Person:William Fitzpatrick (20)

William Fitzpatrick was an Early Virginia Settler

Will of William Fitzpatrick

William Fitzpatrick's will:

Son, Thomas I constitute and appoint my sole executor, trustee and manager for my dear wife after my decease, who I doubt not will manage it with all requirements necessary unto my worldly Estate.

I will, and positively order that all my lawful debts be paid with my funeral charges.

Item - all the remainder of my estate I will and bequeath to my well beloved wife, Sarah Fitzpatrick during her natural life to be at will and disposal as she thinks proper and at her decease to will and dispose of this named at her pleasure to whom it pleaseth her heart to do. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of December, and year of our Lord, One Thousand and seven hundred and sixty-two.

(signed) Will Fitzpatrick.

Witness: Sam'l Gay, William Fitzpatrick, John Harris. Albemarle May Court, 1764.

This will was proved by the oath of Sam'l Gay, William Fitzpatrick and John Harris. Ordered to be recorded the ninth day of August, 1764. Certificate granted to Thomas Fitzpatrick on making oath and giving security according to law whereupon his son, Thomas, Joseph Fitzpatrick his security. Albemarle County, Virginia, (Will book B., p. 168.) Son, Thomas, was executor, trustee and manager. All bequeathed to his wife, Sarah. Witnesses, Samuel Gay, William Fitzpatrick, and John Harris. Albemarle court. (There is no mention of daughters, but there being no division of the estate, there could have been. They are found first in Goochland, and later Albemarle, then Fluvanna County. He is buried on the James River in Fluvanna County.)

Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 1 - JUNE 22, 1764. - (54) Susanna Fitzpatrick to be bound to Thomas Poage. (Note: based upon the date of this record, Susanna was likely a daughter of William Fitzpatrick. More research/sources necessary).

Information on William Fitzpatrick

https://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A3=ind0707&L=FITZPATRICK-CLAN&E=quoted-printable&P=9715325&B=------%3D_NextPart_000_0041_01C7D232.75ED4430&T=text%2Fplain;%20charset=utf-8

Here is what I have on William. I I had originally copied it from a few old genealogy books, all of which gave about the same information. I then visited Albemarle County, Virginia, as well as Fluvanna County and Henrico County. It was fun to see some of the old original documents in Palmyra, Virginia.

"About 1680 William Fitzpatrick was born in Ireland, a descendant of Sir John, Earl of Ossory, and Lady Ella Fitzpatrick.

About 1690 He was a landowner-farmer in Ulster. They were Presbyterian. Married Sarah Jane Breckenridge, about 1720, sons, Thomas, William and Joseph, and three daughters, names not known. Family tradition says that Fitzpatrick came, not as an immigrant but as a gentleman who came to Virginia on his own initiative after the earlier colonization. The Irish Red Cross on a white shield had been the banner of the Fitzpatricks at the time of the conquest of Ireland under Henry the Second and it still appears in the arms of their family although it was not formally recognized as the General National Emblem of Ireland until about the close of the seventh century. The St. Patrick's Cross was the flag of Alabama (and others) during the Confederate days.

1727 Goochland County cut off from Henrico County.

1728 Fitzpatricks came to Pennsylvania with Irish and Scotch dissenters. He came as a gentleman after the earliest colonization. (Lea, p. 11.)

1729 They moved to Augusta County, Virginia with Alexander Breckenridge. They did not receive any headrights or grants, acquiring all their property by purchase.

1738 William patents land (Book 3., p. 188, Deeds) in Goochland County on the Hardware River. (Lea, p. 11.)

Nov.10, 1738 William Fitzpatrick, a farmer of Goochland County buys land of Robert Davis, in South Garden among the branches of the Roanoke River.

1745 He patents land (Book 3, p.189, deeds.)in Goochland County on Hardware River. Albemarle County cut off from Goochland County.

