Hezekiah Robinson

Family/Spouse: Judith. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Land Division: 1720, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; John Robertson, William Bradshaw, William Bradley, sons-in-laws, divided the lands that had belonged to their mother-in-law Mary Fields Jones.
• Deed: 25 Mar 1726, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; John Robinson & Tabitha his wife of Henrico Co. to Joseph Mayo of same, for 30, land on north side of James River, 2 miles below the falls, 50 acres, next to Wm. Bradley, said Mayo and the River. No wit. Signed John & Tabitha Robinson rec. 4 Apr 1726
• Land Grant: 20 Jul 1738, Goochland County, VA; 400 acres near the head of Muddy Creek (VA Patent BK. 18 1738-39, p. 161)
• Boundary Chg: 1748, Goochland County, VA; Part of Goochland County, which had originally been Henrico County, becomes Cumberland County and the following year some of Henrico County becomes Chesterfield County
• Deed: 25 Aug 1749, Cumberland County, Virginia; CUMBERLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA DEEDS, 1749 - 1752: Page 64, Aug. 28, 1749 from John Robinson of Cumberland Co. and Thomas bounded by Samuel Nichols and Deep Creek, Muddy Creek including Robertson of Chesterfield Co (More)
• Land Patent: 7 Aug 1761, Cumberland County, Virginia; John Robinson [Robertson] patents 290 A. George the third, To all ye know that for divers good causes and considerations but more for and in consideration of the sum of thirty shillings of good and lawful money (More)
• Will: 11 Dec 1767, Cumberland County, Virginia; (Whoever wrote the will changed the spelling of Robinson more than once.) I give and bequeath to my sons....one shilling sterling out of my estate they having before received their equal parts of my estate to that sum.

Notes:

Robertson is unquestionably one of the oldest names in Scotland even though the name was not listed there until late in the 14th Century and is thought to be of Gaelic origin, meaning "son of Robert."

When this writer (Billie Lewis Redding) published her Franklin County Ancestory book, she had not discovered that "Robertson" family was actually the Robinson family who had settle on the James River in Henrico County in the early 1600's. Why the family used the name Robertson more consistentl while in Franklin County, but used Robinson before and after living in that county is puzzeling.

The name Robertson is definitely from a clan in Scotland, being part of a larger clan. There is the possibility, however that the name Robinson came from Scotland's borderlands where the family may have married into English families just over the boundary.

James River, along with sections of Virginia's eastern shore, was first settled by Englishmen who had sons and grandsons who would become the first great leaders of the new republic. Following the English were the Scots who came by the way of today's Northern Ireland.

King James, for whom the James River was named, wanted the Presbyterian Scots to move to Ireland to educate the natives; "to educate" meant to "convert" the Irish Catholics to Protestantism. Tempting offers were made to lure them to Ireland, but after arriving, the Scots were severely wronged by the English who levied excessive taxes on the products that Scottish manufacturers produced and imposed unresasonable rents with little chance of complete ownership.

Those Scots began to emigrate but while living in Ireland they maintained their Scottish culture by marrying other Scots and not into the Irish families. Those immigrants are usually referred to today as "Scot-Irish."

Thomas Robinson is the progenitor of the Robinson family but no parents have been documented. A number of family researchers have written undocmented ancestries for him, but this writer has documented the family only to Thomas.

When he landed in Virginia, Thomas was in a colony that had been declared a crown colony by the king in 1624, has been settled, in general, by what has been termed "useless men" of the English gentry who expected their indentured servants to do the labor. Thomas also found that the "planters" as the newcomers were called, were laying the foundation of self-government and were accumluating large plantations while recovering from an Indian massacre that, along with other later atrocities, took lives of many settlers.

The Robinson family lived along the James River near (with some land abutting) Colonel William Byrd, a tabacco merchant whose son, William Byrd II, is remembered as the "father of Richmond." Byrd projected a plan to establish a town at the falls of the James, and in 1733 the city of Richmond was founded.

