(JMP Revision 5 Apr 2001) Prince George County, VA Deeds & Wills 1787-1792 30 Feb 1787 Settlement of Estate of Alexander Robertson (p. 13-14, abstracted) [note: this is a very complex document with numerous columns, headings and subheadings] Sums due to various persons (among others): Cash to John Poythress Cash to Joshua Poythress To Ann Poythress Morison: 545 pounds 12 slaves several houses, plantation items June, 1783 (date written?) Wit: Joshua Poythress Richard Bland Elizabeth Blair Bland 12 Apr 1787 Will of Elizabeth Poythress (P. 17, abstracted) Elizabeth Poythress of Prince George County, widow of Peter Poythress (deceased as well). In consideration of natural affection for daughter Sally Lee and "to prevent any dispute which may happen in the construction of my husband's will respecting the devise in the said will of Kate's daughter 'Fanny' to my said daughter Sally Lee"..."which was in said will devised to me...", I give my said daughter Sally Lee the said Negro Fanny and her children Becky, Betty and Kate and their increase...". "....my hand and seal the ___ day of ____, 1787. Signed: Elizabeth Poythress (signed with a waxer) Wit: John Batte, Tabitha Randolph, William Bingham 14 Apr 1787 At court held this date for Prince George County this foregoing deed from Elizabeth Poythress to her daughter Sally Lee was proved by the oaths of John Batte and William Bingham......by order of the court duly recorded. Teste: C. S. Russell 12 Feb 1788 Will of Mary Poythress (abstracted and inclusive of related papers transcribed) P. 111-12 Dear Sir: Since writing to you yesterday it has ocurred to me that Tuesday next is Prince George Court day and being too unwell to give my attendence at that time imagine it may be necessary for Mrs. Poythress' will to be proved and I shall be much obliged to you to inform Miss Susanna Poythress that I hope she will save me from acting as an Excr being well satisfied from my state of health added to the great distance I am from the Estate I shall be found a very improper person to discharge that trust. As you mentioned to me yesterday that I was the only surviving heir named in the will it may be necessary that the court should be informed of my resignation which may be done with this letter. Miss Poythress, being of lawful age can become an Administrix with the will as needed or get some friend that she can confide in to Administer, which will be as effectual as if the Executor named in the will had qualified. I am with every sentiment of respect, Your Mo Ob Sev, Nicholas Faulcon P. S Pray give Miss Poythress Monday morng 1st Feb 1788 this letter tomorrow as I expect she will want her mother's Will Proved on Tuesday. At a Court held for Prince George County at the Court House on Friday the 12th day of February 1788 - the foregoing relinquishment of Nick Faulcon's Right of Executorship in the Will of Mary Poythress dced was presented into court by Susanna Poythress and being proved by William Poythress the same is by Order of the Court truly (sic) Recorded. Teste --- C. A. Russell Clk. Will of Mary Poythress of Martin's Brandon Parish, County of Prince George (abstracted): To Wilmuth Harrison (daughter) as token of affection for her a plain gold ring and a pair of gold sleeve buttons. To my Daughter Susanna Poythress all the residue of and every species of Property, etc. that I may die possessed of....home, cattle, sheep....my portion of my (devisement?) from Peter Poythress' legacy by his will. Constitute and appoint my friends Nicholas Faulcon (?), Peter Poythress and Joshua Poythress to be executors. Signed: Mary (X) Poythress Wit: Dorothy Reed, Colin Cocke, Barbary J. Norton, Jos. [Joshua] Poythress, Susanna Cocke. 