Person Page - 70

     Margaret Martin was christened in 1723 at Somerset Parish, Little Monie, Somerset Co, Maryland. She was the daughter of Robert Martin and Mary Downes. Margaret Martin married John Irving I c 1754 at Worcester Co, Maryland. Margaret Martin died in 1775.

     Jemiah 'Jennett' Martin was born c 1725. She was the daughter of Robert Martin and Mary Downes. Jemiah 'Jennett' Martin was christened in 1726 at Somerset Parish, Little Monie, Somerset Co, Maryland. She married Henry Ayres c 1745.

     Henry Ayres was born a 1715. He married Jemiah 'Jennett' Martin, daughter of Robert Martin and Mary Downes, c 1745. Henry Ayres died in 1759.

     John Irving I was born bt 1709 - 1716 at Worcester Co, Maryland. He married Margaret Martin, daughter of Robert Martin and Mary Downes, c 1754 at Worcester Co, Maryland. John Irving I died in 1766.

     William W. Whittington IV was born c 1720 at Accomack Co, Virginia. He was the son of William Whittington III and Elizabeth 'Betty' Taylor. William W. Whittington IV married Elizabeth 'Betty' 'Betsy' Martin, daughter of Robert Martin and Mary Downes, on 15 Mar 1742. William W. Whittington IV died in 1756 at Accomack Co, Virginia. His estate was probated on 26 May 1756 at Accomack Co, Virginia.

     John Richardson was born c 1711 at Worcester Co, Maryland. He married (1st wife of John Richardson) (Unknown) a 1732. John Richardson married Mary Martin, daughter of Robert Martin and Mary Downes, a 1739 at Worcester Co, Maryland. John Richardson died in 1755. His estate was probated on 26 Sep 1755 at Worcester Co, Maryland.

     COL James Martin I was born a 1705 at Scotland. He was the son of Thomas Martin III and Janette / Janet Edgar. COL James Martin I immigrated in 1725 to Virginia. He married Mary Downes, daughter of George Downes I and Margaret Mitchell, in 1726 at Maryland.¹⁰ COL James Martin I died on 12 Jan 1747/48 at Worcester Co, Maryland. His estate was probated on 3 May 1748 at Worcester Co, Maryland.

      James Martin, second husband of Mary Downes, was the cousin of her first husband Robert Martin and was Robert's business partner in the mercantile trade. When James came to America to settle Robert's estate he married Mary. He was a member of Snow Hill Presbyterian Church. He operated a ferry over the Pocomoke River at Snow Hill, MD from 1730 until 1740 and devoted a portion of his time to agriculture.

From 1731 until 1740 James served as a Somerset Co, MD justice; he held other local offices until 1742. By 1740 he had achieved the social standing of a gentleman. The first court for Worcester Co, MD was held in 1742, and James was elected to the 1742-1744 Assembly in the Lower House representing Somerset Co, MD. He was then appointed the first High Sheriff of Worcester Co, MD, an office he held from 1742 until 1745. James served in both the Somerset and Worcester Co, MD militias. He owned 1,460 acres in Worcester Co, MD -- 350 acres he purchased and 1,111 acres managed for his stepchildren. His holdings included five acres of Allen's Luck in Worcester Co, MD and lots 11, 17 and 18 in Snow Hill, MD.

At death he had 1,117 pounds current money, 10 slaves, a servant, 24 books and a horseboat. His 12 Dec 1747 will left his dwelling plantation and personal property, other than that specifically bequeathed, to his wife Mary for life; the plantation was to go to his son Thomas upon Mary's death. He noted sons Thomas, William, James and George leaving the latter three his property in Snow Hill and bequeathing the latter three and his daughter Elizabeth a slave each. Two of the slaves thus given -- Jethro and Candis -- were mulattos. Executor: his wife Mary. Witnesses: John Neill, Patrick Allison, John Done.

