Notes:

He was the immigrant ancestor in this line. He is the John Ponder who was transported to the American colonies on May 24, 1674 from England to Annapolis, Maryland. He arrived on the ship "Charles of London". Capt. Benoni Eaton claimed headright land for John Ponders's transportation. John purchased his first 100 acres of land in June of 1682 from Hugh Paxton. John Ponder purchased 200 acres more on Mar 6, 1689 which he named Ponderfield. It was surveyed for him of 4/25/1688 as lying on the east side of Unicorn Branch on Chester River in Maryland. John Offley was the surveyor for his brother Edward. He was on a jury in 1797 in Kent Co., Maryland. He was on the Orphan Jury in 1702 in Kent Co., Maryland. He is also in the following record that would have occurred in Kent Co., Maryland between 1701 and 1702. It involves his sons, John Jr. and Richard also. Four men had to pay a surety amount that was large for the time to assure that they would return for the next court date in which their case was being tried. It does not tell what the case was about. Peter Mersey and Thomas Mounsier in their prper prsons Phillip Duff by John Ponder his Surety, Are bound to Appear As Evidences here next Court In the Sume of ten pds Sterg ~ John Ponder Junr. and Richard Ponder are bound in twenty pounds Sterg. And John Ponder Senr. & Tho: Ford are bound in ten pounds Sterg Each to be levy'd as is abovesd. in Case the Sd. Jno. Ponder Junr. and Richd Ponder do not Make their Appearance at the next Court He died shortly thereafter in Kent Co., Maryland.

His will (on Ancestry) named his wife, Mary, sons John, James, William and Richard and daughter, Margaret (later called Mary) who was given into the care of her mother as she was underage. He also mentioned "Shepherd's Fortune" and "Shepherd's Fields" which had been acquired from Francis Shepherd. The will was written in 1702 and entered into probate on 2 Feb 1702. It was proved on July 20, 1703. Kent Co. was mentioned at the bottom of the will. His wife Mary in the will would have referred to his 2nd wife named Mary who Candee Varville has proved was Mary Bright.

Candee Varvill found good evidence by way of wills that Mary was a Bright by birth. John Ponder, her husband, had a court case and deed with Charles Bright, a likely relative (brother or cousin) of his wife's. Mary Bright might have been a wife of John who only had one child, Mary b. 1697 by him. The following was posted 15 Apr 2010 by jkedroff1 in Public Member Stories on Ancestry. John Ponder and Elizabeth Dunnlatte were both on the "Charles of London". In 1677 John was accused and found guilty of fathering a child by Elizabeth.

After his death, his wife had to pay for his debts as seen in the following court record: It is likewise Considered b? ye Sd Court ye Same Da? and year yt ye Jno ffisher recover at ye Said William fford as well ye Sume of ffift? pounds of tobo ye Damages ascessed b? ye Jur? as afsd as ye Sume of five hundred pounds fift? and four pounds of tobo for his Cost and Charges Laid out and Expended according to ye form of ye Statute &ca GLumle? Clk | Also under The Exrs. of Edward | ffre? ~ ~ ~ | Com? nd was Given to ye Sherf of Kent Count? ye 29th Da? of 7ber Anno agt | D? i 1704 to take Mar? Ponder admrx of John Ponder Senr. if to be Mar? Ponder Admx | found in his bailewick and her Safe keep Soe yt he ma? have her ~ of John Ponder Senr | bod? before ye Justices of Kent Court, att next Court to be held for Sd Count? to answer unto Geo: Lumle? &ca Exr. of Edward ffrey Deceased in a plea of trespass upon ye Case for ye Sume of one pound fourteen Shillings Sterg mone? , and hereof he was not to faile &ca. And now here this Da? to witt this 28th Da? of 9ber anno D? i 1704 being ye Da? of ye retn of ye writt afsd ye Sherf makes retn hereof Endorsed Cepi Corps pr me John Hawkins Sherff '97 '97 Whereupon ye Sd Deft appears in her afsd Capacitie and Sa? eth yt She cannot Gainesa? ye pltf in his acc? n afsd Soe as afsd brought, nor but yt ye Sd John Ponder Decd Indebted to ye Sd Edward in ye Sume afsd, and She ye Sd admx in Sd Capacitie is willing yt Judgmt. be Intered agt her for ye Same '97 It is therefore Considered here b? ye Court this 28th Da? of 9ber anno D? i 1704 yt ye Sd Geo: Lumle? &ca in their Capacitie afsd recover agt ye Sd Admx in Sd Capacitie as well ye Sume of one pound fourteen Shillings Sterg mon? ye Debt afsd as ye Sume two hundred and five pounds of tobo Cost of Suit '97 '97 '97 Michael Earle | Dt 540ls tobo | H? lands admrs. | Dt| Thos Joce | | Jkedroff1 on Ancestry surmises that John was married twice and had children with 3 women.

