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About William Cross, of Botetourt County
Not the father of Susannah Lawson
William Cross was born October 14, 1733 in Lydney, Gloucester, England, and died May 1798 in Roanoke, Botetourt County, Virginia. Burial: Unknown, Cross Family Farm at Roanoke, Virginia.
William Cross was an English Army soldier in Gen. Braddock's army sent over in 1755 to take part in the French & Indian war. Wounded at Braddock's defeat on July 9, 1755. Served in 1st Virginia Regiment until 1760 (for a while under Col. George Washington. He obtained a land warrant (No. 883) for this service. Washington. His will was written 26 April 1798 and probated Jun 1798 court of Botetourt Co., VA. Married to Elizabeth __. Farm was near Roanoke.
"Records in Virginia confirm this. He came to the United States as a soldier in the French and Indian War. He was wounded and left behind with the Virginia troops. He fought under George Washington when he was a Colonel. He applied for and received land warrant #883 for his service."
Parents: William Cross (b: ABT. 1708 in Lydney, Gloucester, England) and Elizabeth Woodruff (b. abt. 1712 in Lydney, Gloucester, England)
Emigration: February 20, 1755, Chesapeke Bay, VA
Married:
- Elizabeth. She is also known as Elizabeth Gentry.
It is possible there was a first wife Sarah.
Children of William Cross
- Mary b. 1759
- John b. about 1761; m. Polly Mays.
- Jane b. 1763 m. John Elliott Oct. 6. 1785. Nothing further known.
- William. Jr., b. Aug. 22. 1766 in VA: m (1) Sarah McCown. (2) Mary
- Eliza Rice. d. January 1848, Armstrong, MO.
- Elizabeth b. 1768
Notes
Cross, p. 19
William, then fifteen years old ... was in a fort protecting the frontier, and that at one time the fort was so closely besieged by Indians, that they were called outside the fort and fought the Indians for three hours, driving them away, and that this was the only battle that William was ever in.
As well as I can place this event, it was in 1781. As a part of their duties in the fort they had to provide iron slugs for the only cannon they possessed, to shoot at the Indians. This cannon was more effective as a noisemaker than as a deadly weapon.
Cross, p. 20
The older generations of our family all liked their "licker." The men took theirs straight and the women took theirs in mint juleps, blackberry wines and egg nogs. In pioneer days it was thought quite the proper think to keep a bottle or jug handy on the side-board. A visitor would consider himself snubbed if the toddy were not passed around before breakfast.
This custom was almost universal even in religious homes. Everybody kept whiskey; if not for use as a beverage, it was kept as a medicine for emergencies, such as sudden attacks of Cholera Morbus, pneumonia, cramps, and malaria, and for snake bites which in this new country were a real and ever present menace. The drinks were the pure goods and were always in evidence at happy gatherings, log rollings, corn shuckings, house raisings, etc.
Will
- Cross, p. 24
Will of William Cross, the Emigrant.
1798. June. —. The last will and testament of William Cross. Sr.. was sub-mitted to the Court of Botetourt County and admitted to probate. This will reads as follows:
I William Cross Senr. of Botetourt County and State of Virginia
being weake of Bouy but of sound mind and memory yet calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament first I Recommend my Soul to God who gave it and my Body to be buried in the Earth in a decent manner at the Discretion of my Exetrix hereafter named and as tutching sutch worly things as it has pleased God to bless me with 1 leave and bequeath in the following manner VIZ.
I leave to my beloved wife Elizabeth Cross all my Personall Estate as will by debts due me or otherwise of Every Kind to be at her disposeall as she may think proper after my last debts and tuneral charges are payd. Imprimis I give and bequeath to my bun William Cross Junr. one small Tract of land on the South Side of James River formerly the property of William Wilson and joining my other Tract Bough of said Willson containing Eighty Acres more or less with its appurtenances to the said William Cross and the heirs of his body and his assigns forever. but my other heirs is noi to warrant the Titule Item 1 likewise bequeath to my other children Viz Mary Jane John and Elizabeth Each five shillings when demanded they Each having got their full share of land already and do hereby appoint my said wife my sole Exetrix of this my last Will and Testament and it is further my will that my said Exetrix should not be held to Bail for her conduct in that leave with Regreard to administring etc.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and his seal this 26th day of April 1798 and do William x Cross hereby publish pronounce and declare this to mark be my last will and Testament in presence of SEAL
his ) Geo. Skillern William x Lettor) mark ) James Mays Matthew Mays) At June Botetourt Court 1798
This instrument of Writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testa-ment of William Cross decd. was exhibited in Court and proved by the oaths of Matthew Mays and James Mays. Witness is thereto Subscribed and thereupon Ordered to be Recorded. A Copy teste W. Hite D. C Will Book A. p. 473.
