- Will Records of Green County, KY 1796-1824, published by Elizabeth
Name: Alexander Vance
Sex: M
Birth: 1732 in VA
Death: 1804 (Will))- huh? written 1805?- jcw 02.10.2012
Note: Page 58 Will of Alexander Vance
Written: 30 March 1805
My wife, Jane
My son, William
To Jemimah Cleatheron
My children: Nancy, Ruth, Trent, William V., Cleary, Belfnez (Belcher?-jcw), and Ann Skaggs
My two son in laws: William Vance and Brummitt Trent Cleys, exe.
Witnesses: Thomas Holt, John M. Danniel, and William Downing
Probated: 24 December 1810
I Alexander Vance being in health and sound memory to make and ordain this my last will and testaments. First I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to the earth. All expenses to be taken out of my estate and all just debts to be paid. Then I will to my loving wife Jane Vance the plantation that I now live on during her life and all my part of the timber adjoining and after her decease to my son William Vance. Also to my wife my bed and bedding and all household furniture and two of my horse beasts and four cows, she to have choice of all my horses and cattle's and as many of th hogs as she sees fit and one third part of the sheep, one negro man, William, during her life and at her decease to be divided amongest all my children that is mentioned in my will.
To Jeremiah Matthews that is living with me one bed and bedding one cleavis and jearling colt the said Cleavis she now has in her possession and the remaining part of my estate to my living children, divided equally - namely - Ruth Trent, William Vance, Mary Belcher, and Ann Skaggs.
My son William Vance and son-in-law Bryant Trent to be executors. 30 March 1805
signed - Alexander Vance
Witnesses- Thomas Hall
John McDaniels
William Downing
Probated 24 December 1810
Green Co. Ky. Deed Book 8, page 149, 2 January 1818
Heirs of Alexander Vance, decd., Thomas Skaggs and Nancy Ann his wife, late Vance, William Vance and Fanny his wife, Bryant Trent and Ruth his wife, late Vance, John Belcher and Mary his wife, late Vance, to Lena Lemon, land in Green Co., Ky.
The Vance family were among the original inhabitants of Pitman's Station established by William Pitman and others in March 1780. Alexander Vance was one of the early settlers of Green County. It is believed that the Vances and the Pittmans were living in Kentucky in the 1780s, as evidenced by a deed recorded in Nelson County involving Isaac Shelby, later the first governor of Kentucky. Shelby was an assignee for a military warrant for 500 acres 'on waters of Green River on a creek heading opposite to the Indian Licks near Vancies and Pitman's Stations.' The July 1980 issue of the GREEN COUNTY REVIEW contains an interesting article on this subject.
The April 1978 issue of the GREEN COUNTY REVIEW quoted a letter written by Silas L. Vance, a great-grandson of Alexander Vance and his wife Jane.
Silas Vance stated that he used family traditions to convey the story of his family because he had no written records. Silas's great-grandfather, Alexander Vance, moved from Virginia to West Virginia before 1780, then moved to Kentucky in the 1780s, settling at Pittman's Station in Green County. Silas's grandfather, William Vance, was the only son of Alexander. Alexander had two daughters. One of them married Bryant Trent and the other married an Abbot. Silas Vance thought there might have been two other daughters.
After the Vances moved to Kentucky, they lived on wild game for two years. Sils's grandfather, William, supposedly never shot at an Indian, nor was he shot at by one. Once William Vance had chased a bear into a cave with an opening that was just large enough to crawl through, but the interior widened into a considerable room. William made a torch of dry wood and tied it to a pole, set fire to the torch, and crawled into the cave until he got close to the bear. The bear knocked out the torch with his paw. William then backed out of the cave, relit the torch, crawled back in with his torch and a gun and shot the bear, killing him.
Silas Vance served in the 27th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, Company C, from October 12, 1861, to March 27, 1865. He was honorably discharged. He wrote this history of his family when he was 76 years of age.
From this account and the court records of early Green County, the family of Alexander and Jane Vance has been constructed. Alexander Vance left a will dated March 30, 1805: 'Wife Jane gets plantation I now live on during her lifetime and the negro, William; son William Vance to get estate after Jane's death. Personal property and negro William to be divided amongst rest of children after Jane's death; Jeremiah Matthews, now living with me, gets bedding and colt; remainder of estate to my four living children, Nancy; Ruth Trent; William Vance; Cleary Belfries; and Ann Skaggs; Sons-in-law William Vance and Briant Trent.' The will was witnessed by Thomas Hall, John M. Daniel, and William Downing and proven December 24, 1810.
The inventory of Alexander Vance's estate was appraised by Benjamin Baylis, Benjamin Greer, and Eli Murray. The administrator was Thomas Skaggs, son-in-law. The report of the appraisers mentions 'one black woman which we are of the opinion is not worth anything.' The black woman was no doubt elderly and unable to work.
A deed in 1818 from the legatees of Alexander Vance to John Milby gives the names of his children: Nancy Skaggs; William Vance; Ruth Trent; and Mary Belcher. These names are the same as those listed in the will, but this deed gives more clearly defined evidence of the family.
