..............FOR OUR BELOVED FOREBEAR.....................

....................WILLIAM TURNER.........................

..............REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERAN....................
................DAR ANCESTOR #A117311......................

Service: Virginia...............Rank: Private
Birth: 19 Jan 1753.......Halifax Co., Va.
Death: 11 Dec 1845...Franklin Co., Va.
Service Source: Va. Mag. of Hist. & Biography,
................Vol. 17, pp. 189-90
Service Description: 1) Capt. John Cunningham,
........................Col. Abraham Penn
Residence: Henry County......State: Virginia
Spouse: Jane Hunter


........(Daughters of the American Revolution).............

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William Turner was the son of Shadrack Turner (1720-1784) and Ann Pollard. He was one of their eight children.
His siblings were: John, Josiah, Mary, Larkin, Jeremiah, Exeony, and Mary Hunter.


(NOTE: When William was born in 1753, the county was known as Halifax, later in 1767, Pittsylvania County was formed from Halifax, and in 1776 Henry County was formed, cut from Pittsylvania County. The area was sparsely populated. The population in Pittsylvania County in 1767 was 938 whites, 316 slaves. Later, Franklin County was created in 1785, cut from Henry County. William's home was in that part of Henry County that became Franklin County).


On April 17, 1773, William Turner married Miss Jane Hunter, daughter of William and Charity Loftus Hunter. William and Jane were the parents of fourteen children, and lived in Franklin County, Virginia until their deaths. Both lived to the age of 92. (One of their 14 children died as a child, name not confirmed, or age at death.)


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........................REVOLUTIONARY WAR SERVICE..........


William Turner served in the American Revolution as a Private from the state of Virginia.
His contribution to the war is described in the pension application of Richard Stanley, another veteran of the Revolutionary War, from Franklin County, Virginia.
(Note: The American Revolution dates were 1775-1783. Franklin County, Va. was still a part of Bedford and Henry Counties, during those years. Franklin County was named for Benjamin Franklin, and was formed from portions of Bedford and Henry Co.s in 1785, after the end of the war. Therefore, William and Richard Stanley were in the "Henry" County militia. Henry County, Va. was formed from Pittsylvania County, Va. in 1776.)
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........................PENSION APPLICATION, REV. WAR......

Abstracted from the Pension Application of Richard Stanley, (#R10050), made 14 March 1833, Scott County Courthouse, Scott County, Virginia:................


"In the year previous to the taking of Cornwallis, Col. Robert Wood of Franklin County (still Henry County at the time) ordered a volunteer company of 18 men to be made up for the purpose of pressing persons and taking deserters, this applicant and 17 more volunteered and several such for twelve months in the county of Franklin, among the names were "John Turner", "William Turner" and "John Hunter" (cousin of John and William)....that during that year they were constantly engaged in pressing horses to carry forage & baggage to the army, and hunting out deserters."





Descendants of William are eligible for membership in the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution.

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...........................1778............................
....................BOND OF APPRENTICE.....................
...........................TO..............................
................WILLIAM TURNER, BLACKSMITH.................
..................HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA ................

"16 November 1778. Bond of apprentice. Witness that JOSEPH KING of Henry and colony of Virginia hath put his son named JOSEPH KING voluntarily apprentice to WILLIAM TURNER blacksmith in Henry County for a full term of 12 years. The master shall give him one year of training. Signed: Joseph King, William Turner. Wit: John Colyar, Thomas Cooper. (Note: William Turner was 25 years old)

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..........................1779.............................

.....................LAND TRANSACTION......................
...........................FOR.............................
.....................WILLIAM TURNER........................

....HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA (PRESENT DAY, FRANKLIN COUNTY)..


"22 April 1779. Shadrack Turner of the county of Henry to William Turner of same for the sum of one hundred pounds conveys land being 20 acres more or less on the south side of Town Creek following the old line according to the pattent to the Creek. Signed: Shadrack Turner

(Note: Shadrack Turner was William's father. William was 26 years old when he purchased this land.)

