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Martha Wills
Born Mar 31, 1734 James City Co. VA
Died 1783/5 ?New Orleans

SPOUSE	CHILDREN
Thomas Marsten Green Sr. m. Nov 21, 1752 James City VA b. Nov 19, 1723 James City VA d. Jun 25, 1805 Jefferson Co. Miss. Terr.	Henry Filmer b. 1755? d.	Thomas Marsten (Jr.) b. 1758? James City VA d. 1813: ?Claiborne Co. Miss. Terr.	Anthony B. b. 1760? d.
	Abner b. 1762? ?NC d. after 1810 ?MS	Martha Wills b. Dec 25, 1763 Williamsburg, James City Co. VA d. Natchez, Adams Co.	Ann Harwood b. 1765? d. after 1801
	Filmer Wells b. 1767? Williamsburg, James City Co. VA d. by Feb 24, 1801 Pickering (Jefferson) Co. MS	Henry Marston b. 1767? Williamsburg, James City Co. VA d. Sep 21, 1821 Natchez MS	Elias b. 1772?
	Abraham b. Sep 26, 1774 James City Co. VA d. Oct 6, 1826 Claiborne Co. MS	Everard b. 1775? d. after Feb 1801
The Commandant of the Natchez District received notice of the death on Jul 29, 1781 of Elizabeth Alston, wife of John Alston. On that date a Conveyance was issued to appoint Alexander as the guardian of the six surviving children, and an Estate Inventory was performed, listing 16 slaves as well as lands and buildings [McBee, Book A, p. 1].
On 3 Aug. [Friday], 1781, Alexander McIntosh declared to the Court that Henry Alston, one of the minor heirs died, and on the 2nd day of the same Month died a negro boy, named "Stephen", aged 7 yrs., belonging to the Alston estate [McBee, Book A p.2] He also asked that a female slave be sold and that Daniel Perry be appointed to manage the Alston plantation.
On Sep 5, 1781 John Alston sold "all his cattle" to a William Brocus, as witnessed by John Townshend. By Sep 29, 1781 John Alston had "absconded" when the rest of his estate was put up for sale [McBee, pp. 3, 235].
Map of the Natchez District as it may have looked between 1779 and 1799.
Alexander McIntosh died sometime during late 1781 and early 1782, leaving his business in the hands of his widow, Anne. On Oct 22, 1781, he appeared in Natchez to release a mortgage after a debt owed by Isaac Johnson and his wife had beed paid. His wife Anne was recorded as "Widow" first on May 17, 1782 [McBee, Book A, p. 13].
By early 1782, it is believed that daughter Martha Wills Green married Cato West (1759?-1819?) in the Cumberland Settlement in Washington Co. NC., and had a son. They brought the infant son and 8 slaves to Natchez in May. The three were among 13 families recorded by Spanish authorities on Jul 6, as arriving in Natchez, including her parents, Thomas Green Sr. and wife Martha, in a party of 11 individuals under the entry "Thomas Green, wife and children". They brought 32 slaves. Son Thomas Jr. and his wife arrived in a separate party of 3 individuals under the entry "Thomas Marston Green, wife and son". They brought 11 slaves.
On May 16, 1782 Thomas Ethridge made a deposition to the Natchez District Commandant, Carlos de Grand-Pré, responding to questions regarding the arrival of families on flatboats down the Mississippi River, mentioning the Green family and the others. He said that "a large part of the slaves brought by Thomas Green" were stolen [Farrell Family History website].
The Spanish authorities believed that the Greens were likely to incite an insurrection and had the husband Thomas arrested and sent to N.O. When Martha tried to bring him provisions she died along the way.
