Richard Jordan Family Chronology – Isle of Wight and Surry Counties

           

Records from 1640 – 1720

 

 

See the Note on sources for a complete identification of sources.

 

Those records which appear to be genealogically significant are followed by my comments in blue italics. 

 

In general, references to other Jordan families are not included.  A few references to other Jordans are given below, where I judged them to be potentially confusing.

 

 

25 Mar 1639/40     Deed:  Anthony Jones, Gent., to Robert Winchell and William Smarley, 700 lbs tobacco, unspecified acreage adjoining said Jones and bounded by William Lewis, the Fleskett [Freshet?] Swamp and the Deep Swamp. Witness: John Gyles, Richard Jordan  [Isle of Wight County Deeds & Wills Book A, p99 abstracted by Hopkins.  Also abstracted similarly by Boddie, p530] 

This is the first known reference to Richard Jordan.  Anthony Jones had two patents on Pagan Point Creek.  One was assigned to Nicholas Smith (Patent Book 1, p51 and Book 4, p25).  This deed may be for part of the other patent, issued 2 June 1635, for 500 acres on the east side of Pagan Creek.  

 

21 Dec 1653          Deed:  George Tabb[?] to Richard Jordan, 1400 lbs tobacco, by virtue of a letter of attorney from Capt. James Cranidge and wife Alice Cranidge, 50 acres on Long Bond Creek once in the possession of Hugh Lee and later bought by William Cranidge dec’d… Witness: Richard Sharp, Anthony (x) Mathews.  [Isle of Wight County Deeds & Wills Book A, p93 abstracted independently by Hopkins, Boddie, and Valentine]

This would appear to be near William Cranidge’s adjoining patents of 1639 and 1640 “lying about the head of a branch which issueth from the Pagan Bay Creek”.   There is no extant deed to Cranidge.  There is no patent to Hugh Lee in the area, nor is there any other mention of a “Long Bond Creek” in any other record. (Could this have been “Lower Bay Creek”?)

 

1 May 1654           Will of Christopher Reynolds:  “…unto my son Christopher Reynolds all my land on the southerly side of the freshet swamp that Richard Jordan now liveth upon… unto my son John, all my land on the northerly side of the freshet swamp, and one cow, and he to enjoy the said land at twenty one years of age. And unto my son Richard, I give all my land I now live upon and one cow, and he to enjoy the land at twenty one years of age. And my daughter Abbasha, I have given unto her a portion already, which was two cows and two calves. And I give unto my daughter Elizabeth, one heifer of two years old, besides the stock I gave her formerly. And unto my daughter Jane, I give one cow and one yearling heifer. And I give unto George Rivers one yearling heifer. And I give unto the child my wife now goeth with if it lives two cows to enjoy them at three years old.”  “…unto Elizabeth, my loving wife, I give all the rest of my estate... and my two servants.”  “…my wife, Elizabeth, shall have the ordering and bringing up John and Richard, my sons, until they be sixteen years of age, and Elizabeth & Jane until they be fifteen years of age.”  Wife Elizabeth named executor.  Date proven is not noted.  [Isle of Wight County Deed Book A, p46] 

The son John Reynolds left a will nearly fifteen years later, indirectly identifying his sister Elizabeth as the wife of Richard Jordan.  Whether that was Richard Jordan or his son Richard is open to question.  The will implies that Elizabeth is younger than Abbasha and older than Jane, but under the age of fifteen.

Interesting that Richard Jordan I is living on land belonging to Christopher Reynolds.  He had bought land of his own just four months earlier.  Had he not yet moved onto it, or was he renting additional land from Reynolds?  The “freshet swamp” ran into Cypress Creek from the west, according to a patent three years later to Giles Driver. [Virginia Patent Book 4, p252]

 

25 Nov 1657         Land Patent:  Christopher Reynolds, 350 acres, assigned to Richard Jordan sometime before 17 May 1658.  [See entry below for 18 March 1662/3]

 

17 May 1658         Implied Deed:  Richard Jordan to Christopher Reynolds (Jr.), 100 acres  [See entry below for 18 March 1662/3]

 

11 Jan 1661/2        Richard Jordan Jr., John Jackson witnesses to assignment of 150 acres by George Smith to Christopher Hollyman.  (To summarize this record: the land was patented on 10 December 1640 by John Roe [see Patent Book 1:745], who assigned it to Christopher Reynolds.  On 21 March 1643/4 Christopher Reynolds assigned it to Arthur Smith, who then renewed the patent on 6 March 1623/4 [Patent Book 1:745 says 2 March 1643/4].  On 11 January 1661/2 George Smith assigned it to Christopher Hollyman “except 100 acres that was given to Arthur Long by my father Arthur Smith in his will and 100 acres that was sold Wm. Oldis.” It is this last endorsement that was witnessed by Richard Jordan Jr. and John Jackson.)    [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie on p541] 

On 9 December 1668 Christopher Hollyman and wife Anne then endorsed it over to Thomas Pitt, resulting in a nearly identical entry which repeats the above entry for Richard Jordan Jr.  [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie on pp553-4] 

Boddie abstracts both the 11 January 1661/2 assignment and the 9 December 1668 assignment on separate pages.  In both cases, he gives the name as “Richard Jordan Jr.” and  clearly identifies him as a witness to the transaction dated 11 January 1661/2.   Since we don’t know of any other Richard Jordans in the area, and given the location of this land, it seems reasonable to conclude that this is Richard Jordan II.  He could have witnessed as a minor as young as 14, (putting his birth year at 1647 or before) but could also have been an adult by this time.  Either way, if this is him, he could not be the son of Elizabeth Reynolds, who was unmarried in 1654.

This is the only extant acquisition of land for Christopher Hollyman.  Note the Richard Jordan Sr. later gives 100 acres to his son John Jordan “formerly in custody of Christopher Hollyman.”
 

24 Dec 1662          Will of John Webb proven by oath of John Hardy and Richard Jordan.  [Isle of Wight Will Book 2, p29 abstracted by Chapman]

 

18 Mar 1662/3       Land Patent:  Richard Jordan, 350 acres in Isle of Wight County.  A patent dated 25 November 1657 to Christopher Reynolds (the II) contains the marginal note: “This patent renewed in Richard Jordan’s name the 18 March 1662 to whom it is assigned by the said Reynolds.”  Beginning at a marked red oak on a hill by the west freshet by the miles end of 450 acres patented by Christopher Reynolds deceased and running along the said freshet for length 32 poles and for breadth west southwest 50 poles [totaling 100 acres]… “then beginning at the upper side of the forementioned patent on the Cypress Creek for the other 250 acres and running along the said Cypress to the marked trees of the land lately in the possession of Mr. Neall and the forementioned patent of Christopher Reynolds deceased to the miles end…” being due to Christopher Reynolds for transportation of seven unnamed persons.  [Virginia Patent Book 4, p243-4].

Although not renewed until March 1663, this patent must actually have been assigned to Richard Jordan almost immediately after the 1657 issuance, for a later patent indicates that Richard Jordan sold the 100 acre portion to Christopher Reynolds on 17 May 1658.   On 10 May 1679, both Richard Jordan and Richard Reynolds recorded patents containing portions of this one.  Richard Jordan’s patent included a renewal of the 250 acre portion.  Richard Reynolds’ patent included the 100 acre portion, which he described as having been sold by Richard Jordan on 17 May 1658 to Christopher Reynolds Jr.

From the later sale of this land, this is clearly Richard Jordan I.  It is likely that he is not identified as “Senior” because the patent was applied for circa 1657, before his son reached maturity (patents were issued in the same names as originally applied for.)   “Miles end” was the surveyor’s shorthand for the point at the end of the 320-pole run of the Reynolds patent.  The survey for this land, like nearly all the early Isle of Wight surveys, was marginally competent and cannot be accurately plotted and placed.

 

11 Mar 1666/7       Deed:  Richard Penny of Nansemond for love and affection for son John Penny, give after my decease, and [the decease of] wife Mary, 66 acres of land. If son John die without heirs it goes to my dau. Mary. Witness:  John Burnell, Richard Jordan, Jr.  [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie p548]

A second mention of Richard Jordan Jr., again suggesting that he was an adult in the 1660s.  The only other known Richard Jordan, the son of Thomas Jordan, was not yet born.  Note that Richard Penny was also one of the seven signatories to the “Grievances” petition.

