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Samuel Poe
(1659?
Nottingham, England – 1725 Essex County, Virginia)
Who might have been his children: A consideration of Benjamin Poe,
William Poe, Samuel Poe and Simon Poe
Presented below is what we
know about the men who appear in Essex / Caroline County, Virginia after the
death of Samuel Poe in 1725. Since there is no evidence helping to identity
daughters, this discussion focuses on possible sons. Selected source materials
are presented at the end of the essay.
Of Samuel Poe’s
life little can be known from the scant historical record. A record for St.
Mary’s Parish in Nottingham, England lists a Samuel Poe, baptized in 1659. The
parents were Edward Poe and Mary Poe. If this is the same Samuel Poe, then he
was approximately 66 at the time of his death in 1725. Nottinghamshire appears
to be the homeland of this surname. A branch of the Nottinghamshire Poe family settled
in Ulster, Northern Ireland, during the time of Cromwell in the early 1600s. They
fought on the side of the British to put down the1642 Ulster Rebellion.
Samuel Poe is listed in the
Quit Rent Roll of 1704 for Essex County, Virginia as owner of 800 acres. He
must have been well settled by that time. In 1708, an additional 105 acres of
the Meadows/Peters grant was acquired from Matthew Collins. The future
ownership of the land was, no doubt, the major issue for the estate
administrator. The acreage was prime tobacco growing land along the
Rappahannock River originally belonging to the Meadows/Peters grant along the
Rappahannock River – Northern Neck in the Virginia colony. The acreage was on
the Peumansend
“swamp”, later known as Mill Creek.
No record in Virginia
mentions that Samuel Poe had a wife, nor that he was ever married or had
children. Following Samuel’s death in 1725, the Essex County, Virginia court,
upon the petition by Francis Browning to be administrator for the estate,
defers its decision for nine months to see if the “heir at law” would
administer. The court charged that Francis Browning “take care of the estate”
in the meantime. This is difficult to interpret. The ruling could mean that a
son would turn twenty-on in nine months. But one wonders why the court felt
obliged to charge Francis Browning with “care” of the estate. Was there no
wife? If there were sons just nine months short of twenty-one, they would be
able to “take care” of the estate if not to legally inherit. The order could
have been issued to provide enough time to notify the family in England, for
preparations to be made, and for an eldest son to arrive in Virginia. Indeed,
seven months after the order, records indirectly indicate that Benjamin Poe was
living on or very near the Samuel Poe estate. Within a few more months, a William
Poe appears in the court records – albeit acquiring lands of his own. It is not
clear if William Poe ever lived on the Samuel Poe lands.
Francis Browning, neighbor, estate administrator
In August of 1725, Francis
Browning petitioned the court to administer the estate of Samuel Poe. The court
delayed their order for nine months to see “if the heir at law will
administer.” However, the court charged Browning with taking care of the estate
and returning of an inventory. No children are bound to Francis Browning or
anyone else. These few facts make it seems as though no one remained on Samuel’s
lands after his death. Yet we know that other members of the Poe family resided
in the area, if not on Samuel’s lands. The are a few records revealing that
Robert Poe died in Essex County in 1722, leaving a small estate that does not
appear to have included land. Also in 1722, we find Katherine Poe mentioned in
court records. The proximity of the records makes one think that Katherine is
Robert’s widow or other close kin such as a sister. That we would only know of
Robert because of lawsuits following his death leads to the strong possibility
that other Poe family members resided in Essex County (if not on Samuel’s
lands) but simply did not make the extant historical record.
Unfortunately, while the
record books of Essex County have survived, supporting documents such as the
inventory of Samuel’s estate have been lost. Browning’s inventory was returned
a month after the court announced the nine months delay in regard to Browning’s
petition to administer the estate. No value was assigned the estate – nor did
the court require a value. This might imply that the court knew the land would
pass into the hands of heirs.
