DOWN THE RUNG A BIT

"A merchant of James River in Virginia..." ~ description of our grandfather, John Hardiman

Note: We cover three families in this post, Hardyman, Wall, and Poythress, all three named John a luck would have it. John Hardyman and John Poythress, who intermarried with the wealthier Eppes family, were on the coattails of the elite class. John Wall, a plantation owners of the middle class, was respected but rough around the edges.

John Hardyman

Our grandfather, John Hardyman (7GGF) was lucky enough to marry into the upper crust when he took Mary Eppes (7GGM) as his wife in 1685. John and Mary were married only eight years after the deaths of Mary's father and mother, Francis (9GGF) and Elizabeth Littlebury Eppes (9GGM).

The first mention of John Hardyman in Virignia is in Isle of Wight County records: "John Hardiman, of Bristol, gave a power of attorney to Thomas Moore, of Pagan Creek, to receive goods from Arthur Skinner, Giles Driver and Joseph Whitson. 29 June 1667." From this record it appears that, in 1667, John Hardyman was a merchant still living in England who had business dealings in Virginia.

John must have felt he could make a better living in America than in England because, by 1680, he had arrived in Virginia. He was named as a headright for a patent granted to Capt. William Randolph, Mr. Joseph Royall and Mr. Francis Eppes III (7U), our uncle and John's future brother-in-law.

By 1684, John Hardyman was described as "a merchant of James River in Virginia" in Charles City County, where he took his place among the landed gentry there. Soon afterwards, he married Mary Eppes. We know this from a Court order rendered on 1 Aug 1685: "Jno. Hardiman who marryed Mary, one of the Orphs (orphans) of Coll. Fra: Epes, dec’d,’ it was ordered Mr. Francis Epes, late guardian of Mary, deliver her estate to John Hardyman."

Note: Grandma Mary Eppes' half-brother, Francis III, had been her guadian since their parents' death seven years earlier when Mary was only fourteen.

By 1691, John had acquired land in Mason's Neck and there he purchased a mill. That same year he was appointed surveyor of the highways and made a lieutenant colonel of the militia. He was also lucky enough to co-own of a forty ton brigantine, Virgin of Virginia, which was built in 1698.

In records, John was referred to as a "gentleman justice" and he held that post for three years. In 1704, the section of Charles City County where the Hardymans lived was formed into a new county, Prince George. Records from that year show that John Hardyman owned 872 acres of land in the new county.

From a land record of 1712, we can find the approximate area of John Hardyman's land (blue marker) which was about twelve miles from Hopewell (red marker), the plantation estate of our immigrant grandfather, Francis Eppes (9GGF), grandfather of John's wife Mary Eppes.

determining boundaries

In October of 1707, John, now a full colonel, was appointed to serve on a committee to "investigate the Virginia-North Carolina line." The committee also included our grandfather, John Poythress (7GGF) and John Poythress' stepbrother, Joshua Wynne.

The method for determining the boundary between the two colonies was quite interesting. The members of the committee were instructed to "examine under oath such ancient inhabitants of Prince George, Surry, Isle of Wight and Nansemond counties and discover the truth as to the said bounds between the said colonies." They were also told to ask the "ancient and intelligent indians of the Nottoway, Meherins and Nansemond nations," what they knew about the area. So, evidently, the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina was decided by a bunch of Virginian old-timers and a group of "ancient and intelligent Indians."

John Hardyman's death

John and Mary Hardyman had nine children. When his youngest was eight and six of his children were still underage, John, unhappily, met with an accident. William Byrd, a famous diarist of the time living in Virginia, made this entry on 17 Sep 1711: ‘This day Col. Hardyman was giving a glyster to his race horse and he kicked him on the breast that he died in about 18 hours without leaving a will.’

A glyster is a type of purge for a horse's gut. Most probably John's horse didn't appreciate that at all all!

John Hardyman did not leave a will but he died rather well off. The inventory on his estate listed twelve slaves as the widow’s dower, twenty-two other "negroes" and property at the home estate, the mill and the high hills. He was 55 years of age.

remarriage

Mary Eppes Hardyman didn't wait long after her husband's death. By 10 Dec 1712, she had married Major Charles Goodrich. On that same date the couple conveyed to John Hardyman, Jr. (6U), Mary's and John's oldest son and heir, "a tract at the head of Powell’s Creek and the mill and mill dam thereon."

We don't know when Mary died, but she was still alive in September of 1726 when she was mentioned in her son Littlebury's (6U) will. She would have been about 61 years of age at the time of her son's will.

horse racing in Virginia, a gentleman's sport

The sport of horse racing that contributed to the death of our grandfather John Hardyman was firmly established by 1624 when "...Every man listed as a member of the original King's Council of Jamestown owned or bred race horses or did both." As wealthy plantation owners found themselves with leisure time and extra money on their hands, their interest in raising thoroughbred horses turned into an obsession. Almost every written account of early Virginia includes descriptions of quality horse and the people who loved riding them. The upper crust loved not only their horses and horse racing, but also the gambling that went along with it.