A Thomas Robinson was brought to Virginia by Thomas Stegg of Charles City County in 1640. On 1 June 1636, James Place of Henrico County "rec'd 550 acres for brining Thomas Robinson and others..."NW toward the Falls of the Main River" which refers to the Mames, Virginia's oldest main waterway. There were Thoams Robinsons of other dates listed, but it seems evident that the Thomas Robinson brought by James Place of Colonel Stegg is the correct ancestor. Both Stegg and Place may have applied for and received their lands a few years after the ebarkation date so Thomas could have been in Henrico County even earlier that 1636-1640. The location referring to the "headright" lands appears to be near the location of the Field and Jones family who lived by Thomas Robinson.

Henrico County, an original parish in 1634, has lost the earliest records and the first extant records are in a mess, therefore the information on the first two ancestors of this Robinson family has been declared by educated supposition and experience in working with land records on the part of this researcher and in cooperation with helpful corresponding Robinson cousins.

It is believed that the Thomas Robinson who was in Henrico County in or about 1636-40 has a son Thomas Jr. who was born about 1650, or a bit later and the younger Thomas married Elizabeth whose maiden name was not found. Thomas Sr. also had a son named John who married Mavell East, daughter of Thomas East.

Thomas Robinson Jr. later became known as "the elder" had a least 3 sons, John, Thomas and George.

Born about 1688 John, son of Thomas the younger and wife Elizabeth lived near both his father, Thomas and his uncle John (who married Mavelle East); therefore the only way to differentiate between the two John Robinsons is to name each John with his wife. John the younger married Tabitha Jones.

Thomas Jr. Owned land on Gilly-Gilley's Creek. Thomas Robinson sold one hundred acres of his land on the 17th of April, in 1693/94 the next record found for him was in January, 1739 when he deeded land to his sons Thomas Robinson and George Robinson.

The deed shows that ancestor John is a brother to the above George and Thomas the younger, and son of Thomas the elder and that John had already moved from Henrico County to that part of Goochland County which is today's Cumberland County, Virginia. Evidently Thomas had given John land on Gilley's Creek when John married Tabitha in or about 1715.

Thomas witnessed the will of Charles Scruggs, stepfather of Tabitha. Charles Scruggs left his daughter, Judith all his worldly goods. Judith married William Bradshaw and was the receipient of all her father's estate, but for some reason, after the death of Scruggs, the estate was settled and Judth shared the whole estate with John Robinson and wife Tabitha and other siblings. There was a division of land among John Robinson, William Bradshaw, William Bradley (wife Hestor) granddaughter Mary Pirront.



---------------------------


In 1720 John Robinson and his brothers-in-law, William Bradshaw and William Bradley divided the lands that had belonged to their mother-in-law, Mary Field. That land was sold in 1726. For the next twelve years, he and his family lived on his father's Gillies Creek land.

In 1738 he patented 580 acres in Goochland County and moved there. A year later his father Thomas deeded his own land to his sons Thomas and George stating that the said Thomas Robinson the elder for Divers good Causes & considerations him thereto moving but more Especially for the Good Will and Natural love he hath and doth bear to the said Thomas and George his Sons and for their better Support and preferment hath given granted Released and Confirmed and by these presents doth Give Grant Release and Confirm unto his two sons Thomas and George Robinson aforesaid all that plantation and Tract of land whereon the said Thomas Robinson the Elder now dwelleth containing by Estimation two hundred acres more or less lying in the parish and county aforesaid on Gilly's Creek...to be Equally Divided between them in the manner following that is to say Thomas Robinson aforesaid to have that plantation whereon his brother John formerly dwelled...

John Robinson lived in Cumberland County thirty years. His will was written in 1767 and probated the next year. Tabitha is not mentioned in the will so must have died before her husband.


Land Grant:
Received two grants from George II, England. Both grants were for 580 acres in Goochland County in the area which is today Chumberland County "on the north branches of Deep Creek, adjacent to Stephen Hughes, John Hobson, William Bradshaw and Joseph Foqua. According to a researcher, the original land grant for John had been found in a desk that belonged to Field Robinson and then handed down through Field's descendants and "now in the possession of Benjamin F. Robinson and would you believe they sold the desk!"

