Nathan Eakin was born Mid-Atlantic on the ship coming to America in 1751. They landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, probably in late September or October of 1751. The day of Nathan's birth, September 20, was reported the same by both Ashby Eakin and Curt Eakin's families.
The first documented piece of information about Nathan Eakin was found in Botetourt County, Virginia, from which he made a claim for damage of a wagon used by Revolutionary War forces. He was paid 7 shillings 6 pence on 23 May 1782. Claim reported in, Virginia Publick Claims Botetourt County, compiled and transcribed by Janic L. Abercrombie and Richard Slaten, published by Iberian publishing Company, Athen, Georgia, 1991. This is of interest due to a refused pension claim by a William Eakin who claimed that his father was a Revolutionary War Soldier. In his refused pension he states that his father drove a wagon with supplies to Pennsylvania and then on to Ohio. He had no real proof so it was refused due to lack of proof. The claimant also did not serve long enough to qualify for a pension so was also refused a pension due to that lack of time in service. This claim was actually a long series of claims, all refused and confused. While reading the various papers I, William C. Lathan, became totally confused to the point that I couldn't even figure out who the veteran was supposed to be in some of the dialogue. I'm sure the court was equally confused. It is my belief that the claimant was justly refused, he was either not a relative of this Eakin or was not able due to mental infirmity to represent himself properly. Even if he had made a better claim in court the length of service would not have been long enough to receive a pension.
Boutetourt County, Virginia Early Settlers, compiled and arranged by Charles T. Burton, published by himself (address given: Rt2 Box191, Troutville, VA 24175) shows Nathan Eakin paying a tax on 50 acres from a new grant in 1782, and in 1785 on 65 acres on Craig's Creek. It lists his date of death as 1823. This document also lists other Eakins who owned property in the area who may be related. Botetourt County, Virginia, It's men, 1780-1786, researched by Charles T. Burton lists Nathan Eakin (Atkins) as assigned to Company 48 in the years 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1786, and paying taxes on 50 acres in 1782, 1785. This reference to Company 48 is assumed to be a Militia company and may add veracity to the pension claim above although the lack of time in service would still have doomed the claim.
Nathan Eakin (Akin) is listed several time in, Annals of Southwest Virginia, 1769-1800, by Lewis Preston Summers, published by Lewis Preston Summers, Abingdon, Virginia, 1929.
In the, Botetourt County, Virginia, 1785 Enumeration (taken February and March of 1785), copied and indexed by Charles T. Burton, Nathan Eakin (Akins), is reported on James Smith's list which counted those living near the Alleghany line--Roaring Run area. He was the only white person in the house with one dwelling and no other buildings on his property.
Marriage Bonds of Bedford County, Virginia, 1755-1800, compiled by Earle S. Dennis and Jane E. Smith published by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1981, lists Nathan Eakin and Susanna Preston as being married on 2 June 1785, with Stephen Preston acting as surety. The father's consent was given in person.
The Personal Property Tax Lists for the Year 1787 for Botetourt County, Virginia, by Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Love, published by the Genealogical Books in Print, Springfield, Virginia, 1987, reported that Nathan Eakin was charged a tax for himself as a white male over 21. Also reported was 1 white male above 16 but under 21, 1 black above 16, 2 blacks under 16, 17 horses, including mares, colts and mules and 17 head of cattle.
Microfilm of the Botetourt County, Virginia 1810 Census, reported Nathan (Nathaniel) Eakin living with 3 males under age 10, 2 males 10-16, 2 males 16-26, 1 male over 45, 2 females under age 10, 2 females 16-26, 1 female 26-45, 1 female over 45, and 6 slaves.
Botetourt County, Virginia, 1820 Census, compiled by John P. Alderman, Box 647, Hillsville, VA 24343. Nathan Eakin (Aiken) is listed with 2 males under age 10, 1 male between 16 and 18, 3 males age 16-26, 1 male over age 45, 1 female under age 10, 1 female age 10-16, 1 female age 16-26, 1 female aged 26-45, and 2 females over 45.
