Col. Francis Slaughter: Military

Col. James Slaughter of Culpeper Co Virginia, later of Nelson Co, Kentucky. He rendered distinguished services during the Revolutionary War and was in command of his Regiment at the Battle of Great Bridges in 1776. He married Susan Clayton, daughter of Major Philip Clayton and his wife Ann Coleman of Culpeper Co Virginia. James Slaughter and Susan Clayton later moved from Culpeper to Nelson County, KY where in 1795 he served in the Kentucky House of Representatives. 

Found Military Record on Ancestry.com

Listed in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 3

(194) John Upton [1], 1,650 acres in the County of Warrosquoiacke, about three miles up Pagan Point Creek. Due for the importation of 33 persons (names below). By John West, July 7, 1635.

Rich. Young, Antho., a negro, Mary, a negro, Florence Richards, Roger Bagnal, Ralph Harwood, Thomas Reeves, Rich. Sparkman, Edwd. Burr, Savage N'errie, Wm. Scott, Rich. Jones, Fr. Savage, Owen Howell, Nich. Bushell, James Parsons, Jon. Parker, Lewis Phillips, Morgan Roberts, Wm. Davis, John Fitchett, Morgan Evans, Christopher Lewis, Phillip Kennusley Eliz. King, Martha Iwan, Mary Johnson, Jonas Sadlington, Anth. Tyler, Peter Heyes, Rich. Jackson, Wm. Pincher, Eliz. Larkin.

NOTE.

[1] Captain John Upton was long one of the leading men of Worrosquoiacke, or Isle of Wight county, as it soon was called. He was a member of the House of Burgesses March, 1629-30; commissioner (justice) of Warrosquoiacke in November, 1627, and again from February, 1631-2; Burgess February, 1632-3, January, 1639 (Robinson's Noles), April, 1642, November, 1645, March, 1645-6, and November, 1647 (Hening I). At the session of 1645 the Assembly provided for a mint, and enacted that "Captain John Upton is hereby confirmed Mint Master Generall. Wee reposing much confidence in his care, ability and trust for the performance of the said office" (Hening I, 309). April 13th, 1640, the Governor and Council ordered that Captain John Upton, Commander of Isle of Wight, being to take his voyage to England, another person, named, be appointed to fill the place during his absence. His will, without date, was proved in Isle of Wight December 16th, 1652. His legatees were his wife, Margaret, sons, John and William, and daughters, Elizabeth Upton, Sarah Upton and Margaret Underwood; mentions also William Underwood.

