Wills and Parish Records
This page is from "Will Book #3" in Fauquier County, it's the will transcript of Evan Griffith. It is
thought that this Evan came to Virginia from Wales in the early 1700's.
His son and will executor, Elijah Griffith, was the father of Mary Griffith who
married Benjamin Lunceford in January of 1818. Their son, Elijah Chilton, was named after
his grandfather. He married Harriet Griffith, it's possible they were cousins. They were
the parents of Willie R., John H., Samuel Shelton, and Edgar Marshall, Richard H. and James. Richard
and James both died from Dyptheria.
Leeds Parish was formed from Hamilton Parish in the late 1700's in Fauquier County, Virginia.
To my knowlege, there are no copies of Hamilton Parish records that still exist.
For the most part, parishes were the boundries of the government and were controlled through the Church.
If a person failed to attend church services, which would last nearly all day, they would be
forced to pay fines to their parish. The parish was also in charge of the levy of taxes, the
recording of wills, and the audits and inventories of it's citizens.
A couple of the other parishes in this same part of Virginia were Christ Church Parish in Middlesex
County and Overwharton Parish in Stafford County. There were alsoLunsford's in both these parishes.
The Ball family was attending the Christ Church Parish church in the late 1600's-early 1700's.
At least one of our ancestors, Benjamin Ball son of Edward Ball and Keziah Osborne, was baptised
at Christ Church Parish church. I came across the birth and baptism records while researching for a friend.
This Benjamin later married Anne Owen, they had a son named Benjamin and, with his wife Anne,
were the parents of Anna Ball, first wife of Baldwin Lunceford.
There's a possibility I will find more about the Lunceford and Griffith families in
the Leeds Parish Records. If I do, they'll be posted along with these other pages.
Aubrey HALL, great grandson of Wormley Lunceford, has been generous enough to send me a transcript of Baldwin Lunceford's will.
It shows all his children. Wormley was one of Baldwin's sons by his second wife, Judith Creel.
Baldwin first appeared in the 1820 Federal Census listed near an entry of a Baldey Lunceford. It's possible that this Baldey was the
father of our Baldwin, but there's no proof, yet. Baldwin was listed as illiterate in the 1850 census, and as you will see at the end of his will,
Baldwin had to sign with his mark, "X". The following is the will transcript.
In the name of God, Amen! I, Baldwin Lunceford of Fauquier County, being in perfect health and 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 all the household and kitchen furniture, during her natural life, also
one Negro boy named Henry, and one Negro girl named 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 that 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 Dorky
Creel, and her bodily heirs one tenth part; to my son Wormley 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 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 balance 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
James Crain
Since the signing of this instrument of writing I have let my son Wormley 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 Curcuit Court of Fauquier County, held on the 8th day of October 1850.
This last will and testament of Baldwin Lunceford desceased, 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 Wormley Lunceford his securities, entered into and acknowleged 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 in the said will to join in the probate when he shall think fit.
Teste. William F. Phillips, Clerk.
The following pages are copies of Elijah
Griffith's will.
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