The Family Garden

Notes

Peter SEALY

Schedule of Inhabitants in Chester County, South Carolina 1790 Census, Page 182, columns 1 and 2
Peter Seely
# of white males over 16:  3
# of white males under 16: 2
# of white females over 16: 3
# of white females under 16: none
# of slaves: none
*Source:  http://www.rootsweb.com/~scchest2/scc1790182.htm

Thomas WATTON

The evidence seems overwhelming that the child Thomas, born 1612, in Castor was the same man who in 1670 made his will and died in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. In his will, that Thomas Wotton left his property to his "only begotten son" Richard, with the provision that if Richard died without issue, the property was to go to Thomas' next of kin of name (Wotton) in the village of Castor near Petersborough in Northamptonshire. This seems to leave no doubt that Thomas I  was born and raised in Castor, and that he believed members of his family still seemed to be living there in 1670 when he made his will. It was this provision of Thomas' will which has led several Wooten decedents to look to Castor for the English origins of the Isle of Wight family.

Virginia Patent records show that in June 1639, an early Virginia planter named John Pawley had paid the passage of 12 immigrants from England. For doing this, Pawley was entitled to have these people work for him for a period of years (depending on their ages), and he was awarded a patent (land grant) for 50 acres a head, a total of 600 acres. One of these 12 was Thomas Watton. Pawley took out his patent near the head of the Lawnes Creek on the south side of the James River, where James City County and Isle of Wight County then met. It appears likely that Pawley sooner or later assigned Thomas Watton to work on the clearing and seating of this land. In 1645, Pawley's neighbor Robert Eley deeded to William Troloder 150 acres of a patent which Eley had received in 1639. About a year later, Troloder transferred this 150 acres to Thomas Watton. The assignment is simply added to the bottom of the original deed from Eley to Troloder. It is dated 11 January 1645 (our 1646), and may be seen on Isle of Wight County Records Microfilm 1, p. 99, in the Virginia State Library in Richmond. One of the witnesses to this assignment was Arthur Wood, evidently a friend and neighbor of Thomas Watton. Arthur died sometime after 1646, and Thomas Watton married his widow Sara. Thomas and Sara had one son, Richard, who is our next in line.  Sarah had one son by her first husband, and one son by her second husband, named Richard Wooton.
*Source:  "The Wootens of Edgecombe" (Edgecombe County, NC), A.R. Tyndall

Thomas's WILL:

In the Name of God Amen, I Thomas Wotton being sick & weak in Body,but of good & perfect memorie praised be the almightie God for it, I ordain this my last will & Testament, that is to say I give my soul to God my maker & Christ my redeemer, hoping in his mercies to have pardon for my sinns, my body I Comitt to the ground, to be buried as my executors deem good, I ordain my well loved wife Sara Wotton Richard Wotton my only & true begotten sonne, my Executors of this my last will and Testament That is to Say, after my debts being first paid: I give my wife's sonn Thomas Wood the worth of two hund pence,and no more. And all the rest of my goods, that is to say, land houses cattell & hoggs & household goods I give to my wife Sara Wotton & Richard Wotton my only sonne. And I leave my estate to my wife & sonne wholly & fully. And after my decease, I ordain my sonn: RichardWotton, wholly executor to look after the estate. And after my wife's decease my sonn Richard to be possessed of the estate wholly, and after my sonn Richard's decease, he having no issue, I give it to my next kinn of Name in Northampton Shire att a town called Castor neere unto Peterborough: And I desire my loveing friends James Sampson and Richard Briggs to be overseers of this my last will & testament. Amen,written in one sheete of paper in the year of our lord God march the15th day 1669.
Signed (by hand) Thomas Wotton.
Wit. Elizabeth Sampson.
This will is proved by the oath of Mrs. Elizabeth Sampson in open Corte held for the Isle of Wight County this Ninth Day of December1670 And then Recorded. y m: JnO Jennings Cl Cur

Sarah Jennings WOOD

Sarah was married first to Arthur Wood and had one son Thomas by thatmarriage.   Source:

This Indenture made the 14th day of January Anno Domini 1668 BetweenThomas Wood Sonne of Arthur Wood and Sarah Wooton, his mother & Relictof Arthur Wood decsd of the one part and Richard Bennett of Blackwaterof the other part... by these presents for ever pass over unto him thesaid Richard Bennett his Heirs Extrs Adms and Assigns for ever, Acertain parcel of Land containing One Hundred Acres...Beginning uponthe Mouth of the South Branch and soe runing along the Branch to amarked pine, and from the said marked pine to __?__ into Tho. Woodsand his broadth (?) to runn also northerly by the Main Swamp, thisaforesaid Land lying att Blackwater in the County of Isle of Wight,this said land being included & contained in a pattent of Seavenhundred & forty six acres taken up by Francis (?) England in the yearof our Lord 1645..." signed (by hand) Tho. Wood, Sarah Wooton (hermark). Wit: Thomas Wooton (by hand), Richard Wooton (by mark)
Proved in Open Court for the Isle of Wight County this 16th day of Nov1669. Signed by John Jennings, clerk. The deed was proved by ThomasWood and Sarah Wooton in open court. (IOW WDB I, pp 199-200)

Michael ASHFORD

The following information was posted on Ashford family genforum by John Fox of Winston Salem, NC
( Bebenjohn@aol.com) on Nov. 21, 2001, msg #461. These notes are his research and opinions:

I (sic...John Fox) have been of the opinion that my (sic...John Fox) Mary Ashford who married James Bird at Old Swede's Church in New Castle County, Delaware in 1745, was a child of Michael and Ann Ashford. The Mary in the will of Michael Ashford seemed to have been quite young, along with several other children, as I (sic....John Fox) recall. Mary Ashford and James Bird settled in the part of Orange County, NC, which is now Alamance County. Just north of Alamance is Caswell County, where a William Ashford also settled in the period between 1750 and 1770. Also residing in Caswell County was Nancy Ashford, who was wife of John Walker, Revolutionary soldier who served as one of Washington's aide-de-campes.

The Ashfords owned land in Virginia which was sold by one of the elder sons,(George?) of Michael and Ann Ashford, land which was included in the holdings of George Washington in making up his Mount Vernon Estate. It would appear that these Ashford's, Walkers, and Birds were very much in the right places to support a connecting link.

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The following information was posted on the Ashford family genforum by Eileen Fowler Thrall on Nov. 27, 2001, msg #464. These are HER notes:

Here is info given to me (sic....Eileen Fowler Thrall) by Samuel B. Ashford, my (sic....Eileen Fowler Thrall) uncle, now deceased, "Michael Ashford & his wife Ann each filed a will in Prince William County, Virginia, in 1734. (Will book "C".) Michael's will named the following children: John, Michael, William, George, Ann, Mary & Constance. Michael probably left Prince George County, Maryland & moved across the Potomac River into Stafford County, Virginia, in 1712--that part of Stafford became part of Prince William County in 1730 and later Fairfax County in 1742. (Michael Ashford was a vestryman at Pohick Church according to Minutes of the Vestry.) Part or all of Michael Ashford's estate became part of Mount Vernon. George & his wife Mary as well as John & William.

Prior to July 10, 1789, George Ashford bought 150 acres of land in Newberry County, South Carolina. Mary & George has 18 children. Each used the same given names for their children. George named his oldest son Michael & his oldest daughter Ann. Two of their sons, Michael & George, fought in the American Revolutionary Army in South Carolina. There is also record of George Ashford residing in Union County, South Carolina, in 1784, on 163 acres. Evidently lived on this farm until he bought farm in Newberry County in 1789."

Rachel NEVILLE

Parents may be John Neville and Johanna Porter .

Notes from genforum:
Three children can be proven for the immigrant John Nevill, whose will was probated 4 February 1664/5, Charles Co., MD.
Those children were Eleanor, William and Rachel. The first two were likely by his wife Bridget Thorseby/Throsley, and the
third child was probably by his wife Joanna/Joanne Porter (b. ca. 1627). After his death, and before 13 Aug. 1666, Joanna
married Thomas Hussey, probably in Charles Co., MD.

Children of John Nevill:
1. Eleanor, b. ca. Christmas 1640, St. Mary's Co., MD; m. John Lambert by 1662, probably in Charles Co., MD.
2. William, b. by 1645, probably St. Mary's Co., MD.
3. Rachel, b. ca. 1658, probably St. Mary's Co., MD; m. Michael Ashford by 13 Nov. 1677, probably Charles Co., MD.