On July 4th, 1653, his widow, Mrs. Margaret Upton, was granted 700 acres in Lancaster county. This by deed in Rappahannock county, October 1st, 1656 (from "Mrs. Margaret Upton, widow"), she sold to Humphrey Booth, of Lancaster county, merchant; William Underwood as a witness. In a much worn record book in Rappahannock county there is a contract dated April, 1656 or 1657, between Thomas Lucas, the elder, of Rappahannock county, gentleman, on the one part, and Colonel Moore Fauntleroy and Captain William Underwood, of the same county, on the other part, in view of a marriage shortly to take place between the said Thomas Lucas and Margaret, widow of Captain John Upton, deceased, and also a bond of said Lucas, in penalty of 20,000 lbs. tobacco, to carry out the terms of this contract. Thomas Lucas, gent., of Lancaster county, in June, 1652, received a grant of 600 acres in Lancaster, among the head-rights being Thomas Lucas, Sr., his wife, Thomas Lucas, Jr., Katherine and Sarah Rowzee &c. Thomas Lucas, Sr., was a justice of Rappahannock county 1657, and Burgess from the same county March, 1657-8. His will (Thomas Lucas, the elder, of Sittingborne parish, Rappahannock county) was dated October 14th, 1669. and proved March 14th, 1673. He speaks of himself as aged, and his legatees were his son-in-law, John Catlett, son-in-law, Captain Thomas Hawkins, grandchild, Mary Hawkins, son, Thomas Lucas, and sister-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Painier [?]. According to a subsequent land grant, Thomas Lucas, Jr., died without issue and without an heir. The sons of Captain John Upton, as far as anything appears from the records, died unmarried. Of the daughters, I. Elizabeth', married, first. Captain Francis Slaughter, of Rappahannock county, who was a justice of Rappahannock county in 1657. There is a deed dated August, 1657, from Francis Slaughter, of Rappahannock, merchant, to Mrs. Margaret Upton. There is a deed, Rappahannock, dated about 1657, from Elizabeth Slaughter, conveying certain property to her son, Francis Slaughter, and naming his father, Captain Francis Slaughter, deceased. She was about to marry again. Also a deed, Rappahannock, January 6th, 1663, from Mrs. Margaret Lucas to her grandchild, Francis Slaughter, son of Francis Slaughter, deceased, with reversion to her daughter, Elizabeth Catlett. In a deed, January 5th, 1664-5, John Catlett made a deed confirming title to Francis Slaughter, and reciting that Mrs. Margaret Upton als Lucas had made a gift to said Francis Slaughter, and that he, Catlett, had married Elizabeth Slaughter, widow, mother of the said Francis Slaughter. The will of Francis Slaughter, Sr., Rappahannock, 1656, bequeathed legacies to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Upton, and brother-in-law. Colonel Moore Fauntleroy. How Moore Fauntleroy was related does not appear. Francis Slaughter, Jr., married Margaret . There is a deed, 1699, from Francis Slaughter, of Richmond county, and his wife, Margaret, conveying land granted her in 1679. He was probably the Francis Slaughter whose will was proved in Richmond county 1718, and whose legatees were his daughters, Martha, Mary and Elizabeth, and who mentions his brother-in-law, John Taylor. If so, he omitted to name a son, for in the will, 1699, of William Catlett, half-brother of Francis Slaughter, Jr., he names his nephew, William Slaughter. The name Francis continued in the family, for in 1729 Francis Slaughter and Ann Lightfoot were married in Spotsylvania county. It is probable that the Slaughters of Culpeper &c., descended from the persons above named. It is not known how, if at all, William Slaughter, who was sheriff of Rappahannock 1686, and who, in 1674, made a deed jointly with his wife, Phoebe, was related to Francis Slaughter.Mrs. Elizabeth Slaughter married, secondly, Colonel John Catlett, of Rappahannock county. John Catlett was long one of the leading men of the section of the Colony in which he resided. He appears to have been a native of the parish of Sittingbourne, Kent, England, where he owned land. The parish of Sittingbourne, Rappahannock County, Virginia, where he lived, was doubtless named in honor of his birth-place. With Nicholas Catlett he received a grant of land on the Rappahannock in 1650. He took an active part in the business of the county and its defence from the Indians, as the records show. He was presiding justice of Rappahannock 1665, and died about 1670, killed, it is said, while defending a frontier fort (at what was afterwards Port Roval) against the Indian. Of the tract of about 4,800 acres which he patented and bought, lying on the south side of the Rappahannock, between Golden rule and Cedar creek, and called "Green Hill," some 300 or 400 acres are still possessed by a descendant in the male line. By his will (date torn off) he bequeathed property to his sons, John, William and Thomas, and to his daughter, Margaret, 1,860 acres in the "freshes"of Rappahannock. He had previously by deed conveyed land to his daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth, wives, respectively, of Robert and Francis Taliaferro. By his will, as cited in the marriage contract Edited by Philip Alexander Bruce, William Glover of his widow with Rev. Amory Butler, he directed his children to be educated in England out of the proceeds of his estate there. His son, John, was member of the House of Businesses from Essex 1700 and 1702 (Essex Records), and died in 1724, when his will was recorded in Essex. His daughter, Rebecca, married Francis Conway, and was the grandmother of President Madison. In 1701 John Catlett, Jr., gave a power of attorney to John Munford, of London, gentleman, to sell his lands at Sittingbourne and Radwlesham [?], Kent, England. The following from the English Chancery Proceedings gives something in regard to the family in England: Chancery Proceedings—Charles I, C. C., 39, 20th Apr., 1648:

