Harriet Willson

GEDCOM Note

See MS Word: Gregory Willson, Harriet.pafjms

!BIRTH-MARR-DEATH: Obituary of Harriet Willson, 13 July 1865, Spring Hill
GREGORY ANCESTRY Chart by Martha GREGORY O'Brien
BIRTH: THE GREGORYS OF VA, paper read before Clan Gregor, 1909, p. 17
MARRIAGE-DEATH: Letter of Meg T. Gregory, 19 Nov 1865, Spring Hill, Chester, VA
CHILDREN: THE DESCENDANTS OF CAPT. THOMAS FRIEND 1700-1760, Chesterfield Co.,VA
MARRIAGE: Ancestry World Tree chart from Mary Lee Wilson Bridgforth's sister

Harriet Gregory was born 27 Oct 1792. Her obituary & her daughter Meg's letter indicate Harriet was born in 1790 (she died 1865 "in her 75th year"), but the GREGORY Chart by gt-granddaughter Mattie GREGORY O'Brien states 1792 and the GREGORY Clan paper (p. 17) gives full birthdate. Her parents were Richard Gregory (#216) and his second wife, Elizabeth WILKINSON Gregory. Harriet's father purchased Auburn Chase, the present Bellwood plantation, in 1797. Harriet, then, would have grown up living at that home, now the Officers' Club at the Defense General Supply Center, Richmond, VA. Her father had four children by his first marriage and twelve, including Harriet and Minerva and
Richard Augustus Gregory, by his second marriage, so there were many brothers and sisters filling the house with activity.
On 4 March 1816, when she was about 24, Harriet Gregory married her second cousin, Thomas Branch Willson (see #110), whose family was from Amelia Co., VA. They had ten children, all but one of whom died before Harriet. Two of her daughters married sons of her brother Richard Augustus Gregory (#108):
Elizabeth Anderson Willson (1826-1863) m 1845 Richard A. Gregory, Jr.
Margaret "Meg" Thomas Willson (b 1831) m 1851 George Cox Gregory (b 1824)

Harriet's father, Richard Gregory, wrote a will in May 1844, lending to
daughter, Harriet Gregory Willson, use of the old tavern as her home, to return
at her death to Richard's youngest son, William W. Gregory. Harriet herself
died just after the Civil War, at nearby Spring Hill, the home of her
son-in-law, George Cox Gregory, Sr.

