Alexander Bagwell from Judy Stell Updated May 14, 2004

Alexander Bagwell

Information has been compiled and presented on the Bagwell family in "Adventurers of Purse and Person" and numerous web sites. A recent look at Northampton County Court Orders published through 1717 and on film through 1732 provided little shreds of information which may shed more light on Alexander Bagwell, his wives and children.

Alexander Bagwell, the son of John & Ann Bagwell, left a will dated October 27, 1722 in Northampton Co., VA, which was probated January 8, 1722-3. (Virginia Meyer and John Dorman, Dietz Press, Richmond, VA, 3^rd Edition, 1987; James H. Marshall, Abstracts of the Wills & Administrations of Northampton Co. VA, Picton Press, Camden, ME, 1994, p. 242)

The currently accepted marriage and heirs of Alexander Bagwell states that Alexander Bagwell married Neomy Maddux, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Maddux. (Virginia Meyer and John Dorman, "Adventurers of Purse and Person" Dietz Press, Richmond, VA, 3^rd Edition, 1987) Northampton Orders 1710-1715, p. 147 is cited: 1/19/1713 upon the petition of Mrs. Rebecca Maddux the Court hath ordered that Messrs Alexander Bagwell and Benjamin Johnson as marrying the daughters of Mr. Thomas Maddux deceased repair to the Clark Office and there to enter into bond with good security for that part of Mr. Thomas Maddox estate that belongeth to their children (NH Orders 1710-1717, p. 147, Howard Mackey and Marlene A. Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003, pp 56-57)

After looking at this and other court records, it appears that Alexander Bagwell did marry a daughter of Thomas Maddux d. 1713 Northampton Co., VA. However, she may not have been a daughter by Thomas Maddux’ last wife, Rebecca, she was probably deceased before 1713, and her name was probably not Neomy.

4/19/1715 Discharge from estate of Thomas Maddux to Alexander Bagwell for his children (NH 15:201, Howard Mackey and Marlene A.Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003)

4/19/1715 At the request of Thomas James the three discharges from Thomas Maddux estate one of Benjamin Johnson for his children part of the said Maddux estate the second of Alexander Bagwell for his children part of the said Maddux estate the third is John Powell is Thomas Maddux part of his father estate is ordered to be recorded (NH 15:201, p. 169, Howard Mackey and Marlene A.Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003)

July 17, 1717 the remainder part of the inventory of the estate of Thomas Maddux Senior deceased was exhibited in court on the oath of Thomas James, as intermarrying with Rebekah Maddux his administratrix which is ordered to be recorded (NH16:28, Howard Mackey and Marlene A.Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003).

July, 1717 Inventory on NH Wills, Deed, etc. No. 15 1717-1725, p. 4 (film VA Archives)

From these Orders, we know there were only three distributions from the estate of Thomas Maddux d. 1713: to Benjamin Johnson for his children, to Alexander Bagwell for his children and to John Powell, who was guardian of Thomas Maddux Jr. We also know that Rebecca Maddux, widow of Thomas, married Thomas James by April 19, 1715. Nowhere in the Court Orders are the wives of Benjamin Johnson or Alexander Bagwell shown with any of the accountings or distributions from the Maddux estate. The usual wording, such as ‘in right of his wife’ is not used. This suggests that both Benjamin Johnson’s and Alexander Bagwell’s Maddux wives are deceased.

This is further substantiated in the case of Alexander Bagwell: 5/20/1712 This day the Action of Detino[?] between Alexander Bagwell as marrieing the Executrix of Obedience Roberts deceased (20 May 1712 p. 65; Howard Mackey and Marlene A. Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003, pp 56-57). Obedience Roberts’ will was probated in 1709, and his wife was Elizabeth. (James H. Marshall, Abstracts of the Wills & Administrations of Northampton Co. VA, Picton Press, Camden, ME, 1994, p. 191)

Alexander Bagwell married Elizabeth, the widow of Obedience Roberts, sometime after Roberts’ death and before May 20, 1712.

Bagwell’s Maddux wife was deceased by 1713 and he married between 1709-1712 the widow, Elizabeth Roberts. It would appear that Thomas Maddux’s daughter was Alexander Bagwell’s first wife and that she died before 1709-1712, when Bagwell married Elizabeth (N) Roberts. Alexander Bagwell’s wife at the time of his death was named Neomy.

