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Notes for Wood and Mary

Research Notes:

Synopsis of the families of Mary (unmarried name unknown)-Wood-Williams-Webb: Mary, by her first husband (named William Wood in the Tyler's notes), had 2 children, Mary and William. Daughter Mary Wood married Alexander Hinson and had daughter Ann Hinson, who later married Hopkins. Son William Wood saved Ann Hinson from Indians in 1704 and died in 1706 without heirs and bequeathed land to Ann Hinson-Hopkins and left bequests to aunt Amy Rowley; to Amy, daughter of William Rowley (born 1670?); and to William Rowley (Sr or Jr?). Widow Mary Wood, married her second husband Hugh Williams (likely before 1684, since daughter Catharine was married by 1704) and had a daughter Catharine Williams. Hugh Williams died and Mary Wood-Williams married William Webb by 1685. Daughter Catharine Williams later married John Rowley and they had son William. In 1704, Widow Mary Webb, and her grand-daughter Ann Hinson, were visiting at the home of daughter Catherine Williams-Rowley and her husband John Rowley and their son William Rowley. All but Ann Hinson, who was saved by her uncle William Wood, were killed by Indians. Ann Hinson's mother, Mary Wood-Hinson, was in Pennsylvania at the time. [1]

Synopsis of the Rowley family: John Rowley Sr, born c 1640, died 1709-21 in Stafford Co Virginia, purchased land 1690, married Amy and they had son John Rowley and William Rowley Sr. William Rowley Sr (born c 1670) married Mary in 1688 and Catherine and died 1751-54. In his will, dated 23 Oct 1751, William Rowley Sr named sons Moses and William Jr; and several daughters named Amy (Proctor), Ann (Marders), Margery (Smith, deceased), and Elizabeth (Armstrong, deceased). John Rowley (1662-1704) married Catherine Williams, daughter of Mary. [2]

There is a lot of uncertainty in my mind about the identities of the persons in these notes. Question: Who is Richard Wood and wife Mary in 1693 deeds? How are they related to Mr Wood (who was dead by 1685) and wife Mary (who was married to Hugh Williams before 1685) named in Tyler's notes?

1680 Mr. Hugh Williams and Abraham Weeks were granted 1091 acres on a tract granted to Henry Corbyn, deceased, perhaps located by Gasalin? Creek (County not named). The grant was for transporting 20 good persons to the colony: four negroes, Wm Nicholls, Wm Stokes, Ben Clarke, Jona Smith, Abr Baker, Rich Goodman, Mary Baker, Eliz Kibr, An Smith, and Julian Nicholl. [3]

1683 Hugh Williams granted 350 acres to Thomas Jones Jr on the north side of Mattapony River, some six miles back in the woods. Next to Cornelius Vaughans Rowling path and George Murfins Corner, Land of Greeniy, Land of Richard Purwood, the path from Richard Durwoods to Mr Williams land. The grant was for transporting seven person to the colony: Robert Worsley, Hugh Jefferies, Bar Slalt, Henry Seans, James Hukos, John Nebor, Peter Jackson. [4]

1685 Mr. William Webb, in a prenuptial agreement to Mrs. Mary Williams and her three children (Ann Wood, William Wood, and Catharine Williams), relinquished his rights to 500 acres lying on the north side of the Rappahannock River. Dated November 6.[5] [6]

1691 John Rowley of Stafford [perhaps later the husband of Mary's daughter Catherine by Mary's husband Hugh Williams] was granted 200 acres in Stafford county in Pasbitansey Forrest and adjoining said Rowley's own land, and Richard Bryant. Dated March 4, 1690/91. [7]

1691 John Rowley and Richard Bryant were jointly granted title to 385 acres in Stafford county beginning in Pasbitansey Forrest, and adjoining Rowley's land bought of Gerrard Bancks on the south side of a branch called Woods Swamp. The grant was by Philip Ludwig with authority from Culpepper. Dated March 5, 1690/91. [8] [9]

1693 On 25 April, Power of Attorney: Mary Wood (wife of Richard) do ordain Thomas Bradley my attorney to acknowledge the [above] land which my husband Richard Wood hath sold to Thomas Reyly (relationship to son-in-law John Rowley, if any, unknown). Wit: JA Fones, Charles Spee. [10]

1693 On May 3, Richard Wood, of Richmond Co, and Mary Wood, for a valuable consideration, sold to Thomas Reyly … a parcell of land binding on the side of the br whereon the said Thomas Reyly now liveth pt/o 200 acres bought of Colonel William Loyd and adjacent to George Henson & Thomas Loyd … being marked out & delivered in the presence of George Henson & Alexander Henson [husband of Mary's daughter Mary, by her husband Richard Wood]. Witness: Charles Spee, Martha Stockford . Ackn 3 May 1693. [11]

1694 Land previously taken up by Hugh Williams and William Jones was mentioned in a grant to Thomas Jones in King and Queen County. [12]

1695 Richard Wood and John Baptist were named on the will of Thomas Reyly (widow Elizabeth) in Richmond County, Virginia. [13]

1696 On February 3, Richard Wood purchased from Griffin Carter 200 acres of land on Rappa Creek in Richmond County adjacent to Col. William Pierce.

