James DANIEL

                   This James Daniel (son of James who died in 1734) is the one who owned the land on the Soak-arse branch of the Willis River. He is also the James Daniel who was Sheriff of Goochland County (on July 17, 1740, James Daniel of Soak-arse Creek was appointed Constable of Goochland, and ... that this is the same James Daniel who became Sheriff of that county in 1743). Apparently, Soak-arse Creek was in that part of Goochland County that became Cumberland County. A November 27, 1755, deed refers to James Daniel and Elizabeth, his wife, as being "of Cumberland." In that deed, James and Elizabeth Daniel sold to John Wayles, of Charles City County, 96 acres "Where said James Daniel now lives.""Some time between 1755, James Daniel of Soak-arse creek appeared to have moved to Halifax County, Virginia. A January 31, 1757 Cumberland County deed, made by James Daniel, "of Halifax", to William Routon of Cumberland, is for "200 acres, lying on branches of Soakarse run, adjoining William Woodson and others, previously patented to Woodson and Daniel.""It also appeared that James Daniel of Soak-arse and of Halifax was still alive in HalifaxCounty after James Daniel of Albemarle had died. An August 17, 1768, Halifax County, VAdeed, records the sale of 400 acres on the south side of the Bannister River, from RichardEchols to Richard :Daniel. Witnesses were James and William Daniel."When James of Goochland gave bond as Sheriff of Goochland on October 18, 1743, William Woodson was one of the sureties. William Woodson was partners in a land deal with James of Soak Arse Creek, and had close dealings with him over several years. The two together tell me that James Sheriff of Goochland was not James Daniel of Albemarle. It is just another of those wonderful Daniel coincidences.