From "Madison County Homes" by Vee Dove (pub1975)

On p. 16 is a picture of a house called "Locust Shade". Ambrose Medley built the rock chimney for this house before going off to fight in the Revolutionary War in 1776. Upon returning, he built a six room house around the chimney, having corner fireplaces in the four rooms on the first floor. This house is considered to be the first frame house in Madison County, others were log.

When Madison County was formed from Culpepper County in 1792, Ambrose Medley was one of the first justices appointed by the governor for the county. He was also the first supervisor from the Locust Dale District. Medley was coroner in Madison County appointed by the Governor of VA. in November 1793. On Sept. 25, 1800, Ambrose was appointed Sheriff of Madison County by a committee of the Governor, James Monroe. The Will of Ambrose Medley dated Dec 1803, left his land to be divided between his wife and children.

The farm numbered about 563 acres in 1803. This land was designated as the dower of Frances Medley, wife of Ambrose Medley, and purchased by May B Medley from the other heirs. In 1831, May B and Marie Medley deeded the property to William Bradley.

1669 Middlesex Co. formed from Lancaster Co.

1712 James, son of John & Elianor Medly, born 1 Aug. rcds Christ Ch.

1714 John, son of John & Elianor Medley bapt 18 April, Christ Ch.

1716 Robert Medley, son of John & Elianor Medley b. May 6, bapt. 3 June,Christ Ch.

1729, 15 May--Wm Buford m. Eliz. Owen

1692 Essex Co formed from Old Rappahannock Co.(Old Rap Co. formed in 1656 from Lancaster Co., became extinct in 1692 when split into Essex & Richmond.

1755 James Medley m. Susannah Smith (f.Nicholas Smith)

1771 Elizabeth Medley (dau of James & Elinor) m. Thomas Hundley (Box772-76)

1734 Orange Co. formed from Spottsylvania (1720\21)

1734, 15July--Essex Co.Deed Bk 1733-1738; p158--I Eleanor Medley for the natural affection I bear unto my son, James Medley.

1736\39 Edward Tinsley and Wm Crosthwait on list of tithables.

1742\46 Isaac Medley apptd overseer of roads and apptd to do road work.

1747\48 Land Warrant mentions land of John Barnett in fork of Robinson R., adjoining land of May Burton, Robert Medley and Jacob Medley.

1747\48 Warrant Culpeper Co. Wm Crosthwait of Orange Co. adj Jacob Medley Rappa R & Ye Lost Mtn. cc:Jacob Medley & Timothy Crosthwait.

1749 Culpeper Co. formed from Orange Co.

1749/50 Culpeper warrant-land on Smith's Run & White Oak Run adj:Robt Medley.

1750 Warrant abstract refers to land on Beaverdam Run adj. John Medley & John Buford.

1755, 16 Jan; Culpeper Co. Deed Bk B, pp270-277: three deeds mentioning Jacob Medley and wife Elizabeth, May Burton and wife Hannah and John Medley of Brumfield Parish.

1756, 15 Jun; Will of Timothy Crosthwait, Orange Co, p229, prob 26Aug1756.

bros: William, Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob

sis: Sarah (wife of John Thomson) & Elizabeth (wife of Jacob Medley).

1756, 28 Oct, refers to land on Robinson fork of Rappa R. adj.Robert Medley

1759, 20 Sep; Culpeper Co, Will Bk A, pp203-205; Will of Robert Medley, mentions cousin Ambrose Medley son to Jacob Medley.

1761, 25 June, Will Bk ;312-314, estate accts of Timothy Crosthwait, payments made to: Jacob Medley, May Burton and Eliza Medley. (Orange Co)

1763, 16 Oct, Culpeper Co. Minute Bk--will of John Medley submitted by Jacob Ward and Elizabeth Medley, exrs.

1763, 20 Oct, Culpeper Co. Will Bk A, p352-4, John Medley; wife Eliza; dau Elizabeth son John, minor ch: Elinor, Mary & Martha.

1770, 25 Apr, Orange Co. Deed Bk (1768-1772) p254. between James Medley of the County of Culpeper and Ann Taylor of Orange Co. Whereas a marriage is shortly to be solemnized, the said Ann to dispose of her Dower of her late husband's estate.

1770's Ambrose Medley & Reuben Medley signed Culpeper Co. legislative petition, presumed to have been a Minuteman.(on file in VA State Library)

1771/72 Culpeper Warrant--land on Rapidan R., adj. Jacob Medley

1774, 20 Oct, Culpeper Co. Deed Bk (1775-1778) pp21,22. between Jacob Medley and Susanna Klugg, whereas a marriage is shortly to be solemnized between said Jacob and Susanna.