 

11 Mar 1668/9       Will of John Reynolds:  Proved 3 May 1669.  Names brother George Rivers and sister Elizabeth Rivers and her daughter Mary,  brother Richard Reynolds, sister Jane… and "to sister Eliza. Jordan a bill of Robert Collier's for 800 lbs. tbo... after her decease to her son Richard Jordan.”  [Isle of Wight County Deed Book 2,  p62]

 

                              From later records, this appears to refer to the wife of Richard Jordon II and her son Richard Jordan III.   Elizabeth Reynolds apparently married Richard Jordan II sometime after her father’s will of 1654, most likely in the mid or late 1660s as Richard Jordan appears to be her eldest child.  Richard Jordan III was apparently no more than a year old at the time of this will. 

 

27 Dec 1671          Thomas Newbee sells to Richard Jordan of Cypress a servant maid named Sarah for 4 years service.  [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, p230 abstracted by Boddie and in the Valentine Papers, Vol. II, p655]

This was probably Richard Jordan Sr.  Richard Jordan Jr. may have already been in Surry County by this time, and he had no servant in the tithables of 1673 and 1674. 

8 May 1672           Richard Jordan Sr. a surety for Elizabeth Morris, executrix of William Morris. [Isle of Wight Will Book 2, p29 abstracted by Chapman]

 

8 Jun 1672             Richard Jordan Sr. and Richard Land witness to a mortgage from John Askew to William Boddie.  [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, p274 abstracted by Boddie and also in the Valentine Papers, Vol. II, p655]

Note that both references refer to Richard Jordan as “Senior”.  As far as we know, the only other Richard Jordan in the area is his son.  (The son of Thomas Jordan is only two years old at this time.) Boddie dates this as 1 January 1672/3, which is apparently the recording date.

 

21 Nov 1672         Richard Reynolds, James Bagnall, Arthur Smith, Richard Jordan, Anthony Fulgham, Nicholas Fulgham, William Rufinn, Giles Driver, Tristram Knowles, William Body, Robert King, and William Oldis (foreman), served on an escheat jury to determine whether “Capt. John Upton at the time of his death was seized of 800 acres of land or thereabouts lying at a place called the White Marsh in this county and by him held by pattent which had been formerly in the possession of Mr. James Bagnall, Mr. Francis Slaughter, and one Morris, and since a parte of the land hath beene purchased by Coll. Joseph Bridger, and whether Capt. John Upton disposed of the land by will, legall conveyance or otherwise.”  Jury found that the land escheated.  [The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, p174-5]

 

1 Jan 1672/3          Richard Jordan Sr., Richard Land witnesses to mortgage of a horse from John Askew to William Boddie.  [Boddie, p566]

Boddie’s abstract immediately follows a document dated 8 June 1672.  This is apparently the same conveyance as in 8 June above, Boddie’s date being the recording date.

 

ca1673                   John Jordan, Morgan Morris witnesses to mortgage of Wm. Lugg to William Boddie. [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, p276 abstracted by Boddie]

This seems likely to be the first appearance in the records of the son of Richard Jordan I.  There are no other adult John Jordans in the area, and William Boddie is located on no more than two miles south of Richard Jordan I.  The entry is undated by Boddie, but is apparently recorded in 1673.  It immediately follows an entry recorded on 4 March 1672/3.  All but one of the several following records were recorded in 1673.

June 1673              Surry tithables, list of Lawrence Baker for Lawnes Creek parish:
Rich. Jordan – 1

Since Richard Jordan I was living in Isle of Wight, we know this is Richard Jordan II, making his first appearance in the Surry tithables.  The tithables for the years 1671 and 1672 are lost, so he could have been in Surry as early as late 1670.  It appears he owns no land in Surry, so it is not clear what land he is living on.  Lawnes Creek parish bordered Isle of Wight and extended less than four miles into Surry County.  Richard Jordan II has moved about 10 miles northwest of his father.

 

25 Nov 1673         A list of debits to Surry county for the year 1673 includes:  To Rich. Jordan 1 (wolf’s) head… 200 (lbs tobacco) [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p33]

This refers to the bounty on wolves paid by the county out of the tithables income.  200 lbs of tobacco were paid for wolves which were shot, and greater and lesser amounts for wolves killed in other ways.

 

13 May 1674         Two Escheat Juries:  Michaell Fulgham, Nich. Fulgham, John Garner, Tho: Poole, Daniell Long, Thomas Gross,  Arthur Smith, Rich. Jordan, Ambrose Bennett, Anthony Fulgham, John Viccars, Richard Reynolds served on an escheat jury regarding 100 acres belonging to John Upton, deceased, and sold by his relict Mrs. Margaret Lucas to Thomas Wright.  The same jury (with Cornelius Skolly replacing Thomas Gross) then dealt with 300 acres sold by John Upton to Robert Breesewell and now in the hands of James Bagnall.  Both parcels were found to escheat.  [The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 20, p174-5]

 

June 1674              Surry tithables, list of Lawrence Baker for Lawnes Creek parish:
Richd. Jordan – 1

 

June 1675              Surry tithables, list of Lawrence Baker for Lawnes Creek parish:
Rich. Jordan – 1

 

17 Feb 1675/6       Appraisal of the estate of Robert Middleton deceased, presented by Anselm Bailey, appraised by William Oldis, Richard Jordan Sr., Tristram Knowles[worthy?], William Bradshaw.  (This is the recording date, no date for the appraisal itself.)  [Isle of Wight County Will & Deed Book 2, p137 abstracted by Chapman]

 

June 1676              [The Surry tithables for this year are lost.]

 

16 Dec 1676          Deed:  Joseph Wall and wife Susan Wall to Richard Jordan Jr., 200 acres, the easternmost part of a patent of 400 acres to Phillip Hunniford of 14 May 1666… on the west side of the third swamp of the Blackwater… purchased by Wall on 6 November 1671.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 3, p12]

This deed reference is actually from a series of successive assignments noted on the back side of the original deed from Hunniford to Wall.  See 6 November 1684 for another reference to this deed.  This deed from Wall to Jordan was never proven.  Some sort of recording should have been noted in Deed Book 2, but I didn’t see it in the index to that book.  Nor do the court records contain any notation of the proving of this deed.  Note that Richard Jordan Jr. was already living in Surry County but this is his first purchase of land there.

This land is within a mile or two of the border with Isle of Wight County.  Hunniford had two adjoining patents of 400 acres, one of which was bisected by the county line.  The “third swamp of the Blackwater” was later called Green Swamp.

 

5 Mar 1676/7         Richard Jordan Sr. one of seven signatories of a petition of twenty-six grievances from the citizens of Isle of Wight County to the Royal Commissioners investigating the causes of Bacon’s rebellion, which had ended the preceding year.   Signed:  Richard (x) Penny, John Marshall, Richard Sharpe, Richard Jordan Sr., Edward Miller, John (x) Davis, Anthony Fulgham.  [British Colonial Papers Collection, Library of Virginia.  Also reproduced in Boddie on pp150-157]

After Bacon’s Rebellion had been quelled, the King sent three commissioners to investigate its causes and to hear the concerns of Virginians.  This petition was a list of those concerns sent to the commissioners from several residents of Isle of Wight.

This document postdates Bacon’s rebellion, but Richard Jordan is identified as “one of Bacon’s representatives”.  The signers were all supporters of Bacon’s cause.  They recanted this petition less than a month later (see below).   

 

27 Mar 1677          Richard Jordan among those signing a recantation of the petition above:  "We, the subscribed, having drawn up a paper in behalf of the inhabitants of Isle of Wight county as to the grievances of the said county, recant all the false and scandalous reflection upon Governor Sir William Berkeley, contained in a paper presented to the commissioners and promise never to be guilty again of the like mutinous and rebellious practices... and ask mercy of Governor William Berkeley.."  Signed:  Ambrose Bennett, John Marshall, Richard Jordan, Richard Sharpe, Antho. Fulgeham, James Bagnall, Edward Miller, John (x) Davis, Richard (x) Penny.  Presented in court on 9 April 1677. [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume II, p390. Also in William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 2. p112.]

