This sketch of the four Mareen Duvall’s ending with
Mareen Duvall who Married Esther Soper has been transcribed from the several books.
This outline traces the history of the Vale of Benjamin, the tract of land
owned by John Soper at his death.
Because there are four Mareen Duvall’s, I have given each a
number where necessary to avoid confusion over which Mareen is being described.
From the book “Mareen Duvall of Middle Plantation” by Harry
Wright Newman we find:
Mareen Duvall (1)
Mareen Duvall, Emigrant and Huguenot transported by William
Burgess in 1659 and served a period of indenture ship under John Covell.
“By July 25 1659, however, Mareen
Duvall had completed his period of service and as a freeholder applied for his
rights to 50 acres of land”
“Marin Du Vall demands fifty acres
of land having performed his time of service with John Covell and brought in by
William Burgess. Warrant issued for fifty acres 25 December next.”
Mareen Duvall as a
Huguenot was born in France many years after the persecution and eventually
massacres of the Huguenots by the Catholic Church. According to the entry in
the book “Leading Families …” referenced below, he was one of the “150
adventurers” brought over by William Burgess. Referencing Joshua Dorsey
Warfields’s book, “The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties”, Burgess
had the ships and must have found others that were willing to pay the passage
for the “150 adventurers”. In Mareen Duvall’s case a John Covall paid for Mareen’s
passage and in return, Mareen was bound to him in indentured servitude for several
years.
John Covall credited as paying the passage got fifty acres,
and as soon as Mareen paid his passage debt he received 50 acres. Historically,
William Burgess is credited with having brought over the “150 adventurers”, but
did he pay for their passage or just a broker matching paying customers, like
John Covall to Mareen Duvall. Whatever the circumstances, William Burgess
filled his ships with “150 Adventurers”.
In the book “Leading Families of Baltimore & Baltimore
County” pg. 104, we read:
Maureen Duvall, The Huguenot
No more striking figure in
colonial history is found that the personal achievements of this fleeing
immigrant from Nantes, about 1650.
He came as one of the hundred and fifty adventurers, brought
over by Colonel William M Burgess. He settled near Colonel Burgess, in Anne
Arundel County, on the south side of South River and became one of the most
successful merchants and planters of that favored section.
From: "Colonial Families of
The United States Of America"; Edited By George Norbury Mackenzie, Ll.B.;
Volume I; Page # 142
Maureen Duvall, merchant and
planter, a Huguenot refugee, came to
Anne Arundel County, Maryland, about the year 1655, and settled on the south
side of the South River,
The Founders of Anne Arundel
and Howard Counties, Maryland: By Joshua Dorsey Warfield.
On page 12, under South River
Hundred it states, In 1650 Colonel William Burgess, the merchant whose vessels
brought 150 settlers, was the central figure around whom settled a band of
large land-holds. Mareen Duval, the Huguenot immigrant from Nantes, France held
a large estate around the South River. (Middle Plantation). He came with
Colonel William Burgess.
In these accounts it would appear that William Burgess and
Mareen Duvall (1) were friends. I don’t think so, as William Burgess was
Catholic and Mareen Duvall a Huguenot (Protestant) exiled from France by the
Catholics. Later on we find Mareen (2) marrying a Catholic and he is promptly
disinherited.
Mareen Duvall married Mary Bouth
had five children. One of their children was Mareen born 1661, and was referred
to as Mareen Duvall (2) the Elder.
Mareen (1) had a second wife,
Susannah Brashear, they had seven children one also called Mareen Duvall the
Younger born in 1680. This Mareen is not important to the story.
At the time of Mareen Duvall (1)
death his personal estate was valued at 947/5/8 pounds plus 81,302 lbs. of tob
(tobacco) “beside the tob hanging at the plantation and 135 hogsheads ship
(sic) for England. This was considered a
very affluent estate.
947/5/8
translated is 947 pounds, 5 shillings and 8 pence.
Mareen Duvall (2) the
Elder
From the book “Mareen Duvall of
Middle Plantation” by Harry Wright Newman
Before 1688 Mareen
Duvall (2) married into one of the most fashionable and aristocratic families
in Anne Arundel County. He took as his bride Frances Stockett, daughter of
Captain Thomas Stockett. Mary, the wife of Captain Thomas Stockett, was the
daughter of Richard Wells, one of the ruling deputies of Maryland during the
commonwealth. Richard Well’s wife Frances White was the daughter of staunch
Royalist. There was consequently a Montague falling in love with and marrying a
Capulet or Royalist and High Churchman marrying a daughter of a Puritan and
non-conformist
Newman’s Shakespeare reference
confuses the problem with the Duvall - Stockett marriage. It was not the
staunch Catholic Stockett family that complained about the marriage. It was
Mareen Duvall, the protestant who would not put up with it.
