Information on David Marvel Sr.

DAVID1 MARVEL SR. was born on 05 Jan 1729 in Stepney Parish, Somerset County, Maryland. He died on 04 Jan 1796 in Dover, Sussex, Delaware. He married (1) COMFORT PRETTYMAN, daughter of William Prettyman and Elizabeth Warples Burton, in 1744 in Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware.
She was born in 1725 in Sussex County, Delaware. She died in 1801 in Sussex County, Delaware.  He married (2) SARAH ‘SALLIE’ PRETTYMAN, daughter of Thomas Prettyman II and Elizabeth Inloe, on 05 Jan 1789 in Somerset, Maryland. She was born in 1740 in Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex
County, Delaware. She died in 1801 in Georgetown, Sussex County, Delaware.  According to Sarah ‘Sallie’ Prettyman father’s will – he called her Sary.

  (click here for Information on the Prettyman family)

David Marvel Sr. and Comfort Prettyman had the following children:

  1. PATIENCE2 MARVEL was born on 31 Jan 1758 in Worcester County, Maryland. She died on 05 May 1817 in Mount Station, Gibson County, Indiana (Age: 59). She married James D. Knowles, son of Richard Knowles Sr. and Prudence Prettyman, in 1778 in Sussex County, Delaware. He was born on 09 May 1757 in Sussex County, Delaware. He died on 23 Oct 1839 in Mounts Station, Gibson County, Indiana (Age: 82).
  2. PRUDENCE MARVEL was born in 1759 in Sussex County, Delaware. She died in 1790 in Sussex County, Delaware. She married Richard Knowles Jr., son of Richard Knowles Sr. and Patience Prettyman, in 1777 in Sussex County, Delaware. He was born in 1740 in Sussex County, Delaware. He died in 1798 in Sussex County, Delaware.
  3. PRETTYMAN MARVEL SR. was born on 29 Jan 1763 in Dagsboro, Sussex County, Delaware. He died on 01 Oct 1856 in Waynesville, De Witt County, Illinois (Age: 93). He married Lavina Rogers, daughter of John Rogers and Comfort Prettyman, in 1793 in Sussex County, Delaware. She was born on 29 Jan 1765 in Kent County, Delaware. She died on 10 Jan 1850 in Posey County, Indiana.

David Marvel Sr. and Sarah ‘Sallie’ Prettyman had the following children:

  1. ELIZABETH ‘BETSY’ MARVEL was born on 25 Oct 1789 in Sussex County, Delaware.  She died in Sussex County, Delaware.
  2. DAVID MARVEL JR. was born in 1790 in Delaware.
  3. BURTON H. MARVEL was born in 1794 in Delaware. He died in 1801 in Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. He married Elizabeth Prettyman in 1789. She was born in 1789.

Notes for David Marvel Sr.:

  • Will of David Marvel
    Marvel, David. Planter. Will. Made Jan. 4, 1796. Heirs: wife Sally Marvel; sons David, Burton and Prettyman Marvel; daus. Elizabeth Marvel and Patience Knowles; dau.-in-law Polly Prettyman.
    Execrs, wife Sally Marvel and Robert Marvel. wits., Thomas Rodney, John Rodney. Prob. Feb. 9, 1796. Arch. vol. A86, pages 193-194. Reg. of Wills, Liber E, folios 69-70. [Note; – Arch. vol. A86, page 194 shows Moses Daizy and wife Sally, late Sally Marvel, exhibited and account on the estate Sept. 13, 1797].
  • Will 9 Jan 1796 (age 67) Probated–names children Prudence, Patience and Prettyman Marvel; his three youngest children Elizabeth, David and Burton Marvel and daughter-in-law (step-daughter) Polla Prettyman.
    David’s will was probated on 9 Feb 1796 (age 67) in Dover, Sussex County, Delaware.
  • An Orphan’s Court filling was made in 1798 – SCOC G-96 and 1800 H-180 with instructions to the guardian to conserve timber on his farm.
  •  David Marvel was listed in the following Census reports:
  • Census 1788 (about age 59) Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware.
  • Census 1790 (about age 61) Is this the David Marvel listed in Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware.
  • David’s sweetheart, Sarah (Sally) Prettyman, was the daughter of Thomas, Jr. and Elizabeth (Enloes) Prettyman. John and Mary Prettyman, her emigrant ancestors, came from England to Maryland about 1663. By July 1643, they had migrated to Northampton County, Virginia. They owned extensive tracts of land here and in Accomac County. Later their descendants went to Delaware and became wealthy landowners.  Soon after David Marvel’s death, his widow married Moses Daisy. Sarah (Prettyman) Marvel Daisy died in 1801 in Sussex County, Delaware.
  • There are many Orphan’s Court records for his youngest children, Betsy, David and Burton 1798-1809. see Rootsweb

