Francis Poythress left Virginia and moved to Georgia before 1785 as he was taxed on 100 acres in 1785 in Washington County, Georgia. He and his family may have moved with his cousin, Thomas Poythress (c. 1729-1800), who moved to Georgia between 1782 and 1785. He died about 1805 leaving orphaned children.

Court cases

October 20, 1775, in the Virginia Gazette, “to be sold on Monday, 6 November, if fair, otherwise next fair day at the plantation of Mr. John Walton, near Augusta town, in Georgia, several slaves being residue of all those formerly in possession of Mr. Leonard Claiborne which were of the estate of Francis Poythress, deceased, and condemned to the plaintiffs in a suit in chancery October 15, 1764. Six months credit will be allowed the purchasers giving bond with approved security. William Glascock.” [Leonard Claiborne’s wife, Elizabeth, was the the daughter of Francis Poythress (deceased 1738) and Hannah Ravenscroft. Leonard & Elizabeth (Poythress) Claiborne were the parents of Elizabeth Claiborne. Elizabeth Claiborne, the daughter, married John Walton…The Francis Poythress (c. 1720- 1775), deceased, was the son of Francis Poythress (1677-1752).]

Adjoining Property

—-August 12, 1787, in Greene County, Georgia, 120 acres, on the waters of the south fork of Ogeechee, adjoining Francis Poythress.

—-In August, 1787, in Greene County, Georgia, 200 acres, on the waters of the South Ogeechee, adjoining Poythress, Rogers, etc.

—-March 10, 1789, in Greene County, Georgia, 250 acres, on the South Fork of Ogeechee River, bounded by Francis Poythress, etc.

—-December 4, 1800, in Greene County, Georgia, 200 acres, adjoining Poythress.

Civic activities

Dorothy, Mary, Hannah, & Frederick Ashfield – Folio 129 – May 22, 1787 of Greene Co., To John Johnson, 350 acres in Richmond Co., being the land whereon Henry, dec’d. formerly lived, granted to him July 3, 1770 and now in the occupation of Benj. Oliver. Test: Thos. Credille, Michl. Rogers, Francis Poythress. [Historical Collections of the GA Chapters DAR, Richmond, Co., GA, p286]

October 4, 1787, in Greene County, Georgia, inventory and appraisement of the estate of Dorothy Ashield, deceased, given in by Francis Poythress, sworn appraisal.

April 17, 1788, in Greene County, Georgia, an account of the sale of the estate of Stephen Parker, late of Greene County, deceased, made by Captain James Alford, administrator, May 3, 1788. Persons sold to included Francis Poythress.

Property: Personal Property

Chesterfield Co. is located just south of Richmond. Its borders are James River to the north and Appomattox River to the south. It was formed in 1749 from parts of Henrico County.

(From Norma Jean): Leonard Claiborne received grants for land in Georgia as did many earlier Poythress family members prior to 1803 via a headright system, which entitled each head of a family to 200 acres and 50 acres for each additional member of his family up to 1,000 acres. The land had to be surveyed and certified and a grant had to be issued and registered by a certain time frame. Records show that he was there in March, 1769, and was granted land in St. Paul’s parish in September, 1769, for 850 acres (meaning 200 for him and 13 family members). By 1769, he had completed the grant procedure. Obtaining land in Georgia was changed to a lottery system after 1803.

Georgia had operated a bit differently from Virginia’s early land acquisitions. Those 13 family members may have included relatives living with Leonard. Besides his wife, and perhaps a child or two, there seems to be no evidence that he had enough children to account for that number. Regarding Georgia County locations, Georgia began in the Savannah area much like Virginia began in Jamestown. We gradually conquered and obtained lands and moved west and north. Eight parishes were formed in 1735, that included St. Paul’s’ between what is now Savannah and Augusta. By 1765, four more parishes were formed and eventually counties such as Greene, in 1786, from Washington County, was formed in 1784 from ceded land from the Creek Indians. These “counties” were all close enough for these people to travel and settle and still be related. Poythress families arriving in Georgia could have come from

Virginia with Leonard and his Poythress wife, who appears to have been the daughter of Francis Poythress (deceased 1738) and Hannah Ravenscroft.

“to be sold…at the plantation of Mr. John Walton…several slaves being residue of all those formerly in possession of Mr. Leonard Claiborne which were of the estate of Francis Poythress, deceased.” Wm. Glascock, Augusta town, GA, 1775 [Leonard Claiborne was the son of Leonard Claiborne & Elizabeth Poythress, dau. of Francis Poythress & Hannah Ravenscroft…The Francis Poythress, deceased, was the son of Francis Poythress (1677-1752).]

In 1785, in Wilkes County, Georgia, Francis Poythress, was taxed for 100 acres in Washington County, Georgia. He lived west of the Ogeechee River, south of South Fork, east of the “temporary line” considered by surveyors and residents of both Washington and Wilkes Counties to be the boundary between the two counties. The area was placed into Greene County on February 3, 1786. MP: This is assumed to be the same Francis Poythress based on location of property. Also, from Early Records of Georgia, Wilkes County, Vols. 1 & 2, is listed “Francis Poythress 1 poll, 100 acres, Capt. Thompson’s District, Benjamin J. Thompson, Esqr.”

