Col. John West was the son of Maj. John West and his second wife, Elizabeth Semmes Turley West Broadwater.
He was the grandson of Col. John West II and Cockacoeske, Queen of the Pamunkey tribe; great-grandson of Governor John West of Virginia and Anne Claiborne Percy West; great-great-grandson of William West, second Lord De la Warr, and Lady Anne Knollys whose mother Lady Katherine Carey Knollys was the daughter of King Henry VIII's mistress Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen Anne Boleyn.
Col. John West (1710-77) had an older half-brother also named John West (c1770/80- Findagrave 154106332) who was the son of Maj. John West and his first wife, Susan(nah) Pearson.
Col John West was a Truro Parish vestryman and served as Burgess and then a member of the Virginia Assembly. He retired in 1776 from the Assembly due to ill health.
He is thought to be buried at Truro Parish church Pohick, if not at Bush Hill plantation.
http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=3796&p=surnames.west
"He...died...at his home called Bush Hill near Franconia, Virginia, which he built in 1762."
Lost Plantations of the South by Marc R. Matrana, p. 22, recounts his ownership of Bush Hill Plantation, which had been part of 4,600 acres granted by Lord Fairfax to Maj. John West, William and Thomas Harrison, and Thomas Pearson, which Maj. West left his son Col. John West (1710-77) who left it to his son Roger West who sold to Charles Lee in 1787, from whom it eventually passed to Josiah Watson. Most references describe the plantation house as the Watson home.
Col. John West is said to have first married Mary Harris and had children: (source: Lisa Marie)
"Ann, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Ann was born in Prince William County, Virginia, the others in Fairfax County, Virginia. Ann married Daniel Talbott. Hannah married John Ashton. Hannah died on Tuesday 15 May 1827 in Alexandria. Elizabeth was unmarried with no children. And Mary married Richard Conway."
Col. John West and his second wife, Margaret Pearson Terrett, were Roger and Ann "Nancy". Roger married first Nancy McRae and second Marianne Craik. Nancy married Robert Powell.
Will of John West
In the name of God amen I, John West, of the parish of Fairfax in the county of Fairfax and colony of Virginia, being of a sound and disposing mind and memory, but knowing the uncertainty of this life and finding my bodily health declining fast, do make, ordain, and declare the following writing to be my last will and testament.
First, I give my soul to Almighty God who gave it me in full hopes and perfect confidence through the merits of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to receive a full pardon and forgiveness for all my sins and offenses, my body to be interred at the discretion of my executors hereafter named by or near the body of my first wife if I should die at or may with convenicy be brought to the Place.
Whereas I have formerly given to my son in law, Daniel Talbut, who married my first daughter, Ann, about three hundred & seventy-six acres by courses & bounds as laid off where he now lives during his natural life the remainder to my grandson, John Talbut, and in case of John's death without issue of his body to my granddaughter, Monica Talbut and in case her death without issue of her body then to my granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut and in case of her death without issue of her body, then to me or my right heirs which land with the stock and furniture that I gave to the said Daniel at the time of his marriage with my said daughter Ann I esteem to be of more value than that part of my estate which I intend to give to either of my daughters that are now living & whereas my grandson, John Talbut, died without issue of his body and the land will descend unto my granddaughter, Monica Talbut, after the death of her father, & my granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut, in all likelihood will never receive any benefit from said land therefore I give and bequeath unto my said granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut sixty pounds current money of Virginia to be laid out in the purchase of a young and likely female negro slave as the said sum will purchase at the discretion of her father Daniel Talbut. Whereas I have already given unto my son in law, John Ashton, and Hannah, his wife, one young negro woman named Moll and two hundred and fifty pounds current money, which is such apart of my estate as I intend for my daughter Hannah's fortune, except what may be given hereafter, and whereas I have already given to my son in law, Richard Conway & Mary, his wife, one young negro woman named Penny and two hundred and fifty pounds current money which is such apart of my estate as I intend for my daughter Mary's fortune, except what may be given hereafter.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Ann West, one young Negro woman named Nell to be immediately delivered to her after my death. I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann two hundred and fifty pounds being the sum due me from Mr. Alexander Henderson upon his penal bill to be paid unto her upon her day of marriage provided she marries with the consent & approbation of her mother and at least two of my executors. I also give unto my daughter, Ann, twelve pounds ten shillings per annum to be paid yearly upon the 21st day of June which may happen after my death being the annual interest of the said penal bill toward her support & maintenance until her marriage, but if it should please God that my daughter Ann West shall depart this life before she marries, then my will is that the aforesaid Negro woman Nell & her increase (if any) and the two hundred & fifty pounds current money & the interest upon that (if any due) be equally divided between my two daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway or their heirs.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my son, Roger West, my dwelling plantation containing two hundred and five acres of land also two hundred & ninety-five acres part sunken and part high land which is separate from my dwelling plantation by one corner of five hundred acres of land that is now in the possession of Mr. David Boyd (late Captain Woodbridges' land) to him my said son Roger & the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten forever. I also give unto my said son Roger West the eleven following slaves namely Glasgon, Will, Toney, Daniel, Stephen (the son of Jane), Bess, Siss, Sarah (the daughter of Siss), Barbary, Henny, and Sarah (the daughter of Margaret) which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such male heirs lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation with the two several tracks of land, the eleven slaves and their increase unto my daughter Mary Conway, her and her heirs and assignees forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Roger West, my old quarter and the land whereon Benjamin Boylston is now overseer containing four hundred & fifty acres or thereabouts to him my said son Roger West & the heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten forever. I also give and bequeath unto my said son Roger the ten following slaves namely Dick, Sanders, Charles, old Jane, French, Nan, young Jane, Seth, Suckey, and Jemima which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such heirs male lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation and land, the ten slaves and their increase unto my daughter Hannah Ashton, her and her heirs and assignees forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Roger West, my new quarter of four hundred & fifty-eight acres of land lying upon the main road & where Conner Maquire now teaches school, to him my said son Roger West and the heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten forever, I also give and bequeath unto my said son Roger the ten following slaves namely Cook, Nat, Peter, Tom, Guinea Nan, Margaret, Chloe, Frank, Hester, & Betty which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such heirs male lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation and land, the ten slaves and their increase unto my daughter Ann West and the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten forever, but if the aforesaid land and plantation along with the several slaves & their increase should happen to descend to my daughter, Ann West, by death of her brother, Roger or his heirs as aforesaid, and it should please God that she depart this life leaving no issue of her body as aforesaid or at any time thereafter that her issue should fail, then my will is that the said plantation & land together with the ten slaves & their increase be equally divided between my two daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway and their heirs. But nevertheless, if the slaves annexed to the several tracts of lands should grow too numerous for the quantity of land, the tenant in possession for the time shall be at liberty to dispose of so many as he or she shall think proper for his or her own use & advantage, provided there never be less than ten slaves left upon each tract or parcel of land and three fifths of the ten to be female slaves.