Green County Deed Bk 1, p. 1 14 March 1793
Alexr. Vance and wife Jane of Gr. Co
to John Hall of same, 100 acres on waters of Gr. R.; part of 714 acre patent bearing date 15 Mar 1790
Green Co. Deed Bk 1, p 2, 14 March 1793
Alexr. Vaunce and wife Jane of Gr. Co.
to Wm. Vance 307 acres on waters of Pitman; part of 714 acre patent dated 15 Mar 1790
ljcurtis1959added this on 28 Jul 2011
drfredadeskinoriginally submitted this to Freda Jones Deskin Family Tree on 2 Dec 2006
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"Some Vances and Related Families" compiled by Hester Elizabeth Garrett.
The Vance family and others are well documented in "Some Vances and Related Families" compiled by Hester Elizabeth Garrett.
John's Will is printed in Joyce Kessler's book "Kentucky's Green County Connections"
William Vance, son of Alexander and Jane Matthews Vance, was born, 1765 in Virginia. The first mention of Willim Vance in what is now Green Co. Ky. is in the Illinois Papers document 156, page 1. Payroll Captain George Adams Co. of Militia 1782. The heading on this document reads. A payroll for Captain George Adams Company of men of horse and foote in actual service on the Frontiers of Lincolnb County 1782.
The Certification at the bottom of the page is signed by John Logan, Col. The second reference to William Vance is the marriage bond in Nelson Co. issue for William Vance and Fanny Wooldridge, James Shield surety. The bond is dated 15 December 1785. There are several deeds and tax records for William Vance in Green Co. This tax list for 1819 shows over a thousand acres in Green County, 100 acres in Adair County and 50 acres in Barren County. William Vance will was written 5 February 1831 and probated December 1831. It is in Will Book 2, Page 193, Green Co., Court records.
Will of William Vance
In the name of God Amen; I William Vance of the county of Green and State of Kentucky being weak in body but perfect in mind and senses, and not knowing how soon it may please God to call me from time to eternity and after my burial charges and just debts are paid do leave this as my last will and testament - Mainly - wqhereas two of my daughters Ruth Vance and Rachel are still living with their mother who is in a helpless condition if they shall after my decease, and she is still living see proper to continue to keep house with her they have the priviledge as long as their mother lives to rent the plantation where I now reside for their support, with corn, meat, household and kitchen furniture sufficient for a comfortable subsistance and as commadation. Their beds and furniture they now claim are their bequest. I like wise bequeath to my aforenamed two daughters twenty five dollars cash each, also as long as their mother lives they are to have a sufficient supply of stock such as horses, cows, sheep and hogs as will support them. All which after their mothers death shall fall back to the general estate. I also will and bequeath to my son Richard Vance fifty dollars.
The land and property is to be divided equally among all my children, Alexander Vance, Richard Vance, heirs of my daughter, Jane Hudson, dec'd are to have their mother's part and likewise to my daughter, Margaret Hudson, Elizabeth Hudson, John Vance, Mary Marcum, William Vance, Nancy Milby, Ruth Vance, Fanny Wilson, Rachel Vance, and Charlotte Wilson; exec., my sons, Richard Vance and John Vance; signed, William Vance; Teste: Thomas Henry; Produced in Court 21 March, 1831 by Richard and John Vance and proven by Thomas Henry and Alfred Calhoun; Recorded by John Barret.
To settle the estate of William Vance the Green County Court at its December term 1831 appointed three commissioners to divide the lands of which William Vance died possessed the heirs of said Vance. The commissioners divided the land into 13 parcels and lots were drawn for the parcels by the heirs. In February 1832 the commissioners returned their completed report to the court.
The 857 acres owned by William Vance at the time of his death included 307 acres on Ptman Creek deeded by his parents Alexander and Jane Matthews Vance and 104 acres in Russell County deed him by Richard Woolridge father of his wife France.
Alexander Vance, son of John and Jean or Jaine Wilson Vance was born probably in Shenandoah County, Virginia. John Vance moved his family to Bath County then to Washington County, Virginia. Records in Washington County, Virginia show Alexander and Jane Matthews Vance as being there. The court records and activities of Alexander Vance as a citizen.
This line of Vance men were surveyors and moved all over south western Virginia and into what is now Kentucky as they worked. John Vance, father of Alexander was in Kentucky by 1774 according to records of surveys there. Surveyors frequently took their pay in land and the Vances acquired much good land in Virginia and Kentucky this way, resulting in considerable wealth in the families. Records of surveys by Alexander in Kentucky by 1788.
Alexander and his son William both owned land in Nelson, Russell, Green, and Adair Counties as these counties were formed from Fayette and Lincoln and from each other.
ljcurtis1959added this on 28 Jul 2011
drfredadeskinoriginally submitted this to Freda Jones Deskin Family Tree on 2 Dec 2006
- Bond is dated 15 December 1785
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1811 - 1889 (78 years)
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