Saturday, September 10, 2016

Notebook - Maryland #4

Danger, Will Robinson, danger!  That's what doing research on the Beall, Magruder, Brewer, Howard and Ridgley families of Maryland is like.  One guy says this . . . the next completely contradicts him . . . . and the third has another theory.  Here are a lot of contradictions.  Let me know if you figure it out!!  I'm going to keep working on it too.

1790 Maryland Census

Baltimore County, Back River, Upper Hundred
Parks, William 1 m 16+, 1 m -16, 2 f, 1 slave
Parks, Benjamin 1 m 16+, 1 m -16, 2 f
Parks, David 3 m 16+, 2 m -16, 3 f
Ridgeley, Charles (of Wms. Quarter) 8 slaves
Towson, Thomas, 1 m 16+, 2 f
Towson, Charles 1 m 16+, 6 f, 3 slaves
Parks, David, Overseer Wm. McCullins 1 m 16+, 11 slaves
Frederick County,
Beall, Tabitha 1 m -16, 8 f, 22 slaves
Beall, Elisha 1 m 16+, 2 m -16, 6 f, 10 slaves
Beall, Joseph 2 m 16+, 3 f, 1 other person, 23 slaves
Beall, John 2 m 16+, 2 m -16, 6 f, 8 slaves
Beall, John 2 m 16+, 4 m -16, 2 f
Beall, Nathan 2 m 16+, 4 m -16, 3 f, 5 slaves
Linton, Jeremiah 1 m 16+, 1 m -16, 4 f
Linton, Samuel 1 m 16+, 3 f, 1 slave
Linton, Samuel Jr. 2 m 16+, 2 m -16, 3 f
Linton, Zachariah 1 m 16+, 4 m -16, 2 f, 2 slaves
Ogle, Joseph 1 m 16+, 3 f
Ogle, Thomas 1 m 16+, 3 m -16, 3 f, 1 slave

1800 Maryland Census

Linton, Benjamin, Frederick Co., 1 m 16-26, 1 m 45+, 1 f 45+, 6 slaves - possible grandfather
Linton, Isaac, Frederick Co., 2 m -10, 1 m 26-45, 3 f -10, 1 f 26-45
Linton, James, Allegany Co., 1 m 10-16, 1 m 26-45, 1 f 26-45
Linton, Jeremiah, Frederick Co., 2 m -10, 1 m 10-16, 1 m 26-45, 2 f -10, 2 f 10-16, 1 f 16-26, 1 f 26-45

Linton, John, Frederick Co., 2 m -10, 1 m 16-26, 1 f 16-26
Linton, Mary, Frederick Co., 3 f -10, 1 f 10-16, 1 f 16-26, 1 f -10, 1 f 10-16, 1 f 26-45
Linton, Rube, Baltimore City, 1 m 26-45, 2 f 16-26, 1 f 45+
Linton, Samuel. Frederick Co., 1 m 45+, 1 f 26-45
Linton, Samuel, Frederick Co., 1 m 45+, 1 f -10, 1 f 45+ possible grandfather
Linton, William, Frederick Co., 1 m 16-26, 1 f 16-26, 2 slaves
Linton, William, Allegany Co., 1 m -10, 1 m 26-45, 2 f -10, 1 m 26-45
Ogle, Mord, Allegany Co., 1 m -10, 1 m 26-45, 3 f -10, 1 f 16-26 - grandparents Mordecai & Leonora (Linton) Ogle
Ogle, Joseph, Allegany Co., 2 m -10, 2 m 10-16, 1 m 26-45, 2 f -10, 1 f 16-26, 1 f 26-45 - probable uncle Joseph & Amelia (Linton) Ogle, Joseph was Mordecai's brother, Amelia was Leonora's sister


Bowie, Effie. Across the Years in Prince George's County, Richmond, VA: Garrett & Massie, nd

Map of Upper Marlborough Dist. No. 3


Magruder . .  . MacGregor
Argent; an oak tree eradicated, in bend sinister, proper, surmounted by a sword in bend, supporting on its point, in the dexter canton, an antique crown, gules.

Crest: a lion's head erased, crowned with an antique crown, proper.
Supporters: Dexter, a unicorn ARGENT crowned and horned OR; Sinister, a deer proper, tyned AZURE.
Mottoes: above escutcheon: Shrioghal mo dhream (Royal is my race); below escutcheon: ard choille (The woody height).
Badge, Guithas, pine tree.

Apropos of the charges on the MacGregor escutcheon and the mottoes, the accepted tradition concerning the royal grant of same seems pertinent after a few words concerning Clan Gregor.

The most widely accepted and popular belief is that the Clan Gregor was founded by Gregor, youngest son of Alpin MacAchaia, King of the Scots of North Britain (Scotland) whose ancestors came from the north of Ireland, then called Scotia and settled on the west coast of North Britain in Argyleshire.

Alpin reigned from 833 to 836 and fell in the Battle of Argyleshire in the south-western portion of Scotland.  (Baronage of Scotland by Sir Robert Douglas and Roby Roy by Sir Walter Scott).

The above mentioned Gregor MacAlpin was the founder of the Clan Gregor, hence its First Chief, Laird or Lord and all of his sons were called MacGregor and his descendants constituted the Clan Gregor from Clan which means children, it is said.

Malcolm MacGregor, 8th Chief of the Clan, lived during the reign of David II, King of Scotland, 1125-1155.  He was a man of great physical strength and while hunting one day with the king, the latter was attacked by a wild boar which would have slain the king but for Malcolm's intervention.  Pulling up an oak sapling and holding it between the king and the beast, he slew the latter with his hunting knife.

The monarch thereupon presented Malcolm with a coat of arms displaying "an oak tree eradicated . . . " (meaning, heraldically, pulled up).  Previously, the MacGregor arms had been "a pine tree growing out of a green mount . . ."

Gregor MacGregor was the 12th Chief of the Clan. He left five sons.  Dr. Edward Magruder traces from Gillespie MacGregor, the harper, third son of Gregor MacGregor (Parish Records of Perth) the descent of the American immigrant Alexander McGruder, son of Alexander his great-great-great grandson.

The Magruder family has been exhaustively written up by a number of its representative members, among them Mr. C.C. Magruder Jr. of Upper Marlboro, the Rev. James Mitchell Magruder of Annapolis and others, in lucid and painstaking articles.  Much of this material is easily available in the Year books of the American Clan Gregor Society and elsewhere.  For this reason the author introduces in this volume, data concerning, primarily the line of John Magruder "of Dunblane" which seems to be that of the largest number of Magruder descendants in Prince George's County.

to readers who are not familiar with the beginnings of the Magruder family in America, an address in 1923, by Dr. Edward May Magruder, Chieftain of the American Clan Gregor Society, furnishes a highly interesting story of the Clan system in general and the Gregor Clan in particular.  It was published in the 1923 Year book of the Society, and is long story which should be read in its entirety.  Likewise, a sketch of Clan Gregor in the Year Book, "1909-10 proceedings" in which Major Edward Magruder Tutwiler tells the romantic and tragic story of the Clan in its wilds of the Trossachs, Balquhidder, Rannach and Glenurchy in the fastnesses of North Britain, known as the MacGregor Country.

Dr. Magruder states in his address, as do other historians, that Alexander Magruder (Macgruther-MacGruder) was son of Alexander McGruder and Lady Margaret Drummond, widow of Sir Andrew Drummond, Chief or Laird of Ballyclose in Perthshire, Scotland, who was daughter of Sir James Campbell, Laird of Aberchiel (Records of Privy Council of Scotland, Vol. VII, 600).

He records twenty-one variant spellings of the name now accepted as Magruder and so used by the immigrant in signing his will.

Another reference (L.O.W., L.A.H.R., 220) states that in 1652 Alexander MacGregor settled on 500 acres of land near Turkey Buzzard Island in the Patuxent River, Calvert County, Maryland.

In 1673, Alexander McGruder and his wife, Sarah, executed a deed in which both sign their names "Magruther," while in the body of the indenture the name is spelled MacGruther.

Magruder came to be the accepted form for the Clan in America and is universally so used, except by  the family of John Smith Magruder, son of John Magruder "of Dunblane," who by legislative act officially resumed for himself and his heirs the original patronymic MacGregor.

Alexander Magruder, immigrant was born in Perthshire, Scotland, 1610.  His name appears first in the Colonial records in 1653. (Lib. A.B. H, 352 Annap.) An indenture in which Charles Stewart assigns to Alexander Macruder fifty acres of land due unto him for his "wife's adventure into these parts, namely patuxent."  This was in October; in November of that year, John Ashcomb assigns fifty acres to Alexander Magruder.

