About November, 1981 my teenage daughter, my
husband and myself had located the description with actual drawing of a
tract of land owned by our ancestor John Holmes, son of Robert, of Sussex
and Kent Cos., DE. We purchased a US Geological Survey map of the
area and found the notation of a
cemetery close to the property. We found
the site of the cemetery in the middle of a cornfield that was being used
to attract waterfowl for hunting purposes.
There was a family living adjacent the property
at the time and a old gentlemen explained that as a boy he mowed the yard
of the house and the very old cemetery and did remember the graveyard but
didn't remember the names on the stones. He said that about a year
before (1979/1980) the
owners had plowed under EVERYTHING!
We could still see some of the stones with the name of Potter sticking
out of a mound of rubble in the middle of the field. Also I should mention
there was a home on the main road leading to the cemetery with the name
of Potter on the mailbox.
We hope that the research we have already done will help others possibly uncover the history of this cemetery for future generations.
Following research of the tract :
Book of Surveys A - Sussex Co. Delaware 10
Mar 1755
Sussex Co. Land Records John Holmes (Ref H'#44)
Cedar Creek neck, south of "Musmillion Creek" re-survey mentions Robert
Hudson (1682) and Charles Coulter deceased. 356 acres
6 Jul 1758 Warranty Book C Pages 315-316.
Sussex Co. Land Records John Holmes (Ref H/3#24,#24a)
on Mispillion Creek 20 Jul 1758 survey 475 acres joint with heirs of Charles
Coulter deceased.
Tax List Sussex Co. 1772 Cedar Creek-rate John Holmes 12 Robert Holmes 3
Grantor Deed Index Sussex Co
1769 John Holmes to John Little
1770 John Holmes to John Reed
1778 John Holmes to Edmund Potter
29 Dec 1774 Pages189, 190 M12
Proved 4 Feb 1778
1778 John Holmes' (deceased) administrator,
George Black 7 May
1778
Pages 205-206 M12 All 224 acres
Deed Indexes Grantee and Grantor Sussex Co.
Delaware
1770 John Holmes to John Reed
Book L No. 11 Page 119
1774 John Holmes Bond to Edmund
Potter Book M No. 12 Page 189
1778 John Holmes by administrator
Petition to court, deed to
Edmund Potter
Book M No. 12 Page 205
From Land Records of Sussex Co., DE 1769-1782
Deed Books L No.
11 & M No. 12 Compiled by F. Edward Wright
Page 153
Deed #205 George Black admr. of John
Holmes, petition for leave of court to convey lands to Edmond Potter.
7 May 1778. Whereas John Holmes by a bond dated 29 Dec 1774 was bound
to Edmond Potter of Accomack Co., Virginia, for L1500, to convey a parcel
where he then lived binding on
Musmillion Creek containing 224 acres.
Edmond Potter from George Black, admr.
[See above entry.] 7 May 1778. For L750.
224 acres. Parcel being part of a larger tract granted by patent
to afsd. John Holmes in Cedar Creek Hundred. Beginning at the mouth of
a Ditch parting the land from land of William Draper's part of the same
tract and on the south side of Mispillion Creek.
Wit: Jacob Hazzard, J. Russel.
Within deed ackn. 10 June 1778.
Page 29 Deed #106 John Vankerk, Sussex Co.,
from Thos. and Draper May, Sussex Co.,
yeoman. 7
Aug. 1770. Tract granted by patent to
Henry Pennington and by sundry means has descended to afsd. Thomas Draper.
Beginning at a corner of Harts tract...bounding several water courses till
it intersects with Mispillion Creek... 120 acres. For L120.
Wit: Thomas Homes, Ann May. Within deed of sale ackn. 8 Aug. 1770.
Page 31
Deed #118 Elisha Knock from John Homes 2 Aug.
