Thomas Moore’s Genealogy Site - Person Sheet
Thomas Moore’s Genealogy Site - Person Sheet
Documentation
N.B. This William Dunn is known in the 1750s as William Dunn Junior. In 1753, his uncle William Dunn began to call himself William Dunn Senior, so this William was probably born about 1732.
On 4 December 1755, William Dunn Jr. cast votes for Mr. John Upshaw and Colonel Francis Smith for burgesses of Essex County. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 27, pages 248–252.]
On 14 March 1757, Willm Dunn junr witnessed a deed from James Turner to his son Thomas Turner. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 27, page 276.]
On 17 May 1757, John Tyler and Anna his wife of the County of Essex and Parish of Souhfarnham sold to Wm. Dunn Junr. of the same. For £50 Current money of Virginia, all interest which now is or shall hereafter become or Grow due to them the sd John Tyler and Anna his Wife to one parcel of Land Containing 172 Acres more or less being in the Parrish and County aforesaid, bounded by a Swamp Call Mathews, James Turner, a Line Called Peaches Line, the Land of James Boughan. Signed John Tyler, Anna Tyler. Witnesses: Thos. Dunn, Arthur Tate, James Thursbey. Memorandum that the land was given by Turf and Twig. On 17 May 1757, Anna privily Examined and the deed ordered to be recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 27, pages 305–307.]
On 10 April 1761, Thomas Dunn of the County of Essex and Parish of Southfarnham made a deed of gift to William Dunn. In Consideration of the Natural Affection and Love which I have and Bear unto my well beloved son William Dunn of the County and Parish aforesaid, a parcel of land lying in the County and Parish aforesaid Containing 101 acres more or less, it being the Land the aforesaid William Dunn now lives on, bounded by James Webb, Richard Brown, Francis Brown (Dece’d) Orphan which Land Thomas Denett is now in possession, Mill Swamp, William Dunn Senr., the mouth of John Edmondson Spring Branch, and the Mouth of Thomas Dunns Spring Branch. Signed Thomas Dunn. Witnesses: Richard Brown, Thomas Dennett, Nathaniel Dunn. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 28, pages 306–307.]
On 19 December 1763, a Report on the Petition of William Dunn Junr. was presented to the Court in these Words. “Essex Sct In Obedience to an order of Essex Court dated the 21st day of February last We being first sworn before James Webb Sheriff of the said County to View and examine the Lands belonging to the several Persons that may be Affected or Laid under Water by means of William Dunn Junrs erecting a Water Grist together with the Timber and other conveniences thereon and report the Damages to the proprietors thereof and the Value of the Acre petitioned for do report as follow, to wit. To Thomas Dennit for his low grounds that in our opinion will be laid under Water together with what trees will be distroyed by the same we value the damages to Thirty Shillings Current Money The Damages to William Dunn Junr. (White) for his low grounds that will be affected or laid under Water twenty Shillings to Nathaniel Dunn for his low grounds that will be affected or laid under water as high as Dunns Old Mill Dam above to Fifty Shillings. An Acre of Land belonging to the aforesaid Thomas Dennit opposite to the place where the said William Dunn proposes to erect his Mill we value to Twelve Shillings and Six pence Current Money…” The cause was ordered to continued to the next court. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 25, page 104–105.]
On 18 March 1765, On the motion of Thomas Turner Executor &c of James Turner decdeased It is ordered that William Dunn (Black) Henry Purkins, James Banks and William Dunn (White) or three of them (being first sworn according to Law) do value the Estate of the said decedent in Current money and that the Executor return an Inventory thereof to the Court. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 26, page 42.]
On 21 May 1770, an account of the sales of the estate of Jonathan Dunn was returned to court and ordered to be recorded. Includes purchases by Wm. Dunn (Black), Robt. Cole, Josiah Minture, John Brizendine Junr., Wm. Bird, Nathan Dunn, Wm. Dunn (Jonathan’s Son), Isaac Sheridan, Wm. Snodgrass, Jonn[?] Crow, John Dobbins, Gilbert Tureman, James Croxton, Thomas Dunn (long), William Dunn (White), and James Banks. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 12, pages 389–390.]
