• Index to Immigrants

Origins of Virginians
Adventurers, Merchant Shipment, First Colonists
from the Special Collection of Jeannette Holland Austin

Comments: The term gentleman as given by Sir Edmund Coke of England distinguished persons who were not entitled to a coat-of arms. Nevertheless, it appears that a substantial number of persons legally entitled to display coats-of-arms on deeds and other documents was in wide use by at least forty-seven families who resided in Essex, Lancaster and Middlesex Counties. In other words, the descendants of ancient nobility who were not the eldest son and thus did not inherit the family seat, became adventurers to the plantations. An examination of 17th century court house documents reveals the impression of the family seal. In fact, those adventurers occupying the highest positions in the Colony were natives of England. Just as families of the same rank in England acknowledged the leading families in the surrounding shires, the prominent families of Virginia were well acquainted with the social antecedents of each other in the Mother Country. Before departing England, some of the emigrants took care to have their coats-of-arms confirmed. In 1633, Moore Fauntleroy obtained such a confirmation from the Office of the English Heralds, who reported that this coat-of-arms had been enjoyed by the Fauntleroys "time out of mind". Source: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. Vol. I, page 224.

Allen. Henry Allen at Southampton gives notice that he gave a bond for 10,000 pds. to Frederick Smith in consideration that he enter Continental Service and thereby clear the 26th division of militia in which Allen is enrolled. Smith has probably deserted and Allen will not pay the bond. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 4 October 1780

Anderson. Sir Richard Anderson, the lord of the manor Pendley, partly within the Parish of Tring, left his last will and testament in Herefordshire, England (probated 8/27/1632) and bequeathed 40 shillings to "my cousin Lawrence Washington of Brasenose." Lawrence Washington was progenitor of George Washington whose forebearers migrated to Westmoreland County, Virginia. In 1625 two of her sons, Henry and Robert, attended Pembroke College. His wife was a daughter of Robert, lord Spencer, Baron of Wormleighton and owner of the manor of Althop.

Allerton. Colonel Isaac Allerton of the Northern Neck of Virginia was the son of Isaac Allerton, one of the Pilgrims who arrived in the Mayflower, and, through his mother, was the grandson of William Brewster, the leader of that company.

Andrews, John. Plank board. Some plantations were in possession of a great abundance of plank. John Smyth of York lft 1500 feet; John Andrews of Accomac, 1800 feet. Henry Jenkins, of Elizabeth City was indebted to Pascho Curle for 4,029 feet of plank. Sources: Records of York County, vol. 1694-1697, p. 410, Records of Accomac County, vol. 1666-1670, p. 23.

Archdeacon, James of Norfolk VA administration of estate in London to creditor, Robert Gilmour; relict Parnell Archdeacon and only child John Archdeacon having been cited but not appearing. August 1784. Source American Asministration and Probate Acts in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 1781-90 by Peter Wilson Coldham.

Archer. Gorge Archer became an extensive landowner, patenting 250 acres in 1663, 550 acres in 1665, 784 acres in 1671 and 1,395 acres in 1673. In 1691 he received, in conjunction with others, title to a tract of 2,827 acres in Henrico. Source: W. A. Crozier, Virginia County Records, Vol. VI.

Argyll. Having been assigned 2400 acres for the transportation of 24 persons, a site west of Jamestown was selected by Samuel Argall in 1617 as settlement. This was one of the first land grants. Also, there were settlers with him to be employed on the land. The occupants of this area were listed two years later which sent representatives to the Fist Assembly of 1619, viz., Thomas Pawlett and Edward Gourgaing. Seemingly the accommodations which resulted were good ones for when, in 1619, some newly arrived Martin's Hundred people were seated here, there was good and convenient housing which enabled them to do the best of all new-comers. They reaped better crops and the list of those who died was not comparable to other places. Argall Town, however, was not destined to become a settled community. It was on the Governor's land and Yeardley proceeded after his arrival in 1619 to take a petty rente from the settlers here "to make them acknowledge that Paspaheigho by expresse wordes in the greate commission did belonge to the Governor and that they had bene wrongfully seated by Capt. Argall upon that lande." Source: The First Seventeen Years 1607-1725 by Charles E. Hatch Jr.

Arundell. Peter and John Arundell of France, emigrated enroute England to the colony. Peter was a native of Normandy. Source: Social Life in Virginia during the 17th Century by Bruce.

Bacon, Nathaniel Sr., a wealthy planter, had an average size manor house, with an old and new hall, an inner room over the hall, an outer room, an upper chamber. The chamber of Mrs. Bacon was included, as well as a kitchen, dairy and storeroom. Source: Records of York County, vol. 1690-1694.

Bacon, Brent, Ballard, etc.In the second half of the century the class of the well-to-do, although somewhat more numerous, was still restricted to a small group of prominent families, many of them connected by marriage. Among the best known men are Nathaniel Bacon, Sr., Thomas Ballard, Robert Severely, Giles Brent, Joseph Bridger, William Byrd I, John Carter, John Custis I, Dudley Digges, William Fitzhugh, Lewis Burwell, Philip Ludwell I, William Moseley, Daniel Parke, Ralph Wormeley, Benjamin Harrison, Edward Hill, Edmund Jennings and Matthew Page. But so few were their numbers that the Governors more than once complained that they could not find men for the Council of State qualified for that post by their wealth and influence.

Baldwin. William Baldwin, who came in the Plaine Joan when he was twenty-four years of age, received three grants of land, one for 600 acres in York county, one for 67 acres in Isle of Wight, and one, in conjunction with Richard Lawrence, for 300 in Rappahannock. Source:W. A. Crozier, Virginia County Records, Vol. VI, pp. 77, 191, 281.

Ball, William, Colonel of Lancaster County died about 1693 and inserted in his will a request that his wife should teach each of their youngest children until he or she should arrive at their sixth year, after which age the youngest children were to receive instruction from their two eldest brothers. Source: Lancaster County Records, vol. 1690-1709, p. 45.

Ball, formerly Chicester, Mary of Stafford County. Administration of estate to Thomas Blane, attorney for husband, Burgess Ball now in Staddord County. January 1790. Source American Asministration and Probate Acts in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 1781-90 by Peter Wilson Coldham.

Ball. Thomas Ball, the first member of the Ball family whose name appears in the records of Lancaster County where he was a large landowner, was described as a mariner in the deeds. In 1655, it appears that he was a citizen of Northampton County. Source: Lancaster County Records, Vol.1654-1702, p. 20.

Barham. Anthony Barham resided on Mulberry Island on the James River, and described himself as a gentleman.

Baskerville. The Baskerville name certainly existed in England dating from the 11th century when Ralph Baskerville owned Pencelli Castle. Then there was the printer, John Baskerville, who used a "transitional" typeface during the mid-18th century. Of course, there is the Sherlock Holmes mystery, Hounds of Baskerville.Also, there was the village of Eardisley in Herefordshire where it is said the Baskerville family owned a castle.So, the question arises as to whether or not the Baskerville family found its way to America. And the answer is "yes". Norvelle Baskerville, born 1709 probably in Hereford, England, came to Virginia during the early part of the 18th century and settled in Cumberland County, Virginia where he died in January of 1750, leaving a last will and testament. This testament here

Barry. William. The Muster of Sargent; William Barry in ship The Nova, 1619. Source: Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607 to 1625 by Annie Jester

Batte. A brother of John and Henry Batte, sons of a Vice-Master of Oxford University in England and the first of the Batte name to remove to Virginia, was a member of the Grocers Guild in London. Source: William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. I, p. 79.

Batte, Thomas. Thomas and Henry Batte were the first of that name to arrive in Virginia and were the sons of Robert Batte, Vice-Master of University College in William and Mary. Source: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol. III, p. 274.

Batte. A brother of John and Henry Batte, sons of a Vice-Master of Oxford University in England and the first of the Batte name to remove to Virginia, was a member of the GrocersGuild in London. Source: William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. I, p. 79.

Berkeley, Governor. His home was known as Green Spring and the manor house was divided into six apartments. Source: Records of York County, vol. 1638-1648, p. 218.

Beverley, Robert, a planter of a valuable estate, died in 1687, but his mansion was less pretentious in size and appointments. Its apartments included the chamber in which Major Beverley slept, a second overhead chamber, a porch and hall chamber, dairy and kitchen, and the overseer's room. Source: Records of Middlese County, vol. 1698-1713, p. 113.

Bishop. John Bishop, who was transported by Thomas Gray, became a man of influence and means. He represented Charles City county in the House of Burgesses in the sessions of 1644, 1652 and 1653, and was variously known as Captain Bishop or Mr. Bishop.[4-60] Although he became a landowner so early as 1638, his family arrived from England only in 1651. Francis Gray, brought to Virginia at the age of fifteen by Joseph Johnson, also became prominent, securing a[79] seat in the Assembly and acquiring a fair estate. In 1653 he took up 750 acres in Charles City county, while ten years later he is credited with 374 acres more in Westmoreland. His will was recorded in 1667. Virginia Land Patents, Vol. III, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.

Blackstone. John Blackstone acquired two tracts, one for 100 acres and the other for 151 acres. Source: Virginia Land Patents, Vol. III, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.

Bonfield, Benjamin of Sienna in the Dukedom of Tuscany. Norfolk County Wills 1755-1772.

Booker and Lawson. In 1690 the battle of Boyne occurred between the rivals to the English, Scottish and Irish thrones. Afterwards, many of the Irishmen who were captured were imported into Virginia as agricultural servants. Earlier, most of the Irish settlers were of English blood, their fathers having received grants of confiscated lands in that country. Such was the case of Daniel Gookin who patented lands at Newport News in 1622 and Anthony Lawson of Lower Norfolk.

Brent. George Brent, one of the largest landowners in the Northern Neck of Virginia, was a grandson of Sir John Peyton of Doddington. His wife was a niece of Sir William Layton of Horsmandene in Worcestershire. Source: Waters' Gleanings, pp. 447-448.

Brent, Giles. The difficulties confronting the central and local governing bodies in putting the Acts into effect are illustrated by the attempts to establish a port town for Stafford County. Under the act of 1680 a town was to be built at "Peace Point," where the Catholic refugee Giles Brent had settled nearly forty years before, but there is no evidence that even so much as a survey was made there. The 1691 Act for Ports located the town at Potomac Neck, where Accokeek Creek and Potomac Creek converge on the Potomac River. Situated about three miles below the previously designated site, it was again on Brent property, lying within a tract leased for life to Captain Malachi Peale, former high sheriff of Stafford. On October 9, 1691, the Stafford Court "ordered that Mr. William Buckner deputy Surveyor of this County shall on Thursday next, repair to the Malachy Peale neck being the place allotted by act of assembly for this Town and Port of this County and shall then and there Survey and Lay Out the said Towne or Port, to the Interest that all the gentlemen of and all other of the Inhabitants may take up such Lot and Lots as be and they desire. " On the same day John Withers and Matthew Thompson, both justices of the peace, were appointed "Feoffees in Trust." Young Giles Brent, "son and heir of Giles Brent Gent. late of this county deceased" and not yet 21, selected Francis Hammersley as his guardian. Hammersley in this capacity became the administrator of the affairs of Brent, and accordingly it was agreed that 13,000 pounds of tobacco should be paid to him in exchange for the 50 acres of town land owned by Brent. Source: Stafford County Order Book, 1689-1694 (MS bound with order book for 1664-1688, but paginated separately), pp. 175, 177, 180, 189.

Boys, Christopher. High court of Admiralty. Examinations. 23 Nov 1635. Jeremy Lamp, regarding a voyage of the Hopewell (ship) of London to New England and Virginia. Thomas Babb, master. Christopher Boys of Virginia, planter, aged about 36 years, made an counting with one Jeffrey, purser of the complaintants ship at Hartley Rowe, Hants. Source: Genealogical Gleanings in England (1946) page 223.

