This narrative involves George Pace, his son, Richard Pace, Sr., and his grandson, Richard, Thomas Drew and his daughter, Dorothy Drew, her husband, Hubert Farrell, and his son, Hubert Farrell. It also involves Joshua Poythress, his son, Joshua, and his grandson, William, and his father, John Poythress.
In 1617, Virginia Governor Sir George Yeardley was given land by the king of the Weyanoke Indians. The main town or village of the Weyanoke was at the head of a creek known as Merchant’s Hope Creek and later as Powell's Creek. In 1618, Yeardley patented 1,000 acres on the west side of a creek that he named Flowerdieu after his wife's maiden name. On October 5, 1624, Yeardley sold Flowerdiew to Captain Abraham Piersey, a merchant and member of the Council. Piersey died in 1627. He had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth was married first to Captain Richard Stephens and second to Sir John Harvey. Mary was married first to Captain Thomas Hill and second to Thomas Bushrod. On October 15, 1636, Elizabeth Stephens repatented 1,000 acres in Chas. Cty. Co., called Flowerdiew Hundred. She sold part of this grant to William Barker. On May 11, 1639, Barker acquired 1,300 adjacent acres. This became the home of William Barker and his family. After the deaths of William Barker and his son, John, Flowerdew passed to John’s sisters, Sarah Lucy and Elizabeth Limbrey.
When Flowerdew Hundred was divided between Sarah and Robert Lucy and Elizabeth and Phillip Limbrey, Colonel Robert Wynne and Lieutenant Colonel George Jordan were empowered by the court to lay out the boundary between the two halves of the property. The north half of Flowerdew Hundred bordered the James River and Maycock’s land that belonged to Dorothy Drew (1649-1673), the wife of Hubert Farrell (1649-1676). The south half of Flowerdew Hundred bordered the James River on the east side by Flowerdew Hundred Creek and by Maycock’s land. The witnesses to the division were Robert Wynne, Thomas Ligon, James Minge and Thomas Blayton. This document most definitely identified Samuel Maycock’s property as being adjacent to Flowerdew Hundred plantation.
On August 5, 1650, George Pace (1609-c. 1655) was granted 1,700 acres of land on the south side of the James River commonly called Matocks [Maycocks], that began at the mouth of a little swamp by the river side adjacent to Peirce’s Hundred that ran south into the woods 10,560 feet, west 13,200 feet, south 5,280 feet, west 9,636 feet to a swamp that led to Powell’s Creek, then along the Creek to the river and along the river east to the beginning. The land was due for the transportation of thirty-four people into the Colony. George Pace sold Thomas Drew 800 to 900 acres on October 12, 1650.
On April 25, 1659, Richard Pace (1638-1678), the son of George Pace, of Chas. Cty. at Mount March, confirmed the sale of 800 or 900 acres of land near Peirce’s Hundred, alias Flowerdew Hundred, that was sold by his deceased father to Thomas Drew as per the bill of sale dated October 12, 1650, the confirmation dated February 25, 1658/9. The witnesses were Anthony Wyatt and Thomas Stegge. The confirmation was recorded May 19, 1659.
On February 11, 1659/60, Richard Pace, “of Powell’s Creek,” planter, sold to William Wilkins, a certain neck of land between the branch commonly called the Westown branch of Flower de Hundred Creek and the bottom commonly called by the name of Reedy bottom, that ran up to Bland’s path at the head and contained by estimation 200 acres of land. The witnesses were Thomas Bigge and Thomas Parrham. These 200 acres in addition to the 800 or 900 acres that Richard’s father sold to Thomas Drew totaled 1,000 to 1,100 acres near Flowerdew Hundred.
Richard Pace was a planter along Powell’s creek in Chas. Cty. Co. on February 28, 1659/60 when he sold Thomas Madder land described as “beginning where Thomas Biggs left off and bounding out in the woods upon Thomas Biggs line and so the full breadth of three hundred acres upon the said creek.” The witnesses were Thomas Biggs and John Daniel. The additional 300 acres combined with the previously sold 1,000 to 1,100 acres totaled 1,300 to 1,400 acres.
