Person:Samuel Brockman (1)

  1. Samuel Brockman1680 - 1766
m. Est 1703
  1. Sarah Brockman1704 - 1796
  2. Suzanna Brockman1711 - 1750
  3. John BrockmanEst 1713 - Bef 1756
  4. Mary M Brockman1714 -
  5. Elizabeth "Betsey" Brockman1715 - 1793
  6. Samuel Brockman, Jr1717 - 1790
  7. William Brockman1718 - 1809
  8. Rachel Brockman1729 -
Facts and Events
Name Samuel Brockman
Alt Name Samuel Brockman, Sr
Gender Male
Birth? 1680 Saint Mary's, Maryland, United States
Alt Birth? 1690 Saint Mary's, Maryland, United States
Marriage Est 1703 King and Queen, Virginia, United Statesto Mary M. Unknown
Death? 25 Sep 1766 Orange, Virginia, United States

Identity of Samuel Brockman's Wife

Sources have variously reported Samuel Brockman's wife Mary as Mary Madison (daughter of John Madison and Isabella Todd), Mary Collins (daughter of Joseph Collins), or Mary Henderson. While there are no records to substantiate her identity as Mary Madison, it appears that she was not Mary Collins, daughter of Joseph[3], and the Henderson theory appears to no longer be current[2]. Needs further research/records.

Samuel Brockman's 'wife is known onlv as Mary, but there are indications that she was Mary Madison, (or Mary Mason) daughter of John Madison, Jr. and sister of Ambrose Madison (wife Frances Taylor).'[1]

Will of Samuel Brockman

  • Pages 371-74. Will of Samuel Brockman of the County of Orange, dated 3 Nov. 1762.
Unto my sons Samuel and William the tract of land which I have in Albemarle County containing 358 acres to be divided as they themselves shall think proper.
I formerly intented to give unto my late son John the tract of land containing 150 acres which he lived on at the time of his death and by his last will did devise to his son Joseph, and to prevent any dispute which might arise touching Joseph's title to the said land I do confirm the gift.
Unto my well beloved wife Mary during her natural life only my land whereon I now live and all my Negroes and also all my other estate. After her decease,
To my son Samuel the tract I now live on. Also one Negro wench Dinah.
Unto my son William one Negro wench Phillis.
Unto my daughter Elizabeth Street one Negro child Winney. Also £15 current money.
To my daughter Sarah Henderson one Negro boy Hercules.
To my two sons Samuel and William one Negro man Peter in Trust for the maintenance of my daughter Rachel Rogers during her natural life. Peter shall decend after her decease to such of the said Rachel's children as shall be living.
All the rest of my estate at the death of my wife equally divided amongst my sons and daughters that shall be living and the children of such as are now or shall be then dead. Such grandchildren shall not be entitled to any greater share than what their father or mother would have been entitled to.
My two sons Samuel and William Brockman executors.
(signed) Samuel (S) Brockman
Wit: James Madison, William Sims, John White, James Meginnis.
Codicil, dated 19 July 1765. Since 3 Nov. 1762 I have purchased one Negro slave Ben. To my son Samuel Brockman. My beloved wife shall have the benefit, use and profit of Ben during her natural life.
I have had three Negro children born, Judy, Davy and Sarah. The said three and what other Negro children I may have born after the date of this codicil, my wife Mary shall have the use of during her life, and after her death equally divided amongst my sons and daughters and the children of such as are dead. The part allotted to my daughter Rachel Rogers shall remain in the hands of my two sons Samuel and William, executors, in trust, and after her death to the benefit of Rachel's children.
(signed) Samuel (S) Brockman.
Wit: James Madison, Jonny Scott, Chas. Dickason, Joseph Davis.
25 Sept. 1766. Presented into Court by Samuel and William Brockman. Proved by William Sims, John White and James Meginnis. Codicil proved by Jonny Scott, Charles Dickason and Joseph Davis. Executors with William Sims and Thomas Graves their security entered into bond in the sum of £1000 current money. [Orange County Virginia Will Book 2, 1744-1778, Dorman, pg. 75].
  • Pages 375-77. Samuel Brockman. Inventory. 14 Oct. 1766. Made in obedience to order of 25 Sept. 1766. Appraisers sworn before Capt. Reuben Daniel. Total valuation £478.11.9, including ten slaves valued at £359.10.- (signed) Vivion Daniel, Henry Tandy, Thos. Burris. 27 Nov. 1766. Returned. [Orange County Virginia Will Book 2, 1744-1778, Dorman, pg. 76].
References
  1. Brockman, William Everett. The Brockman scrapbook: Bell, Bledsoe, Brockman, Burrus, Dickson, James, Pedan, Putman, Sim, Tatum, Woolfolk and related families. (1952)
    p. 3.
  2. Brockman, William Everett. History of the Hume, Kennedy and Brockman families: in three parts. (Washington, D.C.: Press of C. H. Potter & Co., 1916)
    p. 175.

    ‘The surname of [Samuel Brockman’s] wife is not known for certain. The name Henderson is connected very closely to the Brockman family, and it is very probable that that was her name.’

    This appears to be the origin of the speculation that Samuel's wife was Mary Henderson. Since the same author wrote a manuscript over 30 years later in which he does not mention this theory, but believes there is a case to be made for her being Mary Madison, it seems that the Henderson theory is not current.

  3. The identification of Mary Collins as Samuel's wife appears to be simple confusion: William Everett Brockman (The Brockman Scrapbook, p. 3) indicates that Samuel's third son John Brockman was 'presumed to have married Mary Collins, daughter of Joseph'. Also, if Mary's birth year is estimated correctly, she would have been too young to be the mother of Samuel's children.