William, son of Jacob and Nancy Christlieb

1794–1847

The Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association, in the 1980s, asked Association members to design and construct banners for each branch of the Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip family. This banner represents the union of John Chrislip's son, Martin Luther Crislip, and William Chrislip's daughter, Sarah Ann Chrislip. John was the seventh child of Jacob and Nancy Christlieb, and William was their ninth child. Martin Luther and Sarah Ann were first cousins.

William Chrislip was the ninth of fourteen children born to Jacob Christlieb and Anna "Nancy" Singer. William was born 27 March 1794 in Harrison County, Virginia. In that year, the First Bank of the United States was founded under Alexander Hamilton. Shown here is William’s birth entry as seen in an old family record.

At age 28, William married Hannah (Ward) Daniels. Their marriage bond was procured in Harrison County on 4 January 1822 and signed by William and Hannah’s brother, James.

William and Hannah’s marriage, which took place six days later on 10 January 1822, was solemnized by the Rev. Shadrack Johnson, Minister of the Gospel. Their marriage, which was recorded by him at Clarksburg, Harrison County, Virginia, is shown below.

William Chrislip & Hannah Ward marriage entry.

Born 16 October 1800, in Harrison County, Virginia, Hannah was one of ten children born to Job Ward and Tabitha Cummins. Her siblings were: Rachel Ward, born ca. 1791; Sarah “Sally” Ward, born 3 March 1795; John Ward, born ca. 1797; James Henry Ward, born ca. 1799; Phebe Ward, born 14 April 1803; Johnson Ward, born 10 February 1804; Aquilla Ward, born 11 January 1857; and Kinsey Ward, born ca. 1808.

When William’s father, Jacob Christlieb, made his Last Will and Testament in April 1821, he appointed Samuel Hall and William, who was 27 years old, as executors of his estate. Why he selected William as co-executor over his elder sons, George, Jacob, and John, is unknown. It may be that he wanted to avoid any conflicts of interest that may have arisen, insofar as his daughters-in-law were concerned. William was single at the time.

According to the terms of Jacob Christlieb’s will that was drafted in April 1821, Abram and his six brothers were to share equally in the profits from the sale of all the lands that he had accumulated in his lifetime. Additionally, William and Abram were to receive $50 out of the residue from the sale of the lands. Why the two sons were favored with the additional $50 is not known, nor is it known how many years elapsed before any of the sons received their full shares from the sale of the lands.

In his will, Jacob also stipulated that “my three sons to wit: William, Abraham, & Samuel do hold possession of all my lands to improve and cultivate at their will and for their profit and benefit inclusive of the said maintenance of her my wife Nancy during her natural life.” The rationale behind the three sons being held responsible for their mother’s interest in the estate was probably due to the fact that the elder brothers, George, Jacob, and John were residing elsewhere. But, it does not take into account that Isaac, who was also unmarried, was still living on the farm.

William Chrislip's Land Acquisitions

On 9 February 1828, William purchased 30 acres of land that had been a part of his father’s farm. The deed shows that William purchased his six brothers’ shares of the same parcel. According to the deed, the purchase price was a mere $10 for the 30 acres. The true purchase price is unknown. All of the brothers and their wives “signed” the deed with Xs next to their names, an indication that the document had been prepared ahead of time. This would have been unnecessary for Jacob’s sons, as all were known to have signed their names on other documents. Harrison County Deed Book No. 19, p. 137. On February 16^th, William, George, Jacob, John, and Isaac deeded another portion of their father’s land to brothers Abram and Samuel. The deed gives the surveyor’s coordinates but not the actual acreage.

Like his father before him, William purchased a significant amount of land shortly before his death. On 26 March 1847, about two weeks prior to making his will, William bought an additional 300 acres from his brother, Samuel, and wife, Eleanor Jane. He paid $217.08 for their land which was located “on the waters of Limestone Creek” in Harrison County. By agreement, he made a down payment of $50; the remainder to be paid in two annual installments.

