Vikings and Virginians

[WHB: Some family historians have suggested relationships resulting from marriages between the families of Suddarth, Ellgey (or Ellzey), and Travis  (Travers or Traverse) without providing documentation or even a convincing hypothetical explanation of how they may be related. The existing records of Stafford County, Virginia are scanty and fragmentary, and the idea that at least the Suddarths were descended from French Huguenots that settled in North England or Scotland after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes is, I  believe, inadequately defended. That said, I think there may be some substance in the speculations. I believe that it might be useful to list some genealogical studies and some selected known documents that might be relevant chronologically. The following attempts to do so.]

 1658

From William Suddarth of Stafford County & Albemarle County, Virginia, printed by Richard D. Hirtzel, 1999:

 “In 1648, a James Sudward, with various spellings of his surname, migrated with his wife Mary and daughter Elizabeth to the colony of Maryland. James was not indentured and he transported his wife. Probably they were from England. A few years later, James was in Virginia and summoned back to Maryland for a court action. His location in Virginia was not provided, and there is no basis for knowing that he was in Stafford County. The population of the colonies was sparse at that time, and James had some legal reasons to be located other than in Maryland. No further records of the family have been found after the 1760s in Maryland. So the possibility exists that he may have settled in Virginia. He would have been of an age to be the father of the first Lawrence Suddarth in Stafford County, Virginia. For this reason, the records available on his activities in Maryland are included in this booklet.”

1691

” . . .  The first Suddarth of record [in Stafford County, VA] was Lawrence Suddarth, who served on a jury in 1691 and is found on other records over the next two decades. In later generations, there were several other men with the name of Lawrence Suddarth. This suggests the possibility that the senior Lawrence Suddarth was the patriaarch of the Suddarth family in Stafford County, and that later persons with the same name were his descendents. The early American records provide enough information to suggest relationships with other persons, but frequently not enough to actually document the speculation that naturally arises from the ages and locations of these early settlers.”

1723

Stafford County Quit Rent roll

Thomas Ellzey 518

John Elszey 150 [folio 4]

William Purlow 150 Part of Henry Filkin’s land, Refuseth … S [mutilated – several lines lost]

Rawleigh Travers 3525 Paid 362 lbs tobacco – in part Due 484 lbs Tobacco

1724

Tenders of Tobacco for Overwharton Parish

Virginia State Library, Archive Colonial Papers, folder 52, no 34 (list 1)

Several “Purlers”

At Mr John Fitzhugh’s Quarters: William Travis + James, ___, Alice Parker, 4 Negroes (7  20,270)

A list of the tithables allowed to end tobacco and quantity of plants in the preceincts between Aquia and Quantico [Creeks] viz.]

1724

A list of Tobacco Tenders from the South Side of Potomack [Creek] to y3 Lower End of Overwharton Parish

John Travis (21,102), Nathaniel Morgan, Owen Sullivant, Thomas Handeman, 6 Negroes

Lewis Elzey’s Quarter (19,469) John Smith, Joseph Waugh, 4 Negroes, 1 Negro boy

South Side of Potomack

Henry Suddarth (154 plants)

John Elzey (50 plants)

1728

Land Patents an d Grants of  Hanover County, Virginia (1721-1800), compiled by Charles P. Blunt IV.

Hanover County Deeds, Book 13, page 467,

“Christopher Clark of Hanover County, Gentleman (28 September 1728) 1, 326 acres . . . on both sides of North East Creek . . . by Sudeth’s path . .  branch of dirty Swamp”

1742

Quit Rent Roll, p. 1

Elzey, Thomas

Elzey, Lewis

Mills, Willliam 100 acres 0 lb 2 s 0 d.

Source: Virginia State Library Archives Division, Miscellaneous Reel 444b [Stafford County Quitrent Roll 1729; Original in Huntington Library (Brock Collection BR 297(2) San Marino, California

Quit Rent Rolls, p. 2

Scott, Rev Mr James 9,354 acres 9LB 7s d.

Suddart, Robert 150 acres 0 LB 3s 0d.

Suddart, Henry

Traverse, Rawleigh 3300 3 LB 6s 0d.

Note: Many researchers of the Suddarth line have been stopped by the paucity of data and the seeming contradictions in what is available when they get to James Suddarth of Stafford County, who is known to have been part of that county’s Overwharton Parish. Some researchers are intrigued with the idea that Suddarth may have been from Scotland, and may have descended from French Huguenots.

My instinct is to pull together what is known about the parish, its church and its minister at the time the James Suddarth lived in Stafford County. The following information about what is surely Suddarth’s church and minister from a late 19th century publication:

Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia In Two Volumes By Bishop Meade; Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1894.

From volume II, pp. 197-206

ARTICLE LXIV.

Overwharton Parish, Stafford County.

I come now to Overwharton parish in Stafford county. The county and parish take their names from the corresponding ones in England. Stafford county once extended up to the Blue Ridge Mountain. In the year 1730, Prince William county was formed from the “heads of King George and Stafford.” Overwharton parish was also coextensive with Stafford before Prince William was divided and Hamilton parish taken off. In the same year,–1730,–Overwharton parish was divided and Hamilton parish taken off.

Overwharton covered the narrow county of Stafford, and Hamilton the large county of Prince William before Fauquier, Fairfax, and Loudoun were taken away. Stafford, in its original dimensions, first appears as a county in 1666.

When it was erected into a parish is not known,–but most probably about the same time. Its division in 1730 is the first mention of it. The Rev. Robert Rose in his accountbook mentions the Rev. Alexander Scott as a minister in it in 1727; and it is well known that he was the minister of this parish for many years.* He came from Scotland,–being obliged to leave, it is supposed, after some unsuccessful rebellion. He never married.

Having acquired some considerable property, he invited his younger brother, the Rev. James Scott, to come over and inherit it. He had one estate in Stafford called Dipple, at which he lived. His brother came over, and after some time the minister of the adjoining parish of Dettingen in Prince William, which was separated from Hamilton when Fauquier was taken from Prince William, and which he ministered for thirty-seven years.

