VIRGINIA 
LAND PATENTS & GRANTS

Submitted by Joseph Horned


Brief explanation:  How were Land Patents issued in the 1600's?  
From the Library of Virginia's "VA Notes" on Headrights:

        "In order to encourage immigration into the colony, the Virginia Company, meeting in a Quarter Court held on 18 November 1618, passed a body of laws called Orders and Constitutions which came to be considered "the Great Charter of privileges, orders and laws" of the colony. Among these laws was a provision that any person who settled in Virginia or paid for the transportation expenses of another person who settled in Virginia should be entitled to receive fifty acres of land for each immigrant. The right to receive fifty acres per person, or per head, was called a headright. The practice was continued under the royal government of Virginia after the dissolution of the Virginia Company, and the Privy Council ordered on 22 July 1634 that patents for headrights be issued."
 

 

Thomas Crowtch, 150 acs. James Citty Co., 10 Nov. 1638, p604. Upon W. side of Tappehannock Cr., bounded by a reedy swamp to the S.W. & N.E.  upon a path Due for trans. Of 3 pers: William Greene, Richard Preslee, James Mason

Mr. William Presly, 1150 acs. Northumberland Co., 14 Oct. 1649, p. 186. Lyeing on Potomeck Riv. Between Chingehan Cr. & Preslys Cr. Mouth, over to the Codd point, Mattrams Cr. parting this from land of Mr. John Motrums, & Chingehan Cr. parting this from land of Mr. Robert Newman. Trans. Of 23 pers: John February, Richd. Steevens, Robert Crabbe, John Ridford, William Louder, William Hicks, Hump. Dale, Tho. Fowler, John Warren, John Buttler, John Chappell, Peter Willet, William Pippin, Tho. Spalding, Hump. Blackman, Peter Callay, Jno. Wildblood, Henry Plumpton, Wm. Presly, Jane his wife, Wm. Presly, Payle (or Paule) Presly, Peter Presly.

Wm. Presley, Gent., 100 acs. Northumberland Co., 29 July 1650, p 246. Butting Ely. Upon Potemeck Riv. & Sly. Upon land of John Earle. Trans. Of 2 per.*

Robeth Newman, 814 acs. Northumberland Co., 1 Apr. 1651, p. 300. Abutting Nly. Upon Potomeck Riv., Ely. Upon a cr. dividing this from land of Hugh Finch & Wlv. Upon a cr. dividing this from land of William Presly. Trans. of 16 pers: Marke Prous, Giles Tavernour, John Strathen (or Stratlen), Michaell Bemon, Peter Speed, Nicola Hana, Hen. Robinson, Wm. Bolton, Marg. Wood, Edw. Boles, Jno. Lawren, Robt. Moreley, Marg. Robinson, Hump. Meates, Ann Meares, Coninham Banton.

Robert Brasseur, 1200 acs. Nanzemond Co., 12 Apr. 1653, p. 33. At the head of the southerne branch of Nanzemond Riv., 600 acs. Lying on the S. side of the branch & the other 600 on the N. side. Beg. On the N. side &c. joining land of Adrian Buny. On the S. side, being an Indian Towne, beg. At a marked pine standing on a bancke by the branch side, joining land of Wm. Haines, &c. Trans. of 24 pers: Margaret Stockwell, Geo. Juory (or Ivory), Robt. Brasseur, Florence his wife, Mary Brasseur, Persid (or Persie) Brassuer, Kathe. Brasseur, Bennet Brasseur, Wm. Wotton, Tho. Parker, Jon Sutton, Jon. Stephens, Step Dordon, Jon. Loyd, Jon. Bott, Symon Iron, Jon. Barefield, Eliz. Pateman, Geo. Daldye, Wm. Ball, Nicho. Moroise (?), Tho. Pursell, Ra. Ellis, Jon. Abby.

Richard Gible, 800 acs. Northumberland Co., _____________ Dec. 1656, p. 66, (97). Ely. B. S. upon a creek dividing this & lands of John Hull, Hugh Souch, & James Magregor, N. by E. upon land of Robert Newman, & W. by N. upon a creek dividing this & land of Mr. Presly. Trans. of 16 pers: Robert Newman, Wm. Winterton, Mary Robinson, Ann Pettito, John Dunnidge, John Wilkerson, Anne Wilkenson, Vincent Stanford, Wm. Chapman, John Branch, Mary Branch, Mary Branch, Junr., Edward Toogood, David Griffin, John Willis, Wm Wage, Note: Renewed in the name of Danll. Holland & Wm. Cornish, to whom it was sold by sd. Gible, 9 Dec. 1662.

Mr. William Presley, 1000 acs. In Potomeck freshes  about 3 mi. above land called Mr. Robert Clerke’s land, Ely. upon sd. River, Sly. upon land of Mr. Francis Grey & John

Lancelott. 15 July 1657, p. 116, (172). Trans. of 20 pers: Roger Bell, James Arden, Ro. Rodes, Tim. Lawrence, Bernard Nash, Jno. Varnell, Edd. Cooper, Law. Seines, Dan. Armstronge, Hugh Davis, Tho. Madrin, Nich. Peake, Rand. Jackson, Tho. Beale, Peeter Hugh, Mary James, Martha Hiller, Judith Chroshaw, Wm. Batty, Corl. May.

