330. Capt. William E Bledsoe & 331. Elizabeth Mumford {… VA}
Bef. 1683, William born in VA, s/o 660.George Bledsoe & 661. Ann Jennings.
~1692, Elizabeth born in VA.
1/23/1704, William left property in the will of his father: “I give unto my son William Bledsoe the plantation I now live upon and his part of land, together with all houses, fences, orchards, etc. that are upon it. … my will is that my three sons: Abraham, William and John be at equal charge to keep my son Thomas three years at school, and to hire upon the plantation along with William till he comes to the age of 21 years … Abraham and William Bledsoe, sole executors of this my last will and testament”.
~1709, Elizabeth 1st married Charles Stevens; baptized May 8, 1681 in Gloucester Co., VA. [In 1701 Charles married Mary Mumford who died 1707 after the birth of their 4th child. That same year, Charles married Sarah who died about 1709. Charles immediately married 17-year-old Elizabeth Mumford, who bore him 6 more children. The Mumford girls who married Charles were probably relatives of Charles’s mother, Mary Munford. Mary was born ~1645. Her father was Edward Munford who immigrated to VA from England on the “Thomas and John” in June of 1635 at the age of 20, and settled in Gloucester Co.]
1723, William sheriff of Spotsylvania Co., VA.
6/1726, Charles died at the age of 45 leaving Elizabeth with a house full of children. Elizabeth had already remarried by the time Charles’s will was probated 2 months later. The court noted “this will being sworn to by Elizabeth Bledsoe, late ye wife of Charles Stevens, now ye wife of William Bledsoe.”
8/1726, William married Elizabeth.
8/1727, Elizabeth executed a bond in Spotsylvania Co., VA.
8/6/1729, Ordered that Mr. William Bledsoe & Mr. Benjamin Cave Do value the Timbers the Overseer Do Make use of in building the Wilderness Run bridge, And that they make return of their proceedings to the Next Court.
4/4/1732, William Russell is discharged from being Overseer of the road from the corner Stones to Germanna ferry landing & William Bledsoe Gentn: is ordered & appointed to Serve in his room ….
2/6/1732, William Bledsoe Gent being Called to answer the Presentment of the Grand Jury for Not Keeping the road in repair from the Orchards of Oaks to the Wilderness run and he appearing and giving no reasonable excuse, Ordered that he be fined according to Law.
4/3/1733, On Motion of John Taliaferro Gent for & in behalf of William Bledsoe Gent. overseer of the road from the Orchard of White Oaks to Germanna ferry Landing to have the Same Divided into two Precincts, …
2/26/1750, William mentioned in an Orange Co., VA Road Order.
1759, William deeded land to his sons Moses and Joseph.
1760, William and Elizabeth deeded their son George 150 acres in Orange Co., “because of natural love and parental affection”.
10/21/1762, Wm. Bledsoe, Grantee - Ambrose Powell & wife, Grantors - Deed recorded 3-17-1763.
12/27/1769, William wrote his will. (S) Culpeper Co., WB-A.
4/19/1770, William’s will probated in Culpeper Co., VA.
(S) The Powell Families of VA and the South, Lucas, 1969, Section 8.
(S) Spotsylvania Co. Road Orders.
Family notes:
• Charles Stevens was baptized May 8, 1681 in Gloucester County, Virginia. He had three wives. In 1701 he married Mary Mumford who died 1707 after the birth of their fourth child. That same year, Charles married Sarah who died about 1709. Charles immediately married seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Mumford, who bore him six more children. Charles died in June 1726 at the age of forty-five leaving Elizabeth with a house full of children. Elizabeth had already remarried by the time Charles's will was probated two months later. The court noted “this will being sworn to by Elizabeth Bledsoe, late ye wife of Charles Stevens, now ye wife of William Bledsoe.”
