Land Patents, Family, Friends and Neighbors Prove Relationships, Part I

Introduction to Rebecca Poythress

    This study has been conducted to determine who Rebecca Poythress was, who she married, who her children were and where she lived during her lifetime. Rebecca was born about 1679(1) in Charles City Co., Va., to Major Francis Poythress and Rebecca Coggin.(2) The only records as to her existence were deeds of gift from her mother, Rebecca, on September 10, 1711, to her(3) and her half-sister,(4) Anne Bartholomew, and her half-sister’s deed of lease and sale on December 11 and 12, 1721.(5) Her father was the son of Captain Francis Poythress and Mary Sloman.(6) Her father owned a large plantation on the south side of and close to the James River in the area east of Bailey’s creek.(7) This is where Rebecca Poythress was probably born. She had three brothers, Francis, Thomas and John Poythress who grew up in the area along “Deep Bottom.”(8) Her mother was the daughter of Dr. John Coggin and Mrs. Joyce [------] Cheney Tye.(9) They lived on a large plantation approximately three miles south of the James River about halfway between Bailey’s creek and Powell’s creek.(10) 

    Rebecca Poythress’ father died when she was about nine years old.(11) Her mother married again five years later to brother-in-law, Charles Bartholomew, who was a widower.(12) Charles had been married to Frances Tye, half-sister of Rebecca Coggin.(13) Rebecca Poythress’ half-sister, Anne Bartholomew, was a child of Rebecca Coggin’s second marriage.(14)  

    Rebecca Coggin never knew her father-in-law,(15) Captain Francis Poythress, and was only fourteen years old when Major Francis Poythress’ step-father, Robert Wynne, died.(16) She did know Major Poythress’ brothers, Thomas and Captain John Poythress, and his half-siblings, Mary Wynne Woodlief, Thomas Wynne and Joshua Wynne.(17) In addition to her half-sister, Frances Tye Bartholomew, Rebecca had a half-brother, Thomas Boyce,(18) a half-sister, Elizabeth Tye Jane Wicket,(19) a step-brother, John Bartholomew, a possible niece, Bethia Boyce Scott,(20) nephews, Philip Jane and John Bartholomew, and grand nephews, Christopher Jane and John and Charles Bartholomew.(21) Her daughter, Rebecca Poythress, grew up among her Jane, Bartholomew, Wynne and Poythress relatives. Rebecca Coggin and Joshua Wynne had been playmates as children.(22)

Extant Evidence from Burned Record Counties of Virginia

    To determine who Rebecca was, this study will examine all pertinent evidence, direct and indirect, to determine if the identity of Rebecca Poythress’ husband and her children can be established. Her marriage has been the subject of research and speculation in a number of studies although none of these prior studies have correlated the nature of allied family relationships, property location and ownership patterns, connections to the affairs of siblings, business interests, naming of issue, inheritance and family migrations. This will be done as thoroughly as is possible based upon extant records. 

    Benedict Arnold’s destructive actions during the American Revolution and the destructive actions of the Union army during the Civil War destroyed many of Virginia’s records. Additionally, incompetent and irresponsible courthouse clerks, storms and fires have destroyed many more records in Virginia. As a result, one has to analyze the significance of every word in every record and utilize deductive logic to interpret what these records represent.

    There are very few birth, marriage or death records from colonial times in Virginia. There are only a few tombstones in Virginia graveyards that can be transcribed due to the effects of time and weather. Maps to plot places and tracts of land mentioned in the existent records require identifying particular terrain or water features in the old deeds or abstracts. However, there is no consistency. Different abstracts of the same records may contain different data, mistakes, or confusing information.

Previous Research and Studies

    There has been a family tradition that Rebecca Poythress married Richard Pace, Jr. Some researchers believed that the land transactions between Francis Poythress, Rebecca’s brother, and Richard Pace in November of 1718 supported the case that Rebecca Poythress became the wife of Richard Pace (Jr.).(23) However, this Richard Pace was actually the nephew of Richard Pace (Jr.).(24)

    On the opposing side, some believed that Rebecca Bartholomew, in her deed of gift in September of 1711, addressing her daughter as “Rebecca Poythress” indicated that her daughter was not married.(25) In 1711, Richard Pace was already married to a woman named Rebecca and had children.(26) Additionally, Anne Green named her sister as “Rebecca Poythress,” not “Rebecca Pace,” in her sale of her gifted property in December of 1721.(27) The use of Rebecca Poythress’ maiden name in both documents vice her married name has caused doubt and disbelief.(28)

    The following deeds of gift were from Rebecca Bartholomew to her daughters, Anne Bartholomew and Rebecca Poythress, and are given in their entirety for the first time - ever - to clear any misconceptions caused by the abstracts.

