the allen family of surry county, virginia: its british roots and early generations in america

Eve S. Gregory. Claremont Manor: A History. Petersburg, VA: Ann & Lewis Kirby and Plummer1

Printing Company, Inc., 1990 (“Gregory”), pages 57-69.

See, for example, Calder Loth, ed. The Virginia Landmarks Register. 4 Ed. Charlottesville: Theth2

University of Virginia Press, 1999, page 516.

Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 81.3

Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 21-24.4

The author is very grateful to Lyndon H. Hart III of Richmond, Virginia for informing him of this letter’s5

discovery, which was made by his colleague at the Library of Virginia, Daphne Gentry. The author is also very

grateful to Mr. Hart for his review and editorial comments regarding this article.

1

THE ALLEN FAMILY OF SURRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA:Its British Roots And Early Generations in America

ByWilliam P. Carrell II, B.A., J.D.

Louisville, Kentucky© May 2004 & Revised October 2011

One of the most significant of Virginia’s various Allen families was that founded byArthur Allen in Surry County. This family’s legacy in Old Dominion is indeed noteworthy. 1

Several of its colonial members were justices, members of the House of Burgesses, vestryman,and officers of the militia. One of its later members–William Griffin Orgain (1829-1875)–waseven reputedly the wealthiest man in Virginia in the years immediately prior to the War Betweenthe States: much of this wealth was devised to him by a childless Allen great-uncle when he wasgiven his maternal grandmother’s maiden surname of Allen. He resided in the Allen family’s1

fine 18 century residence–Surry County’s Claremont Manor. Perhaps the Allen family’sth

greatest legacy now, however, is its superlative seventeenth century Virginia seat, also in SurryCounty, that was constructed by order of Arthur Allen. Originally known as “Allen’s Brick1

House” and later as Bacon’s Castle, this unique 5,300 square foot Jacobean brick edifice waserected in 1665 and is the oldest datable brick house–and the only seventeenth century one ofmansion size–surviving intact in British America.2

Such a family has, understandably, been the subject of various genealogies and legends. One rather comical one claimed that Arthur was, in fact, a prince of the Guelph family that ruled1

the German state of Hanover. Supposedly, as the story goes, he murdered his brother Eric overthe love of the same lady and subsequently fled to Virginia under the assumed surname of Allen. 3

A rather more serious attempt to identify Arthur 's background was made by famed British1

genealogist, Noel Currer-Briggs, and the College of Arms’ Somerset Herald, R. O. Dennys, inthe 1970s: although various English Allen families were identified, the effort proved futile.4

Thanks to the recent discovery of a hitherto unknown letter in the Nicholson Papers at theLibrary of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Arthur 's true origins have finally come to5 1

light. This unsigned letter is not only significant for this identification, but it also provides newinformation that enriches the broader history of the Allen family and of Colonial Virginia itself.

Letter, Virginia [unidentified] to Gov. Francis Nicholson [?] dated February 20, 1704/05, Virginia. MS6

43.4. Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg, VA

(“Allen Letter”). Reproduced with permission from the Foundation. The author is grateful to Gail Greve and

George Yetter of the Foundation for authorizing this letter’s publication. Those wishing permission to use this letter

should contact Ms. Greve at: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation / P. O. Box 1776 / Williamsburg, VA 23187-

1776.

2

I. THE ALLEN LETTER

The publication of the following complete transcription of this letter is made possiblethrough the kindness of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation :6

*** *** *** *** ***

Virginia Feb: the 20 1704/5ry th

Pursuant to your Excellencys Command I have hereunder given a brief account ofMaj. Arthur Allen of surry County and his family having been well acquainted with his FatherMr. Arthur Allen of the said County a younger Son of Mr. John Allen of Droit Wich in WorcesterShire a Gentleman of an antiant family and of three hundred pound per annum PaternalEstate the said Mr. Arthur Allen lived in the said County of Surry near thirty years ingood esteem and repute being in the Comiss: of peace for the said County from the firstn

establishment thereof to the day of his death.

I have also been very well acquainted with his Son Maj: Arthur Allen even from his Infancyr

to this time and do well remember that about the year 1660 his Father sent him forEngland where he was educated for seven or eight years and then returning to Virg: againa

was soon after put into of Commiss: of the Peace for the abovesaid County of Surry in which behavingn

himself with great moderation Prudence and Justice he obteyned a Gen: esteem and good Reputatll n

and in Anno 1676 being the year of Bacons Rebellion so signalized his Loyalty by his constantService and attendance on the R . Hon . S . W . Berkeley at that time most worthylyt ble r m

his Majties Governour of Virg: that he soon became very dear unto him to Instancea

some particulars amongst many others that might be named so soon as the Gover:n

appeared in Armes to oppose the Arch Rebel his duty calling him thither he marched out ofJames Town in the front of the Troops that salyed forth against Bacon to dislodge him fromthe trenches and works he had thrown up against the said Town where many of the Assailantsbeing slain by the great advantage the Rebells had the attempt proved unsuccessfull and theTroops were obliged to retreat to the Town where after a little time Provisions growing scarcethe Gov: gave the said Allen the command of a Party of Horse and Foot with orders to marchr

into Isle of Wight County and take possession of a considerable quantity of bread and Cheeseand other Provisions which was gathered for Bacon lodged at Capt Jenninges House in thesaid County and guarded by above two hundred Musketers which he very happily performed;to the great Satisifaction of the Gov:r and to the gen: reliefe and benefitt of the Forces underll

his Hon: Command that he had not above sixty horse and thirty Foot one of which was M .r r

Harrison now the Hon: Benj:n Harrison Esq upon his return from which service theble

Gov: immediately commanded him into his own County of Surry to raise what horse he couldr

but before he had obteyned any considerable number about three hundred of the Rebells

William Rookings7

Richmond, Virginia genealogist Lyndon H. Hart III did a preliminary search of these records by way of the8

Morman Church website, which the author followed up with a review of the originals.

Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 305.9

3

under the command of Jones[,] Rookins and others entered the County came to the said7

Allen’s house which they took plundered and continued there in garrisoned aboutfive months turning his Mother an ancient Gentlewoman out of doors and absolutelydestroying or carrying away all the Goods household stuff Stock of cattle Sheep etc bothwithin doors and without to his damage (I really believe) at least eight hundred pound SterlgAfter this the Gov: finding it necessary to withdraw his Forces from James Town the said Allen asr

well as many others waited on his Hon: to Acomack where he continued till after Bacon’s Deathr

and then returned with him and under the command of Coll. Joseph Bridger whose Major heafterwards was performed many considerable pieces of service in reducing that part of the Countryto which he did belong.

And having thus behaved himself both in Peace and War the Freeholders of this County soon afterthought him most worthy to represent them and accordingly maide choise of him four or fiveAssemblys Successively in two of which he had the Hon:r of the Chair and in the third and lastbeing immediately after the Revolution as I was credably informed from many of the worthyMembers of that House of Burgesses he had been unanimously chosen Speaker again but hisConcience not allowing him to take the Oaths he was obliged to retire giving place to M Benja:r n

Harrison who was then the first time Chosen and come in his stead and layd down what officeshe held either Civil or Military and amongst the rest his very profitable Surveyors Place ofIsle of White and Surry Countys and lived private till the Death of the late King James afterwhich he again appeared in publick being restored to his Civil Offices with the addition of Naval Officer of the Upper District of James River but declined the military being reducedto much weakness in his hands by a late great fitt of sickness.

*** *** *** *** ***

The parish records of St. Andrew’s, Droitwich, Worcester reveal that:8

Arthure the sonne of John Allen Senior gent. was baptized the ___[?]thof October 1608 [and] . . .John Allen Senior gent. was buried on Sunday the ____[?] day of December 1630.

Moreover, they also reveal that this Arthur had older brothers–consistent with the assertions inthe letter–and four younger siblings including Humphrey and Hugh. Of great significance, then,is a deposition given by Arthur Allen on 3 March 1667/8, in which he stated that he was age1 9

“60 years or there aboute”–thus establishing his birth in circa 1608. With the overwhelmingweight of this evidence, the parentage and place of Arthur 's birth are no longer in doubt.1

II. ALLEN FAMILY GENEALOGY

See for example Lyon G. Tyler, ed. “The Allen Family of Surry County.” William & Mary College10

Quarterly. Vol. VIII, No. 1, July 1899. pages 110-13 (“Tyler Allen History”) and John Bennett Boddie. Southside

Virginia Families. Redwood City, CA, 1955, pages 1-4.

Patent to Arthur Allen of 200 acres in James City (later Surry) Co. VA, 14 March 1649/50, VA Land11

Patent Book 2, page 197 abstracted in Nell Marion Nugent. Cavalier and Pioneers. Richmond: Virginia State

Library, 1979. In 3 Volumes. (cited as vol. # “Nugent” page #), Volume 1, page 187.

James Horn. Adapting to a New World. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1994,12

pages 30-38 & 139.

Deed from John Richards, Mrcht. to “Mr. Arthur Allen of Lawnes Creek Mrcht.,” 5 November 1656,13

Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 136.

As with this deed, many of the Surry Co. VA court records cited herein have been transcribed by Weynette

Parks Haun of Durham, NC. Her works are not cited here as they can be easily accessed using the original book and

page numbers. For convenience, however, cross-references to abstracts are cited for both this county’s records and

all others, when available.

4

Various attempts to document the genealogy of the early generations of Arthur Allen’s1

descendants have been made. Recent research by the author and others have, however, revealed10

several errors in, and additions to, these earlier compilations. Moreover, none of thesegenealogies had the benefit of the Allen Letter. So, the following is an attempt to present themost complete and accurate genealogy of the first four American generations of this Allen familyas well as additional generations for some branches including the recently verified Johnson line. Some of the other Virginia Allen families that have, or may have, ties to this family are brieflyexamined as well. Further research is also underway on the British background of Arthur Allen1

and his wife, which it is anticipated will be the subject of a future article.

1. ARTHUR ALLEN (John ), as noted, was baptized at St. Andrew’s Church,1 A

Droitwich, Worcester, Britain, in October of 1608, and he was probably born either earlier thatyear or in the prior year, since he gave his age as “60 years or there aboute” in the 3 March1667/8 deposition cited supra.

Very little is known about his early life. The Allen Letter establishes that he made hispermanent residence in the portion of James City County, Virginia, that would become SurryCounty in 1652, “near thirty years” prior to his death (in 1669)–so about 1640. This fact shattersthe assumption proffered by many that Allen did not settle in Virginia until a year or two prior tothe issuing of his original Virginia land patent on 14 March 1649/50 (“Allen Patent”) –which is11

the first known contemporary reference to him in the colony. It is, in fact, quite possible thatAllen may have taken up permanent residence in another Virginia locality before his settlementin this area: this settlement and his activity as a merchant make Jamestown a logical location. And his residence there likely began in the early 1630s, when he was in his mid-twenties, since80% of all men who settled in Virginia prior to 1700 were single and under age thirty.12

Allen was one of the many merchant/planters who were engaged in the profitable tobaccotrade between Virginia and the mother country. As “‘Arthur Allen of Bristol, planter,’” heappears in Bristol records in September of 1655. The following year Allen is referred to as amerchant in Surry County’s records. Subsequent references to him in the Bristol records13


Horn (op. cit. ft. 12) 263.15

Kevin P. Kelly. The Allens of Bacon’s Castle: A Report for the A.P.V.A. Williamsburg: Institute of16

Early American History and Culture, 1974, page 1 and James R. Kornwolf. Guide to The Buildings of Surry and

The American Revolution. Surry County 1776 Bicentennial Committee, 1977, page 24 & plat map op. 181 (shows

plats of the original land patents in the northern half of Surry County including this 200 acre patent, which is placed

showing Bacon’s Castle’s location on it).

Stephenson B. Andrews, ed. Bacon’s Castle, Surry County, Virginia. Research Bulletin 3. Richmond: 17

The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, 1984, page 32.

Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 29-32.18

Allen Patent for 200 acres; Deed from John Richards to Arthur Allen, 3 June 1656, Surry Co. VA Record19

Book 1, page 91 abstracted in Eliza T. Davis. Surry County Records: Surry County, Virginia 1652-1684.

Baltimore: Clearfield Company, 1980 reprint, page 18 (350 acres); Deed from Jno. & Phleg Dunstan to Arthur

Allen, Gent., 6 October 1661, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 174 abstracted in Davis 39 (500 acres); Patent to

Arthur Allen of 1000 acres in Surry Co. VA, 24 August 1665, VA Land Patent Book 5, page 282 abstracted in 1

Nugent 485; Deed from Daniel & Mary Roome to Arthur Allen, 1 March 1668/9, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1,

page 360 abstracted in Davis 69 & Allen vs. Richards, 16 April 1670, transcribed in H. R. McIlwaine. Minutes of

the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia. Richmond: Virginia State Library , 1979. Second Edition,

pages 207-8 (“Allen vs. Richards”) {suit by Allen’s son and heir Arthur via guardian Alice for 50 acres purchased

that was due to “Dan Roane”} (50 acres); and Patent to Arthur Allen of 350 acres in Surry Co. VA, 12 May 1669,

VA Land Patent Book 6, page 248 abstracted in 2 Nugent 63.

Philip Alexander Bruce. Social Life of Virginia in the Seventeenth Century. Lynchburg, VA: J. P. Bell20

Company, Inc., 1927. 2nd ed. pages 98-99 and Horn (op. cit. ft. 12) 168-69 & 340-41.

See William P. Carrell II. The Landed and Personal Estate of Gen. Joseph Bridger. Louisville, 2001,21

pages 66-75 {discusses rarity and great cost of brick houses of any size at this time}.

5

continue into 1669, the year of his death. These records establish that he maintained a14

permanent tie with this British port city–that was second in importance only to London for theVirginia trade –right up until his death.15

Like many of these merchants, he also acquired a significant landed estate in the colony. As already noted, Allen’s first known Virginia land acquisition was the Allen Patent in 1649/50for 200 acres near Lower Chippokes Creek, in what would become Surry County. It was on thisland that Bacon’s Castle would be constructed fifteen years later, in 1665. About one16 17

thousand feet to the east of the Castle, archeologists found the remnants of a palisaded settlementand artifacts dating to ca. 1630-50 at the head of Castle Mill Run–a stream that flows into LowerChippokes Creek, which in turn flows into the James River. It was likely here that Allen and hisfamily lived from circa 1640 until Bacon’s Castle’s construction, after which its use was limitedas the plantation’s deep water port. By the time of his death four years after that, Allen had18

patented or purchased a total of 2,450 acres of land –placing him in the top nine percent of19

Virginia’s population in landholdings. Moreover, while his monetary wealth is not known, his20

ability to build Bacon’s Castle attests that it must have been quite substantial.21

List of Members of Lawnes Creek Parish Vestry, 24 May 1660, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 166.22

Lists of Justices of Surry Co. VA Court: 1652, 1655, 1660-62, 1664, 1665 & 1667-69; Surry Co. VA23

Record Book 1, pages 165, 167, 173-75, 192-94, 232-34, 165-67, 295-97, 330-39, 367, 407-11 & 458.

See Bond from William Marriott to John Cogan, 3 March 1656/7, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 99;24

Receipt from John Barker, 26 9br. 1658, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 120; Lease of William Batt, 10 May

1659, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 128; Deed from Thomas Busby to Peter Grey, 16 June 1660, rec. 10

November 1660, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 160; Deposition of Erasmus Christian, 20 July 1662, rec. 3

September 1662, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 192; In re: Thomas Lillycropp’s debt to William Marriott, 20

October 1662, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 195; Coroner’s Jury re: Robert Whittell, 7 April 1664, Surry Co.

VA Record Book 1, page 232; Coroner’s Jury re: Jacob Garritt, 26 January 1665/6, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1,

page 265; In re: Joane Clements, January 1667/8, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 295; Arthur 's Deposition, 31

March 1667/8, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 305; and In re: Peter Adams’ rent, 27 October 1660, Surry Co.

VA Record Book 1, page 329

Indenture In re Thomas Holt, 15 May 1669, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 367 and Surry Co. VA25

Tithables for 1669, taken in June 1669, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, pages 346-48.

An Act for vesting certain entailed Lands in John Allen, Gentleman, 1732, transcribed in Waverly K.26

Winfree. The Laws of Virginia Being a Supplement to Hening’s The Statutes at Large 1700-1750. Richmond: The

Virginia State Library, 1971, pages 364-67 (“Allen Land Act”).

Surry Co. VA Tithables for 1668, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, pages 313-15.27

Surry Co. VA Tithables for 1669, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, pages 346-48.28

6

Allen served on the Lawnes Creek Parish Vestry in 1660 and probably in other years. In22

addition, the Allen Letter confirms, what Surry County’s court records suggest, that he was aSurry County Justice in every year from this county’s formation in 1652 to his death in 1669. 23

These positions are Allen’s only known public service. The latter service may be particularlyremarkable, as Allen made a mark (an “A”) on each occasion when his signature was called forin Surry County’s records –thus raising the possibility that he may have been illiterate.24

Allen died in Surry County between 15 May & June 1669–since he participated in alawsuit on the first date, but his widow was listed in the tithables taken on the latter date. On25

10 March 1668/9, he made a will which has since been lost, but portions of it are summarized ina 1732 act of the Virginia Assembly (“Allen Land Act”). In this will, Allen devised his lands in26

entail to his son Arthur with the reversion to his daughter Elizabeth . Since Allen made a2 2

daughter the remainder-man for entailed lands, it is clear that he only had one son, thensurviving, and that Elizabeth was probably his eldest daughter. (It does not, of course, rule outthe possibility that he had other surviving daughters, which, as will be shown, he did.)

Five records establish that Allen’s only known wife was Alice Tucker. In 1668, “Mr.Arthur Allen” was listed with 11 tithables, and the following year “Mrs. Allen” was listed with27

this same relatively large number–indicating both her husband’s death and the fact that their onlysurviving son, Arthur , was not yet of age (see infra). On 19 April 1670, “M Alice Allen2 28 rs

guardian to Arthur Allen sonne and heire of Arthur Allen decd” appeared in a General Court suit

Allen vs. Richards (op. cit. ft. 19).29

Discharge of Mrs. Alice Allen of Nicholas Sessums, 9 March 1670/1, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page30

405.

Deposition of Daniel Tucker, 3 March 1667/8, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 305.31

Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 21-22 and Robert Dennard Tucker. The Descendants of William Tucker of32

Throwleight, Devon. Spartanburg, SC: printed by The Reprint Company, Publishers, 1991, pages 31-35

Tucker 31-35; Lyon Gardiner Tyler. Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Baltimore: Genealogical33

Publishing Co., Inc., 1998 reprint of 1915 original. Volume I, page 85; Philip L. Barbour, ed. The Complete Works

of Captain John Smith (1580-1631). Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1986. Vol. I, page 241; Vol.

II, pages 190, 282, 362-69, 371 & 373-74; and 1 Hening 84.

Virginia M. Meyer & John Frederick Dorman, eds. Adventurers of Purse and Person. Richmond: The34

Dietz Press, Inc., 1987, 3 ed. (“Meyer/Dorman”) pages 7-71 and John Camden Hotten. The Original Lists ofrd

Persons of Quality 1600-1700. Baltimore: Clearfield Company, Inc., 1996 reprint of 1874 original, pages 169-196.

