This Francis Poythress may be the last of the Francis Poythress men. It depends on whether he was the elusive preacher, Francis Poythress, the Elder. If he was not the preacher, then we have one more Francis Poythress to identify. There are several reasons that I believe this man may be the preacher. I have always thought that his Will was a very singular document. This may be a result of the fact that we do not have the full document. The Preacher Francis Poythress seems to have lived in Virginia until 1787 when he was designated the presiding Elder of the Kentucky circuit. The Francis Poythress below had only one son, Sergeant Francis Poythress, who was dead by 1785. Based upon the death of his only son and the "marriage contract" with his wife, Francis may have taken advantage of a new life in Kentucky. His daughter, Mary Peterson Poythress Randolph, seems to have moved to Fayette County, Tennessee, with her husband, Henry Isham Randolph. Finally, Francis Poythress wrote his Will in 1796 prior to the mental breakdown of the preacher in 1800. The Preacher, Francis Poythress, had two sisters living in Kentucky. We know that this Kentucky branch of the family continued to have ties to family and land in Virginia. I have also placed John Worsham's Will here. He wrote his Will in 1729. The preacher, Francis Poythress, was supposedly born in 1728. I have also placed a short time line for the preacher below. Much more can be found regarding his life on the internet under the history of the Methodists. The Fourth Generation: Francis Poythress, husband of Mary Peterson, father of Sergeant Francis Poythress Inheritance In Henrico County, the Will of John Worsham, dated June 9, 1729, proved October 1, 1729. To son John, plantation I live on, except a small parcel on head of my son, William Worsham's plantation, he bought of John Ealam. To son, William, all the rest of said plantation. If above sons have no heirs, then all to Daniel Worsham's eldest daughter, my granddaughter. To my son, Daniel's widow, Judith, to live on my plantation at Coldwater Run. (Daniel was the eldest son). To son, John, silver tobacco box, seal gold ring, etc. To son, William, items. To daughters, Elizabeth Marshall, Frances Rowlett, Mary Robertson, Martha Ward and Ann Osborn, each, 10 shillings. To grandson, Francis Poythress, a negro, etc. when 21. To grandson, Isham Epes. To granddaughter, Obediance Worsham, a gold ring. To son, Daniel's daughters' Phoebe, Martha and Elizabeth, a negro man and various items to them and their mother, Judith, the widow of Daniel. Rest to sons, John and William, and they to be executors. The witnesses were Joseph Royall, James Thompson and Henry Royall. Son, Francis Poythress Sergeant Francis Poythress, Army. Certificate, (1) John Watts, Captain, (2) Edward Bland and Peter Epes as to heir. Order to deliver bounty warrant, Henry Randolph. Voucher 1786, Prince George County. We do hereby certify that Mary Randolph is the only surviving child of Francis Poythress, the Elder, and sister to the within named Sergeant Francis Poythress. Given under our hands this November 11, 1785. Edward Bland and Peter Epes. Francis Poythress was appointed a corporal in the 1st Regiment Light ----- in August, 1779, and promoted to a Sergeant in April, 1781, and continued as such to the end of the War. John Watts, Captain, 1st Regiment, L. Dragoons. Certified that the above certificate was in Captain Watts' own hand. Blanford, February 4, 1784. Edmund B. Lucy. June 22, 1786, Sir, Be pleased to deliver to Mr. ------- the land Warrant which Francis Poythress is entitled to. To Henry Randolph, the Commissioner of the Land Office. Professional Life In 1777, in Hartford County, Maryland, and in 1778, in Leesburg, Virginia, the following preachers met to determine the future of their work: Isham Tatum, Charles Hopkins, Nelson Reed, Reuben Ellis, Philip Gatch, Thomas Morris, James Morris, James Foster, John Major, Andrew Yeargin, Henry Willis, Francis Poythress, John Sigman, Leroy Cole, Carter Cole, James O'Kelly, William Monroe (or Moore, Lednum), Samuel Roe. On Tuesday July 11, 1780, in North Carolina, the preacher, Francis Poythress, was working the circuit. On Tuesday, July 18, 1780, in North Carolina, the preacher, Francis Poythress, was on the New Hope Circuit west of the Tar River Circuit. In 1783, Francis Poythress and Benjamin Roberts were assigned the Allegheny Circuit, in the Greenbrier District of the Virginia Conference. In 1787, the Lexington and Danville circuits were created out of the Kentucky circuit and Francis Poythress was appointed the presiding elder. "The father of the little church at Lexington was the unfortunate Francis Poythress, who went from station to station, preaching and toiling and suffering in silence...As a preacher, few in those days, excelled him. His voice was clear and musical, his knowledge of