| Notes |
- Thomas Withers was born 15 Feb 1723/24 at his father's home on Potomac Creek in Stafford Co, VA, the fourteenth of sixteen children of James Withers and Elizabeth Keene. Some significant events of that year and the following year:
1. The Iroquois Confederation of Six Nations made a treaty with Virginia, agreeing not to cross the Potomac River nor the Blue Ridge Mountains.
2. Boylston used statistics to prove the success of his smallpox inoculations. Lady Mary Wortley Montague won the public's approval of inoculation against smallpox in England.
3. The cornerstone was laid for Boston's "Old North Church."
4. J.S. Bach was appointed the Cantorship in Leipzig. Here he conducted the first performance of this "St. John Passion" on Good Friday.
By the standards of his day James Withers was considered to have been an extensive land owner. During his lifetime he gave his sons large tracts upon which they established plantations. One such tract located on Licking Run in Fauquiere gave to his son Thomas, who named it Green Meadows.
Thomas Withers died 12 Nov 1794 at the home of his son, Joseph, in Fauquier Co, VA, his wife having preceded him in death on 27 Mar 1783. Both were buried on the plantation of Jonas Williams, his wife's father.
Susannah "Sukey" Withers was the youngest child of Thomas Withers and Elizabeth Williams. Her descendant Ann Devall Mays of New Orleans, Louisiana, was admitted to membership in the National Society of the DAR (National No. 516808) on the s of services rendered by Thomas Withers in the establishment of American Independence during the War of the Revolution as follows:
1. Fauquier Co, VA, Rev Claims allowed Apr 3, 1782, Thomas Withers for five days waggoning--Thomas Withers made oath he waggoned 1 and 1/2 days for the use of Gen Wayne's Brigade for which he had a certificate which is lost. 22/6 allowed.
2. Rev. War public Service Claim filed in Fauquier Co, Court: "I hereby certify that I have received of Mr. Thomas Withers twenty gallons of brandy furnished by the said Thomas Withers for the use of the Commonwealth ageeable to an Act of Asmbly, entitled "Act for prucuring and Supply of Provisions and other necessaries for the use of the Army, Sept 22, 1780."
(Wigfield & Nelson Families) The Will of Thomas Withers was proven in the Fauquier Co, Va. Court 25 1795 and because it contains much genealogical data of interest, it is copied in full:
In the Name of God, Amen, I, Thomas Withers of the County of Fauquier, being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory, Thanks be to God for the same, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and Form followingizt: In the first place I desire all my just debts to be paid and funeral charges.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son John Withers and to his heirs my negro man Aaron, now in his possession, and whatever else I have heretofore put him in possession of, also the money due me on Bond from my son Enoch Withers, and in cas oy said son dying without lawful issue, then I desire that the said money and negro be equally divided between such of my children as are then living.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Matthew Keene Withers, my Negro man Will Mercer, whom he formerly possessed, also my negro Dick and the second choice of my beds and the furniture belonging to it, and after my roan horse and two cows witheir calves are taken out of my Stock for my Daughter Susannah Chinn, I give the residue of my Stock of all kinds and of my Furniture (my son Joseph Withers having first taken out his choice of my beds and the proper furniture belonging to it) to be equally divided between my aforesaid sons, Matthew Keene Withers and Joseph Withers, to them and their heirs--except out of the above bequest of Furniture,my Warming Pan to be disposed of hereafter.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son William Withers, my Negroes, Buck and Tom, now in his possession, but if my Negro, Moses, for whom I have a suit now depending in Fauquier Court with my son Enoch Withers, be recovered to my estate, then Ive to my son William Withers the said Negro Moses, in liew of Tom above mentioned. I give the above to my said son William and to his heirs. I also remit to my son William, whatever money he may owe me at my Death.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Enoch, my Negro woman Hannah, also sundry atricles which I left in his possession, amounting by list of the same to the sum of Eighty Pounds. I give the above to him and to his heirs.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin and to his heirs, the two negroes now in his possession, by name Winny and Clara, and also his wife's share of her Father's Estate which I purchased of him.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Withers and to his Heirs, the following four Negroes now in his possession to wit: Caesar, kate, Cato, and Peg, also my Negro John, and his first choice of my Beds and the half of my stock and furnre, as above declared.
