Family Life in England and America, 1690–1820, vol 1

Rachel Cope, Amy Harris, Jane Hinckley

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781138753297
• eBook ISBN: 9781000558814
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Historia
• Subtopic: Historia del mundo

This four-volume collection of primarily newly transcribed manuscript material brings together sources from both sides of the Atlantic and from a wide variety of regional archives. It is the first collection of its kind, allowing comparisons between the development of the family in England and America during a time of significant change. Volume 1: Many Families The eighteenth-century family group was a varied one. Documents attest to religious and racial diversity, as well as the hardships endured by the poor and working classes, such as widows, orphans and those born outside wedlock. Fictive families are also examined alongside more traditional family units bound by blood or law.

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VIRGINIA, DEEDS (1720–36 AND 1741–9)

DOI: 10.4324/9781003113058-31

Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Deeds (1720–36 and 1741–9), Isle of Wight County Deed Book 7, 1744–7 (Richmond, VA: Southside Virginian Pub. Co.: Orders to W.L. Hopkins, c. 1994).

Native American and Anglo American interactions during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Virginia were conducted from two differing approaches to relationships. In Virginian tidewater native communities, the mamanatowick, or head chief, would adopt the Anglo-American leader into his fictive family.¹ While the native tribes viewed their alliance partners as brothers, the Virginians valued the Iroquois Confederation only for their military utility.² By the eighteenth century, however, the Virginians sought to control the native groups, not to coexist.³

This controlling approach was evident in colonial Virginian encounters with the Nottoways, an Iroquoian speaking tribe, who lived in Isle of Wight County along the shores of the James River.⁴ In 1726, the colonial government kept the Nottoways under surveillance because of ‘a suspected transgression’.⁵ In terms of the Nottoway lands, the Virginia Assembly honoured the 1662 legislation that granted ‘peaceful Indians’ property rights.⁶

The land deeds of the early eighteenth century reflected the change effected by Sir William Gooch, Virginia’s lieutenant governor, from the seventeenth-century headright system, that granted 50 acres per immigrant to Virginia, to much larger land grants for Protestant families.⁷ This change, according to Alfred A. Cave, revealed the transformation of Anglo-Indian relations over land use ‘from a ritual of peace to an instrument of imperialism’.⁸

Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Deeds (1720–36 and 1741–9)

THIS INDENTURE¹ Tripartite made the Twenty forth day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred [thirty-six] King Edmunds,² James, Harrison, Peter, Wansake Robin, Frank, Wonoak Rigin, Robin Scholler, Sam,³ [Chie]f men of the Nottaway Indians⁴ of the first Part John Simmons⁵ of Isle wight County. Tho[ma]s Coche and Benj[amin] Edwards⁶ [of the County of Surry] Gent[lema]n of the Second Part and Coll. John Simmons of the County of Isle of White – of the third Part. Whereas [by one]

Act of the Gen[era]l Assembly made at a Session lately held at Williamsburgh in the Eighth year of the Reign of our Lord George the Second King of Great Brittain Intituted an Act to Enable the Nottaway Indians to Sell Certain Lands⁷ therein Mentioned and for discharging the Indian Interpreters it is [among] other things Enacted that the Chief men of the Nottaway Nation are impowered to make Sale of all or any part of a Certain Circular Tract of land⁸ of Six Miles diameter lying and being on the Northside of Nottaway River in the County of Isle wight by and with the Consent of the said John Simmons Tho[ma]s Coche and Benj[amin] Edwards who are by the said Act appointed Trustees to See the said Act duly Executed and after any Agreement made for the Sale of any Part of the said land so as Such part do not Exceed four hund[re] d Acres to any one person it shall and may be lawfull for the Said Chief were together with the Trustees aforesaid or the Survivors or Survivor of them to Seal and deliver a feofm[en]t⁹ to the Purchaser who immediately after the Execution thereof shall pay down to ye said Chief men the Purchase money for w[hi]ch a Receit shall be likewise Endorsed on the deed and any feofm[en]t So Executed and perfected and afterwards acknowledged or Proved by the Oaths of three Witnesses and Recorded in the Court of the said County [of] Isle wight where the lands lye shall be Sufficient in law to pass the fee Simple Estate of Such lands and the Purchaser or Purchasers [thereof] his or there heirs or Assigns shall for Ever hold and Enjoy the Same free and discharged from all Claims of the Nottaway Nation [and their posterity any thing in an Act] of the Gen[era]l Assembly made in the fourth year of the Reign of the late Queen Anne [instituted an Act for preventing] of Misunderstandings between the Tributary Indians and other his Majesties Subjects of this Colony and dominion [and for a free and open] Trade with all Indians whatsoever or in any Other Act of the Gen[era]l Assembly Contained to the Contrary hereof in any wise Notwithstanding as [in] the Said Act among Other things more fully is Contained.

