SLEDGE Mary Pocahontas

Other Events and Attributes:

• Inheritance: Abt 1842, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States

Notes:

Her brother, whose middle name was Powhatan, served in the War of 1812

The birth of Mary Pocahontas Sledge in 1826, and her marriage to Eldridge A. Maddera in 1843 brings us full circle.

Inheritance:
she received an equal share of her father's estate, which was divided between Amos Jrs.' seven children. Included in her share of the estate, according to Mary Coleman Braxton, was her great grandfather Emanuel White and "other slave property", which she brought with her marriage to Eldridge Maddera.. Valeria Ann Maddera, the daughter of Eldridge and Mary P. makes it clear that the family lived a very comfortable life on their plantation before the Civil War erupted in 1861.

Died:
MADDERA.\emdash October 6th, 1872, at her residence in Surry county, Va., MRS. MARY P. MADDERA, consort of Major B. A. Maddera, and daughter of Amos and Mary Sledge, in the 47th year of her age:
Embracing religion 30 years ago, at a Baptist altar, she joined that church, and remained a most exemplary member up to her death. I do not believe she had an enemy in the world. Affectionate and amiable in disposition, firm and fast in her friendship, she was loved by all who know her; and nowhere was her worth more fully known and appreciated than in her own devoted family. Here her counsels, examples and influence were of the most salutary character; and to them in her life! and death she hath bequeathed a legacy more valuable than gold or diamonds. She bore her sickness with patience and Christian resignation that cannot be surpassed, and while her cares and trials were many, she never faltered in that course, but earnestly and steadily adhered to the cause she espoused, and was ever ready and willing to make any sacrifice for that cause. She leaves a devoted husband and seven children, a large circle of friends and relatives, to mourn their loss, but we should feel that we mourn not as those who have no hope, but assured that she has merely been called from this world of trouble to the realms of eternal bliss, there to receive her reward. 'Tis the earthly chain which did bind thee to us hath been broken. We would have detained thee longer. We miss thy tender voice, thy deeds of kindness and lore; we miss so much that kind and genial face which hath so long been in our midst. But, alas we can never behold thee on earth again. The lines, "I would not live always," were sung at her funeral service, at which, in the absence of her pastor, the Rev. B. E. Reed, of the Episcopal church, officiated. May her husband, children and friends imitate "the Christian virtues which adorned her character, and ultimately meet her in the kingdom above.

Va deaths index:
Name: Mary A Maddera
[Mary A Sledge] Birth Date: abt 1824 Birth Place: Surry County Death Date: 20 Aug 1872 Death Place: Cabin Point, Surry, Virginia Death Age: 48 Race: White Marital Status: Married Gender: Female Father Name: Amos Sledge Mother Name: Rebecca Sledge Spouse Name: E. A. Maddera FHL Film Number: 34153

Mary married MADDERA Eldridge Anmstrit, Sr. on 6 Dec 1843 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. Eldridge (son of MADDERA Thomas and THOMPSON Rebecca G.) was born on 10 Feb 1821 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; died on 22 Dec 1881 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Mary Pocahontas was only 17 when he died, and required the consent of a guardian, her brother Amos Sledge in, when she and Eldridge were married a year after her father's death.

1. MADDERA Waverly T. was born in 1846 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; and died.
2. MADDERA Valeria Ann was born on 5 Oct 1848 in Spring Grove, Surry County, Va; died on 25 Jun 1950 in Surry, Surry County, VA; was buried in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States.
3. MADDERA Mary Armistead "Puss" was born in 1852; died on 21 May 1928; was buried in Dendron, Surry County VA.
4. Maj. MADDERA Eldridge Anmstrit, Jr. was born in 1855 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; died on 22 Dec 1881 in Cabin Point, Surry County, VA..
5. MADDERA Adelia was born in 1857 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; and died.
6. MADDERA George was born in 1861 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; and died.
7. MADDERA Isabelle "Tinkle" was born in 1867 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; and died.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Employment: Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States
• Will: Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States
• Inheritance: Abt 1780, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States
• Political: 1836, Surry County, VA

Notes:

Amos Sledge, Jr. was a wealthy man by Surry County standards. He operated a major dry goods business and owned substantial property as well After he died in 1842, at age 62, his estate was valued at $ 11,451.

