Major Peter Hedgman

            Major Peter Hedgman (circa 1700– 1765) was the son of Nathaniel Hedgman formerly of Lancaster County, who came to Stafford County as the overseer of the vast holdings of Colonel Robert (“King”) Carter (1663-1732). Nathaniel Hedgman Acquired Rose Hill on Accakeek Creek, formerly the property and burial place of Colonel George Mason (1628-1686) and this plantation descended to his son Major Peter Hedgman. The published Letters of Robert Carter reveal that Nathaniel Hedgman met a violent death in 1721 while not attending to Colonel Carter’s business as he wrote; “I have heard of late he hath been a very great delinquent from my business and living a loose, rebelling life, which hath brought him to his untimely catastrophe. As for entertaining his son, a wild young lad that hath had no experience in the world, I can by no means think proper.”  On June 22, 1721 Colonel Carter wrote young Peter Hedgman that he would not consider “Your proposal of succeeding your father in my business,” but rather was sending John Johnson who “hath been my overseer for some years to succeed your father as my general overseer.” Despite Colonel Carter’s remarks, Peter Hedgman rose to a place of political and social prominence in Overwharton Parish and died testate in 1765 after serving as vestryman, justice, militia officer and representing Stafford County in the House of Burgesses 1742-1758.

            In 1943 the tomb of Margaret (Mauzy) Hedgman (1702-1754), wife of Major Peter Hedgman, was moved from Rose Hill to Aquia Churchyard. It is inscribed:

John Mauzy served as a gentleman justice of Stafford County court in 1714 and probably until his death circa 1718.

            Major Peter Hedgman (circa 1700-1765) and Margaret Mauzy (1702-1754), his wife, had three sons to live to maturity, viz:

(1)    William Hedgman (1732-1765) died without issue. By their last wills and Testaments both he and his father disinherited their only heir, John Hedgman (1758-1796), and bequeathed their handsome estates to others.

(2)   George Hedgman (1734-1760) married on November 27, 1756 Hannah Ball Daniel (1737-1829), daughter of Peter Daniel, Gentleman (1706-1777), also a vestryman in Overwharton Parish. Their only child was John Hedgman (1758-1796); he married Catherine Grayson, daughter of the Reverend Mr. Spence Grayson (1734-1798), rector of Dettingen Parish, Prince William County, and left issue. Hannah Ball (Daniel) Hedgman married secondly on March 12, 1765 Gilson Foote, Gentleman, (1736-1770) of Fauquier County and thirdly, John Hardy (17??-1794) of Stafford County. The above account will correct several errors in Virginia Genealogies, page 303, by the Reverend Mr. Horace E. Hayden.

Writing from Ferry Farm, her home in the present County of Stafford, Mrs. Mary Ball Washington (1708-1789), then the widow of Captain Augustine Washington (1694-1743), informed her half-brother, Joseph Ball, Esq., (1689-1760) then residing at Stratford, England, of the situation of some of their relatives. She concludes her letter thus: “Mr. Daniel and his wife and family is well. Cozen Hannah has been married and lost her husband. She had only one child, a boy. Pray give my Love to Sister Ball and Mr. Downman and his Lady and I am Dear Brother, Your Loving Sister, Mary Washington.” The letter was docketed as received on July 2, 1760.

            (3) John Hedgman (1741-circa 1764) married circa 1763 Frances Norton (1746-ante 1795), daughter of George Morton, Gentleman, (1717-1765) of King George County, and Lucy Baylor, his wife, who was the daughter of Colonel Robert Baylor of King and Queen County. John Hedgman died childless and his widow married secondly circa 1767 Jesse Payne (17??-1770) of Goochland County and left issue. She married thirdly on March 1, 1773 in Goochland County, Doctor John K. Read (1746-1805) and had issue. Doctor Read married secondly in 1796 Helen (Calvert) Maxwell (1750-1833) and resided in Norfolk, Virginia.