• Will of William Bledsoe, 27 December 1769 … In the name of god Amen, I, William Bledsoe of the Parish of Brumfield, County of Culpeper, being in perfect Health & Sound Heart & Mind, but calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life & that all flesh would yield to death when, Please God to call, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner following. My soul ? commend to Almighty God who gave it me Trusting in the Merits of my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ & that at ? ? above but ? again through Merits My Body, recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named And as to my Worldly Goods with which It has been Pleased God to bless me with I give and bestow in manner following. I Lend to my Loving Wife Elizabeth all my Estates both Real and Personal Except such Estate as is Already Given out to My Children of which you have Pofsefsion during their Natural Life and after her decease in such Manner as I shall hereafter direct. I Give & Bequeathe to my son George Bledsoe Twenty pounds Current Money to be Raised out of my Estate after my Wifes Death to him his heirs & Afsigns forever. I give and Bequeathe to my son Aarons Lawfully begotten children One Negroe Wench named Jean & all cher children,Cate, Easther, & Jack with all the issue of the said Jean, Cate, Easther & Jack, the said Jean, Cate, Easther & Jack now being in the possession of my said son Aaron Bledsoe: & the said Jean, Cate, Easther & Jack & all their Ifsue of the same I hereby give to the Children of my said son Aaron, their Heirs, Exors, Administrator and Afsigns forever. I Give and Bequeathe to George Wetherall & Mille Wetherall One Negroe Wench named Lucy now in the possession of George Wetherall, with the issue of the said Lucy to tthe said George Wetherall & Mille Wetherall their Heirs and Assigns forever. I Give and Bequeathe to Ambrose Powell & Mary his wife One Negroe Wench named Easther Now in the Possession of the said Ambrose Powell with the Issue of the said Easther to them the said Ambrose Powell & Mary Powell their Heirs & Afsigns forever; I Give and Bequeathe to my son John Bledsoe One Negroe man named Jack to him his Heirs & Assigns forever the said Jack being son of Nan and now in the Possession of the said John Bledsoe. I Give & Bequeathe to my son William Bledsoe One Negroe Wench names Rahel & her child, with the furhter Issue of the said Rachael to him his heirs & Assigns forever the said Rachael & her child now being in the Possession of the said William Bledsoe. I Give and Bequeathe to George Wetherall & Mille Wetherall one feather Bed & furniture to them their heirs and Afsigns forever, such as shall belong to the Estate at my Decease. I Give and Bequeathe to my son Aaron Bledsoe One feather Bed & furniture to him his Heirs forever, such as shall belong to the Estate at my Decease. I Give and Bequeathe to my Daughter Hannah Cave One Shilling in Full of here Part of my Estate, she having already recived her Part. I Give and Bequeathe to my son Joseph Bledsoe One Shilling he having formerly received a Proportional Part of my Estate. I Give and Bequeathe to my Loving Children George, John, William, Mary Powell, Mille Wetherall, Aaron Bledsoe & Mumford Stevens all my Estate after my Wifes Decease, to be Divided between the said Seven as above Mentioned and do hereby Declare them to be my Lawfull Heirs otherways than their ? Legacies already Given. I constitute and do appoint George Wetherall Executor of this My last Will & Testament. And Lastley I do hereby Revoke and Disavow all all former Wills by me made and do hereby Declare this to be my Last Will & Testament As Witnefs my hand & seal this 27th day of December 1769. Sign’d Seal’d Declar’d & Establish’d In presence of Wm. Bledsoe (L.S.); Benj. Powell; Daniel Phillips; Joseph Haynes; Henry Hill; Bolers Powell; Benjamin Powell.
Children of Charles and Elizabeth:
i. Mumford Stevens, born ?.
3/11/1747, one of Mumford’s slaves stole 3 hogs from Benjamin Covelyent.
3/24/1749, Mumford called to jury duty.
Rev, War: Mumford listed as one of the Minutemen of Culpeper Co.
(S) 1783 Tax List Culpeper Co., Mumford Stevens.
Children of William and Elizabeth:
i. Hannah Bledsoe, born ~1705 in VA.
Hannah married Benjamin Cave.
1750, Benjamin awarded tobacco for building a bridge over Mine Run.
2/28/1750, Benjamin [& brother-in-law George] mentioned in an Orange Co., VA Road Order.
10/28/1756, Benjamin [& brother-in-law George] mentioned in an Orange Co., VA Road Order.
6/26/1762, Benjamin wrote his will in Orange Co., VA.
