Simon Poe (1708
– 1793)
This page is an attempt to bring
together references to Simon Poe in
Nothing in the historical records seems
to indicate where Simon Poe was born. He first appears in the court records of
The Poe family in
So far, no record has been uncovered
that mentions the name of Simon Poe’s wife (or wives), the mother of his
children. He married Rhoda Marsh, a widow,
in 1792, one year prior to his death. The marriage was announced in the
local newspaper for
Nottinghamshire:
- Register of Marriages, 1562-1812
"Marriges P[er] Licenes in 1725."--
Marriages at St. Nicholas's,
Volume 1.
County:
Nottinghamshire
Country:
Simon
Poe & Issabel Cooke
04 Jul 1626
Marriages.
Marriages at St. Mary's,
Vol. 4.
County:
Nottinghamshire
Country:
Robt. Marson of
Peeters p'ish & Isabell Poe daug: to Simon
Poe of this p'ish publ. 12 Feb
1653 & 19 Feb 1653 & 26 Feb 1653 married 28 Mar 1654 by Ald: Huthwit
Witnesse Mr. Richard Grante & Samuel Barkston.
Sarah 11 July 1654 Edward / Mary
Samuel 26 June
1659 Edward
/ Mary
An
15 July 1666 Parents Simon
/ Ann
Sarah 30 November 1685 Edward. (margin note says Baptised
when she was about 14 yrs of age)*
Hannah 7 January 1691 Edward / Hannah
John 20 August 1691 Joseph/Susan (see Sheriffs)
Mary 9 December 1693 Joseph / Susannah
Edwd 12 April 1696 Joseph / Suzannah
Samuel 18 April 1699 Joseph (see Sheriffs)
Jane 12 November 1700 Joseph / Suzannah
* a researcher in
In this first mention of Simon Poe (1708-1793), it appears he
is a landowner, already challenging the authorities over his right to plant
tobacco as he sees fit. The Herndon family served as constables and minor
officials in the county. Simon is often seen opposing them.
Simon
Poe, plaintiff
p. 450 [9 Sept.
1737]
Action of
trespass. Simon Poe agt. Philip Herndon. The defendant not appearing an
attachment is awarded agt. His estate for what shall appear due.
p. 457 [12 Nov.
1737]
Action of
trespass. Simon Poe agt. Philip Herndon. Dismissed, being agreed.
As mentioned, Simon Poe
lived in
Simon
Po (Poe)
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
Benjamin Wood
also compensated for testimony & travel of 23 miles coming and going four
times.
Two
years after the first complaint against Philip Herndon, we see another one.
Among the names here, Burck (Burc), Clark and Bradley appear later in
associated with the Simon Poe family in
Simon
Poe, plaintiff
p. 526 [9 March
1739]
Action of
trespass. Simon Poe agt. Philip Herndon. Jury, Wm. Southworth, Francis
Bearding, Timo.
Clearly,
Simon Poe is willing to confront the authorities in order to be successful in
growing tobacco. He also has considerable land holdings in order to produce the
amounts he is forced to pay. There are no existing records indicating that
Simon purchase lands. One assumes he inherited part of the 905 acres along the
Peumensend which had belonged to Samuel Poe who died in 1725.
Order Book page 228 [9 September 1743]
Here is the
entire page:
It is ordered
Peter Williams pay Simon Poe 50 pounds of tobacco for two days’
attendance … Sarah
Poe 25 pounds of tobacco for one day’s attendance … John Hoomes 50
pounds of tobacco for two days’ attendance ads. Pitman
[Note: This is the only
record anyone has found associating Simon Poe (SR) with the name of a woman who
could be his wife. This record does not at all make it clear that Sarah is
Simon’s wife. She could very well be a widow of another Poe man who had
something to offer in the case against Peter Williams. This record is cited as
proof that Sarah was Simon’s wife by McDonald Poe, deceased, of Waldron,
Arkansas, in his self-published book of 1975 entitled, Biographical Studies:
Samuel Poe of Essex County, Virginia, Family Lineage in United States of
America 1704-1975. On page 92 of this book, the author claims that a 1743
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.
11 July 1751
Action of debt.
Coleman's executors agt. Simon Poe, the defendant not appearing judgment is
granted agt the defendant and James Taylor Gent. Sheriff for pounds 4.12. -
unless he answer the suit.
9 November 1752
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.