Because my 102 year old mother who was born in 1916 has from 3.2 to 6.7 cM's of common DNA with 4 cousins descending from Mary's grandfather, Thomas Edward Norris, I theorize that Margaret was either a misinterpretation of the original 1680's document or it is a common nickname for Mary at the time. I believe that our John descended from wife, Mary/Margaret Woodroofe as supported by DNA.

As for his children's ages, a lot can be surmised from his will probated Feb. 2, 1702. He supposedly wrote it years before his death perhaps before a trip. His daughter, Mary, apparently had not been born when he wrote his will. He apparently lived on a tract of land in Sussex Co., Delaware and owned a plantation in Queen Ann's County, Maryland. He bequeathed to his son John the tract of land where he lived. He bequeathed to his son James and William 300 acres of land each called Cloud's Adventure. He bequeathed to his son Richard half the land where John Sr. was living (in Sussex, DE) and half the plantation (in Queen Anne's?). To his wife Mary, he bequeathed the other half of the tract in Sussex, Delaware and half of the plantation in Queen Anne's. (I assumed the locations) To his daughter Margaret, he gave a negro named Weyman when he came of age. He bequeathed to his wife one man servant called William Goodbury and a servant called Catherine Green. He bequeathed a yearling horse to his son, James. His son James was to be cared for by son Richard till he came of age. His son William was to be under the care of his wife till he too came of age.

He might be the John Ponder who was the son of Thomas Ponder and Ann christened Mar 30, 1656, Undershaft, London, England. So far I have found 1 descendant of this Thomas Ponder and their DNA does not match my mothers. As for the wife that he had most of his children by, this is one theory. In 1680 John Ponder gives up his headrights. Amongst the group of those so doing is Margaret Ponder, listed as the wife of John Ponder. Margaret and Mary are interchangeable nicknames at the time. We have not been able to find this deed. In a deposition given by Daniel "Norris" in 1706, concerning Thomas Woodrooffe who died without heirs, Daniel Norris states that Ann Norris was his sister and that she married William Woodrooffe (brother of Thomas) in Cowley, England and after his death she married Francis Shepperd. He further stated he knew the Woodrooffe family in London before they came to America. Ann and William had six children. One of them was named Mary. It is Ann's daughter Mary who was possibly also the wife of John Ponder. This would explain why Francis (Shepherd) left "John Ponder the land on which he now lives". Also, Mary, the daughter of Francis and Ann was still under age and unmarried in 1692 at the time of his will. Francis also stated he wanted his children to remain in their home. Since they were all under age this would probably not have been possible if a relative was not near.(This of course makes it unlikely that Daniel, Ann, Alice and Robert Norris were the children of Thomas Norris as is so often quoted. For how can it be explained that they were living in England?) jkedroff1

John married Elizabeth DUNNLATTE in 1677 in Relationship. Elizabeth was born before 1664 in England; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married (Margaret) before 1680. (Margaret) was born before 1662; died before 1697 in of Kent Co., Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Mary BRIGHT before 1697. Mary (daughter of Thomas BRIGHT and Cicely EVANS) was born after 1673 in , , Maryland; died after 1703 in of Kent Island, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

This occurred in Kent Co., Maryland between 1701 and 1702 according to the Maryland Archives and the fact that John Sr. is still alive. It involves his sons, John and Richard also.