Mr. Alexander Scott had as his assistant or curate, for a short time before his death, the Rev. Mr. Moncure, a Scotchman, but descendant of a Huguenot refugee who fled from France at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Mr. Moncure was the successor of Mr. Scott. In what year he entered his duties I have been unable to ascertain, but his name is still to be seen painted on one of the panels of the gallery in Old Aquia Church, together with those of the vestry in 1757.

The first church was burned in the year 1751. I here give the names of the minister and vestry as painted on the gallery in the year 1757, when it is supposed the second church was finished. John Moncure, minister. Peter Houseman, John Mercer, John Lee, Mott Donithan, Henry Tyler, William Mountjoy, Benjamin Strother, Thomas Fitzhugh, Peter Daniel, Traverse Cooke, John Fitzhugh, John Peyton, vestrymen.

It is gratifying to know that descendants of the above are, with probably but few exceptions, in some part of our state or land still attached to the Episcopal Church. Their names are a guarantee for their fidelity to the Church of their fathers. Of the minister, the Rev. J. Moncure, the following extract from a letter of one of his daughters, who married General–afterward Governor–Wood, of Virginia, will give a more interesting account than any which could possibly be collected from all other sources. It was written in the year 1820, to a female relative, the grand-daughter of the Rev. James Scott, who married a sister of Rev. Mr. Moncure’s wife, and daughter of Dr. Gustavus Brown, of Port Tobacco, Maryland:—

“I was only ten years old when I lost my dear father. He was a Scotch-man descended from a French ancestor, who fled among the first Protestants who left France in consequence of the persecution that took place soon after the Reformation. He had an excellent education, and had made considerable progress in the study of medicine, when an invitation to see an establishment in Virginia induced him to cross the Atlantic, and his first engagement was in Northumberland county, where he lived for two years in a gentleman’s family as a private tutor.

During that time, although teaching others, he was closely engaged in the study of divinity, and at the commencement of the third year from his first arrival, returned to Great Britain and was ordained a minister of the then Established Church; came back to Virginia and engaged as curate to your great-uncle, Alexander Scott, who at that time was minister of Overwharton parish in Stafford county, and resided at his seat of Dipple. Your uncle died a short time after, and my dear father succeeded him in his parish and resided at the glebe-house. Your grandfather, the Rev. James Scott, who inherited Dipple, continued there until he settled at Westwood, in Prince William. He was my father’s dearest, kindest friend, and one of the best of men.

Their intimacy brought my father and mother acquainted, who was sister to your grandmother Scott. Old Dr. Gustavus Brown, of Maryland, my maternal grandfather, objected to the marriage of my father and mother. Although he thought highly of my father, he did not think him an eligible match for his daughter. He was poor, and very delicate in his health. Dr. Brown did not, however, forbid their union, and it accordingly took place. The old gentleman received them as visitors and visited them again, but would not pay down my mother’s intended dowry until they saw how they could get along, and ‘to let them see that they could not live on love without other sauce.’**

I have often heard my dear mother relate the circumstances of their first housekeeping with tears of tender and delightful recollection. They went home from your grandpapa’s, where they were married, with a slenderly-supplied purse to an empty house,–except a few absolute necessaries from their kind friends. When thus arrived, they found some of my good father’s parishioners there: one had brought some wood, another some fowls, a third some meal, and so on. One good neighbour would insist on washing for them, another would milk, and another would tend the garden; and they all delighted to serve their good minister and his wife.

Notwithstanding these aids, my mother found much to initiate her into the habits of an industrious housewife, and my father into those of an active, practical farmer and gardener, which they never gave up. When the business of preparing their meal was over, a small writing-stand was their table, the stair-steps furnished one a seat, and a trunk the other. Often, when provisions were scarce, my father took his gun or his fishing-rod and with his dog sallied forth to provide their dinner, which, when he returned, his happy wife dressed; and often would she accompany him a-fishing or fowling, for she said that they were too poor to have full employment in domestic business.

Though destitute of every luxury, they had a small, well-chosen library which my father had collected while a student and tutor. This was their evening’s regale. While my mother worked with her needle he read to her. This mode of enjoyment pleasantly brought round the close of the first year. When the minister’s salary was paid, they were now comparatively rich. My dearest father exchanged his shabby black coat for a new one, and the next year was affluent. By this time, the neighbouring gentry found out the value of their minister and his wife, and contended for their society by soliciting visits and making them presents of many comforts.

Frequently these grandees would come in their splendid equipages to spend a day at the glebe, and bring every thing requisite to prevent trouble or expense to its owners,–merely for the enjoyment of the society of the humble inhabitants of this humble dwelling. In the lapse of a few years, by frugality and industry in the management of a good salary, these dear parents became quite easy in their circumstances. My father purchased a large tract of land on the river Potomac. He settled this principally by tenants; but on the most beautiful eminence that ever I beheld, he built a good house, and soon improved it into a very sweet establishment. Here I was born: my brother and two sisters, considerably my seniors, were born at the glebe.

My brother, who was intended for the Church, had a private tutor in the house. This man attended also my two sisters, who previously to his residence in the family were under the care of an Englishman, who lived in the house, but also kept a public school under my father’s direction. about a mile from his house. Unhappily for me, I was the youngest, and very sickly. My father and mother would not allow me to be compelled to attend to my books or my needle, and to both I had a decided aversion, unless voluntarily resorted to as an amusement. In this I was indulged.

I would sometimes read a lesson to my sister or the housekeeper, or, if their authority were resisted, I was called to my mother’s side. All this amounted to my being an ignorant child at my father’s death, which was a death-stroke to my dearest mother. The incurable grief into which it plunged her could scarcely be a matter of surprise, when the uncommonly tender affection that united them was considered. They were rather more than middle-aged when I was first old enough to remember them; yet I well recollect their inseparable and undeviating devotion. They were rarely seen assunder.

