Anne (West) Sellman (1685 - 1749)

Born 12 Feb 1685 in Accomac, Accomack County, Virginia Colony

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Sparrow — married about 1707 (to 1717) in Westminster Parish, Anne Arundel, Maryland

Wife of William Selman — married 9 Oct 1718 in Accomac, Accomack, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 1 May 1749 at age 64 in Tracys Landing, Anne Arundel County, Maryland Province

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Biography

Anne West was born 12 February 1685 at Accomac in Virginia, daughter of Colonel John West and his wife, Matilda (Scarborough) West.

Anne married Thomas Sparrow, b: 1673 in Maryland, before 1707. She was his 3rd wife as he was twice a widower. They lived in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The couple had 3 sons and 3 daughters:

1. John Sparrow, b: ca. 1707 in Westminster, Anne Arundel MD
2. Elizabeth Sparrow, b: 12 Sep 1708; d: young
3. Matilda Sparrow, born 21 Aug 1710, married John Burgess
4. Kinsey [Kensey] Sparrow, b: 1712 in Anne Arundel MD
5. Katherine Sparrow, b: ca. 1714 in Maryland; m: Mr. Curtis
6. Scarborough Sparrow, b: 18 May 1717 in Westminster, Anne Arundel, Maryland

Thomas Sparrow died on 21 May 1717 and widow Anne remarried to William Selman, b: 1689, on 9 October 1718 at All Hallows Parish, South River, Anne Arundel, Maryland Province. They had 6 children:

1. William Selman, b: 1719 in Anne Arundel, Maryland
2. John Sellman, b: 1 Mar 1721 in Anne Arundel MD
3. Charles Sellman, b: 5 Aug 1722 in Anne Arundel MD
4. Jonathan Sellman, b: 21 Feb 1724 in Anne Arundel MD
5. Ann Selman, b: 2 Oct 1725 in Anne Arundel MD
6. Thomas Selman, b: 29 Nov 1727 in Anne Arundel MD

Anne and both of her husbands lived on Sparrow's Rest plantation near Rhode River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. In 1729 she and 2nd husband, William Sellman, moved their combined family to an adjoining 360-acre plantation, Shaw's Folly, that William bought from John Gresham along with a 42-acre addition, Francis' Addition, where in 1735, William built a stately brick house known as Woodlawn. It was the Sellman family home for 6 generations, with a significant enlargement in 1845 by Col. Alfred Sellman, until 1915 when the family sold it to Mrs. Alexander Howat. The house was still standing as recently as 1975. ^[1]

Anne (West) Sellman deeded 300 acres of inherited property in Accomack County, Virginia, to her son, Scarborough Sparrow, on 1 July 1746. He wrote his will on 7 November 1749 and it was proven after his death on 3 January 1751. ^[2]

Anne (West) Sparrow Spellman passed away on 1 May 1749 as Madam Ann Sellman leaving legacies to daughter Matilda (Sparrow) Burgess and grandson: West Burgess. She signed a will on 25 Oct 1748 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It named son William Sellman, son Scarborough Sparrow, son Thomas Sellman, grandson Jonathan Kensey [Sparrow], two other grandsons: Kensey and Thomas [Sparrow], granddaughter, Anne Battee, second child of daughter Anne (Sellman) Battee; son Jonathan Sellman, Elizabeth wife of son Jonathan, Charles Sellman, Margaret, Ann, and 3 children of son, John Sellman: Ann, William, Frances Sellman; plus grandson: West Burgess, grand daughter: Ann Curtis, son John Sparrow, sons: John and Charles Sellman, daughter Matilda Burgess, daughter: Ann Battee, daughter: Katharine Curtis; Elizabeth, wife of son, John Sellman; Elizabeth, wife of son, Charles Sellman; Mary, wife of son, John Sparrow; Dinah, wife of gdson, Kensey. Witnesses: John Jacobs, Joseph Cowman, Richard Tidings.

