John Livingston VI (1716 - 1752)

Born 1716 in King and Queen, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1752 at about age 36 in shipwreck off Jamaica

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Biography

Married Frances Muscoe, daughter of Salvator Muscoe (See below) of Essex County in 1741 in Essex County, Virginia. ( Essex Co., VA Book W-6, page 352; and in Essex Co., VA Book 'Land Trials', page 97) ( Eva Eubank Wilkerson, 'Index to Marriages of Old Rappahannock and Essex Counties, Virginia 1655 - 1900', pages 159, 175) Salvator Muscoe first appears as a lawyer living in Essex County about 1702. In 1736-1738 and 1740, he served as Burgess. He died in 1741, and in his will, proved June 16, 1741, he tells us he was born 1675, and his wife was Mary (probably a sister of Col. William Beverley, whom he made executor of his will). He names his grandson, Muscoe Garnett, and daughters, Mary, Frances, Tabitha, Jane and Sarah Muscoe. Mentions his sister, Mrs. Jane Collingwood, of Great Britain, widow, who he says gave all her stock, valued at 400 pds. sterling, to be equally divided among my grandson and children.

Issue of Salvator Muscoe and Mary, his wife: (1) Elizabeth - married James Garnett of Essex (2) Mary (3) Frances - married John Livingston, Jr. (4) Tabitha (5) Sarah - married Philip Edwards Jones (6) Jane

In 1750 Philip Edwards Jones and Sarah, his wife, one of the daughters of Salvator Muscoe, made a deed for 200 acres, which had descended to said Sarah by the death of her sister, Jane.

November 20, 1741: John Livingston, Jr. is listed on the "True and Exact Poll of the Election of Burgesses, Essex County, Virginia" Children of John Livingston, Jr. and Frances Muscoe Muscoe Livingston Children: Mary Muscoe - Married Abner Cox John Muscoe

There is in Essex County the record of a deed, September 24, 1769, of Muscoe Livingston, of London, mariner, to Mr. John Livingston, of Essex County, to procure the cutting off of the entail on a certain plantation in Essex County, "which did formerly belong to my grandfather, Salvator Muscoe, who bequethed the same to my mother, Frances Livingston, daughter of said Muscoe, during her life, and after her death to her eldest son" (the said Muscoe Livingston).

Muscoe Livingston was a ship captain (in 1768 he calls himself "Master of the Baltic Merchant"), who frequented London and other mercantile cities. He was living in Norfolk in 1792, in which year a deed was made for a large landed estate (Elmwood) to William Andrews, in trust for Mary Muscoe Cox by her father, Muscoe Livingston, of the "Borough of Norfolk". The year following, 1793, Muscoe recorded that he was of Essex County.

Muscoe Livingston died in 1798, as in that year the inventory of his estate was presented in court at Tappahannock by Henry Garnett, Meriday Brown and Andrew Monroe. His daughter, Mary Cox, was probably wife of Abner Cox, as in 1799 she executed an administration bond on his estate, with Humphrey Booth Brooke as security. In 1798, Humphrey B. Brooke gave a bond of administration on the estate of John Livingston, Sen., dec'd. Security, Abner Cox, Jr.

Abner and Mary Cox had issue, among other children, Susanna, whose marriage to Langley is evidenced by a deed from "Mary Cox, of Essex, to her daughter, Susan Langley, of Norfolk", conveying a plantation in Essex, with numerous slaves.

A family Bible shows that Susanna Cox (born 1786, died January 16, 1857) married Jonathan Langley, of Norfolk, and had Charles Henry Langley, born July 11, 1824, and died in Norfolk, May 20, 1894.

John Livingston John married Susanna, daughter of Samuel Walker, of Hampton. The will of John Livingston was proved in Essex County, April 13, 1781. It names wife, Susanna, her brother, Mr. Thomas Walker, and her father, Samuel Walker, late of Hampton, brother Capt. Muscoe Livingston, nephew John Livingston, son of brother Muscoe, "my (niece?) Mrs. Cox". In a codicil he disposes of his share in a will owned with Henry Garnett. He makes William Beverley, Esq., Dr. John Brockenbrough and brother, Muscoe ex'ors. (Essex County Records)

John's will was proved in Essex County April 13 (1781?) (wife Susanna Walker). Muscoe was apparently called John and had a son by the name of John. Muscoe's brother's will names John, son of brother Muscoe, as a beneficiary. Shortly after Muscoe's death in 1798, Humphrey B. Brook gave a bond of administration on the estate of John Livingston, Sen., dec'd. (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 13, Series 1, pgs. 262-263)

The following information was provided by Joe Slavin. (Thanks, Joe!) John Livingston, Jr. was actually John Livingston, IV. He was the first such 'John' named son who did not change his name to 'John Livingston, Sr.' upon the death of his father.

