Son of William Wills and his wife Elizabeth. He usually went by his middle name of William, and most records show him as William Wills.
He married Frances Durrett, on April 3, 1763, in White Hall (in Albemarle County).
They had eleven children: William (born April 16, 1765); John Durrett (born 1767); Richard K. (born 1769); Elizabeth (born March 3, 1770); Frances Winston (born Jan 25, 1774); Washington (born October 29, 1775); Sarah (born 1788); Thornton (born July of 1781); Isaac (born March 2, 1785); Nancy (born June 13, 1788); and Durrett John (born December 5, 1792).
They first lived in Albemarle County, near his parents. He sold his land on Sept. 13, 1787, and he and his family migrated to Clark County, Kentucky, with about 15 other families. Most of the men had served together in the Revolutionary War. They settled near Big Stoner Creek, at a place that later was known as "The Stoner Settlement." He bought 1,000 acres there, along the west bank of the Big Stoner Creek, near the original site of the Sugar Ridge Church. He was one of the leaders of the settlement.
He wrote his will on December 20, 1795, in Winchester, and he died soon after that. His will was probated on January 26, 1796.
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Early Settlements, Clark County KY:
There also came from Virginia in company with David Brandenburg and Alexander Ramsey, William Wills, who settled on the west bank of Big Stoner and near the original site of Sugar Ridge Church, close to Mr. Brandenburg and Mr. Ramsey, and about one mile west of Charles Tracy. These gentlemen, to-wit, Brandenburg, Ramsey, and Wills, had been soldiers in the same brigade with Ragland, Tracy, Brown, Hulett, Hainey, and others of the original Big Stoner settlement. Mr. Wills was an industrious, thorough-going man, possessed of far more than ordinary mental capacity and soon became well-to-do, and one of the leading citizens of the settlement. He had seven sons and four daughters, but all of the Wills of Clark County sprang from his three sons, Washington, Isaac, and Thorton; the other four sons having left the county in their early manhood. One of the first marriage ceremonies ever solemnized in the Big Stoner settlement was Mr. Wills' daughter, Fannie, to Mr. Luke Hood. From this union sprang all the Hoods of
Clark County and several of their children and grandchildren became very distinguished citizens of the county. Two of their sons, Andrew and John, are numbered among the most eminent physicians that the county has ever produced. Dr. Andrew Hood's son James was considered not a wit behind his father in medical skill. and two or three other sons were physicians of ability. Dr. Andrew Hood was chosen by the people of Clark County over an
eminent lawyer to represent the county in the Constitutional Convention of 1849, and his son Thomas, one of the brightest and most talented young lawyers of the State, was chosen to the same position by the people of Carter County, thus it will be seen Mr. Wills had a grandson and a great grandson who were members of the Constitutional Congress of 1849. Dr. John Hood's son John B. Hood received a military education at West Point and was a Lieutenant-General in the late Confederate Army and was numbered among the very hardest fighters in that army, as the historian can learn by reading of the battles he fought at Atlanta, Georgia, and Franklin,
Tennessee. William Wills was a Jeffersonian Democrat, as has been nearly all of his descendents. His son William, and his son-in-law Luke Hood, were soldiers in the War of 1812, and narrowly escaped with their lives from the human butchery of Dudley's Defeat, and but a few men whoever lived in Clark County had as many descendents in the Confederate Army as did William Wills. Some time during the year of 1788, the colony of Big Stoner learned through emigrants just arrived from Virginia that General George Washington was a candidate for the presidency of the then thirteen United States. So some time during the fall of that year, Richard Hainey and Charles Tracy (who, by the way, were brothers-in-law), leaving their families in care of two young men, cousins of theirs, recently from Virginia, shouldered
their trusty rifles and walked back to Virginia for the pleasure of voting for their beloved old commander. It will be understood that at this date, Kentucky was still a territory, belonging to the State of Virginia, and there was as yet, no arrangementmade for holding an election in the territory of Kentucky, hence this trip to Virginia. It would be pleasant, indeed, to relate the reception giventhese two pioneers and soldiers by their relatives and
friends upon their arrival at their old homes, the stories of their lives led in the"dark and bloody ground," and of many hair-breadth escapes from both savage and beast. Men no doubt listened to them with bated breath, very much like the stories of Henry M. Stanley's explorations in the wilds of Africa would be listened to in the present day, but unfortunately we have no account of their arrival and sojourn while there. We only know that they returned safely to their families some time during the winter of 1788-9, bringing with them several emigrants and several pack horses, laden with various articles essential to their families in their wild new homes. Among other articles that Charles Tracy brought home with him were a couple of pear spouts, which he carefully transplanted on the ridge just above his home, near the spot where he intended in the near future to build a better residence than he was then occupying. One of these pear trees was blown down by a storm only a few years ago, the other, at more than one hundred years of age, is still standing and bears most delicious fruit every year, except occasionally when nipped by an unseasonable frost.
