Angelica Eppes

Not the same as Angelica Baker

Research update:

Henry Baker II and Llewellyn Eppes married two different women, both named Angelica.

The merge on this profile should be reversed:

• Angelica Bray Baker will need to be merged into the family of James Bray II
• The parents of Angelica ____ Eppes are still unknown.

The will of James Bray II (brother of Col. David Bray) names his daughter Angelica BAKER--see notes and source material on his profile.

As Angelica Bray was still married to Henry Baker as late as November 17, 1725, the date of her father's will, she cannot be the wife of Llewellyn Eppes.

Llewellyn Eppes and Angelica ____ married November 14, 1711 (source: diary of William Byrd II), and had several children born before 1725.

The parents of Angelica _____ Eppes are still unknown. It is likely she had some connection to the Bray family.

Some trees show her as a Temple, rather than a Bray:

Angelica Eppes

More research is needed to prove the parents of Angelica Eppes.

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Title: Virginia - Southside Virginia Families

Author: Boddie, John Bennett

Publication: Redwood City, California : Pacific Coast Publishers, c1955-1956

Page: Vol. 1/ p.9, 10

Henry Baker, the son of Maj. Henry Baker, received 2,500 acres at “Bucklands” in Nansemond County by the will of his father in 1712. He was sheriff of Nansemond, a Captain in the Nansemond Co. Militia and Burgess from 1723-1726. When the Line between N. C. and Virginia was resurveyed in 1729, the property at “Bucklands” fell In Chowan County, N. C. When Hertford County was formed from a part of Chowan it was in this county and finally, after 1779 in Gates County. Henry Baker married (I) Angelica Bray, daughter of Col. David Bray of James City County, Va. (17th Cent. p. 207) . He married secondly, Ruth Chancey, daughter of Edmund Chancey of Pasquotank County, whose will in 1754 mentions his Baker grand-children. (Grimes-Abstracts of N. C. Wills,. p. 68). The will of Henry Baker was probated in Chowan County in 1739. (N. C. Hist. & Gen. Reg. p. 29, Vol. I).

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From "The Baker Family as Remembered" written 4 Feb 1847 by Dr. Simmons Jones Baker:

 "But I must not forget my great grandfather, poor unhappy man. He married Angelica Bray who had large expectations as to property, she being the only child of her father. She bore to my great grandfather, one son Henry Baker, my grandfather.  Sometime after this event the fair Angelica eloped with the captain  of a Jamaica Merchant ship and is believed to have died in Kingston in extreme wretchedness. . . . the poor man, notwithstanding the waywardness of his first wife appears ever to have retained a most affectionate attachment for her. A plate, knife and fork were always placed at the table for her and no one permitted to occupy her chair, in token that he was ready to receive the repentant Angelica whenever she thought proper to return. . . .

– from _The Baker Family as Remembered_ written 4 Feb 1847 by Simmons Jones Baker “But I must not forget my great grandfather, poor unhappy man. He married Angelica Bray who had large expectations as to property, she being the only child of her father. She bore to my great grandfather, one son Henry Baker, my grandfather. Sometime after this event the fair Angelica eloped with the captain of a Jamaica Merchant ship and is believed to have died in Kingston in extreme wretchedness. . . . the poor man, notwithstanding the waywardness of his first wife appears ever to have retained a most affectionate attachment for her. A plate, knife and fork were always placed at the table for her and no one permitted to occupy her chair, in token that he was ready to receive the repentant Madgelina whenever she thought proper to return. . . ." http://sallysfamilyplace.com/new/gen-laurence-baker-ann-jones-anna-...

Daughter of James Bray II and Mourning (Burgh) Pettus

The will of James Bray II names daughter ANGELICA BAKER. His will was dated November 17, 1725, his estate was inventoried Jan. 3, 1726, and the will was presented for probate March 14, 1726.

This shows that Angelica, first wife of Henry Baker, was the daughter of James Bray II, not David Bray.

