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In 1666 Josias Draper was granted a certificate for 500 acres of land for transporting 10 people to Northumberland County. They included Thomas White and his wife, Edward White, Thomas White, Anne White, Hannah White, Joane White, William Fowle, himself, and Thomas Draper. 4 But according to the book, Cavaliers & Pioneers, James Pope and James Hill were granted 790 acres on the south side of the main branch of the Wiccocomico River in Northumberland County on 18 April 1668 for transporting 16 people, among whom were Josias Draper and Thomas Draper. 5
On May 8, 1672, Josias purchased a Lancaster County tobacco plantation. John Hawkins sold to Josias 261 acres of Lancaster land granted first to James Yates by Patent dated 28 November 1654, but was then in the hands of Thomas Banks and John Hawkins. 6 7 On 08 September 1675, Thomas Banks sold 200 acres to Josias Draper. 8 Josias may well have been a blacksmith, because on 10 December 1679 the county ordered a tax to pay creditors, which included Josias Draper for work he completed on several “armes” belonging to the County. 9 In June 1691 the estate of Edward Floyd requested due debts be paid, including Josias Draper for 2 large cases of nails, and Katherine Draper for building a shed and chimney. 10
On 16 July 1695, John Enloe was granted 300 acres of land near Mechotick Path in Lancaster County. The land was adjacent to property Josias purchased from James Fox. 11 This was a second piece of property in Lancaster, although it may have been adjacent to the 461 acres Josias purchased in 1672 and 1675.
Josias is listed incidentally in several Lancaster wills. 12 On 12 April 1692 he witnessed the will of Thomas Martin, and on 22 January 1697 George Heale (Sr.) stated in his will that the plantation on which he lived was situated on the south side of the main road between Joseph Ball’s mill and Josias Draper’s mill [probably on the Corotoman River]. 13 On 29 September 1697 Josias witnessed the inventory of John Wells. 14
John Draper filed a Lancaster will on 9 January 1677 in which he states, “to my honorable father, Josias Draper.” John’s will in 1677 was witnessed by Edward White 16 and William Draper. 17 In the Lancaster will of Josias filed 35 years later on 12 March 1712, he listed his wife Phebe, and two sons Thomas and John, and daughter Anne Steward. 15
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