| 2. | William West was born about 1708 in Fairfax Co, Virginia; died in 1769 in Loudoun Co, Virginia. Other Events and Attributes:
- Will: 06 Jun 1769, Loudoun Co, Virginia
Notes:
William West
Birth:ABT 1707 in Fairfax County,Virginia (then Stafford County,Virginia)
Death:ABT 1769 in Loudoun County,Virginia
Sex:M
Father:John West
b. ABT 1670 in Northumberland County,Virginia
Mother:Ann Harris b. ABT 1671
Spouses & Children (Unknown) Marriage: ABT 1760 in Loudoun County,Virginia
Family: 1 (Unknown) Marriage: ABT 1760 in Loudoun County,Virginia
Family: 1
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Notes T ext: William and Elizabeth (Gardner) and Mary (Ellzey) West By Jim Bish
William4 West (John3, John2, John1) was born about 1708 in Fairfax County, Virginia (then Stafford County, Virginia), and died in 1769 in Loudoun County, Virginia.
It is thought that William West was a son of John and Mary (Harris) West, and brother of Hugh West, from Alexandria, and John and Thomas West from Fairfax County, Virginia.
It could also be that William West was the son of Joseph West, brother of Thomas West and first cousin of Col. John West of Fairfax County, Virginia. No surviving will has been found for John West, presumed father of Hugh, John, William, and Thomas West or Joseph West. If a will existed, it would more definitively resolve this problem.
Existing evidence shows that Hugh West served Fairfax County between 1752 and 1754 as a member of the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg, Virginia. Fairfax Harrison, writing in 1924 in his Landmarks of Old Prince William, on page 139 writes, "We assume that the William West of 'West's Ordinary' at the head of the Bull Run Mountains was a brother of Hugh. The persuasive evidence is that Parson William West, son of Hugh, was recorded in 1749 as William West, Jr., while Charles West, son of William of 'West Ordinary,' conveyed to Washington in 1772 a portion of the West lands included in the 'Harrison Patent' of 1706." This Harrison Patent was land patented by the grandfather of Hugh West and probably also that of William.
John T. Phillips writes in his work, The Historian's Guide to Loudoun County, Virginia, "William West's appointment in 1761 to the office of Loudoun County Sheriff established a high water mark in the ascendancy of the West Family in the Potomac piedmont. At that point in time, William West's brother John West was representing Fairfax County in the House of Burgesses, one nephew, George West, who married the niece of Leesburg founder, Nicholas Minor, was the County Surveyor for both Loudoun and Fairfax, while another nephew, Hugh West [Junr.], a former Virginia Burgess, was also serving as the Deputy King's Attorney (prosecutor) for Loudoun and Fairfax.
William, being a younger son of John did not inherit any of the more valuable land holdings near Alexandria of his older brothers, but was able to obtain a few land holdings in Fairfax County, Virginia and later parts that became Loudoun County, Virginia.
Reverend William West, son of Hugh West is listed in Fairfax County records, as William Jr. in 1749. This was a time that William West was quite active in Fairfax County affairs. Hugh West's other son, John, is listed as John Jr. in this same document and we do have better proof for the existence of Hugh's brother John, taken from their grandfather's will. It makes logical sense when Hugh's son, William, is listed as William Jr., that the court wanted to distinguish him from his uncle, the elder William. William became a surveyor, like others in his family. This was a valuable occupation at that time as it allowed one to find some of the most prized land on the frontier. It is probably in this endeavor that he located the land at which he later owned and operated his "Ordinary." [Harrison, Landmarks p. 516].
William's name does appear in Fairfax County records as a surveyor during this era. It seems that William probably had at least four sons, William, Thomas, John, and Charles and two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne, all born between 1730 and 1745.
William West married Elizabeth Gardner in 1741, after having lived with her for almost ten years. Elizabeth is thought to have been the daughter of Sylvester and Mary Gardner, whom William later has land transaction with in Fairfax County, Virginia. During that time William and Elizabeth had at least five of their oldest children.
In Loudoun County Deed Book U, 1792-1793, pages 315-316 in a deposition from a Mary Gardner age sixty, she states, "that she was a near neighbor to Mr. William West, Father to the Complainant, and was very conversant in the Family and was informed as well by said William West as by Elizabeth Gardner that they were not intermarried to each other until about the year One thousand seven hundred and Forty one or two which was also some short time before the birth of Ann West, and about two or three years before the birth of Charles West their son. And this deponent further saith that William West, father of Deft. Cato West and John West, the other defendant with sundry other Children of said Elizabeth Gardner were born before the solemnization of the said marriage between William West and Elizabeth."
