PARSONS William Robert

Other Events and Attributes:

• Lived(s) In: Sussex County, VA
• Will: 1778, Sussex County, VA

Notes:

The Parsons family apparently descended from one John Parsons, Esquire, of London, an Adventurer of the Virginia Company, who arrived in Virginia in 1619. His wife's name was probably Elizabeth. They had at least one son, also named John Parsons (1639 -1711) who married Ann Thomas. They resided in York County, Virginia. John and Ann Parsons had four children; Elizabeth (1669), William (1671), John (1673) and Anna. It is believed that William moved to Richmond or Elizabeth City County, and had a son also named William, born in 1697, who married a Harrison. This William was probably the father of Robert Parsons (1720 - 1777) of Sussex County. Obviously, further research is needed to clarify this line of descent.
Sally's grandfather was Robert Parsons, who was born in 1720. He married Eleanor Hines (bom 1725) about 1744. They established themselves in Sussex County and raised a family of seven children; William/Robert (1745), Amy (1746), Henry (1749), Eleanor (1752), Mary (1755), Unity/Uriah (1757) and Elizabeth. Eleanor died 11/9/1770 and Robert died in!777, in Sussex County. Robert Parsons was apparently a well-to-do plantation owner.

Will:
His will, written on a page headed "September Fourth MDCCLXXVII....Second Year of the Commonwealth", reads as follows:
In the name of God amen I Robert Parsons of the County of Sussex in the Parish of Albemarle being weak in body, but of a sound mind and memory, blessed be God, but calling to mind that it is appointed to all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, bequeathing my soul to God who gave it hoping for that mercy and forgiveness promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ our saviour, and my body to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned and with what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give, devise, and dispose of the same in the manner and form following. Viz.
Inpremis: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Sanders one negro boy named Moses and one large chest to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son William Parsons the three negros which he carried with him, Viz. Ben, Dinah and Celia with their increase and all debts due from him to me, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Uriah Weathers two negro girls, Viz. Phebe and
Winney and their increase and one trunk called her Mother's trunk to her and her heirs
forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Amey Ekman one negro wench named Bell and her increase to her and her heirs forever
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Henry Parsons two negro boys, Viz. Ab and Ben and one negro fellow named Bib (clear of all hire that may owe me hitherto for him and also during my life), one feather bed and furniture and one chest called mine to him and his heirs forever.
Item: My will and desire is that six pounds shall be paid out of my estate towards the education of my grandson Osburn Smith, son of my daughter Amy Ekman.
Item: I give and bequeath to ny grandson Robert Parsons, son of Henry Parsons one filly and her increase to him and his heirs forever.
Item: My will and desire is that all debts due to me from Isaac Weathers, John Sanders, Adam Ekman and Henry Parsons, and my desire also is that the bed I now lie upon and all the remainder of my estate undisposed of be set up to the highest bidder and the money raised from the sale, and also the debts aforesaid be equally divided among Isaac Weathers, John Sanders, Adam Ekman and Henry Parsons.
Item: My will and desire is that Isaac Weathers do pay to Henry Parsons three pounds current money of Virginia out of the estate devised to him.
Item: My will and desire is that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid out of my estate.
Item: My will and desire is that no appraisement be made of my estate and I do hereby appoint Henry Parsons and John Sanders Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making said all wills by me formerly made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of June one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven.
Robert Parsons
Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared
by the testator in our presence and in the
presence of each other have witnessed the same. Robert Watson Nicholas Ogburn Thomas Whitfleld
This is a prime example of wills written in Colonial America. Land is never mentioned. Presumably it was passed to the descendants either by earlier gift or in accordance with English law.

Robert married HINES Eleanor in 1744. Eleanor was born in 1725; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]