Captain William Poythress (1728-c. 1768), of Pr. Geo. County, s. of Colonel Wm. Poythress, 4^th Generation

R. Bolling Batte regarding William Poythress
[252 William Poythress (1728-c. 1768), m. (1) Mary Eppes (1731-1750). The only knowledge of her existence comes from her tomb in Bothwell graveyard in Dinwiddie County. This recites that she was “daughter of Capt. William Eppes and wife to William Poythress, Jr.” Which of the several William Eppes was her father has not been definitely settled. There were no known children of this marriage. William’s second, but unidentified, wife was the mother of his six known children whose names come to light by a division of the slaves of William’s estate, decreed in 1775. William Poythress was elected to the vestry of Bristol Parish on 5 Aug 1760 to succeed his father, recently deceased. He was County Lieutenant for Prince George County in 1761.
252 1 William Poythress was party to division of father’s slaves in 1775. No further record.
252 2 Anne Isham Poythress (1760-1784), m. 1777 in Middlesex County William Yates, son of William and Elizabeth (Randolph) Yates.
252 3 Mary Poythress m. Francis Muir of Dinwiddie County
252 4 Benjamin Poythress. see note for William Poythress 252 1 above.
252 5 Sally Poythress. same
252 6 Lucy Poythress. m. John Gordon.]

Family
William Poythress was born March 14, 1728, in Prince George County, Virginia, the son of William Poythress and Sarah Epes. He married Mary Eppes about 1749, the daughter of Captain William Eppes. She died October 4, 1750, at the age of 19, and was buried in the Bothwell graveyard, in Dinwiddie County. He married a second time and they had six children, (1) William, (2) Benjamin, (3) Lucy, who married John Gordon, (4) Anne Isham, who married William Yates, (5) Mary, who married Francis Muir, and (6) Sally. He died before June 10, 1769.

Son, Benjamin Poythress
October 13, 1777, in the Virginia Gazette, Benjamin Poythress, on Butterwood Creek, in Dinwiddie County, advertised having taken up a horse. “Taken up, on Butterwood Creek, in Dinwiddie County, a bay mare about 4 feet 9 inches high, with hanging mane, neither docked or branded, her off hind foot white, appears to have been surfeited lately, about 4 years old. Polled, and appraised to £40. Benjamin Poythress.

Son-in-law, John Gordon, husband of Lucy Poythress
May 1, 1787, in Prince George County, account of the estate of John Gordon, Francis Muir, administrator, names, among many, Mary Poythress, heirs of William Poythress.

Inheritance
Captain William Poythress was the executor of the Will of his father, Colonel William Poythress, who died on January 18, 1763, in Dinwiddie County. The Will was recorded in February, 1763, in Dinwiddie County.

Professional Life
In 1761, William Poythress was appointed County Lieutenant, for Prince George County.
In 1763, William Poythress was a Captain.

Civic Activities
On August 5, 1760, William Poythress was appointed a vestryman, in Bristol parish, in place of Major William Eppes, deceased.

May 24, 1762, William Poythress was appointed a churchwarden.
June 10, 1769, Mr. Theophilus Field, Jr., was appointed a vestryman in the place of Captain William Poythress, deceased.

After William Poythress’ Death
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 Quarterky 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.

Highlights: Captain Wm. Poythress (1728-c. 1768), son of Col. Wm. Poythress

– born in Pr. Geo. Co., 1728

– married (1) Mary Eppes c. 1749

– Mary Eppes died Pr. Geo. Co., 1750

– married (2) (Lucy Edwards?) c. 1751

– children (1752-1769): Wm., Benjamin, Lucy m. John Gordon, Anne Isham m. Wm. Yates, Mary m. Francis Muir, Sally

– elected to vestry of Bristol parish in place of Major Wm. Eppes, 1760

– Lieutenant by 1761

– appointed church Warden

– executor of father’s Will (Col. Wm. Poythress), 1763

– Captain by 1763

– deceased 1768 (age ~40)

– auction of 30 slaves on Butterwood cr., Dinwiddie Co., estate of Wm. Poythress, 1771

– his plantation announced for rental by Major Peter Poythress, 4 mi. from Blandford, Pr. Geo. Co., 1774

– his son, Benjamin, was heir to his other son, Wm., Jr., Pr. Geo. Co., 1775

– his son, Benjamin, was heir to his daughter, Sally Poythress, Pr. Geo. Co., 1775

– auctions at his plantation on Little Roanoke, Charlotte Co., also at Butterwood Quarter, Dinwiddie Co., and at Tombeaton Quarter, 1775

Capt. Wm. Poythress’ father, Col. Wm. Poythress, bought the following land: 6,667 ac. If Wm., the son, inherited it all, he was a very wealthy man. His plantation at Butterwood Quarter may have had 3,572 acres and his plantation at Tommaheton may have had 1,137 acres.

206 ac. Butterwood sw. Pr. Geo.; 343 ac. Butterwood sw. Pr. Geo.; 297 ac. Butterwood sw. Pr. Geo.; 381 ac. Butterwood sw. Pr. Geo; 200 ac. Butterwood sw. Pr. Geo.; 531 ac. Butterwood sw. Dinwiddie Co.; 2,000 ac. Tommaheton cr. Pr. Geo.; 1,024 ac. Tommaheton sw. above butterwoods Pr. Geo.; 548 ac. Tommaheton Pr. Geo.;  689½ ac. Henrico Co.; 447½ ac. Henrico Co. = 1,958 ac. Butterwood sw.; 3,572 ac. Tommaheton; 1,137 ac. Henrico Co. = Total: 6,667 ac.

Slaves: (30) slaves were to sold (1771); slaves were to be divided among his heirs: all names of slaves were listed, but no last names, except for Andrew Miller, Jack Vaughan, Lucy Cook and Frank Cook (1775)