It appears that the Mary Gardner that gave this deposition was a sister or sister-in-law to Elizabeth Gardner whom eventually married William West.
On Page 316-317 of the same Deed Book there is another deposition, this one by an Ann Botts aged 58 years. She states, "that she was a near neighbor to Mr. William West, father of the Complainant, Charles West, for many years before the Marriage of said William West to Elizabeth Gardner and was very conversant in the Family and was frequently informed by said William and Elizabeth and it was also generally reported in the neighborhood that they never intermarried until about the year one thousand seven hundred and forty one or forty two. And that the deponent futher saith she very well remembers that William West, Father to the Defendant Cato and John West, the other Deft, was born considerable time before the Marriage between said William and Elizabeth and that the Complainant, Charles West was the first born son after the Marriage aforesaid." She also stated, "that it was to make a provision for her three children, Elizabeth, William, and John, for if he (William Sr.) should die without Will they would get no part of her estate as they were not born in Wedlock and further said not.
From this information, it is clear that William West had children by and eventually married Elizabeth Gardner. Elizabeth must have died by the 1760s as in 1769, by the time William West died he was definitely married to Mary Ellzey.
Mary Ellzey's brother, William Ellzey has many legal handlings of this estate. Also, in Lewis Ellzey's Will it mentions his daughter, Mary West, I believe.
There is quite a lot of informaton that connects this. There is no mention of Thomas West as being a son of William and Elizabeth, but he must have been their son also. Thomas is listed as a son of William's in Williams will. From the sounds of it, Thomas may have been born after Charles West. Who knows. This is somewhat of a mystery and somewhat unusual for the times. I bet that there was a lot of gossip concerning this couple.
In April 1740, William began to acquire land in the vicinity near Bull Run Mountain and established a residence there in northwestern Prince William County, Virginia [NN E: 146 and 147]. This land became part of Fairfax County in 1742 and by 1750 had become part of Loudoun County, Virginia.
William voted at the Prince William County election of 1741 [Boogher, p. 117].
In 1743 he was one of the processioners of Truro vestry in the district 'between Little River and Walnut Cabin Branch'. He is listed with his future father-in-law Lewis Ellzey as a Free Holders and Voters in Fairfax County in 1748. That same year, George Washington records, 'We did get over Wms. Gap that night and as low as Wm. West in Fairfax County, 18 miles from the top of the Ridge' [Harrison, Landmarks p. 495, and Writings of Washington, John Fitzpatrick, editor, Volume 1, p. 12].
William purchased from his wife's parents, Sylvester Garner and his wife, Mary almost 170 acres of NN C:33 and #198 of original land grants to Andrew Snarr on January 29, 1750. This land adjoined land that was owned by William Ellzey, William West's future brother-in-law, and Lewis Ellzey, William's future father-in-law. It appears that William West never lived there as he lived near Bull Run Mountain, but it seems that his assumed nephew, Thomas West did live there where Absalom Reid and James Edwards were the closest neighbors to this land in the 1750s-1760s. It seems very likely that William West's nephew, Thomas, lived there, on Williams land as Thomas and Sarah (Trammell) West children intermarried with three of the children of Absalom Reid while another of Thomas and Sarah West's sons, John West, married Eleanor Edwards.
Eleanor Edwards was the daughter of James Edwards, whom also lived on land adjoining this William West land. This land eventually transfers to Charles West daughter, and granddaughter of William by the late 1780s. It appears that land transferred after the death of William West wife's death, probably in the late 1780s.
By this time, her known sons, Thomas and Charles were dead so the land was given to a daughter of Charles. This may have been because she enjoyed Elizabeth and Elizabeth was probably caring for her. It also might have been because Thomas children at that time were already planning to head west to the Ohio frontier. Elizabeth West then sells it to William Simpson on June 16, 1790.
William Simpson was the brother of Absalom Reid wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Simpson. At Fairfax Court on June 18, 1754 William West had license to keep ordinary 'at his house.' This license was renewed to him by Loudoun in 1758 and 1762 specifying the location as the 'Fruit Hill Farm". He again is listed as a Free Holders and Voter in Fairfax County in 1755, copied from the papers of George Washington. In this election he ran as a Fairfax County Justice against his brother-in-law, William Ellzey and George William Fairfax. Washington's papers list the results.
