John D. Hancock was born 1733 in James Northern Parish, Goochland Co, Va (or born 1730-35, New Kent Co, Va).
He is listed on the DAR Patriot Index as: "Hancock, John, b abt 1733 VA, d p 11- -1802, m Elizabeth Maddox, PS (patriotic service) VA"
He was a member of the Church of England.
1755 is the earliest record of John "D." Hancock in "The Douglas Register" where his marriage listed.
He married Elizabeth Maddox, dau. of John and Elizabeth Maddox, of Goochland (pink on map below) and Powhatan Counties, Va.
Rev. William Douglas (of the "Douglas Register of Goochland") officiated at the marriage of John and Elizabeth, Oct 16, 1755 in Goochland Co, Va.
1756 -- John was granted 799 acres of land in Sussex County on Aug 16. 620 acres had been granted by a letter of patent in 1732. This land joined Col. Philip Lightfoot's land.
He moved to Albemarle (later Fluvanna) Co.
Goochland Co., Va Fee Book named "John of Albemarle Co."
Thomas Jefferson (b 1743) also lived in Albemarle Co, VA. and the Hancock land bordered the Jefferson land (SE of Charlottesville, VA). In fact, the Hancock land bordering Monticello was surveyed by Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas (Peter Jefferson died in 1757). [In 1764 Thomas Jefferson inherited his father's 2750-acre estate. In 1768 Jefferson began building Monticello. In 1770 Jefferson moved into Monticello. In 1772 he married Martha Wayles Skelton, whose dowry almost doubled his holdings.] Monticello is now located in Albemarle Co.
This 1790 map of Virginia shows: New Kent County (in green), Goochland County (in pink), Henry County (in orange; Patrick Co took the west part in 1791). In 1804 his daughter, Susannah married David Spurlock from neighboring Montgomery County (in blue).
All ten of John's children were born in Albemarle County, Va: Benjamin (1756), Lewis (1757), William L. (abt 1759), Major (abt 1760), Nancy (1763), Rhoda (abt 1766), Mary (abt 1768), Elizabeth Maddox (1773), Judith (1778), Susanna (abt 1780).
1774, Jun 5 - "In consideration of the sum of 10 shillings of good and lawful money, John Hancock was granted one certain parcel of land, containing 87 acres, lying in Co. of Albemarle, on the S. branches of Cunningham's Creek, beg. at Wm. Moore's corner to pointers in Colonel Hopkins' line, So. on George Hilton's line, East to Thomas Jefferson's line, then on to Wm. Moore's (Morris') line North to beg." [Vol 42, p. 709.]
Also June 5, 1774, "in consideration of the sum of Twenty Shillings . . . do give, grant and confirm unto John Hancock one certain tract or parcel of land containing 182 acres, lying and being in the county of Albemarle on the south side of the Rivanna River on the branches of Cunningham Creek, and bounded as follows, to-wit: Beginning at a pine and pointers in Hardin Burnley's line, running with the same S. 29(degrees) W. 180 poles, crossing two branches of Cunningham Creek to pointers, then now lines S. 40(degrees) E. 146 poles crossing two branches to pointers, and N. 37(degrees) E. 212 poles to the beginning."
John Hancock was a private in the Revolutionary War.
[There was another John Hancock who married Ann/Nancy Graves, and was a Capt in the Louisa Co, VA Militia.]
1777 -- John had four sons. He gave each of them a farm as they became of age. On August 7, 1777, John Hancock of Fluvanna Co., gave his oldest heir, Benjamin, 182 acres of land located on Cunningham Creek.
On Aug. 1, 1777, John D. Hancock of Fluvanna Co., for love and affection, deeded his son Benjamin Hancock 182 acres on Cunningham Creek, and his son Lewis Hancock 87 acres adjoining the lines of Thomas Jefferson, John Haden and Henry Haislip (D.B. 1, pp. 18 and 19). This deed is signed "John Hancock."
I don't know what his involvement was in the Revolutionary War, but there is a John Hancock from VA on the DAR list.
Fluvanna County Marriage Bonds 1777-1801
1778 - Lewis Handcock & Celey Oglesby
1780 - Nancy Handcock & Jesse Corn
1785 -- Later (abt 1785 when he was abt 52) he moved to the west part of Henry Co. from which Patrick Co. was taken in 1791. (Check out this site for some history of
Patrick County.) Maybe he didn't take his family with him at first. His daughter Elizabeth married in 1790 in Goochland County, and Mary married in 1795 in Fluvanna County, but Judith married in 1794 in Patrick County.
1799 -- Jan. 27, John Hancock and Elizabeth his wife, of Patrick Co., in consideration of $260.00, deeded land to Jacob Mayo, of Fluvanna Co. (D. B. 3, p. 505). Jacob was the father-in-law of 2 of his daughters: Elizabeth & Judith.
Sept. 13, 1802 (D. B. 4,p. 182), they deeded him 147 acres in consideration of $100.00.
John Hancock left a will dated Nov. 10, 1802, prob. in Patrick Co.,Va., Dec. Court, 1802
He left his son Lewis Hancock the land he lived on in Fluvanna County.
He left his sons William & Major the land he lived on in Patrick Co.
He left his clothes to son Benjamin because he had already given him 1821 in Fluvanna Co.
The rest of his estate he left to his wife for life or widowhood, and then to be divided among his 5 living daughters and William, with a part left for the children of his deceased daughter, Mary.
[From "Hopkins of Virginia and Related Families" by Walter Lee Hopkins]
-----------------------
http://mjgen.com/hancock/BenjaminHancock.html
