MARGARET GAINES
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
Margaret Gaines was born about 1652 according to the LDS
Ancestral File. Various web sites give her parents as Daniel Gaines and Margaret Bernard. This seems to be
demonstrated with Daniel Gaines'
will.
Margaret, married John Prosser about 1669 in Virginia. He had previously been married to Martha who had died. Martha herself had been widowed by William Goffee. John Prosser died and his will was proved June 30, 1677, Rappahannock County, Virginia Book 5W(1) 111. As usual we only have the women's names as given to them by husbands. She had "sons" by Mr. Prosser of Golden Valley.
The Ancestral World Tree lists this John Prosser born about 1632, died 1677 in Rappahannock VA. It also says, "Spouse unknown". The children listed for him were Mary, John, Samuel, Roger, Anthony, and an unnamed child. We may assume that the younger sons would have been Margaret’s.
Margaret married Symon Miller
shortly after John Prosser
died. Symon Miller was a
shipbuilder, large landowner and hero. Tyler's Quarterly Magazine,
Vol. 12 contains an article, "Simon Miller, Captain in Bacon's
Rebellion" written by Rev. Arnold Harris Hord of Germantown, PA. He
states that the will of Symon Miller
included bequests to the sons of John
Prosser whose names are unknown. Then it lists the children of Symon and Margaret Miller to be:
1. Isabella, born 2,16, 1679,
married William Triplett
2. Simon (Colonel)
3. Margaret married James Hord
4. William
5. John
6. Susannah married Henry Brice
Symon Miller died in 1684
and his will was proved in Old Rappahannock County on May 2,
1684.
Margaret married a third
time in 1686 to Hugh French. from Index to Marriages of Old
Rappahannock and Exxes counties by Eva Wilkerson, book D 18 page 326
This became her longest marriage, nearly 15 years. Mr. French made a will dated Jan 20,
1700, probated Dec. 3, 1701 naming his wife Margaret as his executor. Wills of Richmond County, page 8,
by Robert Kirk Headley. It stated he was of St. Mary's Parish in Richmond
County. St.
Mary's Parish dates from 1677 and was in Old Rappahannock County.
The County was divided in 1692 in Richmond County and Essex County.
Richmond County is on the East side of the Rappahannock River, not near
Richmond the city. So Margaret probably lived her life out near
where she was born though its name was changed.
Recently Kathy Jones-Kristof
sent me a list of the sources that supported the story of Margaret's marriages. Some I
had, some were new to me. It included the great title, Married Well and Often: Marriages of the
Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649 - 1800 by Robert K Headley. On
page 245 it lists her 4 marriages and states her final wedding
was on 9/5/1705 to John Sommerville. I can find no other
documentation for this marriage.
It is not known when Margaret
Gaines Prosser Miller French Sommerville died. One
Ancestral guess was 1717. It is not known where she is buried.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US
1. Find documentation for her mother’s maiden name?
2. When and where did she marry John Prosser?
3. What were the names of the Prosser children Margaret bore?
4. What are the birth dates and spouses of the Miller children?
5. Find documentation for her marriage to John Sommerville.
6. When did she die and where is she buried?
7. Find a real birthdate.
Maier_Associates: © Copyright 2011
Doc; gbgai010.html
Date Last Edited: 8/21/2011