GABRIEL GUNN

GABY: GABRIEL GUNN......

last named in his father's will that was signed on 3 April 1807. His legacy is as follows: Item I give and bequeath to my son Gabriel Gunn all my land in the fork of Nottoway, and one fourth part of the tract of Land, I now live on, except, that part that I have given to my son Griffin Gunn, agreeable to quantity and quality, and also the following negroes to wit: Johnston; Thomson; Creasy; Henry; David; Sarah; Cola and Patience; and every part of my estate, that is not mentioned in the Will, I also give unto my son Gabriel Gunn, to him and his heirs forever---- Item I give and bequeath to my sons Griffin and Gabriel Gunn, & my Daughter Henrietta Thweatt. Equally among them the whole of my stock of every kind, the Household and Kitchen furniture of every sort and kind. Plantation utensels of every sort and kind, and also the whole of my Crop of every sort and kind, to enable them to pay my Just debts, which I hereby require of them by this Will to do. I also give them equally all my outstanding debts, either by Bond or open account to them and their heirs forever---- Lastly My Will and desire is that there be no appraisement, on my estate, I also appoint and nominate my sons Griffin Gunn and Gabriel Gunn, and my son in-law Ephram Tweatt Executors of this my last Will and Testament.

Gabriel married Martha Lambert in Lunenburg County on 13 December 1803. Surety was Lewis Lambert. The following was taken from the 1810 census of Nottoway County, Virginia: One male, and one female under 10, one male, and one female (16-26), and one male (26-45). An analysis of the data shows both Gabriel and Martha were born on or about 1784, and that both children were born after 1803 and before 1810. The male (26-45) living with the family has not been identified. For those who say, "maybe it is Gabriel", begs the question, "who is the 16-26 year old?"

On 7 June 1810 Gabriel Gunn and Martha his wife sold 90 acres of the land he inherited to Edmund Irby.

In a Bill of Sale, dated 12 December 1812 Gabriel Gunn sold to William Lambert thirteen negroes for the sum of 450 pounds, current money of Virginia. He named each of them and of the thirteen, eight were those he had inherited from his father. The date of this Bill of Sale is in conflict with the estimated year of death.

In another Bill of Sale, dated 22 October 1814, William Lambert sells back to Martha Gunn the thirteen negroes for the sum of thirteen hundred dollars. In this document Gabriel's two children are named. The son is William Spencer Gunn, and the daughter is Elizabeth Frances Gunn.

In the Last Will Book 7, recorded 8 June 1815 is this entry: 188: 11 Nov 1814 - Appraisal estate Gabriel Gunn decd; 14 hoes, 5 axes, pr wedges, parcel tools, lumber, parcel hames, mans saddle, womans saddle, cooper wasre, parcel hardware, 3 pots, oven, 3 wheels, 4 scythes, bell met skillet, churn & reel, harrow,2 bee hives, pistol, steel trap/bell/brushes, shott gunn, slate, parcel books, small box, looking glass, dressing box, pine chest, lot earthen ware, coffee mill, parcel pewter, coffee pot, knives & forks, pr cards, folding table, waterstand, pr irons & pan handle, fiddle & bow, 5 chairs, bedstead/bed/furniture, 2 yearlings, negroes Henry, Th[ ], Johnson, Davy, Cely, Suckey, Sarah, C[ ], little Davy, Aggy, Lucy, Amy, Patience, pr cart wheels, parcel vials, parcel old irons.

In the Last Will Book 7, recorded 10 Jan 1817 is this entry: 293: A/c estate [11 Nov 1811-11 Nov 1814] Gabriel Gunn with admrx; To: cash pd publick auctioneer, Newet Ramsey for school Wm S Gunn, Richd Jordan for Rob Vaughn, Griffin Gunn, hat for Wm S Gunn, physick for negroe Henry with academick fever, Dr Robt Patillo, Edmund Irby note, Stephen Jones coffin, Dr Asa Barnes note, James Gunn, James Williams, clerk's ticket, John Cammel, Jas Macfarland, 97/3/41/2 pounds (admx allowed 5%); By: amnt sale, 53/7/81/2 pounds. The entry "Newet Ramsey for school Wm S Gunn" might mean that Ramsey had been appointed Guardian for the two children, or it could also be that he was a teacher.

The index to deed for Lunenburg County has a number of entries showing the names William S Gunn, Harriet Gunn (possibly William's wife), Martha Tucker (it is possible that Martha Gunn remarried to a person named Tucker.) Much research remains to trace the two children of Gabriel and Martha. The year of death for Gabriel is questionable. It could have been any time after 1811 but before October 1814.

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