Now This Indenture Witnesseth that the said King Edmunds, James, Harrison, Peter, Wanoak Robin, Frank, Wanoak Robin jun[io]r, Robert Scholler, Sam, Cockarous Tom & Cherrino the Chief men of the Said Nottaway Indians by and with the Consent of the said John Simmons Tho[ma]s Cocke and Benj[ima]n Edwards Testified by their being made parties to these presents for and in Consideration of the Sum of Fifteen pounds Current Money to the [said] Chief men in hand paid the Receit whereof is hereby acknowledged have granted bargained Sold Enfeofed¹⁰ and Confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain Sell Enfeoff and Confirm unto the Said Coll. John Simmons his heirs and Assigns Three hundred and Ninety Acres parcell of ye said Circular Tract of Land bounded as followeth Beginning at a white Oake on the East Side of the East Side of the Atsamoosock Swamp a Corner of No. 1 Thence by the line of No. 1 East Three hundred Thirty Six pole to a Hickory, thence North one hundred and forty pole to {smudge} {smudge} West Three hundred Ninety four pole to alive Oak by the side of Atsamaosock aforesaid and down the Various Courses of the Run of the Said Swamp to the Beginning it {smudge} As by the Survey and Platt of John Allen Gent[lema]n Surveyer of the said County of Isle wight doth and may appears and all the Estate Right Title and Interest of the said Nottaway Indians in and to the Same. To have and to hold the said land with ye appurtinances unto the Said Col. John Simmons his heirs and Assigns to the only use and behalf of the said Coll. John Simmons his heirs and Assigns for Ever yielding and paying to his Majesty his heirs and Successors the yearly {smudge} Rents due for the said Land In Witness whereof the said parties have hereunto Set their hands and affixed their Seals the day and year above Written

SethTho[mas] Davis	J Simmons	King Edmunds
James Stanton	Tho[ma]s Cocke	James
J Gray	Benj[ami]n Edwards	Harrisson Peter
Wine Oak Robin
frank
Wine Oak Robin
Robert Scholar
James

Mem[orandum] that on the twenty fourth day March in the year of our lord One thousand seven hundred & Forty seven peaceable & great possession and season of the land with in Mentioned was had & taken by the Chief {smudge} {smudge} Nottaway Nation within Mentioned and by thence declared to the within Named John Simmons Gentl[eman] to him his heirs Assignes for Ever According to the forme & Effect of the within Mentioned {smudge} Indenture Recd of the within Named John Simmons the just sum of fifteen pounds the purchase money within mentioned

Tho[mas] Davis	King Edmunds
James Stanton	James
J Gray	Harrison
Peter
Wine Oak Robin
Frank
Wine Oak Robin
Robin Scholar
Sam

At a Court held for Isles of Wight County Feb[rua]ry 12th 1746

within Indenture of Feofment with the above Livery and Seisin¹¹ and Reciept be...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents Page
• Dedication Page
• Acknowledgements Page
• General Introduction Page
• Bibliography Page
• Introduction Page
• Editorial Principles Page
• Multiple Families
• Religious Diversity of Families
• Racial Diversity of Families
• Poor Families
• Fictive Families
• Editorial Notes
• List of Sources