Not the wife of Llewellyn Eppes

As Angelica Bray was still married to Henry Baker as late as November 17, 1725, the date of her father's will, she cannot be the wife of Llewellyn Eppes.

Llewellyn Eppes and Angelica ____ married November 14, 1711, and they had several children born before 1725.

From The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover 1709-1712:

pp. 437-8. November 14, 1711: "I rose about 7 O'clock and gave all the necessary orders to my people. … about 3 o'clock we got to Green Springs …we stayed but half an hour and then went on to Williamsburg where we got about 5. I dressed myself and went to Colonel Bray's where the wedding [Angelica Bray to Llewellyn Eppes] had been kept and found abundance of company there. I dined and ate some chicken pie then we went to dancing and the bride was my partner… we went away before 10 o'clock to the coffeehouse where I won 5 shillings of the President. …"

http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/View/index.cfm?doc=Resea...

(Note in brackets is from the link.)

The Col. Bray mentioned in the diaries of William Byrd is thought to have been James Bray II. His father and brothers were deceased by this time.

James Bray II was a Justice of the Peace in 1717. He may have performed the wedding. His relationship to the bride is still unclear.

It seems likely that the wife of Llewellyn Eppes had some connection to the Bray family, but more research is needed to prove the parents and maiden name of Angelica ____ Eppes.

Direct Evidence: the will of James Bray II

[The will of James Bray II], dated November 18, 1725, recorded March 14, 1725/26 stated that all his real and personal estate now in the possession of son, Thomas, to him forever; to daughter, Elizabeth Allen, the Use only of my Land & plantation Stock and negroes at Little Town until such time as grandson, James Bray III, comes to the Age of Twenty one years; to Elizabeth the plantation called Rockahock forever; Brick House and lots thereto at Williamsburg remain in the hands of my executor until the same can be sold by son, Thomas, and the money to be used for the maintenance and education of his son, James III; to Elizabeth Allen and to ANGELICA BAKER, daughters, all personal and real estate formerly delivered to them forever; and to Elizabeth Allen two single lots in Williamsburg forever.

A Record of the Bray Family 1685 — ca. 1800, by Mary A. Stephenson, September 1963

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 0151

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library

http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=Resea...

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Colonial Williamsburg Archives; Manuscript

Will of James Bray James City County November 18, 1725 Recorded Mch. 14, 1725/6

"…Item I Give all that my Estate real and Personal now in the possession of my Son Thomas Bray to him and his Heirs forever. Item I Give to my Daughter Elizabeth Allen the Use only of my Land & plantation Stock and negroes that is to say all that are now on and that properly belong to that Plantation called Little Town untill my Grandson James Bray comes to the Age of Twenty one years or if he dies then untill such time as he would have been twenty one had he lived she paying the Quit Rents and [providing for negroes &c] [If grandson does not live then to son Thomas] Item I Give my Daughter Elizabeth all my Lands & Plantation called Rockahock on Chicahominy River to her and which of her Children she pleases at the time of her death and their Heirs forever. Item My Will and desire is that my Brick House and the Lotts thereto belonging at Williamsburgh be and remain in the Hands of my Executor untill the same can be sold by Son Thomas and the Money arising from such Sale I Give to him and his Heirs forever towards the better Maintenance and Education of my Grandson. Item [gives clothes at Little Town to Robert Wade] Item I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Allen and her Husband all that Estate Either Real or Personal (formerly delivered by me to them) to them and their Heirs forever. And I likewise do the same to my DAUGHTER ANGELICA BAKER AND HER HUSBAND. Item I Give and bequeath to my said Daughter Elizabeth my two single Lotts in the City of Williamsburg to her and her Heirs forever … [son Thomas and Daughter Elizabeth Allen] (so far only as she is concerned as a Legatee) Joint Exors of the will and testament …

James Bray

[Recorded James City County March 14, 1725/26]

Inventory of Personal Property given Jany 3, 1726; returned Dec. 26, 1726/27

Circumstantial Evidence: Henry Baker III was the godson of Angelica's sister Elizabeth

The will of Angelica's sister, Elizabeth (Bray) Allen Smith Stith, names three godchildren, including Henry Baker.

