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No birth record for Sarah Acton has been found. She was likely born in Anne Arundel County in the Annapolis area on her father, Richard Acton's, plantation. She is proved to be the daughter of Richard by the 1688 will of her brother, John Acton (abt.1650-1688), that names her Sarah Maryot and leaves her a legacy.[1]
Sarah was married first to Peter Porter. There are three facts supporting this marriage. Peter Porter, Sr. emigrated to Anne Arundel County with his wife, Frances, before 1651. Frances is mentioned as the wife of Peter in the patent records for Porter’s Hill, a 200 acre tract in Anne Arundel County. [2] Peter Jr. was most likely born soon after the couple arrived in Maryland making his age in 1672 around 22.
Peter Porter, Sr. had a close relationship with Cornelius Howard. The two men patented a 500 acre parcel called Howard & Porter’s Range as partners in 1666. [3] Porter and Howard also patented a 333 acre parcel they called Howard & Porter’s Fancy in 1668. [4]
Peter Porter, Jr. died sometime before 1679. A deed of that date conveys Howard’s & Porter’s Fancy from Cornelius Howard to Peter Porter, orphan son and heir apparent of Peter Porter late of Severn River, deceased. [5] Peter Porter III gave his age as 41 when he testified in a land commission case in 1716, thus making his year of birth around 1675. [6]
Confirmation of the death of Peter Porter, Jr. comes from an inventory of his estate taken by Andrew Norwood and Edward Dorsey in 1676. Sarah Porter, his widow, put up administration bond with Robert Proctor as her surety. [7] Sarah, with an infant to support, soon married as her second husband John Marriott. Sarah is identified in the 1688 will of John Acton as Sarah Marriott. Indians attacked and robbed the family in 1681 “at the house of one John Marriott at the head of Anne Arrundell River upon the Ridge formerly Peter Porters.” A letter describing this attack goes on to state that John Marriott ordered “his wife to take her children and make escape to the next plantation.” [8] That John Marriott, his wife and her children were living upon the ridge formerly Peter Porter’s provides strong evidence that she was the widow of Peter Porter, Jr.
The conclusive proof that Sarah Acton was the wife of Peter Porter, Jr. is the fact that Peter Porter III was named the executor of her estate when Sarah Marriott died aged about 70 years in 1724. [9]
wf. of Th. Cruchley; da. Lydia Brittison and her son, Th. Watkins; gdchn. Lydia Cruchley, Hanna Howard, da. of Philip and Ruth Howard, and Nathaniel Stinchcomb; son Jn., exec. and residuary legatee. His will leaves pty. for the Quaker ministry.
WikiTree profile Howard-2601 created through the import of My Family File.ged on Aug 31, 2011 by Jane Entwisle.
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A > Acton | M > Marriott > Sarah (Acton) Marriott
Categories: Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland | Maryland Colonists
http://mdhistory.msa.maryland.gov/msaref10/msa_te_1_073/html/msa_te_1_073-0966.html
It is the inventory of Richard Acton, not the 1724 estate of Sarah (Acton) Marriott which is what it is listed as.
The inventory of Sarah Marriott is in Maryland Inventories 10:214-215, which is here: http://mdhistory.msa.maryland.gov/msaref10/msa_te_1_014/html/msa_te_1_014-0112.html
and shows that Peter Porter and Augustin Marriott were the administrators (not executors). She had no will. If she had, she would probably have named Peter as her son.
Note as added evidence, Peter Porter (and Charles Porter) were witness to the 1726 will of Henry Sewell. Henry Sewell had married Mary Marriott, who would have been Peter Porter's half sister.