There is much confusion about his wives and his children

Below are PDFs with information that was gathered concerning the marriages of David Marvel Sr. and his wives – Comfort Prettyman and Sara(h) Prettyman.

Click here for the PDF on David Marvel Information

Click here for the PDF on David Marvel Marriage to Comfort or Sarah Prettyman

The Descendant Report for David Marvel Sr. as of 2/18/24 with name index

Notes

Question According to Somerset tax lists his birthyear would be 1729 – he appears for the first time as dependent in 1745 (taxed anyone over the age of 15)
Alt. Name David Marvil

General: Somerset Tax List (MSA)
Year: 1751; Hundred: NANTICOKE; Household Number: 197
Name: Knowles, Richd.; Standardized Name: KNOWLES, RICHARD; Status: HEAD – TAXED
MSA No: C1812-25-75939

Year: 1751; Hundred: NANTICOKE; Household Number: 197
Name: Marvill, David; Standardized Name: MARVILL, DAVID; Status: DEPENDENT
MSA No: C1812-25-75940
Nanette’s note: If David was born in 1729, he would be 22 at his first appearance in the tax list
– – – – – – – – –
Somerset MD Tax List:
Year: 1753; Hundred: NANTICOKE; Household Number: 36
Name: Marvil, David; Standardized Name: MARVILL, DAVID; Status: HEAD – TAXED
MSA No: C1812-27-80801
———————————-
Year: 1754; Hundred: NANTICOKE; Household Number: 305
Name: Scott, Windom; Standardized Name: SCOTT, WINDOM; Status: HEAD – TAXED
MSA No: C1812-28-84213

Year: 1754; Hundred: NANTICOKE; Household Number: 305
Name: Scott, George; Standardized Name: SCOTT, GEORGE; Status: DEPENDENT
MSA No: C1812-28-84214

Year: 1754; Hundred: NANTICOKE; Household Number: 305
Name: Marvil, David; Standardized Name: MARVILL, DAVID; Status: DEPENDENT
MSA No: C1812-28-84215
————————————————–
Pauline Manning Batchelder, Editor, “Somerset Sampler”, p. 178 states. “There is some confusion regarding the wife of David Marvel: most Marvel accounts state that she was Sarah Prettyman, but Levin Wilson of Gibson County, Indiana, a great-grandson of David Marvel, stated in 1896 that she was Comfort Prettyman and that his mother, Comfort Marvel (Knowles) Wilson was named for her; he also stated that David and Comfort’s family was composed of daughters and only one son, Prettyman-as if he had been unaware of the three youngest children. (Levin Wilson was the first historian of the Knowles and Marvel families. His grand-father, James Knowles was still alive when he was growing up, so his information could be reliable.) Perhaps this is “Mrs. Prettyman”. A Comfort who married #1 a Prettyman and then married David Marvel. Polly Prettyman was her daughter.

