Proof of parentage for John Bland:
John Bland is believed to be the son of William Bland, but I personally have no proof of parentage. As I understand it though, there is a deed. It is a title transfer from William Bland to Osborne Bland on March 27, 1776.
Thompson Randolph or Thomas Osborne Randolph of Kentucky
Copied from "The Randolphs of Prince William County, Virginia
Compiled by Blanche Randolph
Margaret (Osborne) Bland, wife of John Bland, and daughter of Thomas Osborne and Frances (Barnes) Bland, had a sister named Ann Osborne who married John Randolph. The will of John Randolph, 1789, mentions a son Thompson, who has already received his part, and a son Thomas Osborne, who he cuts off with one shilling. This will is found in Prince William County, Virginia.
About 1780, Thompson Randolph, his wife Ann (Bayless) Randolph, and his children left Virginia bound for Kentucky. The John Bland family, Osborne Bland family, John Randolph family and about 5 other families settled on Simpson's Creek, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, which is now Nelson County, Kentucky.
On the night of September 1, 1782, Indians attacked the settlement. Several people were killed and some taken prisoner. Among those killed were Thompson's wife Ann (Bayless) Randolph with a baby in her arms. According to reports, Thompson fought like a hero. After his wife was killed, he put his other child named William Bayless Randolph, in the loft and escaped through the roof. After the massacre, Thompson took his son William back to Virginia, where he was raised by his uncle William Bayless of Prince William County, Virginia.
Thomas Osborne Randolph, soon after, or right before the death of his father John Randolph, left Virginia for Nelson County Kentucky, where his aunt Margaret (Osborne) Bland, and her husband John Bland lived. On December 29, 1790, he married their daughter Mary Bland.
JOHN BLAND"S WILL
Will Book A, Page 166, dated October 5, 1795,
Nelson County, KY. Probated December 8, 1795
"In the name of God, Amen. This fifth day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-five, I, John BLAND of the County of Nelson, State of Kentucky, being in a weak and low state of health but of perfect mind and memory....do constitute, make and ordain this to be my last will and testament.
Item first, It is my will that Margaret, my dearly beloved wife, for her support during her natural life do inherit all my estate, both real and personal, all moveable or immoveable, unless such moutys (moieties) as in this shall be hereafter to be given to my other heirs of my sd (said) estate and after her death mention to be made how to divide the same equally agreeable to my will and pleasure.
Item secondly, it is my will that my eldest son, Osborn BLAND be paid twenty pounds cash out of my sd (said) estate at the decease of my dearly beloved wife Margaret.
Item thirdly, it is my will that my eldest daughter, Prudence SMITH wife to Fleming SMITH, be paid five pounds specia in like manner as above.
Item fourthly, it is my will that my son Samuel BLAND be paid thirty pounds specia in like manner as above specified.
Item fifthly, it is my will that my son John BLAND shall have a conveyance of a part of a tract of land I purchased of James DAVIS.
Item sixthly, it is my will that my two sons Isaac and Elijah BLAND shall have the remaining part of the land I now hold on the waters of Simpsons Creek, at the decease of my wife Margaret, also one negro each of them is to have of the increase of my negro woman Lucy.
Item seventhly, it is my will that the remaining part of my moveable estate together with my real estate is to be equally divided among six of my chidren: Mildred HUGHES, Daniel BLAND, William BLAND, John BLAND, Frances HUGHES and Molly RANDOLPH.
Item eightly, it is my will that Nancy BLAND, daughter to Henry BLAND is to have twenty pounds specia which is to come out of Mildred HUGHES part of my estate.
Item ninthly, it is my will that my wife Margaret together with Daniel and John BLAND, my two sons, be executors whom I do constitute and appoint of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereinto set my hand and seal this day and date first written. Signed, John Bland
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us:
Anthony THOMPSON, Henry JINKINSON, Elizabeth JINKINSON.
At a court held for Nelson Co., on the 8th day of December 1795, this last will and testament of John Bland, deceased was proved by the oaths of Anthony Thompson, Henry Jinkinson and Elizabeth Jinkinson subscribing witness thereto and sworn to by Margaret Bland, Daniel Bland and John Bland executors therein and ordered.
Attest: Benjamin Grayson, Co., Clerk, State of Kentucky, County of Nelson.
At a property inventory dated December 28, 1795, John Bland's estate was inventoried and shown to have an approximate value of 710 pounds sterling, including nine slaves valued at 485 pounds.
Slaves owned by John and Margaret (Osborne) Bland at that time were: Jacob, Henry, Lucy, unnamed child, Fanny, Thomas, Simon, Anny, and Nan.
The Family of Jacob Bland
(John and Margaret (Osborne) Bland's Slave)
Nelson Co., KY Order Book, September 9, 1805:
...John Hughes...(et al)...setting at liberty, negroe Jacob, who belonged to John Bland, dec'd.
After Jacob was given his freedom, he in return, bought the freedom of his daughters America "Ary" and Fanny.
Ary married David Cousins, 18 January, 1826, Nelson County, Kentucky
Fanny married Edmund Duncan, 3 November 1832, Nelson County, Kentucky
Nelson County Kentucky Wills - 1700's and 1800's (by Crume):
Hobbs, Joseph - October 25, 1809 - May 21, 1810
Estate to my son Nathan Hobbs, son Thomas and wife Urith, heirs of my son Thomas by his first wife Urith who now resides or lately did reside in the state of Maryland, son Eschariah Hobbs of Washington County, daughter Sarah Dorsey, wife of Greenberry Dorsey, daughter Rachael Hobbs, wife of Joshua Hobbs Jr., daughter Susanna Stone, daughter Mary Tives, wife of Robert Tives of Madison County, Kentucky, daughter Deborah Fountian, wife of James Fountain of Jefferson County, Kentucky, daughter Elizabeth Waddy, wife of Samuel Waddy of Shelby County, Kentucky, part of estate to be paid heirs of Robert Parker, dec'd, by my daughter lives to wit, Nat Parker and Susanna Powel, son and daughter to said Mary Tives.
Freedom to slave Fanny and her children. To allow Jacob BLAND to have his son Ben at a reasonable price.
Executors: William Stone (son-in-law), Nathon Hobbs (son)
Witnesses: A. Hubbard, Solomon Bishop, David Huston, Benjamin Huston, Thomas Bishop.
