Person:William Harbison (4)

William Harbison was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents 1 About William Harbison 2 Land Records 3 Will Abstract 4 Will Transcript 5 Records in Virginia		Welcome to Old Augusta Early Settlers Beverley Manor Borden's Grant Register Data Maps Places Library History Index
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About William Harbison

Some researchers have stated that William Harbison, Sr. of Augusta County, Virginia married Mary Eleanor Aston 20 April 1715 in Antrim, Northern Ireland, but that would have been some fourteen (14) years before the birth of their son William Harbison, Jr., making this assertion somewhat doubtful. Additional research is needed to determine the maiden name of this William Harbison Sr's wife Mary.

Land Records

• 1751 William Harbison Sr. bought 400 acres on Looney Creek then Augusta County later becoming Botetourt County, Virginia. William Harbison owned 400 acres of land near Looney Ferry on the James River. Luney Ferry was the firs Ferry across the James River on the frontier road leading from Pennsylvania to the Carolina's. Robert Looney who operated the ferry died in Augusta County in 1767.

Will Abstract

Harbison, William. Will pro. March, 1775.

Names wife Mary, and ch. Davil [s/b David], Hannah, William, George, Agnes, Mary, Jean, Grizzle, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Son-in-law Nathaniel Evans.

[Source: Early Marriages, Wills and Some Revolutionary War Records, Botetourt County, Virginia, compiled by Anne Lowry Worrell, pg. 57].

Will Transcript

WILL OF WILLIAM HARBISON IN BOTETOURT COUNTY, VIRGINIA

In the name of God, Amen, Jan. the fifth in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and severty five.

I William Harbison of Botetourt County, Virginia, being old and infirm but sound mind and memory and calling to Mind the Mortality of my body do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner following:

First I recommend my Soul to God who gave it. In humble Hopes of enternal Happiness through the mirts of a merciful Redeener. My body I recomment to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent Manner at the discretion of my Executors here after named in Hopes I do what wordly substance it hath pleased God to Bless me with , I devise and dispose of the same in the following Manner to Wit:

First it is my will that my funeral charges and all my just debts be paid out of my personal estate.

Also I give and bequeath to David My son the tract of land on which I live containing two hundred and fifty acres with its appurtenaces and the said David is to maintain Mary my wife a decent and comfortabel manner during her natural life, out of the Products and Profits of my said Land and should she choose to live in during her life. said David is to keep a house I now live in. David keep a house and furniture for Mary he shall keep for her two cows and she is to have her choice of the beds belonging to me with furniture. With every other necessary privilege.

My will is that such ----kindd. As heretofore I name to David my son or Hannah my daughter shall remain their property and if David my son at any time after my decease sell the above land my will is that winin the space of two years after the sale of said. David shall give my daughter Hannah the sum of twenty pounds current money.

I give to my sons William and George and to my daughters Agnes, Mary, Jean, Grizzle, Rebecca and Elizabeth five shillings each as I have already given them according to my abilities.

I do appoint Mary my wife Executrie and Nathaniel Evans my son in law executor to this my will by me and testament and I do hereby revoak and make void all other wills by me made and published pronounce and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness where I have here unto set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year first above written.

[Signed] Wm. Harbison [Seal]

Signed sealed pronounced and declare in presence of:

Andrew Woods

James Leatherdale

Jonathan Woods

Martha Woods

At a court held for Botetourt Co. int 14th March 1775 this instrument of writing as exhibited in Court as and for the Last Will and Testament of Wm. Harbison, dec'd and proved by the oaths of Jas. Leatherdale and Jonathan Wood.

Witness and ordered to be recorded.

Records in Virginia

• 18 May 1750 - Augusta County, Virginia. This Examination saith about the last week of April 1749 there came seven indians to the house of Adam Herman of this county and did rob the said house of nine Deer Skins and on Elk skin the next day came Six indians and did rob the said house of fourteen deer skins and one elk skin and the next day following there came a number of indians to the said house and did rob or take out of it seventy three Deer skins, Six Elk skins and twenty sever pounds of Leather and two buck skins, in parchment, ect. William Harbison

• 1750 - William Harbison Sr. was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1750 by the Colonial Governor.

1. ↑ Kegley, F. B. (Frederick Bittle). Kegley's Virginia Frontier: The Beginning of the Southwest, the Roanoke of Colonial Days, 1740-1783, with Maps and Illustrations. (Roanoke, Virginia, United States: The Southwest Virginia Historical Society, 1938)
   pg. 418.

   The Erwin Patterson-Harbison place on Looney’s Mill Creek was the well-known Waskey Mill Place of later days. William Harbison came there in 1751 and as a justice in Augusta County was an important man. He died in 1775 leaving his wife, Mary; sons David, William and George; daughters, Hannah, Agnes, Mary, Jean, Grizzle, Rebecca and Elizabeth. David was to have the home place and support his mother. The other children had been provided for and received now only five shillings each. The executors were wife, Mary and son-in-law, Nathaniel Evans². David Harbison and wife, Catherine, sold the land to Mathew Wilson,of Augusta County, whose widow, Mary Wilson, sold it in 1812 to her son,John L. Wilson, of Bedford county.
   
   ²William Herbison’s Will, Botetourt Will Book, A, 48.