Found Family History on Ancesrty.com

Humbly complaining, sheweth unto y'r honor yo'r Orrators George Catlett ye elder of Blackwall in Co. Middlesex, gent, Judeth Catlett, Tho: Catlett, Will: & Edward Catlett, sonnes of ye s'd Judeth & of Tho: Catlett, late of Sittingborne in ye Co. of Kent, deceased, by ye s'd Judeth Catlett their mother & guardian. George Catlett, ye younger, of Sandwich, in ye County of Kent, marriner, & John Catlett sonne of John Catlett, ye younger: yo'r Orrators George Catlett ye elder & Thomas Catlett deceased, George Catlett ye younger being all ye sonnes of John Catlett ye elder late of Sittingbourne, in ye Co. of Kent afors'd gent, deceased, whereas heretofore yt is abt. Easter 1646, Geo: Catlett ye elder & Tho: Catlett, Geo: Catlett ye younger & John Catlett sonne of John Catlett ye younger did exhibite their Bill of Complaynt against Silvester Herlakenden & Roger Herlakenden thereby shewing yt Walter Herlakenden late of Mole Ashe in Co. Kent gent deceased father of the s'd Silvester & Roger was lawfully seized in his demesne as of fe in ye manor of Uston w'th al ye lands & tenements thereunto belonging lying & being in ye severall p'ishes of Tunstall Borden Milton als Midleton and Sittingbourne in Co. Kent & also of & in all ye tenement called Sollimans & lands thereunto belonging in Tonstell afs'd & also of certaine lands in greate Sittingbourne feild contayning 32 acres in one close 3 orchards & certayne lands in Milton contayning 20 acres & of and in other houses & yeards in ye Borth Street in Milton & of one messuage & marsh landes & tenements belonging in Brensett in ye s'd County, & ye s'd Walter Herlakenden being thereof seized by Indenture 12 July—? convey'd unto John Catlett ye elder for security of £(xi, all his Estate, Title interest of ye manor of Uston, on condition nevertheless that if Katherine Trollop, widdowe her ex'ors or assigns or ye s'd Walter Herlakenden his ex'ors & assigns, pay unto John Catlett ye elder his heires & assigns in ye South Porch of ye Church of Sittingbourne ye some of ^69, in instalments at certain tymes ye said Indenture sh'd be voyd, & your complainants shewed that noe part of the said money was paid & the property descended unto ye complainants George Catlett ye elder, Tho. Catlett deceased, George Catlett ye younger & to John Catlett ye younger, father of ye Complt John Catlett.

"John Catlett, sonne of John Catlett the younger," was probably the emigrant to Virginia. Doubtless much more could be learned from wills.

The family appears to have been resident in Kent for a considerable period. In Hasted's History of Kent there is mention of Wm. Catlett, who died 5th Elizabeth, possessed of 100 acres of land and 20 acres of wood in the parish of Tong, on which land his son, Thomas, levied a fine in the same year. Lawrence Catlote, of the parish of Great Chart, by his will proved 1469, devised his messuage called The Place, in Chart Street, on the death ofJoane, his wife, to John, son of Nicholas Phylipp.

Mrs. Elizabeth Catlett married thirdly, in 1672, Rev. Amory Butler, of Rappahannock county. On October 16th, 1671, as Elizabeth, widow of Col.John Catlett, she had given a power of attorney to Mr. Daniel Gaines (an early justice of Rappahannock, and ancestor of the family of that name in Virginia), whose daughter, Elizabeth, married her son, John Catlett. Her will is on record at Essex Court House, dated May 17th, 1673, proved June 16th, 1673. Legatees: "son Frances Slaughter, all the furniture of my chamber, except a chest of drawers which I give to my daughter Sarah, and a close-stool to my son John Catlett—to son Frances Slaughter, all goods, money, plate and rings, mentioned in an account in the hands of Mr. Daniel Gaines; also one negro boy, and an equal share of my stock of pewter, brass and iron, also a great chair, a small couch, a chest, and such other things in the house as my mother gave me by her will—to daughter Elizabeth, the bed and furniture now in the dining room, the press and cushion, great looking glass, drawing table and Turkey Carpet, and my childbed linen, blankets, and fine basket, my wedding ring, my biggest diamond ring, gilded bodkin, necklace with the biggest pearls, a small bible, silver sucking bottle and the small Cabinet—to daughter Sarah, two of my biggest stone rings, the small pearl necklace, silver bodkin, my new trunk, napkin press, a small bible, small testament, a dram cup, my wedding ring and an oval table—to son John, a small diamond ring, the map in the dining room, a rapier, a great cutlash, a pair of silver buttons, a pair of silver buckles, and the antimonial cup—to son William, a small cutlash, a ring with the stone enamelled blue, a silver seal—to two daughters, all my wearing apparel, clothes and linnen—to sons John and William, all my books, according to the inventory—to sons John and William and two daughters, all of my plate, except three spoons, and also to them, all pewter, brass, linnen and other household stuff not otherwise bequeathed—to three sons, each a carbine—to the four children of husband John Catlett, a gray mare and furniture—to cousin Wm. Underwood, the elder, one colt—to cousin Humphrey Booth, a chest and goods which were my mother's—to cousin Catherine Booth, a silver caudle cup which was her grandmother's—to sister Pierce, a mourning ring—my executors shall supply what tobacco may be needed for my children's education in England, according to my deceased husband's will—what money remains in the hands of Messrs. Gifford and Munford in London, to be used for the purchase of furniture for my son Frances Slaughter, in lieu of what his father-in-law owed him—Beloved husband Amorv Butler executor, and my Cousin Captain Thos. Hawkins, my brother Edward Rowzee, and Mr. Daniel Gaines overseers of my will—to brother Booth's children, several cattle—to beloved husband Amory Butler, a bed, furniture and a mourning ring."