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..................."THE TURNER CHRONICLES"


The following was abstracted from the book "The Turner Chronicles" by William Lee Turner.

"In the Fall of 1987, William Lee Turner concluded a business meeting in Virginia and decided to look for the William Turner plantation. He wrote:

In a 40 year old report I had read, it suggested that the William Turner home still existed near Henry, VA. On researching Henry, I went to the post office and the post mistress directed me to a dairy farm owned by Wayne Wampler on County Road 764.

Mrs. Wampler greeted me and told me the house existed, but the roads didn't. I would have to walk several miles across pasture land and across a stream. She loaned me rubber boats and off I went across the fields with grazing cows; I crossed a mid-sized stream and walked up the valley toward the tree line, and then came upon William Turner's house, probably built in 1780. I was thrilled to see my namesake ancestor's home. It was surrounded by numerous trees and packed with straw bales. I was told the last individual to occupy the old home was Charlie Turner in the early 1950's. The basic house was still very solid but it is still hard to comprehend raising 14 children in this house. William and his wife Jane can be commended for extreme patience beyond all understanding.

William Turner and family were long-time members of the Beaver Creek Baptist Church. Some researchers suggest that William gave the Church 8.5 acres of land for the church to be built. The Library of Congress in Washington, DC, has a ledger copied from the original church record, 1786, brought by Jane Ferriss Anthony to Madison County, MO, following the death of her husband, Joseph Anthony, the preacher of this church. The records show the participation of William Turner in the church. One other sidelight is that the slaves of the members of the church also attended this church until some years later when their own church was formed. There are numerous notes concerning the admission of the slaves to this church.

William Turner died 11 Dec 1845 at the age of 92; his wife died 20 Jun 1851, also at the age of 92. The family was noted for longevity: 12 of his sons and daughters averaged 83 years of life according to the Turner family history."



("THE TURNER CRONICLES" by William Lee Turner... abstract contributed by: Rebecca R. Dyer)

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..............................CENSUS..1820

William only appears in one Federal Census. This was in Franklin County, Virginia, and for the year 1820. The household members are not listed by name.
His sons (or his brothers) Josiah Turner and John Turner are listed on the same page. William had brothers named Josiah and John, and sons named Josiah and John. At this time, it is unclear which are in this census. See photo of this page at the upper right.

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..................................1783.....................

..........................WILLIAM WAS BEQUESTED IN
.......................HIS FATHER SHADRACK TURNER'S WILL
................................AS FOLLOWS:

......"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 the Road. Thence along the road to the line of the first survey thence along the line till it comes to Daniel Smith's corner thence a straight line below the Mill (Moss?) 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."

Shadrack Turner L.S.
October 25, 1783
Will Book I, p.90, Franklin Co., Va.

(Shadrack Turner, b. 1720 d. 1784)


Transcribed by: John W. Ingram, 2007, descendant.

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...............................1842........................

......................WILL OF WILLIAM TURNER...............

........................(PROVED 5 Jan. 1846)...............