Captain William West wins with 252 votes, Col. Fairfax is second with 222 votes, and William Ellzey is third with 221 votes. He is probably referred to as Colonel as a result of giving some service during the conflict with the French what later is referred to as the "French and Indian War." Some of this service is later documented in Hening's Statutes at Large stating he providing necessaries for the troops in March 1756.
Among the troops that he provided aid which were those organized by his father-in-law, Captain Lewis Ellzey. William's son, Thomas West is listed as a trooper for that same Fairfax County militia. In 1756, Lord Fairfax started from Greenway Court to Belvior, travelling to Williams' Gap. The next day he wrote, 'I was yesterday down at Mr. West's on my way to Belvoir, but was called back by a false alarm of old Sharpe's, the Governor of Maryland, as to hostile Indians in the valley.
Later in the same year, West provided provisions for the Fairfax militia on a march to the Valley, via Williams' gap. West Ordinary, as it was usually called, was at the junction of the Colchester Road with the Carolina road above Bull Run just east of the head of the Bull Run range. It is in Loudoun, only a short distance southeast of the ford of Little River, where the village of Aldie is located, and south of the Little River Turnpike. [Loudon Times newspaper, December 20, 1916].
West's Ordinary, kept successively for three generations by William, Charles, and Thomas West, and after the Revolution known as Lacys, is a landmark still standing at the head of the Bull Run Mountains, near the modern village of Aldie, in what was Fairfax County in 1748, but 10 years later became Loudoun. It is indicated by name on the 1755 edition of the Fry and Jefferson map, as well as on the Thomas Jefferson map of 1787 [Writings of Washington, John Fitzpatrick, editor, Volume 1, 193, p. 12].
William West must have married Mary Ellzey, daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Travers) Ellzey, during the late 1750s. [Lewis Ellzey's will in Fairfax County December 1786]. It is thought that William West operated the Ordinary and then transferred it to his son Charles West. For a short time, either just after the death of William or later, that other son Thomas operated the ordinary for a short period of time. Instead of being kept by three successive generations of West, the evidence should better conclude that three consecutive West covering two generations operated the ordinary. The first generation is William, with his son's Charles and Thomas the second generation. William was one of the of the trustees to establish the town of Leesburg, Virginia in 1758 [Hening, vii, p. 236] and subsequently was included in the Loudoun commission of the peace [Hening, vii, p. 327].
In 1765, the license was renewed by the Loudoun County Court to Charles West, who probably was the eldest son of William West. William West died in 1769 and his will disposes his property listing his children and grandchildren. (Will of William West Loudoun County, VA 1769 Will Book A, pg 226-229).
Children of William West and Elizabeth Gardner include:
1. William5 (Jr.), West, was born about 1734 in Fairfax County (Then Prince William County, Virginia). He died in Loudon County, Virginia in 1763.
2. Thomas5 West, was born about 1735 in Fairfax County, Virginia (then Prince William County, Virginia). He died in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1776.
3. John5 West, was born about 1739 in Fairfax County, Virginia (then Prince William County, Virginia). He died before 1786 in Loudoun County, Virginia.
4. Elizabeth5 West, was born about 1740 in Fairfax County, Virginia (then Prince William County, Virginia). She probably died in Loudoun County, Virginia.
5. Ann5 West, was born about 1741 in Fairfax County, Virginia. She married Craven Peyton in Loudoun County, Virginia and probably died in Loudoun County, Virginia.
6. Charles5 West, was born about 1745 in Fairfax County, Virginia. He married Anne Brown in Fairfax County, Virginia and died in 1787 at Loudoun County, Virginia.
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Sources Title: GEDCOM File : ~AT52.gedSource
Text: [Entry Recording Date : 2 NOV 2002]
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/8371004/person/-929947984/media/1
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Chancery suit M2993, Charles West vs. John West, et al, filed 1771, abated
1771 , Loudon, Virginia
Thanks to Marty Hiatt and Barbara Garrison
From Northern Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 4, No. 2, Spring 1999, p. 279:
Chancery suit M2993, Charles West vs. John West, et al, filed 1771, abated June 1786, due to death of orator.
