Ralph Justice, (Burgess)

Abt 1705 - Bef 1759  (< 54 years)

• Name	Ralph Justice  [1]
  Suffix	(Burgess)
  Birth	Abt 1705	Accomack County, Virginia, USA
  Gender	Male
  Deed of Gift - Received a Deed of Gift from someone	3 Dec 1739	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [2]
  	It was on this date that Mary Justice gave 10 pounds money and a negro man called Harry to her grandson Ralph Justice.
  Court - named in motion	28 May 1741	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [3]
  	On the motion of Ralph Justice, it was ordered that William Andrews be summoned to the next court to show why he did not become administrator of the estate of Selby Gore, decd. (NOTE: Selby Gore's mother Mary Selby married first Daniel Gore (died by 1720) and married second William Andrews, who was alive when Selby died, and would have been the logical choice to settle his step-son's estate. It should also be NOTED that Ralph Justice was normally a justice on the court and had been a justice the day before (26 May 1741) and the day after (30 Jun 1741), but was not a justice on this day, probably because he brought this and another action before the justices for a decision. Therefore he must have had some personal interest in settleing Selby Gore's estate.)
  Land - they bought land	1742	Accomack County, Virginia, USA
  	This Ralph Justice purchased a total of 1706 acres of land between 1742 and 1755 (Acc Co Deeds), in the seaside region of Barkers Neck and Kegotank Creek "south of his grandfather's seaside land".
  Will - Named in Grand Mothers will	1 Apr 1744	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [4]
  	In her will Mary Justice gave to grandson William Justice a gold ring now in the hands of my son Richard Justice. To grandson Ralph Justice, Jr. a gold ring in the hands of my son Richard Justice. To grandson Richard Justice a gold ring now in the hands of my son Richard. To grandaughter Ann Kitson, a gold ring in the hands of my son in law John Kitson. To grandson John Kitson. To grandaughter Joanna Kitson. To grandaughter Ann Justice. To Mary Justice, daughter of Robert Justice. To daughter Elizabeth Nock. Son in law John Kitson Exr. Witt: Thomas Webb, John Wilkins.
  Will - Named as an Executor of a will	24 Apr 1744	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [4]
  	It was on this date that John Kitson relinquished his right to qualify to settle the estate of his mother-in-law Mary Justice and Richard, Robert and Ralph Justice qualified as Extrs.
  Court - named in motion	28 Jan 1752	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [5]
  	Ralph Justice (adm. of Anne his late wife, daughter of Samuel Burton, decd) was granted permission to put the guardian's bond for her estate in suit.
  Estate Settlement - Named in wifes settlement	28 Mar 1753	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [6]
  	Robert King, Anderson Patterson and William Beavans (or two of them) were to audit/settle the accounts of the personal estate due to Anne Burton, (daughter of Samuel Burton) and who recently was the wife of Ralph Justice.
  Court - named in order	29 May 1753	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [7]
  	John Walker, security for the administration of Hugh McBright (decd), claimed he was in danger of loss and asked for relief. Ralph Justice and his wife Sarah (Hugh's administrator) were cited to answer.
  Estate Settlement - Named in wifes settlement	28 Aug 1753	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [8]
  	Ordered that Thomas Ryley and Spencer Drumond deduct the debts and the value of the Negro recently owned by Hugh McBright (decd) and divide the rest – 2/3 to John Walker and 1/3 to Ralph Justice in the right of his wife, the widow of McBright.
  Court - named in order	31 Aug 1756	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [9]
  	Ralph Justice and wife Catherine (widow of Richard Drumond) were to show why they did not account for profits of the orphan’s estate.
  Court - named in order	1 Dec 1756	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [10]
  	Ralph Justice and wife Catherine were to account for the profits of Richard Drumond’s estate at next August court.
  Will	12 May 1757	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [11]
  	To son William Justice plantation known as Kickatank, conveyed to me by Mrs Margaret Gale, also my Island between the Inlet called Assowoman & Gargaphy Inlet. To son James all my other lands with my plantation called Gargaphy & my land at Parkers & Island & swamp land in Maryland. Daughter Joyce Teackle. To Sarah Justice, daughter of Susannah. To Levin Teackle. Wife & 3 children residual legatees. Arthur Emmerson, John Kitson, Levin Teackle & James Justice overseers Witt: William Bains (Barns in Probate) John Kitson. Jr., John Nock. Codicil: 27 Jan 1758 - Son William Justice to make over that moiety of land that I & my wife conveyed to him as a deed of trust in Northampton, to Mr. John Harmanson.
  Court - named in order	31 Aug 1757	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [12]