FRANKLIN COUNTY, VIRGINIA
WILL BOOK 6, p. 29

.......In the name of God Amen I William Turner of the County of Franklin and State of Virginia of sound mind and disposing memory feeling that Immortality is hasting on when I must resign my mortal part to the Tomb and my Spirit to the God who gave it, do, therefore make my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following
(Viz)
....1st I commend my Spirit to Almighty God, and my Body to the Tomb
....2nd I desire that all my just debts (if any) be paid, and that my funeral expenses be paid out of the proceeds of the sale of my perishable property
....3 rd I give and bequeath to my beloved companion Jane Turner all of my personal and real estate of which I die possessed, consisting of the following servants (to wit) Lydia, Bob, Jenny, Mose, Joshua, Mary, Jessee, Washington, Harriet, Milly, and Ony-together with all their increase (if any) together with all my Stock of every description, my lands and tenements to have and to hold to her only use and behoof during her natural life, and it is also my desire that she shall exercise her own discretion relative to assisting any of her children should necessity require it And after the death of my Dear wife, I desire that all my property both real and personal, be immediately sold by my Executor hereafter named and equally divided between the Lawful heirs in manner and form hereafter provided, and it is further my Desire that all my Servants be sold in the family of my children, and that my Executor, hereafter to be named, suffer them not to be sold otherwise. And in the distribution of my property among my children, after complying with the foregoing provisions.
....I first give and bequeath unto my oldest son George Turner One thirteenth part of my Estate
....2ndly, I give and bequeath unto my second Son James, or his Lawful heirs one other thirteenth part of my Estate
....3dly, I give and bequeath unto John Turner, my third son one thirteenth part of my Estate
....4thly I give and bequeath unto the Lawful heirs of the body of my first Daughter Martha Philpott, one thirteenth part of my estate
....5thly I give and bequeath unto my second Daughter Elizabeth Ingram one thirteenth part of my Estate
....6thly I give and bequeath unto my fourth son Josiah Turner one thirteenth part of my estate.
....7thly I give and bequeath unto my third Daughter, Adelpha Turner one thirteenth part of my Estate.
....8thly I give and bequeath unto my fourth Daughter Sarah Snidow one thirteenth part of my Estate.
....9thly I give and bequeath unto my fifth son William Turner one thirteenth part of my Estate.
....10thly I give and bequeath unto my fifth Daughter Jane Stone and the lawful heirs of her body, one thirteenth part of my Estate to be placed by my Executor, in the hands of my faithful and trusty son Elkanah B. Turner, to be, by him, given unto her at such time and in such manner as he may deem most prudent, and should the portion of my Estate allotted to my Daughter Jane Stone aforesaid, be not by her consumed, and she dieing without issue, it is my desire that the balance that may be left return again to the Estate and be equally divided among my other children.
....11thly I give and bequeath unto my sixth Son Andrew Turner one thirteenth part of my Estate.
....12thly I give and bequeath unto my Seventh son Meshack Turner one thirteenth part of my Estate.
....13thly I give and bequeath unto my youngest Son Elkanah B. Turner one thirteenth part of my Estate. And I also desire that he shall be paid by my Executors, out of my general Estate, a reasonable compensation for his trouble in receiving and disburseing the portion allotted to my Daughter Jane Stone. And Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my faithful and beloved sons George Turner and Elkanah B. Turner Executors of this Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other or former Wills and Testaments, by me, heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 29th day of October, A.D. 1842
his
William (X) Turner
mark
signed, sealed, published and declared, as and for the Last Will and Testament of the above named Wm. Turner in presence of us.
Bernard M. Price Jr.
Paten Stanley
Purris Ayres
At a Court held for Franklin County the 5th day of January 1846 This Last Will and Testament of William Turner. Deed was produced in court and proved by the oaths of Bernard M. Price Jr and Purris Ayres two of the subscribing witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of George Turner and Elkanah B. Turner the Executors herein named who made oath and gave bond and security according to Law certificate is granted them for
obtaining of said Will in due form
Teste
Moses G. Carper C.F.C.

Transcribed by: John (Jay) Ingram, a descendant of William Turner and his wife Jane Hunter.



Notes on the Will:

.. Daughter Martha Philpott, is deceased when this will was written in 1842. She died in 1835. Daughter Jane Stone must have been incapacitated in some way. In later years, she is living with her brother Elkanah B. Turner and his family, as shown in the Census of 1850, Henry Co., Virginia, and William had asked son Elkanah to assist his sister Jane with her inheritance.

...William's will does not have a bequest, or reference to his fourteenth child, or to that child's heirs, therefore that child must not have survived childhood. Name, dates, and burial unknown for that child.



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Written and compiled by: Rebecca A. Prillaman, third great
..........................grand daughter of William Turner
..........................and Jane Hunter Turner, descends
..........................from three of their children:
..........................Adelpha, Josiah, and Elkanah.
..........................Also descends from William's
..........................brother, Capt. John Turner
..........................(Grew up about 10 miles from his
..........................home in Franklin County, Va.)