Person:William Porter (70)

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

Contents 1 Overview 2 Land 3 Personal Data 4 Will of William Porter 5 Footnotes	Return to Old Augusta County!	Porter Tapestry Register Analysis Notebooks Data Graphics Bibliography Index YDNA Records
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Overview

William Porter was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia settling on a 395½ acre site on the Maury (then North) River, at the point where the river passes through Goshen Gap between Jump Mountain to the North, and Hogback Mountain to the south. His wife is identified as "Gean" in his will.^[2] A William Porter, [presumably this same William Porter (70)] also owned property close to the Great Road in the north eastern quadrant of Borden's Grant. His two parcels are depicted in the graphic below:

William Porter's initial parcels (in green) on Borden's Grant, by 1743. It is possible that these parcels were owned by two different William Porter's

William and Jean had five known children, as mentioned in his will: John, Margaret, Mary, Gean, and William. ^[3]

Land

William Porter's land (Borden Tract NE, 395½ acres, 1742) as shown on the map meticulously drawn by J.R. Hildebrand, cartographer. This map is copyrighted©, used by permission of John Hildebrand, son of J.R. Hildebrand, April, 2009.

William Porter's land (Borden Tract MW, 3 Tracts: 1) 112 acres acquired in 1750, 2) 200 acres acquired in 1754 and 3) 110 acres (adjoining the 112-acre tract acquired in 1750) in 1754) as shown on the map meticulously drawn by J.R. Hildebrand, cartographer. This map is copyrighted©, used by permission of John Hildebrand, son of J.R. Hildebrand, April, 2009.

Acquisition of Land from Orange County, Virginia Records:

• Pages 109-13. 16-17 Aug. 1742. Benjamin Borden of Orange County, Gent., to William Porter of same, yeoman. Lease and release; for ₤12 current money. 395½ acres, part of 92,100 acres by pattin (patent) 6 Nov. 1739... at a small spring by the side of Middle Creek... line of Patrick Hays' land... (signed) Benja. Borden. Wit: John Hart, John Lowry, Samll. Dunlap. 26 Aug. 1742. Acknowledged by Benjamin Borden, Gent. [Orange County Virginia Deed Book 8, Dorman, pg. 72].

Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 45.--28th November, 1750. Same (Borden, etc.) to Wm. Porter, 112 acres, on North Br. of James, at said Porter's patent.

• Page 271.--15th May, 1751. Same (From Borden's executors) to William Porter, planter, 200 acres in Borden's tract on North Branch of James River, John McKown's line. Delivered to Thos. Hill, January. 1757.

• Page 409.--21st August, 1754. Same (From Borden's executors)' to William Porter, plantationer, £3, 110 acres, part of 92,100 on west bank of North Branch of James River; corner to said Porter's old survey; John McCown's line; James Mile's line. Delivered to Jno. Mitchell, January, 1758.

Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 231.--20th May, 1747. William Porter, yeoman, to Thomas Hill, £28 current money Virginia; 395½ acres on Middle Creek; John McDowell's line; Patrick Hays' line. Teste: David Mitchell, Nathaniel Evins, Alexander Moore. Acknowledged by William, and dower released by Jane, his wife, 21st May, 1747.

• Page 471.--19th May, 1777. William Porter, Sr., to his son, William Porter Jr., tract purchased by William, Sr.. from Borden, Sr., and conveyed to him by Borden, Jr., 1760.