Some confusion arises from the intestate death of another Thomas Maddux in 1717-8 and the fact that Alexander Bagwell was administrator for his estate. After the 1717 probate for the estate of this Thomas Maddux, the Thomas Maddux estate already in court with Rebecca and Thomas James as administrators, was then called the estate of Thomas Maddux "Sr." The only other Thomas Maddux in Northampton County was the young son of Thomas Maddux Sr., who had just discharged his guardian, John Powell, the year before. As the only son in the distribution of the estate of Thomas Maddux d. 1713, Thomas d. 1717 would have inherited his father’s land at N98. At his death and without a will, the land at N98 would go to his children, if he had any; and if not, to the heirs of his sisters/step-sisters (the children of Alexander Bagwell and Benjamin Johnson).

March 19, 1717 estate Thomas Maddux, adm. Alexander Bagwell on behalf of the ‘children of the dec’d’ (James H. Marshall, Abstracts of the Wills & Administrations of Northampton Co. VA, Picton Press, Camden, ME, 1994, p. 217)

March, 1717 petition of Alexander Bagwell ‘on the behalf of his child’ presents letter of administration on the estate of Thomas Maddux, late of this county deceased (NH16:4, Howard Mackey and Marlene A. Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003)

May 21, 1717 inventory of est. of Thomas Madux dec’d presented by adm. Alexander Bagwell (NH16:9, Howard Mackey and Marlene A. Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003)

May 22, 1717 the action of debt between John Powell Plaintiff and Alexander Bagwell Adm of the goods and chattels of Thomas Madux dec’d, Plaintiff proving his debt (NH 16:12, Howard Mackey and Marlene A. Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003)

September 15, 1717 action of case between Thomas James Plaintiff and Alexander Bagwell, adm. of the goods & chattels of Thomas Maddux deceased, Defendant, Plaintiff proving his account (NH16:40-41, Howard Mackey and Marlene A. Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003)

October 15, 1717 debt paid to Thomas Marshall; January 21, 1718 debt paid to Susannah Bowden; March 17, 1718 debt paid to William Kendall Sr. (NH16:46, 55, 61, Howard Mackey and Marlene A. Groves, Northampton County Virginia Record Book Court Cases &c Volume 15 1710-1717, Picton Press, Rockport, ME, 2003)

Northampton Orders Bk 17 1919-1722, p. 129 (film VA Archives) - Sept 13, 1721 this day Alexander Bagwell adm. for Thomas Maddux dec'd exhibbitted an account to this court against the estate of Thomas Maddux for 50 pounds, 5 shillings and 5 pence....court ordered him to pay himself from the estate.

Other than the payment of debts from the estate of Thomas Maddux 1695-1717, no distribution was found for this estate and the entry on September 13, 1721 was the last found. It is also not clear if Alexander Bagwell administered the estate ‘on behalf of the children of the deceased’ or ‘on behalf of his (Bagwell’s) child’ or if Bagwell did it on behalf of his ‘children.’ Thomas Maddux Jr. 1695-1717 would have been an uncle of the children of Alexander Bagwell and Benjamin Johnson.

The will of Alexander Bagwell was dated 10/27/1722, with probate 1/8/1723-4: wife Neomy, daughter Mary when 18, cozen William Bagwell s/o Henry, and his brother Thomas; son-in-law Nathaniel Maddux, three daughters Rebeccah, Sarah and Anne, brother Henry, daughter Margaret to be of age at 18 (James H. Marshall, Abstracts of the Wills & Administrations of Northampton Co. VA, Picton Press, Camden, ME, 1994, p. 242) According to his will, two of Alexander’s daughters were under age 18; Court Orders show that a third daughter, Sarah, was also under age. The following Orders show accounts of Alexander Bagwell’s estate by his widow, Neomy, and his brother, Henry. A cursory review of microfilm through 1732 found no distribution of the estate.

Jan 8, 1723 - the case ___ and testament of Alexander Bagwell decd was presented in court by Neomy Bagwell Henry Bagwell his exor ___ being duly proved by the oaths of all the witnesses___ ....the case for probate is granted them.

