Norman/Maxwell Family

Two events bound the range of dates during which Richard Norman could have been born:

1. The earliest date, 02 Feb 1743/4: Richard Norman's mother, Elizabeth Bedon, had a sister, Ann Bedon, who married George Barnett. In George's will, dated 02 Feb 1743/4, he bequeaths a portion of his estate "unto my Beloved Brother in Law John Norman's Children Named John and Sarah Norman". However, he does NOT mention Richard. Thus, we infer that Richard wasn't born until after 02 Feb 1743/4.
2. The latest date, 23 Sep 1747: Richard and his brother, John, sold land to their cousin, William Norman, on 23 Sep 1768. According to English Common Law (which was applicable in Colonial America), a man must have reached the age of majority (21) to legally sell land. Therefore, Richard must have been born on or before 23 Sep 1747.

Esther Dubose names granddaughter Esther Couturier (maiden name) in her will dated 01 Aug 1763. Jonathan Dubose (son of Esther and Isaac Dubose, i.e., Esther Couturier’s uncle) mentions niece Esther Norman (married name) in his will dated 22 Jun 1771. Thus, Esther and Richard must have been married between those two dates.

From a post in the Rootsweb.com NORMAN list archive (http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/NORMAN/2001-07/0995380888):

"A deed dated 1778, on redocrd in Charleston County, South Carolina shows Richard moving to St. John's Parrish, Georgia. They sold land (2778 acres) in Berkely, South Carolina that had been left to Esther by her mother, Susannah Courturier. Richard and his wife were living in Liberty County, Georgia, in 1778, and by 1785, had moved back to Colleton County, South Carolina. Nothing is known of them until 1796 when he served as a petit juror in Liberty County, Georgia. Richard Norman was the coroner in Liberty Co., GA from 1807 until his death in 1809. "

The above is offered only to provide a basis for future research. No sources were listed in the post.

based on the conclusion that Richard was born between 02 Feb 1743/44 and 23 Sep 1747 (see note for birthdate), and the fact that John Norman did not marry Sarah Stone until 1750, Richard must have been Elizabeth Bedon's (not Sarah Stone's) child.

The <I>Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892</I>, Liberty County, 1809, dated 23 Aug 1809, lists Richard Norman's estate. Thus, Richard would have died before this date.