Brent. George Brent, one of the largest landowners in the Northern Neck of Virginia, was a grandson of Sir John Peyton of Doddington. His wife was a niece of Sir William Layton of Horsmandene in Worcestershire. Source: Waters Gleanings, pp. 447-448.

Brownlow. John Brownlow at Fredericksburg advertises that he intends for France immediately, to return in a few months. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 4 October 1780

Bruce, Abraham, resided on the west branch of the Elizabeth River, Norfolk County Wills 1755-1772.

Bruce, Lemuel, resided on the west branch of the Elizabeth River, Norfolk County Wills 1755-1772.

Burcher. William Burcher received a grant for 300 acres. Virginia Land Patents, Vol. III, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.

Burwell.Francis Burwell 1,000 and John Underwood 2,000 acres. Source: William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XI, p. 271-276.

Butler, Thomas, Rev., Butler obtained a land patent of 1000 acres of land in Denbigh Parish. Source: Muster of Jany 20 to Febry 7, 1625, British Colonial Papers, vol. iii, No. 15.

Calthrope. Sir James Calthorpe had a grandson who settled in the Colony. There were several connections. A cousin, Reynolds Calthorpe had married the only daughter of Viscount Longueville. Through his mother, who was a daughter of John Bacon of Herset in Norfolk, Christopher Calthorpe of Virginia was related to the Bacon family. Source: William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. II, p. 107.

Burnett, John. In 1638 a special warrant was issued to John Burnett of Aberdeen, Scotland, granting him the privilege of trading in the colony upon the condition that he pay the customs due upon the tobacco to be exported by him, and that he gave bond that he would only unload the goods in Scotland. Source: British State Papers, Colonial, vol. IX, No. 118; Sainsbury Abstracts of 1638, p. 23, Virginia State Library.

Burton, James. There is a letter in Lancaster County from Captain James Burton of New England which reflects the attitude of the merchants trading with Virginia planters. He urges his correspondent, acting as his attorney, to secure a cargo of tobacco, hides, and pork for the market in Barbados, to be purchased with commodities already in his hands, and with good which Barton would dispatch in his own ketch, now about to sail for Virginia. While the vessel was absent on the voyage to and from the West Indies, the second destination point, the attorney was to make a further collection of hides, which, with tobacco, was to be shipped directly to Holland. This measure served as evidence that the merchants of New England openly evaded the injunctions of the Navigation Act. Source: Records of Lancaster County, vol.1666-1682, p. 440; Economic History of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century by Philip Alexander Bruce.

Byrd, William. In a vessel which left Barbados in 1661, the Charles of Southton, there were among the consignments for Virginia, six hogsheads of bay salt. In some instances these consignments were restricted to sugar, rum and molasses. How large they were is illustrated in the case of William Byrd. On one occasion Byrd obtained from this island 1200 gallons of rum, 5000 pounds of muscovado sugar, three tons of molasses, 200 pounds of ginger and one case of lime-juice. Source: Records of Lancaster County, vol. 1666-1682, p. 31; Records of Rappahannock County vol. 1656-1664, p. 274.

Byrd, William, whose home was located on the James River, gave his English merchants both large and small commissions, to be filled upon receipt of the tobacco and bills of exchange forwarded by him. In 1685, he wrote for a hat and a pair of shoes, later on, for a saddle and letter paper. In 1690, he ordered half a dozen riding-cloths and two or three pairs of linen stocks. While his house at Westover was in the process of being built in 1690, he instructed his English merchants to ship to him in Virginia a bedstead, bed, and curtains, looking-glass, one small and one-middling oval table and a dozen Russian leather chairs. Source: Letters of William Byrd, June 5-6, 1685; August 8, 1690. Note: Russia leather is a particular form of bark-tanned cow leather which became popular during the 17th century. After tanned, it is further distinguished by birch oil which is worked into the rear face of the leather, providing a leather which is particularly hard-wearing, flexible and resistant to water.

Capps, William. Five years after the massacre of Jamestown, William Capps was sent by the King to Virginia with a general commission to establish a number of industries in the colony, including the manufacture of iron. The Governor and Council expressed the utmost readiness to give Capps all the assistance in their power, but Capps soon became involved in trouble and before he could issue any plans, was forced to leave the colony. Source: King to Governor and Council of Virginia, British State Papers, Colonial, vol. IV, No. 32; Sainsbury Abstracts for 1627, p. 164; Examination taken Nov. 2, 1629, British State Papers.

Carsley, Henry, came to Virginia in 1621. Source: Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600 to 1700. "Henry Carsley, age 23, from Mr. Daniell Goodkines, ship Flyinge Harte.

Carter, Charles. The Last Will and Testament of Charles Carter of Charles City County Virginia is easy to read on Virginia Pioneers From the text of the document, we learn that he was also a substantial landowner of plantations in Westmoreland, Prince George and Richmond Counties and 4000 acres in Fauquier County. He also owned Nanty Parsons plantation in Lancaster County. The document mentions a marriage contract with his wife, Ann Butler, in Prince William County, wherein he agreed (at his decease) to bequeath to her 3,000 pounds in gold or silver! His daughters married into the Randolph, Berkley and Lee families.

Carter, Robert. July 25, 1641. Whitehall. Order of Committee of Privy Council for Plantation Affairs. Referring following to the Council of Trade and Plantations for their opinion. Signed, Wm. Sharpe. Endorsed, Recd. 26th July, Read 26th Sept., 1733.

Petition of Thomas Lord Fairfax to the King in Council. Recites grant of Charles II of the territory in Virginia about the sources of the Rappahannock etc. There have been divers disputes between the Governor and Council, and petitioner's Agent, Robert Carter, touching the boundaries of the said tract. The Governor and Council have actually granted several parcels of land, and run out surveys of others clearly within petitioner's bounds. Refers to report of Council of Trade 20th July last, upon the petition of Sir. Wm. Keith etc., in which they proposed the appointment of Commissioners on the part of Virginia and the several claimants to settle the boundaries of their respective districts. Petitioners Attorney, Robert Carter having died, he fears that the Governor and Council will take advantage of his want of an Attorney to make more grants of his land. By reason of the said disputes, many of his tenants refuse to pay any rents or own themselves his tenants etc. To prevent confusion and disturbance, prays H.M. to order a Commission to issue for ascertaining the bounds of petitioner's tract, an equal number of Commissioners to be appointed on behalf of Virginia and Petitioner etc., within a reasonable time etc. The conclusion set out, A.P.C. III. p. 385. Copy. 6 pp. [C.O. 5, 1323. ff. 76-80, 81 v.] Source: Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 40, 1733.

Carrington, Paul, among others, engaged in occasional trade with Messrs. Anthony Palmer and Company in exchange for tobacco, pitch, tar and live hogs. If Carrington found it impossible to obtain the return cargo in the course of five weeks, or to secure a freight rate of 5 pounds sterling per ton, he was to dispatch the ship to Philadelphia with a load of pitch and tar. Source: William and Mary College Quarterly, April, 1893, pp. 200, 201

Carter, John of Lancaster County was one of the largest slaveholders in the Colony, and by his last will and testament gave freedom to two of his negroes who were married to each other. To each one he devised a cow and a calf and three barrels of Indian corn, and instructed his heirs to allow them the use of a convenient house, firewood, timber, and as much land as they could cultivate. He also enjoined that the two young daughters of this couple should receive their liberty when they reached their 18th year and as a provision, gave them each one a yearling heifer with its increase, which was to be permitted to run with the cattle of his wife after his death. Source: Records of Lancaster County, vol. 1674-1687, p. 91.

Carter, John of Lancaster County was one of the largest slaveholders in the Colony, and by his last will and testament gave freedom to two of his negroes who were married to each other. To each one he devised a cow and a calf and three barrels of Indian corn, and instructed his heirs to allow them the use of a convenient house, firewood, timber, and as much land as they could cultivate. He also enjoined that the two young daughters of this couple should receive their liberty when they reached their 18th year and as a provision, gave them each one a yearlig heifer with its increase, which was to be permitted to run with the cattle of his wife after his death. Source: Records of Lancaster County, vol. 1674-1687, p. 91.

Carter, John, Senior. 23.12.7-1/4. 28 March 1776. He died during the Revolution leaving his son James his executor, who made a charge of the sum in the settlement of his accounts which was allowed by Commissioners appointed by the court but it appears he has not yet paid the same. Source: British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803.

Cary. The last will and testament of Alice Cary of Stepney, Middlesex, bequeathed to my grandfather, John Cary of Briston, woolen draper (England, one shilling and to my uncle, Myles Cary, one shilling. Source: Water's Gleanings, p. 1056.

Chamberlayne. In 1679, Major Thomas Chamberlayne, one of the most prominent citizens of Henrico, entered into an agreement with James Gates, a carpenter of the same county, by the terms of which Gates was required to prepare the frame of a house that was to be orty feet in length and twenty in width. He was to assemble different parts of this frame together on the spot selected as the site of the proposed dwelling, and then cover the sides with board an place a roof on the top. There was to be no cellar and the house was supported by sills resting on the ground. A chimney was to be constructed at either end and the upper and lower floors divided into two roos by wooden partitions. All for 1200 pounds of tobacco in cask, and the house was to be finished in seven months. Source: Records of Henrico County, vol. 1677-1692, p. 88.

Charlton, Stephen in his last will and testament dated 1654, directed that should his daughter (an only child) die without issue that the mansion in his which he swelt as well as the outbuildings, orchards, gardens and surrounding dividen of land lying on Nassaaddox Creek, should become the property of the loccal parish, to be reserved indefinitely for the support of a clergyman of the Church of England. Source: Northampton County Recorfds, vol. 1654-5, p. 57.

Clatterbuck, Richard. 8.17.7-1/4, due 28 Dec 1776. On 15 May 1798 application was made for payment of this debt by Newton Berryman who was then a clerk for the company. Clatterbuck acknowledged the debts to be due and promised payment. He is since dead and his representative refuses to pay. Source: British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803.

Cole. Edward Cole, who appeared as a headright in 1642, patented 900 acres in 1655. Source: Virginia Land Patents, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.

Coleman. Captain Leitenent Richard Coleman of Spotsylvania County fell in the defence of his country on the 29th of May, at the Wax Saws in South Carolina. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 28 June 1780.

Collin. William Collin, a member of the weaver's guild in London, settled in the Colony. Source: William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. VIII, p. 256.

Craig. Job Carter, jailor, advertises that he has in Lancaster jail a Negro man James with a pass signed by Lewis Crage of Orange County but believes him to be a Negro advertised by Mr. Moore Brookenbury. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 21 June 1780.

Custis. John Parke Custis at Abingdon near Alexandria advertises for sale four mares in foal by Leonidas and other horses. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 4 October 1780

Richard Davis, aged 16, in ship Jonathan in 1620.Richard Davis, aged 22, in ship Bona Nova, 1620. Source: Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607 to 1626 by Annie Jester.

Davries, Capt., while trading in the West Indies in 1633, stated that he had made the acquainted of Captain Stone at Jamestown, who had recently arrived from that part of America, presumably with a cargo of supplies to be bartered for tobacco. Source: Devries' Voyages from Holland to America, pp. 51, 52.

Dixon, Adam, petitioned the king in 1622 that he and his companion had built a house at a cost of 100 pds. Abstracts of Proceedings of Virginia Company of London, Vol. I, pp. 189, 190.

Dixon. John Dixon was a printer who married Susanna Hunter, daughter of William Hunter, second editor of the Virginia Gazette. He formed a partnership with Alexander Purdie to carry on the paper after Hunter died, which continued until 1774 when he took in William Hunter Jr. as his partner. In 1778, Hunter left Virginia and Thomas Nicholson was substituted. This partnership continued in Richmond, when the editors moved their office in 1780. Dixon died in Richmond in 1791. Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1915).

