Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

I get absorbed in these early maps.  Over a 5am coffee this morning and marveling over the 1751 map by Fry and Jefferson, I re-examined this old map:

The orientation of the map is a bit startling…  we simply do not look at maps that way… well, unless you drop it on the floor and pick it up I suppose.

There staring me in the face, is the only map reference I have ran across which shows the Indian Branch or Indian Creek in IOW. (just under the name NANTEMOND).   Also note they were still referring to the bay as “Warwickqueke”.  This was the “frontier” of the time.  The old boys were simply ignorant of what was beyond the Blackwater River.  Hell, the map does not even show the Blackwater River.  20 years earlier a venture was made to the falls of modern Roanoke River but they quickly turned tail and scurried back to modern Petersburg.

“The Land between James River and Roanoke River is for the moft parts Low Suncken Swampy Land not very well paffable but with great dificulty.  And therein harbours  Tygers  Bears and other Devouringe Creatures”

Somewhere around “DURANDS” place was the actual Part of Roanock River. But… but… that “fact” was relayed “by others relation”… which I take to mean “someone told us that”.

So they mapped the “falls of the real Roanoke River” as Morattok River.  And so it was known for DECADES.

Such was on my mind as I wrote this post a while back…

https://andersonnc.com/?s=walking+the+bog

Good fun… here is the link:

http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/media_player?mets_filename=evm00003216mets.xml

The Fry-Jefferson map is here… the history of the map is fascinating.  It was the go-to map all the way to the American Revolution.  And it was pretty damn accurate in my opinion. (don’t miss the Indian Path in N.C.)

http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Fry-Jefferson_Map_of_Virginia#start_entry

A little blip on my map… a slight reference that perhaps may juice up some research into some Isle of Wight folks.  And like… Oh, I don’t know… stir up some comments.

The patent of the 2 sons of Thomas Harris above is “washed out” and cannot be read on the Library of Virginia website… bummer.  The abstract was made by Nugent in 1938 or so and was readable obviously.  My interest is in any metes and bounds that may have been noted, which leaves me in a lurch to plot the damn patent.  In any event… I am pretty sure my map is “close”.

The John Bond reference is that his property adjoined Nicholas Cobb.  And that area is interesting…  and once more I defer to some research of Matt Harris:

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/deeds/harris12.txt

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VA - DEEDS - John BOND to Thomas HARRIS
                                   13 Jan 1664
                                   Deed of Bargain & Sale 

                                   Thomas HARRIS & wife Alice
                                   to John BOND
                                   20 Oct 1664
                                   Assignment of Patents

                                   Thomas HARRIS & wife Alice 
                                   to Giles DRYVER [DRIVER]
                                   2 May-1 Nov 1667
                                   Deeds of Lease & Release
                        ----¤¤¤----

[p.] 38 [...] 

Know all men by these p'sents 
that I John BOND of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia hath bargained sould 
and delivered unto Thomas HARRIS of the afores'd County 
One Corne mill standing att the head of the Pagan Creek in the said County of 
the Isle of Wight as shee now goeth w.th all such Materialls or thereunto 
belongeth [altered from "belonging"] with free priviledge to take what Tymber 
the said HARRIS shall have Occasion to use for the necessary repair of the 
said Mill worke or Fludgates with free passage to & from the said Mill soe as 
not any damage or hindrance may happen thereby unto the said BOND his Heires 
Executo.rs or Assignes, which Mill I hence disclayme as wholly belonging to 
him the said HARRIS his Heires Executo.rs Adm.rs or Assignes for ever with 
warranty from any Claymes to be made there, unto the said Mill, by me my 
Heires or Executo.rs, 
as Witness my hand [altered from "hands"] this 13.th day of January 1663 
[1663/4] and seal 
Witt's                                            John BOND 
Henry KING 
Alce  W  PHILLIPS 
   her m'ke 

     Acknowledged and delivered by Majo.r John BOND unto Thomas HARRIS in Open 
     Court this First day of May 1665 
                                            Test  Jn.o JENNIGS  Cler Cur 
   Record.d First May 1665 
[page end] 


[p.] 39 

Know all men by these p'sents, 
That I Thomas HARRIS of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia Planter, and 
Alice my Wife doe for us o.r Heires Executo.rs & Administrato.rs make over 
bargaine, sell & alientate, unto Maj.r John BOND of the same County gen.t 
his Heires Executo.rs or Assignes, 
One hundred & Ninety Acres of Land Comprized in two severall Pattents 
scituated lyeing & being att y.e head of the Pagan Creek in the aforesaid 
County (vizt) 
one pattent being in y.e name of John VASSER Conteyning One hundred & Fifty 
Acres of Land & bearing date the Eighteenth day of November 1635 and in the 
Eleaventh year of the reigne of o.r Soveraigne Lord King Charles the first, 
[VASLER, PB1:310] 
and the other Pattent conteyning forty acres, of Land and taken in the name of 
the said Thomas HARRIS, bearing date y.e Fourteenth day of August 1652 
[PB3:205; renewed 6 Jun 1664, PB5:273] 
the said hundred & Ninety Acres of Land, to have and to; ['hold' omitted] 
accordeing to y.e bounds expressed in each Pattent, 
with all the cleared grounds, houseings Fences & Orchards all Priveledges & 
Royaltyes whatsoever thereunto belongeth unto him the said John BOND his 
Heires Executo.rs or Assignes for ever, with Generall Warranty against the 
Claymes Tytles or Molestaçons of any P/son or Persons whatsoever, to any P/te 
or P/cell thereof; 
for all which Wee the aboves'd Thomas and Alce [sic] doe acknowledge o.r 
selves fully paid and sattisfied before the sealing & delivery hereof 
And for A full and absolute Confirmaçon To all and singular intents and 
purposes, doe Oblidge o.r selves to acknowledge this Our volluntary Act & 
Deed, att the next Court to hould in the Isle of Wight County, 
Witness our hands Seales, This Twentieth day of October 1664 
                                                           ~ 
Signed Sealed & delivered                         Thomas HARRIS 
 In the P'sence of                                    Sigill 
   Henry KING                                     Alce  +  HARRIS 
   Alce  ~~  PHILLIPS                                 Sigill 
      her marke                                      her marke [¼'d circle] 

               This Conveyance is delivered and acknowledged Unto Maj.r John 
               BOND in Open Co.rt by M.r Thomas HARRIS and Alce his Wife 
               y.e 1.st day of May 1665 
                                           Teste  Jn.o JENINGS Cler Cur 
                         Record primo die Maÿ 
                                    1665 
[page end] 


[p] 116 

Know all men by these p'sents that I John BOND of the Isle of Wight County in 
Virginia hath bargained sould & delivered unto Thomas HARRIS of the aforesaid 
County, One Cornemill standing att the head of the Pagan Creek in the same 
County of the Isle of Wight as shee now goeth with all such materialls as 
thereunto belongeth, with free priveledge to take what Timber the said HARRIS 
shall have occasion for to use for the necessary repair of the said Mill work 
or Floodgates with free passage to & from the said Mill soe as not any damage 
or hindreance may happen thereby unto ye said BOND his heires Ex.rs or 
Assignes which Mill I doe disclayme as wholly belonging to him the said HARRIS 
his Heires Ex.rs Adm.rs or Assignes for ever, with Warrantie from any Claymes 
to be made thereunto the said Mill by me my Heires or Ex.rs as witness my hand 
the 13th day of Jan.ry 1663 
                                            John BOND  Sigill 
Wit 
Henry KING 
Alce PHILLIPS  W  her m'ke 

