The Meador’s in Virginia, Part Zwei…

Picking up from the lengthy research of the first four generations of the Meador family in colonial Virginia, I now continue with the children of the third Thomas Meador. This Thomas, referred to as “Orphan Thomas,” and his wife, Sarah (not to be confused with his father, the second Thomas, who also married a Sarah), had three known children:

1. John Meador

2. Susanna Meador

3. Mary Meador

Because my ancestry picks up through John Meador, I will carry on with the two daughters first. Susanna and her siblings were declared their inheritances from their late father’s estate in 1662, per an estate settlement made and declared by their mother, Sarah Meader, in (Old) Rappahannock County Court. Given the age of Thomas and the fact the daughters were given their shares upon turning the age of nine years, Susanna and her younger sister, Mary, were probably no more than three years and two years of age, respectively, when their father died. Both Susanna and Mary were granted cattle from their father, and the brandishes were recorded in the Old Rappahannock County Court books (per Old Rappahannock County Deed Book, Pt 2, 1656-64, p 193):

“Swallow Forked on both ears overkeeled on the right ear prpr marke of the Catle belonging to Susanna Meader Daughter of Thomas Meader deced Cropt on the right Ear & a slitt in the cropp & underkeeled in same year & a hole in the left ear is the ppr mark of the Catle belonging to Mary Meader Daughter of Thomas Meader deced.
A Flower de Luce on the right ear & cropt on the left ear is the proper mark of the Catle belonging to John Meader Son of Thomas Meader deced…”

Susanna Meador married twice: she first married a John Evans, and then secondly to Philip Magurie (or McGuire, as seen in some records). Evans must have been her first marriage, but if so, Susanna not only married while a teenager, but Evans must have died shortly thereafter. Susanna was married to Philip Magurie by 11 October 1680, when she was referred to as his wife in Essex County.

Henry Awbrey, stepfather of Mary Meador, the third child of Thomas and Sarah Meador, was mentioned in the marriage bond of “Frances Goldman” to “Miss Awbrey,” who was the “extix of Henry Awbrey.” Gouldman appears to have been a fairly well-to-do planter, often referred to as “Gentleman,” as he owned land grants in both Essex County and Richmond County along the Rappahannock River. On 5 March 1715, he sold a tract of land he owned called “Foxhall’s Mill” in Sittenbourne Parish, Richmond County to Richard Tutt (per Richmond Co Deed Book 2, pp 99-100):

“Indenture between Francis Gouldman of the Parish of St. Anns in the County of Essex, Gentleman, of one part and Richard Tutt of the Parish of Sittenburn in the County of Richmond, Planter, of other part; Witnesseth that Francis Gouldman for the sum of 4,294 of good and lawfull tobacco to him in hand paid by Richard Tutt by these p’sents doth demise grant and to farm lett and sett unto Richard Tutt all that one half or moiety of a water grist mill commonly called and known by the name of Foxhall’s Mill with the one moyety of the land thereunto belonging containing by estimation in the whole Five and twenty acres (be the same more or less) lying on the North side of Rappahannock River about eight miles above Southend Ferry in County of Richmond together with all houses and all toll benefit and Custom for Grinding of Corn and all other Grain whatsoever; And also all Mill Ponds, Mill Dams, Banks, ponds, streams, water courses, fishing places, paths and appurtenances to said Mill and all other the p’misses belonging; which Mill and Land in these p’sents mentioned was lately purchased by one Timothy Atkinson and the said Francis Gouldman, party to these p’sents, from one John Elliott of the County of Westmoreland in the Records of Richmond County Court may more fully appear; To have and to hold the one half or moyety of said Water Mill and Land unto Richard Tutt and aasignes during the term of Fifty and five years from the day of the date hereof; And Francis Gouldman for himself his heirs the moyety of the Mill and Land unto Richard Tutt and assignes against every person shall warrant and always defend by vertue of these presents; In Witness whereof the partyes aforesd: have to these p’sents set their hands and seales the day month and year first above written.
Francis Gouldman (Seal)
Wits: Tho. Henman, Wm. Dare. Att a Court held for Richmond County the Seventh day of March 1715, Francis Gouldman came into Court and acknowledged this his Deed unto Richard Tutt and it was admitted to Record.
Test M. Beckwith, Cl Cur.”