Dixon. John Dixon, a merchant of Bristol, England, came to Virginia in the early part of the 18th century and acquired large tracts of land in Hanover, Louisa, Albemarle and Culpeper Counties. He was a vestryman of the parish of St. Paul in Hanover County, 1744 to 1748. He removed to England with his second wife, Anne Lyde, and died in 1758 at Bristol. By his first wife, Lucy Reade, he ws the father of Rev. John Dixon, Roger Dixon and Thomas Dixon. Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1915).

Dodman. John Dodman secured a patent for 350 acres in Westmoreland in the year 1662.[4-70] Thomas Warden is mentioned as a landowner in James City county in 1643.[4-71]

Doggett, Benjamin, Benjamin, Rev., in his last will and testament dated 1682 instructed his executors to purchase a "great Cheste" in which his book were to be packed and shipped to England where they were to be sold for the benefit of his heirs. Source: Lancaster County Will Book 1674-89, page 81.

Dormer. Sir Fleetwood Dormer, formerly of Arle Court, Gloucestershire, son of Sir Fleetwood Dormer of Lee Grange and Purton, Bucks, was in Virginia in 1649, probably a royalist refugee. In 1684, John Dormer of James City County, Virginia, was a vestryman of the Bruton Parish Church, at Middle Plantation (now Williamsburg). Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1915).

Dunn, Thomas, came to James City County, Virginia in 1620, as the 14-year old servant to Sir George Yeardley, Knight and Governor and Captain-General of Virginia.

Dwight, Benjamin of Bardoes sues Christopher Wormeley for debt. Source: Orders, O . 7, 1689, Source: Records of Middlesex County, vol. 1680-1694.

Edwards, Philip of Lower Norfolk County, Virginia and Hugh Campbell of Boston settled their trade differences by an arbitrator in 1680 and the attorneys representing many of the merchants of New England were shipmasters of the two Colonies. Source: Records of Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1675-1686, p. 90; 1686-1695, pp. 58, 73, 84.

Elcock, James, in the latter part of the 17th century there was a large house of public entertainent in New Kent known as the Brick House. James Elcock, in enumerating his expenses in recovering two runaway servants, includes the cost of a pottle of beer which he had bought at the Brick House. Source: Records of York Co., vol. 1664-1672, p. 501.

Eppes, Francis, Colonel of Henrico County owned a store in 1678. The inventory was taken and disclosed a variety of goods. There were 121 ells of dowlas, 51 ells of oznaburg, 60 ells of canvas, 325 ells of holland and 80 yards of table and napkin diaper, as a starter. The store was replete with chafing-dishes, pots, shovels, spades, hoes, hammers, chisels, colters and augers, as well as gun powder, shot, sugar, butter, ginger and a small collection of books. Source: Records of Henrico County, vol. 1677-1692, p. 93.

Fairfax, William, et al. On May 12, 1607 a number of colonists went ashore to evaluate a spot as a site for their initial settlement. It was located several miles upstream from Jamestown at the mouth of College Creek (Archers Hope) and this waterway may have been previously used by Spanish Jesuit missionaries around 1570 who were searching for a mission site in Virginia. The next day they discovered that it was impossible to bring in close to the shore. The spot was named for Gabriel Archer. It was also a site reached by Indians during the massacre of 1622/1623 and the several settlers taking land grants there in 1619, William Fairfax, John Fowler, William Capp and Joakim Andrews, abandoned their homes. However, in 1624, fourteen persons resided there, under the command of Thomas Bransby.The census of 1625 named fourteen persons as constituting the settlement of Archer's Hope which then extended to the east as well as to the west of the creek bearing the same name. Each of the four major entries showed a single house although there must have been more than this in aggregate. On a population basis the amount of arms and armor available would indicate that, perhaps, the community had a military cast. Food supplies were about normal, yet no livestock is shown except eight hogs which included piggs as well.Altogether, by this date, at least 3,000 acres of land had been taken up by fifteen persons, many of them ancient planters. The largest grant, 750 acres, had been to Rev. Richard Buck, minister [Pg 109]for Jamestown. Richard Kingsmill had received 300 acres as had Ensign William Spence and John Fowler. Two, William Claiborne and John Jefferson, had 250 acre parcels, but all others had lesser amounts. Only three were shown as planted. The list omits a grant of some size to George Sandys which was located in the precincts of Archerss Hope but well to the east on the ponds, dividing from the land of Martins Hundred. On the west Archer's Hope was separated from "Neck-of-Land" from James City; by the Jamestown parish glebe land.Source: The First Seventeen Years. Virginia, 1607-1624 by Charles B. Hatch, Jr.

Fauntleroy, William of Rappahannock County was one of the principal landowners in that part of Virginia. His home contained a hall chamber with a second chamber overhead, a porch chamber, hall, closet and kitchen. Source: Records of Rappahannock County, vol. 1677-1682, p. 108.

Fitzhugh, William, a wealthy Virginia planter, upon one occasion instructed his English merchant to send him five dozen gallon stone jugs, a new feather-bed with curtains and valance, an old feather-bed, two quilts, a side-saddle, a large silver salt-cellar, and a pair of woman's gallooned shoes. Source: Letters of William Fitzhugh, May 22, 1683, Virginia State Archives.

Fitzhugh, William. The leading planters of the colony were in the habit of importing shoemakers from England. In 1692, Mr. William Fitzhugh wrote his London correspondent, John Cooper, requesting him to send over several shoemakers, with lasts, awls and knives, together with half a hundred shoemaker's thread, some twenty or thirty gallons of train oil and proper colorings for leather. He redesigned his a tan-house to convert the product into shoes on his own plantation.Source: Letters of William Fitzhugh, July 4 1692, Virginia State Archives.

Foissin. John Foissin, born in Paris, owned a store in Henrico County carrying a variety of French goods, such as muslin nec-cloths, silk-fringed gloves and embroidered waistcoats. Source: Social Life in Virginia during the 17th Century by Bruce.

Foote. Richard Foote emigrated to Virginia near the close of the 17th century and was the son of the wealthy tradesman in England, Richard Foote. Members of this family were owners of large estates in Cornwall and were entitled to bear arms. Source: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. VII, page 73.

Gibburd. The inventory of the estate of William Gibburd of York County contained an inventory perculiar to his class and circumstances. It consisted of two rugs, two beds and bolsters, blankets, pillows, a hammock, an iron pestle, a saddle and bridle, an iron pot and pothooks, skillet, six pewter dishes, six glass bottles, two runlets, four cases, one trunk, one church, etc.

Gilbert. George Gilbert 1,000 acres. Source: William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XI.

Gilbert. George Gilbert, transported in 1635 by Joseph Johnson, took up fifty acres in James City county in 1643. In 1663, in partnership with Richard Scruely, he patented 1,000 acres in the same county north of the Chickahominy river. Source: Virginia Land Patents, Vol. III, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.

Giroud. Advertisement for a pocketbook lost between the tavern of Mr. Galt and the ropewalk of Mr. Smith. It contained loan office certificates wrapped in a paper directed to Mr. Vesnel and tobacco notes of Pamunkey river. The loss concerns Mr. Honore Giroud at Hanover Town and reward of 1200 pds. will be paid by him, Mr. John Hay or Mr. Benjamin Hedding in Richmond. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 4 October 1780

Godsill, John of Lancaster County, inventory included a parcel of rum belonging to his estate (expected from Barbados). Source: Records of Lancaster County, vol. 1674-1687.

Gookin. Daniel Gookin who was captured at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, irishman, patented lands in Newport News in 1622. Source: Social Life in Virginia during the 17th Century by Bruce.

Gordon. John Gordon received a land grant 24 October 1701 for 330 acres on the Orapeak Swamp in Upper Parish of Nansemond County, Virginia. Source: Virginia Land Patents, Vol. 9, page 453.

Gray. John Gray, who died in 1685, left personal property worth 9,340 pounds of tobacco, consisting in part of six cows and six calves, four yearlings, two steers, one heifer, one barrel of corn, one bull, ten hogs and one horse. He had no servants and no slaves.[6-24] In better circumstances was Richard Avery, who seems to have been a tanner by profession. The inventory of his estate, recorded in 1686, includes one horse with bridle and saddle, a cart and a yoke of steers, eight head of cattle, 25 hogs, 118 hides, various kinds of tools, lumber to the value of 400 pounds of tobacco, four pieces of earthenware, four beds with mattresses and covers, poultry to the value of 180 pounds of tobacco, some wheat in the ground and a batch of wearing linen. The entire personal estate was valued at 14,050 pounds of tobacco. It included no servants or slaves. Source: The Planters of Colonial Virginia by Thomas J. Wertenbaker.

Gray. John Gray, who died in 1685, left personal property worth 9,340 pounds of tobacco, consisting in part of six cows and six calves, four yearlings, two steers, one heifer, one barrel of corn, one bull, ten hogs and one horse. He had no servants and no slaves. In better circumstances was Richard Avery, who seems to have been a tanner by profession. The inventory of his estate, recorded in 1686, includes one horse with bridle and saddle, a cart and a yoke of steers, eight head of cattle, 25 hogs, 118 hides, various kinds of tools, lumber to the value of 400 pounds of tobacco, four pieces of earthenware, four beds with mattresses and covers, poultry to the value of 180 pounds of tobacco, some wheat in the ground and a batch of wearing linen. The entire personal estate was valued at 14,050 pounds of tobacco. It included no servants or slaves.

Gray. Claims of John Gray & Company (William Coates, surviving partner of John Mitchel, William Gray and John Gray at their Port Royal store). Source: British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803, pp. 31-56.

Greene, Lawrence. 1641. [Oct.] Petition of Lawrence Greene, merchant, to the Privy Council. For a warrant for the transportation of twenty passengers and provisions to Virginia, where he has 24 servants. [Licence was granted on 20 Oct. 1641; see Council Register.] Source: Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 1, 1574-1660.

Hansford. Charles Hansford lost his life during the insurrection of 1676 (Bacon's Rebellion), When the executors of his estate, Charles Hansford and David Condon, they helped the widow to lease her residence in York County to the justices of the peace of that county to serve as a court-house. Part of the agreement was for the executors to furnish not ony accommodation for horses, but also a gallon of brandy during each session of the bench. Source: Records of York County, vol. 1671-1695, page 165.

Hardin, William. Rev. Alexander Whitaker, one of the most accomplished men of that age, wrote a letter to Rev. William Crashaw in England touching on the anticks of the Indians. "All these things make me think that there be great witches among them, and that they are very familiar with the Devill." As the population grew, the so called great witches appeared among the settlers themselves. So it was that when a man or woman attributed to some neighbor the evil powers of a witch, the matter had to be inquired into. In 1641, Jane Rookins, in a quarrel with the wife of George Busher, denounced her as a witch. Mrs. Busher, resenting the charge, feared that it should bring down on her head a wave of popular rage, complained to the court of the wrong done her. Mrs. Rookins then denied having used that expression and apologized. The justices ordered her husband to reimburse George Busher for the expense he had been put to in prosecuting the case. In 1665 a person by the name of Alice Stephens was brought before the General Court on a charge of witchcraft and in that court later in the year a judgment was obtained against another woman who had made a similar charge against one of her neighbors. During the same year, Rev. David Lindsay of Northumberland, a clergyman who had emigrated from Scotlland (where witchcraft flourished), accused William Harding of that county of sorcery. The case went to a jury and Harding was found guility of the crime and sentenced to receive ten stripes on his bare shoulders and banished permanently from the county. Sources: Brown's Genesis of the United States, vol. i, p. 499; General Court Orders, Robinson Transcripts, p. 28; Robinson Transcripts, p. 250, p. 256.