Patent B18 (56-7) was for four hundred acres near the head of Muddy Creek and reads:

George II, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith To all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings: Know ye that for divers good causes and consideration, but more especially for and in consideration of the sum of forty shillings, good and lawful money for our use, paid to our Receiver General from revenues from this, our successors do give, grant, and confirm unto the said John Robinson one certain tract or parcel of land containing four hundred acres lying and being in the County of Goochland near the head of Muddy Creek bounded as follows, to-wit: beginning at several pointers from Samuel Nichols? corner 16 degrees East 355 poles to pointers; thence on William Bradshaw?s line West 168 poles to a hickory; thence to William Taber?s line the same course continued for 41 poles to a pine on the West side of a meadow North 120 poles to pointers; thence by lines the same course 123 poles to pointers and then East 139 poles to the first station with all woods, high grounds, swamps ? and low grounds, meadows, taking his share of all veins and quarries as well discovered or not discovered within the bounds of ground being part of the four-hundred-acre tract, and the rivers, water, and water courses herein contained together with the privileges of hunting, hawking, fishing, fowling, and all other profits, commodities, et ceters, whatsoever to have, hold, possess, and enjoy the said tract or parcel of land and all the granted premises in every part thereof, with their, and every one of their privileges unto the said John Robinson and his heirs and assigns forever.

Will:
Cumberland County Virginia Will bk. 1 Pg. 343

In the name of God amen I John Roberson of Cumberland County being sick and weak of body but of perfect sence and memory thanks be to God do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disenulling all other wills or writings heretofore by me made for this purpose do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following; viz. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I give and bequeath my soul to almighty God that gave it and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and my worldly goods I give as followeth. Item I give and bequeath to my four grand children John Roberson, Susannah Roberson, Elizabeth Roberson and Joseph Robertson my Negro man Jack to be equally divided amongs: them when my aforesaid grandson John Roberson shall arrive to the age of twenty one years and ?till that time he the said Negro Jack to be under the care and direction of my son Joseph Roberson for the support and maintenance of my four grand children above named. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item I give and bequeath to my sons John Roberson, Thomas Roberson, Field Roberson, Christopher Roberson, Edward Roberson, Joseph Roberson and Hezekiah Roberson, one shilling sterling out of my estate they having before received their equal parts of my estate to that sum. I give and bequeath to my three daughters Susanah Bradshaw and Elizabeth Hogan all the rest of my estate to be equally divided between them only reserving seven pounds which has already been paid to William Bradshaw my will is that he allows two thirds of that money out of his part of my estate to the other two namely Judith Bradshaw & Elizabeth Hogan after paying my just debts and funeral expenses. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lastly I nominate and appoint my sons in law Field Bradshaw and William Bradshaw whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord 1767. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Roberson L.S. his mark X Will of John Robertson Test Adcock Hobson Joseph Roberson ? his mark Hezekiah Robinson William Robinson ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At court held for Cumberland County the 25th day of April 1768. This last Will and Testament of John Roberson Dec?d was proved by the oaths of Adcock Hobson, Joseph Robertson and Hezekiah Robinson three of the witnesses thereto and by the court ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Field Bradshaw one of the executors therein named who made oath according to law certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security where upon he together with Josiah Bradshaw and Daniel Russell his securities entered into bond with condition according to law and liberty is reserved to the other executor to join in probate. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Test: Thompson Swann Clk. A CopyTeste: Betty R. Wilton ? Deputy Clerk, Circuit Court, Cumberland County, VA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLK Page 305 The appraisal of the estate of John RoBinson by John Hughes, Nicholas Formby, and Henry Flippen done on Aug 25, 1766: "One feather bed and furniture, and old sack bag and wearing apparel, a remnant of ...some old pewter and knife and fork, two small grind stones, parcel of...of two bushels...a parcel of old books, and old Casket, piece of bacon, old wood bench, old work bench, some beeswax, one chest of desk and books, some walnut plants.