The famous Tucker family of Bermuda, from which St. George Tucker of Williamsburg, Virginia sprung,35

descend from Daniel’s brother George Tucker, whose progeny settled in Bermuda at a later time. Other Bermuda

Tuckers may descend from Daniel’s son Henry, who sold land on the island in 1629 & 1630. See Gregory (op. cit.

ft. 1) 22; Tucker (op. cit. ft. 32) 31-35; and Thos. Addis Emmet. An Account of The Tucker Family of Bermuda.

New York: Bradstreet Press, 1898.

7

against John Richards. Her last appearance in Surry County’s court records was on 9 March29

1670/1, again as “Mrs. Alice Allen.” It is not too surprising, then, that the Allen Patent of30

1649/50 lists “Alice Tucker” as one of its four headrights and that, in his 1667/8 deposition,Daniel Tucker (age 55) identified Arthur as his “brother.”1 31

Both Alice’s brother’s given name and the fact that genealogical research of the Tuckerfamily in Britain has, so far, failed to reveal any other candidate lead researcher Eve Gregory andthe author to conclude that Alice and Daniel were probably the children of Daniel Tucker, whowas christened on 10 April 1575 in Milton-next-Gravesend, Kent. While direct evidence has32

not yet been discovered, such a conclusion is nonetheless reasonable, and it is also significant, asDaniel Tucker was one of early Virginia’s greatest citizens. He came to the colony in 1608 in theSecond Supply, was a stockholder of the Virginia Company of London under its 1609 charter,served on the Virginia Council of State, and was the second Governor of Bermuda, from 1616 to1619–where he was buried on 10 February 1624/5, after being ejected from office by the island’sunhappy inhabitants. It is conceivable that any children, but especially minor children, that he33

may have had at this time would have been sent back to relatives in England–only, perhaps insome cases, to return across the Atlantic later. None returned to Virginia any earlier as they arenot listed in Virginia’s 1624/5 Muster nor in the 1623/4 Lists of the Living and the Dead. 34

Bermuda records do establish that Tucker left issue, as a son Henry Tucker sold land there in1629-30.35

Since Alice still had her maiden name, when Allen paid for her transportation to Virginia,it is clear that she married him in Virginia and that he was her first husband. The determinationof their marriage date is, therefore, contingent upon the date when Allen settled in Virginia. The

Edmund S. Morgan. “Headrights and Head Counts.” The Virginia Magazine. Vol. 80, No. 3, pages 361-36

71.

See Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) in chart op. 24 and John T. Kneebone, et al., eds. Dictionary of Virginia37

Biography. Biographies of Arthur Allen and Arthur Allen by Daphine Gentry. Richmond: The Library of1 2

Virginia, 1998. Volume I, pages 72-74 (“Gentry”).

Kelly (op. cit. ft. 16) 3.38

Patent to Robert Williamson of 3350 acres in Isle of Wight Co. VA, 6 June 1666, VA Land Patent Book39

5, page 511 abstracted in 1 Nugent 558.

This theory was proposed by Ike Smith of Alexandria, VA.40

8

Allen Letter establishes that this date was no later than circa 1640–nearly ten years before theissuance of the Allen Patent. Since delays of over a decade could occur between the earning ofpatent rights and the issuing of a patent, as this situation so aptly illustrates, it is possible that36

Allen could have settled in Virginia several years before 1640.This possibility challenges the view held by some that Allen had an earlier wife prior to

his marriage to Alice. Dr. Kevin Kelly is apparently the first individual to have advanced such37

a theory. While he acknowledges that many years could pass between the earning of headrightsand the recording of a final patent–and so does not fall into the trap of some by claiming that theissuance of the Allen Patent in 1649/50 meant that Allen must have married Alice very close tothat time–he nonetheless concluded that the birth of Allen’s purported son Humphrey, by about1633 (see infra), was too early for Alice to have been his mother.38

In fact, that is not the case at all. It is entirely possible for Alice to have been the motherof both this supposed son–if he were born close to 1633 and if she were in her late teens at thetime, which was not at all uncommon–and of Allen’s apparently youngest child, Arthur , who2

born in 1649 (see infra)–when she would have been about thirty-four. This conclusion isconsistent with the assumption that Alice was close in age to her husband, who was born circa1608, and to her brother Daniel, who was born circa 1613. The fact that her youngest knownchild was born in 1649 establishes that she would have been at least a few years younger than herhusband: otherwise, she would have been in her forties when Arthur was born, which is2

unlikely. That she was not too much younger than her husband is established by her unusuallyclose relationship with the Williamson and Johnson families discussed infra: this relationshipstrongly suggests that Alice was Joan ’s actual mother rather than her step-mother. 2

Consequently, since Joan was born no later than about 1638 (see infra), Alice cannot have been2

born much later than circa 1618. In light of these facts, a birth date of circa 1615 and a Virginiamarriage in circa 1632 are reasonable. The claim that Humphrey was too old to have beenAlice’s son is, therefore, untenable.

Another argument advanced to support the theory that Allen had an earlier wife is basedupon the fact that “Joan Williamson” was listed as a headright in her husband Robert2

Williamson’s 1666 land patent. Since she is listed with her married name, so the thought goes,39

she must have married Williamson in England and, therefore, must have been born and grew upthere. That being the case, she could not be Alice’s daughter, since Alice married Allen in40

This fact was discovered by the late Hugh Johnston, Jr. of Wilson, NC: see Eddis Johnson & Hugh41

Buckner Johnston. The Johnsons and Johnstons of Corrowaugh in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Martinsville, IN:

Eddis Johnson, 1979 (“EJohnson”), page 31.

Will of Robert Williamson, made 6 November 1669, probated 9 April 1670, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will42

and Deed Book 2, page 84 abstracted in Blanche Adams Chapman. Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight

County, Virginia, 1647-1800. Clearfield Company, 1995 reprint, page 9.

Will of John Hardy, made 7 October 1675, probated 9 June 1677, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will and Deed43

Book 2, page 146 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 15.

Will of Robert Burnett, made 25 June 1678, probated 17 July 1679, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will and Deed44


Will of Arthur Allen, made 16 February 1709/10, probated 5 September 1710, Surry Co. VA Will Book45

6, page 33 abstracted in Eliza Timberlake Davis. Wills and Administrations of Surry County, Virginia 1671-1750.

Balitmore: Clearfield Company, 1998 reprint, page 2-3.

In the colonial period, the term “son-in-law,” in addition to the meaning as it has today, was more often46

used to mean stepson or stepson-in-law.

Hardy’s identification of John Johnson as Alice’s grandson, but not his, establishes that Alice had a47

previous husband (see infra).

9

Virginia. This theory is, however, also untenable. First, it is mitigated by the likelihood thatJoan would have earned the headright on a return from a British visit, even if she did marry2

Williamson there. Second, since her father was living in Virginia at least 26 years before thispatent’s issue, it is unreasonable to suggest that she did not live with him in Virginia prior to thevoyage upon which the headright was earned. Moreover, her close association with Alice in Isleof Wight County also mitigates against this theory, as such an association would have been farless likely had Alice only been her step-mother. Far more proof, then, is needed before it wouldbe reasonable to assert that Allen had another wife prior to Alice.

After Allen’s death in 1669, surviving records in neighboring Isle of Wight Countyestablish that Alice remarried to a widower, John Hardy. The will of Dr. Robert Williamson41

establishes that his widow, Joan , who was identified as Allen’s daughter, became the wife of2

Robert Burnett shortly after he gave bond to the Williamson estate for this union on 2 November1672. John Hardy was a witness to this will, and, in his own will, which was made just three42

years after Joan ’s marriage to Burnett, he identified Burnett as his “son-in-law.” Burnett’s2 43

reference to his wife in his will, which was probated in 1679, and her later appearance as Joan44

Proctor in the will of her brother Arthur in 1710, conclusively establish that Joan Allen2 45 2

Williamson was the wife of Robert Burnett, at the time that John Hardy made his will in 1675.That being the case, there are only three ways for Burnett to be Hardy's “son-in-law” in

1675 : he could have been Hardy’s actual son-in-law by being the husband of one of Hardy’s46

own daughters; he could have been the son of Hardy’s wife Alice and, so, Hardy’s step-son; or hecould have been married to a daughter of Hardy’s wife Alice by her earlier husband, thus47

making him Hardy’s step-son-in-law. The first option is eliminated by the fact that Burnett was

It might also be suggested that Burnett was Hardy’s son-in-law from a prior marriage of Burnett to a48

daughter of Hardy. However, the evidence does not support such a conclusion. First, there is no probate estate for

such a wife. Next and quite significantly, Hardy names no daughter surnamed Burnett in his will, in which he

seemingly identifies all of his children. Third, there is no evidence of children from such a supposed marriage–as

Burnett only had one child, Ann, who was from his marriage to Joan . Finally, he was not married in 1664, as he2

sold his interest in a land patent without a wife releasing her dower interest: see Deed from Robert Burnett to John

Portis, 9 April 1664, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 1, page 7 transcribed in John A. Brayton. Colonial

Families of Surry and Ilse of Wight Counties, Virginia, Volume 6: Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Wills & Deed

Book 1 (1662-1688), Abstracts of Deeds, 1715. Memphis, TN, 2001, page 6.

There are two reasons why it was this Robert Burnett who was the patentee of the following: Patent to49

Robert Burnett of 200 acres (on a branch of Seward’s Creek) in Isle of Wight Co. VA, 3 April 1641, VA Patent

Book 1, pages 751-52 abstracted in 1 Nugent 126 (op. cit. ft. 11). First, it was a portion of this land, described in

Burnett’s will as adjoining Pharoah Cobb’s land, that was devised in Burnett’s will–since Cobb’s land was in the

vicinity of Seward’s Creek: see Patent to Lt. Col. Arthur Smith of 2275 acres in Isle of Wight Co. VA, 10 May

1679, VA Land Patent Book 6, page 683 abstracted in 2 Nugent 198. Thus, if Burnett were not the patentee, his

possession of this land establishes that the patentee would have to be his father, who would also have been named

Robert. There was only one other person in the county with a similar name: see Will of Robert Barnett, made 8

February 1669/70, probated 9 August 1670, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 2, page 88 abstracted in

Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) at 9. This Robert Barnett cannot, however, be Burnett’s father–if Alice Hardy is his

mother–as this man’s wife apparently never resided in Virginia, since he devised her property only if she came to

Virginia. This fact, in turn, suggests that Robert Barnett was a more recent immigrant, who would not have been in

the colony when the 1641 patent was granted. Indeed, he may be the same individual so-named who was a headright

in the following: Patent to Peter Knight of 1000 acres in Northumberland Co. VA, 13 October 1653, VA Patent

Book 3, page 64 abstracted in 1 Nugent 252. So, Robert Burnett is the only individual who could be the 1641

patentee.

10

married to Allen’s daughter, Joan , at the time. Thus, Hardy’s wife Alice was either Burnett’s2 48

own mother or the mother of Burnett’s wife Joan .2

It is, therefore, not only significant that Joan ’s mother, and Allen’s wife, was named2

Alice but that she survived her husband’s death in 1669 as well–as established supra and in theAllen Letter, which states that she was still alive when Bacon’s rebels seized Bacon’s Castle inSeptember of 1676. Thus, it is entirely possible that she married Hardy between the recording ofthe Alice Discharge in 1670/1–when she still had the Allen surname–and the making of Hardy’swill in 1675. Indeed, it is likely that Arthur ’s widow, who outlived him by at least seven years,1

remarried following the practice of the time, when widows rarely remained unmarried for long.Hardy’s service as a witness to Robert Williamson’s will establishes that his relationship

with Arthur ’s family predated Burnett’s marriage to Allen’s daughter Joan , which is a1 2

connection that makes his marriage to Allen’s widow Alice a likely possibility. This likelihoodis increased by the fact that Hardy’s wife Alice was the same generation as Allen’s widow, sincethey both had grandchildren of similar ages–as Joan ’s children were close in age to John2 3

Johnson (see infra). Moreover, the chance that Burnett’s own mother also had the relatively rarename of Alice and lived to what, at the time, would have been a very old age is remote to say theleast. But that would have to be the case if it is Burnett’s own mother, and not Allen’s widow,who was Hardy’s wife in 1675. While the Allen Letter establishes that Allen’s widow Alice wasstill alive as late as September of 1676, nothing is known about Burnett’s mother, except that shewould have been born by circa 1600. Thus, if it were Burnett’s mother who was Hardy’s wife,49

That being the case, Burnett would have been born no later than 1620, as he would have been at least of age

(21 years old) when his patent was issued, and, consequently, his mother would have been born no later than about

1600. Nugent’s abstract of this patent indicates that Burnett, in addition to himself, claimed headright for several

others including an “Alice Johnson.” However, when the original record is reviewed, it is clear that Nugent

incorrectly transcribed this name, as this Johnson did not have the given name of Alice: this fact is significant given

the discussion of the Johnson family below.

Power of Attorney granted by Alice Hardy to “son-in-law” William Mayo, 11 May 1681, Isle of Wight50

Co. VA Will & Deed Book 1, page 459 (“Alice POA”) transcribed in Brayton (op. cit. ft. 48) 272-73.

Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37) 72-73.51

Coroner’s Jury for Corps of Tobias Swanne, 5 October 1654, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 55.52

Account of the Estate of James Taylor, made 11 June & recorded 20 June 1655, Surry Co. VA Record53

Book 1, pages 64-66.

Deed from John Rawlings to Mr. Humphrey Allen, 28 June 1664, proved 5 July & recorded 7 July 1664,54

Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 236.

11

then she would not only have lived beyond age eighty, as she would have still been alive in 1681when Hardy’s widow Alice gave her power of attorney (“Alice POA”), but she also would have50

outlived her own adult son–both of which were exceptionally rare occurrences in seventeenthcentury Virginia. On the other hand, Allen’s widow would probably not have been so old in1681, given her likely birth in circa 1615–making her about sixty-six in that year and, thus, a farmore likely candidate to be Alice Hardy than Burnett’s own mother. It is, therefore, reasonableto conclude–as the Dictionary of Virginia Biography recently did –that Alice Hardy was Allen's51

widow.The Allen Letter establishes that, by September of 1676 when Bacon’s Castle was seized

by Bacon’s rebels, Alice may have been living there again since the rebels threw this “ancientGentlewoman . . . out of doors.” If she had returned to the Castle to live, rather than being thereon a simple extended visit, then Hardy must have died shortly before–just a few months after hewrote his will on 7 October 1675. The delay in its probate to 9 June 1677, while not uncommon,can best be explained by the chaos ensuing from Bacon’s Rebellion. With this unpleasantexperience, Alice apparently decided to return to Isle of Wight County to reside with her familythere for good, and she probably died in that county sometime after she gave her power ofattorney to William Mayo on 11 May 1681.

ISSUE by TUCKER: 2. HUMPHREY (?); 3. ELIZABETH ; 4. JOAN ; 5. a2 2 2

DAUGHTER ; 6. MARY (?); 7. ARTHUR ; and possibly other unknown daughters.2 2 2

2. HUMPHREY ALLEN (Arthur ?) was either Arthur 's son, as Dr. Kelly suggests, or2 1 1

Arthur 's brother. The Humphrey in Surry County, Virginia was born by 1633, since he served1

on a jury on 5 October 1654 and was a creditor of a non-relative’s decedent’s estate the52

following year –both of which establish that he was of age at the time. Humphrey died between53

28 June 1664, when he was deeded land by John Rawlings, and circa 1666, as he confirmed the54

remaining term of service on his death-bed for servant Edward Walbanke about six years prior to

Deposition of Thomas Stevenson, 4 May 1672, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, Folio 11 abstracted in55

Davis Surry Record (op. cit. ft. 19) 80.

Record of St. Andrew’s Parish, Droitwich.56

Kelly (op. cit. ft. 16) 2-3.57

Kelly (op. cit. ft. 16) 2-3.58

Petition of Edward Walbanke, 7 May 1672, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1671-1691, page 6. Sir William59

Blackstone. Commentaries on the Laws of England: Book the Second. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1766, pages 13

& 384-88.

12

4 May 1672. This death date would be in line with what one would expect for Arthur 's brother55 1

Humphrey, who would have been about fifty-six at the time, given his baptism in January of1609/10.56

Dr. Kelly is the first to suggest that the Humphrey living in Virginia was a son of Arthur ,1

and the proof cited, coupled with an additional record discovered by the author, supports, butdoes not prove, this conclusion. In his deposition given regarding servant Walbanke’s term of57

service, Thomas Stevenson testified that Humphrey was the brother of Arthur Allen. Dr. Kellyconcludes that this reference is to Arthur –since Stevenson2

makes no mention of Arthur Allen’s being deceased, something thathe would have surely known and would have been careful to note insworn testimony, and that it was Arthur Allen who was one of the2

principals in the case for which Stevenson’s deposition was taken.58

That Arthur was a principal of the dispute is confirmed by the Court’s final judgment, which2

granted Walbanke’s petition for freedom on 7 May 1672: this judgment stated that Walbankewas then the servant of “Mr. Arthur Allen”–obviously Arthur –and that the deceased “Humpa2

Allen” was “his first Master.”Since no probate record for Humphrey exists in Surry County’s records, he may have died

intestate, and, if so, Walbanke’s remaining term of service passed by intestacy to Humphrey'sheirs in circa 1666, which was prior to Arthur 's death. Since an indentured servant’s contract of1

service was a personal chattel, his heirs would be all of his siblings or their issue, and, in defaultthereof, his father.59

So, if he were a son of Arthur , then all of his siblings, and not just Arthur , would have1 2

inherited Walbanke’s unfinished term of service. Likewise, if he were a brother of Arthur , then1

all of John ’s children would have inherited this interest. In either case, either Arthur or ArthurA 1 2

would have likely bought out their respective siblings’s interests. Moreover, since Arthur was2

the primary devisee in his father’s will, his possession of the remaining term of Walbanke’sservice does not necessarily establish that Humphrey was his brother–as the documentation ofthis possession so soon after he reached majority makes it entirely possible that it was devised tohim by his father. If Walbanke’s term of service did pass by inheritance, which is likely, then hedied without surviving issue.

However, Humphrey could well have left a will which, like Arthur 's, has since been lost,1

or he could have given this interest to Arthur prior to his death. Even if Humphrey did die1

Indenture from William Caufield for his wife Dorcas and children to Henerye Bannister & Karby Kigan, 760

7bris 1654, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 54 abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 9-10 {mentions

Robert & Elizabeth Caufield}; Arthur served as power of attorney for Elizabeth, wife of Robert Caufield, to2

relinquish her dower, 1682, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 381; Robert Caufield served as power of attorney

for Arthur 's wife Katharine, 1681, Surry Co. Record Book 1, page 382; Arthur served as power of attorney for2 2

Robert Caufield, 1687, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, pages 579 & 617-19; Elizabeth Caufield, widow, appoints

brother Arthur as attorney in fact, 1 March 1691/2, Surry Co. VA Deed Book 4, page 256 abstracted in William2

Lindsay Hopkins. Surry County, Virginia Deeds, 1684-1733 and Other Court Papers. Athens, GA: Iberian

Publishing Co., 1994, page 35; and Deed from John Allen to Arthur Allen, 18 March 1716/7, recorded 20 March3 3

1716/7, Surry Co. VA Deed Book 7, page 47 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds 98 {for land formerly belonging to

Maj. Robert Caufield’s widow, Elizabeth, who subsequently married Joseph John Jackman}

Will of Robert Caufield, made 2 January & probated 19 January 1691/2, Surry Co. VA Will Book 4, page61

240 abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 28-29.

