Jane (Gallache) Russell (abt. 1720 - 1790)

Wife of William Russell Esquire — married 1745 in Savannah, Georgia

Died Apr 1790 at about age 70 in Savannah, Georgia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Brenda Breland Shaffer [send private message]

Biography

Jane (Gallache) Russell was a Georgia colonist.

Jane was born about 1720. [Her birth is estimated based on the fact she was not recorded in the Orphan-house records with brothers born 1729 and 1732.]

The Gallache family was among the first settlers in Purrysburg, South Carolina. Pierre Gallache received a land grant in Pursyburg in February 1732.^[1] In 1740 brothers, James Gallache and John Gallache, were taken into the Orphan-house of Savannah from their mother who died in the Orphan-house infirmary.^[2] John Gallache was placed out in December 1745 to Mr. William Russell at Savannah who married Jane Gallache at about the same time.

From the Colonial records of Georgia, it appears William Russell travelled to and from England on business for the Council, and was living in London in 1764 apparently in ill-health. In a letter from James Habersham to William Russell Esquire in London, James noted among other things,

"The Small Pox has almost gone through this town and upon the whole has not proved very mortal...What number of blacks have been taken off by this infectious disorder, I know not, but your poor Cato is one of them, and your Negro with Mr. Gallache I believe is not quite out of danger, tho there is now great Hopes of his doing Well. P.S. Your wife and Nanny are well. God bless and restore you to your health and to your Friends."^[3]

William Russell died in 1769. William Russell of Savannah in the Province of Georgia in North America, Esquire now residing in England viz. in Prestott [Prescott] Street Goodman's fields in the county of Middlesex wrote his Last Will and Testament on the 9th day of March 1769, and it was recorded on 15th June 1769.^[4] He noted many friends as Legatees as well as his wife, Jane Russell, and children of her brothers, James Gallache, carpenter, John Gallache, gunsmith, deceased. To his wife, he left all his real Estate in the Province of Georgia consisting of the Lots Tracts of land and ...all that town lot number six in Jekyl Tything in Derby Ward in the Town of Savannah...and also all that five acre lot near the said town of Savannah and also tract of land lying south East of the Town of Savannah being fourteen lots called farm lots eleven of which lots are in Jekyl Tything and the other three adjoin thereto and contain in the whole 700 acres or thereabouts. There were enslaved persons mentioned in the will as three Negroe children, a boy named Charles who was about 18, and two girls, seven year old Molly and four year old Charlotte who he requested at the age of 25 years they should be absolutely and entirely free. After his death, Jane Russell manumitted Charlotte on the 13th day of Oct 1789.^[5]

William's will noted at the time of his death, Jane, was living in England with William as well as Anne Hunter, ward of William Russell, but both returned to Savannah, Georgia. She manumitted the enslaved girl named Charlotte the 13th day of 1789 who William Russell requested to be set free when she obtained the age of 25.^[6] To her brother, James Galache of the county of Chatham, planter, Jane made a deed of gift of enslaved persons, Juba and her children named Simon, Philes, Abram, and Rossannah, lately purchased of John Smith on the 18th day of March 1790.^[7] She also deeded 550 acres of land in the District of Little Ogeechee in Chatham County adjoining lands granted to Benjamin Goldwere, James Rutherford and William Wright.^[8] At the same time, she made a deed of gift to her nephew, James Gallache, son of her brother, James the enslaved person named Charles who William Russell mentioned in his will, and to niece, Ann Gallache, daughter of brother, James, she gave enslaved person Maria.

Jane Russell of Savannah, Georgia Widow and relict of William Russell late of Savannah deceased set her hand and seal to her Last Will and Testament on the 20th day of March 1790 naming Nephew, James Gallache, niece, Louisa Gallache, children of her brother James.^[9] Also among other things, she left to William Mills, son of John Mills and Ann his wife both deceased my five acre lot in the town of Savannah which lot was purchased by my late husband when he purchased the Lot No. 6 Jekyl Tything Darby Ward in Savannah, to Jane Mills daughter of the said John Mills and Anna his wife all that eastern moiety or half part of my Town lot in Savannah known by the number 2 (two) in Frederick Tything Darby Ward adjoining the lot of Dr. Macleod, and to Ann Elizabeth Mills daughter of the said John and Anna Mills deceased all that western moiety or half part of all that my said Town lot in Savannah known by the number 2 (two) in Frederick Tything Darby Ward adjoins to the West Mrs. Goldsmiths lot. She passed away shortly after writing the will which was recorded the 14th of April 1790.

From the will of William Russell as well as Jane's will, it does not appear that they had any living children at the time of William's death.

Sources

1. ↑ South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Series: Colonial Plat Books (Copy Series) (S213184). Archives ID: Series: S213184 Volume: 0009 Page: 452. citing Pierre Gallache. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with image] Film 008139498. Accessed 11 Oct 2020.
2. ↑ White, Rev George. Historical Collections of Georgia. New York. Pudney & Russell. 1855. An Account of the Orphans and Children that have been maintained in the Orphan-House at Georga. citing Page 332, Gallache. Digital images: Google.com books. Accessed 11 Oct 2020.
3. ↑ Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, Vol. VI, Habersham, James. The Letters of Hon. James Habersham, 1756-1775. Savannah , Georgia, The Savannah Morning News Print. 1904. page 26-27, citing London William Russell Esqr, Savannah in Georgia the 10th October 1764. Accessed 5 Oct 2020.
4. ↑ Georgia Archives. Virtual Vault. Will Books, Volume A, 1769-06-13 Colony of Georgia, RG 49-1-5, Georgia Archives, Page 308-309, 310-311, 312-313, Last Will and Testament of William Russell. Accessed 5 Oct 2020.
5. ↑ Chatham County, Georgia, Deed Book H, page 44, citing Jane Russell, Widow of William Russell. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film 008564903 image 32 of 485. Accessed 5 Oct 2020.
6. ↑ Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, Deed Book H, page 44, citing Jane Russell, Widow of William Russell. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film 008564903 image 32 of 485. Accessed 5 Oct 2020
7. ↑ Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, Deed Book H, Page 87, citing Jane Russell to James Galache. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film 008564903 image 52 of 485. Accessed 5 Oct 2020
8. ↑ Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, Deed Book H, Page 87, citing Jane Russell to James Galache. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film 008564903 image 53 of 485. Accessed 5 Oct 2020
9. ↑ Chatham County, Georgia, Wills, v. C-D 1780-1807, Page 177 to 189, citing Jane Russell. Digital images: Familysearch.org [database with images] Film 005759791 image 108 of 363. Accessed 1 Oct 2020.

• Georgia Archives. Virtual Vault. Will Books, Volume A, 1769-06-13 Colony of Georgia, RG 49-1-5, Georgia Archives, Page 308-309, 310-311, 312-313, Last Will and Testament of William Russell. Accessed 5 Oct 2020.