DAVID    GWIN

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David Gwin  was born about 1690 in Virginia.  There was a prominent Gywnn family that emigrated by mid 1600s into Isle of Wight County Virginia.  Perhaps David is connected to them.  But so far, I have not been able to document. it.  It is not known who his parents were.

The Vestry Book of St. Paul's Parish 1706-1786 in Hanover county VA has David Gwin listed as an acting  member of the Vestry in March 1740. However, by 1745 David had moved his family to Lunenburg County where he owned 700 acres on Wards Fork.  A later court record, Charlotte County Chaucery Court Dec. 22, 1761, described the acreages as from  "Ward Fork Creek to the hill above the Mill of Wilson Maddox, formerly the mill of David Gwinn, to the head of Spring Branch."  David Gwinn Jr.  had inherited the mill from his father in 1753.

From Lunenburg County VA order Book 2, 1748-1752 abstracted by June Banks Evans from reel 25:
    pg 343, Oct. Court 1750 - "Any three of David Gwin, Henry Isbell, William Maddox & John Gwin to appraise slaves & personal estate of John Sullivan decd"
this tells me that David, his son and neighbor William Maddox were considered trusted men by the community.

Virginia was in a time of expansion during this century.  New counties were being created from old constantly.  This is related in this story.  In 1720 Hanover county was formed from part of New Kent County.  Hanover, the town and the county is north of Richmond. in 1764 Charlotte County was formed from Lunenburg County. I don't know how there is Chaucery Court records from Charlotte county in 1761.  Needs to be clarified.

David Gwin wrote his will August 20, 1752..  It was proved Dec. 5, 1752.  It gives us a lot of information about his family.  So we can make some guesses, based on the will.  
-*He first names his grandson, John Gwin and leaves him the land and plantation where his father, John Gwin, lived and 4 negroes, named.  It reads as if the elder John has died and on line indications are that he died earlier in 1752.  young John, and he was probably less than 10 years old, was instructed to give his sister Margaret a valuable piece of land.
If young John should die without heirs, than the land and slaves go to David Gwin.

*2nd he names son David Gwin - to gets the rest of my land on the lower side of Ward's fork, the mill, all the land at the mill and 3 negrose, household goos , stock and 3 books.: The Bible, The Practice of Duty and the Whole Duty of Man.  David was also named executor along with his father's wife Mary. However, David is not yet of lawful age, so the final probate would be after he became of lawful age.

*3rd he names son George Gwin - to get the land and plantation "whereon I now live, and that on the upper side of Ward's fork, 3 negroes, household good, stock and 5 pounds to buy a Bible and Common Prayer Book. As he is 3rd in order, I assume he was younger than David but I can find no information about him.

*4th he names two married daughters, Jain Maddx - to get 10 pounds and the 1st baby born to the negroes.
and Drusilla Tolbot - to get 10 pounds and the 2nd baby born to the negroes.  I therefore assume, Drusilla was the younger of these two women.

* 5th he then names Mary Young, widow and ask that she be given bread corn from his mill during her lifetime.  There is no hint as to her relationship to the family.

*6th he names his wife, unnamed here - she was to use any part of his estate and negroes during her life as she think fit.  

* finally he names daughter Sarah Gwin, to receive the land whereon the church stands and 1 negro boy, and 2 pounds for a Bible and Common Prayer Book.  As she is still unwed, and last mentioned, she may have been the baby of the family. 

He then names the Executor to be my son David Gwin and executrix - my wife, Mary Gwin. Lunenburg county VA will book One, page 84 1752. 

We don't know when he married Mary, or if she was mother to all the children.  His known children  from the will:
1.  John Gwin, born about 1718, may have wed Elizabeth Twitty.  He died shortly before his father's will was written in  August 1752
2. Jane Gwin born about 1720, wed Wilson Maddox
3.  Drusilla Gwin, born 1727 wed Charles Tolbot
4.  David Gwin, born about 1732, wed Dorothy Jones 1757
5.  George Gwin, born about 1735
6.  Sarah Gwin born about 1740

David Gwin's will was  recorded Dec. 5, 1752. Lunenburg County VA Will Book 1, page 84.  The appraisal was recorded by Mary Gwinn on May 1, 1753.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS


If you know the answer please CONTACT US.

1. Who were his parents?
2.  Where and when was he born?
3.  What was his wife's birth name, and was Mary his first and only wife?
4. There other children and when were they born?
5.  Confirm all birthdates and spounses of his children.
6.  What church was on the property Sarah was to inherit?
7.  When did Mary Gwin die?
8  What was the relationship of widow Mary Young?

 

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Date edited 7/14/2017