Mrs. Elizabeth Stith was the aunt of Henry Baker III.

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Sources:

A Record of the Bray Family 1685 — ca. 1800, Mary A. Stephenson, September 1963

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 0151

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library

http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=Resea...

Bray family charts:

http://research.history.org/CWDLImages/ResearchReports/images/low/R...

http://research.history.org/CWDLImages/ResearchReports/images/low/R...

About the family of James Bray II

James Bray II (son of James Bray I)

James Bray II, the son of James Bray I, married Mourning Glenn Pettus, widow of the late Thomas Pettus of Littletown (later Kingsmill) plantation in ca. 1697. Through their union, James II inherited Mourning's legal interest in her former husband's property. James Bray II and his sister, Ann Bray Ingles, inherited from their brother, David I, a residual interest in his property (Hening 1809-1823:VI:414-415; Goodwin 1972:56). In 1700 James Bray II purchased from the Walker and Pettus heirs "all those tracts called or known by the name or names of Littletown and Utopia… containing 1280 acres." He also bought a 500 acre tract that straddled the line between New Kent and James City Counties (Stephenson 1963:6).

James Bray II and his wife produced at least three children who lived to adulthood: Thomas II, who married Elizabeth Meriwether; Angelica, who married Henry Baker; and Elizabeth, who married Arthur Allen, the builder of Bacon's Castle. After Arthur Allen's death in 1711, Elizabeth wed Arthur Smith, who died in 1728. Her third and final husband was William Stith of Charles City County, whom she married sometime prior to 1763. James Bray II and his wife, Mourning, lived at what became Kingsmill Plantation, where he unified the Littletown and Utopia tracts and built a substantial home. However, he also had a brick house and lots in Williamsburg. Mourning died in 1711 (Stephenson 1963:5, 12; Fry and Jefferson 1751).

The will James Bray II made on November 17, 1725, was presented for probate on March 14, 1726. He left to his son, Thomas II, "all his real and personal estate now in [his] possession" and stipulated that his "Brick House and lets belonging thereto at Williamsburg" were to remain in the hands of his executor until the same can be sold by son, Thomas." The funds derived from the sale were to go toward the education and maintenance of the testator's grandson, James Bray III, who also stood to inherit his grandfather's land in Wilmington and Bruton Parishes. James Bray II bequeathed to his daughter, Elizabeth Allen, life-rights to the Pettus plantation, Littletown, until James Bray III came of age, and he left to Elizabeth "forever" the plantation called Rockahock on the Chickahominy River. Elizabeth Allen and her sister, Angelica Baker, were authorized to keep "all personal and real estate formerly delivered to them forever" and he bequeathed to Elizabeth "two single lots in Williamsburg forever" (Stephenson 1963:5; Winfree 1971:382; C.O. 5/1389 ff 66-68) .

Although James Bray II's will reveals that he had a brick house and lots in Williamsburg, plus the two single lots that he bequeathed to his daughter, Elizabeth, nothing in that document reveals how he acquired his lots or precisely where they were located. However, when daughter Elizabeth Bray Allen Smith Stith made her will in 1764, she bequeathed to her granddaughters "my House and Lots adjoining the Lott which Dr. Hay purchased of Col. Philip Johnson and Facing the Lott where the Doctor formerly lived." Elizabeth also left to James Allen Bridger "my single Corner Lott lying near the Colledge & facing the Lott where Mr. Cambell formerly lived" (Stephenson 1963:7, 12-13) . This may be one of the two lots she inherited.

LAND OWNERSHIP PATTERNS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE PLANTATION: REPORT OF ARCHIVAL RESEARCH

by Martha W. McCartney, Historian, 2000

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 1724

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2010

http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=Resea...