Bethenia Giles

"April 2014: it appears Mary (Brodnax) Knowles was the daughter of Thomas Brodnax (d 1658) & Elizabeth Taylor. She married John Knowler & their children included Capt John Knowles of Henrico, the father of Bethania Knowles."

Henrico County, VA Court Records 1712

Richard Saywell, lessee of John Giles, plaintiff and Christopher Branch and Anne his wife, defendants, LB 100 damage claimed by reason of the defendants ejecting the plaintiffe from 125 acres of arable land, 125 acres of meadow and 125 acres of pasture, in the County and Parish of Henrico which John Giles devised for a term that is not yet past. A jury was sworn at last court and verdict now is as follows:

In case above, it will be found by order of Henrico Court, dated 1 Sep 1642 that Matthew Gough sold to William Cox and Isaac Hutchins and their heirs, 250 acres, bounded by the Falling Creek and extending north along the river. We find a deed, dated 1 August 1668 in which Thomas Cox did assign and surrender his right and Interest due unto him, to Mr. John Knowles. He was son and heir of William Cox, decd. Secondly, we find by Henry Sherman's deed with warranty to John Knowles for 125 acres, bounded and lying as appears by said deed dated 5 April 1671, Thirdly, we find that on 1 Oct 1683 Sicily Sherman, wife of Henry Sherman of this county, by her attorney, John Crowley, did relinquish her dower right in land sold by her husband to John Knowles. Finally we find that the land was in possession of Henry Sherman, William Cox and Isaac Hutchins and that Cox Hutchins made a division before their deaths of said land, and that Thomas Cox, son of William, sold the land in dispute to Capt John Knowles and received pay; and he (Knowles) died in possession of said land and left two children, Bethenia and William, and William died a child. Bethenia was married to William Giles, and that their said children wherof John Giles was the eldest, and that Bethenia was not above 42 years of age at time of her death, and Mrs. Sherman was never in possession of land in dispute. We find that William Giles, and Bethenia his wife, when she was about 18, deeded 125 acres to John Crowley 28 Dec. 1685. We find by deposition that Bethenia was of full age, but we find on oath of three evidences she was not of full age. We find by will of Isaac Hutchins dated 23 February 1656 "I give to my son Robert Hutchins all my lands when he be of full age, provided my wife Siclly Hutchins have for her maintenance 1/2 the land for her life, but if my son dies under age, then to my wife forever." We find that Henry Sherman and Sicily his wife by deed 29 Dec 1686 grant to their beloved daughter Anne, wife of John Crowley a certain tract called "Gardners" upon Cox Run, 125 acres. We find that John Crowley by will dated 9 Oct 1686 gives to his wife Anne Carowley all his land. We find by oath of Thomas Branch that Anne Crowley is now wife of Christopher Branch and she was daughter of afroesaid Sicily Sherman. Court finds that defendants have right to the land Plaintiff appeals to next General Court.

Links

• http://oursoutherncousins.com/knowler-knowles4.html