Note that Bagnall and Bennett must have signed the petition after it was recorded.

 

2 Apr 1677            Will of Phillip Hunniford of Surry County, witnessed by Richard Jordan Sr. and Edward Napkin.  Proved 18 May 1677.  [Surry Deeds & Wills Book 2, p124 abstracted by Davis]

We would have expected the witness to be Richard Jordan Jr., for Richard Jordan I was not yet living in Surry.  However, Phillip Hunniford had two adjoining land grants, one of which was partly in Surry and partly in Isle of Wight.  Richard Jordan Jr. had bought part of one of these patents the year before.  Richard Jordan Sr. would later buy land nearly adjoining the second Hunniford patent.

 

9 Jun 1677             Appraisal of estate of Giles Driver by Robert Coleman, Thomas Green, Richard Jordan Sr., Thomas Giles, Daniel Long.  (Recorded same date.)  [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p150 abstracted by Chapman]

Since appraisers were assigned by the court mainly because they were neighbors of the deceased, this appears to show that Richard Jordan I is still living on his old land.  All the parties (save Long, who I can’t identify) were living within a mile of one another on the west side of Cypress Creek in Isle of Wight.

 

June 1677              Surry tithables, list of Samuel Swann for Lawnes Creek parish:
Rich. Jordan Junior – 1

It’s not clear why he would be designated “Junior” in this particular year.  His father (as far as we know) was not yet living in Surry County, nor was there another Richard Jordan in the area.  It could be that, because the tithables were self-reported (not canvassed as in later censuses), he chose to identify himself that way, perhaps anticipating his father’s move.  His father, who was the only adult Richard Jordan in Isle of Wight, seems to have kept the designation “Sr.”

 

3 Jul 1677              Rich. Jordan on several civil case juries hearing the civil suits of Arthur Allen against a number of Nathaniel Bacon’s followers who had destroyed his property while garrisoned at Allen’s house. [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p144-6]  Also on a case jury the following day, 4 July 1677.  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p151]

This is clearly Richard Jordan Jr., since only landowners in the county were eligible for jury service.  Arthur Allen owned the most elaborate house in the area, a brick structure which later became known as Bacon’s Castle.  His home had been seized and held for four months by seventy members of Nathaniel Bacon’s army the preceding year.  Arthur Allen sued several members of the occupying force for damages to his home, furnishings and livestock.

 

4 July 1677            “It evidently appeareing to this Cort that John Salway late subshrrfe did seize foure barrlls & qrter Indian Corne in the hands of Rich. Jordan belonging to Henry Voss for satisfaction of the sd Voss levys & fees, and the sd Jordan alleadgeing in Cort that he bought the sd corne of the sd Voss for 100 lbs tobacco p. barrll which was then a customary price it is ordered that the sd Rich. Jordan pay the sd Salway 420 lbs tobacco…”  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p149]

Surely the clerk reversed the names in the order!  (That is, Salway must have been ordered to pay Jordan.  If Jordan had lost his plea, the sheriff would simply have kept the corn.)  Henry Voss had died a few months earlier and apparently left no estate for his creditors to attach.  Richard Jordan had to prove that he had bought the corn and it ws not an attachable part of Voss’ estate.  This is clearly Richard Jordan II.

 

9 Jun 1677             Appraisal of estate of Giles Driver, deceased, by Robert Coleman, Thomas Green, Richard Jordan Sr., Thomas Giles, Daniel Long.  [Isle of Wight County Deed Book A, p150]

Appraisers were neighbors without an interest in the estate.  Thus this is another indication that Richard Jordan I is still living in Isle of Wight on or near on his old land, to which Giles Driver was a neighbor.

 

1 Jan 1677/8          Rich. Jordan on a case jury.  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p186]

 

7 May 1678           Rich. Jordan confesses judgment to John Price on behalf of Robert Coleman for 400 lbs tobacco.  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p199]

Robert Coleman was a neighbor of Richard Jordan Sr. in Isle of Wight.  Presumably, this is Richard Jordan Jr. making the appearance in the Surry Court on his behalf.

 

June 1678              Surry tithables, list of John Goring for Lawnes Creek parish:
Ri. Jordan – 1

 

6 Sep 1678            Ant. Evans, Rich. Jordan, and Nicholas Sessums  ordered to appraise the estate of John Twyford, deceased.  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p229]  The appraisal is signed as “Richard Jordan Jr.”, Anthony Evans, and Nicholas Sessums on 4 March 1768/9. [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 2, p199]

Here’s an example in which the court clerk (with only one Richard Jordan in the county) does not use any differentiator in recording the name when transcribing the order.  But Richard Jordan himself signs the resulting appraisal as “Jr.”

 

30 Mar 1678/9       Deed:  Richard Jordan Sr. to “sonne John Jordan”, both of the lower parish of Isle of Wight, no specific consideration noted, 100 acres on the main Cypress Swamp which was formerly in custody of Christopher Hollyman, adjoining Richard Reynolds.  Alice Jordan, wife, signs deed.  Wit: Thomas Moore, John Bromfield   [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie, p581 and by Valentine]

The obvious question is where did he get this land?  As far as we know, he had bought only 50 acres in 1650, although that land perhaps also adjoined Richard Reynolds.  This is not a part of the land he held from the Christopher Reynolds patent, which he would separately sell later.  (He had sold 100 acres of that land long ago and still held the other 250 acres.)  The only extant acquisition of land by Christopher Hollyman is the one referenced above in 1662.  The phrase “in the custody of” could mean either that Christopher Hollyman was leasing the land or that he owned it.

At any rate, it adjoined Richard Reynolds.  Richard Reynolds had inherited from his father the plantation his father lived on, and land on the north side of the freshet swamp from his brother John Reynolds.  Which of these the Jordan land adjoined isn’t clear from the abstract.  It seems likely that Richard Jordan’s original 50 acres was augmented by some now-lost deed, and that this represents his sale of that land.

This deed, as abstracted, is not clear on the question of whether Alice is the mother of John Jordan.  The reason she would sign a deed is to release her dower right to the land.  

 

6 May 1679           Arthur Evans, Rich. Jordan, and Joseph Wall appointed to appraise the estate of Edward Browne, deceased.  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p248]

 

10 May 1679         Land Patent: Mr. Richd Jordane Senr, of Isle of Wight County, 363 acres in the lower parish of Isle of Wight, on northwest side of the head of Lower Bay Creek & mouth of the maine Cyprus Swamp... beginning at a small island surrounded by marsh.. a hickory a corner tree of Richd. Reynolds Junr… tree in Christor Blye’s line… along Mr. Tho. Pitts line… along the run of [Cypress] Swamp… 250 acres thereof being formerly granted to him the sd Jordane by patent dated 18 March 1662 and the remaining 113 acres being waste land lying on the [head?] of the former… due for transportation of 3 persons: Jno. Williams, Herbt. Lawrence, Mary Gante.  [Virginia Patent Book 6, p684]

He is renewing the old patent of 1662 and adding 113 acres of adjacent land.  Patents were issued in the name under which the application was made, so he evidently had surveyed the land prior to his son’s removal to Surry County.

10 May 1679         Land Patent:  Richard Reynolds the younger, 566 acres in the lower parish of Isle of Wight, on northwest side of the head of the Lower Bay Creek... Beginning at a hickory marked three ways standing in an island surrounded with marsh near the head of Lower Bay Creek… Chr. Bly's line… Hen. King’s line…  lines of Col. Smith & Mr. Driver… to a small sycamore at the head of West freshet…, & c. 241 acs. part of 450 acs. granted Mr. Chr. Reynolds, late of sd. Co., 15 Sept. 1636, & by will given to his eldest sonn Chr., & his heirs forever who bequeathed to sd. Richard, his only sonn & heire; 100 acs. part of a patnt. of 350 acs. granted to Mr. Richard Jordan, Senr., 18 Mar. 1662, who conveighed to sd. Chr. Reynoldes 17 May 1658, who bequeathed to sd. Richard… 225 acre. being waste, together with sd. 341 acres due for transportation of 12 persons, only four of whom are named: Danll. Hennon(?), Jno. Champion, Lewis Davis, Edwd. Goodson.  [Virginia Patent Book 6, p684]

This refers to the old Christopher Reynolds Jr. patent of 1657 which was assigned to Richard Jordan and renewed by him in 1662/3.  Note that the date of the sale to Christopher Reynolds Jr. predates the date of the patent to Jordan.  This is because the patent to Jordan is a renewal, not the original patent date.  Richard Jordan obviously purchased the Reynolds patent a few years prior to renewing it.

