An excellent book is available, which those of you who have interest in following various additional surnames might want to acquire: "80% Heaven Bound: Deaths & Burials in Charles City County, Virginia" compiled by Sherry Brown Tyler for the Charles City County Historical Society (570 pages, plus an almost 80 page index, all packed with info). I noted that it was published in 2000, and the compiler noted that the Society in 1994 began recording all known burial sites in the county. Tyler commented that work on the project won't be complete until all deeds have been traced for every piece of land in the county, and genealogies completed for every family, and until all opportunities for error have been exhausted. She invited all to assist in the continuing project by sending any additions/corrections (which she said can easily be added to the computer file for the book) to the Charles City County Center for Local History; P.O. Box 128; 10900 Courthouse Rd; Charles City, VA 23030 Note: the following info is *not* listed in chronological order. The first Poythress mention in the book is in describing a known burial location, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The church was built in 1834 for the convenience of those living in the eastern part of the county. The church is on a site of approximately 10 acres along a bank of Mapsico Creek. The deed (Charles City County, VA Deed Book 8, p.156) describing the site is where the Poythress name comes in: Collier H. Minge conveyed to Fielding Lewis, Thomas Poythress and John Minge, for the establishment of a church, a tract of land described as follows: "...on the main road leading from Charles City Courthouse to Barrett's Ferry and running along the line that divides the lands of said Minge and the heirs of John Creighton, to the swamp and thence down the swamp to the road leading to the house of the said Collier H. Minge, thence up said road to the main road: & Thence up the Main road to the beginning, upon which said piece or parcel of land, the said building for the Church aforesaid is erected..." = = = The next mentions of our name occur regarding a private cemetery at "Farmer's Rest," which is the name of the property owned (in 2000) by Richard Duke, who farms both Farmer's Rest and Farmington. She wrote that he remembers tombstones in what is now the middle of a field, near the site where the house collapsed by 1965, and where in 2000 bricks and wood were still visible. The house had a basement and chimneys at both ends. Farmer's Rest in 1826 was mentioned in Braxton Harrison's deed of trust. In the 1867 deed index Thomas P. Harrison was listed as owning it. In identifying information about Braxton Harrison and Braxton Harrison, the elder, both of whom are "Possibly buried here or at 'Kittewan'" Tyler quoted the following: re Braxton Harrison, the elder, who died by 1823: "Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, Feb 1831 - Lamb vs Harrison's Admir &c: 20 Nov 1823, administrator Thomas Poythress, appointed; Minute Book 1: 18 Dec 1823, order to settle account; 17 My 1827 court, settlement returned & recorded for Braxton Harrison, the elder." re Braxton Harrison, who was born circa 1803 and who died 15 Dec 1833: "Richmond Enquirer, 28 Jan 1834, p.3: Braxton Harrison died at his residence, 'Farmer's Rest' in Charles City County, age 30, leaving wife and 5 children; Minute Book 2: 20 Feb 1834, administration of estate granted Thomas E. Poythress." = = = The next mention of our name is regarding that same Thomas E. Poythress, in the section discussing Kittewan. Kittewan has five known burial sites within its boundaries. After discussion of Kittewan, Tyler writes that "David Minge owned land in the area of what is now known as 'Kittewan.' Part of Minge's land was also called 'Kittewan,' but doesn't seem to have been that parcel on which the mansion called 'Kittewan' now stands. The family connections are quite complicated, intertwining with those who owned the property on which the old mansion house stands." She then discusses Minge, and his widow, Christiana (about age 36 when he died), who was named in his will to have use of what he left until his sons came of age or until she remarried. Christiana indeed remarried, to Collier Harrison. After Christiana died, Collier Harrison married Barsheba Bryant (who lived 1787-1850). After Collier died in 1809, Barsheba married Thomas E. Poythress, per Minute Book 1: 20 Nov 1823, [Collier's] widow, Barsheba, married next Thomas E. Poythress and they were guardians of orphans Braxton & Robert C. Harrison. The following sources are given re that orphan, Robert C. Harrison (born circa 1809; died 19th of ?? 