Arthur Allen as attorney to Mrs. Elizabeth Caufield, 1692, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page62

26.

Will of Arthur (op. cit. ft. 45) {mentions sister Elizabeth Jackman}; Joseph John Jackman & wife263

Elizabeth, Executorix of Robert Caufield’s will, vs. John Sugers, May 1705, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713,

page 264; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph John Jackman, appoints John Giles as her attorney-in-fact for sale of land, 6

September 1709, Surry Co. VA Deed Book 5, page 418 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds (op. cit. ft. 60) 77;

record of Joseph John Jackman & wife Elizabeth, May 1711, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page 366;

Joseph John Jackman appoints nephew Arthur Allen as his attorney-in-fact, 17 March 1713/4, Surry Co. VA Deed3

Book 6, page 180 (“Jackman POA”) abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds (op. cit. ft. 60) 89; suit by John Allen as

executor of Arthur 's will vs. Joseph John Jackman, July 1711, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page 370; and2

Joseph John Jackman power of attorney for Sarah Bland acknowledges her deed to Arthur , November 1709, Surry2

Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page 332.

13

intestate, his heirs in England could–and most likely would–have conveyed Walbanke’sremaining service to Arthur . Thus, the current evidence is not determinative as to whether the1

Humphrey in Virginia was Arthur 's brother or eldest son. Additional research in England might1

resolve this uncertainty, if a will for Arthur 's brother Humphrey can be found.1

ISSUE: probably none surviving

3. ELIZABETH ALLEN (Arthur ) was likely Arthur 's eldest daughter, since the Allen2 1 1

Land Act indicates that Arthur made her the remainder-man of the land entailed to her only1

surviving brother, Arthur . That being the case, she was probably born in the early to mid2

1630s–a fact which is supported by the earliest reference of her marriage to the first of her twohusbands, Maj. Robert Caufield. The 1654 indenture cited infra establishes that, by 760

September 1654, not only had she married Caufield but that Caufield was probably of age by thattime. Caufield died in January of 1691/2, and he devised all of his property to various nieces andnephews–including Arthur 's children Elizabeth , Katharine and Arthur , with the remainder to2 3 3 3

his wife Elizabeth . Arthur assisted Elizabeth as the executrix of Caufield’s will.2 61 2 2 62

She subsequently married Joseph John Jackman by May of 1705, who was listed as63

Annie L. W. Smith. The Quit Rents of Virginia, 1704. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.,64

1987. page 49.

Joseph John Jackman sworn as justice, 1706, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page 282; Jackman a65

justice, 1710, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page 344; Jackman sworn in a Sheriff, May 1703, Surry Co.

VA Order Book 1691-1713, page 241; and Jackman Sheriff, November 1708, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-

1713, pages 314 & 316.

Suite regarding the lack of conveyance of Elizabeth Jackman’s inheritance in the Deed of Joseph John66

Jackman & said wife to John Wilson, 28 October 1718, Surry Co. VA Deeds, Wills, etc. Book 7, page 459

abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds (op. cit. ft. 60) 123; Kelly (op. cit. ft. 16) 32; and Allen Land Act (op. cit. ft. 26).

Will of Robert Williamson (op. cit. ft. 42).67

William G. & Mary Newton Standard. The Colonial Virginia Register. Baltimore: Clearfield Company,68

1989 reprint of 1902 original. page 79.

Bromfield had married Olive Hardy Driver, daughter of John Hardy and widow of Giles Driver: see Will69

of John Hardy (op. cit. ft. 43); Charge of widow of Gyles Dryver, decd. to charge their daughter Hardy Dryver for

part of estate, 8 July 1680, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 1, page 431 transcribed in Brayton (op. cit. ft.

14

owing 2,980 acres that year. Jackman was sworn as Surry County’s Sheriff in May of 1703 and64

as a Justice of the county in 1706. The last reference to him was in the 1713 Jackman POA65

cited below, and the last reference to Elizabeth prior to her death was in the will of her brotherArthur that was made in 1709. She had died by 1718 without issue.2 66

ISSUE: none surviving

4. JOAN ALLEN (Arthur ) was born circa 1638: since her son Robert was under 182 1 3

when his father Dr. Robert Williamson’s will was made in 1669 but was nonetheless old67

enough to serve as an executor of this will, he was probably just a year or two shy of thisage–giving him a birth of circa 1653. Robert ’s mother would, therefore, have to be at least3

fifteen or so years older, which would give her a birth date of no later than circa 1638. GivenRobert 's birth and the fact that he was obviously the eldest son, Joan probably married Dr.3 2

Robert in circa 1652. Not only does Dr. Robert’s will establish that Joan was his wife, but it2

also establishes that she was a daughter of Arthur : in it, Dr. Robert states that:1

my Body I Comitt to the earth from where it came to be buried, in Christian mann rE

as near as may be to my late deceased father in law, M Arthur Allen.r

Prior to his death, Dr. Robert Williamson represented Isle of Wight County in the 1666 sessionof the House of Burgesses, and he patented his sizable 3,350 acre holdings that same year.68

As already noted, the recorded version of Dr. Williamson’s will contains a bond dated 2November 1672 posted by Robert Burnett–who was born circa 1621 per his patent discussedsupra–so that he could marry Williamson’s relict Joan . It is likely that they married close to this2

date. Burnett died by 17 July 1679, when his will was probated, in which he made “brothers”Arthur Allen and John Bromfield the executors and which William Mayo witnessed. Although2 69

48) 255; and Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 2, page 454.

Deed from Joseph Bridger to Joan Williamson Burnett, widow of Robert Burnett, 8 August 1683,70

recorded 9 August 1683, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 1, pages 504-5.

Deed from John & Mary Wille to Nathaniel Whitby, 8 February 1700/1, recorded 8 February 1700/1, Isle71

of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 1, page 327 abstracted in William Lindsay Hopkins. Isle of Wight County, Virginia

Deeds 1647-1719, Court Orders 1693-1695, and Guardian Accounts 1740-1767. Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing

Company, 1995 (“Hopkins Deeds”), page 61.

Survey of Land for Francis Williamson & Reuben Proctor, 20 April 1696 Surry Co. VA Order Book72

1691-1713, page 241 and Smith (op. cit. ft. 64) 72.

Will of George Williamson, made 26 April 1721, probated 28 May 1722, Isle of Wight Co. VA Great73


Will of Reuben Proctor, made 11 April & probated 28 April 1729, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will Book 3,74

page 157 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 105.

Will of Dr. Robert Williamson (op. cit. ft. 42) and Appraisal of Dr. Robert Williamson Estate, 975

December 1672, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 2, page 116 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 12 {his

estate was divided among his “four orphans”}.

Will of Robert Burnett (op. cit. ft. 44).76

15

Burnett mentions his wife in his will, without naming her, Joan’s survival of this second husbandis confirmed by a deed that was executed four years later (“Bridger/Williamson Deed”). This70

deed, which Arthur witnessed, pertained to a parcel of land devised by “Robert Williamson2

Doctor of phisick” in his 1669 will to wife Joan “Now Relict of M Robert Burnett deced.” for2 r

life and then to eldest son Robert .3

Joan was still alive when her brother Arthur made his will in 1709, in which she was2 2

named as Joan Proctor. Joan had married her third husband, Reuben Proctor, by 8 February2 2

1700/1 as they both witnessed a deed on that date involving land formerly owned by Arthur2

Allen. Proctor and Joan’s son Francis Williamson jointly had 417 acres of land surveyed in the71 3

late 1690s, and Proctor paid quit rents on 250 acres in 1704. In addition, Joan’s son George72 3

Williamson left his daughter Hester the land obtained in the Bridger/Williamson Deed, on which4

Reuben Proctor was then living. Proctor died by 28 April 1729, when his will was probated. 73 74

Joseph Williamson witnessed this document, which mentions neither any children nor Joan : 3 2

thus, it would appear than she predeceased this third husband, and they had no (surviving) issue.ISSUE by WILLIAMSON : 8. ROBERT ; 9. GEORGE ; 10. ARTHUR ; 11. 75 3 3 3

FRANCIS3

ISSUE by BURNETT : 12. ANN76 3

5. A DAUGHTER ALLEN (Arthur ) is established by the following. In his will, John2 1

Hardy devised a cow “unto my Wife’s Grand child John Johnson,” when he turns eighteen. 3

Since Arthur was Alice Tucker Allen Hardy’s only other husband, John Johnson was their1 3

grandson or their grandson-in-law. The Will of John Hardy, however, eliminates this latter

The basis for this analysis is the research of Hugh Buckner Johnston of Wilson Co. NC, which was77

published in EJohnson (op. cit. ft. 41).

Will of John Hardy (op. cit. ft. 43).78

Deed from Robert Hookes to William Murfrey, 9 April 1683, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 1,79

page 499 transcribed in Brayton (op. cit. ft. 48) 299.

Patent to John Johnson of 250 acres in Isle of Wight Co. VA, 29 April 1692, VA Land Patent Book 8,80

page 222 abstracted in 2 Nugent 375.

This James is too old to have been Arthur 's son James , who would not have been old enough to own land2 381

in 1692. He may, however, be of the same Allen family.

16

alternative: it implicitly indicates that John was not married at the time, since he was devised a3

cow which he could only have upon turning age 18. Had John been married, it is unlikely that3

he would have been deprived of a cow until age 18, as that beast would have been a useful andneeded commodity for a young emancipated man and his bride.

Consequently, John Johnson was the son of a daughter of Arthur and Alice Allen who3 1

married a Johnson. As described elsewhere herein, none of Arthur ’s known daughters can be1

the mother of John because none were married to a Johnson at the time when John was born. 3 3

His mother was, therefore, a hitherto unknown daughter of Arthur and Alice Allen.1 77

While her given name is not known, she was likely married William Mayo as her secondhusband, since Hardy identifies Mayo as a “son-in-law” in his will. The details of thisrelationship are established by the format of Hardy’s will and by several other records, thatdocument an unusually close tie between Mayo and the Allen family.

Hardy’s will follows a fairly precise order. First, he gives a series of bequests to his ownchildren and then to some of his grandchildren. Next, he makes bequests to his othergrandchildren. At this point, there appears to be a break between Hardy’s own blood family andstep-relatives, since he next bequeaths the cow to “my Wife’s Grand child” John Johnson and3

then makes a bequest to that wife Alice, who is obviously not the mother of his own children. Finally, at the very end of the will, Hardy leaves his “sons in law” Mayo and Robert Burnettsmall bequests. Notably, no other individuals surnamed Mayo are named anywhere else in thewill : this fact alone suggests that Mayo’s relationship to Hardy is as a step-son-in-law. The78

fact that the bequest to Mayo is coupled with that to Burnett, who is a known step-son-in-law,suggests that Mayo occupies the same relationship to Hardy.

It is not too surprising, then, that, when Alice drafted the Alice POA, which John3

Johnson witnessed, she chose “son in law” William Mayo to be her attorney-in-fact. RobertBurnett identified Mayo as a “brother,” along with Arthur , in his will, and Burnett and Mayo2

were the sole individuals who posted security for Alice, when she became the executrix of JohnHardy’s will. Arthur and Mayo appear together again in 1683 as witnesses to an Isle of Wight2

County deed involving Robert Hookes and William Murhprey, with whom neither apparentlyhad a familial relationship. Moreover, John ’s 1692 land patent was not only next to a James79 3 80

Allen, but it was also next to land of William Mayo. The closer relationship shown by these81

records between William Mayo to Alice and her blood family, including John Johnson, versus3

Will of William Mayo, Sr., made 14 July 1713, probated 25 April 1715, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will &82

Deed Book, page 590 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 55.

Deed from William & wife Isabel Mayo to Thomas Lewis, 20 October 1691, Isle of Wight Co. Deed83

Book 1, page 77 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds (op. cit. ft. 71) 37.

EJohnson (op. cit. ft. 41) at 29-3284

Will of Robert Johnson, made 24 September 1732, probated 25 May 1733, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will85


Robert’s landholdings in 1704 of 2,450 acres are certainly in line with the former possibility. Smith (op.86

cit. ft. 64) 49.

See Meyer/Dorman (op. cit. ft. 34) 375-7687

17

Hardy’s own family all but indicates that Mayo’s wife was another daughter of Arthur and Alice1

Allen.This close association with John Johnson leads to the further conclusion that this wife3

was John Johnson’s mother. This conclusion is not mitigated by the Will of William Mayo,3 82

which shows that Mayo outlived John : the time of John ’s birth indicates that Mayo would have3 3

lived to an unusually old age, if he were his step-father. Yet, the fact remains that Mayo wasunquestionably of John ’s parents’ generation. While Mayo named wife Isabel in his 1713 will,3

it is far more likely that his reputed Allen wife would have been an earlier wife. Isabel was notleft a bequest by Arthur Allen in his 1709 will, unlike Allen’s two known living sisters. The2

fact that these sisters resided in different counties and were married at the time suggests thatArthur would have likewise left bequests to any other living sister. That being the case, Mayo2

had an earlier wife who was an Allen, and she would have died by 20 October 1691, as a deedmade that date is the first reference to Isabel as Mayo’s wife. Thus, the weight of evidence is83

sufficient to establish that a wife of William Mayo, probably not Isabel, was John Johnson’s3

Allen mother.As for John Johnson’s father, authors Eddis Johnson and Hugh B. Johnston state that3

John was the son of Robert Johnson and wife Katherine–who, if correct, would have been a3

daughter of Arthur and Alice. Robert, at least, cannot be the father of John Johnson: for, if he1 84 3

were, then he would have to have been born no later than about 1645, given the time of John ’s3

birth. Since Robert did not die until 1732-33, he would have lived to be close to ninety years85

old, at the youngest, which was highly improbable in early eighteenth century Virginia. Evenmore unlikely is the suggestion that this Robert had two sons named John who both lived intoadulthood: that would have to be the case if John were Robert's son, as Robert named a son3

John is his will who was definitely not John –since John died many years before this will was3 3

made. It is far more likely that, if John and Robert were related, they were either brothers or3

cousins of the same generation.86

Thus, it is quite clear that John 's father was someone else. One possibility is the John3

Johnson, who was the son of John Johnson, Ancient Planter, of Jamestown Island. (Authors87

Johnson and Johnston tried to forge this link for Robert, but the reasoning given is unpersuasive,

See Meyer/Dorman (op. cit. ft. 34) 35-3688

Patent to Edward Travis & John Johnson, son of John Johnson, decd. of 900 acres in James City (later89

Surry) Co. VA, 25 February 1638, VA Land Patent Book 1, Part II, page 626 abstracted in 1 Nugent 104.

Deed from Richard & Mary Hide to William Cock, 2 & 3 March 1701/2, Surry Co. VA Record Book 5,90

page 240 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds (op. cit. ft. 60) 62.

See Meyer/Dorman (op. cit. ft. 34) 37691

Smith (op. cit. ft. 64) 49.92

Will of William Mayo, Sr. (op. cit. ft. 82).93

In John Bennett Boddie. Southside Virginia Families. Redwood City, CA, 1955, pages 319-21 & 394

(“Long Article”).

18

in light of the countervailing evidence.) Since this younger John Johnson was born circa 1624,per the 1624/5 Muster, he was the right generation to be John 's father. Along with his brother-88 3

in-law Edward Travis, he patented land in, what would later be, Surry County where John 's89 3

Allen mother would have grown up. And this land was near Arthur ’s Claremont Plantation at1

Upper Chippokes Creek and was eventually adjacent to Arthur 's land in the same area, per a2

1701/2 deed. This deed states that this tract was sold by Travis alone: while this sale raises the90

possibility that Johnson may have died without issue, it is equally possible that he may have soldhis interest in the land to Travis, in a deed which has since been lost, or, more likely, that theyheld the land in joint tenancy with a right of survivorship, and Johnson predeceased Travis. Regardless, this John was still alive in 1659, which was the very time of John Johnson's birth.91 3

Authors Johnson and Johnston raise one potential problem for the above connection,when they note that a John Johnson was listed as owning 260 acres in James City County in the1704 Quit Rent Roll. Since the Ancient Planter's son John did own land in this county, it is92

very likely that, if this John did have children, then the John in 1704 would have been one ofthem. (They conclude that this John was a brother to Robert.) An analysis of the Quit Rent Rolleasily resolves this problem: when an individual owned land in more than one county, thatperson was listed separately for each county in which he owned land. Thus, if John were the son3

of John and the grandson of John, the Ancient Planter, then he was listed in the Roll at leasttwice–once for Isle of Wight County (see later) and once for James City County. While notproven, this paternal parentage for John is a possibility.3

ISSUE by JOHNSON: 13. JOHN ; and possibly other children3

ISSUE by MAYO (if their mother was the same as John ’s) : William; James; John;3 93

Peter; Margaret; Patience; “youngest daughter” Mary

6. MARY ALLEN(?) (Arthur ?): Arthur Long’s wife Mary was probably an Allen2 1

based upon the following circumstantial evidence brought to light in an article by genealogistJohn Bennett Boddie (“Long Article”). Mary, widow of Arthur Long, died by 18 November94

Will of Mary Long, widow of Arthur, probated 18 9br. 1679, Surry Co. Record Book 2, page 24195

abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 90.

Arthur Allen vs. Arthur Long, 3 July 1677, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 133-35, 146, 190 & 20996

abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 102; see also John Bennett Boddie. Colonial Surry. Baltimore:

Clearfield Company, 1997 reprint of 1948 original. pages 121, 125-29 & 145.

2 Hening 379-80.97

Will of Arthur Smith, made 1 October 1645, probated 9 February 1693, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will &98

Deed Book 2, page 330 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 34 and Deed from Thomas & Judith Claire to Arthur

Long, 14 January 1661/2, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 157 {for land that Thomas Claire had purchased from

Ralph Dunstan on 1 September 1660}.

Deed from Ralph & Hester Dunstan to Thomas Clarie, 1 September 1660, recorded 14 January 1661/2,99

Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 158 abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 36.

Deed from John Dunstan to Arthur Long, 7 May 1672, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, Fol. 6 abstracted in100

Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 79 for land that Thomas Claire purchased of Ralph & Hester Dunstan on 1

September 1660 that was left to John by his brother Peleg after the decease of their brother Ralph without issue.

Deed from John & Peleg Dunstan to Arthur Allen, 6 October 1661, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page101

174 abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 39 and Kornwolf (op. cit. ft. 16) plat map op. 181.

19

1679 and devised property to her six children. There is no independent proof that Arthur had a95 1

daughter named Mary. However, Arthur 's family had a peculiarly close relationship with Mary1

Long, her husband, and their children, which is particularly ironic given the actions of herhusband in Bacon’s Rebellion.

