Helen Glenn Court

Rootes

Very little at best is known of the Rootes in Virginia before Major Philip and the 18th century. The infamous coat of arms appears, along with the proverbial right to use it, but aside from that they mostly married well and died broke....

Sources: Virginia Colonial Abstracts, vol. IV, King and Queen County, 4-EQ, pp. 78-81; Rootes, "The Rootes Family," pp. 204-11

generation no. 1

Philip Rootes, born c 1696 Gloucester Co., built Rosewall — which burned to the ground late in the 18th century — in King and Queen Co. and died there 17 August 1756 (see will). Married Mildred Reade.

generation no. 2

Thomas Reade Rootes I, born 1737, died 1765. Married on 8 February 1763 Mary/Maria Jacquelin Smith.

generation no. 3

Thomas Reade Rootes II, born 23 February 1764, died bankrupt at White Marsh in Gloucester Co. VA on 22 January 1824 (see will). Married (1) in 1783 Sarah Ryng Battaile, who died 13 March 1811, and (2) the widow Prosser, by whom no issue.

generation no. 4

Sarah Robinson Rootes, born 20 September 1792, died 1866. Married 11 April 1812 John Addison Cobb of Georgia after long-distance courtship.

Will: Philip Rootes

13 August 1756

In the name of God Amen. I Philip Rootes of King and Queen County Gent. being of perfect sence and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

I give my beloved wife during her life the use of one fourth part of my slaves, Phil, Dinah and Sarah to be of the fourth part alloted to her. Also give to my said wife the planation I now live on called Rosewall, the plantation known by the name of Spencers near Hartquake and one plantation at the mountains iwth the stocks of hoggs and cattle on them during her life. I give my said wife all my house and kitchen furniture during her life provided it do not exceed one fourth part to each and she may if she please give her five daughters Elizabeth Mildred Priscilla and Mary to each a bed and furniture and what she leaves at her death to be equally divided between her said four sons the lands execepted: and it is my will and meaning that the above devise to my wife shall be in lieu of her dower and dostribritutive (sic) share of my estate.

I give my son Philip after his mothers decease the plantation I now live on, the plantation known by the name of the Red house which I bought of William Hill and one fourth part of my land at the mountains to him and his heirs forever. I give to my sone Thomas Reade the plantation I bought of Mr. Porteus with one fourth part of the land I have at the mountains to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son John the plantation near Hartquake known by the name of Spencers with one fourth part of my land at the mountains to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son George one fourth part of my land at the mountains to him and his heirs forever the stocks of horses and cattle and hoggs at the mountains to be equall (sic) divided amongs my said four sons. My cattle and hogs &c in the lower part of the country I desire may remain on the plantation where they now are and the property thereof to be in such of my sons as I have devised the said plantations to.

I give my son John my riding horse, and the rest of my horses after four are allotted to my wife I desire may be equally divided between my four sons.

I desire that my plantation in New Kent my lot and houses in Richmond Town in Henrico County one hundred and fifty acres of land I have in Spotsylvania county and two of my lots in Fredericksburg with my sloop my two twenty five and twelve hogsheads flats with their apparel and the negro man named Squire be sold at twelve months credit and the money to go towards paying my debts and legacies. My third lot in Fredericksburg being the lowermost of the three and joining the warehouse I give to my son Philip and his heirs.

I give unto my son Thomas my sword pistols and mahogany desk.

I give my son Philip the negroes Phil Dinah and Sarah after his mothers decease, and the remaining part of my slaves after my wife's part taken out I desire may be equally divided between my sons Philip, Thomas Reade, John and George and that part allotted to my wife to be divided in the same manner after her decease.