Died:
Will probated 25 April 1768

John married Tabitha Jones, (Scruggs) in 1714 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA. Tabitha (daughter of Edward Jones and Mary Field) was born in 1694 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA; died in Bef. 1768 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Tabitha's mother, Mary Field, first mar. Ed. Jones, who was old enough to be her father, & they had 2 daughters before he died in 1695 - Mary then mar Char. Scruggs, Tabitha was raised in their home & was sometimes known as Scruggs.

Other Events:

• Land Purchase: 1690, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Purchased 100 acres near Pequanock (Penquanoca) selling it 3 years later.
• Land Sale: 17 April 1693, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Sold 100 acres of land
• Land Purchase: 1701, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Purchased 200 acres on the south side of Gillies Creek where he lived until his death.
• Witnesses: 20 December 1718, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Thomas is a witness to the will of his daughter-in-laws (Tabitha Jones) step-father, Charles Scruggs.
• Deed: January 1739, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Thomas Robinson the elder of the Parish of Henrico, planter, gives to Thomas Robinson, the younger & George Robinson, both sons of the said Thomas Robinson, 200a where Thomas Robinson new dwells...

Notes:

Robertson is unquestionably one of the oldest names in Scotland even though the name was not listed there until late in the 14th Century and is thought to be of Gaelic origin, meaning "son of Robert."

When this writer (Billie Lewis Redding) published her Franklin County Ancestory book, she had not discovered that "Robertson" family was actually the Robinson family who had settle on the James River in Henrico County in the early 1600's. Why the family used the name Robertson more consistentl while in Franklin County, but used Robinson before and after living in that county is puzzeling.

The name Robertson is definitely from a clan in Scotland, being part of a larger clan. There is the possibility, however that the name Robinson came from Scotland's borderlands where the family may have married into English families just over the boundary.

James River, along with sections of Virginia's eastern shore, was first settled by Englishmen who had sons and grandsons who would become the first great leaders of the new republic. Following the English were the Scots who came by the way of today's Northern Ireland.

King James, for whom the James River was named, wanted the Presbyterian Scots to move to Ireland to educate the natives; "to educate" meant to "convert" the Irish Catholics to Protestantism. Tempting offers were made to lure them to Ireland, but after arriving, the Scots were severely wronged by the English who levied excessive taxes on the products that Scottish manufacturers produced and imposed unresasonable rents with little chance of complete ownership.

Those Scots began to emigrate but while living in Ireland they maintained their Scottish culture by marrying other Scots and not into the Irish families. Those immigrants are usually referred to today as "Scot-Irish."

Thomas Robinson is the progenitor of the Robinson family but no parents have been documented. A number of family researchers have written undocmented ancestries for him, but this writer has documented the family only to Thomas.

When he landed in Virginia, Thomas was in a colony that had been declared a crown colony by the king in 1624, has been settled, in general, by what has been termed "useless men" of the English gentry who expected their indentured servants to do the labor. Thomas also found that the "planters" as the newcomers were called, were laying the foundation of self-government and were accumluating large plantations while recovering from an Indian massacre that, along with other later atrocities, took lives of many settlers.

The Robinson family lived along the James River near (with some land abutting) Colonel William Byrd, a tabacco merchant whose son, William Byrd II, is remembered as the "father of Richmond." Byrd projected a plan to establish a town at the falls of the James, and in 1733 the city of Richmond was founded.

A Thomas Robinson was brought to Virginia by Thomas Stegg of Charles City County in 1640. On 1 June 1636, James Place of Henrico County "rec'd 550 acres for brining Thomas Robinson and others..."NW toward the Falls of the Main River" which refers to the Mames, Virginia's oldest main waterway. There were Thoams Robinsons of other dates listed, but it seems evident that the Thomas Robinson brought by James Place of Colonel Stegg is the correct ancestor. Both Stegg and Place may have applied for and received their lands a few years after the ebarkation date so Thomas could have been in Henrico County even earlier that 1636-1640. The location referring to the "headright" lands appears to be near the location of the Field and Jones family who lived by Thomas Robinson.

Henrico County, an original parish in 1634, has lost the earliest records and the first extant records are in a mess, therefore the information on the first two ancestors of this Robinson family has been declared by educated supposition and experience in working with land records on the part of this researcher and in cooperation with helpful corresponding Robinson cousins.