1696 William Wood of Lancaster (perhaps the son of Mary and Mr. Wood) was granted, by Lady Culpepper, 150 acres adjoining Bartholomew Wood near the house of Richard Wood and adjoining John Davis and John Hill and Patrick Graham and a swamp. The grant was dated July 2. [14]

Their daughter Mary Wood married (Alexander Hinson) and had a daughter Ann Hinson, who later married Anthony Hopkins. Son William Wood died without heirs and left land to his niece Anne Hinson.

1703 Land previously taken up by Hugh Williams and William Jones was mentioned in a grant to William Jones in King and Queen County. Signed by John Hinson. [15]

1704 Mary (Wood-Williams-Webb) and several family members were killed by Indians. On Aug 30, six or seven Indians went to the home of John Rowley, Mary's son-in-law. John Rowley was upstairs in the loft and two women and a girl were in the lower room. The Indians called John Rowley down and struck him a fatal blow. They pursued and killed both the younger woman, Catherine Rowley (Mary's daughter), and the older woman, widow Mary Webb, as they attempted to escape. The girl (grand-daughter Ann who married Hinson) escaped. An infant, William Rowley (likely the son of John and Catherine Rowley), was seized by one of the Indians, who exclaiming that "he loved children" held the child "between his legs and stuck him like a pig." More notes about this are given in the notes for Catherine Williams Rowley and her relations. [16](The full text of the murder trial of the Indians is given in County Clerk's office, Warsaw, Richmond County, Virginia. Order Book 3)

The next two notes are consistent with the assumption, made here, that William Wood, whose will was dated in 1706, was the brother of Catherine Williams-Rowley, who was killed by Indians in 1704. Alternatively, perhaps William Wood was a more distant relative of Catherine Williams-Rowley and was somehow related to Richard and Mary Wood named in the deeds of 1693.

1705 On 23 February: "Whereas William Wood of the county of Richmond hath sent forth to our office that Catherine, ye Daughter & heiress of Hugh Williams Late ye wife of John Rowley Deceased, Died Seized of 500 acres of land in ye county and left no heir behind her nor did dispose thereof by will whereupon said land escheats to us ye said proprietors. And that he ye said William Wood is next of kin to ye said Catherine and now in possession of ye same and having moved to be preferred to as grant of ye said escheat. A certificate according to ye rules of ye office thereupon ?offered which being now returned with endorsement under ye hand of Mr James Sherlock clerk of ye court of ye county certifying that ye same was made publick two court days successively and six months being expired and no person appearing to dispute ye title to ye said escheat Know ye therefore that we for and in consideration of ye composicon? to us paid ye annual rent hereafter reserved have given and granted and do by these presents give and grant unto ye said William Wood all ye rights titles and interests of ye said five hundred acres of land to us belonging or apportaining by virtue of ye said escheat the said land lying and being in ye county of Richmond aforesaid and bounded as followeth … land of Richard Prosser … branch of Rasbytansey(Pasbitansey?) … land formerly Evan Williams … Mr Hails line … rent to be paid yearly and every year on ye feast of St Michael ye Arch Angell … if the said William Wood … shall not pay … same as if this grant had never been passed … Dated ye twenty third day of February in ye fourth year of ye reign of our sovereign Lady Anne … 1705." [17]

1706 The will of William Wood, dated June 6 and proved July 10, was recorded in Stafford County. William Wood died without heirs and left 100 acres to his niece Ann Wood Hinson, when she comes of age. Bequests were also made to Aunt Amy Rowley; to Amy, daughter of William Rowley; friend William Heaberd; and George Proctor. William Wood also gave land to William Rowley "adjoining land I sold to Thomas Grigg". Witnessed by Richd Bryan, Wm Redman, Thos Grigg. [18](Stafford County Virginia Will Z-347, not seen)

1709 On April 11, John Rowley purchased 133 acres from Gerrard Banks (inherited from Gerard's father Adam, who purchased the land in 1674 from Heaberd) in the Pasbitanzy forest between the Potomack and the Rappahannock Rivers. [19]

