Peter R. Poff
Peter R. Poff
Peter is thought to have been in Augusta Co. in 1792 because his name
apears with a George Poff on a tax list. In 1800 Peter and George are
both listed on the delinquent tax list of Augusta as having gone "to
French Broad". This is a river that flows from N.C. to Knoxville, Tenn.
In 1798 Gorge Poff Sr. and Jr. are listed but in 1798 and 1800 only one
George is listed. It is assumed that George Sr. died about 1798 because
his name is missing.
It seems that Peter arrived in Montgomery Co. and purchased a farm on
Wilson's Creek. In 1803 he was granted a land deed of 96 more acres. In a
few years it seems the family moved near Check, Va. on Little River, stll
part of Montgomery County. Peter continued adding to his farm. Tax
records show he owned a saw mill in 1813 and a grist mill in 1814. When
Peter died in 1830 his family divided his 665 acres of land.
The will of Peter Poff has been transcribled as follows by Barb Stanley.
I Peter Poff Seynior of the County of Montgomery and State of Virginia do
hearby make my last will and testament in manner and form following that
is to say
1st that out of my moneys now in hand I desire that all my just debts if
any thar be and funeral expences [be] fully paid off and discharged
2nd I will and bequeath unto my Dear and loving wife two of her chois
Cows two beds and all the Ballance of the Household and Kitchen furniture
except the ballance of the beds The Home place whear we now live during
her natural life the paroshable part of what hath been bequeathed to my
Dear Wife she may dispose of During her lifetime if she pleases
3rd I will and bequeath unto my Son Henry Poff the tract of land on which
he now lives with all its appurtenances thereto belonging Beginning at
the Draw bars whear they now stand near the old mill then a strait line
on easterly course to the Cross fence whar it now stands and with said
fence as it now runs to the Corner of Anthony Poff's [illegible] fence
whar it now stands and then a line according to Anthony's Clamd land now
is woods that is the land he now occupys and from his Clamd land a strait
line to the nearest part of the old line and with the old line to the
Bent road and with said road to the Beginning
4th I will and bequeath unto my Son anthony Poff all the mill place and
all the Ballance of the land except that part devised to Henry Poff
Beginning at the above named Draw Bars along the Bent road to whar it
Crosses the old mill branch and down that branch to Wiley's line.
5th I will and bequeath unto my Son michael Poff all the land that lays
of the [illegible] on the south side of the Bent mountain road and
according to Anthony Poff's lines mentioned above
6th I will and bequeath unto my Son Charles Poff all that tract of land
on the Pine Spar road which I purchased of Stephen R[illegible]
7th I will and bequeath unto my Son Peter Poff two small tracts of land
and which he now lives on the aker adjoining the same Which is set forth
by 2 small patterns
8th I will and bequeath unto my Son John Poff a piece of land that I took
up adjoining the old place which will be set forth By a pattern of about
ninety akers.
8th I will and bequeath unto my Son Samuel Poff after the decease of his
mother the Ballance of the old tract of land
9th I Will and bequeath unto my two younger Daughters Christiniah and
Anna Poff 1 Cow and 1 Heifer each and Anna 1 Bed and furniture also
twenty dollars and the ballance of my paroshable property I wish sold and
my outstanding debts Collected and my specified legays paid off and out
of the proceeds of such sale and Colection I wish to Be equally divided
between my five daughters
I mor over Will and bequeath unto my Loving Wife Seventy five Bushels of
the grain growed or growing and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint
my friends William Conner Seynior & Jacob Hoback By this my will and
testament hearby revoking all others In witness whearof I have hearunder
set my hand and affixed my seal In the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty September the 14th.