Charles West, of Loudoun, says that William West, dec'd, late of Loudoun,died seized of considerable real and personal property. William West wrote a will, but left 5 slaves unnoticed...They should descend to your orator
(Charles West) as heir at law. He testifies that his father and mother (unnamed) lived together many years before they intermarried, during which time the had "several children," namely John and William. William died during the life time of his father, but left issue, Cato West, eldest son
and heir at law, who is now under 21. Thomas West is his guardian. Orator claims John and William West were illegitimate because they were born before the marriage of their parents, so cannot inherit under law.
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From Barbara:
William may not have died but just disappeared, especially since we do not have a grave. How do the Loudon Wests fit in with our DNA so far? That little note had a lot of information in it. It says that Charles died before the suit was settled. Cato was less than 21 at the time of the filing. But some William came to Natchez with Littleberry and Littleberry called him father. My husband thinks the William that came with Littleberry may have been his grandfather who raised him after his real father William died. He could have lived to be 85 or so...possible.
Here is the Natchez reference again--Natchez Court Records Book A p. 87. 9 April 1782. Appeared William West and Keaih West, his wife, both residents of this district, sell to Francois Mesnard, resident of Arkansas, here present and accepting, a negro woman, named "Edith", a Creole, aged 16 years, with a negro child, her son, aged one year, named "Thomas", for $400 and one barrel of flour, which sd William West and Keiah, his wife, ack. to have recd. Wit: Don Estevan Minor, Manuel Gutierrez, Chas. de Grandpere.
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_From Tanya Jones found by Barbara Garrison__________________________________
My search has reached a dead end at William West and I am desperately seeking any family connected to this line.
William West was probably born around 1688 in Virginia. At the time of his death in 1769, Loudoun Co. VA, his wife was Mary (possibly Hychew or Harris). Their children from his will were: William G., John, Charles, Thomas, and Ann
(Peyton).
William West was one of the first Justices of Loudoun Co. VA and his son Charles was an Under Justice during the same time period. The family owned and operated three colonial inns, in and around Loudoun and Fairfax Co's VA. The first was Freedom Hill near Springfield, then Fruit Hill near Gilberts Corner and the third was Bacon Fort in Leesburg.
There is believed to be a connection to the West family of Stafford Co. VA, namely John West but I have been unable to prove it.
What I know about William West's children is very limited. I can't locate any record that his son Thomas West ever married or had children but he did die in 1776 and willed his estate to nieces and nephews. Likewise, for his son John who was still living in 1771.
Son William G. West was married to Mary Ellzey at the time of his death about 1762. his children were Cato Thomas West and Charles West. West family members took them in and Mary Ellzey re-married. Cato served during the Revolutionary War and went to Natchez, MS. I find no record for the younger
Charles West.
Son Charles West is my direct ancestor. He married Mary Brown prior to 1744. Their documented children were Anna Brown West, Elizabeth West, and Thomas West. They may have had more children than those listed here as this is taken from Charles West's Will and George Washington's Papers. Thomas was omitted from Charles' will. George Washington's papers established that Thomas was the son of Charles West.
If any of this sounds familiar or anyone thinks that I could help them out please let me know. I'm always willing to share.
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/8371004/person/-929947984/media/2
Will:
Will of William West Loudoun County, VA 1769 Will Book A, pg 226-229
In the Name of God Amen. I William West of Loudoun County being in sound mind health and memory and call into the uncertainty of this mortal life I do hereby appoint this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to Dispose of my worldly goods that God hath blest me with my Just Debts is paid in prims.
I give and Bequeath to my Loving wife MARY WEST the following Negroes (Viz) Pug, Hannah, Tom, Nace, and James and also the use of the land and plantation whereon I now live during her natural life also the Stock and household furniture Except hereafter Excepted as also the use of one Negro Boy named Tom Tomson During her natural life which Negro Boy, land and household furniture and Stock shall after her death return to my Heirs according to the Bequests hereafter mentioned
Item I give and Bequeath to my son CHARLES WEST all that part of my land Beginning at John Hall's red oak corner standing on Rogers Spring Branch near the new road then with Straight line to said road and binding therewith to the first fork of Bull Run where the said road Crosses then up the sd Northermost Branch to the Back line Including the house wherein ISAAC BETZELL now lives near the sd branch as also HENRY SANDERS and where thesaid CHARLES WEST now lives all the land from the first mentioned line to the road and all the land joining JOHN EVINEs, ROBERT CARTER, and JOHN HALL, Being the North part of my tract of land to him and his heirs for ever Provided he the said CHARLES WEST shall pay yearly to his Brother JOHN WEST the sum of ten pounds during the natural life of said JOHN WEST and on failure of the yearly payment of the said Sum by the said CHARLES WEST or his heirs or any claiming the said land my will and desire is that he the said JOHN WEST shall have and hold one half of the said land as my will and Bequeath to him.