There was a suit in the General Court, May, 1673, between Amory Butler and Capt. Thomas Hawkins, "a kinsman of Col. John Catlett," as to which should have charge of the children and estate. It was adjudged that Butler have charge of the estate and Mr. Daniel Gaines of the children. Rev. Amory Butler was brother of Rev. Wm. Butler, of Westmoreland county.

II. Sarah, second daughter of Capt. John Upton, was doubtless the "Sister Peirce" named in Mrs. Butler's will. Wm. Peirce was a justice of Westmoreland in 1668, as Major William Peirce was first in the Commission of the peace for Westmoreland, Nov. 5, 1677. There is a deed, dated Oct., 1668, from Major William Peirce to George Bruce, and acknowledged by Peirce's wife Sarah. The will of Col. William Peirce was proved in Westmoreland, March 25, 1702. Legatees: Pierce Gower and Stanley Gower, 310 acres being the land their father lived on, grandson Samuel Bayley, grandson Wm. Peirce (son of John Peirce, deceased), wife. Daughters: Elizabeth Bridges, Margaret Graham and Mary Rowsey. It seems probable, from various records, that Mrs. Margaret Upton

had been previously married to Underwood, and that by him she

had several children. As has been stated, Wm. Underwood is named in the will of Capt. Upton. In 1650 Wm. Underwood, gentleman, had a grant of land on the north side of the Rappahannock; among the headrights were Wm. Underwood, himself, four twins to Virginia; Mary his wife and Wm. Underwood his son. Wm. Underwood was Burgess for Lancaster, Nov., 1652, and justice of Rappahannock 1656. There was recorded in Rappahannock county a deed Nov. 2, 1657, from Capt. Wm. Underwood, of Rappahannock (with the consent of Mary, his wife), conveying to Richard Loes and Rice Jones, gentleman, both of Rappahannock county, a tract of 650 acres on north side Rappahannock river. There is recorded in Lancaster a power of attorney from Henry Mountfort, of Rotterdam, merchant, to William Moosle (Moseley) "merchant in ye Virginias," to receive certain payments from Mr. Wm. Underwood, dwelling in Virginia, dated Aug. 12, 1649, recorded in Lancaster, Oct. 1653. Mr. Wm. Underwood was a justice of Lancaster, 1652, and on Dec. 11, 1656, was appointed one of the justices, and of the quorum of Rappahannock county at its formation. There is also in Lancaster a power of attorney, from Simon Overzhe, of Linhaven, Va., merchant, to Mr. Wm. Underwood.

Margaret Underwood named in Captain Upton's will as "daughter," married Humphrey Booth. There is a marriage contract between Humphrey Booth, of the county of Lancaster, merchant, of the one part, and James Williamson and Wm. Underwood, of Lancaster, gentlemen, of the second part, the said Booth intending to marry Margaret Underwood, sister of said Captain Wm. Underwood, conveying 700 acres on Rappahannock river, in Lancaster, which land was lately conveyed to him (Booth) by Mrs. Margaret Upton, widow, and mother of the said Margaret Underwood. There is recorded in Lancaster a power of attorney, dated Dec'r 5th, 1653, to Humphrey Booth, of London, merchant, who was about to go to Virginia. Humphrey Booth was appointed one of the justices of Rappahannock county at its organization, December 11th, 1656. There is on record a power of attorney from Wm. Walthall, of Henrico, merchant, to Humphrey Booth, of Rappahannock, merchant, dated July 26th, 1656; also a power of attorney, 1659, from Mary, wife of Wm. Underwood. There is a deed, August 10th, 1663, from Humphrey Booth and Margaret, his wife. There are on record deeds of gift from Mrs. Margaret Lucas to her grandchildren, Grace and Catherine Booth. One of these daughters married Robert Brooke.

It is probable that another sister of Capt. Wm. Underwood, Mary, married Capt. Thomas Hawkins, and still another daughter married James Williamson. Captain Underwood is spoken of as "uncle" of Williamson's daughters, who married, respectively, Wm. Ball and John Rosier.

It appears from a deed, that in 1675, Elizabeth, widow of Major Wm. Underwood (who must have married a second time), was the wife of Archdale Combe, of Rappahannock county. From a pedigree and wills in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1889, pp. 158-160, it appears that Thomas Archdale, citizen and draper, of London, whose pedigree is given in the Visitation, of London, 1633-'4, and whose will was proved in 161 T, had a daughter, Margaret, who married John Combe, of London, merchant, and had a son, Archdale Comb, named in his grandfather's will.