A letter written by her surviving daughter, Margaret Thomas WILLSON Gregory
on 19 Nov 1865, from Spring Hill in Chesterfield Co., VA, tells of Meg and her
Gregory children fleeing from their home to their Drewry cousin's at the present
Bellwood property, where Meg's daughter was born 11 May 1864. Meg writes of
her mother fleeing with them at that time and of their being refugees for the
following year. Then, in the letter to her cousin, Minerva Gregory Richardson,
Meg writes of her mother Harriet's death:
"I have just received the letter you wrote to my mother. Oh, my dear
cousin, it almost broke my heart to think she could not read it, but thank God
she is better off. I trust she is an angel in heaven. My dear mother died on
the 27th of July, she had trouble enough to hasten her death. Dear old lady,
she was in her 75th year. She died very sudden from old age, she was
downstairs the day before she died. Everybody told me she would not live,
but I did not think she would so soon be taken from me. I went into her room
to carry her a cup of toddy. Oh, God, I never shall forget the scene, instead
of my dear mother receiving the glass I expected, she was seated by her bed
speechless, she never spoke after that. I tried every way to get her to speak,
but all my efforts were in vain. She had gotten up to dress, but was too weak,
she sank from exhaustion. She lived through that day and died the next morning
about seven o'clock. I am the only one left of ten children to mourn her
death."
It is likely that Meg was exactly two weeks off, in recalling the date
that her mother died. The first death listed in the Gregory Family Bible
states: Died at Spring Hill Chesterfield Co. July 13th 1865 Mrs. Harriet
Willson in the 75th year of her age"
Also, on the back of the following notice is written July 13, 1865.
A hand-written obituary found in the Gregory Bible owned in 1995 by
John P. Stokes, reads: "Died at the Residence of Mr. George C. Gregory
Spring Hill, Chesterfield Co., July 13, 1865, Mrs. Harriet Willson in the 75
year of her age. The deceased was a member of Branches Church and was a bright
and shining light naturally possed [sic] of a kind and amiable disposition.
Much esteemed & beloved by all who were acquainted with her as a Mother and as a
member of the Church. She faithfully performed all her duties, out of her large
number of Children 10, she has left only one afflicted Daughter amd 9
GrandChildren to mourn and weep on account of their loss. Farewell dearest
Mother Thou art gone to rest May thy Spirit rest in Heaven. North Carolina &
Petersburg papers please coppy." ["Afflicted" evidently meant "sorely
distressed," for Meg proved herself most capable in her accounts of the Civil
War.]
The Branches Church referred to is evidently the Branch's
which was formed in 1814 in Chesterfield Co., according to a list of Baptist
Churches formed before the Civil War (re: CHESTERFIELD CO. EARLY ARCHITECTURE &
HISTORIC SITES, p.345). Branch's was found on an 1864 map (The Official
Military Atlas of the Civil War, p. XCII) Branch's Baptist Church, located in
the same area of the present Branch's at:
3400 Broad Rock Blvd., Rt. 10 near McGuire Hospital. It began as a mission of
the Chesterfield Church. The original name was "The Baptist Church of Christ at
Hephzibah," although records show that it was sometimes referred to as
"Branch's Meeting House" as early as 1838. The name was officially changed to
Branches Baptist Church, 8 July 1876. A list of former Church Treasurers
begins with George Cox and includes: A. M. Chalkey, W. E. Bass, Sydney Bass,
J. M. Gregory, W. C. Wood, and K. W. Hatcher. WMU Presidents include Mrs. T. M.
Cheatham and Mrs. W. R. Nunnally. The Sunday School Supt. list begins with
G. Wilson, and includes J. W. Marshall and B. C. Wood. In 1838, the
church elected Dr. Robert Ryland as pastor. (He was Pres. of the Virginia
Baptist Seminary, now UofR.) Later in July 1857, church minutes record:
"It was then proposed to consider our own distitute [sic] condition as a
church and say what shall be done whether to give up the Ship or to continue to
Roh [sic]....It was then proposed and carried we have fasting and prayer on
Friday 24th present month, to increase Our Faith and revive us as a Church."
In 1861, "Bro. Chiles our Treasurer reported 37 cents in his hands." It was
decided this was "to be used to purchase Elaments for the Lord's Supper."
During the Civil War, on Lee's retreat, the Confederate Army "marched to
Branch's Church Sunday night..."
Baptisms were held at a Mill on Pocoshock Creek near Belmont Rd. and, after
WWI, in Falling Creek. Auburn Chase (Bellwood, where Harriet Gregory grew up)
is about midway between Branch's Church and Chester. (Chester Presbyterian
Church, established in 1878, was the first church in Chester, and prior to that
Presbyterians traveled to Petersburg to church, re: Chester Presbyterian
history. As wives often joined their husband's church, it may be that
the Willsons of Amelia were Baptists, while the Gregorys were not, however.
Mattie GREGORY O'Brien, daughter of Richard Russell Gregory and Mary Susan
Friend Hatcher, says that her family were all Methodists. Other Hatchers in
Chester were, also. Mattie in 1995, remembered visiting Branch's "years ago" &
says it was north of Bellwood. The Civil War map has convinced this writer that
Branch's that Harriet attended was the same as the present Branch's Baptist,
even though Mattie G. O'Brien thinks the Branch's she attended was a little
closer than the present Branch's Baptist. This indicates that the ride from
the Spring Hill area was a pleasant enough adventure, that it did not seem a
long way to church. During some periods Branch's only had services once a month.
They did not hesitate to expell members from the church rolls if they missed
many meetings though it seems, according to "Hephzibah to Branch's."
Salem Baptist Church was formed before Branch's, but the list of members at
Branch's indicates that George Cox (church treasurer) and other kin were there
as well as Dr. Ryland of University of Richmond (called to be minister at
Branch's, though may have only served as interim).
Meg WILLSON Gregory's "Civil War" letter may indicate she was a Baptist,
as she begins, "It is the Sabbath, a day of rest, I do not like to violate it.
I am all alone, Mr. Gregory is from home, the children are out at play, and I
am very sad, so I do not think it will be any harm to write you this sad
letter."
It may also be noted that Martha DuBose's great-grandfather, Rev. Charles
Washington Friend, performed the marriage ceremony for Harriet G. Willson's
daughter (his cousins), Meg T. Willson and George C. Gregory, Sr. Rev. Friend
was affiliated with the Methodist Church. (Family tradition is that Rev. CWF
was converted in Salem Baptist Church, after declaring himself an atheist or
agnostic when a student at Hampden-Sydney College. He became a Methodist and
then a Lay Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.) Martha says, "He
married a lot of his relatives and some neighbors, too....I think it would not
have mattered that he was a Methodist marrying someone in a Baptist Chruch, but
have to admit that is only based on the fact that Meth. often held meetings in
the churches of other denominations and vice versa so why not perform weddings
too. I think he performed the marriage for your g.g.grandmother because he was
related to her, but also perhaps because there was not a minister to be found
on every corner. In some areas there were only a few ordained ministers in
certain time periods. Also if she was a life-long member of Branch's Baptist
Church that would be where she was most likely married, either there or in her
home..."
Martha DuBose noting that the early Branch's could have been Baptist says,
"Chesterfield Co. is known as the birthplace of religious freedom -- separation
of church and state. A Baptist preacher was put in jail in Chesterfield, where
he preached from his jail cell and crowds gathered to listen to him." Kay
Riley, who moved from Branch's to Gloucester Point Baptist, commented that it
was not popular to be Baptist in earlier days. Sarah Starkey (from whom the
Howes bought their home in Gloucester Point) stated that Wayne Starkey's uncle,
Howard L. Arthur was pastor at Branch's. The church history lists him as
pastor from 1931-1941. Among other odd coincidences concerning Branch's is the
fact that "Trapper" Gene Beale who answered JMSH's e-mail query and found
Branch's on his 1864 Civil War map, lives near the Howes' former Chester home
and worked with Sam Shearer, a Chester "trapping" friend of Glenn Howe.

