It is said that when William Byrd set out the city of Richmond, Virginia in 1737, that John Coles was already here and had the first house in the city.  Depending on the source, he arrived in Richmond either in 1710 or c.1730.  That he acquired his land from both grants and purchases but... FROM WHO?  He had to buy the land from someone but I am coming up empty except for one parcel where another house stood along Franklin Street.  There was one tract of around 143 acres he owned in the north-east section of the city just east of the horse race grounds and sold it to Richard Adams in 1769.  (or his son Isaac did?)


Any help identifying how or who the land that John Coles acquired in Richmond prior to the city being laid out, would be appreciated.


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