Name:
Some sources state her name was Mary Bathurst Meriwether. This seems unlikely, given naming patterns of the day.

Birth:
Some sources, including the marker at the Belfield Family Cemetery, state she was born in 1702. That is unlikely if her first child, William Colston, was born 1 Aug 1713.

Mary (Meriwether) Colson Belfield

Mary (Meriwether) Colston Belfield did not leave a written will, but her desires as to her estate are recorded as follows:

Alexander Parker, Doctor of physic says he attended Mary Belfield in her last illness & on October 5, 1750 she said “Whereas my son John Belfield, my Daughter Mary Smith, and Elizabeth Belfield and granddaughters Frances Morton being provided for already I give all my estate to my daughter Frances Belfield.”

Sworn to by Alexander Parker on 8 October 1750. This deposition was submitted and proved by John Belfield on 4 February 1750.

Mary (Meriwether) Colson Belfield 513

Alexander Parker, Doctor of Physic, aged 60 years or thereabouts, of the County of Essex, being first sworn on the Holy Evangelists before me John Tyler, one of his Majesty’s justices of the Peace for this County, deposeth and saith that he this Depon’t did attend Mrs. Mary Belfield, late of this county in her last illness, and the said Mary did, towit: on the 5th day of this present October declare to him, the said Alexander, her desire of making her last will and testament, and for that purpose did desire him this Depont to commit the same in writing in forme, in the words following: Whereas my son John Belfield, my daughter Mary Smith & Elizabeth Belfield, and my grand daughter Frances Morton being all provided for already, I give all my estate being of what nature soever into my daughter Frances Belfield and her heirs forever. And that the said Mary Belfield was at that time in her perfect sense and memory and further this, Deponent saith not.
Alexander Parker

Sworn before me this 8th day of October in the year of our Lord 1750, as witnesses my hand.
John Taylor

Essex January 22, 1750
Sworn before us Ja: Waring Ja: Johns, and John Belfield’s Prayer Book.

GRG has born 1702; m. in Richmond.

American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) about Mary Meriwether
Name: Mary Meriwether
Birth Date: 1700
Birthplace: Virginia
Volume: 116
Page Number: 250
Reference: Seldens of Va. & allied fams. By Mary S. Kennedy. New York [1911] (2v.): 54

Birth-Baptism
A William Colston was baptized 18 Oct 1678 in North Bradley, Wiltshire, England, son of William Colston. Whether this is the William who married Mary Meriwether is not known.280,514

William Colston's will, Richmond County Will Book 4: 198, dated 10 May 1721, probated 3 Jan 1721/2.
"sick and weak . . ."
– each daughter a negro when they are 15 or marry
– executer to sell 848 acres in the freshes, pay debts and lay out the rest of the money in negros
– wife Mary the land they live on
– three daughters (Mary, ? & ?) to divide estate equally after mother's death - apparently the other two names are unreadable.
– Witnesses: Reuben Welch, Ann Webb, Joseph Brown
– Wm Daingerfield Executor.

Will of William Colston 1721 515

Marriage Proof
Mary & William were married before 9 Aug 1713 as the Essex County OB4-I: 517 has an order entry on that date that says “& Mr. Wm Colston who married the eldest daughter of the sd Francis…”

Children:
William's will names three daughters, although two are unreadable. The names of only two daughters are known.

Will of Thomas Wright Belfield

In the name of God, Amen.

I, Thomas Wright Belfield of the County of Richmond and Parish of Lunenburgh being sick and weak of body but in perfect sense and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

Item I recommend my soul to God who gave it mee hoping and stedfastly believing that I shall Receive full Pardon and Remission of my sins through the merits of Jesus Christ my only Saviour & Redeemer.

Item my will is that my Executor hereafter named Dispose of any Part or Parcell of my lands wheresoever situate, as they shall think Fitt; for the discharging of my debts, Item my will is that the rest of my lands left after my just Debt is discharged, be equally Divided betwixt my two sons John and Joseph, and all my Negroes, Goods and Chattles of what sort or kind soever be Equally divided betwixt my aboved named two sons, John and Joseph, and my two daughters Elizabeth and Frances.

Item I constitute and appoint my dear wife, Mary Belfield, my son John Belfield with my loving Friend Mr. William Jordan Executors of this my last will and Testament, hereby Revoking and Making void wills by me heretofore by me made.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Sixth day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-three.

T. W. Belfield (seal)

Witt:
Charles Bowman, Edwd. Herndon

At a Court held for Richmond County, the Sixth day of February, 1743.

This will was proved in Open Court by the Oaths of Edward Herndon, one of the witnesses thereto, and admitted to Record.

Test M. Beckwith, Cl. Cur. 516

HOME: “Manor House”, “Belmont”, “Belle Mont”

The Belfield Plantation

The Belfield Plantation was called “Manor House” until it appeared as “Belmont”, now “Belle Mont”, in court records in April, 1841. Though DLL states Thomas W. Belfield was born in “Manor House”, some of her documentation indicates it was not occupied by Joseph Belfield until 1707.

!MARR "Marriages of Richmond County" by King.
^MARR: Either Essex Co. or Richmond Co. (DLL).

BELFIELD, Thomas Wright & COLSTON, Mary (wid.); 9 Mar 1723/4; groom (1705-1743 or 1750) was a son of Dr. Jos. & Frances (WRIGHT) BELFIELD; bride was a dau of Francis & Mary (BATHURST) MERIWETHER and wid. of Wm. COLSTON (d. 1721); (RC AB 1:64; OB 9:389; WB 5:430, 481, 652; Joseph Belfield FB (NCHS); MRC:16; Beale:208; Belfield:141; Mottrom:55) 517