Moody Miles sources:

[S2625] Neill, John Neill of Lewes, Del, 1739, p. 94-96.
[S2200] Maryland Probate Records 1674-1774, CD #5206, Calender of Wills, Vol. 9, 1744-1749, p. 137 (will of James Martin).
[S224] Clayton Torrence, Old Somerset on The Eastern Shore of Maryland, p. 417-418 (Appendix VI, First Court House Sites & First Towns in Somerset).
[S2200] Maryland Probate Records 1674-1774, CD #5206, Calender of Wills, Vol. 5, 1720-1726, p. 194 (will of Robert Martin).
[S2622] 4 May 2016 Rob Hall, Descendants of Mary Downes.
[S2625] Neill, John Neill of Lewes, Del, 1739, p. 94 & 96.
[S1028] Isaac W.K. Handy, Annals and Memorials of the Handys and Their Kindred, p. 44 (1.11.5 Mary Handy, Mrs. James Martin).
[S2624] Mark C. Lewis (of Parksley VA), The Martin Family of Worcester County, MD and their Wittington Connection for Miss Elizabeth Perry of Staunton VA.
[S2200] Maryland Probate Records 1674-1774, CD #5206, Calender of Wills, Vol. 15, 1772-1774, p. 118 (will of Mary Martin).

     CPT Thomas Martin I was born a 1726 at Worcester Co, Maryland. He was the son of COL James Martin I and Mary Downes. CPT Thomas Martin I married Sarah "Sally" Selby, daughter of William Selby and Sarah Outten ?, a 1755 at Worcester Co, Maryland.⁶ CPT Thomas Martin I married Anna (Unknown) a 1786. CPT Thomas Martin I died on 8 Oct 1800. His estate was probated on 28 Oct 1800 at Worcester Co, Maryland.

      CPT Thomas Martin was sent to Scotland to be educated. He frequently bought land and owned considerable Worcester Co, MD acreage. These land transactions are believed to be his, as opposed to those of a different Thomas:
--bought 100 acres called Acquintico Savanah in 1750 which was resurveyed into 2,127 acres in 1790;
--sold 30 acres of Durham House in 1756;
--patented 19 acres called Addition to Middle in 1763;
--patented 24 acres called Dumlanding in Bogerternortin 100 in 1763;
--patented 18 acres on 21 Dec 1763 at Friends Security with George Martin and Benjamin Handy;
--purchased 166 acres called Chance in 1763;
--purchased 75 acres called Parnership in 1765;
--patented 18 acres called Friends Security with a mill in 1763 with his brother and sister, George and Elizabeth;
--patented 20 acres called Martins Outlet in 1768;
--purchased 100 acres also called Chance in 1771;
--purchased 187 acres of Johns Industry in 1771;
--owned with his brother and sister, George and Elizabeth, 1,147 acres in 1773 called Defiance Enlarged which was orginally patented in 1762 as only 20 acres;
--sold land to James Martin on 22 May 1773 at Friends Security with George Martin and Elizabeth Handy, widow of Benjamin Handy, to settle an estate;
--deeded part of Simpleton as a gift with his wife Sarah to their son Levin Martin on 7 Dec 1780, subject to a life estate of the grantors and if Levin had no heirs the land was to pass in turn to 5 of his siblings
--purchased 200 acres for docking and entail in Oct 1782;
--purchased 105 acres of Mount Ephraim in 1783;
--bought 24 acres called Middle More in 1787;
--purchased 250 acres of Maidens Choice in 1789;
--patented acreage called Martins Farm in 1789;
--was involved somehow in 76 acres called Hickory Hill in 1792;
--sold 67 acres of Johns Inheritance in 1797;
--received a mortgage on 189 acres called Pleasant Hill in 1799;
--purchased 475 acres called Plague, Pleasant Hill, and Temple Hall (details unknown);
--purchased 99 acres of Timber Grove (date unknown);
--purchased 99 acres called Cades Contrivance (date unknown);
--purchased 82 acres (date unknown);
--purchased acreage in Edwards Lott (details unknown);
--purchased acreage in Enlargement (details unknown); and
--owned 100 acres of Baltimore's Gift (details unknown).

