Notes for Basill Poole

Notes for Basill Poole

Approximate birth year for Basill I as 1692 from a deposition he made in 1747 giving his age as 55. In November of 1724 there is record of his marriage to Lowis Shipley, in St. Annes Parish, Anne Arundel Co., MD. (The spelling of "Lowis" is used twice in Basill's will but elsewhere it has been spelled "Loys" or "Lois")

On August 16, 1728 there is recorded his purchase of 60 acres called "Vines His Fancy" which was located in Elkridge, Anne Arundel county. On April 13, 1743 he patented "Pool's Chance", adding 200 acres to the property in 1753. This land was next to Shipleys Discovery owned by Robert Shipley. Both Basill I and Robert Shipley were listed as pew holders in Queen Caroline Parrish in 1736. Though he had sold "Vines His Fancy" in 1744 there is an article in the Maryland Gazette of Sept. 13, 1753 that "Basil Poole has a mare at his place in Elkridge" On the southern boundary of Pools Chance stands a stone inn known as Red House Tavern which served as a way-station on the original road between Baltimore and Frederick. The tavern, which is believed to date from the mid-1700s, contains an unusual V-shaped double fireplace. The Red House Tavern is described in the book Travels of a Frenchman in Maryland and Virginia, by Ferdinand M. Bayard, who visited there in 1791. Moreover, George Washington is said to have slept at the Red House Tavern. Some historians speculate that it might have been built by Basill Poole. The Red House Tavern, now a private residence, stands today near Cooksville, just north of the intersection of MD Rte. 97 and I-70. Basill I died in August 1770 and his will named only Lowis, Samuel and Charles as heirs.

Though Samuel and Charles were the only children named in the will of Basill I it is likely that there were other sons who had left the nest and may have already received some form of inheritance or at least were out on their own. Basill's will was made in 1769 just over a year before his death at the age of about 78 years. Except for 20 lbs. bequeathed to Charles, the entire estate went to Lowis with the stipulation that it was to pass on to Samuel upon her death. One can assume that with the late date of the will that he was providing for Lowis with the plantation being managed by Samuel. Documents show that there were other Pool/Pooles in the area of the appropriate ages to also be sons of Basill I. These candidate sons were Basill Junior, Peter, Richard, William, and Henry.