The first Arthur Long was no less than one of the chief Baconites, holding the rank ofcaptain, who not only seized Allen’s Brick House–ever after Bacon’s Castle–from his reputedbrother-in-law, Arthur , in 1676 but ordered Allen’s cattle slaughtered, as evidenced by a court2

record pertaining to Arthur 's suit against him. These activities resulted in the following:2 96

And further be it enacted by this present grand assembly and by the authoritythereof, that Arthur Long of Surry county doe upon his bended knees, with arope around his necke acknowledge his treasons and rebellions before the righthonourable the governor and councell, and begg pardon for his life, and that inlike manner he doe acknowledge his crimes in the county court of Surry, andthat he shall give good security for his future good behavior.97

Long was born by circa 1641, as he was named as a godson in the Will of Arthur Smithmade in 1645 and was a party to a deed witnessed by Arthur , which was made on 14 January1

1661/2. The 300 acres conveyed to Long in this deed were purchased the previous year by the98

grantors from Ralph & Hester Dunstan–said land having been inherited by Ralph from his fatherJohn Dunstan. It too was witnessed by Arthur . To settle his ownership interest of this land,99 1

Long bought out Ralph’s heir and surviving brother’s interest in it in 1672. Arthur too had100 1

also purchased land that had originally been owned by the deceased John Dunstan, from his sonsJohn and Peleg–land which adjoined the Allen Patent, where the Allens lived. Thus, Long101

likely lived either next to, or in the immediate vicinity of, the Allens beginning in 1661/2. He did

North Carolina Historical & Genealogical Register. Vol. III, page 365 cited in Long Article (op. cit. ft.102

94) 320 and Will of Mary Long (op. cit. ft. 95){refers to personal property in Carolina}.

Probate of Will of Mary Long by Arthur Allen & Robert Caufield, 4 & 18 9br. 1679, Surry Co. VA103

Record Book 2 pages 273 & 283 and Recording of Mary Long Inventory, 4 July 1682, Surry Co. VA Record Book

2, page 309 abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 117.

George Long bound unto Robert Caufield until he reaches age 21, 6 July 1680, Surry Co. VA Record104

Book 2, page 308 and Proof of Deed for Arthur Long by Arthur Allen, 8 9br. 1687, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2,

page 695.

Boddie (op. cit. ft. 96) 206-8.105

Will of Mary Long (op. cit. ft. 95); Long Article (op. cit. ft. 94); and infra under listing for Abigaill.106

Deposition of Arthur Allen, 5 March 1694/5, Surry Co. VA Record Book 5, page 34 abstracted in107 2

Hopkins Surry Deeds (op. cit. ft. 60) 45.

20

not remain there after Bacon’s Rebellion, however, as he left his family in Virginia and moved toPerquimans Pct., North Carolina (apparently ashamed of his actions in the rebellion), where hedied at Caleb Calloway’s house on 3 October 1677. That Mary and her children did not go102 2

with him is significant, as it would have been very unusual for a wife and children to live apartfrom their husband/father without some local support.

That support came from the Allen family. Arthur and Robert Caufield, who was married2

to Elizabeth at the time, presented Mary Long’s will for probate in 1679–Caufield was its2 2

executor and Arthur was a witness–and inventory for recording in 1682. As Boddie points2 103

out, the other witness to Mary’s will was Thomas Waller who also witnessed Arthur 's will in2

1709. Mary’s son George Long was placed under Robert Caufield’s guardianship in 1680 until3

he reached legal age, and Arthur Allen proved a deed for her son Arthur Long in 1687. 2 3 104

Finally, Edward Long, who may have been Mary’s son but who was undoubtedly a relative, waslisted as a tithable in, according to Boddie, the family of Joseph John Jackman in 1702, at105

which time Jackman was married to Elizabeth . Given Arthur Long’s activities in Bacon’s2

Rebellion, his family are the last individuals that one would expect to see with so manyassociations to the Allen family. Yet, the numerous relationships between the two families bothbefore and, more importantly, after the rebellion suggest a closer relationship between them thanjust neighbors. Consequently, Boddie’s conclusion that Long’s widow Mary was a child ofArthur is reasonable, but it is also possible that she could have been related to Arthur another1 1

way, since he is known to have other Allen relatives in the county at the time (see infra).ISSUE by LONG : 14. ARTHUR ; 15. ELIZABETH ; 16. MARY ; 17. GEORGE ;106 3 3 3 3

18. ABIGAILL ; 19. unnamed child (Edward?)3 3

7. ARTHUR ALLEN (Arthur ) listed his age as 43 in a 5 March 1694/5 deposition,2 1 107

which suggests that he born in either 1651 or 1652. However, since his mother had to act as hisguardian in the suit of Allen vs. Richards on 19 April 1670, he was still a minor at that time, buthe had obviously reached legal age later that year, as he was listed as the head of household in thetithables list prepared on 10 June 1670–unlike the previous year, when his mother was listed

1670 Surry Co. VA Tithables List for Lawnes Creek Parish, 10 June 1670, Surry Co. VA Record Book108

1, page 372.

Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 38 and Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).109

Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).110

Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 89, 114, 120, 158, 174, 176-78, 202, 222, 272, 276, 278, 280, 298,111

318-19 & 802; Surry Co. VA Order Book 1700-1713, page 227; and Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).

Warren M. Billings, ed. The Papers of Francis Howard Baron Howard of Effingham 1643-1695. 112

Richmond: Virginia State Library & Archives, 1989. pages 278-81 & 420-27 and Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).

H. R. McIlwaine. Legislative Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. Richmond: Virginia State113

Library, 2 edition, 1979 (“LGC”). pages 19, 21, 24, 25, 29, 30, 35, 46, 50, 52, 54, 60, 77, 79, 93, 95, 97 & 109;nd

Standard (op. cit. ft. 68) 51, 83, 85 & 86; Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 466 & 677; and Gentry (op. cit. ft.

37).

LGC (op. cit. ft. 113) 30; Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 679-80; and Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).114

Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37) and Billings (op. cit. ft. 112) 278-81 & 420-27.115

21

instead. Consequently, he was born between 19 April and 10 June 1649. The Allen Land Act108

establishes that he was his father’s only surviving son, and both his date of birth and the analysisabove relating to his mother’s probable birth suggest that he was their youngest child.

The Allen Letter establishes that he was sent to England for his education in 1660 andreturned to Virginia a year or two before his father’s death in 1669. That event thrust him intothe leadership of his family and as the master of a significant landed estate approaching 2,500acres. And he would quickly build on the foundations that his father had laid–becoming the mostimportant member of the Allen family during the colonial period. Like his father, he served onthe Vestry of Lawnes Creek Parish beginning by 1673. He was appointed as a Justice of Surry109

County in 1675 but lost the position in 1677 due to the actions of Acting Governor HerbertJeffreys only to be re-appointed the following year, after Jeffreys’s death. Allen’s continued110

service lasted this time until 1686.111

The previous year Allen joined the “Greenspring Faction” led by Robert Beverley andCol. Phillip Ludwell. Since “one Major Allen” was a “great promoter of those differencesbetween me, and the Assembly,” Gov. Francis, Baron Howard of Effingham not only removedhim from his post as a Justice of Surry County but also as the Surveyor of Surry and Isle ofWight Counties in 1686. Allen would cause additional headaches for Effingham because,112

unlike his father, he was elected to represent Surry County in the House of Burgesses from 1682-88 and, as the Allen Letter confirms, was unanimously elected Speaker for two terms, in 1686and 1688. In his first year in the Assembly, Allen was placed on the Propositions and113

Grievances Committee, and in 1688 he was a member of a commission to settle the boundarybetween Surry and Charles City Counties. Allen’s leadership and continued intransigence114

caused Effingham to dissolve the Assembly both years that Allen was its Speaker.115

Allen was again re-elected to the House in 1691, he refused to serve “through Scruple of

LGC (op. cit. ft. 113) 136; Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 802; and Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).116

26 October 1697, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page 204.117

Allen Letter; Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 204; and Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).118

Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).119

Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 120, 322, 381 & 622.120

Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 7 and Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37).121

Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 7; Gentry (op. cit. ft. 37); Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 144-46, 165,122

167-68, 172, 174 & 175.

22

Conscience to take ye Oaths” to William & Mary. He refused again in 1697 when offered116

another office for the same reason. And, as the Allen Letter confirms, these scruples were117

directly connected to the so-called Glorious Revolution of 1688 in which Britain’s rightful king,James VII, was forced to flee and his daughter Mary–who was not his heir–and her husbandWilliam were offered the throne. Allen was not, however, concerned with the Jacobite claim tothe throne but was rather unwilling to violate the oath that he had already given to King James. So, not until after James’s death in 1702 was Arthur once again willing to take new oaths: in2

September of that year, he accepted reappointment as a Justice of Surry County and was shortlythereafter placed on the College of William & Mary’s Board of Visitors. Allen ran once more118

for the House of Burgesses but, despite Gov. Francis Nicholson’s support, the constituents ofSurry County did not re-elect him. Being in the new governor’s favor, he was restored to his oldsurveyor post in 1704, which he held until it was passed to his son John in 1707, and was given3

naval command for the Upper District of the James River in 1703. Moreover, the leader ofVirginia’s Co-Acting Governors in 1708, Edmund Jennings, unsuccessfully recommended Allento the Board of Trade for elevation to the Council of State.119

Also, unlike his father, Allen was an active member of the Surry County militia, whichwas ironically much less politically stormy than his other offices but was more volatile in otherways. Allen was a captain by 31 March 1677 and major–which was the title that he proudly wentby ever thereafter–by 7 November 1682. This service brought Allen to the defense of Gov. Sir120

William Berkeley during Bacon’s Rebellion, as well described in the Allen Letter. Possibly as adirect result of this zealous support, seventy rebels under the command of Maj. WilliamRookings and, of course, Capt. Arthur Long seized and held Bacon’s Castle from 18 Septemberto 28 December 1676. The rebels caused a significant amount of damage, in excess of £1,000,121

and Allen sued a number of them for damages including two with Allen familyconnections–Arthur Long and Thomas Busby (see later).122

The Will of Capt. Lawrence Baker, which was made on 18 March 1680/1 and waswitnessed by Robert Caufield, establishes that Allen had married Baker’s daughter and heiress

Will of Lawrence Baker, made 18 March & probated 6 7br. 1681,Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page123

290 abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 10; Robert Caufield attorney for Katharine, wife of Arthur Allen, 3

May 1681, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 337; Probate granted to Arthur Allen for Will of Capt. Lawrence

Baker, decd., 6 7br. 1681, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 348; Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 382;

Katharine Allen, 1693, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1700-1713, page 89; Deed from William Gray to Robert Caufield,

5 March 1688/9, recorded 7 May 1689, Deed Book 4, page 108 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds (op. cit. ft. 60)

23 (Katharine Allen witnessed); Deed from Arthur Allen & wife Katharine, daughter of Capt. Lawrence Baker, decd.

to Capt. Thomas Swan, 5 November 1693, recorded 21 November 1693, Surry Co. VA Deed Book 4, page 335

abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds 40; and Deed from Arthur Allen & wife Katharine to Richard Washington, 9

November 1691, Surry Co. VA Deed Book 4, page 231 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds 33.


Louis B. Wright & Marion Tinling, eds. The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover: 1709-1712. 125

Richmond: The Dietz Press, 1941. page 193; Estate Inventory of Arthur Allen, 20 November 1711, Surry Co. VA

Deed Book 1709-1715, pages 84-88 transcribed in Andrews 84-86; and Gentry


Will of James Allen, made 24 January & probated 20 February 1711/2, Surry Co. VA Will Book 6, page127

97 abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 3-4.

Will of Arthur Allen (op. cit. ft. 45).2128

Administration of the Estate of Robert Williamson, made 9 February 1687/8, recorded 23 April 1689,129

Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 2, page 287.

23

Katharine by that date. Dr. Kevin Kelly persuasively argues that various land transactions123

between Allen and Lawrence Baker beginning in 1678 suggest that Allen and Katherine weremarried by that year. In fact, this date can be pushed back to no later than the early 1670s124

given Elizabeth ’s birth (see infra).3

Allen made his will on 16 February 1709 naming wife Katharine, daughter of “Capt.Lawrance Baker Late of this County decd.,” his sisters Joan Proctor and Elizabeth Jackman, and2 2

eight children. He died on 15 June 1710, per a diary note of Col. William Byrd II, and left apersonal estate valued at £838 plus £682 for twenty-eight slaves as well as nearly 10,000 acres. 125

(He owned 8,580 acres in Surry and Isle of Wight Counties in 1704. ) The last reference to126

Katharine was in the will of their son James , which was made on 24 January 1711/2.3 127

ISSUE by BAKER : 20. ELIZABETH ; 21. JOHN ; 22. KATHERINE ; 23. 128 3 3 3

JAMES ; 24. ARTHUR ; 25. MARY ; 26. ANN ; 27. JOSEPH3 3 3 3 3

8. ROBERT WILLIAMSON (Arthur ; Joan ), as already noted supra, was the eldest son3 1 2

of his parents and was born circa 1653. He died by 9 February 1687/8, when his intestateadministration was prepared by his brother George . According to the Bridger/Williamson3 129

Deed, he was to have gotten the remainder interest of the land conveyed after his mother’s death. However, he predeceased his mother and, as established by his brother George 's will, the land3

ultimately came into this brother’s hands. George came into additional land from this brother3

Deed from George Williamson to John Surjournor, recorded 9 April 1691, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed130

Book 1, page 36 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds (op. cit. ft. 71) 31.


John Bennett Boddie. Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight Co. Virginia. Baltimore: Genealogical132

Publishing Co., Inc., 1994 reprint. pages 426-27.

Will of Joseph Bridger, made 3 August 1683, probated 8 May 1686, Isle of Wight Co. VA General133

Record Book 2, pages 250-53 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 25.

Deed from Philip & Sarah Raydford to John Crompler, 23 December 1723, recorded 27 April 1724, Isle134

of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 2, page 638 abstracted in William Lindsay Hopkins. Isle of Wight County Virginia

Deeds 1720-1736 & 1741-1749. Athans, GA: Iberian Publishing Company, 1994 (“Hopkins Deeds II”), page 17.

Deed from George & Hester Williamson to William Crumpler, recorded 9 April 1703, Isle of Wight Co.135

VA Deed Book 1, page 389 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds (op. cit. ft. 71) 66.

Inventory of Joseph Bridger, made 28 June 1686, Isle of Wight Co. VA General Record Book 2, pages136

255-62 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 25.

24

after the latter’s death, which he sold in 1691. Since the land conveyed in the130

Bridger/Williamson Deed was to go to Robert after his mother’s death and since she outlived3

him, the fact that his brother George got possession of this land after his death establishes that3

Robert died without surviving issue and that George was his next oldest brother and heir.3 3


9. GEORGE WILLIAMSON (Arthur ; Joan ) was, per the records cited supra, the3 1 2

second eldest son of his parents and was his mother’s heir, after Robert ’s death. He was,3

therefore, probably born in the mid to late 1650s. By 1704, he owned 2,735 acres in Isle ofWight County.131

Genealogist John Bennett Boddie asserted that George married Hester Bridger, who3 132

was the daughter of Gen. Joseph Bridger of Isle of Wight County. A 29 January 1703 deed,133

which was not recorded but was referred to in a later deed, indicates that George ’s wife had134 3

the relatively uncommon given name of Hester. Another deed, which was recorded and wascited by Boddie, contains this same information.135

This theory is supported by the fact that Hester Bridger and George were the same3

generation. Gen. Bridger’s will indicates that all of his children, except for his eldest childrenJoseph and Martha, were under twenty-one when it was made on 3 August 1683 and that hisother daughters were unmarried at that time: thus, Hester Bridger was born in or after 1662. Gen. Bridger directed that his personal estate be divided equally among his seven children, withhis executor holding his daughters’s shares until they reached age twenty-one and/or weremarried. This distribution was made on 28 June 1686 to three of Gen. Bridger’s daughters, all ofwhom were married at that time. Since Hester was not included, she was not yet twenty-one136

and had not yet married or had died without issue. So, if she survived, then she was born after 28June 1665–making her about a decade younger than George .3

Blance Adams Chapman. Marriages of Isle of Wight County, Virginia 1628-1800. Baltimore: 137

Clearfield Company, 1997 reprint, page 51 citing Deed from Thomas & Olive Williamson of Southampton Co. VA

to Joseph Bridger of Isle of Wight Co. VA, 1 March 1753, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 9, page 172 {Hester4

was devised the land from the Bridger/Williamson Deed and, as Hester Bidgood, deeded this land to her brother

Thomas on 24 October 1750}; and see Will of David Williams, made 28 September 1686, probated 10 October4

1687, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 2, page 270; Will of George Barlow, made 10 December 1718, Isle

of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 2, page 661 {John & Hester Brantley witnesses}; and Will of John Asque of

Warwick County, made 5 March 1712/3, probated 25 May 1713, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book 2, page

561 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 27, 60 & 53.

Will of George Williamson (op. cit. ft. 73).138

Will of William Bidgood, Sr., made 14 May & probated 11 August 1748, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will139

Book 5, page 123 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 157 {names wife Hester} and Deed from Thomas & Olive

Williamson to Joseph Bridger (op. cit. ft. 137).

Will of George Williamson (op. cit. ft. 73) and Williamson/Bridger Deed (op. cit. ft. 70). In this will,140

George mentions grandson Jacob Darden.5

25

Had she survived, a subsequent distribution to her would likely have been recorded. While no such record exists in Isle of Wight County’s surviving records, it is noteworthy that theOrder books for this period, in which such a distribution might have been recorded, have beenlost. Researcher Blanche Adams Chapman cited another court record, a 1753 deed from Thomas& Olive Williamson to Joseph Bridger, as proof of Hester Bridger’s marriage to George . 3

Apparently, Ms. Chapman found this deed to be significant, as the land conveyed in it waspreviously owned by Gen. Joseph Bridger and was ultimately sold by a Williamson to Gen.Bridger’s great-grandson, Col. Joseph Bridger. It is significant that this land was devised byGeorge to his daughter Hester –who was obviously her mother’s name-sake–as it was unusual to3 4

leave an unmarried daughter land at this time. That significance is, however, mitigated by thefact that Gen. Bridger conveyed this land, in the Bridger/Williamson Deed, not to George ’s wife3

Hester but to Joan Allen Williamson Burnett in 1683, which was probably before the date of2

George ’s marriage. While all of this circumstantial evidence has merit, the author has identified3

three other Isle of Wight County ladies named Hester, who could also have been the wife ofGeorge : Hester, daughter of Davis Williams named in his 1686 will, Hester Brown in 1713, and3

Hester Brantley in 1718. So, the documentary evidence presently available is not sufficient to137

conclusively establish that George ’s wife Hester was Gen. Bridger’s daughter, even though that3

connection remains a distinct possibility.George died between 26 April 1721 and 28 May 1722, when his will was made and3

probated. His daughter Hester married William Bidgood and, per her second husband’s will138 4

and the aforementioned deed involving her brother Thomas 's conveyance of land to Col. Joseph4

Bridger, was still alive on 24 October 1750. No record of George’s wife Hester’s death has yet139

been discovered.ISSUE by HESTER: 28. George ; 29. Robert ; 30. John ; 31. Thomas ; 32. Hester ;140 4 4 4 4 4

33. Mary ; 34. Patience ; 35. Elizabeth ; 36. Juliana ; 37. a daughter (who married a Darden).4 4 4 4 4

10. ARTHUR WILLIAMSON (Arthur ; Joan ) was likely the third son of his parents,3 1 2

Deeds of Lease & Release from Edward Boykin to Arthur Williamson, 19-22 August 1737, Isle of Wight141

Co. VA Deed Book 5, page 184.