    Know all men by these presents that we Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca Bartholomew of Prince George County in Virginia for & in consideration of the natural love & affection we bear to our daughter Anne Bartholomew of the same county as also for the bettering & advancing her fortune in the world, do give grant Enfeoff & confirm & by these presents have given granted enfeoffed & confirmed unto the said Anne Bartholomew her heirs and assigns forever, after our decease & the decease of the survivor of us, & not til Then, two hundred acres of land lying & being on both sides the Easterly run within the said county of Pr. George & parish of Westover, being the remaining part of one thousand acres of land granted to the said Rebecca in the time of her widowhood, as by an escheat Patent bearing date the 29th of April Ao. 1692 will Appear, the moiety whereof is at present belonging to Col. Littlebury Epes and three hundred acres more Whereof is given & granted by us, to Rebecca Poythress as per deed of gift to her for the same bearing even date with these presents may appear. The said two hundred acres of land hereby given and granted to the said Anne having for the bounds thereof on the side next the said Rebecca three hundred acres, the bounds & courses thereof where they join together & on the other sides the courses of the Patent & deeds of sale from Batts to Ardington together with all houses, edifices, plantations, orchards, gardens, woods, water pastures, feedings, & all profits privileges & advantages thereunto belonging, to have & to hold the said dividend & piece of land containing by estimation two hundred acres be the same more or less, within the bounds before mentioned unto the said Anne Bartholomew her heirs & assigns forever, from and after the death of us the said Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca Bartholomew & the survivor of us, together with all houses edifices, plantations, & all other the before mentioned privileges, peaceably & quietly to have hold use occupy possess & enjoy to her, & their own proper use & behoof forever, without any let hindrance of us or either of us & the said Anne Bartholomew her heirs & assigns shall & may by force & virtue of these presents have hold use occupy possess & enjoy the lands & premises here given & granted free & clear from any debts duties and incumbrances her Majesties Quit rents only excepted for as full & ample manner to all intents & purposes as the said Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca his wife or either of them or their heirs might or could enjoy the same. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this tenth day of September Ao. 1711. Charles Bartholomew (seal). Rebecca (x) Bartholomew (seal). Signed sealed & delivered in presence of us John Woodlief, Rich’d. Walpole, John Denton.                                                                                                          Pr. Geo. County Court Tuesday the 13th day of Sept. Ao. 1711. The above written deed was  acknowledged in open court by both the subscribers to be their acts & deeds to the therein named Anne Bartholomew & her heirs forever, & at her prayer the same was ordered to be recorded & it is truly recorded. Test. E. Goodrich.(29)

    If Avent and Howard had seen the original deed to Anne Bartholomew, not an abstract, they would have seen “enjoy to her, & their own proper use.” Mrs. Anne Green was addressed as Anne Bartholomew, her maiden name.

    Know all men by these presents that we Charles Bartholomew and Rebecca Bartholomew of Pr. George County in Virginia for & in consideration of the natural love and affection we bear to our daughter Rebecca Poythress of the same county as also for & towards the bettering & advancing her fortune in the world, do Give grant enfeoff & confirm & by these presents have given granted enfeoffed & confirmed unto the said Rebecca Poythress her heirs & assigns forever, three hundred acres of land situate lying & being on both sides of the Easterly Run within the said county of Pr. George & parish of Westover, being part of one thousand acres of land granted to the said Rebecca in the time of her widowhood the moiety whereof is at present belonging to Col. Littlebury Epes, & the three hundred acres of land by these presents mentioned to be given & granted to the said Rebecca next adjoining to the said Epes his land being bounded on the lower side by his said land & on the inner most sides by the lines of the Patent & so running along the said lines til it comes to the road or path that goes from Jordans to Blackwater & so along that path to the Easterly run & from that run such a course to the headline or outermost part of the whole tract as will make up the full quantity of three hundred acres land to have & to hold the said three hundred acres land hereby given & granted unto the said Rebecca Poythress her heirs & assigns forever, with all houses edifices, gardens, orchards, plantations & all other profits privileges & advantages thereunto belonging or appertaining peaceably & quietly without any let or hindrance of us or either of us or any persons claiming by from or under us of either of us free & clear of and from all & all manner of encumbrances rents or arrearages of rents, her Majesties Quit rents for the same & two years rent of the plantation on which Geo. Reives now liveth (only excepted) which said two years rent is to be paid by the said Rebecca Poythress to the said Charles Bartholomew the next ensuing years & the said Rebecca Poythress her heirs assigns shall & may by force & virtue of these presents have hold use occupy possess & enjoy the lands & premises hereby given & granted in as full & ample manner to all intents & purposes as we the said Charles Bartholomew or Rebecca Bartholomew one or either of them might or could enjoy the same. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this 10th day Sept. 1711. Charles Bartholomew (seal). Rebecca (x)  Bartholomew (seal). Signed sealed delivered in the presence of John Woodlief, Rich’d. Walpoole, John Denton.                                                                                                                                                                                                Pr. George County Court the 13th day of Sept. 1711. The next before written deed was acknowledged in open court by both the subscribers to be their act & deed to the therein named Rebecca Poythress & her heirs forever, & at her prayer the same is ordered to be recorded & it is truly here recorded. Test, E. Goodrich.(30)

    The following lease and deed of sale were from Burrell & Anne Green and Francis Poythress to Robert Hunnicutt. The deed of lease is given in its entirety.