Research Notes
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cross-658
The parents currently attached to Susannah Lawson may not be correct. The Susannah born to William Cross and Sarah in York Co., VA on 15 Apr 1766 seems likely to be the wife of Randolph Lawson, but it seems unlikely that this William Cross is the same William Cross, of Botetourt County who left a will in Botetort Co., VA in 1798. The will makes no mention of Suusannah nor a wife named Sarah. Susanna is more likely a descendant of Edward Cross, the revenue collector for the port of Yorktown, VA during the Revolutionary War. Numerous descendants of this Edward Cross migrated from VA to TN and would have likely passed through the area where Randolph Lawson married Susannah Cross. There are several Cross families who were neighbors of Randolph and his sons in the 1830 census for Campbell Co. TN. They are also possible relatives of Susannah. On 5 Jun 1871, Thomas Lawson (probable son of Randolph and Susannah Lawson) witnessed the pension application of Rev. William Cross (1787 - 1876) in Clinton Co., KY. This suggests that Thomas Lawson was well acquainted with William, the son of Edward Cross and Rebecca Gibbons whose family were from York Co., VA,
Sources
- Cross, John N, Mary T. C. Cole, and Sarah M. L. Conner. William Cross of Botetourt Co., Va., and His Descendants, 1733-1932: Also a Record of the Related Families of Mccown, Gentry-Blythe, Cain-Robertson, Harris-Martin, and Conner, of Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. Columbia, Mo: E.W. Stephens Pub. Co, 1932.
- Adventurers of Purse and Person, Vol. 1. Note: Listed as JOHN Cross.
Alternate Birth
Another source has him as "Birth May 28 1735 of Newchurch, Hampshire, England - son of John Cross & Mary Lokier"
Will of William Cross, Sr.
His will was written 26 April 1798 and probated Jun 1798 court of Botetourt Co., VA. Botetourt County, Virginia Will Book A, Page 473. Recorded: June, 1798 Teste: William Hite, DC
- Wife: Elizbeth
- Sons: William, John
- Daughters: Mary, Jane, Elizabeth
- Exec: wife: Elizabeth
- Witnesses: George Skillern, William letter, James Mayes, Matthew Moore
Sources
- William Cross of Botetourt Co., Va., and his descendants, 1733-1932: also a record of the related families of McCown, Gentry-Blythe, Cain-Robertson, Harris-Martin, and Conner, of Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. By John Newton Cross, Mary Thompson Cross Cole, Sarah McLonie. E. W. Stephens publishing co., 1932 - Reference - 258 pages
Links
- http://wrenacres.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I1817&tree=Sc...
- [http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jecross&i...]
- [http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/r/o/James-E-Cross-BEVI...]
- http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/o/n/Jc-Jones/WEBSITE-0...
- http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/14823145/person/168494375
- http://www.ourfamilyhistories.org/getperson.php?personID=I120320&tr...
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William Cross, of Botetourt County's Timeline
| 1733 |
October 14, 1733
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Lydney, Gloucestershire, England (United Kingdom)
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| 1762 |
November 2, 1762
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York, Virginia
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| 1763 |
1763
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VA, United States
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1763
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VA, United States
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| 1765 |
1765
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VA, United States
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| 1766 |
August 22, 1766
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Augusta County, Virginia, United States
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| 1798 |
May 1798
Age 64
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Botetourt, Virginia, United States
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1798
Age 64
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Cross family farm, near, Roanoke, Botetourt, Virginia, United States
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