Our web site has been blessed by Judy’s spirit of generosity and several of the fruits of her Marshall labors, not the least of which is a family journal beginning with JOHN MARSHALL, who was born about 1600 and died after 1685 in Northampton Co., VA. Transcriptions of four Marshal family Bibles are in the Original Materials section, as well as that of the Prayer Book of John Drummond Marshall.

Further down this page, you’ll find Judy’s solution to a Marshall mystery, the identity of Thomas Marshall, husband of Esther Marshall.

Thank you ghote Judy for sharing your work—and your family.

Barbara Cox
November 7, 1999
 

The Question: Who was Thomas Marshall, husband of Esther Marshall?

The prayer book of John Drummond Marshall was given to the Maryland Historical Society in 1943 by Mrs. Belle Johnston Bushnell of Washington, DC. The file shows that Mrs. Bushnell was the great great granddaughter of Thomas Marshall 1746-1791. Previous to the discovery of information contained in the prayer book, it was thought that Thomas Marshall was the son of Thomas Marshall d. 1786 Somerset Co. MD and that he married Esther Marshall (possibly a cousin or 2nd cousin). Now, with the addition of the entries found in the prayer book, the identities of Thomas Marshall and his wife, Esther Marshall, are revealed.
 
Thomas Marshall was born September 9, 1746, Northampton Co. VA, and died in 1791. He was the son of Esme Marshall and Mary Nairn. Thomas married Esther Marshall on March 25, 1766 in Somerset Co., MD. Esther Marshall was born January 6, 1748-9 Somerset Co., MD, the daughter of Thomas Marshall (d. 1786 Somerset) and Jane. Thomas and Esther Marshall had at least three children whose births were recorded in Coventry Parish records, Somerset Co., MD. Thomas was named father of Mary Marshall in the will of Mary's grandfather, Thomas Marshall, dated April 24, 1786 Somerset Co. MD. Thomas bought land in Worcester Co. MD in 1768 and either bought or was given other parcels in that county in 1771, 1772, 1773 and 1786. The 1783 Tax List shows Thomas with 214 acres at Pitts Creek, Worcester County, and surety for George Marshall at Pitts Creek. Thomas and his wife, Esther, sold several parcels in August and December, 1786.

Answer: Thomas Marshall, 1746-1791, was the son of Esme Marshall and was son-in-law of, Thomas Marshall d. 1786 Somerset. Esther Marshall was the daughter of Thomas Marshall d. 1786 Somerset.
 

RECORDS:
Thomas Marshall son of Esme Marshall and Mary his wife b. 9/9/1746.  (J.D. Marshall prayer book)

Esther Marshell daughter of Thomas and Jean Marshell b. 1/6/1749 Coventry Parish. (F. Edward Wright, MD Eastern Shore Vital Statistics 1726-1750, p. 106); Esther Marshall b. 1/6/1748 daughter of Thomas Marshall and Jeny his wife. (J.D. Marshall prayer book)

Easter Marshel m. 3/25/1766 Somerset Thomas Marshel (F. Edward Wright, MD Eastern Shore Vital Statistics 1751-1775, p. 88; Robert Barnes, Somerset MD Marriages 1634-1777)

Mary Marshall b. 3/10/1767 daughter of Thomas & Esther Marshall, Coventry Parish. (F. Edward Wright, MD Eastern Shore Vital Statistics, p. 88);
Mary Marshall b. 3/10/1768 daughter of Thomas Marshall and Esther his wife.  (J.D. Marshall prayer book)

Stephen Marshall b. 4/22/1770 son of Thomas & Esther Marshall, Coventry Parish. (F. Edward Wright, MD Eastern Shore Vital Statistics, p. 88)

John Marshall b. 4/8/1773 son of Thomas & Esther Marshall, Coventry Parish. (F. Edward Wright, MD Eastern Shore Vital Statistics, p. 88)

1783 tax list: THOMAS MARSHALL property listed by William Richardson, assessor of Pitts Creek Hundred, Worceter County, "Conveniency" and "Rudder" 214 acres; 4 male and 2 female. Surety for George Marshall, Pitts Creek, Worcester Co., MD (1783 Tax Assessment, Maryland State Archives; Ruth T. Dryden, 1783 Tax List of Worcester & Somerset Counties)

