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ELEY/ELY of Isle of Wight and Nansemond Counties


St. Andrews Church of Utterby contains some Ely family tombsides inside the structure. The following one, that of Robert Ely, is of interest, because the Eley Family Crest appears on it:
" Argent, A fesse indented between 6 Fleurs de Lis, Sable"
"Salvis Modestissimi Viri manibus. Hic ixcet Tho: ELYE, Armiger de Utterby. Pacis Ivsticiarium Veritatis amans Regi fidelis Ecclesice Amicus. Omnibus AEquvs Qui Coelestern porturn Occupavit 4to Feb: Anno 1675, AEtatis svce 61."
Christopher ELEY was born about 1575 in Lincolnshire, England. He died in Lincolnshire England. The family seat was Utterby, in Lincolshire, England.
The ELEY Crest * ELEY (Utterby, co. Lincoln)
* Arms: A fesse between six fleurs-de-lis sa.
* Crest: A cubit arm erect vested ar. holding in the hand ppr. a fleur-de-lis sa.
* Authority: "The General Armory".
Christopher ELEY had the following children:

From a record by Adelle Bartlett Harper in the Georgia Magazine, April-May 1965, she cites "Wishing to retain the family names, they each gave their sons names alike, which caused confusion. To correct this, Richard's four sons dropped the 'e' (Ely) and Robert's four sons retained the 'e' (Eley). This information from James Henry Eley, Union Springs, Alabama, Our ancestors have ever informed us of this." Robert ELEY received a Land Grant in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia 17 Sep 1639 for the transportation of himself and eleven other persons. This land of 600 acres passed down to his grandson, Robert Eley (d. 1739 Isle of Wight Co., Va.). 25 June 1644 Isle of Wight Co., Va., Robert ELEY assigned to William Trololer 150 acres which said ELEY took up for him. The Eley family in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia was an old and distinguished one, having large land holdings, and were men of affairs. They were churchmen, and their names are found in the oldest Vestry Book of the Old Brech Church as vestrymen. They were known as members of the Court, Justices, Members of the Assembly, and Soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Robert Eley was married to Hannah CROOK (daughter of Thomas CROOKE) on 10 May 1629 in St. Matthew, Friday Street, London, England. Hannah CROOK4 was christened on 20 Oct 1600 in Haxey, Lincolnshire, England. Robert ELEY Emigrant and Hannah CROOK had the following children:
  1. Robert ELEY was born between 1640 and 1650 in Nansemond Co., Virginia. He died before 1680 in Nansemond Co., Virginia. Robert ELEY of Nansemond Co., Va., died before 1680, and m. Jane Braswell. In 1680 she married 2nd, John Roberts. The LWT of Mrs. Jane BRASWELL ELEY ROBERTS, widow of Robert ELEY, probated 4 Aug 1713, Vol. 2, p. 567 Isle of Wight Co., Va. names children: Robert Eley, Mary Parker, Rebecca Brinkley, Jane Scott, John Roberts, Thomas Roberts, and granddaughter, Martha Sanders. Jane BRASWELL was born about 1644. The LWT of Mrs. Jane BRASWELL ELEY ROBERTS probated 4 Aug 1713, Isle of Wight Co., Va. Vol. 2, p. 567 names ELEY children. Robert ELEY and Jane BRASWELL had the following children:
  1. Robert ELEY was born before 1680 in Nansemond Co., Virginia. He died in Jul 1739 in Isle of Wight Co, Virginia. In Deed Book 2, p. 55, there is an indenture between Robert ELEY and Lt. Col. Henry Baker of the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight Co., Va., 400 acres near a certain plantation called "Wooten's", granted to my grandfather, Robert Eley, being a part of a patent of 600 acres bearing the date of 9/17/1639, descended to me as heir at law of my grandfather, Robert Eley. Date: 12/9/1706, Isle of Wight Co. Deeds. In his LWT dated 4/5/1738, probated 1739 in the Isle of Wight Co., Va. Court, Robert ELEY he did not mention a wife, but named children: Robert, James, Edward, John, William, Martha, Rebecca Eley Williams, Christian who married J oseph Denson, Mornen and Eley. He was married to Mary DOUGHERTY (daughter of John DOUGHERTY and Mary) in 1706 in Isle of Wight Co, Virginia. Mary DOUGHERTY was born in 1670 in Nansemond Co., Virginia. Isle of Wight Co., Va. Deed Bk 2, p. 56, Mary DOUGHTIE, named as dau. of Thomas DOUGHTIE. Robert ELEY and Mary DOUGHERTY had the following children:
    1. Christian ELEY.
    2. Eley ELEY.
    3. Robert ELEY.
    4. James ELEY was born in Isle of Wight Co, Virginia.
    5. Edward ELEY was born in Isle of Wight Co, Virginia.
    6. John ELEY.
    7. William ELEY.
    8. Michael ELEY died in 1770 in Isle of Wight Co, Va.was born in Isle of Wight Co, Virginia. Michael ELEY's estated was probated 1770 Isle of Wight Co., Va., an inventory.
    9. Mourning ELEY was born in Isle of Wight Co, Virginia.
  2. Mary ELEY was born about 1680 in Nansemond Co., Virginia.
  3. Rebecca ELEY was born in 1700 in Nansemond Co., Virginia. She died in 1784 in Northampton Co., N. C. Reference: Rebecca ELEY WILLIAMS was named in LWT of her father, Robert ELEY dated 5 Apr 1738, probated 1739 Isle of Wight Co., Virginia. She was married to Nathan WILLIAMS (son of Thomas WILLIAMS Capt. and Susanna DAVIS Mrs.) in 1721 in Isle of Wight Co, Virginia. Nathan WILLIAMS was born about 1700 in Southampton Co., Virginia. He died in Jul 1758 in Northampton Co., N. C.. He was baptised into the LDS church on 28 Jun 1990 in the Atlanta, Georgia LDS temple. He was endowed on 5 Jul 1990 in the Atlanta, Georgia LDS temple. He was sealed to parents on 6 Jul 1990 in the Atlanta, Georgia LDS temple. Biography: Nathan Williams was Sheriff in Northampton Co., N. C. He was probably born in Southampton Co., Va. Reference: LWT of Nathan WILLIAMS dated 8 Apr 1751, probated Jul 1758 in Northampton Co., Va. Rebecca ELEY and Nathan WILLIAMS had the following children:
    1. ELEY WILLIAMS was born about 1722 of Isle of Wight, Virginia.
      Edgecombe Co., N. C. Deeds -

