Joseph Abbott III (1723 - 1788)

Born 24 Apr 1723 in King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia

Husband of Martha Frances (Sears) Abbott — married 1742 in King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 30 Mar 1788 at age 64 in Halifax, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Joseph McGowan [send private message] and Joyce Rogers [send private message]

Identity of Parents

This Joseph Abbott is not the son of John Abbott and Elizabeth Phipps. John and Elizabeth were in Connecticut until at least 1729 and the births of their children in Connecticut conflict with this Joseph Abbott. John and Elizabeth had a daughter Elizabeth born 13 Nov 1722 and a son John born 2 Apr 1724 (making it not possible to have a son born 23 Apr 1723). Please see more detailed notes below.

And, Joseph Abbott born in 1723 cannot be the son of a Jonathan Abbott born in 1719.

Biography

Joseph Abbott III is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P100137
Rank:

He married Martha (Sears) Abbott in Virginia about 1742.

He passed away in 1788 in Halifax, Virginia, United States.

Research Notes

SAR database shows a Joseph born in 1730 and died in 1788 as patriot P-100137.

Possible marriage of possible daughter: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5YR-4HC

For family tree: http://www.abbott-family.org/reports/Abbott_Benjamin_REPORT_01_21_2014a.pdf In this report, it says that his wife was Ann and she was born in Halifax Co. - Is Benjamin Abbott the brother of John Abbott, Joseph's father?

Married 3 times

1st Unknown

2nd Unknown

3rd Frances Unknown

Joseph Abbott is our earliest proved ancestor, as his parents are unknown. (The Massachusetts parents repeatedly given for him in numerous online files are definitively not his parents, as we shall see.) We can quickly summarize Joseph’s life as revealed in the records thus:

Joseph Abbott was born abt. 1710 likely in or near King and Queen County, Virginia. Based on the proved and closely-approximated ages of his children, Joseph apparently had three wives. He married for the first time abt. 1728, when his first child is proved to be born, and married again around 1754, but the names of those two wives are unknown. Joseph married his third and only known wife, Frances (her maiden name is unknown), abt. 1765, three years after moving from King & Queen to Halifax County, Virginia. His last child seems to be born abt. 1777 but possibly as late as 1782. Joseph owned 500 acres at Difficult Creek in north-central Halifax just east of today’s Crystal Hill, VA, where he prospered well above the average farmer in his time and place. Joseph Abbott died in early 1788 leaving a will that names his wife Frances (who survived him by 35 years) and 16 surviving children, all still living in Halifax County. [HWB2:298]

Joseph Abbott brought his family to Halifax County, Virginia about 1762, just 10 years after the county was formed along the North Carolina border in what was then Virginia’s southwestern frontier. Joseph’s eldest son had been living there for over twelve years, arriving when the area was still part of Lunenburg County. When Joseph died in early 1788, he left 16 children in Halifax, the last of whom died in 1862 in the same Halifax area where the Abbotts settled a century before. Today’s Abbott Hill Road just east of Crystal Hill, VA encircles the general location of the family’s original lands, the place where Joseph Abbott’s descendants throughout the United States and abroad have their roots.

Will

WILL OF JOSEPH ABBOTT Written 30 Mar 1787 - Proved 27 Oct 1788 - Halifax Will Book 2, p. 298-300 In the name of God amen, I Joseph Abbott of the County of Halifax being in perfect sense and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of this Transitory life knowing it is appointed once for all men to die and as touching such worldly estate as it has pleased almighty God to give me, I do give and bequeath in the following manner Imp[rimis]