In that same year, he presented a deed of gift to his niece, Elizabeth Waring, per a record in Essex County Court (Fleet, Vol 9, 1714-17, p 56):

“Francis Gouldman, Gent of Essex Co gives 500 ac of land to his neice Elizabeth Waring, “out of the love and affection which I bear unto my Coz’n Elizabeth Waring dau and only heir of my bro. Thomas Gouldman decd.”

Francis and Mary Gouldman resided in Saint Ann’s Parish for their adult lives, and where Francis wrote his will, dated 9 January 1716. The will was proven on 21 November 1716 (Fleet, Essex Co Wills & Deeds, 1714-17, p 69):

To “loving kinsman” Francis Gouldman, 1200 acres bought of Augustine Smith Boughan and others on Occupation Creek and Mattapony, he failing in heirs to “my loving kinsman” Thomas Gouldman, he failing in heirs to “my loving kinswoman Elizabeth WARING wife to Thomas Waring.”
Land and water mill in Essex to Thomas Gouldman.
To kinswoman Elizabeth Waring, 1,100 acres lying and being in common between the heirs of Francis Meriwether late deceased and myself situate in King and Queen County on the branches of Mattapony and x x.
To my kinsman Thomas Gouldman 500 acres Hoskinses Swamp, south side Essex, 200 from testator’s father, 200 purch. by testator from Francis Awberry, and 200 escheated from Katherine Long.
To kinsman Francis Gouldman, land “whereon I now dwell,” purchased of Arabella Bird, daughter of Henry White.
Kinsman Thomas Gouldman, to be allowed to select home tract rather than mill when he is 21.
Kinsman Francis to change, as his brother, Francis [sic], if he should choose.
Wife to have home tract while she lives. Stocke, household goods, etc. on plant. to wife.
Interest in water mill held jointly with Paul Micou, Gent., to be sold at Richmond Court. Refs. to Francis Gouldman as under age.
Monies and tobo. due from Capt. Pickarin, John Billups, Robert Elliot, Col. Richard Covington, and Thomas Winslow.
“Debts due from my late brother Edward Gouldman’s estate being the children’s part… that Thomas Waring aforesaid take my desk and papers as soon as I shall depart this life. Negro Jack, a carpenter, shall be freed from slavery.
Half of negroes to wife, the other half to Francis and Thomas Gouldman
That sd. Thomas Waring shall make acctg of monies paid in admin of sd. late brother’s estate since last settlement with Mr. William Winston.
Thomas Waring to half of tobacco for trouble concerning will.
If Thomas Waring to die before sd. two kinsman reach majority, then my sister Martha Winston to take care of their estates.
My silver hilted sword and belt to Thos. Henman. Exors: “beloved wife Mary,” and Mr. Thomas Waring.
Francis Gouldman

Wits: Arth: Bowers, Paschall Greenhill, Ro. Brooke, Jr., Wm. Moss, Tho. Henman.

Codicil 7 Jul 1716. To Thos. Wareing all apple trees growing in my nursery… except 200 to my wife. Entry. on p. 684 refers to him as Collo. Francis Gouldman. Bond by Mary Gouldman. T. Wareing, John Bagge, and Richard Covington.”

Little is known of Mary, but she wrote her will, as Mary Gouldman of Saint Ann’s Parish, on 30 January 1716; it was probated in Essex County Court on 21 May 1717 (Essex Co Records, Deeds, Wills, Vol 15, p 3):

“…to Augusting Curtis clothing that was my husbands and sheep to Savator Muscoe, a horse: to Martha wife of William Winston, 40 shllings ‘ to Dorothy, wife of John Billups, silver, pewter, bed and beddling chairs, brass , iron and copper Ware; to Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Waring, remainder og goods before given to Dorothy Billups
residur of estate divided between Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Waring and Dorothy Billups wife of John Billups…”

She named John and Dorothy Billups as her executors, as was Salvator Muscoe. It does not appear, by her will, that she had any children, or any surviving heirs at the least. Thusly, the genealogy of the two Meador daughters is concluded, and I now carry on with John Meador, the only son of “Orphan Thomas” Meador.

