Person:William Broadus (1)

Will Abstract

Will of William Broadus Gent. of the county of Jefferson, Virginia.

1. "The principal property of which I am now possessed being secured to the use of my wife and children by two deeds of trust and Settlement now of record in the county court of Culpeper I say nothing concerning it in this instrument it being my only intention to provide for the proper disposition of my children (born of my late wife) after my decease"

2. "For reasons founded in the unhappy differences which have unfortunately for too long a time past existed between myself and my present wife Martha Broadus - I hereby constitute and appoint, and it my extreme desire and dying request, that James Stubblefield my worthy friend, and my son-in-law Merriwether Thompson may become the Guardians of my children, Sarah Ann Broadus, John R. Broadus, Maria Eliza Broadus, Mary Louisa Broadus and Lavinia Broadus - That they may have the provisions specified in the aforementioned deeds of Settlement for their maintanance - and that the education of each of said children together with all and every other office, which properly belongs to a parent, may be committed to, and exrucised by the aforementioned guardians."

3. "And further - as I do regard the undertaking and discharge of the highly responsible officer of Guardian for young children, as an act worthy of the most grateful remembrances, and reposing the most unbounded confidence in the honour and integrity of the aforenamed guardians, it is my wish and desire that the court may not require the above named guardians any security of the proper discharge of their duty as such."

4. "And lastly it is my will, that the guardianship hereby committed to the said James Stubblefield, and Merriwether Thompson he_ and conained over each of the children untill he or she shall have arrived at the age of Twenty one years or shall have married before that time and that the children shall at no time contrary to the will be given into the charge and keeping of my said wife Martha Broadus."

In testimony, whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the __ day of ___ in the year of our Lord 1825.

[Signed] Will. Broadus [Seal]

Signed, Sealed, published and declared by this above named William Broadus to be his last will and testament in the presence ofers (being all together) who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses at the request and in the presence of the Testator:

Edward Healy, William Smallwood, Andrew Hunter

Jefferson County, to wit:

At a Court held for the said County of Jefferson 20th day December 1830, this last will and testament of Willibm Broadus proved by the oath of Edward Healy, one of the subscribing witnesses and ordererd to be recorded and there being no Executor, named, on the motion of William Broadus, who made oath according to Law & together with H. Ward and M. Thompson his siect. Entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of five hundred dollars, conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of administration of said Testators estate with the will annexed in due form.

Teste: Sem. J. Cramer C.G.C.

1.   ROOTS-L.

   Harpers Ferry 1824 [s/b 1830 per Find-a-Grave and his will]
   
   Died- Maj. William Broadus, of Harper's Ferry. Va. (now W.Va.), on Oct. 5, in his 68th year, believed to be a native of Culpeper County. He joined the army of the Revolution at age 16 and became a lieutenant shortly afterwards. He served under Col. Gibson of the Virginia Line for several years retiring when he was no longer needed. He served as a Justice of the Peace and from 1824 until his death was Paymaster for the U.S. Army at Harper's ferry, Va. (now W.Va.) He left a large family.
   
   https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wvjeffer/deaths.htm

2.   Find A Grave.

   MAJ William Broadus
   Birth 1755
   Culpeper County, Virginia, USA
   Death 7 Oct 1830 (aged 74–75)
   Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA
   Burial
   Harper Cemetery
   Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA
   
   [Virginia Free Press & Farmers' Repository (Charlestown, West Virginia), Wednesday, October 13, 1830]
   
   Broadus, William
   Among the list of Revolutionary relics, who have lately been stricken from the muster roll of mortality, we last week named Major William Broadus, of Harpers-Ferry, who expired on the 5th inst. after a very severe illness of about two weeks, in the 68th year of his age. Maj. Broadus, we believe, was a native of Culpeper county, in this state. Filled with the enthusiasm of the times, he entered the service of his country at the age of 16, and in a short time thereafter obtained a lieutenant's commission, and served under Col. Gibson, of the Virginia line, for several years, until Gibson's command had been so reduced as to render the full complement of officers unneccessary, when he retired as a supernumerary, subject to any new call which might be made upon his services. The war, however, soon closed, and gave him no further opportunity of engaging in a career of honorable devotion to his country. In his native county, he held the office of justice of the peace for a long period previous to his removal to Harpers-Ferry, and was for several years a very useful officer in the militia of the county, as a major of the line and brigade inspector. In 1824, he obtained from President Monroe the appointment of Paymaster at Harpers-Ferry, which post he held until his death, with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of the people generally. Maj. B. was amongst the revolutionary veterans who repaired to Yorktown, on the 19th of October 1824, to join in the honors paid to Gen. Lafayette.
   Maj. B. was a gentleman of great frankness of manner, and partook largely of those hospitable and social feelings which distinguish the Virginia character. He has left a large family, and many friends to mourn the sad bereavement. His remains were attended to the grave by a large concourse of citizens of the town and county, and interred with military and masonic honors.
   
   https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/164977188/william-broadus