As he appears in Maryland soon after the battle of Worcester, fought in 1651, it has been assumed that he was among the one hundred and fifty prisoners of war sent out of the realm to the British American Colonies.  They arrived in Virginia, via Barbadoes, and many came later to Maryland.

It is thought that Alexander Magruder may have come with sufficient means to become at once a landed proprietor, say his biographers.  Among the properties acquired were Good Luck, 500 acres; Alexander's Hope, 200 acres; in 1668 Anchovie Hills in the Freshes of Aquasco Creek, 400 acres, which was his home place and the estate with which his name is generally associated.

Dunblane, 250 acres, on west side of Patuxent River adjoining another tract, Alexandria, was surveyed for him, June 26, 1671, also Craig naigh or Craig Night, 200 acres.  in all, he is said to have acquired 3,750 acres of land lying on both sides of Patuxent River, owning at the time of his death 2,400 acres.

It is claimed that Alexander Magruder married three times:
(1) Margaret Braithwaite, whose existence, says Dr. Magruder, is entirely traditional, but accepted by genealogists, notwithstanding lack of documentary proof.
(2) Sarah; proof of this marriage is found in a deed, dated March 11, 1670 (Annap. Prob. Ct. Lib. 4 B. No. 7, 445).
(3) Elizabeth, supposedly, Hawkins.

In his will (Lib. 5 A, fol. 261, Annap.) Alexander Magruder devised to wife, Elizabeth and her three children, two thirds of his personal estate and the plantation "I now live on, 800 acres" for her life time and after her death to sons Alexander and Nathaniel "or the survivor of them." To sons James and John, 900 acres lying on Western Branch of Patuxent, Alexandria and Dunblane.

To son, Samuel, 500 acres on Western Branch, Good Luck - etc.

I will and bequeath the third of my personal estate to my three sons James, Samuel and John . . . at the age of twenty.

To daughter, Elizabeth, 200 acres called Creighnight in Western Branch of Patuxent adjoining my son Samuel's land, etcetera . . .

Codicil made "in extremis":

"That no contest may arise concerning my will, my will is that my eldest two sons, James and Samuel shall enter upon the property left them the fifteenth day of November after my decease - that my son John shall enter upon his land and receive his portion at eighteen years of age and my daughter Elizabeth, upon hers at fourteen and her portion on day of marriage or at eighteen.

Likewise should my sons, James, Samuel and John die without issue, the survivor or survivors shall enjoy the whole land left to all three of them and their heirs."

He makes the same provision in the case of his three younger children, Alexander, Nathaniel and Elizabeth.

12 March, 1676/7.

The son, James Magruder died in 1685 (Inv. L. IX, folio 248, Annap.); son John died unmarried.

The house at Anchovie Hills in Nottingham District, now Prince George's County, last home of Alexander Magruder was destroyed by fire many years ago.

In 1931 the American Clan Gregor placed in the Presbyterian Church at Hyattsville, Maryland, a tablet, donated by the late William Pinkney Magruder to

"Alexander Magruder, Maryland immigrant 1652. Progenitor of the Magruder Family in the U.S. Born - Perthshire, Scotland, 1610  Died - Anchovie Hills, Calvert County., Md. 1677"

Alexander Magruder - 1671-1746. Justice of Prince George's County 1699, 1730, 1732. This, the son of the immigrant, married Anne Hutchison, widow and together they administered the estate of Anne's late husband, Thomas Hutchison of Charles County.  Accounts passed in November 1707 and 1714.

Samuel Magruder of Alexander, immigrant and his traditional wife Margaret Braithwaite, married Sarah, persistently called the daughter of Ninian Beall; it is avowed, the while, that no documentary proof of her parentage has yet been produced.  The destruction of Calvert County records is doubtless responsible for the fact.

That her name was Sarah we know from the will of Samuel Magruder dated November 23, 1710 (1, 46, W.M.)

To wife Sary Magruder, executrix, dwelling plantation and land belonging to it and after her death to son Samuel, 200 acres of the uppermost part of Good Luck.

To son Ninean, place that was my brother John Magruder's and 300 acres of the upper part of Alexandria.

To son, John, tract Dunblane with plantation and 250 acres.

To sons, James and William, Turkey Cock Branch.

To son, Alexander, 100 acres of Good Luck.

To son, Nathaniel, 100 acres of good Luck.

Two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah Magruder, 100 pounds for "to bye them a gowne and petty cote."

To five sons: John, James, William, Alexander, Nathaniel and my three daughters, Verlinda, Mary and Elinor Magruder, 2/3 of my personal estate.

To sons, Samuel, Ninean and John, one lot in Marlborough town, 1 acre, lot No. 48.

Goods sent out from England shall be accounted personal estate and to wife, her third interest.

My five sons shall work for themselves at ye age of 16.

Brothers Alexander and Nathaniel and brother John Pottinger* overseers of this my last will.

Samuel Magruder, Senior

[*There is a pencil footnote to the Marlboro record of above will: "John Pottinger is here called brother because he married the testator's half sister Elizabeth," and it should read "brother-in-law."  According to Pottinger genealogies, these left no issue.]

Samuel Magruder's estate was administered by Sarah, executrix, 31 December 1711. (Adm. J.B. 1, 62, Marl.)

An item in the distribution of estate reads: "Paid, Elizabeth Beall, legacy which her father Mr. Samuel Magruder left her in his will, as per receipt £5.00."

Samuel Magruder was an early vestryman of St. Paul's Parish, Calvert County.

Colonial Wars Record, from Society of Colonial Wars.

Captain Samuel Magruder, b. Calvert County, 1654, resided in Colony or Province of Maryland, Prince George's County; d. 1711.  High Justice and Captain of Militia, Prince George's county, 1696; Justice of County Court, 1697; Member of House of Burgesses, 1704, 1707; Commissioner to lay out Ports and Towns, 1706.

Md. Archiv., Vol. 23, p. 110; Vol. 20, 546; Vol. 26, p. 638; Vol. 31, pp. 476, 543; Vol. 27, p. 62.

Will. Sarah Magruder, widow of Samuel (I, 235, W.M.)

She devises Headake, in Eastern Branch of Potomac, 300 acres to daughter, Eleanor Wade and to Sarah Clagett, daughter of George Clagett and my daughter Mary Clagett, deceased.

To daughter Elizabeth Beall, wife of William Beall . . .

To daughter Verlinda; daughter Eleanor Wade . . .

To Sarah Magruder, daughter of Ninean Magruder, my son . . .

To John Magruder, son of my son Ninian . . .

To Samuel Beall, son of my son Ninean, deceased . . .

To sons and daughters John, James, Verlinda, Alexander and Eleanor, negroes.

Personal estate, not before bequeathed, divided between my sons and daughters, Samuel, Ninean, Elizabeth, John, James, Verlinda, William, Alexander, Eleanor and granddaughter, Sarah Clagett.

Son John and John Beall, executors.

January 16, 1731.

May 9, 1734.

John Magruder and John Beall appeared in Court, November, 1735. in administration of above estate.

Issue of Samuel Magruder and Sarah, his wife:
I. Samuel md. Eleanor Wade
II. Ninean md. Elizabeth Brewer - among issue: 1). Samuel, 2) John, 3. Ninean
III. John md. Susanna Smith
IV. James md. Barbara Coombs - son James
V. William md. Mary Frazer - children: Thomas, George, Basil, Ann, Susanna, Jemima, Barbara, Elizabeth, Verlinda
VI. Alexander md. Ann Wade
VII. Nathaniel md. Susanna Blizzard
VIII. Elizabeth md. 1) Ninean Beall Jr. 2) William Beall
IX. Sarah md. William Selby
X. Verlinda md. John Beall
XI. Mary, md. George Clagett
XII. Eleanor, md. Nehmiah Wade

Brumbaugh, Gaius. Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources, Vol. I, Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1915
Beall and Gentle families

Brumbaugh, Gaius. Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources, Vol. II, Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, 1915
Gentle family

Cupler, Margaret. Allegany County, Maryland Records, Marriage Licenses, August 1, 1791 - May 1, 1847, Cumberland, MD: Cresap Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1971.

Published as a matter of news under the heading of "Annals of Cumberland" in the Cumberland Civilian and the Cumberland Independent during the years 1878, 1879 and 1880.

The Civilian commenced publishing the licenses May 19, 1878, and ending February 23, 1879, and continued the names from August 1, 1791 to March 28, 1839.  The Independent commenced publishing the licenses on February 15, 1880, and ending June 6, 1880, and contained the names from March 28, 1839 to May 1, 1847.

This Record was made by order of the County Commissioners per order passed February 6, 1893, the original records having been destroyed by fire in the burning of the Court House, January 5, 1893.