He married Frances Durrett, on April 3, 1763, in White Hall (in Albemarle County).
They had eleven children: William (born April 16, 1765); John Durrett (born 1767); Richard K. (born 1769); Elizabeth (born March 3, 1770); Frances Winston (born Jan 25, 1774); Washington (born October 29, 1775); Sarah (born 1788); Thornton (born July of 1781); Isaac (born March 2, 1785); Nancy (born June 13, 1788); and Durrett John (born December 5, 1792).
They first lived in Albemarle County, near his parents. He sold his land on Sept. 13, 1787, and he and his family migrated to Clark County, Kentucky, with about 15 other families. Most of the men had served together in the Revolutionary War. They settled near Big Stoner Creek, at a place that later was known as "The Stoner Settlement." He bought 1,000 acres there, along the west bank of the Big Stoner Creek, near the original site of the Sugar Ridge Church. He was one of the leaders of the settlement.
He wrote his will on December 20, 1795, in Winchester, and he died soon after that. His will was probated on January 26, 1796.
**********************
Early Settlements, Clark County KY:
There also came from Virginia in company with David Brandenburg and Alexander Ramsey, William Wills, who settled on the west bank of Big Stoner and near the original site of Sugar Ridge Church, close to Mr. Brandenburg and Mr. Ramsey, and about one mile west of Charles Tracy. These gentlemen, to-wit, Brandenburg, Ramsey, and Wills, had been soldiers in the same brigade with Ragland, Tracy, Brown, Hulett, Hainey, and others of the original Big Stoner settlement. Mr. Wills was an industrious, thorough-going man, possessed of far more than ordinary mental capacity and soon became well-to-do, and one of the leading citizens of the settlement. He had seven sons and four daughters, but all of the Wills of Clark County sprang from his three sons, Washington, Isaac, and Thorton; the other four sons having left the county in their early manhood. One of the first marriage ceremonies ever solemnized in the Big Stoner settlement was Mr. Wills' daughter, Fannie, to Mr. Luke Hood. From this union sprang all the Hoods of
Clark County and several of their children and grandchildren became very distinguished citizens of the county. Two of their sons, Andrew and John, are numbered among the most eminent physicians that the county has ever produced. Dr. Andrew Hood's son James was considered not a wit behind his father in medical skill. and two or three other sons were physicians of ability. Dr. Andrew Hood was chosen by the people of Clark County over an
eminent lawyer to represent the county in the Constitutional Convention of 1849, and his son Thomas, one of the brightest and most talented young lawyers of the State, was chosen to the same position by the people of Carter County, thus it will be seen Mr. Wills had a grandson and a great grandson who were members of the Constitutional Congress of 1849. Dr. John Hood's son John B. Hood received a military education at West Point and was a Lieutenant-General in the late Confederate Army and was numbered among the very hardest fighters in that army, as the historian can learn by reading of the battles he fought at Atlanta, Georgia, and Franklin,
