Henrico County, Virginia: Beginnings of Its Families: Part I Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Henrico County, Virginia: Beginnings of Its Families: Part I William Clayton Torrence William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 24, No. 2. (Oct., 1915), pp. 116-142. HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA: BEGINNINGS OF ITS FAMILIES. Part I. By WILLIAM CLAYTON TORRENCE. Journeying along the wonderful river which traverses Henrico's territory one is time and again surprised by the romantic aspect of water and lowland and hill and through a deeply stirred imagination a mighty appeal is made to the heart of the traveller and he cannot do otherwise than wonder about the people who in the very beginning of things English on the American continent founded homes in this valley and through succeeding generations sent forth men and women into the great free country that was to be. To him who has any sense of the "value of experience" the journey to the past becomes inevitable. "To-day" and the "man of to-day" are the children of yesterday, developments from certain seed sown in the past. It is but human to look into the past both in an effort to trace men's actions in their corporate capacities and to "place" one's individual forebears among the events of life. Behind the deeds stand the men and women; behind us stand our forebears. A journey over the course of Henrico's history reminds one forcibly of this great river. Touched by the Human Spirit which bids one make the journey of history he discovers, as the sources are explored in long for- gotten volumes, records of events in the lives of individuals and in the actions of men in their "corporate capacities" which equal in romance any aspect of Henrico's natural scenery. Event follows even - human-bright sometimes and humorous, sometimes sombre, sometimes tragic: lights and shadows playing on history's page just as lights and shadows play on the great Powhatan and the lowlands and hills of her valley. Page 117. The old county court record sources are not "the barren and dry land," which they have seemed to so many; they are veritably sparkling sources to him who has any imagination. The glad tidings of Love's consummation in marriage are there and, supplemented by Parish Registers, one may discover the flowering of Love's year in the infants brought to the Christian font. The record of a will or the administration on an estate tells of a death, an event fraught with most romantic consequences even to the most prosaic mind. Wills and inventories and estate accounts tell of "the everyday things" of man's life and recount his successes from the economic point of view frequently by their contents disclosing something of the spirit and temper of the person. Servants (if a man were possessed of any), the clothes wherewithal he clothed himself, the tools with which he worked, the necessities, the comforts and luxuries (if any there were, which was seldom) are listed in these documents. Deed books reveal the land trans- actions in a country whose basis of wealth was tillage of the soil. Last, but by no means least, come the Court Order Books, which reveal so much of the life of the people. Prominence and substantial standing in the com- munity may be inferred from the offices of trust (magistrate, sheriff, vestryman, militia officer, coroner), held by various members of a family. The general participation in the conduct of ordinary affiars, the method- ical way in which each male member of the community was called upon to discharge the obligations of his political station (jury service, road overseer, constable, etc.); the gravity with which the laws were enforced and the majesty with which the officers commissioned to enforce them were invested are shown by these records. Without respect to "position" the early inhabitant of the colony was brought before the court if he or she dared by unseemly conduct to set at nought the law of the land. There are recorded in these old Order Books events which savor of scandal at which any one would blush and there are also revelations of characteristics in individuals which any one would be proud to discover in his ancestors. And so the story runs. Human beings, with all the possible frailties and all the possible virtues of human beings Page 118. were met together in the early settlements: theirs was the same human nature so familiar to the student of social conditions to-day. "Economic necessity" is not doubt the principle factor in colonization and the development of resources, but one who has studied conditions cannot with- hold a strong dissent from the colorless story told from the "materialistic" point of view which, while giving prominence to certain human factors, and would try and eliminate from history the play of the Spirit. There are many sides to human nature and it so happens that human nature is the basis of Life of whose record history is the interpretation. No race of men or in- dividuals has ever been so hard pressed or greedy of gain that he does not stop to love, to laugh, to play, to think, to mourn. Joy, planning, temper, and temptation and yielding, contention and strife are part of life; so, too, is sacrifice, for both persons and causes, and no stringency of "economic necessity" (technically speaking) can eliminate them and no tool of the "materialstic" theory erase them from the record. These things were as much the verities of life to the early colonist and his immediate successors as the hard, cold pounds and pence, or the fragrant week, in which the material accumulations of his life's work were appraised by law. The records tell the whole story to him who approaches them with the Human Spirit for guide. "All sorts and conditions of men" were met together in the colony. The so-called well-to-do and the poor man shared alike the roughness, the un- couthness, the genuine hardness and inconvenience which are the very essence of life of "founders". Akin in a spirit of venturesomeness, regardless of the basic motives of their ventures - whether for gain or the sheer purpose of making a living - whether philanthropic or for purposes scientific, political or religious - the lot was common to all. Independent man and laborer, the hirer and the hireling, both were new to the venture, sharing the spirit of endurance; those with "the plus" of intelligence finally reap- ing success. The independent man established himself in trade and in more or less extensive planting and in the political life of the colony. His industrial and Page 119. political activities proving lucrative he founded a family and perpetuated not only name but position. The hireling - the man who came as a "servant" - worked out the time of his indentures, and if not rehiring himself, began life on an independent basis (meager as that might be), farming, engaging in a trade or the practice of a profession: that for which he was best fitted. Industry and cleverness had their reward. Early Virginia was veritably an "open field of opportunity" as is so well illustrated by the fact that not infrequently all the orders of society are found represented in the different branches of a family - the more intelligent ones having taken advantage of opportunities. Many a man who came into the colony as an indentured servant (not merely as an apprentice, but as an actual laborer for the purpose of making a living) rose to substantial position and paved the way even to wealth and consequent