Susanna (Adams) Ware (abt. 1670 - bef. 1735)

Born about 1670 in Cornwall, England [uncertain]

Wife of Jacob Ware Jr. — married 3 Feb 1690 in Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died before 5 May 1735 before about age 65 in Henrico County, Dominion of Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Margaret Kerns [send private message]

Biography

Susanna (Adams) Ware migrated from Cornwall, England to New Kent County, Virginia.

Susanna (Adams) Ware migrated from New Kent County, Virginia to Henrico County, Virginia.

Susanna (Adams) Ware was a Virginia colonist.

Susannah Adams^[1] was born circa 1671.^[2]

She married Rev. Jacob Ware on 3 February 1689/90 at Menheniot Parish, Cornwall, England. They had seven known children:

1. Francis Ware, christened 26 Dec 1690
2. Anne Ware, christened 5 Jun 1695; married first 1712 to Baldwin Rockett; married second about 1731 to Capt. Abraham Cowley
3. Elizabeth Ware, born about 1696; married about 1717 to Benjamin Burton
4. Susanna Ware, born about 1697, died after (perhaps many years) Jun 1742; marries first Richard Oglesby; married second between 1731-1733 to Charles Allen
5. Mary Ware, born about 1698; married Unknown Levins
6. Martha Ware, born about 1699; married Unknown Ridgway
7. Jane Ware, born about 1701; married Unknown Childers^[1]

Susannah and her husband immigrated to Virginia after their marriage where he was assigned to St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia. Her husband was defendant in a lawsuit in Jun 1698; they lived in Henrico at that time.

Susannah Ware of Henrico County, widow, conveyed property to William Kennon of same, gentleman, by deed on May 1717 in Henrico County, Virginia, being two Indian boys, Will and Roger, the eldest 7 and the other 3, for reason that Wm. Kennon has discharged said Susanna for an execution issued against her by Francis Epes, August 6, 1716, for 4666 lbs. tobbaco; Susanna Ware signed. ^[3] She witnessed the deed from John Davis to Francis Epes on Aug 28, 1725 at Henrico County, Province of Virginia.^[4]

After her husband's death, she became a businesswoman. She was no doubt literate, as shown by her signature on documents. She operated a tavern, and a ferry. She may not have done the work personally, but she was the one who applied for the appropriate licenses. She may have been a healer, as she was given a fee on 11 Oct 1731 for curing a John West's hand.^[5] She also owned a quantity of horses, sheep and cattle, as well as slaves and apprentices, as shown by her will.^[6][4]

Susannah wrote her will on Feb 8, 1734/35 in Henrico County, Dominion of Virginia, which was proved May 5, 1735. She died between Feb 8 and May 5.^[6]

In her will she left a number of bequests, mainly to her daughters and grandchildren. Presumably her sons had been taken care of after her husband's death.^[6] She left the following bequests: to her daughter Elizh: Burton one chest of drawers; to her daughter Mary Levins feather bed with a spoted worsted rug with bedstead and other furniture it being the bed whereon she (Susa: Ware) then lay; her daughter Martha Ridgway nine ewes and one ram (to be paid?) in October and one red cow and calf and her bed above stairs with a green rug and one pair of sheets; she likewise gave her daughter Martha Ridgway twenty-one pounds current money to be paid in October 1737 and a small brass kettle about 15 gallons; her daughter Jane Childers the feather bed and furniture that is to say covering sheets and bedstead which stand in the great room; her daughter Mary Levens one Indian wench named Jane; to Ware Rockett a black and white heifer about two years old; to Francis Rocket a brown heifer about two years old; her daughter Jane Childers one red heifer and a pyd (pied?) heifer; to Ware Rocket a large copper kettle which his mother Ann Cowly hath in her possession; to Francis Ware and Ann Cowley each one shilling sterling; to Jacob Oglesby an Indian fellow named Roger and one horse called Cyder and one bridle and saddle; her granddaughter Elizth: Oglesby an Indian Girl named Sarah when she comes of age or is married, except the two first children this Indian shall bring which she gives unto Alice and Mourning Oglesby but her mother to have the use of the said Sarah; her daughter Susannah Allen four ewes and lambs; to Richard Levens one Indian fellow named Will and one apprentice boy named Francis West; to Richard Leven all the residue of her estate and appointed Richard Levens her whole and sole Executor. The will was witnessed by Mary Childers?, Susannah Woodcock, George Raybern and Wm. Perkins, and proved by Raybern and Perkins.^[7]

Research Needed

Locate page numbers for various deeds and court minues. (I have them but they are unavailable right now.)

Her husband's heir by primogeniture was Francis Ware, as testified by John Redford and Richard Rayborn on Apr 2, 1716 at Henrico County, Province of Virginia.

Why did Francis Epes have an execution against her? Was it from the Jun 1698 lawsuit? If so, why wasn't it settled from Jacob's estate?

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Rockett, Kay, "Signatures, Penmanship, and Name Variations: Identifying Reverend Mr. Jacob Ware," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 86 (September 1998)
2. ↑ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (TM) (n.p.: June 1998 (c), data as of 5 JAN 1998, n.d.)
3. ↑ Virginia, Henrico County, Court Minutes May 1717
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Virginia, Henrico County, Court minutes, Aug 1725
5. ↑ Moore, J. Staunton (Josiah Staunton), 1843-1913. ed; Burton, L. W. (Lewis William), 1852-1940; Brock, Robert Alonzo, 1839-1914; Annals of Henrico parish; Williams printing company, Richmond; owned by Princeton, americano; contributor, Princeton Theological Seminary Library; page 8, https://archive.org/details/annalsofhenric00moor/page/8/mode/2up?q=Ware
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Kerns, Margaret Ann (Kepner), 729 NW 1101 Road, Urich, Missouri 64788-8121, deduction from facts in evidence
7. ↑ Henrico County Will Records, 1735 page 479

See Also

Henrico County, Dominion of Virginia, deed record books