William BONAR

                   WILLIAM BONAR II, 1751/1752 - 1830. JANE MCCULLOCH Abt. 1764 - d. March 8, 1849. William II, was born on the Roanoke River in Brooke Co. (W)Virginia. Jane lived with her parents George McCulloch and Catherine Hedges near West Liberty, (W)VA, prior to her marriage. Jane is buried in Old Christian Church, West Liberty, Ohio Co., WVA. William came to what is now Brooke Co, December 9, 1774, he lived with Oliver Gorrell. The Gorrell plantation became the R. M. Wells farm, and later c. 1924, was listed as the Mary Caseman farm. In 1776 William bought the improvements of Isaac Meeks and in 1777 made a settlement thereon. He received a land grant signed by then Governor Patrick Henry, for 239 acres, July 5, 1786, which included his 1777 settlement. The original land grant is held by James William Bonar of Power, WVA, grandson of William. William paid thirty shillings sterling for the grant to this parcel. (Note that Brooke Co. was part of Ohio Co. prior to 1797.)In 1806 William and Jane sold 52+ acres of this grant to Thomas Armstrong. On October 7, 1777 William Bonar, OliverGorrell, George McCulloch along with most of the male citizens of the then Ohio Co. signed an Oath of Allegience to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and did swear to renounce and refuse all allegience to George III, King of England. William engaged in several expeditions against the Indians; his name is listed in "The Shepard Papers" (Revolutionary War records and accounts of Col. David Shepard, which comprise of 5 vols. of the "Draper Manuscripts." ; he is also listed as a Revolutionary Patriot from Ohio Co. by DAR historians. Brooke Co., VA was referred to as "the wilderness" by frontiersmen. "Pioneer West Virginia" p. 128 tells of the earliest settlers in Brooke Co and William Bonar is listed as one of those early homesteaders. Here on their plantation William and Jane lived and died and reared a family of 4 sons and 6 daughters. In times of danger, Fort Rice near the site where Bethany College is located, Fort Sheppard at the forks of the Wheeling Creek, Fort VanMeter near Clinton, and Fort Henry at Wheeling served as refuges for the family. It is said that daughter Catherine was born at Fort Henry, during Indian trouble. The settlement of William's estate lists a subscription to a "meeting-house" (church), they were probably followers of Alexander Campbell, since some of the children who remained in Brooke Co., were charter members of the Disciples of Christ. The Will of William BonarIn the name of God Amen. I William Bonar of the State of Virginia and County of Brooke being of sound mind and memory tho weak in the bodyconsidering the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death Do make my last will and testament. 1st I resign my body to the grave and commend my soul to God who gave it - hoping that by the mercies of God through redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ I may obtain a happy immortality in the Kingdom of Heaven. 2d I enjoin my executors hereafter mentioned to see me decently buried the expenses of which to be paid out of my personal estate.3d I will and bequeath to my wife Jane all my property both real and personal that I may die possessed of for her sole use and occupation during her widowhood after deducting what may be sold for the paymjent of debts and legacies for which purpose I hereby direct my executors to sell much of my live stock as will satisfy my debts and legacies and if there should not be sufficient of stock then the ballance to be made up out of any personal property that is sold for the payment of debts or legacies is to be sold at publick sale to the highest bidder. 4th I further will and bequeath to my two sons George Bonar and Greenbury Dorsey Bonar the plantation I now live on to be equally divided between them with the appurtenances thereunto belonging in fee simple they to take possession of the same at the marriage or death of my said wife Jane provided they pay such legacies in the manner as shall be directed in this will. 5th Whereas I have given to my daughter Tebitha one mare one bed and furniture for the same an
d one cow and heifer I hereby will that the above mentioned property and any increase from the same shall be considered her property without molestation from my said executors and I further will and direct that my son George pay to the said Tebitha as a legacy of one hundred and fifty dollars, said money to be paid as soon as George receives possession of the land as mentioned in this will and said George's share of said plantation is to be held by said Tebitha until said hundred and fifty dollars is paid. 6th I further will and bequeath that all the personal property that my said wife Jane may be possessed of at her marriage or may die possessed of which shall belong to her by virtue of this will be sold at public sale to the highest bidder by my executors and the proceeds to be divided equally between my daughter Catherine, my daughter Sarah, my son James, my daughter Rebecca, my daughter Jane and my son David and my daughter Elizabeth cept but I will that one bed and furniture which may be in the possession of my said wife at her marriage or death by virtue of this will shall not be sold but I will the same to my grandduaghter Jane Bedwell daughter of my said Elizabeth. 7th I hereby constitute and appoint my two sons George Boner and Greenbury Dorsey Boner my executors to this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this third day of September Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.Witnessed by Alex Walker/Silas Paul/John Agnew Wm. BonerThe original will of William Bonar is in the Regional History Collection, envelope 126, Brooke Co. Court Records, West Virginia University Library, Morgantown, WVA. The will was admitted to record by the Brooke County Court August 30, 1830. Brooke County Inventory Book, Vol 3, page 262 1/2, Sept. 30, 1830. The estate was appraised at slightly over $3000.00, appraisers were Samuel Beck, Joseph Hodges (Hedges), and David Coleman. It is presumed that all of William's children including Sarah Louise were born in Ohio County, W. VA.