Matthew's grandmother, Mary Hartwell, was the daughter of William Hartwell. William is the brother of Henry Hartwell and named Mary in his 1799 will, along with most of the living children of Nicholas I Meriwether.

Will of Matthew Marable
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
12 March 1786
12 June 1786

http://www.marable-family.net/jlmarable/documents-1659-1796.html#In

Mecklenburg Co., Virginia, Will Book 2, p. 169-173 (Courtesy of Sue Ellen Marable)In the name of god Amen I Matthew Marable of the county of Mecklenburg, and state of Virginia, being through the abundant mercy and goo[d]ness of god of sound and perfect Memory the and Understanding, constitute and make this my last will and Testamment and desire it may be recieved by all as such.

Impreimis -- I most humbly bequeath my soul to God my maker, Beseeching his most gracious Acceptance of it, through the all sufficient merits and dedi[c]ations of my most Compassionate redeemer Jesus Christ, who gave himself to be an Attonment for my sins, and is able to save to the Uttermost all that come unto god by him, se[e]ing I ever liveth to make a just Intersession for them. [?] I trust he will not reject me, a returning penitent sinner when I come to him for mercy.

In this hope and confidence, I render my soul up with comfort, b[e]seeching the bles[s]ed and glorious Trinity,, one god most holy, most mercifull and gracious, to prepare me for the time of my desolution, and then to take me to himself into that peace and rest, and Imcomparable felicity, which he has prepared for all that love and fear his Holy name Amen -- Blessed be god.
I give my body to the Earth from whence it came, in full assurance of its resurrection from thence at the last day; as for my burial, I desire it may be de[]cent and plain at the dis[cre]tion of my beloved wife and my Executors who I doubt not will manage it with all requesite prudence and disc[r]etion.

I give and bequeath to my son Mathew and to his heirs forever all my money which he carried away with him which I believe was to the amount of one Thousand pounds.

Item I give and bequeath to David Stokes my son in law and his Heirs forever two hundred acres of land in Mecklenburg County and is the same which I bought of Thomas Neal; and so much of my land adjoining to the last mentioned tract which I bought of my Brother John Marable, as is Contained between the said Neal's upper line and the first branch above running into Finny wood Creek, bounded by the said branch as it turns out to my back line of the said tract which I had of my said Brother supposing the same to be two hundred acres; I also give and bequeath to the said David Stokes seven Negroes (to wit) Gidd Casar, Brittain, Jane and Barbary, and Hannah, Ceesars wife and Child Called Alfred son of Jane: the first five has been delivered to him before my death; the slaves last mentioned to be delivered the first news day after my decease, to hold to him and his Heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to the said Stokes my studd horse bay bottom and a black mare named Robertson which have been also delivered -- all of which I value to one thousand pound the portion I ever intended for my Daughter when she married
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth and her Heirs forever seven hundred acres of Land (to wit) three hundred acres the residue of the land which I bought of my Brother John as aforesaid which I value at forty shillings an acre; and four hundred acres which I bought of Branch Tanner adjoining upon the north side of the last mentioned three hundred acres, and lying on both sides [of] the Carpenters branch; both tracts in the County of Mecklenburg. I also give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth and her Heirs forever one thousand acres of land in the said County of Mecklenburg which I also bought of Branch Tanner of the value of four pounds an acre distinct and separate from any of the above mentioned tracts but joining the land I bough[t] of Kennon. I also give and bequeath to my said Daughter Elizabeth a new single chair which is now at Petersburg unfinished but which, I desire, may be finished at the charge of my Estate before it is delivered to her, also my old grey mare and harness. I also give and bequeath to my said Daughter and he Heirs one Negroe Girl named Sarah and two hundred pounds Cash. It is my will and desire that my Executors choose a place for her residence during her minority and particularly at McMurrays in Mecklenburg if it can be co[n]veniently effected --
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Richard and his heirs forever four hundred and twenty five acres of Land which I had of my father, and known by the name of Fowlers including my two plantations called the Indian field and Fowlers -- Also I give and bequeath to my said son Richard and his heirs forever another tract of land Containing four hundred acres which I had also of my father and called the pine Woods -- I also give and bequeath to the said Richard my son and his heirs forever a new survey in my own name of three hundred and forty five and a half acres adjoining the north line of my aforesaid tract called Pine woods. The three aforesaid tracts of lying in the County of Mecklenburg. Item I give and bequeath to my son Champion and his heirs forever all the lands which I have in the County of Charlotte (to wit) The tract which I bought of William Read Containing Eight hundred acres more or less -- I also bequeath to the said Champion my son another tract of land in the said County of Charlotte Containing one hundred acres which I bought of William Willis.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son John and his Heirs forever the land I bought of Richard Kennon Containing one thousand acres mor[e] or less lying in the County of Mecklenburg -- And as an Ejectment is now depending in the general Court concerning the title to the said land, and a doubt has arisen whether Kennon was Capable of making me a good title to the aforesaid tract, therefore my further desire and orders are, that in Case the said Kennon should be found incapable of making a right to the said land, that then a suit or suits shall be brought for a Recovery of the money back which I have paid him and for such damages as my Estate may have sustained by means of the nonperformance of his Covenant; all which monies so recovered back and damages upon the Breach of Contract, I give and bequeath to my said son John and his Heirs forever. --
It is my will and desire that my sons John, Richard and Champion shall not take possession or be entitle to the proffits of their lands above desired to them untill they respectively arrive to the age of twenty on years and as they severally arrive to the age of twenty one years I desire that my Executors Should give them possession of the lands But not to render the proffits of the said land to them which shall be raised from my death to those respective periods. It is also my will and desire that my Daughter Elizabeth Shall not be intitled to the lands above desired her untill she arrives to the age of Eighteen years or mar[r]iage. --