Tennessee. William Wills was a Jeffersonian Democrat, as has been nearly all of his descendents. His son William, and his son-in-law Luke Hood, were soldiers in the War of 1812, and narrowly escaped with their lives from the human butchery of Dudley's Defeat, and but a few men whoever lived in Clark County had as many descendents in the Confederate Army as did William Wills. Some time during the year of 1788, the colony of Big Stoner learned through emigrants just arrived from Virginia that General George Washington was a candidate for the presidency of the then thirteen United States. So some time during the fall of that year, Richard Hainey and Charles Tracy (who, by the way, were brothers-in-law), leaving their families in care of two young men, cousins of theirs, recently from Virginia, shouldered
their trusty rifles and walked back to Virginia for the pleasure of voting for their beloved old commander. It will be understood that at this date, Kentucky was still a territory, belonging to the State of Virginia, and there was as yet, no arrangementmade for holding an election in the territory of Kentucky, hence this trip to Virginia. It would be pleasant, indeed, to relate the reception giventhese two pioneers and soldiers by their relatives and
friends upon their arrival at their old homes, the stories of their lives led in the"dark and bloody ground," and of many hair-breadth escapes from both savage and beast. Men no doubt listened to them with bated breath, very much like the stories of Henry M. Stanley's explorations in the wilds of Africa would be listened to in the present day, but unfortunately we have no account of their arrival and sojourn while there. We only know that they returned safely to their families some time during the winter of 1788-9, bringing with them several emigrants and several pack horses, laden with various articles essential to their families in their wild new homes. Among other articles that Charles Tracy brought home with him were a couple of pear spouts, which he carefully transplanted on the ridge just above his home, near the spot where he intended in the near future to build a better residence than he was then occupying. One of these pear trees was blown down by a storm only a few years ago, the other, at more than one hundred years of age, is still standing and bears most delicious fruit every year, except occasionally when nipped by an unseasonable frost.
Son of William Wills and his wife Elizabeth. He usually went by his middle name of William, and most records show him as William Wills.
He married Frances Durrett, on April 3, 1763, in White Hall (in Albemarle County).
They had eleven children: William (born April 16, 1765); John Durrett (born 1767); Richard K. (born 1769); Elizabeth (born March 3, 1770); Frances Winston (born Jan 25, 1774); Washington (born October 29, 1775); Sarah (born 1788); Thornton (born July of 1781); Isaac (born March 2, 1785); Nancy (born June 13, 1788); and Durrett John (born December 5, 1792).
They first lived in Albemarle County, near his parents. He sold his land on Sept. 13, 1787, and he and his family migrated to Clark County, Kentucky, with about 15 other families. Most of the men had served together in the Revolutionary War. They settled near Big Stoner Creek, at a place that later was known as "The Stoner Settlement." He bought 1,000 acres there, along the west bank of the Big Stoner Creek, near the original site of the Sugar Ridge Church. He was one of the leaders of the settlement.
He wrote his will on December 20, 1795, in Winchester, and he died soon after that. His will was probated on January 26, 1796.
