Thanks, George. I had, in fact, followed up to find John Read, Jr.'s untimely demise, but it looks as if his dad had used the same privy out there by the Nanticoke on HOG QUARTER. I see also that my n-great aunt Mary Brown (b. 2 Jul 1730 to William and Susanna Brown of Barren Creek) seems to have married James Read of this clan and lived right around there, too. A dangerous place to be. And my own ancestor William Farrington lived next door to Robert Givans on Rewastico Creek, too. You and I seem to be lucky that our lines weren't snuffed out in Nov 1748, by whatever this was. One thing I actually have learned here is that my guess of cholera isn't likely right, in that cholera seems only to have erupted out of India in the late 18th century and didn't arrive here to thin the herds until later. As an aside, while looking at the Givans on another errand, I just learned, via So Deeds L1:625, that Robert Givans was named in 1700 by Mary Gordon (wife of Thomas) as her "well-beloved brother" in a power of attorney to him for the sale of GORDONS LOT the next year (which tract adjoined a couple of the early James and Robert Givans surveys up along Deep Creek). Of course, there can hardly be any doubt that Robert and James were siblings, too, though I doubt there's anything to find which says so. John -----Original Message----- From: George F. Riggin <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, Jun 12, 2010 8:49 am Subject: Re: [LDR] Evident Epidemic John- Not to upset you further, but unfortunately the Read family did not escape the consequences of this illness.  John Read Jr., host of 'the party' at which Robert Givans was taken sick, died between 29Nov1748, when he wrote his will, and 9Dec when it was proved.  The will of his father, John Sr., was proved 16Nov1748.  John Sn. was married to Martha, daughter of James Givans (d. 1724), who I believe but have been unable to document was a brother to Robert. As to the cause, I am unable to contribute.  Being a descendant of the Givans and Reads, curiosity has prompted me to look into this event, but with success.  I have seen (but don't remember where) a list of major epidemics in the mid-Atlantic states and the years in which they occurred, but nothing matched.  Another case of the well being to close to the privy, perhaps. George Riggin --- On Sat, 6/12/10, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: > Message: 2 > Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:58:02 -0400 > From: [email protected] > Subject: [LDR] Evident Epidemic > To: [email protected] > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; format=flowed > >  From Somerset and Worcester records is the following > gruesome picture.  >   Does anyone on list happen to have any special > knowledge about this > situation? > > On 12 Oct 1748, Robert Givans of Rewastico (who was son of > Robert (I), > d. 1735), died ?at 4 o?clock in the morning?, expressing a > nuncupative > will in which he granted his lands to his only son, William > (probably > about age 2 at the time), among other bequests.  He > was about 40.  > Filed with the will, proved on 9 Dec, less than two months > later, was > the interesting notation: > > "The within writing was Exhibited by Jean Givans, Widow and > relict of > Robert Givans and also personally appeared Day Givans and > Mary Acworth > the two only surviving evidences of four that were called > by the > Testator in his last sickness about a day before his Death > to bear > Witness of the same will . . . . And also that Adam Bell > and George > Givans both now deceased were likewise called and was > present in the > time of his last sickness at the House of John Read, Jr., > where he was > accidentally taken sick the Day after he left his own House > ". > > Witnesses Day Givans and Mary Acworth were the testator?s > siblings; > witnesses George Givans (also his brother) and Adam Bell > (his > brother-in-law, husband of Robert Givans? sister Marian) > were both also > deceased by December, less than two months after Robert > Givans had > fallen suddenly ill.   What is particularly > intriguing about this is a > documented chain of sudden deaths, and not restricted to > just these > three, compellingly pointing to some unusual circumstances, > such as > smallpox, cholera or something of the sort that would take > a fast bite > out of a community. > > Adam Bell?s LW&T was also nuncupative.  Such wills > are pretty uncommon, > and to find two so intimately linked is startling.  > Bell?s will was > proved on 9 Jan 1749, but the date of making and his death > had > obviously preceded 9 Dec, per the above.  He was a > chirurgeon > (surgeon/doctor) of Snow Hill, will made in > Worcester.  One of the > witnesses to his dying declaration, William Bratten, was > also deceased > by the 9 Jan probate entry. > > Back in Somerset, George Givans made his will (not > nuncupative) on 15 > Oct 1748, and it was proved on 29 Nov.  One of the > three witnesses to > its making was neighbor William Alexander, who was also > dead by the > time of probate. > > I?m almost afraid to look further. > > Fascinating.  I think cholera ? fast-acting and > reliable ? fits the > bill. > > John > > *************************************** QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or UNSUBSCRIBING? 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