Susannah (Gates) Maxey (abt. 1675 - abt. 1743)

Wife of Edward Maxey — married 1695 in Goochland,County Virginia

Descendants

Died about Sep 1743 at about age 68 in Goochland, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Teresa Davis [send private message], John Beeson [send private message], and Kari Lemons [send private message]

Biography

Susannah (Gates) Maxey was a Virginia colonist.

Susannah was married to Edward Maxey (abt.1674-abt.1740) and is mentioned in her husband's will as "my loving wife Susannah."

There is no proof as to who her parents were. There are many trees that have a John Gates as her father, but there are no sources or proof to that contention.

There is no proof of her birth location. It could have been in Virginia or elsewhere.

Given the age of her husband and of her children, it is likely that she was born about 1675.

Susannah's will was written by her on May 31, 1743 in Goochland County, Virginia and it was proved on September 20, 1743. Therefore, her death occurred during the summer of 1743.

Birth

There was a Susannah Gates christened, Oct.19, 1651, St. Mary's Aldermary with St. Thomas the Apostle, London England. Parents listed on record, John Gates and Susanna Gates^{[1] [2]} However, it seems unlikely that this is Susannah Maxey since that would mean she started having children at age 45 and her last child was born at age 68. It seems more likely that she was born at least 25 years later and similar in age to her husband.

Death

Based on the date of her will (written and proved), Susannah died between May 31, 1743 and September 20, 1743 in Goochland, Virginia Colony. FindAGrave says that she is buried in the Huguenot Cemetery in Manakin, Virginia.^[3] However, there is no tombstone, burial record or source provided. At least two sources ^{[4] [5]} indicate that there are no Maxeys buried in the Manakin Huguenot Cemetery.

Parents

Gates is not the proven name of Susannah - it has been suggested that it could be Gates/Gaites, or could be something entirely different. Some facts that may support Susannah's maiden name being Gates:
One of the witnesses to Susannah Maxey's will was James Gates, probably the son of John Gates, both of whom were mentioned in a court petition of William Bradshaw directed to Susannah's son, Edward Maxey, Jr., in 1724. This link between the Gates and Maxey families gives credence to the claim of some genealogists that Susannah's maiden name was Gates.

William Bradshaw by petition sets forth that John Gates bequeathed the care of his two sons William and James to Charles Snugs, who did appoint the petitioner his sole executor and residuary legatee. Edward Maxey, Jr. hath seduced from him the said children, and praying they be ordered to return to him. Court says he has no right to guardianship of the said children. Church wardens of Henrico Parish bind out William and James Gates, sons of John Gates, dec'd. ^[6]

Also, a William Gaites is listed as owning land next to Susannah and her husband Edward Maxey (see Map attached to this profile)^[7]

Relationship to Sir Thomas Gates

There are also trees that say she is the granddaughter of Sir Thomas Gates, the early Governor of Virginia. That has been proven to be not true. Sir Thomas Gates had one son Stephen, who was left in England when Sir Thomas and his wife traveled to Virginia. His wife was one of many that died en-route to Virginia. He never married again, left to go back to England in 1614 and never returned. He died in 1622 in the Netherlands.

Thomas Gates of "The Swan"

Another Thomas gate arrived in Jamestown on the Swan in 1610. He married Elizabeth and some tree's have these 2 as the grandparents of Susannah. Thomas and Elizabeth are listed on the 1624 tax roll. I emailed the Jamestown Society and asked why they were not on their head of household list. I got back an email that said that there was no record in the Jamestown records, of any children born to this couple. And no-one who claims to be descended from them can provide proof.

Will of Susannah Maxey

This will made in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and forty-three in the sixteenth year of the reign of our most Sovereign Lord King George by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland, Defender of the faith. In the name of God Amen I Susannah Maxey being very sick and weak of body though of perfect sense and memory, God be praised for it, I do willing and heartily give and ... my soul to God who gave it me and whom I hope will receive it and my body to the earth from whence it came there to be decently buried at the desecration of my executors.

ITEM, I give to my son John Maxey one pound one shilling and six pace and half a dozen pewter plates. 

ITEM, I give to my son William Maxey one pound one shilling and six pence and half a dozen pewter plates. 

ITEM, I give to my son Nathaniel Maxey one feather bed and furniture. 

ITEM, I give to my daughter Elizabeth Radford my trunk and all my wearing clothes. 

ITEM, I give to my granddaughter Susannah Epperson my sidesaddle. 

ITEM, I give to my son Walter Maxey my other feather bed and furniture and two dishes. 

ITEM, I give to my grandson James Barns one heifer of two years old. 

ITEM, I give to my grandson Charles Maxey one young mare of one year old. 

ITEM, I give to my son Silvanus all the remainder of my estate and I desire that my estate should not be appraised.

And I do appoint and constitute Silvanus Maxey to be my sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereunto I set my had and seal this 31 day of May 1743. Susannah X Maxey her mark, James Cates, Thomas Spraggin, Eleanor O Coyel.

