The numerous group of men named Francis Poythress make it an extreme challenge to separate their lives. In 1763, in Dinwiddie County, Leonard Claiborne, Jr., was involved in a case against the executors of a Francis Poythress. Many Claibornes and many Poythresses moved to Georgia. The Francis Poythress, Jr., mentioned in the 1763 cases in Dinwiddie County may have been the Francis Poythress that made the move to Georgia with his relatives, the Claibornes. In 1760, another familiar name, William Glascock, of Dinwiddie County, was mentioned in a deed that was witnessed by a Francis Poythress and a John Poythress. At first glance, it would appear that this Francis Poythress and this John Poythress were sons of John Poythress, Jr., and could possibly lead to the conclusion that Francis Poythress, Jr., was the grandson of John Poythress, Jr., and was the Francis Poythress that moved to Georgia. The Fifth Generation: Francis Poythress, of Greene County, Georgia Inheritance In 1763, in Dinwiddie County, the charges were denominated in pounds of tobacco, for which it was likely warehouse receipts were used to pay the bill. Robert Hutchings, Lunenburg County, February, 1763, order to abate suit versus F. Poythress. Leonard Claiborne, Jr., February, 1763, dismissed versus F. Poythress. May, 1763, judgement versus F. Poythress' executors. Francis Poythress, Prince George County, March, 1763, subpoena in Chancellory versus F. Poythress, Jr., docketing, attorney, continuance. June, 1763, continuance. August, 1763, continuance. October, 1763, continuance versus F. Poythress. William Black, March, 1763, subpoena for witnesses versus Poythress. June, 1763, order for attendance, trial, judgement, executive order, &c. July, 1763, executive order, &c., versus F. Poythress. September, 1763, executive order versus Do. February, 1764, executive order, &c. September, 1763, Writ of execution versus L. Claiborne, Jr., Special Bill for Poythress, docketing, attorney, dismissed, file papers. Peter Stainback, May, 1763, capias versus F. Poythress, docketing, attorney, declaration, dismissed, file papers; petition, &c., judgement versus Poythress and Rees, attorney. June, 1763, Capias versus Poythress, docketing, attorney, declaration, order to abate suit, file papers. Francis Poythress and John Evans, Prince George County, May, 1763, recording Jones' and wife's deed to you. Stephen Dance, June, 1763, attorney ads F. Poythress. Thomas Welch, assignee of Francis Poythress, May, 1763, continuance versus Smith's executors. November, 1763, judgement. Peter Bland and Co, Prince George County, order versus F. Poythress, plea. June, 1763, trial versus F. Poythress, judgement. July 2, 1763, executive order. Joseph Williamson, Brunswick County, June, 1763, continuance versus F. Poythress on petition. August, 1763, continuance. Judgement, November, 1763, executive order. Colonel John Jones, September, 1763, executive order, &c., versus F. Poythress. August, 1763, file deponents ads F. Poythress, copy four deponents. Edward Lewis, August, 1763, capias versus F. Poythress, docketing, declaration, dismissed. Francis Poythress, Peter Woodlief and wife, and Leonard Claiborne, Jr., and wife, August, 1763, continuance versus Ruffin. Adjoining Property On July 10, 1745, Burnell Claiborne, was granted 150 acres, in Prince George County, on both sides of the south side of the White Oak Swamp and bounded by Captain Francis Poythress' line, Fitzgerald's Mill Path, and Stewart's line. [September 22, 1739, originally adjoining Captain Francis Poythress and later, Francis Poythress, Gentleman.] On July 25, 1746, to Edward Thomas, 168 acres, in Prince George County, between Butterwood and Tommahitton Swamps, adjoining Eaton, Ornsby, Beal, Poythress and Fisher. On June 25, 1747, James Fisher, was granted 200 acres, in Prince George County, on the south side of Butterwood Swamp, adjoining William Eaton and Poythress. On June 13, 1752, Burnell Claiborne entered a caveat against Edmund Poythress concerning a grant of 400 acres on the Nottoway River, in Lunenburg County, on which the Virginia Council found that a patent should be issued to Francis Poythress, son and heir of Francis Poythress. On June 19, 1760, Matthew Ornsby, of Amelia County, to William Glascock, of Dinwiddie County, 400 acres, in Amelia County, on both sides of Butterwood Creek and bounded by John Lewis, Haynes, North Branch, George Lewis, Steger and Hood. The witnesses were Francis Poythress, John Poythress, James Hinton, John Hightower, Jr., and Edmund Poythress. Civic activities On October 4, 1787, in Greene County, Georgia, inventory and appraisement of the estate of Dorothy Ashield, deceased, given in by Francis Poythress, sworn appraisal. On April 17, 1788, in Greene County, Georgia, an account of the sale of the estate of Stephen Parker, late of Greene County, deceased, made by Captain James Alford, administrator, May 3, 1788. Persons sold to included Francis Poythress. Property: Personal Property In 1762, in Chesterfield County, Francis Poythress, was listed in the tithables. On July 23, 1765, in Chesterfield County, Francis Poythress, of Prince George County, sold to Thomas Walke, all my right in slaves now in possession of Hannah Poythress, Mary Poythress and Peter Woodlief, which were devised by my grandfather, after the death of his wife, to be divided among his children. Poythress acquits all of his right to said Walke. The witnesses were Peter Warren, Nicholas Sims, Robert Poole and Henry Warren. On May 10, 1768, in Dinwiddie County, Leonard Claiborne, 3,074 acres on the north side of Nammusseen Creek, in Dinwiddie and Amelia Counties, adjoining Robert Bolling, ------ Reese, ------ Hamlin, formerly granted to John Fitzgerald, the Elder, by patent, no date, for 2,836 acres. (From Norma Jean): Leonard Claiborne received grants for land in Georgia as did many earlier Poythress family members prior to 1803 via a headright system, which entitled each head of a family to 200 acres and 50 acres for each additional member of his family up to 1,000 acres. The land had to be surveyed and certified and a grant had to be issued and registered by a certain time frame. Records show that he was there in March, 1769, and was granted land in St. Paul's parish in September, 1769, for 850 acres (meaning 200 for him and 13 family members). By 1769, he had completed the grant procedure. Obtaining land in Georgia was changed to a lottery system after 1803. Georgia had operated a bit differently from Virginia's early land acquisitions. Those 13 family members may have included relatives living with Leonard. Besides his wife, and perhaps a child or two, there seems to be no evidence that he had enough children to account for that number. Regarding Georgia County locations, Georgia began in the Savannah area much like Virginia began in Jamestown. We gradually conquered and obtained lands and moved west and north. Eight parishes were formed in 1735, that included St. Paul's' between what is now Savannah and Augusta. By 1765, four more parishes were formed and eventually counties such as Greene, in 1786, from Washington County which was formed in 1784 from ceded land from the Creek Indians. These "counties" were all close enough for these people to travel and settle and still be related. Poythress families arriving in Georgia could have come from Virginia with Leonard and his Poythress wife, who appears to have been the daughter of Francis (deceased 1738) and Hannah.