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FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: David Polk (ca.
1705-1778), Gent., a planter of Somerset County.
MOTHER: Elizabeth Gillis. BROTHERS: William Polk
(1752-1812);Gillis Polk(?-1793);James(?-1795),
who married Nancy (last name unknown), who
subsequently married William Morris (?-ca. 1799).
SISTER: Sinah (?-by 1807), who married Esme
Bayly (?-1801). FIRST COUSINS: John Williams
(1739-1797); William Strawbridge (?-by 17%).
NIECE: Patience Bayly, who married John Done
(ca. 1747-1831). MARRIED never. PRIVATE e A-
REER. EDUCATION: literate; helped to pay for the
education of his younger brothers. RELIGIOUS AF-
FILIATION: Presbyterian, Manokin Presbyterian
Church, Somerset County. SOCIAL STATUS AND
ACTIVITIES: Gent., by 1763; Esq., by 1777. OC-
CUPATIONAL PROFILE attorney; owned a grist-
mill, sawmill, and bolting mill in partnership with
his brother Gillis Polk (?-1793) and Littleton Den-
nis (ca. 1728-1774). The mills were located north
of Salisbury on the main branch of the Wicomico
River. PUBLIC CAREER. LEGISLATIVE SERVICE:
Conventions, Somerset County, 3rd, 1774, 5th,
1775; Lower House, Somerset County, 1778-1779
(Elections 1; Grievances 1); Senate, Eastern Shore,
Term of 1781-1786: 1781-1782, 1782-1783 (did
not attend), 1783 (did not attend), 1784 (did not
attend; died before the Assembly met). OTHER
STATE OFFICES: Executive Council, 1777, 1777
(reelected on November 11, 1777, but declined
to serve). Special Council, Eastern Shore, (in case
of invasion was empowered to act in place of the
governor and Council), appointed 1780. LOCAL
OFFICE: visitor, Eden School, Somerset and
Worcester counties, 1771. WEALTH DURING LIFE-
TIME. PERSONAL PROPERTY: assessed Value
£942.0.0, including 22 slaves and 12 oz. plate,
1783. LAND AT FIRST ELECTION: 1,087 acres in
Somerset and Worcester counties (purchased 738
acres, patented 279 acres, and held ca. 70 acres
in partnership with his brother Gillis and Littleton
Dennis (ca. 1728-1774). SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN
LAND BETWEEN FIRST ELECTION AND DEATH: pur-
chased 509 acres in Somerset County and held
ca. 50 acres in Somerset County as a joint tenant
with his brother Gillis Polk (?-1793), 1774-1783;
sold 378 acres in Somerset and Worcester coun-
ties, 1775; inherited 440 acres in Somerset County
from his father, 1778; patented 215 acres in Som-
erset (now Wicomico) County, 1783. WEALTH AT
DEATH. DIED: will probated February 17, 1784, in
Somerset County. PERSONAL PROPERTY: size of
estate unknown. LAND: 1,923 acres in Somerset
and Worcester counties, ca. 120 acres of which
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were owned in partnership with his brother Gillis
Polk (?-1793).
POLK, WILLIAM (1752-1812). BORN: in 1752
in Somerset County. NATIVE: fourth generation.
RESIDED: in Manokin Hundred, Somerset County,
1783; on the south side of the Wicomico River
three miles above Green Hill, probably at "White
Hall," Wicomico Hundred, Somerset County,
1798. FAMILY BACKGROUND. FATHER: David Polk
(ca. 1705-1778), Gent., a planter of Somerset
County. MOTHER: Elizabeth Gillis. BROTHERS:
Josiah Polk (?-1784); Gillis Polk (?-1793); James
Polk (?-1795), who married Nancy (last name
unknown), who subsequently married William
Morris (?-ca. 1799). SISTER: Sinah (?-by 1807),
who married Esme Bayly (?-1801). FIRST COUS-
INS: John Williams (1739-1797); William Straw-
bridge (?-by 1796). NIECE: Patience Bayly, who
married John Done (ca. 1747-1831). MARRIED first,
by January 2, 1776, Esther (?-ca. 1790), widow
of Isaac Handy (1743-ca. 1774). Esther was the
daughter of William Winder (1714/15-1792) and
wife Elizabeth Gillis (1724-by 1770), and the
stepdaughter by 1770 of Mary (?-1799), widow
of Thomas Denwood. She was the niece of Leah
Gillis (1726-?), who married William Adams (?-
1795). Her brothers were John Winder (1745-
1822); William Winder, Jr. (?-1808); Levin Win-
der (1757-1819); and possibly Thomas. Her sis-
ters were Jane; Leah (ca. 1760-?); and Priscilla
(ca. 1740-by 1779). Her niece was Esther Wilson
(?-by 1792), who married William Morris (?-ca.
1799). MARRIED second, probably by 1792, Ann
(?-by 1800), widow of Henry Dennis (?-1785),
daughter of Capt. John Purnell (?-ca. 1761) and
wife Euphame Arbuckle (1734-?). Ann was the
granddaughter of John Purnell (?-1755) and Gen.
William Arbuckle (1689-1751), of Virginia. She
was the niece of Aralantar Purnell (?-1782), who
married Thomas Robins (ca. 1702-1766); William
Purnell (?-1777), a possible legislator; Zadock
Purnell (?-1805); and Thomas Purnell, of John
(?-1796). Her brother was William Purnell (?-
1798). Her first cousin was John Purnell Robins
(ca. 1742-1780). MARRIED third, by 1810, Mary
(last name unknown), who subsequently married
ca. 1813 William Savage. CHILDREN. SONS: Josiah,
who married Rebecca Troup of Talbot County;
William Winder; and James (1792-1868), who
was register of wills for Somerset County, col-
lector of the port of Baltimore during President
James K. Folk's administration (1845-1849), and
who married in 1816 Anna Maria Stuart (1800-
654
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