    This Indenture made this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred twenty one between Burrell Green and Anne his wife and Francis Poythress of the County of Surry of the one part and Robert Hunnicutt of the County of Prince George shoemaker of the other part witnesseth that the said Burrell Green and Anne his wife and Francis Poythress for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings current money to them in hand paid by the said Robert Hunnicutt whereof they do hereby acknowledge the receipt, have bargained and sold and do by these presents bargain and sell unto the said Robert Hunnicutt his executors and administrators, one tract or parcel of land containing two hundred acres, more or less, situate lying and being In the County of Prince George on both sides the Easterly Run, the same being part of a Patent for one thousand acres of land, granted unto Rebecca Poythress by an escheat Patent bearing the date the twenty ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred ninety two, the moiety or one half of which land is in the possession of Littlebury Epes, and three hundred acres more of the said land was given to Rebecca Poythress the daughter of the aforesaid Rebecca the Patentee the other two hundred acres, the residue thereof, was given to the aforesaid Anne having for the bounds thereof the side next to the said Rebecca’s three hundred acres where they join together, and on the other sides, the courses of the said Patent and deed of sale from Batts to Ardington. To have and to hold the said land and premises with the appurtenances unto the said Robert Hunnicutt his executors and administrators from the day next before the date hereof, unto the end and term and for and during the term of one year, from thence next ensuing to the intent that by virtue thereof, and of the Statute for the transferring uses into possession, the said Robert Hunnicutt may be in the actual possession of the said land & premises and be enabled to take and accept of a grant & release of the reversion and inheritance of the same land & premises to him and his heirs to the use of him his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals the day and year above written. Burrell Green (seal), Anne Green (seal), Francis Poythress (seal). Signed sealed & delivered in presence of Joseph Simmons, Abraham Odium, James Jones.                                                                                                                            At a Court held at Merchants Hope for Prince George County on the second Tuesday in December being the twelfth day of the said month, Anno Domini 1721. The above written deed of lease of land (indented and sealed) was in open court acknowledged by Burrell Green and Ann his wife and Francis Poythress the subscribers thereto, to be their act and deed to Robert Hunnicutt named therein, on whose motion the same by order of the court is truly recorded. Test. Wm. Hamlin Clerk of court.(31)

    This Indenture made this twelfth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred twenty one between Burrell Green and Anne his wife and Francis Poythress of the County of Surry of the first part to Robert Hunnicutt of the County of Prince George shoemaker of the other part witnesseth that the said Burrell Green and Anne his wife and Francis Poythress by indenture bearing the date hereof, and for the consideration therein expressed, have bargained and sold to the said Robert Hunnicutt his executors and administrators, one tract or parcel of land containing two hundred acres, more or less, situate, lying and being in the county of Prince George, on both sides the Easterly Run, the same being part of a Patent for one thousand acres of land, granted unto Rebecca Poythress by an escheat Patent bearing the twenty ninth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand, six hundred, ninety two, the moiety or one half of which land is in the possession of Littlebury Epes and three hundred acres more of the said land, was given to Rebecca Poythress, the daughter of the aforesaid Rebecca the Patentee, the other two hundred acres, the residue thereof, was hereby given unto the aforesaid Anne, and is bounded as in the said Indenture is mentioned to have and to hold the said land and premises with the appurtenances unto the said Robert Hunnicutt his executors and administrators, from the day next before the date of this indenture, unto the end and term of one year from thence next follows and fully to be completed by virtue thereof, and of the Statute for transferring uses into possession the said Robert Hunnicutt might be in the actual possession of the said land & premises and be enabled to accept of and take a grant and release of the reversion and inheritance thereof to him and his heirs, to the use of him his heirs and assigns forever as by ye said executed indenture of lease more at large appeareth. Now this indenture witnesseth that the said Burrell Green and Anne his wife and Francis Poythress for and in consideration of the sum of twenty one pounds, ten shillings to them in hand paid by the said Robert Hunnicutt, whereof they do acknowledge the receipt, have granted, remised, released and confirmed and do hereby give grant, remise, release and confirm unto the said Robert Hunnicutt in his actual possession now being by virtue of the said recited indenture of bargain & sale made to him of a year and of the said Statute and to his heirs and assigns forever, the aforesaid land and premises with the appurtenances, and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand whatsoever of the said Burrell Green and Anne his wife and Francis Poythress in and to the same and every part thereof, and the reversion and remainder and remainders thereof and of every part thereof. To have & to hold the said land & premises with the appurtenances unto the said Robert Hunnicutt his heirs and assigns forever, to the only use and behoof of the said Robert Hunnicutt and his heirs and assigns forever. And the said Burrell Green and Anne his wife and Francis Poythress for themselves, their heirs executors and administrators do covenant and agree with the said Robert Hunnicutt his heirs executors and administrators, that they and every of them, the before hereby granted land and premises and every part thereof with the appurtenances will warrant and forever defend against any persons whatsoever. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals, the day and year above written. Burrell Green (seal), Anne Green (seal), Francis Poythress (seal). Signed sealed & delivered in presence of Joseph Simmons, Abraham Odium, James Jones.(32)

