Francis Posey (abt. 1615 - abt. 1654)

Born about 1615 in London, England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Posey — married 1643 (to 1654) in Charles County, Maryland

Descendants

Died about Mar 1654 at about age 39 in Charles County, Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Murlen Posey [send private message]

Biography

Francis was born about 1615 probably in London England. He came to Virginia from London and died about 1654 in Charles County, Maryland.

Francis married Elizabeth (no last name). They had 2 children: Anne born ca. 1651 and John born ca. 1649.

The first record found of Francis Posey is on July 19, 1628 in the Minute Book of the Court of Governors in London, England. The record is for Bridewell and reads: “Francis Posey by warr(ant) by Lo(rd) Maior (Mayor) to go to Virginia, to be kept till he may be sent away”. “Bridewell Prison and Hospital was established in a former royal palace in 1553 with two purposes: the punishment of the disorderly poor and housing of homeless children in the city of London”. “The court of Governors of Bridewell and Bethlem Hospital met every two or three weeks ...The record of each meeting of the court starts with a list of the governors present and then includes a list of offenders currently kept in Bridewell Prison and the court’s decisions about what to do with them”...petty offenders were committed to Bridewell by beadles, constables, and other figures of authority. From the record, it would appear that the Lord Mayor of London had sentenced Francis Posey to be sent to Virginia, but to be kept at Bridewell until he was sent. If Francis was also a minor or orphan, he may have spent several years at Bridewell before being sent to Virginia. Virginia started granting rights for transportation in 1634. Francis Posey was transported to Virginia by 1637 when William Farrar, son and heir of William Farrar, deceased, received land for transportation of Fr. Posey and 39 other persons. (Minutes of the Court of Governors, 1559-1689, page 81). (Genealogy of Posey Family of Charles County, Maryland by Fredric Z. Saunders, 5/11/2017).

Charles County Circuit Court liber H, page 275, 31 Jan 1679; Petition of John Mould of Charles County - recites that a certain Francis Posey of Charles County died leaving a widow Elizabeth and two children, one of whom is the wife of the petitioner - Elizabeth widow of Francis Posey married John Belaine of Charles County where “Will” was proved 3 Nov 1663 - The said Elizabeth thereafter married a certain Alexander Smith from who John Mould, the petitioner, claims his wife’s (Anne) inheritance.(Test.proc.Lib.11,fol,100,108,172)

Please Google “Genealogy of Posey Family of Charles County, Maryland” for additional Posey history.

Francis was the grandfather of Susannah Posey (Philpott). She was the wife of Edward Philpott II (c. 1660-1718), Charles County, Maryland.

Francis Posey was an Assemblyman, member of the Maryland House of Burgess. He represented “St, Clements Hundred” in the Maryland Assembly from 1641 to 1649 and Burgess from 1650 to 1654. [1] Fredric Z. Saunders 1234 Waterside Cove #21 Midvale, UT 84047-4293

Francis POSEY was transported to VA by 1637 when William FARRAR, son and heir of Wiliam FARRAR, deceased, received land for transportation of Fr. POSEY and 39 other persons.1) Francis transported himself into MD in 1640, and a warrant was issued for land in what was Charles County. 2) In 1650 Francis POSEY demanded 50 acres "in right of his now wife whom he bought of Mr. Fenwick whose Servant she was being for her Transportation into this Province about 7 Years Since."3) Claims have been made by some that Francis was born in France, that he was a son of Marteyn POSCHET of London, and descended from the Poschet family of Voyaux, Cambrai, France. No one has ever provided evidence that Francis POSEY of MD is related to Marteyn POSCHET, or indication that his ancestry was French, and not English. No records in VA or MD did he use the spelling POSCHET. It is has also been shown that the alleged ancestry of Marteyn POSCHET in France was based on an 18th century fraud to buy a nobility title. 4) Francis POSEY died between 3 Mar. 1653 [1653/4] and 23 May 1654 in Charles Co., MD. 5) He married Elizabeth, who probably died before 1669. There are claims that her maiden name was "FOSTER" apparently because William FERRAR claimed land for transporting 40 persons at the same time he claimed land for transporting Francis POSEY to Virginia. One of these was Elizabeth FOSTER. There are no indications that they even knew each other, much less that were transported at the same time, only that William Ferrar claimed land for them at the same time he did for others. There are also no indications that she could be indentical to the Elizabeth, last name unknown, that Cuthbert FENWICK transported into MD 3 years after Francis was already in MD. The other claim to Elizabeth's maiden name is HUMPHREY, based on the fact that John named a Son Humphrey. Humphrey was a common given name in this time period in MD, and to make an assumption that was Elizabeth's maiden name without additional evidence is unwarranted.