1769 Cedar Creek
Neck 128 acres Mispillion Creek Wit:
John Read, R. Shankland
Deed #119 John Reed, yeoman, from John
Homes, Sussex Co., yeoman. 8 Aug. 1770. Land in Cedar Creek
Neck on the south side of Mispillion Creek being part of a larger tract
granted by patent to afsd. John Homes 19 Jan 1759. 120 1/2 acres.
Wit: Elisha Knock, Rhoads Shankland. Within
deed ackn. 8 Nov 1770.
Page 64
Deed #262 Thos: Wilson, Cedar Creek
Hundred, from John Reed, Sussex Co., yeoman. 3 Aug. 1772. Tract
on the south side of the main branch of Cedar Creek being a part of a tract
formerly belonging to James Reed which was conveyed to said Reed by deed
of sale from John Shankland, Sheriff, by deed dated 7 Feb 1737, in the
north side of land belonging to Bethuel Watson. For L70, 123 1/2 acres.
Wit: John Holms, Rhoads Shankland. Within deed of sale ackn. 3 Aug.
1772.
Page 78
Deed # 328 William Draper, Sussex Co.,
yeoman, from John Read,
yeoman, and wife Martha, Sussex Co. 6 May
1773 For L264 parcel granted by
patent to John Homes of Sussex Co. and by
him conveyed by deed dated 8 Aug.
1770 to John Read, on the south side of Mispillion
Creek... to a corner
of James Black's land. 117 1/2 acres.
Jno. Rodney, Jno. Russel. Within
deed of sale ackn. 7 May 1773.
Deed #329 William Draper. Sussex
Co., yeoman, from Elisha
Knock, yeoman, and wife Margaret of Sussex
Co. For L200, a part of a larger
tract granted by patent to John Homes and
by him conveyed by deed dated 2 Aug.
1769, 128 1/2 acres to said Elisha Knock,
bounded by Mispillion Creek... to
mouth of Walton's Gut... to Georg Black's
line. Wit: J. Rodney, Jno.
Russel. Within deed of sale ackn. 7 May 1773
Page 149
Deed #189 Edmond Potter, Accomack Co.,
Virginia, from John
Holmes, Sussex Co. Bond of conveyance
of land. John Holmes is bound to Edmond
Potter for L1500. 29 Dec 1774.
To convey a parcel of land wheron he now
lives binding on Musmillion Creek containing
224 acres. John Potter, William
Draper. Within bond proved 4 Feb 1778.
Page 59
Deed #338. 1786. Deed. Lurana
Clifton, Suss, from William
Draper, yeoman, and Anne his wife, of Kent
Co., Del, for 75 pounds, a parcel of
land in Cedar Creek Hund, being pt/o larger
tr granted by patent to John
Holmes of Suss Co and by deed of sale and
by Elisha Knocks and Margaret his
wife conveyed to said William Draper by deed
of sale dated 6 May 1783.
128 1/2 ac running along Misspilion Creek.
Wit: John Revell, Isaac
Clifton. Ackn 9 Nov 1786.
Page 200 Deed #404
Jesse Smith, farmer, Sussex Co., from Benjamin
Black, yeoman, Sussex Co. 6 Aug. 1781. Whereas there are two parcels
of land in Cedar Creek Neck, one containing 106 acres being part of a larger
tract of 475 acres granted by proprietaries warrant to Robert Hudson, the
other piece of land
and marsh containing 30 acres being part of
a larger tract originally granted by patent to Robert Hart on the bayside
called Long Acre which James Black purchased of his brother John Black
and the afsd 106 acres the said James Black purchased of the heirs of Charles
Coulter and James Black
being so thereof seized has since died intestate
leaving Elizabeth his widow and issue five children, viz., John his eldest
son, Mary, Elizabeth, Magdelin and Joseph and after the several proceedings
being held for the laying of the widow's thirds and the division and partition
of the remainder among the several heirs, five men appointed for that purposes
made return that the same would not admit of a division and John Black
conveyed on 8 Feb last his right to Benjamin Black and Benjamin Black sold
for L120 the land to Jesse Smith. Wit: Wm. Hazzard, Joseph
Oliver. 8 Aug. 1781.