At a court held for Goochland County September 20, 1743 James Gates and Thomas Spraggin proved this writing to be the last will and testament of Susannah Maxey which was ordered to be recorded.^[8][9]

Will Commentary

Betty McAndrews wrote, "What Susannah lacked in spelling, she made up for in clarity. She gave several items to her children and grandchildren, "Grandatter Susanah Epperson" got her Side Saddel. Silvanus was the Sole Executor for her will dated May 31, 1743 in Goochland County, Virginia.

Family

Edward Maxey (husband)

Will of Edward Maxey^[10]
Dated: 18 April 1737
Proved: 201 May 1740
Goochland County, Colony of Virginia
Son: John - land on N branch of Jones Creek ; after his death to his & Sarah's (wife) two sons, Sampson Maxey and Edward Maxey
Son: William Maxey - the remainder of a land tract adjoining William Landon and John Smith
Wife: Susannah - land she now lives on and the plantation ; after her death to my sons Walter (the part adjoining John Ratford's line) and Silvanus
Son: Nathaniel - one feather bed
Grand-daughter: Susannah Ratford - one feather bed
John Dunkin - a mare of three years old (when John became of age)
Witnesses: John Capper, Henry Bryon and John Mossum
Executors: Wife Susannah and son William

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.sweenyfiles.com/2010/06/rev-haute-wyatt-to-charlemagne-43.html.
2. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYBF-42Q : 19 March 2020), John Gates in entry for Susanna Gates, 1651.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 October 2020), memorial page for Susannah Gates Maxey (31 Mar 1677–31 May 1743), Find A Grave: Memorial #152131285, citing Huguenot Cemetery, Manakin, Goochland County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by d yancey (contributor 47108011).
4. ↑ http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/powhatan/cemeteries/manakin.txt
5. ↑ https://virginiagravestones.org/cemetery.php?cemID=2510
6. ↑ Henrico Co.,Va.,Minute Bk. 1719-24, 6 April 1724, p.335 and Clark, op.cit., p.1
7. ↑ https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Maxey-26-4
8. ↑ http://mcclure.freeservers.com/susmaxwill.htm Susannah's will is in Goochland County, will book 4/212-213. Her will is dated 31 day of May 1743. It was recorded September 20, 1743.
9. ↑ Deed books (with wills, inventories, etc.), 1728-1901; general indexes to deeds, wills, etc., 1728-1969: "Deed books (with wills, inventories, etc.), 1728-1901; general indexes to deeds, wills, etc., 1728-1969"
   Catalog: Deed books (with wills, inventories, etc.), 1728-1901; general indexes to deeds, wills, etc., 1728-1969 Deed books [with wills, inventories, etc.], v. 4-5 1741-1749
   Film number: 007645025 > image 125 of 602
   FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9P6-9S5Z (accessed 15 October 2022)
10. ↑ Deed books (with wills, inventories, etc.), 1728-1901; general indexes to deeds, wills, etc., 1728-1969: "Deed books (with wills, inventories, etc.), 1728-1901; general indexes to deeds, wills, etc., 1728-1969"
    Catalog: Deed books (with wills, inventories, etc.), 1728-1901; general indexes to deeds, wills, etc., 1728-1969 Deed books [with wills, inventories, etc.], v. 1-3 1728-1742
    Film number: 007645024 > image 610 of 743
    FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99P6-9QY3 (accessed 21 July 2023)

• Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia, Part Two, 1737-1781, by Benjamin B. Weisiger III (pg.133)
• Goochland Co VA Deeds & Wills, Bk. 4, pp.212-13
• Clark, Edythe Maxey, THE MAXEYS OF VIRGINIA: A Genealogical History of the Descendants of Edward and Susannah Maxey, Third Edition, Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, Inc., 2000.
• Wikipedia article on Gov Thomas Gates.
• Encyclopedia Virginia McCartney, M., Sir Thomas Gates (d. 1622). (2012, September 20).
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 06 December 2017, 18:13), entry for Mary Susannah Gates(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LLHF-Y8Y); contributed by various users.
• http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/af/pedigree_view.asp?recid=11373029&familyid=4507631
• https://www.geni.com/people/Susannah-Maxey/6000000009332530924
• Ancestry Family Trees, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members
• Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;
• Edmund West, comp., Family Data Collection - Marriages, Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2001;
• Edmund West, comp., Family Data Collection - Births, Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2001;
• Heritage Consulting. Millennium File Publication, Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2003;

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Cheryl Caudill for starting this profile
• Vicki Gann.
• Teresa Davis,
• Thank you to Kari Lemons for creating WikiTree profile Gates-Maxey-1 through the import of maxeyfamily.ged on Jun 26, 2013.
• Thank you to Stephanie Sanchez Gaites Gates-1 on 17 Jul 13.
• This profile developed through the merging of Gates-1405 and Gates-624 into Gates-187. Profiles merged by Tom Bredehoft, 12/9/2013
• Delmas Maxey
• Gates-1645 was created by James Shannon through the import of Shannon Direct.ged on Mar 28, 2014.