MADDERA Waverly T.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: Aug 1862, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; Confederate War

Notes:

Military:
Enlisted 8/1862 in Co. K, 13th Va. Cavalry. Served until April 9, 1865.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Inheritance: 10 Feb 1839, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States
• Occupation: 7 Mar 1854, Spring Grove, Surry County, Va; Postmaster
• Military: 20 Apr 1861, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; Civil War Vet
• Lived(s) In: 1870, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States

Notes:

Eldridge A. Maddera 1821 - 1881
Eldridge Annstrit Maddera was the only son of Thomas Maddera (bet 1784 -1826) and Rebecca G. Thompson. He was born February 10, 1821 and was only five years old when his father died in September 1826, apparently unexpectedly, for he died intestate. Eldridge's mother married Hugh Hopkins three years later, on 8/22/1829, and William M, West was appointed by the Court as Eldridge's guardian (Surry County Fiduciary Accts. 1831 -1839), to protect his rights in his father's estate.
Thomas Maddera was apparently moderately well-to-do at the time of his death. We presume that he was a plantation owner, because the account of his estate mentions six slaves who were hired out: Abram, Billy, Wilson, Lizza, Diana and Mary. Eldridge received a good education judging by his later occupations and military service, and apparently continued to successfully manage the plantation, which was near Cabin Point, when he reached manhood.
On 12/6/1843 Eldridge married Mary Pocahontas Sledge, daughter of Amos and Mary (Shackleford) Sledge, Jr.. 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. 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. Her mother had died earlier, and 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.
Earlier we described the Civil War as experienced by Valeria Ann Maddera and her husband-to-be William M Cotton. Briefly, here is how Eldridge A. Maddera went through the war. Like most of the gentry of Surry County he belonged to the Surry Cavalry before the war, commanded by Captain Travis W. Taylor. This was essentially a militia company, and served much the same purposes that the National Guard does today, available to quell any civil disturbance which should be beyond the capabilities of the sheriff and his deputies: for example, a slave insurrection, like Nat Turner's Rebellion; or repel an invasion, such as CoL Tarleton's Raid during the American Revolution; or respond to Indian attacks, such as those that brought on Bacon's Rebellion. In the early days of the colony, when men reached military age, they were required to register, and provide a horse and equipment ready for service, or pay someone else to serve for them. The Surry Cavalry had played a minor role in the American Revolution and had a lot of pride in their Company. My mother, Bertha (Johnson) Bartlett, wrote that her father, Sidney T. Johnson, was a member of the Surry Cavalry when she was a girl, in the first decade of the 20th century. She says he occasionally rode to Surry Courthouse on his black horse for drills, sporting a blue uniform with brass trappings and a gleaming saber at his side. Fortunately, there were no wars during his young manhood.

(Medical):44 years old, 5 ft. 11 in. tall, dark hair, with blue eyes and a florid complexion

Inheritance:
Eldridge, still only 8 years old, stood to inherit much of his long deceased father's and grandfather's estates. William West was appointed by the Court as guardian of Eldridge, to look after his interests until he should come of age.
The estate accounts of Thomas Maddera include the information that six negros were hired out in 1826 for a total of $ 66.45. They were Abram, Billy, Wilson, Lizza, Diumma and Mary.

Military:
Cavalry Lt.
As noted earlier, when the Civil War broke out, William Cotton and Eldridge Maddera had both enlisted as privates in the Surry Cavalry on April 20 1861, only eight days after the beginning of the bombardment of Fort Sumpter. The Surry Cavalry was designated as Company E, 5th Regiment Virginia Cavalry, attached to the 3rd Regiment Virginia Infantry. Together they saw bloody action on many a field of battle. In Sept./Oct. 1862, Company K, 13 Regiment Virginia Cavalry was formed up under Captain Samuel H. Burt and assigned to dashing Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's famed Cavalry Division of the Army of Northern Virginia. William Cotton was appointed 2nd Sergeant of the new Company K and Eldridge Maddera its 2nd Lieutenant. They participated in nearly every major battle in the eastern theater of the War from then until the end of the War. They were at "the greatest cavalry battle of the War, which took place on June 9,1863, at Brandy Station, seven miles north of Culpepper Court House. The battle lasted , without let-up, for twelve hours, as Rebel cavalrymen under Stuart and Union cavalrymen under Pleasanton, slashed at each other with sabers and fired their pistols at point blank range." (Story County at War 1861 -1865; Willis W. Bohannan; p. 41)
Like most of the gentry of Surry County he belonged to the Surry Cavalry before the war, commanded by Captain Travis W. Taylor. This was essentially a militia company, and served much the same purposes that the National Guard does today, available to quell any civil disturbance which should be beyond the capabilities of the sheriff and his deputies: for example, a slave insurrection, like Nat Turner's Rebellion; or repel an invasion, such as CoL Tarleton's Raid during the American Revolution; or respond to Indian attacks, such as those that brought on Bacon's Rebellion. In the early days of the colony, when men reached military age, they were required to register, and provide a horse and equipment ready for service, or pay someone else to serve for them. The Surry Cavalry had played a minor role in the American Revolution and had a lot of pride in their Company.

