MySource:Quolla6/Will of John Walker of Caswell, NC, 1789

From:Rootsweb (intermediate source, original source not specified)

Text

Will: ... John Walker of Caswel County & State of No. Carolina being Sick and weak of body but of a Perfect Sound Mind & Memory ... Item 1 -- unto my beloved Wife Rachel Walker the better to Enable her to raise & Educate my Children my whole Estate till my Youngest son Tho. Walker Comes to the Age of Sixteen years at which Time I Desire my Estate to be Equally Divided between my wife Rachel Walker and my Children Betsy Walker. Ben. Walker. William Walker. Polly Walker. Barbary Walker & Thomas Walker but if my Wife die, or Marry before My Son Thos. Walker Comes to the Age of Sixteen Years, in such Case I Desire my Estate to be Equally Divided between my Children as above. And Lastly I Nominate and Appoint My beloved wife and friend William Parr and my brother Thomas Walker Executors to this my Last will & Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this fourteenth Day of Jan(?) One Thousd. seven Hundred Eighty Nine. Jno (X) Walker (seal). Signed Sealed & Acknowledged in presence of Saml. Paul (Jurat), Judith Paul, Mary Parr. Wm. Parr Exct. qualifyed. Caswell County January Court 1790. The Executor of this Will was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of Samuel Paul a Subscribing Witness thereto & on Motion Ordered to be recorded."

Comment

Will dated 14 Jan? 1789, will probated January 1790

Wife Rachel

Minor children:

Bestsy

Benjamin

William

Polly

Barbary

Thomas

Brother identified as Thomas

"Friend" William Parr, and witness Mary Parr may be Rachel's relations. A William Parr died about this time in Caswell leacing a will in:

From Rootsweb

William Parr's will, dated 23 June 1787, proved October 1788, Caswell Co., N.C., names wife Mary, and states that she was the mother of his children: "Elisabeth Brown John Parr, Rachel Walker, & William Parr." Executors were William Parr & John Walker. (October Court 1788, p. 254)

This seems to confirm that the surname of wife Rachel was indeed "Parr". Rachel is said to have been born in Amelia County, VA, and presumably came to Caswell with her father William. There she married John Walker. John's will identifies six children under the age of 16. This would place the DOM as no later than 1777 (assuming no twins!), allowing a standard two years between children.

Note however, that Williams will was probated in 1788, a year before soninlaw John Walker wrote his will. Presumably the William Parr mentioned in the will is another relation, perhaps a son of William Parr the fatherinlaw who died c1788.

Designation of a "Friend" may indicate Quaker connection.

This individual has been placed in Walker YDNA group 22, with upstream connections to Nottaway and Lunenburg Counties VA.