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|--Wayman ST. CLAIR
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Married between 11-19-1760 and 4-12-1762; no children by this marriage.
On 19 November 1760, we find a detailed marriage contract recorded in Loudoun County, Virginia, [8. Book B., page 92] which states that Wayman and Hester Linton are to marry and that her estate is to remain hers forever and his is to be held solely for his children.
At this time, a little background on Hester is needed to fully appreciate the later court records. Hester's first marriage was to Jacob Smith, by whom she had at least two children, Jacob Smith, Jr. and Smallwood Smith. After Jacob Sr.'s death, Hester married Edmond Linton. There are many documents regarding legal action involving Edmond and Hester, who apparently lived just across the Prince William County line in Loudoun County and were the owners of an inn - of sorts.
The court document which puts their history and reputation in a nutshell is dated 26 March 1751 when Hester and Edmond were charged in court of "being persons of vile character and harborers and entertainers of rogues and horse stealers". They were fined 5 pounds sterling and to give security for good behavior and pay 5 pounds sterling. [9. Loudoun County Court Order Book, 1749, page 127.]
After about six years of marriage, Edmond Linton died and Hester was once again a widow - for only about the society-required year of mourning.
Considering Hester's track record, Wayman was wise in legally recording the marriage contract, which in itself was an unusual document in that time period. About four months after the date of this document, it was recorded on 11 March 1761. [10. Loudoun County Book B, page 92.]
On 12 April 1762, Wayman was living with Hester in Cameron Parish, Loudoun County, Virginia, apparently on her property, when he wrote his will. His descendants are fortunate that he named each of his children: Alexander, Isaac, Robert, Mary, George, Wayman Jr., and Elizabeth. He states that his youngest child is eight years old and that the estate was not to be divided until the youngest child reached the age of 16, or circa 1770. After being so careful in protecting his children's estate with the prenuptual agreement with Hester, Wayman carelessly appoints "my Loving Wife Hester Sinckler (sic) and my friend Bridgar Haynie and my brother John Sincker (sic) as executors." On 13 July 1762 Wayman was deceased and the will was proved. [11. Loudoun County Book A., page 59.] It is after this short marriage that the three-timed widow, Hester, was given the nickname, the marrying Hester, by St. Clair researchers.
wife #1 ____ Shirley parents: Richard Shirley and Mary Graham
children:
1. Alexander Sinkler/Sinclair 2. Isaac Sinkler/Sinclair m. Letitia ____ 3. Robert Sinkler/St. Clair m. Ruth ____ 4. Mary Sinkler m. 5. George Sinkler/Sinclair m. Martha "Patsy" ____ 6. Wayman Sinkler/St. Clair m. Mary Watts 7. Elizabeth Sinkler m. Henry Priest (?)
Note: Children may not be listed in birth order. They are listed in the order of Wayman's will.
By the estimated birth years of Wayman's documented children, we can safely assume he married before 1740. In that year, he and his brother, Robert, are listed as tithers in Prince William County, the site of the homeplace. We do not know the given name of Wayman's wife; only that she was the daughter of Richard and Mary (Graham) Shirley. Mary (Graham) Shirley was the daughter of Edward and Patience Graham of Fairfax County, Virginia. [7. Will Fairfax County, Virginia, 12 September 1749; probate 27 March 1750]
It is certain that all of Wayman's children were born on his half of the homeplace in Prince William County and apparently he and his wife led an uneventful life as only tax records on the homeplace appear until 19 November 1760, when the saga of the St. Clairs begin in earnest.
E-Mail Me: smwood@erols.com