Spouse: Mary Dawson

Child-1: Jane
          2: Mary - b: ~1700

Biographical Details:

Very few specific details are known regarding the life of John Gilby.  It would seem that he was born about 1675 in Virginia; the identities of his parents are unknown.  His wife is thought to have been Mary Dawson about whom even less is known.  Alternatively, her maiden name might have been "Duson" since it might be plausibly inferred that Thomas Duson, deceased, who was incidentally mentioned in the will of John Gilby, was her father.¹  (Of course, Duson and Dawson might be the same surname since spelling was quite variable in the early eighteenth century.)  John and Mary Gilby apparently lived in South Farnham Parish in Essex County, Virginia, and had at least two daughters, Jane and Mary.  However, by the time John Gilby made his will in August of 1726 it would seem that his wife and other children, if any, had already died since he appointed his son-in-law, Thomas Howerton, as the executor of his estate.  The estate was settled in  June of 1727.

1a. In the name of God, Amen; I, John Gilby of the County of Essex in the parish of South Farnham, within the Colony of Virginia being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect sense and memory thanks be to God for the same, but calling to mind the mortality of my body, and that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this, my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I bequeath my soul to Almighty God who gave it to me, and my body to the earth from whence it came, to be buried in a decent like manner at the discretion of my Exrs., herein-after named.  All my worldly goods I give and bequeath in manner and form following, that is to say, Imprimis, I give unto my loving daughter Mary Gilby one Molatto girl named Sarah, to her and her heirs or assignes forever, the said molatto girl is to remain with her mother until she be free.  Secondly, I give unto my above said daughter Mary Gilby, fifteen pounds current money or as much of my estate as will be of value thereof, to be paid on demand after my decease, to her and her heirs forever, thirdly I give unto my above mentioned daughter Mary Gilby, four head of cattle to witt one cow and calfe, to one heiffer three years old, to one steer two years old, in consideration of one cow and calfe given her by Thomas Duson, deceased.  Item, I give unto my loving grandaughter Mary Morriss, two cows and calfes to be paid her upon the day of marriage, or at the age of twenty one years.  Item, all the rest of my estate, real and personal, negros, molattos, household goods and chattels of what nature or quality soever, I give unto my loving son and daughter, Thomas Hayworton and Jane his wife, and their heirs and assignes forever.  /s/John ^hisX_mark Gilby (seal)
     Last of all I do constitute and appoint my loving son-in-law Thomas Hoyworton to be my Executor of this my last will and Testament, revoking all other wills whatsoever.  In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and fixt my seale, this 8th day of August, in the year of our Lord God, one thousand seven hundred and twenty six.   Signed and sealed in the presence of:  /s/John ^hisX_mark Gilby  /s/James ^hisX_mark Newbell /s/William Covington

At a court held for Essex County on Tuesday the 17th day of January 1726, the within last will and Testament of John Gilby dec'd was proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto, is ordered to be recorded.  Know all men by these presents that we, Thomas Hawarton, William Covington and James Newball are held and firmly bound unto William Dangerfield, Benjamin Robinson, Salvatore Muscoe and Robert Brooke, gent.  Justices of  the County of Essex - in the sum of £250 sterling, to which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves, our heirs, Exec and Adm's, jointly and severally to the said Justices, their heirs and successors, firmly by these presents.  Witness our hands and seals this 17th day of January 1726.  The condition of this obligation is such that if the above bound Thomas Hawarton, Exec of the last will and Testament of John Gilby, deceased, do make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to the hands, possession or knowledge of the said Thomas or into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for him and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the County Court of Essex at such time as he shall be thereto required by the said court and the same goods, chattels and credits and all other the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased at the time of his death or which at any time after shall come to the hands or possession of the said Thomas or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for him do well and truly admin according to Law and further do make a true and just account of his citings and doings therein when thereto required by the said court and also do well and truly pay and deliver all the legacies contained and specified in the said testament as far as the said goods chattels and credits will thereunto extend according to the value thereof and the law shall charge him then this obligation to be void and of none effect otherwise to remaine in full force and vertue.  Signed, sealed, and delivered /s/Thomas Hayworton in the presence of William Terrell  /s/William Covington  /s/James Newbell
     Acknowledged by Thomas Hayworten, William Covington and James Newbell to be their act and deed in Essex County Court the 17th day of January 1726 and ordered to be recorded.  W. Beverley C.C.  (Will Bk. 4 - Pt. 1, Essex Co., VA, pg. unk., Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA,  (microfilm: roll - City and County Records #40).)

b. In obedience to an order of Court bearing date the 17th day of January 1726, We the Subscribers having met at the house of Thomas Hourton being first sworn before one of his Majesties justices of the peace for this County having appraised and Inventoried the Estate of John Gilby, deceased as follows, Viz:
 

To 1 old bed rugg & two old blankets & l bed cord	£3.0.0
To 30 pieces of old pewter at 7d per lb & l old chamber pott at 12d	0.19.9
To 10 lbs of old brass at 4	0.3.4
To bag of broken pot iron at 1-1/2 per lb	0.8.7½
To 1 pair of old stilliards at 4S	0.4.0
To 1 parcel of old clothes 5S  1 old table 1S  1 old hatt 1S	0.7.0
To 2 old Axes 1 old cooper ax & 1 old drawing knife all at	0.4.6
To a parcel of old carpenter tools & some old iron - all at	0.4.6
To 1 old bedstead & 3 iron wedges	0.8.6
To 1 old looking glass at 3S & 1 fire pot at 10S	0.13.0
To 1 old mugg 12d & 1 old sworde & belt 3S	0.4.0
To 3 old tubbs at 5S & 1 old stone mugg 1S 6d & 2 old cydercasks at 9S	0.15.0
To 1 old tubb & some old feathers 5S	0.5.0
To 2 cows & two yearlings at £3 & 1 cow & 1 heiffer & 1 steer	5.10.0
To 1 old mare at £1.10 & 1 old cowhide 2S	1.10.0
To 2 old leather chairs at 3S	0.6.0
To 1 mulatto woman named Eliz. Bond	10.10.0
To 1 ditto child named Eliner Bond aged about 4 years	8.10.0
To 1 ditto named Sarah Bound aged about 2 years old	6.10.0
To 1 old frow 1S & 1 old crosscut saw 1S and 1 old Bible 5S	0.7.0
To 8 barrels of Jugon corne at 6S per barrell	2.8.0
To 1362 1/2 lbs of tobacco at 12S per hundred	8.10.8

Given under our hands this 20th day of February 1726:  /s/Henry Perkins  /s/William Cole  /s/Henry Perkins Jun.  /s/Thos ^hisX_mark Haywarton, Exec'r
     An inventory of some part of the Estate of John Gilby deced lying in King and Queen County & not appraised, Viz:  To 2 old chests & 3 old cyder casks 3 leather chairs much broken.  To 1 iron pestle and 1 iron wedge To one old auger one old syth blade one old plow iron.     February 21, 1726.
     This inventory and appraisement of the Estate of John Gilby deced being returned to Essex County Court the 20th day of June 1727 is ordered to be recorded.  W Beverley C.C.  (ibid.)
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Additional Citations:

2. Robert L. Evans, "Our Family's History", November 9, 2001, unpublished.

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