This is a re-posting with the material that Barbara posted last week. As she stated in her posting, we need to update our records from time to time in order to further our efforts. The Fourth Generation: William Poythress, son of John Poythress, of Martin's Brandon parish R. Bolling Batte on William Poythress [79 vi. William Poythress was born AFT 1717 in VA [(P_1) DCC].] Family William Poythress was born about 1720, the son of John Poythress and Mary (Hardyman?). He married Sarah and they were known to be of Bertie County, North Carolina, by 1756. His mother, Mary, married John Abington after the death of his father, John Poythress, Jr. Inheritance In Prince George County, the Will of John Poythress, of Martin's Brandon parish, in Prince George County, proved May 12, 1724. I give my son, John Poythress, and his heirs, my plantation where I now live, 100 acres of land, as also 100 acres of land adjoining, called Colebrooks, taking in the Ivy point, so running down Hugh Evans' Spring Bottom to William Stainback's corner poplar, and also I give my said son, John Poythress, and to his heirs, my tract of land lying on the south side of the main Blackwater Swamp, not debarring his brothers, Francis and William Poythress, from getting timber for their plantations' use, as also giving them liberty to drive their stocks of hogs and cattle upon the land, if they shall think fit, and if it should please God to take him out of the world before he comes to the age of 21 years, or without heirs of his body lawfully begotten, then my will and pleasure is that my son, Francis Poythress, should possess all the above said lands as is mentioned, and to his heirs lawfully begotten forever. I give my son, Francis Poythress, and his heirs, land lying at and about the place called Brick Chimneys, binding upon my son, John Poythress', and brother, Thomas Poythress' lands, so round the Deep Bottom, taking in the whole tract or dividend of land, and if it should please God to take him out of the world before he arrives to the age of 21 years, or without heirs of his body lawfully begotten, then my will and pleasure is that my son, William Poythress, should possess all the above said land mentioned, and to his heirs lawfully begotten forever. I give my two sons, John and Francis Poythress, and their heirs, 280 acres, joining to Thomas Poythress' land, so running a south course over the horn branch, and so binding upon John Young's, Dorrel Young's, and John Winningham's land, to be equally divided betwixt my two sons, John and Francis Poythress, and to their heirs forever. I give my son, William Poythress, and his heirs, 150 acres, binding upon Thomas Poythress' and Thomas Lovesay's land, formerly belonging to Joseph Patterson, called Powell's, and if it should please God to take him out of the world before he arrives to the age of 21 years, or without heirs of his body lawfully begotten, then my will and pleasure is that my son, John Poythress, should possess the above mentioned land, and his heirs lawfully begotten forever. I give my son, John Poythress, a small featherbed and furniture, six new rush leather chairs, one chest, one gun, and a mare, a young horse, and the increase of her forever, to him and his heirs for ever. I give my son, Francis Poythress, a small feather bed and furniture, one young mare about three years old, and her increase to him and his heirs for ever. I give my son, William Poythress, a bay mare, and her increase, to him and his heirs for ever. I give my three sons, John, Francis and William Poythress, all my stock of hogs and cattle, to be equally divided amongst them, only what I shall give hereafter unto my loving wife, Mary Poythress, which is four cows and calves, and a parcel of hogs as uses about Colebrooks, about twenty or thirty of them, and my will further is that as much of the stock be disposed of as will be of value sufficient to enter and survey 400 acres of land in the woods, according to the discretion of my executors, for my son, William Poythress, and to be patented in his name, and then the remaining part of the stock to be equally divided between my three sons, John, Francis and William Poythress, and their heirs forever. I give my three sons, John, Francis and William Poythress, my three negroes, Betty, Judy and Grace, and their increase, to be equally divided when my son, William Poythress comes to the age of 18 years, and my will and desire is that my son, John Poythress, should have the aforesaid negroes, with their increase, in his possession, when he shall attain to the age of 21, and there to remain till my son, William, attains to the age of 18 years, then they and their increase to be equally divided between my three sons, John, Francis and William Poythress, and to their heirs lawfully begotten forever. I give my daughter, Rebecca Poythress, my negro man, Tom, and one featherbed and furniture, to her and her heirs for ever. I give my daughter, Elizabeth Poythress, my negro boy, Jamy, to her and her heirs for ever.I give my daughter, Ann Poythress, my negro boy, Will, to her and her heirs for ever. I give my loving wife, Mary Poythress, my negro man, Seipis, one featherbed and furniture, four cows and calves and a parcel of hogs uses about Colebrooks, and all my pewter, brass, and iron, as I am possessed with, and my two working horses, and all the rest of the small matters as is not mentioned in this my last Will and Testament, to her and her heirs for ever. I appoint Robert Poythress