Personal Data

Personal Data
Vita	Datum	Source/Basis/Comment
DOB:
POB:
DOD:	c1781	According to Porter, 1984 William wrote his will on the 4th of November 1780. It was probated 5 March 1782
POD:	Rockbridge County, VA
Father:		William's parents are not known. He is sometimes identified as the son of Benjamin Porter and Ann Campbell. This identification seems to be taken from Diehl's "Rockbridge Notebook". Diehl seems to have assumed that the family came to Borden's Grant from Spottsylvania, but does not, as far as I know, offer any direct proof of the connection. In any case Benjamin's will does not make mention of a William Porter.
Mother:
Spouse:
DOM:
POM:
Children
Name	DOB	POB	DOD	POD	Spouse	DOM	POM	Dispersion and Notes
John Porter
Margaret Porter					John Mitchell			* as Margaret Mitchell
Mary Porter					John McKay			See MySource:Rememberance for John McKay
Jean Porter					Samuel Black			as "Gean Black"
William Porter					Mary Bowen

Will of William Porter

Will of William Porter Senior::

In the name of God, Amen. The fourth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty. I Wiilam Porter Senr. of Rockbridge County in the Colony of Virginia baeing inn perfect mind and memory thanks to God therefore and knowing that it is appointed to all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I recommend my soul to God who gave it and as for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian and decent like manner at the discretionn of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God Now touching what worldly estate it has pleased God to bless me within this life I give and dispose of the same in the following manner.

First I order that all my lawful debts and funeral expenses be paid and satisfied.

Items: I give and bequeath to Gean <probably Jean or Jane> by beloved wife the plantation that I now live on containing one hundred and seven acres, during her natural life. I likewise give her the roan mare named Cate and two good cows and a saddle and her bed and bed close and all her wearing apparel. I likewise give her twenty pounds in silver and gold by weight.

Item: I give to my beloved son John Porter my horse and saddle and all my wearing apparel.

Item: I give to my beloved son William Porter the plantation I now live on containing one hundred and seven acres to him and his heirs and he is to enter into the possession thereof at the decease of Gean Porter my beloved wife. I hereby give to my son William all the remainder of my moveable estate besides what is above mentioned

excepting one hundred pounds as U.S. money is valued at this time that I give to my beloved daughter Margaret Mitchell

and one hundred pounds at the same value that I give to my beloved daughter Mary Mackey

and one hundred pounds as the currency is valued now that I give to my beloved daughter Gean Black.

Item: I leave and empower my beloved son William Porter whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament and I order that he take care of his mother and give her sufficient maintainence during her natural life and also that he maintain her creatures for her.

And I revoke and diasanul all former and other wills and testament in witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.

(signed) William Porter

Signed and sealed in the presence of

Robt. Ervin

John Letcher

James McCown

Inventory of the estate of William Porter, Sr. of Rockbridge County, Virginia.

June Court 1782

One cow, L2.10

Two cows, L5.8

Three cows, L7.10

Two cows, one heifer L7.10

Two heifers one steer L11.9

One bull L18<illegible>

Six young calves L7.

One cow and calf L3.10

One cow two steers L.5.

Two heifers three steers L4.10

Eight head of young cattle L7.5

Twenty-one head of sheep L1

Twenty-five head of small sheep L4.11

One sound mare L9

One roan horse L11.10

One roan mare L6.10

Sundry…..<_____. L.3.0.6

One gun 22/6

One saddle L2.5

Sundry body clothes L.6.12.6

Hard cash L20 Total L.123.4.6

(Signed) Robert Ledford, Jr.

John McCowan, Jr

William Ledford, App.

At a court held in Rockbridge Co., Va. June 1st ( ? ) 1783 this inventory and appraisment of the estate of William Porter, deceased, was this day returned. And ordered to be recorded.

Testee, Andrew Reid, Att.

Footnotes

1. ↑ William Porter died between 4 November 1780 (Will), and June 1782 (estate inventory)
2. ↑ Gean is sometimes identified as "Gean Black", but it is likely that this is a misidentification based on a confusion with the married name of her daughter "Gean" who married Samuel Black, as identified in Williams will of 1780.
3. ↑ I've only examined an extraction of the will as it appears in Source:Porter, 1984 in "snippet format" on Google Books. Its clear that Mary, Gean, and William are mentoned in the will, but the snippet format did not allow me to see enough to tell whether John was included as well. User:Quolla6