1747 He patents land (Book, p. deeds.) in Albemarle County on the Hardware River. About 1760 makes deed to son Joseph for 400 acres. (Lea, p. 11.) When Albemarle County was cut off from Goochland in 1745, these three lands lay in Albemarle.

1762 William, with wife Sarah, and son Joseph & wife Mary Perrin sell to William Watson 400 acres that they had gotten by deed from Robert Davis. (Lea)

August 9, 1764 William dies. His will is in Albemarle County.

William Fitzpatrick's will:

Son, Thomas I constitute and appoint my sole executor, trustee and manager for my dear wife after my decease, who I doubt not will manage it with all requirements necessary unto my worldly Estate.

I will, and positively order that all my lawful debts be paid with my funeral charges.

item - all the remainder of my estate I will and bequeath to my well beloved wife, Sarah Fitzpatrick during her natural life to be at will and disposal as she thinks proper and at her decease to will and dispose of this named at her pleasure to whom it pleaseth her heart to do. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of December, and year of our Lord, One Thousand and seven hundred and sixty-two.

Will Fitzpatrick. Witness: Sam'l Gay, William Fitzpatrick, John Harris. Albemarle May Court, 1764. This will was proved by the oath of Sam'l Gay, William Fitzpatrick and John Harris. Ordered to be recorded the ninth day of August, 1764. Certificate granted to Thomas Fitzpatrick on making oath and giving security according to law whereupon his son, Thomas, Joseph Fitzpatrick his security. Albemarle County, Virginia, (Will book B., p. 168.) Son, Thomas, was executor, trustee and manager. All bequeathed to his wife, Sarah. Witnesses, Samuel Gay, William Fitzpatrick, and John Harris. Albemarle court. There is no mention of daughters, but there being no division of the estate, there could have been. They are found first in Goochland, and later Albemarle, then Fluvanna County. He is buried on the James River in Fluvanna County.

1777 Fluvanna County created from a part of Albemarle.

1785 Land sold to Duncan McLaughlin located on the middle fork of Cunningham's Creek, bounded by lands of Robert Allen, Robert Wright, Joseph Fitzpatrick and Merewether. This is the land on which Joseph Fitzpatrick died, and on which was a grist mill that Joseph operated in what is now Fluvanna County.

"William Fitzpatrick, b. in Ireland, descendant of Sir John and Lady Ella Fitzpatrick, Earl of Ossory came to Pennsylvania about 1728 of Irish and Scotch dissenters. From there into the valley of Virginia, Augusta County With Alexander Breckenridge. William and his sons had left the church of their fathers and were Presbyterians. It is said William's wife was Sarah Jane Breckenridge, a sister of the immigrant, Alexander Breckenridge. This has not been definitely established. His sons, Thomas, William and Joseph, and possibly others were born in Ireland. He and his sons patented land in Goochland County in 1738 and in 1745, and 1747. This land was on the Hardware River and when Albemarle County was cut off from Goochland in 1745, it became a part of Albemarle."

William's will is in Albemarle.

Note: In his will, three sons' names appear with no mention of daughters, but there being no division of the estate being made, there may have been daughters and it has generally stated that there were three. They are found in Virginia, living first in Goochland, then in Albemarle, then in Fluvanna Counties."

1. Rice, Thaddeus Brockett, History of Greene County, Georgia 1786-1886, (The J. W. Burke Company, Macon, Georgia 1961), p. 37..

2. Manfrina, Myra, Huyck Cousins, (Printed by Vance Newcomb, 1986), p. 159, William died 12 July, 1762 in Albemarle County, Virginia.

3. Cook, Tressie., Cook-Heard and Allied Lines, (Farmer Genealogy Co., Dallas, Texas 75214.), p. 163.

4. Lea, Reba Fitzpatrick, The 'Belfield' Fitzpatricks and the 'Elim' Colemans, (Brown Morrison Company, Lynchburg Virginia. 1958), pp.11, 12, 163.