Birth:
Amos Sledge Jr. was born in 1780, the year his father died

Employment:
Amos II also went into the merchant business, whether continuing his father's business or starting a new one we do not know. He was apparently quite successful.

Will:
When he died in 1842 the inventory of his estate occupied 29 pages in the Surry Wills and Estates Book, and was valued at $ 11,451, a substantil sum for the time.

. Each of the Sledge children received a substantial inheritance.

Inheritance:
In his father's will he received L 1000 current money of Virginia and his father's negro fellow, James, after the marriage or death of his mother.

Political:
The following gentlemen, who compose the Republican Corresponding Committee for the county of Surry will please remember that a full meeting of the members is respectfully requested to meet at the court-house,
the fourth Monday in this month, (being court day):

Wm. E. B. Ruffin, Philip Smith, Wm. H. Edwards, Walter S. Booth, James S. Clark, James D. Edwards, Drury Stith, Wm. E. Bailey, Edwain White, John Spratley, Thomas Ruffin, David Booth, Saml. Booth, Amos Sledge, David Hargrave, Edwin T. Spratley, Patrick H. Bilbro and Arch'd Davis
Richard H. Edwards, chairman.
1836

Buried:
There is a Sledge Family Cemetery off Route 10 in Surry County, about 200 yards behind the Hopper House which contains a number of family graves.

Amos married SHACKLEFORD Mary in 1800 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. Mary (daughter of SHACKLEFORD Richard and BALLARD Mary) was born on 17 Jun 1784; died in Aug 1827 in Cabin Point, Surry County, VA.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He married 1st Mary Polly Pattishall, who apparently died leaving no issue.

Died:
Obit Richmond Enquirer, Aug 14, 1827:

On the 7th instance, in the 56th year of her age, in Cabin Point, after 17 days of severe indisposition, Mrs. Mary Sledge, consort of Mr. Amos Sledge, a respectable merchant of that place and daughter of Mr. Richard Sledge. By the bereavement of this amiable lady the loss experienced by her husband and seven children, together with her neighbors, numerous circumstances and servants, can never be obliterated; her character was duly appreciated by all those who were in possession of an acquaintance with her, and whose name will always be cherished and expected. To say she lived as becomes a woman to live is the most correct eulogy upon her worth and virtue. Alas! she is no more and why should we mourn? Though her condition is changed her virtuous mind remains unaltered. Therefore, affectionate husband & dutiful children, do not lament at this premature separation, though the affliction is great. Her bark is destined to an eternal harbour, whither it resistable time is rapidly hurrying all.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Inheritance: 1750, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States

Notes:

The Sledge femily traced its ancestry to one Richard Sledge and his son Richard Sledge, Jr. of County Somerset in England. Richard, Jr. and his son Charles, in the middle of the 17th century, settled in what would soon become Surry County, where we find their descendants still living 200 years later. It may be helpful to the reader if he/she follows this narrative while referring to the two charts on the Ancestry of Mary Etta Cotton and Chart CC, Ancestry of Amos Sledge I.

Amos Sledge I was apparently a go-getter and entrepreneur. He became a merchant, probably operating a dry goods and trading business in Waverly, Virginia, and prospered.

Inheritance:
From father's will: to son Amos Sledge 171 acres of land, being a part of the above Brunswick County

Amos married CLARY AnnDendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. Ann was born in 1751; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richard married BALLARD Mary. Mary and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Inheritance: 1727, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States
• Will: 1750, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States

Notes:

Inheritance:
John Sledge, in his father's will in 1727, received 100 acres of land in Surry, bounded by Samuel ChappelTs land on one side and CoL William Randolph's land on the other side.