My mother was an active walker and a good rider. Whenever she could do so, she accompanied him in his pastoral visits,–a faithful white servant attending in her absence from home. They walked hand in hand, and often rode hand in hand,–were both uncommonly fond of the cultivation of flowers, fruits, and rare plants. They watched the opening buds together,–together admired the beauty of the full-blown blossoms, and gathering the ripened fruit or seed. While he wrote or read, she worked near his table,–which always occupied the pleasantest place in their chamber, where he chose to study, often laying down his pen to read and comment on an impressive passage.

Frequently, when our evening repast was over (if the family were together,) some book, amusing and instructive, was read aloud by my dear father, and those of the children or their young associates who could not be silent were sent to bed after evening worship,–which always took place immediately after supper. Under the void which this sad separation occasioned, my poor mother’s spirits sunk and never rallied. The first six to eight months were spent in a dark, secluded chamber, distant from that formerly occupied.

The management of the family devolved on my brother and second sister. My eldest married two or three years previous to this period. I was left pretty much to my own management. The education of my brother and sister was so far finished that they not only held what they had acquired, but continued to improve; but alas, poor me! I as usual refused every thing like study, but became, unfortunately, immoderately fond of books. The key of the library was now within my power, and the few romances it contained were devoured.

Poetry and a botanical work with plates came next. This gave me a useless, superficial knowledge of what might have been useful, but what in this indigested way was far otherwise. The Tattler, Guardian, and Spectator were the only works I read which contained beneficial instruction; and of these I only read the amusing papers; and, taking the beautiful and sublime allegories which abound with moral instruction in a literal sense, I read them as amusing tales. This kind of reading made up a pernicious mass of chaotic matter that darkened while it seemed to enlighten my mind, and I soon became romantic and exceedingly ridiculous,–turned branches of trees together and called them a bower, and fancied I could write poetry, and many other silly things.My dear mother suffered greatly toward the close of her life with a cancer: for this she visited the medicinal springs, and I was chosen to attend her. It was a crowded and gay scene for me, who had lived almost entirely in seclusion.

I did not mix in its gayest circle; yet it was of service to me, as it gave me the first view of real life that ever I had. My beloved parent was not desirous of confining me; but I rejoice at the excellent recollection that I could very seldom be prevailed upon to leave her. There I first became the favourite and devoted friend of your most excellent mother. Forgive the vanity of this boast, my dear cousin, but I cannot help observing that she afterward told me that it was the manner in which I discharged this duty that won her esteem and love. At this place I first met General Wood, who visited me soon after my return home, and became my husband four years after.”

The time of Mr. Moncure’s death is seen from that true patriot and statesman, Mr. George Mason, of Gunston, Fairfax county, Virginia. As he signs himself the kinsman of Mrs. Moncure, the relationship must have come from the connection between the Browns, of Maryland, and Masons. Dr. Brown came to this country from Scotland in 1708, and married in Maryland.

“Gunston, 12th March, 1764. 
“DEAR MADAM:–I have your letter by Peter yesterday, and the day before I had one from Mr. Scott, who sent up Gustin Brown on purpose with it. I entirely agree with Mr. Scott in preferring a funeral sermon at Aquia Church, without any invitation to the house. Mr. Moncure’s character and general acquaintance will draw together much company, besides a great part of his parishioners, and I am sure you are not in a condition to bear such a scene; and it would be very inconvenient for a number of people to come so far from church in the afternoon after the sermon.

As Mr. Moncure did not desire to be buried in any particular place, and as it is usual to buy clergymen in their own churches, I think the corpse being deposited in the church where he had so long preached is both decent and proper, and it is probable, could he have chosen it himself, he would have preferred it.

Mr. Scott writes to me that it is intended Mr. Green shall preach the funeral sermon on the 20th of this month, if fair; if not, the next fair day; and I shall write to Mr. Green to-morrow to that purpose, and inform him that you expect Mrs. Green and him at your house on the day before; and, if God grants me strength sufficient either to ride on horseback or in a chair, I will certainly attend to pay the last duty to the memory of my friend; but I am really so weak at present that I can’t walk without crutches and very little with them, and have never been out of the house but once or twice, and then, though I stayed but two or three minutes at a time, it gave me such a cold as greatly to increase my disorder. Mr. Green has lately been very sick, and was not able to attend his church yesterday, (which I did not know when I wrote to Mr. Scott:) If he should not recover soon, so as to be able to come down, I will inform you or Mr. Scott in time, that some other clergyman may be applied to.

I am very glad to hear that Mr. Scott purposes to apply for Overwharton parish. It will be a great comfort to you and your sister to be so near one another, and I know the goodness of Mr. Scott’s heart so well, that I am sure he will take pleasure in doing you every good office in his power, and I had much rather he should succeed Mr. Moncure than any other person. I hope you will not impute my not visiting to any coldness or disrespect. It gives me great concern that I am not able to see you. You may depend upon my coming down as soon as my disorder will permit, and I hope you know me too well to need any assurance that I shall gladly embrace all opportunities of testifying my regard to my deceased friend by doing every good office in my power to his family.

I am, with my wife’s kindest respects and my own, dear madam, your most affectionate kinsman, GEORGE MASON”

c. 1700

WILLIAM SUDDARTH, son of JAMES SUDDARTH and ELIZABETH TRAVIS ELLGEY born in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, VA

c. 1720

WILLIAM SUDDARTH married PARTLOW MILLS

Son JAMES SUDDARTH born in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, VA

Son Lawrence Suddarth born afterwards

1730

Daughter Mary (Mollie) Suddarth born.

