Harrison and Hartwell Family Wills
Surry County, VA and 
Edgefield County, SC
Submitted by Audrey Pool
            


Source:  Surry Co, VA Wills and Administrations of Surry Co, VA, 1671-1750:
 
“HARTWELL, John:  Leg. – Mentions wife.  To daughter, Elizabeth, 5 Negroes.  To 
my mother, Elizabeth EGGLESTON, wife of Mr Benj EGGLESTON, Negro.  To my uncle, 
Thomas ROGERS, 10 lbs.  To my friend, Mr Benj HOWARD, my pistol, sword, etc.  To 
my daughter, Elizabeth, one-third on my personal estate.  To my cozens (sic); 
John DRUMOND (DRUMMOND), Geo MARABLE, Jr and Henry Hartwell MARABLE, children to 
my loving sister, Mary MARABLE.  To daughter, Elizabeth, all land in Surry 
County at wife’s death.  Geo MARABLE and wife, Elizabeth, Exerc.  9 Feb 1710.  
Probate:  19 May 1714.  Wit:  James DEANS, Benj WHELER (WHEELER).  Book 6, p. 
184.”

 
“HARRISON, Nathaniel:  Leg. – To wife, Mary, all the houses and land where I 
live and all my other land adj. Thereto and the use and labor of all my slaves 
now settled and belonging on the said lands and use and occupation of all my 
household goods which I am possessed of at the places aforesaid for her natural 
life – I direct that until my son, Nathaniel HARRISON, arrives at the age of 21 
or married that all the profits from slaves and land (except those slaves on the 
plantation adj. Where I live) shall be for the sole benefit of all my daughters, 
except my daughter, Hannah CHURCHILL, who has already received as much of my 
estate as I could then conveniently spare to be equally divided.  Is I could 
then conveniently spare to be equally divided.  If not sufficient then each 
daughter to have t00 lbs, sterling a share.  

To son, NATHANIEL, all my land – in 
the counties of Charles City and Prince George.  To my son, Benjamin, after the 
decease of my wife, the remainder of all land, houses, etc and all land at a 
place called Joseph Swamp in the county of Surry.  The remainder of said land to 
son, Nath. and Benj..  If no issue to my brother, Henry HARRISON, gentlemen – on 
condition that he pay Hannah CHURCHILL, my daughter, and to my other daughters 
when 21 years old or married 1000 lbs sterling a piece.  If he fails to do this 
then – to my nephew, Benjamin HARRISON, of the county of Charles City, gentleman 
and said nephew pay 1000 lbs each to daughter, Hannah, and other daughters to go 
to my daughter, Hannah, first choice in the division.  

To son, Nathaniel, 4240 acres at a place called New Hope in the county of 
New Brunswick (Brunswick County, VA) and all slaves, stock, etc., when he is 
21 years old or married.  If he dies leaving a son, the son to inherit.  
But if he leaves only daughters, to go to my son, Benjamin.  He paying the 
daughters 2000 lbs sterling when 21 years or married and giving them a 
hamdsome education, etc. – To wife and brother, Henry HARRISON, all the lands 
I have in ye county of Henrico, to be sold and the money equally divided among all my daughters.  

To son, Benjamin, all my land at Cypress Swamp, 750 acres, and mills and remaining 
land in Surry County and land in Brunswick which was devised to me by will of 
David CRAWLEY late of Prince George County, deceased, and land at lace called 
Brandy Quarter in Brunswick County and two lots and an acre of land in the ‘Citty of Williamsburgh’ with houses, etc and the remainder of slaves and household goods, 
which I have before given to my wife for her life – when 21 years old.  

Provisions are made as to whether his issue be daughters or sons.  
To each daughter now not married one Negro ten years old.  
To Mary EDWARDS now residing with me one Negro.  
To John SIMMONS of Surry County land called BOLTON’S in Isle of Wight on 
condition that John SIMMONS build a corn mill on my land at a place 
called Rocky Creek in Brunswick County with dam, floodgates, etc.  
All the rest of my estate to wife and appoints wife and brother, 
Henry HARRISON, and son, Nathaniel HARRISON, 

Exers.  15 Dec 1726.  Prob:  24 Feb 1727.  Wit:  James BAKER, Thos ELDRIDGE, 
Nathaniel EDWARDS.  Book 7, p. 1736.”
 
“HARTWELL, John:  Est. – Stith BOLLING and Elizabeth BOLLING (also spelled 
BOLLON at times-see will below), admrs.  15 Xbr, 1727.  book 7, p. 618.”
 

