In the late 1840s or early 1850s, John Henry Barton complained to the Chancery Court. That Polly Sale recently died intestate leaving five children to wit: your complainant, & Mary Elizabeth (wife of William Fidler) offspring of the first marriage of the said Polly to Henry Barton decd — William Jackson Beazley the offspring of the second marriage with Ephraim Beazley decd, & James Harvey Sale & Sarah Catharine Sale, offspring of the third and last marriage with Arthur [here the words “T. Sale” are crossed out and “Henry T.” is interlined above] decd, the last three infants under 21. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 41, item 41-G-23.]