Robert Sumner

Children of James Sumner and Mary Bryant:
1. Luke Sumner
       two plantation
2. James Sumner est 1730 - 1787 Gates Co NC
       three plantations
3. Seth Sumner - land on Sutton's Creek
4. David Sumner d 1777 Halifax Co NC
       land where David Kelly now lives
5. William Sumner money
6. Robert Sumner - money
7. Josiah Sumner - money also house lots in Suffolk
8. Mary Sumner - money
9. Penelope Sumner - money

Will of James Sumner, Perquimans Co NC 26 March 1750 - prob. 14 May 1750
EX: wife Mary
Wit: Thomas Hurdle, Demsey Sumner
note: good impression of Castle on Seal

Children of Richard Sumner and Mary Bryant:
1. Richard Sumner - my manor plantation
2. Charity Sumner

Will of Richard Sumner of Bertie Precinct 12 April 1729 - May Ct 1729 [abstract by Gammon]
"being sick and weak"
- son Richard Sumner - my manner plantation and land belonging to the survey, also another plantation adj. the said manner plantation, which was lately surveyed, also cows, calves, Negro Pompey, pots, pans, basins, etc. Remaining personal estate to be divided between my wife Mary Sumner and my daughter Charity Sumner
EX: son Richard, father-in-law James Bryant
WIT: James [W] Wood, Edward Green, John Sutton
Clerk of Ct: Rt. Forster

Children of John Sumner and wife Elisabeth:
1. Samuel Sumner
2. William Sumner
3. Jacob Sumner
4. Joseph Sumner
5. Moses Sumner
6. Elisabeth Sumner
married Battle

Will of John Sumner, Chowan Co, 18 April 1754 - prob Jan Ct 1755
sons:
- Samuel - plantation whereon I now live
- William - land bought of Joseph & Gregory Stallings & John Knight + three negroes
- Jacob - land on west side of Orapeak Sw known as Kilmaney + six negres
- Joseph - land at Tar River bought of Abraham Odum + 5 negroes
- Moses - land bought of William Webb in Bertie Co + 4 negroes
daughter: Elisabeth Battle - 4 negroes
Wit: Joseph Jones, John Benton Sr, Jasen Campbell, Rosanna Riddick, Jethro Benton
Clerk of Ct: Will Halsey
Impression of coronet on seal.

Samuel Sumner, Chowan Co Oct 2 1765 Wife Patty, son Joseph, daughter Elizabeth, all my children, my brothers and sisters, [wife, Elisha Hunter, John Alston (son of Joseph John), Luke Sumner and Edward Arnell EXrs.] Test: John Riddick, Wm Battle, James Speight.

Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the Testator to be his last will and Testament in the presents of us: Isaac Huntor (seal)
Moses Sumner, Samuel Sumner, Jurt., John Sumner, Jurt. Proved April Ct 1753

David Edwin Sumner 1785 - 1837
& 1823 Margaret Ann Taylor d 1845
of Gates Co and Hertford Co NC

David Edwin Sumner married in Wake County NC 1 May 1823 Margaret Ann Taylor daughter of the Chief Justice John Lewis Taylor and wife Jane Gaston.

John Wheeler Moore's Historical Sketches of Hertford Co 1877 p 47, 48
"In 1822, David E Sumner represented Hertford County in the Senate. He was born and reared in Gates, but having inherited Roslyn Castle from his uncle Luke Sumner, he became a citizen of our county. He was the grand-son of the old Revolutionary favorite, Robert Sumner, and was heir to much of the wealth, that once belonged to him. He married the daughter of Chief Justice [John Lewis] Taylor, and his house after the death [29 Jan 1829] of that great and good man, was the home of his widow, who was the sister of Judge Gaston. David E Sumner did not possess the discretion that was traditional in his family. He fell into habits that wasted the bulk of his estate and died early. His widow Mrs. Margaret A Sumner was born for misfortune. After living for many years at the ancient seat of her dead husband's family, she started to remove to Mississippi. Having sickened of diptheria on the route, this amiable and high-born woman came to her death in a shanty on the road-side, with no one but her young children and slaves to administer to her last sad moments"
". . .Lewis Merideth Jiggetts [member of the House in 1822] was the grand son and the namesake of the old Sea Captain. He was also the near kinsman of David E Sumner."