Ordered that ___ Johnson, Thomas Marshall Gent. John White and Richard Bull or any 3 of them ..... do appraise the said ___.... make report to the next court (NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

Feb 13, 1723 Thomas Marshall Gent Eward Turner John Jacob Wm. Major or any 3 of these being first duly sworn to are appointed to divide the estate of Alexander Bagwell…next court (NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

July 9, 1723 Naomi Bagwell and Henry Bagwell presented in court an inventory of estate of Alexander Bagwell (NH Orders Bk18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

June 8, 1725 Henry Bagwell & Neomi, exors of Alexander Bagwell report to the court a

mistake on the inventory; June 9, 1725 Henry Bagwell exor of Alexander Bagwell adjusts amount he is to be reimbursed (NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

Nov 10, 1725 Henry Bagwell presents further inventory of Alexander Bagwell (NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

Alexander Maddux’ will named daughters Rebecca, Anne, Sarah, Margaret and Mary. He also named "son-in-law" Nathaniel Maddux. Alexander Bagwell mentioned in his will that daughters Margaret and Mary were to be of age at 18. Court Orders indicate Sarah, Margaret and Mary Bagwell were under age.

Because he called Nathaniel Maddux "son-in-law," the assumption has been made that Nathaniel Maddux was a step-son and a child of Bagwell’s wife, Neomy, and Neomy assumed to be the daughter of Thomas & Rebecca Maddux. If, instead, Alexander Bagwell’s first wife was a daughter of Thomas Maddux d. 1713 (rather than Neomy), this Nathaniel Maddux could have really been a son-in-law and married to one of Alexander Bagwell’s daughters. Bagwell did not name any grandchildren in his will, nor did he use surnames for his daughters.

Margaret Bagwell and Mary Bagwell were both to be of age at 18. Sarah and Margaret Bagwell chose their guardians in on January 8, 1722-3. No record of Mary Bagwell selecting her guardian was found in Orders through 1732. Sarah and Margaret Bagwell were over age 14 and under age 18 in January, 1723, which places their births 1705-1709. Rebecca and Ann were evidently over age 18 (born before 1705) and Mary Bagwell might not have been age 14 by 1723 (born after 1709). By their approximate ages, it appears that Rebecca, Ann, Sarah and Margaret were children by Alexander Bagwell’s first wife and would be grandchildren of Thomas Maddux d. 1713 and nieces of Thomas Maddux d. 1717.

1. Sarah Bagwell b. 1705-1709,

Jan 8, 1723 Sarah Bagwell came into court and chose Henry Turner to be her

guardian which....the court approve....having given security.   There is a line drawn

through Henry and over his name Eward is written

Jan. 9, 1723 - there being a mistake in the Christian name of Eward Turner in the bond by him given yesterday for the guardian of Sarah Bagwell the same way by his….(NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

Found no inventory presented to court by Edward Turner in NH Orders or in Wills, Deeds, etc.

George Nicholas Turner appointed gdn of Thomas James and John James in 1730, (?sons of Thomas James who m. Rebecca (N) Maddux)

Sarah Turner b. 1705-1709, d. 1744 and George Nicholas Turner d. 1741 (son of the above Edward Turner & Judith Hack), are living on land at N98 which had been given to Thomas Maddux d. 1713 and his brother, Alexander Maddux II d. 1717, by their father, Alexander Maddux d. 1660. (Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Picton Press, Camden, ME, 1996, pp. 498-501) George and Sarah both left wills and they had children who were of age by 1744, including a son, Maddox. It is probable that Sarah Turner was Sarah Bagwell, daughter of Alexander Bagwell & the daughter of Thomas Maddux d. 1713.

Children of Sarah (Bagwell) & George Nicholas Turner:

A. George Turner, liv in 1753

B. Nicholas Turner dtd 8/13/1774, prob 12/23/1774 WOR, wife Sarah

Children: George, Maddox, Levi, Elizabeth, Sarah Turner

C. Maddux Turner, dtd 5/23/1751, prob 8/13/1751, m. Rosanna Milby d/o John Children: Maddox Turner d.i. 1779, Lurainner Turner, Milby Turner

D. Margaret Turner

E. Theophilus Turner

F. Eby Turner

G. Sarah Turner dtd 1/15/1753 NH Co., wit: Thomas Marshall, Thomas John

Marshall and Thomas Lun; exor brother George Turner

H. Joshua Turner

I. Henerito Turner

2. Ann Bagwell b. bef 1705

In the description of the land at N98 (which was given by Alexander Maddux d.

