Elizabeth Porter (1758-1833)
Elizabeth’s Parents
Birth records from eighteenth-century Maryland are scarce, but the church registers of Coventry Parish offer a rare window into this period. These records were copied in 1899-1900 and later preserved on microfilm.[1] Coventry Parish was one of the original thirty Anglican parishes in the Province of Maryland and was located in Rehobeth, about eight miles southwest of present-day Pocomoke City along the Pocomoke River.[2]
According to these parish records, Matthew and Mary Porter welcomed a daughter, Betty, on April 23, 1758. The same source records the marriage of “Mary Virdian” and “Matthew Porter” on January 8, 1752, suggesting a likely identification of Betty’s parents.[3] Unfortunately, no surviving records identify the birthplaces of Matthew Porter or Mary Virdin, nor do they name their parents.
Elizabeth’s Death
The only document that may shed light on Elizabeth’s death is the will of Elizabeth Payne, signed on December 29, 1832.[4] It is not entirely certain, however, that this Elizabeth is the same woman who married John Payne. In the will Elizabeth bequeaths property to her son Joshua – a notable detail, as John and Elizabeth’s youngest son was named Joshua. She also leaves items to grandchildren Esther and John, names that correspond to known children of Joshua Payne.
Other aspects of the will, however, raise questions. If the will belonged to Elizabeth Porter Payne, she have been approximately seventy-five years old at the time of her death – an age that, while possible, was uncommon for women in the early nineteenth century. In addition, the will names three grandchildren -- Littleton, Mouthy and Mahaly -- who do not appear in any other records connected to the children of John and Elizabeth Payne. The will also omits mention of other children or grandchildren who would have been alive at the time it was written.
I was unable to locate any other Elizabeth married to a Payne on the Eastern Shore, Maryland, to whom this will could reasonably be attributed. For that reason, I have concluded that it most likely belonged to Elizabeth Porter.
Footnotes
[1] Powell, Jody. Somerset County Maryland Coventry Parish Church Records Vol. I, 1703-1834. (Roanoke TX: Self Published, 1993) Preface.
[2] “List of the original 30 Anglican parishes in the Province of Maryland,” Wikimedia Foundation, last modified August 29, 2025 20:02, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_original_30_Anglican_parishes_in_the_Province_of_Maryland.
[3] Powell, Jody. p. 22.
[4] Maryland, Worcester. Wills, Liber M.H., 1822-33, p. ??? https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GT1P-WBL.
Elizabeth Payne’s Will
In the name of God Amen, I Elizabeth Payne of Worcester County in the State of Maryland being sick and weak in body but sound disposing mind and memory considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please god to call me hence do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament no manner and form following that is to say.
First and principally, I count my soul unto the hands of almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried and after my just debts are paid I devise and bequeath as follows.
Item I give unto my granddaughter Esther Payne one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson Littleton Payne one yearling to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Mouthy Payne one small trunk to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Mahaly Payne my spinning wheel to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give an bequeath unto my grandson John Payne one bed and furniture and 3 ? of bags and also my cow.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joshua Payne all the Residue of my property to him his heirs and assigns forever.
I do hereby constitute and appoint Joshua Payne and William Aydelott to be my sole executors of this my last will and testament revoking all former wills ?? of or by me been made Ratifying and confirming this and has other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof thereunto set my hand and affixes my seal this the twentieth and ninth day of December in this year of our lord 1832. Elizabeth Payne
John Gootee, John Payne
Worcester County. The 1st day of February Anno Domini 1833 then came Joshua Payne and William Aydelott and severally made oaths on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that the ?? Instrument of Writing is the true and whole last will and testament of Elizabeth Payne late of Worcester County deceased, that ?? to their hands or possession. Before ?? P. Spence Reg Wills for Worcester County.
On the 1st day of February Anno Domini 1833 came John Gootee and John Payne the two subscribing witnesses to the ?? last will and testament of Elizabeth Payne late of Worcester County deceased and severally made oaths on the Holy Evangely of almighty God that they did see the said Elizabeth Payne the testatrices sign and seal the said will, and that they heard her publish pronounce and declare the same to be her last will and testament that at the time of her so doing she was to the best of their apprehension of sound disposing mind memory and understanding and that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to the said will in the presence and at the request of the testatrices and in the presence of each other. Before ??? P. Spence Reg Wills for Worcester County.
Source: Maryland, Worcester. Wills, Liber M.H., 1822-33, p. ??? https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GT1P-WBL?i=297&cc=1803986.