Children of Francis POSEY and Elizabeth:

1. John POSEY b. Charles Co., MD ca. 1649; d. before 4 July 1689. m. Susanna. She was NOT Susanna BELAINE, or a daughter of John BELAINE. Records regarding John BELAINE's will and estate, and a discussion of this subject, are on his page below.
2. Anne POSEY b. say 1651 Charles Co., MD; m. John MOULD ca. 1669. d. before 1683.

James Wade EMISON in his book stated John was born 20 July 1652. He also listed (with a question mark) that John first married "Lees Amalie BELAINE. No birth records were recorded in Charles County at that time. As John signed for his share of his step-father John BELAINE's estate in 1670, and was a juror in 1672, both of which required he be age 21, the claimed 1652 birth would be in error. As listed under BELAINE, the only records found for that surname in Charles County are John, his wife Elizabeth, and their two children. There are no records to be found of a person named "Lees Amalie". In old handwriting, a capital S and L can look very similar. A handwritten "u" (with or without loops) can look very similar to an "ee". A handwritten "nn" can be mistaken for an "m". That gives: S u s a nn a L ee s A m a

It is believed someone misread the name "Susanna" and the word after it as "Lees Amalie".

Elizabeth, widow of Francis POSEY, secondly married John BELAINE who died between 23 May and 3 Nov. 1663 Charles Co., MD, the dates of his will was written and probated. John BELAINE and Elizabeth had children:

1. Nicholas BELAINE b. 10 Nov. 1658, m. Mary ca. 1685; he d. 1689-1690 Charles Co., MD. She was born ca. 1665 (age 60 in 1725 deposition); She m.2. Benjamin POSEY ca. 1690. She m.3. John MILLER. 2. Grace BELAINE m. Giles Collier ; living 1688.

Elizabeth, widow of Francis POSEY and John BELAINE married a third time about 1665 to Alexander SMITH. Alexander SMITH and Elizabeth had children:

1. Elizabeth SMITH b. say 1665; m. before 1688 Jonas RIVETT.
2. Mary SMITH b. ca. 1667; m. (ca. 1685?)48 Edward TURNER; she d. before 1702; Edward TURNER d. ca. 1720 Westmoreland Co., VA.
3. Sarah SMITH b. say 1670; m.1. 1688-1690 Henry HAWKINS, Jr.; m.2. ca. 1702-1706 Barton SMOOT.

John POSEY (1649) and wife Susanna had children:

1. Benjamin POSEY b. ca. 1668; m. Mary, widow of Nicholas BELAINE; he died by 21 Mar. 1716 [1716/7] Charles Co., MD.
2. Susanna POSEY b. ca. 1670; m. Edward PHILPOTT ca. 1687;38 d. before 1708.
3. Elizabeth POSEY b. ca. 1676; either she or sister Mary m. Charles ALLISON/ALLANSON)
4. Mary POSEY b. ca. 1678; either she or sister Elizabeth m. Charles ALLISON/ALLANSON)
5. Jane POSEY b. ca. 1681; m. Edward CORNISH; living 1713.
6. Humphrey POSEY b. 1 Feb. 1683 Charles Co., MD; m. Sarah; d. between 1 Mar. 1717 [1717/8] and 24 May 1718 Charles Co., MD.
7. John POSEY b. 30 July 1685; m.1. Lydia (SHUTTLEWORTH) widow of Richard ROBINS ; m.2. Elizabeth MADDOX; d. between 6 Jan. and 17 Feb. 1759 Charles Co., MD.