Harris, Elizabeth of London, Quaker, arrived in Virginia in 1656 and remained only one year. She appears to have had a success of converts. After her departure, she continued to write letters and send numerous books to those disposed to adopt the doctrines. Source: Weeks, pp. 13, 14.

Harston. Peter Harston in Henry County advertises that he has in custody a slave who belongs to Joel Coffee near the line between North and South Carolina.

Harrison, Benjamin shipped a cargo of tobacco directly to Scotland in 1697, however, the vessel was illegally changed in order to enter the port of its destination. Source: British State Papers, Colonial, Virginia B. T., vol. II, B. 3.

Harrison, George wrote to his brother in England that if he would secure a vessel and send her to Virginia with a cargo of wine, butter, cheese, sugar and other provisions, that he could easily obtain a profit of two hundred pounds sterling. In 1626, the amount required for the purchase of such a cargo in England rendered this sum equivalent to a gain of not less than fifty percent. However, after paying three shillings a pound for tobacco, the margin was so small, that the English merchants declared that there was no inducement to exchange their goods for that commodity. Source: British State Papers, Colonial, No. 17, vol. II; Sainsbury Abstracts for 1623, p. 78, Virginia State Library.

Harrison. One afternoon, while enroute to Jamestown, a duel occurred between Richard Stephens and George Harrison. Stephens received a cut in the knee from the sword of his opponent and died from it two weeks later. The autopsy revealed that he could not have lived long even if he had come off uninjured in the duel with Harrison. Source: Letter of George Menefie to John Harrison in England, April 27, 1624, British Colonial Papers, Vol. III, 1624-5, No. 15.

Harrison, Mr. Oct. 11, 1649. Similar Orders. Letter to be written to the Governor of Virginia, to demand why he has banished Mr. Harrison, lately a minister in that plantation. The Governors and Companies of the several plantations to be summoned to attend the Council on 17th. [Ibid., Vol. XCI., p. 132.]

Oct. 11, 1649. Derby House. The Council of State to the Governor of Virginia. Are informed by petition of the congregation of Nansamund in Virginia, that their minister, Mr. harrison, an able man of unblameable conversation, has been banished the colony because he would not conform to the use of the Common Prayer Book. As the Governor cannot be ignorant that the use of it is prohibited by Parliament, he is directed to permit Mr. Harrison to return to his ministry, unless there is sufficient cause approved by Parliament. [Ibid., Vol. CXV., pp. 482 to 83.]Source: Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 1, 1574-1660.

Harvey, Governor. The average clergy in Virginia did better in the Colony thatn in England where rural ministers of the gospel stood in a position hardly superior to that of a menial servant. The ministers were hardly compensated for by the bed, food and pittance in money he reeceived anr children were in no better condition than the peasantry attending his church. Since ministers were needed in the colony, it is surprising that more did not emigrate in order to enjoy an improved lifestyle. Rev. Alexander Whitaker, writing to Rev. Crashaw in 1611, pleaded for young, godly and learned ministers of the Church of England. The London Company asked the Bishop of London to supply for the vacant.pulpits. In 1629 Governor Harvey, just before he set sail for Virginia, addressed a letter to the Privy Council as to the need of the Colony for ministers. Souce: Maccauley's History of England, Chapter iii; British Colonial Papers, v. 5, Nos. 22, 23.

Harvey. In 1635 the people again showed their independent spirit by ejecting Sir John Harvey from the Government and sending him back to England. It is true that the Council members took the lead in this bold step, but they would hardly have gone to such lengths had they not been supported by the mass of small planters. In fact, one of the chief grievances against the Governor was his refusal to send to the King a petition of the Burgesses, which he considered offensive because they had made it "a popular business, by subscribing a multitude of hands thereto." And some days before the actual expulsion Dr. John Pott, Harvey's chief enemy, was going from plantation to plantation, inciting the people to resistance and securing their signatures to a paper demanding a redress of grievances. Source: Hening, Statutes at Large, Vol. I

Henry. Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 : June 6, 1799), the son of a silversmith, who became a hero of the American Revolution, studied law in Louisa County where he also defended clients. One in particular, the young Michael Holland was accused of murder and when Henry gave his closing argument, it reached right into the heart of the jurors and got a not guilty verdict. The genealogy is traced on Virginia Pioneers and his will is also on this website in Charlotte County, where he died.

Higginson. Capt. Robert Higginson was sent to Virginia in 1644 to build a palisade at the Middle Plantation. He was the son of a painter-stainer whose place of business was in London. Emperor Powhatan was waging his wars against the white man, having already massacred many settlers in 1622/1623.

Hill, Edward was a candidate for the office of the Virginia Speaker of the House in 1654, and was charged as being a blasphemer and atheist. This accusation was investigated by the General Court. An Act of the Assembly in 1675 established certain military regulations wherein it was provided that a soldier guilty of blasphemy in camp should be required to run (after the Indian fashion), the gauntlet of one hundred men. If he persisted in his offense, his tongue was to be pierced with a red hot iron. Source: Colonial Entry Book, vol. 1xxxvi., p. 70; Works of Captain John Smith, Arber's edition, p. 1xxxviii.

Hone, Theophilu. Jamestown. By contract with The Colonial Government, Theophilus Hone, Mathew Page and William Drummond agreed to raise a fort at Jamestown, to have a frontage of brick extending at least 150 feet. After some delay, this fort was built. When Clayton visited the Colony, he found that the structure had been erected in the shape of a half-moon. Source: Records of General Court, p. 149; Clayton's Virginia, pp. 23, 24, Force's Historical Tracts, vol. III.

Hodges, Robert. The local store was sometimes located in a room in the house of a planter. This was true of Robert Hodges of Lower Norfolk County and also of Newell's in York County. Jerome Ham, described in a deed as a gentleman, in making a lease of his plantation in York County, referred to his dwelling house, kitchen and a store, as if they were grouped very closely together. Source: Records of Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1675-1686, p, 117.

Holding. John Holding patented in York county 850 acres in 1649 and 389 acres in 1653.Source: W. A. Crozier, Virginia County Records, Vol. VI.

Holecroft. Captain Thomas Holecroft, son of Sir Thomas Holecroft of Vale Royal, Cheshire, England, came to Virginia with Lord Delaware in 1610, commanded one of the forts at Kecoughtan, and died there. He married Mary, daughter of Hon. Henry Talbot, son of George, Earl of Shrewsbury. Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1915).

Hooe. 1781. April 7th. Port Royal, Caroline Co.; Depredations of the enemy. Capt: Edmund Read, informs the Governor that by a letter received from Col: Skinker of King George Co. this morning, he learns that two large Sloops and three small vessels of the Enemy had come up by Hooe's Ferry, landed first on the Maryland Shore and did much mischief, then crossed the river, and burned all Mr. Hooe's Houses, carrying off his negroes and stock. Under these circumstances, he has determined to march at once to the assistance of the people, although his horses are very poor, hoping with the aid of Gentlemen volunteers of that place to drive off the plantation. Source: Calendar of Virginia State Papers.

Isham. Henry Isham had a daughter who married the first of the Randolphs to emigrate to Virginia belonged to a family which had been long seated in Northampshire, represented in the English baronetage. He was a nephew to Sir Edward Brett, knighted by Charles I for brilliant services as an officer and who by his last will and testament devised a considerable estate to Isham's two daughters. Isham resided in Virginia for a time, but ultimately returned to England where he died. Source: Waters' Gleanings, pp. 447-8.

Jessop, Edward. The laws in Virginia were based upon traditional British laws and do not appear to discriminative against slaves in the Virginia Colony. If a document, such as a last will and testament, granted freedom to any slave, then that procedure was carried out. As old masters died, they bequeathed items of value to slaves along with their freedom. Hence, there records of former slaves who made a success of plantation life. Such was the case of Edward Jessop. In 1693 a judgment was provided in York County was granted against the estate of Edward Jessop, a mulatto, in Northampton County. Source: Records of York Co. vol. 1683-1689, p. 258.

Jones. Captain Roger Jones and Frederick Jones.The discovery of the Tutter's Neck site and its artifacts associated with Frederick Jones arouses interest in the man himself and his place in colonial America. While those facets of his career directly relating to Tutter's Neck have been outlined above, a few additional facts may serve to round out our picture of the man.In 1680 Capt. Roger Jones of London came to Virginia with Lord Culpeper and was given the task of suppressing piracy in Chesapeake Bay. His efforts in this direction resulted in considerable personal gain and he was able to amass extensive Virginia property. Eventually Roger Jones' activities caused so many complaints that he relinquished his office and returned to London. In 1692 a letter of petition from the Council of Virginia to the Earl of Nottingham, King William's principal Secretary of State, complained bitterly about the ravages by pirates to ships carrying supplies to the colony and in particular about the conduct of Roger Jones. This petition, signed by Francis Nicholson and others of the Council, contained the following enlightening passage:"Capt Roger Jones, some time an Inhabitant of this Country, but at present residing in London. A man that, from noething, pretends in a few years to have gained a great Estate, & since he has declared his disaffection to yr Maty before his leaveing this Country, by refuseing to serve in any office, or take the usuall Oaths wee pray yor Lordshps leave to give you his true caracter. He came into this Country a souldier under the L Culpeper; was by his Ldsp made Captaine of a small sloope wh was to have been furnished with twelve men, & was ordered to cruise in our great Bay, to look out for & seize all unlawfull Tradrs, &c. But ye Captaine having learnt to cheate ye King very early, never had above 8 men, altho he constantly received pay for 12 men, for wh ye Lord Culpeper endeavoured to call him to Acct., as well as for his adviseing, trading with & sheltering severall Pyrates & unlawfull Traders, instead of doeing his duty in seizing them. By which means ye sd. Jones laid ye foundation of his p'sent great Estate, as he gives out he is master of."In 1701 Roger Jones died in Stepney, London, and was buried at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, the home of his wife Dorothy (née Walker) by whom he had two sons. The elder son, Frederick, inherited the larger share of the estate, and both he and his brother Thomas arrived in Virginia in 1702. Thomas remained in the colony throughout his life, but, as already shown, Frederick decided that North Carolina was more to his liking. In about 1708 Frederick disposed of most of his Virginia holdings and moved south, taking with him at least two Negro slaves and his wife Jane, whom he had married while in Williamsburg.

Jones, Roger. In 1680 Capt. Roger Jones of London came to Virginia with Lord Culpeper and was given the task of suppressing piracy in Chesapeake Bay. His efforts in this direction resulted in considerable personal gain and he was able to amass extensive Virginia property. Eventually Roger Jones' activities caused so many complaints that he relinquished his office and returned to London. In 1692 a letter of petition from the Council of Virginia to the Earl of Nottingham, King William's principal Secretary of State, complained bitterly about the ravages by pirates to ships carrying supplies to the colony and in particular about the conduct of Roger Jones. This petition, signed by Francis Nicholson and others of the Council, contained the following enlightening passage:"Capt Roger Jones, some time an Inhabitant of this Country, but at present residing in London. A man that, from noething, pretends in a few years to have gained a great Estate, & since he has declared his disaffection to yr Maty before his leaveing this Country, by refuseing to serve in any office, or take the usuall Oaths wee pray yor Lordshps leave to give you his true character. He came into this Country a souldier under the Lord Culpeper; was by his Ldsp made Captaine of a small sloope who was to have been furnished with twelve men, & was ordered to cruise in our great Bay, to look out for & seize all unlawfull Tradrs, &c. But ye Captaine having learnt to cheate ye King very early, never had above 8 men, altho he constantly received pay for 12 men, for wh ye Lord Culpeper endeavoured to call him to Acct., as well as for his adviseing, trading with & sheltering severall Pyrates & unlawfull Traders, instead of doeing his duty in seizing them. By which means ye sd. Jones laid ye foundation of his present great Estate, as he gives out he is master of."[95] In 1701 Roger Jones died in Stepney, London, and was buried at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, the home of his wife Dorothy (nee Walker) by whom he had two sons. The elder son, Frederick, inherited the larger share of the estate, and both he and his brother Thomas arrived in Virginia in 1702. Thomas remained in the colony throughout his life, but, as already shown, Frederick decided that North Carolina was more to his liking. In about 1708 Frederick disposed of most of his Virginia holdings and moved south, taking with him at least two Negro slaves and his wife Jane, whom he had married while in Williamsburg.Source: Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. (1968) Publications of the United States National Museum. Contributions From the Museum of History and Technology: Papers 52-54 on Archeology by Ivor Noel Hume and C. Malcolm Watkins
Calendar of Virginia State Papers, vol. 1, p. 39.The will of Roger Jones is preserved in the Public Records Office in London, but it is published in full in L. H. Jones, Captain Robert Jones, pp. 196-200.L. H. Jones, Captain Robert Jones, p. 34.

