The Thruston Family of Virginia; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 4, No. 1 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 *********************************************************************** THE THRUSTON FAMILY OF VIRGINIA. Probably one of the most interesting and satisfactory family records preserved in America is that of the Thruston family. This family came to Virginia from the city of Bristol, which contributed so much to the settlement of Virginia. I. Generation of 1. John Thruston, Chamberlain of Bristol (baptized June 8, 1606; d. April 8, 1675), son of Malachias Thurston, of Wellington, in Somesetshire. He married Thomasine, daughter of Peter Rich, minister of Yeatsbury (?) in Wiltshire, and had issue 24 children, of whom all died under age except 2, Thomasine, who married John Hunt on September 11, 1653; 3, Justian, who died aged 21; 4, Alice, who died aged 26; 5, Ann; 6, Malachy; 7, Edward; 8, Justian; 9, James. The following statement is taken from the contemporary notices Page 24. in an old book now in possession of Dr. John Thruston, of Louisville, grandson of Col. Charles Mynn Thruston of the Revolution. John Thruston1, y sonn of Malachias Thruston of Wellington in Somerset was Baptized in ye pish Church of Wellington ye 8th of June 1606 being Whitsonday. Thomasine Rich ye daugher of Peter Rich preacher of Gods word in Yeasbury (?) in the countie of Wiltes was baptized in the pish Church of Yeatsbury (?) the 24th of August 1604. Memorand My sonne Mathew was borne the 19th of ffebruarie 1622. He was baptized the 24th of the same month in the pish of Church of St. Nicholas. Memorand My son Mathew the second was borne the 17th of Januarie 1623 and was baptized in the parish Church of St. Nicholas the 24th of the same moneth. Memorand My son John Warren was born the 15 of May 1625 and was baptised the 22 of the same moneth in the parish Church of St. Nicholas. These three above my wife had by Jno Warren deceased. Memorandum this 15 day of March 1629 my sonne Robert Thruston was borne and was Baptized the 19th day of the same mounth. Gosops Edeth Dier, Mr. Robt Rogers, Mr. Mathew Warren. My son Robt died the 22nd of May, 1641 and was buried in St. Thomas Churchyard the 24th of the same mounth. Memorandum this first day of Febr 1630 my sonn John Thruston was borne and died the 3 day of the same month. Gosops- Mr. Leonard Hancocke my brother Callowhill2 & mother Warren. Memorandum this 11 day of febr 1631 my sone John Thruston was Borne and baptized the 15 day of the same monnth. Gosops Mr. Hollway, Mr. Dier and Mrs. Rogers3. My son John died the 13 day of July 1644 & was Burried the 15 day of ye same mounth in the Church-yeard of St. Thomas. Memorandum this 6th day of febr 1632 my daughter Tomson Thruston was borne and was baptized the 17 day of the same mounth. Gosops - Mr. Tyson, Mres Walcott, and Mres Thruston. Memorandum this 11 day of September 1634 my daughter Justian Thrustone was born & baptized the 17 day of the same month. Gosops - My father Rich, my Mother Thruston and Mres Tyson. My daugher Justian died the 27th May 1645 & was buried in St. Thomas Church-yeard. Memorandum this 26 September 1635 my daughter Alce Thruston was borne & baptized the 1st day of October 1635 in the pish Church of St. Thomas in Bristoll and we were all the former. Gosops - Mr. William Callowhill, my sister Callowhill and my sister Wackly. My daughter Alce died ye 14 June 1661 about eight of ye Clocke in ye morning and was burried the 15 June in ye Church yeard of St. Thomas. This 23 of December 1636 my daughter Ann Thruston was borne & Page 25. baptized ye 3 of January following at the pish Church of St. Thomas in Bristoll. Mr. Cale, Mres Culme and Mres Elliott. This 19th January 1637 my sonn, Malachy Thruston4 was born & baptized the 28th day of the same mounth. Mr. Lavender, Mr. Jackson, Mres Farmer. This 30 Jannr 1638 my sonn, EDW THRUSTON was born & baptized ye 3 ffebruary. Mr. Tho: Hook, Mr. Robert Yeamons5 and Mres Healer. This 14th Apr 1640 my wife was deleverd of a sonn still borne and was burried the 15th day of the same mounth at St. Thomas. This 26 May 1641, my wife was deleverd of a sonne about 10 of ye clock in ye night and christened ye first of June and named Robt by Mr. Robt yeat, Mr. Robt