Person Page - 246

     Anne Custis was born on 2 Jan 1755 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of MAJ Thomas Custis and Elizabeth Cassandra "Cassy" Wise. Anne Custis married CPT Samuel Waples on 12 Feb 1778 at Accomack Co, Virginia. Anne Custis died on 17 Jul 1821 at Accomack Co, Virginia, at age 66.

     CPT Samuel Waples was born on 19 Jun 1755 at Sussex Co, Delaware. He married Anne Custis, daughter of MAJ Thomas Custis and Elizabeth Cassandra "Cassy" Wise, on 12 Feb 1778 at Accomack Co, Virginia. CPT Samuel Waples married Scarbrough "Sabra" Polk Townsend on 20 Aug 1822 at Accomack Co, Virginia. CPT Samuel Waples died on 11 Aug 1834 at Accomack Co, Virginia, at age 79.

      Capt Samuel Waples served in the Revolutionary War circa 1776. He served in a minute company and then became a second lieutenant in the 9th Virginia Regiment in 1776. Samuel was taken prisoner at Germantown, PA, escaped and returned to headquarters, was given a furlough and was never recalled to service.

     LT Robinson Custis was born on 18 Nov 1756 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of MAJ Thomas Custis and Elizabeth Cassandra "Cassy" Wise. LT Robinson Custis married Frances Yeardley West, daughter of John West and Ann West, on 30 Nov 1775 at Accomack Co, Virginia. LT Robinson Custis died in Jan 1798 at age 41. His estate was probated on 29 Jan 1798 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

      Lt. Robinson Custis served in the Revolutionary War on 29 July 1777 at Accomack Co, VAmin the Militia. Robinson was paid for public service during the Revolutionary War in 1781 at Accomack Co, VA.

Robinson made a will on 23 Nov 1797 at Accomack Co, VA. Wife to have use of household goods & kitchen furniture during her widow. Balance of personal property to be sold including my slaves, & after the payment of my debts the residue to be put out at interest. Wife to have use of balance of property, real & personal during her widow then to be divided between my 4 children Thomas, Peter, Fanny & Edmund when my son Edmund attains the age of 21, at which time the said real estate to be divided between my said 4 children. Son Peter to have out of his share of the profits of my estate a Latin education and to be brought up to one of the learned professions. To other children to have such education as their guardians shall think proper. Brother John Custis guardian of my said children & executor of my estate. Wittnesses: John Wise, Thomas Custis Samuel Waples. In order of probate: John Custis of Bay Side qualified. Robinson's estate was settled on 26 Jan 1802 at Accomack Co, VA. 26 Jan 1802 (Audit & Rec'd) - John Custis (B. S.) Admr. Inventory for both him & his wife & shows the legacies left by Robinson Custis to his widow by his will. Negroes in sale: Ben, Betty, Peter, Jacob, Jake, Rasiah & child, Charles, Sarah, Abel, Martha. Auditors: Tully Wise, Samuel Waples, Charles Snead & George Poulson.

     Frances Yeardley West was born c 1762 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of John West and Ann West. Frances Yeardley West married LT Robinson Custis, son of MAJ Thomas Custis and Elizabeth Cassandra "Cassy" Wise, on 30 Nov 1775 at Accomack Co, Virginia. Frances Yeardley West died b 27 Aug 1832 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Scarbrough "Sabra" Polk Townsend was born a 1702. She married CPT Samuel Waples on 20 Aug 1822 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Argoll Yeardley West was born in 1700. He was the son of MAJ John West II and Frances Yeardley. Argoll Yeardley West married Comfort (Unknown) a 1726. Argoll Yeardley West died in 1736.

     Comfort (Unknown) was born c 1705. She married Argoll Yeardley West, son of MAJ John West II and Frances Yeardley, a 1726. Comfort (Unknown) died in 1756.

     John West was born in 1727. He was the son of Argoll Yeardley West and Comfort (Unknown). John West married Ann West, daughter of Anthony West and Eleanor Revell ?, in 1762. John West died in 1805.

     Ann West was born a 1746. She was the daughter of Anthony West and Eleanor Revell ? Ann West married John West, son of Argoll Yeardley West and Comfort (Unknown), in 1762.

     Eleanor Revell ? was born a 1729 at Somerset Co, Maryland. She married Anthony West, son of John West and Ann (Unknown), a 1745. Eleanor Revell ? died b 25 Jun 1804.

      Disagreement exists on exactly who Eleanor was. In his book "The Descendants of Randall Revell Of the Eastern Shore" James R. Revell Sr. shows Eleanor, the daughter of Curtis Revell, married Anthony West. However, the author showed her father's birth circa 1724, her birth circa 1754 and her son Revel West (511) born 1755. Her father Curtis died without a will in 1778. Curtis' brother William Revell left a will in 1779 and named the four youngest children of his brother Curtis as William, Charles, Curtis and David Revell, all under the age of 21 years. So Curtis could have had an older daughter named Eleanor, but the earliest she could have been born would have been circa 1745, making it impossible for her to have been the mother of Revell West born in 1755. The author also showed a daughter Ann West born 1752.

