Martha Ann (May) Nance (1715 - 1796)

Born 1715 in Amelia Court House, Amelia, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 21 Nov 1796 at about age 81 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Martha Ann MAY was born in 1713 in Amelia, Virginia. She married John NANCE, III in 1733 in Virginia. They had 11 children in 22 years. She died on November 21, 1796, in Pittsylvania, Virginia, having lived a long life of 83 years.

Children

1. Robert NANCE (1734–1815) marr. Ann Marshall and Faithy Pennington
2. Giles S. NANCE Sr. (1735–1810) marr. Mary Nancy Malone
3. Martha Ann "Patsy" NANCE (1736–????) marr. Zachariah Sneed
4. James NANCE (1737–1796) marr. a Martha
5. Elizabeth NANCE (1739–)
6. John NANCE (1740–1801) marr. Frances Bugg
7. Isham NANCE (1740–????)
8. Sarah NANCE (1742–1816) I believe she is the one who marr. Nathaniel Guyton
9. David NANCE (1745–1778) marr. Mary Crenshaw
10. Thomas NANCE (1745–1806) marr. Sarah H. Gibbs
11. Clement Malone NANCE Sr. (1756–1828) marr. Mary Jones

Will

Amelia County, Virginia Wills Will Book 2x Page 22 Abstracted and compiled by Gibson J. McConnaughey Mid-South Publishing Co - c1978-1980 John May. Will dated 18 May 1759, Probated 28 May 1767. Wit: Samuel Sherwin, Richard Wilson, Gideon Winfree. Executor: son James May. Legatees: son John 2 acres in Dinwid (sic) Co on old Sappony Road, part of tract I sold to Mr Robert Ruffin; wife Mary, use of Negro Tom for life, then to son James; Daughter Martha Nance; daughter Mary Ragsdale; daughter Dorothy Bruice; daughter Elizabeth Robertson. Son James, all my lands, Negroes, and real and personal estate.

Will Book 2 x, Page 187

In the name of God, Amen. I John MAY of Amelia County being very infirm in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for the same but calling to mind the Mortality of the body and that it is appointed for all flesh to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament and as touching on my worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the Following manner and Forms Imprimis I give and bequeath to my Son John two Acres of land lying in Dinwid County (more or less) On the Old Sappony Road it being part of that Tract of Land I Sold to Mr Robert Rudfin (?) Also every thing else he is now possessed of that was my own heretofore. Item I leave to my Dearly beloved Wife Mary the use of my negro Tom during her Natural life and after her decease to be Possesd by Son James. Item I give to my Daughter Martha NANCE four Pounds also a bell Mettle Kettle. Item I give to my Daughter Mary Ragsdale four pounds. Item I give to my Daughter Dorthy Bruices Four pounds Item I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Robertson four pounds The above four Legasies left my Daughters to be paid in good and Lawfull money of Virginia by my Executor hereafter mentioned to be levy'd out of my Personal Estate. Item I Give to my well beloved Son James whom I likewise Constitute make and Ordain my Only and Sole Executer of this my last will and Testament all my land negroes & Estate both Real & Personal by him freely to be Possed & Injoy'd for ever AND I as hereby revoke Disanul all former wills Testaments Legasies and Executers Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and Seal this eighteenth day of Maye One thousand Seven hundred and fifty nine. Signed & Declaired by the said John May as his last will and Testament in the presence of the subscribers John I May Saml Sherwin Richard R Wilson Gideon Winper At a Court held for Amelia County this 28th day of May 1767 This Will was proved by the Oaths of Saml. Sherwin and Richard Wilson two of the Witnesses thereto Sworn to by the Executor therein named and Ordered to be Recorded And on the motion of the said Executor who entered into and acknowledged Bond with Security as the law Directs Certificate was granted him for Obtaining a probate in Due form.

The inventory of the estate of John Nance (husband of Martha) in Pittsylvania Co, recorded 16 Jul 1782, included "a Negro man". (This singular reference suggests that he was the only slave owned by John Nance). The 1782 Virginia census for Pittsylvania Co showed a Martha Nance (who appeared on the census list immediately adjacent to a William Nance and a Clement Nance), who was quite evidently the widow of John Nance, as the head of a household consisting of 1 White and 1 Black. In 1797, the Pittsylvania Co inventory of the estate of Martha Nance, recorded 16 Jan 1797, included a "Negro man named Will".

PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY VIRGINIA 1782 - APRIL. ON MOTION OF MARTHA NANCE, RELICT OF JOHN NANCE, DECEASED, ADMINISTRATION GRANTED HER OF HIS ESTATE.

Tax Records

1782 Pittsylvania County VA Tax List Pg. 42 Martha NANCE 01-01 1 White Souls, 1 black

Sources

• "Unbreaking the Circle: Connecting some of the Nance Register's Broken Lineages". Nance Genealogy Clearinghouse, http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~nancegc/genealogy/article.htm.