Foote, William Hayward, 1781-1846

William Hayward Foote (1781-1846) inherited "Hayfield" from his aunt and adopted mother Elizabeth Foote. Hayfield plantation was a 360 acre portion of the Mount Vernon estate acquired by Elizabeth Foote's husband, Lund Washington, from George Washington after the Revolutionary War. William Foote prospered as Hayfield's proprietor and in his will bequeathed the estate and all his property to his wife of 15 years, Mary Marshall Scott Foote. After his death the executors of the will led by Francis L. Smith contested William Foote's heirs' entitlement. In his will he had bequeathed everything to his wife "for as long as she remains my widow or for life... if, however, she should cease to be my widow or marry again, she must account for all these things and take her dower at law... It is not my purpose to give any Cur a Sop."