William Horn Sr. (1690 - 1754)

Born 4 Apr 1690 in Nansemond, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 4 Apr 1754 at age 64 in Edgecombe, Edgecombe Co., North Carolina

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Biography

William Horn was born circa 1690. He passed away about 1754. ^[1]

Currently there is no documentation regarding William's parents. His wife is mentioned in land transactions as "William Horn and wife Margaret." Her maiden name is not documented. There is wide speculation that she may have been Margaret Mae Neal but this has not been proven. The lack of evidence is due to most records for Nansemond County, Virginia having been destroyed.

Nansemond -- Created as Upper Norfolk County by 1640 and renamed Nansemond in 1646. Records were destroyed in three separate fires: the earliest consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), the second was set by British troops in 1779, and the last occurred on February 7, 1866.^[2][3]

Margaret apparently predeceased William as no wife is mentioned in his will.

The earliest record of William that still exists is the "Virginia Quit Rent Roll of 1704" where he is listed in Nansemond County. ^[4]

In 1718 he was given three land grants: ^[5][6]

1. Nansemond County. 49 acres beg.g at a pine at the mouth of a branch on the north side of the Cyprus Swamp and runs up the sd. branch, bounding on the sd. Horne to Saram Creek.
2. Nansemond County. 392 acres beg.g &c. by a branch called Scratch Hall Branch.
3. Nansemond County. 384 acres beg.g at a white oak the said Hornes corner standing on the north side of the Cyprus Swamp.

Will

William wrote his will in 1753. The will was probated in June, 1759. Following is the text of his will:

"In the name of God, Amen.

"The Tenth Day of Septemb. in the year of our Lord Christ one Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty three, I William Horn Ser. being in Good Health of Body and of perfect mind and memory, Thanks be Given unto God; Therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body; and Knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to Die; Do Make and ordain this my last will and Testamte, That is to Say, Principally and First of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and My Body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in Decent Christian Buriall at the Discretion of my Executors; Nothing Doubting but as the Generall Resurrecting, I shall Receive the Same Again by the mighty Power of God And as Touching Such Worldy Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me in this Life, I Give Demise and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner and Form---

"Imprim. I give and Bequeath unto my Well beloved Sons William, Henry, Charles, Thomas and Moses, and to my wellbeloved Daughter Margaret, to Each of Them one Shilling Sterling to paid unto them after my Deceace---

"Item I Give and Bequeath unto the Heirs of my wellbeloved Son Michaell Horn all my stock of Cattle and Horses and Mares them and there Increase to him and his Heirs for Ever by the freely to be possessed and Enjoyed---

"Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Wellbeloved Son Michaell one Gun and all my Household Goods and all Improvements whatsoever to me Belonging to him and his Heirs Forever by them freely to be Possessed and Enjoyed---

"Item I Give and Bequeath unto the Heirs of my wellbeloved Son John Decd. one Shilling Sterling to be paid them after my Decease---and I do hereby Likewise Constitute make and ordain my wellbeloved Son Michaell Horn my Sole Executor of this my last will and Testamente, and I Do hereby Disallow, Revoke and Disanull all and Every other former---Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Bequests, and Executors by me in any ways before named, willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and Testamente---

"In Witness whereof I have Hereunto Sett my Hand and Seale the Day and year above Written.---" ^[7][8]

Will of William Horn 1690 - 1754

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave page for William Horn Sr. (4 Apr 1690–11 Jul 1794), Find A Grave: Memorial #77196906; Cenotaph with inscriptions is shown - note this is not a gravestone - and four family document photos. Not clear how the info in the 4 photos relates?
2. ↑ Library of Virginia; research guides. survey of records destroyed in each county: PDF
3. ↑ Family Search page for researching Nansemond County genealogy, Family Search
4. ↑ Quit Rent Roll of Virginia, 1704
5. ↑ Horne, William. grantee. Virginia Colonial Land Office; Library of Virginia. Archives. Land titles -- Registration and transfer--Virginia--Nansemond County
6. ↑ Library of Virginia Land Grant Archives
7. ↑ Secretary of State Records. State Archives of North Carolina. Local call no. SS 839 - SS 861. MARS ID 12.96.12.35.
8. ↑ North Carolina digital collections. Page not found

See also:

• Horn, Robert G., William Horn of Nansemond, His Sons and Their Children; 2006 p.173 Google Books
• Rootsweb page of Talbot family history