From Virginia Through the Southwest:Information about Judith Jefferson
Judith Jefferson (b. August 30, 1698, d. November 1786)
Notes for Judith Jefferson:Judith Jefferson, the eldest child of Thomas Jefferson II and Mary Field, was born at the family plantation at Jefferson's Landing, later known as Osborne's. Judith was named after her maternal grandmother Judith Soane, the daughter of Judith Fuller. Judith's mother, Mary Field Jefferson, died two weeks before Judith's 17th birthday.
Only Judith's brother, Thomas Jefferson III, the eldest son in the family, was given a quality education.Younger brother, Peter Jefferson, eager to learn, was self taught. Years later his son, President Thomas Jefferson, wrote that his father's education had been neglected. Education for the Jefferson daughters is not mentioned in family biographies.
Judith Jefferson married George Farrar about 1717, son of William Farrar and Priscilla Baugh, and they lived at his family estate, Farrar's Island on the James River in Henrico County, which had been one of the first land patents granted in the Virginia colony to his ancestor William Farrar posthumously in 1637. There were many dealings between the Jeffersons and Farrars in Virginia records. Judith and George Farrar had nine children born between 1718 to 1738, most of them born at Farrar's Island. Judith's eldest brother, Thomas Jefferson III, died at sea in 1723, when Judith was 24. George Farrar's brothers sold their shares of the Farrar's Island property in 1727-28 to the Randolphs.
On March 15, 1725 Judith's father Thomas Jefferson II wrote his will in Henrico County. In it he made several bequests to Judith Farrar, among them a share in the proceeds from the sale of his "half of Gilly's Mill, the land mortgaged by (Mr. Richard) Grill," etc. Later on November 4, 1728 (the year following the sale of Farrar's Island to the Randolphs) Thomas Jefferson II won a law suit against Matthew Ligon for rightful possession of this land, being 150 acres the upper half of a tract taken up by Richard Grills in 1710 and deeded to Thomas Jefferson September 12, 1717. Mathew Ligon was then ordered to turn the property over to "George Farrar and his heirs forever." This transfer recorded at Varina Court, 1st Monday in April 1729. Already having willed part of this property to Judith Farrar, Thomas Jefferson II, after winning the suit, decided to give her the whole plantation in his lifetime and thus deeded it to her in the name of husband George Farrar.
George and Judith occupied this land for about thirty years. The deed describes the plantation as being in Henrico County Southside (which later became Chesterfield County), south side of Swift Creek, both sides of Reedy Run, near Curles, "all houses, gardens, orchards, fences, woods, underwoods, waters and watercourses, profits, commodities and hereditaments to the said plantation."Described as on John and Frederick Baugh's line, it was also in the neighborhood of the Jefferson Plantation, Branch and Batte families and near where Judith's grandparents Major Peter and Judith (Soane) Field had lived.
Judith's father died February 18, 1731Judith, named as Judith Farrar, in the will written in 1725, received the following bequests:
WILL OF THOMAS JEFFERSON II,March 15, 1725. Recorded April 1731
"ITEM. I give unto my son PETER JEFFERSON and to his Heirs forever all my land on Fine Creek and on Manakin Creek, but if my said Son should die before he be Twenty One Years of Age, then I give my Land aforesaid to be equally divided between my Three Daughters JUDITH, MARY, and MARTHA and their heirs forever...
ITEM. I will and direct that my one half Part of Gilly's Mill, the Land I lately bought of George Carter, the Land mortgaged by Grill and all the remaining part of my Estate (except my Two Negros Jenny and Nanny) be sold by Major William Kennon and Henry Wood and that Ten Pounds of the Money (after my just Debts are first paid and discharged) be given unto my Daughter JUDITH FARRAR and the remaining Part be equally divided between my Two Daughters MARY and MARTHA.
ITEM. I give unto my Daughter JUDITH FARRAR my Black Walnut Safe and Silver Tumbler and Three Silver Spoons.
