One of the earliest records is the mention of John B. Wills being married to Susanna Howard on February 04, 1797 in Shelby County, Ky. It is pure speculation on my part but I find it reasonable that John B. Wills may have lived on the land in Kentucky granted to his father for service in the French & Indian War. While living there, he met and married Susanna. Sometime before 1805 he returned to Bedford/Campbell County area where he shows up again in public tax records for Bedford County, Virginia.

Sometime before 1827, John B. Wills moved from Bedford County to present day Monroe County with his wife and younger children. The indenture shown below would seem to indicate to me that John may have been poor and probably a framer. He was forced to sell his property to James Trucks in 1827 but was permitted to continue living on it. The location of John's land in Monroe County is unknown at this time. Click here to download and Acrobat PDF file of the land sale. Click here to download and Acrobat PDF file of the land transfer in 1828.

John died December 12, 1842 in Monroe County. In the booklet "Cemeteries of Monroe County, West Virginia" by the Monroe County Historical Society, I found that John B. Wills is buried in the Green Hill Cemetery, Union, West Virginia, in plot O-112. During the summer of 1998, I visited the cemetery to locate his grave. I found the plot but there is no stone.

Indenture of John B. Wills in Bedford County, Va. 1815

This indenture made this twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred Fifteen between William Cooper of the parish of Russel in the County of Bedford of one part and John B. Wills of the aforesaid parish and county of the other part witnesseth that the said William Cooper for and in consideration of the sum of sixty seven pounds ten shillings to him in hand paid by the said John B. Wills the right whereof he doth acknowledge grant bargain and sell and by these presents do grant and sell unto the said John B. Wills his heirs or assigns an certain tract or parcel of land containing sixty two acres lying and being in the above named parish and county on Goos Creek and bounded as follows. Beginning on a small branch thence south 30 degrees east 44 poles chestnut oak thence up the branch as it meanders to poplar thence south 64 degrees west 64 poles to a chestnut oak turn north seventy five degrees west 70 poles to _____ formerly a white oak thence south forty one degrees west 56 poles to walnut at said creek thence up the said creek as it meanders to the first station. Retention and Retentions remainder and remainders Rents Earned and profits thereof and of every part and thereof to have and to hold this tract of land with all and singular its privileges and past circumstances there unto belonging on or any wise appertising unto the said John B. Wills his heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of him the said John B. Wills his heirs and assigns for ever and the said William Cooper and his heirs the said tract of land and all and singular this _____ with the _____ _____ unto the said John B. Wills his heirs and assigns shall and with warrant and forever defend by these presents against all _____ whatever having or claiming any Estate Rate as bills or to the same or any part or parcel thereof in witness whereof the said William Cooper hath hereunto set his hand and seal this day and year above written.

Signed Sealed and Del. William Cooper (Seal)

In presence of Rachel Cooper (Seal)

Indenture in Monroe County 1827

This indenture made and entered into this 12th day of April 1827 between John B. Wills of the first part James Trucks of the second part and Spottswood Wills of the third of the county of Monroe, witnessed that the said John Wills stands justly indentured unto the said Spottswood Wills for the sum of 54 dollars by note bearing date with these presence and the said John B. Wills being serious of securing and paying the same and for the further consideration of the sum of one dollar to him the said John B. Wills in hand paid by the said James Trucks the receipt here by acknowledges he the said John B. Wills doth by those present hereby grant bargain and sell unto the said James Trucks for the benefit of the said Spottswood Wills the following property to wit ninety five head of hogs consisting large and small, three cows and one heifer with their increase 12 head of sheep two beds, bedsteads and furniture one cupboard and contents, one table, two pots, two ovens one barshear plow and shovel plough two pair of geese three axes one hand saw one gray mare now with foal. To have and to hold the aforesaid property with all and every of its appurtenances unto the said James Trucks his heirs and assigns for ever and the said John Wills for his heirs executors administrator or assigns with said James Trucks his heirs and against himself and all other persons whatsoever. We trust nevertheless that the said James Trucks shall suffer the said John B. Wills to remain in quiet and peacible possession of hereby granted property until default be made in the payment of the debt aforesaid and then in case of such default it shall and made the lawful for the said James Trucks his heirs or representatives as soon as he or they can after the first of November next or has soon as thereafter as said Spottswood Wills shall require sale the said property or as much there of as shall be necessary to satisfy the aforesaid some of fifty-four dollars with interest to the highest bidder for ready money after given ten days notice of the time and place of sale on the courthouse door of Monroe County and out of the proceeds of such sale first pay and satisfy the of this deed and the necessary refund of this sale and then pay and satisfy the said Spottswood Wills the aforesaid sum of fifty-four dollars with interest and the over plus if any pay over to the said John B. Wills or his order. Yet upon this condition that if the said John B. Wills shall on or before the said first day of November next pay and satisfy the said Spottswood Wills the aforesaid sum and all costs and charges then the said property to be returned to him the said John B. Wills otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in [word unreadable] of which the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year aforesaid.

John B. Wills {Seal}

James Trucks {Seal}

Spottswood Wills {Seal}

Monroe County clerks office 12th April 1827

This deed of trust from John Wills to James Trucks for Spotswood Wills was acknowledged by all the parties before the Clerk and admitted to the records.

Teste [James?] Hutchison [word unreadable]

[1827]October 24th. I assign the foregoing deed of trust from John B. Wills to James Trucks for my benefit to James Hanly. Given under my hand and seal on the date aforesaid.

Spottswood Wills

Teste Jno Hutchison