Jones, William, Captain. The local tavern substituted for a jail in Northampton County as early as 1645. It was almost two decades later before the county prison consisted of a house known as the new store, belonging to Capt. William Jones and standing near the site of his residence. For its use, the court allowed him 600 pds. of tobacco from year to year. A change was apparently made before the end of 1664, since a part of the court-house was serving (at that time) as a jail. But there was no permanent custodian chosen to prevent prisoners from escaping and the sheriff, being held responsible, appointed a special guard. Source: Northampton County Records, Orders Nov. 7, 1645; vol. 1657-64, p. 19.

Jordan. Nicholas Jordan of Lower Norfolk County divided his estate to his brother, Robert Jordan, mariner, of London. Source: Lower Norfolk County Records, Vol. 1666-75, p. 67.

Jordan, Samuel. The Jordan's Journey plantation, but also referred to as Beggars Bush, was represented in the 1619 Assembly representing Charles City,consisted of 450 acres. At least in 1625 Jordan was credited with this amount as being planted by patent in the territory of greate Weyanoke. He was one of the Assembly Committee of four appointed to examine "the first booke of the fower" of the "Greate Charter." In 1622 Jordan received a share of Company stock from Mary Tue as well as 100 acres in Diggs his Hundred. At this time he was listed as Samuel Jordan of Charles Hundred gentleman. Jordan died in 1623 and his widow sought another husband. When she became betrothed to two men at the same time, Capt. William Ferrar and Rev. Greville Pooley, and became embroiled in controversy, the Council took note of it. A proclamation followed which prohibited any woman from contracting herself to "two several men at the same time."The operation of the plantation continued, inventoring three boats and substantial amounts of small arms and armor, and in 1624 Nathaniel Causey represented it the Assembly. At the time there were forty-two persons in residence and eight had died within the year. two. Source: The First Seventeen Years 1607-1725 by Charles E. Hatch Jr.

Keeling, Adam. His residence consisted of seven homes, including two sheds, a kitchen and a buttery. Source: Records of Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1675-1686, p. 163.

Kelly, Daniel of Ballaugh, Isle of Man. Norfolk County Wills 1755-1772.

Kingston, Thomas, the agent of Thomas Cowell, owned a plantation in the colony about 1636. Upon the death of Kingston, his widow became the wife of Thomas Loving who appropriated the credits and merchandise of Cowell. Upon the petition of Cowell, Loving was required by the Governor and Council to take an inventory of the property of the former (in his possession) and to give bond in a large sum to hold it without further purloining it. Source: Letter from Governor and Council to the Privy Council, British State Papers, Colonial.

Knott, James in 1632 leaed a part of the public lands laid off in Elizabeth City by the London Company some years before his dissolution, obtained the privilege of holding not only the 50 acres included in the temporary grant, but also the house standing upon the tract called called the Great House (or Manor House). Source: Virginia Land Patents, vol. 1623-1643; 1690-1709, pp. 19, 20.

Lawrence, John, Rev. had preached for some time in Maryland where he declared that the "Roman Catholics" could not endire him. He removed to Point Comfort, Virginia where he died in 1685, bequeathing a Mrs. Benson, his nurse during his final illness, the chief beneficiary of his personal estate, which included a large quantity of gold and silver, jewels and rings. Lawrence had graduated as a master-of-arts from one of the English Universities, and owned considerable property in the parish of St. Martins-in-the-Fields in London. Source: Lower Norfolk County Deed and Will Book, 1675-86, p. 182.

Lawson. Anthony Lawson, Irishman, captured at Battle of Boyne in 1690, migrated to Lower Norfolk County, Virginia. Source: Social Life in Virginia during the 17th Century by Bruce.

Lear, John, Colonel. During the 17th century numerous suits were entered by slaves to recover their freedom, for which the courts allowed ample justice. An action brought in 1695 in Elizabeth City County by a negro against the executors of Colonel John Lear in which the slave alleged that he was entitled to his freedom, the executors failed to appear and an order was enered that unless Thomas Goddin and Lewis Burwell appeared at the next court, that the slave would be freed. Source: Records of York County, vol. 1690-1694, p. 328.

Lee, Francis. English traders who resided in Virginia: Francis Lee, John Chew, Thomas Burbage, Robert Vaulx and John Greene returned to England in some instances. Francis Lee speaks of himself as "of London, formerly of Virginia". Source: Records of Middlesex County, vol. 1673-1685, p. 103.

Lee. George Lee, a London merchant, enjoyed a profitable trade in the Virginia colony. His brother was William Lee. Source: William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. I, p. 80.

Lightburn, Henry. 2.2.6-3/4. 3 June 1776. He was insolent from the time this debt was contracted until his death. Source: British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803.

Lightburn, Richard. 5.6.6. 4 Aug 1775. He never was in possession of any other estate from the time this debt was contracted but a small tract of land which he sold about 1789 for $100 and removed to Kentucky where he shortly after died insolvent. Source: British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803.

Lightfoot, Capt. Phillip entered suit against Mr. Ralph Deane on the ground that he had sustained serious inury from the negligent manner in which the latter had performed his contract in building the brick chimneys which he had agreed to erect. Source: Letters of William Fitzhugh, April 22, 1686.

Littleton. Colonel Nathaniel Littleton, one of the most wealthy and influential citizens in the Colony, was a brother of Sir Edward Littleton, Lord Chief Justice of England, and the son of Sir Edward Littleton of Henley in Shropshire. That makes him a lineal descendant of Sir Thomas Littleton, one of the wealthiest and most famous writers of law in England.

Littleton, Nathaniel. June 3, 1650.Breda. Commission appointing Sir William Berkeley Governor, and John West, Sir William Davenant, Sam. Mathews, Nath. Littleton, Henry Brown, Wil. Brocas, Rich. Bennett, Thos. Willoughby, Argol Yeardley, Thos. Petus, Humphrey Higgenson, Wil. Claybourne, Geo. Ludlow, Rich. Townsend, Thos. Stegg, and Ralph Wormley, the Council of Virginia. Vacancies to be filled up by their own election, to be approved by the King. They are directed to build castles and forts of lime and stone, or other materials, with bulwarks, battlements, and all other warlike fortifications, at the charge of the planters, "for the better suppressing of such of our subjects as shall at any time rebel against Us or Our Royal Governor there, and for the better resisting of foreign force which shall at any time invade those territories." [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., pp. 238 to 247.]Source: Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 1, 1574-1660.

Littleton, Southey of Accomac. His home consisted of a parlor chamber, a porch chamber, a hall chamber hall, two garrets, a little room over the kitchen, the kitchen and the dairy. Source: Records of Accomac County, vol. 1676-1690, p. 293.

Lockey, Edward. The store of Edward Lockey in Williamsburg contained brass coat-buttons, a paper of hooks and eyes, andirons, sheep-shears, plough-chains, brass scales and reap-hooks. Three tanned-doe skins were included in the inventory. Source: Records of York County, vol. 1664-1672, p. 260.

Luke. George Luke was the husband of the widowed sister of William Fitzhugh, and a grandson of Sir Samuel Luke of Woodend in Bedfordshire (made famous in English Literature by the pen of Butler as the hero of the great satire Hudibras. Source: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. III, p. 167.

1649. Lunsford, Sir Thomas. Aug. 7, 1649. Similar Order. For a pass for Sir Thos. Lunsford, his wife and children, to go to Virginia. [Ibid., p. 600.] Source: Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 1, 1574-1660.

Lupo, Albino, whose brother was a London merchant, of Portuguese blood, was imported by the London Company to manufacture glass. Source: Social Life in Virginia during the 17th Century by Bruce.

Lyddall. Colonel George Lyddall left England and made his home in New Kent County, Virginia. He was a member of the local militia who helped prevent Indian raids and massacres. He was kin to Sir Robert Peake of London who left a considerable estate to John Lyddall of Virginia. The Lyddall genealogy is traced for members of Virginia Pioneers

Madison, Thomas was the most prominent and prosperous of all the carpenters at Rappahannock. His name appears frequently in the records as a seller or purchaser of land. At the time of his death, he had to his credit in England 70 pds. sterling, which had been gained by shipments of tobacco to the mother country. Source: Records of Rappahannock County, 1668-1672, pp. 48, 59, 215; ibid. vol. 1664-1673, p. 78.

Mason. The Mason family is descended from Colonel George Mason who was defeated in the royal cause at the battle of Worcester and left England thereafter to settle in the Colony. His cousin was Gerard Fowke, a former member of the royal household, who came first to the Colony.

Matthews. In the hall of the Mathews residence of York County there were two frame tables, one six feet in length, the other four feet, two leather chairs, a cupboard and draweers, two brass candlesticks, a clock with weights, and a pair of stillyards. Source: Records of York County, Vol. 1671-1695, page 130.

McCall, Sheddon, Ingles and Long. Claim for 1514.7.5-1/2. In this case one party of the company is claiming from the United States for a debts which they say is due to them by the other part. Ingles & Long were concerned in the business and consequently have an equal interest in all the debts due to the company and have no other resources for payment than from the collection of these debts. It cannot be considered a good claim against the United States. Source: Page 30, British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803.

Menefie, George described himself as a merchant of the corporation of James City, interested in planting in 1637. He apparently found distinction trading with Fitzhugh and Byrd. Menefie acquired very large tracts of land in consideration of importing many servants and slaves. In 1638 he patented 3000 acres on the basis of 60 head rights, and the following year acquired a patent of 3000 acres additionally. Source: Instructions to Culpeper, British State Papers,, Colonial 1681-82; Petition of George Menefie, Dom. Chas I, vol. 323, pp. 136, 138.

Menefie. Among the prominent planters of the first half of the Seventeenth century was George Menefie, famous for his orchard which abounded in apple, pear and cherry trees, and for his garden which yielded all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and flowers; Richard Bennett, a man of large property who had in one year "out of his Orchard as many Apples as he made 20 Butts of Excellent Cider"; Richard Kinsman, who for three or four years in succession secured "forty or fifty Butts of Perry made out of his Orchard, pure and good."

Mudgett, Thomas. Listed as a resident of Charles city County on 14 Sept 1677. On 15 April 1678, the Court ordered: "Commmission of administration granted to Sarah Mudgett on the estate of her deceased husband Thomas Mudgett, she giving security to perform what the laws in that case provided shall enjoyne." Source: Order Book 1677-79, pp. 193, 210k288).

Moon, John. Captain John Moon of Isle of Wight County, bequeathed money for the support of the poor residing at Berry and Alverstock, in Hampshire (designed as a permanent fund). Richard Elrington of York County bequeathed 10 pounds sterling to the poor of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Source: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. VII, p. 20.

Morrah, John, his last will and testament of Rappahannock County I give to my godson, Thomas Warden of Barbados, 1000 pds. of muscovado sugar, now in the hands of Joseph Warden of Barbados, his father. Source: Lancaster Records, vol. 1677-1682, p. 17.