It is not known by this writer where Harriet GREGORY Willson is buried.
She is not listed among the cemetery records of Branch's Baptist Church, yet
still may have been buried there, but the records since lost. (Branch's
cemetery is first mentioned in Sept 1864, though the earliest gravestone
recorded is 1805. See cemetery records and "Hephzibah to Branch's," p. 8.)
Neither Harriet nor her husband is listed as buried at Bellwood. Their
daughter Elizabeth and husband are buried at Bellwood, but not daughter Meg and
husband (according to tombstones and plaque at DGSC).
Records were also checked (secretary answered phone, 12 April 1995) at
Hollywood Cemetery. Secretary says Hollywood was formed in 1847, but there is
no booklet listing graves there. (Only Gregory she found in earliest records
was Frances Gregory who died 1875, at 33 years old. No WILLSON? was found.)
J. M. O'Dell, in recording the Hatcher Cemetery West of Chester Road, mentions
that the Drewry family were buried at Hollywood (although they lived at
Mineola, just west of this Hatcher Cemetery). This Hatcher Cemetery was
surrounded by an iron fence, but did not have any inscribed tombstones, when
O'Dell did his study. This cemetery was to be moved by VDOT, to make way for a
major highway (288?).
The Hatcher Cemetery located just south-east of the Half-Way House, does
not contain the tombstone of Harriet GREGORY Willson or any member of her
immediate family, according to records of that cemetery. There are, however,
unmarked graves in the western portion of the plot (re: Ashton Hatcher, in 1983
letter from Kindt). Since this cemetery was so close to Spring Hill, and the
Hatchers were Gregory cousins, there is the possibility that Harriet is buried
here. (See Kindt's interesting letter about a Confederate soldier buried in
"the Hatcher Family burial plot in the garden or orchard of the Half-Way
House." This soldier (died 18 May 1864) was a descendant of Thomas Millard who
obtained a warrant from William Penn for a lot in Philadelphia.)
A caretaker at Riverview Cemetery (12 April 1995) said that the first
internment there was not until 1890. (The only Gregory recorded at Riverview
from 1890-1900 is Catherine Gregory. No Willson? was found listed then.)
Further searches reveal that Harriet GREGORY Willson is not listed in the
records of the Friend Cemetery in Coxendale nor the Hatcher graveyard (near Half
Way House) also near Spring Hill, where she died. It is not known where her
husband was buried, but since he was from Amelia, they may both be buried in a
Willson family cemetery there (location unknown). It is also very possible
that Harriet, dying at Spring Hill in July 1865, just after the end of the
Civil War, may have been buried at Spring Hill in Chesterfield Co., VA. There
are several areas near the woods beside the road just before the office
building, that are covered with periwinkle and seem likely gravesites.
A Reynolds employee who has researched the area says that there is a small
cemetery in the woods at Spring Hill, toward the river. There are 5-6
indentations showing graves, but no tombstones (re: Martha DuBose 4/18/95, from
Reynolds employee.) These MAY be the graves of Harriet & Meg and their husbands.
No tombstones are found at Spring Hill in the 1990's. Since Harriet's obituary
simply states that she died at Spring Hill and does not give a funeral or
burial location, this may indicate that they too were at Spring Hill in July
1865. "May thy spirit rest in Heaven." In the springtime, the woods at
Spring Hill, near the mouth of Proctor's Creek, appear close to Heaven.


