DUVALL, Mareen ^{3 4 5}

  General Notes:

He is the immigrant ancestor on this branch of the family tree. John South stated that he was from Normandy France. Both Normandy and Laval are in the Northwestern region of France. I have followed his parentage as presented in "Mareen Duvall of Middleton Plantation" but it should be noted that there are other theories out there. Ex: According to Harry Wright Newman in "Mareen Duvall of Middle Plantation", it is not certain that Mary is Mareen's wife, but the following will of Thomas Bouth suggests it. In his will in 1672 it states he died without issue (without children). He does however, bequeath to Mary Dewall (Devall) the first calf of his cow and "one sow shoot." In an I.G.I. file which we have no substantiation for, this Mary Bouth is listed as the wife of Mareen Duvall. His deathdate matches but his parents are listed as Massiott Duvall and Margaret D'Orbin instead and his birth is given anywhere from 1630 to 1635 in Nantes, , Bretagne Province, France. Her parents are not given but her dates are b. 1634 in Normandie Province, France and died abt 1670. This record is much more prevalent in the I.G.I records than when I originally did my research. I also found an I.G.I record that states he was born in abt. 1632 in Lanal Castle,Mayenne Province, near Remnes, France, but this one lists no parents. "Historic Montgomery Co., MaD Old Homes and History" published in 1952 says that records state he was also born near Nantes, France. This could have been where the IGI record got his supposed birth place. This source does not list his parents. It is important to note that when his father is listed as Massiott, it is the same person as his grandfather in this version. There is no proof yet of their dates or connections.

Marin is listed in "The Early Settlers of Maryland" as Marin Du Vall. He arrived in the colonies between 1652-1659. He was a conservative in France, a Jacobite who supported James Stuart, the son of Charles II. France sided with Scotland in supporting Charles II as the King of England and this explains more why Marin, a Frenchman, would have supported Charles II's son. Marin was also a Huegonot. This was a very unpopular time for conservatives and Hugonots in France. He was supposedly in the Service in 1659 when the French were siding with the Scotts to help bring Charles II into power. Harry Wright Newman conjectures that he was captured and then transported by Willima Burgess to Maryland from France where he was "sold" as an indentured servant to John Covell. On July 25, 1659, Marin demanded 50 acres of land for performing his term of service with John Covell. He received 100 acres of land he named "Laval". This is significant in that it could be his origin in France. Laval is the capital of "Mayenne, France, a town 42 miles east of the Rennes. It was a custom in Maryland to name one's land after one's homeland.

In 1664, he had surveyed the main property he was to live on, "Middle Plantation". John Ewen gave him 250 acres, Thomas Parsons gave him 50 acres, and Andrew Skinner gave him 300 acres that comprised what he named "Middle Plantation" for work he apparently did as a carpenter. He applied for a patent for that land in that year under the heading "Marin Dewall, Carpenter". It was in Anne Arundel Co., on the south side of the South River though it did not adjoin any major body of water. Ann Covill was one of his neighbors.

In 1665, he and William Young jointly received a land patent for 200 acres called "Rich Neck" on the west side of Jacob's Creek. He added more land that adjoined Middle Plantation. By this time, he was called "Gentleman" in the records. His land purchases became extensive. In March of 1677/78 he obtained 375 acres in what was then Calvert Co., MD from Thomas Bowdle at a cost of 4,000 pounds of tobacco which was half of the land called "Bowdles Choice". Other properties he obtained included Essington, Morley's Grove, and Howerton's Range. He was also referred to as "Merchant" in one of these sales.

He obviously became a very successful businessman of the time, a gentleman in his own right. Even though he started in this country as an indentured servant, he showed ambition, education and intelligence in his business dealings and was a very wealthy man at the end of his life. The value of his clothing alone shows that he lived as a country gentleman before his death. His educational background can also be noted in the inventory of his books including law books at his estate settlement.

He left a will in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland in 1694, Book 2, p. 327 and Book 2A, p. 131. It is extensive and reproduced in "Mareen Duvall of Middle Plantation" by Harry Newman Wright. In it he bequeaths his well beloved wife, Mary, Middle Plantation for her lifetime. He gives his son Lewis 300 acres on the south end of Middle Plantation. He gives his daughter, Elizabeth Duvall, 375 acres called "Bowdel's Choice". Benjamin and Katherine received equal shares of "Howerton's Range". Mareen Duvall "the Younger" by his wife Susannah received "The Plains" in Calvert Co., MD. Mary received "Morley's Grove" and 300 more acres called "Marley's lot" in Anne Arundel Co. Joanna, his "youngest daughter," received Larkins Choice as well as Duvall's range in Anne Arundel Co. These appear to be his younger children whom he wants to have the claims when they are of age, being age 18 for the sons and age 16 for the daughters. He then gives some of his grown children 5 shillings sterling: John, Eleanor Roberts, Samuel, and Mareen "the eldest of that name". He gives 150 lbs sterling to Elizabeth Duvall, Johanna Duvall, Mary Duvall, Katherine Duvall, Mareen "the younger", Benjamin, and Lewis. He lastly gives his wearing apparel and silver tobacco box to his son John. His wife was named executor.

There appeared to be some discourse between Mareen's third wife and his older children. He specifically asked that she was not to be molested by anyone named in the will. To her he requested that his younger children remain in her care until of lawful age. He requested that she be "loveing and tender unto them and I do hereby conjoin her to use her endeavour to educate them in that fear of God and obedience to man." Within a month she requested to not be the administrator. Mareen's son John was named same. Later, Mary requested that she re-obtain the administrative role. Her step son John, was executing the will "to the great Damage and prejudice" of her according to her testament. In the end, she won out. ^{5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13}

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, Aug 2, 1694, , Anne Arundel, MD. ^{5 13}

Mareen married Mary BOUTH about 1658 in , Normandy Province, France.¹ (Mary BOUTH was born in 1634 in , Normandy Province, France and died about 1670.)

Mareen next married Susannah BRASSEUR before 1677.² (Susannah BRASSEUR was born about 1650 in Nasemond River, , VA ².)

Mareen next married Mary UNKNOWN about 1693-1694.¹ (Mary UNKNOWN was born in 1640 in , , Maryland and died on Jan 19, 1735/36 in , Anne Arundel, MD.)