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485. Original Wroe (Married first: Elener ___(#486) on 27 September, 1719 and then Jane Lyne about 1734; (Source: The Wroe and Chancellor Families Compiled by William Clarke Wroe, 1992, 30, 47-49 ).

 

Born: 29 August 1697 in Westmoreland, Virginia of William Wroe (#969) and Judith Browne (#970).

Died: 30 May 1774 in Westmoreland, Virginia.

 

[His siblings included:

William Wroe (Rowe) : (Married: Elizabeth Pope, a widow) Born: circa 1700 in Westmoreland, Virginia; Died: ? Will dated May 12, 1768 was proved September 27, 1769. Miscellaneous: He was a man of considerable means and preferred to spell his name Rowe.

Richard Wroe: Born: 1702 or 1704 in Westmoreland County, Virginia; Died: ?

Mary Wroe: Born: 1702 or 1704 in Westmoreland County, Virginia; Died: ?

Judith Wroe: Born: circa 1706 in Westmoreland County, Virginia; Died: ?

Elizabeth Wroe: Born: circa1708 in Westmoreland County, Virginia; Died: ?

Sarah Wroe: Born: circa 1710 in Westmoreland County, Virginia; Died: ? "It is believed that Sarah, as well as her sisters Mary, Judith, and Elizabeth, died without ever marrying; perhaps even in infancy."]. (Source of information about Original's siblings: The Wroe and Chancellor Families Compiled by William Clarke Wroe, 1992, pages 27-30).

 

Miscellaneous:

As quoted from page 47-49 of The Wroe and Chancellor Families Compiled by William Clarke Wroe, 1992:

"Original Wroe, the eldest son of William Wroe and Judith Browne, was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia on August 29, 1697.

Although named after his grandfather, Originall Browne (#1,939), Original Wroe used only one :L" in spelling his name, as is most evident in his signature on his will. From his will we also learn that Original Wroe was literate, and, so far as is known, so were all of his children. Illiteracy was quite common in the 1600's and 1700's and two witnesses to that will signed by making their 'X' mark.

By the time of his death, Original Wroe had accumulated considerable wealth in livestock, personal property and large quantities of land in Westmoreland, Orange, and Culpeper counties. Wealth, at this time in history, was also measured largely in terms of the number of slaves a person owned. On January 28, 1755, Original Wroe received from his cousin, Original Browne III (1695-1757) and his wife, Elizabeth (Dishman) Browne, 'four Negroes by name Grace, Sue, Jenny and Jemima...' Horrifying as the concept is today, slavery was then a reality which we can now neither deny nor overlook.

On one occasion, Original Wroe and Thomas Lyne (his father-in-law or brother-in-law; we don't know which) [by his second wife, Jane Lyne], jointly acquired land which they later subdivided. This was on June 25, 1740 when John Barnett of Orange County deeded to Thomas Lyne of Lunenburg Parish, Richmond County, and Original Wroe of Washington Parish, Westmoreland County, 400 acres in St. Mark's Parish, Orange County. On September 24, 1745, by a survey, this land was divided equally and on that same day Thomas Lyne sold his 200 acres to Edward Price.

Part of the holdings of Original Wroe in Westmoreland County were purchased from cousins, John and William Browne. This property, which cost 4,000 pounds Tobacco, consisted of 100 acres on Machodoc Creek.

Another parcel, which became part of his largest plantation, he purchased in 1740 from St. John Shropshire. This property, located on the North side of Attopin Creek, was only 40 acres but cost a mere five shillings. Attopin Creek was later named "Rosier Creek'.

In September 1991, our cousin from Indiana, Dr. Lester L. Wroe and his wife, Georgia, visited the area and met the present owner of this tract of land which had been owned by William Browne. This property, which is not graced by a beautiful 180 year old house, is now owned by Georgia Phillip, who is postmaster of Nide, in King George County, Virginia.

Original Wroe, as 'tenant-in-common' with John White, owned half interest in a grist mill which was located on this property in Westmoreland County. John White died in early 1751, and on the date of his will was proved (April 30, 1751), Sarah White, his widow and executrix of his estate, sold her husband's half interest to Original Wroe for, '... 30 pounds current money of Virginia.' At some time (date unknown), Original Wroe erected or purchased a still, which was also located on or near this property; both would be mentioned later in his will. This mill is believed to have been located on property adjacent to that of Washington's Mill and was on Attopin Creek (long before it was renamed - Rosier Creek) across from the property of George Weedon.[See map.]