12 Apr 1788 At a Court held for Prince George County at the Court House on Friday the 12th day of February 1788 - the foregoing will was presented into Court by Susanna Poythress and being proved by the Oaths of Colin Cocke and Susanna Cocke two of the Witnesses thereto, the same is by Order of Court truly (sic) recorded - at the same time Susanna Poythress gave Bond and Security for the faithfull administering on the Estate of Mary Poythress upon which certificate is granted her for obtaining Letters of Administration with the said Will annexed. Teste - C. A. Russell, Clk. 5 Oct 1787 Deed for Lease (p. 114-115) Mary Poythress of Prince George County, Martin's Brandon Parish to Daniel Sturdivant of Prince George County Sum: 20 pounds Land: 100 acres, 6 year lease. Signed: Mary Poythress (seal) Wit: Wm. Birchett, James Sturdivant, John Sturdivant, James Davenport. 8 Jun 1790 Deed (p. 362) William Poythress Junr of Prince George County to Edward Marks, of the same county of the other part Sum: 250 lbs. Land: two tracts or parcells in Prince George County being the remainder of that tract of land in Blackwater Swamp known by the name of "Poythress' quarter" (400 acres) and one tract lying South of the Quaker's Road (30 acres). Signed: William Poythress Junr Wit: (blotted off page before microfilming) 8 Jun 1790 Bond (p. 362) Acknowledges bond unto Edward Marks (1,000 lbs) to guarantee title of above. Signed: Peter Poythress 12 Jan 1790 Deed (p. 369) William Poythress, Junior, Gentleman of County of Prince George to Robert Birchett of Prince George County Sum: 300 pounds of lawful money of Virginia Land: in Prince George County south side of Blackwater Swamp (no acreage stated but description of boundaries is long and detailed). Signed: William Poythress, Jr., William Harris Wit: J. Williams, Samuel Vaughn, Wm. Birchett, Wm. Birchett junr. 10 Aug 1790 Will Proved (p. 403) Will of John Morison, dated 19 Apr 1785, proved 10 Aug 1790 Wife: Ann Poythress Morison, whole estate. Makes reference that wife now with child. To brother Alexander Morison, Plantation in Brunswick County and Warren County, North Carolina. To five sisters (not named). Brother: Theodorick Morison. Mentions land bought by his father of Ravenscroft. Wife, Anne, and her father Richard Bland, Esq., with brother David Morison, named as executors. Will proved by the oaths of Edmund Ruffin, George Ruffin and John Batte, the witnesses thereto. (abstract above courtesy of Carol A. Morrison) 26 July 1790 Articles of Agreement (p. 416) Between William Poythress and Thomas Harris.. William Poythress has claimed an interest in a tract of land where said Thomas Harris lives and the said William Poythress and Thomas Harris being willing to settle the affair and affix the right title... John Harris gives William Poythress title to a house sold by William Poythress to Robert Birchett. House and land had been willed to William Poythress by Peter Poythress that was sold unto Walter Munnery and Nathanial Tatum. Signed: William Poythress Wit: Edward Marks, Nathaniel Mackay, Boswell Becking 2 Oct 1790 Deed (p. 422) William Poythress and Mary his wife of Prince George County to William Samuel Peachey of Amelia County Sum: 1,350 pounds current money of Virginia Land: 300 acres, being Property along the James River in Prince George County and being the lower part of the Plantation Flower=de=hundred whereon Joshua Poythress the elder his late father lived and devised by will to the said William Poythress. Signed: William Poythress (Sealed with a Waxer) Wit: Charles Duncan, William M. Carter 25 Feb 1790 Deed (p. 579) William Poythress of Prince George County, son of Peter Poythress, late of said county(dced).. to Christopher McConnice of Town of Petersburg Sum: 400 pounds current money of Virginia Land: parcell of land lying in Petersburg heretofore called Blandford and distinguished on the plot or plan of said town as lot 52. Also, all the low grounds on the River of Appomattox lying between the said lot 52 and the lot 53 to the boundary lines of lot 54 to Donald and Frazer, Merchants in the town. Signed: William Poythress Wit: George Marable Thomas Gardinor Hamilton Burge 13 May 1790 Deed (P. 363) [note: both date and page number are questionable] Elizabeth and Francis B. [Burrell?] Green, Exors to William Green To William Poythress, Jr. Sum: blotted, "blotted...hundred and 74 pounds" Land and other: completely blotted. 