Will of John Nairn dtd 3/21/1771 Worcester names children of his sister Mary: Robert, William Allen and Thomas Marshall, sons of Esme. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Co. Will Book JW4, f.64)

Will of William Allen dtd 8/1/1790 Worcester names Thomas Marshall son of Esme, land on Pocomoke River be sold after advertising in Annapolis, NH, Acc, Wor, Som, Dor & Talbot counties. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Will Book JW, p. 6)

Isaac Boston with wife Elizabeth and Thomas Layfield sold 75A to Thomas Marshall 8/5/1786. Thomas Marshall with wife Esther sold to James Harper "Addition" and "Merrill Hall" 12/26/1786. 12/26/1786 Thomas Marshall sold to John Drummond Marshall lands not already sold. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records, p. 6)

"Brittingham's Addition" 1/16/1768 Sarah Brittingham widow of Elijah sold all rights to Thomas Marshall. 1/16/1768 Esme Marshall gave to son Thomas Marshall Jr. that Elijah Brittingham willed to son Samuel Brittingham who sold to Esme Marshall. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records, p. 75)

"Brittingham's Chance" a resurvey of "Convenience", 4/2/1771 Thomas Brittingham sold to Thomas Marshall 96A from father Elijah Brittingham. 8/4/1786 Thomas Marshall with wife Esther sold to Zadock Wheeler 243A. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records, p. 75)

"Keel" 8/5/1772 Jacob Boston sold to Thomas Marshall 20 1/2A. 8/4/1786 Thomas Marshall with wife Esther sold 20 1/2A to Zadock Wheeler. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records, p. 342)

"Merrill Hall" 7/13/1786 John (Drummond) Marshall with wife Ann sold part to Thomas Marshall. 8/5/1786 Isaac Boston with wife Elizabeth & Thomas Layfield sold to Thomas Marshall 103A. 12/26/1786 Thomas Marshall with wife Esther sold to James Harper 100A of "Addition" & "Merrill Hall." 12/26/1786 Thomas Marshall with wife Esther Marshall sold to John Drummond Marshall lands not already sold. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records, p. 394)

"Rudder" 2/8/1767 Samuel Brittingham son of Elijah sold to Esme Marshall. 8/5/1772 Thomas Marshall sold 1 3/4A to Jacob Boston. 4/2/1771 Thomas Brittingham sold to Thomas Marshall 96A of "Brittingham's Chance" & "Rudder." 5/21/1777 Thomas Marshall sold to Esme and John Drummond Marshall 244A of "Little Convenience" and "Rudder." 8/4/1786 Thomas Marshall with wife Esther sold to Zadock Wheeler 5 1/8A. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records, p. 533)

"Convenience" 1762 200 acres resurveyed to "Brittingham's Chance." 2/8/1767 Samuel Brittingham with wife Betty sold to Esme Marshall 300A. 11/8/1773 Thomas Marshall sold to William Merrill 100A that Elijah Brittingham died seized. 1783 tax-Thomas Marshall 100A. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records)

Thomas Marshall b.1710 (Rebecca F. Miller, Somerset Commissions & Affidavits 1717-1767, p.26) d.1786 Somerset (date & probate of will) was son of Adrian Marshall and Elizabeth Long Boston, and he was half-brother of Isaac Boston of Isaac. (Matthew Wise, The Boston Family, p. 416) Thomas Marshall (d. 1786 Som.) on 4/20/1774 conveyed for love & affection and 5 shillings to Stephen Marshall of Accomack VA a total of 581 acres various properties in Somerset County. (Matthew Wise, The Boston Family, citing Somerset Deeds 27:160) Thomas Marshall (d. 1786 Som.) on 4/21/1774 deeded to son Isaac Marshall a total of 523 acres of various properties in Somerset County. (Matthew Wise, The Boston Family, citing Somerset Deeds 27:158)

