Sixth Moss Generation

Benjamin MOSS(  )  Born: 1675 York County, VA                                                             Married:  Diana H. Wythe ( ) 1713                                                   Died:  1736 York County, VA

Benjamin Moss ( ) ,born in 1675, lived and died in York County, Virginia.  Details on this generation were offered in the fifth Moss generation.  Benjamin in his will dated 1735 (Attachment 4-1) names four sons:  Benjamin, Jr. ( ), Francis ( ), John ( ), and Edward ( ). In Benjamin’s will it is stated that Edward, the youngest son is under age.  However, since Benjamin married late in life it is likely that only the oldest son, Benjamin, Jr. was of age. 

Benjamin’s married Diana H. Wythe in 1713.  Diana, had been previously married to Dr. John Wythe for about 13 years and had one child (Henry Wythe) from that marriage.  In June 1712 Diana submitted request to the County to act as administrator for her deceased husband’s estate.  In August 1712, she requested a child’s estate part from her father’s (Henry Howard) estate.  In 1713 Edward, Jr. (her new father-in-law) recorded a deed of gift to his son Benjamin and his new wife.

Since Diana’s son Henry was young, she probably brought him up with her children by marriage with Benjamin.  This information is indirectly implied from the will of Benjamin (Attachment 4-2) where Henry is mentioned as a son-in-law rather than a stepson.  Diana probably died around 1735 since her name is not mentioned in Benjamin’s will.  Attachment 4-3 is the will of the younger Henry Howard and Attachment 4-4 is the will of Benjamin, Jr. (who died about one year after his father)  The way both of these documents are written again indicate the close relationship between the two families.

The will of Benjamin is divided as follows: 

Edward, who is not of age at the death of Benjamin, received the plantation and all lands purchased from Robert Snead (110 acres).  In addition, he received 5 servants named John, Cutty, Judy, Pindaia, and Nanny.

Francis received the land in the town of York purchased from Abraham St. Leger.  Three servants named Emmanual, Ben, and Kate.  600 pounds of Tobacco and 20 barrels of Indian Corn.   Since Edward was not of age then Francis was to care for Edward’s gift until he becomes of age.

Benjamin, Jr. received all remaining lands in York County and the servant Oliver.  In addition, he was to be responsible for care and tuition for John and Edward.

John received five servants named Old Jack, Paul, Dina, Cane, and Rachael.

All remaining stock (tobacco and corn) was to be divided into three equal portions.  John to receive one portion and the other two portions to be divided equally between the three remaining  sons. 

Edward, the youngest brother of Benjamin, who lived in York County died in 1754.  An inventory of his estate is shown in Attachment 4-5.  While the contents of the inventory are not unusual for those times, it does suggest that Edward had accumulated some wealth and did own 3 slaves.