 

30 May 1679         Land Patent:  Nicholas Sessums, 550 acres  in the lower [Lawnes Creek] parish of Surry County, on a branch of the Blackwater Swamp commonly called the Bridge Swamp… beginning at… a corner tree between Richard Blow and Mr. William Edwards… corner tree of Mrs. Mary Marriott…   for transportation of 11 persons: Richd. Jorden, Kath. Smellie, Wm. Crafford, Robt. Hobbs, Eliz. Ash, Rich. Jordane & wife; Dongo, Hector, Frank, & Marea, Negroes.  [Virginia Patent Book 6, p688]

This may well be the headrights for the original immigration of the Jordans.  As my separately published analysis of Surry headrights shows, it was not at all unusual for persons to obtain certificates for their own importation as long as several decades after the fact.  Or to use those certificates several years later.  (For example, this same Nicholas Sessums obtained a certificate for his own importation in 1711, 45 years after Arthur Allen was awarded a certificate for importing him.)  If this is the case here, it implies Richard Jordan Sr., his wife, and son Richard Jr. immigrated together.  Which, in turn, implies a birth year for Richard Jordan II prior to 1640.

This could also be either a fraudulent claim (not at all uncommon at the time) or the result of a trip out of the colony by the Jordans.  Although there was a system for awarding certificates, there was no system for tracking their use.  In fact, for his other patents Nicholas Sessums is known to have claimed numerous headrights who had already been used by others.  And he is known to have claimed as headrights several people who arrived in Virginia before he himself did.  In this patent, for example, Katherine Smellie was used again later (see below).    The third alternative, a trip outside the colony, seems to me to be the least likely of the three, particularly given the presence in this list of all three Jordans.    

Whatever the case, it is very unlikely that Nicholas Sessums actually paid for transportation.  First, note that he owned land adjoining Richard Jordan II, and therefore may well have purchased the headrights from the Jordans themselves.  Second, my analysis of Surry headrights in this period showed that 75% of patentees bought their headrights from someone else.  Third, note also that none of the four negroes, nor the others named, were ever tithables to Nicholas Sessums, a strong indication that he had purchased the headrights.  Finally, note the above evidence that Sessums routinely used old headrights apparently purchased from others.  The headright certificate was probably issued in Isle of Wight, for there is no such certificate noted in the Surry court records.

 

June 1679              Surry tithables, list of Arthur Allen for Lawnes Creek parish:
Rich. Jordan – 1

 

29 Sep 1679          Deed:  John Bynam to Richard Jordan Senr., 4,000 lbs tobacco, unspecified acreage in Lawnes Creek parish of Surry County, “on the southwest side of a branch of the Black Water Swamp… being part of a patent of 600 acres formerly granted to George Blow late of this county… containinge all the land that is on that side of the foresd swamp… being the full quantity of land which sd Jno. Bynam bought of George Blow” by deed of 5 Dec 1663...  Signed Jno (x) Bynam, Rosamond (x) Bynam.  Witness: Richard Jordan Junr., Richard Lane, Richard (x) Blow.  Recorded 6 January 1679/80.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 2, p246.]

This land is about 3 miles west of the Isle of Wight county line.  It is located on the south side of what is now called Mill Swamp near the fork of Mill Swamp and Green Swamp (often called “the third swamp” in early patents).  George Blow’s patent spanned Mill Creek, in the fork where Mill Creek and Green Creek meet. Bynum’s land was the part of Blow’s patent that is south of Mill creek.  None of the deeds for this tract give its acreage, but it appears to be roughly 200 acres from a plot of the patent and the sales of the other portions of George Blow’s patent.  Richard Jordan I still owned this land at his death nearly eight years later.

This land is just east of the land purchased by Richard Jordan II a few years earlier, being separated from it by a patent of John McCloode.   John Bynum, the seller, had relocated a few hundred yards south onto a patent which was adjacent to Richard Jordan II but not to this parcel.

 

13 Nov 1679         Deed:  Richard Jordan Sr. to Joseph Woory,  363 acres formerly granted by Gov. Chichely at northwest side of the head of Lower Bay Creek and mouth of Cypress Creek… to corner tree of Richard Reynolds, Jr... Witness: Wm. Crawford, Jno. Combe.  [Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1, p414]

Boddie’s abstract of this deed gives the year as 1672, which is clearly a typographical error.  For one thing, this land is the 363 acres patented by Richard Jordan on 10 May 1679, just six months earlier.  For another, the “Gov. Chicheley” referred to is Deputy Governor Sir Henry Chicheley, who filled that office only from 1678-1680 and who was the grantor of the 10 May 1679 patent to Richard Jordan.  And finally, Boddie sandwiches this between several other entries all dated in 1679.

”Lower Bay Creek” is mentioned in numerous patents and deeds which establish that it was another name for Cypress Creek or one of its branches.

 

9 Dec 1679            Alice Jordan, wife of Mr. Richard Jordan, assigns to Joseph Woory all right and title to property of Richard Jordan. Witness: Jno. Pitt, Jno. Combe.  [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie p585]

Boddie’s abstract is peculiar, in that this would logically seem to be a release of dower for the land sale to Woory three weeks earlier.  Note that John Combe witnessed both documents.   This record should be read in the original to confirm that it was indeed a release of dower. 

 

1679                      Justices of the Isle of Wight County Court for 1679:  Nicholas Smith, Arthur Smith, Richard Jordan.  [no source given, Boddie p704] 

Boddie does not indicate his source for this.  The court records no longer exist, so he must have deduced this from some other record.

 

June 1680              Surry tithables, list of Arthur Allen for Lawnes Creek parish:
Rich. Jordan Junior – 1

We would expect Richard Jordan Sr. to also appear in these tithables.  He had sold all his land in Isle of Wight, and had bought replacement land just over the border in Lawnes Creek parish of Surry in late 1679.  It is possible that he had not yet moved from the Isle of Wight land, given the later dispute with Joseph Woory.  There is no court record adding him to the tithables for this year, and he does not appear on the tithables  list copied into the deed book.

 

20 Dec 1680          John Jordan, according to bond fulfilled with his father, Mr. Richard Jordan has paid to Col. Ar. Smith, Lt. Col. Jno. Pitt and Capt. Henry Applewhaite for the maintenance of his wife Alice.  [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie p587]    Valentine abstracts this as:  Richard Jordan, bond to Col. Arthur Smith, Lt. Col. John Pitt, & Capt. Henry Applewhaite for maintenance of wife Alice. Security, son John (x) Jordan.  [Valentine Papers, Vol. II, p656]

Note that the two abstracts are considerably different – the first implying that the bond was being voided (“fulfilled”), the second that the bond was being posted.  The purpose of the bond is not clear.  Three possibilities come to mind:  (1) Richard Jordan and his wife separated, a relatively rare thing in those times; (2) Richard Jordan was leaving the county and providing for his wife in his absence;  (3) Alice was sick or disabled and could not be moved.  Alice Jordan seems to have later lived with her husband in Surry County, so this abstract is not at all clear.  We don’t know where Richard Jordan Sr. was living at the time, for he no longer owns land in Isle of Wight, has bought land in Surry, but  is not in the 1680 Surry tithables.  He is in the Surry tithables six months later.

It would be very helpful to see this record in the original, in the hope that it contains some clue to its purpose.

