John Washington on a Trading Voyage in the "East Country": Unpublished Notes on the Washingtons, Popes, Brodhursts, etc. W. G. Stanard William and Mary College Quarterly Historical papers, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Apr., 1893), pp. 183-189. WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY HISTORICAL PAPERS. Vol. 1 April, 1893 No. 4 JOHN WASHINGTON ON A TRADING VOYAGE IN THE "EAST COUNTRY." UNPUBLISHED NOTES ON THE WASHINGTONS, POPES, BRODHURSTS, ETC. BY W. G. STANARD. The following papers, which are exact copies of the originals in the worn and moth eaten volume which contains the earliest records of Westmoreland County, Virginia, give information in regard to John Washington, the immigrant, which appears to have been heretofore unknown to the numerous and industrious students of the antiquities of that family. That John Washington once came to America in a ship belonging to Edward Prescott has been preserved in the Maryland archives, and this has been supposed to have been his first arrival, as assumption which could appear to be confirmed by the language of the tenth answer in the paper printed below. It is certain, however, that he was well established in the country prior to this time, for a commission to the military officers of Westmoreland, dated April 4th, 1655, and recorded in the volume named above includes Thomas Speke, as Colonel, Nathaniel Pope, Lieutenant- Colonel, and John Washington, Major. In a deposition dated 1674, and recorded in Westmoreland, he states that he was then forty-five years of age. The record books of Westmoreland and Northumberland give abundant evidence of the standing and influence of the first Col. John Washington. He was chosen a vestryman of Appomattox Parish (a short lived parish which was so named from Appomattox, now Mattox Creek) July 3d, 1661, and was commissioned Justice of Westmoreland, June 24th, 1662. He was probably married to his second wife not long before May 11th, 1658, which is the date of a power of attorney (recorded in 184 Westmoreland) from Nathaniel Pope of Wastmoreland to his daughter, "Ann Pope als Washington." It appears from Hening (II,250) that he was a member of the House of Burgeses that lasted, by various prorogations from Oct. 23d, 1666, to March, 1675 -- and from Westmoreland records that he was a member of the session of Feb., 1676-7. The following queries and answers are recorded in the volume at Westmoreland C.H., without anything additional or explanatory; but were of course made during a law suit between Washington and Prescott. Mr. Washington Agt Int. * * * [part of leaf torn] Mr. William Mears Mr. Prescott. And Jacob * * [torn] witnesses that shall be pre- Interrogatories sented by John Washington 1. That whether or no Edward Prescott did send a letter to John Washington in England, what was in it menconed. 2. That whether or noe yee know that john Washington did goe over to him by ye request of ye said letter & whether he was at his owne expenses. 3. That whether or noe that after ye arrivall of ye said John Washington did Assist him in Dansicke ashoare & aboard by ye said Edward Prescott's Ordr. 4. That whether or noe yee know that after ye shipp lay in Dansicke roade that John Washington lay aboard on ye said Prescott's occasion. 5. That whether or noe that when ye shipp began her voyage towards Lubecke that ye said John Washington did take halfe watch night & day & assisted ye sailing of her to Lubecke there remained aboard by Mr. Prescott's ordr in his pticuler business & that he did business for him there ashoare and from thence in like manner to Kopenhaven. 6. That whether or noe yee know that ye said John Washington was sent from Kopen haven to Elsinor over Land to sell some Tobacco & whether or noe he gave him account of it. 7. That whether or noe, when ye shipp was cleared from Elsinor to Virginia ye said John Washington did take half watch to Virginia, & assisted him as second man in saileing her to Virginia. 