Person:John Greenwell (15)

Notes

• was an indentured servant to Edward Hall who was from Virginia, so John Greenwell may have immigrated into Virginia originally as opposed to Maryland

1. ↑ Records in St. Mary's county, MD.

   Greenwell, John, New Towne, 27 Mar 1658 ; 3 Apr 1658.
   To son James, ex., entire estate, except legacies to following:
   To wife Bridgett, god-dau. Anna Warren, and Mr. Fitzherbert, personalty.
   Wife to be in charge of estate until son afsd. comes of age; shd. sd. son die during minority, 1/3 of estate is bequested to overseers, Capt. Wm. Evans and James Langworth, and residue disposed of to pious uses, as for the relief or poor Catholie children and the like.
   Test: Walter Hall, John Shirteliffe, Thomas Bankes.
   [Liber P. C. R. f. 7.]
   
   3 Apr 1658 - Walter Hall testified that he wrote down the Will of John Greenwell 2 or 3 days before John’s death.

2.   Archives of Maryland Online.

   1 Feb 1642 - Edward Hall sues John Langford, Esq. for a flockbed and rug, purportedly used by John Greenwell near Piney Neck. [4:176]
   
   1 Apr 1644 - Thomas Hebden sues Edward Hall for medical expenses due to Katherine Hebden (his wife) for the medical care and seven weeks of special diet of Hall’s manservant, John Greenwell. The record does not show the extent of John’s injuries, nor the circumstances surrounding how his leg was injured. [4:268]
   
   29 Sep 1649. John Greenwell recorded his brand for cattle and hogs.
   
   19 Jun 1650 - John Greenwell gives testimony in Maryland that he is age 25, his friend James Langworth is 20, and that they both helped John Halfhead alter the brand on a cow. [10:29]
   
   10 Oct 1650 - John Greenwell testifies at court in a lawsuit brought by John Sturman against Thomas Copley. [10:34]
   
   17 Feb 1651 - Details of the death of Philip Anther in John Greenwell’s house. Robert Clarke, the Surveyor General of the Province, was present that day, as was John’s good friend, James Langworth, along with John and Mary Greenwell, in addition to Philip Anther. Robert Clarke had put his loaded pistol on the table and James Langworth picked it up, it discharged its shot, and killed Philip Anther. Both James Langworth and Robert Clarke were charged with the murder of Philip Anther. [10:141-143]
   
   20 Mar 1651 - The matter above was tried in Court. Mary Greenwell testified, telling the Court that the same pistol misfired earlier that same day when she touched it while going about her daily chores. It frightened her badly, but Robert Clarke reloaded the pistol and placed it back on the same table. [10:141-143]
   
   14 Oct 1656 - John Greenwell agrees to purchase 200 acres of land, known as Piles Woodland, from Mr. John Pile. He agrees to pay 8,000 lbs of tobacco, in 3 payments: 1,779 lbs. by 10 Nov 1656, 3721 lbs. by 10 Nov 1657, and the third and final payment due on 10 Nov 1658. [41:565, 566]
   [Note: By the time of his death, he had made the first two payments, totaling 5000 lbs. of tobacco.]
   
   5 Jun 1662 - Details of a lawsuit brought by Capt. William Evans (John’s friend), on behalf of John’s only child and heir, James (age 12), against John Pile, the previous owner of Piles Woodland. The Court found in favor of the orphan James Greenwell. [41:557-566]
   [Note: After the death of James Greenwell in 1714, Piles Woodland was deeded to his wife Grace (Taylor) Greenwell.]

3.   Maryland Historical Society. Maryland Historical Magazine. (Baltimore [Maryland]: Maryland Historical Society).

   22 Apr 1638 - Mrs. Mary Troughton (sic) claims land for transporting additional individuals into the Province. Names include: Winifride and Birdgett (no surnames), Ann Elton and John Sheercliffe. [5:167]
   
   25 Jan 1650 - John Greenwell states that he, along with two friends, Richard Willan and James Langworth, was paid 2500 lbs. of tobacco by Thomas Hatton for Hatton’s dwelling house and plantation near Snow Hill Manor. [“Land Notes 1633-1655", 8:187]
   
   [It appears that John may have finished his indenture to Edward Hall by this time and was free to work for others in a paid capacity. With indentures for passage/travel across the ocean typically lasting seven years, John (or his father) may have signed John’s indenture to Edward Hall, Esq., about 1642-1643.]