It is believed that the Thomas Robinson who was in Henrico County in or about 1636-40 has a son Thomas Jr. who was born about 1650, or a bit later and the younger Thomas married Elizabeth whose maiden name was not found. Thomas Sr. also had a son named John who married Mavell East, daughter of Thomas East.

Thomas Robinson Jr. later became known as "the elder" had a least 3 sons, John, Thomas and George.

Born about 1688 John, son of Thomas the younger and wife Elizabeth lived near both his father, Thomas and his uncle John (who married Mavelle East); therefore the only way to differentiate between the two John Robinsons is to name each John with his wife. John the younger married Tabitha Jones.

Thomas Jr. Owned land on Gilly-Gilley's Creek. Thomas Robinson sold one hundred acres of his land on the 17th of April, in 1693/94 the next record found for him was in January, 1739 when he deeded land to his sons Thomas Robinson and George Robinson.

The deed shows that ancestor John is a brother to the above George and Thomas the younger, and son of Thomas the elder and that John had already moved from Henrico County to that part of Goochland County which is today's Cumberland County, Virginia. Evidently Thomas had given John land on Gilley's Creek when John married Tabitha in or about 1715.

Thomas witnessed the will of Charles Scruggs, stepfather of Tabitha. Charles Scruggs left his daughter, Judith all his worldly goods. Judith married William Bradshaw and was the receipient of all her father's estate, but for some reason, after the death of Scruggs, the estate was settled and Judth shared the whole estate with John Robinson and wife Tabitha and other siblings. There was a division of land among John Robinson, William Bradshaw, William Bradley (wife Hestor) granddaughter Mary Pirront.

Thomas married Elizabeth in ca 1686 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA. Elizabeth was born in 1666 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA; died after 1739 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Tax List: 1679, Varina Parish Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Edward Jones was noted for 2 tithes in the 1679 Henrico County tithe list, indicating he either had a son or servant who was of age.
• Judgment: 1681, Surry County, Virginia, USA; In 1681 in Surry a judgment was entered against Edward Jones for payment to the estate of William Thompson for work done for Jones.
• Admin_Estate: 2 April 1688, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; In 1688 Edward Jones administered the estate of Thomas Fields (Mary's brother) Edward and Mary later mortgage his land.
• Constable: 1689, Virginia, United States; Edward was Constable for a precinct north of the James for the year 1690 and owned 533 acres of land adjoining Mary's father's property
• Court: 1689, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Ed Jones plt to this court bringing his acc ag John Field def that said Field being his tenant doth not perform some conditions of a lease granted him / non performance thereof is imputed to his want of nails, which he promises to procure as soon as may be
• Court: 1689, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Suit between Edward Jones and Reeve def. concerning the loss of a bull in the river by means of the def. dogs which were set on the bull
• Cout: 1689, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Edward Jones sued by William Byrd
• Court: 1690, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Edward Jones fined for not appearing in court
• Court: 1691, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Henry Prewitt in court, deposes he is 37, and that he saw a black bull floating the river belonging to Ed Jones, with Thomas Fields mark.
• Land: ca 1692; By 1692 this land Edward owned was mortgaged and He and Mary were living on her late father's property. Part of this land was also mortgaged in 1692.
• Deed: 1694, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; To John Pleasants 180 acres, part of land which was their brother, Thomas Fields.

Notes:

By studying the inventory you can learn several things about Edward and his environment; for example, those things that had to be imported were more valuable than that which could be found in the old Dominion. the Taylor thimble and books were items which probably came from the old world. The books indicate that Edward was educated. He signed his name on a number of documents, but the inventory verifies that he could read and write. He owned not only books but also an "inkhorn" (inkwell) plus the silver sal with which he sealed his correspondence.

Since it is believed that he was born in this country, he was probably educated by his fater who had been educated in the British Isles.

After Edward's death Henry Prewett deeded 220 acres of land to Mary, land that he and her brother had patented together in 1686 and next door to her sister, Henry's wife. The land appears to have been the very land upon which Edward and Mary had be living.