July 19, 1792, in Greene County, Georgia, Michael Rogers, of Greene County, planter, to Zachariah Bayes, of Wilkes County, planter; whereas Michael Rogers together with Francis Poythress, by their certain bond, dated February 22 last stand unto the said Bayes in the sum of £1,000 on condition that when Berry Rogers, son of the said Michael, comes of age shall relinquish all right, etc., to the said gift alluding to a deed or will made by said Boyes, as it is said, unto the said Berry of a negro man slave, named Osborn, and a girl, named Phillis, and sundry other articles which deed was made when the said Boyes was deprived of his reason by intoxication; the said Michael Rogers for £1,000 and for better securing the payment thereof in case said Berry Rogers shall neglect or refuse to disclaim all right to said negroes mentioned in the clandestine deed of gift dated October 26, 1791, and for securing the same in case Zachariah Boyes be disturbed by said Berry Rogers, and in consideration of the further sum of 5 shillings paid to Michael paid by Zachariah, 200 acres on the south fork of the Ogeechee whereon the said Rogers now resides adjoining the lands of Henry Peeks, Abraham Lawrance, John Rogers and Thomas Credile, also one negro boy, named Phill, horses and cattle. If the said Berry Rogers, shall within 10 years relinquish all claims to the aforesaid negroes, Osborn and Phillis, etc. The witnesses, John Armor, J. P., and Seaborn Jones.

In 1793, in Greene County, Georgia, taxpayer, Francis Poythress, of Greene County, Georgia, on land adjoining John Johnston, in Captain Whitefield’s District, Green County.

February 11, 1794, in Greene County, Georgia, Michel Rogers and Francis Poythress, of Greene County, promised to pay to Zachariah Bays, or his heirs, the sum of £100. The consideration of the above obligation is such that whereas there was a Deed of Gift on the record of Superior Court from the said Zachariah Bays for two negroes, Osborn and Phillis, to Berry Rogers, son of Michael Rogers, and Frances Porter shall in behalf of Berry Rogers when he shall come of age relinquish and disclaim all right title or demand of said Deed of Gift, then above obligation to be void. The witnesses were William Heard, and Wooton Oneal. And was proved by William Heard who also saw Wooton Oneal.

November 30, 1801, in Greene County, Georgia, 100 acres, on the waters of Shoulderbone Creek, bounded at the time of the survey by Poythress.

In the 1805 Georgia lottery, the names of every person who entered was recorded. In later lotteries, with a few exceptions, only the winners were listed. The land awarded in the 1805 lottery was then Baldwin and Wilkinson County. Given was the name, the registration number and the registrant’s county:

Edward Poythress, number 47, Burke; George Poythress, number 65, Burke; Martha Poythress, number 50, Burke; Francis Poythress, number 613, Hancock;

Meredith Poythress, number 968, Screven; and, William Poythress, number 967, Screven.

After Francis Poythress’ Death

The 1805 lottery and 1807 lotteries completed the opening of the large valley area between the Oconee and the Ocmulgee Rivers. In 1807, the first meeting of the Georgia legislature took place at the new capital of Milledgeville in Baldwin County, another part of the westward thrust of settlement. Land awarded in the 1807 lottery was the remaining parts of Baldwin and Wilkinson Counties and Wayne County. Given was the name, county, military

district/lot number drawn:

Thomas Poythress, orphans of, Burke, Sharp’s 22/44 Wilkinson;

Francis Poythress, orphans of, Hancock, Coffee’s 24/290 Wilkinson; and, Elizabeth Poythress, Hancock, Coffee’s 6/31 Wilkinson.

Francis Poythress, orphans of, grant award #278 of 24th District of Wilkinson County. All of District 24 is in present Twiggs County.

Highlights:

Francis Poythress (c. 1750-bef. 1805), of Greene Co., GA, 5^th generation

• born about 1750
• “to be sold…at the plantation of Mr. John Walton…several slaves being residue of all those formerly in possession of Mr. Leonard Claiborne which were of the estate of Francis Poythress, deceased.” Wm. Glascock, Augusta town, GA, 1775 [Leonard Claiborne appears to be the son of Leonard Claiborne & Elizabeth Poythress, dau. of Francis Poythress & Hannah Ravenscroft…The Francis Poythress (c. 1720-c. 1775), deceased, was the son of Francis Poythress (1677-1752).]
• moved to Georgia with his family about 1782-1784.
• taxes paid on 100 acres, by Francis Poythress, Washington Co., GA, 1785 (in Greene Co., GA, 1786) on waters of s. fork of Ogeechee adj. Francis Poythress, Greene Co., GA, 1787

• on waters of South Ogeechee adj. Poythress, Rogers, etc., Greene Co., GA, 1787
• on South Fork of Ogeechee R. adj. Francis Poythress, etc., Greene Co., GA, 1789
• taxpayer, Greene Co., GA, 1793
• adj. Poythress, Greene Co., GA, 1800
• on the waters of Shoulderbone cr. adj. Francis Poythress, Greene Co., GA, 1801
• deceased abt. 1805
• orphans of Francis Poythress, of Hancock Co., grant award 290 acres, Wilkinson Co., GA, 1807 [now in Twiggs Co., GA]
• First document: 1785 (35 years old)

Neighbors:

John Johnston