Thus reads the forward in Book A, Marriage Licenses.  Within the book there are notations that no licenses were published for December of 1805, and none appeared for December of 1808 nor for January of 1809.  In the two volume History of Western Maryland by J. Thomas Scarf, on page 1348, the marriage licenses issued according to an act by the Maryland Assembly, are listed from the first day of August 1791 through November 27, 1800. Since Scarf's work was published in 1882, his copy of the licenses were directly from the original, not from the old newspapers.  I have compared the court house record with Scarf's listings and indicated some changes.

Until recent times the prospective bride was not required to accompany the prospective groom when he applied for a marriage license, consequently several confusing situations confront us.  If the woman whose name the man named as his choice at the time of requesting the license rejected him, he might have erased her name and inserted his second choice, or he could have applied within a short time for another license for himself and another possibly acquiescent girl.  Only proof of marriage through a minister's records or a Bible record can untangle the problem one faces when multiple licenses in one man's name were issued.

During the years of 1792 through 1813, the Reverend William Shaw, Methodist Circuit rider performed marriages in Allegany County, Maryland.  His wife was Charlotte Trimble, daughter of John and Margaret Arnold Trimble.  My great-great-great grandmother was Catherine Trimble Potter, sister of Charlotte Trimble Shaw.  A copy of William Shaw's Marriage Diary has been a very valuable source for lineage research and in this volume I have added the letters WS after the licensees names to show that the couple were married subsequent to receiving the license.  Where no license was issued in Allegany County but a marriage was performed by Rev. Shaw, I have included the names followed by WS only.

Margaret D. Culper
July 1971

Ogle, Mordecai & Leonora Linton (WS only) September 29, 1793.

Doliante, Sharon. Maryland & Virginia Colonials: Genealogies of Some Colonial Families, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1991.

Elizabeth Howard, prob. b. ca. 1639, Lower Norfolk Co., Va.; d. after 1669 but before 1673, Md.; m. bet. 1659 and 1664, Anne Arundel Co., Md., Col. Henry Ridgley.  She was also a legatee in the 1648 will of Richard Hall, and her husband claimed land rights in 1664, for having transported her into Maryland.  Actually, it seems doubtful that such was the case.  Probably she transported herself, or perhaps one of her brothers brought her to Maryland, but if a woman married before land rights could be claimed for her, it was customary to allow her husband that privilege.  Her bro. Cornelius came to Md. in 1659 and prob. the others too, and Elizabeth with them.  for known issue of Col. Henry Ridgley, which we believe to also have been Elizabeth's see the Ridgley family.

Sarah Howard, is mentioned by Prof. Warfield as a child of Samuel Howard, and he goes on to say that she m. Peter Porter Jr. (son of Peter and Frances Porter), who, in his will (when?), named "his father Samuel Howard . . . "  Sarah was not mentioned in the will of Samuel Howard who d. in 1703.

Thomas Odell, Sr., prob. b. ca. 1660 to 1670; d. bet. May 7, 1718 (date of the last deed he made) and Apr. 11, 1722 (date of probate of his will),  Pr. Geo's. Co., Md.; m. aft. Apr. 1690 and by Apr. 1692, prob. in Anne Aundel Co., Md., Sarah (Ridgely) Brewer, widow of John Brewer, Jr. and dau. of Col. Henry Ridgely and his (1) wife, Elizabeth Howard.  She was prob. b. bet. 1664 and 1668, Anne Arundel Co.; d. bef. June 28, 1727, Pr. Geo's. Co.

Nothing has ever come to light concerning the birthplace or parents of Thomas Odell, Sr.  There is no known record in Maryland showing that Thomas or anyone else of the surname was ever transported into the Province.  And, with the exception of a William Odell who appeared in the area a few years later, (and possibly some kin to Thomas), and who eventually left descendants Thomas and his family are the only known persons of the surname in Colonial Maryland.  As an item of interest, Newman, in his The Flowering of the Maryland Palatinate , p. 99, says: "In many of the early inventories of the Maryland gentry at their death, a sword is listed when there is no visible proof of the deceased serving in the provincial militia.  In the seventeenth century the sword was the symbol of the gentleman of honor and was worn by him on all state and social occasions.  It also became the exponent of the cavalier or royalist during those hectic days through which Maryland passed shortly after its founding, when traditional government and royal perogatives were matched against Parliamentary revolt and the torch of destruction.  The sword in the inventory was thus an indication of the social status of the deceased and a cherished possession brought with him from his English home."  And from p. 294, " . . . a sword - the latter always the symbol of a gentleman." A rapier was listed in the inventory of Thomas Odell, Sr.

Even before Thomas first appeared in Maryland, there were Odells in New England, and eventually in New York and in Canada.  Later, there were also Odells who appear to have settled first in Pa., but later migraded down the Valley of Va., some of them going into the Carolinas and Ga. and Tenn. - finally spreading into Ky. and Ill. and other western states.  There is also an extant record of an Henry Odell who was early transported into the Northern Neck of Va. [Nugent, pp. 190 & 300, but no further record concerning him can be found, and we therefore conclude that he died without issue.  One Dudley Diggs, Esq., of New Kent Co., Va. was granted 1900 acs. on 2 May 1706, for having trans. 38 pers. prior to that date, among whom was Tho. Odell.  This could well be our Thomas, who then found his way up to Md., but it would have had to be approximately 16 years prior to this day, which is indeed quite possible. [Nugent, Voll. III, p. 106-107].

All American Odells claim that their progenitors came from the Parish of Odell, in Bedfordshire, England, and that they are therefore descended from . . . the Baron de Wahu) a brother-in-law of William the Conqueror, and who came with the latter to England in 1066, and that they are therefore entitled to claim as their ancestral home, Odell Castle, which stood for many centurieson the land there, given to the Baron by William, and on which still stands (so far was we know0, Odell Church.  (NOTE: The surname has been spelled Wodhull, Woodhull, Wodell, Woodell, Odell, Odill, Odle, Odal, etc., and an Irish flavor has even erroneously added by some in, O'Dell.) While all of the surname may very well stem from a common progenitor, none of the American branches, so far as we can determine, have ever been able to absolutely identify their immigrant ancestor.  In spite of this, many also claim the Odell Coat of Arms! (Or, an Odell Coat of Arms!)

Louise Joyner Hienton, in her, Prince George's Heritage, p. 76, states: "The first vestrymen of Queen Anne's Parish were Robert Tyler, Colonel Henry Ridgley, Thomas Odell, Philip Gittings, John Pottinger, and John Gerrard.  These were prominent men of the Parish . . . Thomas Odell, a son-in-law of Colonel Ridgley, had also moved to Prince George's [County] from Anne Arundel County.  He too, was a justice of the County Court.

Apr. 9, 1705 "Memorandant - That this 9th day of April 1705 pursuant to an act of Assembly for the division of St. Paul's Parish Prince George's County Inhabitants of Queen Anne's Parish being assembled at the church of St. Barnabas the Parish Church according to the laws of this Province in the behalf made and provided have unanimously elected and chosen persons undernamed to be and act as vestry for sd. Parish: Mr. Robt. Tyler, Mr. Thomas Odell, Mr. Phillip Gittings, Mr. Henry Ridgely, Mr. John Pottinger, Mr. Jno. Garra[r]d.  Which sd persons have accepted and acquiesced of the sameare to be reputed and taken as the vestry of Queen Anne's Parish afsd." [Queen Anne's Parish Vestry Records, Pr. Geo's. Co., Vol. II, p. 4]

1707 [Quit Rents, Anne Arundel County] - LARKINSON: 300 Acres, Sur: 21 Octo; 1652 for Ellis Brown on the S. side of South River.  This land assigd. & Pattended in the name of John Brewer. Asso. 1663.  Rent - .. 6.. - Possr. Capt. Tho: Odell for Brewer's Orpns. He lives in Prince Geo: County.  BREWERTON: 400 acres, Sur: 3 9ber 1659 for the John Brewer on the West side Broad River joyning to Bessonton.  Rent - .. 8.. - Possrs: 200 acres Tho: Odell for Brewers Orpns.; 100 acres Wm. Brewer; 100 acres John Gresham." [Maryland Historical Magazine, Vol. 23, No. 1, March 1928, pp. 185-188.]

Thomas  Odell, Jr. son of Thomas & Sarah (Ridgely) (Brewer) Odell, b. Jan. 7, 1692/3 (bapt. 1698), South River Hundred, Anne Arundel Co., md., d. probably aft. the summer of 1763, in South Carolina; m. ca. 1714-20, likely in Pr. Geo's Co., Margaret Beall, dau. of James and Sarah (Pearce) Beall, Sr. She was b. c. 1694, Calbert (?) Co., Md.; d. aft. 1755, prob. in Md., or S.C.

