On 17 November 1828, orators and oratrices Samuel Johnson and Catharine his wife, Henry Dunn, George Martin and Joanna his wife, Dabney Dunn, Thomas Harper and Eliza his wife, Reuben Ware and Sally his wife, Polly Hardy, John Hardy, Mary Dunn, John Dunn, Patsy Dunn, William Dunn, Alexander Dunn, Lewis Dunn, Washington Dunn, Edmund Dunn, Mary Dunn, Fanny Moore, Jane Moore, George Moore, Samuel Broocks, Polly Newbill, William Cox and Lilly his wife, John Cooper and Constant his wife filed a complaint with the chancery court in Essex County, Virginia. “That John Dunn the father of your oratrice Catharine Johnson & of John Dunn who is deac’sd left the said Henry Dunn & Joanna Dunn, his only children & heirs at law, of James Dunn who is also decd & left your orator Dabney Dunn & Tolla Dunn decd, the father of Eliza Harper his only children & heirs at law, of Ann Dunn, who married Joseph Hardy, who is decd & left an only son, Joseph who is also decd & left your oratrice & orators Sally Ware, Polly Hardy & John Hardy his only children & heirs at Law, of Wm Dunn who is also decd & left your oratrices & orators, Mary Dunn, John Dunn & Curtis Dunn who is since decd, & left your orators & oratrices Patsy, William, Alexander, Lewis, Washington, Edmund & Mary his only children & heirs at Law, of Fanny, who married George Moore, both of whom are now decd & left your oratrices & orator Fanny, Jane [June?], & George Moore their only children & heirs at Law, of Mary Brooks, who afterwards married Rice Cauthorn, the mother of your orator & oratrice named Broocks, Polly Newbill, & Sally Cox, who are entitled to distribution as heirs at Law of said Mary Brooks; of Polly Broocks, who left your oratrice Constant Cooper her heir at Law and now residing of Va. who have not been heard from for the last five years also heirs”. That John Dunn “departed this life some time in the year [blank] having made his last Will & Testament, dated 21st December 1789 & duly recorded…He devised to his wife during her widowhood all the land whereon he resided, and after her death, he gave the same to John Dunn his son, who was a brother of the whole blood to the said Catharine Johnson, your oratrice, & of the whole blood to James Dunn, who the said complainants pray may be made deft: hereto & of the whole blood to Henry Dunn, who is decd and left James H. & Roberta his only children & heirs at Law & of the half blood to his other brothers & sisters herein before mentioned, that the said John Dunn afterwards died intestate, an infant under twenty one years of age & without issue…That the said James Dunn & James H. Dunn & Roberta Dunn may be made defendants…” [Essex County, Virginia, Box 146, Deeds and Wills, 1828–1829, loose paper.]

I Alexander Dunn of the County of Essex and State of Virginia being weak of body but of sound mind do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament First It is my wish and desire that all my just debts be paid out of my estate and the balance of my estate both personal and real (not only what I have in possession) but also my interest in my fathers estate and every other interest I may have I give to my beloved wife Catharine Dunn forever to do with as she may think proper Lastly I appoint my beloved wife executrix to this my last Will and Testament and it is my wish that no security shall be required of her by the Court — In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix [sic] my Seal this second day of December 1834.
Alexander Dunn
Witnesses: Wm L Waring, Edmund Dunn, George his x mark Foreacres. On 16 March 1835, proved by all three witnesses. On the motion of Edmund Dunn, the court being satisfied that the executrix named in the will refuses to take upon herself the burthen of the execution of the will, a certificate is granted him in order to his obtaining probate. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 23, page 325.]

On 16 March 1835, Edmund Dunn and Edward M Ware were bound in the penalty of $150 for Edmund Dunn’s administration with the last will and testament of Alexander Dunn, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 23, pages 325–326.]

On 25 March 1835, an inventory and appraisal of the estate of Alexander Dunn, deceased, was made by Wm. L. Waring, John Boughton and Brooks Boughton. (At the top, the name Boughton is twice written Booton.) [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 23, page 362.]

The estate of Alexander Dunn in account with Edmund Dunn for 1835 to 1836 was ordered recorded 17 October 1836. Mentions a payment to Mrs Catharin Dunn on 1 June 1836. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, pages 60–61.]