William Black (abt. 1735 - 1811)

Born about 1735 in Cowpasture River, Bath, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Hicklin) Black — married 12 Jan 1763 in Cowpasture River, Bath, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 14 Feb 1811 at about age 76 in Stoney Fork, Clark, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

William Black served during the French and Indian War.

William Black performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

William Black was a Revolutionary War veteran. His place/date of birth has been alternately reported as Augusta, Virginia or on board a ship from Ireland. Also, his place/date of death has been reported as Winchester, Kentucky.

William Black and his Descendants A Genealogy of the Descendants of William Black of Augusta County, VA and later of Clark County, KY Unpublished. Copyrighted 1973 by Raymond Finley Hughes, brother-in-law of Howard Clifton Black. "Most of these records were collected by my brother in law, Howard Clifton Black, of West Liberty, Logan Co., Ohio, and who died in 1964 without getting his collection in print."

Excerpts from:

"William Black and His Descendants" Book by Raymond Finley Hughes

WILLIAM BLACK must have been born about the year 1735. His parents were pioneer settlers in the Cowpasture River valley of Augusta County, Virginia, now Bath County. It was in this valley that he grew to manhood and received his early training as a soldier on the frontier, being soon occupied in the defense of his country, first against the French and Indians and later in the War of the Revolution. He served in the Virginia Colonial Militia, being on the muster roll of Captain George Wilson's company on August 11, 1756 and was in William Preston's company of Rangers in 1757. Among the Draper Papers in the Wisconsin Historical Society library at Madison, Wisconsin is the original receipt book of Captain William Preston, in which is found two receipts signed by WILLIAM BLACK, and dated October 5, 1757, for thirty four shillings for thirty four days pay as soldier at Fort Lewis under command of Sergt. Hugut. The other is for two pounds thirteen shillings, in full pay from June 8 to November 29, 1757. Fort Lewis was a fort on the Cowpasture River about five miles from where the Blacks lived. WILLIAM BLACK also served in Captain Preston's company of Rangers during the year 1758. In the Augusta County records, order book 17, page 183, dated February 15, 1780, he was allowed Land Bounty certificate No. 2566 for his military service in Captain William Preston's company of Rangers in 1758. This military land was granted by the King's Proclamation of 1763 for soldiers who fought against French and Indians. In the Jefferson County land entries at Louisville, Kentucky, Vol. A, page 141, on June 22, 1780, William Black enters fifty acres of land on a military warrant, on the north side of the Rolling Fork opposite John Simpson's preemption and to run up and down the river for quantity. At the same time he also enters one hundred and fifty acres on another warrant, on the south side of the Rolling Fork adjoining Simpson's preemption on the east. This land is situated in what is now Marion or Casey Counties.

On January 12, 1763 William Black was united in marriage to Sarah Hickling, daughter of Thomas Hickling, another early pioneer of the Cowpasture River settlement in Augusta County and a close neighbor and friend of the Black family. Thomas Hickling bought 348 acres on a branch of the Cowpasture river from Andrew Lewis on January 6, 1756, Lewis having patented the same on June 11, 1750. Thomas Hickling died in the fall of 1771. He was the father of seven children as follows: Hugh, John, Thomas, Roseannah Johnson, Jane Laverty, Dinah Botkin and Sarah Black.

WILLIAM BLACK served in the Dunmore War being in the company of Captain John Lewis which was raised at Warm Springs, and was in the battle of Point Pleasant, fought October 10, 1772, where the Kanawha river empties into the Ohio.

WILLIAM BLACK also served in the Revolution. In the Council Journals of the State of Virginia, Vol. 1, page 310, under date of Saturday 11, 1777, appears an order "that a warrant be issued to William Black for one hundred and twenty seven pounds eighteen shillings, upon account together with instructions to recruit a first lieutenant's quota of men for a company of regulars in the service of this State. Bond executed, acknowledged and ordered to be filed." During the war he became Captain of this company and was occupied in the defending of his country against the inroads of the Indians and British. I have been unable to find any record pertaining to this company or anything about its length of service or activity as there seems to be no record of the Augusta County soldiers who took part in the Revolution. According to tradition it was a company of mounted men that did scout work during the war. Revolutionary service proved on D.A.R. lineage of Mrs. Robert E. Morrison (Maxine Geneva Hughes), National No. 301152, Cincinnati Chapter No. 1069.

Sarah Black, like her husband, also served her country in the Revolution. In the Virginia State Library at Richmond is found a loose leaf file of Public Claims of Augusta County and therein appears the following: "Augusta County January 9th 1781. We being mutually chosen and then sworn, do appraise forty four yards of five hundred linen the property of Sarah Black, to fifteen pounds per yard. Also the making the same into two tents twenty fore pounds it being impressed for the use of Augusta militia ordered for the defense of eastern frontiers by Colonel Sampson Mathers. Certified by us the day and year above written. Signed William Shields Neal Deare"

In the Kentucky Historical Society publication for 1924 appears the following: "Sarah Black and William Black receive pay in services under General Clark, (about 1780)."

