Adam Toot

Narrative:

     Adam Toot was born on 5 Nov 1770 in York, Pennsylvania.^6,7,8 Adam and Eve were twins.^8,14 He moved to Paxton Twp., Lancaster Co., with his parents, David Dutt, and Catherine Klingenmyer, about 1774, as a very young child.^15,16

Moving to Virginia --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Just when Adam moved to Halifax Co., Virginia, is not known, but clearly it was as a young adult as he married the daughter of a substantial citizen there at age 26. Nor have we found why he chose to do so. At the time people commonly moved with relatives or friends, but no other relatives of his have been identified in the area.
     Adam married first Sarah King, daughter of Edmund King and Elizabeth Woodson Thomas, on 6 Mar 1796 in Halifax Co., Virginia, with Rev. Thomas Dobson officiating.^9,10
     Adam and his father-in-law, Edmund King, were vestrymen of Antrim Parish, Halifax Co., Virginia, and were referred to as "Gentlemen Justice."⁵
     Adam bought the old King homestead in Halifax Co., Virginia, from Edmund King on 23 Oct 1797, after Edmund and his family moved to Georgia.⁵
     The 1810 census for Halifax Co. and several other counties were burned when the British occupied Washington, but the tax lists survive. Adam appears on the 1810 tax list for the Southern District of Halifax Co., reporting two white males over age 16, seven male slaves over 16, two over 12 and under 16, eight horses or mules, and two 2-wheel carriages. His tax due was $5.78.¹⁷
     On 14 Oct 1822 Sarah and Adam gave 280 acres of land in Halifax Co., which he had purchased from Granville Craddock a few months before, to their daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Dr. Davis Green Tuck.^18,19 Curiously, the deed was not recorded until 8 Aug 1826, and the property, on Miller Rd., remained in Adam's name in the tax lists until the following year. Perhaps his continuing to pay the taxes, $1.62 per year, was part of the gift?²⁰
     Horse racing was evidently as feature of the culture of the area. Adam and Richard Edmondson sponsored a three-day racing event starting on 6 Oct 1829. On the first day featured a Proprietor's purse of $200 for a race with two-mile heats and $15 entrance fee. On the second day there was a race with three-mile heats, and a Jockey Club purse of $400, with an entrance fee of $20. The third day featured a Handy Cap worth $100. There were also an elegant saddle, bridle, martingale and whip available each day. The announcement proclaimed that there "being a number of horses in training, the course being new and the neighborhood wealthy an populous, fine sport is expected." The proprietors were furnishing stables and litter gratis.²¹
     Adam appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Halifax Co., Virginia, with a household consisting of two males age 5 to 10 (son Adam and another), one age 15 to 20 (unknown), and one age 60 to 70 (Adam), and two females age 5 to 10 (Amanda and another), one age 15 to 20 (Catherine), and one age 50 to 60 (wife Sarah), and 31 slaves.²²
     His wife died on 11 Jan 1835.²³

An Evolving Will --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He left a will dated 12 Nov 1835, in which he first made bequests to his two youngest children, Amanda and Adam. Each is to receive two good feather beds and furniture, and a cow and calf, not to be reflected in the division of the estate described later. In addition, each is to be boarded, clothed, educated and supported from the estate until reaching the age of 21 or marrying, and funds are to be set aside for that purpose. Adam was also to receive the tract of land purchased of Aaron and Frank Boyd, which was to be valued at $1,442 in the division of the residue of the estate along with amounts previously advanced: to Melcajah $2,340, Mary $360, Maria $200, Catherine $503, and Nancy $426. Each of the children was to receive an equal share after adjusting for these advances. Nancy had previously died, so her share was to go to her children, Sarah and William P. Chastain. His daughter Elizabeth was to receive no further part of his estate because he had already given "a fair proportion" to her husband. He named his son Melcajah and his sons-in-law Isham H. Britton and Robertson Owen Jr. as executors.²⁴
     Adam amended his will with a codicil the same day, in which he gave Adam a good horse, saddle, and bridle, which was not to be charged against his share in the division of the remainder of the estate.²⁵
     Adam married second Frances Claborne on 18 Oct 1837 in Halifax Co., Virginia.^11,12 He wrote a second codicil dated 25 Mar 1838, in which he directed that his new wife was to receive an equal share of his estate with each of his children.²⁵
     Adam died on 14 Apr 1839 at age 68.^6,13 He was buried in Churchyard, Halifax Courthouse, Halifax Co., Virginia.⁵

A Considerable Estate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     His will and the first codicil were proved in Halifax Co. court 24 Jun 1839 by Isham H. Britton, one of the executors, who posted a bond of $20,000.²⁶
     An inventory of his estate was taken on 10 Jul 1839 and filed with the court on 25 Jul. It included 400 items, ranging from an old jug and pitcher valued at 12¢, a silver ladle valued at $7, to furniture, farm tools, livestock and slaves. The furniture included 14 beds with bedstead with values ranging from $20 to $50, and a mahogany sideboard valued at $20. The livestock included cattle, oxen, sheep, pigs, goats, and horses. The most valuable were the 11 horses, ranging from $15 to $100 each. The equipment included a carraige and harness valued at $70. But of the total value of $16,500, the majority was a for 34 slaves valued at $14,200. The values listed for them ranged from nothing for an old woman to several men at $500 and $700, to a woman and child at $750.²⁷ The second codicil was proved on 26 Aug 1839.²⁸
     A sale of the "parishable property" of the estate was held on 5 Nov 1839, bringing a total of $2,448. The items sold included furniture and household goods, livestock, farm equipment, and farm produce. Purchasers included a number of family members. Youngest daughter Amanda purchased a silver ladle, 12 silver spoons, and a bureau for $34, and her future husband paid $6.20 for hardware items and a barrel of cider. Isham H. Britton, husband of daughter Mary, purchased farm tools, a sorrel mare, furniture including two beds, and dishes totaling $160. Son Melcajah paid $21 for farm tools, kitchen goods, and a silver watch totaling $21. Daughter Maria purchased a bay horse, a milch cow, 43 hogs, 5 sheep, and kitchen and farm items for a total of $299. Jacob Davis husband of daughter Catherine, paid $41 for household items. Youngest son Adam purchased household items totaling $9.²⁹
     An accounting of the estate was filed by Isham H. Britton, the executor, as of 24 Oct 1842, and accepted by the court. It reported cash on hand at Adam's death of $294, and receipts since of $4,600. These included payments from Dr. Gilmer for board, payments due on accounts owed the estate, and many small sales of leather and tanning services over the three-year period. Payments made totalled $2,824 including $300 paid to E. Barksdale, guardian of the youngest son Adam, for board and clothing for 1840 and 1841. Distributions were made to son Melcajah of $281 and $280 each to the husbands of daughters Mary, Maria and Catherine and to Howell Chastain as guardian of the children of daughter Nancy. After collecting his commission of $245 the executor owned the estate $706.³⁰
     On 23 Aug 1852 William Edward Britton, as administrator for his father's estate, filed another accounting with the court covering the period since the previous one. He reported payments over the ten-year period of $1,830, including $245 paid in 1842 to the guardian of the youngest son, Adam, and $650 paid to him directly in later years. Receipts totaled $1,350, including $224 repaid from the estate of T. Boundin paid by the deceased as security for a debt, $186 paid by Thomas S. Flourney for board, and various amounts owed the estate by others. The balance then due the estate was $164.96.³¹ He filed a final accounting as of 1 Jul 1853 listing some small payments and receipts, showing a balance due the estate of $107.37. It was accepted by the court 27 Feb 1854.³²