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Will of Richard Jones 23 Jan 1779, February court 1779, Halifax Co, VA:
Will Probated in Halifax Co VA - June 26, 1797 (did he die in 1779 or 1797?)

Provided by: Deborah Parks

Will of Richard Jones 23 Jan 1779, February court 1779, Halifax Co, VA:

In the name of god I, Richard Jones (fork) of the county of Halifax being very sick and weak of body, but bless be God of a sound and perfect disposing memory do hereby revoke all former wills by me made whether written or verbal and this to be my last Will and testament. Viz: I give and bequeath my soul to God that gave it to me and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. It is my will that my debts and funeral expenses be first paid and discharged. I give and bequeath until my son Robert Jones four negroes, vis: Nan, Isack, Sarah, and Charity to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath until my son Richard Jones the plantation where I now live - as also one hundred and fourteen acres of land which I bought of Samuel Harris, joining Burwell's lands, and the lands where I now live as also two hundred and twenty acres of land called Rocky Creek tract to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Jones three negroes, Ben and Tom to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Miliscent Dennis and her three children, Sueritta Dennis, Matthew Dennis and John Dennis, three negroes, Rachel, Martin and Nancey to be equally divided between them when her son John comes of the age of 21 years to them their heirs forever. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lucy Christopher one tract or parcel of land on Willie's creek to her and her heirs forever as also one sorrel mare which I bought of Edward Wade's estate, as also one feather bed and furniture, she to have her choice as also two negroes, Violet and Tam to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath unto my four children, Robert Jones, Richard, Milescent Dennis and Lucy Christopher all of the rest of my estate not before given to be equally divided between my four children. My will and desire is that my estate shall not be appraised. I do hereby appoint my two sons, Robert Jones and Richard Jones, executors of this my last will and testament. In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-third day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine.

Richard Jones (seal) Signed sealed in presence of Michael Clarey[?],

Joseph Ligon, Robert Erskin, John Ligon

Below Abstract of Will and Probate Entry

John Dennis Sr.	Richard Jones Jr.	Robert White Wit. on Deed 1775	Robert White on Dennis Will 1779
John Dennis/Dennits? New Kent/Hanover - bordered with Mr John White
Purpose of this Webpage "To gather evidence of a Robert White, that either, once lived or was associated with John Dennis of Halifax Co VA" Areas of Interest VA border with NC: Pittsylvania > Halifax > Mecklenburg > Brunswick North Carolina border with Virginia: Caswell pre-1791 > Granville NC The Subjects of our Research in Halifax Co VA: Robert White - John Dennis - Richard Jones - Connections > Halifax Co VA (John Dennis Sr. married Richard Jones daughter Millicent Jones May 5, 1772, Halifax Co) Known years that a Robert White appears on documents in Halifax: Dec 18, 1775 - Robert White (Witness) & John Dennis appear Deed of gift to John Dennis from his father-in-law Richard Jones, recorded Aug 15, 1776. May 29, 1779 - Robert White mentioned on Will of John Dennis, as "caring for a set of Smith Tools, he is willing to his son John Dennis Jr. South of Halifax Co VA was Caswell Co NC Robert White lived on Hogan's Creek in Caswell with his father-in-law, William Whitehead from 1781 to 1787, then both moved to SC William Whitehead formerly of Granville Co NC purchased land in Caswell on Moon's Creek 1778, by 1781 on Hogan's Creek. Robert White was in the Revolutionary War from 1775-1781 (per Obit 6 yrs), joins the family on Hogan's Creek 1781, 342ac. 1786 NC Census indicates Robert White living two households from his father-in-law, with 342 acres. Wm Whitehead on Tax polls from 1780-1788, Robert White from 1781-1787, in Caswell Co.

Other Misc. Notes
Halifax Co VA Voters List for Election of Burgesses 1764 - 1769 - At the Courthouse 1. William White = 201st voter - taken by Mr Walter Cole page 8 2. John White = 33rd voter - taken by Thomas Green page 15 3. Wm White = 19th voter - taken by Jas Bates page 15 **Note: In some States of the time, ONLY, Land owners or Heads of Households, were allowed to vote.
Notes from Mike: There is some evidence that 'A' JOHN DENNIS lived in CASWELL County NC, with this said, it is conceivable John Dennis moved from Caswell north across the border into HALIFAX, and that Robert White of Caswell never lived in Halifax. Thoughts we should remember if pursuing this theory... Many folks from Halifax and other counties of VA moved into Caswell Co NC just across the border. During and after the Revolutionary War. I thought I would add these few pieces of evidence that a Robert White lived in Halifax, as someday it may turn out to be our Robert. A deep and serious look into the Records of Halifax and Caswell is required at some point to see if Robert left Deeds etc behind. We know that Robert White Sr was a Blacksmith, and farmer in SC, my feeling is, he may have been just a Blacksmith in VA and NC and not a land owner, which may explain the sparse land records. However, if son Ben White was correct on Robt's Obituary, that he served in the Rev War, there may be a Bounty Grant of sorts that he sold at some point in VA or NC... "Born Near the Roanoke River VA in 1743", according to grandson Isaac Murphy, places our Robert squarely in the above described areas, and makes this Robert a Candidate for ours... The Will of Mr Dennis written in 1779, suggest that the said Robert White, in this theory, may have moved across the border into Caswell Co NC prior to 1779, or it suggest that John Dennis may have moved from Caswell to Halifax or had property on both sides. Do not find a Whitehead in Halifax, my further theory is, Robert did not know Wm Whitehead of Caswell until about this time, may have married Milly Whitehead, in Caswell, prior to 1779. My personal belief at this time is Robert White's KNOWN First Son, William White (b.1776), was not the child of Milly, but of a unknown 1st wife of Robt Sr. further that the marriage of Robt & Milly took place after 1776. See the above discussion on this thinking ... If a deed in Halifax and Caswell can be located for this said Robt White, it may show his Wife in Halifax & Milly in Caswell, releasing dower... wouldn't that be perfect... What we do know for sure is Wm Whitehead lived in Granville, Caswell NC and Laurens Co SC and that he had a daughter named Milla White, born about 1763, which from Robert White Sr's of Union Co SC, on the 1800 Census, shows Milly's age 26-45, which places her in Wm Whitehead's daughter Milla's age bracket. We further know that a Robert White had land in Laurens Co SC along Cane Creek, the same area as Wm Whitehead, and sold this land in 1814 with Wm White and son in law, Lewis Rhodes as Witness, sold to Charter Nichols, administrator to the Estate of William Whitehead, I have not found a PURCHASE of this land by Robt White, was this land Milly's given to her after her father's death??? Grant lands? I have searched the available deed books at the Laurens Library, and have never found a purchase of this land, which in turn leaves me favoring the belief that this land was Milly's. To date, this theory, is the best I can find and offer some support... Hopefully, in the future I will be able to locate documents in Caswell or formerly Orange Co NC and Halifax formerly, Old Brunswick Co VA, and documents showing Robert White Sr lived a time in Lauren's, formerly, Old 96th District, or that the land he sold in 1814, belonged to Milly... to make the final link, in he Search for Robert White prior to 1788. IN ALL FAIRNESS: I must state that "all of the above could be COMPLETELY UNRELATED! "
Return to Pvt Robert White 6th VA Regiment	Return to Caswell Co NC Research Page

Richard Jones (b. Abt. 1713, d. 1779)