Peter Mersey and Thomas Mounsier in their prper prsons and Phillip Duff by John Ponder his Surety, Are bound to Appear As Evidences here next Court In the Sume of ten pds Sterg ~ John Ponder Junr. and Richard Ponder are bound in twenty pounds Sterg. And John Ponder Senr. and Tho: Ford are bound in ten pounds Sterg Each to be levy'd as is abovesd. in Case the Sd. Jno. Ponder Junr. and Richd. Ponder do not Make their Appearance at the next Court He resided in Sussex, Delaware in 1717. The Commissioners of Sussex signed a land warrant to John Ponder on 13 Nov 1717 for 200 acres in the Forest of Sussex. He was listed as "of Cedar Creek Hundred" in the membership role of St. Matthews Church in 1717.

He died in 1719 in Sussex County, Delaware. His will names eldest daughter Mary; eldest son, John "plantation where I now live and land in Maryland including Shepherd's Field"; sons James and Daniel, daughters Sarah, Margaret and Rosanna. He gave his plantation in Queen Ann's County, Maryland to his wife, Mary. The will was probated on 15 Apr 1719. Liber A, folios 107-109. There is a debate about whether or not John is the son of John Ponder and a wife Margaret supposedly mentioned as his wife in a 1680 deed where he cancels his headrights. We have not been able to find the document supporting this.

This John also was the husband of Mary, d. of Ann Norris. Some believe Mary was the mother of all but one of his children. DNA seems to be supporting this 2nd theory. I checked my mother's DNA who was born in 1916 against 17 of Ann Norris' father, Thomas Edward Norris' descendants. About 1/4 of them had chromosome segments in common with my mother from 3.2 to 6.7 cM's. For this far back in time that is amazing.

John married Mary TURNER before 1700. Mary (daughter of John TURNER and Margaret) was born in 1676 in , , Maryland; was christened on 27 Jun 1704 in , Anne Arundel, MD; died on 1 Jul 1721 in , Sussex, Delaware. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was to be taken care of by his brother Richard till he was of age in his father's 1702 will. James Ponder left a will in 1750 in Queen Anne's, Maryland in Box 9, Folder 80 and also Liber 27, Folio 417.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He is likely the early Richard Ponder who purchased 38 acres in Maryland which he named Ponder's Chance. The date is not given on the index record but is in a totally different volume than his father's purchase of land. His father in his will written at the latest in 1797, asked him to be a guardian for his brother, James, suggesting that he was at least 18 years of age, probably 21. This gives his birthdate as before 1682 and probably bef 1779.The following record in the Archives of Maryland show that Richard Ponder was wealthy by 1705. Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and ffive Betweene Richard part and John Salter of the same County and Province on the other ation of the sum of ffourteene Thousand Pounds of Good Tobacco to him him the said Richard Ponder the receipt whereof the sd Richard Ponder hereof fully satisfied Contented & paid and by these prsents doth fully John Salter his Heires Exrs and admrs from Every part and parcell moveing have given granted Bargained and Sold, and by these prsents give said John Salter his Heires and assignes forever, Part of a Tract of Land side of Chester River on a Creeke called Joneses Creeke: Beginning at a and running thence south south west One Hundred and fforty Perches to with ye sd Land Three Hundred and Twenty Perches Then north north Containing by Estimation Two Hundred Acres more of Less; Together with benefitts houses Outhouses Orchards ffences and all other things ings that does concern the pmises To have and to hold the said unto ye sd John Salter his Heires and assignes to the only proper use for ever; and that the sd Richard Ponder at the sealeing & Delivery in ffree & Common Soccoge and to be and remaine ffree & Cleare of ever to the Day of the Date hereof; and does hereby obliege hiimselfe by his procurement The rents and services that shall henceforth grow True Intent and meaneing of these prsents writeing is that the said sell the abovesd Land and Plantation and all the appurtenances and assignes for Ever and do hereby relinquish any Claime or Title my Seale in the Day of in the year ffirst above Richard [mark] Ponder seal on the Backside as followeth vidzt Ponder and acknowledge the wthin deed the uses within menconed