**********************
Early Settlements, Clark County KY:
There also came from Virginia in company with David Brandenburg and Alexander Ramsey, William Wills, who settled on the west bank of Big Stoner and near the original site of Sugar Ridge Church, close to Mr. Brandenburg and Mr. Ramsey, and about one mile west of Charles Tracy. These gentlemen, to-wit, Brandenburg, Ramsey, and Wills, had been soldiers in the same brigade with Ragland, Tracy, Brown, Hulett, Hainey, and others of the original Big Stoner settlement. Mr. Wills was an industrious, thorough-going man, possessed of far more than ordinary mental capacity and soon became well-to-do, and one of the leading citizens of the settlement. He had seven sons and four daughters, but all of the Wills of Clark County sprang from his three sons, Washington, Isaac, and Thorton; the other four sons having left the county in their early manhood. One of the first marriage ceremonies ever solemnized in the Big Stoner settlement was Mr. Wills' daughter, Fannie, to Mr. Luke Hood. From this union sprang all the Hoods of
Clark County and several of their children and grandchildren became very distinguished citizens of the county. Two of their sons, Andrew and John, are numbered among the most eminent physicians that the county has ever produced. Dr. Andrew Hood's son James was considered not a wit behind his father in medical skill. and two or three other sons were physicians of ability. Dr. Andrew Hood was chosen by the people of Clark County over an
eminent lawyer to represent the county in the Constitutional Convention of 1849, and his son Thomas, one of the brightest and most talented young lawyers of the State, was chosen to the same position by the people of Carter County, thus it will be seen Mr. Wills had a grandson and a great grandson who were members of the Constitutional Congress of 1849. Dr. John Hood's son John B. Hood received a military education at West Point and was a Lieutenant-General in the late Confederate Army and was numbered among the very hardest fighters in that army, as the historian can learn by reading of the battles he fought at Atlanta, Georgia, and Franklin,
Tennessee. William Wills was a Jeffersonian Democrat, as has been nearly all of his descendents. His son William, and his son-in-law Luke Hood, were soldiers in the War of 1812, and narrowly escaped with their lives from the human butchery of Dudley's Defeat, and but a few men whoever lived in Clark County had as many descendents in the Confederate Army as did William Wills. Some time during the year of 1788, the colony of Big Stoner learned through emigrants just arrived from Virginia that General George Washington was a candidate for the presidency of the then thirteen United States. So some time during the fall of that year, Richard Hainey and Charles Tracy (who, by the way, were brothers-in-law), leaving their families in care of two young men, cousins of theirs, recently from Virginia, shouldered
their trusty rifles and walked back to Virginia for the pleasure of voting for their beloved old commander. It will be understood that at this date, Kentucky was still a territory, belonging to the State of Virginia, and there was as yet, no arrangementmade for holding an election in the territory of Kentucky, hence this trip to Virginia. It would be pleasant, indeed, to relate the reception giventhese two pioneers and soldiers by their relatives and
friends upon their arrival at their old homes, the stories of their lives led in the"dark and bloody ground," and of many hair-breadth escapes from both savage and beast. Men no doubt listened to them with bated breath, very much like the stories of Henry M. Stanley's explorations in the wilds of Africa would be listened to in the present day, but unfortunately we have no account of their arrival and sojourn while there. We only know that they returned safely to their families some time during the winter of 1788-9, bringing with them several emigrants and several pack horses, laden with various articles essential to their families in their wild new homes. Among other articles that Charles Tracy brought home with him were a couple of pear spouts, which he carefully transplanted on the ridge just above his home, near the spot where he intended in the near future to build a better residence than he was then occupying. One of these pear trees was blown down by a storm only a few years ago, the other, at more than one hundred years of age, is still standing and bears most delicious fruit every year, except occasionally when nipped by an unseasonable frost.
He married Frances Durrett, on April 3, 1763, in White Hall (in Albemarle County).
They had eleven children: William (born April 16, 1765); John Durrett (born 1767); Richard K. (born 1769); Elizabeth (born March 3, 1770); Frances Winston (born Jan 25, 1774); Washington (born October 29, 1775); Sarah (born 1788); Thornton (born July of 1781); Isaac (born March 2, 1785); Nancy (born June 13, 1788); and Durrett John (born December 5, 1792).
They first lived in Albemarle County, near his parents. He sold his land on Sept. 13, 1787, and he and his family migrated to Clark County, Kentucky, with about 15 other families. Most of the men had served together in the Revolutionary War. They settled near Big Stoner Creek, at a place that later was known as "The Stoner Settlement." He bought 1,000 acres there, along the west bank of the Big Stoner Creek, near the original site of the Sugar Ridge Church. He was one of the leaders of the settlement.
