Absalom Ailstock (abt. 1762 - 1858)

Born about 1762 in Louisa, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 1858 at about age 96 in Bath, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Absalom was born in Louisa County, Virginia about 1765. He did not know his exact birth date, but thought that he was about seventeen in 1781. He was probably the son of the Michael Ailstock who died in Louisa County in 1791, who named in his will (in addition to his wife and other legatees) "my sons Michal and Absolom" ^[1] When he filed an application for a Revolutionary War pension in 1832 Absalom stated that he was seventy years old. After serving in the Revolutionary War Absalom continued to live in Louisa County until about 1800 when he moved to Augusta County. ^[2] Absolom was still alive in 1850, living in Rockbridge County. ^[3]

Absalom owned land in Rockbridge County, probably as a result of his military service: .

"TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING: KNOW YE, That in conformity with a survey, made on the ninth day of November 1826, by virtue of the said officeTreasury Warrants, to wit: 49 acres and 150 square poles by Nº 5067 and 150 acres by Nº 5984 filed May 1st, 1813 there is granted by the said Commonwealth, unto Absalom Ailstock, A certainTract or Parcel of Land containing One Hundred and Ninety nine acres and 150 square poles situated in Rockbridge on the Mill Mountain and on the waters of Bratton's Run a branch of the Big Calfpasture River ... "

Recorded in Land Book, 1835, Land List for 1st District: Absalom Ailstock; in fee; 199 Acres; 150 square poles on Mill Mountain, Waters Bratton run; Value of land/Ac = 0.08; added for bldgs: 05; Total value = $16.00 Tax = $.02. Explanation: NEW GRANT

Recorded in Land Book 1840: (record mostly destroyed) Absalom Ailstock / in Fee / living in Rockbridge / 199 Acres / on Bratton's Run / Improvements $50 / per acre Total Value $100 Tax.10

Subsequent Sale recorded on May 3rd, 1847: Absalom Ailstock to John Doyle, Conveyance of 199 Acres on E. Side of Mill Mountain and Waters of Bratton's Run Reserves ¼ acre as Graveyard. Rockbridge County Deedbook Z, p. 291

Quoted from: http://freeafricanamericans.com/revolution.htm "Absalom Ailstock, born in Louisa County, a "free born Mulatto," appeared in Rockbridge County, Virginia court to make a declaration to obtain a pension for his services in the Revolution. He served in the militia for two tours. On his first tour he marched from Louisa County courthouse to Hanover County courthouse where he joined the 2nd Regiment under Colonel Richardson (Holt Richeson) and Major Armistead. Colonel Richeson then marched to "Marben Hills" (Malvern Hill) where there was a skirmish and they took two of the British gunboats which had come to plunder the area. On his second tour he was involved in the siege of York where he was engaged in digging entrenchments and making sand baskets and fascines for the entrenchments [NARA, S.6475, M804, roll 21, frame 519; https://www.fold3.com/image/11056431].

Children

^{[citation needed]}

i. Jenny, born say 1780, married Jesse Going, 2 December 1799 Albemarle County bond.

ii. Rebecca, born say 1782, a "Labourer & Spinster" in 1802, perhaps the Becky Ailstock who James Going was supposed to marry by 2 December 1799 Albemarle County bond, Michael Ailstock bondsman.

iii. Caty, born say 1783, a "Labourer & Spinster" in 1802.

iv. Polly, born say 1785, counted in 1803 but not in 1802.

v. Elizabeth2/ Betsy, born say 1787, a "labourer & Spinster" in 1802.

vi. William2, born say 1792, a "Small" boy in 1802.

vii. Absalom3, born say 1794, a "Small" boy in 1802, called Absolom Aylstock Jr when he was taxable in Botetourt County in 1817 [PPTL 1811-1822, frame 299].

viii. Thomas, born say 1798, a "Small" boy in 1802.

ix. James, born 1802-03.

Census Data

He was taxable in Louisa County from 1785 to 1799 and in a "list of "free Negroes & Mulattoes in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-184].

1840 United States Federal Census Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia ^[4]

Research Notes

There was more than one "Absolom Ailstock" living in central Virginia at this time; there was also an "Abraham Ailstock"

The following is from https://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Abel_Angus.htm needs verification:

AILSTOCK FAMILY

Absalom Ailstock, born about 1762, may have been identical to "Abra: Ailstock" who married Isabel Ratcliff, both of Louisa County, on 23 December 1784 [Jones, The Douglas Register, 9, 84]. He called himself a seventy-year-old "free born Mulatto" when he appeared in Rockbridge County, Virginia court on 1 October 1832 to make a declaration to obtain a pension for his services in the Revolution. He stated that he was born in Louisa County, lived there twelve or thirteen years after the war when he moved to Rockbridge County. He was called a 94-year-old "colored freeman" on 29 September 1849 when he applied for increased payments of his pension, stating that he had been occupied at Yorktown digging entrenchments [National Archives pension file S6475, https://fold3.com/image/1/11056431]. He was taxable in Louisa County from 1785 to 1799 and from 1809 to 1814, in a list of "free Negroes & Mulattoes" in 1813 [PPTL, 1782-1814]. Joseph Ailstock dismissed a suit for trespass, assault and battery against Absalom in Louisa County court on 9 September 1793. Absalom produced an account against the Commonwealth which the court certified on 10 September 1793, and he sued Jane Ratliff for a debt of £3 on 12 September 1796 [Orders 1792-7, 31, 394]. He was taxable in Botetourt County from 1802 to 1810: taxable on 3 horses in 1802, on 2 tithes from 1807 to 1810 and from 1816 to 1821: a "F.N." taxable on 2 tithes and 4 horses in 1816, 3 tithes and 5 horses in 1819 [PPTL 1783-1810, frames 410, 437, 509, 544, 611, 642; 1811-1822, frames 258, 345, 386, 431, 471], a "Mulatto" carpenter with his children on Robert Gillespy's land in "A List of Free Negroes & Mulattoes in the District of John Holloway, Commissioner, in Botetourt County for the Year 1802" and again in 1803 [Orders 1800-04, Loose Papers, nos. 30-36, 51-58]. His wife was probably white or considered white since she was not listed with him, and his son James was apparently born between the time when the 1802 and 1803 list was made. He was head of a Botetourt County household of 9 "other free" in 1810 [VA:604] and was also counted in Bath County in 1810, head of a household of 8 "other free" and a white woman [VA:446]. He was a 94-year-old "Mulatto" counted in the 1850 Rockbridge County census with 47-year-old "Mulatto" Nancy in District 51-1/2 [family no. 285].

Sources

1. ↑ Louisa County, Will of Michael Ailstock, probated 13 April 1795, digitized at will
2. ↑ National Archives and Records Administration, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Applications. Application #S6475. Digitized at Fold3, images begin at pension
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DG-3FP : 23 December 2020), Absalom Ailstock, Rockbridge Parish, Rockbridge, Virginia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT2-5HR : 1 October 2021), Absalom Ailstock, Virginia, United States; citing p. 190, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .

• The following is likely for a different Absolom, the son of this Absolom's brother Joseph:

1820 United States Census, Louisa, Virginia, United States (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLZ-GHL : accessed 8 June 2020), Absalom Ailstock, Louisa, Virginia, United States; citing p. 43, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 139; FHL microfilm 193,698. Note: F N

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