Newell. The bedchamber of the colonial family always contained a trunk and chest. The trunk was usually plain leather, the gilt leather, the cabinet and the seal skin. The inventory of the estate of Jonathan Newell included an oyster-shell trunk. Source: Records of York County, vol. 1675-1685, page 146.

Norton, William, Captain. It was thought that the abundance of trees necessary to fire pits to make glass was an advantage in the Colony of Virginia. In 1608, when a number of tradesmen arrived, they were accompanied by Dutch and Poles (of the Second Supply ship) for the purpose of making a trial of glass. A glass-house was erected about a mile from Jamestown. Capt. Smith supervised the operation and a cargo holding specimans of glass were shipped to England. In 1621, the Virginia Company of London entered into a contract with Captain William Norton who had decided to emigrate with his family. The terms were that he was to carry over with him four Italians skilled in glass-making, and two serants, the expense of transporting six persons to be borne by Norton. As a reward, he was to receive one-fifth of the moiety of the product reserved for the Company and was to be allowed four acres of public land. He had to agree not to retain any beeds to exchange in trade with the local Indians. This contract was later reconsidered at a Quarter Court. The Company was in no condition to undergo the heavy charge of supplying eleven persons with apparel, tools, victuals and other necessities. They decided to resolve the matter by the Company granting 50 acres of land for every person sent over by private adventurers. Captain Norton succeeded in erecting a glass furnace, but unfortunately died. Treasurer Sandys was appointed to take his place, found it difficult to obtain the proper amount of sand, so sent a shallop to the Falls for a supply. However, nothing adaptable was found. But more the problem was the poor relationship with Sandys had with the Italian workmen. Sandys, in the violence of his anger and disgust, said that a more damned crew hell never vomited. The Italians, anxious to return to Europe, deliberately proceeded slowly in their work, and cracked the furnace as well by striking it with a crowbar.Source: Works of Capt. John Smith, p. 441; Muster of the Inhabitants of Virginia, 1624-5; Hoteen's Original List of Emigrants, 1600-1700, p. 235.

Osborne. The inventory of the average planter in Virginia during the 17th century revealed a variety of household articles among the different apartments of a dwelling. The home of Thomas Osborne of Henrico County left a personalty calculated to be worth 125 pounds sterling. There was furniture, tableware, bed and table linen and the utensils in the kitchen and dairy. The room designed as the best contained a feather-bed, bolster, pair of pillows, curtains and valance, a blanket and a worsted rug. There were also two chests with locks and keys, a framed table, one small sideboard table, one chest of drawers, six high and six low leather chairs, a small old-fashioned looking glass, pair of andirons with brass bosses, pair of bellows and a small leather trunk. Source: Records of Henrico County, Vol. 1688-97, page 350.

Nicholls, John of Lower Norfolk County, in his last will and testament dated 1697, disclosed that he had emancipated a mulatto boy and girl belonging to him, the children of one of his female slaves. At the tie of Nicholls' death, the boy was serving as an apprentice to a blacksmith in Nansemond County. He gave both children the cattle at the time of his death running on the lands he had left them by will. To the girl, he beqeathed a feather bed and bolster, a rug, two blankets, four ewes and one ram, a sow and pig, one woollen and one linen wheel, a pair of wool, a pair of tow, and a pair of cotton cards. To the boy, he bequeathed a feather bed and bolster, two blankets and a rug, four ewes and a ram, a sow and pig, and a musket. Source: Records of Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1695-1703, p. 96.

Norton. J. H. Norton at Williamsburg advertises for sale at South Quay 7/8 of the brigantine Rachell. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 4 October 1780

Page, Francis of York County, in his last will and testament, provided the erection of a brick structure over his grave of equal height with the tombs, also of brick, covering the remains of his father and other. He married Mary Diggs and was the son of John Page (1660-1710) and died in 1692, buried in the Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, Williamsburg. Source: Records of York County, vol. 1690-1694, p. 169.

Panton, Anthony. April 24.James City. Richard Kemp, Sec. of Virginia, to Robert Reade. Craves his assistance for the bearer, Mr. Higginson, whose strength will be added to his cause. Is extremely injured and will suffer without guilt unless assisted by his friends, being bandied between the Subcommittee and the new Governor and Council of Virginia, who aim at his ruin. Endorsed, "Rec. 28 June, by Mr. Higgenson.

Rich. Kemp to Lord Baltimore. Relates at some length the cause between himself and Panton, a minister who was last year banished from the colony by Sir John Harvey and the Council, and begs his interest with the Archbishop of Canterbury that he may be satisfied with his conduct and preserved against injury and malice. James City, 1640, April 24.

Certificate of the Governor and Council of Virginia, touching certain speeches between Rich. Kemp, Secretary, and Anthony Panton, banished from the colony upon eviction of mutinous, rebellious, and riotous actions. 1639, Oct. 29.

Rich. Kemp to Sec. Windebank. Describes his sufferings through the malicious complaints of Panton; recapitulates many of the circumstances against Panton, and desires Windebank to represent to my Lord of Canterbury the proofs of his innocence in any disrespect towards him, "to whom he humbly bends with all reverence and humility." James City, 1640, April 24.Source: Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 1, 1574-1660.

Parke, Daniel, Esq. The following is from the Records of General Court, p. 146: "Judgment is granted Colonel Daniel Parke Esq. against Mr. Thomas Warren, commander of the ship Daniel in Virginia for payment of 29pds, 13sh, 2d, being for money due for goods of the said Parke damnified in the said ship in her late voyage from London, the money to be paid within 40 days upon her next arrival to England." Five other persons also suffered losses during the same voyage. Source: British State Papers, Colonial, vol. IX, No. 64

Pattison. Thomas Pattison, transported by Francis Epes in 1635, took up in Lancaster two tracts, one for 200 acres and one for 400. He also became part owner of two more tracts, one for 220 acres and the other for 504. Source: W. A. Crozier, Virginia County Records, Vol. VI.

Perkins, Thomas, Rev. of Rappahannock County. His library was inventoried as containing three large parcels of books, one set covered with parchment or paper, and remainder in calf. Three of his books were so handsomely bound and perhaps also so beautifully illustrated that, after his death, they were appraised at the large figure of 450 pds. of tobacco, while the total value of the library was estunated at 1092 pds, about one seventh of the value of his entire library. Source: Rappahannock Court Records, vol. 1677-82, p. 28.

Pearson, Christopher of York county. His personal property included bedding valued at #7, linen at 18 shillings, pewter at #1.18.0, brass at six shillings, wooden ware at #4.13.6 comprising three chairs and one table, a couch, four old chests, a cask, two ten gallon rundletts, a cheese press, a box of drawers, an old table, three pails, a spinning wheel with cards, two sifting trays, a corn barrel, three bedsteads, four sives, a funnel; iron ware valued at #2.12.0, including three pots, two pot-rocks, a pestal, a frying pan, a looking glass; three cows appraised at #6.5.0, a yearling at ten shillings, a colt at two pounds sterling. The entire estate was valued at #25.19.6.[6-28]Stole, Barbara of Whitehaven in Cumberland Shire, Norfolk County Wills 1755-1772. Source: Source: The Planters of Colonial Virginia by Thomas J. Wertenbaker.

Perry. Peter Perry, a brother of Micajah Perry, who had once filled the office of Lord Mayor of London, supplied planters of Virginia with goods and all kinds in exchange for tobacco, in which trade he succeeded in making a large fortune. Source: William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. I, p. 80.

Pearson.Of similar estate was Christopher Pearson, of York county. His personal property included bedding valued at £7, linen at 18 shillings, pewter at £1.18.0, brass at six shillings, wooden ware at £4.13.6 comprising three chairs and one table, a couch, four old chests, a cask, two ten gallon rundletts, a cheese press, a box of drawers, an old table, three pails, a spinning wheel with cards, two sifting trays, a corn barrel, three bedsteads, four sives, a funnel; iron ware valued at £2.12.0, including three pots, two pot-rocks, a pestal, a frying pan, a looking glass; three cows appraised at £6.5.0, a yearling at ten shillings, a colt at two pounds sterling. The entire estate was valued at £25.19.6.[6-28]

Perryman, Charles. 4.10.11-1/2. 29 October 1772. He was insolvent before the Revolutio.Source: British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803.

Peyton. Trace their ancestry to Sir Edward Osborne, a member of the guild of cloth-workers, a Lord Mayor of London, and founder of the ducal house of Leeds in the English peerage. Henry Peyton settled in Stafford County, had been a member of a trading guild. Source: Hayden's Virginia Genealogies, Peyton Family.

Phelps, Edward. The inventory of the store of Edward Phelps was taken in 1679, showing enormous disproportions of cloths and clothing as compared with other kinds of goods. There was 675 yards of linen of many varieties and 300 yards of woollen, 81 pairs of stockings, 50 pairs of shoes, tape, gimp, thread buttons, felt hats, blankets, curtains and valance. Source: Inventory of personal property of Phelps at his death, Records of York County, vol. 1675-1685, p. 172.

Piersey. In 1639 the accumulated wealth was comparatively small. Sir John Harvey stated that Virginia at this time consisted of very poor men. The largest estate belonged to Abraham Piersey whose occupation as a Cape Merchant had provided considerable advantage, although most of his wealth had probably been gotten in England.

Porter. The inventory of the estate of John Porter of Henrico County in 1689 listed one wooden and our pewter dishes, six alchemy spoons, six pewter plages, three pewter porringers, three iron pots and pot-plates, a frying pan and meal-shifter, among other items. Source: Records of Henrico County Records, vol. 1688-1697, p. 64.

Piersey, Abraham, the wealthiest planter, died in 1632, and his last will and testament instructed that his body should be interred in the garden in which his new framed house had been erected. Source: Abstracts of Proceedings of Virginia Company of London, Vol. I, pp. 189, 190; British State Papers, Colonial, vol. III, No. 5.

Pigott, Sarah of Lower Norfolk County, in 1689, made her entire estate liable for the outlay required for her grand-daughter's education. Source: Lower Norfolk County Records, vol. 1686-95, p. 99.

Powes, Robert, Rev. It was said by a Quaker witness in Northampton County that "the ministers who came into this country were raveninge wolves and hungry dogges and would preach no longer than they were fed." Rev. Robert Powes of Lower Norfolk County in 1652 owned 64 volumes of books. For four years Powes performed all of the ministerial duties of Lower Norfolk County and received no compensation. In 1648 the vestry paid him one year's full tithe in tobacco and corn. An inventory taken in 1652 disclosed that he was the owner of no inconsiderable aount of property, however, his personalty was valued at nearly 12,000 pds of tobacco and included a large quantity of household furniture and utensils, 18 head of cattle and seven head of swine. He also possessed a boat. He instructed in his will that the cattle should pass to his daughter who was living in the Mother Country (England). To his only son, Robert, he devised the remainder of his estate. Sources: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. vi, p. 191 and Last Will and Testament, Norfolk County; Lower Norfolk Antiquity, vol. ii, pp. 124, 126; Northampton Records, 1657-64, p. 27.

