On 17 Feb 1791 or 1792 my 4th
great-grandmother, Nancy Patton, was born to John Patton and Martha
(Sharp) Patton in Rockbridge County, Virginia. She was their eighth
and youngest child.
Nancy was named as an heir in
her father's will written in 1809. A special bequest to her stated "I
bequeath to my daughter Nancy such quantity of property so as to be
equal in value to what any of my other daughters has received of my
estate." Nancy had three older sisters. Jane never married and
also had a special bequest along with her mother as apparently Jane
had special needs. The other two: Martha "Patsy" and Mary
"Polly" had married before 1809. Did Nancy's bequest
indicate they had something like a dowery when they had married? I
don't know, but maybe.
Nancy did get married 2 Oct 1812
to William Milligan in Rockbridge by Daniel Blaine, a Presbyterian
minister. Soon Nancy and William moved to Adams County, Ohio as their
first child may have been born there (reports are conflicting) and
certainly their second child in 1815. Nancy's siblings as well as her
mother moved to Adams County before 1820.
Her mother's will written in
1819, named Nancy as an heir. Nancy got a share of her mother's
books, household effects and wearing apparel. I wonder if the books
had originally belonged to John since Martha signed with her mark.
Maybe she could read and not write.
William, Nancy's husband, died
in the 1840's. She was enumerated on the 1850 US census in Wayne
Township, Adams County, as the head of household, with real estate
valued at $1200. Also living with her were her youngest son, William
Steele Milligan, and her sister Jane Patton.
By the 1860 census, Nancy was
living with her son William his wife and 3 children in Oliver
Township, Adams County. Nancy was shown as a housekeeper. Her sister
Jane, who was marked idiotic, was also living there. This listing
helps explain the special bequest from their father. I was glad to
see that Nancy appears to be taking care of her sister.
Nancy (Patton) Milligan died 19
Jun 1866 and was buried in Unity Cemetery, Unity, Adams County, Ohio.
I was glad to find an entry on Find A Grave website which shows a
photo of her "old" barely readable gravestone.
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