Person:William Christopher (8)

About William Christopher

The Germanna Records, 1717 Number Six, June 1965, 3rd printing 1980 Page 56-57

William Christopher was also heard of a family in 1734 and on Aug. 25, 1741 the executors of Alexander Spotswood deeded to William Christopher 150 acres "during the lifetime of William Christopher and Morton Christopher his son (Orange Co. D. B. 6, p. 111). William deeded this land to Thomas Jones July 28, 1743 (Deed B. 7 p. 356). 

Morton Christopher son of William Married about 1765/6 Elizabeth Wayland, daughter of Adam Wayland and granddaughter of Thomas Wayland the later Germanna pioneer (See Wayland) and the birth of their 9 Children born 1767-1795 are shown in Keith (p. 242).

From "Haley and Related Families" by Edward F. Haley:

The remaining son of Nicholas and Ann Christopher was William Christopher, who was born about 1700 and who married Elizabeth Haley, the daughter of Edward and Catherine Haley, of Orange. On the 25th of August, 1741, William and Elizabeth leased a tract of land from the Estate of Governor Alexander Spottswood. Governor Spottswood had died probably in 1740 (as his will was dated April 19, 1740), leaving two sons, John and Robert Spottswood. This lease was to William and Elizabeth, who then had a son Morton, perhaps their oldest child. The land lay on the north side of the Rapidan River in Orange and was a part of the "Spottsylvania Tract."

It is not known when William and Elizabeth Haley Christopher moved to the south. His father Nicholas had given to William a tract of land consisting of 200 acres lying on both sides of Dry Creek in the present County of Lunenburg. This tract eventually became the property of William and Elizabeth's son Morton Christopher. Instead of moving southward as most of the family seems to have done, Morton elected to remain in Culpeper. On February 7, 1778, Morton Christopher sold for £300 the 200 acre tract on Dry Creek, which had formerly belonged to his father William, to his Uncle David Christopher, then living in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, "and is the land that my grand father Nicholas Christopher gave to my father William Christopher." William Christopher and family probably lived for some time on this tract which his father had given him, but for some reason they decided to move from the northern and eastern section of Lunenburg to the southwestern section of Charlotte, a distance of about forty miles. On the 10th of January, 1767, William and Elizabeth purchased from John Haley a tract of land in the lower part of Charlotte, as is shown from this indenture:

"This Indenture made this 10th day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-seven between John Haily of the County of Charlotte of the one part and William Christopher of the said County of the other part, Witnesseth: that the said John Hailey for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty Pounds Current Money of Virginia to him in hand paid by the said William Christopher hath given, granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents doth give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said Christopher, his heirs, and assigns forever one certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing 145 Acres, more or less, lying in the County of Charlotte aforesaid on the middle Fork of Sandy Creek and bounded as followeth: ______." Among the witnesses was Ambrose Christopher.

On this tract they apparently resided for the next five years, or until the death of William. His will dated May 15, 1771, was admitted to probate in the County of Charlotte on July 6, 1772, though he had been dead for some time prior to this. In accordance with his will, he left to his son James Christopher one half of his land; the remaining half was to go to his son Ambrose Christopher, after the death of his wife Elizabeth. To his daughter Sarah Christopher, he left one cow; and to his daughter Melley Christopher, he left a bed and furniture. He had other children, not mentioned, including Morton Christopher of Culpeper County, Virginia, as well as probably William Christopher. It would appear that these two sons and daughters were residing with their parents at this time, while the others were probably established elsewhere. In accordance with the will of Nicholas Christopher of 1754, his estate was to go to his son Jacobus, and then to the heirs of Jacobus, provided he left any, otherwise the estate was to go to his son William Christopher and to his heirs. It was of course known that William had children at the time the will was written. The estate of Nicholas Christopher was of course in the possession of his son Jacobus following the testator's death, and so remained until the death of Jacobus, which occurred several years after the death of his brother William. As Jacobus died without issue, the estate of Nicholas Christopher descended to the heirs of his son William Christopher. Four of the heirs of William inherited from their father's estate; now all of his children inherited from their grandfather Nicholas. On the 7th of February, 1778, Morton Christopher gave a Power of Attorney to his uncle to represent him in the division of the estate.

Will of William Christopher

CHARLOTTE COUNTY VIRGINIA WILLS, 1765-1791, Page 93.:

I, William Christopher, being sick and weak in body but in my perfect senses

To my son James Christopher - half the tract of land I now live upon, joining Hamblin's line.

To my son Ambrose Christopher-the other half of my land the plantation I now live on, after the death of my wife, Elizabeth Christopher. Also 1 feather bed & furniture.

To my daughter Sarah Christopher - 1 young cow

To my daughter Milley Christopher - 1 feather bed & furniture, after the death of my wife, Elizabeth.

To my wife Elizabeth during her life - the rest of my household goods and stock. After her death,to be sold and equally divided among the rest of my children that are not legatees.

Executors: my wife, and Ambrose Christopher, my son.

Signed May 15, 1771 - William (W his mark) Christopher. Wit - Frances Barnes, Barnaba (B his mark) Wells, Philip (+ his mark) Bond.

At a court held for Charlotte Co. on Jul 6, 1772, the will of William Christopher dec'd was presented and proved by the oaths of 3 witnesses and OR. On the motion of John May (sic) administration is granted him. His security was Peter Hamblin.

Sources

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bh342&id=I06379

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Edmund West (compiler). Family Data Collection - Individual Records (not a reliable source). (Ancestry.com Operations Inc)
   From "Haley and Related Families" by Edward F. Haley.

   The remaining son of Nicholas and Ann Christopher was William Christopher, who was born about 1700 and who married Elizabeth Haley, the daughter of Edward and Catherine Haley, of Orange. On the 25th of August, 1741, William and Elizabeth leased a tract of land from the Estate of Governor Alexander Spottswood. Governor Spottswood had died probably in 1740 (as his will was dated April 19, 1740), leaving two sons, John and Robert Spottswood. This lease was to William and Elizabeth, who then had a son Morton, perhaps their oldest child. The land lay on the north side of the Rapidan River in Orange and was a part of the "Spottsylvania Tract."
   It is not known when William and Elizabeth Haley Christopher moved to the south. His father Nicholas had given to William a tract of land consisting of 200 acres lying on both sides of Dry Creek in the present County of Lunenburg. This tract eventually became the property of William and Elizabeth's son Morton Christopher. Instead of moving southward as most of the family see _LINK: http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:William_Christopher_%288%29