William Henry Bledsoe Sr (1677 - 1770)

Born 1677 in Northumberland County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Anne P. (Ball) Bledsoe — married 1710 in Northumberland, Colony of Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth Ann (Mumford) Bledsoe — married 1 Aug 1727 in Spotsylvania, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 19 Apr 1770 at about age 93 in Northumberland, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

He lived in Northumberland Co., VA. until about 1718, when he moved to Essex Co. and lived in an area that fell into Spotsylvania Co. when it was formed 1721. He fell into Orange Co. when that county was formed in 1734. Then back to Spotsylvania Co., then Culpeper Co., VA. Was of age 1705, still unmarried in 1708, m. by 1718 to wife (1), m. to wife (2) by 1727, had two tithes in 1734.

The first mention of William in records is in the will of his father, although he was about 29 when the will was written. He was given the plantation on which his father lived and named as coexecutor with his brother Abraham. In Northumberland Co. Record Book 4, p. 22 we find a deed dated 14 July 1708 from William Bledsoe of Northumberland Co. to John Ingram of same for a tract of land adjoining Bledsoe's "Old Field". Another deed mentions Bledsoe's land adjoining Gaskins in Great Wiccomocco River 16 Jan 1711.

^[1] we find a deed dated 19 March 1718 wherein William Bledsoe having acknowledged a bond of performance of certain covenants in a deed which he acknowledged in Court unto Samuel Heath and on said Heath's motion the same is admitted to record. On the same day, Anne Bledsoe, wife of said William, came into Court and relinguished her dower right.

From these two deeds we can deduct that William was probably married soon after 1708, and married to Anne---- in 1718. William's step mother's will was proved in court 25 July 1708. The exact date of William's marriage is unknown, but from the birth dates of his children, it probably occurred about 1710.

WILLS: He wrote his will 27 Dec 1769 and it was proved 19 April 1770.^[2]

^[3] Wm. Bledsoe, Dec. 27, 1769; Mary ; children were Geo., Aaron, Mille, m. Geo. Wetherall, Mary m. Ambrose Powell, Jno., Wm., Jas., Hannah m.Cave, and Moses. Apr. 19. 1770.

• Fact: _MILT (2 September 1729) Captain In VA. Miliat.
• Fact: Burial (1769)
• Fact: probate (19 April 1770) CULPEPPER CO., VA
• Fact: Residence Dividing Creek Culpepper Co., VA
• Fact: Residence INHERITED HIS DAD'S 890 Acrea Plantation
• Fact: will December 1767

Will

William Bledsoe, took his oath as Captain in the Colonial Militia of the County on 2 September 1729 and was called 'Captain' for most of his remaining life. Captain Bledsoe remained remarkably active mentally and physically through his long life. He was about 94 when he died'. 'Capt. William Bledsoe's Will was probated 18 April 1770 and published in Culpeper County Will Book of 1749-1770. ^[4]

'In the Name of God Amen. I William Bledsoe of the Parish of Brumfield & County of Culpeper being in perfect health & sound mind & Memory but calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life .. do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner following Vizt. My soul I recommend to Almighty God who gave it me .. my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner .. And as to my worldy goods with which it has been pleased Good to bless me with I give and bestow in manner following

