1535944

[grigg.FTW]

William Grigg III first appears in the records of Bristo Parish, Prince George County, Virginia, in Robert Bolling's (son of the Robert Bolling from whom William Grigg I bought "The Graces" in 1677) Surveyer's Platt Book December 2, 1718, when William buys 494 acres on White Oake Swamp. On December 27, 1718, William buys 88 acres on the corner of the first survey south of White Oake Swamp. This made a 586 acre plantation for William Grigg, Jr., as he signed his name.

Mr. Bolling appended a note to the survey that only one-third of the land was fit for cultivation. William III probably took this into account when he later made his will, designating each of his heirs a different number of acres so that each would have the same amount of tillable land.

It has been said that William's wife was a daughter of Edward Mitchell, whose land joined William's. This cannot be certified. It is not know where William III and Elizabeth lived before they bought White Oake Swamp. The chronology indicates that their eldest son, Abner, was born circa 1712. They may have lived at "The Graces" with his parents until they were able to get their own plantation. White Oak Swamp turned out to be a very unhealthy place, for both William III and Elizabeth developed ill health, undoubtedly tuberculosis, as they were both dead by Sepember 1726, leaving five young children orphaned. Elizabeth died first, before Aptil 26, 1726, as she is not mentioned in William III's will.

The will of William Grigg III shows much thought for his children and parents. It shows his mother still loved riding horses, for he left her his rigin horse "Forrester."

William Grigg III's will was probated September 13, 1726: To son Abner Grigg, my plantation bound by Great Branch, Round Swamp, and Edward Mitchell's line, 100 acres. To son Jess, remaining part oup the swamp above his brother Abner, 70 acres. To fahter, William Grigg, and mother, Susanna Grigg, land between my brother James Grigg and Thomas Hackney's line, for their lifetime; after their death, to my beloved son Lewis, 80 acres. To son Burwell, land on both sides of the creek beginning at the mouth of the Great Branch, next to William Westbrook and Edward Mitchell, 100 acres. To Thomas Hackney(was he William's sister's husband?), land on the north side of the Creek, 100 acres. To brother, James, 100 acres between Rocky Branch and Great Branch. To daughter, Susannah Grigg, various feather beds, dishes, furniture, chest, trunk, and pewter. To Mother, Susannah Grigg, my horse called "Forresster." To "my well beloved brother James Grigg the remainder of my estate which is not yet disposed of, he seeing that my just debts are paid therewith when valued, and himself for the trouble for same, the reaminder then which is clear shall be equally divided between my children, which are already mentioned in this will, there being five of them. I likewise constitute, maka and ordain my said Brother James Grigg my only and sole Executor of this my last will and testament. In whitness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year above written(April 22, 1726). Signed William Grigg, Jr., Recorded September 13, 1726 by his brother James Grigg, sole executor. (William III and James had been to school at the White Oak Academy.

The inventory of William Grigg III(Jr.), September 12, 1737: wearing apparel, two guns, two feather beds, two horse trooper arms, carpenter tools, Old Negro Woman, his pewter and old iron potts, lumber, his stock of cattle, his stock of hops, one feather bed, bolster and rugg, one pair sheets and bedstead, one chair, five iron potts, dishes, one trunk, one chest; total value 69 pounds, two shillings, one pence.

James Grigg I had a big responsibility in the administration of his brother's estate. He and his wife, Frances, helped in the care of the orphans. His plantation joined William's on White Oak Swamp, plus the 100 acres William III had deeded to him. By 1738 the children were pretty well grown up. Susannah was then eighteen years of age. James I and his nephew, Abner Grigg(now married, with children) went to Amelia County and filed on land there. James Grigg I filed on 275 acres on Seller Creek 20 June 1738, and Abner Grigg filed on 400 acres on Deep Creek the same day. Whe James I and family went to Amelia County to live in 1739, Susannah went with them. She soon married her neighbor, William Featherstone, Jr., whose parents had lived on SEller Creek since 1720