Item; I give and bequeath to my Daughter Hannah winn, and her Heirs, my Negro, harry, now in her possession, and one hundred pounds out of the sale of the land which I am now at law with my Brother, William Withers, for, if the same shall becovered.
Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter, Betty Winn, and to her Heirs, my Negro woman Liz and her child Armistead, and my warming pan.
Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Nancy Jordan and to her Heirs, my negro Caesar now in her possession, also my negro boy Chandler Fowke.
Item: I give to my Dauther Sally West and to her Heirs, my negroes Phil and Dinah, now in her possession and Dinah's increase.
Item: I give to my Daughter, Susanna Chinn and to her Heirs, my negroes, Solomon and Bett and Bett's increase, also my roan Horse and two Cows and Calves as above delared.
Item: I give and bequeath to my Grandaughter Hannah Winn, daughter of Betty Winn above mentioned, my negro girl Hannah, which said negro is to be under the direction of Capt. Minor Winn till my said grandaughter marries or comes of age and iy said grandaughter shall die without lawful Heirs of her body, then I give the aforementioned negro girl to my daughter Betty Winn and her Heirs, and I also give to my said daughter Betty Winn whatever money Capt Minor Winn, her husband, may owe me at my death.
Item: My desire is that my Mulatto boy Roger, alias Martin, be bound to a shoemaker for the term of two years, or to any other trade at the discretion of my Executors, till he shall learn the same, after which he is to serve my Executors ul he comes to the age of thirty-one years, when I hereby declare him to be free for the rest of his life.
Item: My Will and Desire is that my old negro woman Bess shall go to whichever of my children she shall choose, which said child shall be obliged to maintain her during her life out of the profits of what I have hereby bequeathed to him or h
Item: My Will is that if the land for which I am now at law with my Brother William Withers shall be recovered, the same shall be sold by my Executors who are first to offer it to my Brother William, the land at forty shillings per acre ande mill at fifty pounds, and on his refusal to take it, they are then to set it up at public sale for ready money, and the produce thereof (afte paying to my daughter Hannah Winn, one hundred punds as above ordered) to be equally divided among all my children then living. I likewise desire that whatever money I may recover of Mr. Isaac Hite, Adm'r. of Mr. James Buchanan, dec'd. and any other monies or other estate of which I die possessed not herein devised, may in like manner be equally divided among my children then living. And I do hereby constitute and appoint my son William Withers and Capt. Minor Winn, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all others by me heretofore made.
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 5th day of November, Anno Domini 1794.
Thos. Withers (L. S.)
Signed, Sealed &
Acknowledged in the
Presence of us:
P. Grant
Benjm. Bronaugh
Withers Smith
The foregoing will was proven by the witnesses thereto and admitted to probate by the Fauquier County Court 25 Jan 1795. On the same date bond in the penalty of $20,000 was executed by Thomas Keith, Charles Marshall, John Withers and Jaers, sureties.
The Appraisement of the personal property of Thomas Withers was filed in the Fauquier Co. Court where it is recorded in Will Book 6 at pages 17 and 18. It is not copied here in full but it is of interest to note tht the decedents "war" was valued at 12 shillings and that the "old negro woman Bess" referred to in the will was valued at one shilling.
James Withers, the eldest son of Thomas Withers died three years before his father, which may explain the absence of any reference to him in his will.
_____________________________
Deeded: aft 1763 Place: His father Thomas Withers gave him 130 acres of land in Fauquier
Military Veteran: bet 1776 and 1781 Place: American Revolution
Military Unit: bet 1776 and 1781 Place: Fauquier County Militia
Military Rank: 24 Mar 1778 Place: Appointed to Second Lieutenant
Sold: 8 Mar 1780 Place: 130 acres of land in Fauquier
Patented: May 1786 Place: 1200 acres of land on the Kentucky Rive and Rough Run in Woodford, Kentucky
Will Prepared: 4 May 1791 Place: Warrenton, Fauquier, Virginia, USA
Will Probated: 25 Jul 1791 Place: Warrenton, Fauquier, Virginia, USA
|
1724 - 1794 (70 years)
[2] 
