Buford Charles Wills 1806-1890, Generation 3

Buford Charles and Nancy Emaline (Lee) Wills

The following text was extracted from The Lynchburg Virginian, Jan. 4, 1830, p. 3, c. 6.

WILLS, BURFORD married Dec. 31, 1829 to Miss Nancy E. Lee, second dau. of Francis L. Lee of Montgomery Co., Va., by The Rev. N.H. Cobbs.  Groom lived in Bedford Co. Married in New London.

The following text is extracted form the book "Peter Angle 1754 - 1968"  by Eula Ferguson Angle, published 1969.

Buford Charles Wills and Nancy Emaline Lee were married in New London, Bedford Co., Va., Dec. 31, 1829, min:
Nicholas Cobb (ref. newspaper clipping and Bible record Both d. and bur. Glade Hill homeplace, later removed to Rocky Mount    H. St. C. Buford Charles Wills first appears  on the Franklin Co. P. P. Tax list in 1843. He moved his family from Otter River Bridge, Bedford Co., Va., about this time. The first date, 1842, in a ledger which he kept his a
counts and he kept strict account of all monies spent an received, even to cost of mailing a letter to the amount given         "Mrs. Wills and Stumpy for trip to Lynchburg."

Through tradition we are to believe Mr. Wills was an instructor at the New London Academy, Campbell Co. (formerly Bedford Co.), Va. As all records of the academy were destroyed,  except one book of minutes of the Board of Trustees, dated July 1, 1826-May 27, 1881, which were read at the William R. Perkins Library, Duke University, N. C., no record can he found to document this. There is a carriage trunk in the Angle family which is said to have been used by "Buford Wills uhile at New London Academy." Make your own decision: was he teaching or learning? As the history of the Wills family is one of educators-teachers and ministers, the conjecture is he taught.

After moving to Glade Hill he continued to teach as his account books show records of boys and girls daily attendance and amount oued and paid by their parents. A collection of school books which came from his collection of books show his having taught more advanced subjects than reading, writing and arithmetic. This collection of books also show that they had religious training too. Prayer Books, Hymn Books, and Testaments, all well worn with use and age. New London Academy was chartered in 1795 as a boarding "academy for higher learning for boys," and operated as such until 1884 when it was leased for public school use. Now is a public school (1967). Several of the original buildings are still being used, however in 1967 the last of the individual cottages was taken down. These cottages were used by boys who brought their food, bedding, etc. from home and often a cow for milk and butter.

Pen and ink drawing of the Buford Wills cabin in Bedford County, Virginia

Descendants of Buford Charles Wills

1 Buford Charles Wills Born: July 03, 1806 Died: March 1890 Age at death: 83 est.
. +Nancy Emaline Lee Born: July 02, 1807 Married: December 31, 1829 in Bedford County, Virginia Father: Mr. Francis Ludwell Lee Mother: Ms. Sally Moorman Died: September 22, 1884 Age at death: 77
2 Sarah Frances Wills Born: February 10, 1831 Died: January 24, 1894 Age at death: 62
... +Nathaniel Angle Born: May 18, 1828 Married: November 18, 1852 Died: March 30, 1890 Age at death: 61
2 Mary Ann Wills Born: March 28, 1833 Died: April 09, 1917 Age at death: 84
... +Joel Louis Angle Born: July 29, 1826 Married: February 02, 1854 Died: June 14, 1875 Age at death: 48
2 Elizabeth Clarinda Wills Born: September 13, 1835
... +William Byrd, 1st Born: 1832 in Franklin County, Va. Married: May 01, 1860 Father: Mr. Benjamin Byrd Mother: Ms. Susan Cain
2 Charles Buford Wills Born: May 31, 1838
... +Mary Van Vosen
2 Emmaline James Wills Born: October 22, 1841 Died: November 21, 1915 Age at death: 74
2 Martha Louisa Wills Born: November 29, 1843 Died: March 23, 1845 Age at death: 1
2 William Lewis Wills Born: April 07, 1846 Died: September 27, 1868 Age at death: 22
2 John Winston Wills Born: March 07, 1849
2 Thomas Edwin Wills Born: May 31, 1851 Died: October 17, 1937 Age at death: 86