  	James Rule, James Henry and Thomas Riley (or two of them) were to audit Ralph Justice and wife’s accounts of the estate of Richard Drumond.
  Court - named in order	30 Aug 1758	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [13]
  	George Holden and Tabitha Douglas (surviving executors of George Douglas, decd) and Thomas Parramore, who had been security for Ralph Justice’s wife Katherine’s administration of the estate of Richard Drumond, now asked to be relieved. Justice was cited to show why he failed to give an account of the estate.
  Death	Bef 17 Dec 1759	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [14]
  	Ralph Justice was murdered by his slaves between 26 Nov 1759, when Ralph Justice was a defendant sued by Levin Rodgers and 17 or 18 December 1759, when his slaves Stepney, George, Dick, James and Harry were arrested. Those guarding Justice’s Negroes in jail were paid for 38 days, a period which ended on 25 January 1760, when Stepney, George and Dick were executed. On 15 January 1759, Stepney, George and Dick were found guilty of murdering Ralph Justice; they were sentenced to be hung on 25 January 1760. (The bodies of Stepney and George were then hung in chains outside the courthouse and at the crossroad near Onancock.) James and Harry were given 39 lashes, nailed by the ears to the pillory for an hour and then cut down; James was guilty of lying, and Harry of concealing the murder. The executed slaves were valued at a very high rate: George £60, Stepney £55 and Dick £45. The most expensive slave in this record book before this date was worth £35. It varied, but a day’s wage (at least for the guards) was ten lbs tobacco or about a shilling. It would have taken the average man almost four years, working six days a week, to earn enough to buy George.
  Probate	29 Jan 1760	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [11, 15]
  	It was on this date that his will was probated. William Justice heir at law to the testator. Catherine Justice, widow of the testator, relinquished her claim to any bequest in said will. Exrs. refused to act and Levin Teackle qualified. The inventory of his estate, filed on 7 October 1760 (Acc Co Wills & c., p.324), had a total value of 2712 pounds. He owned 40 slaves, a schooner, a sloop, and fifteen and a half pages were needed to list household goods and other personal property.
  Anecdote	1761  [16]
  	Ralph Justice’s grandfather, also named Ralph, arrived in Accomack in 1668 and established a family that acquired land, slaves, wealth and prominence. By 1738, Ralph the grandson had become a justice of the peace as well as a tobacco inspector. By 1739, he was sworn in as an officer in the militia, and eleven years later he was recommended as a person fit to be sheriff. Then between 1753 and 1758, Ralph Justice served as Accomack County’s representative in the House of Burgesses. By the time he died, Justice owned more than 1700 acres, 40 slaves, a schooner, a sloop and so many household items that it took fifteen and a half pages to list them all. There were a few problems along the way – Justice was assaulted by William Sims, he was accused of importing 13 hogsheads of rum without paying duties, one of his seamen tried to get out of his contract, a slave named Frank escaped but was caught, and Justice had to pay damages for assaulting John Barret. Still, none of these difficulties appeared to have had much of an impact on Justice or his status in the community. Then, in January of 1760, a court of oyer and terminer was called for the trial of Ralph Justice’s slaves Stepney, George, Dick, Harry and James for the murder of Ralph Justice. Surprisingly few details emerged about the murder itself; we do not know if it was premeditated, what instigated the violence or how Justice died. We only know that the slaves tried to conceal the fact afterward, and that they spent 38 days in prison – placing the date of Justice’s death in mid December 1759.
  Biography	This Ralph Justice became a prominent Accomack County citizen. He served as an Accomack County Justice of the Peace, as Accomack County's representative to the House of Burgesses, and on the Accomack Parish Vestry.
  Reference Identifier	Burgess
  Record ID	24978
  Origins
  Patriarch & Matriarch	William Justice,   b. 1623, England d. Bef 3 Feb 1663/64, Charles City Co, Virginia  (Age < 41 years)  (Great Grandfather)  Mary Todd,   b. Abt 1685, Gloucester Co, Virginia d. Yes, date unknown  (Mother)
  Siblings	1 brother
  + 1. Ralph Justice, (Burgess),   b. Abt 1705, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Bef 17 Dec 1759, Accomack County, Virginia, USA  (Age < 54 years) ▻ Mary Ann Gore,  m. Abt 1730 ;   Sarah Marshall,  m. 13 Mar 1738 ;   Ann Burton,  m. Abt 1745 ;   Sabra Walker, (Walker?),  m. Bef 29 May 1753 ;   Catherine (48) Harmanson,  m. 1756 + 2. Thomas Justice,   b. Abt 1708, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Bef 25 Sep 1771, Accomack County, Virginia, USA  (Age < 63 years) ▻ Rachel Ailworth,  m. Abt 1768
  Person ID	I24978	MilesFiles23
  Last Modified	9 Dec 2017

