by Ronnie Tatum
Edward Tatum was in Brunswick County, Virginia by 1732. Edward Tatum leased 227
acres from Peter Tatum in 1732 (Brunswick County deed book 1 page 31,32) for
five shillings. The location of this land was on the south side of Reedy Creek,
which is on the north side of the Meherrin River. This land between their
plantations, was half the land granted to Peter Tatum in September 1728.
Apparently from the wording, between their plantations, may imply that Edward
had land in this county at the time of this lease aggreement. Since Edward Tatum
left a little over 600 acres to his three sons after his death. These lands
could have been purchased or inherited, but we may never know because of the
loss of Records from Prince George County.
Edward Tatum was active in the affairs of this new county, as
we can see from the early records of Brunswick County, Virginia. We find that on
November 2, 1732 that Edward "appointed surveyor of the High Ways from the
reedy Creek below Jackson's Mill...to the church and it is ordered that all the
male laboring tithable persons assist him..." On March 1, 1733 from the
same record page 18 we find, "...Charles Kimball and John Ross ordered to
assist Edward Tatum and his gang in clearing a bridle way from the Reedy Creek
below Jackson's Mill the most convenient way into the road that leads from this
courthouse to Surry County." This road was called Tatum's Road, but was
later changed.
He also served on the Grand Jury of Brunswick County several
times until his death. Edward was appointed clerk of St.Andrews Parish in 1732,
where he served until his death. Tobacco was the payment he received for serving
as clerk. He served as clerk each year from 1732 to 1744. In 1737, he served as
the clerk at both St. Andrews and the Meherrin Parish. The year Edward died his
son Jesse was paid for helping with the duties as clerk of St. Andews Parish. We
find that it was ordered that the church wardens give the payment of tobacco to
the administrator of his will for services by Edward and Jesse for that year.
Jesse later served as clerk at the Rattle Snake Chappel from 1750 to 1753. The
will of Edward Tatum dated April 5, 1744, (recorded in Brunswick Co. Va., will
book 2, page 79,80) listed sons Jesse, Edward, John, and daughters Martha,
Frances, and wife Martha. Jesse received land on the north side of a branch that
ran into Reedy Creek. Edward received 200 acres with the plantation. John
received the remainder of the land that belonged to Edward Tatum. "To my
beloved wife Martha all the rest of my estate..." Martha Tatum married
William Scoggins after the death of Edward Tatum. William Scoggins was appointed
guardian in 1753 of Edward Jr., John, and Frances. And remained so until 1759.
In that year Edward Tatum, Jr. was appointed guardian of John and Frances. He
was guardian of Frances until 1760 and John until 1761. What happened to Frances
and Martha, the daugthers of Edward d.1744, is unknown. After the death of
William Scoggins, Martha received money from St. Andrews Church in 1769, 1770.
We then find the following entry in the vestry book on November 30, 1771.
"To Edward Tatum for maintaining his mother from 15th Dec. last till the
11th April being the
time she died." There was an interesting notation made in the same vestry
book after the death of Martha Scoggins. "Ordered that the church wardens
examine and discharge Doctor Ridley's accusation against Edward Tatum for
attending his mother in her sickness."
1. Edward Tatum, Testator, Will
Book 2, page 79, 80, Office of the County Clerk, Brunswick County, Virginia.
2. Peter Tatum to Edward Tatum, Lease of Land, Deed Book 1: 31,32.County Clerk's Office, Brunswick County, Virginia.
3. Historic Roads of Virginia Brunswick County, Road Orders 1732-1746, by
Nathaniel Mason Pawlett: Faculty Research Historian, Virginia Transportation
Research Council, Charlottesville, Virginia 1988.
4. Orphan Records of Brunswick County, Virginia.
5. Saint Andrew's Parish, Vestry Book, 1732-1798: Filmed by Genealogical Society
of Utah, 1947, 1949 2 reel. Microreproduction of org. records at the Virginia
State Library.