social position for his descendants. These people spread over the face of the country as the colony grew and in the new settlements some of them took high rank and are found among the "local gentry" administering the offices of magistrate, vestryman, sheriff, commanding the militia and sometimes even representing the country in the assembly. The same is true of many of those, who, while coming into the coloney free of indentures yet were people of but small means. The indenture was not, as so many think, a barrier to success. That success crowned the efforts of many people of these classes - the independent and the hireling or the man of small means - should be not considered as indicative that there were no failures. Failures there were and among all classes. Any attempted estimate of the life of a community (particularly a pioneer one) which did not tell the facts of woman's existence there would be manifestly imperfect. There never has been, nor can there ever be, under any natural conditions, what might be termed a "man's world", though one might infer from the exclusive method of treating economic and political conditions and calling the product "history" that some people so thought. Good, bad and indifferent women are found everywhere, and have apparently always existed, just as men of the same types have lived side by side. A careful study of the remaining records shows a great deal about the life of a woman in the colony and Page 120. state, and a great deal more that is equally true, though not a matter of record, may be inferred from a knowledge of actual conditions. Of course the names of women of affairs found their way into the records and the names of women, who were notoriously bad were emblazoned on court minutes. The names of women who made sacrifices (which from the conditions of life in a given community appeared dramatic) are handed down by tradition and the names of the women who held out against manifestly unjust laws certainly found their way into the courts. The common scold, the intemperate, the immoral, the thieving were brought before the magistrate and even the un- happy wretch who became the mother of an illegitimate child (though even her past record and her future one were free from blemish, and though she may have been the victim of rank social conditions) very certainly felt the clutches of the law and the consequent preservation of an unsavory name. But the passages are few and far between which specify the details of the life of the general run of womankind or which refer to her as the powerful factor which she was in the new and growing community. Of her we are only told that she was the daughter or sister or wife or mother of some man and with this causual, legally necessary, mention of her name she passes from view. The real significance of such portions in life are seldom thought out and as seldom mentioned. There has been too great a tendency to lose sight of the romance and glory of the common offices of life. These women are only seen en masse in the background of the picture of pioneer life where the light from man's successes begins to glow and in whose relfection they appear happy creatures in comfort and domestic joy. As man's creatures they appear: individual selves almost eliminated. The fourfold sacrifice of the lot of her who was the pioneer's wife and daughter and sister and the mother of future generations is forbidden to illuminate the picture, because, forsooth, her spiritual qualities were not matters of record. Spiritually and physically sensitive, just as the general run of womankind has ever been, the hardness of both small and great duties fell with full force upon the pioneer woman. The actual labor of her hands and of her brain, the terrible- ness of her anxiety - Page 121. that of the watcher by the hearthstone - her hopefulness and trust, the tiredness of her body, her wonderful "staying" and recuperative powers (for all of which, the mere fact that she was everpresent in the community, is sufficient warrant for belief) have never been, and I doubt not, ever can be appraised at their actual value to the enterprise of colonization and nation building. Truly and greatly - in a large majority of cases - woman in pioneer days was supremely Woman, regardless of social status. Brocades and homespuns were but superficial coverings for hearts which beat in accord where many women were gathered together, at least ninety per cent, of whom were bound together in the common bonds of wifehood and motherhood. Forever beyond the reach of man's imagination lies the difficulty of the small and great duties of woman's life. The "serving of tables", the care of the household, the innumerable so-called little things, and then the parts of cheerfulness and encouragement which she must play amidst all her perplexities and the tremendous duty of bearing and mothering children. All of these things she did. And as a memorial to her - the wife and the fore mother (whose life, however humble, transcends the power of record and interpretation) every one who can trace their ancestry back to the early days of this country should try and catch the echo through the years of the undertone of her faith in God for guidance and protection without which most certainly early woman could not have done the things which she did. Together, side by side, each performing their respective duties, the men and women developed the country which we know. Henrico was not an exception for life within the boundaries of its territory mirrored as it were - the life in the colony at large and from this ancient community have gone forth to other parts of Virginia and to the other states such a host that it seems well to remind those who shall seek a knowledge of their own people among the data which are presented in these articles of the true nature of the lives of their ancestors. The very month of May 1607 in which the settlement was made at Jamestown brought Newort, Percy, Archer, Smith, Brooks and Wotton and a company of mariners and sailors on a Page 122. voyage of exploration up the Powhatan (afterwards the James) River, reaching the falls in the very heart of Henrico, where the city of Richmond now stands, on the 23rd day of the month(1). These "upper parts" of the country seemed a goodly place for settlement and Captain Francis West was in 1609 ordered to make one in the vicinity of the falls; this he did, however, shortly afterwards abandoning the venture. (2)Two years later, in 1611, Henricus, a town some fourteen miles below the falls, was established where it was proposed in 1619, to build the first college in the new world "pri- marily designed for the education of Indian youth in the Christian faith; but . . . also to furnish the planters' children with an opportunity to ob- tain advanced tuition"(3). In 1611 also "Coxendale" (just across the river from Henricus) apepars on the map and in 1613 "Bermuda Hundreds" and "Roch- dale Hundred". "Sheffield's Plantation" was settled in 1619, and in the same year a settlement was made at Falling Creek for the purpose of estab- lishing the first iron works in America(4). Among the earliest known worthies who resided in the territory now so familiarly known as Henrico County were the mighty Powhatan, chief of the Red-Men, and his daughter Pocahontas, the gentle Indian maiden, who by her marriage to John Rolfe, became the foremother of so many people whose names are household words even in the Henrico of to-day. The