Line 18.1 Benoit Brassier / Benjamin Brashears

Line 18.1

Benoit Brassier / Benjamin Brashears

French Freedom of Faith

Benoit (later Benjamin) Brassier was born in France, a Catholic country where Protestant practices of faith were not just frowned on but caused the Catholics to riot against them. We don’t know just what, if any, persecution Benjamin and his family suffered there but as a child, his family fled to England. As a teenager, he left England for the New World and a place to settle where he could find peace with his God.

.

Benoit Brassier was born about 1626 in France to Robert Brassier

He married Mary Richford

Their children were:

1.      Robert Brashears 1642-1712 married Alice Springs

2.      Benjamin Brashears born 1647 and died 1674/5

3.      John Brashears born 1649 and died 1696. He married Ann Sterling

4.      Mary Brashears born 1651 and died 1701/2

5.      Ann Brashears born about 1653 and married William Dalrymple

6.      Susanna Brashears born 1655 and died 1692. She married Mareen Duvall and they were the ancestors of President Obama

7.      Elizabeth Brachears born 1660 and died 17289. She married John Sellman

Born in France with the name Benoit Brassier, he Anglicized the name. Brashears may have been the way the English speaking American’s phonetically spelt the name Brassier. Records record that he was age 64 in 1666 and 73 in 1734/5, so he was born sometime in the 1620. We know he was born in France because in his citizenship papers, he declares that he is “a subject of the Crowne of France.” He must have left France early in his teens as we know that one of his sisters was born about 1636 at Isle of Thanet, England. He must have been a young man when his parents and siblings left England for the New World.

Because Benois who later went by Benjamin, paid for the passage of a Mary Richford, who is believed to have become his wife. This may be possible but at this point it is impossible to prove this speculation as no further records with Benjamin’s wife’s name have been found. Mary was and is a common name, but as there was a daughter named Mary, it is quit possible she was named for her mother.

It is unknown if Benjamin and his brother Robert arrived in Jamestown with their parents in 1636. We do know the brothers settled in the Upper Norfolk Co. by 1638. Soon after this, the area became Nansemond County, Virginia.  On 14 April 1653 "Benjamin Brafseure" was issued a patent in this county 300 acres “ being at the head of a Creeke called indian Creeke being a branch of the western branch of nancemond river...joining the land of M. John Ganat.". The patent was issued “for the cost of transporting six persons into the colony.'" We do not know who the “six persons” were but it is high probable that Benjamin’s brother, Robert, was one of them. Robert Jr. already had land given to him in his father’s patent. On March 26, 1656, Benjamin renewed his patent.

Benjamin’s wondering feet lead him to the colony of Maryland by 1660. In that year, Benjamin was issued a call to jury duty under the name of Benjami Brasheers. He was living at “The Clifts” just south of present day Chesapeake Beach. The next year he was selected as the Justice of Peace of that area. On 4 December 1661 by the Council of Maryland Benojs [Benois] Brasseuir, and his family, of French origin and late of Virginia, were granted citizenship. “Whereas Benjamin Brashearss, late of Virginia, has sought to leave to inhabit as a. I do hereby declare that said Benois Brasseur, his wife and children, to be full denizens of this our Province, and that he be held, treated, reputed and esteemed as one of the faythful people.”  Benjamin’s citizenship papers also recorded "...Whereas Benjs Brafseuir late of Virginia and subject of the Crowne of France haveing transported himsefe his wife and Children into this Crownes hereto inhabite thath besought us to grant him the said Benojs Brafseuir leave here to inhabite and as a free Dennizen freedome and to hime and his hiers to purchase Known ye that wee willing to give due encourgement to other subjects of that Crowne doe hereby declare them the said Benois Brafseuir his wife & children as well those allready borne as state hereafter to bee borne to bee free Dennizens of this our Province of Mayland..." signed Charles Calvert, December 4, 1662”

Benjamin didn’t get to enjoy his new citizenship for long. He died 25 May 1663 in Maryland leaving eight young children and a widow who had to finish the purchasing of the family farm.

Despite a shaky beginning, Maryland became a refuge for many Christian sects looking for freedom to worship God in their own way. The Huguenots were just one such sect that successfully settled and raised families in the New World.

