AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
| James Geddy | Immigrant Ancestor | see Family Tree |
| Born: Bef. 1710 Scotland | ||
| Died: Bef. 20 Aug 1744 Williamsburg, York Co., VA | In the name of God Amen being in sound Judgment & memory, Thanks be to God for the same. Imprim ** I bequeath my Soul unto almighty God who gave it * and my body to be decently buried with comfortable hopes of a blessed and joyfull resurrection through Jesus Christ * Saviour. As for Temporal Estate after all my just debts are paid I ********* Item I give unto my Sons & Daughters David, James, William & John Geddy & Elizabeth, Anne & Mary Geddy each of them five shillings. I do constitute & appoint Anne Geddy my beloved wife Sole Executrix and heiress of all my real & personal Estate to be disposed by her as she thinks most proper. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal this 23rd day of Septr. anno Domini one thousand Seven hundred & forty three years. Signed, Sealed & delivered James Geddy in the presence of us) Thomas Bennett George Charlton Hugh Boyd |
WIFE
Anne
CHILDREN
1. David Geddy
2. James Geddy b. 1731
3. John Geddy
4. William Geddy
5. Elizabeth Geddy
6. Anne Geddy
7. Mary Geddy
8. Sarah Geddy
Copyright © Colonial Williamsburg Foundation 2005
James Geddy was born in Scotland. He was a gunsmith and brass founder in 1738 in
Williamsburg, Va. He signed a will in 1743 and died in 1744 leaving his wife
with eight children. James, his second son, was only 13. James left his entire
estate to his wife "to be disposed by her as she thinks most proper." It is
likely that Anne was able to assume direction of the business affairs of the
family. In October 1744 she petitioned the House of "burgesses for the payment
of a debt owed to her deceased husband for cleaning 700 weapons in the Magazine
by order of the governor. Anne's petition was initially rejected. Undeterred by
this setback, she persisted in her application and was finally awarded a
substantial sum of money.
"Anne's oldest son, David, was probably sufficiently skilled at the time of his
father's death to be able to continue the operation of the foundry and gunsmith
shop. The situation of Anne's three younger sons, however, was rendered somewhat
uncertain by their father's death. James, Jr., was only 13 at this time and
William and John were even younger, so neither could have progressed very far in
an apprenticeship to their father."
Anne may have made an agreement with a local silversmith, Samuel Gault, to rent
him some of her property in return for apprenticing her younger sons. James and
John both became silversmiths.
Anne sold her property to her son James in 1760 but probably continued to live
with him. He tore down the house his father had built and constructed the house
now still standing. We assume Anne lived in this house until she died around
1784.