The reader is referred to
1. Testamentary Proceedings, Liber 1 E:87-88 for John's will.
2. Archives of Maryland 53:134 for Joanna's age.
3. Archives of Maryland 53:330 and 53:214 for son William.
4. Archives of Maryland 60:278-79 and 53:329-30 for daughter Eleanor.

am a descendant of John Neville b.1612 England. m(1)Bridgett (Thorseby)Thornsly b.1612 The Clefts, Calvert Co,
Maryland.
They had the following children:
son James Neville b. 1640 The Clefts, Calvert Co. MD m(1) Elizabeth b.1640
daughters Mary b.1641
Ellen b.1642 m(1)John Lambert
Rachel b.1658 m(1)Michael Ashford of Charles MD
sons John b. 1646 m(1)Johanna Porter
William b.1652

My records show John Neville b. 1612 England d. Jan. 15, 1663/64 Calvert Co., Maryland m. 1st 1639 St. Mary's Co., MD
to Bridget Thorsbey (Thorsley) b. abt 1620 d. abt 1643, son James b. 1640 d. 1711, dau. Ellen b. 1642 m. John Lambert.
John m. 2nd in 1646 to Ann and had a son, John b. 1647. John m. 3rd abt 1650 to Johanna Porter and had a son, William b.
1651 d. 1700 and a dau., Rachel b. abt 1658 d. Dec. 1701 m. Michael Ashford.

I have found (on the Web, actually), information that Bridget was married to John when he came to America in 1634.
According to a Petition, found in the Land Records of St. Mary's County, MD (Now in Calvert County), Liber 4, Folio 186 of
the Land Warrants (Records are kept in Annapolis, MD), John transported his wife, Bridget, in 1639, from England.

Thomas WATTON

The earliest of the Wootens, according to Richard C. Wooten, writing in the WOOTEN & RELATED FAMILIES JOURNAL, was Thomas and Jane Watton.

The story (of the Wootens) begins in the dim past, when before the year 1100, there was already a village of Wutton (spelled many different ways) in Northamptonshire, England, about 4 miles east of Northampton, the county seat.

By 1600, there were families named Wotton (many spellings) scattered all over the county. One of these families, which spelled the name Watton, lived in the northeast part of the county, in the section to the west of the cathedral city of Petersborough, around the village of Castor.

In the Castor Parish Register, there is a record of the burial of a John Watton in 1588. (possibly Thomas's father).  There also exists a whole series of baptisms and burials of Wattons, most of whom were listed as children of Thomas and Jane Watton.

There was no record of their marriage in the Castor Register, so it would appear that they were married in some neighboring parish. Their Castor Register entries begin May, 1608, with the baptism of a son THOMAS son of Thomas Watton, followed in December, 1609, with the burial of THOMAS son of Thomas Watton. Jane must have been very pregnant at the time of the death of little Thomas, for the next entry comes in January, 1610 (1609 old style) with the baptism of JOHN THE SONNE of Thomas Watton. In May, 1611, comes the baptism of Agnes the daughter of Thomas Watton. And then comes 27 September, 1612, the baptisms of THOMAS THE SONNE OF THOMAS WATTON. The parents were evidently determined to have a son names Thomas; after the first one's death, they simply used the name again. More children followed: Richard (1613), Henry (1617), Dove (dau?618), Jane (1620), Maria(1622). Then came burials: John (1624), Richard the Sonne of Thomas and Jane Watton (1639), and Jane the wife of Thomas Watton, buried the third of March, 1641. Since Jane was described as "wife" rather than"widow" or "relict", it seems probable that Thomas the father was still living in 1641.
*Source:  "The Wootens of Edgecombe" (Edgecombe County, NC), A.R. Tyndall

John HARDY II

John Hardys will was dated 7 Oct 167_, and probated 9 June 1677. In this will he named his wife, Alice, his daughters, Olive Driver, Lucy Council and Deborah; his grandchildren, Hardy Driver and others; also his sons-in-law Giles Driver, Hodges Council, Robert Burnett and William Mayo. He was a prominient citizen and churchman.
*Source: Hardy and Hardie Past and Present, H Claude Hardy and Rev Edwin Noah Hardy, The Syracuse Typesetting Co, Syracuse, NY 1935, pp.236-237