***SOURCES***

1.   "The Brassier page" htp://www.talweb.com/redlimey/gene/brassier.htm

2.       http://www.next1000.com/family/EC/brassieur.robt.html by Cheryl Grubbs

3.      http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/pattbrasher1.htm

4.      http//www.bellucc1.com/melonbel/brashears.html "My Brasseur/Brashear(s)

          Connection"

5.       http://www.next1000.com/family/GRUBB/brashearBB.html by Cheryl Grubbs

1.      "Outrages and Corrections" by Charles Brashear, Gen Forum Brashears Family

2.      Early Families of Southern Maryland, Vol 4, Brashear

3.      Virginia Land Patents, book 3, p. 33

4.Virginia Land Patents, Book 3, p. 33

Hall of Records of Maryland, Council Proceedings, Liber HH, ff. 157, 158]

Line 18 Robert Brassier

Line 18

Robert Brassier

From France to England

Thousands of Puritans left England for religious reasons, as did many from other counties in Europe during the Seventeenth Century. Among them were the Huguenots, including the Brassier or Brashear family.

Robert Brassier  was born about about 1595 in Carpentras, France

Married possibly Elizabeth Fowle or a woman named Florence in France.

Their children were:

1.   Benjamin (Benoit) Brassier or Brashears born about 1620, probably in France and died 04 December 1662 Calvert Co., Maryland. He married Mary Richford.

2.         Mary Brassier died young in Virginia

John Brassier married Mary Cocke River that genealogists have tried to tie Robert to but have not successed. However we do know that Robert was a French Huguenot. In the Sixteenth century, growing numbers of Frenchmen and women were being pulled toward the writings of John Calvin, the French theologian who inspired the protestant reformation in France. Calvin was forced to flee France for Switzerland because his teachings which caused violent uprisings by the threatened Roman Catholics. Many of his followers stayed in France but the violence continued and by the end of the Seventeenth century over 200,00 Huguenots (as the followers of Calvin were called in France) had fled France.

Robert’s parents were Allemand De Braissieur De Jorcas and his wife Madelaine De Cheilus. Robert seems to have fled France and settled at Isle of Thanet parish, County Kent. in England by 1629.. There is some indication that when he settled in England, he began to go by the name Brashear but the documentation is lacking.

Robert married and had children. The name of his wife has been suggested as either Elizabeth Fowke from France or Florence. There was a Florence, connected to Robert’s family who came over to Virginia in 1653, but if this was indeed Robert’s wife, then she would have been an elderly woman at the time and such a trip would have been hard on her. Some genealogist suggest that Florence was actually the new wife of Robert Brashear Jr, who had returned to Europe in 1653 to bring back other family members.

Robert and his wife had ten children, the older born in France, the middle ones born in England and the two youngest, Margaret and Mary in Virginia.

The family was in Jamestown, Virginia by 1636. The first known record of “Robert Brasseur” in Virginia was a renewal of a promissory note in Warrisquicke County dated 1 June 1636. This would imply that Robert had been here for at least a year, long enough to borrow money for land and have time for the first crops to come in so he could pay off his loan. The next year, Robert and his family was found in the patents of neighboring Elizabeth County, Virginia.

Robert  Brassure and Peter Rey were granted land in Warrisquicke Creeke, Nanzemond County, Virginia the next year. "To all to whom these presents shall come: I Sr[Sir] John harvey, Kt [Knight], Governor, &c., send, &c. now know yee that I thete said Sr. John Harvey, Kt., doe with consent of the Councell of State accordingly give and grant unto Robert Brassure and Peter Rey six hundred acres of land seituate, lying and being in the upper Countie of New Norfolke [land now in Nansemond Co., VA] lying north east and south west along the south side of Creeke upon the head of said Creeke and butting upon Nansemund River, alias Matrebers river. The said six hundre acres of land being due unto them, the said Robert Brassure and Peter Rey, by assignment form peter Johnson, to have and to hold, &c. dated 24th February 1638" [VA Land Patents, Book 1, p. 622/Back p. 7}