the scripture vast and accurate, and his sermons fell as the dew of life upon the hearts of his congregation." Francis Poythress was the presiding elder of the Kentucky area for nine years. In 1788, Thomas Williamson, Peter Massie and Benjamin Snelling were sent to the Lexington, Kentucky Circuit with Francis Poythress as the presiding elder. This circuit included the counties of Fayette, Jessamine, Woodford, Franklin, Scott and Harrison. Of Francis Poythress, it was said that he "had the bearing of one who had been well raised, his deportment being very gentlemanly; but he appeared to be somewhat melancholy in disposition." In 1793, presiding elders of the Greenbrier Circuit were assisted by the itinerant preachers, John Tunnell, James O'Kelly and Francis Poythress. Before 1800, Benjamin Ogden, James Haw, "the great and noble" Francis Poythress, Peter Massie, Barnabas McHenry, John Page, William Burke, Wilson Lee, Jacob Lurton, Moses Speer and Aquilla Sugg were the preachers that traveled the circuit from Nashville, Tennessee, to Russellville and Bowling Green, Kentucky, and to Evansville, Indiana, preaching the Bible as Methodists. By 1800, Francis Poythress was unable to continue his work and became seriously deranged in intellect and remained in that condition for years. He died at his sister's house in Jessamine County, Kentucky. His sister was Susannah Pryor. Foster Ockerman, Jr., in his First United Methodist Church History," gives a short biography of the Preacher, Francis Poythress, the Elder. Poythress was about five feet, eight inches tall and heavily built, even powerful. He was born in Virginia of a wealthy family and later inherited a large estate. Although he had a wild youth, he soon began seeking spiritual comfort. He first joined the Church of England, the dominant church in his part of Virginia, eventually traveling as an assistant to an evangelical preacher. On one journey, he rode in the company of a traveling Methodist preacher who gave Poythress a copy of the Methodist discipline and doctrines. Shortly thereafter, he converted to the Methodism, being admitted as a preacher during the Revolution. After serving several circuits, he was made an Elder in 1786. Two years later he was sent to Kentucky. As Elder and with Asbury's confidence, Poythress played a strong leadership role in Kentucky, presiding at Conferences in Asbury's absence and stationing preachers. As such, Poythress had great influence over which preacher was assigned to Lexington. He was also influential in the establishment of Bethel Academy. Arnold reports that when Poythress arrived in Kentucky, the district held just over 500 Methodists; but when his administration as Elder ended, there were almost 2,500 members of the church. "It was he who directed the forces in this formative period of Methodism in Kentucky." After a year's assignment elsewhere, Poythress served one more year, 1799, as Elder in Kentucky before being moved outside the state. By 1800, however, the stress and strain of frontier work had broken his health. He retired to his sister's home in Jessamine county where he died in 1818. Property: Personal Property and Land In 1752, Dinwiddie County's present boundaries were established except for the portion annexed by the City of Petersburg. In 1752, Dinwiddie County was cut off from Prince George's remaining southwestern end. The county court records prior to 1833 were destroyed in 1865. One plat book, one order book, and one judgement book survive. On July 20, 1768, to Elias Wills, whereas by a patent dated September 20, 1745, there was granted unto John Paterson 204 acres, in Amelia County, on both sides of the head of the dry or lower fork of Winticomaick Creek and whereas John Paterson hath failed to pay such Quit rents and Francis Poythress has made humble suit and has obtained a grant for the same which he has assigned unto Elias Wills, adjoining Thomas Hood, Matthew Tucker and Tesdale. In 1787, in Prince George County, taxes were paid by Francis Poythress, William Poythress, Mary Poythress, Elizabeth Poythress, and Joshua Poythress (estate). On April 1, 1789, in Prince George County, account of the estate of Joel Sturdivant by John Sturdivant, Sr., executor. Names, among many, Francis Poythress and Joseph Poythress. In 1795, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress, on 100 acres, conveyed by William Cross. In 1796, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. In 1797, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. In 1798, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. In 1801, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. In 1802, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. In 1803, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. In 1805, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. In 1806, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. In 