From William Suddarth of Stafford County & Albemarle County, Virginia, printed by Richard D. Hirtzel, 1999:

“WILLIAM SUDDARTH and James Southard are found in the account books of the Partridge Store in the mid-1730s. This store was a sort of general store which extended crecit to its customers. It was located in Hanover County, Virginia – probably just east of the present Louisa/Hanover County line. Also found in these account books are John Denny and Benjamin Denny. In one instance, WILLIAM SUDDARTH paid the bill of Benjamin Denny, indicating an acquaintance between the two men. There was a Suddeths Pathway which has been identified as being near Dirty Swamp, which flows north from the South Anna River and near the Louisa/Hanover County line. This may have been named for, or was the residence of WILLIAM SUDDARD and relatives.”

1735

Son William Suddarth born.

Goochland County Titheables Book shows a WILLIAM SOUTHARD (Note: SUDDARTH?).

November 25, 1735

Goochland Orders, 1735-1737. The Levy for the County. Disbursement [in pounds of tobacco]: WILLIAM SUDDITH for 1 wolf’s head certified by Wm Mayo – 200.

1736

From William Suddarth of Stafford County & Albemarle County, Virginia, printed by Richard D. Hirtzel, 1999:

Partridge Store Records (Hanover County, VA), extracted from “Accounts from the Store of Thomas Partridge & Co. Hanover Co. Virginia 1734-1756” by Richard Slaten and James Bagby, Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, vol 25, no. 1, February, 1987:

Benjamin Denny opened an acccount at the general store of Thomas Partridge & Co in Hanover Co, VA. Also shopping at the same store were John Denny, William Mullins and WILLIAM SUTHARD.

1738

From William Suddarth of Stafford County & Albemarle County, Virginia, printed by Richard D. Hirtzel, 1999:

Partridge Store Records (Hanover County, VA), extracted from “Accounts from the Store of Thomas Partridge & Co. Hanover Co. Virginia 1734-1756” by Richard Slaten and James Bagby, Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, vol 25, no. 1, February, 1987:

“p. 10 Mr Abraham Venable 1738 Apr.7 (1 History Book) Jun 1.8 (i hat No. 7) . . . Aug 9, 24([items] dd WM SUTHARD . . .

p. ___ WM SUTHARD paid for purchases made to account of Benjamin Denny.

1743

Goochland County Deed, 1741-1745, p. 158.

“From Abraham Venable of Louisa County, to WILLIAM SUDDEF of G[oochland], of planter, for 30 E, all that dividend of land being in the South Garden [Cr?] among the little Mountains on the south branch of Hardwar River in G[oochland], about 300 acres, which said 300 acres of land is part of 1500 acres granted to the said Abraham Venable by patent dated Jul 19, 1735 and bounded by [tree]s.”   Signed Abraham Venable. Wit – Sam Nuclis, Andrew Hunter, Robert Priddy, Record May 17, 1743.

[Note – this area became Albemarle County (Parish of St Ann’s) in 1744.]

From William Suddarth of Stafford County & Albemarle County, Virginia, printed by Richard D. Hirtzel, 1999:

“WILLIAM SUDDARTH bought land in 1743 from Abraham Venable in Albemarle County in South Garden on the South Fork of the Hardware River. An east branch of the Byrd Creek in Goochland County was named Venable Creek, not far from Suddeths Pathway and the Partridge Store. John Denny lived on Byrd Creek, and a Benjamin Denny at one time owned land on Phipps Creek which was a fork of the Byrd Creek, upstream and on a left branch. One could reasonably conclude that WILLIAM SUDDETH became acquainted with Abraham Venable in this locale which led to the 1743 land transaction located in present Albemarle County.

“There was also a James Southard who traded with the Partridge Store and who owned land in Albemarle County. This possibly was a brother of WILLIAM SUDDARTH. It points to the fact that either the spelling of Suddarth and Southard were used interchangeably, or that separate Suddarth and Southard families co-existed in the same locale.”

1744

The area of Goochland County containing property owned by father WILLIAM SUDDARTH becomes Albemarle County.

1746

9 December, 1746

Son JAMES SUDDARTH married PATIENCE SUMPTER, daughter of WILLIAM SUMPTER and ELIZABETH DULCE.

1748

From William Suddarth of Stafford County & Albemarle County, Virginia, printed by Richard D. Hirtzel, 1999:

[Note – See relevant excerpt from this booklet on this page under the year 1762.]

“Samuel Denny is found in Hat Creek in 1748, in present Nelson County in a book Tuckahoes and Cohees, with a record of his residing there. Also listed following his name are John, Benjamin and William, possibly his children, or pehraps other close relatives. In 1750, a minister named Robert Rose christened his twin children . . .

“A record of Samuel’s purchase of property in 1754 still places him on Hat Creek. Because of the fact that WILLIAM SUDDATH’s daughter Sarah married a Denny, and according to Joel Denny, Samuel Denny married a Southard, researchers have long pursued the question of whether Sarah Denny was married to Samuel. The Denny’s were located in Goochland County and WILLIAM SUDDARTH nearby trading at the Partridge Store and possibly living on Suddeth’s Pathway during the 1730’s. This would have provided an opportunity for Samuel, or other Denny men, to get acquainted with Sarah, leading to marriage. There also were land transactions between the Suddath’s and Dennhy’s, notably between Bejamin Denny and a younger Lawrence Suddath in Albemarle County. So the two families obviously were well acquainted with each other.”