 

4 June 1681           Surry tithables, list of Robert Ruffin for Lawnes Creek parish:
Ri. Jordan Junr – 1
Mr. Rich. Jordan Senr. and Bryan(?) Turner – 2

Richard Jordan I has finally joined his son in Surry County, having apparently moved onto the land he purchased from John Bynum in 1679.   This particular list has only 29 tithables.

 

9 Jan 1681/2          At a court held for Isle of Wight County, Mr. Richd. Jordan confesses judgment to Mr. Joseph Woory for 30,000 lbs tobacco “for breach of covenant”…  Discharged by order of Mr. Jos. Woory on 12 February 1681/2.  Recorded in the Surry books on 18 February 1681/2. [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p364]

This is a record of a court session of Isle of Wight County which was recorded post facto in the Surry order book.  The loss of Isle of Wight court records means there is no record of the suit itself.  The huge sum indicates that this was a penalty associated with a bond  of some sort.   It would appear that this suit probably revolved around the land sale from Jordan to Woory two years earlier.   (Perhaps Jordan had not vacated the land?)  Whatever the issue, Richard Jordan managed to resolve it with Woory fairly quickly.

One peculiarity of this record is that the suit occurred in Isle of Wight, so it must have been brought when Richard Jordan I was still residing there.  Defendants could be sued only in the county where they lived.

 

7 Mar 1681/2         Jane (x) Jordan, wife of John Jordan, gives power of attorney to her friend John Burnell to “discover” her rights in a “lost” deed of gift from her father in law Richard Jordan Sr. to her husband… “6 acres of land & timber at ye lower end of 100 acres”.  Witness:  Ar. Smith, John (x) Jordan.  [Isle of Wight Wills & Deeds Book 1, no page given, abstracted by Boddie p591 and Valentine Papers, Vol. II, p656 giving the reference as Wills & Deeds 1, p411]

This is a peculiar record.  It’s not at all clear what the objective of this was.  The 1704 deed by John Jordan’s son (see below) hints that there may have been a second deed from Richard Jordan to John Jordan (though he didn’t own any other land as far as we know.)  The only deed we know of was the gift of 100 acres from Richard Jordan I to his son John Jordan of March 1679.  If John Jordan had sold the land without his wife’s release of dower, she would have been entitled to income.  But their son John Jordan II later sold the whole 100 acres, so it doesn’t seem likely that this had happened.  Could this have been related to the suit by Woory? 

 

20 Apr 1682          Land Patent:  John Macloode, 270 acres in the lower [Lawnes Creek] parish of  Surry County, on the northwest side of the third Swamp of main Blackwater…  beginning at a white oak corner tree to Nicholas Sessums and Richard Jordan Sr.… Phillip Hunniford’s line now Charles William’s… corner tree of Rich. Jordan Jr. & Jno. Binham… for transportation of six persons: Elinor Grant, Katherine Snelley, James Morton, Eze. Street, Eliz. Graves, Edwd. Sugg. [Virginia Patent Book 7, p135]

This patent sits between the land owned by the two Richard Jordans.  It adjoins the land Richard Jordan I bought in 1679 to the south, and the land Richard Jordan II bought in 1676 to the north. The “third swamp” was Green Swamp.  Note that Katherine Snelley (or Smelley?) was also claimed in the later Sessums patent.  McCloode later sold most of  this patent to Nicholas Sessums.

 

June 1682              Surry tithables, list of Robert Ruffin for Lawnes Creek parish:
Rich. Jordan Junr – 1
Mr. Ri. Jordan Senr., Rich. Lane, and Kath. Duck – 3

 

3 Dec 1682            Richard Jordan Sr. a witness to deed of Thomas Waller to Richard Lane. [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 2, p321]

 

June 1683              Surry tithables, list of Robert Ruffin for Lawnes Creek parish:
Rich. Jordan Junr – 1
Mr. Ri. Jordan Senr., Ri. Lane – 2

 

20 Apr 1684          Land Patent:  Richard Jordan Junr., 260 acres on the northeast side of Johnchecokuck Swamp in the upper [Southwarke] parish of Surry County… beginning at the mouth of a branch which branch parts this land from sd Jordan’s own land, being part of Mr. Owen’s dividend, then up sd branch… down the run of Johnchecokuck Swamp to the first station... for transportation of six persons: Mary Hoskins, Jon. Avery, Jon. Cooke, Geo. Miller, Tho. Bernard. [Virginia Patent Book 7, p369]

This indicates that Richard Jordan had already purchased adjoining land which was part of Bartholomew Owen’s 1673 patent of 648 acres on Johnchecochunk Swamp.  The fact that it is adjacent to this patent means whatever land he purchased must have been the westernmost part of Owen’s patent.  This seems likely to be the 150 acres for which the deed was not recorded until 7 July 1696 (see that date below).  This parcel is also mentioned in a patent the same day to Thomas Smith (Patent Book 7, p367) 

This land is located about 8 miles west of the land he and his father owned in Lawnes Creek parish.  Members of this family would remain on this land for at least the next fifty or more years.  The branch mentioned in the patent appears to have no name on modern maps, but is easily identified as the stream just east of the intersection of state roads 611 and 612.  SR 611, in fact, seems to run along the northern border of this patent.

I might note that Thomas Jordan (unrelated) also owned land only a couple miles to the east, having received a couple of patents on the west side of Cypress Swamp just north of the mouth of Johnchecohunk Swamp.

Neither Richard Jordan nor anyone else obtained a certificate for these six headrights from the Surry Court, which recorded headright certificates from 1673 onward.  Nor do any of these names appear among the Surry headrights.  He probably bought the rights from someone else, probably in another county.

 

June 1684              Surry tithables, list of Arthur Allen for Lawnes Creek parish:
Rich. Jordan Junr., Jno. Bynham Junr. – 2
Mr. Rich. Jordan Senr., Rich. Lane – 2

Note that Richard Lane is in Richard Jordan Sr.’s household three years running.  It is conceivable that he is related, perhaps a son-in-law.  Richard Lane had first appeared in the tithables in 1680, and was listed in 1680 and 1681 as a separate tithable.  Richard Lane left a will dated 18 March 1686/7 naming a wife Elizabeth and two unnamed minor sons.  John Bynham (Bynum) Jr. is a minor who is unrelated to the Jordans, perhaps an apprentice if Richard Jordan II is paying his tax. 

 

4 Nov 1684           Deed:  Richard Jordan Jr. and wife Elizabeth Jordan to Robert Littleboy, 200 acres conveyed by Joseph and Susan Wall to Richard Jordan Jr. in 1676…  the easternmost part of a patent of 400 acres to Phillip Hunniford of 14 May 1666… on the west side of the third swamp of the Blackwater… purchased by Wall on 6 November 1671.  Signed:  Richard Jordan Junr., Elizabeth (x) Jordan.  Witness:  Jno. Waller, Anthony (x) Evans.  Both Richard Jordan and his wife Elizabeth Jordan appeared in court to acknowledge the deed on the same date.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 3, p12]

This is actually a series of deeds copied into the deed book at once, all noted on the back side of the original deed.  Richard Jordan is selling his land in Lawnes Creek parish and henceforth is living in Southwarke parish.
 

15 Nov 1684         Richard Jordan Junr. and Elizabeth (x) Jordan witnesses to deed of Thomas Waller.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 3, p17]

 

5 May 1685           Richd. Jordan Senr. brings action against Jno. Pittford “for unlawfully killing a mrkd. Hogg of his”. A jury found Pittford innocent, who then unsuccessfully sued Thomas Waller for “defaimeing & scandalizeing him by saying he had stolen a mrkd. Hogg of Rich. Jordan’s.”  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p481-2]

Same date:  Timothy Walker appointed surveyor of highways in place of Rich. Jordan Junr.  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p478]

 

June 1685              Surry tithables, list of Samuel Swann for Southwarke parish:
Rich. Jordan, Rich. Jordan. – 2

List of Robert Caufield for Lawnes Creek parish:
Mr. Rich. Jordan – 1

Richard Jordan Jr. has moved into the “middle precinct” of Southwarke parish, while his father remains in Lawnes Creek.  Also living in this precinct now and in the future are several apparently  unrelated Jordans:  Thomas Jordan, James Jordan, Arthur Jordan and River Jordan.  Note that this is the first appearance of Richard Jordan III as a tithable, suggesting a birth between June of 1668 and May of 1669.