Thomas Branch Willson died in 1830, just before daughter Meg was born. He left a pregnant wife and three small children, and many creditors.

Kathy Emmel e-mailed 11/25/15, response to LCHS Civil War photos:

I am going to join U.S. Daughters of the War of 1812, but to do so, I had to prove a patriot contributed in some way. Cheryl, a woman in the chapter I am joining, has been helping me. She found that Thomas Branch Willson served on the Overseers of the Poor committee in Amelia County, VA in 1784. This qualifies for joining as the ancestor did not necessarily have to be a soldier. They just had to help "grow" a new nation in some way.

In the course of looking up lots of documents proving every generation back to Thomas Willson (which I didn't have to do for the DAR since it was already done!), she stumbled across a lot of chancery court documents about creditors suing Thomas Branch Willson (our patriot ancestor's grandson) for money he owed them. This Thomas Branch Willson was the father of Margaret and Elizabeth Willson. He died in 1830 right after people started suing him (suspicious, isn't it!). He had three small children and his wife Harriet was pregnant with Margaret, your relative, who was born in 1831. In the court papers it says the baby's name was Harriet Thomas Willson, but I think that is incorrect.

If you are interested in looking at these many, many pages of documents, I will have Cheryl send them to you in a Dropbox file. Would you like them? If so, I will let her know. They are interesting! Poor Harriet - creditors breathing down her neck and four young children to raise; and who knows what happened to her husband? We are thinking he did not die of an illness as he left no will, which most of our ancestors did. So - did he do himself in or did someone else? I haven't found any record of his death!
Kathy

There are records of alcoholism in the Willson family who owned Amelia Springs. Could that have been Thomas' problem, contributing to his failure as a farmer on the poor Chesterfield soil?