Anne left property and personal items to sons William, Jonathan, Charles, & Thomas Sellman. To Elizabeth, wife of son Jonathan, & to Elizabeth, wife of Charles Selman. To sons John, Kensey [Kinsey], & Scarborough Sparrow; to Mary, wife of son John Sparrow; to Dinah, wife of son Kensey [Kinsey] Sparrow. To grandsons Jonathan, Kensey, & Thomas Sparrow, sons of Kensey. To daughter Ann (Spellman) Battee & her daughter, also named Ann Battee. To Margaret & Ann, children of son Charles Selman; and to Ann, William, & Frances, children of son John Sellman. To daughter Matilda (Sparrow) Burgess & grandson, West Burgess. To daughter Katharine (Sparrow) Curtis & granddaughter Ann Curtis. To granddaughter Katharine Sparrow, daughter of son John Sparrow.

Anne (West) Sellman died on 1 May 1749 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She was buried in the Sellman Family Cemetry, Tracys Landing, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.^[3]

It's been said that she also married Thomas Claiborne after William Sellman died in March 1743. If this is true, she did not take his name; they had no children together and he did not figure in her Will.

From: Adventurers Of Purse And Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5, Fourth Edition, Volume Three, Families R-Z, Compiled and Edited by John Frederick Dorman, C.G., F.A.S.G., 16. pages 515-516.

"16. ANNE WEST (John2, Anthony1), born 12 Feb. 1685/6.72 married (1) as his 3rd wife, Thomas Sparrow of Anne Arundel Co., Md., whose will, 10 June 1713-12 May 1719, probated in Maryland, devised land at Pamplicoe in North Carolina and named wife Anne and children, 73 and will, 20 May 1717-27 May 1717, probated in North Carolina, named sons Solomon, John, and Kinsey, brother Thomas Harding, and referred to his wife and to property in Maryland.74 He was active in North Carolina as early as 1705. 75"

"She married (2), 9 Oct 1718, 76 William Sellman, born 22 Jan. 1689/90, died 7 Mar 1742/3, who left will 11 Feb. 1742/3-31 March 1743, 77 naming wife, children and son-in-law [stepson] Scarbrough Sparrow. They resided at "Sparrow's Rest," Anne Arundel Co., Md., and about 1729 moved to an adjoining tract, "Shay's Folly" [sic=Shaw's Folly], where in 1735 he built the house now known as "Woodlawn." She left a will 25 Oct. 1748-29 May 1749."

"Issue: (by 1) [SPARROW]79 71. JOHN4; 72. Elizabeth4, born 12 Sep 1708;80 73. Matilda4, born 21 Aug 1710, married 30. John 4 Burgess (see CHEW); 74. KENSEY4; 75. KATHERINE4; 76. Scarborough4, born 18 May 1717,81 to whom Anne Sellman conveyed 300 acres in Accomack County, 1 July 1746,82 left will 7 Nov 1749-3 Jan. 1750/1;83 (by2) [SELLMAN]84 77. WILLIAM5; 78. JOHN4: 79. CHARLES4; 80. JONATHAN4; 81. ANN4; 82. THOMAS."

Sources

1. ↑ William Sellman on RootsWeb Freepages
2. ↑ Adventurers Of Purse And Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5, Fourth Edition, Volume Three, Families R-Z, Compiled and Edited by John Frederick Dorman, C.G., F.A.S.G., 16. pages 515-516.
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #130434804

• "Maryland Marriages, 1666-1970" on FamilySearch

• William Sellman on a BlogSpot.com - Candace Lazzaro

• William Sellman profile on OurFamTree.org

• Ann West on RootsWeb - Fonda Carroll Tree

• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900

• Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/130434804/anne-sellman : accessed 11 August 2021), memorial page for Anne West Sellman (12 Feb 1683–May 1749), Find a Grave Memorial ID 130434804, citing Sellman Family Cemetery, Tracys Landing, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA ; Maintained by Garland Hill (contributor 46773120) . Find A Grave: Memorial #130434804

• Adventurers Of Purse And Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5, Fourth Edition, Volume Three, Families R-Z, Compiled and Edited by John Frederick Dorman, C.G., F.A.S.G., 16. pages 515-516.