SUMTER.
The first mention of the Sumter name occurs in 1763,
when William Sumter bought from Thomas Land one hundred
acres on Priddy's Creek, which had been patented in
1739 by Major John Henry, the orator's father, and which
Land had purchased from his son, William Henry. Sumter's
next purchase was made in 1770 on the north fork of the
Rivanna, at the south end of Piney Mountain. This land
was conveyed by John Poindexter, who obtained the grant
of it in 1738, and from whom the mountain was originally
called Poindexter's Mountain, and the creek running through
it (no doubt Herring's Creek at present), Poindexter's Creek.
William Sumter continued his purchases, till he owned
between six and seven hundred acres. In 1776 he and his
wife Judith sold off all his property. One of the sales was
made to John Sumter, probably a brother, and the land John
then bought he and his wife Catharine conveyed in 1779 to
Charles Bush. In all probability they sold to go elsewhere.
No intimation appears as to the place of their removal; but
as their kinsman, General Thomas Sumter, had already
attained a distinguished name, it is almost certain they emigrated
to South Carolina, the theatre of his gallant achievements.
A well founded tradition exists, that General Sumter was
born in Albemarle, and in the section referred to as the home
of William and John. It rests particularly on the testimony
of Dr. Charles Brown, who was born just after the Revolution.
The Doctor was familiarly acquainted with a sister of the
General, Mrs. Martha Suddarth, the wife of William Suddarth,
who lived and died in the county. Mrs. Suddarth
was well know in her day throughout the community, because
of her intelligence and skill as a nurse. Mr. Jefferson, in one
of his letters to his daughter, Mrs. Eppes, when in declining
health, recommended her to seek the advice of Mrs. Suddarth,
as one whose experience and judgment were worthy of
the highest regard. It may be that she and her eminent
brother were children of one of the couples mentioned above.
