Patience Suddarth

Patience Sumpter was born about 1729 at Hanover Co., Va. and died 1813 at Ablemarle Co., Va. She married 9 Dec 1746 at Ablemarle Co., Va. to James Sudderth. Patience was married twice, first to John Franklin.

It's reported that a Baptismal record in Hanover County, Virginia, positively identifies Patience Sumpter as the daughter of William Sumpter.

From the book "Sumpter - A Branch of the Family Tree" by Harold E. Sumpter

'Patience was a homemaker and lived in Albemarle County, Virginia. She was married first to John Franklin. By her marriage to John, Patience had four children. By her second marriage to James Sudderth she had five children. James Suddarth mentions his wife Patience in his will. Patience served as a mid-wife among the settlers as did her mother. She was highly recommended by Thomas Jefferson.'

Will of James Suddarth

Will Book 4, page 52, Albemarle Co., VA

In the name of God Amen: I, James Suddarth Senr. of Albemarle County Virginia being in a low state of bodily health but of perfect mind and memory do make this my last will and testament and first of all I do recommend my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my executors in hope of a glorious ressurection and my Soul to God who gave it and as to my worldly estate I dispose of it in the following manner Viz: First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Patience Suddarth peaceable possession of the house and plantation whereon I now live, during her natural life, as also of my Negroes Moses, Taylor, Mary and Lidda to return, together with their increase to my children, at her death. It is further my will that at the division of my estate that she shall take as much of my stock and household furniture as she shall judge necessary for her support.

Links

• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wash/reynolds/jam...
• http://awt.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=markfreema...

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One family tale is that Patience was the first child of her parents and was born on board ship while they were on their way to America. Family letters seem to verify that she was born at sea as she was quoted by family members as saying she "was a citizen of neither country (England or America) and of neither hemisphere" Apparently Patience was a midwife. Thomas Jefferson recommended her services to his daughters according to Wood's history of Albermarle. Other sources agree that Patience was a midwife, following in the footsteps of her mother Elizabeth, and was well known and highly regarded in that capacity.