Thomlingson, and my sister Callowhill. This child died and was Burried in St. Thomas Ch. yard 1650. This 11th of August 1642 my wife was delivered of a daughter about 5 a clock in ye morning wch was christened ye 14th the sam mounth Gosops - my coson Tomsin Cogan, my coson Grace Trhuston & my coson John Thruston & the child was named Grace. This child died and was Burried in ye Church-yeard of the pish of St. Thomas the 2th day of Aug 1644. This 8th day of Novr 1643 my sonn Thomas was borne about 4 a Clocke in the morning and Baptized ye 14th day of ye same mounth in the pish Church of St. Thomas. Gosops - Collonell Thomas Colston, Mr. Thomas Woodward and Mr. Ald: Hook's wife wh was then Mres. Moris. And was Burried in ye Church yeard of St. Thomas Parish the 16th day of March 1644. This 22 Dec 1644 my son Milecious was Borne & was baptized the 26th of ye same mounth in the pish Church of St. Thomas. Gosops my brother Mr. Robert Rich my coson Milecious Callowhill and my coson Katherin Dean. This child died ye 28 of December 1658 at night & was Burried ye 30th of ye same mounth in St. Thomas Church yeard by his mother. The 28th November 1645 my sonn Symon was Borne and Baptized the 30th of ye same mounth. Gosops, my coson Edw. Thruston and his wife, Mr. Robert Deane and my coson Twigg. Simon Thruston died ye 24th January 1646 and was Burried ye 27 of ye same month. This 17th Novr my wife was delivered of a daughter about 9 of ye Clocke at night & baptized ye next day about the same time it was Borne. Gosops were, Mr. Michaell Puxton, Mres Boyer and my coson Water Callowhill's wife the child was named Justian. My wife died ye 30th day of ye same mounth about 7 of ye Clocke at night and was burried the 2 of Decembr in the morning at St. Thomas. The 12th January 1648 I was maryed to my second wife. The 27th ffebr 1648 I had my fall intot he rever. The 11 May 1650 being Saterday about 4 a Clocke in the afternoon, my wife was delivered of two daughters who were Baptized ye 17th of ye same Page 26. mounth, the eldest named Mary, Mr Longman, Mres Pinney and Mres Emons, Gosops. Ye other Martha, Mr. Peter James, coson Loyd and cosson Rainestox Gosops. Martha died 6 September 1650. My daughter Mary died ye 19 December 1652 and was burried the 21 of the same mounth. This 2 June 1651 my wife was delivered of a daughter about 4 a Clocke in ye morning & was baptized ye 11 of ye same mounth and namd Grace by Mr. George Heller, Mres Cole and Mr Will Colston's6 wife. This 6 May 1652 my wife was delivered of a daughter about 9 of ye clock at night being Thrusday who was Baptized ye next day in the afternoon & named Rachell by Mr. Jacob Brint Minidister Mres Hayward midwife and sister Redby Gossops being my 20th child. This 11 day of Sepr 1653 my daugher Thomasine was married to John Hunt at the Parish Church of . . . in Bristol by Mr. Jacob Brint minister. This 16th day of Sepr 1653 my wife was delivered of a daughter, being friday between one & two of ye Clocke in ye morning and wch was baptized Saterday being the 17 day of Sepr and was named Mary the Gosops Mr James Berkin, Mres Gray Mr John Birkin's wife. My daughter Mary died Tuesday the 28th of April 1668 between seven and eight of the clock in the morning & was Buried in the Church yeard of St. Thomas the first of May following and left me for a legazie a piece of gold of ten shillings. This 24th day of January 1654 between 8 & 9 of the Clocke in the morning my wife was delivered of a son and the 25th day of ye same month between 6 and 7 of ye Clock in ye morning she was ill of another son. Both were Baptized ye 28th day of the same mounth the eldest named John Mr John Broadway Mr John Loyd7 and Mres Harper Gosops. The second named James - Mr. Willi Cole Mr John Stibbins and Mr Leonard Handcockes wife Gosops. My son John one of the children died ye 26 May 1656 & was burried ye 28th of ye same month in churcheyard of St. Thomas. The first day of June 1656 about 12 of ye Clocke at noon being Sunday my wife was delivered of a daughter wch makes my 24th child 12 sons and 12 daughters. Shee was baptized the 6th day of the same mounth and named Sara, my coson James Thruston my coson Sara Bridges and Mres Bringdon Gosops. This 8th day of April 1675 my ffather Mr. John Thruston (being Champerlain of this City of Bristol 11 years and 11 months) departed this life and was buryed the 12th instant in St. Thomas Churchyard on the South side of my mother who departed this life the 30th November 1647 as before specified8. _________________________ NOTES. 