Item. I give and bequeath all my other lands that I can or may lawfully or justly claim or demand, particularly three hundred & thirteen acres that is now in the possession of my kinsman, John West, Jr., which his father recovered from me by a judgment of the general court of this colony & for which I have brought to several objections in order to appeal to England if the judgment here was against me but never could have the said land valued high enough to bear an appeal according to the royal instructions, therefore whenever my two sons-in-law, John Ashton & Richard Conway or there heirs shall think proper to try the title again, my will is that upon a recovery the said land be equally divided between them, their heirs or assignees.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Roger West all my stock of horses, mares, & colts, but nevertheless if my executors should think it will be of advantage to the estate to dispose of my two chair horses (as they are likely young and I believe good) and purchase cheaper horses for the plow and plantation use, they are in that case to use their discretion. I also give unto my son Roger all my carts, plows, axes, hoes, and all my other plantation utensils necessary for the making of a crop of Indian corn, wheat, and tobacco, also two iron pots & hooks, two frying pans, two feather beds & furniture equal in quality to those hereafter disposed of, also four work oxen and one fourth part of the residue of all my stock of cattle, sheep, hogs, & geese to be kept upon the several plantations for the use and benefit of my said son as well as for the support of the several slaves above given & bequeathed to him. I also give unto my said son Roger my three fishing seines, my Moses built boat and skew, and I earnestly recommend to my executors to keep up in good repair two seines & one boat or skew to carry on the fishing business as I well know it will be of great advantage to my son Roger's estate if it be rightly conducted. I also give unto my said son Roger a small gun that is generally called his gun, also my common using gun that has my name upon the barrel, if he should show any desire for having her, also one gold ring that was left to him by his sister, Elizabeth West
Item. My will and desire further is that the remaining three fourths of my stock of cattle, hogs, sheep & geese, all my household & kitchen furniture together with all my other effects of every kind whatsoever not heretofore given, be sold for the best price that can be got for it either in ready money or upon credit at the discretion of my executors and the money arising by such sale together with any sum or sums of money that I may be possessed of at the time of my death as well as any credits that I may happen to have by bond, account, or otherwise, be given and bequeathed in equal proportions after my just debts be paid and clothing & provisions for the several slaves, & stock hereby and before given unto my son Roger West for one year is allowed, between my two sons-in-law, John Ashton and Richard Conway, and my daughter Ann West, and my will and desire is that my daughter Ann's proportion of the sales be put out and well secured at interest, and that she is not allowed to make use of the principal until she marries and if it shall please God that she depart this life before she marries, then the said proportion so belonging to her be equally divided between my sons-in-law, John Ashton and Richard Conway.
Item. I give unto my wife, Margaret West, the care, management & tuition of my daughter, Ann West during her infancy or until the day of her marriage which may first happen, if it shall happen that my wife dies before the marriage of or during the infancy of my daughter Ann, then I will & desire that my daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway take the care of my said daughter, Ann during the time aforesaid. My will and desire is that some industrious person be employed to take the care & management of the plantation, slaves, & stock that is hereby given to my son Roger West and if either of my sons-in-law Daniel Talbut, John Ashton, or Richard Conway will undertake to manage and to superintend the same during the minority of my son Roger, or so long as it shall be thought to be to his advantage that either of them be employed for that purpose in preference to any other person.
Item. I give and devise the whole and sole guardianship, management, care and tuition of my son, Roger West, and his estate during his infancy in the following manner, that is to say first & principally unto my good friend, George Washington, Esquire, and if he cannot or will not undertake it, then secondly to my son in law, Richard Conway and if he cannot or will not undertake it, then thirdly to my son in law, John Ashton, and I earnestly entreat my said good friend George Washington, Esq., & either of my said sons-in-law that shall undertake the charge to have my son well & genteelly educated as far as the profits of his estate will afford, having regard to making some provision toward furnishing necessary when he come to his estate and I further entreat & desire the person that undertakes the guardianship of my said son, that if he shows any inclination to study divinity, Physics, or law that he will give him an opportunity first divinity, secondly Physics and thirdly law.
Lastly, I do constitute and appoint my good friend, George Washington, Esquire, my three sons in law, Daniel Talbut, John Ashton & Richard Conway, executors to this my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-seventh day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said John West as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names as witnesses in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other,
(Signed) John West
Witnesses: Daniel McCarty, Peter Wagener, Lund Washington, John Muir
At a court held for the county of Fairfax 18th August 1777 this will was proved by the oaths of Daniel McCarty, Peter Wagener and Lund Washington, three of the witnesses, ordered to be recorded.
