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A case for Robert Poe who died in 1722 being the father of William Poe and Benjamin Poe and Samuel Poe who died in 1725 being the father of Simon Poe (Sr.) and Samuel Poe (Jr.)

William Poe

May 2004

The essay is to attempt to present a reasonable extrapolation from various historical records as well as results of the Poe DNA project. Specifically, I hope to present a case for the kinships that existed among the Poe colonists present in Essex County, Virginia at the time of Samuel Poe’s death in 1725. Samuel Poe has long been the primary focus of research on this Poe family due to the fact that he is listed as the owner of 905 acres on which he grew tobacco from at least 1704 until his death (he added 105 acres to his original 800 in 1708 by paying 2000 pounds of tobacco). No other Poe is known to have owned real estate in Essex County, Virginia during the first two decades of the 18^th century.

Prior to Samuel’s death, a Robert Poe died in Essex County in 1722. Records show that, while he does not seem to have owned land, he did possess enough tobacco for his estate to sue for payment of debts in tobacco[i].These lawsuits seem to involve a Katherine Poe, probably his widow. One surmises that he was a tenant farmer. I suggest that he was a “cousin” of Samuel Poe and that he farmed a portion of the 905 acres in Samuel’s possession. I doubt Robert and Katherine were the only Poe family members who came to Virginia, but these are the only ones, beside Samuel, who made the extant record books prior to 1725.

The Poe DNA project has revealed that not all the early Poe family members who settled Essex County, Virginia were descendants of a single man in the generation of Samuel Poe. Prior to the DNA project, most researchers assumed that Samuel Poe was the father of those who appear following his death, namely (in order of appearance): Benjamin Poe (1726), William Poe (1726), Samuel Poe (1733) and Simon Poe (1737).[ii] Unfortunately, the first five years of Caroline County, Virginia’s records are lost. The portion of Essex County where Samuel Poe owned his lands on the Peumansend became part of Caroline County. This is the reason for the gap between 1726 and the next record dating from 1733. Undoubtedly, there were earlier records mentioning Samuel Poe and Simon Poe.

When Samuel Poe died in Essex County, Virginia in 1725, the court stated he had an "heir at law."[iii] In the legal terminology of the times, this means that Samuel had an oldest son. Interestingly, the court delayed appointing Francis Browning as administrator for a year to see if this heir at law would administer. Meanwhile, the court charged Francis Browning, resident on a neighboring plantation (if not an in-law), with "taking care" of the estate. After nine months of waiting for the “heir at law” the court appointed Francis Browning administrator. This is a curious turn of events and is difficult to interpret – did the heir never appear, or did he decide not to become administrator? My hunch is that Francis Browning became administrator as a “third party” because of the vested interests in the estate held by heirs and other family members.

These court records are revealing. We can be fairly sure that Benjamin Poe and William Poe were already in the area, almost surely dwelling on the Samuel Poe estate. We can also be fairly certain that both were over twenty-one since they are involved in legal actions in 1726[iv]. Benjamin Poe joined in a petition that included Francis Browning in an attempt to prevent a neighbor from building a road through the area. William Poe was arrested for debts and not appearing in court. Despite the fact that Benjamin Poe almost surely lives on the Samuel Poe estate as evidenced by his concern about the road construction the court did not apparently consider him Samuel Poe’s heir. Nor did the court mention William Poe. Since we only have Samuel Poe and Robert Poe as established men in the area, if William and Benjamin were not sons of Samuel Poe, they must have been sons of Robert Poe.[v]

What I am proposing is that Samuel Poe somehow had the resources to acquire the land in Virginia[vi]. Others family members either came with him to Virginia, or he sent for relatives who might help farm. He probably rented to these relative, or came to some other arrangement such as profit sharing. We know that by 1708, the original 800 acres was not enough and that Samuel acquired an additional 105 acres. This is quite a bit of farmland to tend. There is no record that Samuel Poe rented to anyone outside the family nor is their any record that he possessed slaves.