On September 27, 1719, Original Wroe married his first wife, Elener----(1702-1734 est.), whose surname does not appear in any known record, official or otherwise; and not even in The Wroe Family Bible.

September 30, 1730, Original's father's will was proved. Evidently, Hannah [Original's stepmother, whom his father (William Wroe (#969) had married after Original's mother had died] died, and William Browne, [who was possibly Original's uncle and who had been named in the will, along with Hannah, as executors], declined to act as executor, so the court appointed Original, as the Administrator of his father's estate.

Original's second marriage, in about 1734, was to Jane Lyne, the daughter of Thomas Lyne and his wife, Elizabeth..... The Wroe Family Bible indicates that Jane Lyne was born July 25, 1710 and died October 21, 1769. She had a brother, Thomas, and a sister, Susannah.

There were five children by his first wife, Elener, and eight more by his second wife Jane. Original was almost 56 years of age when the last of his thirteen children was born. There were 32 years between the birth of the first child, by wife Elener, and that of the last, by wife Jane. This span of years created an apparent lack of parallel in subsequent generations, adding further confusion to an otherwise complex pattern of relationships.

The thirteen children of Original Wroe were as follows: by his first wife, Elener, (1) John, (2) Jane, (3) Elener, (4) William (#243), (5) Reginald; and by his second wife, Jane, (6) Ellen, (7) Richard, (8) Judith, (9) Elizabeth, (10) Thomas, (11) Susannah, (12) Benjamin, and (13) Lucettah.

Original Wroe died May 30, 1774, disposing of his wealth through the provisions of his will, dated December 28, 1771 and proved May 13, 1774 at the Westmoreland Court. He was buried on his property in King George County, which property was inherited by his son, Richard. Years later, in 1782, the bulk of this property, was sold by Richard to his nephew, Original Wroe, son of William Wroe (#243) and his wife, Grace (Chancellor) #244, however, that sale excluded, '...one half of an acre including the grave of the said deceased father...,' which Richard kept as his own.

The will of Original Wroe is an amazing document which contains several most interesting and mystifying provisions.

One particularly interesting provision appears in his bequests of his numerous slaves. To his sons, his will states, 'I give' whereas to his daughters it states, 'I lend.' Thereafter, he specifies that if the daughter should die without heirs, the 'said negro and increase to return to my Executors.' This did not appear to apply to property in land, horses, cattle and personal items, but only to the slaves."

The Virginia County Record Publications New Series Volume 1 Westmoreland County, Edited By The Late William Armstrong Crozier, (Editor of the Virginia County Records etc. etc.) and published posthumously by Mrs. Wm. Armstrong Crozier, Published in 1913, page 74 states:

"WROE, ORIGINAL, 21 Apl. 1772; 31 May 1774
Sons William, Richard, Benjamin, John, Thomas and Reginald; daughter Judith Briggs until David Briggs shall come of age; daughter Elizabeth Scott; daughter Susanna Edwards; daughter Lucetta Wroe."

[Note: The source of the will below is Appendix 20 of The Wroe and Chancellor Families Compiled by William Clarke Wroe, 1992, pages 497-499.]