Winborne's History of Hertford County 1906
"David E Sumner represented the county in the Senate in 1822 and 1823. He represented Gates County in the House in 1819 and then moved to Hertford. He inherited from his great uncle, Gen Luke Sumner of Chowan County, a large estate, and also inherited a large estate from his great uncle Robert Sumner of St. John's. He was also the grandnephew of Gen. Jethro Sumner. His wife was Margaret, the daughter of Chief Justice John Lewis Taylor, of the State, and niece of Judge William Gaston. After the death of Chief Justice Taylor in 1829 his widow resided in this county with her son-in-law David E Sumner. Sumner was dissipated, and like a majority of young men who inherit large fortunes, spent it freely. Before many years he had lost the major part of his patrimony. His widow, after his death, decided to emigrate with her slaves to Mississippi. The mode of travel in those days was by private conveyances. Before reaching her new home she died on the way, it is said in a log cabin, alone with her young children and slave servants." p128

Inventory was taken 23 March 1837 by Godwin C Moore. [R P Fouts' abstract of H C inventories]

from Marriage and Death Notices 1826 - 1845
Sumner, Mrs. David E, of Hertford Co, May 4, Carter County TN R R My 23 1845

Will of Edwin Sumner, Gates Co NC 15 June 1793 - proved Nov Ct 1793
Son David, wife Barsheba.
Test: Jethro Sumner, Ebenezer Graham

Will of Dempsey Sumner, Gates Co NC 11 Aug 1779 - proved Nov Ct 1779
Sons: Dempsey, Jethro, Edwin and James Baker Sumner
wife: Martha
my daughter, late wife of Capt. James Riddick, is dead leaving five children:
Mary wife of Dr. Thos. Peete,
daughters Theresa, Letitia and Elizabeth wife of Jethro Ballard
EXS: sons Jethro and Edwin
Test: Jno. Benton, Rich'd Ashbury McKea, Jesse Benton

James Sumner est 1730 - 1787
& first wife
& 1784 Mourning Blanchard
of Gates Co NC

one James Sumner and Mourning Blanchard were married 3 April 1784 in Gates County NC.
James Sumner was appointed a processioner in 1855. and to the Vestry in 1860.
This James Sumner died in 1787.

Children of James Sumner and first wife:
1. Luke Sumner
     a. Jane Millicent Sumner 1790 - 21 Dec 1812
        married Gates Co 22 Aug 1809 Josiah Henry Riddick 6 Oct 1772 - May 1839
         of "Soldier's Hope on the White Marsh"    son of Col Josiah Riddick and Elizabeth Godwin
2. Mary Sumner
     married Chowan Co NC 22 Oct 1774 Timothy Hunter of Bertie Co
      a. James Hunter bef 1787 -
3. Esther Sumner
     married Richard Mitchell
       a. John Mitchell
4. Cynthia Sumner d 1803
      married Col. Henry Riddick ca 1735 - 1785 of Nansemond Co VA
      a. James Riddick ca 1757 -1805
           i. James L Riddick 1794 Portsmouth - 1812
          ii. Dr. William Sumner Riddick 16 Aug 1796 - 3 Mar 1848 Portsmouth
                buried at "Soldier's Hope" - grad Wm & Mary - practiced medicine in Suffolk ca 1821
                      moved to Portsmouth after 1843.
                married Anna Maria Riddick 1802 Gates Co - 1878 Gates Co   10 children
5. Christian Sumner
      married 7 April 1788 William Barksdale

Will of James Sumner, Gates Co 30 May 1787 - proved Aug Ct. 1787
wife: Mourning
son: Luke
daughters: Mary Hunter, Esther Mitchell, Synthia Riddick, and Christian Sumner
grandson: James Hunter, son of Timothy Hunter of Bertie Co
Exers: James Jones, Jethro Ballard, David Rice, and Timothy Hunter
Test: James Norfleet, Wm. Parker, Wm. Matthews.

