Susannah (Maxey) Sullivant (abt. 1751 - aft. 1810)

Born about 1751 in Goochland, Goochland Co., Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of John Sullivant — married 1770 (to after Nov 1810) in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died after 7 Nov 1810 after about age 59 in Lawrence, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Susannah (Maxey) Sullivant lived in Virginia.

Susannah (also spelled Susanna) was born in 1751 in Goochland Co., Virginia to parents Walter Maxey Sr and Mary (Radford) Maxey. Her family resided on their Virginia plantation in Goochland County (later Cumberland County) that her father inherited after the death of his mother. In 1748, her uncle Sylvanus, who had moved to Albermarle County, Virginia deeded the remaining 200 acres of the patent to her father Walter. They lived on this land until December 10, 1762 when it was sold. Walter then moved with his family to Bedford County, Virginia (it would become Franklin County, Virginia in 1785).

She married John Sullivant about 1770 in the Colony of Virginia and they had at least three children (all born in Virginia):

1. Samuel W. Sullivant/Sullivan (1771-1855)-went to Lawrence County, TN,b 1771 d in 1855; married 1st Sally Bell, Franklin Co.,VA; 2nd Polly Osborne, Lawrence Co., TN
2. Walter Maxey Sullivant (1777-1805)-married Martha Craghead, daughter of Peter Craighead in Franklin Co., VA. Left Franklin Co., VA about 1798/99 (1798-last year he appeared on the tax list) Went to Sumner County, TN and died there.
3. John Sullivant/Sullivan Jr (1779-?)- In 1796, 1797, 1798, John Sullivant Sr was paying taxes on two males over 16. In 1799; himself and a 3rd son by the name of John Jr.

By 1800, they relocated to Tennessee, initially to Sumner County but finally settling in Lawrence County, Tennessee.

She passed away after 7 Nov 1810 in Lawrence County, Tennessee.

John Sullivant and wife, Susanna are listed in a Court Order in Franklin County, Virginia on May 8, 1798 (regarding an inheritance dispute over the proceeds of the sale of a 130 acre tract of land in Franklin County, Virginia);… “Jesse Maxey, Walter Maxey, Jeremiah Maxey, Walter Addy & Mary his wife, William Cowden & Lucy his wife, John Sullivant & Susanna his wife, Thomas Kemp & Ester his wife heirs & representatives of Walter Maxey the elder decd also Thomas Allen & Mary his wife, George, Key & Susanna his wife, James Lewis Hale & Nancy his wife, James Hale & Jane his wife, John Burdit & Hester his wife, Robert Craghead & Hast?, John Craghead, Hail Maxey & Dicy his wife heirs & representatives of Jane Craghead deced who was one of the heirs & Representatives of the said Walter Maxey the elder Decd & like wise James Maxey, Barnabas Maxey, Jabez Maxey, Zebediah Maxey, William Hale & Susanna his wife Heirs & Representatives of Josiah Maxey decd another of the heirs & Representatives of Walter Maxey the Elder decd, complainants against William Craghead, Timothy Craghead, Isaiah Craghead heirs representatives & Infants of Jane Craghead decd. who was a daughter of the said Walter Maxey Decd Josiah Maxey Walter Maxey, Boze Maxey, Jeremiah Maxey, Polly Maxey, Lucy Maxey, Phebe Maxey, Sally Maxey & Josiah Maxey heirs representatives & Infants of Ozias Maxey decd who was one of the sons of Heirs & representatives of the said Walter Maxey the elder decd, Defendants on the Court Hearing the bill and answer; it is ordered & Decreed that John Craghead, Jeremiah Maxey, & Thomas Kemp be appointed commissioners & that they despose of the tract of land of one hundred & thirty three acres lying in the County of Franklin & on Stanton River which Walter Maxey the Elder decd died seized of & to convey the same to such person or persons as may purchase the same & the money arising from such sale, be divided respectively among the representatives of the said Walter Decd in equal shares & the representatives of Jane Craghead Decd their Equal portions of the one share which they claim by virtue of their mother & the respective claimants or heirs of Josiah Maxey decd, their equal proportions of his one share of the sd sales of the sd land.”….. excerpted, Franklin County, Order Bk 1793-1799, p 339