8. That whether or noe yee know that after Mr. Prescott's arrivall in Virginia whether he did assist him in his business untill she was cast away. 9. That whether or noe ye know that John Washington assisted him in saveing of her. 10. That whether or noe yee know that after she was saved ye said John Washington settled him selfe in Virginia by consent of ye said Edward Prescott. 11. That whether or noe yee know there was a note demanded by ye said John Washington concerning whether he had given him anything on Account of Copartnership & what he answered fower or five days before he sett saile out of Potomach river. 12. That one Sunday afterwards he being ashoare what he Answered 185 concerning ye said note & whether John Washington would have stopped him by ordr of Law had it not been Sunday & Mr. Pope engaged himselfe that if ye said John Washington did owe ye said Mr. Prescott anything he give him ready paymt in Beaver. 13. That whether * * * * * * * that ye said Edward Prescott went * * * ashore soe that ye said John Washington Attached him boate by Ordr of Law untill he should make his appearance to come to an account with ye said John Washington. 14. That whether or noe yee know that yee said Edward Prescott had notice seat him of his boate being stopt for his appearance & at his appearance she should be released. 15. That whether or noe yee know that John Washington had some speckled stuffe in ye shipp that Mr. Prescott had some of them in possession & that he recovered some Tobacco where John Washington had sold some. 19. That whether or noe yee know that John Washington gave Edward Prescott on Account in writing in Potomacke river concerning some money disburst in ye East Country by ye said John Washington. 20 May, 1637 That these Interrogatories were Recorded Wm Meares Answere to ye William Meares aged 32 years or thereabouts Interrogatories. Sworne and examined saith To ye 1 In:ry Hee this Depont saith That hee saw a lre come from Mr. Edward Prescott to Mr. John Washington in Ano (56) or thereabouts wherein Mr. Prescott did desire ye said Mr. Washington to come over to Dansicke to him & to bring nothing with him & he ye said Prescott did promise him ye said Washington to advance him in part with him on his voyage. To ye 2 In:ry this Depont saith that ye said Washington went over to ye said Prescott by his request to Dansicke & did beare his owne charge. To ye 4 In:ry this dept saith hee ye said Washington did assist ye said Prescott at Dansicke ashore & aboard by Ordr from ye said Prescott. To ye 5 In:ry this Depont saith he ye said Washington did Assist ye said Prescott in sayleing ye Vessell to Lubecke & there remained by ye said Prescott's Ordr in his pticular business & in ye like maner did assist him ye said Prescott in sayleing his Vessell to Kopen haven. To ye 6 In:ry this Depont saith that he ye said Washington was sent from Kopen-haven by ye said Prescott to Elsinore over Land to sell Tobco for him ye said Prescott & that ye said Washington gave ye said Prescott an account of it soe sold. To ye 7 In:ry this Depont saith that ye said John Washington did after ye Vessell was cleared from Elsinore to Virginia he tooke halfe watch in ye voyage to Virginia & did assist him as second man in sayleing ye Vessell to Virginia. To ye 8 In:ry Depont saith that after Mr. Prescott's arrivall in Virginia ye said Washington did assist him ye said Prescott in his business untill ye Vessell was cast away. 186 To ye 9 In:ry this Depont saith that ye said Mr. Washington assisted ye said Mr. Prescott in saveing of his Vessell. To ye 10 In:ry this Depont saith that after ye vessell was saved ye said Mr. Washington settled himselfe in Virginia by consent of ye said Prescott. To ye 11 In:ry this Depont saith he heard Mr. Washington demand a note of ye said Prescott concerning ye Account of copartnershipp fower or five dayes before ye said Prescott sett saile out of ye Potomacke river & and ye said Prescott did not deny to give ye said Washington a note. To ye 12 In:ry this Depont saith that ye said Prescott was on shoare at Mr. Pope's house on ye Sunday before he ye said Prescott sett saile with his Vessell & ye