Source: Fairfax County Will Book D, pages 25 - 33
He was the grandson of Col. John West II and Cockacoeske, Queen of the Pamunkey tribe; great-grandson of Governor John West of Virginia and Anne Claiborne Percy West; great-great-grandson of William West, second Lord De la Warr, and Lady Anne Knollys whose mother Lady Katherine Carey Knollys was the daughter of King Henry VIII's mistress Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen Anne Boleyn.
Col. John West (1710-77) had an older half-brother also named John West (c1770/80- Findagrave 154106332) who was the son of Maj. John West and his first wife, Susan(nah) Pearson.
Col John West was a Truro Parish vestryman and served as Burgess and then a member of the Virginia Assembly. He retired in 1776 from the Assembly due to ill health.
He is thought to be buried at Truro Parish church Pohick, if not at Bush Hill plantation.
http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=3796&p=surnames.west
"He...died...at his home called Bush Hill near Franconia, Virginia, which he built in 1762."
Lost Plantations of the South by Marc R. Matrana, p. 22, recounts his ownership of Bush Hill Plantation, which had been part of 4,600 acres granted by Lord Fairfax to Maj. John West, William and Thomas Harrison, and Thomas Pearson, which Maj. West left his son Col. John West (1710-77) who left it to his son Roger West who sold to Charles Lee in 1787, from whom it eventually passed to Josiah Watson. Most references describe the plantation house as the Watson home.
Col. John West is said to have first married Mary Harris and had children: (source: Lisa Marie)
"Ann, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Ann was born in Prince William County, Virginia, the others in Fairfax County, Virginia. Ann married Daniel Talbott. Hannah married John Ashton. Hannah died on Tuesday 15 May 1827 in Alexandria. Elizabeth was unmarried with no children. And Mary married Richard Conway."
Col. John West and his second wife, Margaret Pearson Terrett, were Roger and Ann "Nancy". Roger married first Nancy McRae and second Marianne Craik. Nancy married Robert Powell.
Will of John West
In the name of God amen I, John West, of the parish of Fairfax in the county of Fairfax and colony of Virginia, being of a sound and disposing mind and memory, but knowing the uncertainty of this life and finding my bodily health declining fast, do make, ordain, and declare the following writing to be my last will and testament.
First, I give my soul to Almighty God who gave it me in full hopes and perfect confidence through the merits of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to receive a full pardon and forgiveness for all my sins and offenses, my body to be interred at the discretion of my executors hereafter named by or near the body of my first wife if I should die at or may with convenicy be brought to the Place.
Whereas I have formerly given to my son in law, Daniel Talbut, who married my first daughter, Ann, about three hundred & seventy-six acres by courses & bounds as laid off where he now lives during his natural life the remainder to my grandson, John Talbut, and in case of John's death without issue of his body to my granddaughter, Monica Talbut and in case her death without issue of her body then to my granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut and in case of her death without issue of her body, then to me or my right heirs which land with the stock and furniture that I gave to the said Daniel at the time of his marriage with my said daughter Ann I esteem to be of more value than that part of my estate which I intend to give to either of my daughters that are now living & whereas my grandson, John Talbut, died without issue of his body and the land will descend unto my granddaughter, Monica Talbut, after the death of her father, & my granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut, in all likelihood will never receive any benefit from said land therefore I give and bequeath unto my said granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut sixty pounds current money of Virginia to be laid out in the purchase of a young and likely female negro slave as the said sum will purchase at the discretion of her father Daniel Talbut. Whereas I have already given unto my son in law, John Ashton, and Hannah, his wife, one young negro woman named Moll and two hundred and fifty pounds current money, which is such apart of my estate as I intend for my daughter Hannah's fortune, except what may be given hereafter, and whereas I have already given to my son in law, Richard Conway & Mary, his wife, one young negro woman named Penny and two hundred and fifty pounds current money which is such apart of my estate as I intend for my daughter Mary's fortune, except what may be given hereafter.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Ann West, one young Negro woman named Nell to be immediately delivered to her after my death. I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann two hundred and fifty pounds being the sum due me from Mr. Alexander Henderson upon his penal bill to be paid unto her upon her day of marriage provided she marries with the consent & approbation of her mother and at least two of my executors. I also give unto my daughter, Ann, twelve pounds ten shillings per annum to be paid yearly upon the 21st day of June which may happen after my death being the annual interest of the said penal bill toward her support & maintenance until her marriage, but if it should please God that my daughter Ann West shall depart this life before she marries, then my will is that the aforesaid Negro woman Nell & her increase (if any) and the two hundred & fifty pounds current money & the interest upon that (if any due) be equally divided between my two daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway or their heirs.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my son, Roger West, my dwelling plantation containing two hundred and five acres of land also two hundred & ninety-five acres part sunken and part high land which is separate from my dwelling plantation by one corner of five hundred acres of land that is now in the possession of Mr. David Boyd (late Captain Woodbridges' land) to him my said son Roger & the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten forever. I also give unto my said son Roger West the eleven following slaves namely Glasgon, Will, Toney, Daniel, Stephen (the son of Jane), Bess, Siss, Sarah (the daughter of Siss), Barbary, Henny, and Sarah (the daughter of Margaret) which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such male heirs lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation with the two several tracks of land, the eleven slaves and their increase unto my daughter Mary Conway, her and her heirs and assignees forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Roger West, my old quarter and the land whereon Benjamin Boylston is now overseer containing four hundred & fifty acres or thereabouts to him my said son Roger West & the heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten forever. I also give and bequeath unto my said son Roger the ten following slaves namely Dick, Sanders, Charles, old Jane, French, Nan, young Jane, Seth, Suckey, and Jemima which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such heirs male lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation and land, the ten slaves and their increase unto my daughter Hannah Ashton, her and her heirs and assignees forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Roger West, my new quarter of four hundred & fifty-eight acres of land lying upon the main road & where Conner Maquire now teaches school, to him my said son Roger West and the heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten forever, I also give and bequeath unto my said son Roger the ten following slaves namely Cook, Nat, Peter, Tom, Guinea Nan, Margaret, Chloe, Frank, Hester, & Betty which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such heirs male lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation and land, the ten slaves and their increase unto my daughter Ann West and the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten forever, but if the aforesaid land and plantation along with the several slaves & their increase should happen to descend to my daughter, Ann West, by death of her brother, Roger or his heirs as aforesaid, and it should please God that she depart this life leaving no issue of her body as aforesaid or at any time thereafter that her issue should fail, then my will is that the said plantation & land together with the ten slaves & their increase be equally divided between my two daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway and their heirs. But nevertheless, if the slaves annexed to the several tracts of lands should grow too numerous for the quantity of land, the tenant in possession for the time shall be at liberty to dispose of so many as he or she shall think proper for his or her own use & advantage, provided there never be less than ten slaves left upon each tract or parcel of land and three fifths of the ten to be female slaves.