Item. It is my will and desire that my wife Mary should reside on the plantation whereon I now live during her natural life. In witness whereof I here unto Set my hand & Seal this twelfth day of the March 1786.

In presence of
Paul Carington J.r Matthew Marable
James Mayne
William Burn
Edward X-mark Hogan's

I Mathew Marable being of sound and perfect mind and memory do Continue to make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following (to wit) It is my will and desire that instead or in lieu of Dower my Dear wife Shall use occupy and prossess the Plantation whereon I now live during her Natural life with all the advantages and emoluments [illegible] as she would be entitled to were she to hold it by Tenancy in Dower --
Item; It is my will and desire that my whife should have and possess during her natural life one third of my negroes not before bequeathed -- Also one third of my stockes of horses, hogs, Neat Cattle to her own Proper use and behoff. It is also my will and desire that my my wife should retain to her own proper use all my household furniture of every kind and nature whatsoever -- It is further my will and desire that all the rest and residue of my Negroes and Personal Estate shall be sold by my Executors upon twelve months Credit; and the money arising therefrom to be applied to the purpose hereafter mentioned (to wit) First all my Just debts I desire may be discharged as soon as Convenience will permit, and after they are discharged I desire that my money which arises from the sale of all my personal Estate of every nature and kind whatsoever shall be put out on loans upon interest with such Security as my Executors may direct. ----
It is also my desire that my Executors commence suits for the recovery of all debts due to me and the money recoved to put to interest on loans -- at the discretion of my Executors[.] ----
It is [my] will and desire that my children may be maintained and Educated at the discretion of my Executors -- But [I] Cannt forbear expressing my particular desire that my son Richard should be Educated to be an attorney, and my son Champion as soon as his strength will permit to be bound to a Carpenter untill he arrives to the age of twenty one years. ----
It is also my will and desire that the money which shall remain after all Charges and incumbrances are discharged in the hands of my Executors shall be divided equally amongst all my Children except my Daughter Mary Meriweather Stokes and Georg Marable. ----

I nominate and appoint Paul Carrington of the County of Charlotte and Paul Carrington, jun.r, Thompson Fowlkes, Edward Almond, Thomas Shore and Ch[r]istopher M[c]Connico Executors of this my last will and Testament.

