Rachel (Clement) Abston (1742 - 1780)

Born 1742 in Amelia County, Virginia

Ancestors

Died 30 Mar 1780 at about age 38 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Kevin Kinley [send private message], Heather Clemons [send private message], and Cathi Gross [send private message]

Biography

Rachel was born about 1742. She was the daughter of Benjamin Clements and Susannah Hill. She passed away before 30th of March 1780, when her father, Capt. Benjamin Clements's will was made. She was mentioned as "Rachel Abston, decd" Also her three children were mention as: John Abston Frances Abston Susana Abston and Rachal Abston Children of Rachal Abston deceas'd. See The Will of Benjamin Clements, Sr.

Research Notes

Pittsylvania County was formed in 1767 from Halifax County.

The Will of Benjamin Clements, Sr., Father of Rachel

Will of Benjamin CLEMENT, dated 30 March 1780 Pittsylvania County, VA, Will Book 2, pages 115 - 116 Transcript by Marna L. Clemons, 11 September 1998

• In the Name of God Amen I Benjamin Clement of the County of Pittsylvania in Virginia being sick in body but sound and perfect memory do make and declare this Then to be my last Will and Testament revoking and making void all other Wills by me formaly made and in order to dispose of my Worldly Estate to my satisfaction I have it in manner and form following Vis Item I do lend to my wife Susanna Clement one third part of my moveable Estate as the Law alows her
• Vis Item to give to my grand daughter Susana Clement daughter to Benj.a Clement one of my best Beds and furniture and five pounds in Cash to be delivered to her by my Executors when she comes of proper age to receive it
• Vis Item I do give to the heir at Law of my Daughter Jeriah Gilbert deceast one shilling
• Vis Item do give to the heir at Law of my daughter Rachel Abston deceast one shilling
• Vis Item do give to the heir at Law of my daughter Elizabeth Butterworth deceast one shilling
• I give and bequeth to my son John Clement the tract of Land he now lives fifty Acres more or less which Land I purchased of John Goad lying on the frying pan Creek
• Item do lend to my said wife Susana the use of the tract of Land I now live on with all my inclusive Survays joyning of it with the third part of the prophas of the Mill during the time of her widowhood and my will is that my said Wife Susana shall not Lease, Sell nor lett the sd. Land nor Mill nor any part thereoff to any person or persons whatever and at her deseas or marrage the Land and Mill may be sold or any time after to the best advantage And all my Legaseas excepted movable to be sold to the best advantage Neagroes and all that can be collected before or after the Sale of the Land and that the whole amount of my Estate after charges taken oute may be divided into ten equal parts one part to be divided between James Gilbert and Rachal Gilbert Children of Jeriah Gilbert deceas'd one part to be divided between John Abston Frances Abston Susana Abston and Rachal Abston Children of Rachal Abston deceas'd one part to be divided between Isaac Butterworth, Stephen Butterworth, Jane Butterworth and Susanna hill Butterworth Children of Elizabeth Butterworth deceased the above mentioned Children of the deceased is to be paid these parts of the Estate by the Executors when they come of Lawful age to receive it, the other seven parts to be equally divided amongest my Children
• one part to Stephen Clement his heirs or assigns for ever,
• one part to Isaac Clement his heirs or assigns for ever,
• one part to Benj.a Clement his heirs or assigns for ever,
• one part to Adam Clement his heirs or assigns for ever,
• one part to John Clement his heirs or assigns for ever
• one part to Susanna Evans her heirs or assigns for ever.
• One part to be divided to Martha Clement Widow of James Clement deceased and her Children according as the Law provides
• Lastly I do appoint my Son Isaac Clement and my Son Adam Clement whole and Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament in Witness whereoff I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this the thirtyeth day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty W Test his * Benja Clement .LS.
• John Bobbitt
• William M Cash his Mark
• Benjamin X Foster her Mark his
• Ruth R Cash
• Thomas T Roberson mark Mark
• At a Court held for Pittsylvania County the 18th day of April 1780 This last Will and Testament of Benjamin Clement deceased was exhibited into Court by Isaac Clement one of the Executors herein appointed and the same was proved by the Oaths of the witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded and the said Executor having taken the Oath by Law prescribed and with John Wilson and William Todd his securities entered into bond and acknowledged the same Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said Will in due form And afterwards, to wit, At a Court held for the said County the 20th day of June in the year aforesaid came here into Court Adam Clement the other Executor in the said Will named and prayed leave to be joined in the probate thereof which is granted him having first taken the Oath of Exor and together with John Wilson and Abraham Shelton Gent. His Securities entered into bond and acknowledged the same.Teste Will Tunstall CC.
• Estate valued at 27,664 pounds, 4 shillings and 8 pence.

Bible Records for Capt. Benjamin Clements, Sr. Father of Rachel

• Family Bible of Capt. Benjamin Clements & Susannah Hill . printed 1927, the family Bible of Benjamin Clements was found in the possession of Mr. S. R. Orr of Chicago, Illinois, a descendant of Capt. Benjamin CLEMENT. The record contained the following entries:
• Stephen Clements b. 1732 m. Sarah
• Isaac Clements b. 1733 m. Ann DENHAM
• Benjamin Clements b. 1735 m. Mary
• David Clements b. 1737 died as infant
• Adam Clements b. 1739 m. Agnes JOHNSON
• Jeriah Clements b. 1741 m. ______GILBERT
• John Clements b. 1743
• James Clements b. 1745 m. Martha
• Rachel Clements b. 1747 m. Capt. Joshua ABSTON
• Daniel Clements b. 1749 died as infant
• Elizabeth Clements b. 1751 m. Isaac BUTTERWORTH
• Susannah Clements b. 1754 m. William EVANS
• __________BUTTERWORTH b. 1768, Grandchild
• __________BUTTERWORTH b. 1769, Grandchild
• Notes by Cathi (Clements) Gross. This Bible, which I have not seen personally is questionable. Why do I say that? Bibles were a persons Identification of who you were back then. They were used just like Birth Certificates are used today. Most bibles that I have seen from that time period always had full Birth Dates not just the year, even the time one's birth was listed along with Marriages and one's death. A person collecting his Revolutionary, Civil War, etc pensions needed his family bible to prove who he was in Court along with Witnesses. Capt. Benjamin Clements being a highly educated person of his day would have known this and kept a full account of all his children's birth dates, because they would be needing it for their Identification. So, I am very skeptical of this Bible, which has been presented at many different family tree websites. I'm not saying these were Not Benjamin's kids, I'm just not so sure this was His personal family bible. I believe it was probably Mr. S. R. Orr of Chicago, Illinois's Bible, because it's dated 1927. Capt. Benjamin Clements Bible would have been dated around the 1730's, adding each child as they were born, as mentioned above. Another interesting fact, if this was Capt. Benjamin's Bible, why isn't his own birth date listed along with his wife Susannah's. These are important questions to ask.

Sources

Will of Benjamin CLEMENT, dated 30 March 1780 Pittsylvania County, VA, Will Book 2, pages 115 - 116 Transcript by Marna L. Clemons, 11 September 1998 - See Above

Family Bible of Capt. Benjamin Clements & Susannah Hill . printed 1927, the family Bible of Benjamin Clements was found in the possession of Mr. S. R. Orr of Chicago, Illinois, a descendant of Capt. Benjamin CLEMENT.