On the morning of April 12,1861 a rabid secessionist, Edmund Ruffin, a Virginian, pulled the lanyard to fire the first cannon shot into Fort Sumpter, in Charleston harbor, South Carolina. On April 20, 1861 Captain Travis Taylor's Cavalry Company was mustered, and its members enlisted to serve one year, in what was expected to be a short war. No one believed that the North would conduct a major war to prevent the South from seceding, which they viewed as their right under the Constitution. Eldridge Maddera was enrolled as a private. By September, Captain Travis Company was designated as Company E, 5th Regiment Virginia Cavalry and attached to the 3rd Regiment of Virginia Infantry. They spent the winter of 1861-1862 at Camp Cook, on the lower James River directly across from Newport News. The Confederate forces were positioned on the south shore of the James River to protect the network of railroads that connected Norfolk, Suffolk, Petersburg, Richmond and North Carolina. The Union Army held the virtually impregnable Fort Monroe on the Virginia Peninsula, which they used as a base of operations throughout the war.

In May 1862, McClellan assembled an army of 125,000 men and began his Peninsular Campaign. At Williamsburg - in the streets of the town and on the campus of William and Mary College - on May 5,1862, a sharp engagement between the Federals and the rear guard of the Confederate Army took place. "JEB" Stuart, Lee's dashing cavalry commander, was there and fighting with him that day was the Surry cavalry. McClellan's army now pursued the Confederates up the Peninsula - to within six miles of Richmond. At Seven Pines the first great battle of the campaign was fought on May 31 to June 2. General Johnston was borne from the battlefield seriously wounded, and General Robert E. Lee was immediately appointed to succeed him as commander of the Army ofNorthern Virginia. The Surry Cavalry was in the defenses east of Richmond, and there took part in the bloody Seven Days Battles. McClellan, his nose bloodied, withdrew his army from Richmond, finally retracing its steps to Fort Monroe, to take ship back to Northern Virginia - its invasion ended.
Company K, 13th Virginia Cavalry Regiment was organized in August 1862, mostly composed of Surry men, under the command of Captain Samuel H. Burt. Eldridge Maddera was elected 2nd Lieutenant on August 13,1862, a post he held throughout the remainder of the war. His son, Waverly T. Maddera, age 16, enlisted in the same Company. Almost immediately the 13th Virginia Cavalry was assigned to of "JEB" Stuart's Cavalry and took part in the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), where they defeated General Pope before he could launch his offensive against Richmond. Lee invaded Maryland, and the Surry Cavalry fought at Sharpsburg, on Antietam Creek, and on December 13, 1862 at Fredericksburg. The end of 1862 marked the high tide of the Confederacy.
Company K missed few engagements for the remainder of the war. They were an integral part of "JEB" Stuart's Cavalry Division of the Army ofNorthern Virginia. They fought at Brandy Ford on April 15,1863, the greatest cavalry battle of the war. When "JEB" Stuart was killed in action, they fought under Major Gen. W. H. F. "Rooney" Lee and General Wade Hampton. As the Confederate Army slowly weakened under the punishing attacks of General Grant, they were finally brought to bay at Petersburg. That bloody siege is legendary for its heavy casualties and suffering. Lieutenant Maddera was wounded near Petersburg on September 30,1864, but recovered and returned to duty within a month or two. Grant used his superior numbers to gradually outflank the outnumbered Confederate Army, and the Confederates were forced to abandon Petersburg and move westward toward Appomattox Courthouse. Lieutenant Maddera was captured along the way at Dinwiddie Courthouse on April 1,1865. General Lee would surrender at Appomattox 9 days later, on April 9.