1750

After his children were grown and married, WILLIAM SUDDARTH sold 200
acres on Red Bar Hollow in Albemarle County to JAMES SUDDARTH, a carpenter on 8 May, 1750. He reserved 100 acres fo the 300-acre tract for his son Lawrence.

pp. 184-185 “This indenture made the Eighth day of May in the twenty third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second and c . and in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand seven hundred & fifty between WILLIAM SUDDARTH of Albemarle County Collony & Dominion of Virginia, Planter, of one part & JAMES SUDDARTH of ye County & Collony aforesaid, Carpenter, of the other part Witnesseth the WILLIAM SUDDARTH for the Quantity of Two hundred acres of land lying & being the RED BEAR HOLLOW to him the said WILLIAM SUDDARTH delivered by the said JAMES SUDDARTH, he the said WILLIAM SUDDARTH hereby hath granted & sold unto JAMES SUDDARTH Two hundred acres of land being on the South Branch of Hardway being part of Three hundred acres granted to WILLIAM SUDDARTH by Abraham Veneble as may be more fully at large appear by the said Venebles patent for said Land, Together with all houses gardens orchards woods ways to the Two hundred acres of land being pg part of Three hundred acres abovenamed whereof One hundred acres & that to be where the house & plantation of WILIAM SUDDARTH hath to be reserved for Laurance Suddarth & his heirs forever Provided Always forever the Timber & Wood of the said Land shall be for the use & behoof of any part of said Three hundred acres & no hindrance on either party forever & also the Reversion rents title of him said WILLIAM SUDDARTH to the same To have and to hold unto JAMES SUDDARTH his heirs and assigns forever In Witness whereof WILLIAM SUDDARTH hath set his hand and Seal in presence of  WM SUDDARTH At a Court held for Albemarle County the Eight day of May 1760. This Indenture was acknowledged by WILLIAM SUDDARTH one of the parties thereto & ordered to be recorded.”

1752

At court held for Stafford County 9th Novr 152 Inventory p. 24o

“In the name of God Amen I JAMES SUDDUTH SENR of Stafford County being indisposed in body but of sound memory & judgment . . . settling worldly affairs after the following manner

Imp I leave unto my son WILLIAM SUDDUTH one feather bed & furniture vizt that which commonly called his Bed also one cow & calf to him and heirs.

Item I leave to my son James Sudduth one feather bed and furniture which nhe now lies as also 2 cows & claves and a pot in case he leaves his Mother.

Item I leave to my Loving wife MARY during her life or of her dying I leave all to my Grandson Lawrence Sudduth with directions that it may be apprais’d or turn’d into money for him until he comes of age to be delivered to him at that time.

In case of my Grandson Lawrences death I bequeath all to my son James and his heirs for ever. Also I leave to my loving wife Mary one Mulatto boy Mase to do with him as she thinks proper. Lastly I appoint my loving Wife MARY SUDDUTH my whole ExEx of this my last Will and Testament. . .  Jany 24 1753. Presence Will Montjoy, Lawr. Sudduth. At Court held for Stafford County 13th March 1753 This last will & Testament of JAMES SUDDUTH deced presented by MARY SUDDUTH the Ex Ex therein named . .  Certificate granted for her obtaining Probate . .

1753

Father JAMES SUDDARTH dies in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, VA

1759

From Albemarle County, VA – Deed Book ‘2’ Page 116: “April 13, 1759 JAMES SUDDETH to WILLIAM SUDDETH, 20# for 135 acres on Hardware Branch. Witnesses: Charles Blany, Abraham Venable Patent: Mary 10, 1756 PATIENCE, wife of JAMES SUDDETH”

From Albemarle County VA – Deed Book ‘2’ Page 159: “June 20, 1759 Jacob Eades to John Ramsey, clerk, 300 acres bought from WILLIAM SUDDARTH, both sides of south fork of Totier River.”

1761

“Diocese of Southern Virginia”, Journal 1903, 49-50
AMHERST COUNTY was formed in 1761 from Albemarle County and
“certain islands” in the Fluvanna [James] River.
The Act dividing the Counties of Albemarle and Louisa and the Parish of St.
Anne was dated March 1761.
Amherst Parish in said Act is described as follows:
That from and after the first day of May next the said parish (St. Anne) shall be divided into two distinct parishes, in the following manner, that is to say, by Rockfish river to the mouth of Green creek, thence a straight line by the house of Thomas Bell to the Blue mountain, and that all that part of said parish that lies above the said river and line shall be one distinct parish, and shall be called and “known by the name of Amherst”: and that all other part of said parish that lies below the said river and line shall be one distinct parish and “retain the name of St. Anne”.

[Note: See additional information on the Amherst Parish that follows at * below.]

9 July 1761

Albemarle County, VA Deeds: Book #3, page 85:  Chas. Tate, Amhurst planter, to JAS. SUDDARTH 20 pds., 109 acres S. Hardware. Wit. Samuel Jordon & WM. SUDDARTH.

WILL OF WILLIAM SUDDARTH, 1761 I WILLIAM SUDDARTH SENR of the County and Parish of Amherst being in Perfect sence and memory do by these Presents make this my Last Will and Testament makeing void all other Wills by me before maid in primas I comit my Soul to the hands of Almighty God that gave it me and for what Estate it hath Pleased God to bestoe on me I give and Bequeath as followeth

Item I give to my Daughters Sarah Denny, Agness Willibey, Charity Tate, Elizabeth Ray one shilling Starling, also I give to my three Sons JAMES SUDDARTH, William Suddarth, and Larnes Suddarth Each of them one shilling Starling and the Rest and Residue of my hole Estate I give to my Youngest Daughter Mary Suddarth also I do appoint my Daughter Mary Suddarth whole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament December 25th 1761.
William (his + mark) Suddarth Larnes (his + mark) Suddarth Martha + Suddarth George

1762

5 April 1762

Amherst County, VA, Will Book 1, p. 4

Father WILLIAM SUDDARTH SR’S Will names sons JAMES, William Jr. and Lawrence, daughters Sarah (Denny), Agnes Willibey, Charity Tate, Elizabeth Ray, and Mary Sudarth. Mary Sudarth named the administrator.

From William Suddarth of Stafford County & Albemarle County, Virginia, printed by Richard D. Hirtzel, 1999:

“The connections between WILLIAM SUDDARTH and John Denny, Samuel Denny and Benjamin Denny are of particular interest – especially to Denny researchers. The 1762 will of WILLIAM SUDDARTH indicates that his daughter Sarah ahad married a Denny. Also, a history of Samuel Denny, written by his great-grandson, Joel Denny, indicates that Samuel married a woman named Southard and that they had seventeen children.