"Vestry Minutes of St. Paul's Parish, Chowan Co NC 1701 - 1776" transcribed by Raymond Parker Fouts.
At a Vestry met and held at Constants Chappel on Saturday the 25th day of October Anno Dom 1755.
Present: Demsey Sumner, Churchwarden, Luke Sumner, Elisha Hunter, Richard Bond, Jethro Benton, John Gordon, Henry King, William Walton, Peter Parker.. . .
Ordered that James Sumner and Richard Freeman procession all the lands included between Catharine Creek, the Sandy Run, and Perquimons Road - begining at James Scots Plantation.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Saturday 27 Sept 1760 . . . Whereas Mr. Henry Bonner who was elected as a Vestry Man for this Parish and Refused to Quallifie according to the law, the Vestry therefore now proceed to Elect another person to serve in his Room and Accordingly made Choice of Mr. James Sumner. Ordered that he be notified to meet at the Next Vestry to Quallifie according to Law.
Saturday 6 December 1760 . . .James Sumner, who was elected by the Vestry appeared and took the Oath Agreeable and Took his place in the Vestry.
Monday 27 April 1761 . . .Ordered that James Sumner and Josiah Granberry be and they are accordingly appointed Church Wardens for this Insuing Year.
9 October 1761 . . . ordered that James Sumner imploy a worker to put Good Glass into the Windows of the Church at Edenton where any is broke out and that he purchase some Tar and have the Ruff well tared over.
16 April 1770 . . .Mr. James Sumner late Church warder, eshibited his account
28 April 1770. . . Capt. James Sumner personally appeared before me and proved his account. Timothy Walton.
18 May 1774 . . . last time mentioned James Sumner present at the Vestry meeting.

Martha Baker was the daughter of William Baker who married Martha Nosworthy. William Baker's father was Henry Baker who was a Burgess from Nansemond Co VA 1723-1726. It is believed that Henry's father was Henry B Baker who was also a Burgess.
Martha Nosworthy was the daughter of George Nosworthy whose father was also George Nosworthy. George St. was the son of TristamNosworthy who was a Burgess in 1639 and died about 1660.

Dempsey Sumner was a Major in the Colonial Army. He was also, for years, a distinguished member of the North Carolina Assembly, a Magistrate, a Vestryman, and generally a man of prominence.

Children of Demsey Sumner and Martha Baker:
1. Demsey Sumner Jr
     married Gates Co 25 Dec 1796 Abigail King widow of Solomon King
2. Jethro Sumner
     married Gates Co 6 Nov 1788 Martha King
            dau of Solomon King and Abigail Lee
      a. Demsey King Sumner
3. Edwin Sumner 1760 - 1793
     married Bathsheba Holland
      a. David Edwin Sumner 1785 -
          Nov 1795 Jethro Sumner Esq appointed Guardian to David Edwin Sumner orphan of Edwin Sumner dec'd
           ordered that Dower be laid off for Barshiba Sumner relict of Edwin Sumner dec'd
4. James Baker Sumner 1764/70 -
5. Martha Sarah Sumner ca 1748 - 1778 [5 children]
     married 1764 Capt. James Riddick
           son of Col. Willis Riddick and Mary Foulk
     a. James Riddick 1767 - 1810
        married Charity Godwin [Baker] 1771 - 1835
         i. Caroline Riddick 1800 - 1868
             married Bray Baker Walters 1797 - 1855
     b. Edward Riddick 1769 -   of Salem, Gates Co
     c. Elizabeth Riddick 1772 - 1836 Gates NC
         married 1791 Micajah Riddick Jr 1768 - 1822 Gates Co NC
     d. Martha Riddick 1774 Nansemond Co VA -
6. Mary Sumner
     married Dr. Thos Peete
7. Theresa Sumner
     married Gates Co 12 July 1783 Kedar Ballard
      a. Alfred Ballard
      b. Edwin Ballard
          married Gates Co NC 21 Sept 1807 Mary Knight
           i. William Edwin Ballard 16 May 1810 - 20 May 1861
          ii. Kedar Ballard II
          married 2nd Elizabeth Benton
       c. Benjamin Ballard
     married Gates Co 16 Feb 1787 James Griffin
     married Gates Co 16 Dec 1796 Henry Goodman
8. Letitia Sumner ca 1770 -
     married Gates Co 2 Dec 1791 Joseph John Sumner
9. Elizabeth Sumner
     married Chowan Co 30 Dec 1774 Jethro Ballard