• 'I lend to my loving wife Elizabeth all my estate both real and personal Except such estate as is already given out to my children of which you have possession during their natural life and after her decease in such manners as I shall hereafter direct.
• 'Item I give & bequeath to my son George Bledsoe Twenty pounds current money to be raised out of my Estate after my wifes death to him and his heirs & assigns forever
• 'Item I give and bequeath to my son Aarons lawfully begotten children one negro wench named Jean & all her children, Cate, Easther & Jack with all lthe Issue of (those named) now being in the possession of my said son Aaron Bledsoe
• 'Item I give and bequeath to George Wetherall & Mille Wetherall one negro wench named Lucy now in the possession of the sd George Wetherall with the issue of the said Lucy to them the said George Wetherall his Mille Wetherall their heirs and assigns forever
• 'Item I give and bequeath to Ambrose Powell & Mary his Wife one negro wench named Easther now in the possession of the said Ambrose Powell with the issue of the said Easther to them the said Ambrose Powell & Mary Powell their Heirs & assigns forever 'Item I give and bequeathe to my son John Bledsoe one negro man named Jack to him his heirs & assigns forever the sd Jack being the son of Nan nwo in the possession of the sd John Bledsoe
• 'Item I give and beqeathe to my son William Bledsoe one negroe wench named Rachael & her child with the further issue of the sd Rachael To him his heirs & assigns forever the sd Rachael & her child now being in the possession of the sd William Bledsoe
• 'Item I give and bequeathe to my daughter Hannah Cave one shilling in full of her part of my estate she having received her part
• 'Item I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Bledsoe one shilling he having formerly received a proportional part of my estates
• 'Item I give and bequeathe to my several children of Moses Bledsoe my Decased son one shilling each my said son Moses having received his Proportional part of my estate
• 'Item I give and bequeathe to my loving children, George, John, William, Mary Powell, Mille Wetherall, Aaron Bledsoe & Mumford Stevens all my Estate after my wifes decease to be equally divided between the sd seven as above mentioned and do hereby declare them to be my lawful heirs otherways than their respective legacies already given
• 'Item I constitute and appoint George Wetherall Executor of this my last Will & Testament An lastly I do hereby revoke and disannuall all former wills by me made and do hereby declare this to be my last will & Testament As witnes my hand & seal this 27th day of December 1769 Wm. Bledsoe Presence: Benja. Powell, Daniel Phillips, Joseph Haynes, Henry Hill, Robert Powell, Benjamin Powell. 'At a Court held for the County of Culpeper on Thursday the 19th day of April 1770

The within last Will & Testament of William Bledsoe decd was exhibited to the Court by George Wetherall Gent. the Executor therein named & was proved by the oath of Benjamin Powell a witness thereto & ordered to be recorded, the said Executor came into Court & refused to take the burthen of the execution thereof and on the motion of Elizabeth Bledsoe Widow & Relict of the said Decedent Certificate is granted her for obtaining Letters of Administration with the Will annexed is granted her she having sworn to the same and given Bond & security according to Law ^[5] .'Moved with brother Abraham to sect. of Essex that later was Spotsylvania Co.and later Orange Co. In 1722 he was appointed the first sheriff of Spotsylvania county. He married twice, first to Anne ???, then to Elizabeth Stevens, the widow of a Mr. Charles Stevens of Essex County. But Culpepper Estate,dated Dec. 27, 1769.

'Wm Bledsoe Dec 27 1769 Mary children were Ge Aaron Mille m Geo Wetherall Mary m Ambrose Powell Jno Wm Jas Hannah m Cave and Moses Apr 19th 1770, ^{[6] [7]}

Sources

1. ↑ In Northumberland Co. Order Book 5, p. 263,
2. ↑ The will is recorded in Culpeper Co., VA. Will Bk. 1749-1770.
3. ↑ "Genealogical And Historical Notes on Culpeper County, Virginia" by Raleigh Travers Green
4. ↑ ' Will of William Bledsoe , 'Source: Will Abstracts of Culpeper County, Virginia, pp. 127-128)
5. ↑ Culpeper County, Virginia, deeds. (Washington [District of Columbia]: J.F. Dorman, c1975
6. ↑ Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, Virginia, R.T. Green, 1900, http://books.google.com/books?id=b9oBAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=...
7. ↑ page # 122 http://books.google.com/books?id=3iriXCOOzbIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onep...

• https://www.geni.com/people/Captain-William-Bledsoe/6000000000504951709?through=6000000003275236674
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 15 June 2017, 01:23), entry for William Bledsoe Sr.(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:MRY2-JXW); contributed by various users.
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41320803/william-bledsoe