Will of Original Wroe
December 28, 1771

In the name of God Amen, I, Original Wroe of Westmoreland County and Washington Parish, Planter, being in good and perfect sense & memory thanks be to Almighty God, but calling to mind the transitory estate of man and all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call him I therefore make with my own hand and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner & form as followeth. First and principally I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God not doubting but trusting through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ my savior to receive forgiveness of all my sins, and as for my body to be buried according to the discresion of my Executors hereafter mentioned and in a decent and christian like manner and as for my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with I give to my two sons William & Richard Wroe the plantation & land I now live on which I bought of John & William Browne and also a parcell of land I purchased of St. John Shropshire adjoining to Joseph Smith's land and David Downton's land and Mr. William Bernard's land, I bequeath the above said tract of land and appurtenances to my two above named sons William & Richard Wroe and their heirs of their bodyes lawfully begotten for ever, but if either of them should die without such heirs their part to fall to my son Benjamin Wroe and his lawfull heirs after the following manner now my will is, that if they or any of them should offer to sell any part or parcell of the above mentioned premises to any but the next heir, John Wroe excepted, it is my will that he shall be the last of my six sons that shall inherit any part of the said lands or premises and it is my will that if any of my sons or lawfull heirs should offer to sell any part or parcell of the above said land to but whom I have ordained to inherit the said land it shall fall to the King or his successors and if the King or successors should offer to sell any part or parcell of the same shall fall to the next of kin to me in like manner.
Imprimis. I give to my son John Wroe one shilling & no more-
Item. I give to my two sons Wm Wroe & Richard Wroe one hundred acres of land in Culpepper County in the little forks of Rapphanoch their first choice out of the tract in quantity & quality and I give to Richard my sett of coopers tools and the rest of my working tools to William. My shoe makers tools to my son Benjamin Wroe. I also give to my sons Richard & William all my books of every kind all this I give to them their heirs or assigns forever-
Imprimis: I give to my above named two sons William & Richard Wroe my grist mill and appurtenances to them & their heirs forever and my still and beaf in like manner.-
Imprimis: I give to my son William Wroe and his heirs forever one negro man known by the name of Sam one negro girl know by the name of Sarah and one negro girl known by the name of Dinah to him and his heirs or assigns forever. and as I expect I have a suit commenced against the security of Capt. John Newton deceast for a false return made by his deputys if I should die before it is ended I desire my son William Wroe may pursue it & receive the profit, but if he should die before it is tryed that my other Executors shall pursue it and receive the damage.-
Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Wroe one negro man known by the name of Harry one negro named Davie one negro named Aaron and one cow & calf. one mare came of a mare called Star foaled in 1771.
Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Wroe one hundred acres of land belonging me in the little forks in Culpepper County and one negro girl known by the name of Moll or Mary and one feather bead and such furniture as belongs to my bead and one cow & calf and negroe girl known by the name of Judy to him his heirs or assigns forever-
Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Wroe one hundred acres of land of the said tract above mentioned in the County of Culpepper his third choice, and one negroe girl known by the name of Pegg or Margaret, and one negro girl known by the name of Winney to him his heirs or assigns forever. But if Benjamin should die without such, what I have given to him shall fall to my sons Wm & Richard & their heirs forever. And on feather bead and such furniture as belongs to my beads, and my gunn and a young horse came of a mare called Fly to him his heirs or assigns forever-
Imprimis: I lend to my daughter Judith Briggs one negro woman known by the name of Grace during her natural life, but if she can (make) a lawful complaint that Briggs should use her ill it shall be in the power of my executors to take her from him and ceep her in their (care) til David Briggs shall come to age, but if the said David should die before that time that she shall return to my Executors-
Imprimis: I lend to my daughter Susanna Edwards one negro woman known by the name of Jemima I lend her the said negro to her and her lawful heirs, but if she should die without such then the said negroe & increase to return to my Executors-
Imprimis: I lend to my daughter Lucetta Wroe one negro girl known by the name of Little Sue to her and her lawful heir forever but if she should die without such then the said negro & increase to fall to my Executors. I also give her one feather bead a mat and furniture such as others, one cow & calf and one young mare came of a mare called Star to her and her heirs forever-
I appoint four of my sons to be executors of this my last will and testament, namely William Wroe, Richard Wroe, Thomas Wroe, & Benjamin Wroe to be my executors of this my last will and testament, revoking anuling all other wills by me made. In witness whereunto I have set my hand and seal this twenty eighth of December one thousand seven hundred & seventy one-

Signed in presents of
John Weedon Jun.
Richard Downton
James Baker
his

Original Wroe (seal)

Thomas X Settle
mark
his

Nicho X Downton
mark

Woffendal Kendal, Cooper Chancellor

Item. I give my four sons Wm Wroe, Richard Wroe, Thomas Wroe, & Benjamin Wroe after my just debts and legasies are paid all my personall Estate to them & their heirs forever, as witness my hand & seal this 21st, of April 1772-

Teste
John Weedon Jun.
James Baker
David Downton

Original Wroe (seal)

This will was proved according to law (in March last) by the oaths of James Baker & Woffendal Kendal two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. John Wroe the heir at law being summoned according to law appeared and consented to the same; and on the motion of William Wroe and Richard Wroe two of the Executors therein named who made oath thereto & together with Thomas Chilton & John Weaver their securities entered into and acknowledged Bond with condition as the law directs certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form

Teste James Davenport, clk

(Note: Witness, John Weedon Jun., was the husband of Original Wroe’s daughter Lucy [or Lucetta] and was the brother of Augustine Weedon who was married to Jane Wroe, the daughter of Richard Wroe and Rebecca (Chancellor) Wroe.)"

 

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