15 Aug 1790 Deed (P. 623-4) John Baird and Charles Duncan excrs of Last Will and Testament of Robert Boyd of the first part & William Mayo, excr of Last Will and Testament of Peter Poythress and Elizabeth, the widow of said Peter Poythress of the second part & James Cureton of Prince George County of the third part (Walter Boyd wills use of his house and lands in Blandford to his wife and after her death she should leave it to his brother Robert Boyd and his heirs forever. Shortly after the death of Walter Boyd, his widow quitted the house and surrendered it to Robert Boyd. Robert, in his last will and testament authorized his executors.....whereupon the said (John) Baird and (Charles) Duncan sold to Peter Poythress. Peter, in his last will and testament devised to his son-in-law William Mayo with consent of Elizabeth his wife. Whereupon, the said William Mayo with approval of Peter's widow Elizabeth, sold the houses and land to James Cureton). Sum: 900 pounds Current Money of Virginia Signed: John Baird dced excr Charles Duncan William Mayo Elizabeth Poythress Wit: John Thweatt for William Mayo John Batte as to William Mayo Edmund Hanson for Baird & Duncan Jos. Weisiger for Baird & Duncan Jno. Baird Junr for estate and Baird & Duncan Jos. Weisiger for Mrs. Elizabeth Poythress John Baird for Mrs. Elizabeth Poythress Robert Stuart for Mrs. Elizabeth Poythress 11 Oct 1791 Deed (p. 623-4) John Baird & Charles Duncan & William Mayo and Elizabeth Poythress & James Cureton (Court confirms above). 2 Aug 1791 (p. 558) Gentlemen: As I conceive it more consistent with my interests to renounce the will of my deceased husband and to claim the benefit of my dower in his estate I beg leave to notify you of this my desire and humbly hope that your worships in your judicial capacity at our next court will make such order as you in your wisdom shall seem consistent with Law and my interest. I am with due respect your worshipful most obedient servant. Ann P. [Poythress] Morison Witness William Poythress junr Geo Ruffin This letter of renunciation of Ann P. Morison to any interest in her dced husband's will was presented into Court and proved by the Oaths of William Poythress junr and George Ruffin the witnesses through and by order of the Court is truly (sic) recorded. Teste Peter Williams clk About Sept 1791 (p. 622) Deed Elizabeth Poythress to (remainder of document illegible) 2 Oct 1790 (p. 643) Right of Dower Release Commonwealth of Virginia & Peter Epes Edwards Island and Edmund Shores Re Deed of William Poythress and his wife Mary in the conveyance of 400 acres to William Samuel Peachey. This document is conventional order of the court to executors to examine Mary Poythress apart from her husband William to ascertain that she is indeed releasing her dower rights for the sale of this property (inasmuch as "said Mary cannot travel to the county court"). Court finds that release of dower was properly obtained and court certifies the right to sell this property. (Teste: Peter Williams) 25 Feb 1791 (p. 579) Commonwealth of Virginia to Peter Epes and Pleasant Cocke Whereas, William Poythress, son of Peter Poythress dced to Christopher McConnice Land and house in Blandford Town of Petersburg (William Poythress, by death of his father (Peter) to whom he is heir-at-law, the above (Epes and Cocke) are instructed to determine if Elizabeth Poythress, wife of Peter, surrenders dower rights. 9 May 1792 (p. 680) Deed William Poythress of the Parish of Martin's Brandon, Prince George Co. To James Cureton of the same "parish and county aforesaid." Sum: Lb. 102.5 Land: 103 acres (otherwise undescribed) Court so orders 11 May 1792, Teste: Peter Williams, Clk. P. G. County 9 May 1792 (p. 681) Deed James Cureton of the Parish of Martin's Brandon, Prince George County To William Poythress, of the parish and county aforesaid Sum: Lb. 102.5 Land: 80 1/2 acres (otherwise undescribed) Court so orders 11 May 1792, Teste: Peter Williams, Clk. P. G. County (note for above: it appears that William Poythress and James Cureton were in effect swapping pieces of land and perhaps the identical sum of money changing hands was to "establish" that the transaction involved separate purchases).