1708 John Jenifer Osborn and wife Patience sold 200 acres to Hill Drummond in Accomack County, Virginia. The tract was later inherited by Thomas Staton through the will of Hill Drummond. [1] The tract was described as follows:
… full and Just quantitie of two hundred Acres of Land Lying and being at Gingoteag in ye fores'd Countie bounded on ye southwest by the main branch of s'd Gingeteag and begining at a point lying between Gingoteng bridge and the watermills now in ye possession of s'd Hill Drummond which s'd point is made by a small branch, running out of s'd maine branch running northerlie towards ye Line that parts ye land of ye s'd Osbourn and ye land now in ye possesion of John Martiall and Arrabella his wife runing along the said line to ye full extent of two hundred acres …
1724 The will of Hill Drummond was recorded in Accomack County, Virginia.
Abstract [2]:
DRUMMOND, HILL -- 22 Mar. 1723/4 - 4 June 1728 -- To wife Sabra plantation where I now live, being 300 Aacres & my water mill for life and then to my youngest daughter Sabra, & for want of heirs to my dau. Tabitha Drummond. To dau. Patience Drummond 200 A. purchased of John Jenifer Osburne, & for want of heirs to my dau. Elizabeth. All my other lands in Virginia & Maryland to my 3 daus. Barbara Elizabeth & Tabitha. wife & 5 daus. resid. legatees, Thomas Preson's heirs to take over & convey the land according to bond to those to whom I have given it. Wife & Daniel Welburne Exrs. Witt: Charles Taylor, William Chance, Jr., Cuthbert Russell. Codicil - Dated 22 Oct. 1726 -- Bro. in law Henry Bagwell & Capt. Charles Snead to be Exrs: with Daniel Welburne, Witt: George Douglas, William Chance, Esther Chance - p. 222
Transcription [3]:
In the name of God amen I Hill Drummond of Accomack County in Virginia being sick and weak of Body but of sound and perfect mind and Knowing the certainty of death and that all flesh must yeild thereunto when it shall please God to call do think fitt to make this my Last Will and Testament as followeth First I give my soul to God my Creature hoping through the merits of my only Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain full pardon & Remission for all my sins my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discression of those that I shall appoint to be my Executors as for my worlly Goods & Estate that it hath pleased God to bestow on me I give & bequeath as followeth, First I will that all my just & honest Debts be fully paid unto all men out of my Estate. Item I give and bequeath the plantation that I lived on being three hundred Acres & the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my Loveing Wife Sabra Drumond during her Natural Life & at her decease Then I will and give the said Land & plantation unto my Youngest daughter Sabra & her heirs forever & in case my said daughter should dye without Lawfull Heirs of her Body then I give the abovesd. Land and plantation unto my daughter Tabitha Drumon & to her heirs forever Item I give and bequeath my water mill and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my loving wife Sabra during her naturall Life and at her decease I give the said Hill to my daughter Sabra and her heirs forever and in case my daughter Sabra should dye without Lawfull heirs of her body then I give the said Will & appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my daughter Tabitha & her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath Two hundred Acres of Land that I bought of John Jennifer Osburne Lying on the abovesaid Mill Branches unto my daughter patience Drummond and her heirs for ever and in case my daughter Patience should dye without Lawfull Issue then I will and give the said Two hundred Acres of Land unto my daughter Elizabeth; her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath all my other Lands wheresoever Both in Virginia and Maryland unto my three daughters