Page 196 Deed #391
Benjamin Black, from John Black, junr., Sussex
Co., taylor, Whereas two pieces of land containing 106 acres being part
of a larger tract containing 475 acres in Cedar Creek Hundred granted
by proprietary warrant to Robert Hudson, the other piece containing 30
acres being part of land and marsh granted by patent to Robert Hart lying
in the hundred aforesaid on the bayside known as Long Acre, the first above
mentioned 106 acres James Black father of the above John Black purchased
of the heirs of Charles Coulter dec'd., the other 30 acres and marsh he
the said James Black purchased of his brother John Black and was a part
of the intestate lands of his father George Black, deceased. And
said James Black being so seized and possessed of the two parcels of land
and marsh afterwards died intestate leaving Elizabeth his widow and issue
five children, to wit, John his eldest son (party to these presents), Mary,
Elizabeth, Delila and Joseph to whom the said lands descended and came
as his next of kin and heirs - 1/3 to Elizabeth his widow for and during
her life, 2/6 to John his eldest son, 1/6 to each of his other children.
George Black appointed guardian of the said John Black at an Orphans Court
held on 13 Feb 1777 obtained an order for the division of the land.
Donovan Spencer, William Bell, John Chance, William, Draper and Thomas
Evans were appointed and caused to be laid off
the division of land. Wit: Jos.
Hall Russel. 8 Feb 1781.
Land Records of Sussex County Delaware 1763-1769
Mary Marshall
BrewerPage 92
3 Mar 1767. Deed. Richardson Cade
of Suss Co yeoman for 5 shillings sold to Joseph Coulter, Robert Coulter
and James Coulter heirs of Charles Coulter decd ... all his right in a
tr of land, whereas a 475 a. tr of land in Cedar Cr Hund granted by a warrant
to a certain Robert Hudson who conveyd it to a certain Henry Bowman, s
side of Mispillion Cr adj Johnson Verkerk & land called Little Graves
End, the said Bowman conveyed 200 a. thereof to a certain Joseph Boothe,
who conveyed it to a certain Peter Goytt who by his will bequeathed it
to a son and dau of Ruth Williams, but the son dying the right became invested
in the dau who intermarried with a certain Joshua Bawler who conveyed it
to a certain Robert Cade who dying intestate it fell to his heirs, and
Robert Cade son of said Robert Cade decd conveyed it to George Manlov,
who conveyed it to a certain Abraham Parsly, and was extended by the Loan
Office and sold to a certain Jonathan Jacobs who conveyd 1/2 of the 200
a. to a certain Henry Draper, and he conveyed it to a certain John Bagwell,
and he conveyed it to Charles Coulter
father of Joseph, Robert and James Coulter
afsd, but the afsd Robert Cade the younger became invested in the right
of 2/8 pts/o the tr by the death of Jean Cade and removal of Charles Cade
and he dying intestate it fell to the afsd Richardson Cade. Wit:
William Perry, James Black. Ackn 3 Mar
1767. (K:pg 247)
Calendar of Kent County, Delaware Probate Records
1680-1800 Compiled by Leon deValinger, Jr. Page 374
Potter, Edmond. Yeoman. Will.
Made 26 Feb. 1785. Heirs: wife Mary; sons Edmond, John, Benjamin
& Charles; daus. Abseth Brinky [Elizabeth Brinkley], Sarah Scarborgh
Griffen, Mary Parker. Exec'rs, wife Mary & son Edmond. Wits.,
Leven Willey, Richard Coverill. Prob. Nov. 14, 1785.
Arch. vol. A41, page 1. Reg. of Wills,
Liber M, folios 72-73.
Regards,
Barb Holmes