James Conner Family
Early Virginia
James Conner
b. before 1710 (probably in Virginia)
d. 2 Nov 1725 Spotsylvania Co., VA ( present day Culpeper Co.)

m. Margaret ?
b. before 1730
d. between 1745 and 4 Mar 1751 Culpeper Co., VA

his parents: unknown.
Children
James Conner# b. before 1712 d. after 1766 m. Eliz. Zimmerman about 1749/50
(dau of Christopher Zimmerman of Orange Co.,VA)
William Conner# b. about 1710 d. about 1769 m. Frances Williams (illegitimate daughter of Rice Williams and Frances Duncan)
Sarah Conner b. about 1722 d. m. Francis Ballinger# 1740 Prince Wm. Co., VA (son of Edward Ballenger)
Ann Conner# b. about 1716 d. m. William Kelly (died 1751 Culpeper Co.,VA)
Hannah Conner# b. d. before 1787 m. William Wood (died 1787 Spartanburg, SC)
Margaret Conner# b. about 1714 d.1788 m. Minor Winn (d. 1778 Fauquier Co., VA)
Elizabeth Conner# b. about 1722 d. m. Mr. Lynch

James Conner died Teste but his will has been lost. His estate was probated in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, the present Culpepper County. Many records exist with Margaret listed as the widow of James Conner. They held land known as "Guineys" in Caroline County, Virginia and at the Great Fork of the Rappahannock. [Anne Baker, GenForum 12 Jan 2000 #1122]

Margaret Conner lived in the Great Fork of the Mattapony.

1724, Sept 1- John Bush Complaint & James Conner Pespondt., The Defendt. put in a rejoynder to Complainants replicatioin is goven the Complainant to consider the same. [Virginia County Court Records, p. 11]

Sept 1 - In the action of the Case brought by William Skrine Plt. against James Conner Defendt., there being no declaration filed & entered, att the Defendants motion a non suit is granted with costs.  [Virginia County Court Records, p. 14]

Oct 6 - In the action of the Debt brought by Ambrose Madison Plt. against James Conner Defendant, the suit is continued to the next Court at the Plantiff's cost.  [Virginia County Court Records, p. 19]

Oct 7 - In the suit of Chancery depending Between John Bush Complainant and James Conner Respondt., the Complt., put in Demurrer which the Respondt. craved time to answer which was granted.  [Virginia County Court Records, p. 21]

Nov 3 - James Conner in behalfe of Mr. James Elliot informed the Court that by mistake listed Michell a Malletto boy yt. was under 5 yrs. of age of ye sd. Elliot & desired to be releived in that case: Orderdf that teh Sheriffe to pay and allowe him out of ye faraction yt. is due to the County. [Virginia County Court Records, p. 29]

Nov 3 - In the actoin of Debt brought by Ambrose Madison Plt. against James Conner Defendt., same is continued att the Defendants cost.  - In the action of Debt brougth by Isaac Tunney Plt. against James Conner Defendt., the same is continued att the Defendants cost. [Virginia County Court Records, p. 31]

Nov 3 - In the Suit in Chancery brought by John Bush Plt. against  James Conner Defendant, the Plantife haveing put in a demurer to ye Defendants rejoynder ye last court and offerning to put in a new plea to the demurrer the same was objected against p the Plaintife and referred to the Courts Judgment, who after haveing heard all aarguements on each side are of the opinion that the Defendant ought joyn the Plantifes demurer from which Judgment the Defendant appealed to Eighth day of the General Court next which was granted, he haveing entered into bond with Goodrich Lightfoot, Gentn. his securety & acknowledged the same in Court [Virginia County Court Records, p.32]

Nov 4 - In the action of the Case brought by William ( ) Plt. agt James Conner Defendt.  The Defendaant haaveing formerly in this suit obtained a nonsuit against the Plantife & Insisted to have the same paid him att the bar before he was obliged to answer the suit, which the Plantife filing to do, therefore ordered that the sd suit be dismist with costs.
[Virginia County Court Records, p. 35]

Mar 2 - Continued. In the action of Debt brought by Ambrose Madison Plt. against James Conner Defendt., for two thousand pounds of tobo damages issue being joyned & put to Jery for tryall who after being sworn and heard all evedences and arguements of each side and received their charge from the Court retired, and after some time retuned and brought in their Verdict Vizt. (Wee of the jury find for the Defendant.  Samuel Loyde, Forman) which verdict att the Defendants motion was admitted to record and ordered that suit be dismist with costs. [Virginia County Court Records, p. 41]

On Petition of Stephen Sharp he is allowed for four days attendance as was summoned an evedence for Mr. Ambrose Madison against James Conner its therefore ordered that said Madison pay unto siad Sharp for the same aslias Exo. -- on Petition of Thomas Prince he is allowed for two days attendance as he was summoned an evedence for Mr. Ambrose Madison agt. James Conner and for thirty miles comeing & thirty miles returning, Therefore ordered said Madison do pay unto said Prince for ye same alias Exo. --- On Petition of Charles Goodall he is allowed for four days attendance  as he was summoned on evedence for Isaac Tunney against James Tunney and for comeing forty miles & returning forty miles two times -- On Petition of James Cox, he is allowed for six days

1725 - Early Virginia probate records records these actions centered around the estate of James Conner.

1751 - Margaret Conner dies. Margaret Conner's will was dated 4 March 1744/5, Culpeper Co., Virginia. She names in the will her sons James and William, and her daughters as Margaret Winn, Ann Kelly, Hannah Wood, Elizabeth Lynch and Sarah Balynger.

1760 -
James Connor of St. Mark’s Parish, Culpeper County, planter, and Elizabeth his wife to John Bartley of the same county. For –L-90 current money, 288 acres in the Great Fork of Rappahannock River which was formerly granted to Christopher Zimmerman, deceased, father to Elizabeth Conner [sic] by patent 25 Aug. 1731 for 440 acres and by Zimmerman’s last will and testament 30 Nov 1748 given to the said Elizabeth… on the west side of Potato Run … Carter’s old line….

James Connor
Elizabeth Connor

Wit: Richard Young,
        James Peyton,
         John Ryan. 16 Oct.1760 Acknowledged by the parties.       
                                        [Records of Culpepper  Co., VA, Abstract by Dorman]

Christopher Zimmerman’s will is of record in Orange County, VA; his bequest to Elizabeth calls her Elizabeth Zimmerman, which suggests that she married Connor after the will was signed. Edward Ballenger and James Connor were involved in the estate of John Blanton in 1750, and of course Margaret Connor’s will of 1744 names her daughter Sara Balynger. I do not have the full text of that will. John Bartley sold his Culpeper land in 1791 and moved to Fluvanna County, VA. His will names his daughter Elizabeth Ballenger, dec’d. Some Fluvanna suits involving the bequest make it very clear that Elizabeth had been married to William Ballenger who by then was also living in Fluvanna, and these records even name all of her children. William Ballenger by this time had married Anna Sharp. [email from Randolph Currie]

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