Charles City and New Kent Counties; Christian Family - Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 5, No.4 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 *********************************************************************** Christian Family William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 4 (Apr., 1897), pp. 261-263. CHRISTIAN FAMILY. Owing to the destruction of the New Kent county records, and the partial destruction of the Charles City county records, it is difficult to connect this family with any of the English families of the same name in the Isle of Man and other places. Investigations in British wills and other records on the other side of the ocean may some day supply the loss. We know that the Virginia progenitor of the family was 1, THOMAS1 CHRISTIAN. As "Mr. Thomas Christian" he patented, Oct. 21, 1687, 1080 acres in Charles City county. While the family did not assume in the eighteenth century the important position it has enjoyed in the nineteenth; the term "Mr.", accorded to the immigrant, is indicative of social standing. In 1694 "Thomas Christian, Sen." got a patent for 193 acres south of Chickahominy Swamp. The "Sen." here shows that there was another Thomas Christian, who was probably a son of the elder Thomas and already of age. Then we find 2, Thomas2 Christian, of "Charles City county", patenting land (1712 and 1727) in the forks of Beaver Dam Creek in that part of Henrico called Goochland; 3, Charles2 Christian, of "Charles City", locating lands in same vicinity (1714, 1727); 4, James2 Christian in same vicinity, bouding on Thomas Christian's line (1719); 5, John2 Christian, of "Charles City", in same vicinity (1724). All this furnishes strong presumptive evidence, in the absence of any other Christians mentioned in the records of Charles City and New Kent, that 2, 3, 4, and 5 were sons of 1, Thomas1 Christian, Sen., the immigrant. 2, THOMAS2 CHRISTIAN'S will was probed in Goochland counmty in 1736. He married Rebecca ----- (perhaps the daughter of Drury Stith, near whom, in Charles city, Thomas Christian patented 1320 acres on Dec. 16, 1714), and had issue: 6, Thomas3; 7, Robert3; 8, William3 of Albemarle county, living in 1756; 9, Page 262. James3; 10, Constant3; 11, Rebecca; 12, Ann3, 13, Mourning3, who m. ----- Coleman. Mentions grandson Thomas. 6, THOMAS3 (Thomas2, Thomas1). His will, recorded in Goochland county, is dated Oct. 23, 1743, and was proved March 20, 1743-'44. He married Rebecca ----, and had issue: 14, Anthony4, born June 9, 1724 (St. Peter's Parish Register), not mentioned in will, but in a deed, as "son & heir", and as residing in Cumberland county in 1753 (Goochland county records); 15, Nathaniel4; 16, Thomas4; 17, Jesse4; 18, David4; 19, Lins4; 20, Archer4; 21, Mary4; 22, Susannah4; 23, Elizabeth4. Had property on Willis' Creek. 7, ROBERT3 (Thomas2, Thomas1) lived in Albemarle county, which was cut out of Goochland. His will, proved at May court, 1749, mentions wife Lucy, sister of William Bradly, and issue: 24, John4; 25, Robert4; 26, Drury4; 27, Lucy4; 28, Elizabeth4. Witnesses to will: Walter Leak, Charles Christian, William Christian. Wife probably with child. 26, DRURY4 CHRISTIAN, of Goochland county, married Lucy William, and had issue: 29, James5, born April 30, 1758; 30, Gideon5, born Aug. 16, 1760; 31, Ann5, born March 3, 1764; 32, Drury5, born Aug. 18, 1766. (Register of Births, etc., kept by Rev. Wm. Douglas). 8, WILLIAM3 (Thomas2, Thomas1). In 1756 he sold lands in Goochland county given him by his father, Thomas Christian dece'd. He styles himself of Albemarle county. (Goochland county records). 9, JAMES3 (Thomas2, Thomas1). Will dated 18 May, 1752, and proved in Goochland county, June 15, 1759. His wife, Susannah, and James Christian exors. See also 6 Munford's Reports, p. 534, Christian's devisee vs. Christian and others. Issue: 33, Charles4, died sine prole in 1761; 34, James4, died sine prole before 1794; 35, John4, of Buckingham county, married Joyce -----, and was living in 1805; 36, George4, died about 1784 or 1785. 36, GEORGE4 (James3, Thomas2, Thomas1) married, and had issue: 37, James5; 38, Elizabeth; 39, Charles; 40 Sally. 3, Charles2 Christian, Sr. (?Thomas1), of "Westover Parish", Charles City county, obtained numerous patents in Goochland. There is a record there of his deed of gift (1750) to Stephen Watkins, of Amelia county, and his deed to 41, Charles3 Christian, jun., of Goochland (1754). 41, CHARLES3 CHRISTIAN was perhaps son of Charles Christian, Page 263. of Westover Parish. His will was proved in Goochland county February 16, 1784, and mentions sons: 42, William4, 32, Walter4; 44, George4; 45 Charles4; 46, John4, who m'd Judith Leek on May 9, 1771; 47, Elijah4; 48, Turner4, mar. Anna, dau. of George Payne, jun., 1778; 49, Elizabeth4, who m. John Humber, of St. Paul's Parish; 50, Mary4, who m'd James Grishom (Grason) Dec. 19, 1770; 51, Judith4, who m. Benjamin Lacy on Oct. 25, 1774; 52, Mourning4. He left land in Amelia county to son William. 4, JAMES2 CHRISTIAN (Thomas1), of the "parish of St. Peter's", New Kent, had issue: 53, Judith3, baptized May 21, 1711. He married Amy (perhaps a daughter of Gideon Macon, of New Kent), and had also, 54, Gideon3, born Feb. 5, 1727-'28 (St. Peter's Parish Register); there is on record a deed, 1756, from Gideon Christian, of Charles City county, for 368 acres in Goochland, patented by James Christian March 11, 1711, and devised by said James to his son Gideon; 55, Richard3, of Charles City; 56, Joel3, of Charles City (deed in Goochland, 1754); 57, William3, formerly of Goochland (deed 1752), probably member of Charles City committee of safety, 1775; 58, probably James3 of "St. Peter's Parish, New Kent", who, in 1758, sold to Isaac Meanley 130 acres in Goochland, bounding on lands of Joel Christian. 54, GIDEON3 CHRISTIAN married Susan, dau. of Wm. Browne, of James City, and Alice Eaton. His will proved in Charles City county 1797. Issue: 59, Eaton4; 60, Francis4; 61, Patrick4; 62, William Allen4; 63, Anne4, m'd -------- Hill; 64, Alice4; 65, Fanny4. 55, RICHARD3 CHRISTIAN had issue: 66, Samuel4; 67, Richard4; 68 Benjamin4; 69, Isham4 (deed to his sons recorded in Charles City, 1768). 58, JAMES3 CHRISTIAN, who m'd Tabitha, and had issue: 70, Joseph Christian, born Sept. 4, 1757. 5, John2 (?Thomas1). He appears to have died previous to 1768 and left a son, 71, John, living in New Kent in 1773 (Christian & others vs. Whittington & others, 2d Randolph's Reports, p. 353). 72, Mary, b. Oct. 8, 1735. (To be Continued).