Martha Satterwhite

"Martha Satterwhite, grass widow" Gloucester/York/Henrico Martha first appears in the Abingdon Parish records in 1715. "The Register Of Abingdon Parish, Gloucester County VA 1677-1789", Robert Robins (Arlington, VA, Hansford House, 1981). Page 159. "Satterwhite, Sarah, daughter of Martha Satterwhite was born November 14 and baptized December 4, 1715. Satterwhite, Mann son of Martha Satterwhite, grass widow, was baptized Sept. 8, 1728." (A search for a definition of "grass widow" ended up with a preponderance for that time period that it meant "a married woman whose husband, alive but away". A search of the entire Abingdon Register shows that they called a child a bastard or illegitimate when it was. Neither of Martha's children were designated with that term. Why? Martha was a woman of means. In 1750 she is listed in York County records as "of Henrico". A generous deed of gift to daughter Sarah now Rogers and son Mann Satterwhite. York County Deed Book 5 1741-1754 page 408. In, a tithable in York Hampton Parish, York County Tax Records 1768, page 384. The list of the Rector John Camm. Who was Martha? Was she really an unmarried Satterwhite? Did she marry a Satterwhite? Was Mann Satterwhite an illegitimate son of Mann Page, or was Martha, Martha Page, the presumed, by Page genealogists, deceased daughter of Matthew Page and Mary Mann? Martha Page is mentioned in the Marriage articles of her mother to John Page in 1705 and again in the will of her stepfather John Page written in 1709 (See Genealogy of Page Family in VA, by Richard C. M. Page, pages 47-52. A Martha Page was not interred with the other deceased children of Matthew and Mary Mann Page. Further Mann Satterwhite appears to have migrated from York to the Hanover Henrico area near the Page family. A good printed source for early Satterwhite in VA is "The Edward Pleasants Valentine papers, Vol III Povall-Wooten", edited by Clayton Torrence, Baltimore: Gen. Pub. Co., Inc. 1979. pp1479-1795. reports on the Satterwhite Family. He has collect information from about 10 different county records plus various other Satterwhite records including marriage data and newspaper accounts.

Martha Satterwhite had children recorded in the Gloucestor Co. Abingdon Parish Records. Sarah born 1715 and Mann born 1728. No husband is mentioned but in Mann's citation she is called "Grass Widow" This Martha Satterwhite was a woman of means and moved around. Martha Satterwhite is found in a York Co. VA record (across the York River from Gloucestor) in a deed of gift. She gave personal property (including 12 slaves) to son Mann and Sarah Rogers and granddaughter Martha Rogers. It stated she was from Henrico Co. VA. (York Co. VA Deed Bk 5 1741-1754, page 408 recorded 17 Dec 1750) She was found in the Yorkhampton Parish (York Co.) tax records 1768, on the list of Rev. John Camm. Rector.

Martha Satterwhite , of Henrico Co. deed to her son Mann Satterwhite , her daughter Sarah Rogers and her granddaughter Martha Rogers , in consideration of the love she the said Martha Satterwhite bears them. gives 12 negroes to her son and daughter aforesd, to be equally divided between them, gives one negro to her said grand daughter, and gives her son a feather bed with the furniture thereto belonging, and all other personal property to her belonging she gives to her said son and daughter, to be equally divided. Provides that these gifts are not to be delivered until after her death. Dated Oct. 12, 1750 . Acknowledged before Thos. Everard , Cl. Crt. Dec. 17, 1750 . Deeds V, p. 408.

Source:All Valentine Papers (Virginia), Vol. 1-4, 1864-1908 results for Mann Satterwhite