Much concerning Thomas and Margaret (Beall) Odell, Jr., is enigmatic and/or negative.  His friends, relatives and in-laws seem, without known exception, to have looked upon Thomas with both respect and affection.  Margaret while possibly beloved by her own family, seems to have been rather neglected by them - at least as far as official records go.  She was not mentioned at all in the will of her father (and this fact led Col. F.M.M. Beall, in the The Beall & Bell Families, to say that "Mary" (sic, Margaret), died before her father.)  Perhaps it was merely an oversight for a few years later her oldest brother, John Beall, gave her some land which he may have considered the portion of her father's estate which the latter should have left her.  Her brother Robert, who died unmarried in young manhood, left personally to two of Margaret's sons, but without mentioning Margaret by name (although he did mention his sister Sarah Odell, which has led some to erroneously conclude that the boys were Sarah's.)

Her mother did mention Margaret in her will, but left her only a pittance.  However, the fact that her mother did name her, proves that she was living as late as 1755, the date of the last mentioned will.

None of the births of the children of Thomas and Margaret have ever been located in any of the extant old Maryland Parish Registers - which is very odd indeed, and prevents us from being absolutely certain that we have identified all their children - and from knowing the precise order of their births.

[The following is an abstract of the chapter on Col. Henry Ridgely.  It is far more extensive than can be posted here. SL] 

Col. Henry Ridgely, prob. b. c. 1635-39, England (possibly Staffordshire, although Warfield, p. 77, says, without reference, "Devonshire"); d. by July 13, 1710, at about the age of 75 years, Prince George's Co., Md.; m. 1) by Sept. 19, 1664, in Md., ELizabeth Howard, daughter of Matthew & Ann Howard, Sr.  She was b. ca. 1638, Lower Norfolk Co., Va.; d. probably after 1669 and bef. 1673, when he m. (2) Alice Skinner, dau. of Aquila and Alice (Cornish) Skinner, of Tiverton, Eng., and who d. 1694; md. (3) about 1695, Mary (Stanton) Duvall, widow of Mareen.  She was 25-30 years his junior, and survived him. She d. in 1736, having m. as her (3) husband, the Rev. Jacob Henderson, who was about 21 years her junior.  Warfield p. 106 states her maiden name and says her Prince George's Co. will mentions her (Stanton) brother in Philadelphia.  Newman stated that she was not nee Stanton, because the Rev. Henderson later m. a Mary Stanton, but it appears that the (2) Mrs. Henderson was a namesake niece of the first.

Henry Ridgely's "rights" to land, proved in 1664, are somewhat ambiguous, but it appears to this compiler that he arrived in Maryland unmarried, perhaps in or before 1659.  Sometime between 1659 and before 1664, Elizabeth Howard came to Maryland, probably directly from Virginia, and Henry not only married her but also claimed the rights for having transported her (as well as for transporting several male and 1 female servants); while in reality, Elizabeth probably either paid for her own transportation, or her transportation was paid by a brother.  Had she been the wife of Henry Ridgely when she arrived, we do not believe her maiden name would have been given as it was.  Also, the "rights" seen to indicate that Henry and Elizabeth did not arrive at the same time, or even in the same year.

After his marriage, and after the death of his grand father, Nicholas Ridgely, son of Henry Jr., and grd-son of Col. Henry, wrote in his family Bible, so it has been said, that his father was a son of Henry and Sarah, his wife.  Prof. Warfield, in his Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties pp. 77-78, went so far as to say that this "Sarah" . . . "evidently belonged to the house of James Warner and Elizabeth Harris, his wife," thus firmly fixing in the mind of every reader from that day to this, that Col. Henry Ridgely married secondly, Sarah Warner, dau. of James and Elizabeth (Harris) Warner!

The fact of the matter was, however, as we showed in the Howard chapter, supra, that not only was James' wife Elizabeth not nee Harris (she was instead, the widow of William Harris, when she m. James), but she was not the m other of any child of James Warner, since they were married only about a year before his death, and at which time he was long since a grand father, by  his two daughters, i.e. Joan (or Johanna), wife of Henry Sewell, and Catherine, wife of Samuel Howard.

Recently, the eminent Ridgely genealogist, Mr. Richard T. Foose, and this compiler, have unanimously come to the conclusion that Nicholas Ridgely erred in stating that his grandmother's name was "Sarah," thus throwing generations of genealogists off and into great puzzlement as to her identity!  Even the maternity of Col. Ridgely's eldest daughter, Sarah, has been questioned.  But through carefully studying the names of the children of both Elizabeth's dau., Sarah, and of those of her brother Henry, Jr., and how and for whom they were named, we have come to the inevitable conclusion that both Sarah & Henry were indeed the children of Elizabeth (Howard) Ridgely, and that there never was a wife of Col. Henry called Sarah!  Nicholas Ridgely, after all never knew his grandmother, she having died many years before his birth, and his father died when he was only 5, and his grandfather, when he was but 10.  There's just no way he could have known who his grandmother was. We suspect that he assumed her name was "Sarah," because his father's sister was called Sarah.  He did not intend to mislead, but he led us all a merry chase!  It seems likely that Col. Henry may have been the sone of one Charles Ridgely and his mother may have been called Sarah.

Besides Sarah and Henry Jr., issue of Col. Henry's first marriage, he had by his second wife, Alice Skinner, Charles.  There was no issue of the third and last marriage, although Col. Ridgely seemed to think that Mary might be "with child" when he made his will, and he made provisions for such a possible child.  However, there's no reason to think any such child was ever born, and the late Harry Wright Newman, in his, Mareen Duvall of Middle Plantation (p. 46), went so far as to say that Mary's claim of pregnancy, may have been "a clever scheme to deceive her spouse and to acquire a greater portion of the landed estate."

Henry Ridgley, Sr., first settled in Anne Arundel Co., Md., and lived there until at least 1700, and sometime between then and 1705, he removed to Prince George's Co.  He may have moved back and forth once or twice, as his 1705 deed, speaks of him as "of  Anne Arundel Co." and a 1709 reference refers to "Capt. Henry Ridgely being removed out of Prince George's County, into Anne Arundel County."  This last is particularly confusing to us, especially in the use of the rank of "Capt."  The reference may have been to one of his two grandsons by the name of Henry Ridgely, although we would think that both were probably too young to have attained the rank of Capt., at this early date, and it certainly did not refer to his son Henry, since the latter wsa then deceased.  Henry, Sr., was both before this date, and after it, termed "Colonel."

Although Henry almost invariable signed with his mark "HR," he apparently was not unlettered.  Not the "library of books," listed amongst the inventory of his estate.  He referred to himself in his will as a "Merchant." Former biographers (who, without reference said he was born in 1625, in Devonshire, England), have stated that he became a merchant after his removal to Prince George's Co., from Anne Arundel County, but the deed of Sept. 10, 1798 shows he was living then in Anne Arundel County and he is then spoken of as a merchant.

William Ridgely, of Anne Arundel Co., was a brother to Col. Henry, as shown by the latter's will, but to date no one has ever discovered the relationship, if any, between William and Henry, and the prominent Robert Ridgely of St. Mary's County, Md.  Some degree of relationship is almost certain to have existed since descendants of Robert intermarried with several of the same families with whom some of Henry's family were associated, and both Henry and Robert had sons named charles. (Charles, of Robert, settled in proximity to Col. Henry in Prince George's Co., and died there), and Robert had also, a son William. 

Between 1659, when he came to Maryland and 1664, when she was "now his wife," and he claimed headrights, Henry Ridgley married Elizabeth Howard.  Her death is not recorded, but his daughter Sarah, believed to have been the child of his second wife (not by this compiler!  And we've never heard anyone else say this! She named her only daughter, by her first marriage, Elizabeth presumably for her mother!), must have been born as early as, say, 1667, as she had two children and was carrying a third in 1690, at the death of her first husband.  Col. Ridgley married his fourth wife, Mary, about 1695 and was married to her at his death in 1710.  Consequently, his marriage of about 21 years (ca. 1672 - ca. 1694) to Alice, was by five or six years his longest.

We have been fascinated by the inventory of Col. Henry's estate, taken after his decease.  While it obviously was incomplete, as were all inventories of the time (we can always think of any number of items which we know should have been included), it is an exceptionally full one, and affords us a rather vivid picture of Col. Henry's home, since it lists the items by room and out buildings.  He and his family appear to have lived rather comfortably. 

The abstracted items concerning Henry Ridgely, Sr., which follow in chronological order, indicate that he was quite prominent in county affairs for many years.  He rose from "Captain of the ffoot," probably to full Colonel (since his last reference to himself, when he wished to be relieved of his commission, was to the rank of "Col." and not of "Lt. Col."), and he served for years in Anne Arundel County, as one of the Justices, and as a member of the Quorum, and after his removal to Prince George's Co., was one of the vestrymen for St. Barnabas Church, Queen Anne's Parish.