In presence of
James Mayne Matthew Marable
Wm Burn
Edward x [mark] Hogan's


At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 12th day of June 1786. This will and the codicil annexed were proved by the Oaths of James Mayne and Edward Hogan Witesses thereto and Ordered to be recorded And on the motion of Thompson Fowlkes and Christopher McConnico two of the executors therein named who made Oath thereto and together with Henry Speed, David Stokes, William Hunly, William Robertson, and William Glanville Baptist their securties entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of twenty five thousand pounds Conditioned as the Law directs Certificate was granted them for obtaining a probat thereof in due form: liberty being reserved for the other executors therein named to join in the probat when they shall think fit.
Teste John Brown Ct. Cur.

Marable Finneywood Plantation
Mecklenburg County, Virginia

Submitted by James L. Marable 14 Aug 2000
jlm@dcn.davis.ca.us
http://www.thegrid.net/jlmarable

The Finneywood plantation was established by Matthew’s father, William Marable (b. ca 1700, James City Co., VA; d. aft. 1762, Lunenburg Co., VA) with two patents obtained in 1747 totaling 850 acres and a third patent obtained in 1755 consolidating the two earlier patents and adding land to a total of 1870 acres. One of the 1747 patents spanned the ridge between the headwaters of Bluestone Creek and the South Fork of the Meherrin River (from Bluestone toward Finneywood). The other was a 425 acre square located on “the head branches of Bluestone and Finney Wood... Beginning at a white oak on the meadow of Finney Wood.” The 1755 patent added land further east, with part of its boundary running “to a Poplar on Finneywood Creek Thence up the same as it meanders to Munford’s Corner Spanish Oak on the same Thence along his Line.” (See estimation of the boundaries and extent of the 1755 patent, mapped by James L. Marable.) It is reasonable to believe that the patent was about three miles by one mile and oriented in an approximate west southeast to east northeast direction from the headwaters of the Bluestone to Finneywood meadow and the area north of Finneywood Creek.

The Finneywood plantation (with other parcels) was transferred from William to his son Matthew Marable (b. ca 1730, James City Co., VA; d. 1786, Charlotte Co., VA) in connection with their 1757 Articles of Agreement providing for Matthew to assume William’s obligations and undertake to raise William’s minor children in exchange for essentially all of Williams lands and estate.

The Finneywood plantation is described in a rather unique document published as an advertisement by Matthew in Rind’s Virginia Gazette in 1773 (and republished in the William and Mary Quarterly). In the advertisement Matthew announced his intention to sell all his properties and leave Virginia, expressing, sub silentio, some pre-Revolutionary disenchantment with his ability to prosecute his business to his satisfaction in the Colony. At this time Matthew had been a member of the House of Burgesses representing Lunenburg and then Mecklenburg counties, off and on, for almost 20 years, and he had already joined with other Burgesses in Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg in the associations against British trade. Matthew in fact never left Virginia, the Revolution intervening, but his advertisement comes down to us as excellent record of his successful farming and mercantile enterprise. It also contains an important description of a thriving backcountry settlement of the pre-Revolutionary era, with its main house, various domestic outbuildings, servants, overseers and slave quarters, and school, blacksmith shop and tailor’s shop. (A copy of a transcription of this advertisement is attached.) Matthew, of course, describes his properties in glowing terms as suitable for producing various crops and great quantities of high quality tobacco. Lest you be inclined to discount these claims overmuch, be aware that Matthew “Marable was almost the only correspondent [of the Scottish trading house of Buchanan & Simson] whose tobacco was praised for quality.” (40 WMQ 3d 28-29.) Also, he has been judged by some to have been “the most successful of the local planter-merchants during this [pre-Revolutionary War] period . . . [having] that distinctive business acumen that was enhanced by his supreme confidence, aggressive operative style, and previous success.” (Charles J. Farmer, In the Absence of Towns: Settlement and County Trade in Southside Virginia, 1730-1800 (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc), p. 123.)

