Category Archives: Edward Maddox

Thomas Hussey dealings demonstrate Edward-Cornelius relationship

26 Monday Jan 2015

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A new chronology of dealings with Thomas Hussey by Edward and Cornelius Maddox in both Charles County, Maryland and Stafford County, Virginia, demonstrates a likely business handoff from Edward to Cornelius.  We’ve laid them out here: Hussey-Maddox interaction 1600s.

The chronology shows that Dr. Edward Maddocks dealt directly with Thomas Hussey in Charles County, Maryland, in 1681-1686.  After 1686 (just after Cornelius’ marriage), Cornelius Maddox generally deals with Thomas Hussey, receiving payments.  If this is a handoff, it probably is good evidence of a father-son relationship.

The strong Protestantism of Dr. Edward Maddock (d. 1694)

26 Monday Jan 2015

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The 1689 “Parson Waugh’s Tumult” is the case of a vehement anti-Catholic minister provoking an attack by Virginia Protestants against local Catholics.  The Stafford County, Virginia, parson John Waugh conspired with his in-law George Mason II to fan the flames of local distrust against a Catholic family (the Brents).  He started a rumor that the Brents were in league with Maryland Catholics, who were going to cross the Potomac with Seneca Indians to attack Virginians – a rumor that many locals took very seriously.  In the context of the anti-Catholic Exclusion Crisis and Tory politics in London and Jamestown, such provocation was not unimaginable.  Parson Waugh’s conspiracy did not pan out – Marylanders quickly pointed out that there were no Seneca Indians in Maryland! – and the Parson and George Mason II were punished.  But the incident sheds light on the strong religious lines in place at the time.

Dr. Edward Maddock served as a Justice in Stafford County, at least in 1691, and sat in judgment of Parson Waugh in a separate case – in which the court decided that Waugh’s marriage to a twelve-year-old was illegitimate.  Despite Dr. Maddock’s justice role and his awareness of the parson’s character flaws, he would will a 500-acre plantation to Parson Waugh in 1694.  Parson Waugh lived there until his death, and the historic Overwharton Parish found its roots there.

That Dr. Maddocks willed so much acreage to a man of such notoriety speaks volumes to the doctor’s Protestant resolve and to his strong familial relations in Stafford County.  The doctor specified in his will that the land should not go to his daughter Anne/Amey because she had married someone against his will.  We have to wonder if that someone was Catholic or otherwise against the doctor’s political allies.

Dr. Maddock’s marriage to Frances Norgrave – the widow of George Mason I – also adds to the picture.  They were married from at least 1691 until her death in 1693.  Perhaps Frances encouraged the doctor to support Parson Waugh out of respect for the Mason family.  Parson Waugh was directly related to George Mason, who was equally chastised for his role in the Tumult and stripped of his militia command.

Dr. Edward Maddock (d. 1694) was likely the father of Mr. Edward Maddock (1645-1690) of Nanjemoy, Md.

14 Sunday Sep 2014

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We’ve already provided evidence of the location of Dr. Edward Maddock (d. 1694) in Nanjemoy, Maryland, in the mid- to late-1600s.  He practised medicine in Charles County and owned numerous tracts of land along the Potomac River in Charles County, Maryland, and in Stafford County, Virginia, and he served as a Justice of Peace in Stafford County in the early 1690s.

It has been difficult to determine the relationship between the Edward Maddocks called “doctor,” “apothecary,” or “physician” in Charles County records, and another Edward Maddocks who is described only as “mister” in the same county.  But it seemed likely, based on their common name and common location, that they were immediately related.

Now we have good circumstantial evidence to demonstrate that Dr. Edward was the father of Mr. Edward.  Most importantly, pages 165-166 of Liber D of the Charles County Court Proceedings, 1668-1670, shows that Edward Maddock sued Samuell Price for 240 pounds of tobacco for physicians services that Edward provided.  That the younger Edward Maddock was practising medicine in Charles County, just like the elder Dr. Edward Maddock around the same time, supports an immediate relationship.

We also clearly know that the elder Dr. Edward Maddock and the younger Mr. Edward Maddock are not the same person, since Dr. Maddock left Charles County for Stafford County, Virginia, a decade or so earlier: the elder Dr. Maddock is described as “late of Charles County” on Page 374 of Liber B, No. 3, Provincial Court Proceedings, 1657-1658.  The elder Dr. Edward Maddock did return to Charles County in the 1670s, though, and lived on Cheshires, part of Poynton Manor, with his wife Margery (Stone) Maddox, but sold that land to Richard Fowke and departed again by 1684.

The younger Edward was born circa 1645/6, since he claimed to the court that he was “22 or 23” years old in 1668 and claimed that he was 26 in 1670 (Charles County Court Proceedings, 1668-1670, Liber D, p. 133 and pp. 165-166).  He married Henry Frankcum’s widow Annah/Amey Frankcum on or after 1668 (I&A 5.285).  His cattle mark was “the left eare cropt the right ear hole with a nick in the under part of the same” (Charles County Court Proceedings, Liber E, 10 September 1672).  He died between 1685 and 1690, based on a petition by his stepson Henry Frankcum, Jr. for land held by Edward Maddock, “dec’d” (Charles County Land Records, Volume III Liber Q, Page 10 – dated 10 June 1690).

It is possible that Amey/Annah Maddock is the same Amey Maddock whom Dr. Edward Maddock chastised in his 1694 will for marrying without consent.  She would have been single again after the younger Edward’s death in circa 1690.  A circa-1899 history of Stafford County’s Overwharton Parish claims Dr. Maddox willed the entirety of his estate – 450-500 acres with a home along the Passapantanzy Creek in Stafford County – to the parish in 1694.  Importantly, in this account Dr. Edward Maddox was apparently punishing his only heir, Amey Maddox, by not willing anything to her.  She had married a man without Edward’s consent.

Richard Fowke seems to be the common link between the elder Dr. Edward Maddock, the younger Mr. Edward Maddox, and Annah/Amey (Frankcum) Maddox.  Richard Fowke purchased two plots of land from the elder Dr. Edward Maddock in 1672 and 1684, and witnessed the administration of a gift of one mare from the younger Edward Maddock to the newly widowed Annah/Amey Frankcum in March 1668/9 (Charles County Court & Land Records Vol II, p. 26; Charles County Court & Land Records Vol II, p. 82; Charles County Court Proceedings Liber D, p. 55).  Since Richard Fowke and Zachary Wade both witnessed the administration of the mare, and since Fowke’s and Wade’s lands adjoined at Lyon’s Hole (Charles Court Court & Land Records Vol II, p. 26), it is possible that their role as witnesses was based on geography – perhaps the younger Edward Maddock was living near Lyon’s Hole, which also once belonged to the elder Dr. Edward Maddock.

The many wills of Dr. Edward Maddox (d. 1694)

16 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by in Developing stories, Edward Maddox, Religious leanings

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Four accounts of Dr. Edward Maddox’s 1694 will offer little hope of making a father-son link between the doctor and Cornelius Maddox, our 8th great grandfather, but reveal an unexpected possible link to George Washington’s boyhood home.

Dr. Edward Maddox’s original will burned with other Stafford County, Virginia, court records in the Civil War, but the four secondary will records below imply that Cornelius was not included for land inheritance.  If Cornelius was a son, he would have had precedence of inheritance over Edward’s daughters Alice and Amey/Anne and over the local parish (see accounts 3&4), but he received nothing in these documents.  On the other hand, the doctor owned thousands of acres at various sites in Maryland and Virginia along the Potomac River and these four documents do not necessarily cover all of them.

The first three deeds, below, combine to form a 550-acre allotment along the Rappahanock River one mile below the falls, in Stafford County, Virginia.  This would later be the site of George Washington’s boyhood home, Ferry Farm.  The fourth account is for a 500-acre allotment along the Passapantanzy Creek in Stafford County.

1. The first account of Dr. Edward Maddox’s will is a 1710 deed recorded in Richmond County, Virginia, establishing ownership of 150 of 550 acres that Dr. Edward Maddox owned on Acquia Run in Stafford County, Virginia.  The first house built on this site (pre-1710) was recently excavated by the George Washington Foundation and the results can be seen here.  Here’s the deed:

“3-263: John Hamilton died seized of 150 A. in Richmond Co. part of 550 A. purchased by Edward Maddock purchased of John Waugh Clk. of Stafford County.  Said 550 A. is part of 2000 A. granted Col. John Catlett 2 June 1666 & by conveyances vested in Maddock, who by will 13 June 1694, gave 150 A. of remaining 550 A. not disposed of by his Will to Clark.  Endorsement by Marmaduke Beckwith, Clk. of said Co.  Escheat grant to Maurice Clark of Richmond Co. 150 A. on Rappahanock R. adj. Mr. Brent & John Robins in Richmond Co. 14 Sept. 1710.”  – From “Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants,” Book No. 3, 1703-1710, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1987, p. 44.

2. The second account of Dr. Edward Maddox’s will is related to the first account, above.  It is a King George County, Virginia, deed in 1722, claiming that Dr. Maddox willed a 200-acre portion of a 500-acre plantation (the same as in the first account) to his heir John Robbins (possible descendant of Edward’s second wife, Marjery (Stone) Maddox).  This land was “about a mile below the falls” of the Rappahanock River in Stafford County.  Here’s the deed:

“Indenture ffirst day of March 1721/ffryday 2nd March 1721 between THOMAS STONE of Charles County in the Province of Maryland Gent. and WILLIAM THORNTON of King George in Colony of Virginia .. by Deeds of Lease and Release .. for thirty pounds Sterling .. grant 200 acres about a mile below the ffalls of Rappahanock river it being part of a tract containing 2000 acres granted to Colo. JOHN CATTLETT by pattent bearing date 2 June 1666, 500 acres of which by sundry means conveyance passed in the proper court became property of one EDWARD MADDOCK late of Stafford County Deceased who by his last will in writeing bearing date 23rd June 1694 and duly proved in Stafford County Court December the 11th 1694 relation thereunto being had .. did give 200 acres of land above said of the said ffive hundred acres to one JOHN ROBBINS son of ROBERT ROBBINS in Maryland and his heir .. with this reservation and proviso that if JOHN ROBBINS should dye without issue of his body lawfully begotten said land should descent to JOHN STONE Son of JOHN STONE Elder of Maryland and his heirs forever which said parties being dead without heirs of their body .. the same doth descend to the within named THOMAS STONE only Brother of the said JOHN STONE of the whole blood as heir at law.”  – From 1721-1735 King George County Deed Book 1, Part 1, (Antient Press); pp.54- 58.

3. The third account of Dr. Edward Maddox’s will also relates to the first and second accounts, above.  In this 1723 King George County, Virgnia, deed, Alice Cale (probably the doctor’s daughter) receives 200 acres of the 500-acre plot that was originally owned by Dr. Edward Meaddock.  This third account of 200 acres completes the dispersal of Edward’s 550-acre plot along the Rappahanock River.  Cale’s acreage is specifically described in the National Park Service’s survey of George Washington’s Ferry Farm site.

“Indenture 3rd/4th March 1723 between CHARLES CALE and ALICE his wife of Parish of Hanover King George County and WILLIAM THORNTON of same by deeds of Lease and Release .. sold 35 acres for ffourteen pounds current money tract being on North side of Rappahanock River in King George about a mile below the ffalls of the said river .. it being part of a tract of 2000 acres granted to COLL: JOHN CATLET by Pattent bearing date 2d day of June 1666 ffive hundred acres of which having been passed by sundry conveyances at length became the right of EDWARD MEADDOCK late of Stafford County deceased who by his last Will in writing bearing date 23rd day of June 1694 and duly proved in Stafford County Court December 11th 1694 relation being thereunto had .. did grant unto the within named ALICE now the wife of the said CHARLES CALE 200 acres part of the said 500 acres of which 200 acres are hereby leased and is a part and includes the plantation whereon the said Charles did lately live .. bounded .. East side of mouth of Claburns run; land now in possession of WILLIAM THORNTON which he bought of Mr. THOMAS STONE; on run a little above Fitzhugh’s Mill pond ..
Witnesses Thomas Benson, Charles Cale
John x Hall, Wm. x Hall Alice Cale
ALICE being soley and secretly examined .. acknowledged her Right of the Land .. to be to the uses in the said Deed ..
7th August 1724 .. Deeds of Lease and Release recorded.”  – From: 1721-1735 King George County Deed Book 1, Part 1, (Antient Press); pp. 249-252.

4. The fourth account of Dr. Edward Maddox’s will is from a circa-1899 history of Stafford County’s Overwharton Parish, in which the author claims Dr. Maddox willed the entirety of his estate – 450-500 acres with a home along the Passapantanzy Creek in Stafford County – to the parish in 1694.  Importantly, in this account Dr. Edward Maddox was apparently punishing his only heir, Amey Maddox (probably a misspelling of Anne Maddox), by not willing anything to her.  But we know the doctor did have at least one other heir in the county – his daughter Alice, in account #3, above.  Here’s an account of the Parish register by circa 1899 researcher William Boogher:

“The largest legacy that Overwharton Parish received during the Seventeenth Century was from Doctor Edward Maddox.  The last will and Testament of Doctor Edward Maddox ‘of Stafford Parish, Stafford, in the Colony of Virginia’ was dated June 23, 1694; it was admitted to probate on December 11, 1694.  His only child, Amy Maddox, married without his approbation, Thomas Derrick and for this reason Doctor Maddox mad the following bequest:

‘I first give and bequeath this plantation whereupon I now live and all the lands thereto appertaining and to me belonging to be and forever after to continue as a glebe and manse for the reception and encouragement of a pious and able minister in that parish wherein I now live being commonly known and called by the name of Stafford, or the upper parish of Stafford County; and that after my decease it be well and truly improved and managed at all times for the intent above said excepting that while there is no minister to serve ye cure in the said parish then I will and desire that the said plantation and land together with all its profits and advantages (before the time of vacancy above said) fully  improved and laid out for the relief and support of such poor and indigent as in the said parish shall seem most in want at the discretion of the church wardens and vestry of the above said parish for the time being.’

“Doctor Maddox’s plantation consisted of between 450 and 500 acres on Passapantanzy Creek not far from the plantation of the Reverend Mr. John Waugh.  It was enjoyed as a glebe by the curate of Stafford [later Overwharton] Parish until after the death of the Reverend Mr. Robert Buchan in 1804 when Doctor Maddox’s descendants instigated suit claiming it was no longer being used as stipulated in his last will and Testament and recovered it.” – From Boogher, William Fletcher. Virginia, Overwharton Parish Register, 1720 to 1760, old Stafford County. Washington: Saxton Printing Co., 1899, pp. 176-195, online at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vastaffo/overwhartonparishregister176.htm.

Separately, three land records recorded during the formation of Prince George’s County, Maryland, in 1696 indicate that an Edward Maddock owned three of the by-then deceased Doctor Edward Maddocks’ former lands.  These three plots lie about 8-10 miles south of the current Capital Beltway, just east of the north-south Route 210 in Prince George County.  Since the doctor was dead by 1694, it is possible that the three 1696 parcels of land had been transferred to an heir in the years before the doctor’s death.  Or the records are in error.  Here are the land records:

Prince George’s County, Maryland – Land Owners at Time PGCo Was Formed – 1696: Tract Name: LYONS HOLE; Owner: Maddock, Edward: Orig County = C {Charles = C, Calvert = V}; Patent Date: May 8, 1669 : Ref: Libor 12 f 448 : Map Location: P-15
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Prince George’s County, Maryland – Land Owners at Time PGCo Was Formed – 1696: Tract Name: STONEHILL; Owner: Maddock, Edward: Orig County = C {Charles = C, Calvert = V}; Patent Date: May 8, 1669 : Ref: Liber 12 f 450 : Map Location: P-16
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Prince George’s County, Maryland – Land Owners at Time PGCo Was Formed – 1696: Tract Name: MADDUCKS FOLLY; Owner: Maddock, Edward: Orig County = C {Charles = C, Calvert = V}; Patent Date: Jun 21, 1675: Ref: Liber 19 f 100 : Map Location: Q-14

Dr. Edward Maddox’s Justice of Peace role in Stafford County, 1691, helps explain Cornelius’ activities there

24 Thursday Oct 2013

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We recently discovered the book, “Notes From the Records of Stafford County, Virginia, Order Books,” published by the Virginia Historical Society in 1937.  Page 243 notes that Dr. Edward Maddox was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace on 12 August 1691.  We knew that Edward had a prominent role in the county as a major land owner, but his specific role as a Justice is revelatory.

Edward’s role could explain his purported son Cornelius‘ later activities in Stafford County – especially Cornelius’ 1697 warrant for the hunt for the fugitive Esquire Tom.  Edward’s Justice role might have given Cornelius entry into Stafford County lawmaking.  We already knew that Edward and Cornelius had strong links to Stafford County through their land dealings and their relationship to George Mason’s family (Edward married George Mason I’s widow), but Edward’s precedent-setting role as a Justice adds one more circumstantially supportive tic to the theory of a father-son relationship between Edward and Cornelius.

Evidence that Edward Maddox and Cornelius Maddox both lived in Nanjemoy, Md., around 1680-1684

06 Monday May 2013

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Another factor in establishing a link between Dr. Edward Maddox and Cornelius Maddox is establishing a common geographic location for the two of them.  We now have an estate record showing that Edward Maddox was living in Nanjemoy, Charles County, Maryland, around the time that Cornelius arrived in Charles County in 1680.  Cornelius would go on to purchase two tracts in Nanjemoy (Tatshall and Nuthall) around 1684.  A second record shows that Edward had a business relationship with John Reddick/Reddich, the man who paid for Cornelius’ transport into Maryland in 1680.  At a time when fewer than a hundred people lived in Nanjemoy, it would be highly unlikely for the two men not to have been related.  Here are the two records:

Charles County Circuit Court Liber L, Page 140
19 Feb 1684; Indenture from Edward Maddock of Stafford County, Virginia, surgeon, and Margery Maddock his wife, to Gerard Fowke, Gent.; for 440 acres of land in Stafford County, a tract in Avon/Nangemy of 500 acres where Edward and Margery Maddock lately dwelled; willed by Capt. Wm. Stone to Mathew Stone; from Mathew to Margery [his wife); /s/ Edw. Maddock, Margery Maddock; wit. Ralph Elkins, Wm. Dent.

Charles County Circuit Court Liber H, Page 132
5 Sep 1678; Indenture from Edward Maddock, apothecary, to John Reddick; for 30,000# tobacco; a parcel of land called Doges Neck; on the south side of the Piscataway River to the mouth of Chingamuxon Creek; laid out for 200 acres; /s/ Edward Maddock; wit. Rando. Brandt, Geo. Godfrey; acknowledged by Margery wife of Edward Maddock.

A few ink drops closer to connecting Edward and Cornelius

06 Monday May 2013

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We’ve already laid out some of the facts that contribute to our growing belief that Dr. Edward Maddox (ca. 1615-1694) was the father of Cornelius Maddox (ca. 1660-1705).  This week, with the help of genealogist Amanda Douglass, we made some connections among various estate records that bring the father-son relationship just a little further along.  In the records below, we see that Dr. Edward Maddox and Cornelius Maddox are both mentioned in the estate records of Swinburne/Swineburn, Rookewood/Rockwood, and Aspenall/Aspinall.  Before 1686, Edward is listed as a debtee; after 1686, Cornelius is listed as a debtee – on some of the same lands in both Stafford County, Va., and Charles County, Md.  Edward and Cornelius’ payouts on common lands could demonstrate an inheritance to Cornelius (even though Edward is still alive after 1686?).  1686 also was the year that Cornelius sued Edward for 1,000 pounds of tobacco, and a year after Cornelius married Mary Smallwood.

1. Charles County Circuit Court Liber G, Page 94
8 Jan 1677; Indenture from Edward Rookwood to Thomas Allcock, carpenter; Rookwood and Allcock, eats. and legatees of the will of David Towell, inherited tract called Fletcher’s Addition; on the east side of Piscataway River at Goose Bay; sold by Henry Aspenall to Henry Fletcher by deed dated 14 Sep 1669; containing 150 acres; /s/ Edward Rookwood; wit. John Godshall, John Harrison.

2. Charles County Court and Land Records, Liber, Page 80
8 Mar 1680; Indenture from Henry Aspenall, Gent., to Edward Rookerd [Rookwood], Planter; for 15,000# tobacco a parcel of 200 acres of land called Milersie (?) lying on the south side of Chingamungen Creek; adjoining Allonsons Folly; also Montagues Addition containing 100 acres; also Aspenalls Chance of 200 acres bounded by land formerly surveyed for George Godfrey and Montagues Addition; /s/ Henry Aspenall (mark); wit. Thomas Witter, Cleborne Lomax; ack. in open court by Capt. Henry Aspenall and Elizabeth his wife.

3. Henry Aspeanwall. (gentleman) {Aspinall} 8.105 I £99.19.8 Oct 11 1683
Appraisers: John Ward, Nathaniell Barton.
List of debts: William Thomas, Edward Rookewood, William Wells, Cuthbert Musgrove, Richard Martin, Mr. John Stone & Mr. Francis Hemsley, James Smoote, Richard New.

4. Capt. Henry Aspenall 9.55 A CH £99.1911 #23339 Jul 10 1686
Payments to: Thomas Ackerly, Edward Greenhalgh upon account of Thomas Clayton & partners, Thomas Hussy, Thomas Hussy upon account of Mr. George Tompson, Hugh Aspenall, John Muns, Richard New, William Wells, Capt, Randolph Brandt, William Theobald, Phillip Lynes, Edward Maddock, Edward Greenhalgh, Mr, William Smith, Col. William Digges, John Courte, John Ward, Thomas Tofte, Col. William Chandler.
Administratrix: Elisabeth Aspenall, wife of Edward Rookwood.

5. Nicholas Swineburne 9.28 A CH £4.10.8 Jul 10 1686
Payments to: Mr. Robert Doyne, Thomas Hussey, Cornelius Maddock.
Received from: William Thomas,
Administrator/Executor: Edward Rookewood.

6. James Wheeler 9.188, A CH £33.19.1 #13404 Aug 16 1686
The amount of the inventory is equivalent to #8149,
Payments to: Ignatius Warren, William Newman, William Dent, George Brent, Thomas Gavan, Thomas Hussy, Edward Rookard, Mrs. Mary Chandler, Cornelius Maddocks, Richard Harrison, Thomas Wheeler, Roger Dickenson, Humphrey Warren, Dr. John Lemair, John Wheeler, Ralph Shawe, Mr. Robert Doyne, Henry Hardy per receipt of Mr. Burford, Samuel Cockett, John Booker, Robert Taylour.
Executrix: Katharine Jones, wife of Moses Jones.

7. STAFFORD COUNTY VA DEED & WILL BOOK 1689 – 1693; THE ANTIENT PRESS
p. 140a EDWARD’ ROCKWOOD of the PROVINCE of MARYLAND who* Intermarried with the Relict & Executrix of Capra. HENRY ASPENALL deceased do release RICHARD MARTYN of Stafford County from a Bill of fours hundred & fifty pounds of Tobaccoe & Caske made payble to ye said ASPENALL from ye said MARTYNE. Wittness my hand this Twentieth day of March 1688
Teste CORNELIUS MADDOC EDWARD ROCKWOOD WILL: MOSSE
Recorded in ye County Court records of Stafford the 12th day of December 1689.

Business links between Edward and Cornelius (father and son?)

14 Wednesday Nov 2012

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Edward Maddox, Cornelius’ presumptive father, is noted in a Colonial Survey Report (#3964, p. 16) in the Virginia State Archives, for importing “fuetiane” on 14 March 1675.  “Fuetiane” is a misspelling of “fustian,” which is a heavy woollen cloth used by the colonists for clothing (sort of like jean cloth). Cornelius can be found in later Maryland records, importing similar cloth.  It’s possible that Cornelius was simply continuing his father’s business.  Just worth noting along the way to proving their father-son relationship.

Strongest evidence yet for Edward Maddox to be the father of Cornelius Maddox

21 Sunday Oct 2012

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The three records below show that Cornelius Maddock sued Dr. Edward Maddock – his presumptive father – for 1,000 pounds of tobacco in 1684.  These are the only known records that demonstrate an established relationship between the two men.

At first blush, these records indicated to me that Edward was not Cornelius’ father, since the father-son relationship probably would have prevented such a lawsuit.  But then it dawned on me that this suit actually supports a father-son relationship, if this suit is a result of Edward’s death (some believe he died around 1683, but others claim he died in 1690).  If he died in 1683 or thereabouts, Cornelius might have been suing to receive an expected payout or debt from Edward’s estate.

Very interestingly, this suit was settled on 11 March 1685.  Cornelius wed Mary Smallwood on 16 March 1685.

Oct. 28, 1684-Nov. 11, 1684 – Cornelius Maddocke vs. Edward Maddocke for 1000 lbs. tobacco. Edward Maddocke appears by his attorney Edmund Dennis. (Charles Co., Md. Circuit Court, Liber L, p. 15.)