William Chrislip’s Last Will and Testament was drafted on 8 April 1847. The will reveals that William had purchased additional land in order to provide for his children, most of whom were quite young when he died. The will reads as follows:

I, William Crislip of the County of Barbour in the State of Virginia, do hereby make my last will and testament in the manner and form following, to wit: First: I desire that all my lands shall remain in the entire possession and under the control and for the only use of my Wife, Hannah to farm, lease, rent, or manage in any way whatsoever to the best of her skill and ability in the purpose of her own comfort and living and raising of my Children during her natural life. Furthermore, I desire that she shall have all the farming utensils, household and Kitchen furniture with entire possession of all the houses and outer buildings with all things appertaining Whereto to have and to hold and manage at her own will and discretion so long as she shall live after my decease. I also give and bequeath to her my bay Baldfaced Horse and two milch cows also three head of hogs. Furthermore: I desire that after the decease of my wife, Hannah that my son Perrygreen shall have fifty acres of land off the southeast end of my Farm on which he lives by paying three hundred dollars to my daughters first therein named as follows: to my daughter Barbara one hundred dollars and to my daughter Drusilla one hundred dollars and to my daughter Hannah one hundred dollars. Furthermore, I desire that my son Johnson shall have thirty acres of land off the northwest end of my Farm so as to include the house (after the decease of my wife Hannah) by paying one hundred and fifty dollars as follows – to my daughter Rachel, the remaining fifty dollars to my daughter Sarah in addition to what I have already given her. The remaining part of my land I give to my son William Turner, by his paying two hundred and fifty dollars as follows: to my daughter Minerva, one hundred, to my daughter Susannah, one hundred dollars, and the remaining fifty dollars to be equally divided between my four youngest daughters Hannah, Rachel, Minerva, and Susannah to be appropriated in bedding to their use. Lastly, I do herby constitute my friend Aquilla Ward and my wife Hannah Crislip Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, herby making all other or former wills or testaments by me heretofore made null and void.

Signed in the presence of

John Ward

Aquila Ward

John N. Hall

April 8^th 1847

William Chrislip

Having been married to Hannah for 24 years, William died 18 April 1847, of unknown causes, at age 53. He was buried in the old family cemetery at Chrislip Hollow, near Elk City in Barbour County, West Virginia. Considering that the average lifespan of his 13 siblings was 75 years, William’s death was premature. His grave marker is shown here.

On June 4, following the death of William, the Court ordered an inventory and appraisement of his personal estate. Neighbors, Thomas Hall, James D. Hall, and John Casten made the appraisal that consisted principally of livestock, tools, a rifle, and a saddle. Included in the inventory were several outstanding notes totaling $139 due the estate. An outstanding note in the amount of $8 from James Allen was due was 15 February 1847. Another from William’s brother, John in the amount of $10 was to be paid by April 2nd. Not yet overdue were three individual notes from Jacob Sheets. Totaling $121, the notes — $27, $50, and $44 — were due on 25 December 1847, 1848, and 1849, respectively. The value of William’s personal estate totaled $387.96.

The sale of William’s personal property, which realized $273.91, exceeded the estimated value. William’s livestock included two yokes of oxen - one four years old, the other three. He also had eight head of two-year-old cattle, six yearling cattle, two cows, a sorrel mare, 14 head of sheep, and nine head of lambs. Also included in his personal estate were blacksmith tools and an anvil, Cooper’s tools, and cabinetmaker’s planes.

William Chrislip's headstone.

William’s brother, Abram, bought the blacksmith’s tools. His brother, John, bought the anvil. His widow, Hannah, bought the Sorrel Mare, a yearling steer, nine lambs and seven ewes. William’s son, Perry Green, bought a saw, the jackplane, the Cooper’s tools, the rifle and shot pouch. Barbour County Inventory Book No. 1, pp. 52, 53.

Hannah's Widowhood

Hannah lived as the widow of William Chrislip for 40 years. In 1866, nineteen years after his father died, his son, William Turner Chrislip purchased 98¼ acres of land in Upshur County on his mother’s behalf. The deed shows that he paid Joseph Ward $2,000 for the acreage that abutted lands of Job Ward and Jackson Ward. According to the terms of the deed, the land was conveyed “unto the said William T. Crislip for the use of said Hannah Crislip during her natural life, and to revert to the said William T. Crislip and his heirs after her decease.” Upshur County Deed Book F, pp. 457-458. Although it is not certain how Jackson Ward was related to Job Ward, it is logical that he would have been a descendant of Job’s parents, Joshua and Elizabeth Ward, perhaps a brother or nephew of Job.

By acquiring the land in Upshur County, Hannah was able to live near her father and other Ward relatives.

After the purchase of her land in Upshur County, Hannah lived another 21 years. The 1870 Federal Census for Upshur County shows her living with son, William T. Crislip and family. The 1880 census shows her residing in the household of her son-in-law and daughter, Minter F. and Minerva Marple.