Item. I give and bequeath all my other lands that I can or may lawfully or justly claim or demand, particularly three hundred & thirteen acres that is now in the possession of my kinsman, John West, Jr., which his father recovered from me by a judgment of the general court of this colony & for which I have brought to several objections in order to appeal to England if the judgment here was against me but never could have the said land valued high enough to bear an appeal according to the royal instructions, therefore whenever my two sons-in-law, John Ashton & Richard Conway or there heirs shall think proper to try the title again, my will is that upon a recovery the said land be equally divided between them, their heirs or assignees.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Roger West all my stock of horses, mares, & colts, but nevertheless if my executors should think it will be of advantage to the estate to dispose of my two chair horses (as they are likely young and I believe good) and purchase cheaper horses for the plow and plantation use, they are in that case to use their discretion. I also give unto my son Roger all my carts, plows, axes, hoes, and all my other plantation utensils necessary for the making of a crop of Indian corn, wheat, and tobacco, also two iron pots & hooks, two frying pans, two feather beds & furniture equal in quality to those hereafter disposed of, also four work oxen and one fourth part of the residue of all my stock of cattle, sheep, hogs, & geese to be kept upon the several plantations for the use and benefit of my said son as well as for the support of the several slaves above given & bequeathed to him. I also give unto my said son Roger my three fishing seines, my Moses built boat and skew, and I earnestly recommend to my executors to keep up in good repair two seines & one boat or skew to carry on the fishing business as I well know it will be of great advantage to my son Roger's estate if it be rightly conducted. I also give unto my said son Roger a small gun that is generally called his gun, also my common using gun that has my name upon the barrel, if he should show any desire for having her, also one gold ring that was left to him by his sister, Elizabeth West
Item. My will and desire further is that the remaining three fourths of my stock of cattle, hogs, sheep & geese, all my household & kitchen furniture together with all my other effects of every kind whatsoever not heretofore given, be sold for the best price that can be got for it either in ready money or upon credit at the discretion of my executors and the money arising by such sale together with any sum or sums of money that I may be possessed of at the time of my death as well as any credits that I may happen to have by bond, account, or otherwise, be given and bequeathed in equal proportions after my just debts be paid and clothing & provisions for the several slaves, & stock hereby and before given unto my son Roger West for one year is allowed, between my two sons-in-law, John Ashton and Richard Conway, and my daughter Ann West, and my will and desire is that my daughter Ann's proportion of the sales be put out and well secured at interest, and that she is not allowed to make use of the principal until she marries and if it shall please God that she depart this life before she marries, then the said proportion so belonging to her be equally divided between my sons-in-law, John Ashton and Richard Conway.
Item. I give unto my wife, Margaret West, the care, management & tuition of my daughter, Ann West during her infancy or until the day of her marriage which may first happen, if it shall happen that my wife dies before the marriage of or during the infancy of my daughter Ann, then I will & desire that my daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway take the care of my said daughter, Ann during the time aforesaid. My will and desire is that some industrious person be employed to take the care & management of the plantation, slaves, & stock that is hereby given to my son Roger West and if either of my sons-in-law Daniel Talbut, John Ashton, or Richard Conway will undertake to manage and to superintend the same during the minority of my son Roger, or so long as it shall be thought to be to his advantage that either of them be employed for that purpose in preference to any other person.
Item. I give and devise the whole and sole guardianship, management, care and tuition of my son, Roger West, and his estate during his infancy in the following manner, that is to say first & principally unto my good friend, George Washington, Esquire, and if he cannot or will not undertake it, then secondly to my son in law, Richard Conway and if he cannot or will not undertake it, then thirdly to my son in law, John Ashton, and I earnestly entreat my said good friend George Washington, Esq., & either of my said sons-in-law that shall undertake the charge to have my son well & genteelly educated as far as the profits of his estate will afford, having regard to making some provision toward furnishing necessary when he come to his estate and I further entreat & desire the person that undertakes the guardianship of my said son, that if he shows any inclination to study divinity, Physics, or law that he will give him an opportunity first divinity, secondly Physics and thirdly law.
Lastly, I do constitute and appoint my good friend, George Washington, Esquire, my three sons in law, Daniel Talbut, John Ashton & Richard Conway, executors to this my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-seventh day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said John West as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names as witnesses in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other,
(Signed) John West
Witnesses: Daniel McCarty, Peter Wagener, Lund Washington, John Muir
At a court held for the county of Fairfax 18th August 1777 this will was proved by the oaths of Daniel McCarty, Peter Wagener and Lund Washington, three of the witnesses, ordered to be recorded.
Source: Fairfax County Will Book D, pages 25 - 33
Col. John West was the son of Maj. John West and his second wife, Elizabeth Semmes Turley West Broadwater.
