The Hansford Family
Lineage Of John Stone, Blockmaker

By Spessard Stone

Appendix C- The Hansford Family



     John Hansford c1590-1661

     The earliest origins of the Hansford family in Virginia is found in Hampton Parish, York County where in 1647 John Hansford was a resident. In 1651 lands at West's Creek in York County were granted to Richard Hansford, among whose head rights were Elizabeth and John Hansford.
     Colonel John Hansford in 1655 served on the Justice's Bench of York County. He married Elizabeth Jands, daughter of Elizabeth Jands.
     John Hansford's will, dated 9 May 1654, was proved on 24 June 1661 and was recorded in York County Records No. 3 1657/62, page 122. It showed his wife was Elizabeth, sons were John, William, Thomas, and Charles, and daughters were Elizabeth, Mary, and Margaret; also he possessed over 2,170 acres of land and livestock.
     A transcription follows:

     John Hansford of Cheesecake, York. To my eldest sons John Hansford and William Hansford 600 acres of land lying upon Claybanke Creek on the north side of York river to be equally divided between them 3 cows apiece etc. To my two sons Thomas and Charles Hansford 500 and odd acres of land lying at the rear of Felgates Creek which I heretofore bought of Mr. Weston's daughter to be equally divided between them. To my son Thomas one young horse colt and to my sons Thomas and Charles 3 cows, 2 heifers etc. To my daughter Elizabeth my old grey mare and 3 cows, etc. To my daughter Mary my younger mare, and to my sd daughter Mary and my daughter Margaret 3 cows etc. Sons under 21, daughters under 15. To daughter Elizabeth 1,000 acres of land lying on the south side of the Matapony River, the rights and bounds whereof do appear at the office in Jamestown. To my godson John Morley, son to my neighbor Thomas Morley, one heifer. To my servant Ennis one heifer with calf. To my wife Elizabeth Hansford my devident of 70 acres of land whereon my dwelling house stands for her life, and after her death to my son Thos. Hansford, and I ordain her sole exix. Francis Willis, Edmund Peeters, Supervisors. To Robert Jones who now instructs my children 500 lbs. of tobacco. Witnesses John Rolands, Ennis Mackintosh (Enoch), Robert Jones.

     Elizabeth Hansford married (2) 10 October 1661 Edward Lockey, a tobacco merchant.
     Elizabeth's last will and testament, dated 8 February 1669, was proved on 29 April 1669, York County, Virginia. Children named were William, Elizabeth, Thomas, Mary, and John. To John she willed lands in now York County, which "was patented by my mother, Elizabeth Jands."
     Issue, not necessarily in chronological order, of John and Elizabeth Hansford:
     1. John Hansford.
     2. William Hansford, who married (1) Elizabeth ________ (died Apr 1669, Hampton Parish, York Co., Va.); (2) Mary Huit. His last will and testament, dated 28 Oct 1708, proved on 25 Jul 1709, York Co., Va., named his brothers-in-law, William Huit and David Moore.
     Issue (1):
     a. William Hansford.
     b. Elizabeth Hansford.
     3. Thomas Hansford. His last will and testament, dated 24 Dec 1719, proved 20 Jun 1720, York Co., Va., named wife Sarah; children, Thomas, William, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, and Martha.
     Issue (2):
     d. David Hansford.
     3. Thomas Hansford, born ca. 1645; died 1677 in Bacon’s Rebellion. (Source: Amy McNeese.)
     4. Charles Hansford, born 1647; died ca. 1702; married (1) Elizabeth Folliott Moody; (2) Mary ______.
     5. Elizabeth Hansford.
     6. Mary Hansford.
     7. Margaret Hansford.

     Charles Hansford 1647-1702

     Charles Hansford, son of John and Elizabeth (Jands) Hansford, was born 1647; died 1702. Charles served as a captain and justice of York County, Virginia.
     He married (1) Elizabeth Folliott Moody, daughter of Rev. Edward Folliott of Hampton Parish, Virginia, widow of Josias Moody. Rev. Folliott was the son of Sir John Folliott and wife Elizabeth Aylmer. Edward, age 22, matriculated at Oxford, Hart Hall, 13 April 1632, B.C.L. 24 November 1632. He was Rector of Alderton, Northam in 1634 until sequestered by the Parliamentary Committee.
     Charles married (2) Mary _______. His last will and testament, dated 1702, Hampton Parish, York Co., Va., named wife Mary, etc.
     Issue (1), not necessarily in chronological order:
     1. Mary Hansford.
     2. Lydia Hansford.
     3. Elizabeth Hansford.
     4. Martha Hansford.
     5. John Hansford.
     6. William Hansford.
     7. Charles Hansford, born ca. 1699; died 1761, York Co., Va.; married Susannah ______.