Lumley Clk Then there is this record between the same two men in the same year. This Indenture made the 16 Day of June in the year of Our Ponder of Kent County in the Province of Maryland on the one Part Wittnesseth that the said Richard Ponder for and in consider in hand paid before the Sealeing and Delivery of these prsents unto doth hereby doth acknowledge and for every part and parcell and Clearely and absolutely Exonerate acquitt and Discharge the thereof for ever; and for Divers good causes and considerations thereunto grant bargaine and sell aliene and Enfeoffe and Confirm unto the called Shepherds discovery Lyeing and being in Kent County on the south marked oake standing on the south side of a branch of ye sd creeke a parcell of Land called Courses Twone then northwest and by [illegible] East Ninty Perches, and then by a straight Line to the ffirst bounded Tree all woods under woods and all and singular the rights Profitts [illegible] thereunto or in any wise appertaineing and alsoe all Deeds and wri Tract of Land with all the appurtenances and all and Every part and behoofe of him the said John Salter his Heires and assignes of these presents are and stand Lawfully seised of a good perfect [illegible] and from all former bargaines sales dowrs gifts of Dowers w-- to defend the same from all persons Claimeing by from or under him Due to the Lord of the ffee Excepted and foreprized; and further the Richard Ponder does hereby pass Convey sell and make over and in any wise to the same belonging To ye said John Salter his Heires thereunto In Wittness whereof I have sett my hand and affixed written Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of The above Deed was Endorsed Nattll Wright June 27 : 1705 Then Came Richard William [mark] Hollinsworth according to Law to and for

Richard's will is in Queen Anne's, Maryland in 1748 in Box 9, Folder 78 and Liber 25, folio 458.

Richard married Sarah HAMER before 1712 in of Queen Anne's, Maryland. Sarah was born about 1690 in , , Maryland; died in 1751 in , Queen Anne's, MD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was the youngest of John's sons according to John's will. He was not listed as a minor by Mary Ponder's second husband, John Gilgore in 1806 so he likely would have been at least 18 by that time or born before 1689. There is the possibility that he'd been indentured in a trade by that time also relieving him of his step-father's care.

He might be the William Ponder whose estate was inventoried in 1724 in Liber 10, Folio 159 in Queen Anne's, Maryland. If so, his administration is # 452, Liber 6, Folio 194.

Family/Spouse: Priscilla. Priscilla was born in 1700; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Candee Varville proposes that this daughter Margaret as per John Ponder's will is the daughter known as Mary in an 1806 record of her step father when he says that his deceased wife, Mary, was the father of his son William and her daughter Mary Ponder who was then 8 and a half years old.

Family/Spouse: Sarah WARREN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In 1725, he sold 150 acres of land to Thomas Groves in Sussex Co., Delaware as per deed records for that county. He signs the deed as John J. Ponder. Below the signature is the word Mark, so the J in the middle of his name could be his mark for John. Luke Watson and Mary Woodward delivered the deed. No wife is mentioned at the time. We have proof that his wife was Alice Gum from a March 1735 will made by Alice's father in law, Griffith Jones. It refers to John Ponder (yeoman) and his wife Alse Gum d. of John Gum as the daughter in law of Griffith Jones.