From D. Mitchell Jones, Marvel Genforum:
There seems to be some confusion in regards to the relationship of William Rodney, Thomas Prettyman b. ca. 1710, and David Marvel, and the terms used during the period of time that the three created records. William Rodney made his will in Worcester County, MD in 1767. In this will he mentioned his son-in-law Thomas Prettyman. In this time period, step children were referred to as daughter or son-in-law. When a man mentioned his father-in-law it could mean his step father. Thomas Prettyman, son of Thomas Prettyman and Comfort Burton, first married Elizabeth Inloe the daughter of Thomas Inloe and Mary Hill. By 17 May 1735, Mary Hill Inloe had married William Rodney as her second marriage. Therefore Thomas Prettyman became the son-in-law of William Rodney. Sara Prettyman b. ca. 1760 or later married in Sussex County, Delaware 1789 David Marvel. Sussex county RG 4545, SC Probates, David Marvel, 1796-1797. David’s wife was Salla, two sons, David and Burton to receive lands after the widowhood or decease of his wife. Two daughters were Patience Knowls and Elizabeth Marvel, a son Prettyman Marvel. Daughter-in-law Polla Prettyman. Three youngest children were Elizabeth, David and Burton Marvel. Sally Marvel and Phillip Marvel obtained administration bond on 2-9-1796. A receipt from Thomas Rodney 9-12-1797 shows that he took Salla Dazey to Georgetown for her to prove David Marvel’s will. There are bills to the Court dated 11-14-1797. One is from Phillip Marvel. The other is from Moses Dazy, guardian of Betsey, David and Burton Marvel. When you look at probate records and marriage of David and Sara it is obvious that David Marvel at the time of his marriage had two children Patience b 1758 and Prettyman Marvel b 1763. It is also obvious that David had a previous marrriage as mentioned his step daughter Polla Prettyman. I have seen links to justify that Sara was the mother of all the children as Sarah Comfort Prettyman and also that David Marvel’s son, David, was the one that married Sara Prettyman in 1789. David Marvel in his will points out by naming his three youngest children that there was a difference in ages. If Sara was the mother of all the children and she started having children at age 16 to 18 then she was having children when she was age 55 or 57 as her son, Prettyman Marvel Daizey was b March 1797. Seems impossible for woman to have children at that age. David Marvel’s son David, could not have been the one to marry Sara Prettyman as David was still a minor in 1797 or why would he need a guardian. It is possible that David Marvel married 1st a Comfort Prettyman m2nd a widow Prettyman and m3rd Sara Prettyman . The Comfort Prettyman obviously was not the daughter of Thomas Prettyman as his daughter, Comfort, married John Rogers and was still living in the 1790’s. Sara Prettyman was the daughter of Thomas Prettyman b 1710. Elizabeth Inloe was probably not the mother of Sara as it appears that Thomas was married more than one time in the matter he treats his children in his will, and his widow, Elizabeth, then only leaves her property to these youngest children.

from “The Marvel and Wesley Family Tree”

David Marvel grew to manhood on his father’s plantation in Delaware. peach growing was the main industry in Delaware and the Marvels gave much care and attention to their orchards. From this luscious fruit the Marvels made exceptional brandy. A decanter of peach brandy always graced the Marvel table. Another vocation that merited much care and attention among the Marvels was the raising of fine horse. Of Thomas II’s four sons it was said that David was the most avid respector of those fine horses. when he went courting as a young man, no young man in the country rode finer horses. David married Sarah Prettyman, daughter of Thomas II and Elizabeth (Enloes) Prettyman in 1744. David’s will is recorded in the Hall of Records in Dover, Delaware. His brother’s wills are recorded there also.

Liber E No. 5 Del. Folio 69 Jan 4, 1796  – When the will was written is unknown.

