Some sites for documents on early American history. http://personal.pitnet.net/primarysources/ And also http://www.virginia.edu/~econ/brock.html Also try http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/index.html or http://www.earlyamerica.com/ Notice that today in 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state in the union. Diana

For any one with roots in the United Kingdom, this site would seem to have something to offer. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/ Also try http://www.gendocs.demon.co.uk/england.html Diana

Below is from one of those "professional" websites where you can only post to the site and the poster's name or address are not revealed. This particular entry is quite long. It is saturated with fabulous royalty, Margraves of East Dogpatch, etc. typical of that junk one sees on "charweb" or whatever that site is. I make it a point to take all of these posts with considerable skepticism if not downright good humor. However, I have copied the preceding paragraph and the abstract of this will. I doubt that anyone would phoney any royalty or whatever into a will abstract. For our purposes it is a substantive link to the participation of Francis Poythress (2) in the Wynne estate even if only as an overseer. Also introduced into the mix is Wodlief (Woodlief I assume) in connection with Wynne. Note that one Ann Woodlief is the abstractor of the will in the first place which I'm guessing would add some to its credibility. Interesting to note that Wynne's plantation "Georges" was on south side of James R. Individual # [NI0421], whose parents died of the plague, is otherwise unidentified. Just going by the numbers I would guess that maybe it is Robert Wynne himself but I would be pleased to be corrected by anyone familiar with that numbering system. Maynard To wit: [NI0419] It is speculated that the Wynnes came to America in 1651 because of a depression in the woolen industry. Certainly they were affected by the English Civil War. Robert was a Burgess for Charles City Co., VA by 1658. He was Speaker of the House of Burgesses during Virginia's Long Parliament (1661-1675). He was in charge of surveying, planning, and improving all public roads in the colony. He was sent to England to escort back the official set of weights and measures which would measure the business dealings of the New World. He was captain, then colonel in the Militia of Charles City Co., VA. He owned two houses and a farm in England, which he left to his son Thomas. His 600-acre plantation south of the James River was names "Georges". Per Ann Woodlief: Abstract of The Will of Col. Robert Wynne Robert Wynn of Jordan's Parish of Charles City County, in Virginia. Dated 1 July, 1675. To be buried in Jordan's Church as near as possible to my son Robert. My estate in England as follows: To my eldest son Thomas Wynne one farm in White Staple Parish in Kent near Canterbury, and commonly called Linebett Banckes; if he dies, to my son Joshua, and if he dies, to my daughter Wodlief. To my son Thomas two houses in Canterbury in St. Mildreds' Parish in the same form as the said farm. To my youngest son Joshua Wynne one house and oatemeale mill lying in Dover Lane without St. Georges in Canterbury, commonly called the Lilly Pott, and two houses adjoining where a ropemaker and one Rawlins were formerly tenants. Touching my estate in Virginia, to my son Thomas all the cattle of his own mark except one cow called Moll which is to be killed for provisions; to my son Joshua my plantation called Georges withal the tobacco houses; to my daughter Wodlief, one servant of fewer years to serve the next shipping after my decease; to my grandchild and godson young George Wodlief one filly foal. All the rest of my estate in Virginia and England to my wife and executrix Mary Wynne. Overseers: Thomas Grendou, Merchant, and my son-in-law (step-son) Capt. Francis Poythress. Witnesses: Tho. Brome, Jno Burge. [NI0420] When she married Robert, she was the widow of Captain Francis Poythress. Mary and Francis had two sons: John Poythress (m.Christian Peebles) and Francis Poythress. Poythress - excellent site at http://www1.minn.net/~atims/. [NI0421] His parents died of the Plague and he and his siblings were left at odds.

Board's been a tad quiet lately. This topic always seems to raise a nest of hornets. It's off of an otherwise unidentified Google page. The Portuguese Settlement In the northwest section of Northampton County, North Carolina, just a mile or two from the Virginia state line, lie the fading remnants of what was once called the "Portuguese" Settlement. Centered in Gaston Township, along the Roanoke River , this community of Poythresses, Basses, Turners, Scotts, Newsoms, and Peterses had it's own school, Bethany, and it's own church, run as a mission by a white Gaston congregation. At least one store in the community was owned by a member of the group. While local legend has it that these people descend from Portuguese workers brought in to work on the dam on the Roanoke, the family names cane be traced back well into the late 18th Century in the area. Their ancestry is almost certainly Indian, from either or both the Saponi and the Nottoway. Several of the Scotts who moved from the area to South Carolina obtained papers attesting to their Indian ancestry after they arrived in Sumpter County. There are many descendants of this community in the region today, but the community as a whole has disintegrated. Only the old graveyard remains to mark the site of this once thriving community of primarily small tenant farmers.