1775, 12 Dec; Ambrose Medley m. Frances Burton, Orange Co,p4. Capt May Burton Sur.

1780, 16 Oct; Inv Estate of Wm Bell, wit: Jacob Medley, Edward Tinsley, Ephriam Rucker. Culpeper Co.VA

1780, 30 Oct, Ambrose Medley, exec. estate of Barnard Rogers.

1782, 18 Feb; Ambrose Medley--inv estate, Wm Roebuck

1782, 15 Apr; Jacob & Ambrose Medley exec will Ignatius Tureman.

1782, 17 Jun; Ambrose Medlely inv. estate of Jasper Haynes.

1783, 15 Dec, Jacob Medley exec estate of Christian Ryne.

1787 (VA Tax Payers, 1782-87):

Ambrose Medley, Culpeper 1787

Jacob, Reubin,and Reubin Medley Culpeper 1787

Susanna & Elisabeth Medley Culpeper 1787, not tithable

1789-1791 Ambrose Medley inv 4 estates.

Misc items:

Marriages:

1777, 15 Nov, John May m. Susanna Porter, Pittsylvania Co.

1797, 30 Oct, John Medley m. Ann Carter, Henry Co.

1799, 15 Dec, Jinny Medley m. Jesse Atkinson, Halifax Co

Wills: (Va Wills & Adm, 1632-1800-Torrence)

Medley Co

William Berkely 1794w

Robert Culpeper 1759w

John Culpeper 1763w

James Sr Essex 1772w

James Jr Essex 1774w

John Essex 1777w

Joseph Halifax 1796i

Isaac Lunenburg 1762w

1792 Madison Co. formed from Culpeper Co.

1801, 29 Jul-Caleb Tinsley m. Elizabeth Medley, min-Henry Fry- Madison Co,VA.

1803, 27 Jan; Deed Bk3, p377-383 and 384-385 concerns division and sale of estate of Edward Tinsley. p384 cites William's wife Francis.

Henry Tinsley, Caleb Tinsley and Betsey his wife, Abraham Tinsley, Joel Yager and Francis his wife of Madison Co,VA; Benjamin Rice and Betsey his wife of Campbell Co,KY. rep of Edward Tinsley, dec'd. to William Tinsley.

1805, 28 Nov; Will Bk2, p62, Madison Co,VA. Frances Medley and May Burton adm and ex estate of Ambrose Medley; cites orphans: Franky Medley, Phebe Medley, Ambrose Medley and May B Medley. Part two refers to orphans: Charlotte, Joel, Leah and Harriet Medley.

1806, 27 Mar-Frankey Medley m. Major J.Sampson, s. of John Sampson, d.of Frances Medley, min-Isham Tatum-1Apr1806.

1806, 25 Sep-Will Bk 2-97, estate of Ambrose Medley (see Sampson entry)

1810 Census, Madison Co,VA:

Frances Medley 0-0-3-0-0--0-2-2-0-1 p359

Jacob Medley 1-0-0-1-0--2-0-1-0-0 p359

Reuben Medley 0-1-0-0-1--0-0-0-0-1 p359

1810 Franklin Co,KY Census:

Reuben Medley p146-6

1816, 18 Sep; Deed Bk 6, pp 171-172, Madison Co,VA. Caleb Tinsley, James Medley, Major John Sampson and Elizabeth, Melinda, and Franky their wives to May B Medley. Frances Medley widow and relict of Ambrose Medley. Elizabeth Tinsley, James Medley and Franky Sampson are heirs of Ambrose Medley.

1820 Census, Madison Co,VA:

Frances Medley 1-0-0-0-1-0--0-0-2-2-1 p106

Reuben Medley 2-0-0-1-0-1--0-0-1-0-1 p105A

1820, 28Jun--will Joshua Willis, daus: Frances Tinsley, Milly Medley; sons: James, Willis, & Reuben. ex: son-in-law Wm Tinsley.

1822, 25Jul--will prob. Reuben Medley, w.Mary, son-in-law: Wm Strother dec=d, grsons: Charles S., Reuben & James Strother, grdau: Louisa-dau of Mildred and Wm Strother.

1826, 25May--deed 9-255, May B Medley, grantee.

1828 10 Apr John Sampson III marries Mildred Tinsley, dau of Caleb Tinsley and Elizabeth Medley in Franklin Co.,KY.

1829, 24Oct--deed 20-278, Ambrose Medley heirs, agreement.

1832, 25Oct--deed 11-276, Phebe Medley, grantee

1873, 11Aug--deeds 25-432, Frederick Medley, grantee.