Lists FYI,
These musings connect/involve a number of families/surnames. Perhaps
someone will spot some synergistic connections and post other energizing
comments. Hopefully something here will generate some Gen prospects.
Best,
Barry Wetherington
(Witherington-L, Wetherington-L, Widdrington-L, Dare-L,
Easterling-L, Fitchett-L)
... There just has to be a undefined family relationship/connection
between the Dares and Rices, possibly in MD, that may be earlier than
the North Carolina connection. There is an Elizabeth Rice and a Benjamin
Rice mentioned in the land records. There is Benjamin Rice who is
mentioned in Robert's Will (see below) and Sarah Rice in the Carruthers
Will of 1751 (see below), the Rices end up in NC. We need to find out
more about these Rices in the last quarter of the 17th century and the
first quarter of the 18th century.
There are two properties which involve the Dare homeplace and they
seem to go around in circles in the Dare family: from Nat Dare (prob. d
1699) to Robert Witherington & wife Eliz. Dare W..ington and then the
properties are transfered in 1720 to brother Nat Dare (prob. d. 1742).
The two properties involved are part of Hoopers Cliffs and Red Cliffs
and both land transfers take place on the same day Sept. 9 1720 which is
the same day that Amy Dare Martin Hennington Battson's Will (see below)
is probated. Clearly they are settling the estate, of undivided interest
in lands.
The other parts of the originally patented parcels known as Hoopers
Clifts and Red Clifts is possessed by Elizabeth Rice at the same time as
Nat. Dare (d. 1699). and then these parcels go from Benjamin Rice back
to Gideon Dare, again both on the same day. But this time in 1729 (June
28th). I wonder if someone else died on that date, if they did I can
only speculate whom. Benjamin Rice seems likely to have been related to
the Dares. I wonder if James Dare had two children a son- Nat.who
married Eliz Cleverly Binks and a dau. Eliz who married a Rice
(Benjamin?). Maybe he divided his land between Nat and Eliz. Dare Rice.
Maybe Eliz. Dare Rice died in 1729. Too many Elizabeths.
Just to add to the confusion, there as Henry Easterling who was
married to Elizabeth unknown (and father and mother in law to Eliz.
Witherington) and they had 500 acres (called Taylors Joy) very nearby if
not adjacent to the Dare properties. Too many Elizabeths.
Other leads to pursue. -
- Hooper Clifts was originally patented to Henry Hooper in 1652. An
ancestor? -
-There is Red Clifts was originally patented by William Stephans in 1662
and is later possessd by Nat. Dare (presumably d. 1699).
-There is Hodgkins Clifts (next to Hoopers Clifts) and ends up part of
Dare property was patented to John Hodgkins and then goes to John Dixon
before going to Gideon Dare in 1727.
Anybody recognize any of these names?
_________________
Will of Amy Battson (Batson) By Michael A. Smolek April 1, 1999
The Will of Amy Battson is in the Maryland Hall of Records, Annapolis,
Md. Probate Records (Liber 16 Folio 194). The microfilm version is
essentially unreadable and has numerous holes. The original documents
have been retired and are non-circulating, however an exception was made
and I was allowed to examine the original document. This document
proved to be almost as unreadable as the mircofilm version.
Nonetheless, I was able to verify that Amy Battson, Elizabeth Witherton
and Nathaniel Dare were siblings. The Amy Battson Will was written in
1711 and probated in 1720. I didn't find a Will for Edward Battson,
Amy's last husband, however an inventory is recorded for 1711,
indicating he probably died about 1711.
The best reference is not the original document but is the Maryland
Calendar of Wills because the original document is now essentially
unreadable. The Maryland Calendar of Wills is a published multi-volume
"abstract" of the Maryland Wills based on the above mentioned probate
Will documents. A comparison of the original Amy Battson document with
this secondary source appears to be accurate as best can be
ascertained. When this volume of the Maryland Calendar of Wills was
prepared, over 85 years ago, this Will document must have been in better
condition than it is now. Below is a transcription of the Maryland
Calendar of Wills entry. Care must be used when utilizing the Maryland
Calendar of Wills and particular attention must be paid to format and
punctuation, as it is easy to derive different conclusions from casual
readings of these abstracts.
