An American Family History

William Heard was born about 1630.

In May, 1657 he was accused of having sexual relations with Mrs. Robins.

In November, 1659 he purchased 150 acres and was accused of defaming Captain John Jenkins

he agreed with Capt. John Jenkings for lease of a parcel of land and cleared it in about 10 weeks then Jenkins forced him off the land; both parties consent to referral to Gov. and Mr. John Hatch who met 8 Sep and ordered defendant make payment to petitioner for work done.

In March, 1660 he entered his cattle mark.

William married Bridget Yowkins. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on William and Bridget Heard.

William Heard died in January, 1664/65 in Charles County, Maryland.

From Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court by V. L. Skinner and V.L. Skinner, Jr.

Will of William Heard (p. Puttomacke River). Overseers: Henry English, John Douglas, Bequests: wife Bridgett Heard. Date: 4 January 1664. Witnesses: Walter Story, Andrew Ward

1E:85 Will proved 26 January 1664.

25 January 1664. Bridgett Heard was granted administration on estate of her husband William Heard. Security: John Heard

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber B, 13 Oct 1663, p. 172 - 173 - 174
Indenture, 30 Apr 1655 between James Walker of Wicokomeco and Christopher Carnell of Wicokomeco, planter, a parcel of land lying in the Province of Maryland; bounded by Thomas Michell; containing 200 acres; /s/ James Walker; wit.: John Gooldsmith (mark), Edward Philpot (mark)
Christopher Cornell assigns his rights to William Heard and Richard Morrise to above indenture; 24 Apr 1656;
/s/ Christopher Carnell (mark); wit. Robert Robins, John Douglas
William Heard and Richard Morris assign rights in above land to John Morris and Giles Tomkins; 27 Jul 1656;
/s/ William Heard (mark), Richard Morris (mark); wit. John Douglas, Peter Care (mark)...

May 14, 1657 - William Marshall, age 50, deposed that at Easter, he was at Pukewaxen at home of Goodman Boell where Robert Robins was, & they spoke of how said Robert & his wife lived. Robins replied that "she is a common whore, and I have good witness that William Herde rid her from stump to stump ...."

William Hinson, age 28, deposed that he was in the field of William Marshall & heard Robert Robins say to William Herde

"Herde, you rogue, you swived [obsolete verb meaning to copulate] your sister from tree to tree, and I will have you to the Court"

Whereupon Herde made answer "I will see her hang'd before I come to Court about her."
From Archives of Maryland, Volume 10, p. 503.

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 14 Nov 1659, p. 68
Capt. John Jenkins demands warrant against William Heard; action of defamation; 14 Nov 1659; subpoena to wam Daniell Hutt, mariner, William Hale, Samuell Parker & Briget Philpot to testify

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 14 Nov 1659, p. 71 - 72
Indenture, 28 Apr 1659 from Samuell Parker, Cooper, to William Heard, planter; for a valuable sum of tobacco, a Parcel Of land lying on the Potomac bounded by Pasquehange Creek mouth; 150 acres; adjoining Capt. Jenkins
/s/ Samuell Parker (mark);
wit. William Crawford; Humphery Pike (mark);
acknowledged in court by Samuell and Joane Parker;
/s/ George Thompson, clerk

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 1 Mar 1660, p. 82
172. William Heard enters his mark of hogs and cattle

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 4 Sep 1660, p. 97
William Heard demands subpoenas for Mr. Robert Handley and Samuell Parker in case between him and Capt. John Jenkins
Capt. John Jenkins demands subpoena for William Hall and Thomas Lomax to testify in case between him and William Heard

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 4 Sep 1660, p. 101
252.
William Heard, by his atty. Daniell Johnson, Plt.;
Capt. John Jenkins, Def.;
letter of attorney appointing Daniell Johnson; 4 Sep 1660;
/s/ William Heard (mark);
wit. Mathew Gage, William Robeson;
Heards petition claims he agreed with Capt. John Jenkings for lease of a parcel of land and cleared it in about 10 weeks then Jenkins forced him off the land; both parties consent to referral to Gov. and Mr. John Hatch who met 8 Sep and ordered defendant make payment to petitioner for work done

Liber A, p. 120, folio 308; Charles County Circuit Court, Microfilm Cr 35,689, Court 12 Feb 1660/1
Mathias Obrian, -age ca 33 years, states that John Tomkinson, in the presence of William Allen and James Johnson, said there were 30 of the inhabitants of this province to be hanged including Zacharie Wade, Joseph Harrison, William Heard and several others

Indenture, 23 Apr 1660; from Thomas Baker, planter, to William Empson, planter; a parcel of land on the Potomac on Baker's Creek; /s/ Thomas Baker (mark); wit. Richard Dodd (mark), Thomas Lomax
Endorsed on back: William Empson assigns his rights to William Heard 12 Feb 1660/1;
/s/ William Empson (mark);
wit. George Thompson, George Roberts; acknowledged in open court by Thomas Baker, William Empson, and Elenor Empson to William Heard;
dated 12 Feb 1660 before George Thompson

Nov. 27, 1661 - William Heard was granted administration on estate of Joane Parker.
from Maryland Prerogative Court, Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 1C, p. 68.

