Mary Magdalene Poindexter

Mary Chastain Ducray, a French Hugenot, came to America on "THE NASSAU" in 1699 with her husband Nicholas DuCray. She had two children by that marriage: Nicholas DuCray and Jean DuCray; born between 1701 and 1714 in Goochland Co. Virginia. The exact year of her birth is uncertain. She was married by 1699 and it is estimated that she was born about 1680, though she may have been younger (or older) than nineteen years when she arrived in Virginia.

Mary is said to be the daughter of Estienne Chastain (born 1625) and Jeanne Laurent, that making her the sister of Dr. Pierre Chastain (1669-1728), but it should be noted that she would be at least 15 years younger than Estienne Chastain's youngest known child. Mary is also often confused with the Mary Chastain, who was the daughter of Dr. Pierre Chastain, who was born a generation later in about 1709 and died between 1728-31 unmarried. 

Mary Chastain Ducray was a widow by 1718 and was remarried about 1719 in Henrico Co. Virginia to widower Thomas Pruett, who was probably a few years younger than Mary. They had at least four children together including William, Abraham and Rene, each born in the 1720's. Mary appears in some Henrico Co. Virginia records with her husband:

In Henrico County, May 1721 court: Thomas Jefferson (grandfather of future president) vs Thomas Pruit and Mary (his wife) for debt of 3 pounds 16 shillings. He settled for 15 shillings and 10 pence.

Upon petition of William Kent and John Robertson, ordered the sheriff summon Thomas Pruitt to appear at the next court and give security for estate of Nicholas DuCrey, deceased. In Henrico County, Sept 1722 court: Upon part of William Kent, who was security for Mary DuCray's administration estate of Nicholas DuCray, deceased, obtained an order from July Court to deliver said estate into his hands... upon inquery he finds a great part of the said estate wasted by Thomas Pruit who married the widow of said Nicholas DuCray. Ordered John Lewis, William Giles, William Womack, and William Elsup to appraise the esate of Nicholas DuCray. 

Thomas and Mary settled up the James River from his father's land at Almond Creek in Henrico Co, Virginia, for when Goochland County was formed from Henrico County in 1727, they were among the first residents.

The 1729 tithables for Parish of King William, Goochland County, Virginia, lists: Thomas Prouet - 1 tith. In 1729, Thomas paid a fine of 50 pounds of tobacco for saying a bad word. The 1730 tithables for Goochland County list : Nicholas DuCrai - 1 tith and Jean de Crais - 1 tith. These were Mary's sons from her first marriage.

On December 16, 1733, Mary Prouit, godmother to Zacarie, son of Jacque Robinson and Susanna, born December 15, 1733, presented to baptism by Jean Chastain and Rene Chastain. Mary must have been a close relative of the Peter Chastain and Ann Soblet family though not their daughter. Mary and first husband Nicholas DuCray named a son Jean DuCray and Mary and second husband Thomas Pruett named a son Rene. 

Thomas Pruett purchased land on Stock's Creek, Amelia Co, Virginia, in 1737, and resided there until his move to southern Virginia. (Mary Chastain Ducray Pruett may have been deceased by this time?)

Thomas Pruett had at least two more sons, Michael born abt 1735, and David born abt 1740. Mary Chastain would have been in her fifties by the 1730's and about 60 in 1740. Though she is often listed as being the mother of Michael and David Pruett it is likely Thomas Pruett had remarried a third time and Mary had probably died prior to 1735.

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Mary Ducray was a French Hugenot widow.

Claude E Cook, a respected genealogist, says in his book of Mary Chastain, "Born circa 1709, she died between Nov 20 1728 when her father's will was proved, and June 15 1731, when her sister Susanna Robinson sold Susannah's one-half of Mary's 115 acres left to Mary by her father. The other half of her acrage went to her sister Elizabeth, as directed by the will of her father."

Came to America on "THE NASSAU" in 1699 with Nicholas DuCray. She had two children by that marriage: Nicholas DuCray and Jean DuCray; born between 1701 and 1714.

On December 16 1733, Mary, godmother to Zacarie, son of Jacque Robinson and Susanna, born December 15 1733, presented to baptism by Jean Chastain and Rene Chastain. Mary had to be a close relative of the Peter Chastain and Ann Soblet family. Mary and Nicholas DuCray named a son Jean DuCray and Mary and Thomas named a son Rene.