1845) - Westover Parish Register: buried at Kittewan, age 36, died of consumption. - Minute Book 3: 17 Apr 1845, his will was proved & recorded with executor Thomas E. Poythress. Tyler gives the following sources re Thomas E. Poythress (born circa 1802; died March 1847): - "Westover Parish Register: buried at Kittewan - resident of 'The Glebe'"; - "Leavell's Register: buried 25 Mar 1847 at Kittewan - died of intemperance - resided at 'The Glebe'" - "Will Book 5, p.35: will written 22 Mar 1847 and probated 15 Apr 1847;" Tyler noted that in his will he directed that the cemetery be enclosed. [Tyler noted that it had earlier, in the 1790 will of Elizabeth Harrison Rickman Edmonson, been requested that the cemetery be enclosed by a brick wall. Tyler noted that it is not known whether Thomas E. Poythress' 1847 will mentioned enclosing it because it had not been done earlier, or whether it needed to be enclosed again.] - "Reports of Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, Held at Richmond" Vol. I, by John M. Patton, Jr. and Roscoe B. Heath (The Michie Company: 24 Feb 1900), p.521: January Term, 1855: Poythress et als Vs Harrison: Thomas E. Poythress death date given as 1847 with his will recorded in Charles City County and George Walker was the executor." Tyler gives the following sources re Mrs. Bersheba Poythress (born circa 1787; died Apr 1850): - "Westover Parish Register: buried at Kittewan - relict of Col. Harrison" - "Leavell's Register: Mrs. Bersheba Poythress, age 63 buried 19 Apr 1850 - residence, 'The Glebe' - quiet sufferer for years" - "Will Book 5, p.182: will written 1 May 1849 and probated 18 Apr 1850" - "Minute Book 4: 18 Apr 1850, will proved & recorded - Thomas E. Willcox, executor" Tyler also notes that the following may have been buried there at Kittewan, too, based on their association with the above: - Caroline Poythress (born circa 1816; died 1 Oct 1824) "Richmond Enquirer, 8 Oct 1824, p.3: age 8 - eldest daughter of Capt. Thomas E. Poythress of Charles City County" - Ann Maria Poythress (born circa 1821; died 7 Jul 1832) "Richmond Enquirer, 13 Jul 1832, p.3: died at Kittewan - age 11 - only child of Capt. Thomas E. & B. Poythress" = = = Tyler also noted the death of Capt. Ffran. Poythres prior to court date of Apr 1661, who left his land to son John, and she gave these sources re his death: - "Will & Deed Book, 1692-1694 fragment: 3 Apr 1694, mentioned in letter of attorney" - "Court Orders, 1687-1695: Maj. Fra. Poythress - 8 Jan 1688, administration, with will annexed, granted to Rebecca, widow (date may be death date or meeting held at house on this date) - Dr. Ja. Tubb later granted judgment against estate "for phyusical means administered in his last sickness" - "Will & Deed Book, 1692-1694, fragment: Francis Poythress - 30 Oct 1693, mentioned in power of attorney as deceased." = = = Tyler noted the following deaths were known to have been by the Court dates shown: - Joshua Poythress, by the Jul 1741 Court date, "executors involved in suit" (Court Minutes Book 1; Weisiger's transcription) - James Johnson, by 16 Mar 1826 Court date, "orphan Camilla A. M. chose as guardian Thomas Poythress" (Court Minutes Book 1; Weisiger's transcription) - William Poythress, by 18 Jun 1840 Court date, "mentioned as son of Capt. Wm. S. Poythress" (Court Minutes Book 3, 1838-1847) - Capt. William S. Poythress, by 18 Jun 1840 Court date, "certified officer in Rev. War - died leaving 4 children certified as only heirs: Thomas E.; Joshua; William (d. intestate, no issue); Patrick H." (Tyler lists both Court Minutes Book 3, 1838-1847; and Francis B. Heitman's "Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution," Clearfield reprint, 1997, p.450: "A Wm. Poythress was a 1st Lt. In the 1st Continental Artillery") = = = Tyler noted the following: Chancery Court Records, Box 2, 1849 - 0018 Thomas P. Harrison by next Friend vs Thomas E. Poythress et als as another source re the death of Thomas Poythress in 1847