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Subject: Re: [TUTT] Richard TUTT m. to Mary UNDERWOOD in 1700
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2005 23:55:15 EST
I'm sure a lot of Tutt researchers would like to know the origin of Richard
Tutt m. Mary Underwood. To the best of my knowledge nobody has uncovered that
information. Some people are certain he was French Huguenot; others are just
as sure he was pure English. No hard proof has been put forth to prove either
theory. Here is part of the text of an article I wrote concerning Richard
Tutt for the newsletter, "Tutts Tidbits".
--------------------------------------------
My earliest proven Tutt ancestor in America, Richard Tutt, is still quite a
mystery. He seems to have simply materialized in Westmoreland Co., VA, in the
year 1700. Obviously, he had to come from somewhere, but where and when?
This article presents what I think is some new information. I hope it helps us
move forward a tiny bit toward a long awaited breakthrough on Richard Tutt.
Comments, corrections, additions, etc. are invited and welcome.
Item 1: Richard Tutt's Aunt, Mrs. Ann Butler
We already know that on 24 June 1700, Richard Tutt was gifted an unspecified
amount of land by an Aunt. The gift is revealed in Westmoreland Co., VA, Deed
Book No. 3, pp. 148-149, which records Richard Tutt's sale of that land to a
Thomas Butler on 26 May 1703. In that record, Richard refers to the land as "…
formerly given to me by my aunt Mrs. Ann Butler, then by the name of Ann
Bowden alias Harris…by deed of guift 24 June 1700…."
Aunt Ann surely is one clue to Richard Tutt's origins if we can only figure
it out. Most published research identifies Aunt Ann as the wife of Tobias
Butler, and contains some speculation that her maiden name was Harris. I believe
both "facts" are wrong. At the time of the land gift, Aunt Ann was the widow
of a man variously known as George Bowden/Bowdon alias Harris and George
Harris alias Bowden/Bowdon. (I have seen no explanation of why his name was styled
in that manner.) George died before 31 January 1700, as that was the date
his last will and testament was proven, and "…a probate was granted to Ann his
relict…" (Westmoreland County, Virginia, Order Book 1698-1705, Part Two,
1700-1701, abstracted by John Frederick Dorman).
It appears that sometime between 31 January 1700 and 26 May 1703, Aunt Ann
married a man named Butler, but I do not believe it was Tobias Butler. Tobias
Butler of Westmoreland Co., VA, died in 1698. His wife was, in fact, named Ann,
but later that same year, she remarried to a man named Charles Smith, who
lived until 1714. My theory is that Richard Tutt's Aunt Ann was married to the
Thomas Butler to whom Richard sold the gifted land, but I have not found a
marriage record for them. However, a Butler researcher believes, but has not
proven, that Thomas Butler may have first married Ann Lancelot and, second, Ann
Bowden alias Harris. Volume 1, of The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy,
by Frederick A. Virkus, shows on page 539, "…Thomas [Butler] (d. 1714) m Ann
Borden (aunt of Richard Tutt of Richmond County, Virginia…." No marriage date
was shown, but, notwithstanding the name Borden, the reference to Richard
Tutt suggests this Ann was his Aunt Ann Bowden alias Harris. I have not found
the name Borden in any Westmoreland County records.
The bottom line is that we still do not know Aunt Ann's maiden name or
lineage. That is to say, we do not know what family tie makes her Richard Tutt's
Aunt (Bowden alias Harris, Butler, etc.) or whether she was an Aunt by blood or
by marriage. There is more work to do here, but maybe there are enough leads
to produce a successful result.
Item 2: The Underwood connections
The old genealogist, Augusta Fothergill, wrote that she never found where the
deed of gift from Ann Bowden alias Harris to Richard Tutt was proven. I
believe it was proven on 28 August 1700 by the following. "William Underwood
Gent. by vertue of a letter of attorney from Ann Bowden Alias Harris acknowledged
a deed of guift of lands &c to Richd. Tutt." (p. 25, Westmoreland County,
Virginia, Order Book 1698-1705, Part Two, 1700-1701, abstracted by John Frederick
Dorman). Now, this raises some interesting questions. Did Richard Tutt
already have a connection to the Underwoods in 1700? Was he already married to Mary
Underwood? Was Ann Bowden alias Harris related to the Underwoods?
Most published research flatly states that Richard Tutt and Mary Underwood
were married on 26 May 1703. However, the only marriage record I have found for
them states, in part, "Tutt, Richard (16??-1729) of Richmond and King George
counties, married by 26 May 1703 Mary Underwood, daughter of Major William
Underwood (1649-1717)…" (underscoring supplied) (Marriages of Richmond Co., VA,
1668-1853," compiled and published by George Harrison Sanford King). It
appears, then, that this marriage record is based on information from the deed where
Richard Tutt sold his gifted land to Thomas Butler. As part of that sale "…
Mary Tutt wife of Richard Tutt, relinquished her right of dower…." The bottom
line is that I don't think we know yet exactly when Richard and Mary were
married. So, that means more work is needed here, too.
Item 3: Richard Tutt's early activity in Westmoreland Co., VA
On 28 May 1701, "The severall gentlemen hereafter named, Thomas Marson,
Robert Franck, Richd. Tutt, Samuell Ducheman, John Lancelott, Anthony Beard, John
Edwards, John Parsons, Thomas brown, Phillipp Saunders, Wm. Moxley junr., Henry
Wharton and Wm. Caruthers, inter alia summoned to bee Grand inquisitors for
our soveraigne Lord the King, sworn and charged." (Westmoreland County,
Virginia, Order Book 1698-1705, Part Two, 1700-1701, abstracted by John Frederick
Dorman). It appears that only men of substance and standing in the county
received such appointments. So, this early record of Richard Tutt suggests that he
already was well positioned. As yet, I have found no record of Richard Tutt
before 1700. Therefore, the mystery of where he came from, and when, remains
for us to determine.
--------------------------------
In May 2003, I wrote to Westmoreland Co. VA, seeking a copy of the will of
Geroge Bowden alias Harris. I included transcribed information from County
records. The reply I received simply included original copies of the transcribed
material I had sent them, and it was not clear whether or not a copy of the
will exists. I followed up once, but did not receive a reply.
In May 2004, another Tutt researcher forwarded the following material from a
third party.
"...My old family charts, created in 1898 by a hired genealogy 'expert', show
the following...Benjamin Tutt (The Immigrant)...no marriage or birth
information...father of Richard Tutt..."
This was totally new information to me and I cannot vouch for its
credibility. I have e-mailed the thrid party on two occasions asking for general
clarification, the genealogy expert's name, and copies, but, to date, have received
only the third party's promise that the info will be sent.
I would be more than glad to exchange ideas with anyone who wants to work on
breaking through this brick wall.
Gary Tutt
Denton, TX
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