In 1653 Robert was issued a land patent for twelve hundred acres in Nanzemond County on the “southern branch of the Nanzemond River”. Persons with land patents in early Virginia were expected to pay their way to their new land but were given fifty acres for each person they paid passage for. Robert’s patent included himself "Robert Brasseur, Florence his wife, Mary Brasseur, Persid  Brasseur, Kathe Brasseur, Bennet Brasseur" and non-family members "Marg. Stockwell, Geor. Juory...W. Wroten, Thos Parker, Jno. sutton, Joh. Stephens, Step Dordan, Jon Loyd, Jon. Bott., Symon Iron, Jon Barefield, Eliz. Patemen, Geor Daldye, Wm. Ball, Nicho. Maroise, Tho. Pursell, Ra. Ellis and Jon Abby.” Also on this date, a patent was issued to Robert Senior’s son Benjamin Brasseur.

I have not been able to discover when or where Robert died but it is strongly possible that he died on his acres on the Nanzemond River several years after the 1653 land patent was issued.

Robert must have been a man of adventure and courage and faith. He fled France in order to serve his God in his own way and then took a risk to come to the New World to carve out a life there.

 

***SOURCES***

1. http://www.next1000.com/family/EC/brassieur.robt.html by Cheryl Grubb

2. http//www.bellucc1.com/melonbel/brashears.html

   "My Brasseur/Brashear(s) Connection"

3.  http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/pattbrasher1.htm

4. Early Families of Southern Maryland, Vol 4, Brashear

1.   The Brashear (Brasseur) Family

    www.tamu.edu/famulty/ccbn/dewitt/pattbrasher/.htm

7. Virginia Land Patents, book 1, page 622

Line 16.2 Anne West: Friends and Foes

Anne West Sellman is a woman of her generation. Little is known about her outside the names of her parents and the fact that she married twice and had six children by each of her husbands. Since her first husband was a Quaker, it follows that she was one too. However, that while her mother was a Quaker,  her father was of the Church of England so she probably got a dose of both the Church of England and the Quaker Church while growing up.

Ann West was born 12 February 1685/86 in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia the daughter of John West and his wife Matilda Scarborough.

Married 1. Thomas Sparrow about 1705 (he died in 1719) and 2. William Sellman son of  John Sellman and his wife Elizabeth Brashears.

Their children were:

1.      John Sparrow born 17 December 1706 at Anne Arundel Co, Maryland and died before 29 June 1781 at Anne Arundel Co, MD. He married Mary Knighton.

2.      Elizabeth Sparrow born 12 September 1708 in Anne Arundel Co, Maryland

3.      Mathilda  Sparrow married John Burgess. She died 1748 at Anne Arundel Co, Maryland

4.      Kensey Sparrow born at All Hallows, Anne Arundel Co, Maryland and died 1749 at All Hallows, Anne Arundel, MD. He married Dinah Richardson.

5.      Catherine Sparrow born 04 February 1713/14 at All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel Co, Maryland. She married Edmund Curtis.

6.      Scarborough Sparrow born 16 May 1717 at Anne Arundel Co, Maryland

7.      Thomas Sellman born 29 November 1718 at Anne Arundel Co, Maryland died at Brooke Co., Virginia in 1794. He married Ruth Shipley.

8.      William Sellman born 18 May 1720 at Anne Arundel Co, Maryland . He married Charity Tidings

9.      John Sellman born 01 March 1720/21 at Anne Arundel Co., Maryland

10.  Charles Sellman born 05 August 1722 at Anne Arundel Co., Maryland and died there 20 December 1770. He married Elizabeth Gassaway.

11.  Anne Sellman born 25 September 1725 at Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. She married Samuel Batee.

12.  Jonathan Sellman born 21 February 1722/23 at Anne Arundel Co., Maryland and died there in 1783. He married Elizabeth Battee.

Ann married twice. Her first husband was a much older man, Thomas Sparrow. She was his third wife. Thomas and his first wife had no known children. He had two sons by his second wife, one of whom must have died before his father as he is not mentioned in Thomas’ will. By Anne, Thomas had six children, of whom four survived him.

Her second husband, who was three years younger then she, was William Sellman, the son of John Sellman, who had come to the New World as an indentured servant, and his wife Elizabeth Brashears, the daughter of French Huguenots. Anne’s mix of Christianity must have become even more diverse with the French Huguenot influence in William’s family.