On 19 May 1778, in the sale of a tract of land from James Edmondson Junior and Anne McCarty his wife to William Edmondson, the land description mentioned, “Begining at a Corner Oak in the swamp between James Bookers land sand those of Thomas Wood, runing thence up the said swamp, to the place where the Lands of Benjamin Jones, James Booker, and the said William Edmondson corner, but where no marked tree stands at this time, thence a cross the road to a marked Hickory thence to a Corner Gum between Thomas Allen, Benjamin Jones and the said William Edmondson, thence to William Dunns mill swamp and down the same to a Corner white Oak between William Dunn (white) Elizabeth Dunn and the said William Edmondson …” [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 31, pages 395–396.]
“In the Name of God Amen I William Dunn, W, of Essex County & Parish Southfarnham Altho weak in body, Yet of sound sense & memory do make & ordain this my Last Will & testamt. Item. I bequeath my soul to almighty God my heavenly father in hopes of pardon & foregiveness of all my sins & wickedness in & through the merits of my blessed Lord & Savior Jesus Christ And as to my wordly Estate, I dispose of it in manner & form following Item; I Give & bequeath my Land to be equally divided, between my two sons Presly, & Julius Dunn, to them & their heirs for ever, Also I give them to be equally divided my Still &c &c to them & their heirs for ever Item, I bequeath unto Edm. Dunn, first choice of all my negroes, to him and his heirs for ever Item I bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Dunn Second Choice of my negroes, & first Choice of Beds & furniture also I give her my Desk, to her and her heirs for ever Item I give and bequeath unto son Presley Dunn third Choice of negroes & Second Choice of Beds & furniture to him & his heirs for ever Item, I Give & bequeath unto my son Julias Dunn fourth Choice of my negroes, & third choice of Beds and furniture to him and his heirs for ever Item I Give & bequeath unto my son Thomas Dunn, one Shilling Sterling to him & his heirs for ever Item I Give all the remainder to be equally divided, between my Children by name as follows Edmund, Ann Presly & Julias Dunn, to them & their heirs for ever — And Lastly I appoint my friend William Edmondson Exr. [?] to execute this my last will & testamt. as witness my hand & seal, & dated this the 7th day of November One thousand Seven hundred & Eighty five”
William [X] Dunn
Witnesses: Thomas Edmondson, Charles Evans, Nathl. [X] Dunn, Dolly [X] Brown
On 19 December 1785 offered to proof by William Edmondson and proved by Thomas Edmondson, Charles Evans, and Nathaniel Dunn.
[Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 13, pages 530–531.]
On 4 December 1755, William Dunn Jr. cast votes for Mr. John Upshaw and Colonel Francis Smith for burgesses of Essex County. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 27, pages 248–252.]
On 14 March 1757, Willm Dunn junr witnessed a deed from James Turner to his son Thomas Turner. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 27, page 276.]
On 17 May 1757, John Tyler and Anna his wife of the County of Essex and Parish of Souhfarnham sold to Wm. Dunn Junr. of the same. For £50 Current money of Virginia, all interest which now is or shall hereafter become or Grow due to them the sd John Tyler and Anna his Wife to one parcel of Land Containing 172 Acres more or less being in the Parrish and County aforesaid, bounded by a Swamp Call Mathews, James Turner, a Line Called Peaches Line, the Land of James Boughan. Signed John Tyler, Anna Tyler. Witnesses: Thos. Dunn, Arthur Tate, James Thursbey. Memorandum that the land was given by Turf and Twig. On 17 May 1757, Anna privily Examined and the deed ordered to be recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 27, pages 305–307.]
On 10 April 1761, Thomas Dunn of the County of Essex and Parish of Southfarnham made a deed of gift to William Dunn. In Consideration of the Natural Affection and Love which I have and Bear unto my well beloved son William Dunn of the County and Parish aforesaid, a parcel of land lying in the County and Parish aforesaid Containing 101 acres more or less, it being the Land the aforesaid William Dunn now lives on, bounded by James Webb, Richard Brown, Francis Brown (Dece’d) Orphan which Land Thomas Denett is now in possession, Mill Swamp, William Dunn Senr., the mouth of John Edmondson Spring Branch, and the Mouth of Thomas Dunns Spring Branch. Signed Thomas Dunn. Witnesses: Richard Brown, Thomas Dennett, Nathaniel Dunn. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 28, pages 306–307.]
