Mary (Cheves) Ledbetter (1740 - 1818)

Born 1740 in Bristol, Prince George, Virginia

Wife of William Ledbetter Sr — married 1761 in Brunswick, Virginia

Descendants

Died 2 Apr 1818 at about age 78 in Chatham, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Per Dean Ledbetter [1]

"Mary Cheves (1736-1818) was born in Brunswick County, Virginia, a daughter of father Thomas Cheves and her mother (name not yet discovered in family history research).

In 1761, Mary Cheves and William Ledbetter I joined in marriage at Brunswick County, VA. The 1761 marriage of William Ledbetter I and Mary Cheves is documented in a fine book, entitled, "Brunswick County, Virginia, Marriages 1732-1853", by co-authors T. William Kethley and John Vogt.

The 1761 Virginia marriage union of Mary (Cheves) Ledbetter and William Ledbetter I produced at least 8 children, including 5 sons and 3 daughters, whose names and vital information are declared hereinafter with as much clarity as currently possible:

Coleman Ledbetter, born circa 1762 in Brunswick County, VA, died after 1826 in Guilford County, NC, where he had moved circa 1826 with his three sons;

John Ledbetter, born circa 1765 in Brunswick County, VA, died circa 1810 in Chatham County, NC;

Three daughters of William Ledbetter I and Mary (Cheves) Ledbetter were born during 1766-1774 transitional timeframe, but the record or knowledge of their dear names unfortunately has been lost in the mists of time...

William Ledbetter II, born circa 1775 in Chatham County, NC, married circa 1800 unto Sarah Mitchell in Chatham County, NC;

J. Luther Ledbetter, born circa 1778 in Chowan County, NC;

Alsey (Alsa) Ledbetter, born circa 1779 in Chatham County, NC; upon 8 August 1808, Alsey Ledbetter was deeded land in Chatham Co., NC, from William Ledbetter I,; married Martha "Patsy" Bright of Virginia; died 4 July 1874 (about age 95) in Hardin Co., Tennessee; buried in Ledbetter Cemetery, New Hope, Hardin County, Tennessee.

Death of Mary (Cheves) Ledbetter reportedly occurred on 2 April 1818, but this alleged death-date is flawed by fact: contradicted by the William Ledbetter I Last Will & Testament, which was signed, dated and witnessed upon 2 April 1818 in Chatham County, NC. Within his Last Will & Testament, William Ledbetter I acknowledges his wife as living and bequeaths unto her material wealth (farm livestock, personal property and food provisions) for sustenance and support.

Contents of the William Ledbetter I Last Will & Testament, which document was signed, dated & witnessed 2 April 1818, Chatham County, North Carolina:

In the name of God, amen. I, William Ledbetter, of the County of Chatham and state of North Carolina, do make and publish the following last Will and Testimony. My wish is that my son Coleman Ledbetter shall have the just sum of fifty dollars in money. My will further is that my grandson Alsey Ledbetter shall have my home that I am now in possession and fifteen dollars in money. My will further is my wife shall have during her life one cow & calf, one Bed and furniture and a sufficiency of corn, wheat, and meat for her support. My will further is that all my property not before bequeathed shall be sold and equal division made among the rest of my children. Lastly I nominate my friend James Collins and my son William Ledbetter, both of the County of Chatham, the executors of this Last Wlll and Testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 2nd day of April Anno Domino 1818.

Hopefully, more in-depth research of Ledbetter Family History will reveal documentary evidence of the specific death-dates for Mary (Cheves) Ledbetter and her husband, William Ledbetter I (1740-1818), both of whom died in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Supplemental Notation:

Discovered on 25 October 2013, in North Carolina State Archives Estate Records, was an Index Record of the May 1818 Estate Inventory & Sale for William Ledbetter, conducted in May 1818 by his namesake son, William Ledbetter II (Jr.) and James Collins, Estate Executors, both court-appointed to perform these estate-settling tasks in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Therefore, the death of William Ledbetter I (Sr.) occurred sometime between 2 April 1818 (will date) and May 1818 (estate inventory & sale date). A fact to note: there is no mention of the death of Mary (Cheves) Ledbetter, during the timeframe April 1818 to May 1818, in official court records of Chatham County, North Carolina. If her death had occurred during the estate settlement process, such a significant event would have been much too important to ignore, either socially, ethically, logically or legally.

Family links: Spouse: William Ledbetter (1740 - 1818)

Children: Coleman Ledbetter (1765 - 1845)* William Ledbetter (1779 - 1855)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Non-Cemetery Burial Specifically: Burial location unknown in Chatham County, North Carolina." [2]

"The surveyor's record (in SR 2 in Prince George Co. Court House) is there because of an estate settlement in 1820. The owner of the property who had died is John Phillips. Survey of February 7, 1820. Surrounding owners were in order: Peter Fenn (later identified as Finn in Civil War map), Francis Pace, Richard STURDIVANT (of the mill-owning Sturdevants), Richard Williams, Joel CHIEVES (the Cheeves had come to Bristol Parish in 1730s), John B. Williams and James F. TEMPLE. The property was divided between John A. Phillips (500 A), George E. Phillips and James Pace (in right of his wife, who was obviously a Phillips).

The Phillips land was up Second Swamp from the Sturdevants' mill --it was west of it.

In the Loose Wills of Prince Geo. Co. (typescript there in Court House) in 1842 there is probate of will of William Phillips, dated October 27, 1839. Land (loc. not specified). to William F. Phillips, George W. Phillips, and John T. Phillips., who are desc. as "children of Polly Phillips" 1/3 of land to Polly Phillips for life, then return to three chidlren. Execs. William BROCKWELL and Gilliam R. Moore." [3]

Birth

1740

Bristol, Prince George, Virginia, USA^[1]

Death

26 APR 1802

Chatham, , North Carolina, USA^[2]

2 APR 1818

Chatham Co., NC [4]

Marriage

1761

Brunswick County, Virginia^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S-2125745987 Note: Information extracted from various family tree data submitted to Ancestry and The Generations Network
2. ↑ Source: #S-2125745987 Note: Information extracted from various family tree data submitted to Ancestry and The Generations Network
3. ↑ Source: #S-2125746071 Data: Text: Date of Import: 19 Dec 2003

• Source: S-2125746068 Title: Foot Prints In The Sand Author: Garland Lively Note: Foot Prints In The Sand CONT Entries: 120321 Updated: 2006-11-06 21:11:53 UTC (Mon) Contact: Garland Lively
• Source: S-2125746071 Title: Henry Ledbetter.FTW Note: Source Media Type: Other
• Source: S-2125745987 Title: Public Member Trees Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Family trees submitted by Ancestry members.Original data: Family trees submitted by Ancestry members.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Scott Ledbetter Kathryn Carter . Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by others.