       David’s will was probated 9 February 1796. In it he bequeathed all his lands and livelihood to his wife “Salla”, to be at her    disposal during her life or widowhood. At her decease or remarriage his land was to be divided between his sons David and Burton. “Son David to have the place on which I lived lying on the west end of my land and Burton Marvel to have the other lying on east”. To his daughter, Elizabeth, he left one cupboard, one dozen pewter plates and one spinning wheel. To daughter-in-law, Polly Prettyman, he bequeathed one feather bed and furniture, one spinning wheel, one chest and pewter dish, four pewter plates, six pewter spoons, two chairs, one earthen pan and one basin. To his daughter, Patience Knowles, he bequeathed one shilling sterling. To son, Prettyman Marvel, he bequeathed one shilling sterling and thirtyfive dollars. the money was due Prettyman for his part of saidland. (In the estate inventory he received an amount of thirteen pounds, four shillings and six pence) After paying funeral charges and other expenses, the rest of his estate was to be divided among the three youngest children, Elizabeth, David, Jr. and Burton. The inventory of the estate of David Marvel (except the land) amountedto 98 pounds, 16 shillings, and 6 pence. The amount left was 58 pounds, 11 shillings and 5 pence to be given to Elizabeth, David, Jr. and Burton. Since daughter, Prudence is not mentioned in her father’s will it is assumed that she died before 1796. Soon after David Marvel’s death his widow married Moses Daisy. Sarah Prettyman Marvel Daisy died in 1801 in Sussex Co. Delaware.

Executors of the will were wife and Robert Marvel. Witnesses: Thomas Rodney, John Rodney

Sussex County Wills
Will Book E
1794 – 1802
Page 4
F:69
David Marvel, planter “being sick and weak”
4 January 17__
To wife Sally – all my lands and livings for life or widowhood
To sons David Marvel and Burton – lands after wife’s widowhood with David to have the place I lived on the west side of my land and Burton to have the east part
To daughter Elizabeth Marvel – cupboard, 12 pewter plates, spinning wheel, chest
To daughter Patience Knowles – one shilling
To son Prittyman Marvel – one shilling after paying him $35 that is due him for his part of the land
To three youngest children Elizabeth, David and Burton – remainder
Executor: wife and Robert Marvel
Witness: Thomas Rodney, John Rodney
9 February 1796 Then came
Note: The Executor of his will was Robert Marvel but it was not his brother, Robert, as he had been dead for some time. It may have been Robert’s son, also named Robert who died in 1824.

Additionally, Moses Daizy and wife Sally (late Sally Marvel) “exhibited on account” of estate 13 Sept 1797…after Sally married Moses Daizy, Philip Marvel petitioned the Orphans Court to assure that the minor children received a just income from the property. Betsey, David and Burton are listed as minors.

Land Transactions

16 March 1756
David Marvel sold to Joseph Rawle his 100 acres of Hardship and Gladstone’s Adventure. This deed also refers to the gift as of 10 March 1753. (Somerset Land records, transcribed Book B, p. 129)” David Marvel of Somerset Co.” {Gladstone Adventure 150 acres and Hardship 200 acres were purchased by David’s father, Thomas Marvel in 1723 and 1725.

1756 16 Mar David Marvel sold to Joseph Rawle his 100 acres of Hardship and Gladstones Adventure. This deed also refers to the gift as of 10 March 1753. (Somerset Co. L.R., transcribed Book B, p. 129). 1776 7 Mar David Marvel had surveyed for him a tract in Indian River Hundred called Venture, on the south side of a road leading from Blackfoot (or Blackford) to the Iron Works on Deep Creek, adjoining lands of William Rodney and Zachariah Jones. (Sussex Co. L.R., Shankland Warrants and Surveys 1, p. 41). 1782 MARVEL, David Dagsboro Hundred #102 Assessment 5 [AIS & Census & Tax Lists, 1782 Sussex Co., DE] 1789 David Marvel md Sara Prettyman 5 Jan 1789, [“Vital Record of Kent & Sussex Counties 1686 – 1800 by F. E. Wright, Records of Lewis Coldspring Presbyterian Church] 1797 Marvel, David dec’d Petn for counter security vs his Executrix 1797 Libro 300 F, (Sussex County Delaware Court House Orphan’s Docket Index).[S13348]
From “A Brief History of the Marvel Family” Robert… and his three brothers owned real estate as evidenced in the record of land transations recorded in the deed books in the Hall of Records at Dover, Delaware. There is a deed dated March 16, 1756 from David Marvil of Somerset County, Maryland to Joseph Rawle for 100 acres part of two tracts called “Hardship” and “Gladstone”. [Gladstone Adventure, 150 acres, and Hardship, 200 acres, were purchased by David’s father, Thomas Marvel in 1723 and 1725.]