By William, Anne had six more children. She survived her second husband, outliving him by seven years and leaving a will that was signed on 25 October 1748 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. She names children from both marriages, as well as daughter-in-laws and grandchildren.

What role religion played in Anne’s during her second marriage is unknown. However, she life certainly had the pick of several Christian sects to choose from or maybe she choose to study the Bible on her own and serve God using the best of each choice. My guess is that she continued in her Quaker walk but had the influence of other sects that mellowed and furthered her faith in an almighty and loving God.

***SOURCES***

1. [JW] John Warren, john.Warren@worldnet.att.net

2. [FFS] "http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdannear/fistfam/sparrow

3. [ASW] Will of Anne Sellman (self)

4. [WTNA] Ancestry.com World Tree Project "Northampton/ Accomack Co. VA. Names

5. [JDW] "Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland" by J. D. Warfield, A.M. 1967

Line 16.1 John West, Southern Friends and Loved Ones

John was squarely, firmly Church of England. Yet he married a woman who became a Quaker, in spite of her father’s destine for that church. How this affected John is not recorded but he must have struggled in some way with the differences in his own and his wife’s faiths.

John West was born 08 April 1638 St. Dunstan, Stepney, London, England, son of Anthony and Anne West.

Married Matilda Scarborough was born about 1643 in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia the daughter of Edmund Henry Scarborough and his wife Mary Littleton (see line 15.2 for children)

Died May 27, 1703 in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia

John West began to collect land at the young age of 18. On 23 Dec 1650 he required 1600 acres in Northampton, Virigina. Ten years later on 3 Nov 1660 he gain 800 acres of land. His wife, Matilda was “granted” 250 acres which became John’s because of “marrying with the said Scarburgh”. By 1663, he moved his family to Accomck County, Virginia where in 1670, he and his brother-in-law Charles Scarborough were granted land on an island in Chesapeake Bay. From a 1713 patent issued years after the deaths of  Charles who died in 1702, and John who died in 1703, we can guess that the island was Tangier.

John West was a busy man. He farmed his island land. He was a carpenter and shipbuilder. He was a commissioner for Accomack County, Virginia in 1662, Justice of the Peace from 1663 to 1702, High Sheriff of Accomack Co. in 1664 and 1667 and a member of the House of Burgess in 1680. From 1665-1703 he was a Captain then a Major and finally a Lieutenant Colonel in the state militia. John may have been  the John West Major serving under General Berkely during the Bacon rebellion and suffered great losses in property. If so he was captured and imprisoned for a while as well. The Bacon Rebellion started when a group of settlers, lead by a wealthy planter named Nathnaiel Bacon, protested against the Indian raids. Governor Berkely allowed the Indians to remain enraging the settlers. Both poor white and poor black farmers united to fight against what they felt threat they felt from both the native population and Governor Berkely. The Indians, at least for a time, were allowed to remember but poor old Berkely was recalled to England.

John West wrote his will 3 Februaty 1702/3. It was proved 2 August 1703. The Snead Bible records " Lieut. Coll. John West died May 27, 1703" John’s will named his wife Mathilda and their six sons (Anthony, Alexander, Jonathan, Bennony, John the elder and John the younger) and seven daughters (Catherine, Anne, Mary, Scarburgh, Mathilda, Frances and Sarah) as well as other relatives, included grandchildren.

A busy man indeed was my ancestor John West. He fought rebellions, claimed large portions of land, built ships and raised a large family. On top of all that, he worshiped in the Church of England while his rebellious wife became a Quaker. I can feel assured that their relationship, while certainly differing on theology, remained warm in that they had a large family over nearly twenty-seven years. John left Matilda well off and well provided for. She survived him by over sixteen years, probably being cared for by her children and her “friends” in the Quaker Church.

***SOURCES***

1. [CR] http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/westant2.html "Descendants of Anthony West" by Carolyn Rozelle

2. [AWJV] http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/westant.htm "Anthony West, James city, Virginia" from Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1625

3. [WFCF] http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/westberry.html "West Families from Colonial Families of U.S."