     Acknowledged & delivered by Major John BOND unto Thomas HARRIS in Open 
     Co.rt this first day of may 1665 And then Recorded 
                                            Test  Jn.o JENNIGS  Cler Cur 

These p'sents witness that I Thomas HARRIS of ye Isle of Wight County for a 
valluable Consideraçon in hand rec'ed doe Assigne & make over unto M.r Giles 
DRYVER of the said County his Heires Ex.rs Adm.rs and Assignes all my Right 
Title Clayme & interest to the Bill of Sale within menc'oned for A Mill with 
all its priveledges and appert'ences, whatsoever therein expressed with 
Warranty against all Claymes whatsoever as alsoe ag.t any Clayme or P'tence of 
Clayme now or hereafter to be made by me ye sd Thomas HARRIS my Heires or 
Adm.rs or any Person or Persons whatsoever by us or any of Our precurem.ts 
In witness hereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this 2.d day of May in 
the year of Lord 1667 
                                            Tho: HARRIS  Sigill 
Signed Sealed & d'd in ye P'sence of 
Nich HILL 
Josep RUDD  J  m'ke 

     This Mill w.th in mençoned to be delivered w.th its appert'ences to M.r 
     DRYVER or his Assignes ye 5.th day of 9.br [November] next & untill y.t 
     tyme ye whole P'fitts to be ye use And behoofe of M.r Tho: HARRIS or 
     Assignes  In witness hereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this 
     2.d day of May in 
     the year of Lord 1667 
                                            Tho HARRIS  Sigill 
Witt 
Nich HILL 
Joseph RUDD  J  m'ke 
[page break] 


[p] 117 

Know that I Thomas HARRIS and Alce my Wife doe by these P'sents Assigne make 
over possess and deliver unto M.r Giles DRYVER the Mill with all the 
appertences thereunto belonging to him his Heires Ex.rs Adm.rs and Assignes 
for ever, w.th warranty of the Just Sale thereof from us or either of us our 
heires Executo.rs Adm.rs or Assignes or any other Persons whatsoever in this 
Sale mençoned And doe oblidge o.r selves to Acknowledge this our Act in the 
Open Court of Isle of Wight County the 9.th day of this p'sent month 
Witness our hands the first day of November 1667 
                                            Tho: HARRIS 
                                            Alce HARRIS 
                                             +  m'ke [¼'d circle] 
Signed & deliv'ed in p'sents of us 
John BOND 
John HARDY 

     Acknowledged & Confirmed this Sale of the Mill by M.r Thomas HARRIS and 
     Alce his Wife unto M.r Giles DRYVER in ye Open Co.rt held for the Isle of 
     Wight County the 9.th day of December 1667 And then recorded 
                                            Test  Jn.o JENNINGS  Cler.Cur 

[Thomas' wife Alice (his 2d) may have been a WEST; she 2m. John SOJOURNER. 
 John BOND is thought to have 3m. Dorothy HARRIS BAKER, Thomas' sister and 
 widow of John BAKER.] 

Isle of Wight Co., VA, Record of Wills, Deeds, Etc., Vol. 1 (1662-1715), 
pp. 38-39, 116-17 
The Library of Virginia, Isle of Wight Co. Microfilm Reel 22 
abstracted by Matt HARRIS [surname capitalization, line breaks & brackets mine]

see also 
Virginia Land Office, Patent Book 1 (1623-1643), p. 310 
The Library of Virginia, Virginia Land Office Patent and Grant Database, 
     Image 001_0312.tif 
Virginia Land Office, Patent Book 3 (1652-1655), p. 205 
     Image 002_0634.tif 
Virginia Land Office, Patent Book 5 (1661-1666), p. 273 
     Image 005_0290.tif 


___________________________________________________________________

	Copyright.  All rights reserved.
	http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

	This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
	by:  Matthew W. Harris	   Zoobug64@aol.com
___________________________________________________________________

https://beta.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/crispincousins/conversations/messages/1325

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VA - DEEDS - John HARRIS & Thomas HARRIS, bros.
                                   26 Mar 1711
				   Deed of Covenant
                        ----¤¤¤----

[p.] (181) 

[...Deed, Richard (RP) PUGH to John GILL, rec. 26 Mar 1711; 
 wits: A.r SMITH, John HOLE, John (I) SURBY....] 

[margin note] HARRIS  Deed to Each other 

This Indenture of Covenant made Concluded & agreed by & between Jn.o HARRIS of 
the Upper Parish of Isle of Wight County of the one part & Thomas HARRIS of 
the Said parish & County of the other part 
Witnesseth That for & in Consideraç'on y.e the afores.d Jn.o & Thomas at this 
time stand Seiz'd & possessed of & in one certaine parcell or tract of land 
cont:ne three hund:d & Sixty five acres as by patent dated the 2d: of Aprill 
1685 granted under the hand of the Lord Howard EFFINGHAM may appear 
Scituate in the head of Sewards Creek in the 
                                       parish 
[page break] 


[p.] (182) 

Parish afores.d 
And forasmuch as the said Jn.o & Thomas not only willing to Maintaine & 
preserve that brotherly love betwixt them, that now is on their owne behalf 
but Ever hereafter to themselves and posterity & to prevent all law Suites 
troubles and Imcumbrances between them & their heirs according to the Devise & 
desire of their Said father as by his Will Expressed 
[10 Jun 1672, Isle of Wight Co. Record of Wills, Deeds, Etc., Vol. 2, p. 111] 
two hund.d & fifty acres of the P'cel of land formerly belonging to their Said 
father 
the other one hund:d & fifteen Twice Surveyd & taken up by the Said Jn.o & 
Thomas & afterwards Joyned & included in y.e aboves.d patent according to its 
bounds, 
do acknowledge y.t [that] they the Said Jn.o & Thomas have made a deviding 
line of & in the s.d land w.ch s.d Devision according to the bounds hereafter 
Specified & Set downe in this Indenture shall be a Mutuall Established line 
and be taken to be their bounds in the Division of the above patent of land to 
them and their heirs for Ever  That is to Say 
begining at a m'ked pohiccory standing near the Outside line 
& so along aline of marked trees to Some low ground 
and thrô the low ground along aline of m'ked trees to a branch Called the dry 
bridge branch 
& so along the Same lime of trees downe the Valley to the head of a Spring 
then along the water Courses to the Creek 
the land on the North Side the Said line to be and remaine to the Said Jn.o 
HARRIS & his heires for Ever 
And y.e land on the South Side the Said line to be & remaine to y.e Said 
Thomas & his heires for Ever w.th this Exception that the Rents accruing & 
becomeing due from Thomas DAVIS & his wife who now lives o part of the land on 
the South Side the line the one half the s.d rent to be and Enure to the 
proper use & behoof of the said John & his heires and after the Said Davise's 
decease to be & remaine w.th the whole land & appurtena's on the South Side 
y.e Said lines to the Said Thomas to him & his heires &c 
In Witness of the aboves.d Articles the above Said Jn.o & Thomas HARRIS do 
Interchangeably set their hands & Seales Dated this 26.th day of March 1711.
                                       John HARRIS      ¤Seal¤ 
                                       Thomas HARRIS    ¤Seal¤ 
Signed Seal'd & Deliver'd 
   in the presence of us 
Test  Will BRIDGER 
      John SCOTT 
                   ~ At a Court held for the Isle of 
                   Wight County the 26.th day of March 1711. 
Joh HARRIS & Thomas HARRIS Came into Court presented & acknowledged this their 
Deed Each to other and it admitted to record - 
                                       Test  H. LIGHTFOOT  C.l C.ur 


