For Reference: Virginia - Overwharton Parish Register 1720 - 1760, Old Stafford County

Garrison, William. Son of Ann, born October 23, 1746 (page 66): Original script was transcribed wrong in the typed Overwharton Parish Register. “Ann” is Aaron. This is the William Garrison who lived in western Virginia and moved to and died in Alabama.

Early Southwestern Virginia Pioneers

NOTE: This information has been compiled by Robert L. Garrison

To encourage expansion, Virginia's government was granting "proof of settlement" titles to land parcels to those who were brave enough to go after them.  The young Virginians as well as a few older ones formed a group to explore the wilds of western Virginia.  A fairly massive "hunting expedition"  was put together. All were interested in obtaining a land grant and this would be a golden opportunity.

The original hunting party was in place in the year 1767~1769.It consisted of: Morris Griffith, (for whom Morris Knob was named); James Burke, (Discoverer of Burke's Garden); Moses Higgenbotham; Rees Bowen; Thomas Maxwell; Wm. Webb; James Moore; John Pogue; John Ridgel; Wm. Wynne; Wm. Butler; Jessee Evans; Elisha Cary; Wm. Webb; John Taylor; David Ward; Peter Harmon; Samuel Fergerson; Wm. Garrison; James Ogleton; Wm. Wynne; Jacob Harmon; Wm. Harmon; Benjamin Joslin; Wm Asbury

In this time, there was safety in numbers, and the party did have encounters with the Indians.  I don't show of any deaths on the expedition, but perhaps there were.  Most likely, some families of members of the expedition followed the group on this arduous and dangerous journey from the eastern part of the state of Virginia.  The families waited at the "Edge of Civilization."  However it is recorded that on September 4, 1774 the Henry family was massacred in Thompson Valley.  The Henry family had settled there on 167 acres granted them by an order of Council on December 16, 1773.

The party went beyond an early settlement and makeshift Fort Casteswoods,  places past that were not recorded,  records I have show names like, Elk Lick, Crab Orchard, and Morris Knob .  These were probably named by these expeditioners and used for landmarks for future reference in filing for a grant from the state.

Some facts on William Garrison & family:

Wm. Garrison did reside at Elk Lick prior to being granted a "Right of Settlement", some 290 acres in northern Washington Co., Va., bordered by the river, Maiden Spring Fork, westside of Morris Knob, 1772 (Wash. Co. Land Rec.).  Later on after Tazewell Co. was formed, William was shown to be a "surveyor of roads" for the county (Taz. Co. Court Rec.).  Williams wife Jane and two sons Reuben and William, Jr., and two daughters Eleanor, and Elizabeth were with him in Northern Washington Co. in 1772.  It is supposed that he returned to Stafford Co. to bring them back with him.  William's older brother John accompanied them also back to northern Washington County.

In 1785, his daughter Betsy, (Elizabeth), married Moses Higgenbotham (Wash. Co. Mrg Rec.)  The daughter Eleanor married Jarrett Bowling.  Records show that William and William, Jr. were among the petitioners to form Tazwell County (Taz. Co. Rec.).  Records show that in an application for an extension of pension of Andrew Shortridge, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, by his widow, Nancy.  In this application she stated, "Her name was Garrison, and that she had married Andrew Shortridge, a native of Scotland, in her father John Garrison's home in Tazewell in 1789.  She was 14 years old at the time, to be 15 in August".

William' s wife Jane died in 1795 in Tazewell Co., Va. Tazewell Co., Va. Marriage records show William re-marrying "Fanny" Higgenbotham on July 8, 1801.

In 1810 William started selling out his Virginia land holdings, (Aug. 28, 1810 sold 48 acres of original 290 acre survey to Jarrett Bowling), and with some of the Bowling and Higgenbotham families set out by wagon train to the Mississippi Territory, where later became Madison Co., Alabama. William's will and audit on record, as well as various Higgenbothams and Bowlings- (Madison Co., Alabama Probate Court Rec., Huntsville) where William died September 24, 1824.

In 1810 William started selling out his Virginia land holdings, (Aug. 28, 1810 sold 48 acres of original 290 acre survey to Jarrett Bowling), and with some of the Bowling and Higgenbotham families set out by wagon train to the Mississippi Territory, which later became Madison Co., Alabama.

William's will and audit on record, as well as various Higgenbothams and Bowlings- (Madison Co., Alabama Probate Court Rec., Huntsville) where William died September 24, 1824.

Madison County was established on December 13, 1808 by the governor of the Mississippi Territory.[1] It is recognized as the "birthplace" of Alabama, which was founded there on December 14, 1819.

From the Madison Co., AL public library, here is the will of William Garrison, b. ca 1747 in Stafford Co. VA d. Sept. 10, 1824 Madison Co., AL; m. 1) Jane Bowling d. 1801 in Tazewell Co., VA; 2) Frances "Fanny" Higginbotham July 3, 1801 Tazewell Co. VA.

In the name of God Amen.

I William Garreson of the County of Madison & State of Alabama being but weak in body but blesed be God of Sound memory & mind do therefor ordain this as my Last will & Testament.

First I cheerfully resign my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be entered in a decent Christen form of burial according to the rights of our Church after my deceased & my Sole unto the hands of my faithful Creator to await in hopes of a joyful resurrection for their happy and eternal reunion.

Secondly I bequeath to my beloved wife Frances all my personal and real estate after all my Debtes is payed so long as shee remaines in a State of Widowhood for the sole use of & benefits of her & our four daughters & at her desease to be equally divided between my four daughters Sally Jane Garreson, Polly Garreson, Nancy Garreson & Frances Gareson. But if my wife should marry again I give her from that time until her decease one third only the other two thirds to be divided between the children as soon as Convenient that is Jane Garreson, Polly Garreson, Nancy Garreson and Frances Garreson & the whole to be inherited by them after my wife's death.

Thirdly I bequeath to my two daughters by my first wife Ellinore Bolling & Betsey Higgenbothom I confirm what I have already given that is to say to Ellinor Bolling I gave a black girl named Charrity now about seventeen or eighteen years of age, a good horse and saddle and other stock to Betsey I gave a black girl named Fanny now about fifteen years of age, a good horse, saddle & stock & many other articles for housekeeping to each this being the utmost amount of my intended portion for them therefore Lastley I ordain that they have no claim farther on my estate but that Jane Garreson, Polly Garrison, Nancy Garreson and Frances Garreson our four daughters shall inherit as I have directed in all things.

Fourthly I apoint Randolph Sullivan my exetor to this my last will and testament.

In Confirmation of this being my last will and Testament revoking all others I set my hand and seale to this, this Tenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand Eighteen Hundred and Twenty four

William Garreson

Signed sealed and published in the presence of us

Robert Higgenbotham
William Atkins
Moses Higgenbotham

Presumption: parents Thomas Bowing and Rebecca Colough