Bathsheba Ferguson

http://lindahiser.com/ferguson.html

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Griffith-8159

Wife of John Ferguson.

Mother of William Ferguson b 1758; Rebecca Ferguson Wilson 1759-1823; Ann Skinner Ferguson Wilson 1760-1819; Susanna Ferguson b 1762 wife of Farquhar McRae; Verlinda "Lydia" Ferguson Beall 1766-1794; Margaret "Peggy" Ferguson 1779-1799 and John Ferguson 1781-1829.

The Fergusons were close neighbors of David Robe. After her husband John died, one of Bathsheba's slaves, named Will, assisted David Robe's slave named Milley in setting fire to David Robe's barn in the summer of 1798. The whole story is told on the profile of Milley Unknown-499148. For his part of Milley's crime, some of Bathsheba's neighbors tried to lynch the slave Will.

Will, the slave, is not named in Bathsheba's will.

Will of Bathsheba Ferguson

"In the name of God, Amen, I, Bathsheba Ferguson, of Monongalia County, being weak and sick in body but thanks being to Almighty God of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament. First : I bequeath my soul to God and my body to be decently buried under the direction of my executors hereinafter named and then all my just debts to be paid, and as to my worldly estate then as follows. Item: I give and bequeath all that part of land which descends to me from my daughter, Margaret Ferguson, deceased, which was willed to her by my deceased husband, John Ferguson, to be equally divided between my two granddaughters, Susanna Maria McRay and Vilinder Lanham. Item: I lend my Negroes Sed, James and Harry, and also my horse, stock of cattle and hogs with all my household and kitchen furniture to be equally divided between my children John Ferguson, Catharine Lanham, Ann Skinner Wilson, Rebecca Wilson, Susanna McRay and Lydia Bell which I lend to the only use of my own children during their natural lives and not to the use of their husband or wife after their decease, but at their decease, the portion which I lend to each of them to be equally divided between their lawful children to them and their heirs forever. I appoint Farquher McRay and William Lanham executors of this my last will and testament. In witness my hand and seal this 18th day of February 1800." Signed by Bathsheba Ferguson in the presence of W. G. Payne, James Weaver and Abraham Weaver. At May 1800 term of court, Bathsheba's will was proved by the three witnesses and entered for probate.[1]

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCQZ-ZQ1

THE FAMILY OF JOHN FERGUSON AND BATHSHEBA GRIFFITH of Prince Georges County, Maryland and Monongalia County, (West) Virginia
John Ferguson was born circa 1730 in Prince Georges County, Maryland. To date I have found no records to indicate the name of his father or his mother's maiden name, however there is a court record of a deed dated June 27, 1774 that a widow, Catherine Ferguson of Prince Georges County, Maryland sold to Catherine Lanham wife of William Lanham and granddaughter of said Catherine Ferguson one negro girl named Lucy who was 2 years old. Catherine Ferguson Lanham was the oldest daughter of John Ferguson, so one can conclude that Catherine Ferguson, widow, is John's mother. There is an additional Maryland record that gives William Lanham as “a well beloved friend” of Catherine Ferguson of Frederick County, Maryland power of attorney to collect debts. Of note in Bernard L. Butcher's book, "Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley," is a story that the Ferguson's are direct descendants of Alexander Ferguson, laird of Craigdarrock, Scotland and Annie Laurie of the Maxwellton House who is celebrated in the Scottish song, "Maxwellton Braes are Bonnie" or more commonly known as "Annie Laurie."
In 1755 John Ferguson married Bathsheba (Basheba, Bersheba) Griffith and began to raise a family in Prince Georges County, Maryland. Bathsheba was born circa 1734 and was also from Prince Georges County. Her parents were Samuel and Anne Skinner Griffith. Both the Griffith and Skinnner families trace back to the mid 1600's in Maryland.
John was a farmer with considerable property and slaves. The Ferguson's raised seven known children that were listed in John’s will. There is a possibility of another son, William. He is not named in John’s will, but there are Monongalia County records of him. He is listed as “living out of state.”
Records of the Revolutionary War indicate that John Ferguson served as a private with the Maryland militia. He would have been around 50 years old at the time of the war. There is no other information regarding John's service in the Maryland militia since John and Bathsheba both died before the 1832 Act of Congress granting Revolutionary War veterans pensions. He does have a record for 1776 in the Maryland census, so he did not begin his service until 1777.
In 1777 the three oldest daughters married and by 1783 only Margaret and John were living at home with John and Bathsheba.
The Ferguson's decided to move west in the mid 1780's and by 1786, "John Forgoson" had purchased 400 acres on Decker's Creek in Monongalia County, Virginia. This area is located in present day Morgantown, West Virginia. In addition to the this piece of property, John also owned 200 acres “east of his land”, 440 acres on Three Fork Creek, 100 acres south of Decker’s Creek extending from Decker’s Creek to Aarons Creek, and a tavern on Lot 11 in Morgans Town owned jointly with his son in law, Farquier McRa.
Four of John and Bathsheba's married daughters and their families also relocated in Morgantown. These were the families of William and Catherine Ferguson Lanham, William and Rebecca Ferguson Wilson, Joseph and Ann Skinner Ferguson Wilson and Farquier and Susannah Ferguson McRa. Only one daughter, Vialindo Ferguson Beall (Bell) stayed in Maryland.
The Ferguson's farm was considered a plantation and according to the 1787 tax return for Monongalia County, John had 6 black slaves working for him. He also owned 5 horses and 7 cows.
There are no other records of the Ferguson family until John's death in 1796. In a will dated December 4, 1793, John left all his worldly goods to his wife and children. This included a plantation on Decker's Creek and three slaves. It is presumed that he his buried in Morgantown. The exact location of his grave is unknown and with time the stone has probably been destroyed.
Bathsheba continued to live on the plantation with her daughter Peggy and son John. In 1798 a male slave belonging to Bathsheba was involved in a court case which lead to the first hanging in Monongalia County. A slave girl was found guilty of burning her master's barn along with a male slave named Will, who was owned by Bathsheba Ferguson. The girl was hanged and Will, who was accused as an accessory to the crime, was burnt on the hand and received thirty lashes.
Bathsheba died at about the age of 66 during 1799 or early 1800. Monongalia County court records show many entries concerning the will and dissolution of the Ferguson estate. It should be noted that Bathsheba signed her own name to her will in 1799 which was certainly not common for women in the late 1700's. William Lanham and Farquier McRa, two of Bathsheba's son-in-law's, were the executors. The first court document was recorded in 1802 and claims continued to be filed for and against the estate until after 1807.
Children of John Ferguson and Bathsheba Griffith:
CATHERINE FERGUSON born in 1756 in Maryland died after 1830 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married WILLIAM LANHAM.