He wrote his will on December 20, 1795, in Winchester, and he died soon after that. His will was probated on January 26, 1796.
**********************
Early Settlements, Clark County KY:
There also came from Virginia in company with David Brandenburg and Alexander Ramsey, William Wills, who settled on the west bank of Big Stoner and near the original site of Sugar Ridge Church, close to Mr. Brandenburg and Mr. Ramsey, and about one mile west of Charles Tracy. These gentlemen, to-wit, Brandenburg, Ramsey, and Wills, had been soldiers in the same brigade with Ragland, Tracy, Brown, Hulett, Hainey, and others of the original Big Stoner settlement. Mr. Wills was an industrious, thorough-going man, possessed of far more than ordinary mental capacity and soon became well-to-do, and one of the leading citizens of the settlement. He had seven sons and four daughters, but all of the Wills of Clark County sprang from his three sons, Washington, Isaac, and Thorton; the other four sons having left the county in their early manhood. One of the first marriage ceremonies ever solemnized in the Big Stoner settlement was Mr. Wills' daughter, Fannie, to Mr. Luke Hood. From this union sprang all the Hoods of
Clark County and several of their children and grandchildren became very distinguished citizens of the county. Two of their sons, Andrew and John, are numbered among the most eminent physicians that the county has ever produced. Dr. Andrew Hood's son James was considered not a wit behind his father in medical skill. and two or three other sons were physicians of ability. Dr. Andrew Hood was chosen by the people of Clark County over an
eminent lawyer to represent the county in the Constitutional Convention of 1849, and his son Thomas, one of the brightest and most talented young lawyers of the State, was chosen to the same position by the people of Carter County, thus it will be seen Mr. Wills had a grandson and a great grandson who were members of the Constitutional Congress of 1849. Dr. John Hood's son John B. Hood received a military education at West Point and was a Lieutenant-General in the late Confederate Army and was numbered among the very hardest fighters in that army, as the historian can learn by reading of the battles he fought at Atlanta, Georgia, and Franklin,
Tennessee. William Wills was a Jeffersonian Democrat, as has been nearly all of his descendents. His son William, and his son-in-law Luke Hood, were soldiers in the War of 1812, and narrowly escaped with their lives from the human butchery of Dudley's Defeat, and but a few men whoever lived in Clark County had as many descendents in the Confederate Army as did William Wills. Some time during the year of 1788, the colony of Big Stoner learned through emigrants just arrived from Virginia that General George Washington was a candidate for the presidency of the then thirteen United States. So some time during the fall of that year, Richard Hainey and Charles Tracy (who, by the way, were brothers-in-law), leaving their families in care of two young men, cousins of theirs, recently from Virginia, shouldered
their trusty rifles and walked back to Virginia for the pleasure of voting for their beloved old commander. It will be understood that at this date, Kentucky was still a territory, belonging to the State of Virginia, and there was as yet, no arrangementmade for holding an election in the territory of Kentucky, hence this trip to Virginia. It would be pleasant, indeed, to relate the reception giventhese two pioneers and soldiers by their relatives and
friends upon their arrival at their old homes, the stories of their lives led in the"dark and bloody ground," and of many hair-breadth escapes from both savage and beast. Men no doubt listened to them with bated breath, very much like the stories of Henry M. Stanley's explorations in the wilds of Africa would be listened to in the present day, but unfortunately we have no account of their arrival and sojourn while there. We only know that they returned safely to their families some time during the winter of 1788-9, bringing with them several emigrants and several pack horses, laden with various articles essential to their families in their wild new homes. Among other articles that Charles Tracy brought home with him were a couple of pear spouts, which he carefully transplanted on the ridge just above his home, near the spot where he intended in the near future to build a better residence than he was then occupying. One of these pear trees was blown down by a storm only a few years ago, the other, at more than one hundred years of age, is still standing and bears most delicious fruit every year, except occasionally when nipped by an unseasonable frost.
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