Further, the records show that Benjamin Poe and William Poe were closely associated. Benjamin Poe signed the petition with Francis Browning. William was somehow closely connected to Francis Browning. Browning moved to Culpeper County and not afterward, William Poe followed. They appear to be neighbors in that county as well. Additionally, John Gouge, who also signed the petition to prevent the road being built through the area, moved to Culpeper County and became William Poe’s neighbor. The Gouge family eventually acquired the land owned by William Watson, who jointly was granted the Culpeper County lands with William Poe). To complete these “degrees of separation” between William Poe and Benjamin Poe, a Caroline County record mentions Poe’s bridge that goes to William Watson’s land.[vii] This record also lists John Gouge (SR and JR) in a context indicating that the Gouge family lived near Benjamin Poe.

The Poe DNA Project also may be demonstrating that William Poe and Benjamin Poe were brothers. One member of the project descends from the William Poe discussed here. He shows a marker that identifies this line as distinct from Simon Poe, William’s contemporary. Another project member, who almost surely is not descended from William Poe, also has this marker. He descends from Edmund Poe of Franklin County, Kentucky[viii]. This Poe line appears to have moved from Amherst County, Virginia, and before that, Caroline County. Research to date indicates that this line derives from the Benjamin Poe discussed in this essay.[ix]

Although William Poe and Benjamin Poe were possibly brothers, and perhaps sons of Robert Poe who died in 1722, there were not brothers of Simon Poe who appears in the Caroline County records by 1737. The sense one gets from a comprehensive study of the historical record is that William Poe was the most “distant” from the others - Benjamin, Simon and Samuel. He acquires his own land in Caroline County in 1732 and later picks up stakes and moves his family to Culpeper County in 1737 (perhaps significantly, the year we first see Simon Poe). He and his family do not seem to have any further dealings with the Caroline County family and the meager evidence suggests that his descendants move to different areas from the descendants of Simon and Benjamin. The Poe families from Culpeper County (whether William’s descendants or not), seem to move to Caswell County rather than Chatham County, and if they are in Chatham County, settle on the other side of it, near Siler City, from Simon’s family who settled on New Hope Creek. Others end up in Wake or Randolph County (specifically, Benjamin Poe who eventually moves to Allen County, Kentucky). Benjamin Poe’s family appears to move westward to Amherst County, Virginia and then to Franklin County, Kentucky.

Benjamin Poe is seen in records with the younger Samuel Poe from time to time and appears to have relations with the Bradley family. The evidence suggests that Samuel Poe’s wife was Elizabeth Bradley. Benjamin Poe moves between Caroline and Spotsylvania over the years. Simon Poe and Samuel Poe appear to jointly operate a large tobacco plantation up until the late 1740s. There seems to be little or not interaction between Simon Poe, Samuel Poe and the others after a point when William and Benjamin have both left Caroline County.

It is my conclusion that Samuel Poe and Simon Poe were sons of Samuel Poe who died in 1725 and that they continued to farm the plantation along the Peumansend after whatever claims made by William and Benjamin were settled by the administrator, Francis Browning. My suggestion is that Samuel Poe was the “heir at law” mentioned by the court following his father’s death and that he allowed Francis Browning to become administrator in order to settle any disputes between the various parties – which would have included Samuel and Simon as sons and William and Benjamin as “tenants” sharing in the profits from the tobacco. It is obvious at even a passing glance at the Caroline County records that these colonists were an incredibly litigious group of people – whether related or not.

Simon Poe was born in 1707 or 1708. He was, therefore, seventeen or eighteen when Samuel Poe died and could not have been the “heir at law.” The only remaining person who may have been the “heir at law” mentioned by the court is Samuel Poe. It is clear in the historical accounts that Simon Poe and Samuel Poe were closely associated, probably jointly operating the tobacco plantation.[x] While no record gives any clear evidence of this, one might surmise, having the same name, that he was the first born, a Samuel Poe Junior. He probably was born, then in 1704 or 1705, right about the time we see the elder Samuel Poe in the Virginia Quit Rent Roll owning 800 acres of land.

