Person:John Bickley (8)

Amherst, VA records

6 Feb 1769 - "At a court held for Amherst county, the 6th day of February, 1769, on the motion of Josiah Ellis, son and heir at law of Charles Ellis, deceased, it is ordered that the sheriff summon a jury of twelve freeholders of the vicinage, who being met and duly sworn, are to assign unto John Bechley (who intermarried with the widow and relict of the said decedent), by metes and bounds, the said widow's dower in the said decedent's estate according to law." WMCQHM, 10:2(Oct 1901):126-131

7 Mar 1769 - the jury so summoned made their report in writing, showing that they had "assigned unto John Bechley, who intermarried with the widow and relict of Charles Ellis, deceased, his right of the said widow's dower in one tract (the mansion house included) whereof the said decedent died possessed." The plat made by James Higginbotham, deputy surveyor, which is recorded with the report, calls for "143 acres of land in Amherst county on the south side and joining of Pedlar River, being part of a larger tract belonging to Charles Ellis, deceased." WMCQHM, 10:2(Oct 1901):126-131

Notes

John Beckley, gave civil service during the Revolution. In 1779 he was clerk of the Virginia State Senate and in 1781 clerk of the House of Delegates. When he died in Washington he was librarian of Congress. [DAR application MRS. FRANCES SMITH PORCHER. 32157]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Gissage and Bickley Families, in William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine. (Omohundro Institute)
   10:2(Oct 1901):126-131.

   ... In my "Memorandum of the Ellis Family," prepared and printed in 1849, from material as authentic as I could then obtain, I entered John Bickley as the son of Joseph Bickley and Sarah his wife, who was Sarah Shelton, of King William county ; born December 7, 1713, which would make him about fifty-six at the time of his second marriage, and about eighty at the time of his death. ...
   
   ... John Bickley' s will, dated the 25th November, 1792, was admitted to record in Amherst County Court September 16, 1793. Richard Shelton and Isaac Rucker qualified as executors of the will, giving bond in the sum of £500. By this instrument he gave to his "beloved wife, Susannah" certain household furniture, etc., "to be at her disposal;" and the remainder of his estate he desired to be equally divided between his children, namely, Charles, William and Joseph Bickley, Elizabeth Coleman, Mary Carter, Jane Holland, and Humphrey, Matilda, Hannah, James and Frances Bickley. The "praisement" of the estate, made by Charles Burks, John Eubank and John Burks, amounted to £325. 17. 6. It included five negro slaves, named Isaac, Arthur, Silvie, Oney, and Bartlett, valued together at £170.
   
   John Bickley and his wife Susannah had only one child, Mildred, who died in girlhood. They are all buried in the Red Hill family burying-ground. ...