Mareen (2) was the second son and
set to receive inheritance. Mareen (1) devised his will and gave Mareen’s (2)
inheritance to his brother Lewis his third son. Mareen (2) was allowed to live
of south end of Mareen(1) property.
According to the
will of his Father in 1694 Mareen Duvall (2) the Elder was living on “Middle
Plantation” but as a tenant only, for the will devised Lewis, (Son of Mareen (1)
the Emigrant) all that my 300 acres of land and plantation, where on my son
Mareen Duvall (2) now dwelleth on the south end
of the land called Middle Plantation.
In addition to
the reversion in certain land upon contingency, his only bequest from his
father’s will was 5 shilling.
Mareen (2) was virtually disinherited,
no land and only 5 Shillings.
Fortunately, Mareen’s (2) wife
Frances had inherited a portion of the Vale of Benjamin. Mareen (2) suffered
financial losses and his creditors obtained a judgment of 500 pounds. In order
to protect the inheritance of their son he deeded Mareen Duvall (3), 1000 acres
of the Vale of Benjamin.
After the death
of his father in law, Thomas Stockett, in 1671, Mareen Duvall’s (2) mother in
law or the widow of Captain Stockett, married secondly George Yate, Esq., who
succeeded Stockett as Deputy Surveyor for Anne Arundel County.
This statement is important because
it was Mary Wells who married Thomas Stockett and after he died who married
George Yate. Mary Yate is very important to this story.
Financial problems persisted and
in 1718 court records reported that Duvall was not in a position to pay, and
stated in his petition that he was “very willing to part with all that he hath
in the world towards the payment, if they would grant him liberty”.
He apparently died before August
22 1735, for on this day his son and heir, Mareen Duvall (3) , was accorded the
title “Senior”. No will has been found and no formal administration was made to
the Prerogative Court, so consequently the estate was settled privately among
their heirs.
In about 1707 the Vale of Benjamin
was held by: Mareen Duvall 200 acres; Samuel Magruder Sr. 193 acres; John Soper
50 acres; Charles Williams 150; John Cash 100; Thomas James 130; John Barrett
148; John and George Yates 59 acres. The original Vale of Benjamin as surveyed
by Benjamin Wells in 1670 was 1030 acres. John Soper held 50 acres of the Vale of Benjamin.
Mareen Duvall (3)
born: 24 Oct 1687.
On May 11, 1734, he instituted a
resurvey of 212 acres of Vale Of Benjamin
and with 115 acres of surplus, he received a certificate for 237 acres under
the name of Poplar Ridge , as
follows:
"By vitue of a Special Warrant of
Resurvey granted out of his Lordship's Land Office the 3 instant unto Mareen
DuVall Jr. of the afsd County, to resurvey for and in the name of him the said
Mareen DuVall part of the tract of Land Called the VALE OF BENJAMIN Originally on the 10th of June 1671 granted unto a
certain Benjamin Wells for the quanity of 1030 under now rent who by his Deed
of Gift gave the said tract unto a Certain Mary Yates the afsd Mareen DuVall's
grandmother who in like manner gave 212 acres of the same unto Mareen DuVall Sr
and Frances DuVall the aforesaid Mareen DuVall Jr. father and mother under
certain meets and bounds which said France is since dead and by a Deed of Gift
from his father the said 212 acres became the right of the said Mareen DuVall
Jr.....
115 acres of the above resurvey
are deeded his son Mareen Duvall (4).
Mareen Duvall (4)
Mareen Duvall (4) was born 22 June 1714. In 1741 he married Esther Soper, daughter of John Soper
and widow of John Lowe.
On November 27 1741, Mareen Duvall (4) filed papers at the
court, reporting a balance of 25/3/7 pounds.
John Soper whose seat was likewise on “Vale of Benjamin”
died testate and by his will of November 29 1742, devised his daughter, Hester
Duvall, an unnamed tract of land, purchased from Charles Williams and appointed
his son in law Mareen Duvall (4) executor.
On May 25 1744, he, Mareen Duvall (4) rendered an account upon the state of his
father in law, John Soper, showing a balance of 104/2/8 pounds with specific disbursements to Robert Soper,
Robert Lashley, John James, Phillis Lowe and James Shaw.An additional account
on November 21 1746, reported legacies to the following heirs: William Ellis
who married the deceased daughter Priscilla, daughter Leah Soper who died
during her minority therefore her part descended to her several representative,
that is, brothers John Soper and Robert Soper and sisters Mary James, Phillis
Lowe and Robert Lashley who married her sister Lucy, John Shaw who married her
sister Acqilla, and this accountant who married her sister Esther.
