This is a copy of the original John Hash will –dated in ye year of our Lord 1784 and witnessed by Enoch Osborn(e) [his son-in-law]. It is currently stored in the Montgomery Co. courthouse in Christiansburg, VA.
“old” John Hash is the first documented Hash in the United States. He was born around 1720 [probably Baltimore, MD]and died April 13, 1784 at home on Bridle Creek at New River. He probably is buried on his land in a cemetery later named the Silas Ward cemetery. His wife should be buried beside him– she was alive at the time of his death [see will]. This wife may have been Elizabeth Stodgil from Orange Co., VA.
The parents of John Hash are questionable to say the least. We have partial records of a few young Hash men in the colonies prior to 1700 but nothing to indicate they married and fathered any children. The only conclusion is that the parents of “old” John Hash were here prior to 1700. Most of the colonists of that era were congregated around the north-east coast — Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia.
There is some indication that John’s mother [or grandmother] was a Horton. The Horton name shows up repeatedly as middle names for early Hash males. The custom was to name the first male after the father; the second could carry the maternal name as a middle name. Records are not available for this proof!
John was a farmer and raised horses and cattle for his own use. There is no record of any slaves owned by John. He served in the Rev. War and is listed repeatedly in the militia headed by his son-in-law, Enoch Osborn(e).
There is a lot of info floating around on http://www.newrivernotes.com/nrv.htm. This is a very good site sponsored by Jeffrey Weaver.
See if you can decipher the will and if you have trouble, give me a shout.
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