The Bobbitt Family In America

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From the will of James Bobbitt written in 1761, it is evident that he was not an old man as we think today. In fact two of his sons were under age at the time of his will. Two of his sons were under the age of 16 years, they were James and Randolph Bobbitt. Both of these sons had to be born after 1745 in order to be under age in 1761.

According to the will written in 1761, John and William had to be born before 1745. The records and history of their families indicate that John and William could not have been much over the ages of 16 to be named in the will of James Bobbitt.

We can find no evidence that James Bobbitt was married before he married the widow Elizabeth Bennett. The records indicate that all of the children mentioned in the will were mothered by Elizabeth Bobbitt. The records show that the children considered Timothy and Elizabeth Dalton of Bedford County Virginia to be their maternal grand-parents. There are two deeds which prove that Elizabeth's maiden name was Dalton, and that the Dalton family considered John and William Bobbitt to be their grandsons.

JANUARY 5, 1764 - Halifax County Virginia records.

"Timothy Dalton, and Elizabeth his wife, of he County of Bedford, and John Bobbitt of Halifax County, for five shillings, paid by John Bobbitt for 160 acres of land on the north side of Pigg River, being the plantation whereon the said John Bobbitt now lives."

JANUARY 6, 1764 - Halifax County Virginia records.

Timothy Dalton, and Elizabeth his wife, of the County of Bedford, and William Bobbitt of Halifax County, for five shillings, paid by William Bobbitt, for 240 acres of land on the south side of the Pigg River, being land whereon the said William Bobbitt now lives."

The land deeded here was in Pittsylvania County in 1767.  Timothy and Elizabeth Dalton was the father and mother of Elizabeth Bobbitt who had married James Bobbitt. The above deeds were gifts to John and William Bobbitt. Five shillings was token payment to make the deeds legal and have the deeds recorded. Note that John the eldest grandson was deeded land first, and the next day William was deeded land. James and Randolph were much too young to be eligible to receive land gifts from their grandparents.

Again it is well to remember that Lunenburg County was divided into Halifax County, and Halifax County divided into Pittsylvania.