Louisa Co., VA to Albemarle Co., VA; Mid-Seventeen Hundreds to Mid-Eighteen Hundreds
Children of William Sumter and Elizabeth Unknown are:
1. Patience Sumter, born in Hanover Co., VA or Albemarle Co., VA; died Abt. 1805 in Albemarle Co., VA. She married (1) Benjamin Franklin Abt. 1734. She married (2) James Sudderth Aft. 1751 in Albemarle Co., VA.
2. William Sumter, born 29 August, 1731 in Hanover Co., VA; died 23 October, 1820 in Burke Co., NC. He married Judith Randall Abt. 1754 in Albemarle Co., VA.
3. John Sumter, born Bet. 1732 - 1733 in Hanover Co., VA; died Bet. 1786 - 1787 in Burke Co., NC (Probable). He married Catherine Unknown Bet. 1762 - 1763.
4. Gen. Thomas Sumter , Sr., born 14 August, 1734 in Hanover Co., VA; died 01 June, 1832 in Statesburg, SC. He married Mary Cantey Abt. 1767 in State of South Carolina.
5. Edmund Sumter, born Abt. 1738 in Hanover Co., VA; died Bet. 1791 - 1792 in Charlotte Co., VA (Probable). He married Claudine Ann Unknown.
6. Anne Sumter. She married Thomas Land , Sr..
7. Martha Sumter. She married William Sudderth?.
According to Draper MSS: The only daughter born to William and wife Elizabeth was Patience. William and Elizabeth settled in Hanover Co., VA where William owned and operated a grist mill on Preddy's Creek near Piney Mountain. The county is now Albemarle but was Louisa County in 1743-52 and Hanover County in 1734-43. It was here that their five children were born. Patience lived with her first husband, John (Benjamin) Franklin, between Charlottesville and Staunton, VA. Mr. Franklin died of lock-jaw.
There are some researchers that have this William as born Histon, Cambridge, ENG 16 August 1695 who married Elizabeth Patience Dulce Iveson. However, that is proven impossible by the fact that William Thomas Sumter of Histon, died 20 May 1753 and his wife E.P.D. Iveson died 20 July 1740 in England. When William Sumter of Virginia's will was filed in November 1752, HIS wife Elizabeth was still alive and was mentioned in this will written July 1752. Therefore these are not the same SUMTERS as the ones in England.
The Will of William Sumter:
Will Book 1, pp 26, Louisa Co., VA
In the name of God Amen, I William Sumter of Louisa County, colony and Dominion of Virginia being weak of body but perfect mind and memory blessed be God Do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say, first of all I recommend my Soul and Spirit unto the hands of Almighty God that give it nothing counting (?) (page torn) that at the General resurrection I shall receive it, to the Earth from whence it came to be buried in Christian like manner, at the discretion of my wife and executors hereafter named and touching what worldly estate the Lord hath blessed me with I dispose of one Mare to my son William Sumter and one halter and I give my son John Sumter one mare and ye rest of my estate I dispose of the same manner and form following Imprimas I give to my beloved wife Elizabeth Sumter the use of all my estate real and personal (page torn) movables and household furniture during her natural life, if she remains a widow, but if she marries, the said goods and (torn) my executors hereafter named sold to the best advantage and distributed equally between my children. By the discretion of my executors and I do hereby ordain and appoint Joseph Phillips and William Sumter executors to this my last will and testament likewise disannul and revoke all other wills and testaments declared and pronounced by me this seven day of July in the twenty six year of the Reign of George ye second Ann Dom 1752.
William Sumter (his mark)
(torn) day of November 1752 admitted to record.
Of the children of William and Elizabeth Sumter, the following notes:
One family tale is that Patience was the first child of her parents and was born on board ship while they were on their way to America. Family letters seem to verify that she was born at sea as she was quoted by family members as saying she "was a citizen of neither county (England or America) and of neither hemisphere".
Apparently Patience was a midwife. Thomas Jefferson recommended her services to his daughters according to Wood's History of Albemarle. Other sources agree that Patience was a midwife, following in the footsteps of her mother Elizabeth, and was well known and highly regarded in that capacity.
According to the Stoddard-Sudduth Papers: page 163: "From: Biographical Dictionary of American Congress” the following:
“ Thomas Sumter, representative and senator from South Carolina, born in Hanover Co., VA, 14 Aug 1734...moved to South Carolina ca 1760....died on his plantation "South Mount", 01 Jun 1832, near Statesburg, now Dalzell, South Carolina. Interment in private burial ground on family estate...grandson Thos. DeLange Sumter, born 1809, too, representative. T. S. was also a U.S. Senator."
From "Life of General Thomas Sumter of South Carolina" by Cecil B. Hartley, published in 1859 by Derby & Jackson, #119 Nassau St., New York : pp. 313-314:
"Sumter was younger than Marion, larger in frame, better fitted in strength of body to the toils of war, and, like his compeer, devoted to the freedom of his country. His aspect was manly and stern, denoting insuperable firmness and lofty courage. He was not over scrupulous as a soldier in his use of means, and apt to make considerable allowances for the state of war. Believing it warranted by the necessity of the case, he did not occupy his mind with critical examinations of the equity of his measures, or of their bearings on individuals; but indiscriminately pressed forward to his end--the destruction of his enemy and liberation of his country. In his military character, he resembled Ajax; relying more upon the fierceness of his courage than upon the results of unrelaxing vigilance and nicely adjusted combination. Determined to deserve success, he risked his own life and the lives of his associates without reserve. Enchanted with the splendor of victory, he would wade in torrents of blood to attain it. This general drew about him the hardy sons of the upper and middle grounds; brave and determined like himself, familiar with difficulty, and fearless of danger. He traversed the region between Camden and Ninety-six."
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Thomas Sumter:
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