Lou and Diana, thanks so much for your further reading suggestions, as well as your comments on Albion's Seed. Having read Fischer's later book, PAUL REVERE, I have found ALBION'S SEED relatively less even in its care to build cases and support claims. Some are well supported and argued, some seemed to be floated on enthusiasm. Overall, I find him appealing and convincing - just less so than in PAUL REVERE. As with Lou, I have found the treatment of borderers confusing in that Fischer sometimes casts their locale narrowly as "appalachia", but sometimes broadly as "backcountry" and cites quite non-appalachian places as Brunswick and Lunenburg counties, Virginia, and Maryland's eastern shore. Also, I don't think he did enough to clarify how borderer culture intermixed with cavalier culture in the backcountry, as must have been a major phenomenon in southside Virginia and piedmont Georgia, two favorite haunts of this research list. Nevertheless, these are fine points of criticism relative to the wealth of context provided in this work. -lpb ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

Maynard, thanks for sharing this. I am a WOW, as is my father and was one grandfather. The grandfather's grave stone was one of those "stumps". As a child, I remember going with my parents to the annual camp barbeques. That's a thing of the past now, as it has morphed totally from fraternity to insurer. Perhaps I should think about potential subjects for query. This is a resource I had not considered before. Thanks again. Best regards, Lyn P. Baird [email protected] ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

Just got in an alert from someone who should know, about a new, bad, email virus/worm: > warning: do not to open an e-mail labeled "HOMEPAGE" or ending with a > .vbs extension

This is a URL to make a note of if you have ancestors who came through Ellis Island and maybe others too. It is so popular that it made the evening news last week. If you actually get through to some information, consider yourself lucky. http://www.ellisislandrecords.org Diana

Someone recently posted a list of organizations one might contact for biographical data on individuals. One of the organizations was Woodmen of the World, popular as a burial society around the turn of the 20th century and still a going concern. Since I knew my grandfather's gravestone was one of those "tree" replica monuments of the W.O.W, I wrote asking if they had biographical data. They said they needed name, dates of birth and death, and location, all of which I had and all of which I sent them. Their reply: Subj: Records Search Response for Horace C Poythress Date: 5/1/01 10:13:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time From:    [email protected] To:    [email protected], [email protected] Name:  Horace C Poythress Date of Birth:  01/21/1867 Date of Death:  06/06/1918 Policy was issued on:  11/17/1916  at the age of  50 City and State:  Sylvania,Ga Occupation:  Farmer Death Claim was paid on:  05/09/1919 Monument was issued on:  05/01/1920 Camp Number:  645 Camp State:  Ga Since the death claim was paid, the applicant for membership and the death claim are no longer a part of our records. Thank you for your inquiry. For information about our fraternal organization, please access our web site:  www.woodmen.com. ------------------------------------------------ In my case, they didn't tell me anything significant that I didn't already know. However, if you are looking at a death date in early 20th century and are missing a few precise details, this might be a source worth checking. Ironically, once they pay the claim, they apparently no longer retain the orginal application and the claim which are the two documents most likely to have something one didn't already know. However, I'm sharing it for what its worth. Maynard

Diana, the Lees are indeed a fascinating bunch. I'm not sure if I have posted this quotation before. We do have one Lee connection and that is with Marse Robert's libidinous uncle, "Squire" Richard Lee. This is recounted with some whimsy in the recent book "The Lees of Virginia" by Paul Nagel: "By now, the squire's personal life may have grown so notorious as to hinder his forays toward marriage--perhaps his habits had been a handicap all along. In 1773, when Richard was well past forty, a close friend sent a confidential report to the Squire's cousins: 'He looks fresh and hearty; and is, I'm afraid, as lewdly indulgent as ever, from the appearance of his waiting maids, Bab and Henny.' The sight of the Squire's black concubines brought a lascivious prediction: ' If ever he marries, you may depend on it (as I told him the other day), it will be with some mop-squeezer who can satiate his filthy amours in his own way." "It was not to be. At the close of the Revolution, the squire found a wife, making a match no family member might have foreseen. Beyond age sixty, Richard brought as a bride to Lee Hall a sixteen year old first cousin known for her beauty. Her name was Sally Poythress. She was a granddaughter and he a grandson of Richard Bland. Before the Squire died in 1795, just short of seventy, he had fathered four lawful children". I suppose if one can have only an indirect relation to General Lee, it least it's fun to have one that is spicy and "lascivious" :) Maynard

