Person:John Little (41)

Know all men from these presents I, John Little of Botetourt County and Staite of Virginia Senior, being in good health blisted by God for the saime, and being in my right mind and maner and form foling desier that all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid and if my wife Elizabeth lives after me I desier and order that she have suficient, good maintenance out of my estate real and personal as long as she liveth or whilst aney part of the estate part of estate is to be found, and after her deceas if ther be aney of the estate then remaining I desier it to be devided amongst my children, the meals sh all have twenty shillings each and femeals fifteen shillings each, and this is the preportion betwiset the meals and femeals; each meal a lick and each femeal a lick, David, John, if alive, James and William to be equal and Mary and Fannet and Sarah each of them a lick part, I also desier my wife Elizabeth and my sons David and William to be my Executors of this my last will and Trestament given under my hand and seal this twenty first day of june one thousand seven hundred eighty eight."

Signed -- John Little (with his x mark)

Witnefs -- David Little and William Little

Botetourt County, Virginia, July Court 1793

This instrument of of writing pertianing to the last will and testement of John Littlle deceas was exhibited in Court and proved by oath of David Little and William Little witnefs hereto subscribed, they having first relinquished their legacies theirin contained and thereupon it is ordered to be recorded.

A Copy Teste Thomas Wilson and John Wilson, Master commissioners reported that "In compliance with an order of the Worshipful Court of Botetourt County, February 1808, we havw settled and made a statement of the Estate of John Little deceased, in the hands of David Little, administrator, which shows David Little and James Little as debtos of the estate and recites: "To David Little for the support of the widow in provision and clothing from 1793 to December 1807, 88 pounds, 10 shilling, and 10 pence."

[Recorded in Will Book A, Page 361, Botetourt County, Virginia]

References

Ancestry Family Trees. (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.)
Ancestry Family Trees.

http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=8855738&pid=-882352191
.

The Little's came to America from Ireland and first settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, possibly as early as 1722. Several tax lists for Chester County are missing, but from those still in existence, John Little, one of our progenitors, appeared on the tax rolls for the years 1737, 1740 and lastly in 1753. His son David Little was on the tax rolls for the years 1760, 1762, 1763, and 1765, along with a William, Robert, and Thomas Little, who were either brothers or nephews of John Little. John Little was a miller in Londonderry Township, Chester County. The Chester County Historical Society has an index to the Pennsylivania Gazette, which refers to John Little. The advertisement reads: "To be sond, sundry tracts of land stiuated in the Township of Londonderry, Chester County, PA., and another in the tenure of John Little containing 185 acres, N. B., the Great Road from Lancaster to Wilminton, Delaware through the tract in the tenure of John Little and James Green." The next clue to John Little was found in the Register of Marriages and Baptisms, Performed by Rev. John Cuthbertson. John Little moved to York County, PA., and was a resident of the Marsh Creek region, presently near Gettsburg in Adams County which was formed out of York County. Rev. Cuthbertson recorded that he "Baptized William Little, son of John, on April 9, 1752," and that he "Baptized Sarah, daughter of John Little, on July 23, 1756." William McNeal, merchant of Phildelphia, whose will was dated September 28, 1768, "Left money to John Little of Marsh Creek, the sum of 200 pounds, Lawful money of the said Province, yo be paid two years next, and to David Little, son of John, 100 pounds Like Money, to be parid two years next, after his decease." Since this will refers to John Little as a friend, he was probably a financial backer and not his father-in-law. In 1767, John Little took up 150 acres of land in Fannet Township of Franklin County, PA., located in th Path Valley.

In 1770, was in Augusta County, Virginia, in that section which became the County of Botetourt, when Augusta County was divided. John Little held two patents for land, one was for 227 acres on Catawba Creek, dated June 21, 1787, and the other was for 263 acres on Catawba Creek, dated July 10, 1787, adjoining, making a total of 490 acres, plus the fifty acres allowed each person who came into Virginia.

John Little's will was dated June 21, 1788 and was proved July 9, 1793. (Recorded in Will Book A, Page 361, Botetourt County, VA.) "Know all men from these presents I, John Little of Botetourt County and Staite of Virginia Senior, being in good health blisted by God for the saime, and being in my right mind and maner and form foling desier that all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid and if my wife Elizabeth lives after me I desier and order that she have suficient, good maintenance out of my estate real and personal as long as she liveth or whilst aney part of the estate part of estate is to be found, and after her deceas if ther be aney of the estate then remaining I desier it to be devided amongst my children, the meals sh all have twenty shillings each and femeals fifteen shillings each, and this is the preportion betwiset the meals and femeals; each meal a lick and each femeal a lick, David, John, if alive, James and William to be equal and Mary and Fannet and Sarah each of them a lick part, I also desier my wife Elizabeth and my sons David and William to be my Executors of this my last will and Trestament given under my hand and seal this twenty first day of june one thousand seven hundred eighty eight." Witnefs -- David Little and William Little Signed -- John Little (with his x mark) (About words -- foling is meant to be following; meals, males; femeal, females; and lick, in this instance, means a small part. Botetourt County, Virginia, July Court 1793 "This instrument of of writing pertianing to the last will and testement of John Littlle deceas was exhibited in Court and proved by oath of David Little and William Little witnefs hereto subscribed, they having first relinquished their legacies theirin contained and thereupon it is ordered to be recorded." A Copy Teste Thomas Wilson and John Wilson, Master commissioners reported that "In compliance with an order of the Worshipful Court of Botetourt County, February 1808, we havw settled and made a statement of the Estate of John Little deceased, in the hands of David Little, administrator, which shows David Little and James Little as debtos of the estate and recites: "To David Little for the support of the widow in provision and clothing from 1793 to December 1807, 88 pounds, 10 shilling, and 10 pence." The above report of Thomas Wilson and John Wilson, contitutes the final closing of the Estate of John Little and fixes the death of Elizabeth, his widow as having occurred in December 1807.