[page continues 
 Ralph HILL & Nicholas HILL appoint Mr. Joseph CHAPMAN to acknowledge a deed 
 dated 25 Dec 1710 to Mr. Benjamin CHAPMAN. (Power of Attorney)] 
[page end] 

[There is no extant patent matching the description above (250a, 2 Apr 1685). 
 Thomas HARRIS (Sr.) pat. 240a. adj. Mathew TOMLIN, 27 Mar 1686 (PB7:510-11).] 

Isle of Wight Co., VA, Record of Wills, Deeds, Etc., Vol. 2 (1661-1719), 
pp. 181-82 
The Library of Virginia, Isle of Wight Co. Microfilm Reel 23 
abstracted by Matt HARRIS [surname capitalization, line breaks & brackets mine]

___________________________________________________________________

	Copyright.  All rights reserved.
	http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

	This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
	by:  Matthew W. Harris	   Zoobug64@aol.com
___________________________________________________________________

CAUTION: this post will drive you to drink.

Contacting the “Brantley Association” is like attempting to break into Fort Knox…  Good Grief… those folks a little secretive or what?  

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/DEED-MAPPER-USERS/2007-12/1196719069

Note the clues in the patent:  It adjoins Mr. Tooke and Mr. England; it is “near” Hen. White (actually it refers to a cart path “leading” to Henry White; it seems to be between 2 branches and on the East Side of Ashen Swamp. The “dancing place” appears to be an “Indian” reference but I can find nothing to help the clue. As yet I have not found an Ashen Swamp.  There are deeds from the mid-1700s referring to it but I do not have access to those records.

In my opinion, lacking the above document of HOBBS to BRANTLEY, I have concluded the transfer was a “Deed of Sale”.  As you read further in this post a similar transaction was accomplished between Francis England and Edward Jones and it may be that it was a common practice for the time.  Further, it appears these folks would “make the deal” and go about their business while waiting for the “official” patent to be granted at a later date.  So my opinion is that this is the same land.

My argument is circumstantial…

The “contradiction” between this “Sale” and the “Patent” is the mention of Col. Nathaniel Bacon and ‘the orphans of Thomas Murray’.

By circumstance, I have reviewed the will of Nicholas Hill (who is connected to the above folks as mentioned in the Thomas Harris will of 1672).  Follow my logic here and also note the mention of a “cart path” which is particularly noted in the Edward Brantley PATENT.

There is a missing Deed of Sale and/or a subsequent Patent being issued… (unless it is undiscovered in the IOW records)… whereby Nathaniel Bacon acquired the property of Thomas Harris  (perhaps Thomas JR.).

Also this tidbit… source unknown, perhaps Chapman?  Which shows some deals between these folks…

JOSEPH BRIDGER, esq., 22 July 1678, sells to John Harris and Thomas Harris the tract of land formerly sold Thomas Harris, their father, by Capt. Frances Hobbs and his wife, formerly belonging to Nathaniel Floyd and to Bridger 

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/court/history.txt

238                         WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY.

 Will of (Major) Nicholas Hill, the first day of January, 1674:

His body to be buried as near his deceased wife and children as may be; to his wife Silvester for life my plantation in Isle of Wight with all the houses, buildings, orchards, and gardens thereto belonging, being bounded betwixt the cart path that goes from the mill belonging to Mr. George Hardy towards the church and the swamp commonly called the Meadows, with liberty to make use of any timber growing upon the land bought of Col. Wm. Bernard, deced; after her decease said lands, &c., to my sonne Richard Hill and his heirs, together with all the woodland bounded on the west of the said swamp by Mr. Richard Briggs’ and Mr. Edward Beckenoe’s land; gives to his sonne Ralph Hill all the land, houses, &c., bounded by the said cart path that goes from the aforesaid mill towards the church to the head of Lawn’s creek, and so along the swamp that goes from the head of said creek to said mill, with all the woodland of 70 acres purchased of Mr. Peter Green, deceased, on the north side of said creek in Surry county; to son Ralph Hill, the codd of land at Blackwater between Branch and William Miles, from John Parson’s bridge towards Left.  George Branch; to son George Hill all my woodland, betwixt the aforesaid branch betwixt Mr. Briggs’ and Mr. Beckenoe’s plantations, and the old cart path that goes from the River side to Blackwater, being the bounds betwixt the land Col. Bacon bought of Thomas Harris and my land; to son George Hill “after my wife’s decease, or sooner, if she please,”

       [Got it?…  Col. Bacon bought land from Thomas Harris]

       [the “River side” in the quote is the James River… Nathaniel Hill acquired  the famous Bennett’s Plantation of the 1622 Indian massacre… it was located near “the Rocks” as mentioned below]

      [my point, in other words, is that the “old cart path” cannot go from the River to the Blackwater… it must be a “branch”… and that branch is surely the 1st Swamp of the Blackwater]

all the plantation, &c., contained in a patent of 750 acres granted to me and my loving wife in the upper parish of Isle of Wight, being at a place commonly called the Rocks, and running for breadth down towards Pagan creek; two negroes to wife Silvester for life, and then to son George; negro to son Ralph; 8,000 pds. of tobacco to dau. Agnes Hill; to dau. Martha one scarlet mantle bought of Mr. Thomas Gould, deced; to wife Silvester my silver tankard, with what money and rings she shall be possessed of at my death; to said wife one-third part of all goods, chattles, and cattle; residue to my dear and loving children George, Martha, Mary, Anna, Richard, and Elizabeth Hill equally; to son Nicholas 10,000 pds of tobacco to be paid at several payments, &c., to son Ralph 5,000 pds. of tob. to be paid the next shipping, &c.; land at Blackwater not disposed of to be sold to pay his debts; to wife and her six children all my lands, moneys, &c., not mentioned in this will belonging to me in either England or Virginia; my three children by a former wife having an equal proportion of what may fall to me in the Bay; makes his wife exx. for all that part of the estate belonging to her and her six children; friends Major James Powell, Mr. Thomas Taberer, Mr. Wm. Bressie and John Jennings overseers of my will.  “I hereunto sett my hand and seal this 19th day of April, 1675 — Nicholas Hill.”  Witnesses, John Grayham, John Newman, I. N. his mark, Mary Davis X her mark.  Proved by the oath of Mr. John Newman 20 Oct., 1675, and by Mrs. Mary Davis, 21st of same month.  Teste, John Jennings, Clerk.