John Livingston, Jr. served in the Merchant Marine.

John Livingston, Jr. married Francis Muscoe, the widow of his older brother Cornelius Livingston. After their marriage, John and Francis moved to and settled on a 400 acre tract of Essex Co., VA land left to Francis by her father Salvatore Muscoe.

John Livingston, Jr. listed his occupation first as a 'Farmer and Planter'. He later claimed to be a 'Merchant'. Finally he became a 'Boat Builder' and called himself 'Captain John Livingston'. His boat building business took him various places in VA and on the Eastern Shore of MD. He had financial connections there in Somerset Co,m ND - the county where George Livingston, Sr's wife, Sarah Horsey, was born and the county out of which Worcester Co., MD was cut in 1742. After John's career progressed further, he began sailing to and from the Island of Jamaica, though still residing in Essex Co., Virginia. One of his Jamaica 'heirlooms' was his personal servant, Josh, whose (apparently illegal) presence in the U.S. raised some hackles upon John's death. John died either in Jamaica or on shipboard at or on his way to Jamaica. His estate was administered in both Essex Co., Virginia, and Somerset County, MD, and it is a Somerset Co., MD, Prerogative Court Estate Administration record that states John died in Jamaica.

The name 'Jno. Livingston, J.' appeared twice on lists of those voting for particular candidates in an 'True and Exact Poll of the Election of Burgesses, Essex Co. (VA) November 20, 1741', On one List, his name was number 223 on the list (page 78), while it was number 136 on the second List (page 80).

Individual: Jno. Levingston Date: Oct 1, 1743 Location: Spotsylvania Co., VA Record Type: Land Record ID: 43869 Description: Witness Book-Page: D Property: 853 a. in St. Geo. Par., Spts. Co. Remarks: Thomas Edmundson, Gent., of Essex Co.and Dorothy, his wife, to James Garnett, Gent., of same Co. œ230 curr. 853 a. in St. Geo. Par., Spts. Co.; "500 a. thereof purchased of Wm. Fantleroy of Augustine Smith," etc.; "200 a. part therof of Edward Price by sd. Wm. Fantleroy," etc.; "107 a.," etc.; first two parts bought by sd. Edmundson of sd. Fantleroy, and the last by sd. Edmundson of one James Roy, etc. 4 Oct 1743. This land record was originally published in "Virginia County Records - Spotsylvania County, 1721-1800, Volume I" edited by William Armstrong Crozier. [Genealogy.com, LLC, Family Archive #513, Ed. 1, Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records, Date of Import: Sep 29, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.513.1.12233.2]

Individual: John, Jr. Livingston Date: Jun 2, 1747 Location: Spotsylvania Co., VA Record Type: Land Record ID: 43982 Description: Witness Book-Page: D Property: Lot No. 3, in town of Fredksbg. Remarks: Beverly Randolph of Kinston Par., Gloucester Co.,Gent., to James Garnett of St. Anne's Par., Essex CO., Gent. œ45 5s. curr. Lot. No. 3, in town of Fredksbg. 2 June 1747. This land record was originally published in "Virginia County Records - Spotsylvania County, 1721-1800, Volume I" edited by William Armstrong Crozier. [Genealogy.com, LLC, Family Archive #513, Ed. 1, Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records, Date of Import: Sep 26, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.513.1.12545.1]

Database: Spotsylvania, Virginia County Records, 1721-1800 Combined Matches: 1 Virginia County Records SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY 1721-1800 DEEDS DEED BOOK D 1742-1751 page 175 June 2, 1747. Beverley Randolph of Kingston Par., Gloucester Co., Gent., to James Garnett of St. Anne's Par., Essex Co., Gent. £45 5s. curr. Lot. No. 3, in town of Fredksbg. John Livingston, jr.; Cha. Dick, Alexr. Wright. June 2, 1747

In a May 15, 1750 Deed, 'Phillip Edwards Jones' of Essex Co., VA and Sarah his wife, one of the daughters of Salvatore Muscoe, late of St. Anne's Parish, deceased, sold land to John Livingston (Jr.). See: Essex Co., VA Deed Book 25. See also: Broderbund Software, Family Tree Maker, Family Archives CD No. 187, 'Family History: Virginia Genealogies #3 1600's - 18--'s, Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume II, King & Queen County Records Covering 18'th. Century Persons, 7'th. Collection' from Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD, Page 419.