Thomas Marshall (of Adrian) will dated 4/24/1786, probate 6/20/1786 Somerset Co. MD, named grandsons John Harris son of John, George Harris son of John, Thomas Marshall son of Stephen, and granddaughters Martha Marshall daughter of Isaac, Mary Harris daughter of John, and Mary Marshall daughter of Thomas. (Ruth T. Dryden, Somerset Will Book EB1, f.245, p.37)

Please note: the above records are not cited from primary sources
 

THOMAS MARSHALL b. September 9, 1746 Northampton Co. VA, d. 1791, son of Esme Marshall and Mary Nairn, married March 25, 1766 Somerset Co. MD, ESTHER MARSHALL b. January 6, 1748-9 Somerset Co., d. aft. December 26, 1786, daughter of Thomas Marshall d. 1786 and Jane ___ , widow of Abraham Heath. (Heath/Haith from research of James H. Marshall, Admin. Accts. Liber 14, p. 332 March 15, 1737). After selling land in Worcester in December, 1786, no further record of Thomas or Esther has been located. (all dates and names—J. D. Marshall prayer book or attached file at Maryland Historical Society) The ancestry of Esther Marshall can be found in The Miles Files: as d/o Thomas d. 1786, of Adrian, of George. Children of Thomas & Esther:

     John Marshall b. 4/8/1773, Coventry Parish, Somerset Co. MD,
     d. bef. 4/24/1786 (birth-F. Edward Wright, MD Eastern Shore Vital Statistics, p. 88;
      not named in maternal grandfather's will; name is not recorded in the J.D. Marshall prayer book)

     Stephen Marshall b. 4/22/1770, Coventry Parish, Somerset Co. MD,
     d. bef. 4/24/1786 (birth-F. Edward Wright, MD Eastern Shore Vital Statistics, p. 88;
      not named in maternal grandfather's will; name is not recorded in the J.D. Marshall prayer book)

     Mary Marshall b. 3/10/1767-8 Coventry Parish, Somerset Co., MD
     married 7/25/1787 Azariah Purnell b. 10/10/1765, son of Matthew
     Purnell & Elizabeth Morgan (Azariah's dob, parents and marriage date
     from J.D. Marshall prayer book; Azariah's mother, Elizabeth Morgan,
     dtd 3/10/1795 Wor, JW f.289; d/o Avery Morgan-
     Purnell research by Sue Hurley, Ocean City Lifesaving Museum).
     Their children (names & births-J.D. Marshall prayer book):
             Anna Purnell b. 10/23/1788 d. 10/25/1788
             John Purnell b. 1/26/1789 d. 10/12/1789
             Joshua Hodg Purnell b. 1/5/1791
             Elizabeth Purnell b. 10/25/1794
             Azariah Purnell m. 6/27/1812 Susan Purnell (his birth is not in the
                prayer book and there is no proof he is s/o Azariah & Mary;
                marriage-Mary Beth & Vanessa Long, Wor. Co. Marriage Lic., p. 32)
             Mary Purnell m. 3/10/1802 Levin Stewart
                Their children (marriage and children's births-J.D. Marshall prayer book):
                          Mary Marshall Stewart b. 3/24/1803
                          Azariah Purnell Stewart b. 3/20/1806
 

NEW EVIDENCE:
John Drummond Marshall prayer book: the original prayer book is held at the Maryland Historical Society, a gift of Mrs. David Bushnell of Washington, DC in 1943. They have a transcript available to the public in File Case A #117.  The file shows Mrs. David Bushnell as Belle Johnston Bushnell, great great granddaughter of Thomas Marshall. (Dates indicate she may have been a great great great granddaughter)
John Drummond Marshall recorded his first marriage, births of his children, brother-in-law and 1st wife's deaths in the prayer book. He (or the next owner of the prayer book) then devoted all other records in the prayer book to the lineage and descendants of Mary Marshall, his niece, daughter of his brother Thomas. Entries were made to the prayer book after John Drummond Marshall's death in 1800 regarding the marriage of Mary Purnell to Levin Stewart and the births of their children, indicating the prayer book's possession may have passed to Mary Marshall Purnell and/or her daughter, Mary Purnell Stewart.

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