Not easily grasped with all these clues and only becoming obvious with a comprehensive map is the mystery “ASHEN SWAMP”.

Nearby is a former patent of Thomas Murray (with all the various spellings) which also references “Ashen Swamp”… their part ( the orphans of Thomas Murray) in the larger scheme of this scenario is unknown to me… however, in my simple goal of locating these patents it makes the clues fit.

______________________________________________

My current project is an update of my Isle of Wight map.  I figured I’d slip in Edward Brantley’s patent and then move on to explore his descendant’s trail to Southampton, VA and elsewhere… that was a month ago and I’m stumped.

This is a tough one…  I’m pretty sure he is in the neighborhood where I have him on “the first swamp” of the Blackwater…  (roughly in the center of this grouping)

The Blackwater River branches off “northerly and easterly” near Isle of Wight and Surry Counties… (3 main creeks) colonial records mention the First, Second and Third “branches” of the Blackwater.  As you read the references in the patents of that area you will readily see how it makes sense.  Simply put, many of these Isle of Wight patents are referring to these “branches” of the Blackwater and not the main river itself.  These branches extend all the way to near Lawnes Creek.  And a couple are referred to almost to the point of the Pagan Creek and Cypress Swamp (in my opinion).

Click the map several times to enlarge… be patient it is a huge file… use Cntr or Cmd and “+” to enlarge more if needs be…   (this map evolves as this post continues)

NONE of the surrounding landowners are easy to plot… they nearly all are broken patents sold off and added to…

My hunt now is to narrow down Francis England, Thomas Tuke (Tooke) and obviously several others…

Note this new clue I dug up from the research of Matt Harris… some of the folks mentioned are critical. For example, I know Phillip Hunniford was nearby but I simply could not find a patent for him in this area…  also Henry King.  This file is pure gold.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/deeds/cook02.txt

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VA – DEEDS – Phillip HANIFORD & wife Jane [HANNIFORD]
to Thomas WOODWARD
2 Sep 1665
Deed of Bargain & Sale

Jane HANIFORD [HANNIFORD]
to Henry KING
4 Sep 1665
Power of Attorney

Henry KING & Phillip HANIFORD
1 Sep 1665
Agreement

Henry KING & Francis ENGLAND
2 Sep 1665
Agreement

Phillip HANIFORD to Thomas WOODWARD
29 Sep 1665
Receipt

William COOK Jr. & wife Joane [COOKE]
to Thomas WOODWARD
10 Nov 1665
Deed of Bargain & Sale
—-¤¤¤—-

[p.] 59 […]

These are to authorize my Loveing Friend Henry KING to be my lawfull Attorny
to acknowledge in the Isle of Wight County Court, the Conveyance w.ch my
husband Phillip HANNIFORD made unto Thomas [“HANNIFORD” struck through;
“WOODWARD” inserted] for y.e Land wee live upon, or what else is in the said
Conveyance;
Witness my hand this 4.th day of September 1665

Signed Sealed & deliv’ed in y.e p’sence The 6 mke of
Jn.o WAKEFEILD Jane HANIFORD
John I HOLLY his m’ke Record.d 29.th 7.ber 1665

Know all men by these p’sents
that wee [altered from “I”] Phillip HANIFORD & Jane [“my” struck through] Wife
to y.e s’d Phillip have aliened bargained & sould unto Thomas WOODWARD his
Heires or Assignes for ever
Two hundred & fifty Acres of Land being part of John SWEET’s [“Sweets”]
pattent for fifteen hundred & forty Acres Lyeing on the East Side of y.e first
great Branch of y.e Blackwater,
as alsoe all o.r right to three hundred Acres of Land more adjoyning to it
To have & to hould the P’mises w.th all Royalties priveledges Edifices Fences
Or Orchards thereon w.th gen’all warranty ag.t all persons to him y.e said
WOODWARD his Heires or Assignes for ever,
the said WOODWARD payeing us for y.e same 4500.lbs Tob’ & Cask this Year and
giveing us leave to remain thereon two yeares to provide Elsewhere for our
selves
witness
[page break]
[p.] 60

Witness o.r hands this second day of 7.ber 1665
The m’ke P:H of
Signed acknowledged & delivered Phillip HANIFORD
by Phillipp HANNIFORD in y.e P’sence of The m’ke Ó of
Henry KING Jane HANIFORD
Francis FE ENGLAND
his m’ke
Signed & delivered by Jane HANIFORD
in y.e P’sence of us This writeing acknowledged in Open Co.rt
Henry KING unto M.r Tho: WOODWARD, by Phillip HANIFORD,
John WAKEFEILD And M.r Henry KING Attorney of Jane HANIFORD
whoe impowered him to performe y.e same,
w.ch is Acknowledged this 29.th Septemb.r
1665 by them both in person
Record.d eadem die [??]
Teste John JENINGS [JENNINGS] Cler Cur
[page end]
[p.] 61

Know all men by these p’sents
that it is mutually agree between Henry KING & Phillip HANIFORD,
that after Thomas WOODWARD hath measured, his five hundred Acres att double
breadth, from the Creek Swamp, w.ch parts his & M.r AYRES [EYRES]
That then Phillip HANIFORD begin & runn, to y.e Swamp or Branch between him &
Henry KING,
And that Henry KING hould all y.e Land above y.e said Branch Conteyned in
SWEET’s [“Sweets”] Pattent, for fifteen hundred & forty Acres
Witness o.r hands this first day of Sept.r 1665
Henry KING
Test The PH m’ke of
Rob.t R FLAKE his m’ke Phillip HANIFORD
John HARRIS

Acknowledged & Confirmed in Open Co.rt by Henry KING and
Phillip HANIFORD each to other this 29.th of Sept.r 1665
And then Recorded
Teste John JENINGS [JENNINGS] Cler Cur

Whereas Henry KING hath One hundred Acres of Land, belonging to him where
William COOKE now liveth,
These Are to testifie that it is mutually agrred, between Francis ENGLAND &
the said Henry KING,
that y.e said ENGLAND shall enjoy y.e said Hundred Acres of Land,
and that Henry KING in lieu of it shall have One hundred Acres out of M.r
ENGLAND’s [“Englands”] now Land, next adjoyning to y.e head of y.e said KING’s
[“Kings”] Land,
Witness o.r hands this 2.d day of Sept.r 1665

Test R Rob.t FLAKE The FE m’ke of
his m’ke Francis ENGLAND
Tho: WOODWARD Henry KING

Acknowledged in Open Co.rt by Henry KING this 29.th of 7.r 1665
And then Recorded
Teste John JENINGS [JENNINGS] Cler Cur

[several unrelated documents follow]

[p.] 62 […]

Know all men by these p’sents that I Phillip HANIFORD have received this
Nine & Twentieth day of Septemb.r 1665 of Thomas WOODWARD these ensueing Bills
due to him