In addition to the many children of Thomas and Sarah Selby Martin, some researchers believe there was another daughter Mary (~1759-1829) who married Adam Spence III ~1780 in Worcester Co and then ~ 1785 married MAJ James Martin Handy, son of MAJ Benjamin Handy and Elizabeth Martin, daugther of COL James Martin in the same county; this researcher believes this Mary Martin may be from a different Martin family because she was alive but not included in the Martin-Selby bible record of her family.

     Elizabeth 'Eliza' Martin was born on 21 Mar 1729/30. She was the daughter of COL James Martin I and Mary Downes. Elizabeth 'Eliza' Martin married MAJ Benjamin Handy I, son of Ebenezer Handy and Elizabeth "Betty" Dashiell, in 1748.⁴ Elizabeth 'Eliza' Martin died on 15 Jan 1787 at Worcester Co, Maryland, at age 56.

     William Martin was born a 1734. He was the son of COL James Martin I and Mary Downes. William Martin married Agnes (Unknown) a 1755. William Martin died in 1773 at Worcester Co, Maryland. His estate was probated on 25 Jun 1773 at Worcester Co, Maryland.

     COL James Martin II Esq was born in 1728 at Worcester Co, Maryland. He was the son of COL James Martin I and Mary Downes. COL James Martin II Esq married Mary "Molly" E. Handy, daughter of Ebenezer Handy and Elizabeth "Betty" Dashiell, a 1752 at Worcester Co, Maryland.⁴ COL James Martin II Esq died in 1810 at Worcester Co, Maryland. He was buried at Snow Hill, Maryland. His estate was probated on 25 May 1810 at Worcester Co, Maryland.

      In his 12 Mar 1810 will Col James Martin II bequeathed his grand nephews Thomas Littleton Martin and James Parmer Martin $200 each; gave daughter Betsy Wise wife of Ezekiel Wise a cow and $50, with none to go to Ezekiel; awarded three slaves to his wife Molly; left daughters Hetty Daws and Mary Wise his residual estate. Executors: Dr. (Rev) John S. Martin and Robert Smith. Witnesses: Nancy Handy, Priscilla W. Handy and Sally Handy.

     George Martin I was born c 1732 at Worcester Co, Maryland. He was the son of COL James Martin I and Mary Downes. George Martin I married Mary Pope, daughter of John Pope, a 1758 at Worcester Co, Maryland. George Martin I died c 1797 at Worcester Co, Maryland. His estate was probated on 29 Mar 1797 at Worcester Co, Maryland.

     Robert Martin was born c 1749 at Worcester Co, Maryland. He was the son of CPT John Martin I and Eleanor Dashiell. Robert Martin died c 1790 at Snow Hill, Maryland. He was buried at Accomack Co, Virginia.

      Robert Martin became a large Snow Hill, MD landowner. He sold lots 46 and 47 to his sisters and also owned lots 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 59, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85.

     Polly 'Dolly' Martin was born c 1750 at Worcester Co, Maryland. She was the daughter of CPT John Martin I and Eleanor Dashiell. Polly 'Dolly' Martin married William Merrill a 10 Jun 1780.

     Nancy Martin was born c 1756 at Worcester Co, Maryland. She was the daughter of CPT John Martin I and Eleanor Dashiell. Nancy Martin died c 1795 at 'White Hall', Northampton Co, Virginia. She was buried at Northampton Co, Virginia. Her estate was probated on 14 Sep 1795 at Northampton Co, Virginia.

      In her Oct 1793 will and its 1794 codicil Nancy Martin bequeathed her brother Robert, sister Polly's son Robert, sister-in-law Parmer, and the latter's children all of her estate.