He was the grandson of Col. John West II and Cockacoeske, Queen of the Pamunkey tribe; great-grandson of Governor John West of Virginia and Anne Claiborne Percy West; great-great-grandson of William West, second Lord De la Warr, and Lady Anne Knollys whose mother Lady Katherine Carey Knollys was the daughter of King Henry VIII's mistress Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen Anne Boleyn.
Col. John West (1710-77) had an older half-brother also named John West (c1770/80- Findagrave 154106332) who was the son of Maj. John West and his first wife, Susan(nah) Pearson.
Col John West was a Truro Parish vestryman and served as Burgess and then a member of the Virginia Assembly. He retired in 1776 from the Assembly due to ill health.
He is thought to be buried at Truro Parish church Pohick, if not at Bush Hill plantation.
http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=3796&p=surnames.west
"He...died...at his home called Bush Hill near Franconia, Virginia, which he built in 1762."
Lost Plantations of the South by Marc R. Matrana, p. 22, recounts his ownership of Bush Hill Plantation, which had been part of 4,600 acres granted by Lord Fairfax to Maj. John West, William and Thomas Harrison, and Thomas Pearson, which Maj. West left his son Col. John West (1710-77) who left it to his son Roger West who sold to Charles Lee in 1787, from whom it eventually passed to Josiah Watson. Most references describe the plantation house as the Watson home.
Col. John West is said to have first married Mary Harris and had children: (source: Lisa Marie)
"Ann, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Ann was born in Prince William County, Virginia, the others in Fairfax County, Virginia. Ann married Daniel Talbott. Hannah married John Ashton. Hannah died on Tuesday 15 May 1827 in Alexandria. Elizabeth was unmarried with no children. And Mary married Richard Conway."
Col. John West and his second wife, Margaret Pearson Terrett, were Roger and Ann "Nancy". Roger married first Nancy McRae and second Marianne Craik. Nancy married Robert Powell.
Will of John West
In the name of God amen I, John West, of the parish of Fairfax in the county of Fairfax and colony of Virginia, being of a sound and disposing mind and memory, but knowing the uncertainty of this life and finding my bodily health declining fast, do make, ordain, and declare the following writing to be my last will and testament.
First, I give my soul to Almighty God who gave it me in full hopes and perfect confidence through the merits of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to receive a full pardon and forgiveness for all my sins and offenses, my body to be interred at the discretion of my executors hereafter named by or near the body of my first wife if I should die at or may with convenicy be brought to the Place.
Whereas I have formerly given to my son in law, Daniel Talbut, who married my first daughter, Ann, about three hundred & seventy-six acres by courses & bounds as laid off where he now lives during his natural life the remainder to my grandson, John Talbut, and in case of John's death without issue of his body to my granddaughter, Monica Talbut and in case her death without issue of her body then to my granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut and in case of her death without issue of her body, then to me or my right heirs which land with the stock and furniture that I gave to the said Daniel at the time of his marriage with my said daughter Ann I esteem to be of more value than that part of my estate which I intend to give to either of my daughters that are now living & whereas my grandson, John Talbut, died without issue of his body and the land will descend unto my granddaughter, Monica Talbut, after the death of her father, & my granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut, in all likelihood will never receive any benefit from said land therefore I give and bequeath unto my said granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut sixty pounds current money of Virginia to be laid out in the purchase of a young and likely female negro slave as the said sum will purchase at the discretion of her father Daniel Talbut. Whereas I have already given unto my son in law, John Ashton, and Hannah, his wife, one young negro woman named Moll and two hundred and fifty pounds current money, which is such apart of my estate as I intend for my daughter Hannah's fortune, except what may be given hereafter, and whereas I have already given to my son in law, Richard Conway & Mary, his wife, one young negro woman named Penny and two hundred and fifty pounds current money which is such apart of my estate as I intend for my daughter Mary's fortune, except what may be given hereafter.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Ann West, one young Negro woman named Nell to be immediately delivered to her after my death. I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann two hundred and fifty pounds being the sum due me from Mr. Alexander Henderson upon his penal bill to be paid unto her upon her day of marriage provided she marries with the consent & approbation of her mother and at least two of my executors. I also give unto my daughter, Ann, twelve pounds ten shillings per annum to be paid yearly upon the 21st day of June which may happen after my death being the annual interest of the said penal bill toward her support & maintenance until her marriage, but if it should please God that my daughter Ann West shall depart this life before she marries, then my will is that the aforesaid Negro woman Nell & her increase (if any) and the two hundred & fifty pounds current money & the interest upon that (if any due) be equally divided between my two daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway or their heirs.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my son, Roger West, my dwelling plantation containing two hundred and five acres of land also two hundred & ninety-five acres part sunken and part high land which is separate from my dwelling plantation by one corner of five hundred acres of land that is now in the possession of Mr. David Boyd (late Captain Woodbridges' land) to him my said son Roger & the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten forever. I also give unto my said son Roger West the eleven following slaves namely Glasgon, Will, Toney, Daniel, Stephen (the son of Jane), Bess, Siss, Sarah (the daughter of Siss), Barbary, Henny, and Sarah (the daughter of Margaret) which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such male heirs lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation with the two several tracks of land, the eleven slaves and their increase unto my daughter Mary Conway, her and her heirs and assignees forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Roger West, my old quarter and the land whereon Benjamin Boylston is now overseer containing four hundred & fifty acres or thereabouts to him my said son Roger West & the heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten forever. I also give and bequeath unto my said son Roger the ten following slaves namely Dick, Sanders, Charles, old Jane, French, Nan, young Jane, Seth, Suckey, and Jemima which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such heirs male lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation and land, the ten slaves and their increase unto my daughter Hannah Ashton, her and her heirs and assignees forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Roger West, my new quarter of four hundred & fifty-eight acres of land lying upon the main road & where Conner Maquire now teaches school, to him my said son Roger West and the heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten forever, I also give and bequeath unto my said son Roger the ten following slaves namely Cook, Nat, Peter, Tom, Guinea Nan, Margaret, Chloe, Frank, Hester, & Betty which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such heirs male lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation and land, the ten slaves and their increase unto my daughter Ann West and the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten forever, but if the aforesaid land and plantation along with the several slaves & their increase should happen to descend to my daughter, Ann West, by death of her brother, Roger or his heirs as aforesaid, and it should please God that she depart this life leaving no issue of her body as aforesaid or at any time thereafter that her issue should fail, then my will is that the said plantation & land together with the ten slaves & their increase be equally divided between my two daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway and their heirs. But nevertheless, if the slaves annexed to the several tracts of lands should grow too numerous for the quantity of land, the tenant in possession for the time shall be at liberty to dispose of so many as he or she shall think proper for his or her own use & advantage, provided there never be less than ten slaves left upon each tract or parcel of land and three fifths of the ten to be female slaves.