Source:  Will Book 6, Brunswick County, VA
 
“Will of Nathaniel (x) HARRISON     25 Mar 1794   24 Oct 1796
Of St Andrews Parish.  ‘enjoying health of body’
   To my son Charles – 200 acres where he now lives joining Miry Branch, the 
creek, MORRISON, the bridge, Nathaniel & James HARRISON; all my land on the 
south side of LANIER’S Branch.
   To my son Cuddy HARRISON – the land & plantation where I now live for life & 
after death then to my son Cuddy HARRISON.
   To my daughter Polly SMITH – after my wife’s death I give to her Negroes 
Billender, Bunch, Creacy, Harry.
   To my wife Olive – lend to her Negro man Ned for life & after her death Ned 
to go to my son Cuddy;  also lend to my said wife all the rest of my estate 
during her widowhood.
   To my son Charles – 1 feather bed & furniture after the death or marriage of 
my wife Olive.
   To my daughter Olive SMITH – 1 feather bed & furniture after the death or 
marriage of my wife Olive.
   A sixth part of the remainder of my estate to be divided among Nathaniel 
HARRISON, James HARRISON, Jenny RIVERS, Sarah Anne HARRISON.
   The remainder of my estate to be divided between Chas HARRISON, Cuddy 
HARRISON, Polly SMITH, Anne SMITH & Olive SMITH.
   Should John Edmunds (EDMUNDS?) survive my wife, then all my children 
contribute to his support from my estate.
   Other legacies.
Ex:  my sons Charles & Cuddy HARRISON.
Wit:  John GOODE, Collins LANIER, Richard (x) ADKINS
Probate indicates that Charles & Cuddy HARRISON qualified with Benjamin BASS, 
Isham SMITH & Buckner HARWELL their securities.
 
“Inventory & appraisal of the estate of Nathaniel HARRISON, dec’d 2 Dec 1796.  
Included were Negroes:  fellow Bob, woman Cate, boy Day, boy Joe, woman Marier, 
fellow Ned, girl Bunch.  An additional inventory was taken 9 Dec 1796.  
Appraised by Buckner HARWELL, Richard ADKINS, John SHORT.  Returned to Court 22 
Apr 1799 by Charles & Cuthbert HARRISON, excrs.”

 
“Account 1794-1798 for the estate of Daniel WHITE, dec’d.
Named:  Nathaniel HARRISON (son of Nathaniel?) Other surnames mentioned:  John 
H.BASS, William BETTY, John DRUMMOND, Sr, John DRUMMOND, Jr, Levi DRUMMOND, 
FRAME, LOVE & CO., Dr Jason HAND, Grief HARWELL, Edmund JACKSON, Isaac  MOSELEY, 
John NICHOLSON, Mr RICHIE, Mark STEED, Thomas WASHINGTON, Blummer WHITE, Daniel 
WHITE, Easther WHITE, Elizabeth WHITE, John WHITE, Sarah WHITE, Stephen WHITE, 
Valentine WHITE, William WHITE, Ludwell WORSHAM.  Audited by Willie HARRISON, 
*Asa HOLLOWAY, John H. BASS.  Returned to Court apr 1800 by Clement Smith, 
excr.”  
   Note from Audrey:  This record should have significance to SC researchers.  
Compare the following will of Edgefield, SC.
 

Source:  Edgefield, SC wills, by Wooley:
 
“P. 167.  28 Oct 1824.  I, Blumer WHITE, Senior being of sound mind & memory but 
weak & feeble in health with the good will, love & affection which I have for my 
wife Joannah, I do give her during her life time all the household & kitchen 
furniture, plantation tools, stock of all kinds which I may possess at my death 
and at her death I do grant & devise all the plantation & tract of land 
household & kitchen furniture, tools, stock of all kinds which I now possess to 
him & his heirs forever.  I also will that my son Blumer WHITE shall pay out of 
the estate to my other children, Viz:  Rebecca, Daniel, Sarah, Abner, Tabitha, 
Jonathan & Martha five shilling each and also to the heirs of my dec’d children. 
 Viz:  Stephen WHITE, Senr. Five shillings & to the heirs Valentine WHITE five 
shillings & to the heirs of Elizabeth HARRISON five shillings.  I appoint my son 
Blumer WHITE as sole executor.  Wit: Stephen WHITE, Henderson WADE & John 
WADE—Signed Blumer WHITE.  Proved by the oath of Henderson WADE this 14 March 
1825 & same time qualified Blumer WHITE, Jr, as executor…Jn Timkins, O.E.D..”

