Barbara and Henry Hershberger
I wonder if anyone can help me straighten something out here? I have the abstracts for
Barbara Hershberger and Henry Hershberger from the Shenandoah County Virginia
Abstract of Wills 1772-1850 along with Henry's will that names his eight children, naming
a daughter Christina not a son Christian. I don't believe this Barbara was the widow of this
Henry. On 20 May 1793, Barbara's daughter. Eve Hershberger married John Kibler.
A land sale abstract of 1813, states John and Eve Kiblar got the land they are selling from
Barbara in 1794, further suggesting this is Barbara's daughter. Eve is not mentioned in Henry's
will would also suggest that this Henry is the wrong Henry married to Barbara. I have seen a
date for Henry's and Barbara's marriage posted as being 1785. I'm not sure where this was
found, but it seems like a speculation. Henry made a land sale before he died which his children
had six months after they reached "age" to protest. No wife is mentioned as selling the land with
him. Six children, Ann Beam(and husband Abraham), Henry(and wife Elizabeth), Abraham,
Samuel, Christina("her mark is added"), and John(and wife Elizabeth) sign off on the sale in
1800, while Daniel and David signed off in 1804. It seems to me that a wife would have to
agree to a land sale, suggesting that he was a widower. If minor children would have to sign
off on a land sale when they reached "age", wouldn't other children have to sign off also?
I'm not sure what the laws in Virginia were at that time, but would guardians be appointed
for minor children if there was a step-mother(or even a natural mother)? I'm sure a widow
would have had some say in the process, even just being named. Barbara also had at least 5
children married in 1794, possibly all eleven of age at that time. To me this would suggest
that her husband Henry Hershberger was of a generation above this Henry. Can anyone help
(or even speculate) on this?
Rich Roberts
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