    The witnesses for Anne Green’s deed to Robert Hunnicutt in Surry Co. in December, 1721, were neighbors of her grandfather John Coggin’s farm. Joseph Simmons was the son of Thomas Simmons and executor of his father’s will in Surry Co. dated 17 February 1725/6 and probated 18 April 1733. Joseph inherited property on Powell’s creek below his brother, Thomas. He was one of the witnesses. Margaret Goodrich, executrix of Edward Goodrich, leased 100 acres to Abraham Goodrich, February, 1721/2. The land was adjacent to Philip Jane, the late Edward Hill and Richard Pace, the nephew of Richard and Rebecca Pace. Abraham Goodrich witnessed the deed less than two months before he leased the land from Anne’s step-cousin, Margaret Wynne Goodrich. Neighbor, Philip Jane, was Anne’s first cousin. James Jones, the son of James Jones, a cooper, was born about 1666 in Charles City Co. He was probably one of the witnesses and was about 55 years old. His father’s land was near Captain David Peebles, Robert Jones, Piney swamp, old Town Bridge and on the line of Richard Tye.(33)

    Eight publications have been examined regarding the possibility that Richard Pace, Jr., married Rebecca Poythress. Dr. Claiborne T. Smith, Jr. (1968), wrote that “Circumstantial evidence is strong that she (Rebecca Poythress) married Richard Pace, d. 1738, and removed with him to N. C....According to family tradition, this Richard Pace m. a Rebecca Poythress.”(34) R. Bolling Batte (1977) wrote that Rebecca Poythress, daughter of Francis Poythress and Rebecca Coggin, married Richard Pace. Flora B. Dotson (1987) wrote that “John Jane...was the uncle of Rebecca Poythress, who married Richard Pace...” Frieda Reid Turner’s compilations (1993) reported that “In 1697/8, Richard (Pace) III married Rebecca Poythress...” Phillis Lindenmeyer (1995) wrote that Richard Pace/Rebecca Poythress had ten children: three sons, Richard, Thomas and William; and, seven daughters, Ann, Rebecca, Amy, Frances, Tabitha, Mary and Sarah. Dorothy Ford Wulfeck (2009) wrote that “Poythress, Rebecca m. Richard Pace.” For over fifty years, there have been many proponents for this marriage.

    Two published studies have interpreted that the names shown on deeds were proof that while Richard Pace, Jr., married a woman named Rebecca that she could not have been Rebecca Poythress.(35) David Avent (1982) wrote: “If the 300 acres described had belonged to Rebecca, wife of Richard Pace, it would have belonged to Richard Pace, in right of his wife, and he would have been cited as the owner of the 300 acres, not Rebecca Poythress.” Bruce Howard (1998) wrote: “It should be clear to you at this point (re: the 1711 deed) that Rebecca the daughter of Major Francis & Rebecca Poythress, now the step-daughter of Charles Bartholomew, her uncle, was a single young woman.” For over forty years, there have been opponents of this marriage.

    Mr. Avent and Mr. Bruce did not posit alternative candidates - just that it could not have been Rebecca Poythress. No other surname, other than Poythress, has ever been advanced in prior studies.

    Mrs. Rebecca Poythress Bartholomew identified her daughter as Rebecca Poythress in her deed of gift. Rebecca was her daughter from her marriage to Major Francis Poythress (c. 1639-1688) and would have had the maiden name of Poythress. It is documented that Richard Pace and his wife, Rebecca, were married and had children prior to 1711.(36) According to both researchers, Rebecca Poythress would have been addressed as Rebecca Pace if, in fact, Rebecca Poythress was married to Richard Pace. This interpretation posits that the use of her maiden name precludes the possibility of her being married to Richard Pace, Jr. By that interpretation, it also precludes the possibility that she ever married. Neither study explores reasons, other than having been unmarried, that Rebecca’s mother would have used her daughter’s maiden name.

    There is no documentary record of her mother’s reasons for using Rebecca’s maiden name but it is plausible that her mother, Rebecca Bartholomew, may have wanted to make it clear that her daughter was issue from her first marriage to Major Francis Poythress. We know the land being transferred was acquired by escheat and granted to her prior to her marriage to Charles Bartholomew.(37)

Poythress and Pace Family Backgrounds

    Rebecca Poythress’ grandfather, Captain Francis Poythress, arrived in the Virginia colony from England by 1633.(38) He was a Burgess for Charles City Co. in 1644, 1645 and 1647 and was a Lieutenant in the militia in the Indian war of 1644 and Captain by 1647. In 1648, he was appointed to collect taxes in the new county of Northumberland that extended from the York and Rappahannock rivers to the Potomac river. He represented Northumberland Co. in the Virginia Assembly of 1648. He amassed 750 acres along and between Bailey’s creek eastward toward Jordan’s Journey on the south side of the James river.(39)