     William Hansford c1695-1754

     William Hansford, son of Charles & Elizabeth (Folliott) Hansford, was born c1695; died 1754. He married 12 February 1724/25 Sarah Sallis, daughter of Samuel, Jr. & Sarah (Catlett) Sallis, granddaughter of John, Jr. & Elizabeth (Underwood) Catlett, great-granddaughter of John Catlett, Sr. Sarah died 15 October 1754, Culpepper, Virginia.
     His last will and testament, dated 7 June 1750, proved on 17 October 1754, Culpepper County, Virginia, established that he was a slave-holding planter, with a wife Sarah, daughters Anne and Sarah Porter, and sons William Jr., Salis, Charles and John, grandson Bennony Hansford.
     Will of William Hansford

     In the name of God Amen Seventh day of June 1750
     I William Hansford of the Parish of Saint Mark & County of Culpeper Planter being sick and weak but of proper mind & memory thanks be therefore to God for the same, do therefore Constitute make & ordain this my last Will & Testament in the following manner & form, first I recommend my soul to God that gave it & my body to be buried in a Christian like manner & as to what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give bequeath & dispose of in manner & form following on & with such conditions & reservations as hereafter mentioned.
     Imprim I give to my beloved wife Sarah Hansford one negro man named Robin and one negro woman named Hannah.
     Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Porter a negro girl of twelve years old or there about to be purchased out of the profits of my Estate.
     Item I give to my son Wm. Hansford Junr. and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such issue then to my son Salis Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten for want of such issue to my son Charles Hansford & issue of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such issue to my son Jno Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such issue then to my grandson Bennony Hansford one negro man named Tom.
     Item, I give my son Salis Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such I then to my son William Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & for want of such issue to my son Charles Hansford & the issue of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such issue then to my son Jno. Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & for want of such issue then to my grandson Bennony Hansford one negro woman named Pegg.
     Item, I give to my son Charles Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such issue to my son William Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & for want of such issue to my son Salis Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & for want of such issue to my son John Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such issue then to my grandson Bennoni Hansford one negro girl named Patt.
     Item I give to my son John Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such issue to my son Wm Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & for want of such issue to my son Salis Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & for want of such issue to my son Charles Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & in want of such issue then to my grandson Bennona Hansford one negro girl named Mildred.
     Item, I give to my grandson Bennona Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such issue to my son William Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & for want of such issue to my son Salis Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & in default of such issue to my son Charles Hansford & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten & for want of such issue then to my son John Hansford one negro girl named Winnifree.
     Item I give to my daughter Anne Hansford one negro girl named Phillis.
     Item My will and desire is such that whereas my estate is no wise engaged by debt that no part thereof be sold except one negro man named Punch which I desire may be sold in order to help raise money toward the purchase of a negro girl for my Daughter Sarah Porter as aforesaid as to the remaining part of my Estate except as before excepted I leave devise & bequeath to my well beloved wife Sarah Hansford to her & finally at her disposal whom I make appoint & ordain my whole & sole executrix of this my Last Will and Testament & I do hereby absolutely pronounce & declare Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament.        In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day the year first above.
     Written in Presence of Us G. Lightfoot Francis Tyler Anne Tyler
     Sign Sealed Published pronounced Declared by the said William Hansford as his Last Will & Testament
     William Hansford

     Pr Court held for the County of Culpeper on Thursday the 17th day of October 1754
     This Last Will and Testament of William Hansford decd. was exhibited into Court by William Hansford son & Heir of the said Deceased, and was proved by oath of Goodrich Lightfoot a writing thereto be ordered to be recorded and on the motion of said the William Hansford certificate is granted him for obtaining Letters of Administration with the said Will annexed [?] the Executrix Sarah Hansford being Dead, and the said William Hansford having made oath and given security as the Law direct.
     Roger Dixon Clk

     Issue of William and Sarah (Sallis) Hansford:
     1. Sarah Hansford, who married Nicholas Porter.
     2. William Hansford, Jr.
     3. Sallis Hansford. His last will and testament, dated 1764, mentioned his nephew Benoni Hansford.
     4. Charles Hansford. His last will and testament, dated 15 Nov 1760, Orange Co., Va., named “cousin” Benoni Hansford, brother Nicholas Parker, and children of sister Anne Finnell.
     5. John Hansford.
     6. Anne Hansford, who married Thomas Finnell, son of Jonathon Finnell and Mary Phillips. They had issue. (Source: Judith Finnell Holmes, 30 March 2002)

     William Hansford, Jr. c1728 - Before 1790

     William Hansford, Jr., son of William and Sarah Hansford, lived in Orange Co., Va., but did not appear on the 1790 census. Researcher Mildred Hansford, however, has concluded that William and wife, Mary Hyde, moved to the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia where they died in a smallpox epidemic. Researcher Penny Fields Gardner in an e-mail of March 2002 noted:"William Hansford and his wife, Mary Sarah Hyde. They both died of a Smallpox epidemic in 1779 in Orange Co., VA. This was just before their daughter, Mary, married John Short.. Their second child and only daughter, Sarah, was my ancestor. She married Stephen Fields and they are buried in the same pioneer cemetery with John and Mary, in Lawrence Co, Indiana, close to where both my parents were born and raised." She identified William, Jr. as an uncle, not the father of William, Jr. The only other possibility then would be John Hansford. "Hansford" has William, Jr. as the father of Benoni Hansford.
     Known issue:
     1. Benoni Hansford.
     2. Mary Hansford married John Short.