Barbara Elizabeth & Tabitha to be equally divided between them and there severall heirs forever and if either my three daughter should dye without Lawfull Issue then my will is that the surviving sisters Enjoye & possess her or hers proportion part of my said Lande for ever to them & their heirs. Item I give & bequeath & will unto my Five daughters all my Negro Slaves the youngest of my Five daughters to have the first Choice and 400 the Choice to Continue to the Eldest. Item my will is that my Loveing wife Sabre make the Choice of Negros for my two Youngest daughters Sabra and Patience and that the said Negroes when those to be with my Loving wife -- babra for her use & benifit during her Life and at her death to be then my said daughters and if the said Negros should Increase before my youngest daughters doth receive them then my will is that the Increas be equally devided between my daughter Sabra & Patience Item I give and bequeath to my five daughters to each of them a good Feather bed & bolster a rugg a blankett a pair of Sheets Item I give and bequeath all the rest of my Feather beds or beding unto my Loving wife Sabra. Item my will and desire is that my Lolata woman Elizabeth & her son surry be my wifes what time they are to serve for her use and Benifit to be at her amount to any of my children when she shall think of a tie whom Thaw alive and has queath all my stock of hoggs unto my Lov; wife Sabra also my cart wheeled plows axes and hews Harrows and the work oxen & my black Mare Item my will is that if either of my youngest daughter Sabra or Patience should dye or both without Lawfull Issue & by that means my two daughters Elizabeth & Tabitha be heirs to the Land that I have given the ad. Sabra and Patience in is for part of my will then my will is that Elizabeth or Tabitha be cut of From Injoyeing any of my Land to them already given in this Will Item my Will Follo316 is that whichsoever of my daughters should Injoye & possess the plantation That I Live on & the two hundred Acres of Land that I bought of John Jennifer Osburne I do give them Liberty to gett Timber out of my Swamp that I bought of Thomas Presson for their plantations use but not Liberty to sell or give. Item my will is that all my personall Estate both within dore and without & whatsoever & wheresoever be Inventoryed & appraised & then to be equally divided between my loving wife & Five daughters. Item my will is & desire is that Thomas Presons Heirs make over & Convey the land according to bond unto those That I have given it to in this my last will and Testament. Lastly I constitute and appoint & ordaine my loveing Wife Sabra Executrix & daniel Welbourne Execr, of this my Last will and Testament in Confirmation that this is my last will & Testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of March 1723/4
Hill Drumond
Sealed Signed & acknowledged to be his last will Testament before us Charles Taylor, William Chance Junr., Cuthbert RussellOctober ye. 22nd, A. D. 1726
Item I do constitute and appoint my brother in Law Henry Bagwell & Captain Charles Snead Jointly with the aforementioned Daniel Welburne Executors of this my above written will & Testament hereby allowing this present Codicill with, the will afore written to be my Last will & Testament. Item I give & bequeath to my daughter Tabitha Drumond my white horse named Spark Item I give my Exr. above named daniel Welburne my Silver shoe buckels Item I give to my Daughter Tabitha her Choice my Side Saddles Item my will is that there may be a ring made for every of my aforenamed Daughters of the price of the price of Twenty shillg, with this posey or Inscription when this you see remember me HSD
Hull Drummond (seal)
Signed Sealed & acknowledged to be his last will & Testament before George Douglas, Wm. Chance, Esther ChanceAt a Court held for Accomack County the 4th. day of June 1728
