Pleasant Mahon is part of an extended Mahon family that settled in Pittsylvania County, Virginia in the late 1700s. Sorting out the various family members isn’t easy because of the usual problems – the surname can be spelled Mahon, Mahone or Mahan and not all of them are related, children’s given names are repeated in various branches of the family and the Mahons not only intermarried, they removed from Virginia in large family groups and settled in Missouri and Illinois. Add to that that they lived in that black hole time period after the Revolutionary War and before the 1850 census AND there were no birth or death records kept, the problems in correcting identifying people are evident.
In the case of Pleasant Mahon’s family, there was a lawsuit filed in Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1843 by Joseph H. Eanes. This lawsuit not only identifies Pleasant Mahon’s heirs, it also tells us that Pleasant died unexpectedly – either by an accident or a sudden medical issue like a heart attack or stroke – that brought on his death in October 1842 or very early in November 1842.
In October 1842, Joseph states that he and Pleasant came to an agreement for Joseph to purchase a tract of land containing about 330 acres at the headwaters of Cascade Creek in Pittsylvania County. Joseph and Pleasant further made plans to meet “in several days time” to draw out bonds and create a deed of conveyance to seal their deal. However, before they could meet, Pleasant “departed this life.”
All the pages of the lawsuit only number about seven and the suit itself isn’t very interesting. Basically, Joseph Eanes wanted Edmund Mahon, Pleasant’s son and estate administrator, to close the deal and sell him the land. Mr. Eanes stated that the adult heirs of Pleasant Mahon agreed to sell the land, but that there were two infants (children under 21) who were incompetent to agree (becuase they were minors) and the dower rights of widow Polly Mahon had to be considered. He requested that the court decide the matter. The judge ordered Joseph Eanes to make the payments agreed upon and take clear title of the land on 23 August 1844.
Heirs of Pleasant Mahon, 1843
To the Honorable Fleming Saunders Judge of the circuit court of Law and Chancery held for the county of Pittsylvania. —
Humbly complaining your Orator Joseph H. Eanes of the county of
Pittsylvania respectfully represent that in the month of October in the year 1842 your Orator purchased of a certain Pleasant Mahon late of said county a tract of land lying on the head waters of Cascade Creek in the county of Pittsylvania containing three hundred and thirty acres at the price of $737. To be paid in the following manner $450 of the said purchase money to be paid on the 1st day of September 1843, and the residue on the 1st day of September 1844 that at the time of the contract your Orator paid the said Mahon as earnest money one dollar in part of said purchase money and he then and there delivered to your Orator full possession of said tract of land which he has retained from that period.
Your Orator further expressly charges that at the time of the contract aforesaid the said Mahon and your orator agreed to meet in a few days there after to carry into full effect the agreement by executing bonds for the purchase money and making a conveyance by deed of the land aforesaid to your Orator, but before the time arrived for carrying out the premises aforesaid the said Pleasant Mahon departed this life Intestate leaving the following persons his heirs and distributees to wit Edmund Mahon Sally Bullington the wife of Josiah Bullington, Sheppard Mahon, Nancy Garrett the wife of John Garrett, Elizabeth Mahon the wife of Plyant Mahon, Wesley Mahon, Reuben Mahon, Williamson Mahon, Mary Mahon, Jeduthan Mahon and Julia Mahon the children and Polly Mahon the widow and relict of the said Pleasant Mahon decd.
The pages in this file are not numbered. I purchased the copies from the Pittsylvania County Clerk.
From this, the family of Pleasant Mahon and Mary (Polly) Williams Mahon can be constructed. Pleasant Mahon is said to be the son of Thomas Mahon and Susan Johnson. Mary is the daughter of Matthias Williams and Sarah Butler.
Children:
1. Edmund, born c1802, Virginia; died 1875; Henry County, Virginia; married Mary Casey, 29 January 1828, Henry County, Virginia. She was born c1810; died 1880.
2. Sarah Jane, born c1804, Virginia; died after 1880, probably Putname County, Tennessee; married Josiah Bullington, 2 December 1822, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He was born c1801; died after 1870, probably Putnam County, Tennessee.
3. Shepherd, born 14 March 1807, Virginia; died 5 September 1843, Osage County, Missouri; married Nancy Griggs, 9 December 1832, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
4. Nancy, born c1811, Virginia; died after 1870, probably Henry County, Virginia; married John Garrett, 3 February 1830, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He was born c1805; died after 1900, probably Henry County, Virginia.5. Elizabeth, born 8 May 1816, Virginia; died 4 January 1858, Fayette County, Illinois; married Pliant Mahon, 24 January 1834, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He was born c1809; died 1868.
6. Wesley, born c1818, Virginia; died 28 February 1885, Fayette County, Illinois; married Mary Godsey, 27 February 1839, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. She was born c1818; died 1904.
7. Williamson, born c1819, Virginia; died between 1866-1870, probably Adams County, Illinois; married Martha Ann Bullington, 20 May 1844, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. She was born c1824; died 1861, when she gave birth or later.
8. Mary, born c1824, Virginia; died after the 1843 lawsuit; no further record
9. Jeduthan, born 26 December 1825, Virginia; died 1 September 1900, Fayette County, Illinois; married Ruth Hoover, 6 November 1850, Fayette County, Illinois. She was born c1832; died 1912.
10. Julia, born 17 December 1826, Virginia; died 8 March 1881, henry County, Virginia; married Stephen L. Martin, 19 October 1846, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. He was born c1825; died after 1900.
Pleasant and Polly Mahon have many descendants to day. If you are one of them and would like the few pages pertaining to this lawsuit, please contact me.