There's some excellent reading being mentioned, and it all helps greatly with understanding the cultures. I'm still struggling my way through "Cousins' War," but have finished "Albion's Seed" and "The Isles" some time ago. Those three books really do complement each other. If someone wants to take on a reading project, I'd recommend that they be read in the following order: 1. Albion's Seed 2. Cousins' War 3. The Isles I found "Albion's Seed" to be an excellent broad-brush treatment of the four primary cultures imported into America at an early date, and which influenced so much of our history and culture down to this date. I did think, though, that the authors was rather condescending with his treatment of "the borderers" -- basing far too much of this group on traditions handed down in Appalachia (really a sub-culture of the Scots-Irish, and not totally representative of the whole). I also think the author of "Cousins' War" has far too much of a Connecticut Yankee's spin on his version of history, but this is perhaps better understood when "Albion's Seed" is read first. "The Isles" is just outstanding and gives a non-Anglo (the author explains) view of the history of England-Scotland-Ireland-Wales, without the Anglo-eccentricity (and explains very adequately how this mind-set has biased a lot of "British" history and culture). But if you want another suggestion for good reading that is a bit closer to home for the Poythress group, you might enjoy "The Fabulous History of the Dismal Swamp Company." It, too, is something of an eye-opener, and the focus of this history is right in the veritable back-yard of the early Poythress family. Lou -----Original Message----- From: Diana Diamond [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 1:09 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Albion's Seed Lyn, it seems that WillowBendBooks has copies, should you wish to suggest a source for your friends. I'll probably order it after I finish Cousins' Wars. Incidentally, I forgot the last "s" in my suggestion. Cousins' Wars traces the origins of the Revolutionary War as well as the closely following War of 1812 (7 years war) and the War Between the States. "The Isles -A History" by Norman Davies is what our fearless leader Maynard seems to be reading when he takes time out from his Derby day preparations. Diana It costs $26.00 + $4.00 shipping. Willow Bend Books 65 East Main Street Westminster, MD 21157-5026 [email protected] www.WillowBendBooks.com ==== POYTHRESS Mailing List ==== The Poythress Web Page is at http://www1.minn.net/~atims/

Lyn, it seems that WillowBendBooks has copies, should you wish to suggest a source for your friends. I'll probably order it after I finish Cousins' Wars. Incidentally, I forgot the last "s" in my suggestion. Cousins' Wars traces the origins of the Revolutionary War as well as the closely following War of 1812 (7 years war) and the War Between the States. "The Isles -A History" by Norman Davies is what our fearless leader Maynard seems to be reading when he takes time out from his Derby day preparations. Diana It costs $26.00 + $4.00 shipping. Willow Bend Books 65 East Main Street Westminster, MD 21157-5026 [email protected] www.WillowBendBooks.com

Diana, this sounds very interesting. I always enjoy seeing how the events and choices of one period have their effects in later periods. I also enjoy putting a cultural context around my know ancestry. It appears this book would appeal to these interests. Along the same lines, I could recommend ALBION'S SEED, FOUR BRITISH FOLKWAYS IN AMERICA (David Hackett Fischer, Oxford University Press, 1989) which I am now reading. (This was a 2000 Christmas gift, so I know it was at least then still in print.) Fischer traces four distinct British migrations to America - the Puritans, the Cavaliers, the Quakers and the "British Borderers" - the last being a people most of us think of as the Scotch-Irish. Per Fischer, these were four very distinct cultures, each originating from a distinct area of Britain, and the book analyzes the significantly different behaviors toward family, religion, government, liberties and so forth. These four cultures have left strong, enduring and often competing legacies that survive even to the present. Simplistically, in this context, our Civil War would have pitted a culture dominated by Borderers and Cavaliers against one dominated by Puritans and Quakers. Together with your earlier recommendation, GENERATIONS by Strauss and Howe, I am finding ALBION'S SEED to be a must-read for getting a meaningful context of colonial America and its legacy. Thanks for the recommendation. Keep those suggestions coming, and I will do the same. -lpb On Mon, 30 Apr 2001 17:03:16 -0400 "Diana Diamond" <[email protected]> writes: > Maynard, > > Regarding your lecture # 142 wherein you apparently lay out the > north and > south as replaying the English Civil war in America, I am just now > reading a > very nice book, "The Cousins' War" by Kevin Phillips (Published 1999 > Basic > Books) which would seem a natural for genealogists. If you have > other > reading suggestions, I would appreciate them. > > In his book, Mr. Phillips discusses the origins within Britain of > American > immigrant waves to the north and the south in the US. He sees the > Revolutionary War as well as the Civil War as deeply rooted in the > religious > and political origins of the Brits who immigrated. Early on he > states his > intent to discuss British and American history together and not as > two > distinct histories. I haven't gotten too far in my reading, but > already I > have been quite impressed with the maps and details. He also quotes > Churchill briefly, as you did. > > Diana ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

