Who was the first Poythress in Virginia, and when and where?
Research question: Who were the earliest documented Poythress settlers in Virginia, and when and where did they arrive?
The earliest documented Poythress in the excerpt is John Poythress, Sr. (c. 1672 to after 1726), who appears in 1720 records as a gentleman justice 3. A 1720 deed places him in Prince George County with his wife Mary, the earliest place-linked Poythress entry in the excerpt 4. The excerpt does not state when or where John or any other Poythress arrived in Virginia 3. Francis Poythress, a prosperous landowner, is recorded as living in neighboring Charles City County, but no arrival date is given for him 12. The most recent of these facts is a 1928 newspaper article, about 98 years old as of October 2026, which places Lieutenant Wildmar Poythress in Prince George County before the Revolution 5.
Sources
"Rolfe married Jane Poythress, the daughter of Captain Francis Poythress, a prosperous landowner in Virginia."Thomas Rolfe
"Francis Poythress lived in adjacent Charles City County"Thomas Rolfe
"1720 John Poythress (c. 1672-aft. 1726), gentleman justice, court record"Virtual Census of Poythress Records PDF
"1720 John Poythress, Sr. (c. 1672-aft. 1726), of Prince George County, and wife, Mary, deed"Virtual Census of Poythress Records PDF
"Before. the Revolution, Lieutenant Poythress lived with his family in Prince George county"Image 9 of Peninsula enterprise (Accomac, Va.), July 28, 1928, (Second Section)