...being part of a patent to me in 1686 on which I now live, next to Thomas Field's Creek and land where John Higledy lives and were Edward Jones dwelt. Winesses: Giles Webb, John Wilson.

Edward married Mary Field in 1685 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of Thomas Field and Mary Ann Burton) was born in 1664 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA; died on 20 Dec 1718 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Notes: 1693, Henrico County, Virginia; A torn record of 1693 shows " ...[Ran]dolph and Capt. Francis Eps " stepped in to protect the claims of the Thomas Fields orphans. These were now only a daughter, Mary Fields, and her sister.
• Deed: 1694, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; To John Pleasants 180 acres, part of land which was their brother, Thomas Fields.
• Deed: 1697, Henrico County, Virginia, USA; Edward Jones and Mary his wife for 5600 lbs of tobacco made over to John Pleasants 180 acres, part of land which was their brother Fields, by deed of mortgage April 4 1694. Mortgage not paid, Pleasants sells the land to Gilly Groomarrin for 5500 lbs tobacc
• Land: 1 Apr 1697, Henrico County, Virginia; Henry Prewitt sold 220 acres to Mary Jones, land next to Thomas Fields creek, part of land patented by John Field and Henry in 1687.

Notes:

Notes:
Mary Burton married John Davis, her second husband, who had been the guardian of Thomas Field's orphans in 1684. The next year Mary married William Glover who had mismanaged the children's inheritances and by 1691 "secretly left the country owing many debts"

Land:
Henrico County Deeds 1677-1705 p. 701

Henry Prewett of Henrico Co. for the consideration in hand, to Mary Jones, land on North side James River, 220 acres; being part of patent to me in 1686 on which I now live, next to Thomas Field's creek and land where John Higledy lives (and where Edward Jones dwelt.) Wit: Giles Webb, John Wilson. Signed: Henry Prewett.

Notes:

Married:
Mary Fields married Edward Jones, a man of her father's age. Edward was Constable for a precinct north of the James for the year 1690 and owned 533 acres of land adjoining her father's property. By 1692 this land was mortgaged and they were living on her late father's property. Part of this land was also mortgaged in 1692.

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1636-1640, Henrico County, Virginia; A Thomas Robinson was brought to Virginia by Thomas Stegg of Charles City County in 1640. On 1 June 1636, James Place of Henrico County "rec'd 550 acres for brining Thomas Robinson and others..."NW toward the Falls of the Main River" which refers to the Mames, Virginia's oldest main waterway. There were Thoams Robinsons of other dates listed, but it seems evident that the Thomas Robinson brought by James Place of Colonel Stegg is the correct ancestor. Both Stegg and Place may have applied for and received their lands a few years after the ebarkation date so Thomas could have been in Henrico County even earlier that 1636-1640. The location referring to the "headright" lands appears to be near the location of the Field and Jones family who lived by Thomas Robinson.

Other Events:

• Land Sale: 1 Aug 1661, James River, Virginia; Earliest documented record found for Thomas. Thomas & Richard Perrin sell 300 acres to Captain Thomas Stegg, uncle of William Byrd. According to one researcher this land is located on the south side of the James River "at the Falls of the James, then across the river and a few miles south of the site of present day Richmond, Virginia."
• Land Grant: 1662, James River; granted 400 acres along the James River and established a plantation he called "Cham". This is at the fall line of the river, now in downtown Richmond.

Notes:

Land Sale:

Varina Court, Henrico County, Virginia 1 August 1661

At this court Mr. Richard Perrin and Thomas Field to make a full and free and clear surrender of land unto Captain Thomas Stegg; he the said Captain Thomas Stegg in consideration thereof doth promise and oblige himself to deliver unto the said Mr. Perrin and Thomas Field (at) next shipping come (in) 12 months - one able and sufficient man servant to do them service according to the custom of the country. Two thirds of the said servant to Mr. Perrin, the other third part due Mr. Field. Hen: Randolph Clerk


Most often when men shared land or servants there was some relationship weather by marriage or blood. So far no relationship has been discovered between these two men (other than Perrin lived near John Burton who became guardian to Thomas's children upon his death) who were selling land to Capt. Stegg and being paid by the use of a servant rather than the usual currency. The servant would undoubtedly be obligated to work a certain number of years until his passage fare had been paid, unless the servant was a slave. By that time transportation of slaves had already begun in Virginia, but when they were part of an agreement they were usually referred to as "slave". One's wealth was determined by the amount of land and number of slaves owned.