Item. I give and bequeath all my other lands that I can or may lawfully or justly claim or demand, particularly three hundred & thirteen acres that is now in the possession of my kinsman, John West, Jr., which his father recovered from me by a judgment of the general court of this colony & for which I have brought to several objections in order to appeal to England if the judgment here was against me but never could have the said land valued high enough to bear an appeal according to the royal instructions, therefore whenever my two sons-in-law, John Ashton & Richard Conway or there heirs shall think proper to try the title again, my will is that upon a recovery the said land be equally divided between them, their heirs or assignees.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Roger West all my stock of horses, mares, & colts, but nevertheless if my executors should think it will be of advantage to the estate to dispose of my two chair horses (as they are likely young and I believe good) and purchase cheaper horses for the plow and plantation use, they are in that case to use their discretion. I also give unto my son Roger all my carts, plows, axes, hoes, and all my other plantation utensils necessary for the making of a crop of Indian corn, wheat, and tobacco, also two iron pots & hooks, two frying pans, two feather beds & furniture equal in quality to those hereafter disposed of, also four work oxen and one fourth part of the residue of all my stock of cattle, sheep, hogs, & geese to be kept upon the several plantations for the use and benefit of my said son as well as for the support of the several slaves above given & bequeathed to him. I also give unto my said son Roger my three fishing seines, my Moses built boat and skew, and I earnestly recommend to my executors to keep up in good repair two seines & one boat or skew to carry on the fishing business as I well know it will be of great advantage to my son Roger's estate if it be rightly conducted. I also give unto my said son Roger a small gun that is generally called his gun, also my common using gun that has my name upon the barrel, if he should show any desire for having her, also one gold ring that was left to him by his sister, Elizabeth West
Item. My will and desire further is that the remaining three fourths of my stock of cattle, hogs, sheep & geese, all my household & kitchen furniture together with all my other effects of every kind whatsoever not heretofore given, be sold for the best price that can be got for it either in ready money or upon credit at the discretion of my executors and the money arising by such sale together with any sum or sums of money that I may be possessed of at the time of my death as well as any credits that I may happen to have by bond, account, or otherwise, be given and bequeathed in equal proportions after my just debts be paid and clothing & provisions for the several slaves, & stock hereby and before given unto my son Roger West for one year is allowed, between my two sons-in-law, John Ashton and Richard Conway, and my daughter Ann West, and my will and desire is that my daughter Ann's proportion of the sales be put out and well secured at interest, and that she is not allowed to make use of the principal until she marries and if it shall please God that she depart this life before she marries, then the said proportion so belonging to her be equally divided between my sons-in-law, John Ashton and Richard Conway.
Item. I give unto my wife, Margaret West, the care, management & tuition of my daughter, Ann West during her infancy or until the day of her marriage which may first happen, if it shall happen that my wife dies before the marriage of or during the infancy of my daughter Ann, then I will & desire that my daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway take the care of my said daughter, Ann during the time aforesaid. My will and desire is that some industrious person be employed to take the care & management of the plantation, slaves, & stock that is hereby given to my son Roger West and if either of my sons-in-law Daniel Talbut, John Ashton, or Richard Conway will undertake to manage and to superintend the same during the minority of my son Roger, or so long as it shall be thought to be to his advantage that either of them be employed for that purpose in preference to any other person.
Item. I give and devise the whole and sole guardianship, management, care and tuition of my son, Roger West, and his estate during his infancy in the following manner, that is to say first & principally unto my good friend, George Washington, Esquire, and if he cannot or will not undertake it, then secondly to my son in law, Richard Conway and if he cannot or will not undertake it, then thirdly to my son in law, John Ashton, and I earnestly entreat my said good friend George Washington, Esq., & either of my said sons-in-law that shall undertake the charge to have my son well & genteelly educated as far as the profits of his estate will afford, having regard to making some provision toward furnishing necessary when he come to his estate and I further entreat & desire the person that undertakes the guardianship of my said son, that if he shows any inclination to study divinity, Physics, or law that he will give him an opportunity first divinity, secondly Physics and thirdly law.
Lastly, I do constitute and appoint my good friend, George Washington, Esquire, my three sons in law, Daniel Talbut, John Ashton & Richard Conway, executors to this my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-seventh day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said John West as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names as witnesses in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other,
(Signed) John West
Witnesses: Daniel McCarty, Peter Wagener, Lund Washington, John Muir
At a court held for the county of Fairfax 18th August 1777 this will was proved by the oaths of Daniel McCarty, Peter Wagener and Lund Washington, three of the witnesses, ordered to be recorded.
Source: Fairfax County Will Book D, pages 25 - 33
He was the grandson of Col. John West II and Cockacoeske, Queen of the Pamunkey tribe; great-grandson of Governor John West of Virginia and Anne Claiborne Percy West; great-great-grandson of William West, second Lord De la Warr, and Lady Anne Knollys whose mother Lady Katherine Carey Knollys was the daughter of King Henry VIII's mistress Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen Anne Boleyn.