every efficient, though stern, Sir Thomas Dale, was the guiding spirit of the Henricus settle- ment of 1611 and Alexander Whitaker, "Apostle to the Indians", was preacher to the colony there in 1612 and later. In after years Henrico numbered among its inhabitants such men as Nathaniel Bacon, the younger, leader of the poeple in __________________________________________________________________________ (1)Traylor, Some Notes of the First Recorded Visit of White Men to the Site of the Present City of Richmond, Virginia. Richmond: Privately Printed, 1899, p.6. (2)Tyler, The Cradle of the Republic, p. 219. (3)Bruce, Institutional History of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. I, p. 362. (4)Henricus was on the north side of James River, while the other settle- ments mentioned were on the south side. Tyler, Cradle of the Republic, pp. 215, 216, 217, 220 and map. Page 123. their just uprising against the government, James Blair, parson and educator, commissary to the Bishop of London, prime mover for the establishment of William and Mary College and its first president who on first coming to Virginia in 1685 "was assigned to the parish of Varina in Henrico, where it had been intended to build the university and college of 1618" and where "the inspirations of his surroundings probably had much to do with his sub- sequent actions".(1) William Stith, parson, scholar and historian, presi- dent of William and Mary College 1752-1755, was also at one time a minister in Henrico. In studying the history of the people of a community the first essential is to discover their names. Local records are sadly missing in Henrico and as a matter of fact there were none kept in the colony until about the year 1632. Before that date such matters as concern us here were recorded in the general records of the colony or sent to England. The former have disap- peared and the latter may only be investigated at great expense and there- fore are as well as lost to most of us. We are fortunate, however, in hav- ing had preserved lists of "the Livinge" and "the Dead" in Virginia in Feb- ruary 1623 (1624) and from these we will take the names of those persons whom it is possible to identify as residing in the territory which in 1634 became Henrico County. This official list is the earliest one made which is now known to be in existence. "List of the Livinge & Dead in Virginia Feb. 16, 1623."(2) A List of the Livinge. At the Colledg Land.(3) ___________________________________________________________________________ (1) Tyler, Williamsburg, the Old Colonial Capitol, p. 114. (2) Senate Document (Extra) Colonial Records of Virginia. Richmond, Va.: R. F. Walker, Superintendent Public Printing, 1874, pp. 37-38; and Hotten, "Emigrants", pp. 169-196. (3) The "Colledg Land" was the designation for the acreage obtained in 1619 for the benefit of the proposed University at Henrico. "On the north- erly side of James River, from the falls down to Henrico (about 14 miles below the present city of Richmond) . . . are the public lands reserved and laid out, whereof ten thousand are for the University lands, three thousand are for the company's lands, with other lands belonging to the Colledge" (Date: 1625 or '6). Senate Doc. Colonial Records of Virginia . . . p. 37. Page 124. "Att ye Colledg Land. Thomas Marlett, Christopher Branch, Francis Boot, William Browing (Browning), Walter Coop (Cooper), William Welder, Leonard More, Daniel Shurley, Peeter Jorden, Nicholas Perse, William Dalbie, Esaias Rawton, Theorer Moises(1), Robert Champer, Thomas Jones, David Williams, William Walker, Edward Hobson, Thomas Hobson, John Day, William Cooksey, Robert Farnell, Nicholas Chapman, Matthew Edlow(2), William Price, Gabriel Holland, John Wattson, Ebedmelech Gastrell, Thomas Osborne. Att ye Neck of Land(3). Luke Boys, Mrs. Boys, Robert Halam, Joseph Royall, John Dod's, Elizabeth Perkinson, William Vincent, Mrs. Vincent, Allexander Bradway, his wife Bradway, John Price, his wife Price, Robert Turner, Nathaniel Reeue (Reeve), Seriant William Sharp, Mrs. Sharp, Richard Rawse, Thomas Sheppy, William Clements, Thomas Harris, his wife Harris, Ann Woodley, Margaret Berman, Thomas Farmer, Hugh Hilton, Richard Taylor, ux Taylor, Josua Chard, Christopher Browne, Thomas Oage, ux Oage, infans Oage, Henry Coltman, Hugh Price, ux Price, infans Price, Mrs. Coltman, Robert Greene, ux Greene, infans Greene [Greeneleafe?]. From "A List of the Names of the Dead in Virginia since April Last [April 1623] Feby 16th 1623 [1624]"(4) we have these additional names of early residents of Henrico: ___________________________________________________________________________ (1) A Theodor Moyses had a patent for 2,000 acres in James City County (due for the transportation 40 persons into the colony) 23 May 1637 Vir- ginia Magazine, VI, p. 297. (2) Matthew Edlow (Edlowe, Edloe) was member House of Burgesses for College Plantation 1618. His widow Alice (who married secondly Luke Boyse) had patent Nov. 1636 for land between Harrow Attacks and the falls for her personal adventure and transportation of 14 persons. Matthews Edlowe, Junior (son of Matthew) settled in James City Co. and has numerous descen- dants (William and Mary XV, p. 282, and Virginia Magazine, V., p. 96). (3) This place, now known as Jones' Neck, was a part of Dale's settlement in 1613. It was first called Rochdale Hundred and afterwards 'Neck of Land in Charles City', to distinguish it from 'Neck of Land in James City'." (Tyler, Cradle of the Republic, p. 216). (4) Colonial Records of Virginia, p. 55. Page 125. "Colledge: William Lambert, John Wood Killed Thomas Naylor Killed William Moore James Howell At the Neck of Land: Moses Conyers Thomas Fernley, killed. George Grimes Edward --------. William Clements." From the official list of those who were killed in the celebrated Indian massacre of the 22 March 1622 (1623) we are able to add still other names to our list of the residents of this section at this early date. "Here following is set downe a true list of the names of all those that were massacred by the treachery of the Sauages in Virginia, the 22nd of March last(1)........ At Captaine Berckley's Plantation, seated at Falling Creeke, some 66 miles from James Citie, in Virginia. John Berkley, Esquire, Thomas Brasington, John Sawyer, Roger Dauid, Francis Gowsh, Bartholmew Peram, John Dowler, Laurence Dowler, Giles Peram, Lewis Williams, Richard Bascough, Thomas Holland, John Hunt, Robert Horner Mason, Philip Barnes, William Swandel, Robert Williams, his wife and childe, Giles Bradshaw, his wife and childe, John Howlet and his sonne, Thomas Wood and Collins his man, Joseph Fitch apothecary to Doctor Pots. At Master Thomas Sheffield Plantation, some three miles from Falling Creeke. Master Th: Sheffield (the son of William Sheffield) and Rachel his wife, John Reeue, William Tyler, a boy, Samuel Reeue, John Ellen, Robert Tyler, a boy, Mathew -------, Judeth Howard, Thomas Poole, Methusalem -------, Thomas Taylor, William Tyler. Page 125 (Continued) At Henrico lland about two miles from Sheffield's Plantation. ------- Atkins, ------- Weston, Philip Shatford, William Perigo, Owen Jones, one of Captain Berkley's people ______________________________________________________________________ (1) Ibid., p. 61. Page 126. Slcine of the Colledge People, about two miles from Henrico Citie. Samuel Stringer, George Soldan, William Baffet, John Perry, Edward Ember, Jarrat Moore, Thomas Zerles, Thomas