Loading...
Loading...Biography
William Light's date of birth is uncertain. He appeared on the 1796 Sullivan County tax list without a tithe. Tithe age in TN at the time was 21-50, thus suggesting he was born prior to 1746. He voted in a election for the Virginia House of Burgess in Halifax County in 1765[1], thus suggesting a birth before 1744. Birthdates of his children suggest he might have been born even earlier. Since it is not certain when his father came to Halifax County, his birthplace is uncertain as well. But his father was in Halifax County as early as 1746[2].
William's marriage to Patience Dillingham was not recorded in the Halifax marriage records. Birthyears of their children suggest they were married in the late 1750s or early 1760s. Their children included: Vachel (d. 1850) who married Sarah (likely Bernard); John (1766-c1848) who married Winnie SNU; William (<1770-1824) who married Dolly Younger; George (1760s-1831); Joshua (c1769->1860) who married Nancy, likely Cooper; Wright (1770s-1839) who married Elizabeth SNU; Patience (c1770-1850s) who married Flower Mullins; Eleanor (c1780-1870s) who married her cousin John Light, s/o Jacob; Michael (1782-c1865) who married Frances Easley; Jacob (1785-c1831) who married Rachel Morelock; Susannah (1780s-1840s) who married Levi Rice; and Prudence (1780s-<1850) who likely married Samuel Morelock. All children are recorded in William's will. Son William returned to Halifax County to marry and live. Daughter Eleanor moved to Pulaski and then Maries Counties MO. Sons George, Wright, and Michael moved to Western TN. All others remained in the Hawkins County area.
William purchased 200 acres of land from his father in 1764 on the South Fork of Terrible Creek in Halifax County VA[3]. When William sold this land in 1779 he was described as "late of this county."[4]. He had moved to the Watauga Settlement in what was then overmountain NC, now TN. By 1780 he had entered land on Walker's Fork of Horse Creek in Sullivan County NC.[5] A record that he ever patented this land has not been found. By 1809 he was living on Beech Creek across the divide in Hawkins County TN on land he purchased two years later from land speculator Phelix Walker[6].
William wrote his will in 1817.
Will of William Light
Will of William Light[7] Dated Sept 25, 1817
In the name of God,Amen,
I, William Light of Hawkins County and State of Tennessee, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and perfect mind and memory--blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following. That is to say, First, I leave unto my beloved wife Patience Light all and singular my goods and chattels during her natural life.
Furthermore, I do give and bequeath unto my youngest son Jacob Light all my lands and tenements, that is to say the tract of land where I now live, it is also my will that the rest of my children, that is to say, unto Vachel Light, John Light, Wm Light, George Light, Wright Light, Joshua Light, and Michael Light and my daughters Patience Mullins, Susannah Rice El- enor Light and Prudence Morelock all and singular my goods and chattels (after the decease of my beloved wife) to be equally di- vided between them. And I do hereby appoint my sons, Vachel Light and John Light sole executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventeen, Signed sealed and acknowledged in presence of
William (his X mark) Light
Attest: Reuben Barnard, Samuel Morelock, Wright (X-his mark) Light
Sources
- ↑ Mary Bondurant Warren, Halifax County, Virginia Colonial Poll and Tithables Lists.
- ↑ 20 Oct 1764, John Light entered for 400 acres on Ellis Creek, Marian Dodson Chiarito, Entry Record Book. 1737—70, p. 20.
- ↑ Halifax County VA DB 5:75.
- ↑ Halifax County VA DB 11:409.
- ↑ NC Land Warrants, Series 10. Warrant #580.
- ↑ Hawkins County TN DB 6:402-403
- ↑ Hawkins Co., Tn. Will Book 1:311. Transcribed by Francie Lautner.
