The name Greensburg came from the Green family that lived in early Berkeley County. William Green Sr. had 197 acres surveyed for himself in 1751. This land lay in present Jefferson County. William Green wrote a will on 12 Nov. 1776, probated 21 Mar. 1780.

He named five daughters: Sarah, Mary, Kezeah, Elizabeth, and Dinah (BCWB 1, p. 180). Widow Dinah Green left a will written 6 Jun. 1800. Daughter Sarah Butt, widow of Richard Butt, dec., was to have full two-thirds of the estate, daughter Dinah Dean, wife of Joseph Dean, was to have one-half of the remaining estate.

William Green, Jr., purchased a Greensburg tract of 82 acres 15 July 1780 from John Linder, Sr., and wife Grace (BCDB 5, p. 743). These 82 acres had been granted to Jacob Morgan on 9 Jan. 1768 (Land Grant Records, Richmond, Va.). William Green acquired an additional 42 acres at what became known as Greensburg.

William Green, Jr., from whom Greensburg was given its name, died in 1799 leaving a widow, Mary Green, who married John Butt. She petitioned the court for her dower and received 41 acres. The remainder of William Green's land, the 82-acre Jacob Morgan tract, was divided among his ten children in 1815 (Map .16).

On 2 Mar. 1815 George Green and wife Patsy, Thomas Green and wife Lynn Green, and William Rose and wife Nancy, all of Berkeley County sold for $150.00 to Raleigh Morgan and Cornelius Thompson their parts of the William Green Farm plus their interest in sister Kezeah Green's lot. She had died since the division of the land. William Green had purchased the interest of four of his brothers and sisters before the division (BCDB 26, p. 537).

William Green III left a will written 23 Apr. 1834. He left one-third to his widow Elizabeth, but if she remarried, only what the law allowed. At the death of his wife everything to granddaughter Elizabeth Haines, but if she should die without issue, to his nephew, William Green, son of Thomas Green (BCWB 14, p. 56).

In 1880 Anna Belle Files brought a suit in Chancery Court over William Green's estate. She stated that William Green died in 1842; that he owned a farm of 66 acres in Berkeley County and further stated the widow Elizabeth Green enjoyed the land during her widowhood and she had died and the land went to William Green's niece, Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Haines, who married George Knipe who occupied the estate up until 1871 when Sarah Elizabeth Knipe died and left the following children: Anna Belle files, who married George William Files; Virginia H. Turner, who married Magill Turner; Charles R. Knipe; John Knipe; Ida May Knipe; and Mary Frances Knipe.

John Knipe died in 1873 under 21 years of age. Charles R. Knipe died in 1876 leaving a will devising all his property to his sisters. George Knipe, the husband of Sarah Elizabeth Knipe, died Oct. 1879, but in 1874 had conveyed all his interest in the farm to son Charles R. Knipe. It was stated there were three houses on the land (Retired Chancery Case).

The Green land was sold by Special Commissioner Boyd Faulkner. They divided the land into two tracts. Three acres on the west side of the road (Note: this was where the barn and house were located). Virginia Knipe Turner made purchase for $3,000.00, and Magill Turner purchased the land on the other side of the road, containing 58 acres, for $2,322.00 (BCDB 78, p. 317).

The Magill Turner family resided at Greensburg. A private family cemetery is located on the land. Magill Turner died 21 Feb. 1915 leaving the farm to daughters Mazie Miller, Dora Hutzler and Nellie Turner (BCWB 25, p. 180).

On 2 Jul. 1927 Mazie Miller, widow, and Dora Hutzler, sold their two-third interest in the Green Farm to their brother Boyd Turner (BCDB 156, p. 30).

Boyd Turner operated a shop here and lived at the home place until his death. Sister Nellie Turner had married Gary C. Glasscock. Nellie Glasscock died in 1918 in Loudon Co., Va., leaving her husband and children owning one-third interest in the Green-Turner Farm.

After the death of Boyd Turner on 2 Dec. 1962 his heirs, who were widow Gertrude, son Boyd M. Turner, Jr., daughters Leotah Johnson and Irene Hollida, bought the Glasscock heirs one-third interest in the farm in 1965 (BCDB 226, p. 606).

In June 1970 Gertrude B. Turner, widow, Boyd M. Turner, Jr., and wife Margaret M.Turner, Leotah T. Snyder and husband Daniel Ted Snyder, and Irene T. Hollida and husband J. Wayne Hollida, the heirs of Boyd Turner, sold the log Green-Turner house and the three acres on the east side of the road to Irene T. Hollida. The old log house burned about 1980.

On 28 Feb. 1984 Irene T. Hollida and husband J. Wayne Hollida sold the land and site of the Green house to the present owners James Archie Lemaster and Joyce M. Lemaster (BCDB 386, p. 241).

Sarah Haines (1828-1871), m. 1847 George William Knipe (1827-1879).

The Old Green House.

The Knipe-Turner House.

End of Article. 

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What follows was added by Dennis W. Butt.

The following chart is an illustration of most of the Green people mentioned in the article.