Marriage of Hezekiah and Elizabeth Nov. 10, 1761
Ezekiah Jackson's Probate Inventory Charlotte, Virginia - May 1771
Hezekiah died without a Will. His property and possessions went into Probate and a Judge decided who got what. Elizabeth wife of Hezekiah chose to take a Widow’s Dower of 1/5 the property and leaves the rest to her children, Josiah, Robert, Abel, and Martha. Elizabeth later remarried John Mitchell who has children of his own and is a Widower. She is mentioned in his Will as well as her children. It looks like from the Inventory that Hezekiah didn’t own any property. Source: Library of Virginia Archives Charlotte County Will Book 1 (1765-1791) P. 84-85 Inventory of Ezekiah Jackson’s Estate, recorded 5 August 1771 P.87-89 Accounts and. Division of Ezekia’s Estate, recorded 2 December 1771
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Distribution to Ezekiah’s Widow and Orphans Page 4
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John Mitchell to be Guardian to Hezekiah’s Orphans
When a man died and left a widow and children, a guardian was appointed to care for the financial distribution the children got from the father’s estate. Elizabeth was still alive and able to care for her children but John Mitchell was appointed to handle the financial affairs for them. Elizabeth latter marries John Mitchell when his wife died and Hezekiah’s family moves into the Mitchell Plantation.
John Mitchell's Last Will and Testament - August 4, 1783
After Hezekiah Died the family struggled. It was hard times for the Jackson family. John Mitchell was appointed guardian over the children’s financial allotment they received from their father’s estate. John’s wife suddenly passed away leaving a very young family. John proposed to Elizabeth that if she married him, she would want for nothing and her children would be cared for. She stepped into the role of step-mother to a young family with babies she would raise as her own. They were married for around ten years before John became tragically ill, from what we cannot say but he never recovered and passed away. Elizabeth was left in the Will the opportunity to be cared for by John’s estate for the rest of her natural life. Her children are also mentioned in John’s Will, by name, Robert, Abell, and Martha as receiving the slaves that came into the marriage when Elizabeth was married to John.
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