Freeman, John Allen, Thomas Cooke, John Clements, James Faulkener, Christopher Henley, William Jordan, Robert Dauis, Thomas Hobson, William Bailey(2). In addition to the "List" from which the above names are quoted there have alse been preserved "The Musters of the Inhabitants of Virginia 1624-5"(1) which throw a considerable amount ________________________________________________________________________ (1) In 1634 Henrico was erected into a county or "shire". The present day counties of Henrico, Goochland, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Buckingham, Nelson, Fluvanna, Albemarle, Amherst and Campbell were parts of the "original" Henrico. The original territory of Henrico lay on both sides of the James River. Turkey Island Creek and Appomattox River formed the eastern boundary of the county. Chickahominy River the northern, Appo- mattox River the Southern, while westward the territory was almost bound- less. Reductions in territory occurred, first, in 1727 when 'the upper part' of Henrico on both sides of the river was erected into Goochland, and secondly, in 1748 when Chesterfield county was erected from the re- maining part of Henrico's territory on the south side of the James. The other counties mentioned above were sub-divisions of Goochland. The parishes of Henrico (in her original formation) were Henrico, Varina, Bristol and Dale. Henrico Parish dates from 1611, Varina (date unknown); Bristol from 1643 and Dale from 1735. Henrico was the older by many years and the "parent" of the others. In 1642-3, for the convenience of the settlers along Appomattox River, Bristol Parish was created by act of Assembly and its original boundaries were from Cawson's field within the mouth of Appomattox River, on the east, and Powell's Creek (Patents to Dorothy Clarke in Henrico [now Chesterfield] 16 July 1639, and Thomas Jones, in the same county, January, 1663-4, practically locate Powell's Creek), on the west and so extending up the Appomattox to the falls (now the site of Petersburg). Bristol Parish was therefore partly in Charles City County (now Prince George and Dinwiddie) and partly in Henrico (now Chesterfield). Dale Parish was created by act of Assembly August, 1734 (to assume legal status from 31 May, 1735), by merging that part of Bristol Parish which lay north of the Appomattox River with that portion of Henrico Parish which lay south of James River. (2) Hotten's "Emigrants", p. 204 et seq. Page 127. of light on these early settlers in Henrico by giving the names of the ships in which they came to the colony and in many instances the year in which they arrived. "The Must of the Inhabvitants of the Colledge: Land in Virginia taken the 23th of Janery 1624 (1625)" shows that Lieutenant Thomas Osborne arrived in the Bona Nova, November 1619; his servants Daniel Sherley (aged 30 yeres came in the Bona Nova 1619), Peter Jorden (aged 22 in the London Marchannt 1620) and Richard Davis (aged 16 in the Jonathan 1620). Robert Lapworth came in the Abigaile; John Watson in the William & Thomas; Edward Hobson in the Bona Nova 1619; Christopher Branch came in the London Marchannt, Mary, his wife in the same shipp, Thomas his sonne was aged 9 months; William Browninge came in the Bona Nova ----; William Weldon came in the Bona Nova 1619; Mathew Edlow came in the Neptune in 1618; Francis Wilton came in the Jonathan; Ezekiak Raughton came in the Bona Nova and Margarett his wife in the Warwick; William Price came in the Starr; Robert Campion in the Bona Nova; Leonard Moore in the Bona Nova; Thomas Baugh in the Supply; Thomas Parker in the Neptune and Theoder Moyses came in the London Marchannt, William Price came in the Starr(1). "The Muster of the Inhabitant's of the Neck of Land in the Corporation of Charles Citie in Virginia taken the 24th January 1624 (1625)" shows that: Luke Boyse aged 44 arrived in the Edwine in May 1619 and _________________________________________________________________________ (1) The names of Thomas Marlett, Francis Boot, Walter Coop (Cooper), Nicholas Perse, William Dalbie, Thomas Jones, David Williams, William Walker, Tomas Hobson, John Day, William Cooksey, Robert Parnell, Nicholas Chapman, Gabriel Holland, and Ebedmelech Gastrel which appear in the "List . . . of the Living" do not appear in the "Musters", while the names of Robert Lapworth, Thomas Baugh and Thomas Parker which appear in the "Musters" do not appear in the former list. Several variations in the spelling of names in the two lists will also be noticed, thus Shurley in the "List . . . of the Living" becomes Sherley in the "Musters", Esaias Rawton in the former becomes Ezekiah Raughton in the latter. Welder be- comes Weldon, Champer becomes Campion and Wattson becomes Watson. Page 128. that Alice his wife, arrived in the Bona Nova in April 1622(1), and Boyse's servants Robert Hollam, aged 23 came in the Bonaventure, August 1620(2) and Joseph Royall, aged 22 in the Charitie, July, 1622. Josuah Chard, aged 36 came in the Seaventure, May 1607, and Ann, his wife, aged 33, in the Bonny Bess 1623; John Dod aged 36 came in the Susan Constant Aprill 1607 and Jane his wife aged 40; William Vincene, aged 39, in the Mary & James and Joane, his wife aged 42; Thomas Harris, aged 38, came in the Prosperous in May ----, Adria, his wife, aged 23, in the Marmaduke in November 1621, and Ann Woodlase, their kinswoman, aged 7. Harris' servant Elizabeth ------ aged 15 years in the Margaret & John 1620. John Price, aged 40, came in the Starr in May ----- and Ann, his wife, aged 21, in the Francis Bonaventure, August 1620, and Mary, a child, aged 3 months; Hugh Hilton, aged 36 came in the Edwine, May 1619; Richard Taylor, aged 50, in the Mary Margaret in September 1608 and Dorothy, _________________________________________________________________________ (1) Hannah Boyse, daughter and heir of Luke Boyse, late of Henrico, decd., patented in Nov., 1635, 300 acres in Henrico adjoining land of her mother Alice Edlowe; due 50 acres for her personal adventure and 50 acres for the personal adventure of her father, and 200 acres for transportation of servants, viz.: Thomas Lewis, Robert Hollum, Joseph Royall, Edward Holland and Oliver Allen. (Virginia Magazine, V., p. 97). (2) Robert Hollam, patented 1,000 acres in Henrico Co., adjoining Ed- ward Osborne and opposite to the fallan (Falling) Creek (due for trans- portation of 20 person), 2 June, 1636. Ann Hallam on 6 May, 1638, patented 1,000 acres in Henrico adjoining Richard Cocke and towards Bremo and to- wards Turkey Island Creek. It appears from records in Henrico, April, 1680, June, 1691, and August, 1705 (dates of records of several deeds), that certains lands were patented by the relict of Mr. Robert Hallam and by her granted to the daughters and heirs of said Hallam, viz.: Sarah wife of John Sturdivant of Charles City Co., and her two sisters. It also appears that the said Sarah Hallam married first Samuel Woodward, of Charles City Co. (by whom she had Samuel Woodward of Boston, Mass., in 1705) and secondly, John Sturdivant of Charles City Co. Ann (another daughter of Mr. Robert Hallam) married John Gundey and had a son John Gundey of Gloucester Co., Virginia, in 1691. (Virginia Magazine, V. p. 212.) There was a receipt given by one Thomas Hallam 14 April 1656, and recorded in the General Court. (Giles Carter of Virginia, Genealogical Memoir, p. 38). Page 129. his wife, aged 21, in the london Marchannt in May 1620 and Mary, their child, aged 3 months; Taylor's