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| A farm lane near The Plains, VA (2014) |
As our earliest known paternal ancestor, the search continues for Baldwin Lunsford's origins. Who were his parents? Did he descend from the colonial era Lunsford families of the Virginia Northern Neck? Is there a connection to Stafford and/or Prince William Counties before the formation of Fauquier County in 1759? We may never know as the public records from this period are sketchy at best and no extant family bibles or parish records seem to exist. But the search continues.
However, we are fortunate to have a very detailed record of his property and affairs at the time of his death in October 1850. This comes to us through his will, estate inventory and sale ledger. Notice that the surname spelling varies between the "ce" and "s" versions; sometimes even within the same document. Baldwin was a farmer and could not write his name (he signed with his mark, X). We have no way of knowing whether he preferred the "ce" or "s" spelling when asked by an attorney, court clerk or census taker.
Baldwin registered his will with Fauquier County on June 2, 1847. What was the United States like at that time? The Mexican-American War raged, Samuel Colt sold his first revolver, the American Medical Association was founded in Philadelphia PA, and James K. Polk (D-Tennessee) was president. California was only a territory and the US government issued its first postage stamps featuring George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. And according to Wikipedia, the hard candy "Necco Wafers" were invented near Boston MA. Known at the time as "hub wafers", they were said to be a favorite of Union troops in the upcoming Civil War. You can still buy this candy today and the manufacturer claims that it is true to the original version of that time.
In a previous post we described the end of British Primogeniture and how this led to a flurry of chancery causes from family members contesting will provisions or the actions of Executor(s) [person(s) named to settle the estate]. In this regard, we are fortunate that the Library of Virginia has taken the time to digitally scan chancery files from court houses across the Commonwealth as part of their Virginia Memory initiative. While you can visit a court house record room today and find the original copy of a registered will, and while there are genealogy books on the market that index will books or even attempt full transcriptions; chancery files contain not only a copy of the will, but accessory documentation that can help you understand the relationship between the testator [will owner] and his executors and legatees [persons to whom personal property is designated to be given]. If land, property, money or business interests were involved, most likely there will be an estate inventory/appraisal and sale records of how the property was liquidated.
For Baldwin's estate, we have a chancery file from 1854 (Fauquier Co 1854-010). Washington Garrison and Wife vs Executor of Baldwin Lunceford, etc. Washington Garrison married Baldwin's daughter, Margaret Lunceford on 15 February 1850. I don't have any other data on this couple, and this is a very complex file and much of the hand writing by the court clerk is illegible. But a full analysis of this case will be the subject of a future post on BRMM.
For now, from this file we can extract copies of Baldwin's will, estate inventory and sale ledger. All from the comfort of our home computer without the pain and expense of visiting the court house record room.
Click on each of the following images for a larger view of the document. They are followed by my transcription as best as I could decipher them. Notations and spellings were not corrected to modern day usage as I tried to keep the text as near to the original as possible.
Baldwin's Will:
In the name of God, Amen! I, Baldwin Lunceford of Fauquier
County, being in perfect health and of sound mind, do make this, and ordain it
to be, my last will and testament, in form as follows, In the first place, I leave to my wife Judy
Lunceford, all my landed estate that I am now possessed of, with the Household
and Kitchen furniture, during her natural life: also one negro boy name Henry,
and one negro girl name Susan during her natural life also; also one horse, and
one cow; all the above named property is at her disposal during her life; It's
my will that there shall be no subtenant on the land, and only two fires burnt
during the summer and winter months in her lifetime. It's my will and desire
that all the residue of my property that is in my possession at my death shall
be sold by my Executors on a credit of twelve months, the purchaser giving a Bond
with good Security for the payment of the money; To my son Benjamin Lunceford one
tenth part, To my daughter Mary Kemper and her bodily heirs one tenth part; To
my daughter Elizabeth Creel and her bodily heirs, one tenth part; To my son
Harrison Lunceford one tenth part; To my daughter Patsy Hawes, and her bodily
heirs one tenth part; To my daughter Harriet Ball, and her bodily heirs, one
tenth part; To my daughter Darky Creel, and her bodily heirs, one tenth part; To
my son Wormly Lunceford, one tenth part; To my daughter Judy Walker, and her
bodily heirs, one tenth part; To my daughter Margaret Lunceford, with her Bedstead,
Bed, and furniture; one tenth part; of the money that will arise from the Sale
of my property that will be in the hands of my Executors, to be paid to each
one of my legatees as above named. And lastly, after the death of my wife, all
the property that I have left her shall be sold by my Executors, the personal
property on a credit of twelve months, the purchaser giving a Bond with good Security
to make sure the payment thereof. It's my will and desire after the death of my
wife, that all my landed estate shall be sold by my Executors; one third of the
money in hand, the Ballance in two annual payments bearing interest from the day
of Sale, the purchaser giving a deed of trust on this land to make good the payments
thereof, and divided as above named. And, lastly, I appoint my son Benjamin
Lunceford, and my son Harrison Lunceford, Executors of this my last will and
testament. Given under my hand and seal this 2nd day of June 1847.
Baldwin "X" Lunceford
Teste.
Bailey Crain
Samuel Craig
Jas. Crain
Since the signing of this instrument of writing I have let
my son Wormly Lunceford have a Negro woman called Jane, for two hundred and
fifty dollars to come out of his tenth part of my estate and the woman and her
increase agreeable to our Bargain is to go to his wife Mahala Lunceford and all
her children. Given under my hand this 1st day of April 1850.
Baldwin "X" Lunceford
At a Circuit Court of Fauquier County, held on the 8th day
of October 1850.
This last will and testament of Baldwin Lunceford deceased,
was proved by the oaths of Bailey Crain, Samuel Craig, and James Crain,
witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Benjamin Lunceford,
an Executor therein named, who made oath thereto and together with George
Creel, Evan Griffith, Joshua Owens, and Wormely Lunceford his Securities,
entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of eight thousand
dollars, conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for
obtaining a probate of the said will in due form; liberty being reserved to the
other Executor named in the said will to join in the probate when he shall
think fit.
Teste. William F. Phillips, Clerk.
A copy – teste, William F. Phillips, Clk.
Baldwin's Estate Appraisal:
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I have an image of Harriet Griffith's land sale containing 81 acres. It states, "It is about one mile from Hopewell..., about three miles from the Mannassa railroad and Adkins the lands of John Griffith, Charles Duncan, Patsy Ball, and Benj. Lunsford." It may be that this is different land that Mary inherited from Elijah Griffith and left to Benj., but again, no survey is to be found.
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