4. [PSA] RootsWeb.com "Pam Shelton-Anderson Gedcom"

5.  [CMG]  http://www.esva.net/ghotes/scarb "Descendants of Edmund Scarborough" from Cynthia McDaniel, Ghote

6. [JWW] Will of John West, 1703

7. [RB] http://freepages.genalogy.rootsweb.com/~barlow/west.html West family lineage, Ralph Barlow, Northampton Virginia

8. [LCJW] "Ancestors of Lt. Col. John West" Internet, http://www.freepages.family.rootwebs.ancestry.com/~streetancestors/290.html

Line 16, Anthony West, Church of England Royalty?

Many genealogists have tried to connect Anthony West to Thomas West, 2nd Baron De La Warr or Lord Baltimore for whom the city of Baltimore is named, although I haven’t found a firm connection, the possibility is very promising. The connection, if true, may also lead back to Henry VIII through his supposed illegitimate daughter, Catherine Cary, who was the daughter of Mary Boleyn, sister to Henry’s second wife the Anne Boleyn who was the mother of Queen Elizabeth II.

Anthony West was born about 1605 somewhere in England

Married the widow Anne Huffe (possibly of Anthony Huffe) who married 3. Stephen Charlton. Anthony West and Anne Huffe were married 11 March 1632/33 at St. Dunstan, Stepney, Middlesex, England.

Their children were:

1.      Katherine West born 09 January 1634/35 in Stepney, Middlesex, England. She died 1700 in Accomac, Accomack Co., VA. She married Ralph Barlowe, the son of Edward and Joan Barlowe.

2.      Anne West born about 1636  in Stepney, Middlesex, England and died 1684 in Accomac, Accomack Co., VA. She may have married Charles Scarbough, brother of Matilda who married Anne’s brother John.

3.      John West born 27 May 1703 in Stepney, Middlesex, England and died May 27, 1703 in Accomac, Accomack Co., VA

4.      Anthony West born and died November 1641 in Stepney, Middlesex, England.

Died 25 May 1652 in Northampton Co., Virginia

Anthony West was probably a younger son who lacked money and came to Virginia seeking a better and wealthier life for himself and his future family. If he was a part of the De la Warr family, he more likely a cousin then a child of the Baron, as none of the lists of children I have found include an “Anthony”. The evidence that Anthony was related to the De la Warrs includes the fact that he used the similar coat-of-arms as Lord Delaware’s, a coat of arms. A copy of the family coat-of-arms can be found on the gravestone of Anthony’s great-grandson, Charles. The arms are quartered with his wife’s. In English records dated around 1622 there is a record of an Anthony West receiving a coat of arms. Many young noblemen seeking adventure or riches in the New World wanted a recorded coat-of-arms when they left England. Since 1622ish fits into the timeline of our Anthony coming to the New World, and the coat-of-arms recorded is similar to the one on Charles West’s gravestone, there is a very strong possibility these are the same Anthony West. At this point the records haven’t revealed a positive connection between my Anthony and the Lord Delaware. Both coat-of-arms picture a "fesse dancettee, and the the three leopard's faces" and the only difference is a "martlet" in the cneter of the fesse on the English one but a star point above the fesse on Charles West's arms. The fact that Anthony came to early Jamestown where his supposed West relations also came and the noted coat-of-arms, does point strongly to some kind of family connection.

The adventurous Anthony West came to Virginia as a very young man in 1622 arriving on The James, living first at West and Sherlowe Hundred and then at “Mr. Treasurer’s Plantation” across the river from Jamestown. He settled in Northampton County and became a Lieutenant Colonel in the local militia. He returned to England before 1632 when he married Anne Huffe. Dated 10 March 1633/4, a marriage license signed by the Bishop of London reads: “Anthony West of ye parish of Stepney in the County of Midd[lesex] Surgeon and a batchr aged 28 years ... alledged that he intented to marry wth Anne Huffe of the fr said parish widowe aged 26 yeares the relict of Anthony Huffe.”

Anthony and Anne stayed in London long enough to have four children. Sometime before 1649, Anthony, with his family, returned to Virginia where 'Anthony West, Ann his wife, John West and Kath: West' were given a patent to settle on the “Great Nusewattock River.”