Benjamin Poe (born before 1705. May have died in Amherst Co. VA in
1785). One of the most interesting
proximities in the records is that within two months of the final appraisal of
Samuel Poe’s estate being returned to the court, seven months following the
first petition of Francis Browning to administer the estate, Benjamin Poe is
mentioned in a record that implies he is a neighbor of Francis Browning. Is
Benjamin Poe the “heir at law” mentioned by the court earlier? Clearly,
Benjamin Poe is responsible for land along the Peumansend, joining Francis
Browning and John Gouge (also a neighbor of Samuel Poe). There is enough
continuity in the records at this time that if Benjamin Poe acquired lands in a
way other than inheritance, a record showing a purchase should exist.
William Poe (born before 1705 resided
mostly in Culpeper County).
Within three months of Benjamin
Poe’s appearance in the court records William Poe can be found. No record shows
William Poe acquiring lands in Essex County, which leads to the assumption
that, like Benjamin Poe, William Poe must have inherited a portion of Samuel
Poe’s lands. William Poe, according to the records, was a tobacco farmer at
this time. In 1732, William Poe acquired additional lands. In 1737, he acquires
a joint patent with William Watson and moves to an area that became Culpeper
County. John Gouge and Francis Browning are already in the area and will
continue interacting with William Poe.
Benjamin Poe and William Poe
were closely associated. One record from 1737 literally build’s a bridge
between the two men. One month after the following Caroline County record, in
June 1737, William Poe joined with William Watson in acquiring a patent for
land in what became Culpeper County. Later, John Gouge acquired William
Watson’s portion of the patent. Benjamin Poe lived across a body of water from
William Watson. By the end of the year 1737, William Poe divested of his
Caroline County property and relocated to the patent land.
Caroline County formed 1728
According
to Frederick Dorman, who abstracted many early colonial Virginia records, “The Order Book covering the first four years of
proceedings of the county court is no longer extant.” This is exactly the
period with which we are most concerned.
Samuel Poe (Born before 1716). It
is not until 1733 that we find mention of another individual involved with the
estate. Samuel Poe must have owned lands in Caroline County as he is listed in
the County levy for 1733. Little can be known about this earliest period in the
life of this Samuel Poe. Of course, the name implies that he was a son of the
elder Samuel Poe, but no record makes this clear. Again, no record is known
showing that Samuel Poe acquired land in any other way than inheritance. It
does appear that Samuel Poe remained in Caroline County his entire life, and
was most closely associated with the next man who appears, Simon Poe. Samuel
Poe and Simon Poe are jointly charged with debt during the 1750s. By 1759,
Samuel Poe disappears from the records. It seems he died during this period,
leaving a widow, who may be Elizabeth Bradley. It may also be that William Poe,
who is the last man to be found with the Poe surname residing n Caroline County
as the eighteenth century ends, was his son. This William Poe paid taxes on 105
acres of land through 1799 and perhaps beyond. It may be recalled that Samuel
Poe the elder acquired one hundred and five acres, adding to his original eight
hundred acres.
Simon Poe (1706/7 – 1793 Chatham County, North
Carolina). On the same
day, 11 August 1738, Simon Poe and Benjamin Poe appear in court for different
purposes. Simon Poe is evidently a
landowner charging a Herndon for trespass. Simon Poe is known from a marriage
notice a year before his death in 1793 to have been born in 1706 or 7. Benjamin
disappears from the scene after this record. We next see a Benjamin Poe in
Spotsylvania County in 1771, and later in Amherst County, VA in 1785.
As in the case of Benjamin,
William and Samuel, Simon Poe is a tobacco farmer. In fact, Simon Poe is
farming enough tobacco to pay hefty fines for tending seconds. In 1749 alone,
these fines totaled 5000 pounds of tobacco. As with the others also, no record
shows Simon Poe acquiring lands, leading to the assumption he inherited a
sizeable portion of Samuel Poe’s estate. A 1738 record for Spotsylvania shows
that Simon traveled twenty-three miles to the court, giving some indication
about where he lived. By this time, it appears that Benjamin Poe had moved to
Spotsylvania County.
Samuel Poe and Simon Poe
appear to remain in Caroline County long after William Poe moved to Culpeper
County and Benjamin Poe moved to Spotsylvania County. In fact, a 1751 record
implies that Samuel Poe and Simon Poe were partners in the plantation. Samuel
Coleman, a businessman of the county, jointly sued Samuel and Simon for debt.