 

June 1686              Surry tithables, list of Samuel Swann for Southwarke parish:
Rich. Jordan Junr. & his son Richd.  – 2

List of Robert Ruffin for Lawnes Creek parish:
Mr. Ri. Jordan Senr. – 1

 

6 Aug 1686            Richard Jordan Jr. a witness to affidavit of Col. William Rogers.  [Surry County Deed Book 3, p65]

 

1 Mar 1686/7         Accounting of estate of Thomas Jordan, deceased, lists hundreds of debts by others, including Richard Jordan Junr. (18 lbs tobacco) and Richard Jordan Senr. (amount not noted) [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 3, p89]

Thomas Jordan operated a tavern adjacent to the Surry courthouse.  The majority of these debts are small ones, evidently representing tabs run up at the tavern.  Richard Jordan Jr. owed 18 pounds of tobacco, equal to the price of a small meal or a glass of wine.  I did not note the debt owed by Richard Jordan Sr.

 

1 Mar 1686/7         Elizabeth (x) Jordan and Roger (x) Gilbert witnesses to apprenticeship of David Burnett, orphan of John Burnett, to John Edwards  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 4, p141 abstracted by Hopkins]

 

3 May 1687           Probate granted Rich. Jordan “on the estate of his deced father Rich. Jordan”.  Anthony Evans, Ni. Sessums, Henry Norton, and Jos. Wall appointed to appraise the estate of Rich. Jordan Senr… and ordered that Rich. Jordan Junr. appear at the next court  and make oath to the inventory.  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p561]  The commission of administration, dated 14 May 1687, was copied into the end of Deed Book 3 on an unnumbered page.

When did Richard Jordan die?  Note that the inventory (see below) is dated the same day as the will was proved, suggesting that he had been dead some time prior to 3 May.  The last record of Richard Jordan I being alive is the June 1686 tithables.  3 May was the first court meeting (and therefore the first opportunity to prove a will) after 1 March 1687.   There is another reason to suspect he died at least a couple of months prior.  Surry records show a considerable delay in issuance of the commissions of administration from the Governor.  These were typically dated long after the court’s appointment of an administrator, anywhere from two to eight months later.  The fact that this one was issued less than two weeks after 3 May argues that it may have been applied for months earlier.

 

3 May 1687           Probate granted Charles Savage on the nuncupative will of Alice Jordan, proved by the oaths of Rose Bynom and Wm. Barton.  “Charles Savage relinquished his right of the probate of Alice Jordan’s will and let the privilege therein fall.”  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p565, 567]

A nuncupative will had to be reduced to writing by a witness, yet there is no will recorded in the Surry books.   (There are numerous other nuncupative wills recorded in the  Surry deed books.)   Nor did the court order an inventory or appraisal, or appoint a replacement executor.  It was quite rare that a will would not be recorded, an inventory ordered, or an executor or administrator appointed.  The most likely explanation for this is that the will bequeathed no property which needed to be inventoried or administered.  It therefore seems likely that the will dealt with her burial arrangements, her personal clothing, or something similar.  Note that a nuncupative will was valid only if dictated on a deathbed by a person who did not recover from an illness.

Note also the timing of these two records.  Only a widow or a single woman could make a will, so Richard Jordan I  must have been dead long enough for his wife Alice to make her oral will.  This is the first court meeting since 1 March, so there is at least a two-month period during which both husband and wife must have died.  Note also that the two witnesses and Charles Savage all lived adjacent to Richard Jordan I’s land in Surry, which strongly implies that Alice Jordan was living with her husband at the time of their deaths.  
 

June 1687              Surry tithables, list of Samuel Swann for Southwarke parish:
Rich. Jordan Senr., Richard Jordan Junr., John Morris – 3

With his father’s death, Richard Jordan II has now become Richard Jordan Sr.

 

5 July 1687            Rich. Jordan records the inventory of “his deced father”.  [Surry County Court Orders 1671-1691, p574]  The inventory is dated 3 May 1687.

The inventory and appraisal are recorded in Deed Book 3, p86.  I read this over 20 years ago and took no notes.  (I wasn’t interested in the Jordans at the time.)

10 Jul 1687            Elizabeth (x) Jordan and Mary Swann witness to apprenticeship of Samuel Reade, orphan of William Reade, to William Edwards. [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 3 p91, abstracted by Hopkins] 

 

10 Oct 1687          John Jordan dying intestate, administration requested by his relict, Jane.  Granted, recorded 21 October 1687.  [Isle of Wight Administrations and Probates, p62 abstracted by Chapman]

This appears to have been the son of Richard Jordan I.  From a later record, his land was inherited by a son named John Jordan who also married a woman named Jane.

 

19 Dec 1687          A list of 314 Surry militiamen presented to the Governor contains the names:  Rich. Jordan Junr., Rich. Jordan Senr. as foot soldiers in Southwarke parish  [Surry County Orders 1671-1691, pp597-601]   A revised list, limited to “freeholders and housekeepers”, dated two weeks later on 3 January 1687/8 omits Richard Jordan Jr.  [Ibid., p622]

The list is undated.  The Governor requested the militia list on 24 October 1678, and it was recorded at a court held on 19 December 1687.  This list was revised two weeks later at the instruction of the Governor to include only freeholders and housekeepers, and to remove those persons who were not maintaining a separate household.  This reduced the list of militia from 314 to 200, and resulted in Richard Jordan Jr. being removed from the list.  This suggests that Richard Jordan III was still in his father’s household, though he would be separate in the tithables several months later.  

Does this bear on the age of Richard Jordan III?  The earliest mention of a minimum age is a 1705 act which required militia duty of all freemen as 16 through 60.  Hening’s Statutes at Large has no clues to the minimum age as of 1687.   However, it is a reasonable assumption that it was 16, because all the names on this list also had appeared in the 1687 tithables. 

 

June 1688              Surry tithables, list of Robert Randall for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan Senr.  – 1
Richd. Jordan Junr., Wm. Davis – 2

Richard Jordan III is now listed as “master of a household”.  However, his father will pay the tax the following year.  Whoever William Davis was, this is his first appearance in the tithables.

 

20 Oct 1688          Land Patent:  Richard Jordan, 200 acres “between the Cypress Swamp and Johnchecuck Swamp… in the upper parish… beginning at a red oake by a branch a corner tree of Richard Jordan Junr his land, thence by the sd Jordan’s line… a red oake by a great branch… which land was formerly granted to Thomas Smith by patent dated 20 April 1684 and by him deserted for want of seating… now granted to the said Richard Jordan by order of the Genl Court dated 3 May 1688…” due for transportation of four persons: Jno. Mole, James Randall, Toby & Dick negroes. [Virginia Patent Book 7, p691]

The reference to ”Richard Jordan Junr” is actually to the same person who is filing the patent.  This patent used Thomas Smith’s old survey, for it is a word-for-word copy of the land description in the Thomas Smith patent of 1684.  In 1684, Richard Jordan was indeed “Junr.”  In 1688 he is not.  The metes and bounds place this patent on the north side of the swamp, on the north side of Richard Jordan II’s 1684 patent.

Note that Richard Jordan apparently bought the headrights from someone else.  Neither John Mole nor James Randall ever appears among the Surry headrights or the Surry court records.  Nor does a negro Toby ever appear as a tithable.  William Browne had a negro named Dick as his tithable beginning in 1680.  

 

6 Nov 1688           Deed:  Richard Jordan and wife Elizabeth Jordan of the upper [Southwarke] parish of Surry, to Robert Caufield, 4300 lbs tobacco, unspecified acreage.   The land description appears to be copied from the 1679 deed (“…on the southwest side of a branch of the Black Water Swamp… containinge all the land that is on that side of the foresd swamp… being the full quantity of land which sd Jno. Bynam bought of George Blow by deed of 5 Dec 1663...”) “and by ye sd Bineham sold and conveyed to my father Richard Jordan ye 28^th 9br 1679 and descended to me as heire to my sd father…”  Signed: Richard Jordan, Eliza. (x) Jordan.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 4, p107]

The fact that Richard Jordan II inherited the land indicates that he was the eldest son of Richard Jordan I.  Richard Jordan I died intestate (see 1687) and under the inheritance laws of the time, all his land would have fallen to the eldest son.  (If the now-deceased John Jordan had been the eldest son, his own son John Jordan II would have inherited before his uncle.)  This property was all that Richard Jordan I owned at his death. 

