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After the death of Cosssum, Katherine remarried to Mason French. Mason and Catherine had custody of property in the form of slaves and personality, due Catherine's four children by Cossum Bennett. William Bennett was joined in his petition for the division of property by John Rose, who petitioned on behalf of his wife Lucy. The parties agreed to have an arbitrator decide for them. The decision reads in part:
The Suite in chancery between William Bennett one of the Sons of Cossum Bennett decd Compt. and Mason ƒƒrench and Katherine his wife late Relict of the Said Cossum Bennett Respondents being of Consent of parties at May Court are Refered to Colo Henry Fitzhugh Capt Henry Fitzhugh and Capt Anthony Thornton all of Stafford County and their award to be Returned to this Court and Made the Decree of the Said Court...Said Award being now Returned in Writing...We do award and Order that the above named Mason and Katherine ƒƒrench do pay to...Wm Bennett the Sum thirteen pounds Six Shilling and four pence three farthings as a fifth part of the personal Estate of his father Cossum Bennett Decd:...do also award and order the sd Mason & Katherine to deliver two negros viz. Frank and Nan to William Bennett as his part of the negros belonging to his ƒƒathers Estate of aforesaid three (Viz) Boss, Will & Selah being by an Equal Division of all the negros allotted to the Other Son Cossume as his part and as to Katherine ƒƒrench above Named as her dower of her Decd husbands Estate and we do also award & order that a third part of all the Lands belonging to the above Named Cossume Bennet Decd. be allotted to the above Named Katherine as her Dower of her Dec(d husbands Lands and that the Said William Bennet do get Capt John Washington Capt Anthony Thornton & Mr. Townsend Washington of Stafford County to Make the Said alottment and We Do also award that Each of these Said parties Shall bear Suit own coorderd Charges in any wise relating to or Covering the promise & lastly We do award and order that the Said William Bennett and Mason and Katherine ƒƒrench at the receipt of the Said Money & Division and alottment of the Said Land and Negros as aforsaid Shall in fource of Law Execute Each to the other of them Generall Release Sufficient in Law for Releasing by each...
Catherine and Mason lived on her dower share of Cossum Bennett's estate in Westmoreland County, on Machodock Creek. Boundary line changes over the years now places this land in King George County.
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Abt 1680 - Yes, date unknown