York County, VA - Will of Dictoris Christmas, 1654 Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Ginger Christmas-Beattie ************************************************************************ 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 ************************************************************************ Dictoras Christmas (About 1600-1654) In the early 1600's we find Dictoris Christmas. There are several different spellings of Dictoris and I hope not to confuse you with these spellings as I will record it as it is on the various records. I also do not want to confuse him with a younger person named Victoris Christmas. Dictoris was born in England perhaps near Essex. The Runwell, Essex, England records show Dictoras Christmas arrested for sheep stealing, the stealing of three sheep from Simon Ryme, in 1618. Some say imprisoned and others say released as not guilty. In the 1620's he is seen in the Virginia records. This would establish that Dictoris was probably born in the Essex area. He moved from there to the Colony by 1623. The 1623-1666 `List of Living & Dead, Ships Passenger Lists, Elizabeth City, Virginia at the Eastern Shore' shows on page 31 Dictoras Chrismus and Elizabeth Chrismus. Elizabeth City, Virginia became a county in 1634 from the original shire. In the 1630's, this area extended from the eastern boundary of the York river to the southeastern point of the state and westerly to Greenville, Sussex and Surry counties. Dictoris is again mentioned in the records in 1624. In the Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia 1622-1632 and 1670-1676 by H.R. McIllwaine on page 68. This record shows that he was a witness for the court held on 10 October 1624. Then on page 69 he is involved in the sale of Southampton hundred flower barrels of corn by appointment of Mr. John Powntis in this document we find "is ordered John Haffarde and Dictoris Christmas having discharged their bond to Mr. Powntis shall have their freedoms according to agreement as other tenants have had." Three years later Dictoris is again mentioned in the 'Minutes of Council and General Court. On 24 August 1627 Dictoris Christmas and Elizabeth, his wife were in Elizabeth City as a Planter. The Virginia Historical Magazine Vol 19 p 385 notes Dictoris as Dictoris William Christmas who leased land. . The following year Dictoris was mentioned in a Land Patent on 28 September 1628 to William Cox of Elizabeth City . Then again that year on 29 September he is granted 50 acres on the Strawberry banks where he now lived. On the first 10 year lease Dictoris made he was to pay 50 pounds of Tobacco for each year to keep the land. In 1635 Isaboll Christmas, immigrant into Elizabeth City County, Virginia, sponsored by Victoris Christmas. Then on 3 July Dictoris is mentioned as a land owner living next to Thomas Garmett and again on 21 November of that year he is granted 300 acres in Elizabeth City for transporting four people to the colony those people were William Gun, Richard Combell, Isreal Atwell and Zachariah Foster. This Patent also mentions Dictoris and the following: "100 acres for himself and his wife Isobell Christmas." There is some confusion at this time as there are two people one is Dictoris Christmas and the other Victoris Christmas. Dictoris married an Elizabeth and there is no record of a marriage to Isabell. Victoris was referred to as having a wife named Isabell. Next we see Dictoris mentioned on a Land Grant to Peter Stafferton 13 May 1638. The following year on 24 October 1639 Dictoris Christmas is granted 300 acres in Elizabeth City, Virginia. The first 100 acres for himself and Isaboll his wife and the remainder 200 acres for transport of four other people. In 1642 another Isaboll Christmas, immigrant wife of Victoris Christmas and sponsored by Francis Finch arrived in Virginia from England. Then on 10 October Dictoris Christmas and Francis Finch are granted 300 acres this is again for four other people and his wife Isobell. On 8 May 1648 Dictoris Christmas is mentioned in a division of land to the orphans of Jenkin Osborne and on 29 May 1649 Dictoris is mentioned as owning land adj. to Richard Kemp. Next we find that Dictoris William Christmas has a will dated 20 October 1654 and in his will he mentions his Maid Robecca and man Robert and grants all he owns to Peter Starkey and makes Peter Starkey and Henry Freeman as overseer of his estate. There was nothing left to Isabell on his will and this would indicate that Isabell was the wife of Victoris not Dictoris. To regress a little we will find that the children born in England and registered in the Charles River Parish, Virginia have some similarities. One is that there were both a Robert Christmas and a Rebecca Christmas. Second the Rebecca Christmas married a Henry Freeman and Bridget Christmas married a Peter Starkey. This would indicate that Dictoris Christmas was related to these children. Bridget Christmas was a daughter of John Christmas, the younger and Bridget White from Essex, England. It was a common practice that a relative would send to England for his nieces and nephews to work in his home to gain experience while young to better prepare them for adulthood. It is my opinion that these people are related and that the Richard Christmas who was mentioned in a land grant on 14 July 1637 was also related to these people. Next we see Peter Starkey in a land agreement on 20 March 1655 bounded upon land of Dictoris Christmas. The will of Dictoris Christmas was proven 20 October 1654 THE WILL OF Dictoris Christmas In the name of God Amen 20 October 1654. I Dictoris Christmas of the New Poquoson being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory Praise be given to God do ordain and make this my last Will and Testament in form following: First principally I do commit my soul with the hands of the Lord and my body to the earth from whence it came lasting and steadfastly believing the happy salvation of both the same my soul with the hands of the Lord and my body to the earth from whence it came lasting and steadfastly believing the happy salvation of both the same my soul and body in the latter day by the free gift of God through merits of the death and passing of that immaculate Lamb Christ Jesus my only Lord, Redeemer, Laudifier, and Savior and by no otherwise or means whatsoever. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my Maid Rebecca one cow calf to be delivered within 3 months after my decease and to my man Robert one cow calf to be delivered as aforesaid and also give unto Nicholas servant to Peter Starkey cow calf to be delivered aforesaid. And also I give unto Rebecca one goose of her favor or a cow to be delivered at the appropriation of her time which pleaseth them. ITEM: I give to my loving friend Peter Starkey all my land, housing, chattel and chattels movable and immovable after my wife's decease. Peter Starkey employing my servants as formally he hath done and also I make my wife whole executor of all of my estate also I do make Peter Starkey and Henry Freeman overseer of this my last will and testament. In witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal the said day and year above written. Dictoris W. CHRISTMAS {SEAL} Alexander Shipworth Robert Ffoukes This will was written in York County, Virginia in 1654 during that time period we also find during 1646 in York County, Virginia a Goodman Christmas as having received payment, this is probably the same Goodman Christmas who was registered with his brothers and sisters in the Charles River Parish records having been born in England in 1616 thirty years earlier . Then in 1648 John Christmas was found in York County, Virginia as the subject of a Headright and in 1659 a Francis Christmas as the subject of a Headright in Northumberland County, Virginia . The above will of Dictoris Christmas shows that Isabell Christmas, the wife of Dictoris W. Christmas, was still alive when the will was proved in 1654. Next we see the will of Isabell Christmas written on 24 March 1669. IN 1637 there was a Richard Christmas as an immigrant to James City County, Virginia as the subject of a Headright to Henry Brown . This is the best I could fine in the early years before 1700 on the Christmas family in Virginia and I feel that these were the ancestors of my family in America. There is no proof of this and therefore I must just state it as an opinion. My family begins or rather is connected as far back as Thomas Christmas who died in 1769 his will was proved in Bute County, North Carolina although he did not live there. Submitted by Ginger L. 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