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Eccles or Echols of Virginia, Georgia and Mississippi

The family of Echols originated in the town of Eccles near the city of Manchester, England. The word "Eccles" means church and is derived from the Greek word "Ekklesia&quo;. Eccles, a village and a parish in Lancashire. The village stands on the river Irwell, and on the Manchester and Liverpool railway, 4 miles W of Manchester; and has a station on the railway, and a post office under. Manchester. The parish contains the townships of Pendleton and Pendlebury, in the district of Salford, and the townships of Barton-upon-Irwell, Clifton, and Worsley in the district of Barton-npon-Irwell. The township of Pendleton, and part of that of Pendlebury, are situated within the borough of Salford; and about 7,000 acres are in Chatmoss. Many of the inhabitants are employed in cotton and silk mills. The vicarage in the diocese of Manchester belonged anciently to Whalley abbey; contains monuments of the Breretons and the Booths; and is in good condition. The chapelries of Ellenbrook, Pendleton, Swinton, Walkden, Worsley, Pendlebury, Hope, Weaste, Patricroft, Irlam, Barton-upon-Irwell, Paddington, and Charleston, are separate charges. There are chapels for Independents, Baptists, Presbyterians, Wesleyans, New Connexion Methodists, and Roman Catholics.

John Eccles (1650-1712) was the emigrant from England into Virginia. He was married to Mary Cave from Wales. John was christened in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England on 17 February 1650, a son of Edward Eccles. They resided in Caroline County, Virginia. Issue:

• John Eccles, born in Virginia.
• Richard Eccles, born 1714 in King and Queen County, Virginia, died after 1778 in Halifax County, Virginia. He was married to Caty Evans. Known issue:
  1. James Eccles, born ca 1730 in Virginia, died 1825. He was married in Halifax County, Virginia on 16 February 1769 to Elizabeth Milner and they had a son, Milner Echolls, born ca 1772 in Halifax County, died after 1850.
  2. Benjamin Eccles (1750-1828) of Halifax County, Virginia, married Sabra Hendricks. This family removed to Georgia, then to Monroe County, Mississippi where Benjamin died. He was a Revolutionary War Soldier. His grandson was Brig. General Robert M. Echols who died in the Mexican War after falling from his horse and for whom Echols County, Georgia is named.
• Abraham Eccles, born ca 1700 in Virginia, died 1749 in Lunenburg County, where he made his last will and testament.
• William Eccles, born ca 1702 in Virginia, died in 1771.
• Joseph Eccles, born ca 1704 in Virginia, died 1790 in Halifax County, Virginia.

Eccles Town Hall.


Map of Eccles.

Sources: Wilmslow Parish Register, Cheshire, England; Chattanooga County. The Story of a County and Its People by Richard S. Baker; Halifax County, Virginia Marriages; Last Will and Testament of Abraham Eccles dated 1749 in Lunenburg County, Virginia; inventory of the estate of Joseph Eccles (1790) in Halifax County, Virginia; John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72)