  
  

  Father	John Justice,   b. Abt 1681, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Bef 29 Apr 1740, Accomack County, Virginia, USA (Age < 59 years)
  Mother	Mary Todd,   b. Abt 1685, Gloucester Co, Virginia d. Yes, date unknown Other Partners: ╚═(--?--) Howell,   b. Abt 1680   d. Yes, date unknown  m. Abt 1700
  Marriage	Abt 1705  [17, 18]
  	She was Mary Todd Howell, widow, and daughter of John Todd of Gloucester Co, VA.
  Family ID	F7961	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Mary Ann Gore,   b. Abt 1712, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Bef 13 Mar 1738, Accomack County, Virginia, USA (Age < 26 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1730	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [3, 19]
  	It was first thought that Ralph Justice must have married Daniel Gore's daughter Joyce Gore since Ralph named a daughter Joice Gore Justice and he made a motion in court on 28 May 1741 that William Andrews (step-father of Wm, Selby, Joyce & Mary Ann Gore) should have been made administrator of Selby Gore's estate. However, there is ample proof that Joyce married Bowdoin Robins instead and they named a son Daniel Gore Robins. Therefore, the only logical assumption is that Ralph must have married Joyce's sister Mary Ann Gore (who was otherwise unaccounted for) and they named a daughter Joice Gore Justice after Mary Ann Gore's grandmother was was also named Joyce.
  Children	+ 1. Susannah Justice,   b. Abt 1730, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Yes, date unknown ╚═ George Parker, (Parkers Creek)  (Age < 43 years);    ╚═ Southey Littleton, Sr.;    ╚═ Jonathan Ailworth, II   2. James Justice,   b. Abt 1734, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Bef 26 Sep 1769, Accomack County, Virginia, USA (Age < 35 years) ╚═ Sarah (85) Custis  (Age < 74 years)  m. Abt 1765 + 3. Joyce Gore Justice,   b. 15 Feb 1735, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 1 Jan 1760 (Age 24 years) ╚═ Levin Teackle  (Age 76 years)  m. 4 Jun 1752
  Family ID	F7962	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	12 Jun 2023

  
  

  Family 2	Sarah Marshall,   b. Abt 1717, Northampton County, Virginia, USA d. 1751, Northampton County, Virginia, USA (Age 34 years)
  Marriage	13 Mar 1738	Northampton County, Virginia, USA   [20]
  	John and Thomas Marshall were the securities on the 1738 Northampton Co M.L.B. of Ralph Justice and Sarah Marshall, daughter of Thomas Marshall consent, with George Kendall as a witness. (NOTE: This Thomas Marshall may have been her older brother.)
  Children	1. William Justice,   b. Abt 1739, Northampton County, Virginia, USA d. Apr 1762, Accomack County, Virginia, USA (Age 23 years) ╚═ Ann (131) Drummond  (Age 58 years)  m. May 1759
  Family ID	F7963	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Mar 2023

  
  

  Family 3	Ann Burton,   b. Abt 1716, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Bef 31 Jan 1750/51, Accomack County, Virginia, USA (Age < 35 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1745	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [5]
  Family ID	F34976	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Mar 2023

  
  

  Family 4	Sabra Walker, (Walker?),   b. Abt 1725, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Yes, date unknown  Other Partners: ╚═Hugh McBright,   b. Abt 1725   d. Bef 28 Feb 1748/49, Accomack County, Virginia, USA  (Age < 24 years)  m. Abt 1748
  Marriage	Bef 29 May 1753	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [7]
  Family ID	F34977	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Mar 2023

  
  

  Family 5	Catherine (48) Harmanson,   b. Abt 1712, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Abt 1765 (Age 53 years)  Other Partners: ╚═John Shepherd,   b. Abt 1705, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Bef 25 Mar 1740, Accomack County, Virginia, USA  (Age < 35 years)  m. Abt 1730    ╚═Richard Drummond, III,   b. Abt 1714, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 22 Feb 1751, Accomack County, Virginia, USA  (Age 37 years)  m. Abt 1740
  Marriage	1756	Accomack County, Virginia, USA   [15, 21, 22, 23]
  Family ID	F7964	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Mar 2023

