Individual Details

Richard Echols was actually the first of the four Echols brothers to receive his patent in Prince George County. His was dated 6 Apr of 1734, about three months prior to those of his brothers and was for 397 acres.. On 15 Oct 1741, Richard Echoles received a patent for 1600 acres on the north side of the Great Nottaway River in Amelia Co which had been formed from Prince George in 1734 - half was sold to Anthony Griffin in 1741 who then obtained his own patent, the other half was sold to William Austin in 1743. He purchased 634 acres from Austin on the same day.

AMELIA CO VA DB 2, p.446
27 Oct 1746. Richard Echols, Planter, to Saml. Bentley. 296 acres near head of Pruits Crk, bounded by Sm Gates' corner near a rocky branch, Wm. Fuqua's line, Joseph Echols' upper corner, Abraham Echols' lower cornere. Patent to William Austin & Purchased by sd Richard Echols. Ack 20 Feb 1746/7. Cathrine, wife, relinquished dower.
There are probably other deeds in Amelia Co concerning the sale of Richard's land there.]

The rest of the patent that had been William Austins was sold in two more parcels - 200 acres to Joseph Hubbard and 198 acres to Rice Willaims in 1750. The first 397 acres patent of 1734 had been sold to John Kendall in 1748.

In 1747, Richard began to acquire land in Lunenburg Co in an area which would become Halifax Co. in 1752 and then Pittsylvania Co in 1766. He purchased two tracts of 274 acres each from the estate of William Byrd in 1747 and 1750.

Clements: HISTORY OF PITTSYLVANIA: four Echols: Richard, Abram, Joseph & William patented lands in 1745/6 in Pittsylvania and surrounding counties. They had patented 6000 A in Spotsylvania Co in 1728. [Richard was actually on the surveyor's records as early as 1741.]
When Halifax Co was formed, 1752, and the new parish of Antrim was laid out, Richard Echols took the oath of Vestryman.
[I find no Virginia land patents for the Echols brothers in Spotsylvania Co. Their earliest patents are in the 1730's in Prince George, an area which became Amelia Co. Spotsylvania Co was formed out of Essex & King & Queen where John Echols had his patents but he may have lived in the area of those counties that became Caroline. There are patents at this time in Spotsylvania Co for members of the Cave family. Pittsylvania did not become a county until 1766 but the Echols were patenting land in Brunswick/Lunenburg/Halifax in areas that did eventually become Pittsylvania Co.]

Richard Echols' land patents in Lunenburg/Halifax/Pittsylvania Counties
25 Jun 1747, Lunenburg Co, 221 acres South side Bannister River
20 Aug 1748, Lunenburg Co, 532 acres both sides Bannister and lower side of Bearskin Creek, adjacent Burton [half sold to Sherwood Walton and half to George Walton in 1758]
5 Aug 1751, Lunenburg Co, 180 acres both sides Humphrey's Mill Creek, adjacent Humphrey
5 Feb 1753, Lunenburg Co, 400 acres both sides Bradley's Creek, Byrd's line [sold to Thomas Dendy, 1760]
10 Sep 1755, Lunenburg Co, 650 acres both sides Terrible Creek, both sides of the Bannister River, adjacent Barrett
7 Aug 1761, Halifax Co, 400 acres east fork of Mirey Creek and 550 acres, both sides Mill Creek adjacent Bentley's land
11 Nov 1779, Pittsylvania Co, 476 acres main fork of Sandy Creek, adjacent Parrish, Atkinson, etc. [sold to James Johnson, 1786]

Beginning in July 1752, Richard Echols was listed as a member of the vestry of Antrim Parish in Halifax Co. He resigned 20 May 1754, being in a low state of health. He seems to have recovered.

The first deed in Halifax Co Deed Book 1 is torn and smugged, no page is visible. It's from Thomas Prewit to John Bates and was acknowledged 21 Jul 1752. Wit: Richard Eckhols, John Guilintine, Jos. Eckhols.
(Bk 1, p.83) 9 Jan 1754 Wm Wynn of Halifax to Daniel Terry of Cumberland Co. for £130 - 150 A. on N. side of Banister River on both sides of Woods Creek & another tract on N. side of Banister River adj. the 1st tract & granted to Wynn by Patent 1 June 1750 & containing 400 A.
Wit: Richard Eckhols, Ann Ozbrooks, Moses Eckhols, Moses Terry.
p.378 16 Mar 1758 Richard Eckhols to Sherwood Walton of Lunenburg Co ...50£ tract on both sides Banister R ...266 acres, ½ of 532 acres granted to Eckhols by patent 20 May 1748
p.380 16 Mar 1758 Richard Eckhols to George Walton 50£ both sides Banister R 266 acres ½ of 532 acres granted to Eckhol.
DB 2; p.199 20 Aug 1760 Richard ECHOLS to Thomas Dendy 40# ...both sides Bradleys Crk ..400 A granted to Rchd Echols 5 Feb 1753 ...No Wit. Ack Richd Echols 21 Aug 1760

Halifax Co VA Deed [Book 6, p.137]
17 Sep 1766 Richard ECHOLLS & wife Catherine of Halifax Co sold to Henry Hopson of Cumberland Co for 600 £, 274 A on N side Dan River, Halifax Co formerly Lunenburg, on Toys [Tobies?] & Burchs Crk & the branches thereof where Moses Echols, son of Richard Echols now dwells, conveyed to said Richard by William Byrd Esqr by deed in Lunenburg. Wit: Henry Farley, Jno Fredk Miller, Tho Harbour, Josiah Farley, Rec. 18 Sep 1766.

Pittsylvania Wills & Deeds, Book 5
p.154 15 Apr 1779 John Waller to Thomas Price of Charlotte Co. 1000£. 400 acres. Begin Richard Akins upper corner, Richard Chamberlain. Signed: John (I) Waller
Wit: John Stamps, William Stamps, Richd Echols
20 Apr 1779 Ack by Waller


Pittsylvania Co VA DB 7
p.577 11 Jan 1786 Richard Echols of Pittsy to James Johnson. 200£. 476 acres on main fork of Sandy Creek, granted to sd Richard Echols by patent dated 11 Nov 1779. Signed: Richard Echols.
Wit: Samuel Pruitt Junr, Absalom Hendrick, Zachariah Pruitt
20 Feb 1786 Proved by witnesses

Birth	Abt 1706	King and Queen County, Virginia
Marriage	1735	Catherine Evans
Death	Aft 1786	Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Spouse	Catherine Evans ( - )
Child	Drucilla Echols (1736 - )
Child	John Echols (1737 - 1826)
Child	Moses Echols (1740 - )
Child	James Echols (1739 - 1823)
Child	Mary Echols ( - )
Child	Sarah Echols ( - )
Child	Benjamin Echols (1751 - 1828)
Child	Obediah Echols (1755 - 1799)
Child	Joseph Echols (1757 - 1814)
Child	Anna Echols (1764 - 1806)
Child	Elizabeth Echols (1766 - )

Father	John Echols (1650 - 1712)
Mother	Mary Cave (1670 - 1712)
Sibling	Ann Echols ( - 1746)
Sibling	Eleanor Echols ( - )
Sibling	Mary Echols (1696 - )
Sibling	John Echols (1698 - 1750)
Sibling	Abraham Echols (1700 - 1749)
Sibling	William Echols (1702 - 1771)
Sibling	Joseph Echols (1704 - 1766)