The last Will and Testament of Hill Drummond deceased was proved by the Oaths of Charles Taylor Cuthbert Russell William Chance & Geo: Douglass four of the witnesses thereto was admitted to record
Test. John Jackson Cl Cur
1729 Sabra Drummond chose Thomas Staton as guardian at the court of Accomack County, Virginia. [4] Sabra complained that Thomas was not doing a good job. [5]
1730 The inventory of the estate of Hill Drummond listed a part for Thomas Staton in right of his wife Elizabeth, second daughter of the testator. [6]
1731 Thomas Staton provided security for William Hopkins at the court in Accomack County, Virginia. [7]
1732 Thomas Staton and wife Elizabeth sold land to Daniel Welburn (and wife Barbara) and George Douglass (and wife Tabitha) in Accomack County, Virginia. [8] [9] [10]
1733 The will of Elizabeth Preson was recorded with a summary of the disposition of 600 acres of land called "West Ridge" to Thomas Stayton. [11]
This Indenture made the second day of June Anno Dom 1736 Between Thomas Preson of the County of Northampton in Virginia Gent: Grandson & Heir at Law to Thomas Preson late of the County aforesaid deceased of the one part, & Thomas Stayton who intermarried with Elizabeth the second - Daughter of Will Drummond late of Accomack County deceased of the other part. Witnesseth, that Whereas the said Hill Drummond in his lifetime did pay to the said Thomas Preeson the Elder the Quantity of Ten thousand Pounds of Tobacco in Consideration that the said Thomas would afterwards Convey to the said Hill his Heirs & Assigns a Certain Six hundred acres of Land Called Wests Ridge formerly conveyed to the said Thomas the Elder by the three Sons of Col: John West & the said Preson dying before he conveyed the said Land to the said Hill Drummond & Whereas the said Hill Drummond afterwards by his last Will & Testament did appoint the same to be conveyed to his three Eldest Daughters Barbary Elizabeth & Tabitha by the Heir of the said Thomas the Elder & Whereas Daniel Welburn & the said Barbary Daughter of the aforesaid Hill & George Douglass & the said Tabitha another daughter of the said Hill Drummond have by their Deed duly Executed have conveyed to the said Thomas Stayton who intermarried with the said Elizabeth the other Daughter of the said Hill Drummond all their Interest in the Premises. Now this Indenture Witnesseth that the said Thomas Person the Younger Heir at Law of the said Thomas Grason the Elder for and in Consideration of the said Ten thousand Pounds of Tobacco & premises and also of one Shillings Current Money of Virginia in hand paid to the said Thomas Preeson the Younger by the said Thomas Stayton at and before the Ensealing & Delivery hereof, the Receipt whereof the said Preeson hereby acknowledges, & of all & every part & parcel thereof doth acquit the said Hayton his Heirs hath given granted Bargained Sold Aliened Enfeoffed & Confirmed and by these Presents do give Grant Bargain Sell & Confirm to the said Thomas Stayton his Heirs & assigns forever, all that Tract of Land formerly purchased by the said Thomas Preeson the Elder of the three Sons of Col. John West, Called & known by the name of West Ridge, & Containing by Estimation Six hundred Acres be the same more or less, being the Southermost part of a Tract of one thousand Acres of Land lying in the upper part of Accomack County formerly Patented by the said Col. John West To have & to hold all & Singular the premises with every its appurtenances to the said Thomas Stayton his Heirs & Assigns forever, …
1733 Thomas Staton brought action against John Barnd in Accomack County, Virginia. [12]
1738 Thomas Stayton and wife Elizabeth of Accomack County sold land to Joseph Taylor. The land adjoined land of George Douglas. [13]
1738-1748 Thomas Staton (may have) moved to Sussex County, Delaware about this time. Perhaps Thomas Staton Jr, a son of Thomas Staton and Elizabeth Drummond, moved with them.