Source:
--Northampton Co, VA Wills 1792-1793, vol 29 , p 473, 11 Sep 1795 (will of Nancy Martin.)

     John Martin II was born a 1752 at Worcester Co, Maryland. He was the son of CPT John Martin I and Eleanor Dashiell. John Martin II married Parmer Satchell, daughter of Southy Satchell and Sarah Kendall, c 7 Sep 1785 at Northampton Co, Virginia. John Martin II died in 1792 at Northampton Co, Virginia. He was buried at 'White Hall', Northampton Co, Virginia. His estate was probated on 11 Dec 1792 at Northampton Co, Virginia.

      In Sep 1785 John Martin posted a fifty pound bond for a Northampton Co, VA marriage license with Peter Bowdoin as security.

John owned lot 48 in Snow Hill, MD. He inherited lands known as Double Purchase, Addition to Double Purchase, and Whittington's Meadow from William Whittington V through William's son John Rousby Whittington.

John appraised the estate of Caleb Teackle on 10 Oct 1786 at Northampton Co, VA. Adminstration of the Teackle estate was granted to Edmund Custis of Accomack Co with John Wilkins (O.P.) and Thomas Kendall as securities. Appraisers of the Northampton CO estate were John Winder, John Haggoman, Ellison Armestead and John Martin, and appraisers of the Accomack Co estate were Thomas Jacob, Edmund Bayly, Americus Scarburgh and John Teackle.

When John Darby's estate was probated on 8 Dec 1789 in Northampton Co, VA the appraisers at Oldtown were Ellison Armistead, John Lewis Fulwell, John Martin and John Haggoman. When the estate of Grace Bowdoin was probated, John Winder, John Martin, Nathaniel Holland and James Lyon were named appraisers on 11 Sep 1792 at Northampton Co, VA.

In 1826 in response to an inquiry from John's son Thomas, the court wrote to Thomas stating circa 1792 William Whittington VI filled a bill in Chancery Court stating William had a contract with his father John Martin for land devised to John, but John Martin died in 1792 before the funds were paid and the resulting bill was passed to John's orphan sons; thus their mother Parmer Satchell executed a deed to William Whittington in 1799 for said land, thus ending an ownership issue begun in 1769.

Family tradition was that John lived at "White Hall," the Kendall-Satchell-Whittington estate in Northampton Co, VA, but it is unlikely he did. During John's life time there was only a short seven-year window after John's 1785 marriage into the Satchell family, who owned the estate, and before his early death at age 40 in 1792 when John could have been associated with “White Hall.” However, this researcher questions the concept of John living at "White Hall" and the Martin family never owned “White Hall.” The estate was owned by John's brother-in-law William Satchell I (1744-1794).

In his will John's brother-in-law William Satchell bequeathed his son William “the plantation where my mother Sarah Satchell dec'd formerly lived, together with land purchased of Joseph Dalby, and the land purchased of John Kendall containing 658 acres.” The Kendall 659 acres is presumed to be White Hall plantation. John Kendall was likely the John Kendall born ~1707 and died before 1763, but our John Martin and John Kendall also had no family relationship before John Martin married John Kendall's niece.

This researcher theorized upon John Martin's early death in 1792, his wife Parmer Satchell Martin -- taking her sons James age ~6 and Thomas age ~1 – likely went to live at "White Hall" with her older brother William and his wife Mary. William and Mary survived for another one and two years respectively, leaving their daughter Sarah an orphan at age 16. The estate passed to William's son William junior in 1794, and Parmer and her two sons likely continued living with her nephew at the home. William junior married in 1796 and started a family. Parmer faced financial pressures given that she never remarried and was forced to sell land inherited from her husband to the Whittington family in 1799. By 1806 Parmer died and by 1811 – 1812 her son Thomas, and perhaps her son James, was living and working in Alexandria, VA. Thomas maintained a close and loving relationship as he continued to correspond with his Satchell and Martin cousins on the Eastern Shore in the 1830s.