    Richard Pace (Jr.) was the great grandson of Richard Pace, an ancient planter,(40) and emigrant to Jamestown prior to “the coming away of Sir Thomas Dale” in 1616. Richard’s ancestor held a patent for land that was called Pace’s Paines across the James river from Jamestown.(41) On March 22, 1621/2, Chief Opechancanough, head of the Powhattan Indians, executed his planned offensive against the English settlements.(42) During the previous night, Richard Pace learned about the impending attack from a Virginia Indian that lived with him. Pace rowed a boat three miles across the James river to Jamestown and informed Governor Sir Francis Wyatt of the coming attack. Warnings were sent out from Jamestown to alert the plantations. His warning saved hundreds of lives.(43) 

    Richard Pace’s son, George Pace, married Sarah Maycock, the daughter of Reverend Samuel Maycock. Samuel arrived in Virginia by March 10, 1617/8, after Governor Samuel Argall wrote the Virginia Company requesting Mr. Maycock, a Cambridge scholar and minister, be sent to the 

Colony.(44)

    In 1619, Governor Sir George Yeardley added Master Samuel Maycock to his Virginia Council. Samuel Maycock was killed in the March 1621/2 massacre. His daughter and son-in-law came into possession of hundreds of acres of land that eventually passed to his grandson, Richard Pace, Sr.(45) The land was bordered by the James river on the north and Powell’s creek on the west.

    After Samuel Maycock’s death, his daughter, Sarah, was raised in Captain Roger Smith and his wife, Jane Pierce’s household with Jane’s daughter, Elizabeth Rolfe, from Jane Pierce’s previous marriage to John Rolfe.(46) Sarah Maycock and Elizabeth Rolfe were approximately the same age. George Pace and his mother, Isabella Smyth Pace Perry, divided their time between Jamestown island, Pace’s Paines and later Buckland. Isabel’s second husband, William Perry, was a member of the Burgess from 1628 to 1630 and 1632 when he was named to the Governor’s Council and served until his death in 1637.(47)

    Captain Francis Poythress was the progenitor of the Poythress family in Virginia. From Major Francis Poythress and his brother, John, descended all of the known Poythress family members in Virginia from the colonial period until the Civil War. Captain Francis Poythress died about 1650 and his children were raised to maturity by a step-father, Colonel Robert Wynne. Major Francis Poythress married Rebecca Coggin and they were married about ten years until his death in 1688. Their children, were Francis, Rebecca, Thomas and John.(48) Rebecca Poythress was born about 1679.(49) Her mother married as her second husband, Charles Bartholomew in 1693.(50)

    Robert Wynne was a Burgess for Charles City Co. He had been the Speaker of the House of Burgesses during Virginia’s Long Parliament (1661-1675).(51) He was a colonel in the Charles City Co. militia(52) and owned farms in England and Virginia.(53) Robert selected his step-son, Francis Poythress (c. 1639-1688), as one of the overseers of his will.

    Richard Pace, Jr., was born between about 1662 and 1665, his brother, George, being the eldest son and born in 1661.(54) Richard Pace, Sr., raised his family during the Indian hostilities of the 1670s and, with John Poythress, Major Poythress’ brother, were jurors in the aftermath of Bacon’s rebellion.(55)  Richard Pace, Sr., sold most if not all of his inherited land during the 1660s and moved to a location adjacent to his father-in-law, Richard Baker, in 1664/5, on 140 acres that his father-in-law gave him.(56)

    On February 11, 1659/60, Richard Pace, Sr., sold his land adjacent to Bland’s path to William Wilkins.(57) Bland’s path was named after Richard Bland. Richard Bland II married Anne Poythress, the daughter of Peter Poythress and Anne Jones.(58)

    In 1680, Major Francis Poythress was a neighbor of John Williams and William Edmonds in Jordan’s parish near Bland’s path.(59) Williams and Edmonds received fifty acres for paying Nicholas Whitmore’s transportation to the Virginia colony. Nicholas Whitmore was the step-father of Richard Pace, Jr. Richard Pace, Sr.’s widow, Mary Baker Pace, was married to Nicholas Whitmore by 1692.(60) In 1690, both Major Francis Poythress and Nicholas Whitmore held tracts of land adjacent to Adam Tapley and William Harrison in Jordan’s parish.(61)

    1 (1) “Virginia Quit Rent Rolls, 1704,” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 1920. (2) R. Bolling  Batte papers, index cards at Library of Virginia, 1977. (3) Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, p. 33 All of Major Francis and Rebecca Poythress’ sons were of age by 1704. Batte and Smith listed John Poythress as the youngest child and Rebecca as the second oldest child.

    2 Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, pp. 31-32.

    3 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, p. 70, Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca Bartholomew to Anne Bartholomew, 10 Sept 1711, 13 Sept 1711.

    4 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, p. 76, Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca Bartholomew to Rebecca Poythress, 10 Sept 1711, 13 Sept 1711.

    5 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, 1713-1728, pp. 502-503, Burrell Green, Anne Green, Francis Poythress to Robert Hunnicutt, 11 Dec 1721, 12 Dec 1721.

    6 (1) Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, pp. 31-32. (2) Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Court Orders, Capt. Robert Wynne was administrator of Mr. John Sloeman’s estate, 3 Dec 1658. Mary Poythress Wynne had grandchildren named Sloman Wynne.