Court records on 13 Jan 1690 (1691) state John POSEY had a will, but it does not survive. The petition of Susanna AUSTIN, als. POSEY, Exect. of the Last Will and Testament of John POSEY, stated: "That whereas the sd: John POSEY by his last Will & testament in Writeing did devise & give unto two of his sons two parcells of land and the rest of his Estate hee did give & bequeath unto his wife the sd Susanna POSEY during her widdowhood and in Case shee should marry then what was remaineing of the sd Estate to be divided amongst the rest of his Children as by the last will & testament...." Susanna remarried Thomas AUSTIN, and the court allowed her a one third share. On 10 Mar. 1690, a balance from the estate of 8893 lbs. tob. was divided between the widow Susanna (1/3=2964 lbs.) and 5929 lbs. between Susanna, wife of Edward PHILPOTT, Elizabeth POSEY, Mary POSEY, Jane POSEY, Humphrey POSEY, and John POSEY for their "part and proportion of the remaining part of the sd Estate." Note that Humphrey and John were included in the distribution. The court record shows the that this distribution was to be divided among "the rest of his children," and did not include "two of his sons." The statement about"give unto two of his sons" (not "his two sons") also implies there were more than two sons. One of these would be Benjamin. The other probably died unmarried, and his share would have descended to his eldest brother Benjamin. Some researchers had placed Benjmain as a son of Francis and Elizabeth, rather than of John and Susanna. See John BELAINE's will. He had left half his estate to his wife and her children. The other court documents there show there were only two children of Francis and Elizabeth, those being Anne and John. John BAYNE in his 1700 will bequeathed 2 tracts bought of Benjamin POSEY, that were listed as the 100 acre Muddle's Branch, and 100 acres (unnamed) that John POSEY had obtained from Nicholas BELLAINE by deed. The unnamed 100 acres was probably part of Belaine's Hill that Nicholas BELAINE sold John POSEY in 1679. Middle Branch was patented to John POSEY in 1683. For Benjamin POSEY to have obtained title to those two tracts from John POSEY, it would be by having inherited them from him. John POSEY in 1673 purchased the tract "St. John's" from Thomas ALLANSON. This tract would also appear to have have descended to his son Benjamin. Benjamin's son John in his 1716 will left "St. John's" to his brother Francis. Additionally, some researchers have listed the births of John, Benjamin, and Belaine, sons of this Benjamin and his wife Mary, widow of Nicholas BELAINE as various dates in the 1680s. Simply, that can not be. Mary by her first husband Nicholas BELAINE had two children whose births were recorded in the court records, Jemima Mar. 1686 and Elizabeth Feb. 1688. After her marriage to Benjamin POSEY, they had recorded the births of Susanna on 1 June 1691 and Mary on 10 Oct. 1693. It was about this time that births stopped being recorded in the court records. Most likely John, Benjamin, and Belaine were born in the period from ca. 1695 to 1699. For John's three daughters that were unmarried when he died, the following is known. In 1720, John POSEY appealed to the court for better care of 3 orphan relatives CORNISH, former wards of John GRAY. Richard, John, and Elizabeth CORNISH were bound to Richard PRICE, William STONE, and Thomas ALLANSON, respectively. These would be children of Edward CORNISH and wife Jane. Edward CORNISH was deceased by 20 June 1713 when Jane was administratrix. Her sureties were Humphrey POSEY, and Thomas AUSTEEN. That the 1720 record called the orphans relatives of John POSEY, and Jane CORNISH chose Humphrey POSEY (who would be her brother) and Thomas AUSTIN (who would be her step-father) as her sureties, the circumstantial evidence is strong that Jane, daughter of John POSEY, and Jane, wife of Edward CORNISH are identical. Susanna, the widow of John POSEY, and later of Thomas AUSTIN died before 13 Oct. 1716 when as Susanna ASHTON, administration was granted on her estate to Humphrey POSEY. It can be proved that one daughter of John POSEY, married Charles ALLANSON (ALLISON). Charles ALLISON in his 1698 will, stated for his "father-in-law" Thomas ASTEN to be guardian of his son Thomas ALLISON. Thomas AUSTIN would be his step father-in-law. In 1722 Thomas ALLANSON/ALLISON sold all his right in the tract "St. John" to Francis POSEY. This tract had been patented by Thomas' paternal grandfather Thomas ALLANSON, but sold to his maternal grandfather John POSEY. Thomas ALLISON's only right in this tract was by being the the only child of his mother, a daughter of John POSEY and Susanna. When Thomas ALLISON died about 1733, John POSEY and Benjamin POSEY signed the inventory as next-of-kin.36 Note also that Thomas ALLISON was guardian in 1720 for Elizabeth CORNISH, who would be his cousin. Whether Charles ALLISON married Elizabeth or Mary is unknown. Further records have not been found for either.

Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #106039136
• Virginia Land Office Patents 1:537, Francis Posey was transported to Virginia by 1637 when William Farrar, son and heir of William Farrar, deceased, received land for transportation of Fr. Posey and 39 other persons.(Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume One, page 60, by Nell Marion Nugent).
• Genealogy of Posey Family of Charles County, Maryland by Fredric Z. Saunders. Charles County, Maryland land records H1:248-249, FHL microfilm 0,013,747. Children: John Posey (ca. 1649) and Anne Posey (ca.1651).

• • Archives of Maryland, Volume 0010, Page 320, Judicial & Testamentary Business of the Provincial Court, 1649/50-1657, this 3rd of March, 1653; Francis Posey in the province of Maryland Planter doe bind and make over unto Edward Swan etc., etc., Volume 10, Page 320. Archives of Maryland, Volume 0010, Page 382; 23 March, 1654, Mr.Nathaniell Pope, by William Johnson his attorney, demandeth six hundred and sixty pounds of Tobacco & Caske out of the Estate of Francis Posey, deceased.(This shows Francis Posey alive on 3 March 1653 and deceased by 23 March 1654.)
  • Cavaliers & Pioneers, Patent Book #1, Part 1.
  • Cavaliers & Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1666, by Nell Marion Nugent.
  • Archives of Maryland, Volume 1, Pages 260, 261, 273 & 284: Assembly Proceedings, April 1650. Page 260: “All & every the freemen of St. Marie’s County have beene summoned according to the direction of these summons & have made choyce of these Burgesses following for every hundred viz. ffor St Clem hundred M ffrancis Poesy”. Page 176: “Assembly Ptoceedings, September 1642. 12th September 1642 morning assembled: Francis Posir”.Page 284: “The Committee’s Bill of charges this Assembly brought in 27 April, allowing: to ffrancis Poesy 28 dayes att 50 1 p day 1400”. Page 261: The Burgesses assembled have nominated & chosen mr Will Bretton Clarke of the howse, who called the Burgesses by their severall names as followed her viz. S Clem Mr ffrancis Poesy”. (shows Francis Posey as a member of Burgess).
  • FHL microfilm 13064, MD Patents Liber ABH: 42 “16th July 1650, Francis Posey demandeth fifty acres of land in right of his now Wife whom he bought of Mr. Fenwick whose Servant she was, being for her transportation into this Province about 7 years since....” She was transported as Elizabeth (no last name) into MD. In 1643.
• Virginia land office patents 1:537.
• MD Patents ABH:10, FHL microfilm 0,013,064.
• MD Patents ABH:42, FHL microfilm 0,013,064.
• Michael Allison, 1 Feb. 2000 post to Genforum.
• Archives of Maryland 10:382.
• Charles Co., MD land records H1:248-249, FHL microfilm 0,013,747. See summary of this record on BELAINE page.
• Based on having to be age 21 to sign for his share of his step-father's estate in #6 in 1670, but not having signed previously in 1669 when his sister signed for her share.
• Estimate from her approaching marriage in 1669 given in #6.
• Charles Co., MD land records P1:199-200, FHL microfilm 0,013,749.
• Baltimore Co., MD land records RM#HS:62, FHL microfilm 0,013,323. John Mould's wife was Jane when he signed that deed.
• John Bolayn will, MD wills 1:246, FHL microfilm 0,012,841.
• James Wade Emison, Supplement (1962) to The Emison Families, Revised (1954), (Ann Arbor, MI: Edwards Brothers, 1962).
• Alexander Smith deposition, Charles Co., MD land records H1:228, FHL microfilm 0,013,747. Smith stated Nicholas Belaine had reached his full age of 21 on 10 Nov. 1679, and requested the plantation [willed by his father] John Belaine be delivered to him.
• Charles Co., MD land records P1:211 and Q1 1/2:12 & 14, FHL microfilm 0,013,749. Nicholas Belayne and wife Mary had children Jemima born 21/25 Mar. 1685 and Elizabeth born 25 Feb. 1688 [1688/89?].
• Margaret Brown Klapthor and Paul Dennis Brown, The History of Charles County, Maryland, (La Plata, Maryland: Charles County Tercentenary, Inc, 1958), 39. Benjamin signed a petition on 28 Nov. 1689.