John Meador lived his life in South Farnham Parish in Essex County as a planter, and married into a fairly well-to-do family. His wife, Elizabeth White, was the daughter of Richard and Addra White. White deeded his daughter and her husband a certain tract of land which was then devised unto the Meador children after the death of Elizabeth, sometime in 1693 or 1694. This deed (see Ruth & Sam Sparacio’s “Virginia County Court Records, Record Abstracts of Essex Co, VA, 1694-95, (1991) from Essex Co Order Book & Essex Co Dede & Will Book, pp 71-72 (Essex Co, pp 332-33)) was written much like a will and provides some very good clues about the family of John Meador:

“Know all Men by these presents that I John Meador Senior, Widoer, in ye County of Essex in ye Pish of South Phernam for ye love I bear to my Children that I had by my Wife, Elizabeth Meador deced, I doe hereby give them such presell of land that I shall set downe severall by their selves all ye land that I have ye West side of a Branch that goeth by ye Great Branch. I do give to my Son, Richard Meador, and my son, John Meador, it shall be divided as I shall see fit between them as near as I can divided it to they & their heires lawfully begottin of their owne bodies for ever, a parcel of land beginning at a Cold Spring by my Orchard Fence & runing West & by North till it meets with ye Great Branch so along ye Great Branch till it comes to ye main Swamp of ye Creeke, then downe ye Swamp till it comes to ye Cole Spring Branch then up ye Branch where it began being a long neck of land I do give it to my Son, Thomas Meader and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body for ever; A parcel of land beginning at my uppermost line by John Evans land to ye head of a branch at a marked white Oake and runing down ye branch till it meets with ye Maine Swamp ye branch being crooked, all ye land that I have within my bounds on ye East side of that Branch being a great deal of Old Fields belonging to it & I doe give that to my Son, Hope Meador, and his heires lawfully begottin of his own body for ever I doe give to my Daughter, Rachell Meador, One hundred and five acres of land that I bought of Mr. Edwin Thacker to she and her heirs for ever; a pacell of land lyeing into Necks the North side of the Creek which my Father in Law, Richard White, gave to me by Deed of Gift, I doe by the virtue of that Deed of Gift, I do give to my Daughter, Elizabeth Meador, ye Second Neck & my Daughter, Esther Meador, the Neck that has ye housing and orchards to them and their heirs lawfully begotten of their owne bodyes forever, the land given to my Sons and Daughters never to be sold nor disposed of but to remaine from heir to heir as long as there can be one of ye Meadors found alive, if it be ye Lords will to call any of my Sons or Daughters before me, and any of them should dye before me, ye land of the Deed to returne to me againe to my disposeing. I doe reserve and except to my selfe Timber upon any parte of ye land for my owne use as long as I live. As witness my hand and seale this tenth day of December 1694.

Sealed & dd in the presents of us

Mary X Gorbell                        John Meador

Joseph (B) Collaway

At a court held for Essex County Febr ye 11th 1694

The within named John Meador appear’d & acknowledged the within specified contents to be his reall act and deed, ye same was ordered to be recorded

Vere Recordatr  Test  Francis Meriwether, Cl Cur.”

Of the seven children of John and Elizabeth Meador, their son Richard Meador is through whom I descend. Richard Meador is also known to be the son of John Meador through a deed in 1728, which was issued to Richard’s eldest son, William Meador (spelled Meadowes in the deed, but the Court acknowledgement spells it Meadors). He spent all of his life in the vicinity of South Farnham Parish, in Essex County, where he lived his life both as a planter and a constable, according to a court order from 1708.

Richard married Anne Moss by 1702, the daughter of John Moss, another planter from Farnham Parish in Essex County. This information is known through a deed dated 9 February 1702 in Essex County when they sold land to William Cox (Essex Co Deed Book, 1701-03, p 132; Sparacio, Deed & Will Abstracts of Essex Co, VA, 1701-04, p 92):

“This Indenture made the 9 day of February in the first yeare of the Reigne of or Soveraigne Lady Ann by the Grace of God &c and in the yeare of or Lord One thousand seaven hundred & two Betweene Richard Meaders of the Parish of Farnham in the County of Essex wthin [sic] the Colony of Virginia, Cooper & Anne his Wife, one of the Daughters of John Moss, late of the Parish & County aforesd, Planter, of the other part Witnesseth that for diverse other good causes & valuable considerations them the said Ri. Meaders & Anne his Wife moveing but more especially for the whole sume of Two thousand pounds of good sweete scented tobo & caske truely paid by the said William Cox, they the said Richd Meaders & Anne his Wife does sell unto the sd William Cox his heires & assignes forever all that p’cell of land bounded as followeth vizt: lying on the West side of a branch called ye Popular Branch as already laid out from the heades the sd branch to the back line and soe adjoyning upon the Divison Line of Jno Harper which said land is part of a tract of land that the said Moss bought of John & Henry Boughan by a certain Deed of Sale bearing date the 2d day of Aprill 1684 and acknowledged in Rappahanock County Court which said land containes by Estimacon One hundred acres together with all & singular houses & structures, gardens orchards & appurtenances whatsoever to sd parcell of land belonging. To have & to hold unto the said William Cox his heires & assignes forever, And the said Richard Meaders & Anne his Wife for themselves & their heires the said Tract of land will warrant & forever defend & doe promise with the said Will Cox his heires and assignes & the premises without any trouble of the said Richard Meaders & Anne his Wife and further do promise upon ye reasonable request of & at the proper costs in the Law acknowledge all further acts in the Law for the further & absolute conveying of all the before granted premisses as by sd Wm Cox his heires or assignes or their Councell learned in the Law shall require
In Witness whereof the parties their hands & seales have sett
Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of us
Henry Kearby                        Richard Meador
John Pickett                         Ann (her mark) Meador