    7 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Pat. Bk. 7, 1679-1689, p. 335, grant to Major Francis Poythress, 20 Nov 1683. 

    8 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Deeds & Wills, 1713-1728, Francis Poythress to John Poythress, Jr., 8 Nov 1720.

    9 Fleet, Beverly, Va. Col. Abstracts Chas. Ct. Vol. 1, 1658-1661, p. 37, C-11, p. 185, 3 June 1659. Dr. John Coggin and Mrs. Joyce Tye married in 1659. Rebecca Coggin was their daughter.

    10 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Pat. 2, pp. 233-234, grant to Richard Tye, 26 Oct 1649.

    11 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Ct. Orders, 1687-1695, p. 188.

    12 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Ct. Orders, 1687-1695, p. 509.

    13 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Ct. Orders, 1687-1695, pp. 503 & 505, 4 June 1694.

    14 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, p. 70, Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca Bartholomew to Anne Bartholomew, 10 Sept 1711, 13 Sept 1711.

    15 Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, pp. 31-32.

    16 Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 33, p. 180.

    17 Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, pp. 31-32.

    18 Fleet, Beverly, Va. Col. Abstracts, Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Vol. 1, p. 687.

    19 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Ct. Orders, 1687-1695, p. 505, 4 June 1694.

    20 Dorman, John Frederick, (1928-2021), 4th ed., Vol. 3, “Adventurers of Purse and Person,” Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 200),” publ. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., in collaboration with the Order of First Families of Virginia, p. 268. Nathaniel Tatum married Emelia Scott, daughter of John Scott and possibly Bethia Scott, granddaughter of Thomas Boyce and Emelia Craven.

    21 John Bartholomew (-1735) was the only Bartholomew in Pr. Geo. Co., Va., other than Charles Bartholomew, his father. John named his sons, John, after himself, and Charles, after his father. If Frances Tye was John’s (-1735) mother, he would have been a step-brother to Rebecca Poythress and half-brother to Anne Bartholomew.

    22 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Ct. Orders, p. 505, 3 July 1694, Virginia vs. Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca Bartholomew.

    23 (1) Dotson, Flora B., “Analysis of Cheney Boyce, Richard Tye, and John Coggan and Poythress,” Jan 1987, p. 9. If Richard Pace did not marry Rebecca Poythress, why would he be involved in all these land transactions with two people by the name of Francis Poythress?” (2) Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, p. 269, Francis Poythress to Richard Pace, 11 Nov 1718, 9 Dec 1718; Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, pp. 269-270, Francis Poythress to Thomas Goodwyn, 11 Nov 1718, 9 Dec 1718; and, Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, pp. 271-272, Richard Pace & Francis Poythress to Thomas Goodwyn, 11 Nov 1718, 9 Dec 1718.

    24 (1) Howard, Bruce, Colonial Ancestors 1609 to 1799, Specialty Publishing & Printing, Box 414, Quitman, MS, 1998, pp. 125-129, “Sarah Pace, wife of Richard Pace, relinquished her dower in land sold by her husband to Thomas Goodwyn.” Richard Pace, the nephew of Richard Pace, Jr., held land adjoining Francis Poythress located one mile SW of the old Pace homestead that had been granted to his grandfather, Richard Pace, Sr. This land adjoined, on the south, Daniel Higdon & Roger Reese and John Williams. (2) Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Pat. 7, pp. 274-275, Va. patent to Daniel Higdon & Roger Reese, 16 Apr 1683. (3) Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Pat. 7, p. 334, Va. patent to John Williams, 20 Nov 1683.

    25 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, p. 76, Charles Bartholomew and Rebecca Bartholomew to Rebecca Poythress, 10 Sept 1711, 13 Sept 1711.

    26 Dorman, John Frederick, (1928-2021), 4th ed., Vol. 2, “Adventurers of Purse and Person,” Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 2005,” publ. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., in collaboration with the Order of First Families of Virginia, p. 770. Richard and Rebecca Pace’s son, Richard, was 21 years of age by 1 Mar 1719/20 and was married by age 23 to Elizabeth Cain.

    27 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, 1713-1728, pp. 502-503, Burrell Green, Anne Green & Francis Poythress to Robert Hunnicutt, 11 Dec 1721, 12 Dec 1721.

     28 (1) Howard, Bruce, Colonial Ancestors 1609-1799, Specialty Publishing & Printing, Box 414, Quitman, MS, 1998, p. 325. (2) Avant, David A., Some Southern Colonial Families, Vol. 2, Publ. by Avant Studios, Box 1711, Tallahassee, 1982, Chapter V: Pace Family of England, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia, p. 209-212.

    29 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, p. 70, Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca Bartholomew to Anne Bartholomew, 10 Sept 1711, 13 Sept 1711.

    30 (1) Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, p. 76, Charles Bartholomew & Rebecca Bartholomew to Rebecca Poythress, 10 Sept 1711, 13 Sept 1711. (2) Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, p. 71, Will of Randolph Birchenhead. 19 July 1711, 3 Sept 1711. The will stated, “rest of estate to be divided between Mrs. Bartholomew and his wife, Eliza Birchenhead.” Wit: George Rives, Ursula Rives and William Stainback. 