• Charles Co., MD land records P1:212, and Q1 1/2:17 &22 FHL microfilm 0,013,749. Mary had recorded births by her second husband Benjamin Posey of Susanna born 1 June 1691 and Mary born 10 Sep. 1693.
• Emison, 216, citing Charles Co., MD land records P2:296, 15 Mar. 1725/6 deposition of Mary Miller regarding John Posey and her then husband Nicholas Belaine replacing a boundary marker. Note this event would have been ca. 1685-1689.
• Mary Posey will, MD wills 18:342-343, FHL microfilm 0,012,847. Mary Posey [unmarried] named among others, her "mother Mary Miller."
• Charles Co., MD land records M2:241-242, FHL microfilm 0,013,753. Power of attorney from John Miller to "sons-in-law" [step-sons] Benjamin Posey and Francis Posey giving them rights over the estate of his late wife Mary Miller.
• Alexander Smith will, Charles Co., MD land records Q1:2-6, FHL microfilm 0.013,749. Sarah Smith was single when the will was written, but qualified on 11 Mar. 1689 [1689/90] as the wife of Henry Hawkins, Jr. as executrix.
• Archives of Maryland 10:320.
• Charles Co., MD land records D2:41-42, FHL microfilm 0,013,752. Barton Smoot and wife Sarah sold tract to Henry Hawkins, Jr., "son of the sd. Sarah."
• Charles Co., MD land records Q1:22-23, FHL microfilm 0,013,749.
• Charles Co., MD land records Q1:24-25, FHL microfilm 0,013,749.
• Charles Co., MD land records Q1:26, FHL microfilm 0,013,749.
• John Bayne will, MD wills 11:217, FHL microfilm 0,012,844.
• Charles Co., MD land records H1:275, FHL microfilm 0,013,747.
• MD Patents 29:313-314, FHL microfilm 0,013,075.
• Charles Co., MD land records E1:112, FHL microfilm 0,013,747.
• John Posey will, MD wills 14:270, FHL microfilm 0,012,846.
• Emison, 215, citing Charles Co., MD land records K2:71.
• MD Testamentary Proceedings 22:235, FHL microfilm 0,012,935.
• Charles Allison will, MD wills 7:393, FHL microfilm 0,012,843.
• Charles Co., MD land records L2:21, FHL microfilm 0,013,753.
• MD Testamentary Proceedings 23:66, FHL microfilm 0,012,935.
• Thomas Allenson inventory, MD inventories 17:349, FHL microfilm 0,012,867.
• John Posey will, MD wills 14:270, FHL microfilm 0,012,846. This was John, son of Benjamin and Mary. That he possessed (by inheritance) tracts previously owned by his father Benjamin, Benjamin was deceased before this date.
• Charles Co., MD land records P1:210, FHL microfilm 0,013,749. Edward and Susanna Philpott had a son Edward born 14 Jan. 1687 [1687/8]?.
• William Smallwood account, MD inventories and accounts 28:128-130, FHL microfilm 0,012,924. Edward Phillpott and [second] wife Ellinor presented their account on her former husband.
• Charles Co., MD land records P1:211, FHL microfilm 0,013,749.
• MD Testamentary Proceedings 23:207, FHL microfilm 0,012,935.
• Charles Co., MD land records H2:126, FHL microfilm 0,013,753.
• MD Testamentary Proceedings 23:206, FHL microfilm 0,012,935.
• Thomas Shuttleworth Posey deposition, Charles Co., MD land records D4:565-566, FHL microfilm 0,013,758.
• Charles Co., MD land records S3:669-670, FHL microfilm 0,013,757.
• John Posey will, MD wills 30:641-642, FHL microfilm 0,012,853.
• MD Testamentary Procedings 11:100 FHL microfilm 0,012,933. See summary of this document on Belaine page.
• Prince George's Co., MD land records C:204, FHL microfilm 0,014,247. Son Arthur was of age by 21 Feb. 1707 [1707/8?] when he sold the tract Batchelors Harbor willed his "late mother" by Alexander Smith.
• Sarah Palmer will, Westmoreland Co., VA deeds and wills 6:313-314, FHL microfilm 0,034,261.
• Westmoreland Co., VA 1705-1721 court orders: 346, FHL microfilm 0,034,293. Jane Turner, granddaughter of Sarah Palmer in #49, qualified as executrix in 1718. She was a daughter of Edward Turner, by his second marriage. She was probably at least 16 in 1718 to qualify as executrix.
• Westmoreland Co., VA 1705-1721 court orders: 398, FHL microfilm 0,034,923.