At court at Westover on June 3, 1662, Richard and his wife, Mary, sold Richard Taylor “land upon Powell’s Creek, beginning at Bucklands Island so up the creek to the road commonly called the hawksnest and so butting upon the reedy botteme as far as Wm Wilkins plantation.” The witnesses were Caesar Walpole, John Hobbs, John Floriday and John Daniel. If the Hawk’s Nest property contained 300 acres, Richard sold 1,600 to 1,700 acres
On November 24, 1662, John Barker, of Flowerdew Hundred, gave Thomas Drew, his step-father and merchant, of Flowerdew Hundred, 30,000 pounds of tobacco to guarantee him against all trouble for maintaining Hannah Pett, the daughter of John Barker’s wife. The witnesses were Richard Taylor and Richard Pace.
In the Westover Court on February 3, 1664/5, a deed of gift dated January 21, 1664/5, Richard Baker gave to Richard Pace a parcel of land on the other side of the bottom on the west side of Richard Baker’s plantation containing 140 acres in breadth from the bottom and so holding the same breadth down to the Great Swamp beginning on the line of Richard Baker at the head of the bottom. The witnesses were William Harris, Patrick Jackson and Caesar Walpole.
Captain Hubbard Farrell, of Chas. Cty. Co., was an attorney and appeared often in records from 1671 to 1676. In February, 1676, as Captain in the Colonial Militia, he was in charge of the James River Fort during Bacon's rebellion. Sir William Berkeley, Governor of Virginia, sent a party of men under Captain Hubbard Farrell to attack Major Whaley and his guard at Colonel Bacon's house in York. In August, 1676, Whaley and his men put up a great fight against Farrell and not only held them back but also killed Farrell, the leader. In a letter written by Nathaniel Bacon to friends in 1676, he said that Hubert Farrell was shot in the belly, Hartwell in the leg, and Smith in the head. When Bacon marched against Jamestown a second time in September, 1676, he captured the city and burned it down. The following month, Bacon died suddenly from illness and his rebellion collapsed. Dorothy Farrell was the daughter of Col. Thomas Drew of Chas. Cty. Co. and wife of Captain Hubert Farrell.
At a Court at Westover on Monday, September 13, 1677, Judges Col. Edward Hill, Maj. John Stith, Mr. John Drayton, Sr., and Capt. Daniel Lewellin were present. There was an action for trespass between Capt. Arthur Allen, plaintiff, and Mr. Nevet Wheeler, the defendant. Claims were made that during "the late most horrid rebellion" that the defendant, took John Finley, one of Allen's servants and locked him up to persuade him to join the rebels. He refused to comply and when released, he was weak and sick. It was 4 months before Finley could work and Capt. Allen suffered monetary loss. The plaintiff prayed 10,000 pounds of tobacco damage. Richard Jackson, aged about 23 years, deposed that he was held prisoner with Finley for about 11 weeks and heard Nevet Wheeler try to persuade Finley to join the rebels. John Finley, aged 24 years, deposed that about September 16, 1667, last that he was among a group brought to Nevet Wheeler's in Martin Brandon. All of them were put in confinement and urged to join the rebels. Refusing, he was continued in confinement longer, became ill and was dismissed. The case was referred to a jury composed of Mr. Thomas Cocke, foreman; Mr. James Gunns, Mr. William Randolph, Mr. Sampson Ellis, Mr. Thomas Hamlin, Mr. John Mayton, Mr. John Poythress (1640-1712), Mr. Richard Pace, Mr. Thomas Gregory, Mr. John Marshall, Mr. Henry Burton and Mr. John Hamlin. [Order Bk p.191] Nevet Wheeler was eventually pardoned by Gov Berkeley, along with John Sturdivant.
