John Acton (abt. 1650 - 1688)

Born about 1650 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died May 1688 at about age 38 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

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Biography

John Acton was a Maryland colonist.

Origin

No birth record for John Acton has been found. John Acton was the son of Richard Acton and Katherine and was born in Anne Arundel County around 1650.

John Acton was married to a woman named Margaret sometime before 1686. In that year the couple sold a 300 acre tract of land called Acton that was patented by Richard Acton, his father, in April of 1671. In the deed John Acton is called a planter of Anne Arundel County. The buyer, William Troth, paid 10,000 pounds of tobacco in casks for the land located along the Choptank River in Talbot County. The couple signed their names with initials, John a J and Margaret an M. The deed was witnessed by Edward Dorsey and John Swallow. ^[1]

The identity of Margaret has not been determined but there is a strong clue in the will of John Acton. The couple had a son and a daughter. The daughter, Abigail, was left to the care of Sarah Dorsey, the widow of Joshua Dorsey

Will

John Acton wrote his will on May 3, 1688. In this will he called himself a boatwright of Anne Arundel County.

Abstract

• I give to my sister Jane Acton one sarge gone and petty coat that was my wife and two dowlas shifts
• I give to Thomas Reno's my sarge coat and britches
• I give to my sister Sarah Maryot one paire of chimiah bodye.
• I give to my sister Katherine Kitton twelve yards of colored fustian.
• I give to my only son Richard Acton my silver clopis buttons.
• I give to my sister Elizabeth Smith three ells of dowlass & one pair of shoes & worsted hose.
• I give to my daughter Abigail Actton all her mothers head clothes
• I give my said son Richard two gunns that was my fathers
• I give to Ann Baker one woman's mantle.
• I will and bequeath my said daughter Abigail and her moyiete of my estate to care, tuition and possession of Sarah Dorsey, widow and relict of Joshua Dorsey, late of this county deceased. She giving security to my executor here after mentioned for her said estate after that my said daughter be at age sixteen or the day of marriage and then to receive her said estate.
• I will that my beloved brother in law John Marriott have the care & tuition of my only son & heir, Richard Acton, and the other moyetie of my estate. My said son to be at age to work for himself at the age of 18 years of age on his own land.
• Lastly, I make and appoint my said well beloved brother in law, John Marriot, my true and lawful executor of this my last will and testament.

Witnesses: Maj. Edward Dorsey, Doct. John Beard, Michaell Pearsone ^[2]

The will was exhibited to the court on 29 MAY 1688. The estate inventory was taken by Lancelot Todd and Thomas Baker. A final account of the estate in 1690 was £90.1.4. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Talbot County Land KK 5/143
2. ↑ Anne Arundel Wills Liber 6/1
3. ↑ Anne Arundel Inventories & Accounts Liber 10/319

Kenny-549 16:08, 15 February 2016 (EST)