Mark (Markes, Marks) Pheypowas born about 1618. He was a planter and attorney in St. Michael's Hundred in Colonial Maryland. He was frequently in court on his own and other's business. Many suits involved debts for tobacco, beaver skins, corn and cattle.
In the March, 1641/42 Assembly he was proxy to Thomas Weston.
In the September, 1642 Assembly he was proxy for T. Morris.
In 1643, he became the executor of Samuel Pearsall's estate. Over a period of time, he moved the Pearsall's business to Virginia and then back to Maryland. He was a juror in March 1643/44 and a grand juror in April, 1643.
In 1644 he and John Genalles were comissioned by Governor Calvert to lead a party of eight men to go to Kent Island and
to inquire whether Captain Clayborne, or any other, have made any disturbance of the peace, or committing any outrage upon the island, and to learn what force he did it with, and what strength he is of there, at sea or shore, and what his intents further be, and how long he means to stay.
On December 5, 1654 at the Provincial Court
Christian Bonifield, 46 or thereabouts, deposed that she was at Mark Phepoe's house and Mary Kirke, wife of Martin Kirke, sd. that she would hang that rogue Potter, for she had that about her would hang him and bound it with a bitter oath, that before he should want a hangman, she would hang him herself.
Rebecca Hall, 30 or thereabouts, deposed that Marke Kirke told her that she followed Potter from her house through "my" ground where my husband was killed to his own fence and took up her corn under Potter's fence. Further that Mary Kirke sd. that Mark Phepoe was a rogue and that she was never mastered by a rogue before. Elizabeth Potter, 29 or thereabouts, deposed that once Mary Kirke came into the house of Henry Potter and Rebecca Hall and she had some words. And Rebecca Hall sd.
Mary Kirke you Said that Markes Phepoe Came into your house and you told me that you beat him.
And Mary Kirke answered she would do worse to him, for he came and flung her upon the bed, and was faine to hold my hand to his throat and my sword in my other hand. Rebecca Hall answered, "you will forswear it and deny it."
A nonsuit is granted to Markes Pheypo in the difference between him and Mary the wife of Martin Kirke in an action of rape, with cose of suit.
Martin Kirk, plt. v. Marks Phepoe, def.
Reference is granted to Martin Kirke in the difference between Markes Pheypoe and the wife of sd. Kirke to the next ct., the sd, Kirkes alleging want of evidence.
In 1647 he was the administrator of Thomas Weston's estate.
In the Provincial Court record of February 8, 1652/53
Henry Potter deposes on Marks Pheypo's behalf agst Edward Hall that in winter 2 yrs. ago Edward Hall, Martin Kirke and the dpnt. went in the woods to look for sows that had pigs, and finding them there were 2 sows "that were Somthing wild" wch. 2 Hall claimed as his. And Hall asked the dpnt. to catch them for him with the dpnt.'s dog. The dog caught them and Hall killed one and with the help of the others, tied the other one to a tree. This dpnt. says that Hall changed the sow he had killed for another sow of Kirke's wch. used to be at Hall's house.
December 15, 1653 there was a proclamation
... (it is reported) Marks Pheypo Nicholas Keeting, Martin Kirke and others of late in a bould Contempuous unwarrantable manner gotten up killed or disposed of for their own use a Great number of wild unmarked and other Cattle to his Lordships wrong and abuse....they are commanded to stop ths practise and release any cattle they have acquired this way.
On June 14, 1656
Thomas Ashbrooke deposes that Richard True sent him to Mr. Hatton to find out whether Marke Pheypoe had been there to pass his bill and take in Richard True's, and Mr. Hatton said Pheypoe had not been there, "but if he came he would, otherwise Goodman True was Sufficient. Whereupon True left off the work since Pheypoe had not been there, and so did Goodman Smoote They had done a week's work towards the mending of the shallop, and there came a high tide and carried away the shallop.
John Nevill deposes that 1 1/2 year ago he heard Goodman Smoote and Marke Pheypoe at Richard True's landing place make a bargain to mend Pheypoe's boat. Pheypoe was to give Smoote 1600 lbs. tob. for the mending. And Richard True standing by Goodman Smoote asked True if he were contented, and True replied that whatsoever he did, he was content with it. And further this dpnt. says he heard True speak to Pheypoe to take a bill of his from Mr. Hatton and discharge it, and he promised he would.
In 1658, he patented Pheypoes Fort which was 100 acres in St. Michaels Hundred.
On October 7, 1658 Mark swore that
about 2 years ago, being at Robert Smith's house, John Brisco, also being among other company, He heard [John] Brisco ask [Nicholas] Keytin why he killed his hog and logged it up.
William Osberstone deposed, saying that he was present in the house at the same time & of the company there, some were merry drinking & dancing & on a sodaine [obsolete for sudden] there was naming of hogs & logs. But he remembers not that he heard Brisco say that Keyting killed his hog, but he heard Keytin call Brisco a thief, for that he had stollen his (Keytin's) pothangers, as he alleaged then.
In September, 1659 he sued Philip Land for his debt of 300 pounds of tobacco.
In 1660 he transferred his right to 120 acres called the Croft that he had been granted to Francis Mogge and Janus Colman.
He married Philip Land's widow, Anne.
In 1661 he was lieutenant and in a suit on February 13, 1661/62 he was Attorney General.
In 1668 Anna and Mark Pheypo assigned the 100 acres of Cornelius his Swamp to Jeremiah Harrington. It was assigned to him October 10, 37th year of Cecilius
He died in St Mary's County in 1669. He left his personal property to John Keyton, Richard Russell, John Stocks, John Matthews and Constant Daniell. His step-sons, Philip, Thomas and William Land were the residuary legatees. The executor was Bryan Daley. |