Col. Ridgely owned in excess of 3345 acres of land (this includes all land except "Hoggneck," and the "Proctor's Mill" land, and the lot in London Town, Anne Arundel Co., for which we cannot located deeds, warrants or patents; neither can we locate deeds, warrrants or patents for "Ridgely & Tyler's Chance," but we know the acreagae here; or for "Ridgely's Lott,"  but suspect this last was the same as "Huntington Quarter").  He still reatined in excess of 2663 1/2 acres of land at the tiem he made his will.  He had previously deeded over 420 acres to his son Henry and on Mar. 7, 1699/1700, he deeded to Henry Jr. 200 acres called "Broome;" 200 acres of "Wardridge" . . . adjoining to the abovesaid land called broome . . . 150 acres being part of a tract called Ridgely, lying and being in Talbot Co."

June 26, 1663 - James Wardner and Henry Ridgely patentees of 600 acres called "Wardridge," in Anne Arundel Co., adjoining land called "Broome," formerly laid out for Richard Beard. [Land Office, Liber #5, ff. 355-57]

Sept. 19, 1664 - Henry Ridley (sic) demands Land for transporting himself which is entered in Burles book and elizabeth Howard his wife John Hull, Steven Gill, Richard Ravens and Jone [Joan] his Servants transported Since One Thousand Six hundred fifty nine - Warrt. dated the Nineteenth of September One Thousand Six hundred Sixty ffour ret xixth March Next." [Ibid, Liber #7, f. 461.]

Aug. 26, 1665 - "Cacilius & c. To all persons to whom these presents Shall come greeting in our Lord God everlasting Know yee that wee for and in consideracon That Henry Ridgley of this province planter hath due unto him three hundred acres of land within this province for transporting himself Elizabeth Howard his wife John Hull, Stpehen Gill, Richard Ravens and Jone his Servant[s] into this province there to inhabite as appears unpon Record . . . [we] doe hereby grant unto him the said Henry Ridley (sic) a parcell of Land (called Ridgly) lying in Talbott County on the North side of Chester River near the head of a creek called Morgans Creek beginning at a marked oke being the uper most bound tree of the land laid out for Matthew Mason and Henry Harman . . . conteyning and now laid out for three hundred acres more or less . . . " [Patents, Liber 8, ff. 175-6, H. of R. Annapolis]  [Note: Talbot Co., which then included what is now Queen Anne County, lies directly across Chesapeake Bay from Arundel Co., and was formed in 1662 from Kent Co., which accounts for that reference in the survey.]

Feb. 13, 1665/6 - James Wardner  sold to Henry Ridgely, his share of 600 acres of "Wardridge," Wit: Robert Franklyn, Jno. Howard. [Land Office, Liber IH#3, f. 1]

Dec. 16, 1670 - Dec. 13, 1680 Henry Ridgely mentioned as juror four times, "gentleman justice" once and commissioner once. 

June 12, 1682 - henry Ridgely, and Richd. Hill, named overseers in will of John Baldwin, of Anne Arundel Co. [Cotton, op. cit., vol. 1, p. 132] Note: John Baldwin was the father-in-law of Philip Howard, Henry Ridgely's brother-in-law.]

May 17, 1692 - Mr. Hammond (his bro-in-law) & Mr. Ridgely . . . a new act to be made for the Continuance of the articles of Peace now made with the Indians . . ." [Archives, Vol. 13, p. 273]

Feb. 28, 1695/6 - "The Petition of Lievtent Colonel Henry Ridgely being yesterday presented at this Board, therein praying his Quietus, to be dismissed from serving as a Magistrate in the County by Reason of his being in years & having lately Received a fall from his horse, whereby he is disabled of the vse of his right Arm renders him vncapable to make vse of his pen, besides the great disquietude which by business is created to him.  The said petition was by Ordr indorsed thus, Vizt by his Exncy the Governr & Councill & Ca." [Test. Proc., Lib. 16, Vol. 20, p. 362]

April 15, 1698 - "It being Represented that Lieutent Collo Ridgely of Anne Arundel County hath often applyed himself to his Excllcy to be discharged from  his Command being aged & infirm & for that Collo Nich Greenberry the former Colonel of the said County is dead it is though[t] fit upon the honble thomas Tench Esqr excusing himself in not being Concerned in any Military employ he being Constituted Judge of his Majestys Court of Vice Admiralty on the Western Shore of this Province & taken up with other Business Captain Hill by reason of his being an Antient Officer be Constituted Colonel, Major Iohn Hammond Lieut. Collo & Mr. Charles Greenberry the Son of the said Collo Greenberry dec'd Major of the said County & that they Take Care to Regulate the said Militia Officers under them pursuant to former Instructions issued therein" [Archives Vol. 23, p. 419]

April 13, 1705 - Henry RIdgely, Sr. wrote his will, but which was not proved until July 13, 1710. 

June 13, 1710 - Col. Henry Ridgely deceased when his will was proved, this day.

Sarah Ridgely, daughter of Col. Henry Ridgley b. bet. 1660 and 1667, Anne Arundel County, Md.; d. bef. June 28, 1727, Prince George's County, Md.; md. 1) ca. 1685 Anne Arundel Co. John Brewer Jr. son of John & Elizabeth (Pierpoint?) Brewer Sr. He d. testate aft. April 5, 1690, Anne Arundel County.  She md. 2) bet. April 1690 and Apr. 1692, Thomas Odell, Sr., who d. 1722, Prince George's Co.  

Children: John Brewer III, Joseph Brewer, Elizabeth Brewer.

Elizabeth Brewer, posthumous child, and likely named for her maternal grandmother, Elizabeth (Howard) Ridgely, and only incindentally for her paternal grandmother; b. Oct. 25, 1690, Anne Arundel Co.; md. Ninian Magruder, son of Samuel and Sarah (Beall) Magruder.  He was b. ca. 1688; d. testate, Prince George's Co., 1753.  

Children: Samuel, John, Ninian, Sarah, Elizabeth, Nathaniel, James, Rebecca, Rachel, Verlinda & Anne

Sarah Magruder b. 1713 md. William Beall Jr. son of William & Elizabeth (Magruder) Beall.  He was b. 1700; d. bef. March 4, 1771 Frederick Co., Md. Issue as given in Heterick, op cit p. 8 of the Alexander Beall chapter:

Ninian, Elizabeth, Archibal, Priscilla, Willimina & Henry

Jourdan, Elise. Colonial Settlers of Prince George's County, Maryland, Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, 2001.

Beall, Ninian; age ca. 70, May 1696 Ct. (PGCR I.8); age ca. 84, 10 Aug. 1710 (CCR PC.844); age ca. 87, 6 Oct. 1712 (CCR CL.42); age ca. 88, was servant of Rd. Hall ca. 48 yrs. ago, 13 Oct. 1714 (CCR CL.54); age ca. 90, 20 Mar. 1715 (CCR CL.274)

Beall, Ninian; wife Ruth; children: Charles, Ninian Jr., Thomas, John, George, Hester Belt [w/o Joseph], Mary, Rachel; 10 Mar. 1706 (PGLR C.185.186a)

Beall (Bell), Thomas, carpenter; 1 Sep. 1707; 3 Aug. 1708; bros. John, George, Ninian (MCW III.116)

Beall, Ninian, Jr.; 10 Nov. 1710; 6 Jan. 1710/1; wife Elizabeth; son Samuel, dau. Mary; tracts The Beginning of Sam'l Beall [dwel. plant.], Collington, Beall's Mill, Addition to Baron Hall (MCW III.185); 12 Feb. 1710 (I&A 32b.95); extx. Elisabeth; 9 Apr. 1711 (I&A 32b.246); 18 Apr. 1711 (I&A 32c.157); extx. Elisabeth Beall [w/o William]; 23 Jul. 1712 (I&A 33b.17); 14 May 1715 (I&A 36b.230)

Beal, John; 24 Jul. 1710 (I&A 31.409); 21 May 1711 (I&A 32c.154)

Beall, Ninian; granddau. Mary [d/o son Ninian]; deed of gift; 27 Aug. 1711 (PGCR G.78)

Beall, Ninian; 15 Jan. 1717; 28 Feb. 1717; sons George, Charles, Ninian; granddau. Mary [d/o Ninian, dec'd.]; grandson Samuel; ss-i-l Andrew Hambleton, Joseph Belt; tracts: rock of Dumbarton, Dunn Back, Bacon  Hall, Mt. Calvert, Sams Beginning, Good Luck, The Recovery (MCW IV. 135-6); Ninian, Col.; 9 Sep 1718 (I 445); Ninian, Col.; 18 Jan. 1719 (AA 2.291)

Beall, James; wife Mary; tract Bear Garden Enlarged; 27 Jun. 1717 (PGLR F.25/549)