As noted on his daughter-in-law, Matilda Scarborough West’s story, John West followed the Church of England, so it is most likely that Anthony West did too. Unlike the New England settlers who did immigrate in order to practice their faith, the men and women who came to Virginia did so for economic reasons or for the adventure. They tended to be “good” Englishmen and woman who followed the King’s religion. I tend toward feeling that since his son married the daughter of a man who was rather a zealot for keeping the “King’s Church” as the Church of Virginia, that he must have been at the least a frequent attendee of that church.

He died 25 May 1652 [CR / RBNV] His will was written 12 Oct 1651 [AWJV] and proved 25 May 1652 Northampton, E names his wife Ann and issue, John and Katherine [RBNV] Anthony made a will 12 October 1651 in Accomack/Northampton. It was recorded 25 May 1652 (Marshall Wills: 31). An abstract of his will reads: WEST, ANTHONY - 12 October 1651 / 25 May 1652 - My son John West extr. And my wife [no name] and daughter Barloe to have their thirds out of my estate, and my son John to have the rest. And his mother to have the managing of it during her widowhood, but if she married then my son John to enjoy his estate (if it be before he comes of age). No administrator nor overseer to have anything to do with my estate. [GMW]

My West line

Supposed ancestors in parentheses:

[Sir William Boleyn m. Lady Margaret Butler, daughter of Thomas Butler 7^th Earl of Ormond]

[Thomas Boleyn m. Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Thomas Howard, 2^nd Duke of Norfolk]

[Mary Boleyn m. William Carey and was mistress of Henry VIII, King of England]

[Catherine Carey (possibly the daughter of Henry VIII) m. Sir Francis Knollys]

[Anne Knollys m. Thomas West, 2^nd  Baron De La Warr]

[Sons were Robert, Thomas, Francis and John West, 3^rd  Baron De La Warr]

Anthony West married Mrs. Anne Huffe

John West m. Matilda Scarborough

Anne West m. William Sellman

Charles Sellman m. Elizabeth Gassaway

Margaret Sellman m. Joshua Hobbs

Anna “Nancy” Hobbs m. George Burkheart

Mary “Polly” Burkheart m. William Hopkins

Cynthia Hopkins m. Samuel Thomas Miller

Eliza Jane Miller m. Josiah Maltby

***SOURCES***

1. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/westant2.html "Descendants of Anthony West" by Carolyn Rozelle

2. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/westant.htm "Anthony West, James city, Virginia" from Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1625

3.   http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/westberry.html "West Families from Colonial Families of U.S."

4. http://freepages.genalogy.rootsweb.com/~barlow/west.html West family lineage, Ralph Barlow, Northampton Virginia

6.   cbrown@swko.net, Liberal, KS (per Diane Powers)

7.   Gail M. Walczyk, "Anthony West" http://www.easternshoreheritage.com/descendants/descendants_jamestowne_West_anthony.htm

8.      Marriage license signed by the Bishop of London, Dated 10 March 1633/4

9.    Rootweb WEST-L Archives EileenGen@aol.com Subject: More on Anthony West 

  Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998

Line 15.2, Matilda Scarborough West; A Daughter's Holy Rebellion

Sometimes poetic justice is visited in odd ways. Edmund Scarborough Sr., the Indian and Quaker Fighter, was blessed (or maybe cursed) with a daughter that practiced the Quaker faith. She obviously inherited her father’s streak of independence as she fearlessly joined the Friends and worshiped as she found fit.

Matilda Scarborough was born about 1643 in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia the daughter of Edmund Henry Scarborough and his wife Mary Littleton.

She married John West born 08 April 1638 and baptized at St. Dunstan, Stepney, London, England. He died 27 May 1703 in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia

Their children were:

1.      Mathilda West born 31 August 1658 Clifton, Accomack, VA. She married John Wise or West born 1655. They both died in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia.

2.      John West born 1661 in Accomac, Accomack  Co., Virginia and died there 1701. He married France Yardley.

3.      Anthony West born 1662 in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia and died there 06 August 1717.

4.      Sarah West born 1665 in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia and died there 30 January 1760. She married Tully Robinson born 31 August 1658.

5.      Alexander West born 1673 in Liberty Hall, Marionville. He married Mary Robins. He died 03 January 1727/28 VA. Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia

6.      Benoni West born 1672 Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia and died there January 1707/08. He married Sarah Snead.