1748 The executors of the will of Moses Sender were bound to make payments to Mary Sender, Phebe Sender, Sarah Sender, and Moses Sender, children of Moses Sender deceased in Sussex County, Delaware. [Orphan Moses would later name Thomas Stayton as his brother-in-law and choose him as guardian. Perhaps Thomas Staton Jr married Mary Sender.] [14]
1750 A survey was made for Tho's Staton for 200 acres of land adjoining Daniel Clifton, Joseph Staton, David Owens in the Forest of Cedar Creek Hundred called Hurley Purchase in Sussex County, Delaware. [15]
1751 The will of Thomas Staton of Sussex County, Delaware named heirs Hill and Thomas Staton as executors. Thomas' wife was alive, but not named. Five daughters were named: Sabre, Hester, Anne, Tabitha, and Elizabeth [Could any of these be adopted daughters? Thomas was guardian to Sabre in 1729.]. [16] [17]
1761 Moses Sender, age 19, son of Moses Sender, chose Thomas Staton, his brother-in-law, as guardian in Sussex County, Delaware. [18]
1765 The will of John Draper/Depray of Sussex County, Delaware named daughter Mary Staton, wife of John Staton. [19]
1768 Thomas Staton and wife Mary sold land to William Lingo in Sussex County, Delaware. Thomas had inherited the land from his father by will. [20]
1774 Probate records for Thomas Staton named Moses Sender (item 18) and named Thomas Staton son of Hill Staton and Elizabeth Stuart widow (item 25). [21]
1774 The death of "Old widow of Thos. Stayton, mother of Thos. & Hill" on August 1 was reported in the Records of the Presbyterian Church in Lewes, Delaware. [22]
1774 The will of Elizabeth Staton was recorded in Sussex County, Delaware. The will named daughter Ester Coulter, daughter Tabitha Starr, grand-daughter (?) Staton, grand-daughter Sarah Staton, grand-son Eli Staton, Ruth Staton widow of Hill Staton, grand-daughter Nanny Price, daughter Betty Price, grandson John Price. The will date was June 28, 1774. The probate date was August 3, 1774. [23]
Several sources refer to or describe the inheritance of the estate of Hill Drummond by his daughters. A 1778 deed suggests that Thomas Staton, spouse of Elizabeth Drummond is still alive in 1778. How can this be if he died in 1751 in Susex County, Delaware?
1788 Thomas Staten sold land to Daniel Welburn. The deed was witnessed by Skinner Wallop, William Warrington, and others [24] The land was described as follows:
Two thirds of all that Tract or parcel of Land whereon he [Thomas Staten] lives situated in Accomack County in the State of Virginia which said land was devised by the last Will and Testament of Hill Drummond unto his Daughter Patience Steel for Two hundred Acres of Land with a remainder over to his Daughter Elizabeth in fee Simple upon the said Patience dying without issue by Virtue whereof the said Patience entered into the lands and intermaried with William Massey by whom she had issue three Children all of whom are dead without issue the said Patience also intermarried with a certain John Balden [Baldwin in the deeds cited below?] by whom she had issue two sons James and Joseph both of whom are also Dead the said Joseph having left at his Death an only child named John who also departed this life an Infant Intestate and without issue some time in the year one Thousand seven hundred and eighty three by whose death the said Lands decended to Barbary, Elizabeth and Tabitha as Coheirs of the aforesaid John Balden and the Third part hereby expressed Decended unto Thomas Staten aforesaid as heir of Elizabeth aforesaid & the other third part decended unto Daniel Wilburn as heir Barbary afs'd which said Tract is bounded by a Prong of George Wises Mill branch South Easterly and South Westerly by another prong of said Mill Branch and on the North West by the Lands of Joseph Gillett and North East by John McLean and George Marshalls lands Containing by Estimation two hundred Acres of land be the same more or less
1788 Thomas Statin sold his one third interest in the land to Daniel Welburn, late of Halifax County, North Carolina. The deed recited that Hill Drummond had left to his daughter Patience, who first had married William Massey and had three children, but all of them died without issue; she then married John Baldwin and had two sons, James and Joseph, but they also died without issue, so the title had passed to the heirs of the sisters of Patience. Stayton had married Elizabeth Drummond and it was her third which he was now selling to Welburn, Barbara Drummond had married Daniel Welburne and her third was held by the grantee Daniel who was her heir-at-law. No record was found for the Tabitha (Drummond) Douglas third … [25]
