| Notes |
- THE HISTORY of PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY VIRGINIA
CHAPTER IV A PART OF LUNENBURG COUNTY, 1745-1752
page 53
There were three very early roads which led across Pittsylvania to the west, known as Hickey's Road, the Irish Road, and the Pigg River Road. Hickey's Road led from a point on Staunton River in northern Halifax to the settlement that had been made at the foot of Wart Mountain in western Patrick, a distance of near 120 miles. The Wart Mountain isnow called Bull's Mountain and lies east of the main range of the [p.53] Blue Ridge, as shown on Jefferson's and Fry's map. Mayo River takes its rise near by and for this reason the settlement was called the Mayo settlement.
Hickey's road was authorized at a court held for Lunenburg in June, 1749:
'It is ordered that a road be laid off and cleared the best and most convenient way from Staunton River to the Mayo Settlement at the Wart Mountain, and it is ordered that Joseph Mayes and all the male Laboring Tithables convenient to the said road forthwith mark off and lay open the best and most convenient way from Staunton River to Allen's Creek and keep the some in repair according to law. [p.54] 'Richard Parsons is appointed surveyor of that part of the New Road leading from Staunton River to the Mayo Settlement at the Wart Mountain, to-wit from Allen's Creek to Banister River.
THE HISTORY of PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY VIRGINIA
CHAPTER V A PART OF HALIFAX COUNTY, 1752-1767
page 62
'The emigrants usually left Pennsylvania in the early fall, after harvest was over, reaching Virginia or North Carolina before hard winter set in. Almost all were farmers, but were artisans as well, making almost everying they needed. The Germans were industrious and economical;the Scotch-Irish, ambitious, alert and grasping.' These upper inhabitants of Halifax had increased in numbers until now they began to petition for more roads. In March,19 I753, Richard Parsons and William Adkins were ordered to mark a road from the mouth of Snow Creek to Hickey's Road. In July the inhabitants on Pigg River and Snow Creek (Franklin County) petitioned for a road from the uppermost of the inhabitantsto the Snow Creek Road, and Thomas Hall and William Hill were orderedto lay off the road. The following year the same inhabitants begged that the road laid off by Hall and Hill be extended to the top of the Blue Ridge, which was accordingly ordered, with Tully Choice as surveyor. This road led across Franklin County to the mountains.
Will of Richard Parsons
Court Orders Book 5, page 139 Pittsylvania County, VA
December 22, 1783
In the Name of God Amen I Richard Parsons of the County of Pittsylvania being old and weak in body but enjoying my usual reason and memory and calling to mind the mortality of man do make and ordain this my last Will and testament in manner and form following, to wit, First my desire is that my Soul assends and rest with God that gave it and secondly my desire is that my body be decently buried Thirdly I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Hannah Madkiff and her husband Joseph Madkiff one shilling Sterling to them my said daughter Hannah Madkiff and her husband Joseph Madkiff and their heirs forever. Forthly I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Agness Madkiff and to her Husband John Madkiff one shilling Sterling to them my said daughterAgness Madkiff and her husband John Madkiff and their hiers forever.Fifthly I give and bequeath to my well beloved son George Parsons oneshilling Sterling to him my said Son George Parsons and his heirs forever, Secondly I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Joseph Parsons one shilling sterling to him my said son Joseph Parsons and his heirs forever, Seventhly I give and bequeath to my well beloved son JohnParsons one shilling sterling to him my said son John Parsons and hisheirs for ever Eighthly I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Samuel Parsons the land whereon he now lives to be divided by a line which my said son Samuel and my son William marked themselves to him my said son Samuel Parsons and his heirs and assignes for ever Ninethly I give and bequeath to my well beloved son William Parsons the land whereon he now lives to be divided as above mentioned to him my said son William Parsons and his heirs and assignes forever Tenthly on the land above mentioned is mortgage for which my son Samuel Parsons is liable to pay said mortgage if he does not then my will is that his part of the land that is to say the land whereon he now lives is to be sold by my executors to off said morgage Eleventhly I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Lydia Yates and her husband Stephen Yates all myBlack Smith tools to her my said daughter Lydia Yates and her husbandStephen Yates to them and their heirs for ever Twevlthly and lastly as I and my wife is now living with my daughter Lydia Yates and her husband Stephen Yates and they using us with the greatest kindness my will and desire is that they the said Lydia and Stephen Yates to have all the remainder of my estate that is to say my cattle and my black mare and also all my household furniture which is now in their possession but not til after my decease and the decease of my Wife. Furthermore I revoke all former wills by me made and do confirm this my last will and testament. I do appoint and constitute my loving sons Joseph and William Parsons executors of this my last will and testament Witness my hand and seal.
Richard (his mark) Parsons SS
Test
John Parks, Samuel Parks, Richard Johnson
At a Court held for Pittsylvania County February the 21, 1785 This last Will and Testament of Richard Parsons deceased was presented in Court and proved by the Oathes of two of the witnesses Hands and by the Court ordered to be Recorded
Teste Will Turnball (?)
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- Bef 1785
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