POSCHET HISTORY from France

IMPORTANT: POSCHET HISTORY from France Posted by: Michael Allison dma12 [at] bellsouth [dot] net Date: February 01, 2000 at 22:35:05 933 of 3358

This is lengthy, but worth the time for those who are sincerely interested in discovering the the facts about the origins of Francis Posey.

Regardless of the fact that the names of his parents are not yet proved, and that we should stick to that task before attempting to move on to even earlier generations, the following POSCHET material will be of much interest to some of you.

It is taken from a rather startling expose of the alleged noble POSCHET ancestry. The book is entitled "Les Polchet, Poschet ou Poschet, une Dynastie de Maitres de Forges de L'entre-Sambre-et-Meuse". Publisher: Genealogicum Belgicum, Brussells, Belgium, 1983.

Obviously, this book was written in French, but fortunately, a wealthy cousin of mine paid a French professor dearly to translate all relevant chapters. Afterward, the French-born wife of another genealogist cousin of mine read both the originals and the translation and agreed with the quality and accuracy of the translation. The book is available to the public at the LDS Library in Salt Lake City. Possibly you can order this on microfilm. If any of you read French, jump on this! If not, find someone who does! You'll be a bit surprised by it all.

To avoid going into lengthy details here in this limited space, suffice it to say that this work builds a solid case against the possibility that the alleged noble Poschet ancestry has a grain of truth in it.

Unbeknownst to many, that illustrious POSCHET pedigree many of us embrace is not so ancient at all. Check the French records! It was not established until 1749 by PIERRE JOSEPH POSCHET who presented records in attempt to get a letter patent of nobility. You see, there was NO noble lineage before 1749 and Pierre's effort to become a nobleman. Somehow he pulled it off. On July 9, 1749, Sir Andre-Francois Jauerens, Knight, Counselor to Her Imperial Majesty the Queen, Executor of the position of King of Arms, approved the application for a title, in spite of the fact that even then the Poschet family's alleged noble ancestry was PROTESTED as invalid (in 1749!). But the deal went through in spite of arguments against it. Apparently, the French government was besieged at that time with wealthy families wanting titles of nobility and they were churning out titles left and right.

But not everyone fell for the scam. On May 28, 1665, Mr. Can den Leene, Knight, Councilor to His Majesty the King and his first King-at-Arms, reported that he was not able to authenticate the Poschet's claim of nobility. He stated that he had not found any verified, legal titles in the Poschet's history. Eighty years later, the French genealogist, Bernard Cherin, who later became appointed as historian to His Majesty the King, wrote a letter on January 9, 1746 stating that the documents used to establish the noble lineage were, in so many words, fakes that had been given the appearance of authentic documents.

That's just skimming the surface. There's much more. All evidence coming out of France states "Fraud". I've seen the case they built in this book and I've convinced. I think that we fell hook line and sinker for a scam -- just like the French government did in 1749! I would like to be proved wrong if someone can do it. I don't care where Francis Posey came from, as long as I get to know!

Note

Note: BK5# 1973 Chart Line #14: Francis Posey, son of Martin Poschet and Anne de Colonet, was born around 1615, France*. He is assigned to original immigrant status of the Posey families in America by most sources, including Drake, 1982. We have seen published immigrant lists with Francis coming first to Virginia, then re-immigrating to Maryland.

According to Drake and a 1966 non-copyrighted work done by the West Chester, Pennsylvania office of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Francis became a member of the Maryland House of Burgesses and died in Maryland in 1654* His wife was Elizabeth Humphrey. She died in 1676*.

