William Ledford

A Patriot of the American Revolution for NORTH CAROLINA. DAR Ancestor # A131385

William Ledford came to America with his brothers Henry and John on the ship Wapoole with Captain James Patton. William married Elizabeth before 1745 in Virginia. They had a total of twelve children. They left Virginia and settled first in Rowan County, NC and then on to Randolph County, NC.

"Thus far, exact documentation of their arrivals in the Colonies has not been established." Dorothy Geneva Simmons Skelton, 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968', p 5 [Ledford file]

In Nov 1746, the Augusta County Court designated two roads through the Roanoke Valley to be worked by the residents. Among those named are "all the Leadfords". All the Ledfords included John, William and Henry. Dorothy Geneva Simmons Skelton, 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968' p 5 [Ledford file]

2-3 Jan 1753, bought 90 acres from James Patton for 5 pounds. Deed described oak and walnut trees on a hillside above the west fork of the Roanoke River with lower level land on both sides of Bradshaw's Creek. Houses, buildings and orchard were mentioned in the deed. Dorothy Geneva Simmons Skelton, 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968', p 5 - cites Augusta County Deed Book 6:144-46 [Ledford file]

3 Jan 1754, paid James Patton 'By Cash the Ballance of William Ledford's note 8 pounds 4 shillings 5 pence. Dorothy Geneva Simmons Skelton, 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968', p 21 [Ledford file]

Shortly before or during 1758 the Ledford families loaded up their wagons and joined one of the wagon trains departing Augusta County. John and William did not sell their farms. Dorothy Geneva Simmons Skelton, 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968', p 22 [Ledford file]

"Page 202 17th February, 1758, Colonel James Patton's estate;.. List of Bonds, bills, &, due the estate:.. Henry and William Ledford, 3rd January, 1754, 'Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia: Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Vol III, Lyman Chalkey, p 73 -74 [Copy on file]

Near the end of 1758 the Ledfords arrived safely in Rowan County, NC. The exact date was not recorded. Dorothy Geneva Simmons Skelton , 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968', p 26 [Ledford file]

The 1759 Rowan County Tax List, the earliest extant Rowan County Tax List, shows Nicholas Ledford, Fredick Litford, John Litford and William Litford. Dorothy Geneva Simmons Skelton, 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968', p 26 [Ledford file]

4 Dec 1762, gave Isaac Taylor power-of-attorney to sell 142 acres in Augusta County that William bought from James Patton in 1751. Dorothy Geneva Simmons Skelton, 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968', p 33 - cites Augusta County Deed Book [Ledford file]

10 Feb 1763, acquired 200 acres on Caraway Creek from Henry E. McCulloh for 22 pounds. Included land on both sides of the creek with dogwoods and pines on the slopes. Dorothe Geneva Simmons Skelton, 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968', p 33 - cites Rowan County Deed Book 5:336-337 [Ledford file]

2 Jan 1764, William Ledford, Planter purchased 330 acres from Walter and Margaret Thornbrough for 28 pounds. This land was located on both sides of Abbotts Creek and included all houses, buildings, orchards, gardens, watercourses, etc. This land had been granted to Thornbrough in 1762 by the Earl of Granville. 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968' p 36 - cites Linn, Rowan Minutes Vol II:18 [Ledford files]

Jan 1764 appointed as Constable. 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968 p 36 - cites Linn, Rowan Minutes, Vol II:20 [Ledford files]

II:596 11 July 1765 March ye. 20 1765 This is to Certify that I William Raper Never Assarted for a Truth. Nither did I belave Cincearly that Elijah Teague Joshua Teague John and William Swaim William Ledford & Alexr Rosinburn had ploted to Ruin the Harmon Given Under My Hand & Seal this Day Abov Written William [w] Raper 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968' p 36 - cites Linn, Rowan Minutes, Vol II:44 [Ledford file]

15 Jan 1767, court records show Wm. appointed as a Constable. 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968' p36, 57 - cites Linn, Rowan Minutes, Vol II:62 [Ledford file]

Oct 1767 Court Session records listed William Ledford with seven other Constables to be fined "for ther Non Attendence as Constables without Sufficient Cause to be Shone to our Next Court. 'The Squire Simmons Family 1746-1968' p 57 - cites Linn, Rowan Minutes, Vol II:62, 72 [Ledford file]

Abstracts of Wills of Augusta County Virginia Augusta County Court Will Book No. 4 Page 235 17th August 1769 The estate of Col. James Patton,...rent of land in Louisa...Wm. Ledford, Jno Ledford. 'Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia: Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800, Vol III, Lyman Chalkey, p 109, 110

4 Feb 1772 Wm. Ledford & Moses Teague were security for John Teague to administer the estate of Abram Teague. Also listed as member of a grand jury. p 62- cites Linn, Rowan Minutes, Vol II:130 [Ledford file]

8 May 1778, listed by the court as Assessor in Capt. Davis' District p 72 - cites Linn, Rowan Minutes, Vol III:36 [Ledford file]

According to the 1778 Rowan County Tax List, his property was assessed the highest in his district at 3,166 pounds. p73 - cites Linn, Tax Lists of 1759& 1778, p 127 [Ledford file]

2 Oct 1781, received the following certificate from the Revolutionary Army Accounts: Heading: An Account of Specie Certificates paid into the Comptrollers Office by John Armstrong Entry Taker for Land in North Carolina - vizt Number: 61 By Whom Granted: Alexander Long To Whom Granted: Wm. Ledford Date: 2 Oct 1781 Sum: 52 pounds, 16 shillings Interest: 11 pounds, 5 shillings, 4 pence To what Time: 20 May 1784 Total amount principal and interest: 64 pounds, 1 shilling, 4 pence NC State Archive Records

One of Wm. Ledford's vouchers for selling hay to the militia was redeemed on 12 Oct 1782 National Archives, Military Service Records

The 1783 Rowan Co. Assessment List. Wm. Ledford had 13 slaves and was assessed far more than anyone else in his district.