1714 On June 16, William Wood was granted 54 acres in Princess Anne county being four small knowles or islands lying and being in the North River Poquoson called and known by the name of Whimwham Islands in Lynhaven ? in the precinct? of Blackwater in the county of Princess Anne. The land was compensation for the transportation of one person to dwell within Virginia whose name is Wm Goolithed?. [20]

1725 On April 2, Fifty acres; part of 500 acres (perhaps land mentioned in the 1685 entry) that belonged to Catherine, daughter and heiress of Hugh Williams and late the wife of John Rowley, deceased and was escheated by Wm Wood, who left it in his will to said William Rowley; was sold by William Rowley and his wife Mary to Thomas Grigsby. The land was escheated (reverted to another owner since Catherine had no heir) by William Wood who in his will bequeathed it to said William Rowley. [21]

1726 Mary Rowley deposed that Ann Hinson, daughter of Mary Hinson and now married to Hopkins, was the same girl saved by the Indians when they killed the Rowley family. Mary Rowley was present when William Wood left land to Ann Hinson in his will. [22]

1728/1729 On February 28, William Wood, of Stafford County, was granted 263 acres 120 perches in Stafford County beginning on the north side of a branch of Acquia, adjoining land of George Crosby, Daniel Crosby, Tobias Wood. [23]

1734 On July 5, Wm Rowley gave land to son Wm Rowley Jr, land bequeathed "by my father John Rowley late of Stafford". [24]

1740 On April 20, William Rowley Sr deposed that he was about 70 years old. [25]

The land described here was in Stafford County until it became part of King George when King George was erected. [26]

1609 Captain Thomas Wood signed the second charter for the Virginia Corporation and first Colony of Virginia. [27]

Questions:

Who is Richard Wood and wife Mary in the 1693 deeds?
Who is William Wood's aunt Amy Rowley named in his 1705 will (perhaps sister Catherine Williams-Rowley's mother-in-law)?
Who is Charles Wood, named in a 1706 land sale by Joseph Hinson? (see the notes of Joseph Hinson, born c 1652)

1706/07 On 10 January, Mary Wood testified in a dispute about the voyage of the Sarah, masterd by Joseph Jefferye. [28]

Other Sources (not found):

Abstracts of Land Records of Richmond County, Virginia 1692-1704, by Mary Marshall Brewer

Stafford County order book 1664-68 and 1689-90

Stafford County Virginia Wills and Deeds Z-1699

Mrs. Nugents Cavaliers and Pioneers

Richmond county order book 3, p 361-64 and 375-84

King George will book 1, p 23

King George OBCC p 50

rootsweb website named 1658-1758 Charles County MD Familes "The first 100 years": Wills, Court, Church, Land, Inventories & Accounts


Footnotes:

[1] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 118.

[2] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 118.

[3] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, 7-52, [Library of Virginia].

[4] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, 7-296, [Library of Virginia].

[5] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 118.

[6] Old Rappahannock County Record, Vol 1680-1688, p 187.

[7] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, 1-47, [Library of Virginia].

[8] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, 1-49 to 50, [Library of Virginia].

[9] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 116.

[10] Mary Marshall Brewer, Abstracts of Land Records of Richmond County, Virginia 1692-1704 (Colonial Roots, 2001), citing 1-67, [GoogleBooks].

[11] Mary Marshall Brewer, Abstracts of Land Records of Richmond County, Virginia 1692-1704 (Colonial Roots, 2001), citing 1-67, [GoogleBooks].

[12] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, 8-317, [Library of Virginia].

[13] Robert Kirk Headley, Wills of Richmond County, Virginia, 1699-1800 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983), 2, citing Order Book 2-56, [AncestryImage].

[14] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, Northern Neck Grant 2-244, [Library of Virginia].

[15] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, 9-536, [Library of Virginia].

[16] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 118.

[17] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, Northern Neck Grant 3-128, [Library of Virginia].

[18] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 117.

[19] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 116, deed not seen.

[20] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, 10-187 to 188, [Library of Virginia].

[21] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 117, citing King George County deed book 1, page 271.

[22] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 117.

[23] Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Land Grant Abstracts, Library of Virginia, B, 1726-1729, 194, [Library of Virginia].

[24] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 117, citing deed book 1A, page 293.

[25] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 117, citing deed book 2, page 315.

[26] Mrs P. W. Hiden, "Adam Banks of Stafford County," Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, 15 (1933), 116-125, at 118.

[27] Philip Alexander Bruce, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Richard Lee Morton, History of Virginia, Vol. 2 (American Historical Society, 1924), 409, [InternetArchive].

[28] Chancery Records. Town Depositions. Court of Chancery Records. Library of Virginia online, [URL].