Biographic Compilation by Mike Tutor, circa 2019
Benjamin F. Poythress (1808 – 1865), son of Hardiman Poythress (1779 – 1810), 7th generation.
Benjamin’s father, Hardiman Poythress, was 6th generation. Benjamin lived with his cousin’s wife, Betty, and his siblings and other young cousins after the death of his parent(s). Betty (1770-aft. 1810), was the wife of William Poythress (1765-1810). Benjamin F. Poythress (1808-1865) married Susan Mary Williams (1825-1877). Their children were: George Alexander (1849-1906) who married Ella Mae Davis, John Williamson (1851-1852), Virginia Alice (1854-), Mary Ellen (1856-), Benjamin (1858-1859), Susan Frances (1861-1887) and Laura Magnolia (1864-). John Williamson (1851-1852) and Benjamin (1858-1859) died very young and were never listed in a census.
Benjamin grew up in Prince George County and he and his wife, Susan, lived most of their lives in Dinwiddie County.
In the 1810 census, three young boys under ten years old were living with Betty. Hardiman Poythress left a will and his administrator, Nathaniel Marks, “was to pay Elizabeth Poythress for the benefit of the infant children of said Hardiman Poythress.” Apparently Hardiman Poythress’ wife was deceased. The three orphans were cared for as long as Betty Poythress lived. Hardiman was a young man when he died at approximately thirty years of age.
Hardiman Poythress’ father
According to the Court in 1789, the Commissioners were “to audit and settle the accounts of the Administration of the Estate of Benjamin Poythress dec’d. and to divide his Estate and set apart to each of the claimants their proportion thereof. It appears that Benjamin’s sisters, Lucy, Ann Isham and Mary were to have their inheritance set apart from Benjamin’s estate. Apparently Benjamin’s sister, Lucy Gordon, was deceased by 1789 and her daughter, Lucy Gordon, became an heir for her mother’s portion.
After William Poythress’ (1728-1768) Death
William Poythress’ (1728-1768) son, Benjamin (1756-1789), appears to be the father of Hardiman Poythress (1779- 1810). Hardiman named a son, Benjamin (1808-1865).
September 12, 1771, the Virginia Gazette announced an auction, on Butterwood Creek, in Dinwiddie County, at the plantation where Nathaniel Hobbs was overseer. Thirty Virginia born slaves, belonging to the estate of William Poythress were to be sold.
August 11, 1774, the Virginia Gazette announced the rental of William Poythress’ plantation, where he had lived in Prince George County, about four miles from Blandford, containing 500 acres, a house, necessary outhouses, barns and orchards. Anyone interested in the property was to contact Major Peter Poythress.
In July, 1775, in Prince George County, the division of the estate of William Poythress, of Prince George County: The division of slaves of William Poythress, deceased, by decree of the Prince George County court, July, 1775, we have divided the slaves William Poythress died possessed of, between the plaintiffs, John Gordon and Lucy, his wife, Ann Isham Poythress and Mary Poythress and the defendant, Benjamin Poythress, and allotted to each of the legatees their share. The value of those allotted to John and Lucy Gordon was unequal to the value of those given to the others, and Benjamin is to pay the other legatees: to Ann Isham Poythress, £3/13/4; to Mary Poythress, £11/3/4; to Benjamin Poythress £1/13/4; to Benjamin Poythress as heir of William Poythress, Jr., £8/13/4; to Benjamin Poythress as heir of Sally Poythress, £1/13/4. All names of slaves were listed, but no last names, except for Andrew Miller, Jack Vaughan, Lucy Cook and Frank Cook. [William Poythress, Jr., Benjamin Poythress, Lucy Poythress
Gordon, Ann Isham Poythress, Mary Poythress and Sally Poythress were children of William Poythress and (Lucy Edwards?).]
In July, 1775, the division of William’s slaves was ordered by the Prince George County court. His son, William, and his daughter, Sally, had already died, leaving his son, Benjamin, and his daughters; Lucy, who married John Gordon, Anne Isham Poythress, and Mary Poythress.
December 23, 1775, in the Virginia Gazette, the executors of William’s estate, announced auctions at his plantation on Little Roanoke, in Charlotte County, also at his Butterwood Quarter, in Dinwiddie County, and at his Tombeaton Quarter. At the Butterwood Quarter, there was to be an auction of a large number of slaves. In 1777, Peter Poythress, of Branchester, the executor of William’s estate, announced final plans to deliver the estate to the beneficiaries.
November Quarterly Sessions 1789, Dinwiddie County, p. 126. William Yates Complainant against Francis Muir Administrator of John Gordon dec’d. Francis Muir & Mary his wife, Francis Muir Administrator “de Bonis non” of Benjamin Poythress dec’d. and Lucy Gordon Infant, Issue of the said John Gordon by the said Francis Muir her guardian Defendant Upon an Injunction in Chancery. By consent of the parties this cause was this day heard upon the Bill, answers and exhibits filed and the arguments of counsel on all sides on consideration whereof it is ordered and decreed by the Court that the judgment at Law obtained by the Defendant Francis Muir as Administrator of the said John Gordon dec’d. against the Complainant be enjoined perpetually and that Kennon Jones, John Jones, David Walker and John Edmondson Gent. or any three of them be appointed Commissioners to audit and settle the accounts of the Administration of the Estate of Benjamin Poythress dec’d. and to divide his Estate and set apart to each of the claimants their proportion thereof and make report of their proceedings therein to the Court in order to a final decree.