7-8 Jun 1783, Wm. sold 90 acres in Botetourt Co. [Old augusta Co.] to Henry Waterson for 60 pounds current Va. money. The sale was recorded in the aug 1783 Court. He had bought the land on 3 Jan 1753 Botetourt Co. Deed Book 3:472-75

4 Nov 1784, received NC State Grant #1008 for 750 acres on Reedy Branch of Abbott's Creek

On a "List of Taxables of Capt Davis' Company for the Year 1785" were the names of William Ledford, Sr. and his son William Ledford, Jr., John Ledford, Sr. and his son John Ledford, Jr. , Obediah Ledford, Thomas Ledford NC Archival Records

10 May 1793, sold 140 acres of land on Reedy Branch of Abbotts Creek to John Anderson Rowan Co. Deed Book 13:266

18 May 1796, Deed of gift to "son-in-law Samuel Davis and wife Nancy" Rowan Co. Deed Book 14:482, 483

26 May 1796, Deed of gift to "son Esquire Ledford" Rowan Co. Deed Book 14:482

28 May 1796, Deed of gift to "Nathan Hinkle and his Wife Rebeckah" Rowan Co. Deed Book 14:532, 533

28 May 1796, Deed of gift to "William McCurry and his wife Elizabeth" Rowan Co. Deed Book 14:538, 539

William Ledford Will NC Division of Archives and History Rowan County Unbound Wills 1743-1900 CR 085.801.15 - File of William Ledford 1796

In the name of God Amen! I William Ledford of the State of North Carolina and Rowan County Being very sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will And Testament that is to say principally and First of all I give and Recommend my soul unto The hand of Almighty God that gave it and my Body I Recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors, Nothing doubting but at the general Resurection I shall Receive the same again by the Mightly power of God and as touching such Wordly estate wherewith it has pleased God to Bless me in this Life, I give devise and dispose of The same in the following manner and form - First I give and bequeath to Elizabeth my Dearly beloved wife one Negro girl named Juda one sorrel mare and Two small feather beds and beding and one Hundred pounds to be raised and Levied out of My estateand her saddle and also I give to my Daughter Sary Spoolman twenty five pounds to be Raised and Levied out of my estate and I give and bequeath to my son John Ledford one part or parcel of Land Lying on both sides of the Ready branch joining a line I pasifyed in a bond I give to Jacob Tice and joining John McCurry Line and John Andersons Line to Run from said Ready branch east twenty rods along said Line I pasifyed in a bond I give to Jacob Tice then Running a strate line between my son John Ledford and my son Squire Ledford I give and bequeath to my daughter Phebe simmons one part of parcel of Land Lying Joining Phillip Klinarts Line and James Ross Line and Jacob Tices Line. I give and bequeath on My son Squire Ledford one part or parcel of land joining Phillip Klinarts Line and a line I pasifyed in a bond I give to Jacob Tice and the dividing Line between my son John Ledford and my son Squire Ledford and also I give and bequeath to my son John Ledford, my son Thomas Ledford, my son William Ledford, my son Squire Ledford and my daughter Lydia Holins, my daughter Martha Teague, my daughter Ann Davis, my daughter Rebecca Hinkle, my daughter Elizabeth McCurry, my daughter Phoebe Simmons, I give and bequeath to each and singular of thim my Negroes Named Lun, Cloah, David, Ann, Euley, Del together with all the rest of my Hole estate of moveables to be equally divided among my sons and daughters above mentioned and after equally divided then my daughter Lydia Holins, my daughter Martha Teague, my daughter Rebecca Hinkle, my daughter Elizabeth McCurry, my son William Ledford all their Names above mentioned for each and every one of them to pay twenty five pounds apiece out of their parts, which will amount to one hundred and twenty five Pounds to be paid to my son John Ledford. When this sum of money is Raised and taken out of their parts above mentioned then my son John Ledford to pay twenty pounds to my son Squire Ledford and twenty pounds to my daughter Phebe Simmons and ten pounds to my daughter in law Grizzaluh Ledford. The said Negro girl I left to Elizabeth Ledford my Wife named Juda, at her marriage or decease to be sold and equally divided between my son John Ledford and my son Squire Ledford and also my daughter Phebe Simmons. And Elizabeth Ledford my wife I give the dresser and all the dishes on it and two little pots one dutch oven one pot rack and the corn containing. The hemp ground one little bay mare called Hernd and the linnen and two hogs. John Ledford my son I leave Executor Whom I likewise Constitute Make and ordain the sole executor of this My Last Will and Testament all and singular, Lands, Negroes, goods and chattles by them freely to Be possessed and enjoyed and I do hereby utterly Disallow, Revoke, and Disannull all and every other former Teastaments Wills Legacies bequests and executors by me in Ways before Named Willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and No other to be my Last Will and testament in witness Whereof I have Hereunto Set my hand seal this 2nd Day of June in the year of our Lord 1796- - - Signed sealed published pronounced- - - And declared by the said William Ledford As his last will and testament William [L] Ledford his mark

In the presents of us and in The presents of each other have Hereunto subscribed our names Elizabeth L. Ledford her mark Test Jacob Brumel Daniel [DK] Klinart his mark

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