DAVID GWIN
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 Created 3/7/2015
Date edited 7/14/2017