SOMERSET COUNTY, MARYLAND
LAND RECORDS
DEEDS
1753 – 1757
(Abstracts Keddie/Keddie)
Page 21
Folio 129
Grantor: DAVID MARSEL 3/16/1756
Grantee: JOSEPH RAWLE
For the sum of 6 pounds current money of Maryland, Marsel sells to Rawle 100 acres of land being part of two tracts of land called “Hardship” and the other “Gladstone’s Adventure” lying on the east side of the Nanticoke river beginning at a marked white oak standing in the clear ground where John Anderson formerly lived and where John Gladstone surveyed thence. . . .Now this indenture: that the above 100
acres is to be surveyed of the middlemost part of the aforesaid tracts and to be made over by a deed of gift from the aforesaid David Marsel from his father Thomas Marsell on 03/10/1753 beginning at a marked cedar post standing on the dividing line between “Gladstone’s Choice” and “Gladstone’s Adventure” thence. . . and cont. the aforesaid 100 acres of land
Witnesses: Joshua Caldwell
S. Wheatley
———————————-

7 March 1776
David Marvel had surveyed for him a tract in Indian River Hundred called Venture, on the south side of a road leading from Blackfoot (or Blackford) to the Iron Works on Deep Creek, adjoining lands of William Rodney and Zachariah Jones. ( Sussex Co. Land records, Shankland Warrants and Surveys 1, p. 41)
1782
Marvel, David
Dagsboro Hundred #102 Assessment 5 (AIS & Census & Tax Lists, 1782 Sussex Co., DE
1797
David Marvel dec’d Petn for counter security vs his Executrix 1797 Libro 300 F
Sussex Co. DE Courthouse Orphan’s Docket Index

MARVEL, DAVID (child-Betsy/David/Burton) G-96 (1798) Dagsborough Hundred
…one logd dwelling House twenty feet by Sixteen & a Shed to end of it ten feet wide by Sixteen long
the House is but sorry the shed Middling good another logd Dwelling House Eighteen feet long by 15
wide the Houses are but Sorry & Brick Chimney in them both one old smoke House 8 feet Skward very
Sorry We find thereon. One thousand Six Hundred and twenty five pannel of fence that will average five
good logs to a Panlen there is one Hundred and fourteen Apple trees and thirty peach trees and four
Cherry trees all midling good…
annual value £10.0.0
MARVEL, DAVID (child-David/Burton) H-180 (1800) Dagsborough Hundred
…one dwelling house 20 feet long by 16 feet wide sawed logs & brick Chimney one shed to the end of
it 16 feet long by 10 feet wide but sorry one out house 20 feet long by 16 feet wide hued logs & brick
Chimney but sorry Plank flowers belowe to 1319 panel of fence that will average 5 good logs to the
pannel to 100 Apple Trees but sorry to 23 Peach trees but sorry…
annual value £8.0.0

End Notes:

1. Ruth T. Dryden, Stepney Parish Records of Somerset County, Maryland (Willow Bend Books, Westminster, MD, 2001), 7.
2. Delaware Genealogical Society website.
3. 1790 Delaware Census (reconstructed).
4. Sonya Marvel.
5. Deborah (Marvel) Wesley <dwesley@reillyind.com>, The Marvel and Wesley Family Tree (Rootsweb WorldConnect).
6. D. Mitchell Jones from F. Ed Wright.
7. Sonya Marvel, www.marvelicious.com/personal/genealogy.
8. Marvel-DJJ.FTW.
9. Bernard L. Herman, The Stolen House (University Press of Virginia, 1992).
10. LDS.
11. Misc. Marvels.FTW.
12. Delaware Public Archives Website.
13. Gregg Bonner’s Marvell Ancestors (rootsweb).