William Jordan was the son of Samuel Jordan (ca. 1680-1761) of Amelia County, Virginia. I believe this William Jordan was the brother of my Samuel Jordan (-) of Amelia County.

Birth

Marriage

William was married first to Elizabeth Stokes, daughter of Henry Stokes of Henrico County, VA, with whom he had one daughter. Elizabeth died sometime before 1747. Second, in 1747, he married Mary Ellis, daughter of John and Elizabeth Ellis, with whom he had eight children.

Children

William had nine children, one with his first wife and eight with his second.

Children with Elizabeth Stokes

1. Elizabeth Ann Jordan. Probably born around 1747. She was under 15 years of age in 1762, so probably was a baby when her father remarried.

After her mother’s death, and perhaps with her father’s new marriage approaching, her father and grandfather entered into a contract regarding her future. A deed dated March 6, 1748, recorded that Henry Stokes would pay his granddaughter 100 pounds when she reached the age of fifteen or was married and that her father William was to educate, feed and clothe her until then. In or near 1766, Henry died, mentioning Elizabeth Ann Jourdan in his will as an heir to his estate should her aunt Ann Prosser be deceased. Afterwards, her grandmother Ann Stokes became her guardian.

Children with Mary Ellis

1. Samuel Jordan
2. Thomas Jordan
3. John Jordan
4. Mary Jordan
5. Freeman Jordan
6. Susanna Jordan
7. Edward Jordan
8. Benjamin Jordan

Documentary Evidence

William generated quite a number of court records during his life.

March 6, 1748

p. 85, 06 Mar 1748. Bond of Henry Stokes of Henrico Co. to William Jerdone of same for 200 pds. Stokes or his heirs, etc, will pay Elizabeth Ann Jerdone, daughter of William Jerdone and granddaughter of said Stokes, 100 pds when she shall attain age of 15 or is married, and that William is to educate, feed and clothe her until then. If she dies under 15, bond is void. No Witnesses. Recorded 1st Mon April 1749 (Weisiger, Benjamin B., III, Henrico County, Virginia Deeds, 1737-1750, p. 60) (Note: Henry Stokes was the father-in-law of William Jordan).

February 15, 1762

Pursuant to a Didymus to us directed from the Worshipfull Court of Amelia County We have this day made and taken the following Deposition (to Wit) John Ellis aged about Eighty one years, being first Sworn upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, Depose and Sayeth that in the Year one thousand seven hundred and forty Seven, There was a Marriage intended between his Daughter and William Jordan, and that Samuell Jordan father of the plaintif forbid it untill he the said Samuell should come and make a Contract which was as follows the said Samuell came to this Deponant and inquired what he would give his Daughter who answered he would give a piece of Land and a Negro Girl to wait upon her, Samuell Jordan replied he did not desire this Deponant to gove any Land and instead thereof he the Deponant gave a Negro Fellow, Well said said Samuell I shall be an evidence for Will meaning as this Deponant Supposes William Jordan the plaintif then says the said Samuell the Land where I live and all thats upon it is my son Williams after my Death and that he would not give it away from him and further this deponant sayeth not.
Elisabeth Ellis wife of the said John aged about Seventy years being first Sworn upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God deposeth and sayeth That in the year One thousand seven hundred and forty seven, there was a Marriage intended between her Daughter and William Jordan and that Samuel Jordan father of the plaintif forbid it, until he the said Samuel should come and make a Contract, which was as follows, the said Samuel come to her husband and inquired waht he would give his Daughter who answered he would give a Peice of Land and a Nigro Girl to wait upon her Samuel Jordan replied he did not disire her Husband to give any Land and instead these of her Husband gave a Nigro Fello, well sayd said Samuall I shall be an evidence for Will meaning as this Deponant supposes William Jordan the plaintif Ther says the said Samuall the Land where I live and all thats upon it, is my son Williams after my Death and that he the said Samuall could not give it away from him and further this Deponant sayeth not Certified under our hands this 15th day of Febry 1762.
Hampton Wade

John Winn

February 15, 1765

The Deposition of Henry Stokes aged about sixty five years being first sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God Saith that he the said Henry Stokes being the Father of William Jordans first wife, Elizabeth, dc, he the said William Jordan being son of Samuel Jordan Decd of Amelia County this Deponant saith that there never was a Contract of Marriage between him & the said Samuel Jordan nor between him and the said Willm Jordan This Deponant further saith some time after the intermarriage of Willm Jordan son of Sam’l Jordan Decd with Elizabeth Stokes he the said Henry Stokes was at Samuel Jordans & proposed to the said Saml that they Joyntly should provide something to tell the said William & Elizabeth in away of doing or providing for themselves; and on this proposal of the said Henry Stokes the Said Samuel Jordan Replyed, that he had done everything for his son William that he intended or probabley would ever do for him for Reasons that he the said William Jordan had beaten & abused him the said Samuel Jordan, And further saith not
The interlineing between the 8th & 9th line
done before Signing
Sworn before us Henry Stokes
Joseph Lewis
Charl: Watson

1766

1766: Nov. Ct. STOAKES, HENRY: Will presented by Anne Stoakes executor proved by Wm. Miller and Samuel Williamson, witnesses who saw John Williamson (now dec’d) attest to same; Nathaniel Bacon, Sam Williamson and Matt Hobson are sec’y. Anne Stoakes appointed guardian to Elizabeth Ann Jordan, daughter of William Jordan by his consent. [hcob 1763-67 p 640, 644]

Wife Ann: 4 slaves of her choice (except Negro girl given to my grandaughter Elizabeth Prosser).
Daughter Ann Prosser: Land and Plantation I live on for life and then to heirs of her body and if none then to grandaughter Elizabeth Ann Jourdan. Also 1/3 of personal estate.

