Was Charles Beaven's wife Mary actually Richard Marsham's step-daughter?
Christopher Johnston in his article "Neale Family of Charles County," published in 1912 in the Maryland Historical Magazine, claimed that Anne Calvert and Baker Brooke's daughter Mary was the wife of Raphael Neale (d. 1743) of Charles County with the source given as the same periodical but v. 1, pp. 69-70, 184.If you follow up on that source it turns out to be an article on the Brooke family, but no documentation is provided there to substantiate the claim to Baker Brooke's daughter being Raphael Neale's wife.
Another problem with that claim is that she would have been years older than her husband, and would have been nearly ninety years old when she died.The latter of which was nearly an impossible task in the Chesapeake at that time.The will of Mary Neale of St. Mary's County, widow of Raphael Neale of Charles County, was written 29 Sep. 1760 and recorded 24 May 1763; but I have been unable to find evidence supporting the placement of Anne Calvert's daughter as Raphael Neale's wife.Does anyone know of any documentation to that claim?
Baker Brooke, Esq., of "Delabrooke Manor" in Calvert County died testate in 1768 leaving his wife Anne, three sons, and daughter Mary.While still administering to her first husband's estate, his widow re-married Henry Brent (d.s.p. 1693), Gent., of "Pitchcroft" in Calvert County.Shortly after his death she married her third husband Mr. Richard Marsham, merchant, of Calvert County, but by 1696 they had settled in Prince Georges County.Richard Marsham died testate in 1713, leaving only descendants by his first wife Katherine.Before his death he and his second wife Anne were involved in at least eleven cases in the Prince Georges County Court; five of which involved Anne directly in her capacity as administratrix of her second husband Henry Brent.
Charles Beaven also had settled in Prince Georges County at about the same time, and in 1697 Richard Marsham had Beaven summoned as a witness to court proceedings.Beaven was deceased shortly thereafter, having died testate between 20 Jun. 1698 and 21 Jun. 1699.He provided well for all his children, even providing daughters with land.His wife Mary died testate between 28 Apr. 1712 and 13 Jun. 1713.Mary's will, even though witnessed by her apparent daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Thomas Blanford, made Richard Marsham the executor and sole legatee.In an extant administration account dated 24 Aug. 1713 her estate was being administered by Marsham Warring, grandson of Richard Marsham, in his capacity as administrator of his grandfather's estate.Mary Beaven was also recorded with the epithet "Mrs" in the written records, which was a social distinction in that class-conscious environment.Charles Beaven doesn't seem to have been afforded the same courtesy, so apparently his wife was of a higher social standing than himself.
Was Charles Beaven's wife Mary one and the same with Mary Brooke, step-daughter of Richard Marsham?Given the chronology, locations involved, and familial interaction this identification of Anne Calvert's daughter as the wife of Charles Beaven seems more likely than the claim by Christopher Johnston in 1912 that she was the wife of Raphael Neale.
More Replies:
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Re: Was Charles Beaven's wife Mary actually Richard Marsham's step-daughter?
Ray Ortensie 5/30/07
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Re: Was Charles Beaven's wife Mary actually Richard Marsham's step-daughter?
Todd Whitesides 6/04/07
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Re: Was Charles Beaven's wife Mary actually Richard Marsham's step-daughter?
Ray Ortensie 6/05/07
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Re: Was Charles Beaven's wife Mary actually Richard Marsham's step-daughter?
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Re: Was Charles Beaven's wife Mary actually Richard Marsham's step-daughter?
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Re: Was Charles Beaven's wife Mary actually Richard Marsham's step-daughter?
Todd Whitesides 3/28/07