Charles Trail Sr. of "Trail's Choice" (c.1710-1763)

• Following records discovered by George Arthur Trail IV...

Charles Trail Sr. first appeared on a 1732 petition filed by citizens of Prince George's County to have a bridge built over the Beaver Dam branch. The petition was signed by 35 men and the name Charles Trayle followed the names of Richard Weaver (step grandfather of Charles) and Allen Lock ( former servant to Charles' father David Trail Sr.). David Trail Sr. also appeared on the petition his name appearing on list between the names of William Scott Sr. and William Scott Jr. ( The Scott plantation bordered that of Richard Weaver)

Charles Trail Sr. married Susannah Wofford about the year 1741 when Charles Trail settled "Trail's Choice" on Seneca Creek. "Trail's Choice" was assigned to Charles Trail (Traile) by James Edmonston. The deed was witnessed by Charles Trail's childhood neighbor Ninian Beall,son of Thomas. This Ninian Beall seated himself in the year 1716 on land adjacent "David's Industry" where Charles grew up.

P.G. County Levy Book 1734-1748 pg. 25... "Squirrells and Crows Heads 1734.."...Thomas Thompson Schoolmaster, Charles Trayl, Phillip Evans.."

P.G County Levy Book 1734-1748 pg. 114..." Squirrells and Crows Heads 1737.....Elizabeth Miles, Robert Miles, David Traill, Charles Traill..."

Prince George's County Levy Books 1734-1748 pg. 294... 1740 "Squirrells and Crows"...." Samuel McKenly, Charles Trale, Richard Watts.."....

• In 1754 John Buxton of Frederick County, planter, sold Charles Trayle 102 acres part of a tract called " Resurvey on Buxton's Delight ", the deed was witnessed by John Rawlins and John Smith Prather....James Trail payed the alienation fine for Charles in said deed.....

1750 Frederick County Debt Book (from the Calvert Rent Rolls)...." Mr. Charles Trayl...to " Trayls Choice"..50 acres..., Mr. James Dickson...to "Matthew's Lot ", to " Content'...to William Field..to " Bedfordshire Carrier"...".....

P.G. Court Record- 1753...Thomas Fieldest (Fields) vs. Daniel Wallahon.......March Court 1754....evidences for Thomas Fieldest (were) Sarah Church, John Brown, CHARLES TRAIL, John Speak ".....Daniel Wallohan also assaulted Ninian Beall Jr. at the same time and Charles Trail was an evidenciary for Ninian Beall Jr. as well.

• In 1761 Charles Trail Sr. added to his land holdings when he had 50 acres called "Addition to Trail's Choice" surveyed for himself......
• Frederick County Wills...1763...." In the name of God Amen the twenty eight day of June one thousand seven hundred sixty and three Charles Trail of Frederick County....being very sick and weak of body....appoints this my last will and testament....I give unto my loving wife Susanna Trail fifty acres of land called " Trail's Choice" during her life and after her decease to my son Thomas Trail and his heirs.....unto my loving wife Susanna Trail fifty two acres of land being part of Buxton's Delight and after her decease to my son James Trail and his heirs......unto my son David Trail fifty acres of land part of Buxton's Delight lying to the east side of the main road... unto my son David Trail fifty acres of land called " Addition to Trail's Choice"....unto my loving son Charles Trail all that tract of land called " David's Industry" lying in Prince George's County and on the north line of Beall's Meadows.....I give unto my loving daughter Jane Trail one mare and colt.......Charles CT Trail (his mark)...witness: John Segar, Richard Watts, Matthias Gray, Alexander Grant "

*Frederick County Inventories..October 29, 1763...CHARLES TRAIL (deceased) ..The account of Susannah Trail Administratrix of Charles Trail late of Frederick County deceased....cash received from Benjamin Wauford...of current money....to Alexander Grant....paid Richard Henderson attorney in fact for John Glassford.....paid to Josiah Beall....paid to Robert Peter....paid to Thomas Prather...of current money paid to Richard Watts.....widow and eight children....estate accounted for- 34:14:1....Balance due the Estate 37:5:5....(Total estate value) 71: 19:7.....Appraisers: Joseph West Sr., John Seager...Creditors: Richard Henderson for John Glassford Co., Richard Watts.....Next of Kin: David Trail Sr., James Trail...Executrix: Susanna Trail.

* ( Frederick County Court Record)....November Court 1764.....Jeremiah Duvall overseer petitions that his precinct of the Road between Lower Bennett's Creek and Charles Traills ford and to the ford on Seneca above Richard Watts be split into two precincts...

• Frederick County Court Records...Aug. 1765...Suit of John Beall assignee of Benjamin Wauford vs. Susanna Trail...' Benjamin Wauford said he received a promissary note for 10 pounds in 1763 from Charles but was never paid and Susanna refuses to pay since Charles died..."Attended as evidence were Richard Walls (Watts), Ashford Dowden, Alexander Grant, David Trail, Elizabeth Riley and Charles Trail ". ( Susanna Trail was represented by Thomas Jennings and she received 813 pounds of tobacco for her court costs.)