Later actions of debt against Samuel Poe were dismissed. Interestingly, in
1757, Samuel Poe deeds lands to Peter Copland (relation to the businessman
unknown).
Given only the information
we have so far, the most reasonable assumption is that Benjamin, William,
Samuel and Simon were brothers, sons of Samuel Poe. However, DNA analysis of
descendants of William Poe and Simon Poe indicate that the men could not have
been that closely related. In fact, the analysis indicates they most likely
were distant relatives. Considering how closely these four men are associated
in the records, the finding makes interpretation of the historical record very
difficult. It may be that Samuel Poe had no children and that relatives arrived
from England to claim what they could from Francis Browning. That no lawsuits
were filed between the men indicates that equitable arrangements were worked
out.
Indications are that all
these men came from Nottinghamshire, England, towns such as Nottingham or
Gedling. The Poe family was already well established there by 1700. The
earliest record of a Poe in the area is the will of William Poe (Poo) or
Hoveringham dated 1557. By 1700, the Poe families of Nottinghamshire probably
were not sure how they related to one another, but still acted as close
cousins. Therefore, it may not be too surprising that Benjamin, William, Samuel
and Simon act as though they are brothers in the New World.
Samuel Poe land
20 October 1724
pp. 425-431
This indenture made
this 20th day of October 1724 between William Bryant of King & Queen County
of one part and Francis Browning of Saint Marys Parish in Essex County
Witnesseth that the said William Bryant for sum of Fourteen hundred pounds of
Tobo. doth grant unto said Francis Browning & his heirs and assigns fifty
acres of land in Essex County being part of a Dididnt of land formerly granted
to John Meadows and Henry Peeters & bounded Beginning at a corner
red oak & hickory of Samuel Poe's
land & running thence South to a corner gum on the North side
of the South Fork of Peumansend Swamp thence down the Swamp its several courses
brought straight North to three gums corner to Samuel Poe's land at ye
mouth of a branch thence up the branch North joyning to land of Samuel Poe
to the Beginning all which said premises now are in the actual possession of him
the said Francis Browning by Virtue of Statute for Transferring uses into
possession . . .
Francis Browning and the Samuel Poe estate
p. 299
Francis Browning
petition for the Adminr. of the estate of Samuel Poe deced is ordered to be till
nine months are expired to see if the heir at law will adminstr.
17 August 1725
It is ordered that
Francis Browning take care of ye estate of Samuel Poe deced till Admin.
is granted thereof, and that he return an inventory thereof to next court.
Page 114. Samuel Poe. Inventory.
Made according to order
of 17 Aug. 1725. Estate not valued. Signed by Fran. Browning
21 Sept. 1725. Returned.
15 March 1726
p. 364
Francis Browning came
into court and made oath that Samuel Poe deced dyed without making any will
as farr as he knows or believes and on his motion & giveing security for
his just & faithful admcon. of the said estate certificate is granted him
for obtaining letters of Admcon thereof in due form.
7 April 1726.
Appraisers sworn before
Capt. Lawrence Taliaferro. No total valuation.
Signed by Francis (F)
Browning, administrator.
Jno. Ellits
Geo. Robinson
Jno. Saunders
21 June 1726. Returned.
Benjamin Poe
18 July 1726
p. 127
The petition of Benjamin
Poe, Francis Browning, John Gouge and others praying yt Paul Micou may not have
liberty to turne ye road by his quarter of Peumansend is rejected.
Benjamin
Poe
18 July 1726
p. 127
The petition of Benjamin Poe, Francis Browning, John
Gouge and others praying yt Paul Micou may not have liberty to turne ye road by
his quarter of Peumansend is rejected.
Benja. Poe acknowledged
his deeds of lease and release of land indented to John Bradley.
