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THE ABBOTT FAMILY AND HODGES MARRIAGE REFERENCES
INDEX
by Robert Barnes
(Marriage References, Hodges Index) 1674-1851 [MSA S1396]
is a venerable resource in the Search Room at the
Archives. This card index provides references to state and
county land, court, and probate records from which
marriages can be inferred. Each entry gives the names of
the bride and groom, date, county, and citation. Some
include names of parents or former spouse. The date given
is that of the record, not of the marriage. Researchers
can find important clues to the marriages and remarriages
of Marylanders. However, a researcher needs to be aware
that the index was compiled many years ago, and some of
the references do not conform to modern citations.
Sometimes the information can be misleading.
A case in point is the Abbott family. An entry in Hodges
states that Deborah Abbott, daughter of Maudlin
Abbott-Smithwick, married Leonard Wayman by 1720 (Wills
16: 441). Another card says that Deborah, daughter of
Simon and Madaline Abbot, married 1st, Leonard Wayman and
2nd, Thomas Linthicum (Warrants 4: 68, Provincial
Court PL 8: 479). Another entry states that Simon Abbott
married Maudlin [-?-], who married 2nd, Edmund Townhill,
3rd, Thomas Smithwick, and 4th, George Nettlefold (Wills
1: 627, 2: 263; Testamentary Proceedings 9: 331; Warrants
4: 68).
Recent research has established facts that incorporate
the same names, but in a slightly different scenario.
Simon Abbott died in Maryland prior to 10 May 1662. He had
married Maudlin (or Magdalen), who survived him. Simon
Abbot, his wife Maudlin [-?-], and daughter Deborah had
been transported into Maryland by 1651 (Patents 4: 68).
Simon must have died intestate shortly thereafter, and
Magdalen/Maudlin married as her 2nd husband Edmund
Townhill. Edmund Townehil (or Towhill) died in Anne
Arundel County and left a will dated 6 April 1661 and
proved 10 May 1662. He bequeathed personal property to his
daughters-in-law Deborah and Dorcas Abbot. His own son
Edmond was to have all land on The Ridge, and the residue
of his personalty upon attaining the age of 17 years. His
wife Magdalen (or Maudlin) was named executrix, and given
the home plantation (Wills 2: 363).
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Maudlin then married a third time, to George Nettlefold
of Anne Arundel County, who also died testate, leaving a
will dated 3 July 1674 and proved 5 Aug. 1674. Wife
Maudlin was named executrix and sole legatee of the
estate, real and personal for life. However, if Maudlin
were to die, George Burgess, son of Capt. William Burgess,
was to have the plantation. If Maudlin were to remarry,
Mary Dumkin, wife of Patrick Dumkin, and Phoebe Thomas
were each to have one-half of the testator's personal
estate. The will was witnessed by Thomas Smethwick, George
Smith, and Humphrey Jones (Wills 1: 627).
Maudlin married as her 4th husband Thomas Smithwick. In
1684 George Burgess and Maudlin Smithwick, attorney for
her husband Thomas Smithwick, and former wife of George
Nettlefold, conveyed 150 acres of Poplar Ridge to
Leonard Wayman, planter (Anne Arundel County Court, Land
Records IH 1:172-178). This deed firmly establishes the
order of Maudlin's marriages: 1st, Simon Abbott, 2nd,
Edmund Townhill, 3rd, George Nettlefold, and 4th, Thomas
Smithwick
Now what of their children? Simon and Maudlin Abbott
had two daughters, both named in Simon's will: (1)
Deborah, born by 1651 and transported to Maryland with
her parents and (2) Dorcas, born after 1651 and named in
her father's will. Dorcas is almost certainly the one
who married Leonard Wayman by 9 Aug. 1698 (AALR IH 1:
194).
Dorcas Abbott, wife of Leonard Wayman, was baptized at
All Hallows parish on 1 Nov. 1703.In his will dated 16
March 1720 and proved 6 April 1721, Leonard Wayman, Sr.,
named his daughter Deborah Linthicum and her daughter
Dorcas Hardisty and his sons Leonard and Edmond, and
stated that they were to have his dwelling plantation
after the decease of his wife (Wills 16 :441). Leonard
and Dorcas Wayman were the parents of the following
children, whose births are recorded in All Hallows'
Parish: John, died in the last week of Jan. 1695;
Leonard, born 22 May 1699, baptized 11 Nov. 1707; and
Edmond, baptized 1 Nov. 1703.
Deborah Abbott, daughter of Simon and Maudlin, was born
by 1651. She is probably not the Deborah who married
Thomas Linthicum, and whose children were born between
1701 and 1723. Whom she married has not been
determined.
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