In 1823 William's son William Satchell II left "White Hall" plantation to his wife Elizabeth for life and then to their daughters. In 1836 the Satchell heirs sold the 680-acre plantation to Charles Stockley; Stockley sold it six years later to Victor A. Mapp. The Kendalls and Satchells were related to the Stockley and Mapp families respectively through intermarriage with the Matthews family. The home is no longer standing but was located at tract 52 in the Machipongo area, east of Mattawoman and west of Ramshorn Bay -- the same tract where Martin's Landing was located (no further information.)


Moody Miles sources:

[S622] Jean M. Mihalyka, Northampton Co, VA, Marriages, 1660/1-1854 (Recorded in Bonds, Licenses, Minister Returns, and other sources).
[S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 528 (will of Nancy Martin, brother Robert Martin).
[S2621] 4 May 2016 Rob Hall, Descendants of Robert Martin.
[S2200] Maryland Probate Records 1674-1774, CD #5206, p. 120 (Maryland Calender of Wills, Vol 14, 1767-1772, will of William Whittington).
[S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 488 (will of Severn Eyre).
[S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 472 (adm of Caleb Teackle to Edmund Custis).
[S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 507 (adm of John Darby to Nathaniel Darby).
[S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 505 (will of Devorax Godwin).
[S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 508 (adm of Grace Bowdoin to Peter Bowdoin).
[S497] James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 509 (adm of John Martin to Parmer Martin).
[S2225] Ruth Dryden, Worcester Co, MD, Will Book MH, 1806-1813, p. 17 (will of James Martin, wife Molly).

     William Merrill was born a 1755. He married Polly 'Dolly' Martin, daughter of CPT John Martin I and Eleanor Dashiell, a 10 Jun 1780.

     Parmer Satchell was born c 1752 at Northampton Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of Southy Satchell and Sarah Kendall. Parmer Satchell married John Martin II, son of CPT John Martin I and Eleanor Dashiell, c 7 Sep 1785 at Northampton Co, Virginia. Parmer Satchell died in 1806 at Northampton Co, Virginia. Her estate was probated on 12 Jan 1807 at Northampton Co, Virginia.

      Parmer Satchell was singled out in her mother's will to inherit more than her other siblings supposedly because of the depreciation of Parmer's money due from her father's estate, an estate settled 25 years before, but the allocations may have related more to an impending marriage. Parmer acquired a riding chair and horse; feather bed, sheets, blankets, and quilt; hammocks; five table cloths; four Queens china dishes; a dozen plates and six metal plates; and six silver table spoons.

Parmer was named after her grandfather William Kendall III's step-father Rev Samuel Palmer and after her aunt Palmer Kendall, however Parmer Satchell's name was always spelled with an R with the exception of in her father's will.

In 1798 Parmer was noted as living in Snow Hill, MD. Parmer's Nov 1803 will left all her property to her two sons; the will was proved in 1807. According to Moody Miles Parmer Satchell's will included: "In case either or both of my sons James Parmer & Thomas Littleton shall hereafter be dissatisfied with my management of the estate of my deceased husband, or the estate of Miss Nancy Martin deceased as their administratrix or with the management of my said sons' estate as their guardian, and shall ever attempt to recover from my securities in either case any damages they may conceive they have sustained thereby it is my will and I do hereby direct my executor or administrator to indemnify my said securities for whatever damages they may sustain. I give all the residue of my estate to my sons James Parmer and Thomas Littleton to be equally divided between them. I appoint Charles S. Satchell to be my executor. Signed, Parmer Martin. Witnesses: Margaret Boggs, Sarah Satchell, Edmund Watson and Will Satchell. Administrator William Satchell. Appraisers: George Boggs, John Scott, William Dalby and John Simkins. No further administration records."

Sources:

--Northampton Co, VA Will and Inventories 1802-1807, Vol 32, 12 Jan 1807, p. 575 (will of Parmer Satchell.)