• I give and bequeath to my wife Francess Abbott my hole estate both real and personal during her natural life or Widowhood except that tract of land which my son William lives on which contains one hundred and fifty [150] acres But if she should marry I do give her the third part of my estate --
• Item I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Abbott One Shilling Current Money --
• Item I give and bequeath to my son William Abbott that Parcel or Tract of Land whereon he now lives containing one hundred and fifty [150] acres which is the greater part of that tract of land that I had from Isaac Linch to him and his heirs forever --
• Item I give and bequeath to my son Richard Abbott my house and plantation whereon I now live containing one hundred and fifty [150] acres to him and his heirs forever --
• Item I give and bequeath to my son Lennard Abbott one hundred [100] acres of land adjoining to the same tract or parcel of land lying on the timber branch To him & his heirs forever --
• Item I give and bequeath to my son Moody Abbott the whole remainder of my lands [ie,100 acres] to him and his heirs forever --
• Item I give and bequeath to my three young Sons namely John, Moses and Flemmon a Negro Wench named fan [Fan], and all my stock of Horses to be sold and the money equally divided amongst them at the decease of Myself and my Wife
• Item I give and bequeath to my four youngest Daughters namely Mary, Elizabeth, Frances & Paty, One Negro Girl named Hanna She and her increase to be sold by my executors or administrators hereinafter mentioned and the Money to be equally divided amongst them all to them and their heirs forever
• Item I give and bequeath to my three Oldest daughters namely Anney, Sarah and Rachel and also to my son Joseph Abbott One Negro fellow named London to be sold and the money equally divided amongst them four at the four discease mentioned [ie, aforementioned decease] of myself and my wife
• Likewise all the rest and residue of stock I have to be equally divided amongst my youngest boys beginning at William Abbott
• Likewise all household and furniture I give to my wife Frances Abbott to dispose of as she should best see cause amongst her children } and my wife Frances Abbott Exex [Executrix]

And lastly I appoint my son William Abbott Executor and Nathaniel Manning Executor of this my last will and testament revoking and disanuling all other will or wills heretofore by me made I[n] witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this thirty day of March 1787 [30 Mar 1787] /s/ Joseph (his mark) Abbott Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Ambrose Estes, John Stanly

At a Court held for Halifax County the 27th day of October 1788 [27 Oct 1788] The last will and Testament of Joseph Abbott deceased was exhibited in Court and was proved by the oaths of two of the witnesses thereto subscribed to be the act and will of the said Joseph and was ordered to be Recorded, and on the motion of Frances Abbott Exex [Executrix] and Wm Abbott one of the Exors [Executors] therein named who made Oath according to law Certificate for obtaining Probate of the said Estate was granted them:

they giving security whereupon they together with Edward Parker and John Fulkerson their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond for that purpose according to law reserving liberty for Nathaniel Manning the other Exor therein named to join in the execution thereof when he shall think fit. Teste: George Carrington [Source: Halifax Will Book 2, p. 298-300. Reel 36. Library of Virginia. Richmond, VA. Transcribed by J. Horsley. Original spelling retained; paragraphing, commas between names, and comments in brackets added.] Pgs. 40-87 pdf

Sources

• Book Title: Genealogical record, Rev. Nicholas Baker, 1610-1678, and his descendants
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 24 November 2020), memorial page for Joseph Abbott (1723–1788), Find A Grave: Memorial #102916564; maintained by Dianna George Batts (contributor 47625831) Burial Unknown.

See also: In the 1782 household enumeration, Joseph Abbott Sr. is listed with 14 whites and 3 blacks. If this is correct, then besides Joseph and wife Frances, the 12 others appear to be:

1. William Abbott - b. 1756 - m. 2 Dec 1784, Mary Parker
2. Mary Abbott - b. c1767 - m. 16 Oct 1787, Hatcher Owen
3. Elizabeth Abbott - b. c1768 - never married
4. Frances Abbott - b. c1769 - m. 15 Jan 1795, John Robertson
5. Richard Abbott - b. c1770 - m. 1 Sep 1818, Catharine Fulkerson
6. Leonard Abbott - b. c1771 - m. 9 May 1802, Susanna Ferguson
7. Martha “Patsy” Abbott - b. c1772 - never married
8. John Abbott - b. c1773 (possibly as late as 1776) - never married
9. Moody Abbott - b. c1775 (possibly as late as 1777) - m. 31 May 1826, Martha Lindsey
10. Moses Abbott - b. c1776 (possibly as late as 1782) - never married
11. Fleming Abbott - b. c1777 (possibly as late as 1782) - never married
12. One of the “three oldest daughters” - Ann, Sarah, or Rachel (b. c1730-1750)

• joanhorsley.org Joseph Abbott 36-87; Joan Horsley. Joseph Abbott and Family of Halifax County, Virginia. (Raleigh, NC: J. Horsley, 2013) Available online at www.joanhorsley.org.
• Joseph Abbott
• SARAH ABBOTT: Daughter of Joseph Abbott of Halifax County, Virginia