What was daily life like for Poythress people in 1800s Virginia?
Research question: Which Poythress men and women from the 1800s appear in Virginia newspapers, church rolls, or local histories, and what were their everyday lives like?
The verified facts name several Poythress people from the 1800s, but none are tied to Virginia newspapers or church rolls. Mary Poythress, wife of John Batte, died at White Sulphur Springs in 1816 and was buried near the old church at Lewisburg 1. Her four daughters married into the Madden, Russell, Ritchie, and Hinton families 2. Census entries describe working lives: in 1850, James Poythress and his son Joshua were carpenters in Mecklenburg County, while Nathan and William were laborers 5. In 1870, Lewis Poythress, a 51-year-old farmer in Greensville County, and his wife Mary could not read or write 6, and in 1820 Thomas E. Poythress of Charles City County held 64 enslaved people 4. The newest fact dates from 1900, so the record on everyday life is partial and more than a century old 3.
Sources
"Descendants of Mary Poythress and John Batte (who died at the White Sulphur Springs in J816, and was buried in close proximity to the old church at Lewisburg, Va., there being no means of communication with Tidewater Virginia except by stage)."The Poythress Family (Addenda to Vol. VII, 71-72, 190) (1900)
"Mary Poythress and Jorin Batte, of Mancelle, had issue: Elizabeth, married Mr. Madden; Nancy, married Mr. Russell; Martha, married Mr. Robert Ritchie; Mary, married Mr. Samuel Hinton, of Petersburg."The Poythress Family (Addenda to Vol. VII, 71-72, 190) (1900)
"Peter Poythress, now residing in" Richmond, Va."The Poythress Family (Addenda to Vol. VII, 71-72, 190) (1900)
"Poythress, Thomas E. – pg. 9A, 1 M 16-25, 1 M 26-44, 2 F under 10, 1 F 26-44, 24 M slaves under 14, 8 M slaves 14-25, 5 M slaves 26-44, 2 M slaves 45+ , 15 F slaves under 14, 4 F slaves 14-25, 6 F slaves 26-44, 1 F slave 45+"Virginia Census
"Poythress, James , age 45, male, carpenter, born VA , Catherine , age 45, female, born VA , Joshua , age 21, male, carpenter, born VA , Nathan , age 19, male, laborer, born VA , William , age 16, male, laborer, born VA"Virginia Census
"Poythress, Lewis , age 51, male, white, farmer, born VA, cannot read and write , Mary , age 60, female, white, born VA, cannot read and write"Virginia Census
"An Association, signed by 89 members of the late House of Burgesses (Virginia) – 27 May 1774 Call for General (Continental) Congress — signed by member Peter Poythress"Table of Contents