1789 John West and wife Tabitha sold land to John Gillett. The land was part of the inheritance described in the 1788 deed from Thomas Staten to Daniel Welburn. [26]
… the said Joseph having left at his Death an only child named John who also departed this life an Infant Intestate and without issue sometime in the year One thousand Seven hundred and eighty three by whose Death the said lands descended unto the issue of Patience, Elizabeth and their Sister Tabatha as Co-heirs to the afs'd John Baldwin and the two ninth parts hereby intended to be Conveyed descended unto the aforesaid Tabitha West and Peggy Gillett two of the Co heirs at Law to the said Tabitha Douglas who was Tabitha Drummond, which said Tract of land is bounded Southerly by a prong of George Wises Mill branch …
1792 The same inheritance described in the two deeds above may have been described in a deed to Nicholas Knox. [27]
This Indenture made this fourth day of May Anno domini one thousand seven hundred and ninety two between Skinner Wallop, John Wallop, George Wallop, William Wallop, John Cord & Job(?) his wife, David Watts and Peggy his wife and Thomas William Burdett and Tabitha his wife all of the Parish and County of Accomack … [sold] all that tract or parcel of land which decended unto Elizabeth Wallop wife of the s'd Skinner now deceased, and by the death of the aforesaid Elizabeth Wallop is now vested in the aforesaid Skinner during his life and in the afs'd John, George and William Wallop, John Cord & wife in right of his wife, David Watts and wife, in right of his wife and Thomas William Burdett & wife in right of his wife after the death of the aforesaid Skinner in fee Simple, the same being one ninth part of that Tract of land whereof John Baldwin late of the Parish and county aforesaid died seized containing by Estimation Twenty two acres be the same more or less bounded on the Southward by the land of Daniel Mifflin on the Westward by the lands of Joseph Gillett, on the Northward by the lands of George Marshall and John McLean and on the Eastward by the lands of George Marshall and Elizabeth Murray.
Research Notes:
WikiTree: [28]
1718 An abstract of the will of Tabitha Hill reported [29]:
HILL, TABITHA - 23 Aug. 1717 - 7 Jan. 1717/18 -- To great grandson Thomas Custis 700 A. near the place called White Marsh. To Ann Custis, wife of said Thomas my wearing stays embroidered with gold, my black suit & silk clothes & black stays set with bugles with one cloath of silver pettycoat. Great grandson Thomas Custis resid, legatee of all my est, in Virginia, England or elsewhere. Thomas Custis Exr. Witt : John Morrogh, Elizabeth Tilney - p. 97
1724 An abstract of the will of Samuel Welburne reported [30]:
WELEURNE, Samiel -- 12 Dec, 1727 - 8 May 1728 -- James Watts children Nehemyah, Adam & William to be paid their estates due them by their father's will. To son Daniel Welburne, Hill Drummond to be paid 4000 lbs. of tobacco for 200 A. of Assateag Island Beach in Somerset County, Maryland, provided the said Drummond makes over the said 200 A. to my son Daniel, To - day, Mason Welburne. To wife Sarah Welburns. To Nehemyah & Adam Watts. To 2 daus. Ann & Mason clothing that was my formerwife Mason's. Wife & 4 children Daniel, Ann, Mason & Elizabeth resid, legatees. Wife Exec : Bro. Daniel Welburne Exr. Witt : Solomon Ewell, Nehemiah Watt, Charles Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor. - p. 213
1760 Thomas Staton of Halifax County, Virginia purchased land from Wm Smith. [31]
[1] Virginia. County Court (Accomack County), Wills, 1692-1715, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Wills 1692–1715, typed page 287, citing original page 436, DGS 7643802, image 316, [FamilySearchImage].
[2] Wills, Deeds, and Court Orders, 1663-1777, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Abstracts, Will Abstract, DGS 7644665, image 45, [FamilySearchImage].
[3] Virginia. County Court (Accomack County), Deeds and Wills, 1715-1729, Accomack County, Virginia, Part 2, typed page 222, DGS 7643805, image 886, [FamilySearchImage].
[4] Court Order Book, 1724-1731, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Court Orders 1724–1731, IGN=008357979, [FamilySearchImage].
[5] Court Order Book, 1731-1736, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Court Orders 1731–1736, IGN=008357975, [FamilySearchImage].