5. Harper, Adele Bartlett, Family Lines, (Published privately. Atlanta, Georgia. 1973).

6. Wynn, A. Evans, Southern Lineages- Records of Thirteen Families, (Published by the author, 1940), p. 171.

7. Wood, Marie Stevens Walker, Stevens-Davis and Allied Families, (Published in Macon Georgia, 1957.).

I have the following on Sarah Breckenridge:

1. Sarah Jane was very likely the sister of Alexander Breckenridge. According to the biography of John Cabell Breckinridge, the Kentucky senator and vice president of the United States of the Civil War period, his family came to this country in about 1728. The family originated in Ayrshire, Scotland, migrated to the highlands of Scotland to Breadalbane Scotland, later to the North of Ireland. They later migrated to this country via Philadelphia, later passing on to Virginia by way of Staunton, then east again to Albemarle County.

1. Manfrina, Myra, Huyck Cousins, (Printed by Vance Newcomb, 1986), p. 159.

2. Lea, Reba Fitzpatrick, The 'Belfield' Fitzpatricks and the 'Elim' Colemans, (Brown Morrison Company, Lynchburg Virginia. 1958), pp.11, 12, 163.

3. Davis, William C., BRECKINRIDGE Statesman, Soldier, Symbol, (Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge and London), p. 4.

I have Sarah Breckinridge's father as John Breckenridge, and her mother as Ann Doak.

1. Davis, William C., BRECKINRIDGE Statesman, Soldier, Symbol, (Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge and London), p. 4.

1. ↑ https://www.fitzpatrickclan.org/Colonial%20American%20Fitzpatrick%20Settlers%20%20Part%20I.pdf, in Colonial American Fitzpatrick Settlers Part I: Making Sense of One Line by Ian Fitzpatrick and Mike Fitzpatrick
   Page 26.

   To build an accurate historical narrative surrounding William Fitzpatrick the evidence must be stripped down to factual sources. William purchased land in South Garden, Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1738, which is established from the previously mentioned land deal. This alone tells us nothing more than a William Fitzpatrick was there, in this year and owned land, but it is a vital record and establishes these simple facts. However, we do not know if this is indeed just any William or William (FT15113). After 1738 there are no records to be found relating to William, and we do not have a mention of him until a will, dated 1764.
   
   "Son Thomas I constitute and appoint my sole executor, trustee and manager for my dear wife after my
   decease, who I doubt not will manage it with all requirements necessary unto my worldly Estate. I will
   and positively order that all my lawful debts be paid with my funeral charges. Item – all the remainder
   of my estate I will and bequeath to my well beloved wife Sarah Fitzpatrick during her natural life to be
   at will and dispose of this named at her pleasure to whom it pleaseth her heart to do. In witness
   whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th Day of December and year of Our Lord one
   thousand and seven hundred sixty and two. Signed - Will Fitzpatrick Witnesses: Samuel Gay, William
   Fitzpatrick, John Harris. Albemarle May Court 1764" (Sparacio & Sparacio, 2000, p, 168).
   
   From the will we learn William's wife was Sarah, and he had a son named Thomas. Hence, the summary of the fact-based knowledge of William Fitzpatrick is quite sparse. How could such basic facts be used to build over 3000 family trees on Ancestry? It is essential to address the copy and paste tool found on many genealogy research platforms that have grown over the last ten years. There is a common expression that if a falsehood is told over and over, it eventually becomes the truth, and the surname of Sarah is an excellent example of this. Anyone that has researched the Fitzpatrick lines of the early settlers is undoubtedly familiar with the couple William Fitzpatrick and Sarah Breckenridge. Where did the surname Breckenridge come from? Could it be based on any documentation or historical reference?
   