14 March 1735/5 p. 281 Action on the case. Larkin Chew
agt. Tomas Coustin. Jury, Robert Taliaferro, Anthony Arnold, Roger Madison,
Benja. Poe, Charles Morgin, Spencer Bobo, Jacob Burris, William Daniel, Thomas
Rucker, Benjamin Hoomes, John Partloe, Nicho. Stone. Find for defendant. Wm. Daniel,
foreman
William
Poe
19 October 1726
In the action of debt.
brot by Wm. Keaton agt. Wm. Poe & Jno. Edwards, ye said Edwards being not
to be found, ye suit agt. him is dismist & ye other deft. Wm. Poe being
arrested & failing to appear & no security being filed, order is
granted sd Plt. aft sd. deft. Wm. Poe & Benjamin Robinson, gent. late
Sheriff for what shall appear to be due at next court unless deft. then appears
& answers ye said action.
17 January 1727
p. 83
William Poe failing to answer
the suit of William Keaton in debt. the order of last October Court is
confirmed to the sd. Plt against the said deft. of Benjamin Robinson, gent late
Sheriff for three hundred pounds of Tobo with one attorneys fees and costs.
Court 11 May 1732
James Jones acknowledged his deeds of lease and
release of land indented to William Poe. John Jones by virtue of a power from
Mary wife of James relinquished her rights of dower.
[14 May 1737]
Petition. George Tilly agt. William Poe judgment is
granted the plaintiff for 620 pounds of tobacco
p. 425 [14 May 1737]
It’s ordered Henry Dikes,
Simon Edwards, Richard Hopson, George Brassfield, James McKinny, John Gouge,
John Gouge, jr., William Watson, Francis Johnson, David Tinsley, Philip Tinsley
and Aron Quisenbury assist Thomas Ship in clearing the tree notched road, from
Benjamin Poe’s bridge to William Watson’s, and also making the bridge by Poe’s.
p. 461 [9 Dec. 1737]
William Poe’s deeds of
lease and release of land indented to William Taliaferro Gent. (and also a
power of attorney from Lydia Poe to Benjamin Robinson) was proved by John
Gough, John Gough, Jr, and Samuel Edwards, witnesses thereto.
Samuel
Poe (the younger)
Page 55 [8 March 1733]
Petition. George Tilly
agt. Samuel Poe. Judgment is granted the plaintiff for pounds 1.2.11
Page 168 [13 Dec. 1734]
The Court proceeded to lay
the County Levey:
(Among the names)
To Samuel Poe per account 270
p. 106 Court 15 Aug 1755
Action of debt. William
Copeland and company agt. Samuel Poe, dismissed.
10 March 1757
p. 240
Samuel Poe's deed
indented to Peter Copland (Copeland) Gent. was proved by William Strachen.
14 September 1759
p. 76
Ordered Ben: Walden pay
Saml. Poe 100 pounds of tobacco for four days' attendance as an evidence for
him against Stone.
Simon Poe and Benjamin Poe
p. 496 [11 Aug. 1738]
The petition of Philip
Sanders and Benjamin Poe is rejected.
p. 500 [11 Aug 1738]
Action of trespass. Simon
Poe agt. Philip Herndon. Judgment is granted the plaintiff by nihil dicit
unless the defendant plead next court.
Simon Poe and Samuel Poe
13 December 1751
Action of debt Samuel
Coleman's executors agt Samuel Poe and Simon Poe. The defendants not appearing,
the judgment of last July court is confirmed agt. them & James Taylor Gent,
late sheriff, for pounds 34.12.11 current money, to be discharged on the
defendants' paying pounds 17.6. 5 1/2 with interest from 17 June 1749
(note: Coleman was
plaintiff against many others. Coleman was a businessman. This situation most
likely concerned tobacco dealings).
4 October 1738
At the motion of Simon Po,
he is allowed for four days attendance & for twenty five miles coming &
going four times having sworn to the time as an evidence for James White agst
Joseph Brock Gent, it is therefore ordered that the sd White pay the sd Po two
hundred pounds of Tobacco for the same as the Law directs.
10 Nov. 1749
Upon the information of
Wm. Herndon, constable, agt. Simon Poe for tending seconds, it is ordered that
Zacha. Lewis Gent, King's attorney, prosecutes him.
9 December 1749
Simon Poe confessed
judgment unto our sovereign Lord the King on an information for 2000 pounds.
9 August 1753
p. 411
Our Sovereign Lord the
King agt. Simon Poe. Information William Elliott, foreman. It's considered by
the Court that the plaintiff recover 3000 pounds of tobacco.
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