MARGARET  widow of John Prosser

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 get documentation to fill in the story.

THE STORY AS I KNOW IT 

There are a lot of Margarets in the late 17th century and they married many times.  Following their trail is an adventure.  Identifying the correct Margaret is difficult.  We can only guess that she was born about 1650, but could have been in Virginia or England.

Margaret, married John Prosser about 1669 in Virginia. He had previously been married to Martha, birth name unknown, who had died. Martha herself had been widowed by William Goffee.  John Prosser died and his will was proved June 30, 1677, Rappahannock County, Virginia Book 5W(1) 111. As usual we only have the women's names as given to them by husbands. Margaret had "sons" by Mr. Prosser of Golden Valley, only one is clearly identified, ie Anthony Prosser.

The Ancestral World Tree lists this John Prosser born about 1632, died 1677 in Rappahannock VA. It also says, "Spouse unknown". The children listed for him were Mary, John, Samuel, Roger, Anthony, and an unnamed child. We may assume that the younger sons would have been Margaret’s.

There is no documented birth name for our Margaret.  If you have it please, CONTACT US.

Margaret Prosser married Symon Miller shortly after John Prosser died. Symon Miller was a shipbuilder, large landowner and hero. Tyler's Quarterly Magazine, Vol. 12 contains an article, "Simon Miller, Captain in Bacon's Rebellion" written by Rev. Arnold Harris Hord of Germantown, PA. He states that the will of Symon Miller included bequests to the "sons of John Prosser" whose names are unknown. They may have be the sons of Martha, Mr. Prosser's first wife.  But He and Margaret were married about 7 years, plenty of time to have had more than one son, Anthony.

Then Mr. Hord lists the children of Symon and Margaret Miller. They were all in Symon's will, note below.
1. Simon, born 1668 (if there were 2 son's Simon, the first must have died soon after childbirth)
2. Simon, born 1670 (Colonel)
3. William, born 1670
4. John, born 1675
5. Margaret, born Feb.16, 1678/9 twins, wed James Hord
6. Isabella, born Feb.16, 1678/9 wed William Triplett
7. Susannah, born 1681 wed Henry Brice

Symon Miller died in 1684.  His will was proved in Old Rappahannock County on May 2, 1684.

Margaret married a third time in 1686 to Hugh French. from Index to Marriages of Old Rappahannock and Exxes counties by Eva Wilkerson, book D 18 page 326
This became her longest marriage, nearly 15 years.  Mr. French made a will dated Jan 20, 1700, probated Dec. 3, 1701 naming his wife Margaret as his executor.  Wills of Richmond County, page 8, by Robert Kirk Headley.  It stated he was of St. Mary's Parish in Richmond County.  St. Mary's Parish dates from 1677 and was in Old Rappahannock County.  The County was divided in 1692 in Richmond County and Essex County. Richmond County is on the East side of the Rappahannock River, not near Richmond the city.   So Margaret probably lived her life out near where she was born though its name was changed.

The will of Hugh French included the names of his children:, listed below.  As Margaret Gaines, etc French was only about 35 when they wed some of these may well have been her children. 
Hugh French
Mary French
Daniel French
Mason French
Margaret French

Recently Kathy Jones-Kristof sent me a list of the sources that supported the story of Margaret's marriages.  Some I had, some were new to me.  It included the great title, Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649 - 1800 by Robert K Headley.  On page 245 it lists her 4 marriages and states her final wedding was on 9/5/1705 to John Sommerville.  I can find no other documentation for this marriage.   I doubt that they had children. I would love to know how many children our Margaret did have in her lifetime. . 

It is not known when Margaret ?? Prosser Miller French Sommerville died.  One Ancestral guess was 1717.  It is not known where she is buried.

       

 

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please CONTACT US

1. Find documentation for her  maiden name?

2. When and where did she marry John Prosser?

3. What were the names of the Prosser children Margaret bore?
  and why only 2 if they were married 7 years?

4. Did she have children with Hugh French?

5.  Find documentation for her marriage to John Sommerville.

6.  When did she die and where is she buried?

7.  Find a real birth date and birth place.

 

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Doc; gbgai010.html
Date created : 8/21/2011
Date edited 12/10/2013
Date edited 10/23/2014