W.m RICHARDSON & Thomas} Jn.o COLLINS & Jn.o WAKEFEILD 400
ATKINSON . . . . . . . } 400
Henry KING . . . . . . . . . . 800
John WAKEFEILD & }
John SHERRER } ~ ~ ~ 800 Thomas HARRIS . . . . . . . . 400
W.m PORTER . . . . . . . 400 Thomas EDWARDS . . . . . . . . 420
Thomas TOOK . . . . . . 400 [subtotal] 2020
[subtotal] 2000

And the said WOODWARD’s [“Woodwards”] owne Bill for four hundred & Eighty
ponds of Tob’ & Cask all w.ch four mençoned Bills amounting to four Thousand
five hundred ponds of Tob’ & Cask, I the said Phillip HANIFORD have accepted
in full sattisfacçon, for y.e Land the sasid WOODWARD bought of me, att y.e
Blackwater, (w.ch sale & Conveyance I acknowledge this day in y.e Isle of
Wight Co.rt) & doe hereby discharge the said WOODWARD from
all
[page break]
[p.] 63

All & every Part thereof,
witness my hand this Twenty Ninth day of Sept.r 1665
The marke of
Signed & delivered in p’sence of us Phillip P:H HANIFORD
Jn.o M MORGAN his m’ke
John THOMAS his m’ke ×
Acknowledged by HANIFORD 9.th Decemb.r in Co.rt
and then Recorded
Teste John JENINGS [JENNINGS] Cler Cur
Know all men by these p’sents,
that I William COOK Jun.r have for a valuable Consideraçon being Three
Thousand pounds of Tob’ & Cask, halfe to be p’d This year and halfe the next
year
bargained & sould unto Thomas WOODWARD his Heires & Assignes for ever
three hundred & Sixty Acres of Land, lyeing upon a branch of the Blackwater
upon the Land where Phillip HANIFORD now liveth [altered from “living”] &
opposite on the other side of the Branch to the Land of Thomas BLAKE
To have & to hould the s’d Land w.th all priveledges Royalties and
Imunities[?] whatsoever,to him the s’d WOODWARD his Heires & Assignes for ever
w.th generall warranty ag.t all persons
Witness my hand & seal this 10.th day of Nov.r 1665
The ^ m’ke of
Signed sealed & delivered in the William COOK (seal)
P’sence of us
Ro: HAE
John × THOMAS Acknowledged in Open Court by William COOK
his m’ke and Joane his Wife, and [“y.n” inserted] to
M.r Thomas WOODWARD as their reall Act & Deed
this 9.th day of Decemb.r 1665
And then Recorded
Test Jn.o JENINGS [JENNINGS] Cler Cur

Isle of Wight Co., VA, Record of Wills, Deeds, Etc., Vol. 1 (1662-1715),
pp. 59-61, 62-63
The Library of Virginia, Isle of Wight Co. Microfilm Reel 22
abstracted by Matt HARRIS [surname capitalization, line breaks & brackets mine]

___________________________________________________________________

Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives
by: Matthew W. Harris Zoobug64@aol.com
___________________________________________________________________

Henry King’s patent… of which much is broken up and obtained by the several men mentioned above…

And of course Henry King obtained a chunk of his land from John Sweet (Sweete) in a former patent or two…

Like I said… this is a tough one…

Now to put some clues together using my map and the files transcribed by Matt Harris…

Consider the mystery “Cross Branch” or “Cross Creek”…  It is clear that it branches off the “1st Swamp of Blackwater”…

————————-

Know all men by these p’sents
that wee  Phillip HANIFORD & Jane Wife
to y.e s’d Phillip have aliened bargained & sould unto Thomas WOODWARD his
Heires or Assignes for ever
Two hundred & fifty Acres of Land being part of John SWEET’s [“Sweets”]
pattent for fifteen hundred & forty Acres Lyeing on the East Side of y.e first
great Branch of y.e Blackwater,
as alsoe all o.r right to three hundred Acres of Land more adjoyning to it

Apparently Phillip Hunniford acquired 250 acres of John Sweet’s patent and the “right” (lease?) of 300 acres more “adjoining” it.

Know all men by these p’sents
that it is mutually agree between Henry KING & Phillip HANIFORD,
that after Thomas WOODWARD hath measured, his five hundred Acres att double
breadth, from the Creek Swamp, w.ch parts his & M.r AYRES [EYRES]
That then Phillip HANIFORD begin & runn, to y.e Swamp or Branch between him &
Henry KING,
And that Henry KING hould all y.e Land above y.e said Branch Conteyned in
SWEET’s [“Sweets”] Pattent, for fifteen hundred & forty Acres

Apparently Henry King acquired all of the rest of John Sweet’s patent.  It is also recognized here…

a mistake in the reference above… “Henry King, Apl 18,1668″  (not 1688)

My burning question now is… is the “Creek Swamp” mentioned above, the mystery “Cross Creek” of Sweet’s patent? My assumption is that it is.  Do not get confused with the Cross Creek of Nansemond.

Is the 300 acres that Hunniford “leased” on the other side of “Cross Creek”?  Does this agreement mean that Henry King has now acquired Hunniford’s chunk of Sweet’s patent?

Aside from the questions, it seems apparent that now Thomas Woodward now has the land on the other side of Cross Creek “which parts him from Mr. Ayres”.

Not to get discouraged… the confusions above add  more critical clues…  Now it seems that Thomas Woodward and Henry King ADJOINS the former Sweet patent… and my assumption is that they are southerly of the mystery Cross Creek. And that Francis Ayers is close by.   And by this time the Sweet patent has disappeared.  Francis England still has about 450 acres of it (by my reckoning, directly on the 1st Swamp) and Henry King seems to now have the rest of it.  And some additional land to be determined….

But the clues are beginning to add up…

Here is an interesting and related group of research notes by Boddie…  most of which speak directly to my subject matter…

To summarize some of Boddie’s observations… (he apparently reviewed the same documents that Matt Harris transcribed)

•  Phillip Hunniford sold to Thomas Woodward – 250 acres out of John Sweet’s 1540 ac patent
• Agreed between Hunniford and Hen. King that Hunniford can run (what does that mean?) between him (Woodward?) and Hen. King above said branch in Sweet’s patent (I surmise that to be Cross Creek)
• Hunniford received a pile of tobacco receipts from about 10 folks… apparently as remuneration for his land swap….
• Seemingly??? Wm. Cook Jr. sold Thomas Woodward 360 acres “where Hunniford now lives“
• William Cook Jr. SOLD 360 acres to Thomas Blake   (yes, I am confused also… he seems to sell the same land twice… but Thomas Blake wound up with 240 acres from these deals different than the 360 acres…Whew!)

