Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
-
In reply to:
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
Robert Allen 1/16/00
Hi Bob,
Hope all is well with you?
Don't mean to beat a dead horse here but I think I have found another connection between John Mitchell and Mary Gleaves Turk.
You make a number of very valid points that I agree with in your last message on this subject and I, like you, am not ready to declare Esther ?-Glaves a Mitchell.
In the interest of keeping a dialouge going on this board, let me present some circumstantial evidence and ask that you comment on the following?
There were three witnesses on John Mitchell's will, John Reaugh, Margraet Kirk and Mary Turk.It would appear that Mary is Mary Gleaves Turk wife of Thomas.Turning to the other two witnesses, is "John Reaugh" in fact the same John Rhea who married Margaret Turk, daughter of Thomas and Mary?I have seen the Rhea name recorded with both spellings in research done by others.The Rhea board lists John as being born in 1752. If this in fact the case, could "Margaret Kirk" actually be Margaret Turk?This would mean that the will contained the names of 5 members of the Turk Clan.More food for thought.
I have also reviewed my copy of a map showing the early grants within the Beverley Patent.While the land sold to Robert Turk is in the Northeast corner of the Patent (Crimora area), John Mitchell's 609 acres is found in the Southwest corner of the Patent(Greenville area) some 20 miles away.This appears to rule out any connection as close neighbors.I'm sure they could have all been visiting the person who drafted the will and served as witnesses because they were in the proximity at the time.Perhaps the money willed to Esther was a gesture of kindness for the Turkfamily serving as witnesses?The will does not mention any land so John may have disposed of it and could have been living closer to the Turks when he wrote his will.
John Mitchell was in the Augusta County area as early as 1743 when he is listed in Orange County Court Records (Parent County of Augusta) as turning in a "wolf's head".There must have been some form of bounty paid for destroying predators.If Esther was the daughter of John Mitchell, the 1743 entry places them in the area early enough for her to marry Matthew Glaves prior to the birth of their oldest daughter Mary in 1746.
Esther and her second husband Thomas Rafferty, had moved away from the area some 10 years before John Mitchell wrote his will.It is not clear to me if she returned to Augusta County at any time prior to John Mitchell's death.Perhaps she was not mentioned in the will because she and Thomas were well enough off in Washington County to not need any portion of the estate, or she and John could have had a falling out over some issue, such as Turk vs Rafferty?
Bob, I hope this sparks some interest in this subject and our comments may cause others to bring forth evidence or theories that will help solve this mystery.
Regards,
Dennis
More Replies:
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
Robert Allen 8/11/00
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
Kim Marin 1/23/01
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
Robert Allen 1/23/01
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
William Gleaves 2/24/01
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
Robert Allen 2/24/01
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???
-
Re: Matthew's wife Esther ???