Robinson River Valley Madison County

In the name of God Amen. I, Tobias Wilhoit, of the county of Culpepper, Virginia, and Parrish of brumfield, being of perfect senses and memory, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First: I give my soul into almighty God that gave it, hoping through the merits of my savior, to receive pardon of all my sins, and my body I bequeath to the earth in sure and certain hopes of its resurrection to eternal life, to be decently interred at the descreation of my executrix and executors hereafter named. Item: to my two sons, Michael Wilhoit and Conrad Wilhoit two hundred of acres of land joining John Towles the open line and Robert Huckerson to be laid of too the greatest convenience of both in case of disagreement for each to choose a man to act for them. Item: I lend to my beloved wife, Catherine Wilhoit, all the rest of my estate during her widowhood. In case she marries, one sorrel mare and her increases, two cows, two sows, one feather bed, and furniture, a poplar chest, one iron pot and frying pan. In case she dies a widow, all of her part of my estate to be equally divided among my children, except those that I have left lands, and Mary Broyles if she marries, what is here mentioned, to be taken out, and the rest of my estate to be divided at the day of marriage. Item: I leave my two youngest sons, Jesse and William Wilhoit the land that I have lent to my wife Catherine, to be equally divided between these two sons, incase they should, or either die without issue, the said land to the next youngest son, to them and their heirs forever, I having disposed of my estate above, I do appoint my wife Catherine and two sons, Michael and Conrad Wilhoit, executrix and executors this my last will and testament, dis-annuling all other wills. I so fix my had and seal this first day of September 1761.

A Place to Call Home (Site 2)

In 1725 the entire colony, now related, moved about twenty-five miles farther west to the Robinson River Valley near the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and todays Shenandoah National Park. This again was an extremely exposed position, but they chose this general region because land there was free at the time and there were few or no English settlers which gave them space for expansion. Here in June 1726, they received large patents of land. They had chosen for their home a place that stood on the very border of civilization. Surrounded thus by the dangers and difficulties of the frontier life they made their homes and reached a certain degree of prosperity. There is no evidence that any of them sought an easier life in the already settled portions of Virginia or Pennsylvania. Other Germans were added to them from time to time.

Michael married in Germany in 1710 and came to America with a wife and kids when he was 47 years old. It’s a bit unclear but his wife was likely Mary Margaret Blankenbaker. His wife’s family also came to America in the same group during 1717. After their 8 years working in Spotswood/Germanna, the families left with the others to the Robinson River Valley (Site B). Michael Wilhite patented 289 acres in 1728, located between the Robinson and Deep Run Rivers. Adjacent parcels of land belonged to his wife’s family. He took out naturalization papers proving his importation at age 66. When he turned 70, the local Hebron Lutheran Church was built. Michael Willheit made his will in 1742, dying a few years later in 1746. In the will, he mentions wife, Mary and his 6 children Tobias, John, Adam, Matthias, Philip and daughter Eva. He divides his tract of 289 acres between his sons Matthias and Philip. All the children seemed to stick around Culpepper (Site B).

At just 9 years of age, Tobias Wilhoit came with his parents to America. He was the oldest son of Michael and a youth during the time the colony was indentured servants. The colony moved when he was 20 years old to Site 2 and he was likely still living with his parents. At age 25, he married Catherine Walke. At age 28, Tobias with his father-in-law Martin Walk, patented 400 acres on the Great Fork xxxxx. Tax records show he worked this land for many years raising his family. When he turned 34, he was naturalized along with many others of the Hebron Church community. At age 51, Tobias Wilhoit and his wife Catherine sold their land (half of the 400 acres) to William Jett. Tobias and Catherine then purchased 400 acres of land on Deep Run. This is on the same Deep Run Creek near his dads property. His dad Michael had willed his property to Tobiass younger two brothers. Tobias Wilhoite made his will in 1761 and died in 1762 at the age of 53. He mentions wife Catherine, sons Michael, Conrad, Jesse, William and daughter Mary Broyles.

In 1719, while still at Germania, they joined with the members of the 1714 colony in a petition to the Bishop of London praying for support in the maintenance of a minister and to have the Liturgy of the Church of England translated into High Dutch. In 1743 or 1725 they sent two people, Michael Cook and Ziriakum Fleashman, to Germany to bring a minister of High Germans to Virginia. This effort was unsuccessful. In 1733 after their move to the Robinson River the Rev. John Caspar Stoever came among them and was their first regular pastor. In 1734 he, with Michael Holt and Michael Schmidt, went to Germany to solicit funds with which to build a church. In this effort they were successful. Stoever died on the return voyage, but his place was taken by a young man, Rev. George Samuel King, who came to Virginia for this very purpose, that is, to minister to the German flock in the wilderness. In 1740 Hebron Lutheran Church was built, which with some few alterations and additions, still stand as a monument to the heroism and devotion of these early pioneers. The church is now the oldest building in the Americas still in use as a Lutheran church. Ten years after the church was built, the County Land Surveyor was a young 17 year old George Washington, future first president.

In The name of God Amen. I Michael Wilheit of the parish of St. Mark and the county of Orange, being sick and weak of body, but being sound of mind and perfect memory (thanks to Almighty God for same) do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First I recommend my soul to God that gave it, trusting and surely believing that through the merits of my Blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, to receive full remission and forgiveness of all my sins, my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executors hereafter named. I will that after my decease, my loving wife Mary Willheit, do live and continue upon the plantation where I now live, during the term of her natural life, and I do most earnestly enjoin and require all my children to love, honor and respect her as their dear mother, and I do give unto my said loving wife all my personal estate during her natural life, and to make sale of either house or cattle so long as my said wife shall live, and after her decease, my will and desire is that all my personal estate will be equally divided amongst my six children hereafter named. I will that my tract of two hundred and eighty nine acres of land be equally divided unto two parts, of which my son Matthias is to have one part, and my youngest son Philip is to have the other part, whereon the house and plantation is, and whereon I now do live, and it is my desire that after the decease of my loving wife wife Mary, and when the above said my two sons, Matthias Willheit and Phillip Willheit are at age of 21 years each, that then the aforesaid my two younger so so pay 12 pounds currency to the four following of my children as their share of inheritance. That is to say, unto Tobias Willheit 3 pounds currency, unto John Willheit 3 pounds currency, unto Adam Willheit 3 pounds currency, and unto my daughter Eva (now married to Nicholas Holt) 3 pounds currency. I make and ordain my loving friend Michael Holt and my dear eldest son Tobias Willheit to be executors of this my last will and testament, revoking all other wills heretofore by me made, and in witness that this is my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of January 1742/43