The Bobbitt Family In America

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James Bobbitt did not agree with the law on tithables and he had learned from his father, and grandfather, who lived in the Virginia colony during Bacon's rebellion. Bacon's rebellion was essentially a rebellion against such taxes.

In the Common Pleas Court, book 1, between 1752 and 1755, James Bobbitt was called into court twelve times for failing to report his taxable sons. The people living at this time, also had another reason for not reporting their taxable sons. This reason was to keep their sons off the list of those eligible for military service in the Royal Army. It took James Bobbitt several years and several thousand pounds of tobacco to learn that he eventually had to comply with the law. His frequent failure to comply with the law, has left us without valuable tax and tithable records which we could now use for our family history.

James Bobbitt became ill in March of 1761 and on March 13, 1761 he wrote his will. He mentions all of his mature children in his will, including his stepson, Richard Bennett, and his wife Elizabeth. The will was recorded in Halifax County Virginia, in Will Book 0, page 131.

The will is complicated and some of the language used at that time is difficult to understand. We have to keep in mind that his stepson, Richard Bennett, was by the law of primogeniture, the eldest son in the family. John Bobbitt was however the eldest son of James Bobbitt.

There is also recorded in the will a business transaction between James Dillard and James Bobbitt which involved the sale of some of his property. Settlement of this business is discussed in the will.

It was customary in this period of our history for a sick man to make his will when his family and friends considered him to be in danger of dieing. Frequently such persons would write their will and die in a few days afterward. Many died before the will could be taken to the courthouse and be recorded.

The will of James Bobbitt was written in his own handwriting, and acknowledged by his own signature. It indicates that James had received a good education when he was young. The inventory of his estate included several books. Most of the people from Prince George County who had been reared in the Bristol Parish were educated at the Glebe schools. Such an education was not available in Pittsylvania County in this section which was then the frontier.