Shadrack Turner ¹⁵⁵

  General Notes:

The Last Will and Testament of Shadrack Turner

October 25, 1783

Will is on file in Henry County, Virginia in Will Bk. 1 (1779-1799) pg. 90-91.

In the Name of God Amen. October the 25th One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Three. I, Shadrack Turner of Henry County, being in sound memory at present, thanks to Almighty God for it, and knowing the uncertainty of life, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the following manner.

Item: I give to my sons Larkin Turner and Jeremiah Turner, the Land and Plantation that I now live upon as far as the right hand Branch and up the Branch to the Creek above the Road thence up the said Branch Sick is as far as the Road, also one horse and one saddle to each of them.

Item: I give to my son William Turner the Land over the right hand Branch and up the branch to the Dreen. Thence up the Dreen to theRoad. Thence along the road to the line of the final survey, thence along the line till it comes to Daniel Smith s corner, thence a straight line below the Mess place, thence a straight line to the Waggon ford by the Apple Orchard, thence along the Creek to the mouth of the right hand branch, thence up the Branch to the beginning.

Item: I give to my daughter Excony Turner, One Horse and Saddle and two cows and calves and a Ewe and Lamb and one Sow and Piggs and the land upon the Turkey Penn Branch and up to my son William s line on both sides of the creek, thence a straight line to the corner tree in the gap of the hill, thence along the Ridge to the back line, the remaining part to Larkin and Jeremiah Turner to them and heirs forever.

Item: I also give to my daughter, Excony Turner, One Feather Bed and Furniture to her and her heirs forever, if she dies without heirs, her part to be Divided amongst the rest of my children.

Item: The House to be finished out of the estate.

Item: I give to my beloved wife Ann Turner the Plantation I now live upon and all the movable Estate, after my debts are paid, during her life time, then to be Divided between all my children, and my Grand daughter, Elizabeth, John, Josiah, William, Mary, Larkin, Jeremiah, Excony, Mary Hunter, if any of the above mentioned children should die without an heir, then parts to be returned to the remainder part of the children. I appoint my two sons John Turner and Wm. to be executors to the within Written Will. In Witness thereof I have set y hand and seal, the Day and year above Written.

Shadrack Turner Sr.

PostScript: I expected I had finished the Will but since the other children I give my Executors power at time of marriage Lucia Robb have a cow and calf and other necessaries as my Executors may think needful, but if Lucia or Sally die without issue Lawfully begotten, may their part to return to the Estate.

Item: I desire my children may have learning as far as may do County (that is the boys). The girls to read-out of the Estate. In witness their of I set my hand and seal

Shadrack Turner Sr.

Tes.

Sam l Critchfield

John Hunter

Richard Stone (X his mark)

MORE NOTES ON SHADRACK TURNER

Originally from Caroline County, Virginia. Many of the records of Caroline County were burned in the Civil War and only the order book remains. Shadrack was the nephew of ancestor, James Turner. When the mother of the children died Shadrack was already sixteen, so no guardian was named for him. They were named for the other children in the family. At this time the father was already deceased or no guardian wuld have been named. He, the father, was apparently John Turner, brother of James Turner, and son of Richard Turner, who died in 1744.

All of the Turners moved west, James into Bedford County and Shadrack into Henry, which was apparently cut from Bedford. Descendents of James also lived in Henry and Franklin Counties. "Pioneer Families of Franklin County, Virginia" page 220, states that three brothers Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego living in VA prior to 1748; 1748 patent gave Shadrack land in Halifax County, VA. He later moved to Pittsylvania then Henry County, VA.

In previous publications, it has been written that Shadrack Turner owned 4400 acres of land in Halifax County, Virginia which had been granted to him by patents. The writer wrote to the Virginia State Archives and the only land patent on record for Shadrack Turner is 104 acres made 10 August 1759 in Lunenburg County for which he paid ten shillings. Copy of this patent has been deposited along with all of the documents used in this book at the Georgia State Archives. Patent Bk. 34, Virginia Archives 1756-1762, Reel 33-34 p. 403. In1767, he is on the Tithe list of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, 256 acres (reference Virginia Magazine Vol. 24, pg. 190). He is in Virginia Magazine, Vol. 15, p. 92, 1777, shows he gave aid to Capt. Rubels Company, Henry County Militia. Virginia Magazine Vol. 10 p. 239, 1783 shows he gave aid to Virginia Militia; received certificates 14 and 143 for said aid.

In "History of Henry County, Virginia" by J.P.A Hill, Shadrack was appointed Road Commissioner for Henry County and was also instrumental in having Henry County formed into a separate county from Pittsylvania.

BOOKS & MAGAZINE ARTICLES ON SHADRACK TURNER

The Turner family magazine, genealogical, historical and biographical. New York City, N.Y., W.W. Clemens, 1916-17. Microfilm 18446 CS Description based on: Vol. 1, no. 2 (Apr. 1916); title from cover.
Note: Has a brief account of Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednigo Turner.

Turner, James H. (James Henry), 1922- Cathell, Rangeley, Turner : a family history -- Baltimore : Gateway Press (1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD) ; Salisbury, MD : J.H. Turner {distributor}, 1988. x, 321 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. CS71.C36 1988 Note: The progenitor of the Turner branch is Shadrack Turner, one of "three brothers" in Virginia.

Shadrack married Ann (Pollard Or Hill).