Proctor, John. John Proctor of London, Middlesex County, was among those who came to Virginia under a Company Charter in the 1609-15 period. It would appear that he located a plantation well up the James River, on its south side, but below Falling Creek. The land list of 1625 specified that he had a 200 acre grant in this vicinity. Perhaps, he was established here well before the massacre. When the Indians descended on his place, he must have been away, for his wife stood her ground as she did later when the Colony officials sought to force her to vacate the now isolated post. It is reported that Mistress Proctor, a proper, civill, modest gentlewoman [fortified and lived in despite of the enemy] till perforce the English officers forced her and all them with her to goe with them, or they would fire her house themselves, as the salvages did when they were gone. In 1624 Proctor and his wife were living Over the River from Jamestown and a year later he, his wife Alice and three servants were at Paces Paines. It is not known whether he returned to his plantation upriver from which he had been uprooted in 1622. He had, in 1623, received a patent to transport fifty persons to Virginia together with sufficient necessities and provisions for cultivating the land. The latter seemingly included a wherry or small boate. There is evidence, too, that he could punish his servants if the occasion warranted even to the extent of using a line or whip corde. Note: John Proctor died July 3, 1627 in Surry County, Virginia. Source: The First Seventeen Years 1607-1725 by Charles E. Hatch Jr.

Quyney, Allen, et al. Sept. 18, 1641. Petition of Richard Quyney, William Allen, and others, merchants and planters trading to Virginia, to the Lords Commissioners [for Plantations?]. Are setting forth two ships to transport passengers and provisions for the supply of many thousands in Virginia, not able to clothe nor defend themselves from the barbarous natives of that country. Pray for a warrant to permit all the goods specified in the two schedules annexed, to be shipped in the Rebecca and the Honor without payment of customs, and that the passengers, for the most part miserable poor people, may take the oaths of allegiance on board. Underwritten, is a certificate from the Custom House that what is prayed for has been previously allowed. Source: Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 1, 1574-1660.

Robinson. Christopher Robinson, in his last will and testament in York County, Virginia, bequeathed five pounds sterling to the poor at Cleasby where he was born. What more do you want? There it is, but for the reading. Another colonists, Captain John Moon of Isle of Wight County, bequeathed money for the support of the poor residing at Berry and Alverstock, in Hampshire (designed as a permanent fund). Richard Elrington of York County bequeathed 10 pounds sterling to the poor of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. The latter parish book is in print and contains births, marriages and deaths. This is what you do: Find the parish register and write down all the information on your surnames. Eventually, it all comes together as other relationships are figured out.Source: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. VII, p. 20.

Rolfe. James Rolfe was included on ths list of dead persons at West and Shirley Hundred in 1624-5, as having been slain by Indians. Source: William and Mary Quarterly Vol. X, p. 169.

Roper. Advertisement of a vessel for sale at Warwick (in Chesterfield County). Apply to Jesse Roper at Warwick or Bernard Markham near Manchester. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 4 October 1780

Sandys, George. Jamestown. After the massacre of 1622, George Sandys wrote a member of the Council (in 1623) that the ony advantage which resulted from the massacre was that it compelled the planters to draw into narrower limits and to live more closely together. Source: Hening's Statutes, vol. I, p. 291

Scrimgour, Rev. Mr. The personalty of his estate appraised at 61,303 pds of tobacco. His name was improperly entered as "Scrimmington" in the List of Parishes and CLergymen in 1680 printed in the Colonial Records of Virginia, State Senate Doct., Extra, 1874. It is an old English name generally spelled as Scrimgeour. Source: Westmoreland County Records, vol. 1691-99,, p. 52.

Searle. In 1624, WillamWilliams of London, draper, aged 22, deposes that on 28 February 1650 John Worsam of London, merchant, Richard Worsam of London, weaver, and Thomas Applewaite of London, merchant, signed a financial obligation to George Nash, citizen and merchant tailor of London, who has appointed Daniel Searle, Governor of Barbadoes, as his attorney. Source: Depositions and Interrogatories in the Lord Mayor's Court of London.

Servant. Bertram Servant, a wealthy planter of French origin, resided in Elizabeth City County Virginia in 1688. Source: Social Life in Virginia during the 17th Century by Bruce.

Sheers, William. Know all men that I, William Sheers, of London, merchant, have agreed with Mr. John Brett of Nansemond, merchant, that I, the said William Sheers, is to receive aboard ye ship Francis and Mary, now riding in Elizabeth River and bound or Antigua, Mais and St. Christopher, within thirty days after ye date, six head of neat cattle with provisions for them, on the said Brett paying for their transportation 700 lbs. of the best muscovado sugar, to be paid at ye arrival of the ship at either of the above places within ten days, the said Sheers to find water for said cattle until their arrival, and one hogshead of corn for every one of them, freight free; and for all other goods Brett shall have aboard is to pay at ye rate of 350 lbs. good muscovado sugar, the penalty being 1600 lbs. Virginia tobacco. dated 1657. Source: Records of Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1656-1666, p. 133.

Sherwood, Grace. As early as 1698, Grace Sherwood of Princess Anne County had lasting fame as an enchantress when John Gisburne accused her of casting spells and she joined with her husband in suing Gisburne for demation. The jury decided against her. Again, Anthony Barnes also brought a similar accusation against Grace, declaring that she had ridden his wife one night, and then, in the shape of a black cat, had slipped through the keyhole, or a crack in the door. Once again the jury decided against her. Afterwards, she was sentenced to be ducked, ostensibly to test whether she was really a witch. Source: Lower Norfolk County Antiquary, vol. ii, pp. 92, 93.

Sherwood. William Sherwood was born in the parish of White Chapel, London and served the Law in the office of Sir Joseph Williamson. As a result of some youthful indiscretions committed against his patron, he came to Virginia in 1668 and served 5 years as a deputy sheriff of Surry County. In 1674 he removed to Jamestown where he practiced law and married Rachel James, widow of Richard James who owned a large part of Jamestown Island and kept an ordinary. He died 1697 and his widow married (thirdly) Edward Jaquelin. Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1915).

Shippey. Thomas Shippey of Henrico County. His home only had three rooms, a hall, bedchamber and kitchen. In the hall was a bedstead and bed with a pillow and bolster, curtains and valance, a rug, blanket, two pair of bedsheets, a table form and elbow chair, two leather and two wooden chairs, a small and large chest. The bedchamber had a trunk, a bed with a bolster, one rug and blanket, one set of sheets, a small table cloth, napkins and a towel. Inside the kitchen were six pewter dishes, three plates, two saucers, a tumbler, chamber pot, six spoons, a tankard, a pewter salt-cellar, one iron pot, a spit, ladle, frying-pan, bread tray and pail. Sources: Records of Henrico County, vol. 1688-1697, p. 5.

Slatier. Martin Slatier emigrated by way of Canada before 1624. Source: Social Life in Virginia during the 17th Century by Bruce.

Sparks, Mr. of Lancaster is described in the county records has having a Great House (or Manor House). Source: Virginia Land Patents, vol. 1623-1643; 1690-1709, pp. 19, 20.

Spelman, Henry, Captain, was the third son of the distinguished antiquary, Sir Henry Spelman, of Conghan, Norfolk, England. He was about twenty-one years of age when he came to Virginia, in 1609, for which he accounts as follows: "Beinge in displeasuer of my frendes, and desirous to see other countryes. After three months sayle we cum with prosperus winds in sight of Virginia." Afterwards he says, "I was carried by Capt. Smith, our President, to ye Fales, to ye litell Powhatan, wher, unknowne to me he sould me to him for a towne called Powhatan."Spilmans Relation, pp. 15, 16. Dr. Simons, in Smiths General Historie, says: "Captain West and Captain Sickelmore sought abroad to trade; Sickelmore, upon the confidence of Powhatan, with about thirty other as careless as himselfe, were all slaine, onely Jeffrey Shortridge escaped, and Pokahontas, the King's daughter, saued a boy called Henry Spilman, that liued many yeeres after, by her meanes, among the Patawmokes;" this occurred in 1609. (Smith, p. 105). He remained with the Indians but little more than one year, for in 1610 Capt. Argall being sent to the "riuer Patawmoke to trade for corne," where finding him, used Spelmans influence to secure the loading of his vessel with corn, and Spelman returned with him to Jamestown. (Smith, p. 108). Spelman adds, "and brought into England," p. 221. We then lose sight of him until he is arraigned before the Assembly at Jamestown in 1619 (ante p. 29) He makes his final appearance in 1623, when we are told, he was sent with a bark and twenty-six men to "trucke in the River Patawmek," where at some place, the name of which was to his companions unknown, he landed with twenty-one of his companions, when the savages made hostile demonstrations " and presently after they" (the five left in the bark) "heard a great brute amongst the Saluages ashore, and saw the head of a man thrown downe the banke, whereupon they weighed Anchor and returned home, but how he was surprised or slaine is vncertaine." (Smith p. 161). Spelman wrote a short account of his observations while among the Indians, and it laid in obscurity until the sale of Dawson Turner's library, in 1859, when it was bought by Mr. Joseph Lilly and, by accident, again lost; and at the sale of Mr. Lillys library, in 1871, it was again discovered and purchased for James F. Hunniwell, Esq., who has had one hundred copies printed for private circulation. Spelman was not the only Englishman with the savages. In the same year that Spelman was sold for a town, or saved by Pocahontas, whichever version being correct Admiral Newport gave Powhatan a boy, named Thomas Salvage, in exchange for "Namontack,"; his trustie servant. Spelman says Savage was murdered by the Indians, but there is a tradition that he lived nearly all his life with them; became possessor of a tract of land on the eastern shore by gift and that it remained in his family until within the last ten years, when it was sold by some of his descendants then living in Philadelphia. The authority for this statement is obtained in correspondence with Hon. Hugh B. Grigsby, LL. D., President of the Virginia Historical Society.

Source: Colonial Records of Virginia (1874)

Splitimber, John, who is entered as a headright to Thomas Harwood in 1635, is typical of the planter who rose from small beginnings to a state of comparative prosperity. This man, at[107] his death in 1677, possessed eight cows, one bull, four yearlings, four mares, 35 hogs, two horses, two bolsters, a pillow, two blankets, a mattress, two bedsteads, two guns, fifty-six pounds of pewter, two rugs, a table, three chests, one old couch, two iron pots, two kettles, two stilyards, shovel and tongs, two smothering irons, two axes, a few carpenter's tools, a saddle and bridle, four casks, clothing to the value of 1,100 pounds of tobacco, a frying pan, a butter pat, a jar, a looking glass, two milk pans, one table cloth, nine spoons, a churn, a bible. The appraisers placed the total value at 18,277 pounds of tobacco.[6-26] The inventory records no servants or slaves, but it is probable that Splitimber at times made use of indentured labor, as in November 1648 and again in 1652, we find him taking up land due for the transportation of certain persons to the colony.[6-27]. Source: The Planters of Colonial Virginia by Thomas J. Wertenbaker.

Splitimber.John Splitimber, who is entered as a headright to Thomas Harwood in 1635, is typical of the planter who rose from small beginnings to a state of comparative prosperity. This man, at[107] his death in 1677, possessed eight cows, one bull, four yearlings, four mares, 35 hogs, two horses, two bolsters, a pillow, two blankets, a mattress, two bedsteads, two guns, fifty-six pounds of pewter, two rugs, a table, three chests, one old couch, two iron pots, two kettles, two stilyards, shovel and tongs, two smothering irons, two axes, a few carpenter's tools, a saddle and bridle, four casks, clothing to the value of 1,100 pounds of tobacco, a frying pan, a butter pat, a jar, a looking glass, two milk pans, one table cloth, nine spoons, a churn, a bible. The appraisers placed the total value at 18,277 pounds of tobacco.[6-26] The inventory records no servants or slaves, but it is probable that Splitimber at times made use of indentured labor, as in November 1648 and again in 1652, we find him taking up land due for the transportation of certain persons to the colony.

Symonds.1663. Roger Symonds received 100 acres in Charles City "due him for the transportation of his wife, Alice, and one servant, Richard Key." Source: Virginia Land Patents, Vol. III, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.

Talbot. Thomas H. Talbot advertises for sale 200 acres on which he lived on James River about six miles above Richmind in Henrico County with dwelling and on the river side a warehouse. Source: The Virginia Gazette dated 4 October 1780

Thelaball. James Thelaball, a native of France, resided in Lower Norfolk County in 1686. Source: Social Life in Virginia during the 17th Century by Bruce.

Thacker, Edwin purchased 1440 acres from Henry Wood in Middlesex County (1704). Source: Thacker will

Thompson, Snodgrass & Company. McCall and Sheddon. 16.3.5-2/1 principal. This claim cannot be supported against the United States. Both the claimants and debtors were British merchants before the Revolution: Source: British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803, p. 30.

Thomas, Edwin. There are many instances in the Virginia records of persons either residing in Virginia or who were visiting for a special purpose, having a power of attorney by merchants in Barbados who had disposed of goods there. In 1665, Edwin Thomas, who was on the point of setting out for the Colony from Barbados, was appointed the factor of Giles Hall, with the authority to gather together different amounts in the form of pork and beef due him for the Wesst Indies. Source: Records of Rappahannock County, vol. 1663-1668, p. 87.

Thomas, John, of the sloop Content of the Isle of Barbados appointed as his attorney in Virginia, Thomas Ward. Source: Records of Norfolk County, vol. 1695-1703, p. 125.

Thoroughgood, Adam. When Adam Thoroughgood died in 1686, his one-story home included three chambers, a hall, parlot, kitchen and cellar. Source: Records of Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1651-1656, p. 168.

Thorpe, George. Some of the old deeds in York County, Virginia refer to the College lands. The College began in 1619 with a specific interest towards Christianing the Indians and educating the infidels children. The instructions of Governer Yeardley in 1618 had an order to locate a suitable place for a university in the Henrico area. Contributions were made towards the planting of a college and 10,000 acres were set aside as an endowment. When the bishop's collection for the college reached #1,500, a decision was made. Rather than start construction with too little, it was resolved to send fifty tenants-at-halves to work on the land. Half of their income would go to the college project and half to themselves. Profits, it was expected, would augment the building and maintenance fund and help to support tutors and students. In the meanwhile, friendly relations with the Indians were important to make possible the willing education of their children. The tenants reached Virginia in November, 1619, under the command of William Weldon. Being poorly supplied, however, and inexperienced, the Governor dispersed 30 of them among the old planters and sent Weldon and the remainder to be with Capt. Samuel Mathews at Arrahatock which was actually within the College lands. This was a poor beginning and meant that little would happen within a year. In England, the early beginnings were seen not to have been too successful and the Company committee set up for the purpose explored various possibilities. In the spring of 1620, George Thorpe, a gentleman of the King's privy chamber and a member of the Company Council, was made deputy for the Company to prosecute the project. Already had gone to Virginia in the interest of Berkeley Hundred. Previously, it appears, an additional fifty tenants had been dispatched to the Colony. The Indian massacre of 1620/1621 took George Thorpe and 17 of the "Colledge People" located about 2 miles above "Henrico-Citie." The college project did not survive this blow even though the Company urged it and the 60 surviving tenants were returned to the land in the spring of 1623 with the hope of building houses and planting orchards and gardens. During the year of 1624, there were 29 persons living on the college lands, and, according to the census of 1625, this had dropped to 22 who were living in 8 houses. They were then deficient in food, excepting fish, and in livestock and were not too well armed, having but 16 armors, 6 swords, and 18 fixed pieces. The excursion into ironmaking had failed after the expenditure of "the greatest parte of the stock belonginge to the Colledge." With the dissolution of the Company the spark for the project seemed gone. One student of this subject, Robert Hunt Land, has concluded: "Possibly a greater blow to Henrico College than the massacre was the revocation of the charter of the Virginia Company of London." Source: The First Seventeen Years 1607-1725 by Charles E. Hatch Jr.

Thorpe. Ortho Thorpe, a London merchant, bequeathed his estates in Virginia to his niece and other relatives (1687). Source: York Co. Records, Vol. 1684-7, page 270.Many of the old records reflect the financial and personal interests of Englishmen to the Virginia Colony. In 1687, a merchant of London called Otho Thorpe bequeathed all of his estate in Virginia to his niece and other relatives. Source: York County Records, Vol. 1684-7, p. 1677-92.

Verney. When Sir Edward Verney decided to send his son to the Colony to open a plantation, he wrote for information to an agent in London concerning the relative values of commodities. The agent replied, that which costs 20 shillings in England if conveyed to Virginia, would bring 30 shillings. Source: Verney Papers, Camden Society Publications.

Young.1663. Richard Young was granted 100 acres in Warwick "due him for his personal adventure and for the transportation of his wife Dorothy Young." Source: Virginia Land Patents, Vol. III, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.

Waggoner, John, purchased a large track in Rappahannock County in consideration of fifty-five hundred pounds of tobacco, and in a short time he transferred the property Henry Lucas, also a carpenter. Source: Records of Rappahannock County, vol. 1668-1672, pp.141, 142.

Walke. Anthony Walke was born 1692, the son of Thomas Walke of Lower Norfolk County, Virginia who came from the Barbados in 1662. His mother was Mary, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Lawson. He lived at Fairfield in Princess Anne County where he served as a justice and was a member of the House of Burgesses from 1720 to 1765. He married three times. First, to Mary Sanford. Second, to Elizabeth Newton and third, to Anna Lee Armistead. He died Nov. 8, 1768. Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1915).

Walke, Thomas. In 1693 John Wilkinson, the Governor of the Bermudas, empowered Thomas Walke of Lower Norfolk County to act as his attorney in that county. Source: Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1685-96, p. 194.

Waltham, John of Accomac County. It is extremely important for the genealogist to carefully study the old county wills because so much personal information is revealed in those documents. In the early days there were no colleges or other schools in Virginia comparable to those in England. But the parents found a way to provide the means to sending their children to England for more education. The Last Wills and Testaments reveal people like John Waltham of Accomac County who died about 1640 leaving directions that as soon as his son should reach the age of six years, his instructions of good learning should begin. Thus, he ordered his executors to confide him to some "good and godlye schoolmaster", selected with extraordinary care. Also, the child was to remain under this teacher's guidance until he arrived at the age of eleven years. To pay for the schooling, Waltham authorized the executors to sell the entire annual increase, both male and female, of the cattle which the child had inherited. After his eleventh year passed, only the male cattle were to be sold for this purpose and this selling was to continue until the boy reached his eighteenth year. Source: Accomac County Records, vol. 1640-45, p. 38; Eastern Shore of Virginia, p. 317.

Ware, Nicholas of Rappahannock County acknowledges himself bound to John Vassall of Barbados in 17,234 lbs. of tobacco. Lancaster Records vol. 1656-1664, p. 274.

Wilkinson. In 1670, it was decided by England that the articles enumerated in the Act of Navigation should not be transported directly to Ireland. Previously, there existed a considerable amount of commerce between the Irish ports and the Colony of Virginia. The ship Anthony of Londonderry, against which information had been lodged by one of the creditors, on the ground that she was not a free vessel. Source: Parliament Regulation: Acquittance inn Virginia; Records of the General Court, p. 40; Records of Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1666-1675, pp. 46, 179; Records of Lancaster County, vol. 1687-1700, pp. 167, 177; vol. 1666-1682, p 150.

Williams, Thomas of the Parish of Christ River in Middlesex County (1696) Last Will and Testament. Williams last will and testament

Williams.Edward Williams, yeoman, advised every new immigrant to bring a monmouth cap, a waistcoat, a suit of canvas, with bands, shirts, stockings and shoes. Source: Hening, Statutes at Large, Vol. I

Willoughby, Thomas, a wealthy planter of Lower Norfolk County, resided in a house consisting of a hall and parlor, porch chamber, two additional chabers known as the green and the red, over which there were two garrets, a chamber which Mrs. Willoughby used and which had a loft above it, a kitchen, meal-room, cellar, dairy, quartering-room and shed. Source: Records of Lower Norfolk County, vol. 1666-1675, p. 125.

Wood. Hugh Wood resided in Lower Norfolk County Virginia in 1656. His surname was originally Dubois from France.

Woodhouse. Henry Woodhouse arrived in the Colony about 1637 and descended from Sir William Woodhouse of WEaxham, Norfolk who had married the widow of Sir Henry Parker, who was the daughter of Sir Philip Cathorpe. Woodhouse's son had married a daughter of Sir Nicholas Bacon, the famous Lord Keeper during the reign of Elizabeth and sister of the celebrated chancellor and philosopher, Francis Bacon. The fruit of this marriage (Captain Henry Woodhouse) and the father of the emigrant, became the Governor of Bermuda in 1623 and aspired to the same offie in Virginia. Source: British Colonial Papers, Vol. VIII, No. 75.

Woodhouse, Thomas. The General Court in Virginia met once a year, first at Jamestown, but it also met occasionally elsewhere in the Colony. During 1640, it met several times in Elizabeth City, and from July to the end of the year, sessions were held in Jamestown. As early as 1643, the General Court occupied its own special offices in the State-House recently erected, but when this building burned down in 1656, its members found it necessary to rent an apartment for their use in the residence of Thomas Woodhouse. A new State-House was finished before 1666 and this is where the General Court met until the general insurrection of 1676 when rebels led by Nathaniel Bacon torched that building. Source: Acts of 1656, Randolph MS., ol. iii., p. 269 consists of the instructions with Governor Berkley received in 1642 requiring him to see to the building of a General Court-house; Minutes of Council, Feb. 18, 1690, B. T. Va., 1690, No. 14.

Woodson. Patrick Napier, SHeriff at Fluvanna County advertises escaped slaves Joshua, property of Rene Woodson, and Frank, property of Patrick Woodson, both under sentence of death.

Wormeley, Ralph plantation on Pamunkey Neck (Middlesex County), bequeathed to a son and daughter. Source: Wormeley last will and testament

Wray.May 1636, Thomas Wray was allowed 50 acres for his "personal adventure." Such cases could be multiplied indefinitely.[4-85]

Wyatt, Sir Francis. James City. March 20, 1640.[Virginia.] Richard Kemp to Sec. Windebank. Since Sir Fran. Wyatts arrival, they of the old commission have been persecuted with much malice, particularly Sir John Harvey, whose estate is wholly sequestrated, and who wishes to repair to England during the year. Requests the King's licence to go to England next year, with power to appoint Geo. Reade his deputy during his absence.Source: Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies, Volume 1, 1574-1660.

Wynne. The Wynne families of Virginia descend from Robert Wynne, Mayor of Canterbury. The migration occurred with Colonel Robert Wynne who came to Charles City County, Virginia where he died in 1675 and was buried at Jordan's Parish Church. The genealogy is traced to 1500s and is available to members of Virginia Pioneers.

Yeardley. The home of Argoll Yeardley in Northampton County, Virginia contained a hall chamber, a hall, a parlor chamber, two small chambers next to the parlor, with a dairy and kitchen. The partitions in these early homes were first covered with a thick layer of tenacious mud and then whitewashed. Lime was made in large quantities from the oyster shells found in the soil or in the rivers.Source: New Description of Virginia, p. 7; Records of Northampton County, original vol. 1654-1655, page 117.

Books to Read

• Alexander Brown, The First Republic in America
• Neill, the Virginia Company of London
• G. L. Beer, The Origins of the British Colonial System.
• Edward Arber, The Works of Captain John Smith.
• Virginia Land Patents, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.
• Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, 1574-1660.
• Princeton Transcripts, Virginia Land Patents, Princeton University Library.
• Abstracts of Proceedings of Virginia Company of London.
• Hening, Statutes at Large.
• J. C. Hotten, Original Lists of Emigrants to America (1600-1700).
• Virginia Magazine of History and Biography.
• William and Mary Quarterl.
• Colonial Virginia Register.
• Virginia Land Patents, Register of Land Office, Virginia State Capitol.
• W. A. Crozier, Virginia County Records.
• British Mercantile Claims, 1775 to 1803 at the UK Archives.