| State | Virginia |
|---|---|
| County (Primary) | Accomack |
| Other Counties | Northampton, Somerset |
| Family Name | Priss/Press |
| Family History Notes | 1. Priscilla, born say 1688, was called "Priss alias Priscilla a Malatta or Mustee bigg with a bastard Child got in Somerset County in Maryland" in Accomack County court on 7 August 1706 when Edward Bagwell, "Indian," appeared in court and agreed to have her child bound to him [Orders 1703-9, 75]. Her child was 2 i. William, born in 1706. 2. William Priss/ Press, born in 1706, was called "an Indian who was born in Accomack (County) of the body of a free Negro called Priscilla" in March 1730/1 when he was fined 1,000 pounds of tobacco for failing to list himself as a tithable in Northampton County, Virginia. Thomas Fisherman, who was also an Indian, was paid 1,000 pounds of tobacco for informing on him [Mihalyka, Loose Papers 1628-1731, 239]. William was apparently the ancestor of the following members of the Press family: i. Littleton, married Molly Fisherman 14 December 179? Northampton County bond, Reubin Reed security. ii. Elsey, head of an Accomack County household of 3 "other free" in 1800 [Virginia Genealogist 2:160]. iii. Tabby, married Thomas Francis, 26 December 1796 Northampton County bond, Edmund Press security. iv. Molly, married Sam Beavans, 19 August 1797 Northampton County bond, Abraham Lang security. v. Edmund, security for the 24 September 1796 Northampton County marriage of Solomon Beavans and Esther Casey. vi. ?John, head of a Sussex County, Delaware family of 8 "other free" in 1810 [DE:375]. |
| Additional Notes | – |
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[Author (if known)], Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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