Person Page 218

John Tuck was born about 1730.²
     John married Mary Powell, daughter of Edward Powell and Elizabeth Ranson, in 1757 in Halifax Co., VirginiaG.³
     John was named an heir in the will of Edward Powell, his wife's father, dated 18 Jul 1766 in Parish of Antrim, Halifax Co., Virginia ColonyG, to receive 116 acres of land adjoining his line "which he had paid for."⁵
     John was named an executor in the will of Edward Tuck, his brother, dated 14 Aug 1780.⁶ He posted bond as executor on 18 Oct 1781 with David Powel and Thomas Tuck his securities. The other named executor, Thomas Lacy, declined to serve.⁷
      On 1 Jun 1782 John was granted a patent for 258 acres, according to a survey made 2 Feb 1771, on the branches of Difficult Creek in Halifax Co.G, paying 30s.⁸
      On 31 May 1787 John was granted a patent for 478 acres, according to a survey made 8 Oct 1772, on the draughts of Bluewing and Aarons Creek in Halifax Co.G, paying £2 10s.⁹ He was granted another patent the same day for 400 acres, according to a survey made 30 Oct 1771, on the draughts of Aarons Creek, joining the county line in Halifax Co.G, paying £2. This tract adjoined his own property, presumably the other parcel granted that day.¹⁰
      On 28 Mar 1788 John was granted a patent for 400 acres, according to a survey made 5 Nov 1786, on the draughts of Aarons Creek in Halifax Co.G, paying £2.¹¹
     John was the executor of the estate of his nephew, Edward Tuck, who died bef. Jul 1795.¹²
     John left a will dated 7 Jan 1801, in which he named his son-in-law, Nathan Fletcher, and Bennett Tuck as executors. It is unclear whether the latter was his son of that name, who would then have been about age 25 and one of his younger sons, or the elder Bennett Tuck who lived in the area and is thought to have been his brother. He left each of his children a sum of money, in each case described as "which she [or he] has already had," or in three cases land. Sarah was to receive £58, Elizabeth £30, Edward £63, Mary £21, Ezra £30, Achsah £21, Robert £37, Richard £41, £18 of which was to be a small tract of land on Blue Wing Creek, Bennett £42, John a 74-acre tract on the east side of North Fork valued at £20, and Jane £16 10s. Son David was to receive the 275-acre tract where John was living, valued at £25, upon the death of his mother. He lent to his wife Mary the land and plantation where he lived, two negroes Phil and Beck, his stock of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, and all his household and kitchen furniture and tools, for her natural life. At her death that was to be sold and the proceeds applied to make the shares of the children equal and any excess divided equally between them. He directed that no appraisal be made.^13,14
     John died in 1801 at age ~71.⁴
     His estate was probated on 28 Sep 1801 in Halifax Co.G Court. His son-in-law Nathan Fletcher posted bond of $2,000 as executor, with William Yancy Jr., David Windfrey, Richard Tuck, and Nathan Seat as securities.¹⁵

Edward Tuck was born in 1732.²
     Edward left a will dated 14 Aug 1780, in which he named his brother John and friend Thomas Lacy as his executors. He left his daughter Mary a feather bed and a woman's saddle and bridle, his sons Moses and Josiah each half of a 334-acre tract on "Bufelow Creek," and his house and plantation with 125 acres to his son Edward. He left the balance of his land, 185 acres, to his son Cary, and his "household goods and moveables" were to be divided equally between his daughters Sarah, Vashti, Tabitha, and Susannah. He left his house and plantation to Patty Ashlock to raise her children so long as she remained single, or until Edward reached lawful age. If any of his sons did not "follow a good and lawful course of living" his executors were to have them bound out.¹
     Edward died between 14 Aug 1780 and 17 May 1781 in Halifax Co., VirginiaG.^3,4
      On 1 Feb 1781 Edward was granted a patent for 344 acres "on the draughts of Buffaloe creek" in Halifax Co.G, having paid the Commonwealth of Virginia 35s. This seems to be the same land he had six months before included in his will. The patent was signed by Governor Thomas Jefferson.⁵
     His will was probated on 17 May 1781 in Halifax Co., VirginiaG.¹ His brother John posted bond as executor on 18 Oct 1781 with David Powel and Thomas Tuck his securities. The other named executor, Thomas Lacy, declined to serve.⁶
     An inventory of his personal property was made on 20 Oct 1781 but was not filed with the Halifax Co.G Court until the Jan 1790 term. It listed slaves, livestock, furniture and tools with total value of £82 12s 6d. The most significant items were "one Negro fellow" valued at £9, a horse at £5, 32 hogs at £15, a yoke of oxen at £10. six cattle at £16, a pair of cotton cards at £8 2s, and two feather beds at £7 7s 6d and £2 12s 6d respectively.⁷
     His personal property was sold on 1 Nov 1781 for substantially more than the appraised value. Some entries are unclear, but they totaled over £437. Several items sold for much higher than their appraised values, including the Negro man appraised at £9 and sold for £47 10s, the yoke of oxen appraised at £10 sold for £30, the cotton cards appraised at £8 2s sold for $550, recorded as £165, and a loom, not listed on the inventory, sold for $201, recorded as £60 6s.⁸