Estate of John Richardson, 13 August 1694, Isle of Wight Co. Deed Book 1, page 128 abstracted in142

Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 4.


Will of Francis Williamson, Sr., made 14 May & probated 22 August 1743, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will144


Inventory of Francis Williamson, Sr., recorded 24 September 1744, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will Book 4,145

page 508 abstracted in (op. cit. ft. 42) 147.

Will of Francis Williamson, made 14 March 1736/7, probated 27 June 1737, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will146

Book 4, page 170 and Inventory of Francis Williamson, Jr., ordered 21 September & recorded 26 September 1737,

Isle of Wight Co. VA Will Book 4, page 178 both abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 219.

Deeds of James & Francis Williamson to James Simmons & James Tomberlin, 26 November 1744, Isle147

of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 6, pages 521-22 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds II (op. cit. ft. 134) 79.

26

given the order in which he is mentioned in his father’s will. Surviving records reveal very littleabout him after that time. In 1737, Edward Boykin conveyed land on the Blackwater andBarbhue Swamp, adjoining land owned by a Francis Williamson, to an Arthur Williamson who141

may be Arthur . However, even that is not certain given that Francis had a son with this given3 3

name, who would have been of age at the time. Consequently, Arthur is a mystery: he may3

have survived childhood, gotten married, and left issue, or he may not have.ISSUE: unknown

11. FRANCIS WILLIAMSON (Arthur ; Joan ), probably the youngest of his parents’3 1 2

children, was born by the time that his father made his will in 1669. He first appears on his ownin the public record, when he was listed in the account of John Richardson’s estate in 1694. 142

By 1704, he owned 2,035 acres in Isle of Wight County.143

Per his will, Francis was married to Ann, who survived him. He named sons Arthur ,144 3 4

Joseph and Benjamin and a daughter Martha Atkinson in addition to the following eight4 4 4

grandchildren: Mourning , Francis , Elizabeth , Jesse , Arthur , Martha , Burwell , Joseph ,5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Hardy , Absolm , Benjamin , and James Williamson. His inventory was recorded the following5 5 5 5

year by sons Arthur and Benjamin . That this Francis is Francis is established by several4 4 145 3

facts. First, the names of seven of these grandchildren–Francis, James, Benjamin, Joseph, Hardy,Martha and Mourning–match all but one of the children named in the nuncupitive will of“Francis Williamson, Jr.,” who died in 1737. This Francis’s will was proved by Francis,146

Arthur and Thomas Williamson. Second, James and Francis Williamson conveyed land in two5 5

deeds that, per the deeds, was devised to their grandfather Francis by his father Robert in the3

latter’s 1669 will. Not surprisingly, James and Francis are two of the grandchildren (children147

of Francis Jr.) named in Francis Sr.’s will of 1743. Another deed confirms this conclusion: in it,this same grandson Francis conveys land that descended to him from his grandfather Francis ,5 3

Deed of Francis & Susannah Williamson of North Carolina & James Williamson to George Fearn, 24148

August 1745, recorded 26 August 1745, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 7, page 164 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds

II (op. cit. ft. 134) 88.

Deed from Francis Williamson to sons Arthur, Benjamin & Joseph Williamson, 22 November 1723,149

recorded 25 November 1723, Isle of Wight Co. VA Great Book 2, page 589 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds (op. cit. ft.

71) 144.

Wills of Francis Williamson, Sr. & Francis Williamson, Jr. (op. cit. ft. 144 & 146) and above analysis.150

Will of Ann Burnett, made 8 April & probated 28 April 1729, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will Book 3, page151

154 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 105.

Deed from Matthew & Mary Tomlin to John Johnson, 13 August 1687, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will &152

Deed Book 2, Part 2, page 570.

EJohnson (op. cit. ft.41 ) 47-49153

27

who it says died in 1743 and which, in turn, had formerly belonged to Dr. Robert Williamson.148

A final deed suggests that Francis (Jr.) was Francis 's eldest son as Francis deeded land4 3 3

to his other three sons prior to the death of Francis thereby resulting in this son’s inheritance of4

all of his father’s other land.149

ISSUE by ANN: 38. Francis ; 39. Arthur ; 40. Joseph ; 41. Benjamin ; 42. Martha150 4 4 4 4 4

12. ANN BURNETT (Arthur ; Joan ) was born between 2 November 1672, when her3 1 2

father Robert Burnett took out the bond to marry her mother, and 17 July 1679, when her father’swill, in which she was named and described as being under age 18, was probated. That she wasBurnett’s child by Joan and not from some previous hypothetical wife is suggested by the fact2

that Burnett appointed Arthur as her guardian, in his will, and that her birth during Burnett’s2

marriage to Joan makes her death over fifty years later statistically consistent. She died2

unmarried and presumably without issue in April of 1729, in the same month as her step-fatherReuben Proctor–since she named no children in her will. She made her “brother” Francis151 3

Williamson the executor of her will and devised all of her property to her “cousin” JosephWilliamson–probably Francis ’s son Joseph .3 4

ISSUE: none

13. JOHN JOHNSON (Arthur ; Allen daughter ) was under 18 when his step-3 1 2

grandfather John Hardy made his will in 1675: thus, Johnson was born no earlier than 1658. And he was born no later than 1666, since he purchased land without a guardian in a 1687 deed(“Tomlin/Johnson Deed”). Moreover, if Johnson were of age when he witnessed the Alice152

POE in 1681, then he was born no later than 1660.Johnson married two Marys, as documented by Eddis Johnson and Hugh B. Johnston. 153

He married the first Mary, who was the mother of his children, by circa 1681 in probably Isle of

This date is based upon the circa 1682 birthdate of their only son John Johnson (see infra).4 154

Deed from John & Mary Johnson to Luke Kent, 20 October 1692, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 1,155

pages 50 & 73-74 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds (op. cit. ft. 71) 34 & 36.

Will of James Day, made 10 August 1700, probated 9 January 1700/1, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will &156

Deed Book 2, page 428 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 40.

Will of Mary Gledhill, made 30 November 1712, probated 26 January 1712/3, Isle of Wight Co. VA157

Will & Deed Book 2, page 543 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. ) 51.

Will of John Johnson, made 7 January 1703/4, probated 9 August 1707, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will &158

Deed Book 2, page 484 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. ) 46.

John Hardy’s Estate Appraisal, recorded on 10 February 1706/7, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed159

Book 2, page 481.

28

Wight County. His marriage to this Mary is established by the Johnson/Kent Deed. 154 155

Johnson’s second wife Mary was the widow of James Day, who died by January of 1700/1, whenDay’s will naming her as his wife was probated. As Mary Gledhill, she made her own will in156

1712, in which she stated that she had been the wife of both James Day and Johnson. Since157

this Mary survived Johnson, she has to be the wife Mary, who was mentioned in his will. She158

was also, as she stated in her will, the widow of James Day. Since Day was still alive in 1700,this Mary cannot be the same Mary as Johnson’s wife Mary in the Johnson/Kent Deed. Thus,Johnson had two wives named Mary–a fact which is supported by Johnson’s reference toprovisions regarding his (first) wife’s estate in his will. The first Mary, then, has to be themother of all of his children, as he was only married to Day’s widow Mary from after 1700 to1707, at the end of his life. Thus, the first Mary died between the making of the Johnson/KentDeed on 20 October 1692 and the making of Johnson’s will on 7 January 1703/4.

Johnson died between the time that he recorded his step-grandfather John Hardy’sappraisal on 10 February 1706/7 –some thirty years after Hardy’s death and after his159

grandmother Alice had been made its executrix–and the probate of his own will on 9 August1707 in Isle of Wight County. The Isle of Wight County residence of John establishes that he is3

the John Johnson, who was the testator of the will probated in 1707. First, the fact that JohnHardy remembered only one of his wife's grandchildren in his will suggests both a specialconnection between Alice and John and that John may have lived with them in Isle of Wight3 3

County, which, in turn, suggests that he was orphaned. These conclusions are supported by theAlice POA, which this grandson witnessed, and the fact that John recorded John Hardy's estate3

appraisal in February 1706/7. Moreover, it is obviously John to whom the 1692 patent of land3

in this county was issued, since this patent was located next to land belonging to a James Allen(possibly John 's cousin) and William Mayo, who was John Hardy’s step-son-in-law (and John ’s3 3

step-father).The Tomlin/Johnson Deed establishes that the John Johnson, who was the testator of the

1707 will, was also an Isle of Wight County landowner, as the 250 acres conveyed in this deedwas devised to his son John in this will. It was subsequently sold by this son in a later deed4

Deed from John & Mary Johnson of Bertie Co. NC to John Hole, 11 May 1735, Isle of Wight Co. VA160

Deed Book 4, pages 498-500 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds II (op. cit. ft. 134) 51.


John Johnson’s 890 acres put him in the top 15% of the population in landownership: see Bruce (op. cit.162

ft. 20) 98-99 and Horn (op. cit. ft. 12) 168-69 & 340-41.

In fact, only 30% of colonial Virginians lived beyond age fifty: see Cary Carson, Norman F. Barka,163

William M. Kelso, Garry Wheeler Stone, and Dell Upton. “Impermanent Architecture in the Southern American

Colonies.” In Robert Blair St. George, ed. Material Life in America, 1600-1800. Boston: Northeastern University

Press, 1988. page 143.

Deed from Arthur Long, son and heir of Arthur Long, to Arthur Allen, both of Lawnes Creek Parish, 8164

November 1688, recorded 7 May 1689, Surry Co. VA Wills, Deeds, etc. Book 4, page 106 abstracted in Hopkins

Surry Deeds (op. cit. ft. 60) 22 and Deed from Arthur Long, son and heir of Arthur Long, to Thomas Drue, 17 May

1692, recorded 17 May 1692, Surry Co. VA Wills, Deeds, etc. Book 4, page 263 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds

35.

29

(“Johnson/Hole Deed”). The 1704 Quit Rent Roll only shows one land-owning John Johnson160

in this county, at a time when John was still alive: this individual had 890 acres in the county,161 3

which was more than the combined 500 acres conveyed to the one or more John Johnsons in theTomlin/Johnson Deed and the 1692 patent. Since John Johnson devised land in this countythrough his will, which was made the very same year, these two records clearly refer to the sameindividual.162

The conclusion that John is the same individual as the John Johnson whose will was3

probated in 1707 is confirmed by the county’s probate records. Since this latter John died in1707 with at least four children and since men in early eighteenth century Virginia rarely livedbeyond age sixty, the year of his death indicates that he was probably born in the mid-163

seventeenth century, which is the very period when John was also born. Thus, the first decade3

of the eighteenth century is the time period when one would expect to find the death record ofJohn , and, as probate records clearly show, there were no John Johnsons who died anywhere3

near this period, or for that matter at any time in the prior century, in Isle of Wight County otherthan John . Since testator John Johnson did not likely die until the spring or summer of 1707, as3

his will was probated in August of that year, he would have been alive in February of 1707, whenJohn recorded John Hardy's estate appraisal. This recording is the last time that the John3

Johnson, who is unquestionably John , appears in Isle of Wight County’s records–and for good3

reason: the two Johns are the same and, so, John died just a few months later.3

ISSUE by first MARY: 43. JOHN ; 44. MARTHA ; 45. Patience ; 46. Mary4 4 4 4

14. ARTHUR LONG (Arthur ?; Mary ) was the eldest son and heir of his parents per3 1 2

two deeds. These deeds also establish that he married a Mary in-between their making: in the164

first of these deeds, which was made on 8 November 1688, no wife signed to relinquish dower,but wife Mary does appear relinquishing dower in the second deed, which was made on 17 May

In re: John Edwards, security for Mary Thayler (now wife of Arthur Long) executrix of Estate of Walter165

Thayler, 7br. 1695, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1700-1713, page 138

Surry Co. VA Tithables for Lawnes Creek Parish, 10 June 1673, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 35.166

Estate of Arthur Long, May & 22 November 1700, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page 258 and167

Wills, Deeds, etc. Book 5, page 218 abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 90.

Oath of George Long for Will of Ann Muggett, 8 8br. 1681, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, page168

753.

George Long vs. Thomas Carrell, September 1703, Surry Co. VA Order 1700-1711 Book 1691-1713,169

page 38 and Deed from Joseph Wall, Jr. & Mary Wall to George Long, all of Lawnes Creek Parish, 16 June 1719,

recorded 19 August 1719, Surry Co. VA Wills, Deeds, etc. Book 7, page 205 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds

(op. cit. ft. 60) 108.

30

1692. She was the widow of Walter Thayler. Long’s involvement in the first deed establishes165

that he was born no later than 8 November 1667, and the fact that his father’s household wasonly taxed for one tithable in 1673 establishes that he could not have been born before166

1658–otherwise an additional tithable would have been taxed for him. The time of his birth canbe narrowed even further by the fact that, unlike siblings George and Abigail , no guardian was3 3

appointed for him in 1680, thereby suggesting that he was of age by that year–yielding a birth nolater than 1659. Thus, Long was born in either 1658 or 1659. And he died by 22 November1700 in Surry County, as his wife Mary filed an intestate probate proceeding for him on thatdate. While Boddie attempted to construct a list of eight possible children for Long and his167

wife, in the Long Article, no documentation is cited. It is probable that Long did leave issue, butadequate proof has so far not been forthcoming to establish their identities.

ISSUE: likely but unknown

15. ELIZABETH LONG (Arthur ?; Mary ) is not mentioned in any record after her3 1 2

listing in her mother’s will. Since no guardian was appointed for her in 1680, like it was forsiblings George and Abigail , she was either deceased without issue, married, or was of age in3 3

1680.ISSUE: unknown

16. MARY LONG (Arthur ?; Mary ) is not mentioned in any record after her listing in3 1 2

her mother’s will. Since no guardian was appointed for her in 1680, like it was for siblingsGeorge and Abigail , she was either deceased without issue, married, or was of age in 1680.3 3

ISSUE: unknown

17. GEORGE LONG (Arthur ?; Mary ), as already noted, was under age in 1680, since3 1 2

he was placed under the guardianship of Robert Caufield in that year. However, the followingyear he gave an oath on the Will of Ann Muggett –suggesting that he was of age by then. If168

correct, then he was born in circa 1660. He was a party to a lawsuit in 1703 and to a deed madeon 16 June 1719. Long died by the time that his wife Mary was devised clothing by the169

Will of Elizabeth Andrews, made 29 November 1735, probated 18 November 1741, Surry Co. VA Will170

Book 9, page 392 abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 6.

Abigaill Long bound unto Francis Mason until she reaches age 21 or marries, 7 7br. 1680, Surry Co. VA171

Record Book 2, page 310.

Wills of Arthur Allen and James Allen (op. cit. ft. 45 & 127).2172 3

Deposition of William Bridger, 10 April 1710, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 2, page 141 abstracted173

in Hopkins Deeds (op. cit. ft. 71) 97.

Will of William Bridger, made 27 September & probated 30 November 1730, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will174

Book 3, page 230 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 110-11.


Wills of William Bridger, Arthur Allen, and James Allen (op. cit. ft. 174, 45 & 127).2 3176

31

apparently childless Elizabeth Andrews in her will of 23 November 1735. The fact that he was170

married, however, raises the distinct possibility that he left issue. However, like his elderbrother, the record evidence is insufficient to identify which of the numerous Longs in both SurryCounty and the surrounding counties they may have been.

ISSUE: likely but unknown

18. ABIGAILL LONG (Arthur ?; Mary ) was, like her brother George , under age in3 1 2 3

1680 as she too was placed under guardianship–with Francis Mason until she reached legal ageor married. Like her sisters, however, there is no further record of her.171

ISSUE: unknown

20. ELIZABETH ALLEN (Arthur ; Arthur ) had married Col. William Bridger, who3 1 2

was the son of the aforementioned Gen. Joseph Bridger, by the time that her father made his willin 1709, in which he is mentioned. Col. Bridger was born after 1662, since he was under age172

when his father made his will in 1683, and he gave his age as “34 years or there abt.” in 1710. 173

If Col. William were the youngest of his father’s five children born after 1662, the birth of onechild every two years or so would give him a birth of circa 1671 that is not out of line with hisestimated age in the affidavit. Any later date would be unlikely given his eldest childrens’sbirths. The will of Arthur implies that two of Elizabeth ’s children, Joseph and Martha , were2 3 4 4

of age at the time: so, they both would have been born no later than 1688–thereby establishing alikely birth for her in the early 1670s, at the latest. Consequently, she was in every probabilityher parents’s eldest child. She died between the 2 December 1726 making of her sister Ann3

Day’s will, in which she was mentioned, and probably 27 September 1730: her husband’s will,which was made on this date, names no wife and places one of their under-age sons underguardianship. Notably, her husband and his brother, Col. Samuel Bridger, were the largest174

landowners south of the James River in Virginia in 1704–holding 13,600 acres in Isle of Wightand Nansemond counties.175

ISSUE by BRIDGER: 49. Joseph John ; 50. Martha ; 51. Mary ; 52. William ; 53. 176 4 4 4 4

Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 33 and Horn (op. cit. ft. 12) 100 & 153 {£50 was the average wealth of a middle177

class person}.

Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 33 and Kneebone, John T., et al., eds. Dictionary of Virginia Biography. 178

Biography of John Allen by Eve Gregory. Richmond: The Library of Virginia, 1998. Volume I, pages 88-892

(“Gregory II”).

Gregory II (op. cit. ft. 178).179

Gregory II (op. cit. ft. 178); Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 34; Deed from John Battle to Nathaniel Harrison, 16180

August 1714, recorded 18 August 1714, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 6, page 208 {refers to Capt. John Allen};

and Deed from Thomas & Mary Waller to James Ransom, 15 July 1728, recorded 17 July 1728, Isle of Wight Co.

VA Deed Book 7, page 833 {refers to Col. John Allen}.

Gregory II (op. cit. ft. 178); Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 33-44; LGC (op. cit. ft. 113) 810, 854, 875, 892, 896,181

798-801 & 854-55.

32

Samuel ; 54. Arthur ; 55. James4 4 4

21. JOHN ALLEN (Arthur ; Arthur ) was the eldest son of his father, per the Allen Land3 1 2

Act. Author Eve Gregory persuasively suggests that he was born in circa 1684, given hisactivities at the College of William & Mary. Gregory notes that he entered this school as astudent by 1699, when he would have been about fifteen, and served as a teaching assistant in1702, at which time he was paid a substantial £50 per annum, when he was probably ageeighteen. If he were, however, at least twenty-one years old at the time, which was far more177

likely, then he would have been born by 1681: this estimate is consistent with Allen’sappointment as Surry County’s Surveyor in 1707 (a post that he would hold until December of1741) by which time he would in have been of age. Moreover, it is unlikely that any under-age178

person would have been paid so large a stipend.This post was only the first in Allen’s successful political career. He became the Clerk of

Surry County Court the following year. By 1711, he was a militia captain, and he had risen to179

be the Colonel of Surry County’s militia by 1728. Like his father, he also represented Surry180

County in the House of Burgesses, from 1736-1740.181

Unlike his father, however, Allen did not reside at Bacon’s Castle: instead, he took upresidence on the plantation at Upper Chippokes Creek that would later be known as ClaremontManor. It was the hub of over 24,000 acres that Allen had amassed in not only Surry County butin Isle of Wight, Brunswick and Nansemond Counties as well. While the present eighteenthcentury house had not yet been built, Allen nonetheless maintained, what Col. William Byrd IIcalled on 27 February 1727/8, an “Elegant Seat” for this “great oeconomist . . . [who] was Skilldin all the Arts of living well at any easy expense.” “Whether,” as Claremont Plantationresearcher Eve Gregory said, “this was high praise or biting sarcasm from the critical builder ofWestover is not clear.”