The
following record pertaining to Samuel Poe is offered to indicate a contrast of
wealth between he and Simon. While Simon is fined, and apparently pays,
thousands of pounds of tobacco in fines, Samuel Poe struggles to come up with
105 shillings. This sort of contrast also exist when comparing Robert Poe who
died in Essex County, VA in 1722 leaving a minimal estate with Samuel Poe who
died in 1725 intestate with 905 acres of prime tobacco growing land.
Note: No record found to date mentions a name for Simon’s wife, the
mother of his children. McDonald Poe, deceased, of
Samuel
Poe
13 September
1753
p. 422
Suit on
Attachment. Roger Madison agt. the estate of John Wright. The plaintiff proving
his account. judgment is granted him for pounds 7.12.11 current money. The
Sheriff served the attachment in the names of James Jemson and Samuel Poe. Poe
declared he had 105 shillings which he ordered to pay the plaintiff. Jemison
declared he has a hogshead of uninspected tobacco which when inspected he is
ordered to deliver to the Sheriff to sell.
The following
is almost certainly is the “my son William” mentioned in the 1793 will of Simon
Poe.
William
Poe
15 June 1754
p. 179
Matthew Boyle
agt. Thomas Pannel. on an attachment. Judgment is granted the plaintiff for
pounds 13.15.8 current money. It's considered by the court that the plaintiff
recover the money and his cost. The Sheriff made return that he attached in the
hands of William Poe and William Poe being sworn as garnishee declares that he
has in his hands of the defendant's estate pounds 9. It's ordered that the
garnishee deliver the same to the Plaintiff and he be discharged.
Samuel Poe is
now a debtor
Samuel
Poe, debtor
p. 36 [14 Feb
1755]
Suit on
attachment. Peter Copland
While
Simon Poe is doing well
8 April 1756
Upon the
complaint of Jeremiah Pearce against John Herndon, its ordered William Bullard,
Simon Poe, Samuel Chapman, Robt. Robertson, John Bohannon, Francis Hoomes, Jas.
Herndon and Mary Dismukes be summoned to next court.
p. 163 Court 13
May 1756
Samuel Haws jr
is appointed overseer of the road in the room of William Bowler and to have
Bowler’s home house people, John Hart, James Coleman, Simon Poe, Richd. Curd
and John Dawson’s people to assist him in keeping the road in repair.
Here we
learn of other sons of Simon Poe besides William Poe, namely Simon Poe, Jr. and
Stephen Poe (both of whom die in 1773) leaving orphans.
Simon
Poe, Jr.
Stephen
Poe
Rachel
Bradford,
Elizabeth
Bradford,
Saphiah
Poe*
*
"Sophia" Poe, wife of Simon Poe, JR, whose brother Captain Stephen
Poe is married to her sister Hannah.
(This
may have been one of the major divestitures of the land originally acquired by
Samuel Poe who died in 1725. The land mentioned here presumably would be Simon
Poe, Sr.'s share. Only 105 acres of the original 905 was in Poe hands by 1778)
9 Nov. 1758
p. 395
Rachel Bradford, Elizabeth Bradford, Stephen Poe, Hana Poe, Simon Poe Junr, Saphiah Poe, Rachel, Eliza., Hanah and Saphiah being first privately examined, acknowledge their deed of release indented to John Thilman. Sarah Bradford* acknowledged her deed of release indented to John Thilman.
*
Without evidence that I have seen, many researchers claim that Sarah, wife of
Simon Poe, SR was a
11 May 1759
Eusebius Stone
Gent is appointed overseer of the road from John Baylor, Esqr. to the fork of
the road by the Ivy Church and to have the following hands. Colo. Baylor's home
house and mill quarter, Jno. Bowin, Ben Gatewood, Jos. Ballard, John Walden's
quarter, Willm. Ballard, Armistead's quarter, John Eubank, Abram Wood and
William Poe*, to assist him in keeping the
road in repair.
Sarah
Herndon*
William Herndon
13 September
1759
Sarah Herndon,
relict of William Herndon declar'd she would not take or received the legacy to
her given by the last will of William Herndon.
Mary Herndon
returned an account against Joseph Herndon estate.
*
Sarah Poe, daughter of Simon Poe, SR
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..
10 April 1760
p. 99
Suit in
Chancery Adam Byrd agt . Stephen Poe Dismissed.
*
the next year, Stephen can be found in
It is unclear
whether the following record pertains to William Poe, son of Simon Poe, or the
William Poe who remains in
William
Poe
13 June 1761
p. 227
Action of Debt.