     Elizabeth Wilkerson was born in 1742 at London, Middlesex, England. She married Going Lanphier, son of Thomas Lanphier II and Elizabeth Going, c 1762. Elizabeth Wilkerson died on 1 Dec 1828 at Alexandria, Virginia.

      Elizabeth Wilkerson's death at age eighty-six is recorded in St Paul's Church register, Book A, page 5 in Alexandria, VA. There is no tombstone for her in that church's cemetery.

     Venus Lanphier was born c 1731 at Co Tipperary, Munster, Irish Republic. She was the daughter of Thomas Lanphier II and Elizabeth Going. Venus Lanphier immigrated in May 1732 to Cape Henry, Virginia. She died in 1769. Her estate was probated on 24 Nov 1769 at Fairfax Co, Virginia.

      Venus Lanphier emigrated from County Cork, Ireland and was living in Prince George Co, MD in 1767. Her Maryland will dated 14 Feb 1769 was probated in Fairfax Co, VA that year. Her estate was appraised at thirty-two pounds and recorded the following year.

Fairfax Co court on 25 Nov 1769 recorded the "Last will and testament of Venus Lamphire deceased presented in Court by Susanna Patterson Executrix therein named who made oath and the same being proved by James Kirk & Mary Ristor is admitted to record and the said Ex’x having performed what the laws require a certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form. Susanna Patterson and John Carlyle Gent acknowledged a bond for the faithful administration of the estate of Venus Lamphire dec'd which is ordered to be recorded. Ordered that John Dalton, Harry Piper, William Gibbs and James Connell or any three of them being first sworn according to law inventory and appraise all and singular the estate of Venus Lamphire deceased which shall be presented to their view and that the Executrix return the same to the next Court." (Fairfax Co, VA 1768-1770 Order Book, 25 Nov 1769, p. 90.)

     Susanna Lanphier was born in 1729 at Co Tipperary, Munster, Irish Republic. She was the daughter of Thomas Lanphier II and Elizabeth Going. Susanna Lanphier immigrated in May 1732 to Cape Henry, Virginia. She married John Miles Patterson a 1749. Susanna Lanphier died c 1800. Her estate was probated at Fairfax Co, Virginia.

      Susanna Lanphier, who was also noted as both Sarah and Betty Lanphier, was illiterate. She emigrated from County Cork, Republic of Ireland and was living in Maryland in 1767. Susanna had an Alexandria, VA carding, spinning and weaving business with a servant and slaves to assist her.

Susanna's husband disappeared at sea in 1768, pursuing an inheritance in Ireland which Susanna continued to try to acquire until 1771. Susanna and her sons were indentured in 1783 for 1000 pounds Virginia money to the Fairfax Co, VA court justices until she paid her children the estate they had inherited from their father. Susannah is likely the Susannah Paterson on the 1792 Fairfax Co census with only herself living at hom. Her 1800 Fairfax Co, VA estate inventory consisted of wooling wheels and cards, linen wheels and an old loom.

     John Miles Patterson was born a 1724. He married Susanna Lanphier, daughter of Thomas Lanphier II and Elizabeth Going, a 1749. John Miles Patterson died in 1765. His estate was probated on 15 Aug 1768 at Fairfax Co, Virginia.

      John Miles Patterson was an Irish apprentice carpenter to William Bromley who was responsible for the interiors of John Mercer's large home Marborough. In 1754 John purchased a file at Ramsey and Dixon's Alexandria, VA store and was noted as a joiner living in town. In 1755 John began working as an overseer of General George Washington's slave carpenters at his Mount Vernon estate.

John easily found work in the city where he built two schools and repaired the courthouse. The presence of servants and slaves in his home indicated a degree of financial success, but John had some problems with runaway servants.

