Johana (Ligon) Hancock (1653 - bef. 1728)

Born 1653 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Hancock — married 15 Apr 1672 in Henrico County, VA

Descendants

Died before 7 Nov 1728 before age 75 in Malvern Hills, Henrico, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Joan was the daughter of Thomas Ligon and Mary Harris

She married Robert Hancock about 1672 in Henrico County, Virginia

They were the parents of:

1. Sarah (1673-1727) married Arthur Moseley II
2. Mary (1672-unknown)
3. William (1674-1719)
4. Robert (1676-unknown)
5. Phoebe (1680-unknown)
6. Johan (1682-1760)
7. Mary (1681-unknown)
8. Elizabeth (1682-1731)

Johan (Ligon) Hancock survived her husband by 17 years. Her will, dated 22 FEB 1726, was proved 7 NOV 1728 in Henrico County, Virginia. Her daughter Elizabeth Hancock was her Executrix, as indicated in her will.

"In the name of God, Amen, I Johan Hancock of the Parish and county of Henrico being in perfect mind and memory, blessed be to God for it, do ordain and constitute this my last will and testament in manner and form following, first, I commit my soul unto the hands of Almighty God hoping through his meritorious death and passion of lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to receive free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and my body to be buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter menti.

ffirst I will and Desire that my debts and funeral charges be duly paid and discharged.

Now I give unto my daughter Sarah Moseley one shilling sterling.

Now I give unto my daughter Mary Hathcer one shilling sterling.

Now I give unto my daughter Johan Hancock one shilling sterling.

Now I give unto my son Robert Hancock one shilling sterling.

Now I give unto my daughter Phoebe Baily my riding horse and sidesaddle and my black suit of clothes.

Now I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth my negro Girl Matt with her interest to her and her heirs forever during her life and after her death her interest to be equally divided amongst the children she shall then have that are lawfully begotten of her body and all the rest of my worldly Estate.

I likewise order and constitute my said daughter Elizabeth Hancock my full and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament making void all other wills and Testaments by me heretofore made.

Witness my hand and seal this 22 day of February 1726."

Johan (Lygon) Hancock, the wife of Robert Hancock, appears on the Henrico County records in 1683 as making a deposition which gives an interesting sidelight on the sporting proclivities of some of the early Virginians:

Johan Hancocke, aged 30 years or thereabouts, sworn and examined saith:

that some time this last summer being at Abraham Womack's house I heard Edward Hatcher, James Baugh, William Puckett and Andrew Martin in discussion concerning a horse race and after some time I heard a challenge made between Ed Hatcher and Andrew Martin and Will Puckett and James Baug that ye said Edw Hatcher's horse that he then had there was to run against ye said Andrew Martin's horse that he had there, horse for horse, the same race that was run there before to the best of my remembrance, and I heard them all swear, done and done, and presently on ye same they start up to go to run; and Richard Lygon called after Edward Hatcher and said my Edward Hatcher my horse shall not run any more today or night one the wch Edw Hatcher swore by God that he should for he was his horse and took him and ledd him out into ye pasture, and Andrew Martin in company with his horse and gott upon him and Edw Hatcher was a getting up, and Richd Lygon coming and took hold of the horse, and said Edward Hatcher this is my horse, and he shall not run on ye wch ye said Hatcher said If it is your horse take him I can't help it, on ye wch William Puckett and James Baugh and Andrew Martin by consent resolved that ye said Martin should run over the place appointed as he was on the first agreemt chosen to ride his own horse, and Edw Hatcher to ride his own horse and after some while came riding back again and said that he had been over the race, and said that he had left his knife there and bid them go and see if they would, and at his return the said Andrew Martin took Edward Hatcher's Horse, and say'd that he had won him and fasten'd them both together, and then Richd Lygon went and took hold of ye horse and fore-warned him for medling with him for it was his horse to ye best of my remembrance and further saith not---Johan Hancocke

Jurat in Cur Com Hon p: die 8 A. 1683 Teste

Henry Randolph

I, the subscriber, to declare the very same onely done, and done, Exeundet and Edward Hatcher's by God Richard Lygon' "

Sources

• "Moseley family, Chesterfield, VA" i.e. an abridged version of John Hale Stutesman's research notebooks that used original documents to make his discovery of the family tree descendancy of the Moseley families that moved into the James River [Henrico Co VA then] area by 1689. That family tree discovery was the documentary foundation for much of our MOSELEY Book 1 of 2 genealogy publication in summer 2000.
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• Henrico Co., VA Wills & Deeds 1725-1737
• Adventurers of Purse and Person book, page 18