According to the debt books, Mareen Duvall (4) remitted quit rents regularly on Vale of
Benjamin and Poplar Hill. On August 18 1781, it was reported that paid 1200
pounds of tobacco annually for his of the Vale of Benjamin.
Mareen Duvall (4) died in 1783. His personal estate was
inventoried on October 27, 1783, at 580/11/11 pounds.
History of the Vale of Benjamin
How
many acres of the Vale of Benjamin did John Soper own at the end of his life? I
thought it a worthwhile question. But it is not to be found in this obviously
incomplete and confusing history.
10 Jun 1670 Benjamin
Wells is deeded the Vale of Benjamin, 1030 acres.
1676 John Soper arrives in Maryland.
1696 Charles Williams purchased land that was a
portion of Vale of Benjamin.
1696 Basil Lee Williams purchased land, it being
a part of Vale of Benjamin.
24 Mar 1696 Mary
Yate to Samuel Magruder, 192 acres Turkey Cock Branch being part of Vale of
Benjamin.
04 Jul 1696 Mary
Yate to Charles Williams, for 7000 pounds tobacco, a 200 acre tract called
Huckleberry Patch, being part of a tract called Vale of Benjamin.
29 Jun 1698 Mary
Yate sold to Thomas James, 100 acres of the Vale of Benjamin.
29 Mar 1699 Mary
Yate gives to sons, George and John residue of estate including the Vale of
Benjamin.
28 Nov 1698 Thomas
James for 1200 pounds tobacco, 30 acres of Vale of Benjamin.
28 Nov 1699 Thomas Stockett to John Barnett for 29 pounds and 12 shilling, a 128 acre part of Vale of Benjamin.
13 Aug 1701 Mareen
Duvall Sr. to John Barrett, part of the 1000 acre tract called Vale of Benjamin
to son Mareen and wife Frances. (Stockett)
1703 Samuel Magruder rent rolls 193 acres Vale of
Benjamin.
07 Mar 1716 Thomas
James Sr. to Thomas James, 50 acres Vale of Benjamin.
14 Jul 1716` John
Soper to John Cash trades 100 acres Vale of Benjamin for Batterson’s Vineyard
112 acres.
22 Nov 1722 John
Lewis to Elizabeth Watter, 113 acres Batterson’s Vineyard laid out by John
Soper. ***
11 Apr 1724 John
Soper willed Esther Soper Duvall his dwelling plantation, Vale of Benjamin that
was purchased from Charles Duvall and his wife Esther.
11 May 1734 Mareen
Duvall (3) through a special warrant has the Vale of Benjamin resurveyed.
15 Apr 1738 Mareen
Duvall Sr. by deed of gift conveyed 115 acres of the Vale of Benjamin to son
Mareen Duvall.
27 Mar 1736 Derby
Sweeny to Wife for 20 pounds, tract of land called Vale of Benjamin, 104 acres.
27 Jun 1763 Richard Burgess ourchased from Thomas James 70 acres of the Vale of Benjamin
20 Apr 1765 Basil
Burgess, purchased from Thomas Stockett for 20 pounds, portion of Vale of
Benjamin.
22 Jul 1765 William
Magruder to wife, turkey Cock Branch part of Vale of Benjamin.
27 Jun 1767 Mareen Duvall (4) and Esther his wife with the consent of John Rodgers conveyed to him (Charles Burgess) for 35 pounds the released entailed land which had had been conveyed by Charles William to John Soper in and by him to his daughter, Esther then Esther Duvall, in tail.
6 Jan 1755 ` Charles Burgess Purchased a portion of Vale of Benjamin and Baston's Vineyard.
02 Jun 1784 Keziah
Duvall and her husband Cornelius Duvall her kinsman disposed of their
inheritance were conveyed by James Soper and his wife Anne for 500 pounds their
share of Vale of Benjamin.
2 Jun 1784 Cornelius
and Keziah Duvall conveyed to Zacharia Merry for 121 pounds sterling Poplar Ridge
a portion of Vale of Benjamin containing 166 acres.
11 Nov 1801 Contract
to purchase Vale of Benjamin.
1871 James
Marr purchased 237 acres of Vale of Benjamin.
*** In this transaction the words “laid out by”, is the term
used to describe the survey of land before a deed is given to the owner. The
land called Batterson’s Vineyard is found in several land transaction involving
John Soper. Once it is referenced as Bartron’s Vineyard. I am unable to find
any reference to a Bartron’s Vineyard and assume it to be a spelling error.
There was a Edward Battson (Batson) whose land transaction involved Battson’s
Vineyard and Battson’s Vineyard Res. (resurveyed)?