John was subsequently chosen as the overseer or manager of the first remodeling and expansion of Washington's home. He was a steady, conscientious, thorough worker. As undertaker of the remodeling he was responsible for the soundness of the structure as well as the fine carpentry work; he organized the work, ordered materials as required, oversaw the workers, and maintained a schedule toward completion. He also served as paymaster of the estate. John's work was more than satisfactorily completed in 1759. The salary enabled him the following year to purchase two adjoining lots at the south corner of King and Fairfax streets in Alexandria.

John sailed to Ireland on a ship owned by Alexandrian Stephen West with important family papers to claim the 1200 pound Lanphier family inheritance in Cork Co and was lost at sea. John's will provided for his wife to inherit a modest estate of two developed Alexandria lots, two cows and a calf, two yearlings, six old books, house furnishings, joiner's tools she sold for seventeen pounds, and services of a female servant and a male servant named James Jackson, and three female slaves -- two of them girls. When recorded in 1770 in Fairfax Co, VA his estate inventory included an unfinished set of drawers, wool and cotton cards, a quilting frame, and one small and three adult female slaves.

     George Downes I was born c 1645 at Scotland. He was the son of Margaret (Unknown). George Downes I married Anne Bosman, daughter of William "Will" Bosman / Bozman I and Bridget Panter ?, on 12 Jun 1677 at Somerset Co, Maryland. George Downes I married Margaret Mitchell, daughter of George Mitchell and Margaret (Unknown), c 1683 at Somerset Co, Maryland. George Downes I died c 1737 at Somerset Co, Maryland. His estate was probated on 23 Jan 1736/37 at Somerset Co, Maryland.

      George Downes, one of the first settlers on the eastern shore of Maryland, was first noted as living at Back Creek, Manokin, Somerset Co, MD between 1663 and 1666. In 1670 he received a land patent but where the land was located is unknown as yet. A 1677 census index, the year George first married, noted his registering his cattle mark in Somerset Co, MD.

In Oct 1682 George purchased Double Purchase, a large tract of land first developed in Mar 1661 and originally owned by Randell Revell and Ann Taft; Double Purchase was in the neck between the Manokin River and Back Creek. George also owned 200 acres called Downs Lott which was on the south side of Manokin River, Westover District. The 1685 Somerset Co, MD Rent Roll, a land tax roll, noted George with 200 of 5,800 acres of Part of Reville planted in tobacco. After 1685 he received 250 acres of Mitchell's Choice and Improvement from his father-in-law which he gave to his children Robert, Margaret and Sarah.

In his 25 Feb 1720 will Samuel Morris, a shipwright from Somerset County and the son of Samuel and Sarah Morris, left a legacy (among others) to Margaret, the daughter of George Downs. Morris also bequeathed to his parents a sloop "Sarah" which was under the management of Michal Downes, George's son Mitchell Downes.

A 1723 reference to George Downes living in Munney (Monie) Hundred, Somerset Co, MD and taxed as head of household notes dependent taxable men over age 15 named Tobie and Bendoe, who because of the lack of a last name are likely slaves but could have been free mulattoes or blacks.

In a division of Somerset Co, MD land, our 8th great grandparents Thomas Dashiell and Elizabeth [Mitchell] Dashiel, their children George Dashiell senior and Priscilla Dashiell, and Thomas Dashiell's former sister-in-law Isabel [Mitchell] [Dashiell] McClester and her husband Joseph McClester conveyed 250 acres to our 8th great grandparents George Downs and Margaret [Mitchell] Downs on 5 Dec 1729. Margaret and Isabell were sisters. This land was likely the 250 acres called Mitchell's Choice and Improvement which Thomas Dashiell received from his father-in-law George Mitchell and which he gave to his son George Dashiell.

George Downs and his wife Margaret gave their daughters Margaret and Sarah Downs one-fourth of the tract known as Mitchells Improvement on 26 Dec 1729 in Somerset Co with the stipulation if either married then the other would inherit the whole.

