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JOSEPH & SARAH GREENWOOD

Joseph Greenwood was born about 1725 maybe on the eastern shore of Maryland to Jonathan Greenwood. His mother may have been Ann, last name still unknown. His will named Joseph Greenwood as their oldest child.

                                        Jonathan Greenwood owned land in Queen Ann's County and perhaps Cecil County. As early as 1740 he owned land in                                         Delaware according to Kent County Land Records and the family probably lived then in Delaware. Queen Anne's County                                         Maryland is directly next to Kent County Delaware with no river boundary. A move across the land would be easy.

                                        This 1740 purchase became important in Joseph's story. Kent county Deed Book 4, page 81, describes it as unknown # of                                         acres on the Murderkill, Misipillon Hundred.
                                        On August 10, 1743 He bought a 50 acre track on the Murderkill, Brown Neck's Branch. Today, Brown's Branch rises just                                         east of Harrington, runs northeast to join Murderkill south of Fredrica.

                                        Delaware continues to this day to use hundreds as an area definition. Misspillion Hundred in 1768 was the bottom quarter                                         of Kent County, extending from the Maryland border to the Delaware River. The southern boundary was Misspillion                                                 River, also the Sussex county line, the northern boundary was the Murderkill. Kill is a dutch term for river. The town of                                         Harrington sits in the middle of Mispillion Hundred.

                                        Joseph Greenwood was administrator July 16, 1750, for his brother's estate, who had died earlier that year. Kent County                                         Court Vol A20, page 13/liber K, folio 27.   I have a copy and it s all handwritten. it reads, "Joseph Greenwood,                                                         Adminitrator......brother William Greenwood". Joseph Greenwood's signature is unique on the document.
                                        I believe it is his signature. The other names were Joseph Rawlings and Moses Nichols, bounded with Joseph. Witnesses                                         were Joseph Housmary and Elizabeth Howard. Their last names are hard to make out, so these are guesses. The                                                     Honorable James Hamilton, Lieutenant Governor of Delaware presided.

                                        Joseph Greenwood married Sarah, last name unknown. We don't know when they wed but it may have been about                                                 1750. We do know she was the spousal administrator of his will, details below. It is believed that they had at least one                                              child, Joseph Greenwood II, born in March 1755. I have not been able to document this nor other children.
                                        If you can please, CONTACT US.

                                        Aug 1, 1767 found Joseph Greenwood in debt. Re Kent County Court record Book 9, page 6, He had 185 acres in                                                  Mispillion hundred seized to pay a debt.

                                        On May 11, 1768 Joseph Greenwood purchased a track of land in Mispillion Hundred, Kent County from his sister,                                                 Mary Ann Greenwood of Sussex County. The document uses the term "to her brother". Kent County Deed Book 8, page                                         191. I do not know where this land was, but may well have been part of their father's track. He was administrator of                                                 Jonathan Greenwood, not his father. This one is dated June 23, 1768. Kent County Court Liber L, folio 62. I do not                                             have this document and I don't know the relationship. Then the next year on March 29, 1769 he was the administrator for                                         his sister, Mary Ann Greenwood. Kent County Court, Liber L, folio 57. I do have this document. It is printed with                                                 blanks for names and dates. His signature isn't exactly like the 1750, but close. The other names were William Clampit                                             and Thomas Shamift (I cannot make out the name), bounded with Joseph. I cannot make out the witnesses. the                                                         Lieutenant Governor presiding was John Penn Esquire.

Joseph Greenwood died prior to Feb. 1773. On Feb. 3, 1773, Sarah Greenwood was named administrator for his estate, Kent County Court vol A, pg 155-156. Liber L., folio 126 The presiding Lieutenant Governor was Richard Penn, other names bounded with Sarah were Elijah Berry and Robert Hamilton. Sarah made a mark. Witnesses were Simon Willson or Millson and John Comegy.

Once she did an inventory, it was found the estate did not cover the debt. She sold the estate land May 26, 1774. Kent County land Record, Book 10, page 261.

We do not know where he was buried, or what happened to Sarah.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please CONTACT US.

Confirm the parents of Joseph Greenwood
When did he marry Sarah?
What was Sarah's maiden name?
What were the names and birth dates of their children?
Where are they buried?

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Doc; gxgre050
Date Created: 12/7/2011
Date Edtied: 11/29/2014
Date Edited 11/5/2021