Beall, William; wife Elizabeth; tract Beall's Park; 25 Jun 1719 (PGLR F.173/759)

Beall, John; wife Virlinda [Magruder]; tract Generosity; 16 Nov. 1722 (PGLR 1354)

Beall, James; planter; 21 Nov. 1723; 10 Jul 1725; wife Sarah; sons John, Nathaniel, James, Robert, Joseph, Zepheniah; dau. Sarah; s-i-l Thomas Odell; bro. Alexander; cous. William & John Beall Sr.; tracts Rover's Content, Fiffe, Good Luck, Drumaldree, Easy Purchase, Addition to Easy Purchase, Lone Head, Lay Hill, Allisons Park, Cooper, Beall's Mannour (MCW V.197); James Sr.; widow Sarah; 23 Nov. 1725 (I 11.213); James, Sr. ; 1 Jun 1726 (I 11.702); 24 Feb 1727 (I 13.110); widow, 8 children [unnamed]; 13 Jul 1727 (AA 8.262); 10 Oct. 1727 (I 12.187); 27 Feb 1728 (AA 9.287); heirs Robert, Joseph, Zephaniah; 26 Jun 1728 (GB 39);  heirs Joseph, Robert; 24 Mar 1736 (GB 90, 91); 8 children [unnamed]; 18 Jun 1728 (AA 9.211)

Beall, Nathaniel; of competent age; chose William Beall Sr. as guardian; Aug. 1725 (PGCR L.486); [Ed. - Nathaniel was s/o James]

Beall, James [s/o James, dec'd.]; age 15 on Jan. next chose mother Sarah Beall and cous. John Beall, Sr. as guardians; Nov. 1725 (PGCR L.509).

Beall, John, Jr.; wife Elizabeth; sis. Margaret Odell; tract Ball Christ; 14 Fe . 1725/6 (PGlR I.705, 707)

Beall, Sarrah; [d/o James, dec'd.]; age 13 next Apr; chose mother, Sarah Beall, as guardian; Nov. 1725 (PGCR L.509)

Beall, William, Jr.; wife Elizabeth; tract Denmark; 29 Mar 1727 (PGLR M.146)

Beall, John; wife Elizabeth [d/o John Fendall]; tract Aliquahook; 11 Ap 1728 (PGLR M.322)

Beall, James; kinsman John [s/o my uncle Robert]; tract Friend's Gift; 28 Nov 1728 (PGLR M.336)

Beale, John, Sr.; wife Virlinda [Magruder]; 12 Dec. 1728 (PGLR M.349)

Beall, James; sons John [wife Elizabeth], Nathaniel; tracts Easy Purchase, The Addition 2 May 1729 (PGLR M.426)

Beall, James; son John Jr. [wife Elizabeth]; Sarah Odell [wife of Rignall]; tract Beall's Manor; 8 Jun 1730 (PGLR M.598)

Beall, Alexander, Sr.; wife Elizabeth; 28 Aug. 1731 (PGLR Q.363)

Beall, Alexander; son John; 1732 (MCW VII.85)

Beall, James, Sr.; 3 May 1733; 29 Nov 1733; wife Mary; daus. Jane, Rachel; sons Alexander, Robert, Archibald, James, Allen and Thomas; tracts Labyrinth, Brother's Content, Prevention, Batchelor's Forest (MCW VII.45); admx. Mary; 23 mar 1733 (I 18.133); widow Mary; 9 Sep 1735 (AA 13.271)

Beall, William, Jr.; age 34; 9 Dec. 1734 (PGLR T.236)

Beall, James [dec'd]; sons James [wife Sophiah],  John Jr.; tract Good Luck; 19 Mar 1735 (PGLR T.244)

Beale, Ninian, Col. d. ca. 18 yrs. ago; 2 Apr. 1736 (CCR-MSA 6.159)

Beall, James [dec'd]; widow of Sarah Haswell [w/o Dr. John]; sons Robert, Joseph; tract Layhill; 21 Dec. 1736 (PGLR T.436)

Beall, William, Jr; s/o Thomas; 27 Feb. 1738 (CCR JK#4.63)

Beall, William Sr; wife Elizabeth; tract The Farm; 21 Jul 1739 (PGLR Y.75)

Beal, Nathaniel; wife Elizabeth; sons James, roger; 1740 (MCW VIII.87)

Beall, James [dec'd]; son Alexander; tract Chestnut Ridge; 10 Jul 1741 (PGLR Y.343)

Beall (Bell), John, gent; 7 Apr 1742; 18 May 1742; wife Verlinda; sons Samuel, Joshua, Basil, John, Clement; daus. Sarah Offutt [w/o James], Rebecca Magruder [w/o Nathan], Lucy, Hannah, Verlinda; father Alexander; bros. Charles [dec'd], William; tracts Loan Head, Charles and William's, Benjamin, New Drumfries, Industry, Poplar Thicket, Chittans Addition, Black Esh, Three Friends Delight, Dispute (MCW VIII.173) extx. Verlinda; 16 Mar 1742

Beall, Alexander; 16 Jan 1743; 5 Sep 1744; sons William, Ninian, James [dec'd], John [dec'd]; bro. Robert; s-i-l John Jackson; tracts Neighborhood, Largo, Menlla's Quarter (MCW VIII.273); 27 Nov 1744 (I 30.86)

Beall, John [s/o John, dec'd]; chose Samuel Beall Jr as guardian; Mar 1745 (PGCR DD.20)

Beall, Verlinder; 29 Mar 1745; sons Bazel, John, Clement, Josiah; daus. Lucy, Hannah, Verlinder; granddau. Verlinda [d/o Josiah] (MCW IX.22); extx. Virlinda [dec'd]; her exs. Josiah and Lucy Beall; 11 May 1747 (AA 23.279)

Beall, Ninian; child: Thomas, b. 19 Nov 1753 (KGP p. 305)

Beall, William; wife Hannah; child: Williams, b. 19 Jun 1761 (PGP p. 262)

Beall, Ninian or Neamiah; wife Catharine; children: Catherine, bapt. 16 Jun 1765 Upper Chapel; Zedock bapt. 15 Nov 1767 Upper Chapel (KOP p. 358, 366)

Magruder, Alexander; son Samuel 26 Aug 1700 (PGLr A.427)

Magruder, Alexander; wife Ann; tract Charightigh now Magruder's Delight; 21 Jun 1701 (PGLR A.379)

Magruder, Ninian; wife Elizabeth; children: Samuel b. 24 Feb. 1708; John b. 11 10ber 1709; Ninian b. Apr 1711; Sarah, b. 19 Mar 1713/14; Elizabeth b. 4 9ber 1717; Nathaniel b. 30 9ber 1721; Rebecca b 7 Feb 1725; Rachel b 23 Jan 1726/7 (QAP b/6, 9, 13, 17, 21)

Magruder, Samuell; 23 Nov 1710; 16 Apr 1711; wife Sarah; sons Samuel, Ninian, John, James, William, Alexander, Nathaniel; daus. Verlinda, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah; bros. Alexander, Nathaniell; "brother" John Pottinger; tracts Good Luck, Magruder's Delight, Alexandria, Dunblean, Turkey Cock (MCW III.194); Samuel Sr.; extx. Sarah; 5 Jun 1711 (I&A 32b.168); extx Sarah; 31 Dec 1711 (I&A 33a.38); extx Sarah; 9 Aug 1712 (I&A 33b.30); extx Sarah; 6 Apr 1715 (I&A 36b.136, 154)

Magruder, Sarah; widow; 16 Jan. 1731; 9 May 1734; sons Samuel, Ninian, John, James, William, Alexander; daus. Eleanor Wade [w/o Nehemiah], Elizabeth Bell [w/o William], Verlinder Bell [w/o John]; Mary Clagett, decd. [w/o George]; granddau. Sarah Clagett, Sarah [d/o Ninian]; grandsons John [s/o Ninian]; tract Headake (MCW VII.113); heirs Samuel, Ninian, James, William and Alexander Magruder; also William Beall, Sr., Nehemiah Wade, Sarah Clagett; 22 Mar 1736 (GB 89); 22 Jun 1736 grandson John Magruder; granddau. Mary Edmondson [d/o James] (AA 15.38)

Magruder, Ninian; 6 May 1751; 26 Jun 1751; 11 children; sons Samuel, John, Ninian, Nathaniel, James; daus. Sarah Beall, Elizabeth Perry, Ann Clagett, Rebecca Offutt, Rachel Clagett, Verlenda Magruder; tracts Magruder's Purchase, Addition to Magruder's Purchase, Honesty, Alexandra, Grubby Thickett (MCW X.158-9); 4 Feb. 1752 (I 48.425); 23 Feb 1753; ex. James Magruder (ABB I.62); children: Virlinda Williams [w/o Walter], Rachel Clagett [w/o Thomas Jr.], Rebecca Offutt [w/o James], Elisabeth Perry [w/o Benjamin], Sarah Beall [w/o William], John, Nathaniel, Ann Clagett [w/o Thomas, Sr.]; 23 Feb. 1753 (AA 33.333; 35.49)



Newman, Harry. Anne Arundel Gentry, Volumes 1 & 2, Annapolis, MD: Harry Newman, 1970, 1971.