 
Source:  Ibid
 
“Will of Thomas (x) HARRISON   30 Mar 1801   22 Jun 1801
Of Meherrin Parish. ‘sick & weakly of body’
   My wife Mary to keep all my estate together until my debts are paid & then my 
estate to be disposed of as follows:
   To my wife Mary – lend to her 247 acres where I now live; also Negroes 
Faitha, Austin, Doctor, Vilet, Cate, & Peter; for life.
   To my son John – 100 acres which I purchased from Robert BROOKS on the east 
side of Little Creek.
   To my son Thomas – 100 acres joining John BARNES, WASHINGTON*.
   To my sons Marke & *James HARRISON* - All the rest of my land.
   To my sons Henry – 1 cow & yearling, 6 1/5 acres above his land on Pole 
Creek.
   To my wife Mary – lend to her all the balance of my livestock & the balance 
of my estate.
   The Negroes & other estate lent to my wife, but excepting the land, to be 
divided among all my children, namely, John HARRISON, William HARRISON, Henry 
HARRISON, Frances ARCHER, Tabitha BOLLON (BOLTON-BOLLING)*, Marke HARRISON, 
*Nathaniel HARRISON, James HARRISON, Thomas HARRISON, Martha HARRISON & 
Elizabeth HARRISON.
   Marke, James & Thomas HARRISON are not to possess the land given them in this 
will until the death of my wife Mary.
Ex:  my sons William HARRISON & James HARRISON.
Wit:  Isaac HICKS, Jr, Stephen WHITE, James GRIFFIN, Bushrod WEBB, James 
HARWELL.
Probate indicates that James HARRISON qualified with John CLAIBORNE & James 
HARRISON his securities.”

 
Will Book 5, Brunswick County, VA:
 
“Will of Gabriel (x) HARRISON 12 Jun `779   22 Nov 1779
   To my son *Nathaniel HARRISON – Negro boy Harry.
   To my son *James HARRISON – Negro boy Bob.
   All my land to be sold & equally divided between my 2 sons Nathaniel & James.
    To my daughter Janie HARRISON – Negro girl Fanny.
   To my daughter Sarah Anne HARRISON – Negro girl Visey.
   To my wife – Negroes Peter, Grace, Betty, Tom, & all the rest of my estate 
after my debts are paid ‘for her to raise the children.’
Ex:  my wife Sarah Anne HARRISON.
Wit:  James BLICK, Benjamin BLICK, John GLADISH.
Probate indicates that the said excrx qualified with Benjamin BLICK & James 
BLICK her securities.”

 
Source:  Will Book 4, Part 2, Brunswick County, VA
 
“Will of *Joseph HARRISON  8 Mar 1763   28 May 1763
Of St Andrews Parish.
   To my daughter Nanny CHAPPELL – Negro girl Phillis.
   To my son William – Negro man Sharper, 1 bed & furniture, 1 colt.
   To my son Daniel – Negro girl Sarah, boy Ambross, 1 feather bed & furniture, 
1 mare.
   To my son Benjamin – Negro woman Patt, 1 feather bed & furniture.
   To my son Simmons – Negro girl Judith, 1 feather bed & furniture.
   To my daughter Patty HARRISON – Negro woman Ginney, 1 feather bed & 
furniture.
   To my daughter Elizabeth – all my cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, & all my other 
estate not given away; Negro man Tom to be sold & the money given to my said 
wife.
Wit:  Joseph CARTER, Daniel HARRISON, Frederick MACLIN.
Probate indicates that said CARTER proved the will on 28 May 1763, that said 
MACLIN proved it 25 Jul following & that Elizabeth HARRISON was granted 
administration with the will annexed with John PEEPLES (PEOPLLES) & Wood TUCKER 
her securities.”
 
“Appraisal of the estate of Joseph HARRISON.  Included were Negroes.
Boy Ambross, woman Jane, woman Pall, girl Sarah, man Sharper, man Tom, woman 
Fillis, girl Judith.  Appraisal by John BUTTS, Joseph CARTER, Frederick 
(torn-Maclin?).  Returned to Court 26 Sep 1763.”

 
Abstracts of Old Ninety-Six and Abbeville District Wills and Bonds:  SC
 
“*HARRISON, Nathaniel –Box 48, Pack 1109
   Will dated Sept 7, 1820 in Abbeville Dist.  Proved Feb. 26, 1821.  Exr:  
Wife:  Rebecca HARRISON.  Wit: Rob’t HARRISON, Jno MORRIS, R. W. WASHINGTON.  
Chn:  Elizabeth, Heartwell (Harwell?), Hubbard, Alfred, Bradford, Eaton, Gilbert 
HARRISON.  ‘Owned property in Virginia’.”