Richard Russell, 1000 acs. Northumberland Co., 25 Sept. 1657, p. 158, (232). Ely. upon Chinkahane Cr. or Mr. Preslyes Cr. Nly. upon land of Col. Mattron, sd. Presly & Col. Trussell, Wly. Upon land of Gervase Dodson & Sly. Towards Col. Claiborne. Trans. of 20 pers: Richd. Eaton, Tho. Arnoll, Jno. Cross, Tho. Dakin, Wm. Cutts, Charles Addams, John Varny, Stephen Trapp, Hen. Bosworth, Jane Kinge, Wm. Wilson, Su. Wilson, Giles Abbot, Joane Emmett, Abagile Hare, Wm. Pot, Sarah Pott, 3 Negroes.

Thomas Woodhouse & John Wood, 6000 acs. N. Ely. upon Patomeck Riv. Above another seate of land of sd. Wood above land of Mr. Wm. Presly. Trans. of 120 pers:

Phillip Harwood, Robt. Salter, Mararee Long, Tho. Warham, John Spone, Wm. Gayter, Roger Plumer, Edwd. Plaice, Jervis Wilkinson, Wm. Lancaster, Tho. Focknham, Tho. Giles, Tho. Panton, Edward Bourne, Phillip Ashby, James Beare, Symon Salter, Henry Sterne, Roger Symons, Jno. Wray, Jo. Coates, Tho. Preston, Abr. Jnoson (Johnson), Edwd. Jnoson, Jo. Philpott, Jo. Tyler, Morgan Lewis, Math. Hughes, James Roberts, Roger Clayton, Tho. Kniteley, Robt. Herne, Wm. Strood, Symon Allen, Jeremy Ware, Richard Core, Richard Smith, Sam. Warren, Ja. Bird, Tho. Davies, Edwd. Sneath, Wm. Tanner, Robt. Wheeler, Henry Weston, Isaack Scott, John Atkins, Jno. Sheffeild, Nich. Wilson, Ralph Sharpe, Wm. Batesman, Mich. Wills, Alex Mont, Marke Alester, Georg Rayman, Sam Burton, Cath. Fletcher, Ferd. Downies, Wm. Edmonds, Joshua Gibson, Robt. Read, Hen. Harp, Tho. Duninge, Tho. Beale, John Marston, Roger Gray, Henry Talbott, Mich. Orton, James Neale.

Thomas Kedby, 220 acs. Northumberland Co., 29 Nov. 1658, p. 238, (338). Betwixt two brances of Scotts Cr. & the land James Magregory now lives on & the land he sold to a Dutchman, Wly. & Sly. Upon land of Col. Claiborne betwixt land of Mr. Jno. Hany, Jno. Hughlett & sd. Hughlett & sd. Dutchman. Trans. of 4 pers: Robert Thomkins, Jno. Martin, Jno. Strevin, Wm. Surtur. Renewed 9 Dec. 1662 in name of Moore Price, to whom it was assigned by Wm Presly, Atty. Of sd. Kedby.

 

James Pope, 1000 acs. Northumberland Co., 28 Jan. 1662, p. 286, (244). Bounding Ely. on Chinkahun or Mr. Preslies Cr., Nly. On land of Col. Matrum, sd. Presly & Col. Trussell. Wly. Upon land of Gervase Dodson & Sly. Towards Col. Claybornes land. Granted to Richard Russell 25 Sept. 1657, by him deserted & granted sd. Pope by order of Genrll. Ct. 10 Oct. 1660 & due for trans. of 20 pers: John Martin, Sam. Court, Mary Ward, John Hughs, Wm. Frett, Samll. Abbott, Mary Fowles, Tho. Turner, Leo. Young, Jno. Spann, Tho. Crouncher, Jacob Newell, Jacob Lewis, Fra. Parker, Tho. Kirby, Wm. Moulson, Samll. Johnson, Tho. Truett, Jane Moulson.

Wm. Coleman & Robt. Baynham, 300 acs. Northumberland Co., 29 Jan. 1662, p. 294, (259). N.E. upon the head of the plantation of Wm Preslie, S.E. upon the head of a Cr. of Yeocomoco Riv. Granted to Tho. Shepard & James Claughton 6 May 1652 & after severall sales, assigned to the abovenamed.

Mr. Wm. Thomas, 608 Acs. Northumberland Co., 19 Oct. 1665, p. 426, (502). 560 acs. In Little Wiccocomico Cr. & commonly known by the name of Kings Neck, beg. S.S.E. on sd. Creek from the mouth of a cr. or br. Commonly called old Mans Cr. to mouth of Kings Cr. &c to a cr. dividing this from land of Michaell Brooke, S.W. on land of Goerge Colclough &c. Granted to Richd. Thompson by patents dated 4 Apr. 1649 for 560 acs. & 48 acs. Dated 15 Dec. 1651 & after sd. Thompson’s decease became due unto Sarah & Eliz. Thompson, his heires, & by Mr. Tho. Willoughbie, & Mr. Presly, who marryed sd. Sarah & Eliz., with their free consents assigned over to sd. Thomas.

Peter Prestley, 300 acs. Northumberland Co., 4 Oct 1664, p. 394, (452). Sly. Upon Wiccocomico Cr., Ely. upon land patented by Geo. Colclough at a branch called Bridg Cr. Granted sd. Colclough 4 June 1655, by him deserted & granted to Eliz. Thompson by order of the Gen. Ct. & due sd. Prestly as marrying sd. Eliz. 

Source:  Cavaliers and Pioneers Vol. I (1623-1666)
Marion Nell Nugent, 1934
Published by the Library of Virginia