A rebellion was institgated by John Coode, Ninian Beall and others, of which Nicholas Gassaway was one of the leaders for Anne Arundel County and who subsequently preferred charges against Lord Baltimore and his deputies with the results that the insurgents gained control of the Province and overthrew the Proprietary rule of the Calverts.  On October 22, 1690, under the signature of Henry Wriothesley by orders of Their Majesties [William and Mary] "Coll Nicholas Gassaway" and nineteen others were to assist Captain Coode "the Principall or Commander in Chiefe of all His Majesties forces within the Province."

I. Thomas & Anne (Collingwood) Gassaway lived in London
II. Col. Nicholas Gassaway, b. 1634, d. 1692 md. 1) unknown; 2) Ann Besson
III.
by first wife:
1. Nicholas md. Anne Sanders
2. Anne md. 1) John Watkins, 2) William Burgess, 3) Richard Jones

by second wife:
3. John b. ca. 1673, d. 1697 md. Elizabeth Lawrence 1695, she was the daughter of Benjamin & Elizabeth (Talbot) Lawrence, granddaughter of Richard & Elizabeth (Ewen) Talbot.
4. Hester md 1) Nicholas Gross, 2) Stephan warman
5. Thomas b. 1684 md. Susanna Hanslap
6. Jane md. 1) William Cotter, 2) James Saunders
7. Margaret md. 1) Thomas Larkin, 2) William Galloway, 3) James Dunham/Durham

IV child of John & Elizabeth (Lawrence) Gassaway
1. Nicholas b. 1696, d. 1757 md. 1) Elizabeth (--?--), 2) Sarah Shipley & 3) Rachel (--?--) not sure which kids belong to which wife

V
1. Anne md. John Pierpont
2. Elizabeth md. (--?--) Sellman
3. Susanna md. [Samuel] Mansell
4. Nicholas md. Margaret Pierpont
5. Benjamin
6. Richard md. Ann Arnold
7. Robert md. Sarah (--?--)
8. Thomas md. Jane Kelly
9. James md. Rachel (--?--)
10. Hannah md. Philip Porter - are they our Philip Porter's parents?
11. Mary md. James Alridge
12. Sarah
13. Lucy md. William Richardson
14. Rachel

Possible line of our Jacob Edwards

I. Edward & Jemina (Welsh) Edwards
II. Edward Edwards b. 17??, d. 1786 md Anne (--?--)
III.
1. Catherine md. Edward Lusby
2. Elizabeth md. William Anderson
3. Jemina md. (--?--) Evans
4. Mary md. Cephas Waters
5. Sarah md. William Anderson (see #2 above) as his second wife
6. Anne md. John Linthicum
7. Margaret md. John Fonderen
8. Aquilla
9. William md. Ann Chalmers
10. Cadwaller md. Sarah Chalmers
11. Jonathan
12. Edward

The Howards of Maryland

The three outstanding, aristocratic Howard families of Maryland and their English background have presented a study for the family historian for the present as well as the past generations.  Edmund Howard, of Charles county, Cornelius Howard of Baltimore County and Mathew Howard of Anne Arundel County all in some manner can claim descent from the family ranking next to the Royal House of England, but how they fit in is a puzzle yet to be solved -- all three were conscious of their armorial rights and used the trappings in Maryland after they emigrated from their native England.

Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King of Arms, writing in 1873, made this statement: "Just four centuries of ducal rank and just eight centuries of unsullied ancestry are associated with the name of Howard [the family name of the Duke of Norfolk].  in the combination of antiquity of descent and the possession of the highest peerage honours with the most brilliant public services and the most illustrious alliances, the family of the Duke of Norfolk is unrivalled. Next to the blood-royal, Norfolk is not only the head of the titled ranks of this Empire, but also I maintain at the head of European nobility . . . no less than nineteen Howards have been Knights of the Garter - no other family can boast as many - and full twenty distinct peerages have at various times been conferred on the illustrious House."

Since Sir Bernard wrote his appraisal of the Howards in 1873, more have been Knights of the Garter and others have been raised to the peerage, knighthood and other honours.

Mathew Howard, Gent. 16-- - 165-

The English background of Mathew Howard of the Severn in Maryland has been the subject of much interest and not a little controversy as to the origin.  That he was of the noble family of England cannot be denied, for, according to the ancient rules of heraldry and still adhered to by Lord Lyon of Scotland, any family which has been granted a coat-of-arms is deemed to be ennobled.  Several fantastic theories, sworn by some descendants to be the truth with gospel trimming have been put forth in the past.

Considerable American dollars have been paid by descendants to English researchers with no positive results, and even the College of Arms has not been able to throw much light on the ancestry.  Many visible and invisible indicators point to the belief that he was not of too remote relationship to the Howards of the Peerage, but certainly no title or even a knighthood was possessed by him.  but the use of the ancient Howard arms on documents in Maryland and the fact that all of his sons were literate place his family in the social picture above many of the British planters who settled in the Colonies.

The date of his settlement in America and the political times at home all have some bearing on his life and the motive for his leaving England.  His politics were of the Puritan variety, although it was at one time stated otherwise.  They may have alienated him from the conservative opinions of other members of the family - though many peers espoused the liberality and revolutionary actions of Cromwell and his adherents.  his associations in Virginia were definitely with the liberal non-Conformists which was the reason of his leaving that colony and coming to Maryland at the invitation of Lord Baltimore.  He was among the first contingency to arrive and settled on the north shore of the Severn opposite the present town of Annapolis around present Greenbury Point more or less under the ancient rights of squatters until patents were granted after certain formalities.

While Virginia historians claim with much gusto that their colony was settled by Cavaliers [an adherent of the Stuarts of England], they overlook the truth.  Virginia became a haven for Puritans and non-Conformists who were finding life uncomfortable while the Royalists held the upper hand in England.  Claiborne, Bacon and others were all tainted with Puritanism and possessed revolutionary qualities.

The first record of Mathew Howard being in the Colony of Virginia was on February 8, 1637/8, when he was seated on the western branch of the Elizabeth River in the Upper County of New Norfolk.  His emigration therefore ante-dates that year, but it is not believed to have been too many years.  At the time of his leaving England the Royalist held control and Archbishop Laud of Canterbury was offering his decrees to bring the Established Church back to more spirituality and ritualism, but at the same time offending the liberal churchmen who were rapidly forming themselves into a political party.

His being in Virginia by 1637 precludes his identity as the Mathew Howard, of County Essex, who matriculated at Magdalene, Cambridge, at Easter 1634, and who later "migrated to Queen's on November 1, 16939" and who received his B.A. 1639/40, according to Alumni Cantabrigienses. [Approximately six years were rather a lengthy period of study at Cambridge for that time.  Could the records be confused and there were two Mathew Howards, the one at Magdalene leaving before the conferment of the degree?  The 1634 registration could fit the Maryland emigrant.  All of his sons were literate, so it is evident that the father was likewise.]

Throwing aside any political entanglement of Mathew Howard in England, his desire to settle in the Colonies may have been actuated by sheer adventure and the opportunities which a new world offered to younger sons without estates.  There is no record of his bringing in children, but only his wife, Anne, and two man-servants.  Consequently, it can be assumed that he had recently married and set out for Virginia shortly thereafter.

he seemed to have left all connections behind him, and when he settled in Maryland neither he nor his sons commemorated any of his ancestral estates by naming their plantations to offer a clue to their life in England.

As mentioned previously, he was seated on the western branch of the Elizabeth River in Upper Norfolk which is present Nansemond County, where a hot-bed of non-Conformists had developed through mutual interests.  It was not until May 27, 1638, that he applied for his legal head-rights in financing his own passage and that of Anne his wife.  He also transported at his own expense two unnamed persons.  If they were his children, the records fail to state, but the two transportees were probably past the infant stage, and are usually cited as servants. If they had been his children, the records would have most likely stated as such.

He had a family by July 6, 1640, as the following human interest item will prove.

"Simon Peeter, aged 26, stated that Edy Hanking said that Mathew Howard's wife went walking with Edward Lloide and left the children crying and her husband had to leave his work and quiet the children . . .Eady Hanking shall acknowledge the accusations and as Howard's wife openely forgiveness  both at the house of Mr. Wm. Julian on Friday next and also at the Parish Church the Sunday following and defray the charges of the Court."

