Wayman Sinclair (abt. 1708 - abt. 1762)

Born about 1708 in Stafford County, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Shirley) Sinclair — married 12 Apr 1738 in Prince William, Virginia

Husband of Hester (Smallwood) Sinclair — married 19 Nov 1760 in Loudoun County, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 13 Jul 1762 at about age 54 in Loudoun County, Virginia [uncertain]

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Biography

Wayman Sinclair was born in about 1708 probably at Dettingen Parish, Prince William County, Virginia. He was a son of Alexander Sinclair and Mary Wayman?.

Wayman is documented in Overwharton Parish, in 1724.

Wayman was a planter in Prince William County (now Loudoun County), Virginia. He is said to have become the largest tobacco farmer in Virginia and married into wealth by marrying the daughter of Richard Shirley.

Wayman signed his name "Wayman Sinkler".

Wayman and his brother, Robert, appear on the 1740 list of Prince William County, Virginia Titheables.

In Loudoun County, Virginia, he married in December 1760 his second wife, Hester Smallwood. Wayman and Hester had no children by their marriage.^[1]

Wayman had a marriage contact drawn up before he married his second wife, Hester Linton of Dettinger Parish, Prince William County, Virginia. These contracting parties each had separate estates and children of their own, so they made a pre-nuptial agreement, 19 November 1760, which provided that "in case the said Hester should survive the said Wyman Sinkler, then that at and immediately after his death his whole estate shall descend and pass according to his last Will and Testament - all of his debts to be charged to his own estate- that the estate of said Hester Linton shall remain the absolute property to be used at her discretion and to descend as she sees fit." [Loudoun Bk. B, p. 92].

At this time, a little background on Hester is needed to fully appreciate the later court records. Hester's first marriage was to Jacob Smith, by whom she had at least two children, Jacob Smith, Jr. and Smallwood Smith. After Jacob Sr.'s death, Hester married Edmond Linton. There are many documents regarding legal action involving Edmond and Hester, who apparently lived just across the Prince William County line in Loudoun County and were the owners of an inn - of sorts.

The court document which puts their history and reputation in a nutshell is dated 26 March 1751 when Hester and Edmond were charged in court of "being persons of vile character and harborers and entertainers of rogues and horse stealers". They were fined 5 pounds sterling and to give security for good behavior and pay 5 pounds sterling. [9. Loudoun County Court Order Book, 1749, page 127.]

After about six years of marriage, Edmond Linton died and Hester was once again a widow - for only about the society-required year of mourning.

Considering Hester's track record, Wayman was wise in legally recording the marriage contract, which in itself was an unusual document in that time period. About four months after the date of this document, it was recorded on 11 March 1761. [10. Loudoun County Book B, page 92.]

On 12 April 1762, Wayman was living with Hester in Cameron Parish, Loudoun County, Virginia, apparently on her property, when he wrote his will. His descendants are fortunate that he named each of his children: Alexander, Isaac, Robert, Mary, George, Wayman Jr., and Elizabeth. He states that his youngest child is eight years old and that the estate was not to be divided until the youngest child reached the age of 16, or circa 1770. After being so careful in protecting his children's estate with the prenuptual agreement with Hester, Wayman carelessly appoints "my Loving Wife Hester Sinckler (sic) and my friend Bridgar Haynie and my brother John Sincker (sic) as executors." On 13 July 1762 Wayman was deceased and the will was proved. [11. Loudoun County Book A., page 59.] It is after this short marriage that the three-timed widow, Hester, was given the nickname, the marrying Hester, by St. Clair researchers.

Wayman died in May of 1762 at Cameron Parish, Loudoun County, Virginia.

By the estimated birth years of Wayman's documented children, we can safely assume he married before 1740. In that year, he and his brother, Robert, are listed as tithers in Prince William County, the site of the homeplace. We do not know the given name of Wayman's wife; only that she was the daughter of Richard and Mary (Graham) Shirley. Mary (Graham) Shirley was the daughter of Edward and Patience Graham of Fairfax County, Virginia. [7. Will Fairfax County, Virginia, 12 September 1749; probate 27 March 1750]

It is certain that all of Wayman's children were born on his half of the homeplace in Prince William County and apparently he and his wife led an uneventful life as only tax records on the homeplace appear until 19 November 1760, when the saga of the St. Clairs begin in earnest.

Will of Wayman Sinclair, Loudoun County, Virginia.^[2]

In the name of God Amen /&c./ I Wayman Sinckler Senr of the Parish of Cameron and County of Loudoun being weak of Body but of Perfect sence and Memory do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First & Principally I commend my Soul to Almighty God hoping for his Mercy in the permission of all my Sins through the Merits of Jesus Christ my only Mediator and Redeemer & advocate and my Body to be Buried at the discretion of my Exors. hereafter named and as for such Estate as it hath pleased God to favour me with I dispose there of as followeth VIZ.

Impr. My Will is that all my Land in Prince William County with so much of the Rest of my Personal Estate be sold my Exors in Order to discharge all my Debts as shall be sufficient to discharge the same----

Item I leave all the rest of my said Estate to be equally divided amongst all my Children VIZ: --- Alexander, Isaac, Robert, Mary, George, Wayman & Elizabeth Sinckler that is to say to be equally divided among them when the youngest of them surviving shall arrive to the Age of Sixteen Years which Child is now eight years of Age and further my Will is that the said Remainder of my said Estate remain in the hands of my said Exors in order to raise and School &c. my said Children untill the said time of their coming of Age be expired ----

Item I do hereby Constitute and appoint my Loving Wife Hester Sinckler and my friend, Bridgar Haynie and my Brother John Sinckler Exors. of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of April Anno Domini 1762.