Hardiman Poythress will and his children living with cousin Betty Poythress
1810 – Prince George County, VA – Betey Poythress (1770-aft. 1810), wife of William Poythress (1765-1810).Poythress, Betey – pg. 542, 3 M under 10, 1 M 10-15, 2 M 16-25, 1 F 10-15, 1 F 16-25, 1 F 26-44 [This “Betty” Poythress was the recent widow of William Poythress (1765-1810).]
[Virtual census]
| Betty Poythress | 40 | William Poythress’ wife | |
| Elizabeth Bland Poythress | 13 | Wm. & Betty Poythress’ daughter | |
| Joshua Poythress | 25 | Wm. & Mary Gilliam Poythress’ son | |
| Thomas Eppes Poythress | 24 | Wm. & Mary Gilliam Poythress’ son | |
| William Poythress | 15 | Wm. & Mary Gilliam Poythress’ son | |
| Mary Poythress | 16 | Wm. & Mary Gilliam Poythress’ daughter | |
| John H. Poythress | 6 | Hardiman Poythress’ son | |
| (male) Poythress | (under 10) | Hardiman Poythress’ son | [b. btwn. 1800-1810] |
| Benjamin Poythress | 2 | Hardiman Poythress’ son |
May 15, 1810, in the Prince George County Surveyor’s record of 863 acre tract on Simmons branch for estate of William Poythress, Pursuant to an Order of the court and by direction of John Batte, John H. Peterson and Peter Epes, I surveyed the estate of William Poythress, deceased, on Old Courthouse Road. William Poythress’ land was called “Branchester” and Simmons branch. The Plat shows 200 acres to Patrick Poythress, 313 acres to William Poythress, 50 acres to Joshua Poythress and 300 acres to Thomas Poythress. Robert Turnbull was the County Surveyor. [Batte originally showed this to be William Poythress (1753-1794) instead of William Poythress (1765- 1810).]
In August, 1811, in the Prince George County court, the Will of William Poythress, of Branchester, was proved.
In November, 1811, in the Prince George County Court, Nathaniel Marks, Administrator of Hardiman Poythress, deceased, was to pay Elizabeth Poythress for the benefit of the infant children of said Hardiman Poythress.
Based upon the above, it looks like Betty Poythress became responsible for the children of William Poythress and Mary Gilliam. Betty’s husband, William Poythress, of Branchester, seems to have provided for his cousin’s children through the division of his property. Patrick Henry Poythress, the oldest son and child of William Poythress and Mary Gilliam was most likely living on his own plantation and married to Mary Epes. Elizabeth Poythress, daughter of William Poythress and Elizabeth Bland, married Richard Marks and lived at Branchester. [Patrick H. Poythress: 1813-1815 taxed on 94 3/4a.; 1816-1817 taxed on Archer Coleman live 94 3/4a.; 1818-1819 taxed on 44 3/4a conv 50a to Charles C1~; 1820 taxed on 94 3/4a (improperly chg. last year) on Br. of Namozene Cr. 18 N CH.]
The three youngest males were most likely the orphans of Hardiman Poythress as Betty Poythress was taking care of his infant children. John H. (1804-aft. 1836) and Benjamin F. (1808-1865) appear to be the most likely candidates to be two of those children.
It is interesting to note the surnames of Hardiman Poythress’ administrator, Nathaniel Marks, and Elizabeth Poythress’ husband Richard Marks. An Edward Marks appeared in a few documents with the Poythress family.
1850 – Dinwiddie County, VA
HH 509 – Petersburg City, page 421, 4 Oct. Potress, Benjamin, age 42, male, huxter, born VA
, Mary, age 26, female, born VA
, George, age 1, female, born VA
Day, Mariah, age 31, female, black, born VA Johnson, Elizabeth, age 50, female, born VA
, Levy, age 35, male, taylor, born VA
1860 – Dinwiddie County, VA
HH 2755 – Petersburg Centre Ward, page 129, 1 Aug. Poythress – Virginia Census Records Page 7 of 28 Poythinss, Benjamin, age 50, male, huckster, $100 personal est., born VA
, Susan, age 36, female, born VA
, George, age 10, male, born VA, attends school
, Virginia, age 6, female, born VA, attends school
, Mary E., age 4, female, born VA
1870 – Dinwiddie County, VA
HH 5 – Petersburg/6 th Ward, page 34, 12 Aug. Poythress, Susan, age 45, female, white, born VA
, George A., age 21, male, white, musician, born VA
, Virginia, age 16, female, white, dress maker, born VA
, Mary E., age 14, female, white, born VA
, Susan, age 9, female, white, born VA
, Laura, age 6, female, white, born VA
1920 – Roanoke County, VA
HH 149 – Roanoke Independent City, sheet 7B, ED 36, 19 Jan. Poythress – Virginia Census Records Page 23 of 28 Boley, Clara , rents, female, white, age 41, widowed, VA, VA, OH, hairdresser/Dept. store, wage
, May L., daughter, female, white, age 11, attends school, VA, VA, VA Poythress, Ella M., mother, female, white, age 63, widowed, OK, US, US
1930 – Norfolk County, VA
HH 96 – of Conroy & Connie Jackson, Norfolk City, sheet 6A, ED 109, 4 Apr. Poythress, Ella M., mother-in-law, female, white, age 73, widowed, OH, VA, OH