Martha I. Jones

Narrative:

     Martha I. Jones was born about 1793 in Maryland.^6,7
     Martha married first Elkanah Cobb, son of Elkanah Cobb and Mary Willard, and brother of the man her younger sister Rachael would marry four years later as her second husband, on 8 Sep 1813 in Prince George's Co., Maryland.⁸
     Her husband died between Nov 1817 and Dec 1818.^12,13
     Martha married second Walter Chew on 8 Jul 1833 in Prince George's Co., Maryland.^9,10
     Martha was named executrix and heir in the will of her second husband, dated 13 Mar 1837 in Prince George's Co., Maryland, in which he simply directed that after his debts and funeral expenses were paid, all his property of every kind was to go to his wife, and named her as his executrix.¹⁴
     Martha was probably the female age 40 to 50 listed in the household of her second husband, Walter Chew, in the 1840 Federal Census of Prince George's Co., Maryland.¹⁵
     Her second husband died on 1 Sep 1842 in Washington, District of Columbia.¹⁶
     Martha appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Bladensburg, Prince George's Co., Maryland, enumerated 28 Jun 1850, reporting real estate valued at $4,500. Her son John was listed as living with her, as were Joshua Beall, age 24 a manager, and Josiah Beall, age 23, a laborer. She also owned six slaves, three males and three females, ranging in age from 9 to 30.^17,18 It would appear that Martha was operating the plantation of her late husband.
     Martha left a will dated 10 Apr 1860 stating she was of Prince George's Co., Maryland, in which she requested her executor to pay her debts and funeral charges. She requested that her servant man William be granted his manumission in Jun 1864, as directed in the will of her late husband. She left one third of her entire estate, real, personal, and mixed, to her brother Ralph, with her nephew Luther D. Jones as trustee to use the proceeds for her brother's benefit. She left the balance of her property to her sister Rachael for her lifetime. At her death her daughter Martha was to receive $300, then she and her sisters would share equally in the remainder. She appointed her nephew Luther D. Jones and John Bowie Sr. as executors.³
     Martha appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Bladensburg, Prince George's Co., Maryland, enumerated 31 Jul 1860, in the household of Howerton Cross, a farmer, age 70, Elizabeth Cross, age 45, Martha Cross, age 22, and Mary Cross, age 6. Whether they were related to her, and how, is unknown.¹⁹
     She amended her previous will with a codicil dated 22 Nov 1860, in which she stated her 172-acre farm Gedar, and her Negro woman Ellen and increase, were to be given in fee simple to the same heirs named in her will. She now manumitted her man Will immediately at her death, and directed that he be moved to the District of Columbia or a free state, and given means for support for one year. She gave $100 each to her nieces Theresa Waters and Emma Jones.²⁰
     Martha died between Nov 1860 and Apr 1861.¹¹
     Her will and codicil were proved 6 Apr 1861, in Prince George's Co.. On 11 Apr John Bowie, one of her named executors, renounced his appointment and requested that the other named executor be issued letters testamentary. No details of the administration of her estate have been found.²¹