Transcript:Will of John Walker III of Washington County, VA, c1773

Will of John Walker III written c. 1775, probated 1778.

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN I, John Walker of the county of Washington being sick in body but of good and sound memory, thanks to it almighty God and caling to mind the uncertainty estates of this transistory of life and that flesh must yeald to death when it shall please God to call do make constitute ordain and declair this my last will and testament in manner and form following and annuling by these presents all and every testament or testaments, will or wills heretofore by me made or declares either by word or writing and this to be my last will and testament for-none other; and first being penitent for my sins past most humbly desire foregiveness for the same. I give and commit my soul unto almighty God my saviour and redeemer in whom and by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have full remission and foregiveness of all my sins and that my soul with my body as a general day of the resurrection shall rise again with joy and though thou hearest of Christ death saviour poses and inherit the kingdom of heaven prepared for his elect and chosen and my body to be buried in such a place as will pleas my executors hereafter named. To appoint and now for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods and chattels and debts it hath pleased God for above my presents to bestow upon me. I do order, give and dispose the same in a.manner and from following: That is to say, I will all these debts & dues I own in right to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and fairly contested and pid or ordered to be paid within convenient time after my deciece by my executors hereafter named then I give and bequeath the money that is in Patrick Porter hand. That I have his bonds and account for to be equally devided amongst my six daughters and granddaughter An Bell and do order that all my debts that is owing to me be collected by my two sons John and Samuel Walker and when collected at my creditors to be paid and the remainder to be equally divided betwixt my two sons except that is divided already and I do appoint my two sons John and Samuel Walker my executor. This given under my hand and seal the day and year above written [???1773???]. My lands to be equally divided betwixt my two sons and one bay mare I give to my grandson William Walker. JOHN WALKER Seal Signed, sealed and delivered in the present of Alex Montgomery, William Cowan and Andrew Cowan..... at Court held for Washington County the 17th day of November 1778. This last will and testament of John Walker, deceased was proved by oath of Alex Montgomery, William Cowan........
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Discussion

IN his will John identifies two sons:

John
Samuel

He also identifies six unnamed daughters: and granddaughter

An Bell

Samuel Walker the son is believed to have been died in 1776, probably killed by Indians at the same time his sister Ann Walker Cowan, and nephew William Walker (son of John Walker IV) were captured by Indians. Since John the father specifically leaves a bequest to son Samuel, we know the will must have been written prior to Samuel's death. That probably places John III's death in 1774 or 1775.
The granddaughter "An Bell" is believed to be the daughter of Catherine Walker, identified in White 1902 as "Hetty". White identifies six other daughters of John Walker and Ann Houston:

Susannah Walker =Patrick Porter
Mary Walker = Andrew Cowan
Margaret Walker = Alexander Montgomery
Ann Walker = Samuel Cowan
Martha Walker = John Snoddy
Jane Walker = William Cowan

The above six daughters are readily identified in records of SW Virginia. No records have been found for a "Hetty Walker" as given in White 1902, in SW VA or elsewhere, that could correspond to the daughter of John Walker and Ann Houston. However, the fact that he leaves a bequest to a grand-daughter "Ann Bell", indicates that he did in fact have a seventh daughter, who married a "Bell", and gave birth to a daughter "Ann Bell". The fact that she is not named in Johns will, but "Ann Bell" is named, indicates that this daughter predeceased her father.
However, NC records show that there was a Robert Bell who married a Catherine Walker, whose father was a "John Walker". Robert Bell lived in the general area where John Walker III lived. Catherine Walker Bell died about 1771, after giving birth to a daughter Ann. Taken together it is difficult to not accept that Catherine Walker Bell is in fact "Hetty Walker" of White 1902, and the seventh daughter of John Walker III.