By his 1786 will, Matthew divided Finneywood and his other properties between his children George, Elizabeth, Richard, John and Champion, and his son-in-law David Stokes, Jr., who had married his daughter, MARY MERIWETHER Marable. His son Matthew had left home sometime before, and was bequeathed the value of the property that he took with him at that time. Most of the Finneywood and other lands seems to have ended up in the Stokes family as the other sons left Virginia for Georgia around 1800. Mary Meriwether Marable Stokes appears with land at Finneywood in the 1812 land tax records as the guardian of her son William B. Stokes. Matthew Marable’s oldest son, George, died in 1796, leaving his share of Finneywood for the care of his mother, Mary Meriwether, who died in 1808. This is likely the Finneywood parcel that appears on the 1813 land tax records as held by George Marable’s estate. George’s son, Champion Carter Meriwether Marable left Virginia in the 1820’s, ending up in Mississippi.

1773 Advertisement

MATTHEW MARABLE*

I hereby inform the public that as soon as I can settle my affairs I intend to leave this country; and to enable myself to purchase elsewhere, resettle myself, and to prosecute the mercantile business with more ease, and to a greater extent than hitherto it hath been in my power, I propose selling the following lands, viz.

-- Upon the line dividing the counties of Mecklenburg and Charlotte the noted tract known by the name of Finny Wood, containing 2357 acres. As the quality of this land is generally known, and has ever distinguished itself as being remarkably fine, it is unnecessary to say any thing about it in that particular. The improvements are very considerable, having every necessary building suitable for a planter or farmer, and I may venture to say they are in as good order as any in the colony; nor are the plantations in less order than the improvements, being cleared in the most regular form, under good fences, preserved as much as possible from running into gullies, and, by being constantly shifted into winter grain, are as capable of produce as ever. The crop now growing upon this land is tended by 28 hands and promises to produce, should the weather be agreeable, 30 hogsheads of tobacco, 1500 barrels of Indian corn, 3000 bushels of wheat, and 1000 gallons of peach brandy. I once sold 850 acres of this land for 2500, but finding my bargain to be bad, I gave a consideration to be off; and have several times been offered 3 an acre for great part of it, but being resolved never to divide it, I refused every such offer. My price for the whole tract has been fixed for some time at two guineas per acre, and which is adjudged by those acquainted with the land to be very reasonable. However, that I may be the sooner prepared to prosecute my schemes as aforesaid, I will take fifty shillings an acre, one-half to be paid at the time a title is made, and the residue in twelve months after. A title shall be made at the next court after the bargain, and possession given at Christmas next.

-- In the county of Charlotte, about five miles from Finny Wood, a tract containing 2929 acres, improved with a plantation sufficient to work seven or eight hands, several small dwelling houses, two tobacco houses, and a corn crib; and a gristmill, which, with little expense, may be made very valuable, and a good apple and peach orchard. This tract affords a great quantity of very valuable creek low grounds, and a considerable quantity of very fine high land. My price for this land is a thousand pounds; and a right will be made, possession given, and payments made, in the same manner as for Finny Wood.

-- In Charlotte county also, and about ten miles from Finny Wood, a tract containing 1020 acres, lying upon Staunton river, at the mouth of Cedar Creek, improved with a plantation sufficient to work about five or six hands, several good barns, an overseer’s house, and a Negro quarter. This tract affords about 100 acres of river low grounds, equal to the best upon the whole stream, and formed in such a manner that it is benefited by every fresh creek that goes over it; also a considerable quantity of creek low grounds, and high land, which produces tobacco of a quality inferior to none. My price for this tract is 750, payable in like manner as for the other two pieces.

-- In Mecklenburg, upon Finny Wood creek, adjoining Finny Wood, a tract of 500 acres, improved with an overseer’s house, Negro quarter, corn crib, a tobacco house, and cleared land, that is fresh, sufficient to work four or five hands. This tract affords a considerable quantity of very fine tobacco land, both high and low, and produces admirably well. My price for this tract is 500, payable at Christmas next, when a title shall be made, and possession given.