Allen was asked to join Byrd’s historic mission to survey the boundary line betweenVirginia and North Carolina, but he declined the invitation. His excuse was that his wife was, toquote Byrd, “really indispos’d, but not so dangerously as to hinder a Vigorous Man from going

William Byrd. Histories of the Dividing Line betwixt Virginia and North Carolina. New York: Dover182

Publications, Inc., 1967. pages 30-31 and Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 33, 35-36 & see 37-39.

Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 34-35; Gravestone of Elizabeth Allen, wife of John, transcribed in Gregory 40 &183

Tyler Allen History (op. cit. ft. 10); Gregory (op. cit. ft. 178) II 88-89; and Elizabeth Allen obituary, 20 October

1737, The Virginia Gazette, transcribed in Robert K. Headley, Jr. Genealogical Abstracts from 18 Centuryth

Newspapers. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1987, page 40.

Will of John Allen, made 5 March 1741/2, probated 21 April 1742, Surry Co. VA Will Book 9, page 405184

abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 4-5 and Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 34, 35 & 40-44.

John & Elizabeth Allen, executors, March 1711/2, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1700-1713, page 359.185

Will of James Allen (op. cit. ft. 127).3186

33

upon the service of his Country . . . [; however,] it furnish’t him with an Excuse of not goingupon an Expedition, that he fancy’d wou’d be both dangerous & difficult.”182

That wife was Elizabeth Bassett (born 4 July 1697), whom Allen married in October of1720: she was the daughter of Col. William Bassett of Eltham, New Kent County, who was amember of the Council of State. Elizabeth died “very suddenly” after breakfast at age 42 onSaturday, 14 October 1738. Allen not only outlived her but their children, whose graves are183

mentioned in his will, as well as his three younger brothers. Allen died without surviving issuebetween 5 March 1741/2 and 21 April 1742, when his will was made and probated. He left thenow-dormant Albemarle Parish, then in Surry County, and the still active Southwark Parish, thatis still in Surry County, each £35 to purchase communion silver: the Albemarle set is now atSouthampton County’s Nottoway Parish (St. Luke’s) in Courtland, Virginia. He referred to therecent arrival of a grave marker from England on which were carved the Allen and Basset arms,that he directed be set up “in a handsome manner” over his wife’s grave. Allen made additionalbequests to nephews James Bridger and James Allen as well as to his wife’s two sisters. The4 4

1,300 acres he had been devised by his father in entail automatically passed to his heir, who wasthe heir of his deceased brother Arthur . All the rest of his huge estate, which included 2293

slaves, was devised to his nephew, William Allen, who was the son of his youngest brother4

Joseph .3 184

ISSUE: 54. several children–all predeceased father without issue

22. KATHERINE ALLEN (Arthur ; Arthur ) and her brother John were the executors of3 1 2 3

their father’s will, and she was unmarried when it was made in 1709. The last known record ofher is in March of 1711/2, when she and her brother appeared in court in this capacity.185

ISSUE: unknown

23. JAMES ALLEN (Arthur ; Arthur ) was probably born in the mid 1680s given the3 1 2

birth dates of old brother John and next youngest brother Arthur . He died without issue since3 3

he devised all of his property to his mother, three brothers, three sisters, and “cousin” (nephew)Arthur Bridger. This property included land in both Surry and Isle of Wight Counties and a186

personal estate valued at just over £101. He died between 24 January and 20 February 1711/2,


Kelly (op. cit. ft. 16) 31-32.188

Will of Arthur Allen noted in the Allen Land Act (op. cit. ft. 26).1189

Kelly (op. cit. ft. 16) 32; Wills of Arthur Allen and James Allen (op. cit. ft. 45 & 127).190 2 3

Byrd (op. cit. ft. 182) 444; Kelly (op. cit. ft. 16) 32 and Bond of Arthur Allen & Elizabeth from her191

“brother Thomas Bray,” 21 August 1728, Surry Co. Deed Book 7, page 841 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds (op.

cit. ft. 60) 145.

Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 32 and Power of Attorney of Joseph John Jackman, 17 March 1713/4, Surry Co.192

VA Record Book 6, page 180 abstracted in Hopkins Surry Deeds (op. cit. ft. 60) 89.

Byrd (op. cit. ft. 182) 33.193

34

when his will was made and probated. He was to have inherited, per an entailed bequest in hisfather’s will, Bacon’s Castle had he survived his mother, but that never came to be. Instead, hisfather’s inventory shows that he was living in a small house on the Bacon’s Castle property, andit was likely there that he died. Had James outlived his mother, however, its fee tail title from187

Arthur would have vested Bacon’s Castle in his older brother John –despite Arthur ’s attempted1 3 2

bequest to the contrary.ISSUE: none surviving

24. ARTHUR ALLEN (Arthur ; Arthur ) was the eldest son of his parents to leave3 1 2

surviving issue. Although his younger brother Joseph was placed next in line after James for3 3

rights to Bacon’s Castle in their father’s will, Allen’s seniority won out for this entailed estate. 188

While Arthur himself acquired most of the land that he devised, thus enabling him to devise it as2

he wished, Bacon’s Castle descended from Arthur in entail to Arthur : thus, Arthur had no1 2 2

control over its descent, and it automatically passed to Arthur 's issue upon the death of his older3

brothers without surviving issue.189

Arthur was born between 1688 and 1691, since he was not yet of age when his father’s3

will was made in 1709 but was when his brother James made his will in 1711/2. He married3 190

the formidable Elizabeth Bray, who was the daughter of James Bray of James City County, on 27November 1711. By 1726, he was a Justice of Surry County and may already have been in191

sickly health, as the instrument appointing him the power of attorney for his uncle, Joseph JohnJackman, in 1713/4 provided for an alternate in case of his death. He died by 28 February192

1727/8, as Col. William Byrd II and company visited “the Widdow Allen’s” house that day. Byrd noted that “she entertain’d us elegantly, & seem’d to pattern Solomon’s Housewife if onemay Judge by the neatness of her House, & the good Order of her Family.” The inventory of193

Arthur , like that of his father, presents one of only three colonial room-by-room inventories of3

Bacon’s Castle. Its total gross value was £880:00:09, including 28 slaves worth £430, but its net

Inventory of Arthur Allen, 4 April 1728, Surry Co. Deed Book 1715-1730 pages 807-10 transcribed in194

Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 86-89 and Kelly (op. cit. ft. 16) 32-34.

Andrews (op. cit. ft.17) 35; H.L. McIlwaine. Journals of the House of Burgesses 1727-1734. pages 139195

& 142; Estate of Arthur Allen, 20 July 1736, Surry Co. VA Record Book 8, page 713 abstracted in Davis Wills (op.

cit. ft. 45) 3.

Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 8; Inventory of Arthur Smith, recorded 6 February 1755 & 2 September 1756,196

Isle of Wight Co. VA Will Book 6, pages 152-54 & 235 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 179 and Inventory of

Arthur Smith, 24 January 1755, Surry Co. VA Will Book 6, pages 144-51 transcribed in Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 90-

92.

Tyler Allen History (op. cit. ft. 10) and Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 8.197

Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 8.198

Surry Co. VA Record Book 6, page 180; Kelly 32; and Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 7-10 & 35-37.199

Andrews (op. cit. ft. 17) 35-37 & 7-10 and Will of James Allen, made 6 August 1744, probated 20200

March 1744/5, Surry Co. Record Book 9, page 494 abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 4.

Wills of Arthur and James Allen (op. cit. ft. 45 & 127).2 3201

35

worth after debts was only £424:10:06½.194

His widow had two subsequent marriages. She had married, as her second husband,Arthur Smith IV of Isle of Wight County by 1732, when he acted as her son James 's guardian,4

and, on 20 July 1736, they recorded a document relating to Arthur ’s estate. She extracted a3 195

humbling marriage contract from Smith in 1730, when he swore that she “‘hath a greater estatethan he the said Arthur’” had. Elizabeth survived Smith, who had died by 1755, when the first ofhis inventories was recorded. She subsequently married a man named Stith. In 1753, she196 197

gave money to establish a free school in Smithfield, and she made her will out in November of1773–having outlived all of her children.198

ISSUE by BRAY: 55. James , who was Arthur 's only surviving son, was born in199 4 3

1722 and, upon turning age fourteen, chose his uncle James Bray as his guardian over his step-father. He died without issue in 1744, and the majority of his estate went to his sister 56. Katherine , who was by then the wife of Benjamin Cocke. Her descendants owned Bacon’s4

Castle until it was lost to foreclosure in 1843.200

25. MARY ALLEN (Arthur ; Arthur ) was still unmarried when her father made his will3 1 2

in 1709 and her brother James made his will two years later. No further record of her has3 201

been found. Since she was not named in the will of her sister Ann Allen Day (see infra) made3

on 2 December 1726 but a sister and a sister-in-law were, it is possible that she had died by thatpoint.

ISSUE: unknown

26. ANN ALLEN (Arthur ; Arthur ) married Capt. James Day of Isle of Wight County,3 1 2

Estate of Capt. James Day, ordered 13 April & recorded 25 July 1726, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will Book202

3, page 1 abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 94.

Will of Ann Day, made 2 December 1726, probated 23 January 1726/7, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will Book203



Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 45 and Act of Selling Lands, etc. of the Estate of James Allen, 18 September 1736205

transcribed in LGC (op. cit. ft. 113) 854.

Gregory (op. cit. ft. 1) 57-69.206

36

who died intestate by 13 April 1726 with wife Ann signing his inventory. She died by January202

of the following year apparently without issue: not only did she not name any children in herwill, but she devised all of her property to her siblings, nephews and nieces. She identified203

brothers John , Arthur , & Joseph Allen as well as William Bridger; sisters Elizabeth Bridger3 3 3 3

and Elizabeth Allen; and “cousins” James & Mary Bridger, Ann Burnett, and Katherine &4 4 3 4

James Allen. The relatively late date for Ann’s death all but confirms that she was one of4

Arthur 's younger children.2


27. JOSEPH ALLEN (Arthur ; Arthur ), while the youngest son, was of age by 1714: 3 1 2

consequently, he was born no later than 1693. (He was perhaps named for his father’s204

commanding officer–Gen. Joseph Bridger.) He still resided in Surry County in 1730, as hejointly patented land together with his brother John that year. However, by 1732, he had moved3

to New Kent County, as he served on the Vestry of Blissland Parish in that county that year. Hisonly known child, William , was born on 14 February 1734 per an Allen family Bible record. 4

And Allen, who had married a Hannah, died intestate between October of 1735 and August of1736 with debts totaling nearly £1,000. The Allen Land Act was petitioned by his executor,brother John , so that certain entailed lands could be sold to pay off these debts. Ultimately,3

William inherited 3,620 acres and 30 slaves from his parents plus the truly gigantic estate he4

would eventually get from his uncle John .3 205

ISSUE by HANNAH: 57. William received these substantial bequests endowing him4

with the bulk of the Allen family’s wealth, which, in turn, put him in a position to begin adynasty of his own. His male line would eventually die out, but a granddaughter would arrangefor her son, William Griffin Orgain, to change his surname to Allen. This William Allen was7

reputedly the wealthiest man in Virginia in the years prior to the War Between the States–holding25,764 acres, including all of Jamestown Island, at the time that the 250 anniversaryth

celebrations of Virginia’s founding were held there in 1857 and a net worth of over $1 million.206

43. JOHN JOHNSON (Arthur ; Allen daughter ; John Johnson) was old enough to be4 1 2 3

devised most of his father’s property in 1703/4 without a guardian and was able to witness

Will of John Turner, made 25 March & probated 9 June 1705, Isle of Wight Co. VA Will & Deed Book207


John D. Neville. “An Isle of Wight Quitrent Roll, 1714" in The Virginia Magazine of History and208

Biography. Vol. 87, No. 2, April 1979, pages 174-81.

Will of Michael Fulgham, made 26 November 1728, Isle of Wight Co. Will Book 11, page 144209

abstracted in Chapman (op. cit. ft. 42) 105.

See Will of Robert Johnson (op. cit. ft. 85).210

This term was often used to mean nephew in the colonial period: see Meyer/Dorman (op. cit. ft. 34)211

xxiv.

Deed from William Westwray to son Mathew Westwray, 24 December 1731, recorded 27 December212

1731, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 4, page 143 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds (op. cit. ft. 71) 162.

37

another person’s will just a year later, thereby establishing that he was of age. He was,207

therefore, born no later than circa 1682. Given the date of his death (see below), he was probablyborn not much before this date, if at all, either.

John moved to Bertie County, North Carolina between 1731 and 1735. The4

Johnson/Hole Deed establishes that this move was made by 1735 as it states that grantors John4

and wife Mary, who then resided in this North Carolina province, deeded land that he had beendevised by his father John in the latter’s 1703/4 will on branches of the Blackwater at Pigg Neck3

in Isle of Wight County that was next to Thomas Harris’s line. Since John received land fromhis father’s estate in 1707, which he held until its sale in 1735, he was obviously the JohnJohnson who was listed in the 1714 Isle of Wight County Quit Rent Roll, since this record208

reveals only one John Johnson owning land in the county at the time.It is likely that John and his wife Mary were the witnesses to the Will of Michell4

Fulgham in 1728 because they were only one of two related John & Mary Johnsons who were209

in Isle of Wight County at the time. The other John & Mary Johnson were siblings–the childrenof Robert Johnson –which, in itself, reduces the likelihood that they were the witnesses to this210

will, as it was rare for unmarried ladies, like Robert’s daughter Mary, to function in such acapacity. Given John 's Allen connection, Fulgham’s bequest to another Allen descendant, his4

“cousin” John Williamson (probably George Williamson’s son John ), supports the211 3 4

conclusion that this John and his wife Mary were, in fact, the witnesses to Fulgham’s will. John4

was also almost certainly the witness to an Isle of Wight County deed involving WilliamWestwray in December of 1731 in which land at Pig Branch was conveyed: this land was212

apparently in the immediate vicinity of John 's land at Pig Neck, and John was previously4 4

associated with Westwray, when they witnessed the Will of John Turner. Since it is unlikely thatJohn & Mary Johnson would have witnessed these documents unless they were still living in Isle4

of Wight County at the time, then their move to North Carolina occurred between the 1731making of the Westwray deed and the Johnson/Hole Deed drafted four years later.

Surviving records establish that there were only two known couples named John & MaryJohnson in the northeastern portion of North Carolina prior to 1753. One couple resided in

Deed from John & Mary Johnson of Perquimans Pct. NC to Martin Croman, 8 October 1724, Bertie Co.213

NC Deed Book A, page 437 abstracted in Mary Best Bell. Colonial Bertie County, N.C. Deed Books A-H 1720-

1757. Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1997, page 21 and Deed from John & Mary Johnson of

Perquimans Pct. NC to Martin Croman, 30 October 1727, Bertie Co. NC Deed Book B, page 272 abstracted in Bell

42.

See Will of John Johnson of Perquimans Pct. NC, 10 September 1693, NC Secretary of State Office214

abstracted in J. Bryan Grimes. Abstract of North Carolina Wills. Baltimore: Clearfield Company, 2000 reprint ,

page 188.

Deed from John Johnson to Dr. James Williamson, 27 March 1723, Bertie Co. NC Deed Book A, page215

323 abstracted in Bell (op. cit. ft. 213) 14.

See map in the front of Bell (op. cit. ft. 213).216

This John Johnson was, at least by 1762, married to a Martha. See Proof of Deed from John Johnson217

Senr. & Martha Johnson to John Watson, 14 October 1760, Bertie Co. NC 1758-1762, page 521 transcribed in

Weynette Parks Haun. Bertie County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1740-1762. page 78.

38

Perquimans Precinct of Albemarle County, and, in the 1720s, they sold the land in BertiePrecinct of that same county, at “Casia,” that Mary had been devised by her father, WilliamFrost. Their residence in Perquimans Precinct may be explained by the fact that there was a213

Johnson family in that precinct dating back to the late seventeenth century. It is most unlikely,214

and surviving records certainly do not reveal, that there were any other couples named John &Mary Johnson in North Carolina prior to 1728.

Thus, it was obviously this couple that were involved in the land transactionaccomplished in the 1723 deed, in which land on Roquies (or Rocquist) Swamp was sold. The215

fact that this swamp and the creek of the same name are located not too far from PerquimansPrecinct lends support to this conclusion. Even more significant, however, is the fact that this216

land was very close to the Cashie (probably a variant for “Casia”) River, which was the localitywhere Mary’s father owned land and into which the Rocquist Creek empties. The later deedsinvolving this area show a continued presence of this Johnson family in a region which remainspart of Bertie County to this day. It was this family that probably produced the John Johnson,Sr. & Jr. listed in Bertie County’s tax records in 1757, that are cited in EJohnson at 79. This217

conclusion is supported by the fact that John & Mary Frost Johnson are the only couple so-namedwho are known to have had a continuing involvement, as just described, in the portion of BertieCounty which was still part of this county in 1757.

By that time, a portion of this county, through which the Meherrin and Morrattock (nowRoanoke) Rivers flowed, had been parceled off to form Northampton County in 1741. And itwas in this county that the only other couple named John & Mary Johnson known to have been inthe northeastern portion of North Carolina prior to 1750 resided–John and his wife Mary. Since4

John & Mary Frost Johnson were already living in far off Perquimans Precinct the year beforeFulgham’s will was witnessed, not to mention several years before that, it is virtually impossiblefor them to be John & Mary Johnson, who witnessed that document. Moreover, unlike4

Perquimans Precinct and the portion of Bertie Precinct with which John & Mary Frost Johnsonwere associated, the area that became Northampton County was the normal settlement

Will of John Johnson of Northampton Co. NC, made 27 January 1747/8, probated August 1753, NC218

Secretary of State abstracted in Grimes (op. cit. ft. 214) 188.

Deed from Michael & Sarah Hanley to John Johnson, 7 August 1738, Bertie Co. NC Deed Book E, page219

313 abstracted in Bell (op. cit. ft. 213) 133 and Deed from Thomas Richardson to John Johnson, both of

Northampton Co. NC, 22 February 1745/6, Northampton Co. Deed Book 1, page 214 abstracted in Margaret M.

Hofmann. Abstracts of Deeds: Northampton County, North Carolina Deed Books one & two 1741-1759. Palmer,

MA: Van Volumes , Ltd., 1983 (“Northampton Deeds”), page 34.