Susannah (Maxey) Sullivant is cited in the Will of her father, Walter Maxey:… “In the name of God Amen, I Walter Maxey of Franklin county being of Sound and Perfect Memory Thanks to Almighty God for it do make and Ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following I recommend my Soul to God who gave it hoping through the Merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ to Receive Pardon & forgiveness for all my Sins. My Body I desire it to be Decently Buried at the Descrition of Executors hereafter Named and as for my Estate that it hath Pleased god to Bless my with in this world I dispose of in the following manner and form Viz.

Item: I give unto my Son Josiah Maxey two hundred Acres of Land whereon he now lives lying on Black Water and being in the County of Franklin

Item: I give unto my Son-in-Law John Craghead two hundred Acres of Land Whereon he now lives being in the County of Franklin lying o Black Water

Item: I give to my Daughter Lucy Cowden after my wife's death the Bed that I lent her which She has now in possession that is after my wife's Decease

Item: to Susannah Sullivan my Daughter I give one Bed that is to say that She has now in possession to be her own property after the Decease of my Wife

Item: I give to my Sone in Law John Craighead the bed I lent to my daughter Jane Craghead Item: I give to my Daughter Ester Camp the Bed that I lent her which she has now in her keeping.

Item: I lend to my Beloved Wife Mary Maxey my whole Estate Real & Personal (except the above mentioned things already given) During her Natural life or widowhood and after her death to be Equally divided among my Children Jesse Maxey, Walter Maxey, Josiah Maxey, Jeremiah Maxey, Mary Adde, Lucy Cowden, Susannah Sullivan, Ester Camp and likewise John Craghead's Children that he had by his first wife Jane to have an Equal Share with one of my Children Item: I give to my granddaughter Mary Craghead one Cow and Calf Item" I do ordain Constitute and appoint Josiah Maxey and Jeremiah Maxey My Whole and Soul Executors of this my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I the Said Walter Maxey have set my hand and Seal this Fifth Day of March In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Ninety One Sealed Signed and Delivered by the sd Walter Maxey as and for his Last Will and Testament and one other in the Presents of John Maxey, Barnebus Maxey, Walter Maxey, Janathan Barnard”…….. excerpted, Franklin County, Will Book 1, pp. 69-70. Franklin County, Virginia

Notations on a tract of land Susanna (Maxey) Sullivant’s husband sold in Franklin County, Virginia. Susanna inherited the land from her fathers estate and from which she relinquished her dower rights upon sale:… “On October 5, 1799, Benjamin Brooks sold 75 acres on Jack's Creek to John [Sullivant]. The same day, John [Sullivant] sold 74 acres to Benjamin Brooks. There was a difference of one acre; perhaps it was a burial ground or just a clerical error. At any rate, Susanna neglected to release her dower rights on this sale and on October 11, 1810, the Commonwealth of Virginia impowered Elijah Simpson and James Cowden (Justices of the Peace, Sumner Co.) to obtain her acknowledgment. The release was dated November 7, 1810.”…..excerpted, Franklin Co., VA Deed Bk 6, p 121-122

Sources

• 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. p. 615

• *Franklin Co., Virginia, February, 1797 Susanna (Maxey) Sullivant relinquished her dower rights when her husband John sold land to Smith Webb (Franklin Co., VA Deed Bk 3, p 394)

Acknowledgement

Wishing to acknowledge the communication and collaboration of Jean Suddarth regarding the Sullivant Family. Her valuable information and well-researched documentation was incorporated into this profile. Very grateful for her generosity and assistance….. Catherine (Coffman) Wilkes