1 A recent visitor to the church of St. Thomas, the Martyr, in Bristol read in the register the announcement of the death of John Thruston, the Chamberlain of Bristol. The vestry books show that he was a vestryman and warden Page 27. for many years and his signature to the minutes is unusally firm. The old church was destroyed in 1787, and the present church is severely plain. Very few of the old tombstones remain. Bristol abounds in churches. 2. Francis Callowhill was an early resident in York county, Virginia, and left numerous descendants. 3 Mrs. Ann Rogers was the wife of Robert Rogers, of Bristol, Esq., one of the commands of the city of Bristol, to whom the book was dedicated. 4 A deposition of Malachi Thruston, on record in Norfolk county, Virginia, 16th March, 1697-'98, makes him then sixty-one years old, which agrees with the family entry. He was for many years clerk of Norfolk county, and his will was proved there November 15, 1698-'99, and dated 14th March, 1698-'99; witnesses, Francis Sayer, Roger Howeson, Saml Boush. It mentions sons, John, Malachy, and James; daughters, Sarah, Jeane, Martha; and brother-in-law Florentius Porter; and sister-in-law Jeane Porter; wife, Martha. 5 Mr. Robert Yeomans was a distinguished merchant of Bristol, and had the title in 1651 of Lt. Col. On Aug. 22, 1653, he obtained a warrant for a private man-of-war, being bound to Virginia on a trading voyage. - Calendar of Colonial State Papers, 1574-1660. Le Neve has, "1660 Sir Robert Yeomans, Alderman of Bristol, dead". Again, "Sir Robert Yeomans of Bristol, alderman, kted at Bath, 7 Sept., 1663, baronet after". The latter was probably son of the first named Sir Robert Yeomans. Burke in his "Extinct and Dorman Baronetcies" describes Robert Yeomans, alderman of Bristol, as a prominent merchant, who was executed in 1643 for attempting to surrender Bristol to King Charles. He had two sons - John, who settled in Barbadoes and was created a baronet in 1664, and Robert created a baronet in 1666. Both baronetcies are now extinct. In the Isle of Wight County Records: "Sir John Yeomans baronet, now resient in ye Island of Barbadoes, long since adventured goods to Virginia by James Powell merchant, now resident in Virginia", and appoints his nephew Joseph Woody, merchant, to recover of said Powell &c., 27 Sept. 1669. James Powell was justice and captain in Isle of Wight county, and married Anne, widow of Capt. Henry Pitt, also of Isle of Wight and formerly of Bristol. - Isle of Wight Records. Lt. Col. Robert Pitt, afterwards of the Council, obtained a patent in 1648 for 200 a. in Isle of Wight Co. near New Town. "Mr Henry Pitt" obtained one for 450 a. 13 Jan. 1652 in same county. I think they were undoubtedly sons of William and Mary Pitt of Bristol. See will in N.E.H. & G. Reg., Vol. XLIX., pp. 252-'57. 6 William Colston, son of William Coston, sheriff of Bristol, a great merchant and warm Royalist, came to Virginia about the middle of the 16th century. - (Richmond Critic, Nov. 18, 1888). He had a son William, whose will was proved in Richmond County Dec. 3, 1701, and was dated Oct. 27, 1701. Mentions sons, William and Charles; daughter, Susannah; son-in-law, Thomas Beale; and wife, Anne, deceased. She was daughter of Major William Gooch, of York county, who died in 1655, and married first, Capt. Thomas Beale. - (Richmond County Records). Of these, William Colston had Mary, married John Smith, and Frances, married Joseph Morton, of James City county. Charles Colston (died 1724) married Rebecca, daughter of William Travers, and had Travers, born about 1712, who married first, Alice Corbin Page 28. Griffin; second, Susan Opie Kennon. See Richmond Critic for further notice of this distinguished family. 7 It is believed that Edward Lloyd and Cornelius Lloyd, first of Norfolk county, and then of Maryland, came from Bristol, and were probably connected with John Lloyd, the gossip mentioned in the text. 8 This entry was made by Edward Thruston, as would appear from the succeeding entry, which will begin the next instalment.