Averilla DELOACH was the daughter of Samuel DELOACH of Edgecombe Co NC, and is mentioned in his 1764 will as Averilla RUFFIN, wife of Richard RUFFIN. She is also in the will of her mother, Mary BOYKIN DELOACH, who died ten years later. Averilla, sometimes called AVEY, or, erroneously, AMEY, had a sister, Millie, who married William BLOODWORTH. Richard RUFFIN died, and Avey married Noah PITMAN. Noah had bought land in 1779 from William BLOODWORTH'S brother Thomas. Noah PITMAN also apparently died as well. Meanwhile, William and Millie DELOACH BLOODWORTH had a daughter AVEY (sometimes also incorrectly referred to as AMEY)b abt 1788. In 1790 Avey PITMAN died, and the following will abstract exists: (Gammon, D., Edgecombe Co Will Abstracts, 1732-1792, 64): AMEY (X) PITMAN 3 Nov 1790 Feb Ct 1791 O C/165 Daughter ELIZEABETH PITMAN - mare bridle and saddle, cattle, etc. and the rest of my estate is to be sold and money put at interest until the said ELIZEABETH comes of age. Ex. Abishai HORN Wit. Edward VANN, Williamson BARNES ************ In 1792 William Bloodworth applied for guardianship papers for his daughter Avey: > (Dorman, Marvin, > Edgecombe Co NC Abstracts of Court Minutes, 1744-46,1757-94, p 96): > > Tuesday, August 29, 1792 > > William BLOODWORTH appointed guardian to his infant daughter Avey > BLOODWORTH. > > William BLOODWORTH appointed to guardian to Anna BOYKIN, infant daughter > of Thomas BOYKIN. > ********** ...indicating an interest of Avey BLOODWORTH in Avey PITMAN's estate, as evidenced by the following: Watson, Estate records of Edgecombe County, 209: > > PITMAN, AVEY (AMEY), account of sale by Abishai Horn, exr., Feb. 26, > 1791. Thos. Pitman, John Pitman, Joseph Pitman, and Ann Horn were > buyers, May Ct. 1792. Account current with the exr., Feb Ct. 1794. > Account of the sale of the properties of Avey Bloodworth, daughter of > William Bloodworth, and of Ann Boykin, daughter of Tho. Boykin and > Elizabeth, sold by William Bloodworth, guardian, Dec 29, 1792. The > account was rendered by Melea Bloodworth, widow or relict of said > William Bloodworth, guardian, Feb Ct. 1796. ************ What other documents might shed light on this matter? How do the BOYKINS fit in? What happened between the proving of Avey Pitman's will in 1791 and William Bloodworth's assuming the guardianship of his daughter Avey in August 1792? The estate portion must have been considerable; the matter dragged on long after William Bloodworth's death in 1794, after which Henry Bloodworth assumed guardianship. Henry moved to Tennessee about 1796, and Elizabeth Boykin to Kentucky. Avi Bloodworth died in Sumner Co TN in 1803, but the matter was still far from settled even at that late date. All comments welcome. John C. Ottinger Madison, WI