John, of Isle of Wight Co., Va., a staunch Churchman; made will Oct. 7, 167_, probated June 9, 1677; names his wife, Alice Hardy, daughters, Olivia Driver, Lucil Council and Deborah Hardy; grandchildren, Hardy Driver and others; his sons-in-law, Giles Driver, Hodges Council, Robert Burnet, and William Mayo.  H m. Alice ____.  
*Source:  Colonial Families of the Southern States of America by Stella Prickett Hardy, Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc, 1981, p. 261

WILL OF JOHN HARDY

In the name of God Amen, I John Hardy of the Lower Parish in Isle ofWight Co, VA, being sick in body but of perfect memory, praised be Almighty God for the same, do make this my last will and testament inmanner and form following:
Imprimis. I do hereby comit my soul to my God and Savior Jesus Christ through whose merritts I hope to obtain eternal salvation, and my body to be buried in a decent manner. Secondly. I give and bequeath my dau. Olive, the wife of Giles Driver, a parcel of land in the woods, being a part of a divident lying on the Northwest side of the swamp by the house Eastward to the Procoson running up the side of the Said swamp and running Westerly up along by a branch on the other side of the house to another little branch called the Miory Branch and so extending to the bounds of Matton Comlin's Market, and Wm. West on the other side, being a part of a divident of land I took up by pattent which parcel of land I do hereby freely give unto her and such heirs as she shall be leased to give it to, lawfully begotten of her body and their heirs forever.
Item. I give to my dau. Lucy Councill the wife of Hodges Councill one tract of land on the Southeast of the said Branch or swanp that the former land is joyned unto, extending in its full bounds to the line of Wm. West's and so running up the Pocoson to the said parcel of land. I do freely give and bequeath to her and to any of her heirs lawfully begotten of her body and to theirs forever.
Item. I give my dau. Debora Hardy one parcel of land lying and being about the bouse, beginning at the swamp formerly spoken of and runningdown the swamp to Wm. West's line and so along the said line till it comes to Matton Comlin's Cross and so along the said Comlin's line till it meets the land of my said daughter Olive Driver, which said parcel of land with the houses and edifices there on now standing.  I dofreely give and bequeath unto her and either of her heirs lawfully begottne of her body and their heirs forever. But in case my said dau.Deborah Hardy should happen to dye without any issue lawfully begottenof her body that then my will is and I do freely give the said tract of land with the houses and edifices aforesaid unto my grandchild Hardy Driver the daughter of Giles Driver and to either of her heirs forever.

Item. My will is and I do hereby ordain and bequeath all the Pocoson that belongs to the devident to be equally divided for the said tracts to find them timber for the furnishing the several plantations thereupon, as occasion shall require, forever.

Item. I give to my son in law Giles Driver one draft brinded (?) ox called Swan.

Item. I give my son in law Hodges Councill a serge suit of my wearing apparall and my Back Sword.

Item. I give my grandchildren, that is to say my daughter Olive Driver's two children, each of then one ewe apiece, with their increase, and to the three children of my dau. Lucy Councill each of them a ewe apiece with their increase to be delivered unto them presently after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my wife's grandchilde John Johnson one cow to be delivered unto him when he comes of the age of seventeen. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved looking (?) wife Alice Hardy, my debts and funeral expenses being first paid and satisfied, all the rest of my worlkly estate of what nature, quality, condition whatsoever, during her life to be at her disposing, and after her decease to be equally divided between my aforesaid three daughters and whom they think fit of their heirs,making her my whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament.

Item. I do give and bequeath my to my son in law Robert Burnet my rapidr (?) and bolt, and unto Wm. Mayo all my silver clasps to my breeches and shirt, whom I shall request to see this my last will and testament performed. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 7th day of October 1676.

