The Fourth Generation: Captain William Poythress, of Prince George County R. Bolling Batte on William Poythress [252 William Poythress (1728-c. 1768), m. (1) Mary Eppes (1731-1750). The only knowledge of her existence comes from her tomb in Bothwell graveyard in Dinwiddie County. This recites that she was "daughter of Capt. William Eppes and wife to William Poythress, Jr." Which of the several William Eppes was her father has not been definitely settled. There were no known children of this marriage. William's second, but unidentified, wife was the mother of his six known children whose names come to light by a division of the slaves of William's estate, decreed in 1775. William Poythress was elected to the vestry of Bristol Parish on 5 Aug 1760 to succeed his father, recently deceased. He was County Lieutenant for Prince George County in 1761. 252 1 William Poythress was party to division of father's slaves in 1775. No further record. 252 2 Anne Isham Poythress (1760-1784), m. 1777 in Middlesex County William Yates, son of William and Elizabeth (Randolph) Yates. 252 3 Mary Poythress m. Francis Muir of Dinwiddie County 252 4 Benjamin Poythress. see note for William Poythress 252 1 above. 252 5 Sally Poythress. same 252 6 Lucy Poythress. m. John Gordon.] Family William Poythress was born March 14, 1728, in Prince George County, Virginia, the son of William Poythress and Sarah Epes. He married Mary Eppes about 1749, the daughter of Captain William Eppes. She died October 4, 1750, at the age of 19, and was buried in the Bothwell graveyard, in Dinwiddie County. He married a second time and they had six children, (1) William, (2) Benjamin, (3) Lucy, who married John Gordon, (4) Anne Isham, who married William Yates, (5) Mary, who married Francis Muir, and (6) Sally. He died before June 10, 1769. Son, Benjamin Poythress October 13, 1777, in the Virginia Gazette, Benjamin Poythress, on Butterwood Creek, in Dinwiddie County, advertised having taken up a horse. "Taken up, on Butterwood Creek, in Dinwiddie County, a bay mare about 4 feet 9 inches high, with hanging mane, neither docked or branded, her off hind foot white, appears to have been surfeited lately, about 4 years old. Polled, and appraised to £40. Benjamin Poythress. Son-in-law, John Gordon, husband of Lucy Poythress May 1, 1787, in Prince George County, account of the estate of John Gordon, Francis Muir, administrator, names, among many, Mary Poythress, heirs of William Poythress. Inheritance Captain William Poythress was the executor of the Will of his father, Colonel William Poythress, who died on January 18, 1763, in Dinwiddie County. The Will was recorded in February, 1763, in Dinwiddie County. Professional Life In 1761, William Poythress was appointed County Lieutenant, for Prince George County. In 1763, William Poythress was a Captain. Civic Activities On August 5, 1760, William Poythress was appointed a vestryman, in Bristol parish, in place of Major William Eppes, deceased. On May 24, 1762, William Poythress was appointed a churchwarden. On June 10, 1769, Mr. Theophilus Field, Jr., was appointed a vestryman in the place of Captain William Poythress, deceased. After William Poythress' Death On September 12, 1771, the Virginia Gazette announced an auction, on Butterwood Creek, in Dinwiddie County, at the plantation where Nathaniel Hobbs was overseer. Thirty Virginia born slaves, belonging to the estate of William Poythress were to be sold. On August 11, 1774, the Virginia Gazette announced the rental of William Poythress' plantation, where he had lived in Prince George County, about four miles from Blandford, containing 500 acres, a house, necessary outhouses, barns and orchards. Anyone interested in the property was to contact Major Peter Poythress. In July, 1775, the division of William's slaves was ordered by the Prince George County court. His son, William, and his daughter, Sally, had already died, leaving his son, Benjamin, and his daughters; Lucy, who married John Gordon, Anne Isham Poythress, and Mary Poythress. On December 23, 1775, in the Virginia Gazette, the executors of William's estate, announced auctions at his plantation on Little Roanoke, in Charlotte County, also at his Butterwood Quarter, in Dinwiddie County, and at his Tombeaton Quarter. At the Butterwood Quarter, there was to be an auction of a large number of slaves. In 1777, Peter Poythress, of Branchester, the executor of William's estate, announced final plans to deliver the estate to the beneficiaries.