and John Woodlief, pastor, my executors of this my last Will and Testament. The witnesses, Francis Epes, Jr., William Stainback and John Winningham. At a Court held at Merchant's Hope for Prince George County, on Tuesday, May 12, 1724, the last Will and testament of John Poythress, deceased, was exhibited into court by Robert Poythress and John Woodlief, his executors, who made oath thereto, and it was proved by the oaths of Francis Epes, William Stainback and John Winningham. And on the motion of the said Robert Poythress and John Woodlief, executors, and their giving Bond and Security according to law, Certificate was granted them for obtaining a probate of the said Will in due form. The Will was recorded, August 11, 1724, at a court at Merchant's Hope, for Prince George County, with an account of personal property items valued at £209/14/5. John Stainback, John Winningham and William Stainback were the appraisers. The 150 acres called Powell's, left to William Poythress, was bought by his father, John Poythress (c. 1681-1724), on November 8, 1720, from Francis Poythress, John's uncle. The land that was inherited by John Poythress' son, John Poythress, was possibly bought by John Poythress (c. 1681-1724), on October 23, 1703, and on September 5, 1723. On December 13, 1726, in the Prince George County court, the inventory of the estate of Captain John Poythress, deceased, was valued at £130/12/8. The executors of the Will were Robert Poythress and John Woodlief. The legatees were Mary, his wife, Rebecca, his daughter, Elizabeth, his daughter, Colonel William Randolph, Captain Richard Randolph and John Fitzgerald, among others. Guardian of William Poythress On March 13, 1739, in the Prince George County court, on the complaints of William Poythress, one of the orphans of John Poythress, of Jordan's, deceased, who was bound as apprentice to Robert Simpson, of this county, for misusage and which complaints appeared to be just the said William was discharged from the apprenticeship and chose Charles Irby, his guardian, who had time until the next court to appear and give bond and security. Property: Land (Possibly William Poythress, son of John Poythress, Jr., (c. 1681-1724), as he was to have 400 acres bought for him as per his father's Will). On March 24, 1735, William Poythress, Gentleman, was granted 400 acres near Sapponi Chappel, in Prince George County, adjoining Robert Bolling, by the side of the Nottaway River Road, crossing Stephen's Branch. On September 25, 1746, John Wagnon, 576 acres, in Prince George County, on the south side of Stoney Creek, adjoining Robert Bolling, the land purchased of William Poythress, by the side of the Nottoway River Road, 400 acres part thereof being formerly granted unto William Poythress by our letters patent bearing date March 24, 1734, the right and title of which the 400 acres has become vested in John Wagnon, and 176 acres the residue never before granted. [note: Poythress appears frequently hereafter in the Wagnon family as a middle name; even into Burke and Green Counties, Georgia]. On September 8, 1753, in Bertie County, North Carolina, William Poythress, of Bertie County, purchased 100 acres on Jumping Run adjacent to John Harrell. On December 8, 1755, in Bertie County, North Carolina, Peter Hays and wife, Bether [Butrice?], sold 100 acres to Thomas Hays for £10 on the south side of Cashy Swamp. The witnesses were William Poythress, George Vann and John Bryan. On October 21, 1756, in Bertie County, North Carolina, William Poythress, of Bertie County, in North Carolina, and wife, Sarah, sold 100 acres to Matthew Turner, of Bertie County, in North Carolina, adjoining Gristock, over Jumping Run in the fork, adjoining John Harrell, to the first station, it being out of a deed granted to Thomas Page, the said deed bearing date 1753. Sarah Poythress, the wife of William Poythress, freely surrendered all her right of dower. The witnesses were Henry Averet and George House. On December 16, 1756, in Bertie County, North Carolina, Edward Boyd and wife, Abigale, of Society Parish, sold 200 acres to Samuel Jobe for £16, land granted Barnaby Bryant, December 13, 1755. The witnesses were William Poythress and James Abington. On October 9, 1764, William Poythress, of Hertford County, sold 140 acres, in Bertie County, between the lines of William and Thomas Outlaw. In February, 1764, in Bertie County, North Carolina, William Poythress was ordered to serve on the grand jury. The same court allowed him to keep a tavern at his dwelling house. In June, 1765, in Bertie County, North Carolina, he won a judgement for £6, 5 shillings, against William Bryan in the Bertie County court. In December, 1768, William Poythress made a Northampton County deed of gift of household goods to Richard Outlaw for affection he had for Rachel Outlaw. In 1779, William Poythress was taxed on 150 acres in the 4th District of Hertford County, North Carolina. (Hertford County was formed in 1759 from parts of Bertie, Chowan and Northampton Counties). In 1779, William Poythress appeared in Hertford County, North Carolina. In 1782, William Poythress was taxed on 200 acres in the 4th District of Hertford County, North Carolina. In 1787, William Poythress appeared in Freemans District, Bertie County, North Carolina. This may be the son of William and Sarah Poythress, and the grandson of John Poythress, Jr.: Bertie County, North Carolina, Marriage Bond: September 27, 1785. William Poythress and Anna Lewis. Henry Averett.