Notes for Thomas Jester

Notes for Thomas Jester

From Colonial Families of Delaware, Vol. 1, by F. Edward Wright:
pg. 139: (land records also on pg. 146 and 29) On Aug 1 , 1718 Mathew Manlove, son and heir of Mark Manlove late of Kent Co., youman, dec'd, for 30 english pounds sold to William Mulroney of same place, yeoman, a tract of land on n. side of Mispillian Creek, 100a, part of a 300 a. tract sold by John Curtis, late of Kent Co., dec'd, unto Mark Manlove, dec'd, bearing date 5 Jan 1673 on the eastern end of Thomas Jester's land...binding with a tract of land called Maidens Plott.
pg. 150: 6 Dec 1716 marriage of William Manlove and Mary Bibe, Kent Co., Delaware - Thomas Jestor Witness.

From Virginia's Eastern Shore, Vol. II, by Ralph T. Whitelaw: Accomack County A137, pg. 1220
1699: George and Elizabeth Layfield of Somerset sold to Samuel Jester, son of Richard, the ded stating that Stevens had sold to Richard Jester, but no deed had been given; both Jester and Stevens had died, and Layfield had married the widow Elizabeth Stevens, hence this deed to complete the verbal sale. Although the deed was for the whole 300 acres, it developed that Samuel was only one of three sons of Richard Jester, the others being Richard and Thomas, each of whom became posessed of 100 acres of the tract. A record of the death of Richard I was not found, but in 1709 his widow Frances left a will.
1713: Thomas and Sarah Jester of Kent County "upon delawar" gave a power of attorney to his brother Samuel to make over to his brother Richard the 100 acres where they formerly lived; such a deed was not found, but Richard entered into the land.
1714: Thomas Jester and his wife Sarah of Kent County, Delaware, sold 100 acres to Robert Slocombe.

From Calendar of Kent County Delaware Probate Records 1680-1800:
pg. 154
Jester, Thomas. Will. Made Feb 2, 1753. Heirs: daus. Barbara, Elizabeth and Sarah Jester, Ann Mann, Esther Winsmore; sones Thomas, Joshua, Daniel, Joseph, Jonathan, Jacob, Abraham, Issac, Richard and John Jester; heirs of dau. Mary Jester. Exec'r, son John Jester. Wits., Jno. Brinckle, Grace Russell and Joseph Russell. [no prob.]. Arch. vol. A27, page 49.

From the notes of Charles Jester:
Thomas moved to Kent County, Delaware by 1713 where he lived with his wife Sarah. Thomas died in 1753, leaving a large surviving family, one of whom, named Jacob, disappears from the record about the time thta a Jacob Jester appears in Rowan (later in Guilford), North Carolina. The tax records certainly do not disprove and generally they seem to support the theory that Jacob in North Carolina and John in North Carolina are in fact the Jacob and John listed in the will of Thomas Jester of Kent County. This is for several reasons, first Maskell in North Carolina appears to have been born 1780-1785 to have been the general age for first marriage about 1800. John is the best option, dying about 1788-1790. Maskell's first sone was named John (admittedly John Brazzleton also supplied a source). Next neither Maskell, Nimrod, or Thomas (James T.) appear to have been given the name Jacob (the only other known possible father) to any offspring. The tax records suggest that Jacob was single when he left Delaware. The above is circumstantial and does not prove a connection. However, the evidence tends to support the theory.