Will:
The family apparently prospered. In his will, probated in 1750, he made the following bequests: To my eldest son Charles Sledge 150 acres of land where he now lives and negros; to my son Daniel Sledge, part of a tract of 200 acres in Brunswick County, also pewter dishes, etc.; to son Amos Sledge 171 acres of land, being a part of the above Brunswick County; to daughter Ann Griffin L 5; to daughter Sarah Sledge pewter dishes and cows; to (wife) Rebecca, negros and household goods, and 200 acres where I live; the remainder of the estate to be divided between Charles, Daniel, Sarah, John and Amos.

In the name of God, Amen: I John Sledge of the Parish of Albemarle in the County of Surry, being somewhat sick in body but sound perfect disposing mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same calling to mind the uncertain state of this transitory life, and that all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner, following:
First of all, I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits of my only Saviour Jesus Christ to have full remission of all my sins and to inherit eternal life and as to my body I commend to the earth from whence it came to be decently interr'd at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as for my temporal estate where with it had pleased God he blessed me with I give and dispose of in manner following (Viz)
Item: I devise to my eldest son Charles Sledge & his heirs forever one tract of land containing one hundred and fifty acres being the Plantation he now lives on and one Negro boy Peter & one pewter dish.
Item: I devise to my son Daniel Sledge & his heirs forever part of a tract of land containing two hundred acres lying in the county of Brunswick and one pewter dish & one Negro boy named Tom.
Item: I devise to my son Amos Sledge & his heirs forever part of the same tract of land before mentioned
containing one hundred & seventy one acres lying in the County of Brunswick.
Item: I devise to my son Amos one feather bed, furniture & one pewter dish, one iron pot & a cow & calf.
Item: I devise to my daughter Ann Griffis five pound credit in a store & one pewter dish.
Item: I devise to my daughter Sarah Sledge one feather bed & furniture & a cow & calf and one pewter dish.
Item: I devise to my loving wife Rebecca Sledge during her natural life or widowhood one Negro woman Cloe & then she & her increase to be divided between by two youngest sons John Sledge and Amos Sledge to them and their heirs forever.
Item: I devise to my loving wife Rebecca Sledge one horse & side saddle, a bridle, one feather bed & furniture, a chest the biggest, one iron pot, to her own disposal amongst my children.
Item: I devise to my son [John?] Sledge one feather bed & furniture, one iron pot and one pewter dish and a cow and calf.
Item: I devise to my loving wife Rebecca Sledge during her natural life or widowed two hundred acres of land being the land I now live upon and at her decease I give it to my son John Sledge & his heirs forever.
Item: I devise that all the residue & remainder of my personal estate I give to be equally divided between Charles Sledge and Daniel Sledge, Sarah Sledge, John Sledge & Amos Sledge after my wife's decease & I leave my wife whole executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other wills by me and affixed Seal this 27th day of December, 1749.
Sign'd published & declared in presence of us, Hugh Ivey, Thomas Ivey
His
John Sledge (L.S.)
Mark
My whole will and desire that my estate may not come to an appraisement.
At a Court held for Surrey County the 18th day of December 1750. The within & after written Last Will and Testament of John Sledge deceased, was presented in Court by Rebecca Sledge, widow and relict of the said John & Executrix therein named who made oath thereto according to law and the same was proved by the oaths of Hugh Ivey & Thomas Ivey two of the witnessed thereto and by the Court ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said Executrix certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate
thereof in due from. Teste: A Claiborne, Clk Teste: V. E. Savedge, Clk Copy

John married IVEY Mary Rebecca in 1720 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. Mary (daughter of IVEY Will Hugh and HORTON Elizabeth) was born about 1700 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; died in 1752 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Inheritance:
From Husbands will: to (wife) Rebecca, negros and household goods, and 200 acres where I live; the remainder of the estate to be divided between Charles, Daniel, Sarah, John and Amos.

Notes:

Married:
He married Mary Rebecca Ivey, daughter of Will Hugh and Elizabeth (Horton)Ivey in Surry County in 1720.