    31 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, 1713-1728, pp. 502-503, Burrell Green, Anne Green, Francis Poythress (lease) to Robert Hunnicutt, 11 Dec 1721, 12 Dec 1721. Burrell and Anne Green did not have children. Her heir would have been her brother, Francis Poythress. As such, he apparently appeared in the deed to ensure a secure title to Robert Hunnicutt.

    32 Pr. Geo. Co., Va., Wills & Deeds, 1713-1728, pp. 502-503, Burrell Green, Anne Green, Francis Poythress (sale) to Robert Hunnicutt, 12 Dec 1721, 12 Dec 1721.

    33 (1) Geesnmore - A Family History, https://geesnmore.wordpress.com/charles-gee-and-hannah/hannahs-family/jones-of-sussex-and-prince-george/. (2) Richard Tye died in 1658. John Coggin married Tye’s widow in 1659 and came into possession of Tye’s property. (3) Robert Jones’ Level, later known as Poplar Level, was adjacent to the lands of Robert Jones, James Jones and Richard Jones, the clerk. (4) James Jones’ (b.~1666) wife was Rebecca Blight. His mother was probably Rebecca Lewis. His daughter, Rebecca, was born in the 1690s. (5) A 1667 deed to William Harrison, Jr., for 386 acres, stated that his land adjoined Captain David Peebles, to Robert Jones, down the Pyny Swamp to the old Towne Bridge, to James Jones, to the line of Mr. Richard Tye. (1) Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, p. 32. (2) R. Bolling Batte papers, index cards at Library of Virginia, 1977: “Pace, Rebecca (Poythress) (P-1) DD, CC#148, Par(ents): Francis and Rebecca (Coggin) Poythress, D1, C#67, p. 96/32, mar(ried): Richard Pace.” (3) Dotson, Flora B., “Analysis of Cheney Boyce, Richard Tye, and John Coggan and Poythress,” Jan. 1987, p. 12 & P. 25. (4) The Pace Family, 1607-1750, First ed., Vol. 1, compiled by Freda Reid Turner, copyright 1993 by Eleanor Pace Terrell. Numerous quotes of marriage pp. 88, 90,91, 109, 165, 166, 202. (5) Family Group sheets “Pace” and “Poythress,” 1995, Phyllis Lindenmeyer. (6) Marriages of Some Virginia Residents, 1607-1800, Series 1, Vol. 5, compiled and publ. by Dorothy Ford Wulfeck, 2009, p. 251.

    34 (1) Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, p. 32. (2) R. Bolling Batte papers, index cards at Library of Virginia, 1977: “Pace, Rebecca (Poythress) (P-1) DD, CC#148, Par(ents): Francis and Rebecca (Coggin) Poythress, D1, C#67, p. 96/32, mar(ried): Richard Pace.” (3) Dotson, Flora B., “Analysis of Cheney Boyce, Richard Tye, and John Coggan and Poythress,” Jan. 1987, p. 12 & P. 25. (4) The Pace Family, 1607-1750, First ed., Vol. 1, compiled by Freda Reid Turner, copyright 1993 by Eleanor Pace Terrell. Numerous quotes of marriage pp. 88, 90,91, 109, 165, 166, 202. (5) Family Group sheets “Pace” and “Poythress,” 1995, Phyllis Lindenmeyer. (6) Marriages of Some Virginia Residents, 1607-1800, Series 1, Vol. 5, compiled and publ. by Dorothy Ford Wulfeck, 2009, p. 251.

    35 (1) Some Southern Families, Vol. 2, by David A. Avant, Published by L’Avant Studios, Box 1711, Tallahassee, 1982, Chapter V: Pace Family of England, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia, pp. 211-212. Comment by Col. Avant: “The proponents of the Rebecca ‘Poythress’ theory cite the (1711) record as their evidence. An analysis by this writer seems to indicate the opposite. Richard and Rebecca Pace had been married more than 20 years when the above deed was written and had children of adult age. If the 300 acres described had belonged to Rebecca, wife of Richard Pace, it would have belonged to Richard Pace, in right of his wife, and he would have been cited as the owner of the 300 acres, not Rebecca Poythress. Anne Poythress [sic] is clearly described as wife of Burrell Green but Rebecca is never cited as the wife of Richard Pace nor as ‘Rebecca Pace.’” “It is particularly noted that in the year 1721 (date of the deed) the 300 acres is still described as belonging to ‘the said Rebecca [Poythress],’ not Rebecca, wife of Richard Pace (who) would have been the legal owner if Rebecca Poythress had been his wife.” (2) Howard, Bruce, Colonial Ancestors 1609 to 1799, Specialty Publishing & Printing, Box 414, Quitman, MS, 1998, p 321 & p. 325. “There have been so many attempts by others to try and marry Richard Pace to Rebecca Poythress, the daughter of Rebecca Poythress of Charles City County. This reasoning was, of course, based on the usual guesswork without consulting the proper record sources or doing an in-depth search into all possibilities before making the assumption that would stick in everyone’s mind. What you are about to discover is that Richard did not marry Rebecca Poythress, pure and simple...It should be clear to you by this point (re: the 1711 deed) that Rebecca the daughter of Major Francis & Rebecca Poythress, now the step-daughter of Charles Bartholomew, her uncle, was a single young woman.”