On 19 December 1763, a Report on the Petition of William Dunn Junr. was presented to the Court in these Words. “Essex Sct In Obedience to an order of Essex Court dated the 21st day of February last We being first sworn before James Webb Sheriff of the said County to View and examine the Lands belonging to the several Persons that may be Affected or Laid under Water by means of William Dunn Junrs erecting a Water Grist together with the Timber and other conveniences thereon and report the Damages to the proprietors thereof and the Value of the Acre petitioned for do report as follow, to wit. To Thomas Dennit for his low grounds that in our opinion will be laid under Water together with what trees will be distroyed by the same we value the damages to Thirty Shillings Current Money The Damages to William Dunn Junr. (White) for his low grounds that will be affected or laid under Water twenty Shillings to Nathaniel Dunn for his low grounds that will be affected or laid under water as high as Dunns Old Mill Dam above to Fifty Shillings. An Acre of Land belonging to the aforesaid Thomas Dennit opposite to the place where the said William Dunn proposes to erect his Mill we value to Twelve Shillings and Six pence Current Money…” The cause was ordered to continued to the next court. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 25, page 104–105.]
On 18 March 1765, On the motion of Thomas Turner Executor &c of James Turner decdeased It is ordered that William Dunn (Black) Henry Purkins, James Banks and William Dunn (White) or three of them (being first sworn according to Law) do value the Estate of the said decedent in Current money and that the Executor return an Inventory thereof to the Court. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 26, page 42.]
On 21 May 1770, an account of the sales of the estate of Jonathan Dunn was returned to court and ordered to be recorded. Includes purchases by Wm. Dunn (Black), Robt. Cole, Josiah Minture, John Brizendine Junr., Wm. Bird, Nathan Dunn, Wm. Dunn (Jonathan’s Son), Isaac Sheridan, Wm. Snodgrass, Jonn[?] Crow, John Dobbins, Gilbert Tureman, James Croxton, Thomas Dunn (long), William Dunn (White), and James Banks. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 12, pages 389–390.]
On 19 May 1778, in the sale of a tract of land from James Edmondson Junior and Anne McCarty his wife to William Edmondson, the land description mentioned, “Begining at a Corner Oak in the swamp between James Bookers land sand those of Thomas Wood, runing thence up the said swamp, to the place where the Lands of Benjamin Jones, James Booker, and the said William Edmondson corner, but where no marked tree stands at this time, thence a cross the road to a marked Hickory thence to a Corner Gum between Thomas Allen, Benjamin Jones and the said William Edmondson, thence to William Dunns mill swamp and down the same to a Corner white Oak between William Dunn (white) Elizabeth Dunn and the said William Edmondson …” [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 31, pages 395–396.]
“In the Name of God Amen I William Dunn, W, of Essex County & Parish Southfarnham Altho weak in body, Yet of sound sense & memory do make & ordain this my Last Will & testamt. Item. I bequeath my soul to almighty God my heavenly father in hopes of pardon & foregiveness of all my sins & wickedness in & through the merits of my blessed Lord & Savior Jesus Christ And as to my wordly Estate, I dispose of it in manner & form following Item; I Give & bequeath my Land to be equally divided, between my two sons Presly, & Julius Dunn, to them & their heirs for ever, Also I give them to be equally divided my Still &c &c to them & their heirs for ever Item, I bequeath unto Edm. Dunn, first choice of all my negroes, to him and his heirs for ever Item I bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Dunn Second Choice of my negroes, & first Choice of Beds & furniture also I give her my Desk, to her and her heirs for ever Item I give and bequeath unto son Presley Dunn third Choice of negroes & Second Choice of Beds & furniture to him & his heirs for ever Item, I Give & bequeath unto my son Julias Dunn fourth Choice of my negroes, & third choice of Beds and furniture to him and his heirs for ever Item I Give & bequeath unto my son Thomas Dunn, one Shilling Sterling to him & his heirs for ever Item I Give all the remainder to be equally divided, between my Children by name as follows Edmund, Ann Presly & Julias Dunn, to them & their heirs for ever — And Lastly I appoint my friend William Edmondson Exr. [?] to execute this my last will & testamt. as witness my hand & seal, & dated this the 7th day of November One thousand Seven hundred & Eighty five”
William [X] Dunn
Witnesses: Thomas Edmondson, Charles Evans, Nathl. [X] Dunn, Dolly [X] Brown
On 19 December 1785 offered to proof by William Edmondson and proved by Thomas Edmondson, Charles Evans, and Nathaniel Dunn.
[Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 13, pages 530–531.]