Thomas Moore’s Genealogy Site - Person Sheet
Thomas Moore’s Genealogy Site - Person Sheet
NameMary Mess
ResidenceEssex County, Virginia
Documentation
On 19 January 1694/95, James Boughan and Mary his wife, and John Boughan and Mary his wife of Essex County sold to John Dicks of the same county, for 8,500 pounds of tobacco in caske, all the remaining part or parcell of nine hundred acres of Land, by estimation five hundred acres more or less, scituate in Essex County on the south side of the Rappa. River, and bounding upon the Land of James Fallerton and Goodrich, and Capt. Richard Hails Land. Signed James Baughan, Mary Baughan, John Baughan, Mary her A mark Baughan. Witnesses: James his I mark Fogg, John Loyd. Ordered recorded on 10 May 1695. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 1, 19th century transcription, pages 390–391.]

On 10 June 1693, John Boughan and Mary his wife sold to Joseph Beland, for 3000 pounds tobacco and cask, a parcel of land containing two hundred acres in Essex County, bordering land of Capt: Richard Haile and Mr Richard Gregory, it being part of a greater dividend taken up by the said John Boughan and his brother James Boughan by patent. Signed John Boughan, Mary her + mark Boughan. Witnesses: Tho Hucklescott, Tho Parker Senr, Thomas Gouldman. On 10 June 1693, acknowledged in court by John Boughan, and Mary Boughan appeared and relinquished her right of dower. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 1, pages 205–207.]

Mary was mentioned in the will of her husband John Boughan, dated 2 January 1697 and proved 10 March 1697/98. “for yet rest of my personall Estate after my Just debts be paied my will & desire is that if Shall all be dividee between my Wife Mary Boughan & my Chilldern to them & there haires for ever”. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 9, page 172.]

Essex County Court of 10 August 1699. “Mary Boughan Complains that Jno Puckett did Some time about ye 24 day of July assault, beat & kick her after a cruel [blot] So that she was bruised and incapable of going about her affairs, whereupon Its refer’d to a Jury for Tryal who (by name Henry Woodnutt, Jno Hawkins, Tho Short, Wm Ayers, Job Virgid, Wm Irving, Jno Parker, Bartho Vawter, Tho Ramsey, Tho Munday Tho Hucklescott, & Geo Lloyd) being Sworne return for verdt: we of ye Jury do find for the abuse of the plt one thousand pounds of Tobo wch is ordered to be recorded and that the defendt pay the said [sic] one thousand pounds of Tobacco to the Plt with Costs als Exo ffrom wch the defendt appeals to ye 6th day of the next Genll Court Its therefore ordered that he give Security to prosente the same according to Law. John Picket, Henry Picket and Jefffrey Dyer bind themselves their heirs & Joyntly and Severally in the sum of five thousand pounds to tobo: for the appellants due prosecution of his said appeale …. Robt Burras being Subpoena’d as an evidence in ye difference between Mary Boughan & Jno Picket and attending Two dayes its ordered that the sd Boughan pay him for the same acccording to Law with Costs als Exo … David Holt being Subpoena’d as an evidence in ye difference between Mary Boughan & Jno Picket & attending Two days its ordered that ye sd Boughan pay him for the same according to Law with Costs als Exo. … upon the complaint of Mary Boughan its ordered that Jno. Picket give bond with Security for ye good behaviour for his Servt. by name Jno Dobson and that he sd Picket pay Costs … Jno Picket Henry Picket acknowledged above for ye sd Jno. Pickets Servt: good behaviour wch is on ye mocon of Mary Boughan ordered to be recorded.” [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 10 reverse, page 6.]

On 11 August 1699, John Picket of the County of Essex was bound two thousand pounds of Tobo: & Caske, the condition of the obligacon is such that whereas ye above bounden Jno Picket hath a Servant Man named Jno Dopson who hath abused Mary Boughan widow, Now if ye sd Jno Dopson do from time to time & dureing ye time of ye sd Jno Dopsons Service behave himselfe & keep his Majties Peace in all things as an honest man should or ought to do towards ye sd Mary Boughan, then this obligacon to be void. Signed Jno Picket, Henry his H mark Picket. Acknowledged in court. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 10 reverse, page 8.]

On 13 November 1699, “The suit between Jeffrey Dyer & Mary Boughan is dismist for want of prosecution.” [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 10 reverse, page 26.]

On 10 March 1701/2, the suite betweene Mary Boughan and Jeffery Dyer was dismist for want of Prosecution. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 10 reverse, page 113.]

On 10 April 1701, “It appearing that Mary Bryce has been lately delivered of a Bastard Child & not being able to pay ye fine due by Law for comitting ye Sin of ffornication Its ordered that she receive on her bare back Twenty Lashes well lay’d on according to Law … In regard of the loss & trouble that Mary Boughan hath sustained by her Servant Mary Bryces by haveing a Bastard child Its ordered that ye sd Bryce Serve ye sd Boughan one year according to Law.” [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 10 reverse, page 85.]

On 10 December 1701, “ffrancis Meriwether Clerk of this Court at the Last Court signifying that some part of the Rough orders of June Court last held on the 10th day of the said Month written on a loose sheete of paper were Casually left of which there were (when left) unrecorded two Judgmts the one on the Age of a Servt boy belonging to John Daingerfeild Junr and the other agt a Servt woman belonging to Mary Boughan for runing away wherefore the Court then ordered that the said Daingerfeild and Boughan should be sumoned to appeare att this Court for such measures to be taken therein as the Court should thinke fitt and itt now appeareing to the Court that the said Servant boy by name Thomas Chittick was by the Court on the said 10th day of June Last adjudged to be Eleven Yeares old and likewise the said Servant woman by name Mary Brise was then adjudged to serve three Moneths after her time of Indenture or Custome should be expired for and in Consideracon of her absence one moneth and ffifteene shillings which her said Ms expended in the apprehending of her Its therefore ordered that the said Brise serve her said Ms three Moneths after her time by Indenture or Custome to Expired and that the said Thomas Chittick serve his said Master from the said 10th day of June Last according to law” [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 10 reverse, page 109.]