Col. John West (1710-77) had an older half-brother also named John West (c1770/80- Findagrave 154106332) who was the son of Maj. John West and his first wife, Susan(nah) Pearson.
Col John West was a Truro Parish vestryman and served as Burgess and then a member of the Virginia Assembly. He retired in 1776 from the Assembly due to ill health.
He is thought to be buried at Truro Parish church Pohick, if not at Bush Hill plantation.
http://boards.ancestry.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=3796&p=surnames.west
"He...died...at his home called Bush Hill near Franconia, Virginia, which he built in 1762."
Lost Plantations of the South by Marc R. Matrana, p. 22, recounts his ownership of Bush Hill Plantation, which had been part of 4,600 acres granted by Lord Fairfax to Maj. John West, William and Thomas Harrison, and Thomas Pearson, which Maj. West left his son Col. John West (1710-77) who left it to his son Roger West who sold to Charles Lee in 1787, from whom it eventually passed to Josiah Watson. Most references describe the plantation house as the Watson home.
Col. John West is said to have first married Mary Harris and had children: (source: Lisa Marie)
"Ann, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Ann was born in Prince William County, Virginia, the others in Fairfax County, Virginia. Ann married Daniel Talbott. Hannah married John Ashton. Hannah died on Tuesday 15 May 1827 in Alexandria. Elizabeth was unmarried with no children. And Mary married Richard Conway."
Col. John West and his second wife, Margaret Pearson Terrett, were Roger and Ann "Nancy". Roger married first Nancy McRae and second Marianne Craik. Nancy married Robert Powell.
Will of John West
In the name of God amen I, John West, of the parish of Fairfax in the county of Fairfax and colony of Virginia, being of a sound and disposing mind and memory, but knowing the uncertainty of this life and finding my bodily health declining fast, do make, ordain, and declare the following writing to be my last will and testament.
First, I give my soul to Almighty God who gave it me in full hopes and perfect confidence through the merits of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to receive a full pardon and forgiveness for all my sins and offenses, my body to be interred at the discretion of my executors hereafter named by or near the body of my first wife if I should die at or may with convenicy be brought to the Place.
Whereas I have formerly given to my son in law, Daniel Talbut, who married my first daughter, Ann, about three hundred & seventy-six acres by courses & bounds as laid off where he now lives during his natural life the remainder to my grandson, John Talbut, and in case of John's death without issue of his body to my granddaughter, Monica Talbut and in case her death without issue of her body then to my granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut and in case of her death without issue of her body, then to me or my right heirs which land with the stock and furniture that I gave to the said Daniel at the time of his marriage with my said daughter Ann I esteem to be of more value than that part of my estate which I intend to give to either of my daughters that are now living & whereas my grandson, John Talbut, died without issue of his body and the land will descend unto my granddaughter, Monica Talbut, after the death of her father, & my granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut, in all likelihood will never receive any benefit from said land therefore I give and bequeath unto my said granddaughter, Elizabeth Talbut sixty pounds current money of Virginia to be laid out in the purchase of a young and likely female negro slave as the said sum will purchase at the discretion of her father Daniel Talbut. Whereas I have already given unto my son in law, John Ashton, and Hannah, his wife, one young negro woman named Moll and two hundred and fifty pounds current money, which is such apart of my estate as I intend for my daughter Hannah's fortune, except what may be given hereafter, and whereas I have already given to my son in law, Richard Conway & Mary, his wife, one young negro woman named Penny and two hundred and fifty pounds current money which is such apart of my estate as I intend for my daughter Mary's fortune, except what may be given hereafter.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Ann West, one young Negro woman named Nell to be immediately delivered to her after my death. I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Ann two hundred and fifty pounds being the sum due me from Mr. Alexander Henderson upon his penal bill to be paid unto her upon her day of marriage provided she marries with the consent & approbation of her mother and at least two of my executors. I also give unto my daughter, Ann, twelve pounds ten shillings per annum to be paid yearly upon the 21st day of June which may happen after my death being the annual interest of the said penal bill toward her support & maintenance until her marriage, but if it should please God that my daughter Ann West shall depart this life before she marries, then my will is that the aforesaid Negro woman Nell & her increase (if any) and the two hundred & fifty pounds current money & the interest upon that (if any due) be equally divided between my two daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway or their heirs.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my son, Roger West, my dwelling plantation containing two hundred and five acres of land also two hundred & ninety-five acres part sunken and part high land which is separate from my dwelling plantation by one corner of five hundred acres of land that is now in the possession of Mr. David Boyd (late Captain Woodbridges' land) to him my said son Roger & the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten forever. I also give unto my said son Roger West the eleven following slaves namely Glasgon, Will, Toney, Daniel, Stephen (the son of Jane), Bess, Siss, Sarah (the daughter of Siss), Barbary, Henny, and Sarah (the daughter of Margaret) which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such male heirs lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation with the two several tracks of land, the eleven slaves and their increase unto my daughter Mary Conway, her and her heirs and assignees forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Roger West, my old quarter and the land whereon Benjamin Boylston is now overseer containing four hundred & fifty acres or thereabouts to him my said son Roger West & the heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten forever. I also give and bequeath unto my said son Roger the ten following slaves namely Dick, Sanders, Charles, old Jane, French, Nan, young Jane, Seth, Suckey, and Jemima which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such heirs male lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation and land, the ten slaves and their increase unto my daughter Hannah Ashton, her and her heirs and assignees forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said son, Roger West, my new quarter of four hundred & fifty-eight acres of land lying upon the main road & where Conner Maquire now teaches school, to him my said son Roger West and the heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten forever, I also give and bequeath unto my said son Roger the ten following slaves namely Cook, Nat, Peter, Tom, Guinea Nan, Margaret, Chloe, Frank, Hester, & Betty which said slaves & their increase so long as any of them shall be living shall descend, pass & go with the said lands as part of the free hold to such person or persons to whom the lands and tenements are devised and to whom the same shall from time to time descend and come, but in default of such heirs male lawfully to be begotten by my son Roger West as aforesaid, then I give & bequeath the said plantation and land, the ten slaves and their increase unto my daughter Ann West and the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten forever, but if the aforesaid land and plantation along with the several slaves & their increase should happen to descend to my daughter, Ann West, by death of her brother, Roger or his heirs as aforesaid, and it should please God that she depart this life leaving no issue of her body as aforesaid or at any time thereafter that her issue should fail, then my will is that the said plantation & land together with the ten slaves & their increase be equally divided between my two daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway and their heirs. But nevertheless, if the slaves annexed to the several tracts of lands should grow too numerous for the quantity of land, the tenant in possession for the time shall be at liberty to dispose of so many as he or she shall think proper for his or her own use & advantage, provided there never be less than ten slaves left upon each tract or parcel of land and three fifths of the ten to be female slaves.
