Will: Richard Tomlin

RICHARD TOMLIN Will

Prince William County Will Book K, pg. 285

30 Dec 1813; proved 04 Apr 1814

I RICHARD TOMLIN of the Town of Dumfries, County of Prince William and State of Virginia being of sound mind & memory and in perfect health do make and ordain this as my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills made by me.  Imprimis I desire that all my just debts be paid.  Item I give and devise to MARGARET TOMLIN my wife one third part of my estate both real and personal during her life.  Item I desire that all the rest of my estate both real and personal and of every kind and description be equally divided amongst my children MARY LOCKER, THOMAS TOMLIN, WILLIAM TOMLIN, RICHARD TOMLIN and MARGARET TOMLIN to them and their heirs forever.  Item it is my will and desire that after my wife’s death, the part of my estate above devised to her be equally divided amongst my children aforementioned Viz. MARY LOCKER, THOMAS TOMLIN, WILLIAM TOMLIN, RICHARD TOMLIN and MARGARET TOMLIN to them and their heirs forever.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 30^th day of December 1813.

RICHARD TOMLIN {seal}

Signed sealed published and declared as & for the last will & testament o the testator in the presence of him.

PHIL. D. DAWE, JOHN MERCHANT, HENRIETTA MERCHANT

At a Court held for Prince William County April 4^th 1814.

This last will and testament of RICHARD TOMLIN decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oaths of PHILIP D. DAWE and JOHN MERCHANT is ordered to be recorded. 

At a Court Cont’d held for sd. County May 3^rd 1814.

Administration of the Estate with the will annexed of RICHD. TOMLIN decd. is granted to JOHN MERCHANT he having taken the oath of an Admor. and entered into and acknowledged a bond with security according to law.

Teste,  PHIL. D. DAWE

Will: Joseph Butler

Joseph Butler Will

Prince William County

Will Book H, Pages 50-52

22 Sept. 1788, Probate 8 Jan 1793

In the name of God amen I Joseph Butler of Prince William Count state of Virginia being in perfect health do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament as touching what wordly Estate it hath pleased almighty God to bestow upon me My Will and desire is to bestow in the following manner.  First My will and desire is that my just debts be honestly paid.

2. Item I give and devise unto my loving wife Anna Butler my whole Estate both real and personal during her widow hood and after her deceas or marrage, To be disposed of in manner and form following --

3. Item I give and bequeath unto my son James Carter Butler five pounds current money to be laid out in cloths for him to ware. This is to be done by my Exors. hereafter mentioned--

4. Item I give and bequeath unto my Joseph Butler one shilling sterling money --

5.  Item I give and bequeath unto my son William Butler one shilling sterling money --

6. Item I give and bequeath unto my son Charles Butler one shilling sterling money --

7.  Item I give and bequeath unto my son Laurance Butlers deced' children Sarah Anne Joseph Jacob Colvert and Mary Colvert a negroe man named Jack to be equilly divided amongst them which negro I have already made a Deed of Gift to them.

8.  Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Catherine Botts one shilling sterling money--

9.  Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Francis Barker one shilling sterling money--

10.  Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Butler the following negroes to wit Lydia, Charlotte, and Preston one bed and furniture, a chest of drawers, a ceeder table, a square leef oval walnut table and a square walnut table after the Death of her mother and should my daughter Anne die without heir lawfully begotten then my will is that my daughter Mary Carter shall have the whole Estate given to my daughter Anne Butler.

11. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Carter the following Negroes to wit Hanna, Silvie, Ruth and Sam after the death of her mother and should my daughter Mary carter die without heir lawfully begotten then my will is that my daughter Anne Butler shall have the whole Estate given to my daughter Mary Carter.

12.  Item my will is that my loving wife shall dispose of the following slaves at her death as she may think proper to wit Will, Phill, Daniel, Elijah, Cate, young Jude and Old Jude -- Revoking disanuling all will before this I constitute and appoint my loving wife and my son in law David Carter Executors of this my last will and Testment.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty second day of September one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Eight.

Jos. Butler {seal}

Witnesses present

Spilsby Stone

Benjamin Stone

Jesse Stone

Margaret Stone

At a court continued and held for Prince William County the 8th [?] day of January 1793. This Last Will and Testament of Joseoph Butler Deceased was presented to the Court by Ann Butler his Widow the Executrix therein named who made oath to the same according to Law and the same being proved by the oaths of Spilsby Stone and Jesse Stone is admitted to record and the Executrix having performed what is usual in such cases certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste.  Robert Graham

Tombstone Tuesday: Wallace Norman Tansill

WALLANCE N. TANSILL

May 30, 1845

April 22, 1926

Member of Mosby's Command

During the Civil War

"Faithful Unto Death"

Wallace Norman Tansill was born in Prince William County, the son of Samuel Tansill and Theodocia Norman.  He married Anna Louisa Cole, the daughter of Horace Cole and Martha A. Taylor.