Aft. 1770, Hannah died in Orange Co., buried in a private cemetery.
Children: [from will of Benjamin]
William Cave, born ?.
John Cave, born ?.
Benjamin Cave Jr, born ?.
David Cave, born ?.
Richard Cave, born ?.
Elizabeth Cave, born ?.
She married ? Johnson,
Ann Cave, born ?.
She married ? Cavender,
Sarah Cave, born ?.
Hannah Cave, born ?.
ii. Sarah Bledsoe (165), born ~1725.
iii. John Bledsoe, born ?.
John married Elizabeth ?.
6/26/1762, Jno witnessed the will of his brother-in-law Benjamin Cave.
5/4/1779, Jno. Bledsoe, Grantee - Wm. Bledsoe, Grantor - recorded 5-17-1779.
2/19/1787, Jno. Bledsoe, Grantee - Wm. Bledsoe & wife, Grantors - Deed recorded 2-19-1787.
9/12/1800, John wrote his will. Nephews, Sons of his Brother George and Wife Lucy; George, John and Moses. Brother Williams’s eight sons; John, Joseph, James, Benjamin, William, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to whom he give all his lands in Kentucky except 100 acres which he gives to John Perry, Son of Pierce Perry.
Bef. 7/27/1801, John died; will probated.
iv. George Bledsoe, born ?.
George married Lucy ?.
2/28/1750, George mentioned in an Orange Co., VA Road Order.
10/28/1756, George mentioned in an Orange Co., VA Road Order.
1760, William and Elizabeth deeded their son George 150 acres in Orange Co., “because of natural love and parental affection”.
5/1763, George mentioned in an Orange Co., VA Road Order.
5/22/1783, George mentioned in an Orange Co., VA Road Order.
Children: [identified in John’s will.]
George Bledsoe, born ?.
John Bledsoe, born ?.
Moses Bledsoe, born ?.
v. William Bledsoe, born ?.
William married Elizabeth Zachery, born 1731.
8/16/1757, Elizabeth Bledsoe, Grantee - Jno Zachery, Grantor - Deed recorded 8-18-1757.
4/28/1772, Wm. Bledsoe, Grantee - Chas. & Benj. Grimes, Grantors - Deed recorded 11-16-1772.
5/4/1779, Jno. Bledsoe, Grantee - Wm. Bledsoe, Grantor - recorded 5-17-1779.
(S) 1783 Tax List Culpeper Co., William Bledsoe.
2/19/1787, Jno. Bledsoe, Grantee - Wm. Bledsoe & wife, Grantors - Deed recorded 2-19-1787.
Children: [identified in John’s will.]
John Bledsoe, born ?.
Joseph Bledsoe, born ?.
James Bledsoe, born ?.
Benjamin Bledsoe, born ?.
William Bledsoe, born ?.
Abraham Bledsoe, born ?.
Isaac Bledsoe, born ?.
Jacob Bledsoe, born ?.
vi. Mary Bledsoe, born 3/10/1734 in VA.
Mary married Ambrose Powell, brother of Sarah’s husband.
[For more info see Ambrose.]
vii. Millie Bledsoe, born ?.
Mary married George Wetherall.
1768, George named Executor of will of Millie’s sister Sarah’s widower husband, Benjamin Powell.
1781 George died.
(S) 1783 Tax List Culpeper Co., Millie Wetherall.
Children:
Elizabeth Wetheral, born 1756 in VA.
7/17/1776, she married Henry Towles.
John Wetheral, born 1758 in VA.
Anne Wetheral, born 1762 in VA.
viii. Joseph Bledsoe, born ?.
11/3/1759, Joseph married Elizabeth Miller, d/o Col. William Miller & Jane Hord.
7/26/1799 in Madison Co., KY, Joseph married Elizabeth Shelton.
5/4/1779, Jos. Bledsoe, Grantee - Wm. Bledsoe, Grantor - Deed recorded 5-17-1779.
1801, Joseph died in Cumberland Co., KY.
ix. Aaron Bledsoe, born ?.
Aaron married Mary Brockman d/o John & Mary Collins.
1768, Aaron witness of will of Millie’s sister Sarah’s widower husband, Benjamin Powell.
