From his first marriage James Tapscott Sr. had four known children, with a fifth likely (Robert Henry, Albion T., James Jr., Warner Lewis, and probably Mary Lewis, all assumed born in Lancaster County) and from his second, five more (Louisa Alcinda, Susanna Caroline, Baker, Newton, and Chichester) [Division of slaves of Richard Tapscott, court of 21 November 1808: Lancaster County, Virginia, Minute Book 23B, 1808-1812, pp. 4-5.].
Like many a young man, Robert Henry, probably the first born (except for Mary Lewis), could be a difficult son. One
situation is revealed in chancery court records [James Tapscott vs. Samuel Wilson and Kennon Giles, Chancery Court, Augusta Co, Virginia, Index No. 1804-044, Digital Collections, Library of Virginia, Richmond]. In the summer of 1801, without the knowledge of his father, Robert signed a promissory
note to pay $108 to Samuel Wilson of Botetourt County as partial payment for a
horse purchased by Robert’s acquaintance Kennon Giles. Robert was said to have assumed the debt because he owed money to Giles. When Robert could not pay off the note, Wilson took him to court in Botetourt County and was awarded $134.66 to
cover both the debt and court costs.
On 29 August 1803 James Tapscott provided
security for a $269.32 bond guaranteeing that his son Robert would deliver a gray stud
horse to be sold to settle the debt. But James then filed a complaint before the
court of chancery for Augusta County, Virginia,
stating his belief that Robert had actually lost the money in illegal gambling
at Sweet Springs in Monroe County,
and that Giles and Wilson were in cahoots. The old chancery documents do not
reveal the final outcome.
