Sullivan, M.

The M. Sullivan who appears in the Mason family manuscript account book was most likely Murtho Sullivan, who was probably born before 1765. The first record of him in Loudoun County dates to 1796, when he was listed on a militia roster as a “Sargent” in Captain William McGeath's company, the First Battalion of the 56th Regiment of Virginia Militia. In October 1796, Sullivan was appointed as provost marshal of the court hearing concerning Captain McGeath for fining delinquents in his company. Murtho Sullivan married Elizabeth Elliot on 27 January 1800. They had at least eight children. Sullivan’s family was listed as living in Waterford, Loudoun County, in the 1810 U.S. census.  

Sullivan was a landowner who frequently made deeds pertaining to the buying, selling, mortgaging, and leasing of land in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. One deed, made after his death, involved land being sold to a free African American named Benjamin Kinn. Sullivan was also a slaveholder. He owned at least seven enslaved people—Forister, Bob, Cate, Phillis, Charles, John, and Evja—at the time of his death and previously owned a man named Adam who was mentioned in a bill of sale. Sullivan frequently appeared in court for debt disputes. In 1808, he was appointed commissioner of revenues for the first district of Loudoun County.  

Sullivan died in March 1814. His estate was appraised at $12,355.70. Isaac Larowe was named trustee of the estate for the benefit of Sullivan’s widow Elizabeth and their children; however, as a widow, Elizabeth was the administrator and executor of the estate and could manage it as she wanted. Like her husband, she frequently made deeds and appeared in court to settle debt disputes. She also appeared in chancery court to settle land disputes, including those involving lands her husband had intended to leave to their children. 

by Timmia King