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     Anne (---?---) Middleton and Robert Middleton Sr. married.

     John Middleton's birthdate is unknown. Approximate year based the fact that he was not yet an adult at the time of his father's death in 1803. He and Elizabeth Scott married on 23 February 1804 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.² John Middleton date of death is unknown; maybe, no source.

     Martha Middleton was born on 30 October 1779.¹ She and William Tenent married on 1 December 1795. Martha died on 30 April 1844 at age 64.¹ She was buried in Upper Long Cane Cemetery in Abbeville County.¹

     After her marriage she was normally known as Martha Tenent.

     Sarah Middleton was in 1765 in Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, Virginia.^3,4 She was in 1766 in Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, Virginia.⁵ Alternately Sarah Middleton and Richard Quarles were in 1791.⁶ Alternately Sarah Middleton and Richard Quarles were in 1802.⁷ Sarah Middleton and Pleasant Thurmond married on 15 December 1818 in South Carolina.⁸ (an unknown value.)⁵ Sarah died in 1825 in South Carolina.⁹ (an unknown value.)⁴

     After her marriage she was normally known as Sarah Quarles. After her marriage on 15 December 1818, she was normally known as Sarah Thurmond.⁸

     Elizabeth Middleton was born in 1788 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.² She was in 1795 in South Caarolina.³ Alternately Elizabeth Middleton was in 1812.⁴ Alternately Elizabeth Middleton and Alexander M Speer Rev. were in 1812.⁵ Elizabeth Middleton and Alexander M Speer Rev. married in 1813 in Edgefield County, South Caarolina.² Elizabeth died on 12 October 1838 in Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, Georgia.^2,6 and was buried at (Culloden City Cemetery) in Culloden, Monroe County.²

     After her marriage she was normally known as Speer.

     Mary Middleton's birthdate is unknown. She and Edward Findley married in January 1804. Mary died on 25 March 1804 Mary was drowned by her husband, Edward Finley, sometime after March 2, 1804 when he purchased items from Hugh T Middleton's estate. He was indicted for her murder on March 27th, 1804. Since he was quickly apprehended for the murder, her death date is estimated to be around March 25th, 1804. Finley was convicted of the murder on March 30th and sentenced to be hung April 27, 1804. in Edgefield County, South Carolina.²

     Polly Middleton was murdered by her husband just eight weeks after their marriage. The story in Rev. M. L. Weem's book, 'The Drown'd Wife' is a tragedy written to teach a moral lesson to the readers. Weems was responsible for the George Washington story about chopping down the cherry tree and when confronted saying "I cannot tell a lie". It is known that Rev Weems happily took liberties with the stories in order to make a point in teaching his moral lessons for life. So, we understand that some facts of 'The Drown'd Wife' story are probably exagerated or made completely of whole cloth. When Weems story is combined with the transcript of Edward Findley's trial and other proven facts, I think we can come up with a pretty acurate account of the events surrounding Polly Middleton's death.

Edward Findley (called Ned in Weems' book) was born into a poor family and was always a n'er do well. He spent 12 months in jail for deflowering a young girl.

Polly Middleton was the second of three daughtes of Major Hugh Middleton and his wife. When their mother died, Major Middleton soon married another woman who was not very amiable. She treated the 3 daughters very poorly while lavishing affection on her own children. She supposedly 'turned them into the kitchen' so that they lived among the slaves, neglected for several years. Eventually Polly left home and lived with a older, married sister until she became pregnant by brother of her brother-in-law. Shortly after the birth of the child she was turned out by her sister. She went home and her father's 4th wife was very kind and wanted to help her, but her father turned her away without forgiveness.

Polly staryed with a woman in the woods for a few days before her son's father took pity and led her to a cabin on his land. Eventually he came and took the child to live with him as his son. Soon however the child died at about 5 years of age. Shortly after, Major Middleton fell ill and died leaving no will so she was to inherit his substantial estate equally. This equal distribution of his estate left her mistress of a handsome fortune.

When it became known that she would get about $4,000 from her father's estate, she was courted by several men who were somewhat unseemly. Among them was Ned Findley. Ned won her heart and they married. He was a teerrible husband: drinking, not coming home, cursing, threatening and violent. On Sunday of their 8th week of marriage he beat her and left the house. When he returned, he took her and his sister to go visit a Mr. Gilchrist and his family who lived across the swollen Stephen's Creek. Polly didn't want to go as she was afraid of her husband, but went anyway. On the return trip he took his sister across the creek first and when taking his wife across, he struck her several times with the oar and drowned her. Mr. Gilchrist heard her screams and went to the authorities.

When the sheriff and deputies returned with Mr. Gilchrist and arrested Ned after he claimed he fell out of the boat and drowned. The inquest determined that she died by violence and Ned was soon tried, convicted and sentenced to hang. One month later he was taken to the gallows and hung twice!!! The first time the 'halter' broke he fell to the ground still alive. He was marched back up to the gallows and hung a second time til he died.

Rev. Weems moral of this sad tale, is to be kind to your children. Watch how you talk to them, treat them and always find forgiveness in your heart toward them. Don't make them seek affection from people who are not of the 1st degree. And teach your sons to behave and guide them to a righteous life.³ After her marriage she was normally known as Polly Findley.

     Philadelphia Adelia Middleton was born in 1787 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.¹ She and Andrew Calhoun Hamilton married. Philadelphia Adelia died on 7 November 1826.¹ and was buried at (Upper Long Cane Cemetery) in Abbeville, Abbeville County.¹

     After her marriage she was normally known as Delphia Hamilton.

     William Tenent was born in 1770 in Cambridge, Greenwood County, South Carolina.¹ He and Martha Middleton married on 1 December 1795. William died on 29 May 1816 in Abbeville, Abbeville County, South Carolina.¹ and was buried at (Upper Long Cane Cemetery) in Abbeville, Abbeville County.¹

     Richard Quarles was in 1762.² He was in 1765 in South Carolina.² Alternately Richard Quarles and Sarah Middleton were in 1791.³ Alternately Richard Quarles and Sarah Middleton were in 1802.⁴ Richard died in 1818 in Edgefield County, South Carolina.^2,5

     Alexander M Speer Rev. was born on 25 July 1790 in Albemarle County, South Caarolina.² He was born on 23 August 1790 in Abbeville County, South Carolina.¹ Alternately Alexander M Speer Rev. and Elizabeth Middleton were in 1812.³ Alexander M Speer Rev. and Elizabeth Middleton married in 1813 in Edgefield County, South Caarolina.¹ Alexander M died on 20 April 1856 in LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia, at age 65.¹ and was buried at (Culloden City Cemetery) in Culloden, Monroe County.¹ (an unknown value.)⁴

     Andrew Calhoun Hamilton was born on 28 September 1782.¹ He and Philadelphia Adelia Middleton married. Andrew Calhoun died on 27 February 1835 at age 52.¹ He was buried in Upper Long Cane Cemetery in Abbeville County.¹

     Elizabeth Holland and (---?---) Hawkins married.

     (---?---) Hawkins and Elizabeth Holland married.