John Garner

On October 17th, 1650 Lewis Burwell received a patent for 1,600 acres in Northumberland County for the transport of 32 people. Named among his head rights was John Garner.

John married Susannah Keene about 1660 in Northumberland County. Her parents were Thomas Keene and Mary Thorley who immigrated to Northumberland County by way of Kent Island, MD where Susannah was born. John and Susannah went on to have ten children.

In 1663 John was sworn as a Constable in Cherry Point Neck, Northumberland. In 1667 when a fort was being built on the Yecomico River a house was ordered to be built for the workmen by "John Garner and other assistants whom he shall select."

In October, 1672, John and Susannah bought 100 acres on the Yecomico River from Nicholas Jenkins. On January 15, 1695 John Jenkins of Cople Parish sold to John and Vincent Garner 100 acres in Horne Point on Yecomico River. It may be upon this very tract of land (between Kinsale and Hague) that a descendant of Vincent Garner built "China Hall" in the 1700's, still standing today. Its modern name is "Kirnan." At his death, John Garner owned more than 800 acres in one tract of land, a second plantation and more lands adjoining it and a separate parcel of land in Horn Point. Garnder Creek in Westmoreland is named for the Garner family, although with a spelling mistake. Land on the north side of the creek was purchased by John in 1698 and remained in the family for many generations. The name Gardner Creek first appeared on maps in 1825.

John Garner wrote his will on January 22nd, 1702:

In the name of God, Amen! I, John Garner being sick and weak of body, but of perfect memory and understanding do give and bequeath my Soul unto God that gave it, and my body to be decently interred. As to my worldly Estate, I give and bequeath as followeth;

Item-I do give and bequeath unto my well beloved son John Garner and to his heirs forever one moiety of eight hundred and odd acres of land, also I give unto my well beloved son Henry Garner and to his heirs forever the moiety of the aforesaid eight hundred and odd acres of land to be equally divided between my said sons John and Henry Garner the said eight hundred and odd acres of land being the land my said sons John and Henry Garner are now seated upon.

Item- I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Henry Garner my chest together with my wearing apparel.

Item-I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Vincent Garner and heirs forever the whole plantation and land I now live on together with the lands adjoining. Also I give unto my said son Vincent and to his heirs a parcel of land lying in Horn Point.

Item- I give and bequeath unto my said son Vincent Garner my long gun and my hanger and a yoke of oxen. Also my will is that my said son Vincent Garner hath the one half of what is got of the money of the sloop which is called the Outcry.

Item-I do will and appoint and order my said son Vincent Garner, his heirs, Exors and Amrs to pay unto my son Thomas Garner his heirs or assigns the sum of two thousand pounds of good tobacco in cask. I do will and appoint my said son Vincent Garner his heirs or assigns to pay unto my son Parish Garner his heirs or assigns the sum of two thousand pounds of good tobacco in cask.

Item-I do will and appoint my said son Vincent Garner his heirs or assigns to pay unto my son Benjamin Garner his heirs or assigns the sum of two thousand pounds of good tobacco in cask, to be paid unto my said son Benjamin Garner when he shall be one and twenty years old.

Item-I will and appoint my said son Vincent Garner his heirs or assigns to pay unto my son James Garner his heirs of assigns the sum of two thousand pounds of good tobacco in cask to be paid unto my son James Garner when he shall come to the age of one and twenty.

Item-I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughters Mary, Susan and Martha each of them a thomb ring and also my will is that my well beloved wife to see them paid.

Item-I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Susan all the rest of my Estate as Goods and Chattels moveables and unmoveables and do make my said loving wife Susan the sole Executor of this my last will and testament, willing all my due debts to be paid, revoking all other wills and testimonies, this my last will and testament, also my will is that my well beloved wife Susan her heirs of Executors pay the one half of the tobacco which is given to my said sons being four thousand, the 22nd day of Jan: 1702.

The will of John Garner was proven on May 26th, 1702 and recorded on January 1st, 1703 in Westmoreland County.

John Garner is our great-grandfather through two different lines. Through his son Parish he is the 5th Great-Grandfather of Laura Alice Sisson through Garner and Cralle lines. Through his daughter Mary he is also a 6th Great-Grandfather to Laura Alice Sisson through the Tune and Gordon families.