In a March 15, 1750/51 B.T.I. Deed of Mortgage, from John Livingston of St. Ann's Parish, Essex Co., VA, to William Beverley of Beverly of Yorkshire County in the Kingdom of Great Britan, Eswuire, for Land L-246.0.0 in Essex Co., VA, which said John purchased from Phillip Edward Jones and wife Sarah Muscoe) and Edward Rowzee, Jr., and all lands in Essex except 200 acres he holds by his wife Frances (Muscoe. Signed John Livingston, Jr. Witnesses: thomas Tunstall, Jr., John Tunstall, and John Howell. This transaction was proved by all the witnesses. See: Broderbund Software, Family Tree Maker, Family Archives CD No. 187, 'Family History: Virginia Genealogies #3 1600's - 18--'s, Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume II, King & Queen County Records Covering 18'th. Century Persons, 7'th. Collection' from Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD, Page 420. Note: Edward Rowzee (Sr. ? or Jr. ?) was the husband of Frances and Sarah Muscoe's sister Tabitha Muscoe. May 23, 1751 July 27, 1751 Somerset Co., MD John Livingston, Jr., along with Benjamin Lankford was named as being a Creditor at the appraisal for the Estate of 'Mrs. Sarah Dixon' of Somerset Co., MD. The Appraisers were John & William Waters, and the Administrator was Thomas Dixon. Note: This 'Mrs. Sarah Dixon' was Sarah the Widow of Thomas Dixon, Jr. who was son of Thomas Dixon, Sr. who was a son of Ambrose Dixon. Ambrose Dixon was co-founder along with Stephen Horsey, Sr. of the Quaker movement in Northampton County, VA in the mid-1600's, and moved along with co-founder Stephen Horsey, Sr. from Northampton Co., VA to Somerset Co., MD in the early 1660's to escape Virginia's then new Anti-Quaker law. Stephen Horsey, Sr.'s descendant (Great Grandaughter) Sarah Horsey married John Livingston, Jr.'s brother George Livingston, Sr. See: Maryland Perogative Court Records, Book 47.35 SO, Folio 278.11.7 See also: Maryland Perogative Court Abstracts 1748-1751, page 100. June 10,, 1751 August 31, 1751 Somerset Co., MD John Livingston, Jr. was named as being a Creditor at the appraisal for the Estate of William Dixon of Somerset Co., MD. Note: William Dixon was a brother of the Thomas Dixon, Jr. mentioned above. Note also: William Dixon's son Ambrose Dixon married Nathaniel Horsey, Jr.'s daughter Martha Horsey, and WIlliam Dixon's daughter Mary Dixon married Martha Horsey's brother Outerbridge Horsey, Sr. See: Maryland Perogative Court Records, Book 67.42 SO, Folio 453.15.1 See also: Maryland Perogative Court Abstracts 1748-1751, page 101. September 15, 1752 November 23, 1752 Somerset Co., MD John Livingston, Jr.'s Estate was appraised by William & Richard Waters. Benjamin Lankford was the Administrator of John's Estate, while the listed Creditors were Thomas Williams and Jacob Ware. Mention was made of John Livingston, Jr.'s brother George Livingston (Sr.) and of W. (William) Wheatley. William Wheatley was one of the sons of Stephen Horsey, Jr. and his wife Hannah Revell's daughter Sarah Horsey via her first marriage. See: Maryland Perogative Court Records, Book 52.157 SO, Folio 401.17.9 See also: Maryland Perogative Court Abstracts 1751-1756, page 38.

September 15, 1752 November 23, 1752 Somerset Co., MD Payments were made from John Livingston, Jr.'s Estate to a number of individuals in both Maryland and Virginia. Benjamin Lankford was listed as John's Estate's Administrator. In this record it was noted that John Livingston, Jr. had 'Died in Jamaca'. See: Maryland Perogative Court Records, Book 36.48 A SO, Folio 401.17.9 and Folio 475.19.11 See also: Maryland Perogative Court Abstracts 1750-1754, page 147.

John Livingston, Jr.'s known children were his son, John (who married Susannah Walker in 1781 in Essex Co., Virginia, and died childless a few months later) and Captain Muscoe Livingston (perhaps one of the most colorful members of our Livingston line). Note: There were other children named by another researcher who included approximate birth dates for them, These alleged other children were: William born 1737, George born 1741, and James born 1743. However this researcher provided no other details about these alleged children, and from their names (all of which can be found in Spottsylvania Co., VA) and the proximity of Essex Co., VA to Spottsylvania Co., VA (directly adjacent), and the fact that all appearences of these names in Spottsylvania Co., VA are identified and assigned to members of other parts of the VA Livingston family (William son of John II, George Sr. son of John III, and James Todd Livingston son of Thomas I), I tend to believe this researcher mistook these other VA Livingston family member's records as being records of other possible children of John Livingston, Jr. Pending further research proving otherwise, my current belief is the above two know children were the only ones for John Livingston, Jr.

