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Facts and Events
John Craig was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Will Transcript
- May 3, 1805, Craig, John, Wythe County, VA, Will
- In the name of God amen I John Craig Senr. of Wythe County and State of Virginia being sick of body but in perfect mind and memory calling to mind he uncertainty of life and that all men are once appointed to die I do hereby make ordain constitute and appoint this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit---
- Item May it now be remembered and always understood that some time ago I bargained and sold unto William Madison deceased late of Montgomery County and State of Virginia a certain tract of land lying in said Montgomery County known by the name of Hands Meadows containing by estimation two thousand one hundred and six acres In consideration whereof he was to make me a right in fee simple to one thousand acres lying and being the State of Kentucky on Simpsons Creek so it was the said William Madison became unable to make good the right to the said one thousand acres of land and that proposals was made to me by Elizabeth Madison the surviving widow of said William Madison for to take back my land together with all the rents that was due or are to become so that I might be properly reinstated in my former and rightful situation which was to avoid a controversy at law I agreed to do in order to conclude the late agreement. Mrs. Elizabeth Madison together with the other representatives of William Madison entered into writings to bind the same which was done and possession thereof to me was given & in order to protect the same put my son James Craig in my possession and as well left with him all the title papers in order that he might obtain for me the right when the heirs of William Madison become of lawfull age but notwithstanding all and contrary to my title papers and the directions he had from me he knowingly willingly and fraudulently obtained the title in his own name and for his own use. True it is that I intended to let him have the tract of land but under the following conditions that is to say provided he would reconvey to me the tract of land I now live on known by the name of St. Clears place which I purchased of Edward Johnston and give to him and also relinquished his right to a family of negroes I helped him purchase and raised for him to wit) Pegg Joseph Frank Liddy Milly and George so it is and may it always be understood that if the said James Craig do make or cause to be made to my son John Craig Jnr a lawfull right to the above mentioned tract of land known by the name of St Cleares place containing by survey three hundred acres and also relinquish to my son Hiram Craig the above mentioned negroes (to wit) Joseph and Frank and to my daughter Jane Allison (to wit) Pegg Milly Liddy and George that is my whole will and desire that my son James Craig shall have and for ever enjoy the right and interest of the well known place Hands Meadows containing by estimation two thousand one hundred and six acres but on the contrary not to convey to my son John Craig, Junr the tract of lands known by the name of St. Clears place and also to my son Hiram Craig the above named negroes (to wit) Joseph and Frank and to my Daughter Jane Allison the above negroes (to with) Pegg Milly Liddy and George it is my whole will and desire that he have no more of my estate and that I give and bequeath unto my son John Craig Junr and my son Hiram Craig all of that tract of land known by the name of Hands Meadows to be equally divided between them agreeable to quantity and quality and to pay Jane Allison three negroes to be of the value of the above mentioned negroes (to wit) Pegg Milly Liddy and George if he obtain and possess Hands Meadows--
- Item It is my whole will and desire that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my death as preferable--
- Item It is my whole will and desire that my dear and beloved wife Molly Craig have all the benefit and interest of the plantation whereon I now live in case James Craig agrees to what I have before directed in this my will if not I desire and direct that she shall have all the interest and profits of the place and plantation known by the name of Han Meadows for and during her natural life also the use of my negroes (to wit) Aggy and her daughter Peggy and her daughter Esther & my negroe man London and also all my horses cattle sheep and hoggs farming utencils household and kitchen furniture and after her death to equally divided among all my sons and daughters except what is otherwise disposed of---
- Item It is my whole will and desire that my son David Craig have one still that he has now in possession and also one horse creature of the value of fifty dollars---
- Item It is my whole will and desire that after the natural death of my beloved wife Molly that my son John Craig have my negroe man named london also one tract of land lying in Wythe County adjoining St. Clears place containing by estimation five hundred acres---
- Item It is my whole will and desire that my son Hiram Craig have one tract of land lying in Montgomery County known by the name of Dowas place and also one horse creature of the value of fifty dollars---
- Item Whereas I have heitherto gave unto my daughter Sinthea Statts one plantation known by the name of the bend lying in Wythe County on the north side of New River containing by estimation two hundred acres and also other valuable property which I now confirm unto her and her heirs forever-----
- Item It is my whole will and desire that Idress Carter have the plantation and place known by the name of Pearces ferry and whereon she now lives containing by estimation two hundred acres also one negroe girl named Fany and her daughter Hannah---
- Item It is my whole will and desire that Nancy Craig my third daughter have one tract of land adjoining Pearces Ferry containing by estimation two hundred acres also one negroe girl named Peggy and her child named Esther and one horse Creature of the nature of fifty dollars--
- Item It is my whole will and desire that my granddaughter Indiana have one young mare saddle and bridle of the value of one hundred dollars also one father bed and furniture--
- Item I do hereby recommend constitute and appoint my son John Craig Junr and my son Hiram Craig my Executors to this my last will and Testament herby revoking all other wills and Testaments by me heretofore made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 3rd day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five and in the 29 year of our foundation
- (Signed) JOHN CRAIG (seal)
- Signed sealed published and declared as the last will and Testament of the above named John Craig, Senr.