Will of Demsey Sumner Gates Co 11 Aug 1779 - Nov Court 1779
wife Margaret
EXrs: sons Jethro and Edwin
Test: Jno Benton, Rich'd Ashbury McKea, Jesse Benton

Will of Edwin Sumner, Gates Co 15 June 1793 - proved Nov Ct 1793
son David, wife Barsheba. Test Jethro Sumner, Ebenezer Graham.

from the Sumner Assn:Descendants of William Sumner of Nansemond Co. 1691 son of John Sumner of Nansemond Co 1656
Demsey Sumner,Jr.,(prob of the 1st m; rest of 2nd m) bc1735-1738 Chowan Co (later Gates) d c1797; inherited land in Nansemond Co from father (will Nansemond Co);Clerk's fee book p276)( notes by Sallie Vann) (will of Solomon King, Gates bk 1 p136-139,A 1. 122) (notes of Emily Battle) (Solomon King bible, VA Vital Records, Gen. Pub. Co. 1982 p683-685) Demsey Sumner one of the first Vestrymen of Protestant Episcopal Church, 1785; listed as Capt Co #11 Nansemond Co Militia; 15 May 1785 Hardy Parker app'd Ensign in Demsey Sumner's Co; Capt demsey Sumner resigned lately (1786); m Abigail King widow of Solomon King (Gates Co Marriage Bk); Abigail received 600 acres (Land Tax Records nansemond Co 1810).

Children of William Sumner:
1. John Sumner
2. James Sumner
3. Jethro Sumner
     a. Thomas Sumner
     b. Jethro Sumner Jr.
     c. Edward Sumner
     d. Elizabeth Sumner
          married Abraham Ballard
4. Dempsy Sumner Sr.
5. William Sumner
6. Bathsheba Sumner

Robert Sumner was representative in the Colonial General Assembly in 1764/65 with Benj. Wynns.

John Wheeler Moore's Historical Sketches of Hertford Co 1877 [reprint by David Powell 1998 p17]
"The [NC] provincial Congress met in Halifax on April the 4th [1776]. Hertford was represented by Col. Matt. Brickell, Major Lawrence Baker and Robert Sumner. This body was the first in which the name of the latter occurs. He was then the head of a family of ancient wealth and prominence in the county. The Sumners of Roslyn Castle near St. John's were magnated in the land and their influence was by no means confined to Hertford County. Robert Sumner's brother Luke, of Chowan, was of reputation co-extensive with the province, and was peer of Samuel Johnston, Thomas Jones and many other distinguished men then in and around Edenton. Jethro Sumner was another brother and was for many years a prominent man and representative in the county of Gates. Robert Sumner again served the county in the next Congress at Halifax and then for three terms in the State Legislature."

1777 through 1779 Robert Sumner served three terms in the Senate
1785 through 1787 Robert Sumner again served three terms in the Senate

Winborne's History of Hertford County 1906
"Robert Sumner was a wealthy old bachelor, who lived and enjoyed life at St. John's, where courts in olden times were held. He dressed well, drove fine horses, drank the finest liquors, enjoyed the standard literature of the times, as well as the current news, and was fond of entertaining his friends. He had figured much in public life and was regarded as probably the strongest and ablest of his compeers in Hertford. He was the grand-old.man on all public occasions. Moses and Josiah Sumner also lived in that part of the county, and each served as Sheriff of the county at a later period. He was in the first list of justices of the peace for the county, and the presiding officer at one time of the old court of the county." page 29

Paschal quotes from (Major) Mr. J. W. Moore in his manuscript history of North Carolina Baptists: In 1782--Although there were Baptist meeting houses at Potecasi, Meherrin, and Sandy Run, all of which were close by the place of meeting, yet for some reason now unknown the old Episcopal chapel of St. John in Hertford County was selected by Elder Burkitt and others for that purpose. They held that as the house was erected by money collected from the people of the county by taxation and no Episcopal services were then being held therein, that therefore the Baptists who constituted the majority of the people had the right to use the chapel for the session of the Kehukee Association. The invitations consequently went out but when the delegations were about to arrive on the ground, Col. Robert Sumner, who was the Senior Warden of St John's chapel, interfered his strenuous objections to its being used for any purpose but the regular Episcopal forms. Captain Arthur Cotten was the Junior Warden and as strongly insisted that the chapel should be thrown open to the Baptist people. The dispute was so warm that Elder Burkitt grew doubtful as to whether his brethren should meet at a point so hotly contested by the controlling powers. But Captain Arthur Cotten remedied all difficulty by substituting his own private residence for St. John's chapel. This offer was accepted and the Association consequently was held at the house of a man who was never a member of a Baptist church. Twelve large mulberry trees formed an archway in front of the house like the vaulted roof of some cathedral, and there beneath the wide-spreading limbs the saints of old met to thank God for their many blessings and to prepare for the future work of the vineyard.

excerpt from Legends and Memories of St John's Chapel - Addressed to R. A. Riddick by Major John W. Moore Part II - published in the Windsor Ledger June 29, 1899

Near St Johns, Rosllyn Castle
   Stood with gables dark and quaint,
Where dwelt old Robin Sumner,
   Who though warden, was no saint;
He was rich and long a leader
   In the great affairs of state;
Then his balls were widely famous,
   And his gaming high and late;
He had two hundred slaves or more,
   And blooded horses by the score.

Just a league to the westward,
   In his mansion fair then dwelt
His rival, Arthur Cotten,
   Who had often known and felt
How the captain takes the battle
   When he feels his good ship reel
'Neath the foeman's cannonading,
   When with blood his scuppers fill;
Long had he sailed upon the seas,
   Before he sought a life of ease.

Captain Arthur found a wife
   Who was fair as he was grim;
She replaced his love of old
   For his cruiser staunch and trim;
And his life on ocean waters, 
   For young Bessie Rutland bore,
So many graces in her mien
   Kind alike to rich and poor,
That Arthur smoked his pipe at home,
   No more on rolling seas to roam.
  
He and his neighbor Sumner
  Were church wardens of St. Johns;
They two were mostly friendly,
   But it happened more than once
That high words by both were spoken
   And t'was said their gentle wives
Had to calm the troubled waters
   And keep peaceful thus their lives;
How often thus our women bring
   Some balm to soothe life's sorest sting.

Their greatest quarrel happened
   When the Baptist people sought
To use the ancient chapel
   For a meeting, Cotten thought,
Was nothing more than just their right
   As was the public's own;
But Robin swore t'was sacrelege
   If any such thing was done,
So Captain Cotten gave his home
   And bade the people all to come.

After seven years of battle
   And when peace had come again,
Freedom ruled in Church and State
   There were mighty changes seen;
T'was then in spite of Robin's wrath
   The old chapel at St. Johns
Was free to all who love our Lord,
    Yes to each and every one
The doors stood open free and wide,
   And to the humblest not denied.

It was then that a Baptist,
   Who was dwelling very nigh,
Came oft to wake the echoes
   And to lift a warning cry
That resounded like a trumpet,
   Heard in stillness of the night,
So he stirred the careless people;
   Till he led them to the light,
And though a youth he foremost stood
   Among the men who sought the good.

Nor from that day has other
   Rose to bless and lift the State,
More than this Lemuel Burkitt
   With his service long and great;
For as preacher and reformer,
   And historian he made
A name still dear to myriads,
   And bore them so clean a blade;
He dying, knew his life had been,
   For only things that make us clean.

On the broad highway dwelt he,
   Just two miles toward the west,
Close beside an old neighbor
   Who of men he loved the best;
This was the gentle deacon Cotten
    Who oft rode with him afar,
On long journeys undertaken
    In times peaceful well as war;
For well they served our Lord and land
   Battling for both with hear & hand.

Children of Jonas Lawrence and Charlotte Holland:
1. Elizabeth Mary Lawrence 27 Nov 1797 -
* married 29 June 1820 Jethro Sumner d. 1833
son of Jethro Sumner and Margaret