Prescott Answered ye said Washington that there was some money between them due from Mr. Washington to ye said Prescott & that he would give him ye said Washington no note yet confessing he ye said Prescott had given to ye said Washington Nothing in account of Copartnershipp & this Depont further saith that ye said Washington would have stopped ye said Prescott by Ordr of Law had it not been Sunday & also further this Depont saith that Mr. Nathaniel Pope engaged himselfe that if ye said Washington did owe ye said Prescott anything he ye said Mr. Pope would give ye said Prescott ready paymt in Beaver at eight shillings p. pound. To ye 13 In:ry this Depont saith that ye said Edward Prescott went aboard his vessell and came no more on shore, soe that ye said Washington attached ye said Prescott's boat by Ordr of Law untill hee ye said Prescott should make an appearance to come to an account with ye said Washington. To ye 14 In:ry this Depont saith that he the said Depont knew that ye said Edward Prescott had notice sent him that his Boate was stopped for his appearance & at Mr. Prescott's appearance ye boate should be released. To ye 15 In:ry this Depont saith that Mr. Washington bought some specked stuffe of ye Carpenter belonging to ye Vessell for weh Mr. Washington gave his note to ye Carpenter for paymt & ye said Mr. Prescott had ye said stuffe in possession. To ye 16 In:ry this Depont saith that ye said Washington gave ye said Prescott an account in writing in Potomacke river concerning some money that ye said Washington had disbursed in ye East Country by him ye said Washington for ye use of ye said Prescott. Will Meare Jurat Coram nobis 12mo die May Ano Dm 1657, Thomas Speke, Walter Brodhurst." [To the same inquiries Jacob Jackson and George Weedon either stated they had no knowledge or "saith ye same that Mr. Mears saith"] Edward Prescott appears, for a number of years, to have been engaged in trade between Virginia, and Europe and the West Indies. In 1660, he was a resident and a Justice in Northampton Co., but was removed from his office on account of muti- 187 nous and seditious words against the Assembly. See Hening I, 549; II, 15. There is recorded in Northampton, a copy of a letter of directions, dated Oct. 16th, 1654, from him to the master and mate of this "Catch", Sarah, concerning a voyage from Barbadoes to Virginia, and the disposition of her cargo. This (the Northampton) record describes him as "Edward Prescott, brother of Wm Mears, who cometh from the Barbadoes with Mr. Munioye." The following notes extracted from the records of Westmoreland County, and relating to the Washingtons, Popes, &c., may be conveniently collected here. Power of Attorney from Gabriel Reve, of London, merchant, to Lawrence Washington of Luton in Cemt Bedford, merchant to demand of the heirs, &c., of Nathaniel Pope, late of Virginia, merchant, deceased, all debts, &c., due the said Reve. Dated October 31st 1660, recorded in Westmoreland Co., Va, February 4th, 1661; Daniel Whitley and Henry Creyke, witnesses. Deed from Nathaniel Pope of Westmoreland, to his daughter, Ann Pope als Washington, May 1th, 1659. Inventory of the personal estate of John Washington, deceased, recorded in Westmoreland, April 5th 1712, total value £377, 3sh, 6d. Lease, January 10th 1669, for three years, from Lieutenant Colonel John Washington to Lewis Markham of the "plantation called Mr. Walter Brodhurst's." Westmoreland, June 14th, 1682, reference to "Samuel Britt, Exor to his father, Coll. John Washington." [Did a daughter of Col. Washington marry Britt, or was he a step-son?] John Washington, Bargess for Westmoreland, 1685. Robert Vaulx of Westmoreland in his will proved 26 March, 1755 names his son-in-law, Lawrence Washington. Power of Attorney from Thomas Pope of Bristol, England, merchant to Wm Hardidge, merchant, dated June 19th, 1677, and recorded in Westmoreland. Deed from Mary Bridges, of Westmoreland, to her son, Nathaniel Pope als Bridges, acknowledged in Westmoreland, August 25th, 1676. Deed from Thomas Pope of Westmoreland, to Humphrey Pope, conveying part of a dividend of land, 2,254 acres, upon 188 which the said Thomas Pope was then seated. Dated Feb 2d, 1669. John Ashton and John Lord witnesses. Deed, Feb . 