Rebecca Ferguson born in 1759 in Maryland died 1823 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married William Wilson.

Anne Skinner Ferguson born in 1760 in Maryland died in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married Joseph Wilson.

Susannah Fergsuon born on December 19, 1762 in Maryland married Farquier McRa.

Vialindo (Lydia) Fergsuon born on August 10, 1766 in Maryland married Zepaniah Beall. Vialindo is listed as a widow in Montgomery County, Maryland in 1806 and she and her nephew, Alexander Ferguson Lanham disposed of sixty acres of land on Deckers Creek in Monongalia County which was a portion of Margaret Ferguson’s inheritence from her father.

Margaret (Peggy) Ferguson born in 1779 in Prince Georges County, Maryland died before 1799 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia.
John Ferguson born in 1781 in Prince Georges County and married Elizabeth Unknown before 1897. By his father’s will, John received the upper portion of the Deckers Creek property where he was already living. He also purchased lot #105 in Morgans Town and in 1797, 400 acres on Indian Creek. Before 1804 he and Elizabeth moved to Ohio County, Maryland where he died in 1829.

William Ferguson
Updated November, 2009 (copied from the internet)

Ferguson Dress Tartan

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DETAILS

https://colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I45170&tr...

Prince George's County, St. John's and Prince George Parishes Maryland State Census 1776, pg 70
John Fergusson, 51: 8
Bersheba Fergusson, 37: 20: 16: 14: 11

Samuel Griffith of Calvert Co.; written 2 Oct 1741; probate 2 Nov 1741

• To son Samuel and hrs., land in Baltimore County
• To son Lewis, land where he now dwells and 1/2 land where son John now dwells
• To son John, residue of land where he dwells
• To son Benjamin, land belonging to his grandfather Clarke Skinner
• To Richard Steele, land lying between land of Mary Grace and Jonah Winfield to be used as a school
• To daus. Ann, Rebecca and Bathshebey, dwel. plan.
• Remainder to be equally divided between all my children
• Exs: Sons Lewis and John
• Test: Henry Austin, Nathan Smith and Elizabeth Brown

MCW 148.22.398)

Samuel Griffith 27.154 A CA £542.5.8 Nov 11 1749
Payments to (in equal amounts, their portions): Samuel Griffith, Lucy Griffith, Martha Griffith, Elisabeth wife of Samuel White, Rachel wife of John Stevens, Rebecca wife of Nothey Thomas, Benjamin Griffith, Sarah wife of Lewis Jones, Anne wife of Benjamin Duvall, Lewis Griffith (accountant), John Griffith (accountant), Barthsheba Griffith paid to her guardian John Griffith.
Executors: Lewis Griffith (Quaker), John Griffith.

GRIFFITH, BENJAMIN, Calvert Co, 10 Jan, 1750/51; 13 Nov, 1751

• To sister Bathsheba Griffith, lands that I own, during her life, and at her decease, to her male hr. , lawfully begotten, and for pt. of Such hr. to fall to my sister Ann Duvall, son Lewis Duvall and hrs.
• To cousin Lewis Duvall, clothing.
• To bro. John Griffith's 2 daus., Sarah and Elizabeth Griffith, balance of estate.
• Bro. John Griffith, ex.
• Wit: Jos. Smith, Jr., Richard Crosly, Lewis Griffith. 28. 227

Prince George's County, Maryland Land Records 1780-1784; Liber FF 1 {Abstract by Mike Marshall}; Page 353. At the request of William Berry the following Deed was enrolled August 27, 1783
Indenture made June 28, 1783; John Ferguson in consideration of 383 pounds current money of the state paid by William Berry has sold all that tract called "Ferguson's Gain" containing 280 acres by patent granted October 24, 1765; also all that tract called "Hamilton's Venture" included within the lines of two deeds, one a deed of conveyance made by Ninian Hamilton unto Duncan Ferguson (father of the said John Ferguson) bearing date June 9, 1747 and recorded in Liber EE, folio 231 and 233; and the other deed of conveyance made by Thomas Hamilton unto John Ferguson bearing date April 25, 1760 and recorded in Liber RR, folio 56, both parts containing clear of "Atwood's Purchase" 103 acres. Signed John Ferguson in the presence of and acknowledged before Christopher Lowndes, Abraham Boyd and at the same time Barthaba [sic Bathsheba] Ferguson wife of John Ferguson relinquished her right of dower.