PRETTYMAN GENERATION THREE

P31. JOHN3 PRETTYMAN, (John2, JohnA-1, RobertB, ThomasC, JohnD, JohnE, WilliamF, WilliamG, WilliamH, JohnI), b ca 1677 Accomack Co., VA d bet 21 Apr 1745 & 20 May 1745 Sussex Co., DE m Elizabeth ___. In 1699, as John Prittiman Junor he served on the jury in Sussex County, Delaware.139 He performed other civic duties such as jury duty in 1702/3;140 and as Constable for the other part of Rehoboth from bounds of Indian River and all the West side of Loves Creek to Orrs Mills;141 jury 1707/8 and 1725;142 grand jury 1708/9, 1709, 1722 and 1729;143 tax assessor in1725;144 with Woodman Stockley, one of the fence viewers for Indian River Hundred in 1729;144 in 1728 as overseer of highways for Indian River District;144 and in 1729 with Woodman Stockley as overseer of the poor for Indian River District;144 John’s ability was recognized by his peers and he became a member of the power structure by 1733, as by 1733 he was one of the Justices of the Sussex County Courts with William Till, Jacob Kollock, Anderson Parker, Robert Smith, David Smith, John May, Abraham Wynkoop and Jeremiah Claypoole.145 As Justices they had the title of Esquire. Justices served on Orphans Court, Court of Common Pleas, Inferior Court of Equity and Court of Quarter Sessions. John served as a Justice from at least 5 February 1733/4 to 7 November 1740.145 As a Justice, he testified in 1739 in the Maryland and Pennsylvania boundary dispute.128 He testified that he was aged 62 and that his father had moved from Virginia 43 years ago [1696].

In 1701, he purchased from his father the 250 acres of "Hook Norton". On 20 March 1715/6, John had 250 acres of land surveyed on the west side of where he lived.146 This land was called "Strife" and began at his White Oak corner, and bordered Fishing Branch and 1100 acres of Robert Burton. As John Prettyman of Susex County, Gentleman, he purchased 200 acres of land from James Walker.147 This land was on the west side of Loves Creek in Angola Neck of Sussex County. The land had formerly been owned by William Futcher. John Prettyman, Simon Kollock and Cord Hazzard had surveyed 800 acres of land on the west side of 1100 acres of Robert Burton on 30 April 1740.148 This land was called "Partnership", and was on the head of Swan Creek adjoining James Davidson, John Holmes, "Shootton Hill", William Prettyman, Robert Burton and George Day.

On 21 April 1745, John Prettyman made his will and it was probated 20 May 1745.

In the name of God Amen The Twenty first day of April in the year of Our Lord 1745 John Prettyman of Indian River Hundred in the county of Sussex man being very sick and weak in Body buit in perfect mind and memory Thanks be Given to God Therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dy do make and ordain This my last will and Testment and including such Worldly estate ___ ___th it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and Bequeth and dispose of the same in the following manner and form-

Third of all my daughters Received Their Legacies and I do allow my son Thomas to have the two Negroes named Pegg and Phill and I do allow all the money and cash That I have at present to be Divided between my two daughters and son equally after my wifes Third and do hereby ___ly disallow revoke and Disown all and every other ___ Testaments wills and Legacies requests and executors by me in any way made before this Time ___ willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and ___ this and no other to be my last will and Testament as Witness Whereas have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above Written. John Prettyman Seal
Witness Alex Reed Sarah Dobson.149

A researcher alway looks for and hopes his ancestor has a will. An ancestor does not have to name all of his children in his will and this can cause problems for the researcher. This is the case of John Prettyman. If we only looked at his will, we would miss his descendants. By looking for other documents we get a clearer picture of John Prettyman’s family. John Futcher made his will on 2 February 1720 in Sussex County which was probated on 1 May 1721.150 He named his wife, Mary; son, William Futcher; cousins Mary Whitehead, Elizabeth Foster, James Asken; Tabitha and Sarah Walker, the daughters of John Walker. He named as his executors his wife, Mary Futcher, and his father-in-law, John Prettyman. John Prettyman being named as one of the executors led one researcher to think Mary was the daughter of John II, and therefore her own Aunt.151 The William Futcher named in this will made his own will on 1 April 1754 and it was probated on 15 April 1754.152 In his will, William names his wife, Mary Futcher; son John Futcher; Uncle Thomas Prettyman, and cousins, Oliver Stockley and Prettyman Stockley. He named as his executor his Uncle Thomas Prettyman. Thomas, son of John II, died before his father, and therefore could not be alive to be the executor of his nephew’s will in 1754. Thomas Prettyman, Esquire, made his will in 1762.153 "I give and bequeath unto John Futcher son of William Futcher late of said County Deceased all my lands…after my wife Comfort Prettyman decease."153 "I give him Eight Negroes Seven of them to be delivered to him Soon after my decease to wit, Betty Jane and Peter and James Devinder and Boeasner and Harry and Settle to be Injoyed by him after his mother Mary Russells decease."153 He gave to Sarah Dobson one Negro girl called Lydia. He gave his wife, Comfort Prettyman, ten Negroes; Neill, Robin, Jacob, Sarah, Judah, Anne, ____, Milford, Wamoth and Cotto. A deed made on 7 August 1767 provides all of the missing answers to the children of John. The deed states that John Prettyman of Sussex County, Gentleman, made his will on 21 Apr 1746 disposing of his property to Thomas, his only son.154 It was the contention of Margaret Hills, Thomas Jones and Elizabeth his wife, and Solomon Stockley that John Prettyman only gave Thomas Prettyman a life estate in his property.154 Margaret and Elizabeth were daughters of John, and Solomon Stockley and John Futcher were the only surviving descendants of two other daughters.154 Solomon Stockley’s mother was the daughter of John, and John Futcher’s grandmother was a daughter of John.154 The Orphans Court records also make it clear that it was this John that was the executor of John Futcher.154 The date of birth of his children suggests that John was married more than one time. We have given this John the title John Esquire or John III. Children:
+ P38. (i) MARY4 PRETTYMAN b ca 1701 Sussex Co., DE m John Futcher.
+ P39 (ii) FEMALE4 PRETTYMAN b ca 1703 Sussex Co., DE m Woodman Stockley.
+ P40. (iii) MARGARET4 PRETTYMAN b ca 1705 Sussex Co., DE m1st Oliver Stockley m2nd Robert Hill.
P41. (iv) THOMAS4 PRETTYMAN, Esquire, b 6 Dec 1719 Sussex Co., DE d 3 Jan 1765 Sussex Co., DE155 m Comfort Smith sister of Charles Smith. Thomas served as one of Justices of Sussex County, Delaware Court by 1758 until at least 1764,156 member of Governor’s Council for Sussex County in 1764,157 and Ensign in Sussex County Regiment during French and Indian War in 1756.158 Thomas and Comfort had no children.
+ P42. (v) ELIZABETH4 PRETTYMAN b ca 1726 Sussex Co., DE m#7 Thomas Jones. See Jones lineage.

 

            
           
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