Today, it’s my maternal 6th
great grandparents – James REDDING and Mary Ann POAGE.
It seems both of them
left wills. Those records list their daughters’
names, both given and married surnames.
This is extremely helpful when searching for our female ancestors.
Here is James’
probate/will record. From Virginia,
U.S. Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900
 |
| James Redding probate record - 1815 Virginia |
Here is my transcription of the record.
I James
Redding of the county of Bath and state of Virginia, do will and
bequeath my real and personal estates in this _____and form following after my
funeral expenses and just debts and ____
I will and bequeath to my wife
Mary Ann Redding all my goods and _____all
which she shall dispose of in her lifetime as she may think proper. I likewise
bequeath to her all my notes and bonds and ___of these notes and bonds as ___as
they are collected she4 shall pay to my daughter Elizabeth
Hudson Ten Dollars likewise to my daughter Sally
Dennison, ten dollars, likewise to my daughter Mary
Ann May ten Dollars, likewise to my daughter Eleanor
Dennison ten Dollars, and likewise to my daughter Hannah May ten Dollars. I likewise bequeath to my
wife all the ready money that is in my possession at the time of my decease . I
will and bequeath to my son in law John May
all my lands to him and his heirs forever.
I do _____ and appoint Joseph Wooddell Senior and William Warwick to be
executors of this my last will and Testament. Signed sealed and published this
fourth day of November one thousand eight hundred and fifteen.
 |
| James Redding's name and his mark |
In presence of
Daniel Kerr
Wm McRenny
Robert Kerr
Bath County December court
1815
This will and testament of
James Redding was presented in court by the executors therein named and _____by
the Bath ____ heir and William McReney and _____to be recorded
As difficult as it may be
to ascertain some of the words in an old probate record, it often gives us plenty
of information. We can identify family
members, witnesses and perhaps get an idea of the year of death. Although many wills are not probated until
years later.
In this case, I already
had the names of James’ five daughters.
I also had what I believed to be the names of their husbands. Having them listed in this record confirms
the married names for me.
The next question is whether I can take this line
back one more generation? Can I locate
and confirm the parents of either James Redding or his wife Mary Ann Poage?
If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post,
please get in touch. Let’s exchange
information.
Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION
