Shadrack Dennis heirs - Household 24 - Contributed by Gail M. Walczyk
SHADRACK DENNIS

HOUSEHOLD 24

A182

Shadrack Dennis, son of Lazarus Dennis and Sarah Parker (Skinner, Vern., Court of Mayland, p. 59)., was born in Worcester County, MD circa 1748. Shadrack died between 11 January 1796 and 3 February 1796. (Walczyk Processions 1796-1816, pp. 16, 17).He married Esther Marshall circa 1773 (Nottingham Wills, p. 283). Esther was born circa 1753. Esther was the daughter of Daniel Marshall and Sarah his wife (283). In the will of Daniel Marshall Esther was named as an heir (283). An abstract reads:
MARSHALL, DANIEL - 7 Sept. 1784 - 26 Oct. 1784 - To wife Sophia Negroes & 1/2 my land during her nat. life. To son Daniel Jenepher Marshall plantation where I now live that my father left me, and part of the land I got by my wife, also a piece of land in the Swamps, also 75 acres now in the possession of my brother Peter Marshall, lent him during his life by my father, Daniel Marshall, also all my lands on Wallops Island except 25 acres. To daughter Betsey Marshall the other part of my land I got by my wife, also a small plantation in the Swamps containing 40 acres, also 25 acres on Wallops Island. Wife & 2 children residual legatees, & in case of the death of both my children without issue, wife to have whole personal estate & the land I got with her, & at her deceased the land I got by my father, Daniel Marshall, to my brother Peter & my brother Stephen & my 2 sisters Sarah & Esther, to be equally divided between them. Wife Sophia Exec. Witt: Robert Foreman, William Hill, Thomas Waters.
She married Levin Marshall on 29 May 1788 in Accomack Co., VA. (Turman Marriages, p. 179). The test reads: Marshall, Levin / Esther Dennis 29 May 1788. Circa 1790 Esther and Levin Marshall had Shadrack D. Marshall in Accomack Co., VA. Esther made a will on 13 November 1800. It was probated 1 May 1804 (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 343). An abstract of her will reads:
MARSHALL, ESTER - 13 November 1800 / 1 May 1804 - Ralph Corbin Extr. To son Shadrack D. Marshall 50 acres joining Solomon Marshall & Revel Copes. If son Shadrack dies without heirs the 50 acres goes to daughter Leah Dennis. To daughter Sarah Dennis 2 shillings. To daughter Esther Field 2 shillings. to daughter Elizabeth Corbin 2 shillings. To daughter Leah Dennis enough of moveable estate to amount to her part of her father's estate due her. To son Shadrack D. Marshall the rest of my property. Witt: John Marshall, William Rowley & Levin Mariner. Probate: Samuel Downing & John Cole securities. She was an aunt of Daniel J. Marshall (Nottingham Wills, 350).
In 1772 Shadrack Dennis bought 231 acres land on the Maryland line from Major & Tabitha Pettit (Whitelaw, p. 1370).

On 3 November 1783 Shadrack Dennis and William Bell were the Processioners for District 5 (Walczyk Processions, 1723-1792, p. 110).

On 11 January 1796 the lands of Shadrack Dennis that bordered on District 3 were processioned (Walczyk Processions 1796-1816, p. 17). The text reads in part:
Jany 11th - Lemuel Henderson & William Marshals heirs. Lines between Lemuel Henderson & William Taylors heirs (BS). Lines between Lemuel Henderson & Isaac Marshal. Lines between Lemuel Marshal & Stephen Marshal. Lines between William Marshals heirs & Willm Taylors heirs. Lines between James Collins & John Johnson Senr. Lines between Solomon Marshal & Revell Copes. Lines between Shadrick Dennis & Revell Copes. Lines between Shadrick Dennis & James Gillett. Lines between Joseph Gillett & James Gillett. Lines between Giles Copes & James Gillett, Revel Copes, Leml Henderson, Giles Copes, Isaac Marshal, Jas Collins & Jas Gillett present.
On 3 February 1796 the lands of Shadrack Dennis in District 1 were processioned (Walczyk Processions 1796-1816, p. 16). The text reads:
Feby 3rd Lines between John S. Ker & Jenny Lane. Lines between Euphamy Marshal & Jenny Lane. Lines between William Ardis & William Polk. Maryland & Virga from Swanzy Gut to end - Lines between Shadrack Dennis & James Melvin Lines between Drummond Welburn & James Melvin. Lines between Drummond Welburn & John Richardson. Lines between Drummond Welburn & Arthur Whealton. Lines between Drummond Welburn & Shadk Dennis heirs Lines between Arthur Whealton & Stephen Marshall. Lines between Arthur Whealton & William Hargis. Lines between Arthur Whealton & Jenepher Marshals heirs, James Melvin, John [-----] Samuel Payne, Arthur Whealton & William Hargis present.
Shadrack Dennis and his family lived in District 1 (Surveys, p. 29, ff. 30).

On 27 June 1796 in in Accomack Co., VA the lands of Shadrack Dennis' heirs were surveyed (Surveys, p. 29, ff. 30). The survey reads:
By Virtue of an Order of the Court of Accomack County bearing Date May 1796 Surveyed and divided the land belonging to Shadrack Dennis decd in Company with a Jury Empaniled by the Sherif which lands are Situate lying and being in the Parish and County of Accomack and bounded as follows (towit) On the S. E. by the lands of the heirs of Skinner Marshall decd on the N. E. by Same lands on the S. W. by the lands of Drummond Welburn, Wm Hargis and the heirs of Major Pellit, the aforsd lands are about one and half miles in a West direction for Swanenagut bridge for the plat, bounds, Distances and divisions see more particularly on page following
Parker Barnes DS AC

Table No1 Betsy Dennis 20 Clear'd land No1 do do 20 Woods No2 Jno Fields 15 Cleared No2 do do 10 Woods No3 Sally Dennis 83 No 4 Leah Dennis 83 Total 231 Acres
See: Eastern Shore Stuff Original Scans - Accomack County Survey Book 2 - 1794-1799 - images KK, LL.

Shadrack Dennis and Esther Marshall had the following children:

1. Esther Dennis was born circa 1775. She married twice. She married John Fields circa 1794. John was named in the survey of Shadrack Dennis' land on 27 May 1796 (Surveys, p. 30). John Field died before 28 May 1810 (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 201). On this date letters of Administration on his estate were granted to Samuel Downing. Named it the settlement of his estate were: John Field, Mrs. Field, an amount taken at the appraisement by Esther Field in her own right & for her children (201). She married second John Nock on 11 June 1816. (Turman Marriages p. 159). The text reads: Knox, John of Nicholas / Esther Fields widow of John 11 June 1816. Thomas Hargis security.
2. Salley Dennis was born circa 1778. In Esther Marshall will on 13 November 1800 Salley was named as an heir. It was probated 1 May 1804 (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 343). Salley made a will on 29 November 1823. It was probated 28 March 1825. (343). An abstract of her will reads:

DENNIS, SALLY - 29 November 1723 / 28 March 1825 - My Negroex Nalby Will & Abram free. To my brother Shadrack D. Marshall's children $80 ... Residue to my three sisters' children, Hester Nock's children, Betsy Corbin's children, & Leah Cluff's children. Sister Leah Cluff Extr. The named Extr. relinquished to John D. Field who became Administrator with Caleb Broadwater & James Melvin securities.
3. Elizabeth Dennis was born in Accomack Co., VA on 2 February 1782. She married Ralph B. Corbin circa 1802. Ralph was born circa 1777. In Esther Marshall will on 13 November 1800 Elizabeth was named as an heir. It was probated 1 May 1804 (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 343). Ralph made a will on 17 October 1815. It was probated 28 November 1815 (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 140). An abstract of his will reads:
CORBIN, RALPH - 17 October 1815 / 28 November 1815 - Wife Betsy Corbin Extr. To wife Betsy Corbin during her life or widowhood the whole of my estate & at her death or marriage to my children. My Negro man Ned, should be free at Christmas next & my estate should pay his $30 as soon as he shall be free. My Negro James shall be free after he serves my wife 7 years & 6 months, commencing the last day of October 1812. My Negro woman Easter should be free at age 25 & all the children she has previously to her freedom shall serve my heirs until they are of lawful age. My Negro woman Jude shall serve my wife 7 1/2 years, commencing on the last day of October 1812 & the children which she may have during her slavery shall serve my heirs until they are 21. My 2 Negro girls Mary & Maria shall each serve my wife until there are 25 & all their increase previous to their freedom shall serve my heirs until they are of lawful age. Witt: George Scherer, Sarah Corbin & David Miles.
4. Leah Dennis was born circa 1783. Leah died before 29 March 1858. She married Benjamin Cluff on 8 April 1803 in Accomack Co., VA (Turman Marriages, p. 60). Benjamin was born circa 1777. He died before 31 July 1815 (Miles & Miles Wills, p. 124). On this date letters of Administration on his estate were granted to Leah Cluff. Leah made a will before 29 March 1858 in Accomack Co., VA (124). It was probated 29 March 1858. An abstract of her will reads: 
CLUFF, LEAH - Note dated / 29 March 1858 - The lots & houses in Maryland (near Holms Mills) in the hands of Benjamin C. Silverthorn for him to rent out & lay out the balance for clothes or such things as the children og Littleton T. Cluff, may need & to do so until the youngest child of Littleton T. Cluff, named George, shall arrive at age 21 & then I give the lots and houses in Maryland to the children of Littleton T. Cluff provided they have lawful heirs & if not to my daughter Sarah Ann Silverthorn. Also to Littleton Cluff's children a bond due me from George P. Scarburgh & Joshua W. Boore for $800. to daughter Sarah Ann Silverthorn & to they to pay all my debts. I do not wish any Admr. on my estate, but to remain as I have left it, in the hands of the parties named. Witt: John W. Rowley, J. Henderson & Edward K. Snead. Probate: William S. Bird & Edward K. Snead securities.

Sources:

_____. Accomack County Virginia Surveyors Records #2 1794-1799

_____. Eastern Shore Stuff

Miles, Barry W., and Miles Moody K. III. Accomack Co. Va, Wills & Administrations 1800-1860. Bowie MD: Heritage Books Inc. 2000. Wills & Administrations 1800-1860

Nottingham, Stratton. Wills and Administrations of Accomack County, Virginia 1663-1800. Bowie MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990 Wills and Administrations of Accomack County, Virginia 1663-1800

Skinner, Vern. Abstracts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. Jarettville VA: Willow Bend Inc. 1999 Abstracts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland

Turman, Nora Miller. Marriage Records of Accomack County, Virginia 1776-1854, Recorded in Bonds, Licenses and Ministers' Returns. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1994. Marriage Records of Accomack County, Virginia 1776-1854, Recorded in Bonds, Licenses and Ministers' Returns

Walczyk, Gail M. Accomack County Processioners Returns 1723-1792. Coram NY" Peter's Row, 2003. Accomack County Processioners Returns 1723-1792

Walczyk, Gail M. Accomack County Processioners Returns 1797-1816. Coram NY: Peter's Row, 2004 Accomack County Processioners Returns 1797-1816

Whitelaw, Ralph T. Virginia's Eastern Shore A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties, Two Volumes. Gloucester MA: Peter Smith. Virginia's Eastern Shore A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties, Two Volumes


© Copyright 2011 by Gail M. Walczyk