Simon Poe, Sr.

Burial record:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80578920/james-simon-poe

Simon's birth year can be determined by his marriage at age 84 to Miss Rhoda Marsh who was 58 at the time. The notice was dated Wednesday, 3 Oct 1792. His will was dated 9 Apr 1793 and is in the Chatham County, NC records Vol. 1 Chatham Co., NC Wills - File # 22.018 - Page 146. Simon died sometime between 9 Apr 1793 and 9 Aug 1793.

He lived in both Virginia and North Carolina. The first mention of him is in the Caroline County, VA court records dated 9 Sep 1737, when he was approaching 30 years of age. So, for now, until any historical records surface to prove his place of birth, it shall be listed as Caroline County, VA. This is only a personal conclusion and should not be used as actual proof of his place of birth.

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[Sources Essex Co., VA - Wills, Bonds, Inventories, by Dorman, 1722-1730 Virginia Mag, v.33 p 365 Colonial Caroline by Campbell, mentions Simon, Benjamin, Curtis, Peter, Price and William POE buried at St. Vasitier Church Cemetery, Essex Co., VA]

The following is a list of court records in Caroline County, Virginia:

In 1749 Simon Poe, Sr., was fined 1000 pounds of tobacco for "tending seconds". Later he was fined 3000 pounds for failing to obey the law relative to stinting tobacco plants. Samuel Poe, Jr., had similar judgments.

Will on file there 1790, died 1793.

In the 1790 census of Chatham County, North Carolina Simon Poe, Sr. is listed as having three slaves.

Chatham County in 1790 Census has many Poe's, Simon, Rueben, William, Stephen, Simon Sr, David.

David enlisted in the Continental Army in Chatham County in 1776. Fined for breaking Tobacco Law - for growing seconds. Essex County joins Caroline County, where Simon Poe lived for many years. Simon moved to Chatham County, North Carolina in 1759, for religious reasons.

There are records of Simon Poe's connections with the establishment of the church on Deep River Baptist Church on Haw River in North Carolina as early as 1764, which is the date the church was established. This was shortly after he left Caroline County, Virginia. Sarah his first wife may have been deceased by this time because she is not mentioned. There is no record to show if she died before the family moved to North Carolina or afterward. No marker has been found.

Simon Poe, Sr. died in Chatham County in 1793 and his will was probated. He had been married twice and his first wife, Sarah, was the mother of his children. He later married in 1792, a short time before his death, a widowed woman by the name of Rhoda Flowers Marsh. Her maiden name was Flowers. The marriage notice was carried in the North Carolina Gazetteer. It recited that at the time of his marriage his age was 86 years. He had 167 living descendants, including children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Simon Poe, Sr., in making his will, named Stephen Poe, the son of Simon Poe, Jr., as taking his father's part and that Urlys William Poe, the son of Stephen Poe, took Stephen Poe's part. Simon Poe, Sr. left several living children. Three of his children, two sons and a daughter, were deceased. William and James and his daughter Frances Poe, who married Robert Thompson, were given their respective parts while Simon Poe was living; and his living children and grandchildren received the remaining part of the estate at his death. Simon Poe, Sr. conveyed to his widow Rhoda Flowers Marsh, who was his second wife, a slave.

Simon Poe Sr.'s will taken from Poe Pages Vol.6, p 13

Last Will and Testament of Simon Poe

From records--Chatham County, North Carolina

In the name of God Amen: I, Simon Poe, of Chatham County, and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, Blessed be God, do this 9th day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred ninety three, make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and from following, that is to say:

First, I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife, Rhoda Poe, one negro girl named Wendy, one feather bed and furniture, one bay mare, seven years old , one cow and calf, one sow and pigs, one desk and three plates pewter, three knives and forks, ten barrels of corn to be paid this five day of next December, together with one hundred acres of land on Pigs Branch where on the said Rhoda Poe formerly lived on during her widowhood. All the rest of my estate to be equally divided between these my children: Sary Herndon, Mary Berry, Jane Madsey, and one child's part to be divided between Mary, George and Lucy Straughn, daughters of Lucy Straughn Decast & Stephen Poe, son of Simon Poe: one other child's part. My son William Poe and my son James Poe and daughter Frances Thompson having had their part of my estate already, and I hereby make and ordain my worthy friends Richard Straughn, Robert Thompson and James Masey (as) executors of this my last will and testament.

In witness of, I the said Simon Poe have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and year above written

His Simon X Poe (Mark)

Witness Present,

Elijah Faushe,

B.S. Manly

North Carolina, Chatham County

I, Alma T. Fields, Deputy Clerk Superior Court in and for the County of Chatham, State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the last will and testament of Simon Poe as the same is taken from and compared with the original on file in this office. Witness my hand and official seal the 5th day of June, 1961.

(Along the margin is written: Frances, Sarah, Mary, Jane, Lucy, Simon, Jr., Stephen, William, James)

GEDCOM Note

1793, Apr 9 -- Will, Chatham County, NC Will of Simon Poe Dec'd. Heirs: wife Rhoda Poe [negro girl Weney and 100 acres located on Pig Branch] and children: Sary Harndon, Mary Barry, Jane Massey, Mary George and Lucy Straughn (daughters of Lucy Straughn Dec'd.), Stephen Poe (son of Simon Poe), William Poe (son of Stephen Poe), son William Poe, son James Poe and daughter Frances Thomson. Executors: Richard Straughn, Robert Thomson and James Masey. Witnesses: Elijah Foushe and B. Manly. Probated Aug 1793.