William Horsley

William Horsley, son of Robert Horsley (1675-1734), was born c. 1713 in St. Paul’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia. He married Mary Cabell, daughter of Dr. William Cabell and Elizabeth Burks in 1744. William had been hired as the Cabell family’s tutor.

Even though William owned property in Hanover County, Virginia, for the first few years of marriage, they continued to live with Mary’s parents. Later, about 1746 or 1747, Dr. Cabell made a gift to the couple of Center Hill Plantation. After the death of both Mary and William, Dr. Cabell transferred the property to their children, in a deed dated April 30, 1863.

He wrote his will on April 30, 1760, and died sixteen days later, on June 15, 1760. The will was recorded at Albemarle Court House on July 10, 1760. He named two of Mary’s brothers as executors of the will and as guardians for their children. The death of both Mary and William so close together makes one suspect that disease took them both, along with Mary’s newborn child.

They had four children who reached adulthood and two who died as infants.

• William Horsley (1745-1791), born at Liberty Hall Plantation, married Martha Megginson.
• Robert Horsley (1748-1786) married Judith Scott and remained at Center Hill Plantation
• Elizabeth Horsley (1749-1821) married Roderick McCulloch.
• John Horsley (1752-1808) married Fannie Stark
• Infant #1 - dates unknown
• Infant #2 - born and died 1760.