A 1649 census of Virginia revealed that, of three hundred horses in the colony, two hundred were identified as racehorses. For heavy work and plowing the Virginians preferred oxen. This proliferation of race horses had a great deal to do with gambling. While gambling was a huge no-no in Puritan New England, in the southern colonies all forms of gambling were widely accepted and practiced. And, while anyone could bet on the horses, horse racing became known as the "Sport of Kings" because only the very wealthy could afford to import and maintain horses strictly for racing. And, as it turned out, the gentry meant to protect that status. From the County Court of York records, we find a lowly tailor who was fined "one hundred pounds of tobacco and caske" for having the audacity to run his mare in a race. The Court ruled "it being contrary to Law for a Labourer to make a race, being a sport only for Gentlemen..."

The earliest records of track horse racing in Virginia come from county records and, according to these records, there was more horse racing in Henrico County, where our Eppes and Poythress families lived, than in any other. Both the Eppes and Hardyman names crop up in racing disputes needing to be settled in court. These records consisted mostly of lawsuits. It appears that a large part of the fun for these bored, wealthy men was suing each other over results of races they had entered.

According to records, in the summer of 1678, "a race [was] made up at Col Eppes’ store..." This would have been our uncle Francis Eppes, Jr., (7U) who put up "security for both the payment of the tobacco and the race." There was probably monetary benefit to hosting a race. In another race, held in 1689, the Court records a dispute between Francis, Jr. and his friend Stephen Cocke. Evidently, Stephen Cocke's horse "Josselled upon Mr. Epes horse's path all most part of the race." Four men deposed that, in fact, Mr. Eppes' horse had been "josseled." The court found in favor of Francis Eppes.

Another case involved Francis Jr.'s brother, our uncle Littlebury Eppes (7U), who filed suit when a horse slated to run against one of his never showed. And, finally, a horse belonging to John Hardyman was involved in a lawsuit that involved President Thomas Jefferson's grandfather. In 1698, an agreement between the two parties stated that "Mr. Richard Ward doth hereby covenant, promise & agree to run a mare named Bony, belonging to Thomas Jefferson, Jun'r ag'st a horse now belonging to Mr. John Hardiman, named Watt..." The agreement before the race was that " The s'd horse (Hardyman's) to give the s'd mare (Jefferson) five horse Lengths, Vizt: that is to say ten yards..." John Hardyman's horse won the race handily but his rider was immediately accused of not giving Lincoln's mare the ten yards. The case, after the obligatory witnesses had their say, was found in favor of Mr. Jefferson's rider. A fine of £5 was slapped on the rider of Hardyman's horse, Watt, and "first was then given to the mare, Bony."

The tradition in horse racing would continue strong in the Handyman family into the 18th century. In the 1750s, the importing of "blooded or thorough bred" began in earnest. Among those involved in the practice were our cousin Littlebury Hardyman (1C7X), his (and our) cousin William Hardyman (1C7X) along with future president Colonel George Washington.

John Wall

Our immigrant grandfather John Wall (8GGF) died in 1664. We know that he left a will because his son Joseph (7U) mentions it in court, asking that the will be probated. The actual will itself has been lost to posterity. Various land records indicate that four children were born to John and his first wife, our grandmother, whose name is unknown.

John's oldest son, our grandfather John Wall, Jr. (7GGF), was born ca. 1640 in Charles City County, VA. He married Sarah (last name unknown) (7GGM) ca. 1685. John probably inherited property from his father because all records naming him are from the Westover Parish of Charles City County where John, Sr. owned land. John, Jr. lived on the south side of the James River, in what would become Prince George County in 1702.

Approximate location of John Wall's land, about equidistance from Francis Eppes' Hopewell estate and Jamestown

Most of what we know of John Wall, Jr. we find in court records. In 1693, John and his wife Sarah refused to allow William Wilkins to have an acre of their land on which to build a mill. Since the land was appraised shortly afterwards, it's possible that the Walls actually considered selling it to Wilkins. But there was more trouble to come between these two parties.

From a lawsuit filed four years later, it appears that neighbor William Wilkins just couldn't stay off of the Wall's land. In 1697, William Wilkins was sued by the Walls for trespass. In the complaint the Walls stated that "Sarah hath a good right and title in 220 acres land in this county, into part of which the deft. (defendent) with forces and arms unlawfully entered and divers trespasses comitted, felling divers trees, about 10th Nov. last..." Wilkins pleaded not guilty and the case went to a trial with a jury of twelve men. The jury found for the Walls and Wilkins had to pay 20,000 lbs. of tobacco to them. Quite a hefty fine!

Also of interest is the fact that the land in question belonged to Grandma Sarah, not John Wall. She most probably received the property from an inhertiance. Our trusty genealogy investigator for our southern families, Cousin Lou Poole (5C), wonders if the trespass might have involved a family squabble over inheritance. Was Grandma Sarah a Wilkins?