Early Marriages, Wills and Some Revolutionary War Records, Botetourt County, Virginia, compiled by Anne Lowry Worrell published by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore. 1976. Nathan Eakin (Eakins) Will probate 1823 listed: Wife, Susannah, and children, Thomas, William, Mary Rice, Nathan, Nancy Walker, Samuel, Stephen, Joseph, John, Rebekah, Susannah, Equila Broyles (who is separated from her husband, Solomon) and Preston. (Equilla is believed to be a mistranslation of Isabella).
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Last Will And Testament
Of
Nathan Eakin
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I, Nathan
Eakin, of Botetourt County, State of Virginia, do hereby make this my last
will and testament in manner and form following that is to say,
First, I desire that my Executor herein after named shall collect all just
debts that are due to me and make a public sale of so much of my perishable
property as will be sufficient to pay my funeral expenses and pay all my just
debts.
It is my will and desire that the residue may be disposed of in the following
manner to wit:
That my two Negro men, Anthony and Seasar may be hired out to the best advantage
to some person or persons that will treat them in a human manner and divide
the money arising there from equally among my children to with: Thomas Eakin,
William Eakin, Mary Rice, Nathan Eakin(Jr.), Nancy Walker, Samuel Eakin, Joseph
Eakin, John Eakin, Rebeka Eakin and Susannah Eakin.
It is my will and desire that my two sons, Samuel and Stephen shall have each
of them a bed furnished and two cows and one horse and saddle each.
I give to each of my two daughters Rebecca and Susanna, a bed furnished and
also two cows to each of them and a horse and saddle a piece, also one bureau
and one table to each of them and the balance of my personal estate together
with my slaves to wit: Cloe, Siddy, Manny, Pelinaan, together with their increase,
I give to my beloved wife, Susanna Eakin during her natural life to be disposed
of for her own use and the raising and educating my young children such as
has not had an education equal to the rest and at her decease said property
that may remain unexpended to be sold and the money arising there from to
be equally divided among my children above mentioned or named.
I give to my son, Thomas Eakin, the east end of the track of 1510 acres on
which said Thomas now lives to a division to run from the mouth of the branch
that Hannah's new road goes up, down Craig Creek as it meanders to a pine
on a high bank above the mouth of Mill Creek corner to McClanahan's old survey
thence to run up Mill Creeks including the same and south west banks there
of to the point at the first bend above the lower most ford of said Creek.
thence to run a straight line to a corner already marked on the outside of
the said tract of 1510 acres. Also I give to my said son, Thomas, my track
of fifty acres joining Stewarts Meadow tract if recovered by law.
I give my daughter, Mary Rice all that part of said tract of 1510 acres commencing
at Thomas Eakin's Division line as above described and joining that part of
said tract already laid off to my son, Nathan, to a dividing line to be run
from two pines in a draft corner to said tract south of the oaks and a hickory
corner to said tract south of the falls of Mills Creeks.
I give to my son, Nathan all that part of land which I intended to give to
my said son Nathan and my son William which has been already laid off to my
said son Nathan, he having purchased his brother William's part there of with
his paying his said brother the sum agreed on between themselves.
I give to my two daughters Rebeka and Susanna all that part of the tract I
live on Craigs Creek above the narrows on the northwest side of said Creek
also all that part of my tract of 1510 acres that lies on the south side of
Barber Creek except that part already laid off for my son Nathan.
I also give to my two sons Samuel and John, all my tract of four hundred acres
where I live with all my entry's joining the same (except that part of the
northwest side of the Creek above the narrows) with the privilege of putting
and extending (tracts?) across the creeks and also the privilege of building
a fence on the northwest banks of the creek above the narrows otherwise all
the benefits of the creek is to be equally divided between the parties who
may own the land on either side thereof.
I also give to my sons Stephen and Joseph all my tract of land lying in the
Valley of Sinking Creek joining the land of James Trenor and Adam Peck which
tract was formerly called Ward's Place.
I also give to my daughter, Nancy Walker, one half of all my land on Johns
Creeks which is to be equally divided according to quantity and quality and
the other half of said land on John's Creek I desire my Executors to rent
out to the best advantage he can to the highest bidder and the proceeds thereof
to be applied to maintenance and support of my daughter Ezibela Broyles during
her natural life but if it should so happen that contrary to all expectation
that she will again return to live with her present husband, Solomon Broyles,
she and her said husband to have only the sum of one dollar of my estate and
her lawful heirs shall have the said land when they get married or comes to
the (said?) age of twenty-one years but if it should happen or fall out hat
her decease she will have no lawful heirs alive then it is my will and desire
that the land shall be sold and the proceeds thereof equally divided amongst
all my other children and their heirs.
