Individual Details

Anthony Tscharner DEGRAFFENREID

(28 Nov 1722 - 10 Apr 1794)

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 10, Ed. 1, Tree #0296, Date of Import: 28 May 1998]

Tscharner served in the Revolutionary War from the state of Virginia. He married 4 times, and had sixteen known children by these 4 marriages. The first wife Mary Baker, is the direct line. Tscharner died in Feb. or Mar. 1794 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. He married 1st Mary Baker in 1742, 2nd Sarah(Rusk)Lowery in 1758, 3rd Elizabeth (Allen) Embry in 1763 and 4th to Lucretia(Towns) Robertson in 1783.
Four marriages. Marriage to Lucretia may have been the year 1783.
Died Mar 1794 per Cathy Rakoczy.

Baptised by Commissary Blair. His godfathers were Hon. Nathaniel Harrison, Hon. Cole Diggs, Hon. Philip Ludwell and Lady Harrison. In McCall-Tidwell & Allied Families, p. 182, it quotes from Christopher's family bible about his birth as follows:
In Williamsburg, Virginia, 48 minutes past six o'clock at night on ye 28th November, 1722, my wife was brought happily to bed of a son, God bless him. He was baptized by Commissary Blair, ye 12th December following on ye first Faire ever held in ye aforesaid city. His godfathers were ye Hon. Nathaniel Harrison, Hon. Cole Diggs, Hon. Philip Ludwell and Lady Harrison. His name Tscharner."

The family bible records his first marriage as follows:
"Tscharner deGraffenried and Mary Baker his wife were married by the Rev. Henry Selbeck on ye 5th day of July Anno Domino 1742." History of the Degraffenried Family, p. 152.