Wm. Spiller agt. William Bullard, James Bullard, Frederick Fortson and Wm. Poe.
The defendants not appearing the judgment of last court is confirmed against
Frederick Fortson and James Bullard and George Peay security for Jone for
pounds 32.12.2 1/2 current money. To be discharged in the defendant's paying
pounds 11.5.7 farthing with interest from 8 May 1760
Feb. 1764
p. 43
On the motion
of William Poe and Thomas Reynolds, securities of Elizabeth Charles for the
administration of the goods and chattels, rights and credits that were of
Oliver Charles. [She to] be summoned to next court to give them counter
security.
10 March 1764
p. 76
On the Petition
of William Poe and Thomas Rennolds for Elizabeth Charles giving counter
security and she failing to comply with the order, its ordered she deliver up
the whole estate of Oliver Charles, deceased, to William Poe and Thos.
Rennolds.
William
Poe
12 May 1764
p. 145
William
Johnston agt. William Poe. Tresspass on the case. Judgment is granted the
plaintiff for his costs.
12 May 1764
p. 158
Jacob King agt.
William Poe. Case. Upon the defendant's acknowledging that he does not remember
that ever he called the plaintiff a mullato or that he knows that he is one and
on the defendant paying cost, this suit is dismissed. (see suit in 1773 between
these parties)
Nearly all the
records seem to refer to Simon Poe, Jr. The only record after the death of
Simon Poe, Jr that may indicate Simon Poe Sr’s residence is the following. All
the Simon Poe sons appear to have acquired lands around New Hope Creek off the
Haw River, not far from the city of
p. 186 –
Registered 1
November 1779 – State of North Carolina to James
Poe – 50 sh. for every 100 a. – 25 a. on the Crooked Branch – joins Simon Poe’s line, Clarks corner and Stewarts
line.
p. 318
1 July 1779
State of North
Carolina to Joseph Readinour - 50 sh. for every 100 a. -- 200 a. on the
Redfield Road on Simon Poe's line -
joins Charles Stewart, James Massey* on the Red Hill Branch
J. Glasgow Sec. Rd. Caswell
* David Poe, orphan of Stephen
Poe, chooses James Massey his guardian in record below. James Massey was
married to Jane Poe, daughter of Simon Poe, JR.
31 March 1780
State of
Wm. Sheppard
Sec. Rd. Caswell
p. 416 (bottom)
13
February 1781 – Alexander Clark and Pheby his Wife to James Howard
– 4700 pds. – 350 a. – all that tract or parcel of land whereon Simon Poe formerly lived – joins Mrs. Hannah Poe, William
Poe, Junr. and the land formerly belonging to Morton (Morten) and
Richard Kennon and the land whereon Younger Neal (Neil) now lives.
Wit:
John Auld Alexander
Clark
Jacob
Dardin Pheby Clark (x)
pg. 629
states: Simon Poe (Sr) to Reuben Poe, 2-8-1790. Land was in
5 January 1791
James Stewart for 50 pds to Sarah Neill,
land on waters of Robertson's Creek beginning at a hickory at the Redfield road
in Simon Poe's line running W 163
poles to his corner a red oak thence S 36 1/2 poles to Charles Stewart's corner
in Massey's corner thence along Massey's line S 12 1/2 poles to a post
oak
James Stewart
Wit: Phil Meroney
It is this announcement
that lets us know when Simon Poe was born.
Simon Poe - In
North Carolina, Mr. S. P. aged 84 to Miss Rhoda Marsh, aged 58. The bridegroom
has now living 186 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Wednesday
October 3, 1792.
------------------------------------------------------------
* This has to refer to Simon Poe (so-called the third). Simon
Poe, JR died in 1773. His son Simon was bound to Simon Poe, SR. This explains
why Stephen was singled out for a child’s part among others. I think that
William Poe who received a child’s part is the son of Stephen Poe – the son of
Captain Stephen Poe, who is believed to
have been a son of Simon Poe, SR. Both Capt. Stephen and Simon Poe, JR died in
1773.
Estate
Record of Estates
1782-1788, Chatham Co., NC
Inventory of Simon Poe deceased, dated Aug. 9, 1793
1 negro woman "Fan", and 3 negro children.