On Nov. 6, 1767 in Sussex, Delaware, John Ponder deeded land that named his deceased wife as the daughter of John Gum. It also lists John Gum's children as Sarah married to Jacon Shelton. The deed gives John's Ponders' children as Mary married to William Tharp, Sarah married to William Mitten and John Ponder Jr. In the will index, it says his wife was the daughter of John Gum. His will was written on Aug. 15, 1786.Primary Name: John Ponder, Yeoman Will Location: Broadkiln Hd. Heirs: wife Elisabeth Ponder; son James Ponder; daus. Kezia Allee, Levina Dogman, Alice Hand, Elizabeth Hand and Sarah Mitten; granddau. Alice Mitten Executor Name: son James Ponder Witness Names: John W. Dean, Rhoda Mason, Sarah Mason Will Probate Date:20 Jul 1787 It does not name his children John or Mary as they had been given land previously. He obviously was married more than once. This info was forwarded from Ancestry UK: Revolutionary Patriots of Delaware 1775-1783 Henry C. Peden, Jr. M.A. Family Line Publications, Westminster, MD 1996, Ponder, John. Private, Capt. David Hall's Company, Continental Troups. enlisted on Feb. 7, 1776, and in barracks at Lewistown on April 11, 1776 (Ref: A-43, C-1157). "John Ponder, yeoman" died testate in Broadkiln Hundred in Sussex County in 1787, naming wife Elizabeth, son James, and daughters Kezia Allee, Levina Dogman, Alice Hand, Elizabeth Hand, and Sarah Mitten (/ref: J-187)-------------------------------------------

Land Records of Sussex County Delaware 1763-1769 by Mary Marshall Brewer, p.113-114(Also in Joseph Brown Turner Collection, microfiche #405 Milwarde-Monett (Mitten))3 Nov 1767. Deed. JOHN PONDER Senr, JACOB SHELTMAN and SARAH his wife, WILLIAM THARP & MARY his wife, WILLIAM MITTEN and SARAH his wife sold to JACOB GUM ... a tr of land, whereas a certain JOHN GUM of Suss Co father to the afsd JOHN PONDER's former (wife) and the afsd JACOB SHELTMAN's present wife died intestate seized with a tr of land whereon the present JACOB GUM party to these presents now dweleth, grandson to the afsd JOHN GUM, the afsd JOHN PONDER haveing issue by his former wife dau to JOHN GUM the afsd MARY w/o WM THARP, SARAH w/o WILLIAM MITTEN and JOHN PONDER Junr who is not a party to these presents, and whereas the afsd JOHN PONDER Senr did suppose that his former wife & JACOB SHELTMAN's wife had right in the lands of JOHN GUM afsd no equal distribution thereof to his knowledge being made, therefore he the said JOHN did purch of JACOB SHELTMAN and SARAH his wife, WILLIAM THARP and MARY his wife, WILLIAM MITTON and SARAH his wife, after which purch the said JOHN with said JACOB GUM did, the matter afsd being in dispute, leave to JOHN HEVELO, BOAZ MANLOVE, PARKER ROBINSON, NEHEMIAH DAVIS Junr & DAVID STUARD referrees to award a final end to make of the matter then in dispute which majority of the referrees, viz JOHN HEVERLO, PARKER ROBINSON, NEHEMIAH DAVIS Junr & DAVID STUART did by their award bearing date 9 Oct 1767 order the afsd JOHN PONDER Senr to make over to the afsd JACOB GUM all right that he the said JOHN hath that JACOB SHELTMAN & SARAH his wife, WILLIAM THARP and MARY his wife, WILLIAM MITTON and SARAH his wife hath to the lands and in consideration of 2 receipts to them appearing from under the hands of the said JOHN PONDER and wife, and JACOB SHELTMAN and his wife formerly signd by them to a certain ABRAHAM GUM father to this present JACOB GUM ... the grantors hereby appoint RHOADS SHANKLAND esqr to ackn this deed in open court. SARAH SHELTON, MARY THARP andSARAH MITTEN ackn their free & volantary consent in the perfecting the within deed before WILLIAM CONWELL justice of the peace. Ackn 4 Nov 1767. (K:pg 294) -----------------------------

