Fortuna (Watson) Semmes (1640 - 1701)

Born Oct 1640 in Morpeth, Northumberland

Wife of William Bulmer Mitford — married before 1660 in Northumberland, England

Wife of Marmaduke Simms — married 1668 in St. Mary's County, Colony of Maryland

Descendants

Died 10 Dec 1701 at age 61 in St Mary's County, Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fritz Maher [send private message]

Biography

She married #1 Bulmer Mitford or Medford, of Morpeth, Northumberland. Possibly a daughter of William Watson of Morpeth.

Semmes (Semme), Fortune, 1st May, 1699; 10th Dec 1701.

To son. John Semmes and hrs., 319 A., part of 838 A., " St. George's," bought by late husband, Marmaduke Semmes, from Thos. Simpson.

to son Marmaduke Semmes and hrs,, 319 A., part of tract afsd.

to son Anthony Semmes and hrs., 200 A., residue of tract afsd.

to son Thomas Medford, Thomas, son of sd. Thomas, and Marmaduke, son of Anthony Semnies, afsd,, personalty.

to Sons John and Marmaduke afsd., exs. and residuary legatees of estate, real and personal.

Test: Edward Potter, Geo. Griggs, Jane Harris. MCW 11.200

Mrs. Fortune Simes 21.270 I £38.5.0 Jan 22 1701

Appraisers: John Vadry, Robert Hager,

MDSTMARY-L-request@rootsweb.com; on behalf of; Linda Reno [lindareno@comcast.net]

Elizabeth Randolph

I am convinced that Fortuna was a WATSON although I have no absolute proof. LDS records show a Fortuna Watson was christened 8 October 1640 in Morpeth, Northumberland, England. IGI British Isles shows she was daughter of William Watson. I know LDS records are not always correct but still, this places her at the right place at the right time.

Medford (Mitford) genealogists, again not totally accurate, state Bulmer Medford was born c1632 in Morpeth, Northumberland, England.

Bulmer and Fortuna probably married in Morpeth and then came to America, I think first settling in Virginia, probably James Town, and then St. Mary's County, Maryland Bulmer died in 1665, Will dated 23 Jul 1665 (Vol.1, p 235), mentioning his wife, Fortune, his son Thomas, and his "cousin" John Morecroft. William Champe, Jas Joung (Young), and John Smith witnessed Will.

On 10 March 1665/6 Fortune "Mittford" purchased 100 acres from William Watts. Following is an abstract made by me from information in Archives, Vol. 57, p 86:

FROM: William Watts

TO: Fortune Mittford of St. Georges in St Marys County in the Province of Maryland widdow

DATE: Tenth day of March Anno Dni 1665

ACRES: By estimacon One hundred acres

PRICE: Sume of seaven thowsand pounds of tobacco

SITUATE: Beginning on the South East side of a Runn called the deviding runn and then running North west unto Crany Creeke wth the Aptnances which is now in the tenure & Pogson of the said Fortune and was purchased by the said william Watts of Henry Ellery, being the moyety of a tract of land containing two hundred acres of land belonging to the said Henry and adjoyning to the mannor of west St. Marys on St. Georges River in St. Marys County

WITNESSES: Daniel Jenifer, Edward Sauage

Fortune administered estate of Bulmer Medford. She acknowledged debts, one being to John Morecroft incurred on 10 Dec 1662 in Jamestown, Virginia (Archives, Vol. 57, p. 26).

On 11 Feb 1666/7 Fortuna claimed land due Bulmer for transporting himself & others to Maryland, probably from Virginia, in 1664:

THE MARYLAND SEMMES AND KINDRED FAMILIES, A GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF MARMADUKE SEMME(S), GENT., AND HIS DESCENDANTS BY HARRY WRIGHT NEWMAN, PAGES 1 AND 2

"Fortune Metford administratrix of Bulmer Mettford demands land due to Bulmer Metford her deceased Husband for his the said Bulmer's transporting himself into this Province as also for the transporting her the said Fortune his then wife, Thomas his son, John Brothers, James Young, and Elizabeth Waddy their servants and further for transporting William Champ all in the year 1664. Fortune Metford above named made oath to this rights in usuall this 11 feb. 1666/7."

I do not think she married William Champe. His Will (Vol. 1, p 302) dated 8 Oct 1667, proved 13 Dec 1667, makes "Fortune Metford" execx and legatee. I know prefix of Archives states she did marry William Champe but I found nothing to indicate this marriage and why would Champe refer to her as Fortune Metford if she were his wife.

In July 1668 Fortuna Medford married Marmaduke Semmes.

Norma Lundgren <nlndgrn@sbcglobal.net>

Archives of Maryland, Volume 57, Provincial Court Proceedings, 1668. Page 351;

The Provinciall Court of the Rt Honble Caecilius Absolute Lord & Proprietary of the Province of Maryland houlden in his said Lordsps Citty of St Marys before the Justices of the sd Court The Eighth day of December in the Seaven & thyrtyth yeare of his löpps Dominion one thowsand Six hundred Sixty Eighte

Page 358;

Upon the petn of Marmaduke simm who marryed Fortune Mittford the Executrix of Wm Champ late of Marys County phytitian decd agt Henry Hyde the Administrator of Rob: Cager late of the said County deed for Two Thowsand pounds of tobacco The said Henry Hyde as Administratr aforesaid Confesseth Judgmt for the same unto the said Marmaduke in proper person, And ordered to be soe Entred for Judgment

Sometime between this entry and the one on 7 July 1668, she married Marmaduke Semmes.

Fortuna didn't marry William Champ. He made her the exec of his estate, reason unknown.

Champ, William, St Mary's Co., 8th Oct., 1667; 13th Dec., 1667.

To Eliza: Forrest, eld. dau. of Patrick Forrest, personalty.

Fortune Metford, execx. and residuary legatee.

Test: Andrew Bashaw, Richard Berkitt. 1. 302.

Archives of Maryland, Volume 57, Provincial Court Proceedings, 1668. Preface 47;

MEDICAL.

The Provincial Court proceedings contain fewer items of medical interest than do the county court records, but some references are worth mentioning.

John Morecroft, the leading member of the Maryland bar at this period was a physician as well as a lawyer. We find him practicing medicine in Virginia in 1664 before coming to Maryland (p. 26). In what seems to have been a splte suit and one which he lost, Morecroft, after losing an earlier suit for defamation against his former indentured servant, William Champ, who had called his late master a "Cheating old Knave", sued Champ for an accounting at the October, 1666, court. In this latter suit Champ declared that he had been "imployed [by Morecroft] in the Art & mystery of Physick, as his servant by Indenture". Champ, who died in the latter part of the year 1668, was then referred to as a "phytitian" of St Mary's County (pp. 119, 120, 122, 126, 130). [NJL note: this next sentence is in error. He didn't marry her, just made her his executor.] He had probably incurred the enmity of Morecroft by marrying Fortune, the widow of Bulmar Mitford, who had been a patient of Morecroft. Fortune, however, promptly consoled herself by marrying a very short time after Champ's death, a third husband Marmaduke Semmes (p. 358).

Sources