20th 1677, from Mary Nicholas, of Westmoreland, widow, to her son, Nathaniel Pope als Bridges. Power of Attorney, May, 1697, (recorded in Westmoreland) from Mrs. Ann Washington of Westmoreland, to John Champ of Richmond County. Inventory of the personal estate of Mr. Walter Brodhurst, April 17th 1661; total value 20,252 lbs. Tobacco. Deposition of Walter Brodhurst's, aged 26 years; dated March, 1655. Westmoreland, 1714, order for payment of 2,000 lbs. tobacco to Nathaniel Pope, King's Attorney for the County. Westmoreland, March, 1704, mention of a horse formerly given by "Captain Washington," to Elizabeth, now the wife of John Champ. Deed, Westmoreland, June 28th 1712, from Lawrence Pope and his wife, Joanna, daughter of Thomas Waddey, late of Northumberland County, deceased. Will of Colonel Nathaniel Pope of Appomattox, Westmoreland County, Gentleman, about to go to England. Dated May 16th, 1639. Proved April 20th 1660. To son Thomas Pope, the land and plantation called the Clifts, and five cows. To son, Nathaniel Pope, the land the testator lived on, and that lying at the head of Appomattox Creek. To son-in-law, John Washington, £80 and a cow. To son-in-law, William Hardidge, a stone horse. To sons, Thomas and Nathaniel, a mare each. To son-in-law John Washington, a mare. To son-in-law William Hardidge £200 out of his (testator's) estate in England. Various other provisions. Son Thomas Pope, executor. Mr. Walter Brodhurst, High Sheriff of Northumberland, 1652. Nathaniel Pope was Clerk of the Northern Neck (proprietor's) land office 1699. In Northern Neck Land Book, 1700, is a grant to Nathaniel Pope, part of which he assigned to his "brother" Gerrard Quigley (who died intestate and without heirs), and another portion to his "niece," Mrs. Alice Lincoln. Deed, Richmond Co., 1702, from Nathaniel Pope, of Westmoreland, Practitioner at Law, and Jane his wife. Power of Attorney, 1709, from Joanna Pope of Bristol, England, widow, to her son, Nathaniel Pope of Pope's Creek in 189 Potomacke River, authorizing him to manage her plantation there, called the Clifts. Power of Attorney, June 16th 1669, from John Quigley, of Appomattox, in the County of Westmoreland, Gentleman; to his wife, Ellen Quigley, and Nicholas Spencer of Nomini. Deed, Westmoreland, August 1674, from John Rosier, of Westmoreland, Gentleman, son of John Rosier, clerk, to his father-in-law, Anthony Bridges, Gentleman, whose "now wife," Mrs. Elizabeth Bridges, was the widow of Rev. John Rosier and mother of said John Rosier. Mr. Anthony Bridges was a Justice of Westmoreland. VIRGINIA UNDER THE COMMONWEALTH. BY THE EDITOR. Doyle says: (1) "The whole early history of Virginia loses its meaning unless we believe in the existence of two parties whose antecedents and interests led them to side, the one with the crown, the other with the Parliament. The easy and bloodless character of each change is explained, if we suppose that there was an intermediate body comparatively indifferent to the struggle of parties in England, anxious only to save Virginia from spoliation and bloodshed, and, for that end, willing to throw in their lot with the side whose success held out the speediest hopes of peace. There, too, is another consideration which helps to explain the moderation of the combatants. In England each party was exasperated by grevious wrongs, and hence its hour of triumph was also its hour of revenge. The struggle in Virginia was embittered by no such recollections." Loyal to the party in power, the Virginians passed severe laws against the non-conformists, and to question Charles II's right of succession was made high treason. The Editor found lately in the Northampton records the following: Mense, Decembr Ano, 1649 "A proclamation By the Commandr and Commissionrs of Accomacke: Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God to suffer us to be deprived. (1) "English in America," page 283.