George attended the Church of England. In his 15 Aug 1721 will written in Somerset Co, George gave personalty to sons Mitchell George Downes and Robert and daughters Margret, Betty and Esther. To 5 daughters, viz: Elizabeth Bennett, Anne Covington, Mary Martin, Sarah Downes and Priscila Derickson, he gave 10 shillings each. To wife Margaret executrix and heirs the residue of his personal estate. Witnesses: Robert Jones and David Evans (deceased at date of probate).


Moody Miles sources:

[S224] Clayton Torrence, Old Somerset on The Eastern Shore of Maryland, p. 131 & p. 442 (Early Members of the Church of England) and p. 453 (information on early settlers).
[S224] Clayton Torrence, Old Somerset on The Eastern Shore of Maryland, p. 326 (Appendix VII, Founders, William Bosman).
[S2210] Ralph A. Riggin & F. Edward Wright, Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Volume 17, p. 44-46 (Downes Family).
[S970] F. Edward Wright, Maryland Eastern Shore Vital Records, 1648-1725, 2nd Edition, p. 109 - 112 (Somerset Land Records).
[S2621] 4 May 2016 Charles Robert Hall, Descendants of Robert Martin to Moody Miles, May 2016.
[S2200] Maryland Probate Records 1674-1774, CD #5206, Calendar of Wills, Vol 7, 1732-1738, p. 233 (will of George Downes, wife Margaret).
--Worcester Co, MD Wills, vol 7, p. 233; vol 8, p. 186 and Worcester Registry of Wills Book, JW3, p. 101 (will of George Downes.)

     Anne Bosman was born on 4 Jun 1657 at Accomack Co, Virginia. She was the daughter of William "Will" Bosman / Bozman I and Bridget Panter ? Anne Bosman married George Downes I, son of Margaret (Unknown), on 12 Jun 1677 at Somerset Co, Maryland.

     Margaret Mitchell was born a 1669 at Somerset Co, Maryland. She was the daughter of George Mitchell and Margaret (Unknown). Margaret Mitchell married George Downes I, son of Margaret (Unknown), c 1683 at Somerset Co, Maryland. Margaret Mitchell died c 1742. Her estate was probated on 4 Oct 1742 at Somerset Co, Maryland.

      Well-reputed author Clayton Torrence in Old Somerset on the Eastern Shore of Maryland reported Margaret Mitchell was the daughter of George Mitchell and Isabel Higgins. However George and Isabel were not married until Sep 1668 and if Margaret was born in 1669 she would have been age 14 at her marriage, highly unusual for marriages in this social strata. Although there was a court case on the Eastern Shore about a wealthy daughter who was married at age 12 for her inheritance. Nevertheless this researcher concluded Torrence likely did not know about George's first wife Margaret who married George before Aug 1666 and that his daughter Margaret was likely his first wife's daughter possibly born in 1665, which would have made her age 18 at her marriage.

     Bossman Downes was born on 7 Feb 1677. He was the son of George Downes I and Anne Bosman. Bossman Downes died b 15 Aug 1721.

     Elizabeth Downes was born on 14 Aug 1679 at Somerset Co, Maryland. She was the daughter of George Downes I and Anne Bosman. Elizabeth Downes married Edward? Bennett a 1699.

     Edward? Bennett was born c 1675 at Somerset Co, Maryland. He married Elizabeth Downes, daughter of George Downes I and Anne Bosman, a 1699.

     Anne Downes was born on 4 Dec 1683 at Somerset Co, Maryland. She was the daughter of George Downes I and Margaret Mitchell. Anne Downes married Samuel Covington c 1705. Anne Downes married Thomas Dixon b 5 Oct 1725.

     Samuel Covington was born c 1682. He married Anne Downes, daughter of George Downes I and Margaret Mitchell, c 1705. Samuel Covington died c 1725 at Somerset Co, Maryland. His estate was probated on 5 Oct 1725 at Somerset Co, Maryland.