Person:John Dyer (53)

Will Abstract

Will of John Dyer - 18 Jan 1815/ 1 Jan 1816

Children: Abraham, John, Jacob, Isaac, Israel, James, Rebecca Dyer, Selah, Mary Ann, Susanna Graves, - Molly, Rachel Morgan, Betsey Timmons, Sarah Fridley, Peggy Welch.

To sons Abraham, John and Jacob and daughter Molly, 1 shilling each as full share of estate.

To son Isaac, $5.

To son Israel $25. Other children named.

Exrs: Son isaac Dyer son in law John Morgan, Benjamin O'Rear. Wit: Benjamin O' Rear, James Lyon, Dennice Lyons, [Sarah Dyer m Henry Friedly, 5 Dec 1803; Elizabeth Dyer m Peter Timmons, 5 July 1806; Susannah Dyer m Joseph Graves, 15 Jan 1763; Fdk Co. Marrs

Deposition of John Dyer

John Dyer, (at an old age) made the following deposition in 1813:

How old are you?

John: I was 83 0n the 15th day of Last May.

Have you any knowledge of the settlement of land in dispute in this cause. If you have relate what you know.

John: About 52 years ago, with my brother-in-law, John Oldacre, I came down from the other side of the ridge to buy land. We heard the Allen’s and Suttle had land to sell, but Mrs. Suttle would not then agree to sell. We rented a place where Woods Mills was for a year, containing about thirty or forty acres, of Ned Garrett for a money rent, but do not remember the sum. I paid the rent. We came down in the spring to make the bargain and to make a crop, and in the fall of the same year we went back to bring our families to this place which we did and stayed till the next spring. I purchased from Daniel Allen, his possession before my week was up a week or so and this possession of Daniel Allen was where James Bowles now lives and I stayed there till I made a couple crops , after that I moved away and the widow Gibson purchased from me my title, but I had received no deed. The conveyance was made from Daniel Allen to Mrs. Gibson. One had been drawn for me, but it was never executed when I purchased the place of Daniel Allen and went upon it. There were about six acres in meadow and there were apple trees which appeared to have been planted at least 14 years and bore fruit. Some seemed on decline. The roof of the house was wretched and leaked in places and the house must have been built before the apple trees were planted. There was cleared land to the amount of 24 or 25 acres, which I cultivated and which had been cleared before I went there. I cleared 4 or 5 acres in addition to it. I was there till I made two crops and then I moved off the land in dispute.

While you were living in this place do you remember drinking cider at any of the neighbors and at what house and did you see any orchards at Suttle’s?

John: When I first came down there was an orchard at Garrett’s and one at Suttle’s, and one where McPherson lived and one where James Gibson now lives. The trees were old enough to bear fruit. In the fall of the year when I lived on Garrett’s land I was at his house by invitation to drink cider. I found him when I went there making cider and he made some which we drank. The next day a barrel was to be shot for. During my residence at the land in dispute, I drank cider at McPherson’s place and at Suttle’s and where James Gibson now lives. I forgot the name of the man who lived there at the time.

(By Demandant’s counsel) In what year were you married?

John: I do not recollect.

(Same) What is the age of your oldest child?

John: The oldest one must be 53. I brought him with me when we moved to Garrett’s, then he was a child.

(same) Was Wood Mills built when you first came down from beyond the ridge?

John: Yes, it was built to be sure else I could not have rented it. There was a cabin near it where a wheelright lived and I paid him two dollars for the use of it. He moved away. I do not recollect the name of the wheelright.

(same) Who lived in the house you purchased of Allen, when you moved out of it?

John: I do not know who moved into it after I moved out Mrs. Gibson built a house on the land and moved into it.

(same) Do you certainly know that Mrs. Gibson moved into the house she built or might not her son moved into it?

John: I am not certain, but reckon it was Mrs. Gibson who first moved into the house she built. She might have moved into the old house after I left it. And further saith not.

(Signed) John Dyer, his mark

After leaving the widow Gibson’s land, Jon Dyer to a lease on some land owned by George Washington. On the 17th of March 1769, for 227 acres of land which at the present day, according to Edward L. Oldacre, “is now is one of the handsomest estates in Fauquire and Loudon Counties and known as Amandale Farm right near the town of Upperville.

[Citation: http://www.myheritage.com/person-3012801_122635391_122635391/john-dyer].

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 .

   http://www.myheritage.com/person-3012801_122635391_122635391/john-dyer