     John West was born on 26 Dec 1696. He was the son of Anthony West. John West married Ann (Unknown) a 1720. John West died on 12 Oct 1773 at age 76.

     Anthony West was born c 1663. He was the son of LTC John West I (of Accomack) and Matilda Scarburgh. Anthony West married Elizabeth Rowles a 1695. Anthony West died c 1717.

     Elizabeth Rowles was born c 1670. She married Anthony West, son of LTC John West I (of Accomack) and Matilda Scarburgh, a 1695. Elizabeth Rowles died in 1753.

     Cora Ann Cox was born on 1 Jan 1811 at Louisiana. She married Samuel Banister Slocomb, son of William Slocomb (senior) and Anne Banister, on 29 Jan 1829 at New Orleans, Louisiana.

     Issac Selby was born c 1810. He married Charlotte Slocomb, daughter of William Slocomb (senior) and Lavinia Corbin, on 23 Mar 1836 at Worcester Co, Maryland.

     Rebecca Bowles was born a 1814. She married Walter S. Slocomb, son of William Slocomb (senior) and Lavinia Corbin, a 1834.

     Matthias N. Linsey was born a 1806. He married Ann Maria Slocomb, daughter of William Slocomb (senior) and Lavinia Corbin, on 4 Mar 1831 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Robert Hughes married Nellie Irene Starnes c 1942.

     (wife of Thomas Custis) (Unknown) was born c 1725. She married MAJ Thomas Custis, son of MAJ John Custis (of Deep Creek) and Susannah Bowdoin, c 1745. (wife of Thomas Custis) (Unknown) died b 21 Jun 1748.

     John "Jackie" Parke Custis was born in 1754 at New Kent Co, Virginia. He was the son of Daniel Parke Custis and Martha 'Patsy' Dandridge. John "Jackie" Parke Custis married Eleanor "Nellie" Calvert on 3 Feb 1774. John "Jackie" Parke Custis died on 5 Nov 1781 at 'Arlington', Northampton Co, Virginia.

     Eleanor "Nellie" Calvert was born in 1756. She married John "Jackie" Parke Custis, son of Daniel Parke Custis and Martha 'Patsy' Dandridge, on 3 Feb 1774. Eleanor "Nellie" Calvert died on 28 Sep 1811 at 'Tudor Place', Georgetown, District of Columbia.

     Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis was born on 31 Mar 1779. She was the daughter of John "Jackie" Parke Custis and Eleanor "Nellie" Calvert. Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis died on 15 Jul 1852 at 'Audley', Clarke Co, Virginia, at age 73.

     John Melson II was born c 1679 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of John Melson I and Elizabeth Painter. John Melson II married Mary Smith, daughter of Joshua Smith and Margaret (Unknown), c 1700 at Accomack Co, Virginia. His estate was probated on 3 Aug 1737 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

      John Melson, known as John Melson senior, bought land on 29 Jan 1701/2 at tract A100, south of Parksley, Accomack Co, VA situtated northwest of William Willet's mill in tract 99 from Jeremuah Cary and his wife Sarah of Hunting Creek (later known as Coards Branch), Accomack Co: "To John Melson 50 acres of land, it being one mority of 100 acres given me by my father John Crey late of this County; the said 50 acres being part of a tract of 400 acres patented to my father John Crey." By 1704 John is shown on the Accomack Co Rent Rolls of 1704 as possessing 180 acres, a portion of which must have been his wife's land ("English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records," Louis de Cognets, Jr, Princeton, NJ, page 125.)

John Melson witnessed a will on 28 Nov 1725 at Accomack Co, VA when he and Jacob Litchfield proved the nunc will of Ann Willit.

John wrote his will on 30 Dec 1736 at Accomack Co, VA in which he named wife Mary; sons John, Daniel, Joshua and Smith Melson; daughters Elizabeth Lewis, Mary Elliot, Adra Gunter, Tabitha Gray and Abigail Melson. There were other unnamed children, including a son or daughter born circa 1720. He left son John 50 acres of land at tract A100 bought from Jeremiah Cary, south of Parksley, Accomack Co, VA where his son was living known by the name Hunting Creek. His son Joshua and daughters Elizabeth Lewis, Mary Elliot, Adra Gunter and Tabitha Gray got 1 shilling each. The balance was left to his wife Mary during her widowhood then to his children that were not named. His wife was the executor. At the death or marriage of his wife, Tobias Bull, Roger Abbott, John Simpson and Thomas Riley were to divide the estate. Witnessess were Robert Caldwell, Henry White and Sarah White.

In his will John made no disposition of his wife's own inherited land, although he mentioned sons Daniel, Joshua and Smith. In 1738 his widow Mary gave 60 years of her land to her son John for her life. In her 1 Feb 1740 will in Accomack Co, Mary bequeathed: To son John Melson forever the land I have given him to use in my life time. To son Smith Melson plantation where I now live & for want of heirs to my grandson Daniel Melson. My 3 daughters that is now single to have use of the plantation where I now live until they are married. Witnesses: Charles White, Edward Edwards, Jacob White. Her son Joshua may have died because he was not mentioned in her will.