Acknowledged by Richd Meador & Ann his Wife (the sd Ann being examined according to Law) at a Court held for Essex County ye 10th day of February 1702 & truely recorded.

Performance Bond in the amount of Tenn thousand pounds of good sound merchantable sweet sented tobo & cask convenient in ye sd Pish. dated & recorded 9th & 10th day of Febry 1702.”

On 10 May 1705, Richard and Anna Meador sold 100 acres of land in Essex County for 3,000 pounds of tobacco and caske, to Joseph Humphrey (Essex Co Deed & Wills, No. 12, p 88). This tract was part of their larger plantation, and the tract sold was “a neck of land on N side of Hoskins porson called the second Neck adjs land formerly owned by Antho. North, land of John Waggner…to have privilege of a spring on Richd Meaders land.” This deed was witnessed by John “Plajle” (sic) and William Grennall.

The Meadors resided for most of the remainder of the decade on their plantation on the south side of Hoskins Creek in central Essex County, west of present day Tappahannock. Tax records from the first decade of the 1700’s show Richard was also a cooper.

Richard wrote his will in Essex County on 12 December 1715, and it was probated there on 15 May 1716 (per Will & Deed Book, p 526). As “of So Fran Par, Essex,” he left his wife the “plantation whereon I now live during life and then the elderest son William…” He left his young son Richard the “land where William Borne now lives, that is to say after sd William and Hester his Wife deceased the sd land being formerly in the possession of my Grandfather. If he died dsp then to my youngest dau Addra.” Richard left “my bro John Meador my pistoles and houlsters.” His wife was named Executor, and it was witnessed by Erasmus Allen and Thomas Duden.

Meador’s will was proven by the oath of Ann by a bond in Essex County court dated 15 May 1716 for 100 pounds sterling, for the inventory and administration of Richard’s estate. Ralph Gough served as witness to the bond. The inventory of Meador’s estate was taken on 12 June 1716 by Erasmus Allen, John Gatewood, and John Billups, and recorded in Essex County court on June 19th:

“Inventory of Est of Richard Meador decd includes
to a Sett of Trupes arms
To 2 Saddles and 2 bridles
To a parcell of old books
to 1 pare of old silver buckels
To 1 new felt hatt and 2 other felt hatts
To a parcell of Shemakers tooles and Lasts
To a parcell of Shemakers thred and flax
Total valuation 63:8:8 pounds.     Sigh’t 12 June 1716.”

A full list of the children of Richard and Anna is unavailable because the will only names sons Richard and William, and daughter Addra (Adara). The verbage of the will makes it known that other children were probably borne to the family, and possibly grew to adulthood, but no record of them being related to this family record has surfaced at this time. After Richard’s death, it is a matter of controversy as to Ann, for it is shown she remarried; to whom is still being researched. She has previously been identified as having married James Bradbury after Meador died, for an Ann Bradbury signs her mark as witness to the wills of John Meador Jr (in 1720) and John Meador Sr (1721). Other research, however, suggests she was the wife of John Byron. In either event, there is no record of a final setlement of the Meador estate that suggests when Ann died, hence making the argument difficult to solve.

It is here where the my lineage connects to the previously published Hale/Hail family, as Addra “Adara” Meador married Francis Hail, and settled in Caroline and Bedford Counties in Virginia. More will continued to be research and blogged about the Meador family tree in upcoming blogs, particularly on the Meadors once they settled into central and southwest Virginia. This area of the state pertains more to my immediate family and research, and will also continue to be thoroughly researched and referenced.