(signed) John Hardy, Seal
Witnesses: Richard Rennolds, Will Jenkins
Proved by Mr. Rennolds in Court June 9, 1677
Teste: John Bromfield, Clk Count
*Source:  Isle of Wight Co, VA, WB 2, p146
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John Hardy, will probated 1677, came before 1654 to Virginia with his brother, George Hardy. He was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1668, and a Justice of the County Court about 1675. He married Alice Bennett, the widow Johnson, daughter of Thomas Bennett and Alice,widow Pierce. Thomas Bennett was born in Wilvescombe, Co., Somerset,England, and died in Virginia after 1632, having come on the Neptune in 1618, a member of the House of Burgesses from Mulberry Island in1632.
*Source:  Wurt's Magna Charta, John S. Wurts, Germantown, PA, 1947, p. 2133
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John Hardy, and Wm. Sherwood, Gents. witnesses to the will of Dr. Robert Williamson from said will.  May 2, 1670, Bk. 2, p. 86

Mr. John Hardy, Mr. Ja. Powell, Mr. Thos. Taberer.......Justices present at this Court. 7 br 7th 1671. Bk. 1, p. 244

John Hardy and Thos. Taberer witness a power of attorney from Thos. Tooke to his loving brother John Davis.  1th 10br, 1671, Bk. 1, pg. 251

John Hardy and Edmund Palmer witness to a deed of release from Robert Edwards.....May 9, 1672, Bk. 2, p. 110

Alice Hardy, relict of Mr. Hardy, decd. qualifies as executrix with Mr. Robert Burnett and Mr. Wm. Mayo securities.  Aug 11, 1677.  Bk. 2, p. 43

*Source:  The Valentine Papers, pp. 596-597 (Isle of Wight County Records)
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(About Giles Driver) His nephew, John Council, and newphew-in-law,Richard Wooten (husband of Lucy Council) appraised Giles' estate.
*Source:  Wills & Deed Book 2, p.146 (Isle of Wright Great Bk, p.133-4)
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Hodges Council made his will in Isle of Wight in 1699. He married Lucy, daughter of John Hardy, Justice of the County Court, about 1675.
*Source:  Boddie, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight, page 216
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"He was born in England 1637, Will probated June 9, 1677-Isle of Wight Co., Va., Records of Wills, Deeds, Etc., Vol. 2, p.146.  He was a prominent, influential citizen and churchman, a member of the House of Burgesses in 1668 and a Justice of the County Court about 1673. He married Alice BENNETT, the Widow Johnson, daughter of Thomas BENNETT and Alice, Widow Pierce, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth SNAYLE.
*Source:  Adventurers of Purse and Person, p. 269;

Alice BENNETT

He married Alice BENNETT, the Widow Johnson, daughter of Thomas BENNETT and Alice, Widow Pierce, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth SNAYLE.  As recorded in Adventurers of Purse and Person, p. 269; Thomas BENNETT, and his wife Alice (Widow Pierce) were living near Lawne's Creek in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia in 1624, for on October 10, of that year she testified before the General Court in a trial of John Proctor, her neighbor charged with cruelty to his servants. At the same trial her second husband is identified as Thomas BENNETT, etc. Thomas BENNETT was born in Wivelscombe, Co. Somerset, England,having come on the Neptune in 1618, a member of the House of Burgesses from Mulberry Island in 1632. In records of Isle of Wight County,Virginia, these Land Grants are found: Richard Young, 350 acres, November 25, 1636, up the river side from the great Indian field,etc., from transportation of seven person: Henry SNEALE, Elizabeth SNEALE his wife, and Elizabeth, John, Dorothy, Alice and Mary SNEALE. The following year Henry SNAILE was granted 50 acres November 23, 1637, north on Pagan Creek, etc. Due by assignment of the right of one servant called William Taylor from Lt. John Upton. John and Elizabeth SNEALE (SNAYLE) had daughter Alice who married second Thomas BENNETTwhose daughter Alice, married second John HARDY. Their son, John HARDY, Jr. married Rebecca, surname unknown and their daughter, Mary HARDY married , first, Col. John Hinton."
* Source: Family Lines and Kindred Line by Adelle Harper

Robert FORD

BROOKE COUNTY, (WEST) VIRGINIA  MARRIAGES  1797 TO 1899
  Ford, Robert to Evans, Mary, 7 Sep 1802
*Source:  Brooke County, West Virginina genweb archives

31 Oct 1803
Conveyence of property to William Bradford by Rachel Ford, James and Rebeckah Ford, and Robert and Mary Ford.
Brooke County, West Virginia, Deed Records Book 3, p. 131

First settled in Huron County, Ohio.  Abt 1829-1830 moved to Pleasant Grove, Tazewell County, Illinois, then moved near Plano Station, Kendall County, Illinois.  They lived there the remainder of their lives.  
*Source:  Genealogy of the Ford Family, by Dr. James Ford, 1890, pp. 7 and 202-203