Charles Bartholomew

Charles Bartholomew

Another Story of Two Sisters

Virginia

Charles Bartholomew was born in Charles City Virginia about 1641. Charles City would, during his lifetime, become Prince George County, Virginia. He first married Frances Tye who was the daughter of Joyce Boyce Tye the widow of Richard Tye. Joyce married Dr. John Coggin in 1659. Dr. John Coggin was an early settler and physician in Charles City and a bit of a rowdy fellow. Dr. Coggin was in court at least once for fighting. Joyce’s parents were Thomas Boyce and Emelia Craven. John Coggin and Joyce had a daughter, Rebecca. Joyce brought her daughters, Elizabeth and Frances to the new family. Elizabeth, Rebecca and Frances were half siblings. Rebecca married Major Francis Poythress of Westover Parish. 

When Francis Poythress died, Rebecca married the now widower, Charles Bartholomew.  This marriage caused a stir in the community because at the time it was considered incestuous to marry your deceased wife’s sister.

They were in court 14 Jun 1694 charged with incestuous marriage under the 12^th Act of Assembly that stated than none shall marry within certain degrees of consanguinity, especially that none shall marry his wife’s sister. On June 3^rd John Jane swore that he knew Frances, the first wife of Charles Bartholomew and that he knows Rebecca, the relict of Francis Poythress, and that he married one of the sisters of Rebecca and that he had been told, and also believed, that Rebecca and Frances were sisters and that they were daughters of one mother but of diverse fathers.  On 3 Aug 1694 William Randolph, the Attorney General, repeated the charges against Charles and Rebecca. Charles and Rebecca were married in Westover Parish February 2, 1693 by George Robinson, clerk of Bristol Parrish. Charles pleaded not guilty and a jury was impaneled. Charles quoted two statutes regarding marriage and said that his marriage was cognizable only by ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The court overruled his plea. He said that he had not violated the law. George Robinson swore in court that he married the couple on the date stated. William Epes stated that he saw the couple married on the date stated. John Jane swore that Frances and Rebecca were sisters, daughters of the same mother but different fathers. John Bishop swore the same. Joshua Wynne swore that he knew both women from childhood and that they were always taken to be sisters and daughters of one mother. And there were more that testified in court. William Harrison the foreman of the jury brought in the verdict of not guilty. The Attorney General appealed the decision to the next General Court. The sheriff took Bartholomew’s sureties that he and Rebecca would live apart until the suit was settled.  That appears to be the end of that case, it was not brought up again at the next General Court.

On December 4, 1694 at Westover court, Henry Reed exhibited a bill in Chancery against Charles Bartholomew and Rebecca, his wife, the executrix of Major Francis Poythress. Francis had inventoried Ann Young’s estate and had appraised it at a value of 5,664 pounds of tobacco. He and Peter Read, Ann Young’s father, had been granted administration of the estate. Francis held 1,882 pounds of tobacco from the administration of this estate when he had shortly afterwards gone to England, and subsequently died prior to John Young, Ann Young’s son coming to legal age. John Young requested the recovery of the 1,882 pounds of tobacco, his inheritance, and prayed that Charles Bartholomew and Rebecca, his wife, be subpoenaed to answer the suit. It was ordered that Bartholomew answer the suit next court. Neither appeared at the next court so the suit was dropped.

In 1702 Prince George County was formed from the part of Charles City County that lay on the south side of the James River.

In the Quit Rent Rolls for Prince George County in 1704 Charles Bartholomew, husband of Rebecca Poythress Bartholomew, paid quit rents on 600 acres.

At Francis Poythress’ death, he had received grants totaling 3,059 acres. On April 29, 1692 1,000 acres were granted to Rebecca. On February 3. 1693 a deed of land was conveyed from Rebecca to Joshua Wynne with Charles Bartholomew, William Epes and Elizabeth Smith as witnesses. Rebecca had given Charles power of attorney to convey this land. (Joshua was Francis’ half-brother)

On September 10, 1711, in Prince George County, Charles and Rebecca, “for love and affection to their daughter, Anne Bartholomew, after their decease, was to receive 200 acres on both sides of Easterly Run in Westover Parish, being the remainder of 1,000 acres granted to Rebecca Poythress Bartholomew, in her widowhood, by an ascheated patent dated April 29, 1692,” 500 acres of the land belonging to Colonel Littlebury Epes, and the other 300 acres was to be given by them to Rebecca Poythress by deed of gift. One of the witness was John Denton, another familiar name that came to Franklin County, North Carolina.

The quit rents were paid for two years by Charles and Rebecca.

Although there are no records to directly connect to this Charles, and most of the records just mention his daughters, it is very likely that they had a son, Charles and/or a son John. The dates would support this. I also know that John Bartholomew, Revolutionary War soldier, married in Isle of Wight and would put the family in this area.John Bartholomew died in Franklin County, North Carolina. His pension records include the fact that he was married in Isle of Wight and then moved to Warren County, North Carolina to be with his father. 

Since I put this couple in my tree on Ancestry, I have gotten the DNA matches to this couple. Looks like they are the ancestors I was searching for.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie