John Poston

Abt 1686 - 1744  (58 years)

• Name	John Poston
  Born	Abt 1686	St. Shad's Parish, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Eng
  	Possible birth place
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	Planter
  Died	20 May 1744	Charles County, Maryland
  Notes	On April 26, 1703 in Liverpool England John Poston age 17 signed a document that made him an indentured servant to Henry Brown for 5 years. He was to go to America to work the plantations. John was from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England and he probably landed at Leonardstown in St. Mary's County, Maryland. This was a common way for someone to get passage to America. Once free of his contract he probably lived for several years in St. Mary's County. Judging from the ages of his sons he should have married no later than 1712. John, like many others, came to make a new life on his own. He did manage but it most likely came hard and slow. It wasn't until the late 20's (1720's) that he began to come into his own. At about the age of 40 he seemed to have saved enough to become a landowner. Two plantations owned by Thomas Overton reverted to the colony when he died intestate leaving no heirs. On February 2, 1727 John Poston had a survey made in order to apply for a patent of Poverty plantation which covered 247 acres. Later in August he and Edward Davis did the same for the Goodwill plantation which was 100 acres. It appears that Davis was granted the entire 100 acres for on October 4, 1729 he sold half the plantation to John Poston for "three pound sterling money of England". This was a nominal sum to pass the title. In religion John was probably a very devout Episcopalian. In the Northeastern corner of St Mary's County was King and Queen parish whose principal church, Trinity Church, stood on the north side of Patuxent Creek. John and other members of his family were known to have been friendly to that church. Poverty and Goodwill was located in Charles County but not many miles from Trinty Church. John Poston made his will on December 12, 1739. It was entered for probate May 24 1744. When the inventory was filed in June, 1744 Francis signed it and Thomas made his mark. John Jr. was not mentioned in the inventory. (Research):Find a Grave: John Poston came to Maryland from Liverpool, England on April 26, 1703 Taken from the book, John Hamill Poston 1786-1848, his ancestors and descendants. A Poston family genealogy" His indenturement is recorded in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register 65:50. Family tradition says that he arrived in Leonardtown, St Mary's County, Maryland, a port of entry at that time. although the name of the ship on which he came to this country is not known, Henry brown was the Master of the Ship "Loyalty" on May 26, 1697 on which date it lay in the Potomac River (Maryland Archives 23:138) It is probable that he lived in St. Mary's County for several years. In the northeast corner of the county, lay King and Queen Parish, who's principal church - Trinity Church (Episcopal) stood on the North side of Patuxent Creek. It is known that John Poston, as well as some members of his family after him, were friendly to this church. When he had saved enough money to buy land, 24 years after his emigration to this country, and he was 41, he bought two plantations, not many miles from Trinity Church, which bore the picturesque names of "Poverty" (1727) and "Goodwill" (1729). One family tradition says that two brothers came with John. There were Poston's in chester and Lancaster counties, Pennsylvania, just north of the northeastern corner of Maryland. Their records indicate that they emigrated to the US at about the same time as John, so it may be that two of John's brothers were here, but did not come with him, for his sailing record from Liverpool indicates that he was the only Poston on the April 1703 voyage, but around the same time.. Family tradition states that he said that he was the first of his family surname in this country and he would tend to discredit any relationships with the Pennsylvania families. The wife of John is known from his 1739 will only to be Susanna. Her fabled Sir John Holmes ancestry is mentioned under her name. It appears clear that when John came to maryland, he had to make his own way. In the 1720's one Thomas Overton died, intestate, leaving two plantations in the southern part of Charles County. For lack of Overton heirs, these plantations reverted to the colony. On February 2, 1727, John Poston had a survey made and took the initial step to secure a patent to the Poverty plantation (247 acres). In August 1727, John Poston and Edward Davis took similar stpes toward acquiring the other plantation, Goodwill (100 acres) that had belonged to Thomas Overton. Davis secured title to the entire hundred acres, and on October 4, 1729, sold half of the plantation to John Poston for "three pound sterling
  Person ID	I1087	myfamilytree
  Last Modified	25 Feb 2024

  
  

  Family	Susannah Mary Baldridge,   b. 1694,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	Abt 1712	Charles County, Maryland
  Children	+ 1. John Poston,   b. Abt 1712,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Francis Poston,   d. Yes, date unknown + 3. Thomas Poston,   b. 1716, Charles County, Maryland ,   d. 19 Mar 1777, Loudoun, VA  (Age 61 years)   4. William Poston,   b. Abt 1721, Charles County, Maryland ,   d. 9 Mar 1777  (Age 56 years)   5. Edward Poston,   d. Yes, date unknown   6. Jerimiah Poston,   d. Yes, date unknown   7. Mary Poston,   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Susanna Poston,   d. Yes, date unknown   9. Rebecca Poston,   d. Yes, date unknown   10. Charity Poston,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	20 May 2022
  Family ID	F125	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

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  Born - Abt 1686 - St. Shad's Parish, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Eng Married - Abt 1712 - Charles County, Maryland Died - 20 May 1744 - Charles County, Maryland  = Link to Google Earth