Myer/Dorman (op. cit. ft. 34) 474; David A. Avant, Jr. Some Southern Colonial Families. Tallahassee,220

FL: L’Avant Studios, 1982. pages 216-20 and see 203-5; Deed from Richard Pace & Francis Poythress, both of

Prince George Co. VA, to Thomas Goodwyn of Surry Co. VA, 11 November 1718, Prince George Co. VA Records

1713-1728, pages 269-71 abstracted in Avant 205; and Deed from Dr. Samuel Peete to Richard Belandine, 22 May

1742, recorded August 1742, Northampton Co. NC Deed Book 1, page 31 abstracted in Northampton Deeds (op. cit.

ft. 219) 10 {referred to 1720 patent to Richard Pace, decd., of 500 acres of land on the north side of the Morrattock

River}.

Avant (op. cit. ft. 220) 204-5, 210, 206-7 & 342; Mrs. Winnefred Aycock Lane, 1791, “Pace Family221

History” transcribed in Avant 200-2 {stated that her mother, Rebeccca Pace, was the oldest daughter of Richard

Pace–with Mary being the second oldest; Rebecca was first married to a Bradford and then to her father; Richard

Pace came to NC from VA in 1704, and her mother Rebecca was born in VA}; and Will of Richard Pace of Bertie

Pct. NC, made 13 March 1736/7, probated February 1738, NC Secretary of State abstracted in Grimes (op. cit. ft.

214) 276.

39

destination for those Virginians migrating to North Carolina from the Isle of Wight and SurryCounty area.

John and his wife Mary’s residence in what became Northampton County establishes4

that he is the John Johnson, with wife Mary, who made his will in 1747/8–as this county’srecords do not reveal any other John & Mary Johnson at the time. Since John died by August218 4

of 1753, when his will was probated, he cannot be the John Johnson, Sr. mentioned above. WithJohn 's Northampton County residence and with no evidence of John & Mary Frost Johnson4

having any involvement in this portion of old Albemarle County, it is reasonable to conclude thatJohn was the party in two other deeds, in which land on the Meherrin and Morrattock Rivers,4

respectively, was conveyed. He died between the making of his will on 27 January 1747/8 and219

its probate in August of 1753.The Johnson/Hole Deed, John 's will, and other documents establish that the name of4

John 's only known wife was Mary. In light of the likely time when their Bridger granddaughters4

were born (in the 1730s–see infra) and when John was born, it follows that they would have4

been married by about 1710.Mary was the daughter of Richard Pace. Between November of 1718 and 1720, Richard

Pace moved from his prior Prince George County, Virginia residence to the north side of theMorrattock River, in what became Northampton County in 1741 but was sometimes claimedwithin Virginia prior to the boundary line survey of 1728, as did several of his adult children. 220

It is significant, then, that Richard Pace had a daughter Mary Johnson who was probably born incirca 1690, which was the same time when John ’s wife Mary would also have been born.4 221

John 's wife Mary would have been relatively close in age to her husband, given the4

estimated date of their marriage. But the fact that she was still alive in 1756 suggests that she

Deed from Mary Johnson to granddaughter Mary Johnson Bridger, both of Northampton Co. NC, 15222

June 1756, recorded August 1756, Northampton Co. NC Deed Book 2, page 302 abstracted in Northampton Deeds

(op. cit. ft. 219) 122 (“MJ/MJB Deed”).

The author acknowledges with gratitude the assistance of Brunswick County genealogist Harry Holman223

for his assistance in searching the records of the Johnsons of this county.

Deeds of Lease and Release from Richard Pace of Bartie Pct. NC to William Johnson of Brunswick Co.224

VA, 7 June 1733, proved 7 June 1733, Brunswick Co. VA Deed/Will Book 1, pages 45-46 abstracted in Stephen E.

Bradley, Jr. Brunswick County, Virginia Deed Books, Volume I 1732-1745. page 5

Patents to Richard Pace of 285 & 1220 acres in Surry (later Brunswick) Co. VA, 12 July 1718 & 5225

November 1724, VA Land Patent Book 10, page 389 and Book 12, page 116 abstracted in 3 Nugent 205-6 & 274.

Deeds of Lease and Release from Richard Pace of Bertie Pct. NC to John Bradford of Brunswick Co.226

VA, proved 7 June 1733, Brunswick Co. VA Deed/Will Book 1, pages 47-48 Bradley (op. cit. ft. 224) 5-6; Deeds of

Lease & Release from Hubert Farrel to Kenneth Mckenzie, 2 & 3 December 1741, Brunswick Co. VA Deed/Will

Book 1, pages 399-400 (“Farrel/McKenzie Deed”) abstracted Bradley 52; and Avant (op. cit. ft. 220) 200-5.

Deed from John Duke to Richard Cocke, 5-6 September 1738, Brunswick Co. VA Wills/Deeds 1, pages227

454-57 {pertains to a later sale of this tract with a reference to the earlier transaction}.

40

was younger than her husband. A birth date around 1690 for her is, therefore, in order. Her222

identity as Richard Pace’s daughter Mary establishes that she would have been born in CharlesCity (now Prince George) County, Virginia–since that was where the Paces lived at the time ofher birth.

A search of North Carolina’s county and land patent records prior to 1750 covering all ofthe area originally included within Bertie County reveals no other Johnson with an, otherwise,unaccounted for wife Mary. A similar conclusion was also apparently reached by meticulousPace family researcher David Avant–for not only North Carolina but also for the counties of theTidewater region of Southside Virginia in which the Paces had connections: his only suggestionfor identifying the husband of Richard Pace’s daughter Mary was made by referencing John ’s4

will. The author too has carried out a search of North Carolina counties Chowan, Bertie,Edgecombe, & Northampton and Virginia counties Isle of Wight, Surry, Prince George, &Brunswick in which more than half of the Johnson males of the right time period could be223

eliminated as potential sons-in-law of Richard Pace. In fact, other than John , there is only one4

other serious contender to be Mary Pace’s husband–William Johnson.Richard Pace, then in Bertie County, North Carolina, conveyed 300 acres on Ryers

Branch near Three Creeks in Brunswick County, which had been part of his 1724 patent, to thisWilliam Johnson on 7 June 1733. (In 1724, Pace had patented 1,220 acres between Three224

Creeks and Otterdam Swamp, and he had patented an additional 285 acres on the north side ofThree Creeks six years earlier. ) That same day, Pace conveyed the remainder of the 1724225

patent in two other deeds with 680 acres going to John Bradford, who had married Pace’s oldestdaughter Rebecca, and 240 acres to Hubert Farrel per a later deed. At some point, Pace also226

conveyed the full 285 acres of his 1718 patent to Bradford. While it might be argued that the227

1733 deeds suggest that Mary Pace’s husband was William Johnson, such a claim is mitigated by

Will of Richard Pace (op. cit. ft. 221) and Avant (op. cit. ft. 220) 208-9.228

Deed from John Moore to William Johnson, both of Bartie Pct. NC, 3 March 1739/40, proved 3 July229

1740, Brunswick Co. VA Deed Book 2, page 442 abstracted in Bradley (op. cit. ft. 224) 57 and Farrel/McKenzie

Deed (op. cit. ft. 226) {240 acres sold was part of 1724 patent to Pace and still adjoined land owned by William

Johnson}.

Deed from William Johnson of North Carolina to John Womack of Brunswick Co. VA, 24 March230

1743/4, proved 5 April 1744, Brunswick Co. VA Deed Book 2, page 680 abstracted in Bradley (op. cit. ft. 224) 87

and Deed from John & Richard Moore to William Johnson, 10 May 1744, Northampton Co. NC Deed Book 1, page

113 abstracted in Northampton Deeds (op. cit. ft. 219) 22.

Will of William Johnson, made 13 August & probated September 1777, Northampton Co. NC Will Book231

1, page 290 abstracted in Margaret M. Hofmann. Northampton County, North Carolina 1759-1808 Genealogical

Abstracts of Wills. Palmer, MA: Van Volumes, Ltd., 1975, page 45.

41

the relatively small tract of land that Johnson, who then lived in Brunswick County, received incomparison to that transferred to a proven son-in-law of Pace, John Bradford. The conveyance toJohnson is more in keeping with that to Farrel, who was not married to one of Pace’sdaughters.228

Moreover, later records suggest that William Johnson was not married at the time. Threedeeds establish that William had moved to Bertie (later Northampton) Precinct, North Carolinaby 1739/40, when he purchased another 140 acres in Brunswick County, and that he still ownedthe land conveyed to him by Pace the following year. In 1743/4, William sold this 300 acres,229

with no wife signing the deed to relinquish dower rights, and he purchased 80 acres on BeaverPond Creek near the county (i.e. VA) line, which was near the Meherrin River, in NorthamptonCounty later that year. It was customary at the time to require the wives of sellers to sign deeds230

for this purpose, unless the land were not the homestead or a primary holding of the husband. Itis, therefore, significant that the land conveyed by William Johnson was likely his previoushomestead and, in any event, still comprised a significant portion of his holdings. That isespecially true if Pace deeded him the land because he had married Pace’s daughter Mary. That,of course, does not rule out the possibility that he was married when Pace made his will in1736/7 and that his wife died in the intervening years. However, the only William Johnsonleaving a will in Northampton County who could be this William died in 1777, naming wifeSarah and several children. If this William were age 21 in 1733, when Pace deeded the231

Brunswick land, it would make him 65 at his death, which is not out of line for him to be the1733 land recipient. (Such an age, moreover, would make William young enough to be John 's4

son.)Thus, the evidence that William could be Pace’s son-in-law (as opposed to his grandson)

is weak in comparison with that identifying John Johnson as this individual. In fact, additional4

circumstantial evidence makes John the most likely Johnson to be Pace’s son-in-law. In the4

Richardson/Johnson Deed, which William Johnson witnessed, John purchased 113 acres on the4

north side of the Morrattock River in 1745/6–the very place where several of Richard Pace’s

Deed from John Johnson of Northampton Co. NC to Noah Pridham, 14 January 1750/1, Northampton232

Co. NC Deed Book 1, page 470 abstracted in Northampton Deeds (op. cit. ft. 219) 74. It is noteworthy that North

Carolina, unlike Virginia, did not have dower rules at the time: so, the fact that no wife released her dower here is of

no significance.

Patent to John Johnson, Jr. of 230 acres in Brunswick Co. VA, 30 August 1743, VA Patent Book 21,233

pages 522-24.

Ray R. Sasser. Royal Land Patents and Commonwealth Land Grants of Greeensville County, Virginia. 234

Emporia, VA, 1998, maps 18-19 & 15-16.

Deeds of Lease and Release from John Johnson of Northampton Pct. NC to Thomas Laurance of235

Brunswick Co. VA, 5 & 6 February 1744/5, proved 7 February 1744/5, Brunswick Co. VA Deed Book 2, pages 710-

11abstracted in Bradley (op. cit. ft. 224) 91. The patentee John “JunR.” cannot be John ’s son, as a father could4

never inherit land at this time: see Blackstone (op. cit. ft. 59) 200-40.

42

children still lived. This land, which was subsequently sold in 1750/1, was added to the 340232

acres on the Meherrin River that John had previously purchased in 1738. Since this deed is4

John ’s first recorded acquisition of land in North Carolina, he and his wife may have resided4

with relatives, possibly the Pace family, until this purchase.Moreover, a John Johnson–with “JunR.” penciled beside his name–patented 230 acres in

1743 in Brunswick (now Greensville) County, Virginia on the east side of a branch of OtterdamSwamp . This land was within just two miles of Paces’s 1718 tract, then in the possession of233

John Bradford. Yet, the John Johnson of Northampton County, North Carolina who sold this234

land just one year later was not designated as “Jr.” in the deed, and no wife signed to relinquishdower. Given the short time between the recording of the patent and this deed of sale, it isobvious that the patentee and the deed’s conveyor are the same individual and that hisdesignation as “JunR.” was probably inserted erroneously, since no such designation was givenin the deed that he actually signed. This individual must, therefore, be John , as he is the only4

identified John Johnson in Northampton County at the time.235

The only mitigating factor is that no wife relinquished dower on this 230 acres, whichwould have constituted a significant portion of John 's holdings–suggesting that he was4

unmarried at the time. Other records establish, however, that John was married at the time to4

wife Mary. This discrepancy can be explained by the fact that the land conveyed was never hishomestead, and its brief possession by an established North Carolina resident would be asufficient reason for purchaser Laurance to forgo requiring this legal waiver, that would haverequired Mary to travel to Brunswick County to record the same. In other words, BrunswickCounty resident Laurance had little to fear that John 's wife would someday try to claim a dower4

in this land. Thus, the available evidence suggests that the patentee was John . It is significant,4

then, that John owned land, if ever so briefly, in Brunswick County in the vicinity of that owned4

by Pace’s daughter and son-in-law.In sum, John is the only Johnson in this region at the right time who had a wife named4

Mary. The cumulative impact of this evidence, then, makes John the best candidate to be the4

husband of Richard Pace’s daughter Mary. While it is very likely that they had a number ofchildren, only one is known.

Deed from Hugh & Martha Mathews of the Upper Parish to John Johnson of the Lower Parish, 16 March236

1715/6, Isle of Wight Co. VA Great Book 2, page 271 abstracted in Hopkins Deeds (op. cit. ft. 71) 127.

Deeds of Lease & Release from Hugh & Martha Matthews of Nottoway Parish of Isle of Wight County237

to James Ridley of the same, 17-19 July 1738, recorded 24 July 1738, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 5, pages

245-47 Isle of Wight County, Virginia Deeds 1736-1741. Miami Beach, FL, 1992 (“IW Deeds”) 36.

Will of Hugh Mathews, made 7 November 1747, probated 12 September 1751, Southampton Co. VA238

Will Book 1, page 55. The author is grateful to Mrs. James R. McDaniel of Courtland, Virginia for researching the

Mathews family in Southampton County’s records.

Will of Hugh Mathews (op. cit. ft. 238).239

Documented in the author’s Supplemental Lineage on Gen. Joseph Bridger to the Jamestowne Society240

and the Society of Colonial Wars (“WPC Bridger Lineage”). It is anticipated that this genealogy will be the topic of

a future article.

Will of William Bridgers of Bertie Co. NC, made 2 November 1729, probated May 1730, NC Secretary241

of State Office and Will of William Bridgers (II) of Bertie Co. NC, made 11 March 1728/9, probated November

1729, NC Secretary of State Office both abstracted in Grimes (op. cit. ft. 214) 47.

43

ISSUE by PACE: 58. MARY5

44. MARTHA JOHNSON (Arthur ; Allen daughter ; John Johnson) had married Hugh4 1 2 3

Mathews by 1715/6 and was residing in Isle of Wight County’s Upper Parish, per a deedconveying land that she inherited from her father John Johnson in his will made in 1703/4. 3 236

Their last appearance together was in a deed made in July of 1738 conveying land in Isle ofWight County, which indicated that they were residing in Nottoway Parish of that county, whichbecame Southampton County in 1748. Hugh Mathews died between 7 November 1747 and 12237

September 1751, when his will was made and probated. His naming of wife Ann establishes238

that Martha died between July of 1738 and 7 November 1747, and this fact establishes that shewas likely the mother of all of his children.

ISSUE by MATHEWS: 59. John ; 60. Joseph ; 61. Edward ; 62. William ; 63. 239 5 5 5 5

Benjamin ; 64. Mary ; 65. Sarah ; 66. Hester ; 67. Patience ; 68. Martha5 5 5 5 5 5

58. MARY JOHNSON (Arthur ; Allen daughter ; John Johnson; John Johnson) was5 1 2 3 4

not named in her father’s will. In fact, no children were mentioned: he devised all of hisproperty instead to his wife Mary, except for a bequest left to his granddaughter “Mary JohnsonBridger.” This granddaughter was either a Bridger or was married to a Bridger. As described inthe author’s Bridger lineage, there was only one Bridger(s) family in this part, and in possibly240

all, of North Carolina at this time, and William Bridger(s) was its progenitor. As established bythis William’s will and that of his son William II, his children were: Samuel, William II,Benjamin, Joseph, Mary and Elizabeth. John ’s granddaughter cannot be the wife of William241 4

because, as established in the author’s Bridger lineage, he was married to a Godwin, and sheappears to be much too young, in light of her father’s death, to be of William’s generation. Asfor William’s children, since he was not married to a Johnson, his daughter Mary cannot be

Deed from Benjamin & Sarah Bridgers of Edgecombe Co. NC to Boaz Kitching 1742, Edgecombe Co.242

NC Deed Book 5, page 55 {Benjamin’s wife was Sarah}. William II was also married to a Sarah, who was the

daughter of John Dew II, and William II’s only daughter was named Sarah too: see Will of William Bridger II (op.

cit. ft. 241) and Will of John Dew (II) of Northampton Co. NC, made 5 September 1740, probated November 1744,

NC Secretary of State Office abstracted in Grimes (op. cit. ft. 214) 97-98.

Will of Samuel “Bridge[r]s” of Northampton Co. NC, made 13 December 1748, probated February243

1756, NC Secretary of State Office abstracted in Grimes (op. cit. ft. 214) 47 {leaves land to daughters Patience and

Mary}.

John 's birth in ca. 1682 makes the 1730's as the best estimated period for the birth of his granddaughter4244

Mary; also, since William Bridgers’s children were all born prior to 1705 (see WPC Bridger Lineage (op. cit. ft.

240)), Mary Johnson Bridger would be the same generation as his grandchildren as well.

Deed of Gift via Affidavit, 7 April 1785, Wayne Co. NC Deed Book 2, #346, page 57{identifies Mary245

Bridgers and Samuel’s widow and states that she was alive 18 months prior to 7 April 1785–i.e. September 1783}

and Deed from Stephen Cobb to William Bridgers, son of Mary, 9 September 1784, Wayne Co. NC Deed Book 2,

#339, page 42 {states Mary was a resident of Wayne Co. at time of death and that she was deceased as of 9

September 1784}; see WPC Bridger Lineage (op. cit. ft. 240) for more details.

Mary was, thus, the namesake of the Johnsons, which may explain why she obtained all of John and wife4246

Mary’s probate property, through his will and following: MJ/MJB Deed (op. cit. ft. 222) {grantor Mary deeds her

granddaughter all of her property at death}. See generally Ronald Hoffman. Princes of Ireland, Planters of

Maryland: A Carroll Saga 1500-1782. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2000 {examples of 18 th

century use of middle names}.

Power of Attorney granted by Benjamin Bridgers of Edgecombe Co. NC to John Johnson of Bertie Co.4247

NC to record the former’s sale of land to Samuel Bridgers, 28 January 1735/6, and Deed from Benjamin Bridgers of

Edgecombe Co. NC to Samuel Bridgers of Bertie Co. NC, 28 September 1736, Isle of Wight Co. VA Deed Book 5,

page 44 abstracted in IW Deeds (op. cit. ft. 237) 8 (“B&S Deed”).