ITEM. My will is that if my Daughter MARY or MARTHA die before they are of Age or married that then the several legacies hereby bequeathed be and remain to the Survivour of them. If they both die then that every Thing given them in this Will be equally divided between my Son PETER and my Daughter JUDITH FARRAR and their Heirs.
Proved in Henrico County Court, First Monday in April 1731 by PETER JEFFERSON."
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During the time they he lived at Gilly's Mill, George Farrar was active in the community, serving on the jury, acting as appraiser and processionar of land in 1736. In 1759-61 George Farrar sold his land. He and Judith moved to Mecklenburg County, Virginia (formerly Lunenburg County) to be near her brother, Field Jefferson. Judith's brother, had established a large estate on the north side of the Roanoke River near the Howards, where he operated a ferry for years (shown on Peter Jefferson's Map of Virginia).
The will of George Farrar, written March 16, 1772, does not name his wife, but researchers have proven she was Judith Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson II, and aunt of President Thomas Jefferson.Judith is mentioned in her husband's will as follows:
WILL OF GEORGE FARRAR OF MECKLENBURG CO & PARISH OF SAINT JAMES, VIRGINIA PROVED OCTOBER 12, 1772:
"I give to my WIFE the right to the full use of the remaining part of my estate, both Negroes and movables, during her life.
I desire that at the death of my loving WIFE my Negro fellow Dick may choose which he please for his master of those of my sons, THOMAS FARRAR, WILLIAM FARRAR or JOHN FARRAR.
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Judith was likely a red head like her brother Peter Jefferson, but I have found no evidence saying so.Her red haired descendants, trace their red hair to the Jefferson line, of whom Judith's nephew, President Thomas Jefferson, was the most famous red haired member.
The 1782 Census of Heads Of Families in Virginia lists Judith Farrar in Mecklenburg County. Judith Jefferson Farrar, at the age of 84, is listed as the Head of her household and the only white person. She had four slaves. Her son William Farrar and his family lived on the neighboring property, and sons Thomas and John also lived closeby in Mecklenburg County.
Judith Jefferson, born 1698, lived long enough to see her nephew, Thomas Jefferson, write the Declaration of Independence and to see the newborn United States win the Revolutionary War gaining independence from England. But she died about 1786 before seeing her nephew elected third President of the United States.
Source:Alvahn Holmes book "Some Farrar's Island Descendants"
Alvahn Holmes"George Farrar and Judith Jefferson and Their Colonial Ancestors" in Stripes, Vol. XXVI, March 1986.
Early Virginia censuses, wills.
More About Judith Jefferson and George Farrar:
Marriage: Abt. 1717, Henrico Co. Virginia.
Children of Judith Jefferson and George Farrar are:
- William Farrar, b. Abt. 1718, Farrar's Island, Chesterfield Co. Virginia, d. 1788, Granville Co. North Carolina.
- +George Farrar, Jr., b. Abt. 1720, Farrar's Island, Chesterfield Co. Virginia, d. 1761, Mecklenburg Co. Virginia.
- Mary Farrar, b. Abt. 1722, Farrar's Island, Chesterfield Co. Virginia, d. 1792, Henrico Co. Virginia.
- Field Farrar, b. Abt. 1724, Farrar's Island, Chesterfield Co. Virginia, d. Aft. 1772, Tennessee.
- +Thomas Farrar, b. August 10, 1726, Farrar's Island, ChesterfieldCo. Virginia, d. August 20, 1809, Carnesville, Franklin Co. Georgia.
- John Farrar, b. 1728, Farrar's Island, Chesterfield Co. Virginia, d. February 11, 1808, Wake Co. North Carolina.
- Priscilla Farrar, b. June 09, 1729, Farrar's Island, Chesterfield Co. Virginia, d. November 08, 1808, Franklin Co. Georgia.
- Peter Farrar, b. June 06, 1730, Gilly's Mill, Henrico Co. Virginia, d. 1816, Edgefield Co. South Carolina.
- Abel Farrar, b. Abt. 1731, Gilly's Mill, Henrico Co. Virginia, d. 1765.