Land Records of Sussex County Delaware, 1782-1789 Deed Book N No. 13; Elaine Hastings Mason & F. Edward Wright; Gc 975.101 SU 8m;p.88486. 22 Feb 1788. Deed. John Rowland from James Ponder and others. Whereas THOMAS HAND, WILLIAM HAND, JOHN HAND AND THOMAS SKIDMORE on 22 Nov. 1782 conveyed unto JOHN PONDER a parcel of land in Broadkiln Hund on w side of Round Pole Branch near road leading from upper Road to town of Lewes to lower Road leading to said town... 17 1/4 ac whereas JOHN PONDER in his will dated 15 Aug. 1786 devised to his son JAMES PONDER above described parcel of land, reserving to his dau KEZIAH ALLEE 1 ac contiguous to the dwelling house, shop and well. Now this indenture made between JAMES PONDER and ELEANOR his wife, ISAAC ALLEE and KEZIAH his wife on the one part and JOHN ROWLAND of Sussex Co., tanner, of the other part, for 60 pounds paid by JOHN ROWLAND. Wit: JOHN CLOWES, JOHN W. DEAN (McDEAN?). Ackn 8 Feb. 1788.------------------------------Land records of Sussex County Delaware 1722-1731 Deed Book F No.6 by Johnita MaloneACPL Gc975.101 Su8map.57p.215-216. Deed 29 Jan 1725. from John Ponder Of Sussex Co., DE toThomas Groves. Fro 10 pounds 151 acres.---------------------- Calendar of Sussex County Delaware Probate Records 1680-1800Compiled by Leon deValenger, Jr. State archivist; Published by the Public Archives Commission State of Delaware Dover, 1964.Ponder, John. Yeoman. Broadkiln Hd. Will. Made Aug. 15, 1786. Heirs: wife Elisabeth Ponder; son James Ponder; daus. Kezia Allee, Levina Dogman, Alice Hand, Elisabeth Hand and Sarah Mitten; granddau. Alice Mitten. Exec'r, son James Ponder. Wits., John W. Dean, Rhoda Mason, Sarah Mason. Prob. July 20, 1787. Arch. vol. A93, page 181. Reg. of wills, Liber D, folies 152-153----------------------------Copy of Probate from the Delaware Archives (5 pages)

John married Alice GUM before 1726. Alice (daughter of John GUM and Frances POTTER) was born in 1706 in Sussex Co., Delaware; died in 1744 in Sussex Co., Delaware. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Elizabeth TURNER about 1745. Elizabeth was born on 22 Jun 1705 in Scituate, Plymouth, MA; died after Aug 1786 in of Sussex, Delaware, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Margaret married Stephen BENNETT before 1724 in , Sussex, Delaware. Stephen was born in 1699; died in 1753. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He is not listed in his father's will dated 1719.

Family/Spouse: Margaret. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her name might be Sevenah instead in her father's will.

Family/Spouse: Peter DEGMAN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A handmade booklet on this generation of Tharps says that Mary was declared by jury as insane in 1815. This would have been the term used at the time for dementia. Son, Zadock, was named her guardian. (CL-317a) She died shortly after as her son Zadock was the administrator for her estate which he filed on May 28, 1816. The estate papers administered on May 28, 1816 lists her and William's children as William, Joseph, Zedic, Isaac, Esther, Armelia Calhoon, Unica, Kezziah, and Ann. It names one grandson Jesse who was being cared for by Isaac (Zaus).

She is listed in her father's deed transaction in Sussex, Delaware in 1767 under her married name proving that she is a Ponder instead of a Harris as is oft printed.

Mary married William THARP about 1764 in Murderkill Hundred, Kent, DE. William (son of William THARP and Jane (OISTONE) AUSTIN) was born about 1729 in Tuckahoe Hundred, Talbot, MD; died on 29 Apr 1807 in , Iredell, NC, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: William MITTEN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is probably the niece of William Westly Turner who left a will in 1771 indicating a lot of family that did not include a wife or children. She was left a chest by him under the name of Alse Ponder, his niece.

Family/Spouse: HAND. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: ALLEE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: HAND. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]