      Book C, Page 244, Charles Herrington of Orange Co., N. C. to Eley Williams, 3-1-1765, #35 Virginia currency, 380 acres on the northeast side of Peachtree Creek adjoining lands of William Hill, John Odom and Drury Herrington in Granville Co., land lying in both counties.

      Book D, Page 363, Eley Williams of Halifax Co., N. C., to Stephen Pace of Northampton Co., 1-5-1771, for #40 Virginia currency, 380 acres in Edgecombe and Bute Counties, on the north bank of Peachtree Creek.
    2. Nathan WILLIAMS.
    3. Thomas WILLIAMS.
    4. Martha WILLIAMS.
    5. Jane WILLIAMS was born about 1734 of Southampton, Virginia.
    6. Lucy WILLIAMS was born about 1736 of Southampton, Virginia.
  4. Jane ELEY was born in Nansemond Co., Virginia.
  • Robert ELEY was christened on 17 Jul 1592 in Covenham, St. Bartholomew, Lincoln Co., England.
  • Richard ELEY was christened on 10 Feb 1599 in Covenham, St. Bartholomew, Lincoln Co., England.
    • Covenham
    Covenham St Bartholomew, Lincolnshire, dates from 14th and 15th centuries. This is where Eley families were christened.

    Sources: 1. Lincolnshire, England christening records; deeds, 9/17/1639. Isle of Wight Co., Va. Isle of Wight Co., Va Deeds, Wills, Marriages; Burke, 1881; Edgecombe Co., N. C. Deeds.