It is my will and desire that my Executor do rent out to the best advantage
they can my tract of land in the Valley of Sinking Creek known by the name
of Bell's Place,
joining the land of the land formerly called Getty's Plan and also Hendric's
land and the proceeds thereof to be applied by them towards the support and
maintenance of my son, Preston Eakin, while he is not able to take care of
himself and manage his own business but if my said son should get well again
and come to the use of his right reason before he dies and be able to manage
his own business, I desire that my said son, Preston shall have the said tract
of land but if he dies before he comes to his right reason, it is my will
and desire that land shall be sold and the proceeds thereof shall be equally
divided amongst all my children except my daughter, Ezibela Broyles. It is
further my will and desire that my two sons Samuel and John Eakin shall have
all the part of tract 1510 acres (not already disposed of in the will). On
the little mountain joining the land called Mason's Place.
It is my will and desire that my Executors do sell the best advantage they
can all my other lands in the state of Virginia not disposed of in this my
last will and testament and divide the rest of the proceeds thereof amongst
all my children and their heirs and (offsprings?) except my daughter Ezibela
Broyles. It is to be understood that it is to be my will and desire that all
the property divided to my children in this last will and testament is to
be theirs and their heirs and assigns forever. And lastly I do hereby constitute
and appoint my beloved wife Susanna Eakin, my son Thomas Eakin, my son Nathan
Eakin(Jr.) Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all
wills heretofore by me made but upon more maturity considering how I dispose
of my property among my children, I think the portion I have revised to my
two daughters, Rebeka and Susanna Eakin, is not equal to the rest, to make
up which deficiency, it is my will and desire they shall have the tract I
bought of William Mason in Valley of Sinking Creek likewise the land I bought
of John Griffey in said Valley being part of the land called Getty's place
and likewise my two surveys joining the land of James Trenor and Harbesom
place which property I give them and their heirs or assigns forever and do
hereby direct my Executors not to sell the same. It is likewise my will and
desire that if it should so happen or come to pass that any of my heirs should
lose any of the land which I have divided to them by claims of other people
that they are to have no recourse on each other to make good such deficiency.
It is further my will and desire to prevent any dispute or disturbance that
may hereafter arise between my heirs or Executors and Solomon Broyles is only
to have the sum of one dollar out of all my real or personal estates and is
to be forever excluded from having any part or share of what is intended for
maintenance and support of my daughter Ezibela Broyles. It is my will and
desire that if there should arise any dispute hereafter amongst my heirs that
my Executors shall appoint two disinterested judicious men to settle all such
disputes and if they can't agree they are to appoint a third man who is also
to be a judicious intelligent and upright man no wise interested in favour
of either of the parties and their decision shall be as binding on the contending
parties to interest and purposes as if it were so decided by the Court of
appeals of the State of Virginia. In witness where of I have hereunto subscribed
my name and affixed my seale the second day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand Eight hundred and Twenty three. Signed sealed published and declared
by the above mentioned Nathan Eakin as his last will and Testament and done
in our presence who witnessed the same in his presence.
John Hewitt Nathan Eakin (seal)
Robert Anderson Jr.
R.S. Botten
At Botetourt October Court 1823. This instrument of writing purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Nathan Eakin, deceased, was exhibited in Court and proved by the oaths of John Hewitt, Robert Anderson and R. H. Bolton, witnesses thereto subscribed and thereupon ordered to be recorded. Whereupon on the motion of Susanna Eakin, Thomas Eakin and Nathan Eakin, Executors therein named, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form, they having first made oath with security entered into and acknowledged bond according to law.
Teste, H. M. Bowyer, Deputy Clerk
Source:
This is a transcribed copy from a microfilm of the original of Nathan
Eakin's Will. Researched and transcribed by Ernalee and Curt Eakin.
Source: All data
not credited to others was researched and compiled by Ernalee And Curt Eakin
Source: Pension file research of Nathan and the later filing
by William Eakin taken from research of Revolutionary War Pensions at the
National Archives and Records Administration. Research of this matter done
by William C. Lathan, Jr.