11571Elizabeth ___
Key Facts
Snapshot:lived on colonial Virginia's shore
Parents:unknown
Born:unknown
Died:between 9 April 1698 and 31 January 1698/9
probably Northampton County, Virginia
Buried:unknown

11571Elizabeth ___'s early life is uncertain. Researcher A. Ray Griffin has proposed that she may be the daughter of Sir George Yeardley, but the evidence is equivocal; you can see his argument here (back-up copy).

Her husband 11570William Gelding briefly mentioned her in the final paragraph of his will, dated 28 March 1688.1 His will is the earliest direct evidence of their marriage, although they must have been married for many decades, since (for example) their daughter 5785Elizabeth was born circa 1649.2

11571Elizabeth's own will is dated 9 April 1698 and was proved 31 January 1698/9 in Northampton County, Virginia. Below are the county record copy3 and my transcription thereof.

In the name of God Amen I Elizabeth Gelding
of the county of Northampton in Virginia the widow
& executrix of the last will & Testamt of William
Gelding Senr: late of the said county died being
very anchient & craz But of sound & perfect memory
and minde (praised be God) and considering with my
selfe the frailty and uncertainty of this prsent Tran-
sitory life And that all flesh must yeild unto
death when it shall please God to call Doe make
constitute, ordaine, & Appointe This my last will
Testamt in manner & forme following that is to
say First and principally I comit & comend my
soule into the hands of Allmighty God my creator
Trusting & Assuredly beleiving through the only
meritts of Jesus Christy his son my certaine savior
and Redeemer to obtaine A joyfull Resurrection and
Inheritt Eternall life my body to the Earth from
whence it was taken to receive decent & christian
Buriall as my Exectuors hereafter named shall thinke
fitt and for that small temporall or worldly Estate
which I shall leave behinde att the time of
my decease comeing to me by virtue of my said
deced husbands will or any other wayes hold so ever
or whatsoever belonging unto me my just debts
paid and funerall charges defrayed[?] I give will
and bequeath as followeth (vizt)
Impr̃is I give unto my sons Charles Gelding and Wm Gelding and
to my Daughters Elizabeth the wife of Jerom Griffith Kallerin
the wife of Gilbert Moore and Ellenor the wife of Thomas
Moore on shillinge A piece to be paid in as convenient time
as may be after my Decease beinge All they may expect of my
small substance which God shall bless unto me att the time
of my decease./
Item       All the Rest of my Estate whatsoever within doores & without
mares, Horses, householdgoods, cattle sheepe Hoggs, chattles wearing
Apparell, and other things of what nature or quality howsoever as
aforesaid: I fully, wholly, and Absolutely give will & bequeath to
the three children of my aforesaid Son Wm Gelding (vizt) Luke
Osbourne, and Elizabeth Gelding: which hee had by his first wife
Ann Gelding deced : or soe many of them as shall be then livinge
att the time of my decease, and to the survivor or survivors of
them and to their heires for Ever to be Equally devided
Amoungst them, and to be improved by my Executors hereafter
named for the best Advantage of my said grandchildren untill
they attaine to lawfull age severally to receive the same And
in case of the mortality of them all my said three grandchildren
before they come to lawfull Age, or that they decease without
(lawfull

lawfull here or heires: or if my said grandchildren or any
other person or persons whatsoever Doe remove or take away
any of the said Estate left with my executors hereafter named
under any colour or prtence whatsover before they come to full
Age as aforesaid Then the said Estate solely & wholly to goe
and Redound to the children of my aforesaid Daughter Ellenor
the wife of Thomas Moore Equally to bee Devided amoungst
them or the survivor or survivors of them and their heires for Ever.
Hereby nominateinge and Appointeinge my lovinge friends and
neighbours Mr: John Stockly Senr: and William Wilson Executors
jointly or severally to Act in the Reall performance of this will
makeinge void & Revokeinge All former wills & bequests by
me made or spoken And this only to stand & bee for and as
my last will and Testamt and none other: witness my hand
and seale this nineth day of Aprill Anno Dom̃ 1698:
Signed, sealed, and declared as her LastSignum
will and Testament in prsence of us:Elizabeth E Gelding
Mathew Moor
Elizabeth Moor
Geo Noble		  Northton January the 31st Anno Dom̃ 1698  ye seale
The said day the Last will and Testamt of Elizabeth
Gelding widow deced was proved in open court of the said
county by the corporall oathes of Matthew Moore and George Noble:
and allowed and approved of by the court as an Authentick probate
and ordered to be Recorded ,
Test Dan Neech Cl Cur:
Recordd: Test Dan Neech Cl Cur:		 } Co. Northton.
`

Sources Cited:

1: Northampton County, Virginia. Orders and wills book 12 (1683-1689), pages 348-349. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-Y714>, accessed 11 July 2025.

2: Northampton County, Virginia. Orders and wills book 13 (1689-1698), page 341. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-Y7K8>, accessed 30 July 2025.

3: Northampton County, Virginia. Orders and wills book 13 (1689-1698), pages 526-527. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-Y7DG?lang=en&i=1130> et seq., accessed 10 July 2025.