He and his wife are buried in the Fredericksburg City Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Newspaper Tidbit: Conservative Meeting

Alexandria Gazette

1/7/1868

CONSERVATIVE MEETING.—At a meeting held in Brentsville, Prince William county, Va., on Monday, January 6, 1868, C. W. C. Dunnington, Esq., was called to the Chair, and Dr. Carter Berkeley appointed Secretary.

The Chairman explained the object of the meeting to be to organize the Conservative party of the county, in accordance with the recommendation of the State Executive Committee.

On motion of Col. Nicol, the Chair appointed Messrs. Allen Howison, Lawrence Cole, Crawford Cushing, and John Hammill a committee to report suitable persons as committees of the four magisterial districts.

After consultation, the committee reported the following names, to wit:

Dist. No. 1 – Edwin Nelson and Dr. M. B. Weedon.

Dist. No. 2 – Dr. M. Ish and Colonel Basil Brawner.

Dist. No. 3 – F. A. Weedon and William Bryan.

Dist. No. 4 – Capt. J. E. Herrell, and Col. Edmund Berkeley.

On motion, it was, Resolved, That the committee have power to fill any vacancies which may occur in their body.  The proceedings were ordered to be published in the Alexandria Gazette and Richmond Enquirer.  The meeting then adjourned.

Will Book: William Fitzhugh Inventory (Slaves Only)

In addition to Wills that left slaves and other "property" to specific heirs, county Will Books include accounts and inventories of estates that can include important genealogical information.  In this Inventory, an occupation and the names of parents are mentioned. 

WILLIAM FITZHUGH Inventory

(Slaves only)

Prince William County Will Book I, pg. 41

2 July 1804

IN OBEDIENCE to an Order of Prince William Court bearing date July second 1804 directing us the Subscribers to Inventory and apprays the Est. of WILLIAM FITZHUGH decd being first sworn we have proceed’d as follows to wit.

One Negro man named BENJAMIN (a carpenter) - $263.33

One Negro Man named GEORGE - $333

One Woman named MARY - $300

One Mulatoe lad named BRAXTON - $300

One Mulatoe man named RANDOLPH - $400

One decriped man named ABINGO - $100

One Negro girl named PEGGY - $260

One Negro boy named BARNETT - $200

Oen Mulatoe woman LUCY & child ROSANNA - $300

One Mulatoe woman named FANNY - $200

One Negro woman named DAPHNY - $300

One Negro boy named REUBEN - $200

One Mulatoe child named NELLY (daughter of FANNY) - $80

One Mulatoe child named SIDNEY (Lucy’s daughter) - $150

One Mulatoe boy named FRANK (son of Lucy) - $60

One Mulatoe child named BEVERLY (son of Lucy) - $80

One Negro boy named ROBERSON (son of Mary) - $100

Amount of Negroes - $3,576.33

Bill of Sale: Burroughs to Tackett and Grigsby

Researching slave ancestors can be a challenge, but every day more resources and period records are finding their way onto the Internet. One such resource is Afrigeneas, which has been online for ten years.

In addition to slave schedules and census records, county Deed and Will books can also provide a wealth of information.

Burroughs to Tackett and Grigsby Bill of Sale
Prince William County Deed Book 1, pg. 77

Know all men by these presents that I Benjamin Burroughs of the County of Prince William and State of Virginia for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds current money of Virginia to me in hand paid by William Tackett and James Grigsby of the County and Commonwealth aforesaid (the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and thereof do acquit and discharge the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors and administrators) have granted bargained & sold and by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said William Tackett & James Grigsby, their heirs Executors, administrators & assigns, one negro man named Abraham and one negroe woman named Mary to have & to hold the said two slaves Abraham & Mary to them the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors admors & assigns, and I the said Benjamin Burroughs do for myself my heirs executors and admors warrant and for ever defend the aforesaid property to them the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors & assigns against me my heirs executors & administrator, and against any and every other person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 5th day of March 1800.

Benjamin Burroughs {seal}

Signed and sealed and delivered in presence of }
Hugh Davis, A. Lithgow Jr.
Allen Lowden, Thos. A. Smith

At a Court contd. And held for Prince Wm. County the 6th day of May 1800. This bill of sale from Ben. Burroughs to Wm. Tackett and Jas. Grigsby was proved by the oath of Alex. Lithgow Junr. And Thos. A. Smith and ordered to be recorded.

Teste. John Williams

Certificate: Tebbs to Muschett

W. J. Tebbs to Charles M. Muschett Certificate
Prince William County Deed Book 1, pg. 78

I hereby certify that Charles M. Muschett this day made oath before me that his removal to the State of Virginia was with no intention to evade the act preventing the further importation of slaves within the Commonwealth nor has he brought with him or will cause to be brought any slave with an intent of selling them and that none of the slaves now in his possession to wit Mary, Charles & Anna have been imported from Africa or any of the West India Islands since the 1st day of November 1778. Given under my hand this 15th day of April 1800.

W. J. Tebbs

At a Court contd. And held for Prince Wm. County the 3d day of June 1800. This certificate of slaves imported from W. J. Tebbs to Chs. M. Muschett was presented to the Court and ordered to be recorded.

Teste. John Williams