Thomas Genn
Shipbuilder on the Choptank River in Maryland, on a plantation called Cape Ann in Caroline County. He probably married Sicely about 1743, and she administered his estate, which included a new vessel frame under construction. Probably the father of James Ginn, who married Ann Riggs.
Life
- 1718Born14 Mar 1718
The Genn study takes it from the St. Stephen's Parish register (Northumberland County, Virginia), not seen. Mollie Pfeiffer gives this date to "William Genn".
compiledprobable - c. 1743Married Sicely Gennc. 1743compiledprobable
- 1767Died1767 or 1768
NEHGR (1880) says "about 1769".
Family
- Parents
- Spouse
Pedigree
Notes
Shipbuilder on the Choptank River, Maryland. NEHGR (1880): “the father of Samuel, Thomas, James and Josiah Genn, was located in Caroline Co., Md., on East bank of Choptank River, on a plantation called ‘Cape Ann.’ It was midway between Denton and Greensborough.” The Genn study gives his purchase of Skinner’s Chance, Dorchester County, on 2 Sept 1752, and other deeds of 2 Feb 1749 (Queen Anne’s County) and 18 Sept 1751. Mollie Pfeiffer’s deed of 14 Feb 1752 to “James and Thomas Genn, Gents” was not found. His widow Sicely administered his estate, “which included one new vessel frame under construction.” NEHGR 26 (1872), p. 196, on his sons: “Samuel was a brother of Thomas and James Genn, or Ginn, whose descendants now live at or near Bucksport, Me. The three brothers came from Virginia, where the family is quite numerous.” Mollie Pfeiffer calls Capt. James Ginn’s family “the only Virginia ancestors of the Holbrook-Low Family”.
His brother James (b. 1716 per the study) lived on the west side of the Choptank, about a mile above Greensborough, and died about 1787 (NEHGR 1880).
Earlier generations (compiled only). The Genn study places James Genn (0) and Thomas (1) in Northumberland County, Virginia; the family was there by 1691, when James Genn sued John Cratter (20 May 1691; Mollie reads it “Genn vs. Craly”). James (0) and his wife Mary appear in Thomas Mathew’s will (1703, proved 1712) as “my old and faithful servant, James Genn and Mary his wife”; so Mollie’s “Thomas Mathew … must have been a kin” is contradicted. James (0)’s will was probated 20 Apr 1709 to James (1) and Thomas (1). The research does not say which of them was this Thomas’s father. Upton’s family tradition that “Thomas Ginn emigrated from Plymouth, England ca 1701” and was sent to survey Virginia is unsupported.
James Genn the surveyor. Washington’s diary, 12 March 1748: “This Morning Mr. James Genn the surveyor came to us” (record). The Washington Papers editors say he led the party and think it “probable that he received some instruction in surveying, possibly from James Genn.” Mollie (p. 166) and Ginn family tradition make the surveyor a close relative of this Thomas, and say he taught George Washington surveying. Kinship is unproven: the study places a “James Genn (1)” in Prince William County in 1751, dead by 1753, a different man from Thomas’s brother James (b. 1716), and either way the surveyor is not a direct ancestor. Mollie’s placing of Thomas and his brother on the Falmouth Road near Catlett, and James’s birth there, extends a note that applies only to the surveyor.
Open questions
- His parents: Thomas (1) or James (1)? The St. Stephen’s Parish register, Northumberland.
- His administration, about 1767-69, in Dorchester or Caroline County or the Maryland Prerogative Court.
Mollie's typescript
Mollie's Ginn chart calls Capt. James Ginn's father "William Genn," born in March 1718, married to Cecilia, and dying about 1768; he was Thomas Genn, as her own notes say.
WILLIAM GENN (3) Thomas 2, James 1 (?)) Born Mar. 1718 Died 1768(?) Married Cecilia Children James 6 others.
p. 165 A →Mollie places him and his brother James at Catlett, Prince William County, Virginia, and from 1752 on the Choptank River in Maryland, with his wife Cecelia and seven children, and makes him kin to James Genn the surveyor who taught Washington (unproven).
Capt. James Ginn, the son of Thomas was born here. His mother was Cecelia, and she and Thomas had seven children
p. 166 →
Checked against the records
- DisprovenCapt. James Ginn's father was William Genn, born March 1718
His father was Thomas Genn, a shipbuilder on the Choptank River, Maryland (NEHGR 1880; the Genn family study), born 14 Mar 1718, whose widow Sicely (Cecilia) administered his estate. Mollie's own notes on p. 166 say "son of Thomas". The Maryland link is a good circumstantial case, not proof.
Read it in the book, p. 165 A → - DisprovenThomas Mathew, whose will names James and Mary Genn, was kin
His will (1703, proved 1712 in Northumberland County, Virginia) calls them "my old and faithful servant, James Genn and Mary his wife". They were his servants.
Read it in the book, p. 166 → - ProvenJames Genn was the official surveyor of Prince William County
True. The Washington Papers editors call him "a prominent surveyor of Prince William County", whose home was on the Falmouth Road near Catlett. He led the 1748 survey over the mountains that the young Washington joined: "This Morning Mr. James Genn the surveyor came to us" (Washington's diary, 12 March 1748).
Read it in the book, p. 166 → - PossibleJames Genn taught George Washington surveying
Possible. The Washington Papers editors think it "probable that he received some instruction in surveying, possibly from James Genn, before the journey over the mountains." Harrison's Landmarks of Old Prince William (1924) calls Genn Washington's "instructor". No record shows it.
Read it in the book, p. 166 → - UnlikelyThe surveyor was Capt. James's uncle, and James was born near Catletts
Harrison (1924) places only the surveyor's home on the Falmouth Road near Catlett. The Genn family study treats the surveyor, dead by 1753, as a different man from Thomas Genn's brother James (b. 1716), who moved to Maryland. Kinship with the surveyor is unproven, and he was not a direct ancestor.
Read it in the book, p. 166 →