Simon Poe, facing repeated fines for “tending seconds”[xi] moves his entire family (which by then included son Stephen Poe, William Poe, Simon Poe, JR and James Poe) to Chatham County, North Carolina. However, Samuel Poe’s family appears to remain in Caroline County throughout the eighteenth century. After Simon’s family departs, we still see Samuel Poe there as well as another William Poe, who one assumes is his son. Samuel Poe, Jr. appears to die prior to 1765, leaving a widow named Elizabeth whose maiden name was probably Bradley[xii]. This Elizabeth Poe, widow, has access to hundreds of pounds of tobacco. Simon is still alive, so her husband must have been Samuel Poe, Jr..[xiii]

The story of the Poe family in Caroline County continues through at least 1799. We see that a William Poe is in the county paying taxes on 105 acres of land. It may not be coincidence that 105 acres is the very amount that Samuel Poe purchased in 1708. Perhaps the first 800 acres we divvied up between the various other Poe’s and the final 105 remained in the direct line of descent.

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 END NOTES

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[i] Essex County Court

17th of January 1722,

p. 737

In ye attachmt (torn) Getar* agt ye estate of Robt. Poe, judgmt is granted sd Plt. against deft. for thr (torn) pounds of Tobo with an attorneys fee & costs & ye constable having return'd (torn) vizt. 'Novr ye 9, 1722 attached by virute virtue of ye within attachment. Two cows (torn Tobo in ye Tobo Hows. excepting 71 rent to Issac Truck and all the Indian (torn) pots & two grubing hoes, two old bed coverings, one old gun by me (torn) part of his judgmt. aforesd, & ye sd. attachment is continued for (torn).

[ii] There are also records for a Marson “Mossom” Poe but is it quite difficult to know how he fits in. The first undisputed record for this man dating from 1749 refers to him as “Mersam” Poe. He later settled in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. His son, Thomas Powe (descendants seem to all go by this spelling) moved to the Cheraw District of South Carolina. In later generations, a descendant named William Erasmus Powe acquired lands in Wilkes County, North Carolina and appears in the records of Anson County, North Carolina where he may have interacted with the family of my ancestor, Major James S. Poe.

[iii] 17 August 1725

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.

[iv] 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.

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.

[v] This conclusion is made in lieu of other possibilities not revealed at this point by the historical records I have examined.

[vi] If I am correct that Samuel Poe is the son baptized in 1659 in Nottingham by Edward and Mary Poe, Samuel came from a family who were farmers, landlords and small businessmen (as well as craftsmen such as shoemakers). Edward Poe is seen dwelling in Ulster as well as Nottingham and likely he was in business with his cousins who settled in Ulster and engaged in business selling cattle from Ireland to England. See Irish English Research

[vii] 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.

[viii] Census records for Franklin County, Kentucky associate Edmond Poe with the men who came through Amherst County, VA and are almost surely closely related to Benjamin Poe.

See: http://www.poegen.net/KY/PoeKentucky.htm

1800 Census: Benjamin Poe, John Poe, Virgil Poe

1810 Census: Edmund Poe, John Poe

1820 Census: John Poe, Edward Poe, Virgil Poe (Note the Edward Poe in 1820 Clermont, Ohio)

1830 Census: Virgil Poe, Edmund Poe, John Poe

[ix] See Virginia counties http://poegen.net/VA/PoeVirginiaMenu.htm. The last reference in Caroline County of Benjamin Poe is a deed of sale dated Oct. 8, 1778. The Benjamin Poe who appears in Amherst County in 1785 could be the Caroline County Benjamin Poe. He would be elderly, but it seems that these Poe men were often long-lived (Benjamin Poe of Culpeper County, VA born in 1749 lived over 94 years. Simon Poe SR lived to be eighty-eight).

[x] For instance: 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).

[xi] p. 334 On the information of William Herndon, constable, it's ordered the King's attorney prosecute Simon Poe, John Smith, Thomas Pitman, Mordica Abraham, William Deshaza, James Masters & Titus Stevens for tending seconds.

[xii] This is the primary record in support of this idea, based on this William Poe being the son of Samuel Poe, Jr. Page 198/9 Court 11^th November 1779 The Last Will and Testament of Rebecca Bradley deced. was proved by the Oaths of two witnesses and ordered to be recorded. Peyton Stern, the Executor therein named having refused to take upon him the execution thereof. On motion of William Poe who took the Oath prescribed by Law. Certificate is granted him for obtaining Letters of Administration on the said Estate with the Will annexed. Bond acknowledged and ordered to be recorded

[xiii] p.32

Ordered that Elizabeth Poe pay James Samuell 425 pounds of tobacco for attending this court nine days as an evidence for her