   Key here is the incredible piece of genealogical research by Reba Fitzpatrick Lea (1954) entitled, The 'Belfield' Fitzpatricks and 'Elim’; Colemans Their History and Genealogy. With over 20 years of research, it is one of the most detailed and comprehensive written compilations undertaken on the line of William Fitzpatrick and Sarah. A search on Ancestry for Sarah Breckenridge will yield almost 2500 trees linked to her name. And yet her surname is not listed on any document or record; neither is there even a single historical narrative. So, where did the surname attached to her originate on the viral Ancestry Trees? Returning to Lea, in a straightforward paragraph in her book is found the only mention of Sarah with the Brackenridge surname — this is more than likely the source of the poison in the well of so many family trees.
   
   Notes concerning Fitzpatrick and Breckenridge Families: William Fitzpatrick, b. in Ireland, descendant
   of Sir John and Lady Ella Fitzpatrick, Earl of Ossory – came to Pennsylvania about 1728 with Irish and
   Scotch Dissenters. From there into the Valley of Virginia, Augusta County with Alexander Breckenridge.
   William and his sons had left the church of their fathers and were Presbyterians. It is said Williams’
   wife was Sarah Jane Breckenridge, a sister of the immigrant Alexander Breckenridge. This has not been
   definitely established. His sons Thomas and Joseph, and possibly others, were born in Ireland. He and
   his sons patented land in Goochland County in 1738, 1745, and 1747. This land was on Hardware River
   and when Albemarle County was cut off from Goochland – 1745 – it became a part of Albemarle (Lea, 1954).
   
   No blame can be affixed to Lea since she makes a very important statement that has been ignored by so many: this has not been definitely established. It is not even clear what of the narrative has not been definitely established, but at the very least it has to be the surname of William's wife Sarah being Breckenridge. Also, much of what was stated in the note is purely anecdotal, based on information sent in letters to Lea from others.
   
   There was a migration of Irish settlers from Pennsylvania into Virginia ca. 1728, but there is no documentation that William spent time in Pennsylvania, went to Virginia with Alexander Breckenridge, or was Presbyterian. Did Alexander even have a sister, and was she named Sarah? All of the notes that have been accepted and recorded on thousands of Ancestry Trees there is no supporting evidence, and Lea never once claimed the narratives are as factual – they are only notes; Lea even offers a disclaimer to all that read them to treat them as such. That the Breckenridge name is spread throughout the descendants of William Fitzpatricks line is a fact. Using the mother's maiden name in a son's name is not an unusual naming convention among Scotch- Irish. However, it was also a widespread naming practice in the early Colonies to use the name of famous solider or friend of the family; Breckenridge is found as a forename and surname in numerous Virginia lines. Hence, there is the possibility that Breckenridge could have been the surname of William's wife; indeed, Lea
   tried to find a connection but never could.
   
   William Fitzpatrick (FT15113): his descendants to the current day
   
   Returning to the facts, it is established that William lived in South Garden, Albemarle County, Virginia, and that he had a wife Sarah and a son named Thomas. Significant in the Albemarle County records is that a Thomas Fitzpatrick bought 400 acres from the same vendor (Robert Davis) on the same day (November 10, 1738) as William (Sparacio & Sparacio, 1988). That a kin relationship existed between these two men is clear, but the nature of the connection cannot be established with 100% certainty.
   
   On balance Thomas is most likely the son William mentions in his will dated 1764 because this son Thomas is mentioned in Albemarle County property records from 1750 and 1759, in which he is noted as selling land to William Hamner, who was probably the father of his wife, Elizabeth Henley Hamner, who he married sometime before 1747:
   
   Elizabeth Hamner, a daughter of William Hamner and Mary Elizabeth Henley (and the sixth child listed
   in her fathers will), married in Albemarle Co., Virginia to Thomas Fitzpatrick (Black & Ryan, 1981).
   
   Last Will and Testaments (LWTs) are among the most informative records to use in genealogical research, especially before the years of more detailed census taking. The LWT typically mentions wives, all living children, daughters with their married names, and sometimes grandchildren..... it goes on and on