John Livingston, Jr. started his career as a farmer, then became a merchant and finally called himself 'Captain John Livingston, Jr., boat builder' and had many Somerset County, MD financial connections - the county where George Livingston, Sr's wife, Sarah Horsey, was born and the county out of which Worcester County, MD was cut in 1742. After John's career progressed, he began sailing to and from the Island of Jamaica, though still residing in Essex County, Virginia. One of his Jamaica 'heirlooms' was his personal servant, Josh, whose (apparently illegal) presence in the U.S. raised some hackles upon John's death. John died either in Jamaica or on shipboard at or on his way to Jamaica. His estate was administered in both Essex County, Virginia, and Somerset County, MD, and it is a Somerset County, MD, Prerogative Court Estate Administration record that states John died in Jamaica.

John Livingston, Jr. died before September 15, 1752, in Jamaica. His known children were his son, John (who married Susannah Walker in 1781 in Essex County, Virginia, and died childless a few months later) and Captain Muscoe Livingston (perhaps one of the most colorful members of our Livingston line). Muscoe was born in 1742 in Essex County, Virginia, and died before June 19, 1797, in Norfolk, Virginia. Muscoe was a sea captain and sailed the routes between Virginia, Jamaica, and England. By the late 1760's he was living in London, England, and continued living there up through at least 1772 as the following record shows.

As stated above, Henry Livingston, son of Phillip and grandson of Robert Livingston of New York, died in 1772 in Jamaica, leaving a lengthy will. In his will, Henry named his brothers-Robert, John and Phillip, his nephew's Phillip (son of Robert), Phillip (son of Phillip), and Walter (son of John). Henry also specifically stated he was leaving 100 pounds (stirling) to 'Captain Gilbert Livingston of Bermuda and to Captain Muscoe Livingston of Great Britain, Mariner'. Captain Gilbert was probably Gilbert Livingston II (1718, d 1789) grandson of Robert Livingston of New York. And - Captain Muscoe Livingston was, of course, Muscoe, son of John Livingston, Jr. of Essex County, Virginia. So . . here we have Henry Livingston of the New York line remembering Muscoe Livingston of the Virginia line in his will.

After Muscoe Livingston's return to the United States - he allegedly took his ship into battle (probably as a Privateer) in the American Revolution. Later in life, after the Revolution, etc., Muscoe decided to file for a pension based upon his American Revolution service. When he was denied such pension, Muscoe did not simply take no for an answer. Instead he went to see New Jersey Governor for assistance. This governor happened to be Governor William Livingston - mentined above as one of the grandsons of Robert Livingston of New York and son of Phillip Livingston II. This means that Governor William Livingston of New Jersey was a brother of the Phillip Livingston and Henry Livingston that Muscoe's father, John Livingston Jr., had known during his time in Jamaica.

So . . . here we have apparent dealings between the New York and Virginia lines during two consecutive generations of each line - and all relating to both families' liking for/and or business on the Island of Jamaica.

In 1752, John Livingston, Jr. (son of John III) dies as a result of a shipwreck off Jamaica. John Livingston, Jr. built the ship that "was wrecked in a storm off Jamaica after giving power of attorney to Alexander Livingston of Rotterdam". (Mrs. Rubee Baird McLaughlin of Walnut Creek, California)

February 1, 1755: Alexander Livingston, late merchant of Aberdeen, now of Aberdeen, North Britain, names Robert Hunter and the commander of his ship "Alexander and Ann" of Aberdeen his "true and lawful attorney in North America". (Essex Co. Deed Book 27 1754-57 - Film 01000, Reel 16, p. 154)

June 9, 1755: Alexander Livingston and Company of Aberdeen, empowering Captain James Elphiston "to see and dispose of all lands, houses, goods, debts, whatever within any town or county of Virginia". (Ibid pg 105)

May 12, 1760: Power of Attorney of Alexander Livingston, Merchant in Aberdeen, Scotland . . . to Mr. James Deans, Merchant at Osburne Wharf, James River, Virginia . . . to ask demand and receive of Mr. John Ross, late of Aberdeen, now Merchant in Norfolk, Virginia . . ."

Sources

• The Hill Family History: http://genealogy.kathihill.com/Person/family_group/90129