Lt. Maddera was transported to Johnson's Island, a Depot for Prisoners of War near Sandusky, Ohio. He took the oath of allegiance at Johnson's Island on June 19,1865 and was released under General Order 109. At the time he took the Oath he gave his place of residence as Cabin Point, Virginia. He was described as 44 years old, 5 ft. 11 in. tall, dark hair, with blue eyes and a florid complexion. How he made his way home, we don't know. He and his horse had obviously been long separated so he could not fell under Grant's generous permission for Confederate cavalry to take their mounts home. They were, after all, personal property.

Name: Eldridge A Maddera Birth Date: abt 181? Age: 44 Enlistment Date: 1862 Military Unit: Thirteenth Cavalry (Sixteenth Battalion, Cavalry; Fifth Cavalry; 12 Months, 1861-62)

Name: Eldridge A Maddera Residence: Surry Court House, Virginia Enlistment Date: 20 Apr 1861 Rank at enlistment: Private Enlistment Place: Surry Court House, Virginia State Served: Virginia Survived the War?: Yes Service Record: Transferred to. Enlisted in Company E, Virginia 5th Cavalry Regiment on 20 Apr 1861.Promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on 13 Aug 1862. Sources: The Virginia Regimental Histories Series

Lived(s) In:
. From the sequence of visitations shown in the report of the Census of 1870, it appears that Eldridge Maddera, his wife Mary, and five children: Mary 18, Eldridge 15, Adelia 13, George 9 and an infant 2 lived next door, perhaps on The Marl Spring Farm. Eldridge's occupation is listed as "lumber dealer". This is confirmed by Valeria's recollection many years later that her father operated a sawmill. No value of land and personal estate is given.

Eldridge married SLEDGE Mary Pocahontas on 6 Dec 1843 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. Mary (daughter of SLEDGE Amos, Jr. and SHACKLEFORD Mary) was born on 25 Oct 1825 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; died on 6 Oct 1872 in Cabin Point, Surry County, VA.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

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.

Notes:

Thomas Maddera ca. 1775 -1826
Thomas Maddera's father, John Maddera, in his will, left his lands, slaves and other property to his wife Elizabeth for as long as she should live or not remarry. And upon her death or remarriage the estate would be equally divided between his surviving sons, John and Thomas.

Thomas appears to have never left home. He continued to live with his mother and run the family plantation. His mother, in her will of 1814, 32 years after his father's death expresses exasperation that Thomas, now in his 40's, is still unmarried.

On 29 April 1819, five years after Elizabeth's death, Thomas, now at least 45, married Rebecca G. Thompson, daughter of William E. Thompson and his wife Frances. Rebecca was only 19 years old. She was born in 1800. The marriage was of short duration. Thomas Maddera died in 1825/6 at about the age of 50, leaving behind one very small son Eldridge Armstrit Maddera, to mark his passing. He did not leave a will and died intestate.

Thomas' widow Rebecca married again, this time to Hugh Hopkins, on 22 August 18,1829. Hugh Hopkins is listed in the 1850 Census as a "stave getter" and was five years younger than Rebecca. Eldridge, still only 8 years old, stood to inherit much of his long deceased father's and grandfather's estates. William West was appointed by the Court as guardian of Eldridge, to look after his interests until he should come of age.
The estate accounts of Thomas Maddera include the information that six negros were hired out in 1826 for a total of $ 66.45. They were Abram, Billy, Wilson, Lizza, Diumma and Mary.

Thomas married THOMPSON Rebecca G. on 29 Apr 1819 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. Rebecca (daughter of THOMPSON William Edloe and Frances) was born in 1800 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; died after 1850. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alt. Marriage: 18 Aug 1829

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:

• Will: 18 Feb 1752, Cabin Point, Surry County, VA.; From Father's will
• Will: 10 Jul 1782, Cabin Point, Surry County, VA.

Notes:

John Maddera was the son, probably the only son born to Zacharias Maddera and his second wife Joanna Hurdle. He was probably born between 1720 and 1730. The Maddera family is said to have lived near Cabin Point in Surry County. Most of what we know about him and his family is gleaned from his will, written in 1782. All of his eight children were still under age when he died.

Will:
Item: I give unto my son James the plantation whereon he now lives to him and his heirs. Also my negro man Roger in case my wife should remarry or when she dies.