1660 to his sons Thomas d. 1713 and Alexander II d. 1717), Ralph Whitelaw

shows William and Ann Jacob on a quarter of this land and says "judging from

some very early depositions by them, it is quite possible that she had been born a

Maddox." Unfortunately, these dispositions have not yet been found, but it is

entirely possible that Ann Jacob was Ann Bagwell, a granddaughter of Thomas

Maddux d. 1713.

Ann (Bagwell) married before 1728 William Jacob (son of John Jacob d. 1728).

John Jacob was the first guardian selected in 1723 by Margaret Bagwell.

3. Rebecca Bagwell b. bef 1705

Rebecca was of age when her father died and there is no further record that can be identified for her, except the term ‘son-in-law’ used by Alexander Bagwell in 1722 for Nathaniel Maddux. Since the given names of Ann and Sarah coincide so closely with Ann Jacob and Sarah Turner, the assumption is made that Rebecca Bagwell may have been the wife of a Nathaniel Maddux. Alexander Maddux II d. 1717 and his wife, Mary Bell, had a son named Nathaniel. This Nathaniel Maddux was the grandson of Thomas Bell, who lived adjacent to Alexander Bagwell. After being named in his father’s will, no further record for Nathaniel Maddux has been found in VA or MD.

Two Maddux’ are named in Northampton wills which might relate to Nathaniel Maddux: A Neomy Maddux was called ‘cousin’ by Simon Teague in 1718 and a Sarah Maddux was witness to the will of Judith Turner in 1732. An unplaced Thomas Maddux b.c. 1720 Somerset, d. 1783, Fauquier Co., VA (who some show as the son of Alexander Maddux II d. 1717 and Mary Bell) would also be a candidate as a child of Nathaniel Maddux and his possible wife, Rebecca Bagwell.

Further information for Nathaniel Maddux at N98 (which was given to Thomas Maddux d. 1713 and Alexander Maddux d. 1717) is not found. There was an ejectment suit in 1717 against James Welch for lands where Rebecca Maddux (widow of Thomas d. 1713) was tenant that Alexander Maddux of Somerset MD demised to Thomas Horsey (June 15, 1714). There is no mention of any of Alexander Maddux d. 1717’s children in this suit.

4. Margaret Bagwell b. 1705-1709, m. 1724 Arthur Roberts d. 1748, s/o Arthur & Joyce Roberts; she m. 2^nd 12/29/1749 Jacob Marshall d. 1752, s/o John & Sarah Marshall (Jacob was younger step-brother of her guardian, Thomas Marshall)

Jan 8, 1723 Margaret Bagwell came into court and chose John Jacob to be her Guardian. (NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

Feb 2, 1723 Margaret Bagwell came into court and made choice of Thomas Marshall Gent. to be her guardian. Mr. John Jacob...... (NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

July 9, 1723 Mr. Thomas Marshall presented in court an inventory of the estate of Margaret Bagwell orphan which on the motion is admitted to… (NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

Inventory contained on p. 187, Wills, Deed, etc. No. 15 1717-1725, microfilm, VA Archives

June 11, 1726… Arthur Robert praying that he may be paid the sum of four pounds and eleven shillings out of the estate of Alexander Bagwell to him in right of Margaret his wife late one of the daughters of Alexander Bagwell aforsd from the estate of the sd Alexander. Henry Bagwell one of the exors…(NH Orders Bk 18 1722-1729, film VA Archives)

No discharge of her guardian was found in cursory look through Orders to 1732.

A. Francis Roberts d. 1764 m. Margaret Hall d/o Thomas Hall & Elizabeth Scarburgh.

Francis and Margaret Roberts were on land of Thomas Maddux, N98

B. Arthur Roberts II m. Patience Simkins

C. Joachim Roberts d. 1791, m. Sarah (N)

D. Margaret Roberts

E. Mary Roberts

F. Rose Ann Roberts

Records available at the Virginia Archives on film include Wills and Administrations, Court Orders and Deeds. Perhaps a look through the land records starting in 1713 might provide the depositions mentioned by Whitelaw for Ann Jacob or some hint that Whitelaw did not find regarding the distribution of the Thomas Maddux land at N98 where Ann & William Jacob, Francis & Margaret Roberts, and Sarah & George Nicholas Turner each had a quarter.

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