Mary "Molly" Dabney

http://www.illinoisancestors.org/menard/fam/ho_6.html

Cornelius Dabney IV was probably born to Cornelius Dabney III and his unknown wife about 1742 in Hanover County, Virginia. The possibility that his father was William Dabney Cornelius III was a son of Cornellius II and a grandson of Cornelius I.

Cornelius married Mary (Molly) Lane about 1759. Cornelius and Mary lived in Hanover County until 1772, then moved to Bedford County. They had ten children, most or all born in Hanover County: George,born September 15, 1760; Benjamin, born abt 1761-1766; Charles, born abt 1763-1767; Cornelius, born about 1765-1773; John, born about 1767-1780; Nancy; Molly/Mary; Sarah; Anna; Agatha/Agnes.

Cornelius’ uncle, William Dabney, obtained a patent for 354 acres in Bedford County in 1765 and lived there for some years. He probably played a role in Cornelius’ decision to move from Hanover to Bedford. There is no evidence in the Bedford deed records that Cornelius bought any land in Bedford until June 27, 1791, a year before his death, On that date, he purchased 174 acres from a William Dabney of Guilford County, North Carolina, who may have been his uncle or a son of his uncle. It is likely that he was farming this land, perhaps with William at first and later on a lease from William. Comparison of the metes and bounds description of the patent and the later deed confirms that the 174 acres were part of the original patent. The fate of the other 180 acres in the original patent has not been found in the deed records.

Cornelius died at the age of 50/51 between May, 1792, when his will was signed and October of the same year when it was proved in court. He left all of his land, stock, and household goods to his wife, Mary, except for 55 acres that he had previously given to his eldest son, George. After her death, the remaining land was to be divided between his sons Cornelius and John and the stock and household goods to be divided among his sons Benjamin and Charles and daughters Sarah Pratt, Agatha Dabney, and Anna Dabney. Two other daughters, Nancy Overstreet and Molly Turner were given five shillings apiece, a token amount. He appointed his son George and William Hancock executors

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