Quoted from the Maryland Calendar of Wills. Kohn & Pollack, Inc.
Publishers, Baltimore, Md. 1914
Battson, Amy, widow, Calvert Co., 9th April 1711
9th Sept., 1720
To son James Martin and daus. Ann Hennington (or Stenn
ington) and Amy, sister Elizabeth Witherton and her
daus. (unnamed), Mrs. Sarah Hance and Anne Harrison, personalty.
" 2 daus., Ann Hennington and Amy and their hrs., lands
belonging testator and 2 sisters ____; shd. Either die
before marriage, survivor to inherit portion of the dec'd shd.
Both die without issue, sd. Land to James Martin and hrs.
Debts of testator to bro. Nath. Dare to be pd by 2 daus. afsd.
Dau. Anne Hennington to care of Mrs. Anne Skinner, widow.
Son James Martin to care of Mrs. Sarah Hance until 21yrs. of age.
Dau. Amy to care of bro. Nathl. and sister Mary Dare, extx. (Defaced.)
Test: Robt Cope, Margritt Cope, Wm. Angell 16,195
________________
Translation excerpts of the Robert Widdringtone Will of 1722, Calvert Co
MD Maryland State Archives Probate Records, Calvert Co, Liber 18, Folio
27.
I Robert WIDDRINGTONE of Christ Church Parish in Calvert County (MD)
planter...
Item I give and bequeath unto my Loving son, Solomon WIDDERINGTONE ...
Item I give and bequeath unto my son John ... and do appoint Henry
EASTERLING Gurardian to my said two sons Solomon & John...
Item I do appoint Mr. Walter SMITH of St. Leonards guardian of my
Daughter Dorcas WIDDERINGTONE...
Item I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Dorcas...
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary WIDDRINGTONE ... and do
appoint her Aunt Mrs. Mary Dare to be Guardian...
Item I give unto Benjn RICE my Cyder Casks. .
Item I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth EASTERLING wife of Henry
Easterling all my household goods not otherwise disposed off all the
rest and residue of my personall Estate whatsoever I give and bequeath
unto Henry Easterling whom I constitute and appoint sole Executor of
this my Last Will and Testament. In Witness thereof, I have hereunto
set my mark and seal this twentieth day of August in the year of Our
Lord God- One thousand seven hundred twenty two...
_______________
Excerpts of:
JOHN CARRUTHERS WILL (1751), Craven Co.,NC
In the name of God Amen. I, John Carruthers, of the County of Craven,
and Province of North Carolina, merchant,
I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter, Rocksolannah Witherinton, one lott
of
Land lying in Newbern town, and joining Pollocks Street and Eding
Street...
Item. I Give and Bequeath to my daughter, Frances Hodges, ...housing at
the Francis Hodges Cow Pen...
Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my son, John Carruthers ...
Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my Son, Joseph Carruthers....
Item. I Give and Bequeath to my daughter, Sarah Rice...
Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my two Sons in law, Francis Hodges and
John Witherinton...
Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Wife, Content
Carruthers...
Item. I give unto ... Rebekah McCarthy...
Item. My will and Desire is that ...the Remandar of money may be
Equaly devided between my three Sons, William Carruthers, John
Carruthers, and Joseph Carruthers, and my daughter, Sarah Rice, and if
my son William Carruthers shuld not be at the devision of the money, I
desire his Part of the money may continue in the hands of my Executors
till he, the foresd.
William Carruthers, cums for it.
Lastly, I do nominate, constitute, and appoint my two sons, John
Carruthers and Joseph Carruthers, Executors of this my last Will ...
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twentieth
day of September, the year of our Lord, one Thousand, seven Hundred, and
fifty one (and my desk interlined before Assigned in the lowr line of
the first side).
John Carruthers (Seal)