Papers pertaining to the settlement of Hannah’s estate show that she was of unsound mind in her declining years. Dated 17 May 1879, and entitled, “Hannah Crislip, Insane Estate”, the document lists household items with an estimated value of $99.90. For whatever reason, the appraisal was not presented to the Upshur Court until two years later, where it was presented on 7 May 1881 and recorded on July 21st. Upshur County Book of Wills, page 284.

Hannah Chrislip died in on 29 March 1887 and was buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery near Buckhannon in Upshur County, West Virginia. William Chrislip was buried in the Chrislip Cemetery, in Harrison/Barbour County.

After Hannah Chrislip’s death in March 1887, an accounting of her personal estate was made. Headed by Isaac D. Warner, a Committee for Hannah Crislip, Insane submitted the following:

Born 16 October 1800, in Harrison County, Virginia, Hannah was one of nine children born to Job Ward and Tabitha Cummins. Hannah’s brothers were: Johnson Ward, born 1803; married Martha, born 1814; James Ward, born 1808; married Barbara, born 1813; John Ward; Aquilla Ward, born 1825, married Comfort, born 1826; and Kinsey Ward. Hannah’s sisters were Rachel (Davis), Sarah (Casto), and Phebe (Christ).

Hannah Ward Chrislip's Headstone

Children of William Chrislip and Hannah Ward

Barbara Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [566], married, 3 October 1839, in Lewis County, Sanford Hicks.
Peregrine G. Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [566], born 23 July 1823, in Harrison County, Virginia; died 5 June 1898, Braxton County, West Virginia; buried in Evans Cemetery, Heaters, West Virginia. Known as "Perry Green," he married 1^st, Elizabeth "Eliza" Marple, born 18 March 1825, Upshur County, Virginia; died 14 May 1855, Barbour County, Virginia. Peregrine married 2^nd, 27 December 1855, in Upshur County, Elizabeth’s cousin, Barbara Ann Marple, born 1 July 1836, Lewis County, Virginia; died 27 September 1913, daughter of Amos T. Marple and Jemima Cummings, Harrison County, West Virginia.
Sarah Ann Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [609], born Harrison County, Virginia, ca. 1824; died 16 September 1873, Canaan, Upshur County, West Virginia; married, 31 December 1846, her first cousin, Martin Luther Crislip, born 1815; died 1894. Martin was the son of John Chrislip and Margarett Harvey. Martin is believed to be buried in the Pickering Cemetery near Glenville in Gilmer County, West Virginia.
Johnson Ward "W.B." Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [610], born 23 February 1825, Harrison County Virginia; died after April 1872; married 1^st, 3 September 1846, Melinda “Belinda” Gregory, born 1827; married 2^nd, Mary E.J. Gregory.
Bathsheba "Sebia" Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [654], born 13 April 1828, Harrison County, Virginia; died 22 January 1872, Barbour County, West Virginia; buried in Crislip Cemetery at Peppertown, Barbour County, West Virginia; married Amos G. Marple, born 21 November 1828, Upshur County, West Virginia; died 28 March 1908.
Drusilla Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [656], born 1 March 1830, Harrison County Virginia; died 30 April 1887; married, 1 June 1848, Barbour County, West Virginia, Nathan Nutter.
William Turner Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [658], born 1835, Harrison County, Virginia; died 3 June 1923, Upshur, West Virginia; buried Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Upshur County, West Virginia; married, 4 April 1859, Upshur County, Mary Catherine Lawson, born 1840; died 30 June 1896, Buckhannon, West Virginia. Both Chrislip and Crislip surname spellings appear among the descendants of William Turner Chrislip.
Rachel Elma Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [701], born, 26 August 1838, Harrison County, Virginia; died 30 March 1909, West Virginia; married, 11 September 1858, Michael Thrash.
Hannah Lettie Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [734], born January 1837, Harrison County, Virginia; died in New Jersey; married, 10 February 1854, Hiram Nutter, born 1831.
Minerva Elizabeth Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [739], born 26 January 1840, Harrison County, Virginia; died 21 October 1931, Upshur County, West Virginia; married, 22 November 1860, Minter Furr Marple, son of Amos F. Marple and Jemima Cummings, born 8 May 1837, Upshur County, West Virginia; died 5 June 1905. Minerva Elizabeth was buried in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Buckhannon, Upshur County, West Virginia.
Susannah "Susan" Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb¹, Jacob Christlieb², William Chrislip³) [740], born 7 September 1843, Harrison County, Virginia; died 21 June 1870, Upshur County, West Virginia, at age 27. Susannah was buried Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Buckhannon, Upshur County, West Virginia.