So when we compare the research notes from Matt Harris and Boddie it starts to make sense…

Know all men by these p’sents that I Phillip HANIFORD have received this
Nine & Twentieth day of Septemb.r 1665 of Thomas WOODWARD these ensueing Bills
due to him

W.m RICHARDSON & Thomas} Jn.o COLLINS & Jn.o WAKEFEILD 400
ATKINSON . . . . . . . } 400
Henry KING . . . . . . . . . . 800
John WAKEFEILD & }
John SHERRER } ~ ~ ~ 800 Thomas HARRIS . . . . . . . . 400
W.m PORTER . . . . . . . 400 Thomas EDWARDS . . . . . . . . 420
Thomas TOOK . . . . . . 400 [subtotal] 2020
[subtotal] 2000

And the said WOODWARD’s [“Woodwards”] owne Bill for four hundred & Eighty
ponds of Tob’ & Cask all w.ch four mençoned Bills amounting to four Thousand
five hundred ponds of Tob’ & Cask, I the said Phillip HANIFORD have accepted
in full sattisfacçon, for y.e Land the sasid WOODWARD bought of me, att y.e
Blackwater, (w.ch sale & Conveyance I acknowledge this day in y.e Isle of
Wight Co.rt) & doe hereby discharge the said WOODWARD from
all

All & every Part thereof,

Thomas Woodward got the 250 acres of Sweet’s patent… Phillip Hunniford got some cash and got to live on the Cook patent of 360 ac

And now we have another HARD CLUE….

• Agreed between Hunniford and Hen. King that Hunniford can run (what does that mean?) between him (Woodward?) and Hen. King above said branch in Sweet’s patent (I surmise that to be Cross Creek)

And now we can ADD that Thomas Blake was OPPOSITE to William Cook Jr.

Also remember that Mr. Ayers (Francis Ayers) is mentioned as nearby to this area being discussed…

And we are left with this perplexing word salad…

Agreed bet. Henry King and Phil Hanniford that after Thomas Woodward has measured his 500 acres from creek to Mr. Ayres that then Phil. Hanniford can run bet. him and Henry King, above said branch in Sweet’s Pat.

What, pray tell, and Where is this 500 acres of Thomas Woodward?????  Woodward gets 250 ac of the Sweet patent and 360 ac from the Cook patent… is that the reference?

Not to answer that question… but to add to my BRAIN HURT… there is this from the Matt Harris transcriptions…

Whereas Henry KING hath One hundred Acres of Land, belonging to him where
William COOKE now liveth,
These Are to testifie that it is mutually agrred, between Francis ENGLAND &
the said Henry KING,
that y.e said ENGLAND shall enjoy y.e said Hundred Acres of Land,
and that Henry KING in lieu of it shall have One hundred Acres out of M.r
ENGLAND’s [“Englands”] now Land, next adjoyning to y.e head of y.e said KING’s
[“Kings”] Land,
Witness o.r hands this 2.d day of Sept.r 1665

So Francis England got a 100 acre piece of the COOK patent.  Unless…(Good Lord I am losing track now…)  Cook was living elsewhere on some of Hen. King’s other land? Note the dates.

This could mean that Francis England now has another 100 acre chunk of the Sweet patent “next adjoyning to y.e head of y.e said KING’s [“Kings”] Land”   (this may just be nitpicking on my part).

To gather my thoughts and hopefully make some map sense…

Now for a beer break…

Remember all of this is to nail down the Edward Brantley patent…..

Oh wait…. after re-reading the post for goofy errors… I note this little factoid:

Know all men by these p’sents
that wee  Phillip HANIFORD & Jane Wife
to y.e s’d Phillip have aliened bargained & sould unto Thomas WOODWARD his
Heires or Assignes for ever
Two hundred & fifty Acres of Land being part of John SWEET’s [“Sweets”]
pattent for fifteen hundred & forty Acres Lyeing on the East Side of y.e first
great Branch of y.e Blackwater,
as alsoe all o.r right to three hundred Acres of Land more adjoyning to it

Apparently Phillip Hunniford acquired 250 acres of John Sweet’s patent and the “right” (lease?) of 300 acres more “adjoining” it.

So somehow or another, Hunniford had an additional 300 acres BELOW his 250 acres of the Sweet patent…

Screw it! I’m having a beer!

___________________________

So… after saying to hell with it for a day, I’m picking this puzzle back up…

Something was just blatantly “fishy” about those Thomas Blake patents and sure enough I found a third one which makes some sense… it still contains the same info but it is a bit more precise… (it was also 5 years later after any sparks had settled down) many of these patents (in my opinion) seem to have to be “worked out” and probably litigated before all the landowners are satisfied.  Note all the wheeling and dealing that was involved in all the notes above…  Back in these days they did a strange ritual (by modern standards) called “Processioning”… whereby every year or 2 they would send out some “government or church types” to gather the Folks and walk the boundaries to make sure everyone was satisfied… a reasonable idea, seems to me.  You do remember “dueling” don’t you?

Now I have re-arranged the main Isle of Wight map for this area… but I am still not satisfied.  I may let this stew for a while… I’ve found that I burn out and lose perspective and a break for a while rejuvenates my addled brain.

Ponder the map and take all my above notes into consideration…  at this point I cannot do much more finagling…  each time I move something another patent reference pulls it back…

So I find another elusive patent with hard clues which further defines this area of Isle of Wight… directly involving Francis England…

http://genealogytrails.com/vir/isleofwight/land_grants_1628_1674.html

FRANCIS ENGLAND, 2366 acres 29 Sept., 1664.  946 by a former patent and 120 acres by another pat. both dated 13 Jan., 1661.  400 acres of the residue beg. at his own land and running south adj. to 200 he purchased of John White, both of these beginning at the mount of Hills Branch.  700 acres beg. at his 120 acres pat. running Ne. to Robert Eleys, to the head of Taberer’s branch and down the same to Chris. Lewis.  For trans. 26 pers. including himself, Joyce, his wife and George Cripps.

Note the “Hills Branch” above….now find the Peter Hull [Hall] property near the mouth of the 1st Swamp of the Blackwater.  The olde boys were notoriously MissSpelers…  is it Peters Hull’s branch? I think so.  Now figure out the convoluted mishmash of patents to where Francis England actually lived (smiling)… I can’t accomplish that task so far… and maybe never will.

FRANCIS ENGLAND, 946 acres, 26 July 1652.  746 lying on a swamp running to Blackwater along Capt. Pierce’s marked trees, 200 acres lying at Blackwater upon the Eastermost branch pointing to Upper Chipoaks in James City bounded upon land of Francis England to land of Peter Hull.  746 by former pat. 20 June 1642 and 200 by assignment of a pat. from John White dated 4 July 1649.

I am still baffled where Francis England and Thomas Tooke were “connected” to the Brantley patent??? They are clearly shown to do so…  Somehow? Tooke came to acquire Henry King’s portion of the Sweet patent?