servant, Christopher Browne, aged 18, came iin the dutie in May 1620; Thomas Oage, aged 40, came in the Starr in May ---; and Ann, his wife, in the Neptune in August 1618, and Edwin, their son, aged 2 years; Robert Greenleafe, aged 43, came in the Tryall August 1610, Susan his wife, aged 23, in the Jonathan in May 1620, Thomas, their son, aged 3 years, and Ann, their daughter, aged 22 weeks(1). Henry Coltman, aged 30, came in the Noah, August 1610; and Ann, his wife, aged 26, in the London Marchannt, May 1620. Hugh Price, aged 35, came in the William & John, January 1618, Judith, his wife, aged 24, in the Marygold, May 1619, and John, his son, aged 2 years. Thomas Farmer, aged 30, came in the Tryall in 1616, Thomas Sheppy, aged 22, came in the Supply in January 1620. Allexander Bradway, aged 31, came in the Supply, January 1620, Sisley, his wife, aged 28 in the Jonathan, May 1620 and Adria, their daughter, aged 9 months. William Sharp, aged 40, came in the Starr in May----, Elizabeth, his wife, aged 25, in the Bonaventure, August 1620, Isaac, his son, aged _________________________________________________________________________ (1) Thomas Warren patented Nov., 1635, 300 acres in Charles City County, of which 50 acres were in right of his wife Susan Greeneleafe, relict of Robert Greeneleafe, for her own personal adventure, and 100 acres in right of her former husband, the said Robert Greenleafe, as an ancient planter, and 150 acres for transportation of ----- ----- and John Fouke, (2 servants) and for the personal adventure of the said Thomas Warren. In July, 1637, Thomas Markham patented 300 acres in Henrico Co. on Four Mile Creek, adjoining Bayly's land and Curles due: 100 acres in right of his wife Susan the relict of Robert Greeneleafe, to whom (Greene- leafe) it was due as an ancient planter in the time of Sir Thomas Dale, and 50 acres for her own personal adventure and 50 acares for the personal adventure of the said Thomas Markham and 100 acres for transportation of 2 persons: John Foker and Richard Hall [evidently the same persons in Warren's patent above] (Virginia Magazine, IV., p. 201 and VII, p. 69). It has not developed what became of Greeneleafe's children. For the inter0 esting historical aspect developed by the repeated granting of lands, as in above patents see Bruce, Economic History of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century. Page 130. 2 years, and Samuel, his son, aged 2 months. Sharp's servant, Richard Vause, aged 20, came in the Jonathan, May 1620(1). The lists presented above contain 145 names of residents of Henrico and it is not improbable that there are ommissions. Just exactly what became of these people is not known; with few exceptions (which I shall presently note) representatives of these names had disappeared from Henrico County when the list of heads of families (the next which is found of record) was made fifty-four years later, in 1679. During the intervening time there were many immigrations and while the names in the lists of 1624 are recog- nized by only a few, the majority of those in the list of 1679 are to-day household words in this section of Virginia and many of them are well known beyond the limits of the state. Let us now turn to the list of Heads of Families in Henrico in 1679. This list of heads of families in Henrico, or rather "As account of ye several fortye Tythables" as it was officially designated, was made in accordance with a provision of an act of the Assembly which convened 25 April 1679. "An act for the defence of the country against the incursions of the Indian Enemy".(2) _________________________________________________________________________ (1) The names of Elizabeth Perkinson, Robert Turner, Nathaniel Reeue, William Clements and Margaret Berman which appear in the "List . . . of the Living" do not appear in the "Musters". All of the names which appear in the "Musters" (with the exception of Mrs. Ann Chard, Elizabeth ------- the servant of Thomas Harris, and several of the children) appear in the "List . . . of the Living". Several variations in the spelling of names in the two lists will be noticed thus Boys in the "List . . . of the Living" becomes Boyse in the "Musters", Halam in the former becomes Hollam in the latter, Vincent becomes Vincene, Rawse becomes Vause, Sheppy be- comes Sheppey, Woodley becomes Woodlase, and it is not improbable that Greene in the "List of the Living" is the Greenleafe of the 'Musters." (2) Hening. Statutes at Large of Virginia, Vol. II, p. 433. Page 131. Att a Court holden att Varina for the County of Henrico the second day of June Anno Dom 1679 . . . An account of ye several fortye Tythables ordered by this Wor'll Court to fitt out men horse armes &c. according to act, viz: In Bermuda Hundred: Curls Mr. Martin Elam 6 Abrah Childers 2 Thomas Shippey 3 Richd Morish 6 Edwd Stratton, Junr, 3 John Howard 2 Samll Knibb 2 Wm Theobald 1 Mr Fra Epes 9 Robert Woodson 5 Jos Royall 3 John Woodson Sr 3 Att Mrs Isham's 6 John Woodson Jr 2 George Browninge 5 Mr John Pleasants 13 Mr Kennon 3 Mr John Ball 1 John Worsham 4 Edwd Goode 1 ___________________ Edwd Lester 1 44 Henry Brazeel 1 Mr. Epes is ordered to give no- John Greenhaugh 1 tice to these. Ben Hatcher 1 Wm Hews 1 Turkey Island Lewis Watkins 1 Mr Richd Cocke 5 Tho Holmes 1 Capt Wm Randolph 5 Sally Indian 1 Giles Carter 6 ____________________ John Aust 2 44 Thomas Cocke 8 Mr Ben Hatcher is ordered to John Gunter 2 give notice to these. William Humphreys 2 Anthony Tall 1 Tho Newcomb 1 John Lewis 3 Peter Ashbrook 3 Henry Watkins 3 Mr Wm Baugh 5 Robert Evans 3 Tho Burton 1 Petr Harris 1 Richd Lygon 1 Thomas East 1 Abrah Womecke 2 __________________ Edwd Bowman 3 44 Att Mrs. Skermes 3 Captn Randolph is ordered to Mr Henry Lounds 3 give notice to these. Mr Wm Clerke 3 Page 132. Mr Tho Poulden 4 Tho Webster 1 Mr Gilbert Elam Sr 5 Tho Gregory 1 Mr Henry Gee 2 Mrs Chandler 5 John Bowman 2 John Willson Sen 1 Tim Allen 1 John Willson Jun 2 Mr Gilbert Platt 5 Richd Dobbs 1 ________________ Nich Dison 1 44 Tho Fitzherbert 4 Mr Richd Lygon is ordered to Jno Farloe 1 [Farley?] give notice to these. Peter Rowlett 3 Mr George Worsham 3 Mr Peter Field 7 Ess Bevill 4 Mr Charles Fetherstone 3 Mr Tho Batte 4 Jno Baugh 3 Jno Davis 1 Major Chamberlain 4 Godf Ragsdale 1 servt. 1 Richd Holmes 1 Wm Dodson 1 James Gates 1 James Francklin 1 Tho Puckett 2 Charles Clay 1 Jno Puckett 1 John Steward 4 Wm Beven 3 _________________ Tho Wells 2 44 Mrs Morris 3 Mr Essex Bevill is ordered to Tho Lockett 1 give notice to these. Evan Owen 1 George Freeman 1 Coll Wm Byrd 20 Mrs Lygon 2 Wm Dany 2 Major Wm Lygon 3 Mr John Goode 4 Robert Mann 1 Edwd Jones 2 Mr Hancocke 1 Edwd Deely 2 James Eakin 2 Henry [Preut?] 