WILLIAM BLACK WITH HIS WIFE AND ENTIRE FAMILY moved to Clark County, Kentucky in 1792, launching above the mouth in Deckers Creek (Red Stone, old fort) and came down the Ohio, landing at Limestone, Ky. (now Maysville) and then overland to Clark County. Two years before he brought his family to Kentucky, he and his brother, Alexander, drove their cattle through to Clark County. On October 20, 1795 he bought of Samuel Henderson 106 acres on Hancock Creek, also called Stoney Fork. This was part of the 1400 acre Henderson grant. In the register of the Kentucky State Historical Society for 1923, in Vol. 21, page 204 under Certificate Book date of Feb. 11, 1780 appears the following: `When the Court met, William Black by Alexander Black claimed a preemption of one thousand acres of land at the State Price in the District of Kentucky, because he had improved the same in the year 1776, on a branch of the Town Fork of Salt River, and adjoining the lands of Thomas Simpson on the north side, and to include his improvements. His claim was granted and a certificate issued." This land is situated in the northern part of what is now Nelson County, and was sold by him in 1806.

WILLIAM BLACK died Feb. 14, 1811. His place of burial is unknown. His farm was sold by his heirs on Dec. 10, 1811, to Robert Cunningham for $2,025. At the time of his death he was the owner of six slaves. His will, which was written Nov. 17, 1806, in which he makes disposition of his property, is on file at Winchester, Kentucky.

There is no record of the death of his wife who was living at the time of his death.

William and Sarah Hickling Black were the parents of the following eight children.

8 Alexander born October 14, 1 765 9 Margaret born March 4, 1768 10 Ginney born October 4, 1772 11 George born July 8, 1775 12 William born November 3, 1 780 13 Rachel born February 3, 1782 14 Robert born July 14, 1786 15 Nancy born December 1, 1789

WILL OF WILLIAM BLACK My wife, Sarah To William My sons, Alexander and Robert My daughters, Margarett, Jenny, Rachel, and Nancy Alexander Black and George Black, Ex Recorded at Winchester, Kentucky Book No. 3, page 104

In the name of God Amen, I William Black of Clark County and the State of Kentucky, do make, ordain, publish, and declare this instrument of writing to be my last will and testament. In the first place I commend my soul unto God who gave it, and my body to be intered at the will of my executors hereafter named. Secondly, I will and direct all my just debts to be paid out of my estate. Thirdly, I will and bequeath to my wife Sarah her thirds of my plantation, I now live on, her mare, saddle, bridle, and the third of the milk cattle, bed and sufficient clothing, and her desire of the table furniture, also a negro girl named Phillis, to do what she pleases with at her death. Fourthly, William Black to receive four hundred dollars of such pay as I got or may be received for the land I sold on Salt River, which he lived on, which I dont allow him any more with a credit of what he has received and nothing more. Fifthly, I will and bequeath to my sons, Alexander, George, and Robert the value of all the rest of the lands, to be equally divided amongs them with their share of the moovable property with an addition of one bed and furniture to my son Robert. Sixthly, I bequeath to my daughters Margaret, Genney, Rachel and Nancy, four negroes, Spring, Cate, Tom, and Senthe to be sold and equally divided among them four with the equal share of the movable property. Be it remembered that my will and intention is that the donation aforesaid to Rachel Barns be to the issue of her body, and not to John Barns her husband. And lastly, I constitute and appoint Alexander Black and George Black executors to this my last will and testament. Hereby revoking all other wills and testaments whatsoever. In testimony whereof I the said William Black hath hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of November 1806.

William Black Signed, sealed, published and Declared in the presence of Matthew Patton James Fisher Amelia X Ross

Codicil to the foregoing will of William Black

So far as the sixth bequest relates to my daughter, Rachel Barns, it is my will and desire that my aforesaid executors do purchase good land at their discretion for the amount of her part of the bequest as soon as the amount of the sale is collected and that my said daughter Rachel and her husband may live on it and improve it if they choose until her children come of age, and my executors are hereby further impowered with the consent of said Rachel and her husband to sell any lands so purchased and buy other land with the amount of such sale. In testimony whereof I the said William Black hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of Nov. 1806.

William Black

Signed and sealed in the presence of Matthew Patton James Fisher Amelia X. Ross

Appraisement of the estate, Dec. 5, 1811 (a few items) Negro girl named Kate 333.33 1/3 “ boy named Joe 450.00 “ woman named Pring 300.00 “ boy named Willy 100.00 “ “ “ Henry 150.00 “ girl named Phillis 350.00 5 horses 180.00 Total appraisement 2167.58 1/2

Alexander Fisher Robert Cunningham Thomas Goff Presented at Court held Aug. 24, 1812

A few items from the sale bill.

To Robert Cunningham 1122 acres @ $18. 2025.00 To Adam Kiser negro woman named Kate 400.00 To Robert Cunningham negro boy named Joe 510.00 To John Peebles negro woman Prange 282.00 To John Peebles negro boy Billy 166.00 To John Peebles negro boy Henry 250.00

Presented at Court held Jan. 24, 1814

Sources

• William Black and his Descendants A Genealogy of the Descendants of William Black of Augusta County, VA and later of Clark County, KY

Unpublished. Copyrighted 1973 by Raymond Finley Hughes, brother-in-law of Howard Clifton Black.

• FAG - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151391286/william-black

• S-682020243 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Page: Ancestry Family Tree Data: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=80656302&pid=661
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed May 1, 2017), "Record of William Black", Ancestor # A010670.
• FInley, Raymond. WILLIAM BLACK AND HIS DESCENDANTS. A Genealogy of the Descendants of William Black of Augusta County, Virginia and later of Clark County, Kentucky. 1973.