Amelia Co. Court Document, p. 1-2 (e-mail from Kathy Emmel, 11/25/15, is copy of original document; later transcribed by JMSHowe):

A Court document of Amelia Co., VA, c 1831, (after Thomas Branch Willson d 1830 and just after Meg Thomas Willson b 1831), in which his wife Harriet Gregory Willson seeks to retain her dower of land, lists children: Francis, Malvina, Elizabeth and unnamed infant (Meg T. Willson). The document states that before Thomas Branch Willson died in 1830, he deeded about 500 acres he owned on Flat Creek in Amelia County, to John Booker and Francis A. Willson, recorded in Amelia Court House "in trust for certain named creditors." After T.B.W.'s death, his widow (left with four young children) states that she "never relinquished her dower right to any portion of the land, she not being a party to the deed ...referred to." The court appointed 7 men (or any 3 of them) to take a competent surveyor and lay off boundaries for 1/3 of the disputed 500 acres of land, to go to Harriet Gregory Willson as her dower portion. Evidently John Booker and Francis B. Willson were to use the other 2/3 of the land to pay creditors of T.B.W. William Gregory is listed as guardian of Harriet's four young children (including new-born Meg). William is probably Harriet's youngest brother (Dr. William Wilkinson Gregory, born c 1812 in Chesterfield Co., VA).
William is also listed in Harriet's will.

12/2/15 and 12/7/15 e-mail from Kathy Emmel attached copy of will of Harriet (Gregory) Willson
(born 27 Oct 1792 - died 13 July 1865) will written 26 March 1858, will recorded 16 Aug 1865:

Chesterfield County, VA Will Book 22-23, 1855-1865, p. 559 image 680

In the name of God Amen. I Harriet Willson of Chesterfield
County in the state of Virginia being of sound mind and memory do now make
and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
In Premis- Whereas my son in law Mr. Richard A. Gregoy is indebted
to me in the sum of sixteen hundred and thirty six dollars and seven
cents as will appear by his two bonds to me the first dated 21st
March 1857 for the sum of Thirteen hundred & ninety seven Dollars
and fifty three cents from the 3rd of March 1858 and for which ajudgement[?]
has been [--?--] in the Clerk's Office of this county where the said bond
may be found. The second bond being for the sum of three hundred and Forty Dollars
and dated March 3rd 1858, may be found among my papers, it is my
wish that both of these bonds shall be delivered up to Wm. Gregory
without demand of payment to my Estate, and I give unto my daughter
Elizabeth A. Gregory the interest of her husband Richard A. Gregory in
certain slaves bequeathed me by my father's will which said interest
I have recently purchased under an Execution and the same is given to my
said daughter Elizabeth A. Gregory with the understanding that upon
a further division of my property my daughter Margaret A. [sic] Gregory
shall first receive the sum of sixteen hundred and thirty six Dollars
and sixty seven cents and that the balance shall then be divided between
my two daughters share and share alike and if either of them shall have
died in the meantime leaving issue I give unto such issue the parts
which would have fallen their parents if living.
Item It is my wish that all of the property which may fall to my
daughter Elizabeth A. Gregory shall be held in trust by Wm. Augustus
H. Drewry, the profits arising from the same to be paid over to
her during her life time for her separate use and at her death the
principal to be divided between her children share and share alike.
Finnally [sic] I appoint my friend Wm. Augustus H. Drewry my Exor.
and the Court is requested not to ask of him security for the performance
of the duties conferred herein. Witness my hand and seal this 26th day
of March & in the year one thousand Eight hundred and
fifty Eight
Harriet Willson (seal)

In Chesterfield County Court August the 16th 1865 - the last will and
testament of Harriet Willson decd., was presented in Court & proven by the
oath of A. H. Drewry & George C. Gregory as to the genuineness of the
hand writing of the said testator & ordered to be recorded
Test. -
Nathan H. Cogbill ClofC