1 Wm Puckett 2 Wm Blackman 2 _________________ Gilbert Jones 1 44 Henry Sherman Sen 1 Mr Peter Field is ordered to Richd Pierce 1 give notice to these. Mr Richd Ward Sen 5 __________________ John Ellis 1 44 George Archer 2 Coll Wm. Byrd is ordered to Wm Harris 2 give notice to these. Page 133. John Millner 6 Jas Lisle 1 Henry Pue 1 Jno Cox Sen 5 John Pledge 1 Mr Wm Elam 2 Tho Wood 1 Richd Rabone 1 Samll Moody 2 John Davis 4 At Mr Hatcher's Sen 5 Jno Burton Jun 5 Mr Radford 5 Tho Davis 2 John Steward 3 Samll Bridgewater 3 Jno Huddlesee 2 ___________________ Nich Perkins 1 44 Richd Parker 2 Coll Farrar is ordered to give Wm Wheatley 1 notice to these. Wm Giles 4 John Leadd 1 Abell Gower 7 Philemon Childers 1 Mr Tho Branch Sen 2 Tho 1 Xtopher Branch Jun 3 Robt Clerke 1 James Forrest 2 John Watson 1 Mr Tho Osborne 7 Wm Porter Sen 1 Tho Bottom 1 Charles Matthews 1 Mr Edwd Osborne 3 _______________ Phillip Turpin 3 44 Att Esqr Place's Quarter 6 John Millner is ordered to give Richd Perrin 3 notice to these. Tho Perrin 1 Joshua Stap 2 Edward Hatcher 3 John Bayly 1 Robert Bullington 4 Tho Risbe 3 Michael Turpin 3 _____________________ Jno Farrar 4 44 Wm Farrar 2 Mr. Abell Gower is ordered to Wm Basse 4 give notice to these. Barth Roberts 1 John Cressy, Thomas Jefferson, Edward Thatcher, Timothy Allen and William Ballow were assessed extra by the Henrico Court 23 December 1679, having been omitted in this levy. Of the 145 names given in the list for 1624 above the descendants of only three can be identified positively in the list for Page 134. 1679. These are Christopher Branch, Thomas Osborne and Thomas Harris(1). Christopher Branch lived for many years at the Kingsland, near Proctor's Creek, on the south side of the River in that part of Henrico which later became Chesterfield, and died in the year 1681. He was the progenitor of a numerous family and the descend through his third son Christopher Branch, Jr., has been made the subject of a family history written by James Branch Cabell and published with the title of "Branchiana." Thomas Osborne lived at "Coxendale", also in the present county of Chesterfield, and died post 1633. The first three or four generations of the Osborne family have been made the subject of a genealogical account by William G. Stanard, published in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, volume IV, page 247, et seq. The descendants of Thomas Harris (who died post 1647) have also been partially worked out by Mr. Stanard and published in chart form and a great deal of the material from the chart embodied in an article published in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, volume IV, page 248, et seq. It is not at all improbable that Joseph Royall and Thomas Sheppey (a name variously rendered Sheppey, Sheppy, Shippy, Shippey, and Sheppy) of the list for 1624 were the ancestors of the families of their names appear- ing in the 1679 list. It is stated in a patent granted to Joseph Royall 26 August 1635 that 50 of the land then granted himwas for his own "personal adventure" (synonymous with immigration into the colony) and 50 acres each for his first wife, Thomasin and his now wife Ann and his brother Henry Royall, and Thomas Sheppy of Henrico had a patent July 1637 for 300 acres about 3 miles above Curles on a branch of Four Mile Creek in which also it is stated that 50 acres thereof were granted to him for his own "personal adven- _________________________________________________________________________ (1) It is not improbable that others of the list of 1624 had descen- dants still living in the colony in 1679, but who had moved from Henrico to other counties. Doubtless, a number of these earlier settlers had descendants through daughters but it is almost impossible to discover anything about such points owing to the destruction of all of the Henrico County records prior to 1677. Page 135. ture" and 250 acres for transportation of 5 persons among them Elizabeth Shippey. Thus we see that Royall and Sheppy were still living in Henrico as late as 1635 and 1637 respectively.(1). The name of William Browning occurs in the 1624 list and that of George Browning in the one of 1679, but there is no evidence of any connection between the two men. The names of Hobson and Farmer appear in the former list, though not in the latter, and there were families of Hobsons and Farmers in Henrico during the first decade (and later) of the eighteenth century. The name of a John Watson appears in the 1624 list and the name of a John Watson also appears in the list of 1679, but it has been im- possible to identify them as father and son or to establish any connection whatsoever between them. The name of Oage (certainly an uncommon one) appears in 1624 and a family by that name was living in Goochland County in 1730, but any connecting link is missing. In the Henrico list of 1679 the names of Blackman, Baugh, Bass, Bul- lington, Bridgewater, Farrar and Jefferson and Woodson appear. In 1624 a Nicholas Blackman and a Thomas Baugh were living in West & Shirley Hundred and in 1625 a Thomas Baugh was living on the "College land" in Henrico. William Farrar, a William Basse and Mrs. Basse were living in "Jordan's Journey" and a Nicholas Bullington and a Richard Bridgewater and wife (evidently the same as Bridgewater) in "the Main" near James City and a John and Sarah Woodson in "Flower de Hundred". We find the name of John Jefferson among the resi- ________________________________________________________________________ (1) That these patents were granted to Royall and Sheppy in 1635 and 1637 with the statement that they were for their own immigrations is not at all indicative that they were not the persons whose names appear in the lsit of 1624. It will be found that most of the men whose names are given in this list, if they or their heirs ever received patents, did not receive them until some years after coming into the colony. In the cases of "servants" the reason is obvious. See also Bruce, Economic History of Virgnia in the Seventeenth Century. Page 136. dents of Elizabeth City in 1624 (and one of the same name was a member of the first Assembly of Virginia in 1619). (1) It is an established fact that William Farrar who lived in "Jordan's Journey" in 1624 was the ancestor of the Henrico County family of that name and the Woodsons of Henrico claim John and Sarah Woodson of "Flower de Hundred" as their ancestors and while circumstantial evidence points to a close connection it must be frankly stated that no proof of the claim has been produced. It has also been so far impossible to prove any con- nection between the Henrico families of Blackman, Baugh, Bass, Bullington, Bridgewater and Jefferson and the Nicholas Blackman(2), Thomas Baugh, William Base, Nicholas Bullington, Richard Bridgewater and John Jefferson whose names appear in the list of 1624 as quoted above(3). By reference to the list of those who were killed in the Indian Massacre of 22 March 1622-3 "At Captain Berckley's Plantation, seated on Falling Creek" (see ante) it will be seen that the names _________________________________________________________________________ (1) These names are from the List of the Living in Virginia 1623/4 published in full (Senate Document-Extra) Colonial Records of Virginia [Richmond: 1873], pp. 37-54 and Hotten, Emigrants, 169-189. West and Shirley Hundred were in Charles City County, about 37 miles above Jamestown and virtually on the location of the present "Shirley", home of the Carter family. "Jourdans Journey" was at the present Jordan's Point, formerly in Charles City, now Prince George Co., a short distance below the present City Point where the Appomattox flows into the James. "In the Main, near James City" refers to the mainland in the vicinity of Jamestown Island and Elizabeth City was the country in the vicinity of the present Elizabeth City County. (2) There was a Jeremy Blackman, mariner, who had a patent 14 May 1646 for 400 acres on south side of James River, Henrico [now Chesterfield Co.] south of Christopher Branch's land. (3) Of mentions of the name of Bullington, however, the following should be noted here: On 25 Feby, 1635, Eliz. Ballhash, widow, received patent for land in Henrico which adjoined "land