Susannah - Discussion
In 1868, William Winston Dabney, recorded several wills in his possession to replace those destroyed when Richmond burned during the Civil War.
Susanna, widow of the first Cornelius Dabney, (who died before May 1694 in New Kent Co., Virginia, his land would fall in Hanover when it was created) & __ Anderson
Hanover County Will Book I. (At Hanover Court House.) Page 632.
In the name of God Amen I Susannah Anderson of St. Paul's Parish in the county of Hanover, widow being in perfect health and disposing mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament that is to say: Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give, devise, bequeath and dispose of the same in manner and form following: viz:
Then I give to my grandson, William Anderson, one young negro and if there is no young negro living at the time of my death, I do hereby will, order and require that one young negro be bought for him the said William Anderson out of my Estate which negro I do hereby lend to his father-in-law James Trice for maintaining and bringing up the said William Anderson in schooling &c. 'till he comes to the age of eighteen years to be fully completed and ended and then the said negro with the increase or issue if any to be possessed and enjoyed by him the said William Anderson and his heirs forever, but if the said William Anderson depart this life without any heir of his body for ye said negro to go to my son Cornelius Dabney and to his heirs forever.
Then I give to my loving son Cornelius Dabney one Desk and one Large Case of bottles and all my ready money and money debts in England & Virginia to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give all such Negroes whatsoever as I now own or thereafter shall be possessed or invested with at the time of my death. I do hereby give, devise and bequeath the same unto my dear children three Cornelius Dabney, Dorothy Trice ye wife of James Trice and Mary Carr ye wife of Capt. Thomas Carr to be possessed and enjoyed by them with the said Negroes issues and increase forever to be equally divided among them and their heirs forever.
Then all such goods, chattels and estates whatsoever as I now own or hereafter shall be possessed or invested with at the time of my decease. I do hereby give, devise and bequeath the same unto my Dear Children four Cornelius Dabney, David Anderson, Dorothy Trice ye wife of James Trice and Mary Carr ye wife of Thomas Carr to be equally divided among them and their heirs forever after all my debts and legacies is paid.
Then my will is that my two dauters shall have all my wearing apparel. I do hereby give unto my two dauters above named Dorothy Trice and Mary Carr to be equally divided between them.
Item. My will and desire is that my estate is not to be appraised, I do hereby ordain, nominate, name and constitute and appoint my said son Cornelius Dabney my only and sole executor of this my Last Will and testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow, Revoke and disannul all and every former Testament, Wills Legacies and Executors by me at any time heretofore named, willed and bequeathed. Ratifying and confirming this and no other to stand for and be my only last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of March 1722.
Susannah Anderson (seal)
Signed, sealed and
declared in presents of us
John Smith
Mary "X" Smith
At a Court held for Hanover County February the fifth, 1724 this will was proved by the oaths of John Smith and Mary Smith the witnesses thereto and admitted to record.
Test: Arch. Clayton. C. C.
A Copy Test: Thos. O. Winston, C.H.C.
At A Court of monthly Session held for Hanover County at the Courthouse on Tuesday the 22nd of December 1868. On motion of William Winston Dabney who this day produced in Court a copy of the last will and testament of Susanna Anderson, deceased. And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the same is a true copy duly attested by a former Clerk of the Court that the same is a true copy duly attested by a former Clerk of this court doth order the same to be recorded.
Test: R. O. Doswell, Clerk
~~~
Notes:
(1) father-in-law, at that time was step-father -
(2) Doddridge's Family Espositor, London, printed 1756, which John Carr (b 1706) of "Bear Castle" entered many family records has survived. Including these dates for his mother: Mary (Dabney) Carr was born 22 Jan 1682, married 20 Sep 1704 and died 7 Sep 1748 at their home, "Topping Castle" in Caroline Co., Va.
Another post:
One source I found that shows the wife of Cornelius Dabney was NOT Thomas Swann's duaghter Susannah is "Extract from "The Virginia Magazine, Vol. XXVIII" (1920)". This seems to show (as written by Samuael Swann d. 1707) that Susannah had no issue and was married to William Marriot.
We are indebted to Captain T. A. Ashe, of Raleigh, N. C. for the following copy of a family record prepared by Samuel Swann (son of Col. Thomas Swann of Virginia) who removed to North Carolina.
The following is a copy of a paper compiled by Samuel Swann who died in 1707, (in Perquimans Co. - Albemarle, N. C.)
"My Grandmother, Judith Swann, was born on the 5th day of February 1589, being Wednesday and died on the 16th, day of March 1636 in the 47th year of her age and was buried at Swann 's Point.
My Grandfather William Swann married again the 1st day of May 1637, and died the last of February following in the 52nd year of his age and was buried at Swann 's Point.
My father, Col. Thomas Swann was born in May 1616, - was married to his first wife Margaret Debton the 13th of January 1630, by whom he had two sons and one daughter, to wit: Susannah Swann who was born the 26 October, 1640 - and died the 25th of November 1660, without issue - ann - who was born 30th October 1644 and died young in London, England and was buried there. And Thomas Swann who was born the 23rd of March 1645 and died without issue at St. Edmunds Bury in Suffolk England the 19th of February 1666, and was there interred.