The following day, the 14th, the judges were Col. Edward Hill, Major John Stith, Capt. Thomas Mallory and Mr. John Drayton. On the action for trespass depending between Capt. Arthur Allen, the plaintiff, against James Mumford, William Tompkins, Arthur Havyland, John Tate, Richard Heller, James Barnet, Robert Rowse, John Harrison, William Cooke, Edward Norwood, William Sandbourne and Henry Browne, all defendants, in the action, was referred to a Jury with Mr. William Randolph, foreman, Mr. Henry Burton, Mr. John Poythress, Mr. Sampson Ellis, Mr. Thomas Gregory, Mr. John Mayton, Mr. John Marshall, Mr. Richard Pace, Mr, John Hamlin and Mr. Henry Blanks, The action was withdrawn. [Order Bk p.196.]
On the 14th of the following February, 1677/8, Mary Pace applied for and was granted administration on the estate of her deceased husband, Richard Pace, Sr. (1638-1678). [Order Bk p.270]
Sometime before Richard Pace’s death, he acquired land about a mile SW of his 140 acres. In a deed for Daniel Higdon & Roger Reese, dated April 16, 1683, they held land with the description “beginning att a corner dogwood bush standing on the lower Kings field Branch, & runneth thence west along the line of Richard Pace, crossing the upper Kings field Branch, and the long poynt Branch three hundred thirty seven poles, to the line of John Williams to a corner black oake...” Also, John Williams, in a deed dated November 20, 1683, held land with the description “Richard Paces corner, thence along Pace’s line west ninety three poles to Richard Pace’s corner...” This southern border line of Richard’s measured 7,095 feet and may have included as much as 600 acres. This land evidently became his son, George’s land and passed to George’s son, Richard Pace. This land was referenced in several deeds including the 1718 deeds of this Richard Pace and Rebecca Poythress’ [Pace] brother, Francis Poythress.
In October of 1712, James Pace was listed among others that the estate of Colonel John Hardyman, a wealthy planter and tobacco factor, owed money.
On March 3, 1712, in Prince George Co., Robert Mumford, of Bristol parish, Prince George Co., to Richard Bland, of the City of Williamsburg, a lease to farm, land near Jordan's, between Deep Bottom and Cureton's Bottom, in occupation of Thomas Burge, 430 acres, 130 thereof formerly belonging to James Munford, father of said Robert, and given to him by inheritance, part thereof from Colonel John Hardyman (1682-1739) and the other 100 by purchase from Mr. Francis Poythress (c. 1677-c. 1754), all of which appears by James Munford's will. The deed was witnessed by Michael Wallace, Jane Wallace, Dorothy Hillman. This land was adjacent to John Poythress‘ land." (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com /th/read/POYTHRESS/2006-01/1137183925). These were Rebecca Poythress’ [Pace] brothers.
On November 7, 1715, William Epes and Sarah, his wife, of Parish of Westopher, Prince George Co., to James Pace of same Parish and county of Charles City, 100 acres in Westopher Parish, Prince George Co., it being the one moiety of one certain tract formerly belonging to Caesar Walpool [Walpole], and by his will given to his son and daughter Richard and Sarah Walpool [Walpole] to be equally divided, containing 201 acres by which devise it became vested in said William Epes and Sarah his wife. Bounded by Richard Walpool [Walpole], Richard Bird, Doodd’s, Arthur Biggins, Edward Goodrich, John Hardyman (1682-1739)...William Epes, Sarah Epes. Wit: Peter Wynne, Shands Raines, Rachel Walpool [Walpole]. [PG Co., Wills & Deeds, p. 94.]
