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James Moore, born 1715-1721, wife Mary Rice, first appears in Amelia County in 1745 as an overseer on the Randolph plantation. This area becomes Prince Edward County in 1754. He lived on Saylor's Creek adjacent to both Joseph and Matthew Rice, father or brother of Joseph Rice who dies in 1766. James Moore is mentioned in Joseph's will as his son-in-law.
A William Moore appears on the tax list of 1748 and purchases land on Sandy Creek abutting Mathew Rice in 1752. In 1748, a Peter Moore appears for only a year in this same area. George Moore's land abuts the land of the Randolph's, but the Randolph's are large absentee landowners, so this may not be relevant. In 1767, James Moore is listed with James Jr. as a second tithable, so James Jr. was born about 1746.
In 1756, a dangerous situation developed when a slave of William Womack after having been outlawed, took refuge in quarters of John Stanton and defended himself with broadax and darts. He had tried to kill his master and neighbors had tried to capture him alive. A group of Abraham Womack, Isham Womack, William Barry, James Moore and William Masters fought with the slave and shot him. He died of his wounds.
By 1770 James moved to Halifax County and is conducting business. James never sells all his land, nor is there a will or probate for his death.
James is on both the property and personal tax lists through 1796, but in 1797 he disappears from the personal tax list. James' sons Mackness and Rice left for Tennessee about this time, and he could conceivably have gone with them, although he would have been about 80 years old. However, his land remains on the property tax list through 1814. He did have a son and grandson James, although his son James apparently left Halifax about 1791.
James may have simply conveyed the deed by hand and the subsequent deeds weren't recorded. He was exempt from paying taxes by 1788 (so probably born in 1718).
James lived on the second fork of Birches Creek. His land began at about the corner of Oak Level and Mountain Road and extends west about a quarter mile, and south to Hummingbird Lane. Current owners found initials of JBM in an old well. James sold land to Edmond Henderson and a Henderson cemetery has been located on the southern portion of this land near Hummingbird Lane.
Another large abandoned cemetery is located back in the woods across Mountain Road, directly across from the Irby Cemetery. It has been bulldozed to some extent, but you can still see where the graves are sunken and where lilies, yucca, periwinkle and box elders have been planted by the graves. The Irby land used to be owned by James Moore, then William Moore, his son, so their land could conceivably have extended to the north side of Mountain road. The deeds and survey are unclear. We do know that at one time William did own land across from Mt. Vernon Church on the headwaters of Polecat Creek where the "Moore Meeting House" once stood.
All of James children except William, Lydia and possibly James moved to Grainger Co., Tn.
Deeds
16 July 1770. James Moore purchased 238 acres on both sides of 2d fork of Burches Creek from James Spradling and his wife Mary for 100 pounds. Land is part of patent granted to James Spradling 16 Sept. 1765. Rec. 19 July 1770. George Brown, Sam Slate, and George Stubblefield witnessed the deed. Halifax Co. Deed Book 7, p. 522.
18 Oct. 1780, James Moor purchased 400 acres on fork of Burches Creek from James Henry for 350 pounds. The deed was witnessed by James Moore Jr., and William Moore, and Edward Henderson. Recorded 19 Oct. 1780. Halifax Co. Deed Book 12, p. 57.
18 Oct. 1780. James Moore Sr. to Charles Spradlin, 100 acres on the head of the 2d fork of Burches Creek in Halifax. William Moore, John Pankey, and Eward Henderson witnessed the deed. Recorded 19 Oct. 1780. Halifax Co. Deed Book 12, p. 57.
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