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - Abt 1705 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Marriage - Abt 1730 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Marriage - 13 Mar 1738 - Northampton County, Virginia, USA Deed of Gift - Received a Deed of Gift from someone - 3 Dec 1739 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Court - named in motion - 28 May 1741 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Land - they bought land - 1742 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Will - Named in Grand Mothers will - 1 Apr 1744 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Will - Named as an Executor of a will - 24 Apr 1744 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Marriage - Abt 1745 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Court - named in motion - 28 Jan 1752 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Estate Settlement - Named in wifes settlement - 28 Mar 1753 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Marriage - Bef 29 May 1753 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Court - named in order - 29 May 1753 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Estate Settlement - Named in wifes settlement - 28 Aug 1753 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Marriage - 1756 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Court - named in order - 31 Aug 1756 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Court - named in order - 1 Dec 1756 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Will - 12 May 1757 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Court - named in order - 31 Aug 1757 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Court - named in order - 30 Aug 1758 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Death - Bef 17 Dec 1759 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA Probate - 29 Jan 1760 - Accomack County, Virginia, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S978] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1737-1744, Volume 17, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2007), p. 165 (purported will of John Justice, dec'd), 978. [S832] Accomack Co, VA, Deeds, No. 001, 1737-1746, p. 142 (deed of gift from Mary Justice to grandson Ralph Justice), 832. [S978] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1737-1744, Volume 17, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2007), p. 213 (28 May 1741 Court), 978. [S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990), p. 141 (will of Mary Justice), 570. [S2013] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1744-1753, Volume 18, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2010), p. 388 (Ralph Justice admr of Anne his late wife, daughter of Samuel Burton dec'd), 2013. [S2013] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1744-1753, Volume 18, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2010), p. 455 (28 Mar 1753 Court), 2013. [S2013] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1744-1753, Volume 18, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2010), p. 461 (28 Mar 1753 Court), 2013. [S2224] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1753-1763, Volume 19, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2012), p. 11 (28 Aug 1753 Court), 2224. [S2224] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1753-1763, Volume 19, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2012), p. 134 (31 Aug 1756 Court), 2224. [S2224] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1753-1763, Volume 19, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2012), p. 140 (1 Dec 1756 Court), 2224. [S570] Stratton Nottingham, Accomack Co, VA, Wills & Administrations, 1663-1800, (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990), p. 196 (will of Ralph Justice, wife Catherine), 570. [S2224] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1753-1763, Volume 19, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2012), p. 181 (31 Aug 1757 Court), 2224. [S2224] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1753-1763, Volume 19, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2012), p. 225 (30 Aug 1758 Court), 2224. [S116] Accomack Co, VA, Court Orders, 1753-63, p. 311, 318 & 371, 116. [S888] John Frederick Dorman, Dorman, Adv of Purse & Person, 4th Ed, Vol 2, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2005), p. 714 (O'Neil-Robins Family), 888. [S2224] JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack Co, VA, Court Order Abstracts, 1753-1763, Volume 19, (Heritage Books, Westminster, MD 2012), p. ix (introduction), 2224. [S394] Mary Frances Carey, Carey, Justice - Elijah Hastings Justice, (Photocopied, New Church, VA, 1986), 394. [S572] Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia's Eastern Shore (A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties), in a 2 volume set, (Gloucester, Mass.: Peter Smith, 1968), p. 1154 (tract A121), 572. [S394] Mary Frances Carey, Carey, Justice - Elijah Hastings Justice, (Photocopied, New Church, VA, 1986), p. 5 (children of Ralph Justice & his wife Mary Abbott) & (Acc Orders 1744-1753, p. 338, shows Ralph Justice as administrator of Selby Gore's estate), 394. [S622] Jean M. Mihalyka, Marriages, Northampton County, Virginia, 1660/1-1854 (Recorded in Bonds, Licenses, Minister Returns, and other sources), (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990), 622. [S572] Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia's Eastern Shore (A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties), in a 2 volume set, (Gloucester, Mass.: Peter Smith, 1968), p. 664 (tract A26, Morris Shepherd Part), 572. [S556] Matthew M. Wise, Wise, Matt - The Littleton Heritage, (West Columbia, SC: The Wentworth Printing Corporation, 1997), p. 217 (#J-16 Katherine Harmanson), 556. [S2786] George Wythe, Wythe, George - Decisions of Cases in VA by, (J.W. Randolph, 121 Main Street, Richmond, VA, 1852), p. 173-180 (Bailey et ux vs Teackle et als, March 1793, division of the estate of Richard Drummond, who died in 1751), 2786.