In this deed of sale of 100 acres from William Epes to James Pace, one will recognize that: William Epes was the son of Mary Green Epes who was the sister of Burrell Green and sister-in-law to his wife, Anne Bartholomew Green, who received 200 acres from her mother, Mrs. Rebecca Poythress in 1711 near Lewis Green and Ephraim Parham‘s mill on Easterly Run. James Pace was Richard Pace Jr.‘s brother and brother-in-law to Rebecca Poythress [Pace]. Edward Goodrich was married to Margaret Wynne, the daughter of Joshua Wynne, Rebecca Poythress’ [Pace] uncle. Margaret had land next to James Pace. John Hardyman had land adjacent to James Pace. John Hardyman’s estate owed money to James Pace at Hardyman’s death. John Hardiman’s mother, Mary Epes Hardyman, was the sister of Littlebury Epes who lived adjacent to Rebecca Poythress [Pace] and Anne Bartholomew Green on Easterly Run. John Hardyman’s sisters, according to John Frederick Dorman’s “Adventurers of Purse and Person” were probably: Mary Hardyman who married John Poythress, Rebecca Poythress’ [Pace] brother; an unknown daughter Hardyman who married Joshua Poythress; an unknown daughter Hardyman who married William Irby; and, Susannah Hardyman who married Charles Irby, who became John Poythress’ son, William Poythress‘ guardian at John’s death. This 100 acres that James Pace bought was very near his mother, Mary Pace Whitmore, who lived on the 140 acres that Richard Baker gave to his father, Richard Pace, Sr. Both properties were on the great swamp and separated by the cross swamp and Mrs. Rebecca Poythress’ half-sister, Elizabeth Tye Jane. Mrs. Rebecca Poythress’ father, John Coggin, owned land on Elizabeth Jane’s and Richard Pace’s southern boundaries and Mrs. Rebecca Poythress’ half-brother, Thomas Boyce, owned land on Richard Pace’s western boundary and John Coggin’s northern boundary. On James Pace’s eastern boundary, lived David Peebles, the father-in-law of John Poythress who married Christian Peebles, David’s daughter. This deed provides an interesting perspective.
On February 10, 1718, James Parham, of Prince George Co., sold Joshua Poythress, of Prince George Co., 200 acres, in Prince George Co., on Bailey’s Creek known as “High Peak.” The witness was James Cocke. [DB 1713-1728, p. 24] This land was about a mile and a quarter west of the land that Mrs. Rebecca Poythress, widow of Major Francis Poythress, was granted 1,000 acres, that she gifted to her daughters in 1711, 300 acres to Rebecca Poythress [Pace] and 200 acres to Anne Bartholomew Green. Rebecca sold 500 acres to Joshua Wynne, her brother-in-law, who in turn, sold it to Littlebury Epes. Littlebury’s grandson, Thomas Epes, left this land to his cousin, William Poythress (1753-1794), the grandson of Joshua Poythress (1688-1739), by will in 1790.
In 1725, John Hardyman (1682-1739), whose mother was Mary Eppes, sister of Littlebury Epes, and whose grandmother was Elizabeth Littlebury, conveyed to “Joseph” [Joshua] Poythress (1688-1739) 300 acres, part of the Flowerdew Hundred tract in Prince George Co. The consideration expressed was 10 shillings, meaning that it was a deed of gift. John Hardyman had actually paid 600 pounds lawful money of England for 150 of the same 300 acres he gave away.
In July of 1725, in a deed from John Hardyman of Martin’s Brandon parish, Prince George Co., and Henrietta Maria, his wife, he sold Joshua Poythress (1688-1739), of the same place, for 10 shillings, a tract of land, in Martins Brandon Parish, 300 acres, called Flower De Hundred, part of a tract of 1,000 acres, 150 acres devised to Henrietta Maria, wife of John Hardyman, by the will of her father, John Taylor, April 5, 1707, and the other 150 acres devised by John Taylor‘s will to daughter, Sarah, the wife of Francis Hardyman. Francis and Sarah Hardyman sold the land to John Hardyman and his wife. [PG DB 1713-1728, p. 826] Flowerdew Hundred was bounded on the north by the James River, on the east by the land of Robert Wilkins, and on the south by the land called Dutchy Hills and on the west by the land of Elizabeth Duke.