1807, in Dinwiddie County, land taxes were paid by Francis Poythress on 100 acres. Pertinent Information On November 12, 1723, in Prince George County, John Peterson, of Bristol parish, to John Fitzgerald, of the same parish, all that water grist or corn mill, called Froghole Mill, on Bailey's Creek, 118 acres and is bounded as by deed dated January 26, 1677, from Francis Whittington to John Peterson, Sr., deceased, which descended to said John Peterson, as heir at law, on part of which land the Mill stands. Another tract of land adjoins and contains 60 acres as in a deed dated October 11, 1703, from Henry Batts to John Peterson, the said tract of land had descended to Henry Batts from his father, Henry Batts, Sr. The other tract of land of 95 acres, was purchased by John Peterson from William Bobbitt, Jr., by deed on May 12, 1703, it being land on which the said Bobbitt then lived, and was granted to William Bobbitt, Sr., father of the said William Bobbitt, Jr., by patent on October 27, 1673, and descended to William Bobbitt, Jr., as heir at law. The witnesses were Henry Wood, Joshua Irby and Francis Poythress. John Peterson (c. 1667-1732) was married to Mary Batte, and they were the grandparents of Mary Peterson who married a Francis Poythress. William Bobbitt, Jr., (1675-1738), was married to Mary Green, the daughter of William Green and Sarah Pritchett. On January 2, 1738, James Sturdivant was granted 620 acres, in Amelia County, in the fork between the main Deep Creek and the Seller fork of Deep Creek, adjoining Vaughan, Edmonds alias Bumpusses, and Daniel Studivant's old line; 400 acres formerly granted Daniel Sturdivant, deceased, by patent August 17, 1725, and by mesne conveyances is vested in said James Sturdivant. On March 15, 1742, William Sturdivante, was granted 327 acres, in Prince George County, on the south side of Stoney Creek; whereas by patent March 23, 1734 granted John Sturdivante and whereas the said John Sturdivant hath failed to make cultivation and improvement and William Poythress hath made humble suit and obtained a grant for the same which he hath relinquished unto William Sturdivant. The inventory and appraisal of the estate of Charles Hix, taken by Batt Peterson, John Wall, Jr. and Michael Wall, Jr. Errors excepted by George Hicks, administrator. Returned to court on June 6, 1745. John Wall (1708-), husband of Anne Poythress (1721-), was one of the appraisers as was his brother, Michael Wall. Batte Peterson (c. 1700-1758) was an uncle of Mary Peterson who married Francis Poythress. On October 23, 1773, Isaac Howell to Henry Fittz, both of Dinwiddie County, Virginia., 322 acres in Bute County on both sides of Hawtree Creek, adjoining Joshua Ellis, Travice Reese and John Jones (formerly Young), land which was sold to Charles Poythress, of Dinwiddie County, by John Hawkins. The witnesses were Henry Sturdivant, Travess Rees, Ephraim Ellis and William Ellis. Proved by Ephraim Ellis, Bute County, August court 1774. On October 5, 1787, in Prince George County, Deed for Lease, Mary Poythress, of Martin's Brandon parish, in Prince George County, to Daniel Sturdivant, of Prince George County, 100 acres, 6 year lease. The witnesses were William Birchett, James Sturdivant, John Sturdivant and James Davenport. On September 14, 1790, in Prince George County, Robert Birchett, tobacco inspector, to James Sturdivant, tobacco picker, for £150, paid to James Sturdivant, Jr., land purchased by Robert Birchett from William Poythress, Jr., bounded by the Reedy branch and John Hunnicutt, 333½ acres. No witnesses. As Witness On March 28, 1757, in Halifax County, John Hickey, of Halifax County, to Samuel Gordon, of the town of Blandford, £597/7/7, various tracts, cattle, etc. The witness was Francis Poythress. Francis Poythress' Will In Dinwiddie County, the Will of Francis Poythress, dated December 10, 1796. I give my loving wife all my estate of every kind that I do possess reserving unto my daughter, Mary Peterson Randolph, which I give five shillings which said sum I give unto my daughter to her and her heirs forever. Whereas there was a marriage contract between my wife and myself and whereas the true intent and meaning of the said writing was that my said wife was to enjoy and have the full and free disposal of all the estate of every kind that came by her without the let or hindrance of me and my heirs. Now if there should be any deficiencies in the said writing so as to entitle my heirs to any of the property. The ------- my wife, my will and desires and I do hereby revoke all such claim and desire that my wife and her heirs should enjoy all the estate that came by her without the ------------ or molestation of my heirs in witness where so I have hence unto set my hand and seal this December 10, 1796. Francis Poythress. The witnesses were Reubin Wilkinson and Robert Reese.