James BYAS/BIAS

  General Notes:

Possibly arrived in US ca. 1734 with his parents?

James Bias, it is believed he was born Abt. 1722 in County Craven, Ireland or possibly Chester or Lancaster Counties, PA, or because of a lnad sale his oldest son, Obediah was invloved in James may have been born in NC?????

He died Bef. 1787 in Amherst County , Virginia. It is also thought that he probably married Elizabeth Larkin (MNU) Bef. 1750

NOTES: James Byas first appears in Amherst County when he settles on a 1761 land grant issued to him on the headwaters of Otter Creek. The first record of this land is a survey done on 10 March 1762 by W Cabell Jr., for 230 Acres on the South Fork of Huffs Creek. This deed was finally recorded on 3 Aug 1771. Eventually 170 acres of this same land was sold by James & wife, Elizabeth to Lamaster Cooksey on 2 August 1784.

Just when he actually arrives is not known. But in the Alexander Brown Papers, James Bias is listed as having interests in Amherst County PRIOR to 1761.

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Deed book entries for James Byas are found starting in 1761 in Amherst, however no prior entries are found in Albemarle or any of its parent counties. Prior to this no recrods have been found!

Unconfirmed sources have him born ca 1722 in County Caven, Ireland and arriving in America in 1734 with his parents and siblings. While in PA he is reported to have married Elizabeth Larkin before settling in Amherst County.

One or more of his offspring may have been born in PA depending upon his arrival date in Virginia. Otherwise they were all born in Amherst on Otter Creek near the James River where it passes through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This area is located in a portion of Amherst County that lies west of the Blue Ridge in the Shenendoah Valley near Glascow, Rockbridge County. The majority of Amherst County lies on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge in the Piedmont region of Central Virginia.

Most of the land James Byas and his sons recieved in land grants of later purchased is very rocky and rough in nature. Not characteristic of the regions better farm land. In fact most of the land they settled is today part of the Blue Ridge Parkway or National Forest land. The character of this land gave little support to its inhabitants and may have lent a hand in the wandering nature of the Byas/Bias familie's sons in years to come.

James Byas appears to have died sometime between 1784 when he sold land and 1787 when he failed to be listed on the 1787 Tax and Census list for Virginia. No further trail of him has been found in Amherst County Court House records after this date. His wife Elizabeth is listed on her own in later census info.

- He appeared on the Heads of Families at 1st US Census VA census in 1750 in VA. listed on the first US Census in Va:
Byas, James birth date 1750 Virginia (is this the same James Byas or is the birth date incorrect) need to see document to appraise info.

- Store Account: Thomas Partridge & Co, 1756, Hanover Co, VA. Accounts list for the entire year of 1756, purchases and credits for the account of James Byaass
-- Also listed is a John Byass in the same year, but with less activity
-- Also listed are a Charles and a Samuel Nuckolls (could this be a relation of the mother of Obediah Nuckolls????/

- Arrival-Residence in Amherst County: Prior to 1761, Amherst Co, VA.3 According to the Research Papers of Alexander Brown, James Bias had interests in Amherst County (Old Albemarle County) PRIOR to 1761.

- Residence in Amherst Co prior to 1761: Listed on Early Settlers listing, Bef 1761, Amherst Co, VA. 4 Listed as having interests in (old Albemarle Co) AMherst County, VA prior to 1761, NO reference to REV War service is given

- Land Grant-Patent: 3 Aug 1762, Amherst Co, VA.5 230 Acres on branches of the South fork of Huffs Creek. The Original Survey for James Bias was done on 10 March 1762 text follows:
"A Plot of 230 Acres of Land in AMherst County on the Branches of the South Fork of Huffs Creek. Surveyed for James Bias the 10th day of March 1762. by W Cabell Jun. Sury." Document includes drawing of survey. Land adjoins Benj Higginbotham, P Nowlan, Ben Noel.

- Rev War Action: listed as participant in Rev War, 1775-1783, VA.6 listed in the Historical reg. OF Virginians in the Rev., soldiers, sailors & marines, 1775-1783.
Ed by John H Gwathmey. Richmond. VA 1938. (13,872p):118

Shown as Byas, James Birth Date 174?, Place of Birth VIRGINIA, Biographical info mil.

- He appeared on the tax list- HEADS of FAMILIES census in 1783 in Amherst Co, VA.7 Byas, James, no township listed.
VA early census listed as follows:
Byas, James, 3 white souls, 0 Black Souls
Need to find actual copy to see what specifics are given.

- Sale of land: 170 acres of land & premises, 2 Aug 1784, Amherst Co, VA. Bill of sale/deed transfer from James Bias and Elizabeth, his wife to Lamaster Cooksey of 170 acres of land and the houses & property on said land. Witnesses; Charles Burriss, Joseph Layne, Wm. Camden

In the transfer it states that this is part of the 230 acres that was granted/patented to James Bias in the 3 Aug 1771 deed listed before this one.

James married Elizabeth UNKOWN. (Elizabeth UNKOWN was born between 1730 and 1740 and died in 1832.)