Between May 17 and Jun 1, 1782, the widow of Alexander McIntosh, Anne McIntosh, was involved in the following transactions with the new arrivals from the Cumberland Settlement: She bought a negro woman named Jane, aged 18, native of Virginia for $440, from John White in the presence of David Smith, and Richard Gooding, who signed with seller. She bought a negro boy named Luke, aged about 10, for $300 "consideration" from David Smith, who signed. She bought a negro man named Antoine Ellis, aged about 40, native of Curacao for $350 "consideration" from Richard Gooding, who signed. She sold to Thomas Green Sr. 300 arpents of land on St. Catherine's Creek, bounded on one side by the Creek and on another by the land of John Smith, as well as 133 acres on the same creek, also bounded by the land of John Smith, and horses and ploughs on account for which the purchaser paid $280 in the form of a 12 year old negro named James, born in Carolina, and the remainder to be paid by Dec of that year. She bought a negro woman named Bertha, aged 40, native of Barbadoes for $300 consideration which was paid in cows and horses to the seller, James White who signed. [McBee, Book A, p. 14].
After Alexander's brother William McIntosh died, the guardianship of the Alston estate and children fell to William's two sons, William and James McIntosh.
On Jun 17, 1782 two lands of John Alston were confiscated "for use of the King" of Spain. One was 800 acres on Second Creek in the Narchez District very near the British grant of Joshua Howard.
On Feb 26, 1783 Nelly Price sued Thomas Green for rent on a house "occupied by him" [McBee, Book G, p. 303-4].
The Spanish authorities believed that the the Greens were likely to incite an insurrection and had Martha's husband Thomas M. Green Sr. arrested and sent to prison in New Orleans. Martha died from a long journey through the Natchez District to New Orleans to plead for her husband's release.
Son Abner married a daughter of Col. Anthony Hutchins, another person who was considered dangerous by the Spanish authorities in the Natchez District.
Alexander's widow Anne married Adam Bingaman, a large Natchez landowner, by Nov 9, 1782.
On Jul 4, 1786, the McIntosh brothers William and James, adminitrators of the estate and guardians of the children of John Alston, declared to the Natchez District Commandant that a 20 year old slave named King had been stolen by James Drumgoole and Philip Alston. King had "formerly belonged to the 'robber' Philip Alston" [McBee, p. 34].
On Dec 31, 1788, "Joucha Hayward" arrived in Natchez from "Cumberland/Tennessee", not listed among the flatboats and without family. In a letter dated Mar 2, 1790, from Carlos de Grand Pré, Natchez, Mar 2, 1790 to Governor Don Estavan Miro, the amount of tobacco was reported by growers of Natchez. A "Joshua Houvard" reported producing 5000 pounds of tobacco [MS Dept of Archives & History, website].
On May 10, 1789 sons Filmer and Abraham Green received a Spanish grant of 500 arpents "on waters of Bayou Pierre, b. on land of Mr. Goodin and of His Majesty" [McBee, p. 366].
In 1790, the widow of Alexander McIntosh, now Anne Bingaman, wrote her will in which, "my dear beloved husband [Adam Bingaman], whom I likewise constitute my sole executor of my last will and testament, all my lands and properties of every kind. Wit: Patrick Foley, Samuel Gibson, Jacob Cobun" [McBee, Book B. p. 73-74].
On Jul 4, 1791, in Davidson Co. (TN), son Henry M. Green married Jane "Jennie" Davidson (1777-1825), a daughter of Brig. Gen. William Lee Davidson (1746-1781), who served at Valley Forge, fought at King's Mountain, and was killed Feb 1, 1781 in the battle at Cowen's Ford NC. Davidson Co. TN and Davidson University in NC were both named for him. Henry and Jennie moved back to Jefferson Co. MS by 1794. In 1799 Jennie's older brother, John Alexander Davidson (1776-1822) married Henry's niece Elizabeth Green (1783-1862?), daughter of Thomas M. Green, Jr.
According to the 1792 Spanish Census for the Natchez District, son Abner Green owned 2200 arpents (1 arpent = .84 acre) of land in the Second and Sandy Creek section, now in parts of Adams and Franklin Co. MS. Living there were 6 White persons and 13 slaves; There were three Green households owning land in the Villa Gayoso section, which became parts of Jefferson and Franklin Counties: "Tomas [Thomas] Masten Green" owned 1668 arpents with 8 white persons and 13 slaves; son Abraham owned 3500 arpents with 2 whites and 6 slaves; and son Henry owned 1800 arpents with 2 Whites and 4 slaves. Also a "Jese" Green and a Nathan Green lived in the same section but had no land. A John Green owned 400 arpents in Bayou Sara (Wilkinson Co. MS). [Adams Co. Miss. Gen. & Hist. Network].