Also I give to my son CHARLES WEST one Negro man named Jack, one Negro Woman named Leah, one Negro man named Congo, one Negro Woman named Mariah as also all the household Furniture that he has in his hands (except one bed).
Item I give and Bequeath unto my son CHARLES WEST that tract of land in Loudoun County called Baconfort (Viz) to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give and Bequeath to my son THOMAS WEST the remainder of my Tract of land joining his Brother CHARLES WEST to the said first branch of Bull Run where the road crosses then down the said run as my bounds now stands Including GARRETT SNEDEKAR and CHARLES MORRIS being the Easterly part of the tract to him and his heirs forever. Provided he the said THOMAS WEST shall pay yearly to his Brother JOHN WEST the sum of five pounds During the natural life of the said JOHN WEST and on Failure of the yearly payment of the said sum by the sd THOMAS WEST or his heirs or any claiming the sd land my will and desire is theay he ye said JOHN WEST shall have and hold one half of the said Land as my will and Bequeah to him; also I bequeah to my son THOMAS WEST one Negro man Named Dick and one Negro man named Melford, also one Feather BED and Furniture in hand of Charles WEST.
Item I give and Bequeath to my two Grand sons CATO WEST and CHARLES WEST all my land laying on the South side of the North fork of Bull Run joining my son CHARLES WEST being part in Prince William and part in Loudoun Counties Including the plantations where JOHN ALISON and SIMON SIMOSON and MOSES LASSWELL now live to be equally divided Between them to them And their heirs forever and in default of such heirs then the said to my son CHARLES WEST as also two cows and calves one Feather Bed to Each of them to be paid at the age Eighteen years if required this I leave in full Bar against any claim or claims that they or Either of them shall have or demand or any other person for them against the Estate of their deceased father WILLIAM WEST and if such Claim shall be made by them or any other person for them then in that case I will the said gifts and Bequeaths to be sold or so much as will pay the said legacies and all charges.
Item I give and Bequeath unto my grand Daughter ELIZABETH WEST the daughter of CHARLES WEST and ANNE his Wife one Negro girl named Heinne to her and her heirs forever.
Item I give and Bequeath to my Daughter ANNE PEYTON one Negro woman named Sarah.
Item I give and Bequeath to my Grand Son WILLIAM PEYTON my Lott and house thereon in Leesburgh (Viz) to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give and Bequeath to my grand Daughter MARGARET PEYTON one Negro girl named Sib
Item I give and Bequeath to my Grand Son FRANCIS PEYTON one Negro girl named Phebe.
Item I give and Bequeath to my Grand Son CRAVEN PEYTON one Negro girl named Dalilah.
Item I give and Bequeath to my grand Daughter ELIZABETH WEST the daughter of CHARLES WEST and ANNE his Wife my Land in Fairfax County laying on the Ox Road to her and her heirs forever.
Item I give and Bequeath to my Daughter ANNE PEYTON the aforesaid Negro Boy named Tom Tomson after the Marriage or Decease of my said Wife(But she my said Wife to have the use of all the before mentioned to her during her natural life or widowhood) But at the time she shall marry or Depart this life then all this is Bequeathed unto her shall be equally divided between three of my children (Viz) CHARLES WEST, THOMAS WEST, and ANNE PEYTON Except the first five mentioned Negroes (Viz) Pug, Tom, Hannah, Nace, and James which Negroes I give to her and to her Disposal.
And I do hereby appoint my Wife and CHARLES WEST and CRAVEN PEYTON to be my executors of this my last Will and Testament.
Whereunto I have set my hand fixed my Seal this twenty six day of June Anoq. 1769
In presents of JOHN HALL, BETY HALL, ROBERT HAMILTON, WM BAKER
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Sources Title: GEDCOM File : ~AT52.gedSource
Text: [Entry Recording Date : 2 NOV 2002]
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/8371004/person/-929947984/media/1
William married Elizabeth Gardner about 1728. Elizabeth was born about 1708 in Fairfax Co, Virginia; died in 1765 in Loudoun Co, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1743 - 1763 (20 years)