Item. I give and bequeath all my other lands that I can or may lawfully or justly claim or demand, particularly three hundred & thirteen acres that is now in the possession of my kinsman, John West, Jr., which his father recovered from me by a judgment of the general court of this colony & for which I have brought to several objections in order to appeal to England if the judgment here was against me but never could have the said land valued high enough to bear an appeal according to the royal instructions, therefore whenever my two sons-in-law, John Ashton & Richard Conway or there heirs shall think proper to try the title again, my will is that upon a recovery the said land be equally divided between them, their heirs or assignees.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Roger West all my stock of horses, mares, & colts, but nevertheless if my executors should think it will be of advantage to the estate to dispose of my two chair horses (as they are likely young and I believe good) and purchase cheaper horses for the plow and plantation use, they are in that case to use their discretion. I also give unto my son Roger all my carts, plows, axes, hoes, and all my other plantation utensils necessary for the making of a crop of Indian corn, wheat, and tobacco, also two iron pots & hooks, two frying pans, two feather beds & furniture equal in quality to those hereafter disposed of, also four work oxen and one fourth part of the residue of all my stock of cattle, sheep, hogs, & geese to be kept upon the several plantations for the use and benefit of my said son as well as for the support of the several slaves above given & bequeathed to him. I also give unto my said son Roger my three fishing seines, my Moses built boat and skew, and I earnestly recommend to my executors to keep up in good repair two seines & one boat or skew to carry on the fishing business as I well know it will be of great advantage to my son Roger's estate if it be rightly conducted. I also give unto my said son Roger a small gun that is generally called his gun, also my common using gun that has my name upon the barrel, if he should show any desire for having her, also one gold ring that was left to him by his sister, Elizabeth West
Item. My will and desire further is that the remaining three fourths of my stock of cattle, hogs, sheep & geese, all my household & kitchen furniture together with all my other effects of every kind whatsoever not heretofore given, be sold for the best price that can be got for it either in ready money or upon credit at the discretion of my executors and the money arising by such sale together with any sum or sums of money that I may be possessed of at the time of my death as well as any credits that I may happen to have by bond, account, or otherwise, be given and bequeathed in equal proportions after my just debts be paid and clothing & provisions for the several slaves, & stock hereby and before given unto my son Roger West for one year is allowed, between my two sons-in-law, John Ashton and Richard Conway, and my daughter Ann West, and my will and desire is that my daughter Ann's proportion of the sales be put out and well secured at interest, and that she is not allowed to make use of the principal until she marries and if it shall please God that she depart this life before she marries, then the said proportion so belonging to her be equally divided between my sons-in-law, John Ashton and Richard Conway.
Item. I give unto my wife, Margaret West, the care, management & tuition of my daughter, Ann West during her infancy or until the day of her marriage which may first happen, if it shall happen that my wife dies before the marriage of or during the infancy of my daughter Ann, then I will & desire that my daughters Hannah Ashton & Mary Conway take the care of my said daughter, Ann during the time aforesaid. My will and desire is that some industrious person be employed to take the care & management of the plantation, slaves, & stock that is hereby given to my son Roger West and if either of my sons-in-law Daniel Talbut, John Ashton, or Richard Conway will undertake to manage and to superintend the same during the minority of my son Roger, or so long as it shall be thought to be to his advantage that either of them be employed for that purpose in preference to any other person.
Item. I give and devise the whole and sole guardianship, management, care and tuition of my son, Roger West, and his estate during his infancy in the following manner, that is to say first & principally unto my good friend, George Washington, Esquire, and if he cannot or will not undertake it, then secondly to my son in law, Richard Conway and if he cannot or will not undertake it, then thirdly to my son in law, John Ashton, and I earnestly entreat my said good friend George Washington, Esq., & either of my said sons-in-law that shall undertake the charge to have my son well & genteelly educated as far as the profits of his estate will afford, having regard to making some provision toward furnishing necessary when he come to his estate and I further entreat & desire the person that undertakes the guardianship of my said son, that if he shows any inclination to study divinity, Physics, or law that he will give him an opportunity first divinity, secondly Physics and thirdly law.
Lastly, I do constitute and appoint my good friend, George Washington, Esquire, my three sons in law, Daniel Talbut, John Ashton & Richard Conway, executors to this my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty-seventh day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said John West as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names as witnesses in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other,
(Signed) John West
Witnesses: Daniel McCarty, Peter Wagener, Lund Washington, John Muir
At a court held for the county of Fairfax 18th August 1777 this will was proved by the oaths of Daniel McCarty, Peter Wagener and Lund Washington, three of the witnesses, ordered to be recorded.
Source: Fairfax County Will Book D, pages 25 - 33
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