    36 (1) Bertie Pct., NC, Will of Richard Pace, 13 Mar 1736, Feb 1738, Pace Society of America website: http://web.archive.org/web/20081002000325/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry. com/~pace/richpacewill.htm. (2) Letter of Barnabas Pace letter, written 1844-1850, in Freda Reid Turner, History of the Pace Family from Manuscripts of Miss Annie Jones (1873-1951), Barnabas Pace (1789-). Maud McClure Kelly (1887-1973) (n. p. 1995) p. 163.

    37 (1) Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Pat. Bk. 8, 1689-1695, p. 241, Va. patent to Mrs. Rebecca Poythress, 29 Apr 1693; (2) Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Ct. Orders, 1687-1695, p. 509, record of marriage of Charles Bartholomew to Mrs. Rebecca Poythress.

    38 Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, p. 32.

    39 Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, p. 30.

    40 Ancient Planters were early emigrants to the Va. Colony who stayed at least three years before the “coming away” of Sir Thomas Dale in 1616. Colonists who paid their own passage received 100 acres for their own personal adventure to the colony. Richard Pace and his wife, Isabel Smyth, both received 100 acres for their personal adventure to the colony.

    41 Corporation of James City, Pat. Bk. 1, pp. 64-65, grant to George Pace, 1 Sept 1628.

    42 Pace, David Edmund, The Man Who Foiled A Jamestown Massacre, Paragon Publishing, 2016.

    43 Dorman, John Frederick, (1928-2021), 4th ed., Vol. 2, “Adventurers of Purse and Person,” Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 2005,” publ. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., in collaboration with the Order of First Families of Virginia, pp. 764-768.

    44 Dorman, John Frederick, (1928-2021), 4th ed., Vol. 2, “Adventurers of Purse and Person,” Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 2005,” publ. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., in collaboration with the Order of First Families of Virginia, pp. 501-502.

    45 A “headright” system was devised to populate the colony. Every shareholder, in the Virginia company, who transported an emigrant or “headright” to the Colony acquired a claim to 50 acres if the person remained in Va. for three years. The headright was to be furnished with the necessities of life plus a small tract of land at the end of his contract. Once the indentured servant or headright became free, he could acquire his own land. The shareholder gained 50 acres for every passage he paid, a very lucrative prospect.

    46 Dorman, John Frederick, (1928-2021), 4th ed., Vol. 3, “Adventurers of Purse and Person,” Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 2005,” publ. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., in collaboration with the Order of First Families of Virginia, p. 216.

    47 Dorman, John Frederick, (1928-2021), 4th ed., Vol. 2, “Adventurers of Purse and Person,” Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 2005,” publ. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., in collaboration with the Order of First Families of Virginia, pp. 764-765, pp. 815-817.

    48 Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, pp. 31-32.

    49 (1)  “Virginia Quit Rent Rolls, 1704,” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 07/01/1920. (2) R. Bolling  Batte papers, index cards at Library of Virginia, 1977. (3) Smith, Jr., Claiborne T., “Poythress of Prince George County, Virginia,” Historical Southern Families, John Bennett Boddie, Vol. IV, 1968, p. 33 All of Major Francis and Rebecca Poythress’ sons were of age by 1704. Batte and Smith listed John Poythress as the youngest child and Rebecca as the second oldest child.

    50 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Ct. Orders, 1687-1695, p. 509.

    51 Kukla, Jon, “Speakers and clerks of the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1643-1776,” 1981.

    52 Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 20, p. 28.

    53 Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 33, p. 180.

    54 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Pat. 7, p. 176, Va. Patent to George Peas [sic] & Nicholas Whitmore, 22 Sept 1682. George Pace patented his first land in 1682 when he was 21 years old.

    55 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Order Bk. 1676-1679, p. 196, Capt. Arthur Allen vs. James Mumford, et al.

    56 Dorman, John Frederick, (1928-2021), 4th ed., Vol. 2, “Adventurers of Purse and Person,” Virginia, 1607-1624/5, 2005,” publ. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., in collaboration with the Order of First Families of Virginia, pp. 766-767.

    57 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Court Orders, 1658-1661, p. 249, Richard Pace to William Wilkins, 1 Feb 1659/60, 16 Nov 1660.

    58 R. Bolling Batte papers, Library of Virginia, Chart of Poythress Family in America, Section A of Two Sections, 1977.

    59 Chas. City. Co., Va., Pat. Bk. 7, p. 124, Va. Patent to Wm. Edmonds & John Williams, 20 Apr 1680.

    60 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Court Orders, 1687-1695, p. 409, Acct. of Hugh Kirkland vs. Nicholas Whitmore and Mary, his wife.

    61 Chas. Cty. Co., Va., Pat. 8, p. 78, 21 Apr 1690, grant to Adam Tapley & William Harrison.

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