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Note: Elder William Baskett (a Baptist preacher) had a plantation ("Ellerslie") located near Wilmington, Virginia. The old, two-story brick home was still standing in 1995.
William Baskett was a descendant of John Baskett, the King's Printer in London. He was one of the early dissenter preachers in Virginia who left the established church before the War of Independence and became a celebrated Baptist preacher of that state. The Virginia Colony had established an Episcopal State Religion from England which collected taxes. Any other minister was called a "dissenter" and as such was forbidden to perform marriages. The Laws of Virginia, Act XII, Hennings Statutes, was the vehicle for this mandate. Children born of these marriages were declared illegitimate and the early records of Virginia were filled with lawsuite questioning the rights of these children to inherit.
Virginia Wills and Indentures, Parmly Billings Library, Billings, MT, pg. 79-80: This Indenture made this twenty-second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, between Warren Cash and Susanna, his wife, of the County of Hardin and State of Kentucky, John Baskett of the County of Shelby, Thomas Baskett and Dicey, his wife, of the County of Shelby, John Shepherd and Nancy, his wife, County of Shelby, Abraham Baskett and Frances, his wife, of the County of Fluvanna, state of Virginia, Jesse Baskett and Salley, his wife, of the County of Fluvanna, John Kent and Elizabeth, his wife, of the County of Fluvanna, Joel Parrish and Mildred, his wife, of the County of Fluvanna, Job Baskett and Salley, his wife, of the County of Shelby, Jesse Dale and Anne Nixon, his wife, of the County of Woodford, and state of Kentucky, and William Connelly and Peggy, his wife, of the County of Shelby (which said Susanna, wife of Warren Cash and formerly Susanna Baskett, John Baskett, Thomas Baskett, Nancy, wife of John Shepherd, and formerly Nancy Baskett, Abraham Baskett, Jesse Baskett, Elizabeth, wife of John Kent, and formerly Elizabeth Baskett, Mildred, wife of Joel Parrish and formerly Mildred Baskett, Job Baskett are children, Legatees and co-heirs of said William Baskett, deceased, they being the children of the late Mary Dale, deceased daughter, who was formerly Mary Baskett, a daughter of the said William Baskett, deceased (not legible on account of worn fold of paper), James Baskett and Robert Baskett of the County of Fluvanna and State of Virginia aforesaid of the other part,
Witnesseth: That said Warren Cash and Susanna, John Baskett, Thomas Baskett, and Dicey, Abraham Baskett and Frances, John Shepherd and Nancy, Jesse Baskett and Salley, John Kent and Elizabeth, Joel Parrish and Mildred, Job Baskett and Salley, Jesse Dale and Anne Nixon, William Connelly and Peggy, for and in consideration of the sum of $1800 current money of Virginia by the said James James Baskett and Robert Baskett to them in hand paid at or before the ensealing and dealivery of these presents, the receipt is hereby acknowledge, have and each of them hath granted, bargained and sold and by these presents do and each of them doth grant, bargain and sell unto the said James Baskett and Robert Baskett and to their heirs and assigns, all their several and respective proportions and shares or dividends, in and of all the Lands late the property of the said William Baskett, deceased, which said lands are situated in the County of Fluvanna and State of Virginia aforesaid on Kent's Branch and Lilly's Creak, are in three several Tracts all adjoining each other and containing in the whole by estimate 786 1/4 acres.
The indenture is signed and sealed by all of the persons mentioned above.
Virginia Wills and Indentures, Parmly Billings Library, Billings, MT, pg. 80=81:
I, William Baskett, of the County of Fluvanna and State of Virginia, being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, do constitute, make and ordain this writing following my Last Will and Testament; that is to say, it is my will and desire that my just and lawful debts be first paid.
Item: It is my will and desire that my estate after my decease be equally divided among my thirteen children or their lawful representatives as the law prescribes where persons die intestate, with this exception: That whatever part or parts of my estate my children or their representatives has received from me heretofore the same shall remain with them as a fee simple and shall not by them nor any of them be accounted for in the division of my estate by virtue of this my last will and testament.
And lastly I do appoint and constitute my two sons, Abraham and Jesse Baskett as Executors to this my last will and Testament, utterly revoking all former wills and testaments heretofore by me made.
In testimore thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of September, 1812.
William Baskett Published, acknowledged and signed, sealed as my last will and testament in the presence of:
David Shepherd Nancy Shepherd Polly Shepherd (her X mark) A Court of monthly session held for Fluvanna County on Monday the 22nd day of May, 1815. This will was presented and proved by the oath of Nancy Shepherd and David Shepherd and ordered to be recorded.
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