7.      Frances West  born 1672 in Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia and died 06 April 1731. She married a Mr. Kellam

8.      Jonathan born 27 March 1674 in Accomac, Accomack Co., VA and died there 04 October 1727. He married Rachel Spooner.

9.      Catherine West born 06 May 1677 Accomac, Accomack Co., VA and died there 07 January 1710/11.

10.  John born about 1680 at Liberty Hall, Marionville, VA and died there 16 September 1718. He married Josepha Maria Godwin.

11.  Mary Scarborough West about 1684 at Accomac, Accomack Co., VA and died there 27 January 1767. She married Robert Snead.

12.  Anne  born 12 February 1685/86 in Accomac, Accomack Co., VA. She married William Sellman. They relocated to Maryland where Anne died 01 May 1749 in Anne Arundel County.

Died Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia on died 03 January 1720/21.

Matilda Scarborough born about 1644 in Accomack County, Virginia. While Virginia was still a “wild” land, she was born into a family of wealth and influence and probably enjoyed the finest life available in the New World. Her father was the son of a very influential man and he most certainly inherited a bit of that influence himself. She married Lt.Col. John West the son of Anthony West and his wife Anne, who had been the widow Huffe at her marriage to Mr. West. There are some genealogies pointing to Anthony West being the son of Thomas West, the Third Baron De La Ware but I haven’t been able to make a solid connection. I feel from the evidence found that he was probably a middle class adventurer, looking for the land of milk and honey and gold. Whatever his state before coming to the New World, Anthony prospered and his son did too. John was a shipbuilder. He served as county commissioner of Accomack County, as well as justice and sheriff. He was a captain and then major and the lieutenant colonel in the local militia. He eventually owned over 5000 acres in Accomack County and 250 more in Northampton County. He was also staunchly adhered to the Church of England.

What possessed Matilda to join the Quaker church cannot be learned now but it was a brace act considering her parents and husband stuck tightly to the Church of England. Her own father led a vicious attack again the Quakers who tried to settle along the Great Annamessex River in 1663 only two years after she married John West. I haven’t been able to find out when Matilda joined the Quakers but her father’s aggression against the Quakers may have made her sympathetic to their cause. Her father died ten years after her marriage. Whether her conversion estranged her from her father is not known. Since she and John West had twelve children born throughout nearly the whole of their marriage, I doubt that and despite the differences in practicing their faith, there must have still been a somewhat warm relationship. She was named in her mother’s 14 June 1691 will as well as her husband’s 6 February 1702/3 will for which she refused to take the usual oath, as was the Quaker way.

We often think of our foremothers as having been weak and timid. I sincerely doubt that Mathilda was either of these. She must have been full of conviction and activity. She ran a large household and was strong in her faith and loyal to her church. I can’t say for sure, but I see her as having been a woman who stood up and spoke her mind and God’s revelations with the passion equal to any Bible thumping male minister. Women were equal to men in the Quaker denomination and following my Quaker Martyr Great-something Grandmother, Mary Dyer, Mathilda may very well have been willing to give up all for her faith. On the other hand, she must also been a very loveable woman who was able to keep her faith and her Church of England family as well.

***SOURCES***

1.     http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/westant.htm "Anthony West, James city, Virginia" from Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1625

2.     http://www.esva.net/ghotes/scarb "Descendants of Edmund Scarborough" from Cynthia McDaniel, Ghote

3. cbrown#swko.net, Liberal, KS (Per Diane Powers)

4. The History of Maryland and Virginia Quakers By Jeannette Holland Austin http://www.georgiapioneers.com/

5. Col. John Wise of England and Virginia (1617-1695); Wise, Jennings Cropper, Virginia Historical Society (Film 0000593)

Line 15.1 Edmund Henry Scarborough; Here Comes Trouble

Edmund Henry Scarborough is one of my ancestors who walked on the wrong side of God. OK, maybe not, but he certainly didn’t practice his Christian compassion. He was quit a character as this short look at his life will prove.

Edmund Henry Scarborough was born 02 October 1617 in North Walsham, Norfolk, England the son of Edmund Scarborough Sr. and his wife Hannah Butler Married Mary Littleton

Their children were

1.      Littleton Scarborough who died in 1672

2.      Tabitha Scarborough born about 1636 and died about 1717 in Accomack, McCormack Co., Virginia. She married 1. Colonel John SMART 2. Devereux BROWN and 3. Major General John CUSTIS II.