“A Samuel Denny is found in Goochland County in 1737/38 in a court action with a man named John Johnston and a man named Isaac Hoel. A John Johnston traded at the Partridge Store, aas did several persons with the surname of Howell, although not Isaac. Samuel Denny is not found in the Partridge Store records. So along with John Denny and Benjamin Denny is aded a sighting of Samuel Denny in Goochland County in the decade of the 1730s.

“This suggests a relationship between John, Benjain and Samuel – perhaps brother, perhaps cousins, perhaps one was the parent of the others. It would be reasonable to assume that the three Denny men were at least related to one another, hence having common Denny ancestors a few generations back.”

—–

*This discussion from the Diocese of Southern Virginia Journal follows the passage quoted for year 1761: 

{In 1761 the border between Albemarle and Amherst Counties would seem to be the Rockfish River, which I think is now the border between Nelson and Albemarle}

In October 1778 the parish of Amherst was divided by a line running from Fluvanna [James] River up Piney River to the mountains; the part on the lower side to be known as Amherst Parish and on the upper side, Lexington Parish.
That the parish of Amherst shall be divided into two distinct parishes, in the following manner, that is to say:
By a line to be run from Meggenson’s Warehouse, on the Fluvanna river, to Rose’s Mill on Piney river, thence up the fork thereof above Lucas Powell’s plantation, and hence up the north fork to the Blue Ridge, and all that part of said parish which lies on the lower side of the said line shall be one distinct parish and “retain the name of Amherst”, and all that part of said parish which lies on the upper side of the said line shall be one other distinct parish and be “know by the name of Lexington”.

{Two years later}
In October 1780, the dividing line between Amherst and Lexington parishes was relocated to make a more equitable division.
Be it therefore enacted, That instead of the dividing line mentioned in said Act, the said parishes shall be divided by the following lines, to-wit:

Beginning on the Fluvana [James] river at the mouth of Elk Island Creek, with said creek to Hilton’s mill, from thence a direct line to Tye river at the mouth of Camp Creek; thence up Tye river to mouth of Piney river, thence up Piney river to Rose’s mill; thence continued up Piney river to the fork thereof above Lucas Powell’s plantation and thence up the north fork to the Blue Ridge.
The collector of the parish of Lexington shall have the power to collect and distrain for any dues which shall remain unpaid by the inhabitants of that part of the said parish of Lexington hereby made a part of the said parish of Amherst.

The following recommendation from the committee on admission of new parishes was approved.

3. From Amherst County a petition to be divided from Lexington Parish, of which it now forms a part, and to be formed into a separate parish, taking the name of Amherst Parish with the following boundaries, to-wit:
Those boundaries known as belonging to Pedlar township, and all that part of Elton township that lies to the west of the Virginia Midland railroad; or in other words, the northern boundary of the Elon section of the parish will be the Lynchburg road from Ware’s Gap across to Cool Well; the eastern boundary the Virginia Midland railroad; the southern boundary the James river, and the western boundary the Tobacco Row mountains to Ware’s Gap.(his + mark) Taylor Theophilus Faver

1720

JAMES SUDDARTH, son of WILLIAM SUDDARTH and PARTLOW MILLS, born in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, VA

Brother Lawrence Suddarth born afterwards

1730

Sister Mary (Mollie) Suddarth born.

1735

Brother William Suddarth born.

1743

Father WILLIAM SUDDARTH, planter, purchases about 300 acres of  land “among little mountains” from Abraham Venable of Louisa County on the south branch of the Hardware River in the Parish of St Ann’s in Goochland County (this area became Albemarle County in 1744 the Parish of St. Ann’s).

1744

The area of Goochland County containing property owned by father WILLIAM SUDDARTH becomes Albemarle County.

JAMES SOUTHARD[?] 200 acres on Verdiman’s Creek, Amherst County

1746

9 December, 1746

JAMES SUDDARTH married PATIENCE SUMPTER, daughter of WILLIAM SUMPTER and ELIZABETH DULCE.

1748

JAMES SUDDARTH married PATIENCE SUMPTER in Albemarle County, VA

1750

After his children were grown and married, WILLIAM SUDDARTH sold 200
acres on Red Bar Hollow in Albemarle County to JAMES SUDDARTH, a carpenter on 8 May, 1750. He reserved 100 acres fo the 300-acre tract for his son Lawrence.

pp. 184-185 “This indenture made the Eighth day of May in the twenty third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second and c . and in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand seven hundred & fifty between WILLIAM SUDDARTH of Albemarle County Collony & Dominion of Virginia, Planter, of one part & JAMES SUDDARTH of ye County & Collony aforesaid, Carpenter, of the other part Witnesseth the WILLIAM SUDDARTH for the Quantity of Two hundred acres of land lying & being the RED BEAR HOLLOW to him the said WILLIAM SUDDARTH delivered by the said JAMES SUDDARTH, he the said WILLIAM SUDDARTH hereby hath granted & sold unto JAMES SUDDARTH Two hundred acres of land being on the South Branch of Hardway being part of Three hundred acres granted to WILLIAM SUDDARTH by Abraham Veneble as may be more fully at large appear by the said Venebles patent for said Land, Together with all houses gardens orchards woods ways to the Two hundred acres of land being pg part of Three hundred acres abovenamed whereof One hundred acres & that to be where the house & plantation of WILIAM SUDDARTH hath to be reserved for Laurance Suddarth & his heirs forever Provided Always forever the Timber & Wood of the said Land shall be for the use & behoof of any part of said Three hundred acres & no hindrance on either party forever & also the Reversion rents title of him said WILLIAM SUDDARTH to the same To have and to hold unto JAMES SUDDARTH his heirs and assigns forever In Witness whereof WILLIAM SUDDARTH hath set his hand and Seal in presence of  WM SUDDARTH At a Court held for Albemarle County the Eight day of May 1760. This Indenture was acknowledged by WILLIAM SUDDARTH one of the parties thereto & ordered to be recorded.”