My said father's first wife died the 5th of April 1646 and was was buried at Swann 's Point.
My father was married to his second wife, my dear mother, Sarah Cod, the 13th of January 1649, by whom he had issue, likewise, two sons and one daughter - Sarah; who was born the 15th of October 1651 and died the 9th of August 1652, and was buried at Swann 's Point. Samuel who was born the 11th May 1653, and Sampson who was born the 28th May 1654, and died the 1st of November 1668, and was interred at Swann 's Point.
My said mother departed this life to a better, the 13th of January 1654, having been married that day, just five years and was buried at Swann 's Point.
My father was married to his third wife, Sarah Chandler, the 30th of July 1655, by whom he had two sons and two daughters, viz, Judith, who was born the 22nd April 1656 and died the 30th March 1668 and was buried at Swann 's Point. Anne, who was born the 9th, of July 1657 and died the 21st of. August 1659 and was buried at Swann 's Point. A son - not baptized, who was born the 11th of December 1658 and died the 20th of the same month - and another son born 1st November 1662 and died at the birth.
My said father's third wife died 10th November 1662 - and was buried at Swann's Point.
My father was married to his fourth wife, Ann Brown, widow and relict of Henry Brown, one of the Council of State, the 23rd day of * * * * * - who died the 12th of August 1668, without issue and was buried at the Four Mile Tree.
My father married his fifth wife. Mary Mansfield the 20th of December 1668, by whom he had issue one son and three daughters -- Mary who was born the 5th of October 1669, who married Mr. Richard Bland, Thomas and Frances, at one birth, who were born the 14th December 1670.
Frances died 14th April 1676 and was buried at Swann's Point.
Thomas married Eliza Thompson, daughter of William Thompson.
Sarah who was born the 8th of and was first married to Mr. Henry Randolph and after his death to Mr. Giles "Webb.
My honored and dear father, Col. Thomas Swann departed this life for a better the 16th of September 1680, being 64 years and was buried at Swann's Point at my Grandfather's feet."
Extracts from a paper drawn up by Hon. Samuel Swann, Collector of His Majesty's Customs at Roanoke.
"My dearly and most entirely beloved wife Sarah, daughter of William Drummond Esq., was born the 2nd day of March 1654, being Friday, about 2 of the clock in the morning, and was married to me the 24th March 1673 being Tuesday, - by whom I had seven sons and two daughters.
My dear and most entirely beloved wife Sarah Swann departed this life to a better on Saturday the 18th of April 1696 about 8 o'clock in the morning in North Carolina, and was buried at Swann's Point in Surry County at her own mother's feet on Friday the 28th of the same month, being 41 years one month and 16 days old, having been married to me 22 years and as much more as from the 24th of March to the 18 of April aforesaid.
My dear and entirely beloved wife Elizabeth daughter of Alexander Lillington of North Carolina, was born the 17th of June 1679, married to me the 19th of May 1698, being Thursday, the widow of John Tandall, by whom I had issue as follows - viz:
1. Elizabeth who was born the 26th of June 1699, being Monday, about 12 o'clock at noon; baptized the 9th October following, being Monday.
2. Sarah who was born the 29th of December 1701, being Monday about a quarter of an hour before sunset - was baptized the 2nd of February, following, being Monday.
3. Samuel who was born the 31st of October 1704 being Tuesday at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. The Moon being full at 12 o'clock, was baptized on Thursday the 23rd of August 1705.
4. John Swann, who was born the 25th of April 1707 being Friday about half an hour before Sundown and was baptized by William Gordon."
Addendum of Col. Edward Moseley:
Some of his children by his first wife were "buried at my plantation at Lawns Creek" - so there he probably resided before coming to Albemarle, only William, Thomas and Henry, issue of his first marriage, seem to have survived - to attain manhood. One of that branch was John Swann, Member of Congress. The District Attorney in New York (1919) descends from Sarah, No. 2 who married a Jones - one of her sons returning to the name of Swann, about 1790.
The Honorable Samuel Swann Esq., Collector of His Majesty's Customs in Eoanoke departed this life the 14th of September 1707 just at daybreak at his dwelling plantation in Perquimans and lies interred there, at whose death and funeral, I the subscriber was present.
EDWARD MOSELEY.
If the above was in fact written by Samuel Swann then the credibility has to be pretty good.
Another post:
It was quite the thing for a testator to give out numerous bequests to friends and others, in wills of that early colonial era, following a strong tradition in England.
As it turns out, it was to Mary (Garland) Carr, mother-in-law of Mary (Dabney) Carr to whom the bequest was intended. Alas, far tooooo many folks accept any so called fact and care nothing for documentation.
As yet, we don't know the maiden name of Susanna, the name of her Anderson husband or anything about her son David Anderson.