|
It seems that Place was some kind of rogue. He was party to a schemeto cheat his own brother,
Honorias, out of land (see notes onHonorias) and later he disappeared without a trace. No
descendantshave been found for him, otherwise brother, Honorias, could not havebeen his heir. Residences & events: 1704 Essex Co, VA. He and brothers, Honor and Thomas, were listed onthe Quit Rent Rolls, each having 72 acres. 8/10/1705 Essex Co, VA. Place put the following on record at thecourt house: "Know all men that I Place Powell of Essex Co and Parish of St Anne'sdo for several threatenings of Mary Powell my wife that she will makeaway with what I have a-purpose for to ruine me, I do, therefore,forwarne all manner of persons from having any manner of dealing withher and from taking anything of her or entertaining her without myconsent." Place signed with an "X". A footnote says she may havebeen a "she-devil", probably as a result of loneliness. 1/11/1710 St Ann's Parish was still his residence when he leased 300acres to Augustine Smith for 99 years, the land was in St Maries,Richmond Co. "whereon George and William Proctor now liveth in thefreshes of Rappahannock River in the forks of Lamb's Creek, being theland granted unto Francis Place by patent Sept. 1654, relation beinghad to the records, and now doth of right belong to the said PlacePowell, partly to these presents." Witnesses were: John Golding,Cassandra Golding and John Wood. It was not recorded until 1/13/1714,after the next event. 6/3/1713 The previous entry concerned land that Place's parents hadsold some 40 years prior and the question arose about the validity ofthe contract. The matter went to court and the jury's verdict was: "Francis Place took up the land in question, 300 acres in Sept. 1654;on Aug 11, 1655, he made a deed in tail to his daughter, Mary, and shewas thereafter in possession of the land. Mary married Thos. Powelland said Place is their eldest son. Mary died about 3 years ago themiddle of December last. On Sept. 30, 1666, Thomas and Mary deed theland to James Coghill, who, on Oct 11, 1667 deeded it to WilliamWilton. He took out a new patent for the land on Oct. 3, 1671. 'Weedo not find any patent of the sd land granted to the sd ffrancis Placebefore that dated in 1654 before cited. Wee find that the sd ffrancisPlace was dead long before the date of Wilton's patent. Wee find thesaid Mary Powell lived a widow' nine or ten years before she died." There was one final entry concerning Place and this same 300 acres: 9/7/1750 King George Co. "Honorias Powell, of St. Mary's Parish,Caroline Co, as brother and heir apparent to Place Powell, who hasremoved himself to some remote place out of Virginia, conveys to JohnChampe, Gent, the land patented Sept, 1654, by Francis Place andleased Nov. 11, 1710 by said Place Powell to Augustine Smith, Gent,which lease is of record in Essex Co." It appears that Place left Essex Co but no one knew his whereaboutsand so assumed him dead (in 1715) with his property passing tobrother, Honorias. |
| John Golding gave bond as administrator of Place's estate butapparently there was a problem because in July 1716, Augustine Smithposted 50 pounds bond to administer the estate, "he dying without awill." Inventory and appraisment of Place's estate was recorded in1717. |