I96511: Benjamin Holiday CATCHINGS Jr. (1848

Notes

R-22. Virginia Historical Marker: JAMES RIVER BATTEAU
"Near here lived Anthony and Benjamin Rucker, inventors of the James River batteau, which superseded the double dugout canoe and rolling road for transporting tobacco hogsheads. These long (about 50 or 60 feet), double-ended vessels dominated the commercial traffic on the James River and other Southern upland waterways between the 1770s and 1840s. A dispute arose in 1821 when the Rucker brothers' heirs sought to patent the design. A letter from Thomas Jefferson testifying to his presence at the first batteau's launch resolved the matter in the Ruckers's favor."
http://www.mindspring.com/~jogt/anthonyrucker_wl.htm
Will of Anthony Rucker, Dated 20 April 1820, recorded 17 Feb 1821
(W. B. 6, p.210-214, Amherst Co., VA):
In the name of God Amen I Anthony Rucker of the County of Amherst and State of Virginia being far advanced in years, and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life, and being of sound mind and disposing memory and feeling desirous of disposing of what worldly goods it has been pleased God to bless me with in that manner as seems just to me. I do hereby make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows to Wit:
First it is my will and desire that my Executors and Trustees herein after named shall pay all my just debts out of my Estate by sale of any property as they may deem most expedient.
Secondly I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife during her natural life my mansion home and one hundred and twenty five acres of land including the barns orchards etc also a sufficiency of the stock plantation utensils household and kitchen furniture corn and stock etc as my Executors and Trustees shall think will be sufficient for her use, I also lend her the following slaves during her life time to wit:
Old Charles and his wife Rose, Pleasant, Sophia, and her two children, Clary and her two children, old Jude and old Amy to be under the direction of my Executors and Trustees for the benefit of my wife whom I leave to manage for her and to see that she does not suffer for any necessaries she may actually stand in need of for her own use, my said Executors and trustees is hereby authorized to act in hiring out the balance of my negroes except my mulatto man James Gilbert from year to year and rent land and during the lifetime of my wife and apply the money arising therefrom to the best advantage for the benefit of my estate.
Item it is my will and desire that my mulatto man James Gilbert should be free, but finding there would be some difficulty for it to be so and for him to remain here. I therefore request my executors to lay off three acres of land for said James Gilbert at any corner of my land and let him settle on it, that they may think proper, and he is to have it during his natural life on good behavior and then to return to my estate, I wish said James Gilbert to enjoy the benefits of his labor, but always to be under the control and direction of my Executors and Trustees.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Absalom Rucker one hundred acres of land to be laid off by my Executors and trustees at the general division of my estate in such manner as they may think most advisable not to injure the balance of the tract to him and his heirs forever. 2nd It is my will and desire that all charges in my memorandum book against my legatees shall stand good against them at the final distribution of my Estate and be it fully understood that the charges against my deceased children or any that may depart this life before that time is to be considered as fully against their Representatives, and accounted for by them as if they had received the same themselves in person,— It is my will and desire that as soon as it may be convenient after the decease of my wife for my Executors & Trustees to sell off all the stock plantations utensils etc that belong to my said Estate or such credit as they may think proper. Also it is my will that one acre of land be reserved where the church now stands for a place of divine worship. It is my will and desire that my Executors and Trustees shall also sell the balance of my land not heretofore disposed of or that I may not hereafter dispose of while I live, on such terms as they may think most advisable — Also have all my negroes valued (except James Gilbert) and their valuation and the bond for the sale of my land and other things directed to be sold, also all the bonds I hold against my legatees or other persons, also all charges in my memorandum book, all be added together, and after taking out a reasonable sum to be retained in the hands of my Executors and Trustees to satisfy all reasonable charges, and just claims that my come against my said Estate — Divide my negroes, bonds, accounts etc in six equal lots each legatee accounting for what is charged against them or their parents as follows to wit:
Say one lot for my son Abner Rucker, one lot for my son Armistead Rucker, one lot for my son Absalom Rucker, one lot to my daughter Agnes Ogdon [sic], one lot to the children of my deceased daughter Ann Eads [sic], one lot to the children of my deceased daughter Amelia Richeson _____(paper has faded)_______ of my Executors and Trustees to them and their children. It is my will and desire that the lot assigned to my son Abner Rucker shall be retained in the hands of Executors & Trustees until the business respecting the land on the Four Mile Creek in the State of Kentucky is fully settled between him and myself and those contending for it: And when this is fully settled if there shall be any thing coming to him let him have it. It also is my will and desire that the lot assigned for the children of my deceased daughter Amelia Richeson shall remain in the hands of my Executors and Trustees until the said children shall respectively become of lawful age or marry, and in either case, I wish them to receive their respective part of said lot assigned for them. And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Nelson C. Dawson Senr and Ambrose Rucker, son of Reuben, and Isaac Rucker my Executors and Trustees to this my last will & Testament hereby revoking all others by me heretofore made, and satisfying this alone as my true and only last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 20th day of April Eighteen hundred and Twenty.

Signed sealed published an declared
by the said Anthony Rucker as his
last will and Testament in the
presence of us: Anthony Rucker (Seal)
John Coleman
Reuben D. Rucker
Edwins S. Rucker
Nathan D. Rucker
Daniel Tinsley Senr

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My Southern Family

Benjamin Holiday CATCHINGS Jr.

1848 - ____

ID Number: I96511

Sources

William ETHINGTON Sr.

ABT 1720 - ABT 1751

ID Number: I48532

Sources

Anne Eliza FROST

4 Jun 1828 - ____

ID Number: I29078

Sources

Thomas Goldie MCCANTS Sr.

7 Sep 1879 - 18 Jan 1943

ID Number: I64453

Sources

Nancy "Olie" PENDLETON

1848 - ____

ID Number: I73736

Sources

Anthony RUCKER

ABT 1728 - 1820

ID Number: I25757

Notes

Sources

Felix SWAN "the Immigrant"

1654 - ____

ID Number: I77057

Notes

Sources

Samuel "Sam" SWANN

5 Jun 1816 - 6 Aug 1869

ID Number: I100243

Notes

Sources

Ann VEREUL

Oct 1637 - 29 May 1638

ID Number: I20390

Notes

Sources