Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

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.

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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]

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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.

____________________________________

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.

 

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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.

_______________________________________________

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?

________________________________________________

 

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:

https://andersonnc.wordpress.com/old-chowan-precinct-map/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…

https://andersonnc.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/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