From the book "Ancestors along the James" by Billie Redding Lewis

Died:
Died bef 1679 as he is not listed on the tax roll that yr. Death & marr recs for this period are lost. Tho no wills can be found for Tom or his sons, recs indicate they had prop both real & personal, which is later mishandled by Marys 3rd husband Wm Glover

Thomas married Mary Ann Burton in 1659 in Henrico County, Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of John (of Longfield) Burton and Rachel Hutchins) was born in 1638 in Henrico County, Virginia; died in 1696 in Henrico County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Guardianship: 1684, Virginia, United States; In 1684 John Davis, Mary Burton's 2nd husband, has guardianship of Thomas Fields orphans, when he dies.
• Court: 1691, Henrico County, Virginia; William Glover secretly flees the county, deep in debt. His estate is taken to be divided among the Davis Orphans. The court finds there is barely enough to satisfy the Davis Orphans & the Fields children, of whom estate Glover had possession, get nothing.

Notes:

On 1 December 1692 "Orphans of Thomas Field late of this county or other person from by or under them or either of them claiming any estate left them by their dec'd father of which Mr. William Glover was possessed as marrying the relict of John Davis dec'd who was guardian to the said Thomas Field's orphans"

In this transaction there seems to be another daughter (perhaps Ann) who is questioning the payment on her due inheritance, but the record is worn and unreadable.

Glover evidently wasted the monies, or absconded, for the Henrico County County ordered and inventory of William Glover's estate in 1692. Settlements were then made in that same year and the following year 1693. The 1692 settlement was "9178 pounds of tobacco in cask" from the defendant's estate to the daughter(s).

A copy of the suit brought against William Glover can be found in the files of the Franklin County, VA Historical Society and p. 444 of Henrico Co court records in the State Archives. It is so old that parts of the first paragraphs are blank (the names of the children worn away), but can see in one place that they are referred to as "orphans of John Davis dec'd *** thousand six hundred and twenty ***"

The suit was put in the hands of *** Randolph and Capt. Francis Epes. Epes was considered the plaintiff who was to look into the claims of any estate left to the orphans "by their deceased father of which Mr. William Glover was possed at marrying the Rellict of John Davis, dec'd who was guardian to the said Field Orphans"

"An inventory and Apprizement of ye estate of said William Glover ... 22 December 1691, according to order of Court..."

Those who "apprized Glover's estate" were Kirkland Cookson, Peter Field, John Worsham and Henry Randolph. The appraisal amounted to $25,897 and included items from "Above Stairs" and from the "middle room" as well as "in her chamber" and in the "rubb'd room (A portable shelter made of fabric or other material stretched over a supporting framework of poles and usually stabilized or secured to the ground with cords and stakes) along with the kitchen and milk house *** good Evaluated list was presented to the court on February 1, 1691/2 and signed by Henry Randolph, county clerk. No follow up decision was found.

Court:
Wm Glover late guardian to orphans of John Davis departed this country & his wife delivering up estate for want of security, John Davis at his request is admitted guardian to Will Davis his brother & is ordered to take possession the estate of said orphan

Notes:

Married:
No marriage record has been found for Thomas and Mary. He may have been married twice (first to the sister of Richard, John and Thomas Perrin). It seems likely that Thomas did marry Mary Burton, daughter of John Burton, and that after Thomas's death she married John Davis who became the "orphans" guardian through Mary.

In that historical period children had to be under the guidance of a man. If the children's father died they were referred to as "orphans" even through their mother was still living and caring for them. If the widow remarried, her husband would become the guardian unless the children were old enough to choose their own.

Court records show that after John Davis died, Mary wed William Glover who then became the "orphans" guardian. Glover is thought to have mishandled the children's inheritances. Even though no wills can be found for Thomas Field or his sons, records indicate they had property both real and personal.