     Benoni Hansford c1750-1816

     Benoni Hansford, son of probably William Hansford, Jr., was born circa 1750, Culpepper Co., Virginia and died about February 1816, Jones County, Georgia. He was mentioned in the 7 June 1750 last will and testament of his grandfather, William Hansford. He served as a lieutenant and captain from Orange County, Virginia in the Revolutionary War, being sworn into the latter on 27 August 1778. He drew in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery, Wilkes County. His will was made 9 January 1812 and proved 10 February 1816. He married Grace Proctor, daughter of George Proctor. She was born ca. 1755, probably Orange County, Virginia and died after 1818 in Georgia.

     Will of Benoni Hansford

     State of Georgia Morgan County In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Hansford a citizen of the United States of America and as an Inhabitant of the County and state first above written do make ordain and declare my last will and testament to be as follows, to wit, I give to my son Charles P Hansford three negroes (to wit) Celia, Ralph and Nelly. To my daughter Sally Harrison a negro boy named Moses to my son William a negro named Zach. To the heirs of my daughter Elizabeth by her present husband Henry D Stone a negro woman named Fan and her issue to my daughter Matilda a negro boy named Peter To my son George I have already given three hundred dollars in place of a negro boy named Jessie which boy I onest designed for him To the heirs of my daughter Polly by her present husband Jno P. Ryan I give a negro girl named Mary to be delivered to Said heirs at the discretion of my wife. To my son John a boy named Lewis and to my beloved wife I give during her widowhood the balance of my negroes and the tract of land whereon I now reside and in case she should marry my will and desire is that she retain during her life a negro woman named Jude and the land to be vested in my son John and the negroes to be equally divided between my children Sally William the heirs of Elizabeth by her present husband Henry D Stone Matilda, George the heirs of Polly by her husband Jno. P. Ryan and John and in the event of the death of the negroes herein before given to John before he marry or come of age I request my Executors to purchase one out of my estate as nearly equal in value as can be obtained and replace in lieu of the one so dead provided there shall no young negroes be born in the estate to do it with and it is my express desire that my son John may at the time of marrying or becomes of age be possessed of the negro herein bequeathed to him. All my property not herein otherwise disposed of to be divided at the discretion of my wife among my children and I do hereby nominate and appoint sons William and George my executors and my wife Executrix to this my said will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of January 1812. Signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of
     Sterling Guinnes Not. Pub.      James H Nickleson        Benoni Hansford Seal
     Wm Simons
     A H McFarlin
     J.[?] H. Stone
     Harvey McFarlin

     Georgia Jones County Came into Court Harvey McFarlin being sworn saith he was a subscribing witness to the within will and signed the same in presence of other witnesses, and the testator in presence of all the witnesses acknowledged it to be his will and this deponent saith that he was of sound mind and memory Sworn to in open court this 10th day of Febry. 1816.
        A Carter Clk        Harvey X McFarlin
                                his mark
     The will is recorded in the Jones County, Georgia Will Book, page 32.        

     (The will begins as Benjamin Hansford, but is signed "Benoni Hansford.")

     Issue of Benoni and Grace (Proctor) Hansford:
     1. Charles P. Hansford, born ca. 1776; died ca. 1854, Upson Co., Ga.; married (1) _______; (2) 8 Jan 1839 in Upson Co., Mary Moore.
     2. Sally Hansford, who married ______ Harrison.
     3. William Hansford.
     4. Elizabeth Hansford, born 1786; died 1826; married Henry Dessex Stone.
     5. Matilda Hansford.
     6. George Hansford, born ca. 1788; died 1853.
     7. Polly Hansford, who married 1808 in Jones Co., Ga. John P. Ryan.
     8. John Miller Hansford, born 1797; died 1857; married Martha Ann Tyus (1803-1876).


Dan Hansford, born on March 4, 1885, in Calhoun County, married Avie Louise Mobley on June 26, 1907. He was shot and killed on November 17, 1911 while attempting to arrest an escaped prisoner, Lee Collins. Deputy Sheriff Hansford's name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C. (West Wall, Panel 44, Line 21). Courtesy of Susan Sapronettti , July 7, 2009.

     Acknowledgments: Anonymous, "Hansford," found in the Georgian in the Panama City, FL Library, courtesy of Dewey Edward Stone of Felton, CA; Steve Jordan of Blountstown, FL.

     July 28, 2001, October 16, 2001, July 7, 2009