late in possession of Nicholas Ballington [probably clerical error for Bullington]; a George Bullington had a patent in Henrico in 1664 and the will of Nicholas Bullignton was recorded in Henrico in 1691. These mentions of the name, taken together with that of Robert Bullington in the list of 1679 are certainly suggestive of a long continued residence of the family here and of a connection be- tween these several people. Page 137. of "John Howlet and his son" are given among others. It is stated in the original of this list that the names were published "To the end that their lawfull heyres may take speedy order for the inheritinge of their lands and estates there. For which the honorourable company of Virginia are ready to do them all right and favour." It is impossible at this time (and it may never be possible) to state whether John Howlet, who was killed by the Indians in 1622-3 at the Falling Creek settlement had other children than "his son" who suffered the same fate; nor would one venture to state positively that his "heirs" came to Virginia and took up what estate he left. But it is at least a singular coincindence that one "Tho(mas) Howlett, aged about 58 years" who made a deposition in Henrico Court in August 1685 was evidently living near Fal- ling Creek or had some intimate connection with a mill conducted there. His deposition recites "that ye day before Aprill Court last Sam Bridge- watter went from his work at FALLING CREEK MILL (well to ye deponents thinking) designing as he pretended to come to court next day and ye day after court ye sd. Bridgwater came to work again" etc. etc. it appearing that he said Bridgwater had lost his horse. Thomas Howlett stated that his age was about 58 years in 1685 therefore he was born about the year 1627 or 8. He could not have been a son of the John Howlett who lost his life in the Massacre but he may have been a grandson or a nephew. Though the name of Howlett does not appear in the Henrico list of 1679, its absence is owing to the fact that the family was living in Charles City County at that date(1) and did not return to Henrico until about 1680. Having compared the Henrico lists for 1624 and 1679 and stated the de- grees of relationship known to exist between persons of the same name which appear in each and having also stated the possibilities and probabilities of connection between certain persons whose surname is given in both lists we will now record the earliest mentions (up to this present time dis- covered) of the __________________________________________________________________________ (1) Deed of Thomas Howlett and Mary, ux. and John Croley, of Charles City Co. to Darby Enroughty and Gilly Gromarrin of Henrico was proved in Henrico Court 1 February 1678-9. Page 138. names of families which appear in the 1679 list but not in the one for 1624. Francis Epes was the grandson of Francis Epes who was certainly in the colony in 1625 for in that year he was a member of the House of Burgesses. A patent issued to him 26 August 1635 states that the land thereby granted him was for the "personal adventure" of himself and for the transportation of his sons John, Francis and Thomas Epes and 30 servants. Richard Ward, Senior, was the son of Seth Ward "of Verina, in the upper parts" (Henrico) who had a lease for 50 acres of land 30 May 1634. One George Archer is named as a headright in a patent to Francis Epes, 26 August 1635 for whose importation as a servant Epes received the customary 50 acres of land. Though positive proof is lacking it is not improbable that this George Archer was in some way connected with, nor improbabaly the same person as (or the father of) George Archer who had a patent for land in Henrico in 1665 and died about 1677 leaving a son George Archer (of the 1679 list) and other children. The Cockes of the list were sons of Richard Cocke who had a patent for land in 1636. "Mr. Hatcher, Senr." was William Hatcher who on 1 June 1636, received a patent for land for the importation of him- self and three others into the colony. Bejamin and Edward Hatcher, of the list, were sons of this William Hatcher. Gilbert Platt is first mentioned as a "servant" imported by Elizabeth Parker, widow, in a patent which re- ceived 12 February 1635. "John Cox, sen" (who himself had a patent for 550 acre known as "Harrstocks" [Harrowattacks or Arrowhattocks] on 29 March 1665) was doubtless a son of William Cox who on 29 November 1636 and 29 October 1637 had two patents for 150 acres each "about 2 1/2 miles above Harroe Attacks" on James River in Henrico County. Styling himself as "John Cox, Senr. of the 1679 list conveyed land to his son William Cox. A Nicholas Pledge is mentioned as a headright in a patent to one William Clerke 29 September 1636 for land in Henrico County. John Davis (with Robert Craddock) had a patent 15 August 163- for 300 acres on "a great swamp". The patent mentions "Longfields" and in a patent which he received in October 1642, for land adjoining his former patent called Page 139. "Longfields" it is stated that a portion of the land was granted for the transportation of Davis' wife Mary. Mr. William Clerke (rendered also Clarke) and Robert Clerke, of the list for 1679, probably had their ancestor in one William Clerke (or Clarke) who had patents for land in Henrico in September 1636 and May 1638. William Worsham was in Henrico certainly as early as November 1640 for in a patent granted to William and George Worsham in November 1652 it is stated that a part of the said land was sold by Seth Ward to the said William Worsham 2 November 1640. William Worsham was the father of John Worsham, of the list, and "Mr. George Worsham", of the list, was the patentee. The Elams were represented in Henrico as early as November 1642 in the person of Robert Elam who at that date had a patent for land above Bermuda Hundred, between the lands of Thomas Sheppy and Richard Johnson and among the headrights to the patent is the name of Ann Elam. It appears from the records that Ann, the daughter of Robert Elam, married Gilbert Elam, who appears in the list for 1679 as "Mr Gilbert Elam, sen". How much earlier than September 1661 Gilbert Elam was in the colony does not appear but in that month he had a patent for land on south side of James River, between the lands of Thomas Sheppy and Richard Johnson. At what date William Elam came into the colony is not known. Martin Elam had a patent in 1672. The degree of relationship existing between Gilbert Elam, William Elam and Martin Elam is not dis- closed by the remaining records, nor is the degree of relationship existing between any one of the trio and Robert Elam given, with the exception that Gilbert married the daughter of Robert. William Elam and Martin Elam were, however, doubtless uncle and nephew as William Elam in his will dated 18 February 1688-9 devised property to "my loving cozen Martin Elam", the term cousin being in that day genreally applied to nephews and nieces. Then in his will dated 7 March 1691-2, Martin Elam bequeathes several articles which, he says, were "my uncles". Martin Elam also mentions in his will silver spoons "two of them on old Robert Elam's mark". Nicholas Perkins had a patent 30 August 1650 for land in Bermuda Hundreds stated to have been granted "by and for the transportation of 4 persons into the colony; the names of three of them being given: "Mary Perkikns, William Owen, Page 140. and Richard Hues". One cannot but wonder if Nicholas Perkins himself