Drake:"...Francois (Francis) Posey - Obtained boat passage through William Farrar, Sr., whose family was associated with the Virginia Company. Francois landed in Henrico County, Va in 1636. He moved to what is now Charles County, Md in 1640 where he acquired land and became the representative of his district - known as St Clements Hundred - in Md. legislature, known as the House of Burgesses...Francois (Francis) married Elizabeth _____?. Elizabeth was brought to America by Cuthbert Fynwick as an indentured servant. Her debt was paid off by her husband, Francis. Marriage date unknown but it likely occurred in Maryland...Francis died in 1654 -leaving wife and 3 children, Benjamin, John, and Anne (perhaps named for Anne De Colnet Poschet, her grandmother)..."

As you can see, if you're taking notes, only three children are mentioned as being children of Francis and Elizabeth. This creates a guessing challenge. Other sources are no more useful at connecting the generations between Francis and Micajah (b. 1742). What you see here is our best guess as to missing ancestors.

Drake continues, though, "...Elizabeth is said to have been granddaughter of Laurence Humphrey of Oxford, England. Her father's (first) name not known. The name "Humphrey" has been used as a given name of at least 15 Posey sons, suggesting connection with

early Posey. No existing records. Elizabeth married twice more after death of Francis and died around 1676. Her second husband, John Belaine (d. 1663, 9 years after Francis). Elizabeth was mother to 2 children by John Belaine, Nicholas and Grace. Nicholas married Mary (?), Nicholas died, Mary (?) married Benjamin Posey, the oldest son of Francis Posey and wife Elizabeth ____?..."

The 1966 DAR source contributes this quote, "The date of Francis Posey's death has not been ascertained. The number of his children and their names have not been recorded so far as we can find but has been definitely established that he was the direct line from which Mickagee Posey descended, as Francis Posey is recorded as having a son Micajah."

We personally have had a lot of fun with that quote in our research. We are presuming that, as silly as it may appear, it rings with a certain amount of truth. Published and unpublished sources all have their origins in the oral tradition. There are any number of reasons why birth records may not have been found identifying more than three of Francis' children. The "beginnings" of the Posey line in America are further complicated by the fact that there are no more findings of Posey's in the Micajah line linking Francis and Micajah directly. We have therefore made some assumptions and simply added three "Micajah"'s. There may be more, almost 100 years have to be bridged.

Meanwhile, the DAR source does add that Francis Posey's home built by him in 1650 at Swan's point on the Potomac River, Furtherest side of Near's Creek was still standing as late as 1928 and in possession of descendants at the time.

Three known children:

1) Benjamin Posey, son of Francis (the immigrant) Posey/Poschet, born c. 1648, Maryland*, married Mary (Belaine). Benjamin died c. 1715*. Three children included: a) Benjamin Posey born 1689; b) Belaine Posey born c. 1690*; c) Francis Posey born c. 1701;

2) John Posey, son of Francis Posey and (?) Elizabeth Humphrey, born 1652*, married 1679, in Charles County, MD*, Susanna (Posey). John died 1689*.

Known children included:

1) Humphrey Posey born 1683

2) John Posey born 30 JUL 1685*

3) Anne Posey. Anne/Annie placed as daughter of Francis by Betty Drake Posey, Posey Family in America, 1981

4) Micagee (I) Posey born c.1638-48 - Chart Line #16.

*Sources: P-3, P-4, P-5

notes on Francis from unknown source book, copies of materials quoted available at Hopewell Village Posey file. written c. 1932. Traces lineage to William Campbell Posey. Presumed to be family authored work from that line.

"...In the "Narratives of Early Maryland," page 275, may ge found the following, "that St. Mary's County was erected in 1637 and that ffrances Poesey was a member of the Lower House of Burgesses, representing St. Clements Hundred from 1640 to 1640." The name is variously spelled Posie, Posir, Poesey, Posey.

BIRTH: According to unsourced genealogy.com WFT v126 #0107: Francis' birth was in Voyaux Cambrai Frances.

DEATH: According to unsourced genealogy.com WFT v126 #0107: Francis' death was in St Mary's Co Maryland

1601. Elizabeth HUMPHREY was born 1 in 1625 in ,,,England. She died 2, 3 about 1676 in , St.Mary's, Maryland, USA.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Posey-213 created through the import of CJB001.ged on Jul 18, 2012 by Christopher Becker. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Christopher and others.