 

23 Nov 1688         Elizabeth (x) Jordan and Richard (x) Wheelhouse witnesses to deed of William Edwards to John Parsons, Jr. for 290 acres bounded by a patent to Edwards dated 23 April 1688.  Recorded 5 January 1688/9.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 4, p94, abstracted by Hopkins] 

It’s not clear if this was the wife of Richard Jordan or not.  The land being sold is several miles away, though Parsons himself was a neighbor. 

 

9 Apr 1689            A deed from Robert and Katherine Owen to Nathaniel Roberts for 100 acres of a 648 acre patent to Bartholomew Owen of 14 May 1681 on Johnchecohunk Swamp is described as bounded by Richard Jordan and Roger Potter.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 4, p104]

This is part of the Bartholomew Owen patent.  The westernmost 150a part of the patent was already in the possession of Richard Jordan II.  This part is evidently just to the east, for it borders Richard Jordan.  Nathaniel Roberts would sell this land two years later to Robert House, Richard Jordan II’s son-in-law.  After several transfers of this land, nearly a century later it will eventually help to identify one of Richard Jordan’s great-grandsons.

 

June 1689              Surry tithables, list of Samuel Swann for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan Senr., Richd. Jordan Junr.  – 2

20 Oct 1689          Land Patent:  Richard Jordan, 568 acres “…beginning at a white oake in Robert Owens his line being Nathaniel Roberts corner tree thence along the sd Roberts his line…  sweet gum by the side of John Chekocan Swamp thence along the sd Swamp.. to a poplar the sd Jordan’s corner tree of another dividend of land…200 acres thereof granted to the said Jordan by patent dated 20 Oct 1688 the remaining 368 acres being due for transportation of eight persons:  Abraham Redcross, Jno. Harry, Joan? Bates, Jno. Hayes?, Jno. Elliott, Sarah Moore, Robt. Ellis, Jane Mitchell.  [Virginia Patent Book 8, p4-5]

This surrounds his 1684 patent to the west and north.  The 200 acres patented a year earlier is in the middle of this plot, which may explain why it is included.  His son Richard Jordan III will later patent the land on the north side of this parcel, and his grandson William Jordan will patent land on the northwest side.  Richard Jordan II now owns a contiguous parcel of roughly 1,000 acres ( including the adjacent land from the Bartholomew Owen patent.)  This patent, mentioning Nathaniel Robert’s land, also helps to identify the land Richard Jordan owned from the Owen patent, which must have bordered the Roberts land.

This was a huge amount of land, far more than he could hope to cultivate in his lifetime, probably indicating that he was investing in land that could later be given to his sons.  If he intended to meet the seating and planting requirements of the patent, he must have meant for his son Richard Jordan III to use the land.  (Note that he had neither servants nor slaves in the tithables.)  We know from a later deed that the son was living on this land as of 1695.

Note also that none of these eight headrights ever show up as tithables in Surry.  Nor do any of these names appear in the court records.  This probably indicates that Richard Jordan had purchased a certificate from someone else. 

 

June 1690              Surry tithables, list of Samuel Swann for Southwarke parish:
Rich. Jordan Senr. – 1

                              Rich. Jordan Junr. – 1

Richard Jordan Jr. is now responsible for his own tithable tax.  The law required that “masters of households” were so responsible, and the age at which one became such was the age of majority (age 21), regardless of whether one resided in a physically separate household.   This is a reasonably good, though not perfect, indication that Richard Jordan III had reached 21 sometime within the last year.  This is consistent with his first appearance as a tithable in 1685.  Both records independently suggest a birth in late 1668 or early 1669. 

It is possible that he is actually located on the recently patented land.  Note that the 1695 deed of part of this patent does confirm that Richard Jordan III was living on it as of 1695.  

 

6 Jan 1690/1          Richard Jordan Sr. and Thomas Smith witness deed from Joshua and Katherine Proctor to Edward Newby for half a patent issued jointly to Proctor and William Rogers near Johnchecohunk Swamp. [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 4, p178]

This land is just southeast of Richard Jordan II’s land.

 

1 Mar 1691/2         Deed: Nathaniel Roberts and wife Elizabeth Roberts to Robert House Jr., both of Southwarke parish, 250 acres on the east side of Johnokocan Swamp… Robert Owen's old line.. corner of Richard Jordan Sr… Jordan’s line… [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 4 p255]

Roberts is selling the land that he bought from Bartholomew Owens adjacent Richard Jordan to Jordan’s son-in-law Robert House.

 

June 1691              Surry tithables, list of Thomasl Swann for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan Senr. – 1

                              Richd. Jordan Junr. – 1

 

1 Sep 1691            Richard Jordan Senr., Joshua Proctor, and Thomas Mathews appointed to appraise the estate of John Duce, deceased.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p7]

Duce was the second husband of Phyllis Fort, mother of Jordan’s son-in-law, John Fort.  He had a patent only a mile or two east of Richard Jordan’s land.

 

10 June 1692         Surry tithables, list of Samuel Swann for Southwarke parish:
Richard Jordan Senr. – 1

                              Richard Jordan Junr. – 1

 

5 Jul 1692              Richard Jordan [Senior] sworn as a member of the grand jury for the succeeding year.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p46]

This was probably Richard Jordan II, as his son was not yet a freeholder.

 

14 Aug 1692          Richard Jordan Jr. and Benjamin Harrison witness to deed of Roger Potter and Thomas Middleton to Humphrey Phelps.  Proved by the sellers on 6 September 1692.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 4, p273, abstracted by Hopkins]

 

2 May 1693           Richard Jordan [Senior] one of the grand jury appearing in court and presenting himself for not going to church, is fined according to law.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p72]  This fine, of this same date, also appears in a list entered into an unnumbered page near the end of the Order Book.

This must have been the father, as the son was not yet a freeholder.

 

June 1693              Surry tithables, list of Francis Clements for Southwarke parish:
Rich. Jordan Senr. – 1

                              Rich. Jordan Junr. – 1

 

21 Nov 1693         Thomas Edwards sued Robert House Jr. over his failure to built a two story house measuring 28 x 20 feet.  The court ordered Robert House Jr. to begin the work on 2 January 1693/4 and “not depart therefrom unless at such time as his wife shall be in labour of the child she now goeth with…”  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, unpaginated]

It’s not clear whether the wife was Martha Spilltimber or Margaret Jordan, but probably the latter.  House had married Martha Spilltimer by January 1681/2, and had a child born within a year or two of that marriage.  The last record of Martha as his wife was 6 January 1682/3 when she released dower.  The first record of Margaret as his wife is on 10 September 1695, and two weeks later her father’s will calls her Margaret House.  There is no later record of anyone who might have been this child.

 

June 1694              Surry tithables, list of Francis Clements for Southwarke parish:
Rich. Jordan Senr., Cha. Jordan, Robt. Lanier – 3

                              Rich. Jordan Junr. – 1

Charles Jordan must have turned 16 within the last year, thus born in late 1677 or early 1678. 

 

6 Sep 1694            Richard Jordan Junr. among those sworn to a grand jury for the following year.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p117]

Same court:  Richard Jordan Senr. appointed surveyor of highways from Capt. Robert Randall’s plantation in this county to the Southwarke parish Church.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p119]

Same court:  Richard Jordan Senr. appears on a list of debits to the county for one wolf’s head at 200 lbs.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p119]

Richard Jordan III is now considered to be a freeholder.  Has his father bestowed land on him by some unrecorded instrument?

Bu now, the legislature had set the bounty for killing wolves.  The bounty for a wolf killed by shot was 200 pounds.