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 22 Apr 1662, p. 198
Hugh Oneal demands warrant against William Heard, admn. to Samuel Parker, in action of debt; subpoena Daniel Johnson, Henry Perre and Ane Ges

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 8 Jul 1662, p. 213
Mr. Enock Doughty, on behalf of his brother-in-law Hew Oneal, demands warrant against William Heard as admn. to estate of Samuell Parker

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 8 Jul 1662, p. 216
William Heard subpoenas Mrs. Long, Andrew Ward, Ane Ges against Heugh Oneale
Hew Oneale subpoenas Henry Peer, Daniell Johnson, Ane Ges against William Heard

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 8 Jul 1662, p. 223 - 224
Hugh ONeale, Plt.;
William Heard, Def.; Plaintiff admn. to Samuel Parker in action of case for 1000# of tobacco;
Daniell Johnson swore that in 1660 Samuel Parker said he had a heifer in the hills which he would willingly give Mrs. Vanderduncke now wife of ONeale for the care she gave him;

Ane Ges swore that Joane Parker thought Mrs. ONeale poisoned her with a portion of something in a pot;

Thomas Lomax, Enoch Doughty, Mrs. Oneale made swom statements regarding the bill for treatment of Joane Parker; mentions Mr. Handly's 30 foot tobacco house;

William Heard and John Waltom also made sworn statements;
Oneale ordered to be non-suited and to pay court costs

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 6 Sep 1662, p. 241
Mrs. Mary Oneal demands warrant against William Heard in action of defamation; subpoena Mrs. Beane, Mrs. Long, Mrs. Walker, Michell Abbot and John Wheeler
Mary Oneal demands warrant against William Heard; action of case; subpoena Simon Renck

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber A; 2 Oct 1662, p. 251 - 252
Mrs. Mary Oneale, Plt.;
William Heard, Def.;

defamation; Heard stated that Widow Parker did say on her death bed that petitioner poisoned her;

John Wheeler, Michell Abbot, Elisabeth Walker, and Elenor Beane all swore that William Heard said Mrs. Oneal had arrested him for 1000# of tobacco and he could bring Mrs. Oneal before "her 12 Godfathers" for something she gave Joane Parker;

defendant claimed he did not intend to defame or trouble her and asked for forgiveness

Hewgh Oneale, Plt;
William Heard, Def.;
Heard being the possessor of the estate of Samuell and Joane Parker has refused to pay 600# of tobacco due Oneale;

Elisabeth Walker swore she heard Mrs. Oneale demand tobacco of Joane Parker for physic that her husband had of Mr. Oneale; Mrs. Parker said she would give Mrs. Oneale one heifer;

Court find no cause of account on a dead man's estate; plaintiff to pay charges

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber B, 17 Dec 1662, p. 42, 43, 44
Francis Gray, Plt.;
William Heard, admn. to Samuell Parker, Def.;
Heard, admn. of Joane Parker, wife of Samuel Parker, dec'd, demands 425# of principal tobacco and cask; bill of debt binding Samuell Parker and Henry Lilly to pay Richard Stearman 420# of tobacco; 6 Jun 1656;
/s/ Samuel Parker, Henry Lilly (mark); wit. Thomas Broughton, John Martine
Letter of atty.: Richard Stearman who married the relict widow of Edmond Brent, dec'd, appoints Mr. Francis Gray his atty.; 17 May 1660; /s/ Richard Stearman; wit. Thomas Pope, Ralph Elstone; defendant request non-suit; granted;
petition entered by William Heard showing that Francis Gray in action of debt and never demanded it; court orders payment to Heard of 140# of tobacco

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber B, 11 Feb 1662/3, p. 79 - 80
William, Heard, as atty. to Absolom Covant, Plt.;
Capt. Josias Fendall and Mr. Robert Hundly; admns. to Capt. Christopher Russell, Def.;
referral from the last court; regarding debt of 1309# of tobacco; bill entered binding Capt. Russell of Wicocomeco, planter to be paid to Absolom Covant, Joseph Clarke and William Floyd of Bristol, merchants, 1309# of tobacco in cask before 1 Nov next; dated 20 Feb 1660; /s/ Christopher Russell; wit. Joseph Cooper (mark), Martin Mordan; defendant confesses judgment; estate ordered to pay
Charles County Circuit Court, Liber B, 27 Mar 1662/3, p. 101
William Heard presents Elisabeth Stone judged to be 14 years old
William Heard on behalf of Humphery Warren presents servant maid judged to be 18 years old named Anne Lane

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber B, 28 Jul 1663, p. 137
Edward Philpot, Plt.;
William Heard, Def.;
petitions Heard as admn. of Joane the wife of Samuel Parker, dec'd, for debt of 100# of tobacco for building a fence around their graves; defendant pleaded that it was not within 9 months limit by Act of Assembly

Charles County Circuit Court, Liber B, 12 Jul 1664, p. 342
A jury impaneled July 1664 to view the body of John Constable, servant to William Heard; verdict that the cause of death was by willful drowning of himself, /s/ John Cage (mark), foreman; George English, John Emerson, Mr. John Clarke, John Small (mark), Gither Bower, Thomas Standrige (mark), Thomas Perce (mark), Nicholaus Grose (mark), George Holines, Henry Grace (mark), Martin Descora