-- In Mecklenburg also, and is the place whereon I live, a tract containing 715 acres, improved with a dwelling house 48 feet by 26, divided below into four convenient rooms, a passage, several closets and beaufaits, and above, into two rooms and a passage, five dormer and four sash windows on each side; there is a brick chimney at each end, which affords a fireplace to each room below stairs, and underpinned with brick. The whole (except a small matter of painting) is finished off in a genteel manner. There is also a store house, lumber house, ordinary house, kitchen, dairy, meat house, barns, cribs, stables, quarters, overseer’s houses, school house, tailor’s and blacksmith’s shops, all new, and built in the best manner to answer their several purposes, and a plantation sufficient for 12 or 15 hands, formed with the greatest regularity to render the culture and tillage of it the most easy and convenient; it is under exceeding fine fences, and has adjoining it a large pasture well enclosed, two peach and three large apple orchards, with a variety of other fruit trees of the best kind, and chiefly grafted. The soil of this piece of land is very rich and strong, produces everything that I have tried in it very well, but being of a stiff and thirsty nature, winter grain is most applicable to it, such as wheat, rye, and barley, and is more level than any I have ever seen in the back country. It is likewise situated in a very healthy spot, having exceeding good water, and being a high place clear of any kind of swamps, or sunken grounds. I can recommend this piece of land either to a merchant or a farmer; for the latter none can answer better, being, as before mentioned, equal to any for winter grain, and will undoubtedly answer for the former, as it is fixed for that purpose in the center of the county, and in a thick settled neighborhood of able people, has public roads leading to it from every quarter, and, what will yet make it more answerable to this purpose, it may be expected that all or chief of my friends and customers will become so to whoever may succeed me. My price for this land and settlement is 1500, one-third payable when the title is made, and a third yearly till the whole is paid. A title shall be made at the first court after the purchase, and possession given in November next.

-- In the town of Petersburg two lots or half acres of land, known by the numbers 41 and 42, in the plan of the town; they are situated on the main street, are the most beautiful lots in the whole place, and are improved with a very large and convenient dwelling house., that has three good rooms and a passage both above and below stairs, and a well built cellar of brick the full size of the house, a large and well calculated store and lumber house, kitchen, and dairy. My price for those two lots, or half acres, is 500, payable, with interest, 125 annually, till the whole is paid. Possession and title shall be made and given the purchaser at any time.

-- Any person inclinable to purchase any of the lands above mentioned may be shewn the same by applying to me any time between this and the last of August, as I shall during that time be constantly at home.

-- That I may be sooner and better prepared to execute my intentions, I hereby give notice, that on the 10th day of September next I shall expose to public sale, for ready money, at my aforesaid dwelling house, the several estates hereafter mentioned, and which I hold by recorded deeds of trust, to secure me in the payment of large sums of money due from the persons here respectively mentioned: The tract of land whereon Henry Crenshaw lives, in Lunenburg, together with his Negroes, stock, household furniture, &c. The land whereon William Easley lives, in Mecklenburg, together with his Negroes. The land whereon John F. Thompson lives, in Mecklenburg, together with his Negroes. The Negroes and personal estate of Peter Ragsdale, in Mecklenburg. The Negroes and personal estate of John Clemmonds, in Mecklenburg. The land of Robert Tucker, in Mecklenburg. The Negroes of David Chandler, in Charlotte. The land and personal estate of Ephrim Pucketts, in Mecklenburg. The personal estate of John Bing, in Mecklenburg. The land of Joel Moore, in Mecklenburg. The land and personal estate of Lewis Atkin, in Mecklenburg. A Negro and personal estate of Jesse Taite, in Mecklenburg. The land and personal estate of William Brown, in Lunenburg. The personal estate of Thomas Smith, in Mecklenburg. The Negroes of Robert Christopher, in Mecklenburg. The Negroes of Thomas Farrar, in Mecklenburg. The land and personal estate of John Clark, in Mecklenburg. The land of Henry Robertson, in Mecklenburg. The personal estate of Lewis Zoone, in Mecklenburg. Part of the estate of Henry Isbell, in Charlotte. The land and personal estate of Edward Crews, in Mecklenburg. The land of James Camels, in Mecklenburg. The lands of James Flynns, in Mecklenburg. The personal estate of Philip Johnson, in Mecklenburg. And the land of Daniel Gorries, in Mecklenburg.

-- As it is probable that the sales of all the estates aforesaid cannot be made in one day, I here give notice that it will be continued from day to day till the whole can be complete.

MATTHEW MARABLE

(From: Sharon Pike)
From: David Christopher <dchristo@swbell.net>)