1753

Grandfather JAMES SUDDARTH dies in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, VA

1759

Albemarle County Deed Book 2

pp. 116-117 “This indenture made this thirteenth day of April in the thirty second year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second and in the year of our Lord Christ MDCCLIX Between JAMES SUDDETH of the County of Albemarle and Parish of Saint Ann’s of the one part and William Sudeth of the same County and Parrish Witnesseth that JAMES SUDETH for sum of Twenty pounds Currt. money of Virginia to him paid doth sell until William Sudeth his heirs one certain percel of land containing by Estemation one hundred and thirty five acres be the same more or less lying in County of Albemarle on the branhes of Hardware River & bounded Begining at Charles Blakey’s corner white oak spalin in Abraham Venables line running thence on Blakey South & West to his Corner chesnut tree thence on a new line South & East to a red bud tree North & West in pointers in Venables line thence in the line South & West to the first station it being a percil of land that was granted unto the aforesaid JAMES SUDETH by a Patent bearing date the tenth day of March one thousand seven hundred and fifty six . . . James Suddeth

“At a Court held fo Albemarle County the tenth day of May 1759 This Indenture & Receipt were acknowledge by JAMES SUDDETH party thereto and ordered to be recorded. PATIENCE the wife of the said JAMES SUDDETH personally came into Court & being first privately examined as the Law directs voluntarily relinquished her right of Dower to the said Estate conveied by the said Indenture.

1761

9 July 1761

Albemarle County, VA Deeds: Book #3, page 85:  Chas. Tate, Amhurst planter, to JAS. SUDDARTH 20 pds., 109 acres S. Hardware. Wit. Samuel Jordon & WM. SUDDARTH.

WILL OF WILLIAM SUDDARTH, 1761 I WILLIAM SUDDARTH SENR of the County and Parish of Amherst being in Perfect sence and memory do by these Presents make this my Last Will and Testament makeing void all other Wills by me before maid in primas I comit my Soul to the hands of Almighty God that gave it me and for what Estate it hath Pleased God to bestoe on me I give and Bequeath as followeth Itam I give to my Daughters Sarah Denny, Agness Willibey, Charity Tate, Elizabeth Ray one shilling Starling, alsoI give to my three Sons JAMES SUDDARTH, William Suddarth, and Larnes Suddarth Each of them one shilling Starling and the Rest and Residue of my hole Estate I give to my Youngest Daughter Mary Suddarth also I do appoint my Daughter Mary Suddarth whole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament December 25th 1761.
William (his + mark) Suddarth Larnes (his + mark) Suddarth Martha + Suddarth George
“Diocese of Southern Virginia”, Journal 1903, 49-50
AMHERST COUNTY was formed in 1761 from Albemarle County and
“certain islands” in the Fluvanna [James] River.
The Act dividing the Counties of Albemarle and Louisa and the Parish of St.
Anne was dated March 1761.
Amherst Parish in said Act is described as follows:
That from and after the first day of May next the said parish (St. Anne)
shall be divided into two distinct parishes, in the following manner, that is
to say, by Rockfish river to the mouth of Green creek, thence a straight line
by the house of Thomas Bell to the Blue mountain, and that all that part of
said parish that lies above the said river and line shall be one distinct
parish, and shall be called and “known by the name of Amherst”: and that all
other part of said parish that lies below the said river and line shall be
one distinct parish and “retain the nane of St. Anne”.

{In 1761 the border between Albemarle and Amherst Counties would seem to be
the Rockfish River, which I think is now the border between Nelson and
Albemarle}

In October 1778 the parish of Amherst was divided by a line running from
Fluvanna [James] River up Piney River to the mountains; the part on the lower
side to be known as Amherst Parish and on the upper side, Lexington Parish.
That the parish of Amherst shall be divided into two distinct parishes, in
the following manner, that is to say:
By a line to be run from Meggenson’s Warehouse, on the Fluvanna river, to
Rose’s Mill on Piney river, thence up the fork thereof above Lucas Powell’s
plantation, and hence up the north fork to the Blue Ridge, and all that part
of said parish which lies on the lower side of the said line shall be one
distinct parish and “retain the name of Amherst”, and all that part of said
parish which lies on the upper side of the said line shall be one other
distinct parish and be “know by the name of Lexington”.

{Two years later}
In October 1780, the dividing line between Amherst and Lexington parishes
was relcated to make a more equitable division.
Be it therefore enacted, That instead of the dividing line mentioned in
said Act, the said parishes shall be divided by the following lines, to-wit:
Beginning on the Fluvana [James] river at the mouth of Elk Island Creek,
with said creek to Hilton’s mill, from thence a direct line to Tye river at
the mouth of Camp Creek; thence up Tye river to mouth of Piney river, thence
up Piney river to Rose’s mill; thence continued up Piney river to the fork
thereof above Lucas Powell’s plantation and thence up the north fork to the
Blue Ridge.
The collector of the parish of Lexington shall have the power to collect
and distrain for any dues which shall remain unpaid by the inhabitants of
that part of the said parish of Lexington hereby made a part of the sais
parish of Amherst.

The following recommendation from the committee on admission of new parishes
was approved.
3. From Amherst County a petition to be divided from Lexington Parish, of
which it now forms a part, and to be formed into a separate parish, taking
the name of Amherst Parish with the following boundaries, to-wit:
Those boundaries known as belonging to Pedlar township, and all that part of
Elton township that lies to the west of the Virginia Midland railroad; or in
other words, the northern boundary of the Elon section of the paarish will be
the Lynchburg road from Ware’s Gap across to Cool Well; the eastren boundary
the Virginia Midland railroad; the southern boundary the James river, and the
western boundary the Tobacco Row mountains to Ware’s Gap.(his + mark) Taylor Theophilus Faver

1762

5 April 1762

Amherst County, VA, Will Book 1, p. 4

Father WILLIAM SUDDARTH SR’S Will names sons JAMES, William Jr. and Lawrence, daughters Sarah (Denny), Agnes Willibey, Charity Tate, Elizabeth Ray, and Mary Sudarth. Mary Sudarth named the administrator.