1766: WILL OF HENRY STOKES: dated 29 Mar 1760; recorded 6 Nov.1766; Rerecorded 7 June 1802.

Exec: Wife and Isaac Winston.
Wit: Wm. Miller, Samuel Williamson, John Williamson. [HC wills Addenda by B. Weisiger pg.20] and [hcwb 3 1802 09 p.1]:

Death

William probably died in 1781, the will his year was proved.

Will

In the name of God amen

I William Jordan of the County of Amelia being in perfect memory and knowing it is once ordained for all men to die I first recommend my Soul to God and my body to the Earth as to worldly Goods and Chattels I give and bequeath in manner and form Following First of all my Will and desire is that my debts and Funeral Charges be paid by my Executors hereafter mentioned

Item I give and bequeath the use of my plantation whereon I now live to my Loving wife Mary Jordan together with the following negros – Tawney, Peter, Sal, Hannah, & Kate also my Stock of every kind which said Stock & furniture she is hereby directed to divide among my Children in such a manner as she thinks best and proper but after her decease my Will and desire is that the negros I have bequeathed her be equally divided amongst my Children except my Loving Son Samuel Jordan who I bequeath one shilling to and my daughter Elizh Ann.

Item I give and bequeath to my loving son Thos. Jordan one half of the Tract of Land I now live on Including the plantation he now lives on, it being the upper part of the said Tract of Land to be divided by a line extending North and South so as to Include the said one half I also give and bequeath to him & his heirs for ever the negros Len and Amey and her present and future Increase

Item I give and bequeath to my Loving son John Jordan two negros James and Priss to him and his heirs forever

Item I give and bequeath to my Loving daughter Mary Smith two negroes Charles and Dedo and her Increase to her and her heirs forever

Item I give and bequeath to my loving Son Freeman Jordan two negroes Phil and Fanny and her Increase to him and his heirs forever

Item I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Susannah Jordan two negroes May and Afsy and her Increase to her and her heirs forever

Item I give and bequeath to my loving son Edward Jordan two negroes Harry and Tabb and her Increase to him and his heirs forever

Item I give and Bequeath to my loving daughter Elizabeth Jordan two negroes Rachel and Frank and Rachels future Increase to her and her heirs forever

Item I give and bequeath to my Loving Son Benj. Jordan the other half of the Tract of Land I now live on including my Mansion house & Orchards with all the Appurtenances belong to the Said lower half it being the residue of the Tract of Land I have given to my son Tho.s Jordan. I give the said other half to my son Benjamin and his heirs forever and also two negros Balle and Rose and her increase to him and his heirs forever

Item I give and bequeath to my Loving Daughter Elizabeth Ann one shilling and no more

Item I give and bequeath to my Loving wife Mary Jordan all the residue of my Estate of what kind or nature so ever and it is my Will & desire that she shall out of same of the negroes I have given her if any of my Children Tho.s, John, Mary, Freeman, Susanna, Edward, Elizabeth, Benjamin should be so unfortunate as to Loose by death any or Either of the negroes I have given them that in that case she in her discretion shall give them out of the negroes I have given her one or as many as valuable as that or them they shall so loose by death which they and their heirs shall have forever, and it is further my desire that the negroes I have given my Children that are under age shall remain with my loving wife until my Children either marry or arrive to the age of twenty one years and I Further desire Will & direct that my loving wife shall educate and maintain my Children that are under age in the best manner she can until they arrive to twenty one years or marry & that she as soon as she can raise it out of her Estate together with what I now have after my debts are paid give my Sons Freeman and Edward each of them twelve thousand pounds of Tobacco and that she deliver the said Tobacco to my Executors or them after they arrive to twenty one years of Age to go towards purchasing of them a tract of Land & my desire is that the negroes that my wife shall be in possession of at her death be Equally divided amongst my Children Tho.s John, Mary, Freeman, Susannah, Edward, Eliz.h and Benjamin

I do hereby appoint my Loving Sons Tho.s Jordan, John Jordan & Freeman Jordan my whole & sole Exrs of this my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have to these presence set my hand & seal this 17th day June 1779

William Jordan

Tho Cocke
Wm Lewis
Saml Jordan

Amelia County Court
Feb 22 1781
This last will and testament was proved by the oaths of two of the witnesses thereto subscribed sworn to by Thomas Jordan the Executor named