On 9 July 1703, a deed mentioned “ye Widdow Boughan,” probably referring to Mary, widow of John Boughan. Mary Lake, widdow Exec & relict of William Lake, deceased, of the County of Essex, sold to John Harper, planter, of the same, a parcel of land “begining at a Small Beech of James Boughans Land standing on a point on the South East Side of a branch Called Clay Patch Branch & Runing thence South Seventy three degrees East three hundred & forty Pole by a marked line of the sd Boughans passig through a Skirt of Bushes that Parts the plantacon ye Widdow Boughan & ye sd Leak to a Corner white Oak of the sd James Boughans Standing in the Line of Mr. Samuell Parrys Land thence South S West fifty three pole by the sd Parrys line to the Land of sd William Lake & John Jones to a Small Marked Spanish Oak Standing on a hill on ye East side of a small Branch thence by ye line of sd Leake & Jones Wt. N W three hundred ninety five pole to the aforesd Clay patch branch & thence Down along the Severall Courses & turnings of sd branch to ye first menconed Beech the place it began & another Parcell of ye sd Land being one hundred & fifty acres was formerly Sold by James Boughan of ye sd county deced unto Thomas Troath deced & Excheated by ye sd William Leak & another parcell of ye sd Land being one hundred & three acres & a half was the Moiety of two hundred & Seven acres of Land formerly Purchased by Thomas Harper of the sd County deced of ffrancis Browne of the sd County deced & by the sd Thomas Harper sold to Tho: Lydall of the sd County deced & by the sd Wm Leak Escheated as by ye Inquest made & taken by & before Mr. Izaac Alderson Escheater the 18th day of Augt in the Year of our Lord one thousand six hundred Eighty & five reference being had unto the sd Inquest more fully & at Large doth & may appear and an other Part of he sd Land being one hundred three acres & one half being the other Moiety of the two hundred & Seven acres Purchased by the sd Tho: Harper of the sd ffrancis Browne Was Purchased by the sd Wm Lake of ye sd John Jones all which Parcell of Land so Purchased & abovesaid make ye sd Quanty of four hundred & seventy one acres which sd four & Seventy one acres was by ye Last will & Testamt of Willm Leake given & bequeathed unto ye sd Mary Leake ye Exec & reliect of the sd Willm Lake. Signed Mary her M mark Lake. Witnesses: Tho: Edmondson, Salvator Muscoe, James Boughan junr. On 10 July 1708 ordered to be recorded. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 11, pages 19–22.]

On 11 August 1705, “The accon of Case brought by Mary Boughan agt. Peter Treble is Dismd no declaracon being filed.” [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book 2, page 179.]

On 20 September 1714, Francis Smith of St. Annes parish in Essex County and Colony of Virginia leased to Leonard Tarent of the same. In consideration of a yearly rent and other things hereinafter mentioned, Francis Smith demises to Leonard Tarent five acres of land, more or less (being part of the plantation on which the said Francis Smith now lives), beginning at the point next to William Tompsons at the end thereof (which point was formerly called Thicket point) and thence runing by ye East Side of a branch that runs by ye side of ye point up the sale to a Marked Hickory and from thence runing towards ye River across the said point near the sd Francis Smiths Tobacco house takeing in the sd Course or Line a marked walnut tree and a small Locust Bush or Sapling and continuing its Course as aforesaid untill it meets with a stake set up in the Tobacco Ground near ye Marsh for a Corner bounds thence runing Northwardly to a Great White oak standing upon ye rivers bank thence by the River up to the End of the said point where it first began to have and to hold the sd five acres of land unto him the sd Leonard Tarnet his heirs Exrs admrs & assigns for and during the Lives of him the sd Leonard Tarent and of Mary his wife and of Mary Boughan and for and during the Life of the Longest Liver of them, Tarent paying on twentieth day of December yearly the rent of three Barrells of Indian Corn and building on the demised premises one dwelling house. Signed ffra: Smith, Leonard Tarent. Witnesses: Wm Tompson, John Boughan. On 10 July 1715 ordered to record. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 14, pages 367–368.] (Note: I believe this deed pertains to this Mary Boughan, and not the wife of James Boughan, because no dower rights are mentioned in the administration of the estate of James Boughan.)

Mary is likely Mary Mess (or Moss) — or the wife of John Mess (Moss) was an unknown Mary Boughan, sister to John, James, Henry and Alexander. The will of John Mess calls John Boughan “my brother” and includes a gift to Mary Boughan, daughter of John and Mary. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 9, pages 163–165.] (But if the latter (Mary Boughan, sister to the four brothers), why would John Mess bequeath only to Mary Boughan, daughter of John and Mary, and not to other Boughan children? So it seems probable she was Mary Mess/Moss.)
Spouses
Birthbef 1653
Deathabt Feb 1698
OccupationCooper
FatherJames Boughan (~1630-~1678)
MotherThomasin (~1630->1696)
ChildrenMary
Last Modified 25 Feb 2025Created 25 May 2025 using Reunion for Macintosh
Last updated 25 May 2025
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