     Mary Smith was born c 1675 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Joshua Smith and Margaret (Unknown). Mary Smith married John Melson II, son of John Melson I and Elizabeth Painter, c 1700 at Accomack Co, Virginia. Her estate was probated on 28 Feb 1743 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Tabitha Melson was born c 1703 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of John Melson II and Mary Smith. Tabitha Melson married Thomas Gray c 1724. Tabitha Melson married Unknown Ingerson a 30 Dec 1736. Tabitha Melson died on 27 Mar 1753 at Accomack Co, Virginia. Her estate was probated in 1753 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     John Melson I was born c 1646 at England. He married Elizabeth Painter on 4 Apr 1672 at Somerset Co, Maryland. John Melson I died b 18 Sep 1694 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

      John Mellison [sic] and Eliza Panter [sic], servants to John and Mary Renny, were presented to the 17 May 1669 Accomack Co, VA grand jury court for fornication. What became of John and Eliza's child is uknown. At the 16 Jul 1669 court Elizabeth's mistress Mary Renny agreed to pay their fines and cost of prosecution, so they were acquitted from corporal punishment. The court ordered Mellison remain in the sheriff's custody until securing bond for his good behavior and for saving the parish the cost of supporting their child. John paid the court costs.

Their master John Renny was known for his fiery temper and tyranical behavior, and his background is of interest because we descend from the Wise and Scarburgh families to which Renny had long lasting political connections. Renny himself began as a indentured servant and was used as a headright by Charles Scarburgh, a son of Col Scarburgh in Northampton Co, VA in 1652 and again, that same year, by the Rev William Teague in the same county. Renny was released from servitude about the mid 1650s.

Indentured servants were not allowed to marry. John Melson and Elizabeth Painter were released from their indentures by 1671 and published their marriage banns on 9 Jan 1671/2 in Somerset Co, MD (Somerset County, MD Judicials Liber AZ8 folio 43). They were married in 1672 by Robert Maddox Clarke at Rehoboth Plantation, south of Pocomoke, Somerset Co, MD.

John and Elizabeth were named as a headrights on 12 Jun 1672 at Somerset Co, MD. John Reny, their master and a planter from Somerset Co, proved his right to receive 300 acres of land for transporting himself, his wife Mary Reny, John Melson and his wife Elizabeth, Henry Allen and Warren Day to inhabit Somerset Co; witnesses were John Betts and Thos Taylor (MD Archieves Land Patents 1670-1673, Liber 16, Folio 530). Whether the Melsons remained in Maryland for a short time or immediately returned to Virginia is unknown.

On 4 Aug 1673 John Melson purchased land from Jeremiah Carey in Accomack Co, VA. John became known as a trader plying his wares along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. John was on the tax list between 1675 and 1687 in Accomack Co, VA with 1 tithable.

John was in court frequently between 1679 and 1687. On 16 Dec 1679 in Accomack Court John produced a certificate signed by Maj Charles Scarburgh stating Melson captured William Anderson's servant named Jannet Barry, who at the time was 40 miles away from her master's house; after making oath to the same, Melson was granted a certificate to the next assembly. John was mentioned in the 23 Jun 1683 Inventory of James Williams of Calvert Co, MD. On 3 Jan 1682/83 in Accomack Court John Melloy [sic] sued Robert Edge for 600 lbs tobacco, but Edge failed to appeared. Then on 3 Jul 1683 John Mellson [sic] sued Edge but filed no petition; a nonsuit with court costs was granted against Melson. On 2 Jun 1683 in Accomack Court John Melson was to be paid 1,200 lbs tobacco for a child sent to his household to be nursed. On 27 Mar 1684 in Accomack Court John Parker sued John Mellson [sic] for 3000 lbs tobacco in damages; the case was continued to the next court because there was no jury avaliable. On 6 Aug 1684 in Accomack Court John Mellson [sic] petitioned for payment for himself and his wife, who both attended court for two days, being summoned as witnesses by Samuel Fittiman against William Anderson. Fittiman was ordered to pay 160 lbs tobacco and court charges. On 6 Jan 1685 John Melson surveyed 200 acres owned by Robert Watson called "The Gore" within Nanticoke Hundred, Somerset Co (MD Rent Rolls). On 16 Nov 1687 Adam Micheal, using Mr. Holden as his attorney, sued John Mellson [sic] in Accomack Court and was referred to the next court by the consent of both parties.

     Thomas Gray was born c 1700 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He married Tabitha Melson, daughter of John Melson II and Mary Smith, c 1724. Thomas Gray died b 1788 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Solomon Gray I was born c 1724 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of Thomas Gray and Tabitha Melson. Solomon Gray I married Sorrowful Ruth Underhill c 1760. Solomon Gray I died in 1788 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     Sorrowful Ruth Underhill was born c 1742 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She married Solomon Gray I, son of Thomas Gray and Tabitha Melson, c 1760. Sorrowful Ruth Underhill died b 1788.