In the Old Albemarle County, North Carolina, Pasquotank Precinct (County) births, marriages, deaths, brands, and flesh marks, &; county claims, 1691-1833, Joseph Relfe married Mary Trueblood on May 29, 1798. This date is well before the births of the four orphans. (According to the Estate Records cited below, Stephen came of age in 1826, giving him a birth year of approx.1805, and Josiah came of age in 1836, giving him a birth year of approx. 1815 -- they are always listed in order found above, suggesting birth order.)
However, is she the mother of all four orphans?
In Joseph's Estate Records (found in the North Carolina State Archives:Pasquotank County Estates, 1712-1931; CR 075.508.143; Joseph Relfe, 1818) there is various mentions to the widow of Joseph Relfe dec'd.
1. A year's lot of provisions were ordered by the court to be put aside; however, no mention is made of the widow's name.
2. On 21st November 1821, a Valuation and Division of Negroes belonging to the Estate of Joseph Relfe's Estate was submitted to the county clerk. In this document, all four boys: Stephen, Joseph, Malachi, and Josiah, are mentioned as the heirs of Joseph Relfe's estate. Additionally, his widow is named: "To John Winslow, in right of his wife Sarah, who was the widow of Joseph Relfe".
The evidence from the Estate Records, in conjunction with the marriage listed in the Old Albemarle records, suggests that Joseph Relfe had two wives: Mary Trueblood and Sarah ______ who subsequently married John Winslow.
When did the previous marriage to Mary Trueblood end and when the did the marriage to Sarah occur?
Various website cite Mary Trueblood's death between 1807-1813 -- suggesting that she died prior to Josiah's birth, but near or around either Joseph's or Malachi's birth. If this can be substantiated, that would suggest that Sarah would be the mother of Josiah and possibly Malachi.
A researched found that ANN DREW RELFE (daughter of Enoch Relfe and Elizabeth Watkins was married to Joseph and had Charles Relfe.
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