By 1648 Mathew Howard was the father of six children.  Richard Hall, of Lower  Norfolk County, died testate in 1648 without issue and named Mathew Howard the Elder as the executor of his estate and bequeathed legacies to the Howard children.  To Anne Howard he left a cow calf and a barrow shote; to Elizabeth Howard two cows and all their increase and a sow; to Mathew Howard the Younger a sow shote; to Cornelius Howard a sow and "my hat;" To John Howard "my wigg and new clothes;" and to Samuel Howard "my money and tobacco."  He further more left "Old Mathew" one yearling stear calf and "my best pair of breeches."

On November 15, 1648, Mathew Howard appeared at court and under oath declared that the last will and testament of Richard Hall as offered for probation was true and correct, thereupon administration was granted. On June 15, 1649, he witnessed the last will and testament of Edward Hodge, of Lower Norfolk, County, Merchant.

On July 3, 1650, Robert Clark, Surveyor General of the Province, stated that he had "laid out for Mathew Howard of the Severn in the County of Ann Arundell planter a parcell of land lying on the south side of the River Severn near a Creek called Marshes Creek . . . containing and now laid out in the whole for Six Hundred and fifty acres more or less."  The 650 acres were undoubtedly due for his own personal adventure into the Province (100 acres) and the remainder for the transportation at his own expense eleven persons whose names unfortunately were not recorded.  His younger children were certainly under age at that time, so it can be assumed that among the eleven were several of his children.

He perhaps returned to Virginia or his son and namesake remained behind, for on November 15, 1650, the Court of Lower Norfolk ordered that 100 lbs. tob. be paid to Mathew Howard for the killing of a wolf.

It is also evident that he was a resident of Virginia as late as 1652. Lt. Coll. Cornelius Loyd in that year was appointed the Collector of the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River for 97 tithable persons with a quota of 31,330 lbs. tob. In the same year Robert Woody was ordered to pay Mathew Howard 500 lbs. tob.

No record can be found of any last will and testament or even an inventory or administration of his estate.  From the year 1650 to 1658 the Puritans were virtually in control of the Province of Maryland, and while records were kept during that period, none refer to Mathew Howard or his children.   He was deceased by 1659, when Edward Lloyd who was the guardian of his youngest son, Philip, had "Howardstone" on the Severn surveyed for Philip Howard, stating that he was an orphan of Mathew Howard.  It was not until 1660 or a little later that his sons appeared in the service of the Province.

Children of Mathew and Anne Howard
1. Samuel md. Catherine Warner d/o James Warner, sister of Sarah Warner
2. John md. the Widow Stevens and the Widow Maccubin
3. Cornelius md. Elizabeth Gorsuch
4. Mathew md. Sarah Dorsey
5. Philip md. Ruth Baldwin
6. Anne md. James Greeniffe
7. Elizabeth md. Henry Ridgeley
8. Mary md. Major General John Hammond

A fire at the court house in Anne Arundel County in 1705 or thereabout prevents a detailed study of conveyances.  After the fire however, in 1705 Peter Porter "heir of Peter Porter" requested that a conveyance between his father and Cornelius Howard be recorded.  A portion of the deed reads as follows: " 12 November 1679 between Cornelius Howard of Anne Arundel County, Gent. and Peter Porter of Anne Arundel County, orphan and heir son of Peter Porter late of Severan River deceased, that Cornelius Howard granted to Peter Porter land lying on the south side of  Severn River called Howard and Porter's Fancy." 

Sargent, Jean. Stones and Bones: Cemetery Records of Prince George's County, Maryland, Bowie, MD: Prince George's County Genealogical Society, Inc.

Trinity Episcopal Church Cemeteries - The churchyard cemetery is located at 14515 Church Street, and the main cemetery is located at Rectory Lane, Upper Marlboro.

The "Town of Marlborough" was officially established in 1706 by an Act of the Colonial Assembly of Maryland, but before that date the location was the scene of some activity in the County, which had been established in 1696.  Marlborough was named in honor of the first Duke of Marlborough, who lived during the reign of Queen Anne, and was famous for his heroic deeds in battle.

In about 1695 a company of Scottish Presbyterians under the pastorate of Rev. Nathaniel Taylor settled in Marlborough.  In 1704 Colonel Ninian Beall deeded one-half acre of land to 17 of his fellow Scotsmen for erecting a house of worship there.  This was part of his tract "The Meddows."  The meeting house that the Scotsmen built was the first Presbyterian church in the County and only the third in America.  However, the Scotsmen began to move away from Marlborough and established other Presbyterian meeting houses, first on the Potomac River near Bladensburg and later on Cabin Branch in what became Montgomery County.  Subsequently they abandoned the Marlboro site about 1800.

Marlboro was originally a port of entry where ships from many European ports came for the tobacco raised in this section of the state, but the stream has now completely filled in with silt.  The town became known as Upper Marlboro because another Marlboro came into existence farther down the Patuxent in Calvert County and became known as Lower Marlboro, and the spelling of Marlborough in both cases was shorted to Marlboro over the years.

In 1718 there was a movement to transfer the County seat from Mount Calvert, known as "Charles Towne," to Marlborough.  This was accomplished on March 28, 1721, when the governing body of the County held its first official meeting in the new county seat - Marlborough.

In 1810 a group of prominent citizens, recognizing the need for an Episcopal Church in the County Seat, approached the Bishop of Maryland, the Rt. Rev. Thomas John Claggett, for the purpose of forming themselves into a separate congregation according the provisions of the Act of Assembly of 1802.

On August 13, 1810, the original trustees became the first Vestry of Trinity Church, with Dr. William Beanes (of "Star Spangled Banner" connection) as the first Senior Warden.  The Vestry voted to call Bishop Claggett to be the first Rector of Trinity Church, and he served as Rector until his death on August 2, 1816.  The Episcopalians took over the abandoned site of the former Presbyterian meeting house, and they constructed a new frame church building which was consecrated by Bishop Claggett on July 16, 1812.

The present brick structure was begun in 1844 and completed in 1846. Early burials were in the Trinity churchyard.  There were probably early burials of Presbyterians in the same area, as well as later burials of Episcopalians for whom there is no record.  It was common practice to bury parishioners in the churchyard if they did not have family graveyards.

Evergreen Cemetery - The Old Presbyterian Cemetery - located on 52nd Avenue near Newton Street, Bladensburg.

On August 25, 1725 Archibald Edmonston - who had married Jane Beall, daughter of Ninian, and was a member of the Marlborough Congregation - deeded one acre of land, part of "The Gore" on the east side of the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River "which sd acre of land is given for ye building or Erecting one or more house or houses for ye use of a Presbyterian Congregation for ye worshiping of ye Almighty God."  This acre of land is located just south of the town of Bladensburg.  After many years the congregation decided to move into the city from the outskirts, and built a church which they later sold to the Baptists.  The old church disappeared and its building materials were probably used for some other building.  However, the cemetery connected with it came to be known as the "Old Presbyterian Cemetery" and later as "Evergreen Cemetery."

In 1746 Edward Offutt and his wife Ellenor, dau. of Archibald Edmonston (and therefore granddaughter of Ninian Beall) granted one acre of land, part of a tract "Outlet" to the Presbyterians near the head of Cabin branch, for a place of Presbyterian worship. 

Suggested Tours - handout regarding historic churches in Prince George's County

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Leeland on the National Register of Historic Places - 14111 Oak Grove Rd. (east of Rt. 202).  Upper Marlboro, ca. 1774.  Parish church of Queen Anne Paris, established 1704.  Marble font and silver communion service still in use.  Gustavus Hesselius painting of "The Last Supper" commissioned in 1721, hangs in choir gallery.  Before fleeing to England in 1775, Rector Jonathan Boucher, a Tory, preached to hostile congregations with loaded pistols under his robes.

Trinity Episcopal Church, 14519 Church St., Upper Marlboro, 1846. Oldest church in Upper Marlboro, built by prominent Baltimore architect, Robert Cary Long, on site of one of Maryland's earliest Presbyterian churches.  Organized in 1810 by Thomas J. Claggett, first Episcopal Bishop consecrated in America. Attractive cemetery with very early gravestones of some of Prince George County's earliest and most prominent citizens'

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Baden on the National Register of Historic Places - 13500 Baden-Westwood Rd. just east of Rt. 381, ca. 1735.  Oldest church structure in Prince George's County, originally rectangular, now cruciform, in continuous use since construction. Sundial above main entrance purchased in England in 1751.  Bishop Thomas J. Claggett, pastor 1780-1786 & 1792-1808. 

Warfield, J.D. The Founders of Anne Arundel & Howard Counties, Maryland, Baltimore, MD: Kohn & Pollock, 1905. 

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