~This is the legend~ the reality may be even more entertaining.
There is reason to believe that they were all young men as one of the brothers is reported to have handed his books to his sister and departed with Richard and the other brother. Richard disembarked at Alexandria, Virginia (listed in local census of 1787) and worked there for some time as an apprentice tailor (may have been indentured) before moving to Front Royal, Virginia. He signed a petition for formation of a town at Front Royal that was presented to the Virginia legislature on Nov 4, 1788.
The American War of Independence was between 1775 & 1781. There would have been news of it in Ireland.
2. On 5 November 1792, Richard Pumaraw (Pomeroy) was married to Mary Lehew. Lewis Corbin recorded the marriage in the Frederick County Record. Probably married in Front Royal since Lewis Corbin was a Baptist minister there at the time and the area was then in Frederick County (see below.)
Mary was the daughter of Spencer Lehew, and granddaughter of Peter Lehew, the founder of Front Royal, VA.
3. Richard purchased a lot of land in Front Royal on 7 may 1793 from Allen Wiley, however, no record can be found that he sold the lot. His wife's sister was married to a Cattlet and they reportedly assumed ownership of the lot perhaps without recording the deed.
4. Richard is listed in the 1810 census of Shenandoah County, Virginia as head of a household of 5 males and 1 female. One male age 45+ is assumed to be Richard (therefore, he was born before 1765), and in the 1820 census as head of a household of 5 males and 4 females, with 3 males engaged in agriculture.
5. According to his son, Presley's, obituary notice the family moved to Harmony Hollow in August 1802. Shenandoah county tax records show that he owned 150 acres of land (fee simple) from 1818 to 1829, located on the Blue Ridge Mountains, 30 miles east of the courthouse at Woodstock. Land valued at $ 1.50 per acre plus $ 30 for buildings, total value $ 255. for which he paid $ 0.18 tax in 1825 for example. He reportedly built "Morland" with Thomas Buck between the years 1813 and 1818.
6. There is no known or recorded death for Richard. Information available indicates that he disappeared from his farm in late summer 1835. [see interview published in 1949 between Mrs. John Lewin, then 92 and Charles W. Carson as the register man: " Richard Pomeroy came from Ireland. He was a fine tailor. His father-in-law gave him a house on Chester Street. He married Mary Lehew. He was lost in the mountain in 1835 and never found"]. Reportedly his sons were harvesting corn, and the 1840 land tax is listed as "Richard Pomeroy Estate". "The estate" is also listed as owning 227 acres in the Virginia tax list of landowners dated 1837, and tax bills were sent to his son, James Pomeroy, until 1858 or 1859 when the land was divided.
7. Richard was reportedly of medium height, with blue eyes, and a "devout� Roman Catholic although no record of church membership has been found.
8. Marriage recorded at Frederick County Court House - record no. 1 " Frederick County marriage record no. 1 July 14, 1782 - Oct 6, 1853
Page 137; male Pumaraw, Richard; female Lehew, Mary. minister Lewis Corbin date Nov 5, 1792
138 Pumroy, Alexander -wife Fletcher, Elizabeth Minister James Withers Jan 6, 1829
9. General index to deeds - Frederick Co., Virginia - no 1 [l to z] 1743 - 1839 page 83
Deed vol 24a page 94 - 7 may 1793
Pumroy, Richard from Allen Wiley ux this indenture made the Seventh day of May in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred and Ninety Three between Allen Wiley and Eve his wife of Culpeper County and State of Virginia of the one part and Richard Pumroy of Frederick County and State aforesaid of the other part witness of seth that for and in consideration of the sum of Five pounds current money of Virginia to the said Allen Wiley in hand paid by the said Richard Pumroy at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and tohereof doth release, acquit and discharge the said Richard Pumroy, his Heirs, Executors and Administrators and for other good cause and considerations him the said Allen Wiley hereunto moving have granted, bargained, sold, aliened and confirmed; and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, makein, and confirms unto the said Richard Pumroy his Heirs and assigns a lott of land in the town of Front Royal and County of Frederick aforesaid situated on the south side of Moses Wiley's lott and extending from the south-west corner of the said lott s 31' 45" e five poles thence n 62' e 16 poles thence n 31' 41" w five poles to the south-east corner of the said Wiley's lott thence with the line of the said lott reversed s 62" w 16 poles to the beginning with all houses, buildings, orchards, garden ways, waters, water cources, profits and commodities together with all and singular the tenements there dotoments and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining to have and to hold the said lands here described.
son of Ol' Richard
