Martha (Hext) Bee (abt. 1681 - bef. 1751)

Born about 1681 in Dorset, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 31 May 1751 before about age 70 in Province of South Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Richard Draper [send private message] and Rodney Bowers [send private message]

Biography

Martha was the daughter of Hugh Hext, immigrant to the Province of Carolina.^[1]

She married first William Bower of Edisto Island, Province of South Carolina, and they had children: William, Martha (m. Paul Hamilton), Tabitha (m. Abraham Edings and William Peter),^[2] and Mary (m. John Williamson and Joseph Bryan)^[3][4][5]

Her second husband was John Bee, a Charleston merchant.

Martha Bee, widow, of James Island, Berkeley County, wrote her Will on 3 October 1747, and it was proved 31 May 1751. She mentions her son William Bower, daughter Tabitha Peter, widow, and her children John Peter and Elizabeth Peter, daughter Martha Hamilton, grandson Paul Hamilton, and daughter Mary Bryan. She refers to "all her grandchildren," so there are perhaps others not named. She also leaves a bequest to the Presbyterian Church of Edisto Island.^[6]

Research Notes

While Biographical Directory states that her children Tabitha and Mary were by her second husband, John Bee, other evidence, particulary the notes of Motte Read Alston, indicate that all her children were by her first husband.

Sources

1. ↑ Salley, A. S. “Hugh Hext and Some of His Descendants.” The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine 6, no. 1 (1905): 29–40. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27575089
2. ↑ Glen, James, Governor Of South Carolina, In Response To The Petition Of Tabitha Peter, Widow Of Abraham Edings And William Peter, Warrant To William Edings, Royal Spry, John Jackson, Issac Hayne And John Bee To Divide The Estate Of Her First Husband, Abraham Edings, Deceased, And To Allot One Third Part Of The Said Personal Estate Unto The Executor Of The Said William Peter In Right Of His Widow Tabitha Peter. (1 Page) Date: 4/14/1745 Series: Miscellaneous Records (Main Series) [Selected Volumes] (S213003) Archives ID: Series: S213003 Volume: 002F Page: 00392 Item: 000 https://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/
3. ↑ South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-VZ5V-7?cc=1919417&wc=M6N4-829%3A210905601%2C211426201 : 21 May 2014), Charleston > Wills, 1740-1747, Vol. 005 > image 101 of 715; citing Department of Archives and History, Columbia. Will of Edward Hext
4. ↑ Motte Read Alston Papers, called Colonial Families of South Carolina, Bedon-Bower image 1281 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-R3YR-QHQ4?mode=g&cat=367403
5. ↑ Edgar, Walter B. and N. Louise Bailey. Biographical Directory of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Volume II: the Commons House of Assembly 1692-1775 (1977), p. 92
6. ↑ "South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JV4G-K?cc=1919417&wc=M6N4-638%3A210905601%2C211466601 : 21 May 2014), Charleston > Wills, 1747-1752, Vol. 006 > image 531 of 684; citing Department of Archives and History, Columbia. Will of Martha Bee

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 28 December 2017, 04:57), entry for Martha Hext(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:L45Q-47L); contributed by various users.

• American Ancestors," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:3:MMZY-8N8 : accessed 4 September 2018), entry for Martha Hext; "User:vernon Tree:Ferguson, Olly A - Texas 1832" file (2:3:2:MMMM-1R8), submitted 2 May 2018.