Wayman Sinckler (SS)

Sealed and Acknowledged )
In Presence of )

Russell Wilson )
George Jordan )
Ann (x) Jordan ), her mark

At a Court held for Loudoun County July the 13th 1762, This Will was proved by the Oaths of Russell Wilson George Jordan and Ann Jordan, Witnesses thereto and is Ordered to be Recorded And on the Motion of Hester Sinckler and Bridger Haynie two of the Executors therein named who made oath According to Law, Certificate is Granted them for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form Giving Security whereupon they together with James Lane Gent their Security entered into and Acknowledged their Bond in the Penalty of Five hundred Pounds with Condition as the Law directs. And Liberty is Reserved to John Sinckler the other Executor therein named to Join the Probate thereof when he shall think fit.

July 13, 1762, Book "B", pp 3
The last Will and Testament of Wayman Sinckler, Decd. was proved according to Law by the Oaths of Russel Wilson, George Jordan and Ann Jordan the Witnesses thereto and is Ordered to be Recorded And on the Motion of Hester Sinkler and Bridger Haynie two of the Executors therein named who made Oath according to Law Certificate is granted them for Obtaining a Probat thereor in due form giving Security Whereupon they together with James Gent. their Security entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the Penalty of five hundred Pounds with Condition as the Law directs...And Liberty is Reserved to John Sinckler the other Executor therein named to Join in the Probat thereof when he shall think fit.

Ordered that the Executors of Wayman Sinckler Decd. deliver the Testator's Children to Mary Shirley their Grand Mother who engages to Maintain and bring them up without burthen to their Estates.

Ordered that Nathaniel Grigsby, Burr Harrison, Enoch Grigsby and John..... or any three thereof being first sworn before a Justice of this County do Appraise in Current Money the Slaves and personal Estate of Wayman Sinckler and return the Appraisment to the Court.

Loudoun County, Virginia Will Book "A", pp 64

In obedience to an Order of Loudoun County, July 1762, we the subscribers being first sworn before Capt. James ____ one of his Majesties Justices for the said County do value and appraise the Estate of Wayman Sinckler dec'd as followeth.

To 9 Sheep @@ 5/62. 9 .6
To 1 Black Cow and Calf 1.12.0
To 1 Red Cow and Calf 2. 0.0
To 1 Red Yearling 0.12.0
To 1 Bay Mare 2.10.0
To 6 Geese @@ 1/60. 9.0
To 1 old Table and 1/2 Dozen old Chairs 0. 8.6
To 1 Jug and a parcel of old Lumber 0. 3.0
To a parcel of old Pewter 1. 5.0
To 1 pr Steelyards 0.12.0
To 2 Iron Potts and hooks and one Fryingpan 0.10.0
To a parcel of old Wooden ware 0. 4.6
To 1 handsaw and a parcel of old Lumber 0.15.6
To 1 old Saddle and two old Bells 0.12.0
To 1 old Linen Wheel 0. 5.0
To 1 Broad hoe 0. 2.6
To 1 Bed and furniture 6. 0.0
To 1 Ditto 4.13.0
To 1 Ditto 3.10.0
To 1 old Flock Bed 0.10.0
To 10 lb Wool @@ 1/0.10.0
To 1 Looking Glass and Towell 0. 2.0
To Cloth and Triming for a Sail Close (?) 4. 5.0
To 1 hone and Razer 0. 2.6
To 1 old Trunk and a parcel of Books 0. 3.0

Page 65
To 2 Iron Widgers (?) 0. 5.0
To 3 Beehives @@ 5/ 0.15.0
To 1 Negro Man named Will 70.0.0
To 1 Negro Ditto named Jack 70.0.0
To 1 Negro Boy named Ned 60.0.0
To 1 Negro Woman named Jenny 25.0.0
one Cow 2. 0.0
To 2 Yearlings 0.18.0
To 2 Sows 1. 0.0
To 2 old Tubs (?)0. 1.3
To 1 old Wheel 0. 2.6
To a parcel of old Lumber 0. 4.0

Enoch Grigsby
Nathaniel Grigsby
John Flyer

At a Court continued and held for Loudoun County September the 16th 1762 this Inventory and Appraisment was returned into Court & is Ordered to be Recorded.
Teste
Cha. Binns Cl Cur

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com Marriages of Loudoun County, Virginia, 1757-1853 (Marriage to Hester Linton, Widow)
2. ↑ Loudoun County, Virginia Will Book A, Page 59: Will: made 12 April 1762; proved 13 July 1762.

See also:

• Information provided by Elaine Randall English (http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~hemlockhill/genealogy/St.%20Clair.htm).
• Grigsby, Jean, "Sinkler Sinclair St. Clair, a Family History, Volume 1," Henington Publishing Company, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 88-91397, Copyright (c) 1988, Jean Grigsby Family Histories.
• Will: Ancestry.com. (Paid subscription site). "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900". Loudoun. Will Books, Vol A-C, 1757-1788. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62347/images/007645410_00055?treeid=19370183&personid=792240756&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_phsrc=hKQ12732&pId=909573
  Description: Copy of the original will and inventory.
  Will: dated 12 Apr 1762, entered into probate 13 Jul 1762, image 55-56 of 622, p. 59-60
  Inventory: image 58 of 622, p. 64-65
  Interesting is that the inventory for Robert C Colclough (1715-1757) starts directly after Wayman's inventory. BJS