John Cleveland, I

John Cleveland

• (No middle name)
• Birth: 31 July 1714 - Abingdon Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia
• Baptized: 24 August 1714 - Abingdon Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia
• Death: between 1 November 1778 (date will written) and 26 November 1778 (date will proved) - Blue Run, Orange County, Virginia
• Burial: place unknown
• Parents: Alexander Cleveland (d. perhaps on February 09, 1774) and Mary (unknown) (d. bef 1752)
• Spouse: Elizabeth Coffey 1714 - 1770 - married Apr 20 1734 Orange, Virginia

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Biography

Updated 8 January 2025

Elizabeth Cleveland, daughter of Ann Powell and Edward Coffey, married John Cleveland, I on April 20, 1734 in Orange County, Virginia, Colonial America. He was the son of Alexander Cleveland and his wife Mary. (She was not Milly Presley).

Together they had the following children:

1. Mary S (Cleveland) Franklin;
2. Elizabeth "Betty" (Cleveland) Gillespie;
3. Rev John H. Cleveland, II;
4. Colonel Benjamin Cleveland (North Carolina militia);
5. Captain Robert Cleveland;
6. Captain Jeremiah Cleveland;
7. Reuben Cleveland;
8. Martha "Patty" (Cleveland) Smith

No wife was listed in his 1778 will, so presumably Elizabeth died before then.

Col. Larkin Cleveland is not listed in John Cleveland's 1778 will and the birth location of Culpeper County reported by the DAR is wrong to be in his family.

About CLEVELAND, JOHN: For many years, John was something of a shadowy figure from family legend, but during the 1950s, a Cleveland researcher, George A. Martin, unearthed the Abingdon Parish Registry, which not only proved his birth, but also the birth of his father, and the names of his grandparents. His marriage to Elizabeth Coffey has not been documented beyond doubt, but it was a strong family legend, and it has been confirmed by Coffey family bibles, and is accepted by Coffey researchers. By the way, the Coffey ancestry is very interesting leading back to some very early American pioneers--early 1600s.

The Virginia Clevelands are the ancestors of Grover Cleveland.

Will of John Cleveland, 1778

https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I2793...

• 1778-1801 Orange County, Virginia Will Book 3: Antient Press]; Page 1
• Will of JOHN CLEAVELAND. of Orange County Imprimis
• I give to my daughter, Mary Franklin, one shilling Sterling
• to my son, Benjamin Cleaveland, one shilling Sterling ..
• to my son, John Cleaveland, one shilling Sterling ..
• to my daughter, Betty Claspey, one shilling Sterling ..
• to my son, Robert Cleaveland, one shilling Sterling ..
• to my son, Reuben Cleaveland, deed, one shilling Sterling ..
• to my son, Jeremiah Cleaveland, one shilling Sterling ..
• to my daughter, Patty Smith, the land whereon I now live during her natural life or as long as she should continue to live on the said land. If she should decease or move away from the said land, I charge my executor with the sale of the said land and the money to be equally divided between
• Betty Smith and Austin [Smith]; my two grandchildren ..
• I give to William Goodall, the colt referred to above and unto my friend, Bartlett Bennett, whom I make my sole executor have hereunto set my hand and seal the first day of November 1778.
• Witnesses (signed)
• Bartlett Bennett John Cleaveland
• Sarah (her mark) Smith
• Mary (her mark) Smith.
• At a court held for Orange County at the courthouse Thursday the 26th of November 1778 .. presented into court by Bartlett Bennett .. proved by the oaths of Sarah Smith and Mary Smith
• William Buckner and William Webb securities ... bond in the penalty of one thousand pounds.

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Notes

Not sure about date of birth, 1695-1700.

Settled Bull Run in Prince William County in Virginia, with his father Alexander Cleveland.

Prior to 1734, they moved 60 miles to the southwest locating in a border settlement on Blue Run. Some 6 or 8 miles above it's junction with the Rapidan in Orange County.

Had a plantation or homestead on Blue Run, in Orange County, Virginia.

John and Alexander were deeded land in Orange County in 1734.

He probably married in Virginia. He died on his homestead, Blue Run in Orange County, Virginia.

Says he was a house joiner or builder and a large real estate owner.

In the records of the county court office, Orange County Deeds, (about the beginning of the records 1734) Prince Curtis conveys to John Cleveland about 600 acres of land.

A lady named Sarah C. Abbott writes, "My father gave me this information; that my grandfather's father (John) crossed the ocean from England and settled Virginia; in the first settling of SC, he came to SC and made that his home."

Some of his descendants think that he moved to North Carolina with his children. Martha Coffee was probably related to Rev. James Coffey, who married Elizabeth Cleveland.

(Taken from Genealogy of the Cleveland & Cleaveland families, published in 1899).

Records

• 1734-1737 Orange County, Virginia Deed Book 1; [John Frederick Dorman]; Pages 13-16.
• 7-18 March 1734 [1735]. Rice Curtis Senr. of Spotsylvania County, Gent., to John Cleveland of same, planter. Lease and release; 2000 pounds of tobacco. 100 acres on the branches of Blew Run and adjoining the lands of Thomas Chew, Alexander Cleveland junr. and Hancock Lee, part of a patent for 1600 acres taken up by Thomas Chew and by him sold to Mr. Rice Curtis Senr. and by said Rice Curtis sold to John Cleveland ... corner to Alexander Cleveland ... corner to Mr. Hancock Lee ...
• Rice Curtis
• Wit: John Thorpe, Thos. Merry, Grace (X) Cleveland. 20 May 1735. Acknowledged by Rice Curtis, Senr.