1768

Deed Abstracts of Albemarle County, VA Deed Book No. 4 9 August 1764-12 August 1768

p. 493-495. “This indenture made this fourteenth day of April in the Eighth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third between Laurence Suddarth and Martha his Wife of County of Amhers of one part and James Suddarth of the County of Albemarle of other part Witness that for sum of forty five pounds Good and Lawfull money of Virginia paid to said Lawrence Sudarth and Martha his Wife they sold to said JAMES SUDDARTH his heirs forever One hundred acres of land being part of Three hundred acres granted by Deed to WiILLIAM SUDDARTH SENR on the South Branch of Hardway by Abraham Venable as may appear to the said Venables Patent for land it being the old Plantation where the said WILLIAM SUDDARTH Deceased lived.” In presence of Absalom McKinzie, Milley Suddarth, At Albemarle April Court 1761.

1781

19 September 1781

In DAR #515236 Mrs. Blanch Weatherred Crawford Patriot rendered material
aid Miscellaneous revolution Bxo 5 Pay Roll of Capt. J. Harris his
militia company from Albemarle, at Williamsburg, 19 Sep 1781 − 48 day service states JAMES SUDDARTH born 1720 in England married 1745.

[WHB – JAMES SUDDARTH was born in Stafford County, VA and was married in 1746. The birthyear is correct and it seems plausible that in the mustering out process at the end of the Revolutionary War, his birthplace and wedding dates could have been unintentionally garbled; or, since JAMES was 61 in 1781, it may have been someone else.]

1782

First Personal Property Tax List for Albemarle County, VA:

District 5 (also includes JOHN RANDOLPH: 1 free white female, 1 slave, 2 horses. Taxed 14 shillings.

JAMES SUDDERTH: 1 free white female; 8 slaves; 32 cattles; ten horses. Taxed 5 pounds 18 shillings

1784

9 December

Son JAMES SUDDARTH JR married JANE RANDOLPH

Bonds: JOHN RANDOLPH and JAMES SOUTHARD

Witness : H. Martin Minister: Benj Burger

1785

Brother William Suddarth dies in Burke County, NC

1787

Albemarle County, VA: Tax/census lists Laurence Suddarth with one son
aged 16 to 21; John Suddarth (tax paid by Laurence Suddarth), and a
JAMES SUDDARTH, JR.

1796

Will of JAMES SUDDARTH:

Will Book 4, page 52, Albemarle Co., VA

In the name of God Amen: I, JAMES SUDDARTH Senr. of Albemarle County Virginia being in a low state of bodily health but of perfect mind and memory do make this my last will and testament and first of all I do recommend my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my executors in hope of a glorious resurrection and my Soul to God who gave it and as to my worldly estate I dispose of it in the following manner Viz:  First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Patience Suddarth peaceable possession of the house and plantation whereon I now live, during her natural life, as also of my Negroes Moses, Taylor, Mary and Lidda to return, together with their increase to my children, at her death.  It is further my will that at the division of my estate that she shall take as much of my stock and household furniture as she shall judge necessary for her support.

Secondly it is my will and desire that the land on which I now live and have had in possession of a long time together with the land purchased of Capt. P. Cock be equally divided between my two sons William and James Suddarth and in case that the land purchased of Capt. John Lewis (or Sims) about which there is a dispute at present should be made good to them it is my desire that that also should be equally divided between them, but in case Capt. Lewis (or Sims) or his executors should fail to make a lawful title to said land it is my desire that the money already paid toward the purchase of said land, which of course must be refunded, shall be equally divided as also the balance of the money that was to be paid toward said purchase.

Thirdly it is my desire that after the allotment of my lands to my two sons, as has been mentioned above, that then an equal division of my remaining property, negroes, stock, and household furniture take place amongst my children counting in what of my property has already been given away to my children.

In consideration of this my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord 1796.

JAMES SUDDARTH Senr.  his X mark

Test.

William Irwin

William P. Patterson

Mary X Martin

P.S. I do hereby approve my two sons William and JAMES SUDDARTH in conjunction with Mr. Tandy Key and M. L. Murrill Executors of this my last will and testament.

JAMES SUDDARTH Senr.

P.S. It is also my desire that as to the property already given to my children at a distance they may not be put to the necessity of bringing it to the spot for the sake of appraisement after my decease for this reason viz:  that it would be nearly as much expense as such property would be worth to remove it back and forward to such a distance.  It is also my desire that they may not be required to account for the profits arising from such property since the time of its being given.  That this is an additional clause to my last will and testament I signify by affixing my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of December 1799.

James Suddarth his X mark

Test.

William Irwin

N. B. Circumstances have been somewhat altered since the writing of my will as above except I think proper to make the following alteration viz:  I give and bequeath to my wife Patience Suddarth as above except save the mill that my son James has since built and the water and water course to support it, and the distillery that he has erected, together with the house in which he now lives, together with a barn that he has in contemplation to build which he has already paid for.

It is also my will that my lands as specified above, be equally divided between my two sons according to the lines which they have agreed on that is to say, Beginnning at the Ivy Ridge on Joseph Sutherland’s line and coming up the old road as far as it runs in a straight direction thence to the Psimmon Mountain to the upper corner of my fence adjoining Skylar Harris line.

That these are the amendments according as circumstances have altered since the time in which I wrote the above is witnessed by affixing my hand and seal as above this eleventh day of March Anno. Dom. 1800.

JAMES SUDDARTH his X mark

Test.

William Irwin

Mary X Martin

1800

Death of JAMES SUDDARTH.

At a court held for Albemarle County the 1st day of September 1800 this last will and testament of James Suddarth Senr. was brought into Court and proved by the oath of William Patterson and Mary Martin two of the witnesses thereto and by the court ordered to be recorded and on motion of William and James Suddarth two of the executors therein named certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate in due form of security and qualified accordingly.

Test.

John Nicholas C.A.C.