Will:
Imprimus: I give and bequeath unto my children Micajah Maddera, Rebekah Maddera, Nancy Maddera, Martha Maddera each the sum of 20 shillings specie to them and their heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter Diecey Maddera the sum of twenty-five pounds in specie to her and her heirs forever. I also desire her to have one feather bed and furniture after the death or intermarriage of my beloved wife, to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Priscilla Maddera the sum of twenty-five pounds specie to her and her heirs forever. I also desire her to have one feather bed and furniture after the death.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife my best horse, saddle and bridle -with the best bed and furniture I possess, to her and her heirs forever. My will and desire is that my beloved wife shall have the use of my land and plantation with all its appurtenances and shall have, possess and enjoy all my slaves, stock and household furniture so long as she remains my widow, to enable her to raise and educate my children who are now with me and under age: and after her death, or after she shall intermarry I give and bequeath all my land slaves, stock and household furniture to my two sons John and Thomas Maddera to be equally divided between them, if they be both alive; but if one of them only shall at that time survive, my will and desire is that the whole of my lands, slaves, stock and household furniture shall go to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I also give and bequeath to my two sons John Maddera and Thomas Maddera all the ready money I have at the time of my death, with all the debts due to my estate which I desire my executors to collect as soon as possible and put the whole out at interest, to be equally divided between them, when they or either of them arrive at lawful age. But in case my executors shall thinkproper at any time to purchase one certain parcel or tract of land now belonging to Joseph Thorp and lying contiguous to my land, I desire that they may apply apart of the money aforesaid to that purpose, which I desire may go to them after the death, or after my beloved wife shall intermarry, in the same manner as is directed respecting the land I now possess.
Item: My will and desire is that all the rest and residue of my estate not herein before mentioned may remain in the possession of my beloved wife so long as she remains my widow and afterwards to go to my two sons John and Thomas to be equally divided between them, or to revert to the survivor as is before directed in the case of lands, slaves, etc.; I also desire that the ready money and debts given as aforesaid to them the said John and Thomas Maddera may in the case of the death of either of them, go to the other.
I do hereby nominate and appoint my friends William Clinch, Jr. and James Kee my lawful executors to this my last will and testament and do empower them to execute the trust hereby imposed in them as well as see to the education of my young children...............10 July 1782
John Maddera
The will was presented to the Court 27 August 1782.

John married MADDERA Elizabeth --LNU--. Elizabeth died in 1814 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 18 Oct 1814, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States

Notes:

Will:
In the name of God Amen, I, Elizabeth Maddera of the County ofSurry do make and ordain this my last -will and testament in the following manner:
Viz: First I give and bequeath unto my son John Maddera one feather bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever.
2ndly: In case my son Thomas Maddera continues to live a single life and never marry a certain Mary Ann Jones, I give and bequeath unto him, my said son Thomas, one feather bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever, but in case my said son should marry the said Mary Ann Jones it is my will and desire in that case that the bed and furniture given him shall be sold and the money arising from the sale thereof to be equally divided between my daughter Dicey Crawley, my son John Maddera and my daughter Priscilla Chapman, to them and their heirs forever.
Item 3rd: I lend unto my daughter Dicey Crawley three negros namely boy John and girls Peg and Jinny during her natural life and after her death I desire that the three negros and their increase(if any) may be equally divided between all my children and grandchildren then living to them and their heirsforever.
Item 4th: I lend unto my daughter Priscilla Chapman the following negros namely woman Daphney, and girl Cherry during her natural life or widowhood and at the death or marriage of my said daughter I desire that the negros loaned her shall be equally divided between my said daughters children John, Onner Manerva and William Albert Chapman, or such of them as may be then living, to them and their heirsforever. In case my daughter shall be dissatisfied with the woman Daphney I have loaned her, I do hereby allow her the privilege of selling the said Daphney and with the money arisingfrom the sale to purchase another woman in the place of the said Daphney which my said daughter may deem more suitable for her employ.
Item 5th: All the rest and residue of my estate of what kind soever, I desire may be sold, and the money arisingfrom the sale be equally divided between my daughter Dicey Crawley, my son Thomas Madder a and my daughter Priscilla Chapman and my grandson Slarter Madder a, son of my son John Maddera to them and their heirs forever.
And lastly I appoint my sons John and Thomas Maddera executors of this my last -will and testament.
..............18 October 1814.
Elizabeth Maddera

Notes:

Married:
Elizabeth Maddera did not remarry, and lived on at the plantation until her death in 1814.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will Proved: 1829

William married Frances. Frances and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]