[6] Deeds and Wills, 1729-1737, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Deeds 1729–1737, Wills 1729–1737, page 44, left side IGN=007643797, image 432, [FamilySearchImage].
[7] Court Order Book, 1724-1731, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Court Orders 1724–1731, IGN=008357979, [FamilySearchImage].
[8] Deeds and Wills, 1729-1737, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Deed Books 1729–1737, Will Books 1729–1737, IGN=007643840, [FamilySearchImage].
[9] Deeds & Wills, 1729-1737, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Deeds 1729–1737, Wills 1729–1737, IGN=007643800, [FamilySearchImage].
[10] Deeds and Wills, 1729-1737, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Deeds 1729–1737, Wills 1729–1737, image 301, [FamilySearchImage].
[11] Land Causes, 1754-1771, Northampton County, Virginia: Northampton. Land Records 1754–1771, DGS 8573906, image 38, [FamilySearchImage].
[12] Court Order Book, 1731-1736, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Court Orders 1731–1736, IGN=008357975, [FamilySearchImage].
[13] Clerk of The Circuit Court Deeds 1, 1737-1746, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Deeds 1737–1746, image 80, [FamilySearchImage].
[14] Sussex County Oprhans court case files: Sussex. Court Case Files 1700–1956, image 466, [FamilySearchImage].
[15] Land Warrants and Surveys: Sussex. Surveyor's Books 1756, 1713, Warrants 1756, 1713, image 28, [FamilySearchImage].
[16] Sussex County (Delaware). Register of wills, Wills with Index: Georgetown. Wills 1751–1794, DGS 7652947, image 11, [FamilySearchImage].
[17] DE Sussex County Probate: Sussex. Probate Estate Case Files 1680–1925, Calendar of Sussex County, Delaware Probate Records 1680-1800, page 58. image 484, [FamilySearchImage].
[18] Orphan's Court dockets and minute dockets: Sussex. Court Records 1728–1802, image 197, [FamilySearchImage].
[19] DE Sussex County Probate: Sussex. Probate Estate Case Files 1680–1925, image 362, [FamilySearchImage].
[20] Deed records of Sussex County: Sussex. Deeds 1763–1774, image 179, [FamilySearchImage].
[21] Delaware, Sussex County, probate records, item 18, image 490, [FamilySearchImage].
[22] Records of deaths, marriages, and baptisms of the Lewes Presbyterian Church, Lewes, Delaware, 1737-1856, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[23] Delaware, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[24] Virginia. County Court (Accomack County), Deed Record Book 7, 1788-1793, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Deeds 1788–1793, DGS 8358061, image 95, [FamilySearchImage].
[25] Virginia Historical Society (Richmond, Virginia), Malcolm Everett Gardner Papers, Virginia: Virginia. Genealogies 1933–1979, DGS 4841585, image 6332, [FamilySearchImage].
[26] Virginia. County Court (Accomack County), Deed Record Book 7, 1788-1793, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Deeds 1788–1793, DGS 8358061, image 162, [FamilySearchImage].
[27] Virginia. County Court (Accomack County), Deed Record Book 7, 1788-1793, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Deeds 1788–1793, DGS 8358061, image 646, [FamilySearchImage].
[28] WikiTree Person, [WikiTree Person].
[29] Wills, Deeds, and Court Orders, 1663-1777, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Court Orders 1663–1777, Deed Books 1663–1777, Will Books 1663–1777, DGS 7644665, image 33, [FamilySearchImage].
[30] Wills, Deeds, and Court Orders, 1663-1777, Accomack County, Virginia: Accomack. Court Orders 1663–1777, Deed Books 1663–1777, Will Books 1663–1777, DGS 7644665, image 45, [FamilySearchImage].
[31] Halifax. Deeds 1754–1760, Mortgages 1754–1760, image 580, [FamilySearchImage].