3 heads of horses, 14 head of cows, 21
head of Hogs, 11 head of Sheep, 3 beds of furniture, 3 bedsteads,
6 sides of leather, & 6 forks, 1 pair of cart wheels, 1 grinding stone, 4
casks 1 Runlet, 2 bridles, 2 pair of harnes, 3 bels 1 loom, a quanty? off wheat
in the sheef, 1 parcel of flax, not dresed, 1 tumbler, 1 pair of stillards, 6
pieces of crockery ware, 2 mugs, 2 piggins, 4 Tins, 1 washing tub, small parcel
of leather, 2 augers, 1 handsaw, 1 gouge, 1 froe, 4 jugs, a small parcel of
Ba... ? 1 parcel of sope, 1 note of hand on John Foshee to the amount of 2
pounds 2 shillings, a small parcel of Corn , cash 2 pounds 13 shillings, 8
pence, 4 3/4 (skeins ?) of spun yarn, 2 iron wedges, a small parcel of oats, 1
iron ladle, 1 pair of flesh forks, 1 brush, a crop of corn and tobacco now a
growing.
Signed
Robert Thompson,
James Massey,
R. Straughan
John Ramsey,
CC Pg. 146b, 147a,b, 148a-
Record of Estates 1782-1799, Chatham Co., NC
Account of the
forever to transcribe word for word, so will give the shortened version)
Robert Thompson bought a negro woman "Fan" and 5 hogsheads
James Massey bought negroes Jesse, and
Daniel and a "lot" of corn
William Poe bought negro Moses and a "lot" of flax
George Truas bought a bay horse
Stephen Poe 4 Ceers [ have no idea what
these are, possibly meant "shears"], 2 mugs and tumbler, 1 tray, 2
"lots" of corn and 3 "lots" of tobacco.
Henry Ward bought 2 cows, calves and bells
James Brownlow, Cthouse [ probably meant where he lived] bought 1 cow, calf and
bell 2 hogs, 3 small hogs,
William Poe, Jr.& bell, Flatt irons, 1 Rundlet, 3 pewter basons
John Morton bought 1 Heiffer, 2 Hogs,
James Poe bought 1 Heiffer
Nathan Stedman 1 fatt shoot (shoat?) bought 4 Hogs, 2 axes, 1 Bell, 2 small
books, Sundries, 1 "lott' of sope (soap)
Joseph Burchet bought 3 small Hoggs
John Foshee a potato patch, 1 grindstone, 2 pewter dishes, 3 pewter plates, 1
Dutch Oven
Col. Thomas Brown (marked
"paid") bought 1 Ewe and 2 Lambs, 3 sheep
Thomas Brinkley bought 2 Rams
Harris George bought 1 Wheel, 2 Tables, 3 bushells of corn, 1 Brush, 1 Sifter
and 1 fatt tub.
George Dismukes bought 2 plow hoes, 2 weeding hoes, 5 hogsheads,
James Bullard bought 2 grubbing hoes, 4 Pins
Richard Straughan, Jr. bought 1 hammer hand saw 2 augers, 4 pewter basons, 1
Jugg,
Richard Straughan, Sr. bought 1 Saddle
and Bridle, 1 pair of artwheels, 2 casks, 2 pair padded harness, 3 bushels
wheat, 1 cow hide, 1 plow hoe, 2 piggins, small lott of leather, 1 Froe, 1
Jugg, 3 bushels of corn, 1 Lott of Oats, 2 lotts of corn and 1 Bagg.
Richard Straughan ( no Jr. or Sr. after his name) bought 3 bushels of wheat, 1
Lott of Corn
Rhoda Poe
Tamsen Straughan bought 1 Loom, 4 3/4 of
Yarn,
John Petty furniture
William Foshee bought 1 Beadstead
William Hammock ( this may be William Wommack, as I haven't see a Hammock
before) bought 2 sides of
leather
Josiah Copeland Jr. bought 1 side of leather
Hosea Straughan bought 1 side of leather
Burwell Williams bought 1 tea kettle, 1 Lott of Crockery, 1 Bedstead
Solomon Smith bought 1 large Bible
Peter Moyer bought 1 Iron Pott and hooks
William Crain bought 1 Iron Pott and hooks
John Bull bought 1 Skillet
William Poe Sr. bought 1 Frying Pann
Robert Poe bought 1 Lott of Brandy
Phillip Meroney bought 1 pair of Stillards
William Poe (gentleman) bought 1 Washing Tub,
Joseph Harman bought 1 pair of Iron Wedges, 1
ladle and flesh forks