I give my daughter Elizabeth three hundred pounds sterling, my daughter Mildred three hundred pounds sterling, my daughter Priscilla three hundred pounds sterling, and my daughter Mary three hundred pounds sterling, which money must be raised out of my whole estate, after the debts due to me are got in, and the lands and other things above directed to be sold are applied to that purpose. And tis my desire that after my wife's, my son Philip, and my son Thomas Reade's parts are taken out the rest of my estate be kept together until the first of December after my son John shall arrive to lawful age, and then his part to be delivered to him and when my son George comes to lawful age, I desire his part to be delivered to him, and if any money remain after my debts and legacies are paid I desire it may be equally divided between my four daughters Elizabeth, Mildred, Priscilla and Mary, and in case any one of my said daughters should die before she married or comes of age tis my desire that her fortune go to the survivors or survivor of the said Elizabeth, Mildred, Priscilla and Mary. And tis my desire that if upon division there should fall to any of the younger children's lott any more horses or cattle or hogs they shall be sold to raise money for the younger children's fortunes and as fast as they raise any beforehand, let it be put out to interest, taking good security for the same. I desire that my estate be kept together in the hands of my exrs. untill my children arrive to the age mentioned in my will, that is to say my sons to the age of twenty one and my daughters marry with the consent of my executors, or come of age.

I desire that when I die a coffin may be made for me of the plank now at my house and my body carried to the grave by four of my negroes and decently intered in the presence of few of my neighbors without any pomp or funeral sermon, and that none of my family go into mourning.

Lastly I consitute and appoint Colonel John Robinson, Colonel Humphrey Hill, my sons Philip Rootes and Thomas Reade Rootes and my son John when he comes of age executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made and declaringthis to be my only true will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this thirteenth day of August 1756.

Philip Rootes (seal)

Signed seal published and declared in the presence of Dr. Ker, John Symmer, Jno Metcalf

It is my will that the stocks of cattle and hogs &c on my plantations in New Kent, and also my three lots in Fredericksburg be sold for the payment of my debts and legacies.

I give to my son Philip his choice of my seals, and my other seal with my watch my troopers saddle and bridle I give to my son John.

It is also my will that my sons shall upon receiving their parts of my estate give security for the payment of their proportionable parts of their sisters fortunes, and if my son George chooses to go to the sea I desire he may be bound at the expense of my estate.

Philip Rootes (sic) Witness David Ker John Symmer John Metcalfe

At a court held for King and Queen county the 12th day of October 1756

Will: Thomas Reade Rootes II, of Whitemarsh

22 July 1822

In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas Reade Rootes, being of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Mary P. Rootes, my whole estate both real and personal, in trust for the purpose of paying my legal debts, always reserving her own claims first. I give my said wife all my household and kitchen furniture, the most of which was her own. I also give her all my plate and any furniture I have purchased since my marriages, all of which will not amount in value to what I have sold of hers when I removed from Richmond.

I authorize my said wife to sell all and any part of my estate as she may think proper, first my western lands, then my land in Henrico, then my estate in Hanover called Gould Hill, and some lots in Hanover Town. After the payment of legal debts, I give to my wife one half profits of my whole estate during her natural life, and the other half to be divided among my children Martha J. Jackson, Sarah R. Cobb, J.S. Rootes and Serena Rootes; and upon the death of my wife direct my whole estate to be divided among my said children in the same proportion...

...having given my late son Thos. R. Rootes [III], a very good property in Fredericksburg besides negroes and money, all of which he by bad management wasted and destroyed, and I have besides had to pay large sums of money for him, and am still bound to pay more, amounting in the whole to a much larger amount than I can give any other of my children...

...and whereas his widow now holds furniture and other property to a considerable amount belonging to me, and what is still more painful to me his said widow, since the death of my said son, has had a deed recorded for the Gould Hill land, and a bill of sale for the negroes thereon, which were executed in the year 1813, and which she knows were surrendered to me in the year 1815, and since surreptitiously obtained from my desk, recorded for the purpose of doing me an injury by claiming property for her children to which she knows her husband had renounced all claim.

I therefore give to the children of my said son the furniture etc in the possession of their mother, and upon their coming of age, one hundred pounds each upon their severally renouncing all claim to the Gould Hill estate & the negroes thereon, and upon no other terms whatever. And should they set up, or either of them set up or any other person for them set up a claim for the estate or negroes named in those deeds, or any other claim whatever except under this will, they and each of them shall forfeit the sum herein given them, or any other part of my estate whatever.

I leave my wife executrix to this my last will, and direct she shall give no security and upon her death I appoint my sons-in-law, John Cobb and Dr. Jackson my executors upon the same terms, as witness my hand and seal this 25th day of July 1822.

— Thomas Reade Rootes [seal]

Gloucester Courthouse, 3 March 1824, recorded Arthur L. Davies, clerk

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