was the fourth person. Major William Bellew had a patent in October 1651 while the name of William Ballow appears in the list for 1679. The spelling of the names is different but one familiar with records of the period will realize at least the possibility of a connection between the two. The earliest mention (so far discovered) in Henrico County patents, and other sources, of other names which appear in the list for 1679 are: Henry Lowne (or Lound) March 1652 a patent to himself, John Greenhough, December 1652 (mentioned as a headright in a patent granted to himself), William Baugh was a magistrate in Henrico in 1656; Francis Redford(1) had a patent in August 1659; John Milner is mentioned as a headright in the patent to Francis Redford just mentioned; Michael and Philip Turpin were sons of Michael Turpin whose will was made in July 1663 and whom the records show purchased land from William Farrar as early as 1656; George Bullington, a patent in June 1664; James Aiken (Eakin?) a patent in October 1665. Patents also appear for Thomas Batte 1665(2); Thomas Webster, October 1665; Thomas Wells, March 1665; John Burton March 1665-6; John Puckett, January 1665-6 (he was the father of the several Pucketts mentioned in the list for 1679); John Wilson, June 1666; Solomon Knibb (father of Samuel Knibb, of the list) September 1667; Robert Bowman, Junior, (adjoining land of Robert Bowman, Senior,) in September 1667; George Browninge, May 1668; Godfrey Ragsdale, January 1668-9(3), Bartholo- __________________________________________________________________________ (1) A Richard Radford (the form used in pronouncing Redford) is mentioned as a headright in a patent granted William Hatcher June 1, 1636. (2) Thomas Batte and Henry Batte sons of Mr. John Batte, deceased, had patent 29 April 1665 [or 1668] for 5878 acreas, 2 rods, 8 poles, on south side James River in Appomattox in Charles City County beginning at head of Jordan's land and Merchants Hope - the head of Charles City Creek; due for transportation of 118 persons into the colony, among them, William Bate, Jur. 2 times, Martha Bate, Jno. Bate, Senior, Jno Batte, Junr. Henry Batte, Tho Batte. (3) Godfry Ragsdale was born about 1645, and on 9 November 1679 he conveyed to Thomas Batte, Senior, 50 acres which were given to said Rags- dale by the will of Mr. John Cookney, deceased, of Bristol Parish. Page 141. mew Chandler, October 1671; Essex Bevill and Amy, his wife, October 1661; Richard Perrin, March 1672; John Stuard (Stuart or Stewart) March 1672-3; Charles Fetherston (Featherstone), September 1672; Timothy Allen, October 1673; Henry Shereman (Sherman), November 1673; Abell Gower (and also a William Gower) was a headright to a patent granted to John Davis in April 1672; Richard Kennon probably did not come into the colony until some time after 1665; William Randolph came to Virginia about 1673(1); John Pleasants about 1665; William Byrd about 1674; the Ishams about 1656; Thomas Chamber- laine appears twice as a headright to a patent granted to Charles Feather- stone in 1672; John Goode came "to Virginia prior to 1660" (according to Goode's "Virginia Cousins"); Abraham Womack (as the name Womecke is general- ly rendered) was in Virginia as early as 1674 in which year a dispute over the property of his brother William Womack was settled by the General Court Giles Carter appears first as a beneficiary under the will of James Crewe in 1676(2). Of the remaining 83 names in the list for 1679 all that can be positively said in this connection is that their representatives were certainly living in Henrico at the time the records begin in 1677. It is no doubt true, however, that many of them, or their fathers, were in the colony at a considerably earlier date; this seems cir- __________________________________________________________________________ Henrico Co., which was recorded in Henrico Court 1 December 1646, and the land conveyed to Batte adjoined the land said Ragsdale lived on. On 18 May 1638 John Cookney had two patents for land in Henrico one of 20 acres "being a swamp within a neck of land" and the other for 150 acres adjoining Joseph Chadd and Richard Taylor. (1) Henry Randolph (uncle of William Randolph) came to Virginia about 1650 and was for some years a prominent official in Henrico County. For the descendants of Henry Randolph see WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY, IV., p. 125. (2) Thomas Branch (of the 1679 list) and Christopher Branch, Junior, were son and grandson of Christopher Branch of the 1624 list; Edward and Thomas Osborne grandsons of Thomas Osborne, of the 1624 list; William Harris of 1624 list, Thomas Shippey was probably the son of Thomas Sheppy of 1625 and Joseph Royall (of 1679) a son or grandson of Joseph Royall of 1624. Page 142. cumstantially true of the Watkinses, Jeffersons, Strattons, Childerses, Clays(1) and several others. The total destruction of the Henrico records prior to 1677 and the notable gaps in the files after that year, together with the fact that so many of the land patents which are stated to have been granted for the transportation or importation of persons into the colony fail to give the names of such headrights, makes it almost impossible to reach final con- clusions in a study such as this. Nevertheless the reamining records have been pretty thoroughly searched with the above results. Even these should not be considered "final" except in the rare instances in which the man is stated to have been the immigrant ancestor of the family bearing his name. There are no doubt hidden away in the bodies of later deeds and patents much interesting information relative to a number of the persons whose names appear in the above lists and it is hoped that this tentative general study may encourage those who are personally interested to work over them and publish the results of their research. Having "discovered" (in so far as it is possible at this time) the names of the early settlers and residents in Henrico the questions arise "what were they", "who were they", from the points of view of economic and social history. ______________ (To Be Continued.) (1) John Clay had a patent 13 July 1635 for 1200 acres in Charles City [now Prince George] Co., adjoining lands of Capt. Francis Hooke, up to the head of Ward's Creek and bounded north on James River, said land due 100 acres to said Clay as an old planter before the government of Sir Thomas Dale and the other 1100 acres for the transportation of 22 persons. In 1655 William Bayly patented 400 acreson Ward's Creek, Charles City Co. purchased of William Clay son of John Clay, who was assignee of Francis Hooke who patented in 1637. "These persons may have been ancestors of Henry Clay whose first recorded ancestory Henry [Charles] Clay was living in that part of Henrico now Chesterfield when the records begin in 1677. there was a Clay family in Surry Co. from an early date". W. G. Stanard in Virginia Magazine, III, p. 186. In the Musters of Virginia 1625 (Hotten, Emigrants, p. 211) "Jordan's Journey, Charles City . . . John Claye, arrived in the Treasurer Feby. 1613; Anne, his wife, in the Ann, August 1623; servant Wm. Nicholls, aged 25 years in the Dutie, May 1619". Charles Clay (first known ancestor of the Henrico Co. family) was born about 1647 and died in 1686. He lived in that part of Henrico now Chesterfield Co. not many miles from the "Old Town" settlement which was about opposite to the site of the present city of Petersburg.