Nov. 12, 1684-Jan. 13, 1684/5 – Cornelius Maddocke vs. Edward Maddocke for 1000 lbs. of tobacco. The said action is continued. (Charles Co., Md. Circuit Court, Liber L, p. 69.)

Mar. 11, 1684/5 – Cornelius Maddock, merchant vs. Edward Maddock, surgeon. Suit on Edward’s note to Cornelius of Sep. 17, 1684 for 1070 lbs. of tobacco. Edward admits that he owes Cornelius 1000 lbs. of tobacco. Judgment for Cornelius for 1000 lbs. of tobacco. (Charles Co., Md. Circuit Court, Liber L, pp. 106-7.)

Everyone wants Cornelius to have a rich father

11 Wednesday Jul 2012

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There’s a guy named Dr. Edward Maddox who shows up in Colonial records as a major landholder, apothecary and merchant.  There’s no doubt that he was of some means.  His first wife was Margery Stone, the widow (“relict”) of Matthew Stone, the son of the Governor of Maryland, and a progenitor of Thomas Stone, one the Declaration of Independence signers.  His second or third wife – in Virginia – was Frances Norgrave, the widow of George Mason I, the great-grandfather of America’s founding father George Mason IV.  Many amateur genealogists and hopeful family historians claim this Edward as the father of our Cornelius.  Professional genealogists maintain that his link is “circumstantial,” and thus should be subject to more scrutiny.

I’ve seen numerous family trees that link Cornelius to Edward, and some family trees that go as far as including siblings for Cornelius and dates of birth and death for everyone involved.  The goal of most of these family trees is to link the bloodline even further back, to a man names Thomas Maddox who lived and quickly died (1620-1623) near Jamestown as one of the first 1000 Englishmen in Virginia.  But I can’t find an inkdrop of hard evidence in any Colonial records to prove the Cornelius-Edward link.  Still, there is something about Edward that deserves attention.

Edward owned numerous tracts of land around 1660-1690 in the northern part of Charles County, Maryland, called Nanjemoy.  His tracts generally lay along the Piscataway River (now just a stream due to sediment runoff).  Their known names were Greene’s Purchase, Maddocks Folly, Stonehill (after his first wife’s deceased husband), Doeg’s Neck, and Athey’s Hopewell.

Cornelius would also own land in Nanjemoy, but a little further south, closer to Nanjemoy Creek.  His known land in the late 1600’s was Tatshall and Nuthall.  Cornelius’ descendants would own tracts that sounded very similar to some of Edward’s properties, such as Maddox’s Venture and Hopewell, but these were also close to Nanjemoy Creek (not Piscataway River).  I don’t think they’re the same tracts, so I don’t think Edward handed them down to Cornelius.

Another way to look at the possible Cornelius-Edward/son-father link is through shared relationships.  We know that a John Reddich/Reddish was paid for Cornelius’ 1680 transport into the Colony.  John Reddish also is named on one of Edward’s property records in 1678 as a purchaser of his large tract of land called Doeg’s Neck for 30,000 pounds of tobacco (a cash crop at the time).  It looks to me that Edward was buying and selling land regularly and had a standard set of purchasers and sellers.  I wonder if John Reddish and Edward Maddox had a relationship that would have supported Reddish’s sponsorship of Cornelius into the Colony.  But why wouldn’t Edward just sponsor Cornelius himself?

Another shared relationship between Edward and Cornelius could be the other Edward Maddox who was active in Nanjemoy at the same time.  Land records indicate that two Edwards were active at the same time in Nanjemoy at a period when only a few hundred landowners were living there.  Certainly there was some sort of familial bond.  Cornelius would even name one of his own sons Edward.  But what of Cornelius?  Was one of the Edwards a brother to Cornelius?  Again, family historians have run with the notion, but none has proof.

A more tantalizing clue to the Edward-Cornelius relationship is Cornelius’ link to Stafford County, Virginia.  Edward Maddox left Charles County in the late 1680’s for Stafford County – just across the Potomac River.  This is clear from abundant land records.  He would go on to marry George Mason’s widow there, inheriting her land.  Cornelius, too, is mentioned in one Stafford County court proceeding, and then he’s later mentioned in a Charles County document as “formerly of Stafford County” – a confusing description.

I think the solution probably lies in an obscure Stafford County record.  Someone please find it.