Joshua Poythress’ grandson, William Poythress (1753-1794), married Mary Gilliam, the daughter of John and Jane (Henry) Gilliam, of Prince George Co. William Poythress was a captain in the Continental Army during the Revolution. He was the principle beneficiary of the 1779 will of Thomas Epes (-1779). In 1790, William Poythress deeded to William S. Peachy the same 300 acres of Flowerdew Hundred, previously mentioned, that John Hardyman had conveyed by deed of gift to the first Joshua Poythress (1688-1739) and had by the latter been devised to the second Joshua (1720-1782), who had, in turn, devised the same to his son William, the present grantor.
John Hardyman's son, John Hardyman, Jr., married a granddaughter of Richard Taylor. Thomas Ravenscroft also married a granddaughter of Richard Taylor. Thomas Ravenscroft stood security for James Pace when he renewed his ordinary license in 1733. Thomas Ravenscroft (1688-1739) married Elizabeth Hamlin (-bef. 1720), daughter of John Hamlin (c. 1640-bef. 1720) and Elizabeth Taylor (c. 1660-1720). Their daughter, Hannah Ravenscroft (c. 1710-1765), married Francis Poythress (c. 1707-1738), son of John Poythress and Mary [Hardyman]. This Francis Poythress was a nephew of Rebecca Poythress [Pace].
By 1733, Richard Pace, Jr. (c. 1663-1739), was “of Bertie Precinct,” in NC. In June, 8½ years after Richard bought his 1,220 acres in Surry Co., he sold his son-in-law, William Johnson, 300 acres and Hubert Farrell (1673-1749) 240 acres of this land. He sold son-in-law, John Bradford, 680 acres, the balance of his 1,220 acres.
On August 18, 1738, in Surry Co., in the estate sale for John Barlow, deceased, Richard (c. 1663-1739) and probably Rebecca Pace and many of their children, relatives and friends were in attendance. Richard and Rebecca were there with Richard, Jr., and William Pace, their sons; William Acock, Charles Stewart, John Green, William Johnson and Lawrence House, their sons-in-law; Thomas and William House, their son-in-law’s brothers; and, William Johnson, Jr., possibly their grandson. Joseph Lane, husband of Patience McKinnie, parents of Jesse Lane, who married Winifred Aycock, was there. Winifred Aycock was the daughter of Rebecca Pace Bradford Aycock. John Bartholomew, Rebecca Poythress’ nephew, was there. John Denton, who witnessed Rebecca Poythress’ deed of gift from her mother, was there. Robert Hicks, the famous Indian trader of Fort Christanna, and his sons, Daniel, Robert, Jr., and George were there and his son, John, who married Rebecca Rives, and her brother, William Rives was there. Other Indian traders in attendance included Robert Lang, Thomas Whitmell, George Smith, William Kimball and Arthur Kavenaugh. Epaphroditus Benton was there. He was mentioned by William Byrd as a famous woodsman. William Gower, a mixed blood Saponi Indian, and John Cumbo, a mulatto, were there. Previous neighbors of Richard’s were there: Thomas Jackson, who lived in the vicinity of Richard Pace’s 1,220 acres; James Vaughan, who sold land to Rebecca Poythress’ first cousin, Robert Wynne, on the south side of Three Creek; and, Thomas Avent, who with Richard witnessed John Barlow’s will, and Thomas’ sons, John and William were present. Other men who had married a woman named Rebecca were there: George Ezell, who married Rebecca Delk, and Francis Myrick who married Rebecca Middleton. Hubert Farrell, who bought some of Richard’s 1,220 acres was there. Francis and Edward Young, members of the Young family who had lived adjacent to John, Francis and Thomas Poythress and Charles and Rebecca Bartholomew on Deep Bottom, were there.
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