- In the presence of us, Daniel McRae, John Saul, Rubrick McIntosh
- At a court held for Wythe County on Tuesday the 8th day of March 1808
- The last Will and Testament of John Craig Senr, deceased was exhibited in court and proved by the oath of Daniel McRea who also made oath that Roebruck McIntosh another subscribing witness to the said will subscribed the same in his presence of the Testator and by his direction whereupon it is ordered that the said Will be recorded
- Teste John P Mathews DC
- Having been requested by Father and Mother to give up my rights and tital of the following family of negroes that is to say Pegg Joseph and George Millie and Lidia I do hereby relinquish all right and further oblige my self to convey the right and tital of Joseph to Hiram Craig and George to David Craig after their decd and to Relinquish all my right and tital of the tract of lands on which they now live on and to give up all the tital paper that is now in my possession at any time could on given under my hand this 25th day of May 1806 James Craig signed and delivered in the presence of viz: John Craig, Nancy Craig, Lucy Poston
- At a court held for Wythe County on the 8th day of march 1808 this instrument of writing signed by James Craig was exhibited in court and acknowledged by the said James Craig to be his act and deed and ordered to be recorded.
- Teste John P Mathews DC
- [Source: Wythe County, Virginia Will Book 1, page 399]
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
- Vol. 2 - Peterson vs. Craig--O. S. 159; N. S. 56--Bill, 1808. Orator, Morton Peterson. He holds by devise from his father, Mathias Peterson, a tract in Montgomery County, 237 acres, originally surveyed for John Daviss under Loyal Company. Davis sold to James Smith and then devised the unpaid purchase money to Mathias, who by a compromise with Smith came into possession of the land. Smith was arrested for debt and conveyed the land to John Craig and Thomas Quirk to become his bail. Both Craig and Quirk are dead and Hiram Craig, a son of John, is in possession, together with William Neil, who claims under Quirk.
Records in Wythe County, VA
- February 17, 1816-Pursuant to an order of the Worshipfull court of Wythe County to us directed after being first duly sworn we have valued the following property shown to us by John Craig one of the Executors of the last Will of John Craig, dec. it being the ballance of his estate that remained after the Death of his Wife Mary Craig (to wit)
- Given under our hands this 17th day of February 1816. Spencer Lehue, William Glasgow, Joel Pearce at a Court held for Wythe County the 14th day of May 1816. This Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of John Craig Senr. and Mary Craig, Decd was returned to Court and Ordered to be Recorded. Teste Jacob T. Fishback D.C. [Source: Wythe County Will Book 2, page 162]
- May 13, 1816 - An Inventory of the balance of John Craig Dec. personal estate that remained in the hands of his wife Mary Craig during hr life which has been viewed and appraised under a Special order of the Worshipfull Court of Wythe County and sold at public auction on the 24th of February 1816.
- At a Court held for Wythe County the 14th day of May 1816. This acount of Sales of the Estate of John Craig Sen and Mary Craig Decd was returned to Court and ordered to be Recorded. Teste Jacob T. Fishback D.C. [Source: Wythe County Will Book 2, pages 162-163] [1]
References
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