On Oct 20, 1793, a William Daniel obtained a Spanish grant of 200 acres 10 miles north of the Fort, between Fairchild's Creek and lands of Thomas Green and John Bolls. This would be in the Villa Gayoso section of the Natchez District [McBee, Book B, p. 401].
Son Abraham Green married Elizabeth "Patsy" Caffrey (1784?-1823) on Jan 7, 1801 in TN. She was a daughter of Mary Donelson (1751-?) who married John Caffrey, and therefore a niece of Rachel Donelson Jackson (1767-?), the wife of Andrew Jackson up until he became President. In both the 1816 and 1820 Jeffeson Co. Census there is a "Mrs. Elizabeth Green" heading a household.
On Feb 24, 1801 the will of son Filmer Wells Green, of Pickering Co. (became Jefferson Co. the next year) was read. In it he mentions his sister-in-law Martha Green and her two sons Joseph and Filmer, as well as his father, and his brother Everard and sister Ann James, and his brothers Abraham and "Thos. Marston" to be executors [McBee, p. 366].
The Green and Alston families primarity owned land in what became Jefferson Co., the part created from Adams Co., Mississippi Territory, in 1796 (see present day map). In 1802 Claiborne Co. was formed just north of Jefferson Co. (see present day map for location).
Four Green family members are listed on Page 11, lines 9 through 12, and page 14, lines 25 and 25, of the Claiborne Co. Tax Roll for 1810 as follows: Abram (Abraham) Green [son] 1000 acres, one poll (white person), 15 slaves, and 640 acres with no polls or slaves. Thomas M. Green [son] 207 acres, no polls or slaves. Joseph K. Green [grandson] 423 acres, no polls or slaves. Abner Green (son) 1183 and 640 acres, no poles or slaves. All of the land, except Abraham's 640 acres (preemption), in Bayou Pierre and obtained by grants while under Spanish rule.
Sources: Adams Co. Mississippi Genealogy & History Network, "1792 Census for Natchez District (under Spanish Government control)", 2009, 1792 Census. "George W. Humphreys Bible", Claiborne MS Bibles, photostat of original bible, recorded 1957 by May Wilson McBee, in Mississippi Genealogy Trails, website. Cumberland Compact, original document signed May 13, 1780, Washington County NC, website. Clayton, Prof. W.W., History of Davidson County Tennessee, reprod. 1971 by Charles Elder, Nashville TN. David Library of the American Revoution, "British Colonial Office Records CO5 West Florida Reords", website, vol 593, item 107. Drake, Doug, Jack Masters and Bill Puryear, Founding of the Cumberland Settlements, The First Atlas, 1779-1804, Warioto Press, 2009, pp. 23, map E7. Farrell Family History, website. Farrell Family History, website. McBee, May Wilson, comp., Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Greenwood MS, 1953, v. 2, pp. 78, 366, Book A, p. 1-3, 34, 450, 541, Book B, p. 401, Book F, p. 235. MS Dept. of Archives & History (MDAH), Jackson MS, rootsweb, Americans Arriving in Spanish-Held Natchez 1780-1790. MSGenWeb, Natchez District 1792 Census Index, comp. by Ellen Pack, website, transcribed and translated from Spanish. Rowland, Dunbar, "1816 Census for Franklin Co. Miss.", taken from The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi,Centennial Edition, 1917, rootsweb website. Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950, "John Alston" Marriage Record, p. 8. Wells, Carol, Natchez Postscripts 1781-1798, Heritage Books, pp. 101, 144-5, 151, Will Books 3 and 4, Wilkes County, North Carolina, 1811-1848, The Genealogical Society of "Original" Wilkes County), Will Book 3, "Estate of Joahua Howard", Oct 1814, page 89, 120.