In 1684-1685, our 8th-great grandfather Cornelius Maddox sued our 9th-great grandfather Edward Maddox for one thousand pounds of tobacco in a series of court appearances in Charles County, Maryland (Charles Co., Md. Circuit Court, Liber L, pp. 15; 69; 106-7). Cornelius is described as a merchant and Edward is described as “chyrurgion” (surgeon) and doctor. We’ve obtained a full copy of the two-page court document, which we had hoped would provide more evidence that Cornelius was the son of Edward. Instead, we’re having trouble deciphering a few letters of Colonial-era script that might offer clues to the duo’s identities.
The above excerpt from the second paragraph of the 2-page court record clearly says, “Maddock Merchant of…” what? The next word seems to begin with the letters a and p, but then becomes a hot mess. Is it “apples”? Is it “a plea”? Is it shorthand for something entirely different?
hisXmark 
Could it be “Of Aquia” – I know that there is an Aquia Creek in the northern part of Stafford Co., Va near the Charles Co., MD border and and I’ve been to the Aquia church in Overwharton Parish, Stafford Co. near Fredericksburg – I believe that my Goughs and Hudsons went to that church although I don’t have any proof of it – they definitely lived in that area – back then when there were no borders of counties it was considered probably all part of the same area. My Hudson married my Maddox ancestor by the way – thus why the name stuck out as a possibility. They may have been saying that Doctor Maddock was “of Aquia” – the area where the creek was in Overwharton Parish – Stafford Co. —-
Susan AVery
Wow… that would be a significant find. If Cornelius was living in Aquia in 1684 it would open his biography to an entirely new perspective.
The more I look at it the more I can’t see anything else that it could be apoa aproa aquia apo a – only thing that makes sense
After comparing the writing with the rest of the 2-page document, I think it reads “… of a plea that he…” – a phrase that is used in numerous other suits at the time. Unfortunately this doesn’t offer any clues to his identity.
I’ve received some really excellent free help on these old scripts from experts on Rootschat
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/handwriting-deciphering-recognition/
Cheers,
David Pugh
Thanks for the resource!
Hi,
I was very interested in the Cout document, so I posted a request on Rootschat for an interpretation of those few words..
I received a reply from “Bookbox” who thinks the phrase in your document is
… M(er)chant of a plea th(a)t he rend(er) unto him …
This seems to be eminently reasonable
Cheers,
David Pugh
Thank you VERY much for following up! That’s approximately where I was going. Unfortunately it doesn’t help a bit to strengthen our evidence of the two men’s relationship. Sigh.
Thanks!
I found this reference to Edward Maddox please see attached
Cheers,
David Pugh
I don’t think this system will allow attachments… are you able to provide a link? Thanks.
dpugh@shaw.ca
Here is that reference to Edward Maddox…
I checked Mary, Alice, and Katherine “Cavaliers and Pioneers) and the data is the same..
“Early Virginia Immigrants by George Cabell Greer page 214
(whole book is downloadable on the web)
Maddox, Alice, 1656, by George Abbot, Nansemond Co.
Maddox, Mary, 1653, by Thomas Todd, ——– Co.
Maddox, Edward, 1652, by Lawrence Dameron, Northumberland Co.
Madix, Katherine,1652, by Nicho. Morris, Northumberland Co.
Maddox, John, 1652, byMajor Miles Carey, Westmoreland Co.”
Cheers,
David Pugh
Maddox : a southern Maryland family
Author: W N Hurley
Publisher: Bowie, Md. : Heritage Books, 1994.
Edition/Format: Print book : EnglishView all editions and formats
Summary: The Maddox family of Maryland is said to descend from early Welsh nobility through the Madogs of Llanfynach who were the Lords of Scethrog and other holdings. The immigrant ancestor was Samuel Maddox (1640-1684) who was the son of John Madog, Lord of Scethrog. He arrived in Maryland in about 1665 and settled in St. Mary’s County. Samuel married Ann Notley and they became the parents of four sons, one of whom was Notley Maddox (1672-1716). Notley inherited his father’s estate and married Margaret Goldsmith and they became the parents of eight children. Their numerous descendants live in Maryland, Virginia and throughout the United States
Samuel Maddox, Jr. : a search for his roots, 1635-1870
Author: Robert L Maddox
Publisher: [Gonzales, Tex.] : R.L. Maddox, ©1996.
Edition/Format: Print book : English
Lazarus Maddox : a Somerset County settler
Author: J G Kaufman
Publisher: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 2004.
Edition/Format: Print book : English
Tidewater Maryland ancestors, 1634 to 1999 : including the Baldwin, Blakistone, Brewer, Cheseldyne, Davis, Goldsmith, Keech, Lancaster, Maddox, Ridgeley, Riley, Sothoron, Stockett, Tucker, Williams, and related families
Author: George Donald Riley
Publisher: Baltimore, MD : Gateway Press ; Westminster, MD (1221 Old New Windsor Pike, Westminster 21158) : Book orders to G.D. Riley, 1999.
Edition/Format: Print book : English
The Maddox family : notes of Leslie P. Dryden (volume I, summary)
Author: Leslie Powell Dryden; Edward L Maddox
Publisher: [Millersville, Md.] : [E.L. Maddox], 2001.
Edition/Format: Print book : EnglishView all editions and formats
The Hines, Lowder, and Maddox family genealogies
Author: W N Hurley
Publisher: Bowie, Md. : Heritage Books, ©1999.
Series: Heritage Books archives.
Edition/Format: Computer file : CD for computer : English
From a search at Salisbury University Library Maryland…. I don’t know how to get to read any of them!!
Try looking them up at https://www.jstor.org/. It’s been a great resource.