3.      Charles Scarborough born 1643. He married Elizabeth Bennett. He was involved in the Bacon Rebellion but acquitted of wrongdoing. He died after 1701 in Accomack, McCormack Co., VA

4.      Matilda Scarborough born 1644 in Accomack, McCormack Co., Virginia and died there 03 January 1720/21.

5.      Edmund Scarborough born 1644 in Accomack, McCormack Co., Virginia and died there 05 February 1711/12. He married Ursula Whittington.

There is also strong evidence that Edmund Scarborough was the father of the Ann Toft’s daughters:

6.      Arcadia Toft who married Thomas Welburn (by whom she had five children.) She died 2 August 1710 in Accomack County, Virginia.

7.      Attalanta Toft married John Osborne (by whom she had at least two children) and William Whittington.

8.      Annabelle Toft married Francis Lee (by whom she had one daughter, Rebecca) and William Marshall (by whom she had six children).

Died 23 May 1671 in Occahannock Creek, Accomack Co., VA

Edmund Henry Scarborough was, if nothing else, a very influential and powerful man in the mid-Seventh Century colony of Virginia. Edmund wasn’t beyond murder, adultery and just plain meanness. He was the complete opposite of his gentle brother, Sir Charles. If Edmund did consider himself a Christian, then he was of the type who was relentless of ridding all who did not practice their Christianity or faith as he did. If he was Christian, he was the type whom atheist historians throw out as a “good” example of the evil of that faith. My guess is that he was strict Church of England and didn’t like anyone’s else’s view of Christianity and God.

Edmund was a wealthy as well as powerful man. Edmund served as Speaker of the House of Burgesses, county sheriff and militia colonel. He was a man of many skills, acting as a lawyer, a surveyor, a planter and cattle rancher, owned a shoe factory and many shipping vessels. When his sea vessel “Sea Horse” was captured by the Dutch in 1651, he turned around and captured several Dutch vessels. The native people of Virginia called him the “Conjurer”. They deserved to be weary of the Conjurer as in 1651, he convinced Accomack County people or English blood that the Pocomoke Indian north of them were a threat and lead a raid of over fifty men against them. Edmund and some of the other white men involved in the raid were called to court to justify their actions. The court found them justified. Later he sold guns to the Indians and then turned around and condemned to the General Assembly for owning firearms. In 1671 he called the Indians to a great feast and then as thy feasted, fired on them and killed many of them.

Edmund’s wrath wasn’t just directed toward the Indians of Virginia but towards those whose “faith” didn’t fit the “correct” mold, whatever that was in his mind. He hated Puritans and Quakers and caused them no end of trouble in Virginia. He even went after the Quakers who fled to Maryland to escape him and claimed parts of Maryland for Virginia. Religious irony would follow him after the grave in that his daughter, Matilda’s grandson married a woman who descended from the very religious groups that Edmund tried so hard to eliminate.

Edmund married a woman named Mary, who may have been the daughter of Nathaniel Littleton. She outlived Edmund by twenty years, a just reward for living with such a man. He is believed to have been the father of Anne Toft’s three illegitimate daughters. Anne Toft, an unmarried woman, profited greatly from her relationship to Edmund as he helped her become a wealthy woman. As influential as Edmund was, it could not have set well with his legitimate wife, that he flaunted his mistresses and three young daughters. Mary suffered after Edmund’s death as well when their son, Charles, “neglected” her. In her will, she revoked a legacy to son Charles Scarburgh because of his neglect, leaving money and items to her other children and grandchildren.

Edmund died of smallpox and was buried near Hedra Cottage. A handsome marble marker was placed there by the State of Virginia many years later and can still be viewed.

“Here abouts lies Col. Edmund Scarborough 1618-1671 Surveyor General of Virginia”

***SOURCES***

1. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/westant.htm "Anthony West, James city, Virginia" from Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1625

2. http://www.esva.net/ghotes/scarb "Descendants of Edmund Scarborough" from Cynthia McDaniel, Ghote

3. Southern Kith and Kin By Jewell Davis Scarborough Copyright ©1957