William Gordy Sr. ¹

On Mar 16 1799, William Gordy sold 50a of land called "Addition to Peters Lot" to Benjamin Melson for £75. The land is decribed as near Queen Horns drean on the south side of a plantation formerly belonging to Daniel Melson and on NE side of the Rum Ridge (WoLR-T:202).

In the 1800 Census for Worcester Co., MD, William Gordy has a household as 30410-20010 so that would put his birth year at 1755-1774. With the distribution of children's ages in the household, it probably narrows the birth year to the early part of that range, perhaps 1755-59. It would also imply four (4) sons ages 16-25 (born 1775-1784), and three (3) sons/two daughters born 1790-1799. With this collection of children, and the will of William Gordy from 1805, and the orphan's court entry that William be guardian to his brother Thomas, son of William Sr. make a definitive case that William Sr. is the father of our William Gordy (1780/84-1845).

William Gordy's Will written Dec 1 1804 and proven in Worcester County, MD Oct 8 1805.
In the name of God amen. I William Gordy of Worcester County in the state of Maryland being at this time in a low state of health of body, but of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and knowing that its appointed for all men to die and after death to come to judgment and that I may be the better prepared for the same do make ordain, constitute, appoint this to be my last will and testament.
First and principally of all I do give and recommend my soul into the care and protection of Almighty God and my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in such a decent Christian manner as my execs. herein after mentioned shall think convenient and necessary and after my funeral charges is paid and all my other lawful debts the residue of my goods wherewith it pleased God to bestow me with I do give dismiss and dispose of in manner and form as follows: Viz:
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son William, his heirs and assigns forever all my land that lyeth to the westward of a division line that lays of one hundred acres to my son Samuel next to Stephen Mitchell which sd. division line hath been heretofore run by Samuel Hearn. Also all my lands lying to the eastern most of said Stephen Mitchell (underlined text crossed out in record) Sam'l hundred acres to Stephen Mitchell his heirs and assigns forever including a part of "Wolf Pit Ridge" to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Gordy, his heirs and assigns forever one hundred acres of land eastern most of the line afsd. next to a division line, division between said Sam'l and said Mitchell. And my will is that my son Samuel shall have no more of my estate.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Michael one shilling sterling and no more
Item - I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Elisabeth Gordy one mare called Nance, and one side saddle, one black cow, and one bed and furniture to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I do further give unto my son William Gordy my timber cart, one yoke of oxen and my black horse to him his heirs and assigns forever, also my little gun and his equal part of all my moveable estate.
And my will further is that the residue of my estate shall be equally divided among my children, except Samuel and Michael and the one that my wife is now bigg with, to have an equal share of all not divided, and I do further nominate constitute and appoint my son William Gordy exr. of this my last will and testament ratifying this an none other to be my last will and testament, revoking all other wills heretofore by me made either written or worded.
In witness whereof I have hereunto my hand set and affixed my seal this first day of December eighteen hundred and four. William Gordy (signed and sealed) Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of: Joshua Freeny, Peter Freeny, Samuel Hearn (WoW-1803/07:203)

William married (?) (?) about 1778. ((?) (?) died before 1797 in Worcester Co., MD.)

William next married Elisabeth Mitchell on 08 Dec 1797 in Worcester Co., MD. (Elisabeth Mitchell was born about 1777 and died before 04 Oct 1844.)