Our possible relative, William Wilkins appears to have been a rough and tumble guy. In another court case, Robert Potter deposed that he "there (Cogan's house) met Mr. Cogan and William Wilkins, betwixt whom passed several words of ill and abusive language given to each other, upon which they fell to collering, in which scuffle the said John Cogan was on the ground flung by William Wilkins, of which fall John Cogan received a black eye and a scar on one of his lips, further the said Wilkins lying on the ground upon John Cogan, a dog of the house seized upon one of the legs of William Wilkins and bit him — the which wound Jno Coggan dressed and gave him medicines to carry with him." Many of these colonial scuffles seemed to end up with scufflers genially disposed toward one another..

John Wall, Jr. died sometime before Oct 1717 when his will was probated. He left his plantation and his land to his son, our grandfather John Wall III (6GGF). He left to his son Michael (6U) a hundred acre plantation on the Meherrin River in "Alley Whight" (Isle of Wight County). About fifty miles separate John Wall Jr's home plantation (red marker) and his Isle of Wight property (blue marker)

John Wall, Jr. did not die a wealthy man. His estate was appraised at £21. No slaves were mentioned in his will. The only thing of value he had to give his sons was property.

Grandma Sarah was to stay on the home plantation with her son John III (6GGF) until her death. We have no information on the date of her birth or when she died.

John Poythress

The timing of the birth of our grandfather, John Poythress (7GGF), son of the immigrant Francis Poythress (8GGF), makes it unclear whether was born in England or Virginia. His age, gleaned from depositions, makes his birth year just about the time his father landed in Virginia. The name of John's first wife is unknown, but it appears that he had four children born before he married our grandmother, Christian Peebles (7GGM), ca. 1685.

Surviving records referring to John Poythress include a 1661 fifty acre land grant "at Jordans, adjoining the land occupied by Capt. Robert Wynne..." Robert Wynne was John's stepfather. His mother, Mary Bishop Poythress (8GGM), had married Wynne after the death of her husband, Francis Poythress (8GGF).

In addition to the land near his step-father's propety John also owned property on the north side of the James River. In 1665, he was listed as juror "John Poythress, Sen. of Deep Bottom" in a child smothering case.

Then there was the land he received when he married Christian Peebles. Shortly after his marriage, John filed suit against Thomas Busby for infringement on land that Christian had inherited from her mother. This property was the plantation Bon Accord, later known as Aberdeen. The property, through various Poythress/Cocke intermarriages, ended up in the hands of the Cocke family who built the home that sits there now. The house and property are listed on the Register of Historic Places.

Blue = Deep Bottom Red = land grant next to Robert Wynne Purple = Aberdeen

In addition to four children from his first marriage, John had six more with Christian.

When John Poythress died, ca. 1700, he left quite an estate, flung far and wide over the colony of Virginia. Lou Poole hypothesizes that he was dead before the 1704 rent rolls, as "John Poythress and none of his sons are listed. It would appear that this John Poythress had died about that time and the estate had not yet been settled."

Though he left a will, it appears that the divvying up of John's estate was not complete until 1712. Since he left property to only four of his seven sons, most probably there were many disputes that needed settling.

As is often the case, John favored the children from his second marriage over those of his first. John's will instructed that all his property was to be divided among his four sons from his second marriage to Christian Peebles:

The home plantation at Deep Bottom in Henrico County was left to Francis (6U).

Note: A major battle of the Civil War was fought at Deep Bottom from July 27-29 in 1864.

To his son David (6U), John left "three Hundred Acres of Land at Tunnatorah..." I haven't been able to find the location of this property.

Our grandfather Joshua (6GGF) was to receive "three hundred Acres land at Monkanneck..." (Pamunkey Neck). This might have been the land that belonged to his father, Francis, in Northumberland County. The land at Pawmunkey Neck (orange marker) was quite a distance from John's other properties. Joshua probably sold it as he never lived there.

Finally, John's son Robert (6U) received "Three Hundred Acres of land at ye Indian Swamp..." Indian Swamp, close to Disputanta, most probably included his wife Christian's inheritance which became the Aberdeen plantation listed on the National Register.

At the time of his death, John Poythress owned twenty-three African slaves which he divided amongst his wife and ten children. He put a name to each person he "owned." They were:

Coffer, Sis, Jack, Young Mary, Betty, Beck, Tom, Young Sarah, Frank Cook, Ame, Frank Cook at Nattuah, Bess, Nanny, Benn, Nanny, Catto, Usse, Sarah, Pegg and her son Tom.

Note: Most probably the surname name Cook refers to slaves obtained from Cocke plantations. African slaves were most often given their master's family surname.

John Poythress also left to his wife an indentured servant (probably white) and instructions for this servants eventual freedom: "I give to my Loveing wife Christian Poythres my Servt. Jno. Ffeeld Dureing his time and at his freedom to have besides his Corn and Cloathes A Cow & Calf & a new Gunn."

That John was not opposed to splitting up the families of his slaves is clear from this bequest: He gave to his "Loveing wife Christian Poythres my two negro wences Shu & Jude" but gave "ye negro Child ye Shu" to one of his grandchildren.

Finally, included in John's will: "Item. I bequeath my Soul to Allmighty God That gave itt Trusting in the merritts and Passion of my Blessed lord and Sviour Christ Jesus for pardon and Remission of all my Sins in general..."

Of his Sins, it appears there were many.