Will dated February 8, 1774, proved April 10, 1794 recorded Will Book No. 4, pp. 56-57, Lunenburg Co., VA:
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, I Tscharner Degraffenried of Lunenburg
County, being sick of body, but of perfect mind and memory, Thanks
be to God for his mercy, Calling to mind the mortality of the Body,
do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament. Revoking all
former Will or Wills and also all Writings Testementary heretofore
by me made, and do declare and acknowledge this to be my last Will
and Testament, as falls with to wit. In primis, I give and
bequeath unto my beloved wife Lucretia Degraffenried Eight negros
to wit, Lydda, James, Cunningham, Juda, Amber, Harry, Jenny, Jerry,
and Cleo; One mare named Fammy and one horse named Leggs, with the
future increase of the said slaves to her and her heirs forever.
My will and desire is that my Executors pay unto my beloved wife
Lucretia Degraffenried Three hundred pounds in Gold or Silver to be
applied by her for the sole use and purpose of maintaining and
Educating her Children by me--I also give unto my beloved wife
Lucretia Degraffenried my riding Chair and Harness forever. ITEM,
I leave unto my said beloved wife the Land and plantation whereon
I now live during her life or widowhood by Virture of a Deed of
Trust in which Halbott Townes her brother is named as a Trustee and
that after her decease my will and desire is that the said land be
equally divided between my sons Tscharner Degraffenried, and
Christopher Degraffenried forever.--And also Thirty acres of Land
adjoining the said Tract I purchased of William Robertson which
said Thirty acres of Land I leave to my said beloved wife during
her life and after her decease to be divided as aforesaid between
my said two sons, And in Case I die before the said William
Robertson makes me a Deed to the said Thirty acres of Land my
desire is that he, the said William do Convey the same to my wife
for life only, and the remainder to my said two sons forever as
aforesaid.--ITEM, I leave unto my said beloved wife the following
slaves to wit, Jimmy, Toll, Robin, Adam, Rose, and Cesar, together
with ther future Increase, during her natural life, I also leave
unto my said wife, Fifteen head of Cattle, Fifteen head of Sheep,
Fifteen head of Hogs, and three of my stock of horses at her
election, and also all my household and kitchen furniture,(Three
beds excepted of the best kind with there furniture) Also all my
plate of every demonination which six last mentioned slaves
together with their future increase, stock, furniture, and plate
aforesaid I leave to her during her natural life and after her
decease to Return to my Estate to be disposed of as herein after
mentioned; My will and desire is that the three beds and furniture
excepted as above to be given to my Three Youngest daughters as
they Respectively come of age or marry, to wit, one bed and
furniture to each of my said daughters.--ITEM, I leave to my said
wife one still and worm during her life and after her decease I
give the said still and worm to my son William Degraffenried
forever.--ITEM, I give unto my said beloved wife all the Goods I
have imported in the course of Last Fall and now in the house,
except such as I have already disposed of and bequeathed and
Excepting also the Clock which I leave her during her widowhood and
upon her death or marriage, I give the said Clock to my son Francis
Degraffenried forever.--I also leave unto my said wife during her
widowhood the womans saddle and furniture imported Last fall and
upon her death or marriage I give the saddle and furniture to my
Daughter Catherine Jenner Degraffenried forever.--ITEM, I give unto
my son Christopher Degraffenried my two steel seals plated with
silver and my Golden Medal forever.--ITEM, I give unto my son
William Degraffenried my silver watch and golden seal, also my new
saddle, saddle cloth, and Bridle forever. --ITEM, I give and
bequeath unto my son Metcalfe Degraffenried five shillings, in full
of his share of my estate which said Legacy I consider as a
sufficient consideration for any duty I owe him as his father, whom
I reflect on my Great Case on his tender years. That I cherished
him as an affectionate father in my bosom, and his extreme
disobedience and ingratitude in Return in insulting and causing my
Gray hairs which are almost worn down with age to the Grave, will
forgive him.--ITEM, It is my will and desire that the following
Negress to wit, Big Lucy, Little Lucy, Sarah with her child,
Salinah, Rachael, John, Learner and Friday, with their future
increase do Remain as they are already given to my Three Youngest
Children, Lucretia Jones Degraffenried, Catherine Jenner
Degraffenried, and Nancy Needham Degraffenried to them and their
heirs forever, as by Virtue of a Deed of Gift Recorded in Halifax
Court.--ITEM, I leave unto my son Tscharner Degraffenried, during
his natural life Three Negos, to wit, Solomon, Roger, and Abby,
with their future increase, and upon the death of the said
Tscharner should he have any child or Children Lawfully begotten of
his body, then and in that case I give the said Three last
mentioned Negros and their future increase to such Child or
Children as aforesaid forever and should my said son Tscharner have
no child as aforesaid, at the time of his death, then and in that
case I desire the said Three Negros and their furure increase to my
two sons, Allen and Christopher Degraffenried forever.--ITEM, I
give unto my two sons Allen Degraffenried and Christopher
Degraffenried all my rights and title to a Thousand pounds left in
the hands of the Board of Orphans in Switzerland to them and their
heirs forever.-- My will and desire is that my Executors do
annually Rent out the Tract of Land whereon Joseph Jeter now lives
and pay unto my said son Tscharner the yearly Rent thereof as soon
as can be collected, during the life of my said son Tscharner, and
upon the death of my said son Tscharner, I give and desire the
Tract of Land last aforesaid unto such children of child as he may
leave Lawfully begotton of his Body, and in case there be no such
child or children left by my said son at the time of his death,
then and in that case I desire the Tract of land last aforesaid to
my son William forever. --ITEM, after the payment of my lawful
Debts and Legacies already bequeathed all other money or monies
thats due me upon Bond or open accounts. It is my will and desire
that it should be Equally divided as aforesaid, Right, between my
beloved wife Lucretia Degraffenried, my sons Francis Degraffenried,
Christopher Degraffenried, and my daughters Mary Woodson, Patty
Strong, Regina Patteson, Lucretia Jones Degraffenried, Catherine
Jenner Degraffenried, Nancy Needham Degraffenried, and to my
daughter Sarah Hopson, which portion last mentioned to my daughter
Sarah Hopson, I leave during her natural life, and after her
decease I give her portion last aforesaid to the children of her
body forever.--ITEM I leave unto my said beloved wife, all my land
in Halifax County during her Widowhood, and upon her death or
marriage (which ever happens first) I then desire one half of the
said land in Halifax unto my said son William Degraffenried and his
heirs forever. The other half of said last mentioned Tract of land
upon the death or marriage of my said wife I leave unto my son
Tscharner Degraffenried during his natural life only, and upon his
death I give the said half so lent to him unto such children of
child as he may have lawfully begotten of his body, and in case
there be no child living at the time of the death of my said son
Tscharner lawfully begotton of his body then and in that case I
give and desire the whole of my land in Halifax County to my said
son William, and his heirs forever. Susanna Maury, George Craghead
ITEM, I give all the residue of my Estate no heretofore given and
that which has been lent to my beloved wife Lucretia Degraffenried
during her natural life, after her decease to my following children
and in forms following, to be equally divided between my sons
Francis Degraffenried, William Degraffenried, Tscharner
Degraffenried, Allen Degraffenried, Christopher Degraffenried, and
my daughters Mary Woodson, Patty Strong, Regina Patteson, Lucretia
Jones Degraffenried, Catherine Jenner Degraffenried, Nancy Needham
Degraffenried, forever also--my daughter Sarah Hopson which portion
last mentioned to my said daughter Sarah Hopson I only lend during
her natural life, and upon her decease I give the portion last
mentioned to my daughter Sarah, to the children of her body
forever.--ITEM my will and desire is that several legacies and
devises herein before mentioned to my sons Allen Degraffenried, and
Christopher Degraffenried, are upon this express condition, to wit,
That they or either of them never hereto after sit up any claim or
demand against my heirs or Executors Respecting of a Tract of Land
in Bedford County which I bought of William Gentry and sold to
Henry Embry, and that in Case the said Allen and Christopher or
either of them, shall claim, demand, or sue my heirs or Executors
Respecting of said land so sold by me, Then and in that case my
will and desire is that the whole of the property herein before
bequeathed, and devised to them or either of them be equally
distributed among all my other children(my son Metcalfe excepted)
ITEM, my will and desire is that in Case either of my Three
youngest Daughters should die, under the age of Twenty one years
and unmarried, then and in that case the portion of the one so
dying be Equally Distributed among the survivors or survivor of the
said Three Youngest daughters.--ITEM, Be it Remembered that the
Respective Bequests herein before mentioned to my said beloved wife
Lucretia Degraffenried are in Lieu of and Bar of any dower she may
be Entitled to from my Estate. And lastly I do appoint and
Constitute my Trusty friends Johnathan Patteson, Halbott Townes,
and Sharp Lamkin Executors of this my last will and Testament.
Revoking all former wills by me made. In Testamony where of I have
here unto sit my hand and affixed my seal this Eighth day of
February, one Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Four.-- Signed,
Sealed published and declared in presence of Susanna Maury,
Francis Robertson, Geo. Craghead
TSCHARNER DEGRAFFENRIED
(Seal)