44

John ’s granddaughter. Moreover, neither Benjamin nor William II were married to a Mary nor4

did William II have a daughter by that name.242

It is, in fact, into this next generation–the generation of William’s grandchildrenincluding Samuel Bridgers’s daughter Mary –that Mary Johnson Bridger can best be placed. 243 244

Thus, she cannot be Samuel’s wife Mary. Of great significance is the fact that she both had245

and used three names. It was extremely rare for individuals of this period, especially for marriedladies, to use three names. When it did occur, such use was usually limited to family nameswhen the middle name was a surname, which, in turn, establishes that Mary Johnson Bridger washerself a Bridger. Mary’s surname cannot, therefore, have been derived from her marriage to246

any of the sons of Samuel, William II, Benjamin or Joseph Bridgers. This fact totally eliminatesthe possibility that William II was her father. Thus, she was either Samuel’s daughter Mary orone of the daughters that Benjamin or Joseph may have had. While it is not known if Joseph hadany children, a power of attorney granted by Benjamin to John Johnson for the former’s sale of4

land in Isle of Wight County, Virginia to Samuel renders this uncertainty of little consequence.247

This document establishes that John ’s relationship with the Bridger family was almost4

certainly with either Samuel or Benjamin. In the colonial period, it was common for grantors ofland to avoid going through the trouble and expense of proving their deeds, which was a

Deed from Samuel Bridgers to Joshua Turner, 23 July 1739, recorded 23 July 1739, Isle of Wight Co.248

VA Deed Book 5, pages 344-45 abstracted in IW Deeds (op. cit. ft. 237) 52 {land deeded is the same land that

Bridgers purchased in the B&S Deed, and it was sold for this amount}.

Will of Samuel Bridge[r]s (op. cit. ft. 243) and Wayne Co. NC deeds cited above in footnote 245. 249

45

prerequisite for their recording; yet, the recording of a deed conferred a significant benefit on thegrantee because it helped to secure that individual’s title to the recently acquired land, in theevent that a dispute arose. By serving as Benjamin's power of attorney, John facilitated Samuel's4

purchase and recording of the Virginia land, by freeing Benjamin from the necessity of travelingto Virginia to prove the deed.

John ’s relationship to the Bridger family was probably associated with the brother to4

whom he conferred the greater benefit, in this transaction. If Samuel required Benjamin to provethis deed, so that it could be recorded, then the greater benefit was conferred upon Benjamin. However, the fact that Samuel paid Benjamin £20 for this land and, then, just three years laterturned around and sold it for £25 suggests that Benjamin sold the land to his brother at a248

discount. If true, then it would be very unlikely for Samuel to attach any conditions to thistransaction, such as the onerous requirement that the deed be proved. Thus, since Benjamin hadno incentive to go and prove the deed, John ’s assistance solely benefitted Samuel because it4

enabled the deed to be recorded. The conveyance of this benefit, therefore, suggests that John ’s4

connection to the Bridger family was more likely with Samuel rather than with Benjamin.This conclusion is substantially undergirded by Benjamin’s residence in Edgecombe

County and the contrasting identical Bertie (later Northampton) County residence of Samuel,John , and Mary Johnson Bridger–as established by the various documents cited in footnotes4

222, 241-43 & 247-48. The fact that both Samuel and John were residents of the same county,4

at the time that the power of attorney was made, increases the likelihood that John ’s connection4

was with Samuel. Of even greater significance was Mary Johnson Bridger’s knownNorthampton County residence because, as an unmarried daughter, it is unlikely that she wouldhave been living away from her parents’ home at the time–a fact that is critical when consideringSamuel’s residence in this county in comparison to that of Benjamin’s in Edgecombe County.

The cumulative impact of all of these facts is, therefore, sufficiently strong to warrant theconclusion that Samuel’s daughter Mary was John ’s granddaughter Mary Johnson Bridger and,4

consequently, that Samuel’s wife Mary was John ’s daughter. The use of the uncommon given4

name Patience for one of Mary ’s daughters further strengthens this conclusion, since John5 4

Johnson, Martha Johnson, and George Williamson all had daughters with this name.4 3

The two Wayne County deeds cited in footnote 245 establish that Mary died between5

September of 1783 and 9 September 1784 in Wayne County, North Carolina.ISSUE by BRIDGERS : 68. Patience ; 69. Mary Johnson ; 70. William249 6 6 6

III. MISCELLANEOUS COLONIAL VIRGINIA ALLENS

There are at least two other Virginia Allen families who, while not direct descendants ofArthur Allen, were probably close relatives. There are also one or more other Allen families1

who appear in Surry County’s colonial court records, who may be related. No attempt has been

Patent to Hugh Allen of 225 acres in Charles River Co. VA, 18 October 1638, VA Land Patent Book 1,250

page 633 abstracted in 1 Nugent 106.

Patent to Hugh Allen of 420 acres in York Co. VA, 7 March 1647, VA Land Patent Book 2, page 135251

abstracted in 1 Nugent 174.

Patent to William Cole, Esq. of 618 acres in York Co. VA, 20 November 1683, VA Land Patent Book 7,252

page 336 abstracted in 2 Nugent 270 {land patented included 250 acres purchased from Robert Kinsey, which he

purchased from Hugh Allen about 30 years prior}; and Deed from Hugh Allen to Robert Kinsey, 14 November

1649, York Co. VA Records 1665-1672 Book, page 47 & Deed from Hugh Allen to Robert Kinsey, 8 March 1652/3,

York Co. VA Records 1665-1672 Book, page 47 abstracted in Benjamin B. Weisiger III. York County Virginia

Records 1665-1672. Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Company, 1995 reprint, page 20.

Depositions of Edward Malson & Margaret Malson and Rice Williams, 7 & 10 September 1660, York253

Co. VA Records 1659-1662 Book, page 91 abstracted in Benjamin B. Weisiger III. York County Virginia Records

1659-1662. Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Company, 1989 reprint, page 43; Hugh Allen v. Ralph Flowers, 1694,

York Co. VA Deeds, Order, Wills, Ets. Book 9, page 342 abstracted in John Frederick Dorman. York County,

Virginia Deeds, Orders, Wills, Etc., No. 9, 1691-1694, Part Two. Washington, DC, 1977, page 106.

Order re: Claim of Land by Charles Allen from Col. George Reade, Adm’r. of John Humphreys Estate, 254

April 1656, recorded 10 September 1660, York Co. VA Record 1659-1662 Book, page 88 abstracted in Weisiger

(op. cit. ft. 253) 39.

46

made to fully research these families.

HUGH ALLEN OF YORK COUNTY

1. HUGH ALLEN (John ) may be the same Hugh Allen who had paid for his own1 A

passage to Virginia by 1638, where he settled in Charles River (later York) County afterpatenting 225 acres there. This Hugh was the same generation as Hugh , given the year that250 1

his son Charles was born (see below) and since he would likely have been in his twenties when2

he arrived in Virginia. Hugh Allen patented an additional 420 acres in 1647. His sale of 250251

acres of this land to Robert Kinsey took place in 1649 and 1652/3, which is the last reference tohim while he was still alive.252

After his death by 1660, Hugh was the subject of some less than appealing courtproceedings. On 7 & 10 September of that year, Edward & Margaret Malson and Rice Williamsgave their depositions stating that Hugh had “made love” to his “cousin” Ellen, who was then thewidow of John Jackson, Sr., about twenty-five years earlier. However, they were too closelyrelated to marry, as Hugh’s wife had been this Ellen’s sister. And apparently, from his marriage,Hugh was survived by several children.

ISSUE : 2. CHARLES ; 3. EDWARD ; and possibly other children253 2 2

2. CHARLES ALLEN (Hugh ) was born no later than 1635, since he was a party to a2 1

land transaction in 1656 without a guardian. This transaction involved Allen’s claim to land254

that originally belonged to his cousin John Jackson, Jr. and which came into decedent JohnHumphreys’s possession by his marriage to this Jackson’s widow (see depositions noted above

Deed from Charles & Mary Allen to Edward Phelps of London, 4 July 1673, York Co. VA Records255

1672-1676 Book, page 69 abstracted in Benjamin B. Weisiger III. York County Virginia Records 1672-1676.

Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Company, 1995 reprint, page 82.

Will of John Miller, made 29 December 1675, probated 4 January 1675/6, York Co. VA Records 1672-256

1676 Book, page 144 abstracted in Weisiger (op. cit. ft. 255) 155.

Will of Charles Allin, made 8 April 1686, probated 24 January 1687/8, York Co. VA Deeds, Orders,257

Wills, Etc. Book 8, page 78 abstracted in John Frederick Dorman. York County, Virginia Deeds, Orders, Wills, Etc.,

No. 8, 1687-1691, Part One. Washington, DC, 1974, page 23.

Deed from William Allen to Basil Wagstaffe, recorded 10 December 1675, York Co. VA Records 1672-258

1676 Book, pages 136-37 abstracted in Weisiger (op. cit. ft. 255) 146 and Charles Parish Records transcribed in

Landon C. Bell. Charles Parish, York County, Virginia, History and Registers. Richmond: Library of Virginia,

1996 reprint, page 43 {birth of Charles Allen, son of William & Agnes Allen, born 18 July 1672}.

Recording of William Roberts’s agreement to pay debt owed to Edward Allen, 26 October 1668, York259

Co. Records 1665-1672, page 308 abstracted in Weisiger (op. cit. ft. 252) 127.

Hugh Allen v. Ralph Flowers (op. cit. ft. 253).260

Hugh Allen v. Ralph Flowers (op. cit. ft. 253).261

47

for relationships). Consequently, Allen’s claim was based upon the fact that he was heir-at-lawto the younger Jackson, who obviously died without surviving issue. Moreover, this claimestablishes that Allen was Hugh ’s eldest son.1

Charles had married a Mary by 1673. His wife may have been a Hulett, as he was255

referred to as Stephen Hulett’s “son in law” in the Will of John Miller two years later. Charles256

apparently died without issue and had at least one younger sibling: he provided in his will that, ifhis wife Mary died without issue, all of his land was to pass to his brother Edward for life and2

then to his “cousin” (Edward ’s son) Hugh . A second unproven possible sibling is William2 3 257

Allen–as a deed involving him, and witnessed by Samuel Allen, indicated that Charles ownedland adjacent to the land conveyed, and he names a son Charles.258


3. EDWARD ALLEN (Hugh ) first appears in the public record when a promise to pay a2 1

debt owed to him by William Roberts was recorded in court in 1668 : thus, he was born no259

later than 1647. As noted, he was devised a life estate in his older brother’s land, which was topass upon his death to Hugh . As noted below, Hugh laid claim to this land in 1694, and there3 3

no further record of Edward at this time: thus, Edward must have died by this time.2 2 260

ISSUE: 4. HUGH3

4. HUGH ALLEN (Hugh ; Edward ) first appears in York County’s records when he is3 1 2

named in his uncle Charles Allen’s will. He asserted a claim to this land when he filed suit2

against Ralph Flowers for trespass. In this suit, he states in no uncertain terms that his is the sonof Edward and the grandson of Hugh as well as the beneficiary of his uncle’s will. Not long2 1 261

Will of Charles Allin (op. cit. ft. 257).262

William Mansill & Mary his wife, relict of Charles Allen v. Hugh Allen, 1693, York Co. VA Wills,263

Deeds, Orders, Wills, Etc. Book 10, page 175 abstracted in John Frederick Dorman. York County, Virginia Deeds,

Orders, Wills, Etc., No. 10, 1694-1697, Part One. Washington, DC, 1979, page 78.

Dismissal of suit on 25 November 1695 & settlement recorded on 29 May 1696, York Co. VA Wills,264

Deeds, Orders, Wills, Etc. Book 10, pages 232 & 340 abstracted in John Frederick Dorman. York County, Virginia

Deeds, Orders, Wills, Etc., No. 10, 1694-1697, Part Two. Washington, DC, 1980, pages 22 & 71.

Deed from William & Mary Hare to William Aldrson, 6 & 7 9br. 1671, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1,265

page 393-94 abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 74.

Power of Attorney of Stephen Allen, 13 April 1672, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 14 abstracted in266

Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 80.

Power of Attorney of Stephen Allen, 3 September 1672, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 22267

abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 83.

Estate of Stephen Allen, 4 March 1672/3, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 22; Mrs. Margaret Allen268

appears regarding husband’s estate, 29 9br. 1672, 7 July 1674, 3 9br. 1675, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 16,

63 & 107.

Arthur Allen, William Sherwood, Capt. George Watkin and George Proctor vs. Estate of Stephen Allen,269

6 May 1673, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 23-24.

48

after his uncle’s death, however, his uncle’s widow Mary remarried to William Mansfield. 262

Once Hugh had filed his suit against Flowers, they sued him claiming that he was trespassing. 3 263

The case was ultimately dismissed, when the Mansfields failed to show up for trial, and asubsequent agreement between them and Hugh was filed of record in 1696.3 264

ISSUE: not researched

STEPHEN ALLEN OF SURRY COUNTY

STEPHEN ALLEN is the only other Surry County who has a proven relationship to thefamily of Arthur Allen. His first appearance in the county is as a witness to a 1671 deed. On1 265

13 April 1672, as he was preparing for a voyage to England, Stephen made his wife Margaret andhis “loving cousin” Robert Caufield his attorneys in fact. He granted another power of266

attorney to “kinsman” Robert Caufield on 3 September 1672. Concerned that his wife might267

be destitute, the Court ordered Caufield to present Allen’s estate so that maintenance could beprovided to her on 4 March 1672/3, which did not stop Margaret’s later appearance in the courtrecords. Shortly thereafter, his creditors pounced in a serious of court actions against his268

estate. They included Arthur Allen, William Sherwood, Capt. George Watkin, and George2

Proctor. All of these creditors, including the man Caufield identifies as “Brother Allen,” had269

Estate of Stephen Allen, 9 January 1675/6, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 104 abstracted in Davis270

Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 5.

Deposition of Margaret Allen, 10 April 1676, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 106 abstracted in271


Deed from Mat. & Alice Marriott to John Salway, 23 July 1673, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 30272

abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 85 {land conveyed bounded by Stephen Allen’s land and Smith’s

Fort}.

List of Pardoned Rebels, 6 February 1676/7, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 149 and William273

Edwards vs. Stephen Allen, 5 7br. 1677, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 160 abstracted in Davis Surry Records

(op. cit. ft. 19) 104.

May 1677, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 134.274

Estate of John Kindred, decd., 6 8br. 1680, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 9 of miscellaneous275

pages.

Thomas Strong vs. Theodoric Bland, 5 May 1657, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 103 abstracted in276


Discharge of Thomas Cullman, 23 June 1664, Surry Co. VA Record Book 1, page 235.277

49

been paid by Caufield from the estate by 9 January 1675/6.270

Stephen’s relationship to Arthur Allen’s family is established by his identification of1

Caufield as a “cousin” (obviously “cousin-in-law”), at a time when Caufield was married toElizabeth Allen. While this term often meant nephew at this time, it appears that Stephen was2

Elizabeth Allen’s generation–since his wife Margaret was only 28 years old when she gave her2

deposition in 1676. Consequently, Stephen was probably a first cousin to Arthur Allen’s271 1

children, since he was obviously of their generation.Stephen resided near Smith’s Fort Plantation, in central Surry County. He had returned272

to Surry County by the latter half of 1676, since his involvement with Nathaniel Bacon’s rebels atthat time brought even more litigation upon him–this time from William Edwards. Apparently,Allen broke Roger Williams out of jail. In spite of these difficulties, he was nonetheless273

thought highly enough by some to be appointed Surry County’s constable in 1677. The last274

reference to Stephen was in 1680, when he served as the executor of a probate estate. There is275

no record as to whether or not he left issue.ISSUE: unknown

WILLIAM ALLEN OF SURRY COUNTY

WILLIAM ALLEN first appears in Surry County’s records when he served as a witnessin a lawsuit in May of 1657: he was, therefore, born no later than 1636. He was referred to as276

“Mr. Will. Allen” in 1664, thereby establishing that he was a member of Virginia’s gentry. 277

Record of Probate of Lawrence Baker’s will, 6 8ber. 1681, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 302278

abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 116.

Thomas Jordan vs. John Allen, 4 July 1682, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 377.279

Ann Allen vs. John Allen, 3 March 1684/5 & 1 7br. 1685, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 474 &280

492.

Ann Allen vs. John Allen, 24 9br. 1685, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 496.281

Surry Co. VA Militia List, 1687, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, pages 597-98 and King’s Attorney vs.282

John Allen, 1697, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713, pages 194 & 205.

Will of John Allen, made 19 December 1699, probated 7 September 1700, Surry Co. VA Record Book283

5, page 211 abstracted in Davis Wills (op. cit. ft. 45) 4.

Guardianship of William Allen, orphan of John, November 1700, Surry Co. VA Order Book 1691-1713,284

page 265.

50

Such status is confirmed by his service as a Justice of Surry County in 1681. Significantly, this278

service as a justice was in connection with the probate estate of Arthur Allen’s father-in-law,2

Lawrence Baker, in which Arthur Allen was involved. This involvement may suggest that2

William was in some way related to Arthur Allen’s family. No further record can be found of1

this individual.ISSUE: unknown

JOHN ALLEN OF SURRY COUNTY

JOHN ALLEN was an older and far less respectable Surry County resident than John3

Allen. This mischievous John first appears as a defendant in a lawsuit in 1682, therebyestablishing that he was born by 1661. He was arrested three years later after being accused of279

beating and abusing his wife Ann, who had left him. Later in 1685, he was ordered to give her280

cloths, and the two were formerly separated. John served in the Surry County Militia in 1687281

and was acquitted on a charge ten years later of failing to go to church, after giving a good excusefor his absence.282

John died between 19 December 1699 and 7 September 1700, when his will was madeand probated. He noted that his wife was recently deceased, and he left bequests to his eldest283

son, John, when he turn twenty-one, a daughter Sarah, and two un-named sons and an un-nameddaughter, who were all under age. Significantly, one of those un-named sons, William, wasplaced under the guardianship of Arthur Allen in November of 1700. Arthur 's involvement2 284 2

raises the possibility that this John Allen may be in some way related to his family.ISSUE: John; Sarah; William; 1 son; 1 daughter

ANTHONY ALLEN OF SURRY COUNTY

ANTHONY ALLEN makes only three brief appearances in Surry County’s records.

Patent to Francis Grey of 750 acres in Charles City Co. VA, 24 November 1653, VA Land Patent Book285

3, page 9 abstracted in 1 Nugent 231-32.

Lease from Thomas Busby to Peter Grey, 10 June 1660, recorded 10 November 1660, Surry Co. VA286

Record Book 1, page 160.

Anthony Allen vs. Charles Gregory, 28 September 1669, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 351 and287

Deed from Thomas Busby to daughter Grace Busby, 22 July 1671, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2, page 389.

Deed from Thomas & Susannah Busby to Edward Greene, 20 Xber. 1681, Surry Co. VA Record Book 2,288

page 301 abstracted in Davis Surry Records (op. cit. ft. 19) 116.

51

However, before that, he arrived in Virginia by 1653 as a headright of Francis Grey. 285

Thereafter, he witnessed the 1660 lease of a tobacco house by Thomas Busby to Peter Grey. 286

He died between 28 September 1669, when he was involved in a suit, and 22 July 1671, whenThomas Busby made a deed of gift to his daughter Grace of a horse. Grace was under ten yearsold at the time, and the remainder interest, in case she died without issue, was deeded to Busby’s“Nephew Ffrancis Allen son of Antho. Allen decd.” Busby was married to a Susannah. The287 288

only way for Francis Allen to be his nephew is for Susannah to have been a sister, or sister-in-law, of Anthony Allen or for Francis to have married a niece of Busby’s.

the allen family of surry county, virginia: its british roots and early generations in america

Education

arthur allen of surry

allen familys1

allen family of surry

order of arthur allen

va allen letter

colonial virginia

library of virginia

assumed surname of allen