Peter Poythress was born in 1782 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. He was listed twice, 1800 and 1801, in the Mecklenburg, County personal property tax lists when he was 18 and 19 years old. He apparently married Lilly Poythress who was his heir at law for his service in the War of 1812. He died while in service on February 19, 1815, at Norfolk, Virginia.

Property (From BPN and Maynard Poythress)

Peter Poythress, of Screven County, GA., first part, conveys to Thomas Cleaton, second part, of Mecklenburg County, VA., for L43 current money of Virginia, paid to his father, Meredith Poythress, by said Cleaton, and for one cent in United States coin, paid to Peter Poythress by Thomas Cleaton, a certain tract of land in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, containing 50 acres by estimation. Peter Poythress (ls)

Usual Warranty – In presence of: Hardy Parker, James Ponder. Recorded 30th day of October 1809. Roger McKinney, Clerk. (Screven County, Book A-2, p. 182, 7th day of    , 1809.

Military Record

Peter Poythress was in the 83rd Regiment (Scott’s) Virginia Militia. There is only one card each for a muster roll and a company pay roll record on file in the National Archives, both for July 1-6, 1813, at Petersburg, VA., on rolls dated July 6, 1813, indicating that he was present as a Private in Captain William H. Cousin’s Company of Riflemen, 83rd Regiment Virginia Militia, War of 1812. His pay was $8.00 per month and $1.33 for five days.

His enlistment stated that he was Peter Poythress, a recruit, for the 20th Regiment U. S. Infantry. He was 5’4″ tall, with blue eyes, dark hair, light complexion and was 32 years old. His occupation was as a bricklayer. He was born in Dinwiddie, VA., and was enlisted August 9, 1814, at Danville, VA., by Ensign Smith and Lt. Rawling for the period of the War. On the daily report for Captain Bernard Peyton’s Company for October 31, 1814, Peter was present but sick. Peter died February 19, 1815, in the Regimental Hospital at Norfolk, VA. [D. R. Danville, VA., Aug 1814, M.

R. Capt. Bern’d. Peyton’s Co. Oct. 31/14, present, sick, D. R. Feby. 16, & I. R. Norfolk, VA., Mch. 15/15, Died in Reg’tl. Hospl. Feby. 19/15.]

Bounty for Service in the United States Army

James Monroe, President of the United States of America, To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know ye, that, in pursuance of the Acts of Congress appropriating and granting land to the late Army of the United States, passed on and since the sixth day of May, 1812, Lilly Poythress heir at law of Peter Poythress deceased having deposited in the General Land-office a Warrant in her favor, numbered 21831 there is granted unto the said Lilly Poythress heir at Law of Peter Poythress deceased, late a private in Peyton’s Company of the 20 Regiment, of Infantry a certain Tact of Land, containing one hundred and sixty acres being the northeast quarter of section twenty- seven of Township seven North in Range thirteen west in the Tract appropriated (by the Acts aforesaid) for Military Bounties in the Territory of Arkansas: To have and to hold the said quarter Section of Land, with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said Lilly Poythress heir at law of Peter Poythress deceased and to her heirs and assigns forever.

In Testimony whereof, I have caused these Letters to be made patent, and the Seal of the General Land-Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my Hand, at the City of Washington, this twenty-seventh day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty and of the Independence of the United States of America the forty-fifth. By the President, J. M. Commissioner of the General Land-Office.

Census Record

1830 – Dinwiddie County, VA – Lily Poythress (1771-1780)

Poythress, Lily – pg. 411, 1 F 50-59, 1 M slave under 10, 1 M slave 24-35, 1 M slave 36-54, 2 F slaves 10-24, 1 F

slave 36-54 [Virtual census]

Lilly Poythress (50-59)