(Soldier) John Grigsby ²

  General Notes:

Virginia Revolutionary War veteran.
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http://www.gencircles.com/users/markfreeman/1/data/287016

"Soldier John" Grigsby
His sobriquet was "Soldier John," going back to his service under Admiral Vernon in his expedition against Cartagena in 1741. He also commanded a company in the Revolutionary War. His soldierly qualities were stamped on his descendants, four of whom were brigadier-generals in the Confederate army, and many others were officers of lower rank who followed the stars and bars.
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Have seen it listed that his "first burial" was in Falling Spring Cemetery. I'm presuming this means he was later moved somewhere else.
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IN THE NAME OF GOD, Amen I John Grigsby of Rockbridge County being
at this time in a low state of health but having the due exercise of
reason and knowing the uncertainty oflife and that it may please God to
call me hence do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament.
Item I desire that all my just debts be duly paid.
Item I give unto my eldest son James Grigsby five shillings
current money of Virginia over and above what he has already received.
Item I give unto my son John Grigsby five shillings current money
of Virginia over and above what he has already received.
Item I give unto my son Charles Grigsby thirty pounds Virginia
Currency, likewise a feather bed with furniture and a couple of sheep.
Item I give unto my son William Grigsby thirty pounds Virginia
currency.
Item I give unto my daughter Sarah Welch exclusive of what she
has already received twenty-five pounds Virginia currency.
Item I give unto my daughter Jane Paxton five shillings current
money of the State of Virginia over and above what I have already given
her.
Item I give unto my daughter Rachel McNut five shillings current
money of the State of Virginia over and above what I have already given her.
Item I lend unto my loving wife Elizabeth Grigsby all my estate
real and personal to have and to hold the same during her natural life in
joint trust discharging debts and gifts or legacies as above in a
reasonable time, and that she my said wife in joint trust with chosen
Executors herein mentioned do act discretionary with my younger sons and
daughters in manner following:
That Martha, Elizabeth and Franky shall have at age or marriage
equal to their sisters Jane Paxton and Rachel McNut including all they
received at marriage and my sons Joseph, Elisha and Reuben to have the
plantation whereon I now live divided equally amongst them by any three
or more neighbors whom they shall appoint and at the decease of my wife
the remainder shall be divided equally among my sons and daughters, viz:
Joseph, Jane, Rachel, Martha, Elisha, Elizabeth, Franky and
Reuben having no respect in the division to such sum as shall be given
to any of them either at age or marriage and further it is my will that
if any of my last named sons and daughters should die intestate his, her,
or their share of the estate as above mentioned shall be equally divided
among the survivor or survivors.
Lastly, I appoint and nominate my beloved wife Elizabeth Grigsby
Executrix and Joseph Grigsby Executor of this my last will and testament
hereby making nul and void any will or wills heretofore made by me
acknowledging this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
eleventh day of May, Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninety two.

Signed, sealed and acknowledged His
in the presence of: John X Grigsby (seal)
John Paxton Robert Snodgrass mark

His
William X Arnold David Willock
Mark A Copy Teste: Harry B. Wright,Clerk
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From a book written by Henrietta Hamilton:

In the 1740, John accompanied Lawrence Washington, in the forces of Admiral Vernon, on the expedition against Cartagena, South America, which was "one of the most important event of Gooch's Administration, as taken in connection with the other colonies, it was another step in the development of Union." See, "History of Augusta County", J. Lewis Peyton; and "Collections of the Virginia Historical Society," Volume IX.
Afterward he commanded a company in the thirteenth Regiment of the
Virginia Line during the Revolutionary War. This information was obtained from the old war records in the archives at Washington. Owing to participation in this Colonial War and in the Revolutionary War, he was afterward known as Soldier John.

Tombstone reads:

"Pause, reader, here, and look with solemn dread
upon the last dwelling of the dead,
Through numerous graves appear on every hand
This was the first of all the Silent Band"
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(Soldier) married Elizabeth Porter about 1764. (Elizabeth Porter was born on 22 Feb 1734 in Orange County, Virginia, died on 7 Oct 1807 in Rockbridge County, Virginia and was buried in Falling Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Glasgow, Rockbridge County, Virginia.)

(Soldier) next married Rosanna Etchison about 1746. (Rosanna Etchison was born in 1730 in Scotland and died in Dec 1761 in Culpeper County, Virginia.)