The Heirs-at-Law of John Gandy

John Gandy was born about 1780 a son of Brittain Gandy and Mary Ross. He is known to have at least one brother known as Brittain, Jr. 

John Gandy married Elizabeth Holland, daughter of Richard Holland. Their marriage date is unknown since no certificate, licensee or announcement has been found. Their first born, a son, Wiley Robert Gandy was born about 1803. I think it safe to say that John and Elizabeth were married about 1802.  

During my research, I found two documents that names the children and Heirs-at-law of John Gandy. After further research, I’m not convinced that all the children were named in these two documents. 

The first was document was John Gandy’s Last Will and Testament. His will was written 3 November 1840 and probated 13 September 1853 in Bibb County, Alabama. The Will is not on line anywhere so I am relying on a transcribed Copy previously dome by someone and placed on this FindAGrave Memorial. 

The 4th Item in the John Gandy Will posted on-line reads:

Item fourth Should my beloved wife cease to be a widow or after her death my desire and will is then that the whole of my property be lawfully and Equally divided between all my heirs (viz)

Wiley - Thomas, Daniel Elizabeth James, Harvey, Henry Hardy, Mary Martha, Chloe and Sylvania.

That's 12 names listed in this item, yet the comma placements indicates there are less than 12 children I believe there are at least 12 and maybe more children. 

Lets take a look at Document 2, a Probate record, and see if its concurred with the naming of heirs.  

Transcription:

Page 560 & 561

The State of Alabama}

 Bibb County} Personally appeared before me Jno. W. Suttle Judge of Probate for said County Wiley R. Gandy and made oath that the annexed Acpt [Account] is just as stated as to receipts and disbarments and that he has accounted in said acpt for all the Interest that accrued on monies used by him and further states that the following is a true list of all the heirs entitled to distribution of said Estate viz; Thomas H. Gandy, resident of Perry county, Daniel R. Gandy resident of Louisiana, Henry H. Gandy  resident of Bibb Co., Hardy R. Gandy resident of Bibb Co., Wiley R. Gandy resident of Bibb Co., Elizabeth Jones wife of James A. Jones Perry county, Mary McGee wife of William McGee resident of Mississippi, Martha Mitchell wife of Wm. S. Mitchell Bibb Co., Cloah Flanagan wife of Leroy Flanagan Autauga, Sylva Pearson all of lawful age & the heirs of Harvey M. Gandy viz William W. Gandy Daniel P. Gandy Martha J. Gandy John H. Gandy Mary F. Gandy Harvey M. Gandy.

Sworn to & subscribed 9th March 1854}                 Wiley R. Gandy Admn.

Jno. W. Suttle Judge of Probate}

We see that the Probate record only names eleven children of which one, Harvey M. Gandy, is deceased leaving 6 children as heirs-at-law. 

In the Will of John Gandy we have a son, James Gandy, listed. In the probate record there is no James Gandy mentioned. Otherwise, if you read the names spaced thus so

Wiley R. – Thomas H. – Daniel R. – Elizabeth – Harvey M– Henry H.- Hardy R. – Mary – Martha - Chloe - Sylvania, (James)

they then match the Probate record with the exception of James. 

John Gandy wrote his will in 1840 and died in 1851; James may have passed away in that eleven year span. 

John Gandy has also been given the name John Brittain Gandy and John Holland Gandy. I have found no documents that list his name any way other than John Gandy. All of this addition of a middle name have been created in online trees and a FindAGrave Memorial.   

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1. Alabama, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999; Administrators Records, Vol G, 1851-1855; Bibb County, Alabama, page 560-561; Heirs at Law of John Gandy

2. Bibb County, Alabama, Will Book "G": page 68; Last Will of John GANDY; The Probate Office, Centreville, Alabama 35042.

3. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 March 2023); Memorial page for John Brittain Gandy; (1780–29 October 1851); Find a Grave memorial # 102645156, Citing Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery; Stanton, Chilton County, Alabama, USA.