Francis England sells 650 acres to Edward Jones 1675/6       (per another Matt Harris transcription)

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/deeds/england04.txt

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VA – DEEDS – Francis ENGLAND

                                   to Edward JONES

                                   3 Jan 1671

                                   Deed of Bargain & Sale

                        —-¤¤¤—-

[p.] 225

This Indenture made the third day of Jan.ry Anno Dom 1670 [1670/1]

Between Frances ENGLAND on the One parte & Edward JONES on the Other Parte

Witnesseth y.t I ye said Frances ENGLAND for a valluable consideraçon rec’ed

of him the s’d Edward JONES doe for my selfe my heires Executo.rs Adm.rs or

assignes rattifie confirme avouch by these p’sents for ever pass over unto him

the s’d Edward JONES his heires Ex.rs Adm.rs & Assignes,

Six hundred & fifty Acres of Land scituate lyeing & being in y.e Isle of Wight

County lyeing on y.e Westward Side of the first Branch of Blacwater

called by the name of the long Point & Hulls Branch,

and begining att the [word omitted at line break] of y.e Orphans Branch

& soe runing up the branch Westward to the said ENGLAND’s [“Englands”] head

line being by estimaçon three quarters of A mile,

downe the maine Swamp South, to the Mouth of A branch called Kings Branch

& soe to the former head lyne,

And four hundred Acres more adjoyning to it

begining att A Cyprus in the Mouth of Hulls Branch

& runing up the said Branch 160 Pole to a white Oake,

then North East 400 Pole to A Pine

then South East 160 Pole to the Swamp,

to y.e former parcell of Land

being in all 650 Acres be it more or less accordeing to y.e pattent of y.e

said Frances ENGLAND to w.ch relaçon being had more att large appeareth

To have & To hould all & singular the s’d Land being Six hundred & fifty Acres

more or less w.th all Mines & Mineralls therein conteyned & w.th all rights

proffitts & Comodities thereunto belonging or any waies apperteining unto him

the s’d Edward JONES his heires Executors Adm.rs & Assignes for ever,

in as large & ample manner to all intents & purposes, as is expressed in a

Charter of Orders, from the late Treasurer & Company bearing date y.e 18.th of

November 1618 as in & by the s’d Frances ENGLAND’s [“Englands”] pattent

bearing date att James Citty y.e 29.th of September 1664 more att large

appeareth [PB5:462-63]

to hould of o.r Sovreigne Lord his Heires & Successo.rs as of his Mann.r of

East greenwitch in free & comon Soccage not in Capite nor Knights service,

Yeilding and paying unto o.r Sovreigne Lord the King or his Rent gatherers,

for the said

[page break]

                                                            [p.] 226

Six hundred & fifty Acres the sume of two shillings P/ hundred att the feast

of S.t Michaell the Archangell,

as in & by the said Frances ENGLAND his pattent whereunto relaçon being had

more att large appeareth,

In witness whereof I the said Frances ENGLAND, & my Wife Joyce ENGLAND have

interchangeably sett o.r hands & seales the day & year above written

                                            Frances  FE  ENGLAND / Sigill

Signed Sealed & delivered in y.e                  his  marke

      p’sence of us                         Joyce  I  ENGLAND    / Sigill

   Sam.ll DARLEY                               her  marke

   George BRANCH /  Cap.t Frances ENGLAND & Joyce his Wife hath acknowledged &

                    delivered this Conveyance unto Edward JONES, his Sonne for

                    y.e use of his Father, in Open Co.rt held for this County

                    y.e Ninth day of Jan.ry 1670 [1670/1] w.th the words, Wee

                    deliver this as o.r Act & Deed to Edward JONES his Sonne

                    for y.e use of his Father

                And then Recorded

                                        Teste  John JENINGS [“Jenigs”] Clr

Isle of Wight Co., VA, Record of Wills, Deeds, Etc., Vol. 1 (1662-1715),

pp. 225-26

The Library of Virginia, Isle of Wight Co. Microfilm Reel 22

abstracted by Matt HARRIS [surname capitalization, line breaks & brackets mine]

see also

Virginia Land Office, Patent Book 5 (1661-1666), pp. 462-63

The Library of Virginia, Virginia Land Office Patent and Grant Database,

     Images 005_0479.tif & 005_0480.tif

___________________________________________________________________

Copyright.  All rights reserved.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives

by:  Matthew W. Harris   Zoobug64@aol.com

___________________________________________________________________

The above patent to Edward Jones  per The Library of Virginia, Virginia Land Office Patent and Grant Database

Jones, Edward. grantee.

Title Land grant 21 March 1675/1676.

Summary Location: Isle of Wight County.

Description: 680 acres on the westward side of the first great branch of the Blackwater. Beg.g at the mouth of the Orpts. Branch.   Source: Land Office Patents No. 6, 1666-1679 (pt.1 & 2 p.1-692), p. 605 (Reel 6)

“To all, etc, Whereas…Give and Grant… Mr Edwd Jones 680 acres of Land in Isle of Wight on the westward side of the first great branch of the Blackwater Beginning at the Mouth of the Orpts [orphan’s] Branch at a witch hassell [tree] and running up the said Branch about WNW 160 po to a Gum tree near an old pine where the former marked trees did Stand   then W 140 po to a Dead Stump of a pine then S 104 po to a pine   then SW 328 po to a white Oak on Hulls Branch & soe down Hulls Branch to a Cyprus on ye __mentioned first Great Branch of the Blackwater then up the said Great Branch to the first station   [formerly Francis England patent of Sept 1664 and Jan 1670] …[ this patent] dated March 1675/6         [abstract Marc Anderson]

This was obviously re-surveyed for the sale…hence the additional 30 ares.  Fascinating to me is the mention of “the Orphan’s Branch” in these two land descriptions.  Likewise the mention of Hulls Branch.

Refer this patent:

Wombwell, Thomas. grantee.

Land grant 25 September 1679.

Gen. note “sonn & heire to Tho. Wombwell, late of the Isle of White County …”

Summary Location: Isle of Wight County. Description: 650 acres in the fork of the first and second branches of the main Blackwater and commonly known by the name of Timberneck.

Source: Land Office Patents No. 7, 1679-1689 (v.1 & 2 p.1-719), p. 5 (Reel 7).

These swamp/creek descriptions have long since disappeared from the historic records….  and this particular grouping of patents is exciting to me as a “mapper” because they are “nailed down” by distinct boundaries. This is a treat I rarely accomplish but always strive for.    In other words… this is not guesswork… it is fact.

And it appears that my mystery “Cross swamp/creek” puzzle is solved by the casual remark of the deed above… so for a short period of time it was known as King’s Branch.

Speaking of this “King’s Branch” and my quest for the location where Francis England actually lived…

I can’t locate a transcript of his will and this abstract is no help:

Francis England of Blackwater in Isle of Wight. Leg.-daughter Anne Branch, wife of George Branch and her sons, George, Francis and John Branch. Wife Joyce, Extx. Overseers, John Gutridge and John Pearson. —  Book: 2-144 — Prove Date: June , 1677  (the Chapman abstract is similar)

But the will of his widow provides a tantalizing suggestion that it was on the former “Sweet” land (as shown on my map- note the below reference to “Henry King’s line”, which is now “Davis’ Branch”)…

http://www.videoranch.net/burgess.htm

Joyce England and George Cripps, Marriage Contract, Isle of Wight, 1678. Joyce made her will out !8 April 1679 and it was proved 9 June 1679.

Joyce (Wyatt) Cripps, Sister to Mary Wyatt Burgess and Susannah Burgess Braswell’s aunt.