At a court held for Lunenburg County the 10th day of April, 1794.
The within written Last will and Testament of Tscharner Degraffenried, deceased was exhibited in Court, and proved by the oath of one of the witnesses thereto subscribed and order to be certified, - and at a Court helf for the same county the 12th day June following.
The within written Last will and testament of Tscharner de Graffenried deceased was further proved by the oathes of two of the witnesses thereto subscribed and order to be recorded.
Teste: William Taylor CLC

Events

Birth28 Nov 1722Williamsburg, Williamsburg (city), VA
Marriage5 Jul 1742Lunenburg County, VA - Mary BAKER
Marriage1758Old Rappahammock County, VA - Sarah RUST
Marriage10 Feb 1763Lunenburg County, VA - Living
Marriage14 Dec 1780Lunenburg County, VA - Living
Death10 Apr 1794Lunenburg County, VA

Families

SpouseLiving
ChildAllen DEGRAFFENREID (1764 - 1821)
ChildChristopher DEGRAFFENREID (1766 - 1831)
ChildRegina DEGRAFFENREID (1765 - 1800)
ChildChristopher "Kit" DEGRAFFENREID (1770 - )
SpouseSarah RUST (1731 - )
ChildMetcalf DEGRAFFENREID (1760 - 1803)
SpouseMary BAKER (1723 - 1790)
ChildJohn DEGRAFFENREID (1743 - 1743)
ChildBaker DEGRAFFENREID (1744 - 1776)
ChildMary "Mollie" DEGRAFFENREID (1746 - 1747)
ChildFrancis DEGRAFFENREID (1747 - 1815)
ChildWilliam G. DEGRAFFENREID (1749 - 1805)
ChildSarah R. DEGRAFFENREID (1750 - )
ChildTscharner DEGRAFFENREID (1752 - 1811)
ChildMary Baker DEGRAFFENREID (1753 - 1823)
ChildSusanna M. DEGRAFFENREID (1754 - )
ChildSarah DEGRAFFENREID (1755 - )
ChildMartha DEGRAFFENREID (1756 - 1815)
SpouseLiving
ChildCatherine Jenner "Jenna" DEGRAFFENREID (1742 - )
ChildLucretia Jane DEGRAFFENREID (1744 - )
ChildLucretia Jones DEGRAFFENREID (1783 - 1855)
ChildCatherine Jenner DEGRAFFENREID (1786 - 1829)
ChildNancy Needham DEGRAFFENREID (1787 - 1841)
FatherChristopher DEGRAFFENREID (1691 - 1742)
MotherBarbara Tempest NEEDHAM (1688 - 1744)

Endnotes