Thomas Maddox (abt. 1650 - bef. 1688)

Born about 1650 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Rachel (Arnold) Maddox — married 1678 in Maryland

Descendants

Died before 12 Aug 1688 before about age 38 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Biography

No record of the birth or arrival of Thomas Maddox to Maryland has been found. There are several patent records for men with the Maddox surname, but no man named Thomas Maddox. There is a patent record that likely belongs to this Thomas Maddox for a 72 acre tract located in Anne Arundel County called Rachel's Hope patented in 1683.^[1]

Marriage and Family

Thomas Maddox was married to a woman named Rachel when he died in 1688. The couple were the parents of three known children:

Benjamin Maddox b. abt. 1676

Thomas Maddox b. abt 1680

Rachel Maddox b. abt 1684

Death

Thomas Maddox signed his complicated will on 6 November 1686. The will begins with the following statement: "Thomas Maddox of the county of Ann Arundel in the Province of Maryland planter who hath been for several years last part lame & decrepit of his limbs". Thomas leaves his daughter Rachell (under 16 years old) a cow and any increase but gives his wife permission to sell any calves if needed to care for his daughter. Wife Rachell Maddox was to have and hold Thomas's land for her natural life. The remainder of the will is instructions for the provision for his two sons Benjamin and Thomas, especially should his wife die before they reached their majority. His sons will inherit his plantation after his wife's death, but he wanted to make sure if his wife died before his sons were of age, the older son, Benjamin wouldn't sell any part of the plantation until his brother Thomas was of age and then only to his brother. Similarly, Thomas was not to sell his share to anyone but his brother. Implicit in the language is that Benjamin was under 17 and son Thomas was under 16. Wife Rachel was named the executor. The will was probated 12 August1688. ^[2]

Thomas Madox's estate was inventoried on 21 JUL 1688 and valued at £l6.5.0. Appraisers: Leonard Wayman, Robert Ropper.

Sources

1. ↑ Maryland Patents Liber 20 folio 51
2. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills of Maryland Liber 6 folio 6, digital image from Maryland state archives, (pages 10-11 of the pdf document)

• http://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I14180&tree=Tree1
• Jourdan, Elise Greenup. Early Families of Southern Maryland: Volume 9. Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc., 2007, page 248.
• http://mdhistory.net/msaref10/msa_te_1_002/html/msa_te_1_002-0061.html