Old Wills

Will of William B. Wallace Revolutionary War Veteran – Anderson County

William B. Wallace was a First Lieutenant in Woodford’s First Virginia Brigade during the Revolutionary War.  He died at the age of 79 on June 21, 1833.

from History of Anderson County, Major Lewis W. McKee and Mrs. Lydia K. Bond, 1937

William B. Wallace came to Kentucky from Augusta County, Virginia, at a very early date, and before Anderson County was erected.  his wife’s name, as shown by deeds, was Barbara, but what her name before marriage was there is no proof.  He was a member of the first Board of Trustees of Lawrenceburg, when the town was incorporated by Act of the Legislature in 1818.  He was a large real estate owner, owning some of the most valuable houses and lots in town.  he owned the house and lots where the Christian church and parsonage now stand, having purchased it from Joseph Benham of Louisville.  Wallace died less than a month after he became owner of this house.  By his will he gave it to trustees for his daughter, Eliza Dedman, wife of Dr. Dixon G. Dedman.  She, with her husband and children, occupied it until her death.  Dr. Dedman continued to occupy it until his death in 1850.  Wm. B. Wallace died on the 21st of June, 1833, and was buried in a country graveyard on the farm he sold to Thomas Phillips.  He presumably died from cholera, since that disease appeared that year on the 30th of May and continued until the 1st of August, and Wallace, as shown by his purchase of the Benham house, and his mortgage of it to secure a part of the purchase money was continuing in active business.  In Order Book B in the Anderson Circuit Court appears the following:  September 16th, 1833; Dixon G. Dedman produced in court this day, a certificate from the Secretary of the Treasury Department of the United States, showing that Wm. B. Wallace, of Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, Kentucky, was a Lieutenant of Artillery in the Revolutionary War, and the said Wm. B. Wallace departed this life on June 21, 1833, leaving no widow but the following legitimate children:  Fannie Hudgins, wife of John F. Hudgins; Eliza Dedman, wife of Dixon G. Dedman; William B. Wallace; Ann Daviess, wife of John T. Daviess, and James B. Wallace, all above the age of twenty-one years, which proof being satisfactory to the court, it is ordered that the same be certified.

Will of William B. Wallace

Anderson County Will Book A, Pages 12-14

In the name of God, amen.  I, William B. Wallace, of the County of Anderson and State of Kentucky do make this my last will and testament.

I give and bequeath to my sons William B. Wallace and James B. Wallace, and to my daughters Fanny Hudgins, Eliza Dedman and Ann Daviess, all the stock and furniture, slaves and property of every description, which they have received from me

And whereas I have purchased of Joseph S. Benham the house and lot in Lawrenceburg, now occupied by George Morris, for a further description of which will be seen by said Morris’ Deed of Conveyance to said Benham and Benham’s deed to me.

I give and bequeath the said house and lot with the appurtenances in trust to Fielding L. Conner and Jordan H. Walker, for the use and benefit of my daughter, Eliza Dedman, and her children by Dickson G. Dedman, and after her death I give the said lot and appurtenances jointly to my three grandsons, or their survivor or survivors, them and their heirs or assigns forever.

And whereas my Negro man, Nat, a blacksmith, having served me long and faithfully, it is my will and desire that after my death he be hired one year and the proceeds of his hire be paid over to the Colonization Society, after which I do hereby emancipate and free him from all service.

W. B. Wallace

May 31st, 1833

And whereas my lot or tact of land on the Ohio River, opposite Hurricane Island, in the County of Livingston, being a part of a patent granted to Doctor James Wallace and being one moiety of my brother Gustavus’ lot number two in said patent was purchased of me by Doctor Dickson G. Dedman for a valuable consideration, and for which the necessary deed of conveyance at this time has not been made.  Now, therefore, for the better securing to the said Dickson G. Dedman title to the same.  I do hereby give and bequeath the said lot or tract of land and appurtenances to the said Dickson G. Dedman, his heirs or assigns forever, for a more perfect description of said land reference may be had to a deed of partition between Mary Vede and Lucinda Wallace, recorded in the County Court of Livingston, aforesaid.

W. B. Wallace

June 10th, 1833

I give and bequeath my lot and appurtenances in the town of Lawrenceburg, purchased of Joseph S. Benham, on which George Morris now resides to Jordan H. Walker and Fielding L. Conner, in trust for the use and benefit of my daughter Eliza Dedman and her children, give and bequeath the same to the said children, they and their heirs and assigns forever.

W. B. Wallace

June 10th, 1833

State of Kentucky, Anderson County

At a Court held for Anderson County on the 8th day of July 1833.

This will, without a subscribing witness thereto was presented to the Court and the Court, upon inspection thereof are of opinion

That the said will was wholly written by the decedent, William B. Wallace, himself, and is ordered to be recorded.  And on motion of Dickson G. Dedman, the Administrator, with the will annexed and on his taking the oath and entering into and acknowledged bond with security thereto, which being examined by the Court, is ordered to recorded and a letter of administration with the will annexed is granted to him.

Teste. J. H. Walker, Clerk

William B. Wallace, 1st Lieut, Woodford’s 1 VA Brigade, Revolutionary War, July 8, 1754 – June 21, 1833.  Salt River Baptist Cemetery, Anderson County, Kentucky.

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