah Jane Johnson (1790-1861) a daughter of Rutt Johnson of Clover Hill farm. She died at Bloom Hill farm.
1817 land tax:
Cockrell, Moses, PW, fee, by his father’s will, 166 acres, adjoining J. Brown, 11 mi. NW [of Dumfries], 0.46/ac, $76,32 total, 0.57 tax.
I have to stop now. This indicates how Moses got the land.