“In the Name of God Amen the 18th day of aprill 1679 I JOYCE CRIPPS the wife of GEORGE CRIPPS being Sick of Body but of good and perfect memory do make and Ordaine this my Last Will and Testament in manner and forme following first I Commend my Soule to the hands of god my maker hopeing assuredly through the only merrits of Jesus Christ my Saviour, to be made partaker of life Everlasting and I Commend my body to the Earth whereof it is made, as for all and Singuler the Lands and Tentm’ts that were gien unto me by my former husband FRANCIS ENGLAND to be at my disposing and Such goods and Cattles that I did reserve unto my owne disposall before Marriage with my now husband, I do gie bequeath and dispose of as follpweth first I do give and bequeath unto my Loving husband GEORGE CRIPPS the house and plantation whereon we do now live together with all and Sibular the Land lying betweene a Branch Called and knowne by the name of Davieses Branch and a line of Trees knowne by the name of HENRY KINGs line to be and remain to him and his heirs for Ever, as for al the rest and residue of my Land, I do give and bequeath unto my Borthers Son of my former husband ENGLANDs that shall Come into this Country to made claime to the Same within Seven Yeares after my decease to be and remayn to him and his heirs Males for Ever, and if none Such doth within the Seven Yeares make Claime to the afores’d lands then it is my will that my now husband shall have the Same to him and his heirs for Ever, and it is my will that my husband shall possess all the Land Untill Such Brothers Sonn of my my husband ENGLANDs doth with the time above limitted Come to Claime the same I do give and bequeath unto my sister SKINNER one Thousand pounds of Tobacco or other things of Vallew as my husband and she Can agree to be paid within One Yeare after my decease, I do likewise give Unto my sister SKINNER fifty Acres of Land that doth joyne Unto that Plantation where she doth now live during her Naturally life. It is my will after my decease NICHOLAS DAVIS shall I may that Plantation whereon he now liveth during his naturally life without paying of Rent only a Capon a Yeare for an Acknowledgem: I do give Unto SARAH LUPO a feather bed and Bolster One Rugge Blanket and Bedsted halfe a dozen of leather Chayres and a ROund Table I do give Unto Mr. GEORGE BRANCHes Three Children (Viz’t) FRANCIS JOHN and ANN Each of them a Cow of about 4 yeares old It is my will that that Orphant boy that now liveth with me by name of ANTHONY LEWIS do live with my husband Untill he attains to the age of One and Twenty Years if my husband and he shall live So long that my husband give him two Suites of Apparell Three Barrells of COrne One heifer with Calve One Couch bed a SMall Iron POtt One PEwter dish One Tray and One Spoone if it shall Soe happen my husabnd should die beofre the boy doth attain e to the age of One and Twenty Yeares that it is my will that the aboved named things shall bee delivered to the s’d ANTHONY LEWIS. I do give Unto MARGARET the wife of PETER VASSER a Suite ofmy wearing apparell and my Wedding Ring I do give Unto SHUSAN BRASWELL my Sisters Daughter One Shilling of ENglish money I do give UNto my three God Daughters )Viz) ELIZABETH HAYES JOYCE BUTELR and JOYCE WOMBELL Each of them One Ell of holland of about SIxty p’r Ell I do give Unto my 3 God Sonns Viz’t JAMES BOND NICHOLAS DAVIS and WILLIAM PHILLIPS Each of them a Cow Calfe that is weaneable I do give Unto My MOther FLAKE a gold Ring with a Blew Stone in it I do Constitutie nominate and appoint by welbeloved husband Exec’ of this My Last Will and Testament In Witness hereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seale the Day and Year aboves’d. JOYCE CRIPPS her marke Seale SIgned Sealed Published and declared to be the Last Will and Testament of JOYCE CRIPPS in presence of JOHN GURTRIDGE his marke REBECKA DAVIS her marke”

” WILL: EVANS Proved in Open Cort held for the Isle of Wight County 9th Day of June 1679 by the Oathes of Mr. JOHN GURTHRIDGE Sen’t REBECKA DAVIS and Mr. WILLIAM EVANS to be recorded. Test: JN’O BROMFIELD Clr: Cur”[Genealogy.com, LLC, Family Archive #513, Ed. 1, Virginia Land, Marriage and Probate Records, Date of Import: Mar 9, 2001, Internal Ref. #1.513.1.6761.4]

Some interesting sidelines concerning Francis England:

https://books.google.com/books?id=a7tx6lhj-CkC&lpg=PA43&dq=%22george+branch%22%22isle+of+wight%22&source=bl&ots=ceAibl0ZfT&sig=oRwCDrhwvHmzfpOy2kbOTrcJ_L8&hl=en&sa=X&output=reader&pg=GBS.PA43.w.1.0.0

http://braswellgenealogy.blogspot.com/2007/10/susannah-braswells-100-acres.html

_________________________________

So… at this point some comments… pro or con, would be welcome.

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Henry King’s land must have been dispersed in deeds that I have not found… by the time of his death he has 100 acres “adjacent to Mr. England” which he leaves to his wife and finally (apparently?) is left to the Parish in a bequest for a “free school”… The 900 acres bequeathed to his 2 daughters begs the question of who did they perhaps marry?  My assumption is the land would revert to the husband’s name.

Edward Brantley’s patent and another adjoining mention a mysterious “Dancing Place”.  I cannot help but attribute this to an Indian reference and I am not alone: (search ‘dancing’)

https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/jame1/moretti-langholtz/chap10a.htm

If I am correct with my placement of Brantley’s patent then this may have some historical significance.  As I have suggested- the reference may be a “historical memory” at the time he obtained his land.

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The “Cart Path” mentioned in Edward Brantley’s patent of 1669.  This is pure speculation on my part… otherwise known as guesswork.  With that caveat stated, I am of the opinion that many modern roads have a “history”.  In many instances those roads or paths date all the way back to Indian Paths or trails.  This base map is dated about 1910 or so.  (Meaning bull dozers and asphalt were not in use yet).  In this 100 year old base map is clearly shown the remnants of what was known as “The Rocks”.  With a little imagination used, is it possible that area was a “loading dock” or wharf for tobacco and other trade goods?

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I will take a break and have some fun pointing out some stuff I have learned while doing this map…

The Thomas Taberer found around the mouth of the 1st swamp of the Blackwater…. wound up with the original Basse’s Choice land (of the famous Indian Massacre 1622). That creek was known as Goose Hill in this Colonial time period… today it is called Taberer’s Creek… go figure.

The notes below are what I used to “try” to figure out the original Basse’s Choice on my map.  I wish it was not “redacted”:

046-0094_basses_choice_days_point_district_1983_nrhp_final_redacted

The Thomas Woodward, Sr and Jr, can be found in old Chowan County, NC about the mid 1600s being one of the first settlers of that area… see Mount Pleasant and Woodward’s Creek here:

post3_old-chowan-precinct

There are 2 distinct Seaward’s Creeks… one around the Pagan River and the other branching off the main Blackwater River… I almost (but not quite) have it nailed down on my map…

Walking the Bog…

I found this little map in a Brantley document…  but I don’t know the source (Seaward Swamp is clearly shown):

This appears to be some excellent research concerning Richard Jackson and others near this difficult area on my map (difficult to map)…

http://www.myfamilysearch.net/getperson.php?personID=I572&tree=2005217a