Posted on: HALIFAX CO, VA QUERY FORUM Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/Halifax/12309 Surname: Roark, Martin ------------------------- Hugh Roark's sons living in Halifax Co., VA. What is the Martin connection? Giles Martin gave affadavit re this case in Greenville Co., SC In Equity No Roll 71 (Greenville Co., SC. Hugh Roark) Susan Roark vs Nancy Roark et al. filed 20 Jan 1825. Susan Roark, Charles Roark, Hugh Roark vs Nancy Roark, Abraham Hite/Hill(?), James Roark, Jonathan Armstrong & Dorcas his wife, Mary Marchant, Carter Wells & Nancy his wife, Edward Baldwin & Peggy his wife, Daniel Townes & Charlotte his wife, Catherine Roark, Isabella Roark, Selah Roark, Maria Roark. Frances since married Abraham Hite but dead. Mary Marchant wife of John Marchant. Complainant. Susan Roark lawfully married Hugh Roark in Virginia in 1772. She had 2 sons by Roark--Charles & Hugh. During few years co-habitation she bore him two children. Hugh abandoned her... She raised Charles & Hugh... Hugh formed illicit connection in South Carolina and continued to live with Nancy Roark... Answer of Nancy Roark. Hugh came to neighborhood 45 or 46 years since and that about 43 years since he inter-married with defendant and she bore him 12 children all are now living except one. Defendant never heard of previous marriage./ ... the defendant __(?) any knowledge or suspicion of any marriage of the sd Hugh Roarke... __(?) suit and require she ___(?) proof of such marriage the wife now states that they are now informed that the sd Hugh at the time of his pretended marriage ___(?) ___(?) a wife living in Ireland and of consequence(?) __(?) __(?) __(?) no right to set up claim in the chance ___(?) Defendant states that for last 15 yers of his life Hugh was utterly helpless & a charge befor his family and she(?) at the __(?) the propety left by him was in fact & exclusively __(?) but for their labour & __(?) sd Hugh would have died... 14 Apr 1827. S/ Nancy (X) Ruark Hugh’s dau. Mary Marchant had set off for Kentucky. Exhibit A. Certified copy Hugh Roark’s will annexed d 5 Nov 1816, rec Book A:162, proved in the court of ordinary the 7th day of June 1824. S/ Spartan Goodlett O.G.D. (Frame 300) After all my just debts are paid Whereof I Hugh Roark being in a low state of health I do make my will in the name of God, amen I bequeath unto my whife nancy as much as the Law will allow, or make to her. I bequeath unto my son James Roark fifty dollars. I bequeath unto Dorcas Roark one dollar.I bequeath to Nancy Wells Twenty dollars. I bequeath unto Page Roark Twenty dollars. N.B. Then all the balance of my Estate is to be divided into six parts or shares & to be divided as follows (I bequeath unto my two sons, Charles Roark and Hugh Roark, living in Halafax county in the State of Virginia, one share or parts) I bequeath unto my two daughters, Catey & Peggy one part to be equally divided, on them both. I bequeath unto my three daughters Charlotte, Maria & Isabella two shares or parts to be equally divided on the three. I bequeath unto my two daughters Franky & Mary living in the State of Tennesse, one part or share, & to be divided as follows, two thirds to Franky & one third to Mary. (I bequeah unto my two daughters Selah & Peggy Bryant in Ireland one part or share to be equally divided on the two, & if Peggy Bryant, should never come or apply for her part in Seven years, it is to be divided on six of the youngest children, Catey, Peggy, Charlotte, Isabella, Maria, and Sela & the old woman part to be divided equally on all her children at her death. I want all things that I possess, to be sold, and that every one of the Legatees, shall have no self(?) claim of any thing, or any property, as their own private propety for it will be wrong(?) the little ones not any thing more than necessary waring apparel. Its(?) the(?) franking(?) the little children. I do appoint Wm. Jacobs and B. Griffith to Execute this my will bearing date this 5th November 1816. Signed and acknowledged before us. B. Griffith, John Young, Leonard Wells S/ Hugh Roark (Under lines & ( ) were on this record. pbc) Each defendant’s share $114.16 divided between complainant and defendants $2740.03. Each party $1370.01 1/2. Defendant got 1/12 of $1370.01 1/2. Danl Townes, Selah Roarke, Mrs. Nancy Roarke, Jonathan Armstrong, Mary Marchant, Abraham Hill (sic), Edward Baldwin, Carter Wells, Catharine Roarke, Isabella Roarke, James Roarke. (Frame #326) Sales of the personal Estate of the late Hugh Roark deceased on the 9th July 1824 Nancy Roark $135.06 ?/4; Abram Hill 617.00; Daniel Townes 99.62; Maria Roark 37.75 Eliza Duncan 15.25; Celah Roark 17.25; Iabella Roark 12.25; William Wilson 10.00; William Jacobs 3.06 ?; Hezikiah Cockrum 12.31 1/4; Edward Baldwin 12.37 1/2, Jonathan Armstrong 13.25; Lewis Rodgers 6.87 1/2; George Spillers 10.00; Elhanan Wells 9.00; Mary Marchant 9.25; Allen R. Parkins 1.18 3/4 Aggregate of Sales of personal Estate $1022.25 (Frame 327) I Giles Martin do hereby Certify that I went with Charles and Huriah Rokis to the State of South Carolina when they went to see Their Father, and that their Father did own them To be his Sons and wish’d them to move to that State and Settle on his land and also heard The sd Man say that he Intended to Give the sd Charles and Huriah Rokis Equal parts of his Estate with his other children Given under my hand this 18th day of Nov 1824 S/ Giles Martin This is to certify that the above nam’d Jiles Martin came before me and was duly sworn to the trooth of the above Sartificate Given under my hand this 18th day of Nov 1824. S/ John L. Jennings J.P. (Greenville Co., SC Equity Roll Nos. 49-74, FHC #0292488, Aug 1996. pbc)