Maynard, Regarding your lecture # 142 wherein you apparently lay out the north and south as replaying the English Civil war in America, I am just now reading a very nice book, "The Cousins' War" by Kevin Phillips (Published 1999 Basic Books) which would seem a natural for genealogists. If you have other reading suggestions, I would appreciate them. In his book, Mr. Phillips discusses the origins within Britain of American immigrant waves to the north and the south in the US. He sees the Revolutionary War as well as the Civil War as deeply rooted in the religious and political origins of the Brits who immigrated. Early on he states his intent to discuss British and American history together and not as two distinct histories. I haven't gotten too far in my reading, but already I have been quite impressed with the maps and details. He also quotes Churchill briefly, as you did. Diana

Gee, Sheryl, buying the AT&T card was a terrific idea except its even better than you said it was. One can buy AT&T cards at Sam's for 4.1/cents a minute. All the "demoninations" are the same 4.1 cents. Technically, you can "recharge" them by phoning AT&T but you wouldn't want to do that as the "re-charge" bumps you up to a dime a minute or something like that. And, if you have speed dial as most of us two with two lines to run an extra one on a modem, you can program in your access number and your account number and not wait time dialing a million numbers. Only downside is practically nothing: they bump you a couple of extra minutes if you phone from a payphone. Thanks again. Neat idea. Adios, AOL with your new $1 per call access, obviously AOL wanted to exit the business as are many others nowadays. Maynard

Dear All, A question that I just received, reminded me that I should've been more explicit when I tried to eliminate the tabs in Maynard's earlier document & send it in text format in the email. The question was: "Barb, I have forgotten, what do the 324 and 404 signify?"[see below from original email] Answer: acres. Basically the different plots of lands that anyone owned were listed according to how many acres were in each of his plot. So, from the beginning of the original email below, that means Col. Peter Poythress had 3 plots of land, one that contained 1,000 acres; another containing 324 acres; and the last containing 404 acres. Hope this clarifies it all, not just for now, but also for our later reference in the List-Archives. Happy Easter to all, Barbara Poythress Neal (BPN) = = = = ----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Neal" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 7:43 AM Subject: Dinwiddie Co, VA Land Taxes 1787-1810, rev. > Dinwiddie County, VA Land Taxes (BPN Revision 4/8/2001) > (revised by adding dittos & eliminating many tabs, so columns will not be > confusing with various email programs) > > Year Individual, Acres > > 1787 - Col. Peter Poythress, Butterwood, 1000 > " 324 > " 404 >

This notice found in online Saltville, Virginia newspaper Smyth county (SW Va) Notices for April 4, 2001 Part III Virginia Ellen Portis died April 3, 2001 Jane A Virginian living in Florida

Hi Gene. Craig Scott asked that one of us forward to you these addresses: Poythress website: http:www1/minn.net/~atims/ (and yes, that's a "1" in there with www. To subscribe to listserver (digest form): [email protected] Also, I am sure that one of our listserver members has Kizziah Portis in his or her line and if you want to check the rootsweb archives (http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl) it is likely you'll pick it up. We will be delighted to have you subscribe and then simply hop on line with an e-mail saying who you are and what you're looking for. We have about 50+ subscribers. All, of course, are not active but we have a high percentage who are. Welcome, Maynard Poythress

Try: http://www.cnn.com/US/9911/27/jamestown.revisited/index.html#1 Neat article w/pics on new archaeological stuff going on at Jamestown. Maynard

Diana.....you are not alone in looking askance at Mr. Batte in this regard. As recently as 3 years ago some agitated soul was running monthly ads in "The Helper": $100 Reward. For anyone who can help me expose the treacherous falsehoods foisted on the genealogy community BY the Bolling family and its non-connections to Pocahontas. .....or something pretty close to that, I didn't make a copy of it. Why didn't R. Bolling Batte just cinch down that connection via the Bolling people rather than the Poythresses (unless he was trying to do it on both sides of the line). Robertson (who is not without his own problems) made the Bolling connection for him and its my reading that the Bolling side of Robertson was never particularly questioned, it was the Jane Poythress connection that was in mild dispute. And further, even if he believed in "the Jane line" what was Batte doing going down the patrimonial Poythress lines? That wouldn't take him anywhere, would it? I called this one hopeless a while back. If the answer is about to come to light its my guess that a million people want to know it. Maynard