Arthur or Bedford County

John Arthur Sr. died 1797 in Bedford county, Virginia. Issue:

Thomas Arthur.
Isabella Arthur married Mitcham.
Mary Arthur married Dixon.
Barnabas Arthur.
Sarah Arthur married Nimrod Newman.
Betty Arthur married Green.

Last Will and Testament of John Arthur. Book 82, Page 100, Bedford Co., VA

In the name of God Amen, I John Arthur of the County of Bedford being of perfect mind and memory for settling of Temporal affairs and preventing disputes about such estate as I shall leave at my death and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain that my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following: first recommending my soul to God who gave it through the mediation of my dear Redeemer hopeing thereby to receive remission of all my sins and my body the earth to be decently buried at the descretion of my executors hereafter mentioned.

Item. I give to my son Thomas Arthur fifty acres of land lying on the North side of Goose Creek beginning at a White Oak on the said Creek at the lower end of his plantation from thence running in a straight line to a Pine against the Bold spring and upwards to him and his heirs forever. I give to my daughter, Mary Dixon fifty acres of land on the South side of Goose Creek, it being the same land John Dixon now lives upon to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give to my daughter Isabella Mitcham the Plantation whereon I now live to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give to my son, Barnabas Arthur the sum of five shillings and the rest and Residue of my Estate to be equally divided between my three daughters, Sarah Newman, Betty Green, and Isabella Mitchem, and do hereby nominate Constitute and Appoint my son Thomas Arthur and Nimrod Newman Executors of this my Last Will, hereby revoking all other Will or Wills by me heretobefore made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this Ninth Day of January in the year of our Lord Christ, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Eight.

Signed, sealed and published in the presence of: Justiman Wills, Thomas Leftwich, Marmaduke Dellis and Thomas Mitchem. (John Arthur, X, his mark)

At a court held for Bedford County the 28th day of January 1793, this last will and Testament of John Arthur Deceased was proved by the oath of Thomas Leftwich and Thomas Mitchem, Witnesses whose names are there unto subscribed and ordered to be recorded on the motion of Thomas Arthur and Nimrod Newman, the Executors therein named who made oath thereto certificate is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form on giving security where upon they together with Thomas Leftwich their security entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of one hundred pounds as conditioned for the said Executors due and faithful administration of said Decedants Estate and performance of his will.

Teste Ja. Steptoe, Clrk.

John Arthur, Revolutionary War Soldier, was married to Elizabeth Adams (born 28 September 1759) in October of 1784 in Bedford County. She was the daughter of John and Sarah Adams.

Family Record (found in the pension):

Thomas A. Arthur born 3 Jan 1787.
Dosia Arthur born 23 Nov 1789.
Willis Arthur born 27 Feb 1791.
Larkin Arthur born 5 Feb 1793.
Lilly Ann Arthur born 12 Mar 1795.
John Arthur born 15 Sept. 1797.
Sally Arthur born 27 April 1800.
Caleb Arthur born 27 Jul 1802.
Winnifred Arthur born Jan 1805.
________A. Arthur born 21 Mar 1807.
Melindah Arthur born 17 Jan 1814.
Emley Jane Arthur born 3 Jan 1816.
Elizabeth Arthur born Sept 1816.
John Arthur had a brother, Thomas Arthur, who served in the Revolutionary War. Thomas was married to Sally Dixon on 29 Nov 1782 in Bedford County. As a boy, Thomas was called "Tom Titt" and after the war was called "Squirrel Tom". These nicknames were used to distinguish him from other persons in the county having the same name.