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• witness
• 1759-1765 Orange County, Virginia Deed Book 13; [Antient Press]; Page 455-456
• Indenture 6 Feb 1764 between LAWRENCE FRANKLYN SENR., and MARY, his wife, of Orange County, and BERNARD FRANKLYN, Leather breeches maker of County of Albemarle .. for £25 .. sell tract
• in Orange County patented by Lawrence Franklyn and contained 400 acres, 100 thereof sold to Alexander Cleveland Senr., and 100 to Benja. Franklyn, and the other 200 now to Bernard Franklyn
• Witnesses: Lawrence (X) Franklyn
• Elizabeth Cleaveland, Mary (X) Franklyn
• Betty Cleaveland, Anne Franklyn,
• George Franklyn, John Cleaveland, W. Coursey.
• Recorded Orange County 23rd August 1764.

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• 1772-1778 Orange County, Virginia Deed Book 16; [Antient Press]; Page 217-218
• Indenture 1 Aug 1773 between DAVID BRUCE and HONORIOUS, and CLEVELAND COFFEY .. for £5 .. sell 5 acres on county line joining Mrs. Salley Brooke, dec'd ... Rippin
• Presence: James Walker, Thos. Barbour, David (X) Bruce
• Ben Johnson, Edward Deering

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• The Virginia Genealogist Volume 33, 1989 [John Frederick Dorman] Page 25
• 1775-1803 British Mercantile Claims
• Reports on sundry claims, 12 Nov. 1800: [Page 111]
• John Cleveland, Albemarle. £12 . 7.3, Wm. Cunningham & Co. (Fredericksburg Store). He died in Orange in 1774 and left a moderate estate. His acting executor is Bartlett Bennett, now of the same county. John Cleveland on his death bed desired that this debt might be paid and the executor as soon as he could raise any money from the estate went down to Fredericksburg to pay it, but ould find no person to receive it. He has never had any application for payment and has given up nearly all the estat e to the legatees but says he will pay the debt with interest , except during the war, as soon as possible.

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This narrative has many errors.

John Jeremiah Cleveland (31 July 1714 – 1 Nov 1778)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135277151/john_jeremiah_cleveland

John Jeremiah Cleveland, a beloved member of the Cleveland family and a prominent figure in colonial America, passed away on November 1, 1778, at the Bull Run Estate in Prince William County, Virginia. Born on July 31, 1714, to Alexander Cleveland Jr. and Miley Presley, John lived a remarkable and fulfilling life that spanned over six decades.

John Jeremiah migrated to Prince William County, Virginia, alongside his father and mother in his early years. It is likely that he was raised there before relocating to Orange County between 1734 and 1738. Eventually, he settled at the Bull Run Estate, where he spent the majority of his life.

On the 16th of July, 1700, Martha Elizabeth Coffee was born in Essex, Virginia, to Anne Ester Powell and Edward Joshua Coffey Sr. In 1714, she married John Jeremiah Cleveland, who would become a successful merchant and colonial official. Together, John and Martha were blessed with nine children, seven sons, and two daughters. Their sons included Jacob (born in 1729), Col. Benjamin (1738), Gen. Joe (1740), Gov. Robert (1744), Reuben (1745), Preacher John (1740), and Larkin Green (1748). Their daughters were Mary Patsy Franklin (1739) and Elizabeth Betty Fields (1742).

John Jeremiah Cleveland was an esteemed member of the Virginia Militia during the South Carolina Revolutionary War, holding the rank of Colonel. His dedication and service to his country were commendable, and he played a vital role in the fight for independence.

Throughout his life, John was recognized as a prosperous landowner and merchant. He acquired approximately 600 acres of land, conveyed to him by Prince Custis in 1734. Bull Run became his cherished home, where he resided with his loving wife, Martha, and raised their children. John's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to his community made him a respected figure in colonial Virginia.

John Jeremiah Cleveland's passing leaves behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and devotion to family and country. His contributions to the early development of the American colonies and his unwavering commitment to the cause of independence will be remembered and cherished by future generations. John will be deeply missed by his descendants, friends, and all those whose lives he touched during his remarkable journey.

References

1. Birth record: The Register of Abingdon Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia 1677-1780. Compiled by Robert W. Robins. (document attached) "Cleveland, John, son of Alexander Cleveland, was born July 31 and baptized August 24, 1714. T40, R31, S81."
2. Will record: A Digest of Orange Co., Virginia Will ecords, 1734-1838, by Speracio, 1978; 975.5372/P2sd; p. 24 - "John Cleaveland 3. 1. Will made 1 Nov 1778; rec 26 Nov 1778. Ex. Bartlett Bennett. Wit. Bartlett Bennett, Sarah Smith, Mary Smith. CH. Mary (Franklin), Benjamin, John, Betty (Claspey), Robert, Reuben (deced), Jeremiah, Patty (Smith); g-ch Betty and Austin Smith.
3. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cleveland-96 (shows an unknown or Jacob Cleveland son)
4. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:John_Cleveland_%2852%29 (shows 4 children only)
5. https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I2793... (disproved mother, errors in parent dates)
6. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZJV-XCK (incorrect middle name, name of wife, dates for father, dates & name of mother, and disproved siblings.).(Children show additional middle names they likely did not have, but matches will data, except for son "Larkin.")
7. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135277151/john_jeremiah_cleveland unreliable.
8. < Birdsong Family Tree >