 

1 Jan 1694/5          Richard Jordan Junr. and Robert Hill securities for Elizabeth Forbush’s administration of the estate of George Forbush.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p120]

June 1695              Surry tithables, list of Francis Clements for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan Senr., Charles Jordan – 2

                              Richd. Jordan Junr. – 1

 

1695                      Grand jury indictments:  Richard Jordan Sr., Richard Jordan Jr., and Robert House among 15 persons indicted for “not coming to church”.  Richard Jordan was a member of the grand jury.  No specific date entered.   [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p79]

Attendance at the local parish church at least once a month was mandated by law.  Offenders would either make an excuse suitable to the court or pay the fine.

 

10 Sep 1695          Deed of Gift:  Richard Jordan Sr. and wife Elizabeth Jordan of the upper [Southwarke] parish of Surry County to son Richard Jordan Jr., for love and affection, 130 acres [150?] in Southwarke parish… whereon he [the son] now lives… between Cypress Swamp and Johnchecohunk Swamp… between two great branches… part of a patent of 260 acres to Richard Jordan of 20 April 1684.   Signed: Richard Jordan, Sr. and Elizabeth (x) Jordan.  Witness:  John (x) Fort, Elizabeth (x) Smith.  Both Richard Jordan and Elizabeth Jordan acknowledged in court on the same day, confirming this as a “deed of gift”.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p63]

This appears to be the western part of the 1684 patent, perhaps including part of the 1689 patent as well.  Richard Jordan II seems to have retained more than half of  the eastern portion of the1684 patent and the adjoining land of Owen as his personal plantation.

Either this deed of gift or the deed below created an entail on the land, though I didn’t note the specific wording at the time.  Though normally created in a will, a deed of gift  to someone “and the heirs of his body” or some similar language could have done that.  This was apparently the land which was later deeded to Joseph Jordan by a writ designed to break the entail and pass the land on in fee simple (see below.)
 

10 Sep 1695          Deed:  Richard Jordan Sr. and wife Elizabeth Jordan of the upper [Southwarke] parish of Surry County to son Richard Jordan Jr., no consideration given, 200 acres in Southwarke parish… whereon he [the son] now lives… between Cypress Swamp and Johnchecohunk Swamp… Signed: Richard Jordan, Sr. and Elizabeth (x) Jordan.  Witness:  John (x) Fort, Richard Ham.  Both Richard Jordan and Elizabeth Jordan acknowledged on the same day.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p64] 

This appears to be part of the1689 patent.  Richard Jordan had apparently combined part of the 1684 and 1689 patents into a single parcel for his son.  It is conceivable that the son is already married by this time.  Unlike the prior deed, this one apparently passed title in fee simple.
 

10 Sep 1695          Deed:  Richard Jordan Sr. and wife Elizabeth Jordan of the upper [Southwarke] parish of Surry County to John Fort, unspecified quantity of tobacco, 300 acres in Southwarke parish… beginning at the mouth of a great branch issuing out of the mouth of the northeast side of Johnchecohunk Swamp… Signed: Richard Jordan, Sr. and Elizabeth (x) Jordan.  Witness:  Charles (x) Jordan, Richard Ham.  Both Richard Jordan and Elizabeth Jordan acknowledged on the same day.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p62]

The latter two deeds are part of a 1689 patent which adjoined the 1684 patent.  The deed to John Fort implies that he was married to Elizabeth Jordan by September 1695.   Either Margaret Jordan House or Elizabeth Jordan Fort was likely the eldest daughter.

 

10 Sep 1695          Deed:  Robert Howse Sr. and wife Margaret Howse to Bartholomew Andrews, all of Southwarke parish in Surry County,  250 acres on the east side of Johnchecohunk Swamp adjacent Robert Owen’s old line and Richard Jordan Sr. …  Signed: Robert (x) Howse,  Margrett (x) Howse.  Recorded same day.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p65]

Robert House II (as “Junior”) had purchased this land on 1 March 1691 from Nathaniel Roberts [Deed Book 4, p255].  His father having died in the interim, he is now “Sr.” 

Robert House had earlier married Martha Spiltimber and had a daughter named Mary.  Margaret Jordan was his second wife.

10 Sep 1695          Richard Jordan Junr., one of seven members of the grand jury who failed to appear, summons issued for all six to appear at the next court.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p140]

 

24 Sep 1695          Will of Richard Jordan Sr., proved in 1699:  To son Richard, what land & estate I have to bestow [bestowed?] on him, after my death a breeding sow, he being in possession of the sd land in my lifetime…  To son Charles, a parcel of land which was formerly Mr. Owens being part of tract I now live on, being divided by a line of marked trees the lower part of it to him and the lawful heirs of his body forever, also all my working tools.   To son Robert plantation and land I do now live on, that is to say the upper part of that line, after the death of my wife to him and the lawful heirs of his body.  If either of my sons Charles or Robert die without issue, land shall go to the longest liver… [if they both die without issue, then the land to be equally divided between “my three youngest daughters or the longest liver of the three.”  Bequests of livestock to daughters Rachel, Elizabeth Fort, and Margaret House. [eg, “unto my daughter Elizabeth Fort one breeding sow”]  Bequests of one ewe and lamb each to daughters Hannah, Mary, and Sarah – “my three youngest daughters have the three sheep when they shall attain the age of sixteen years.”  “My wife sole executrix… my wife shall enjoy my plantation during her natural life... my  son Charles shall dwell with and work for his mother until he shall attain the age of 20 years and then to be possessed of the aforesaid land... my son Robert shall dwell and work for his mother until he shall attain the age of 18 yrs… if my wife shall die before my desire is that my son Robert be placed out until the age of 16 years…  the rest of my plantation may be employed to the maintenance of my three youngest daughters until my son Robert shall attain the age of 21 yrs.  “My trusted and well beloved friends Josiah Proctor and John Fort to be  overseers” and wife Elizabeth Jordan executrix.   Signed:  Richard Jordan Sr.  Witness:  Joshua (x) Proctor, Robt. (x) Owins, Richard (x) Ham.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p183]  Proved 7 November 1699 on the oaths of Joshua Proctor and Richard Ham.  [Surry County Orders 1691-1713, p204]

From later tithables, it appears Robert Jordan was born 1684/5 and was about 11 at this time.  He was apparently close to 16 when his father died and, because his mother was still alive, does not appear to have been bound out after all.  Charles Jordan appears to have been born 1677/8 and was about 18 at this time, consistent with the will’s implication that he was over 16 but under 20.  The only two married daughters are Elizabeth and Margaret.  Rachel is the next eldest.  The three youngest daughters are all under 16.

Note that the will seems to clarify that Elizabeth was the mother of both Charles and Robert, something we couldn’t have been sure of without this record.  Note also that the son Richard is not named an executor.

Note also that the language “to him and the lawful heirs of his body” created an entail on the land left to Robert and Charles.  That is, it gave the sons a lifetime interest rather than an outright title.  They could not sell the land, nor could they devise it in their own wills, for this language conveyed the land in tail to assure that it would remain in the family, passing from generation to generation.  As best we can tell, given the uncertainty of the acreages in early surveys, Richard Jordan owned roughly 340 to 350 acres at this time, the eastern part of his 1684 patent and the western 150a of Owen’s patent.  He divided this land between Robert and Charles.

This is the last record of Charles Jordan in Surry.  He does not appear in the tithables for 1696-1703, nor in the court, deed, or will records.  From the succession of land, he apparently died soon after this will was written, but before it was proved.

 

11 Jan 1695/6        Richard Jordan Sr. and Arthur Allen witness to manumission affidavit of Elizabeth Caufield regarding a slave freed by the 1691 will of Robert Caufield.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p84]

 

3 Mar 1695/6         Deed:  Robert Owen to Joshua Proctor, 110 acres on Johnchecohunk Swamp, part of a patent to his father Robert (sic) Owen dated 14 May 1673 for 648 acres, adjoining Richard Jordan and said swamp.  Recorded this date.  Witness:  Dionisius Wright, Thomas Haynes.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p89]

Actually, the 1673 patent was to Bartholomew Owen.  It was renewed in the name of his son Robert Owen on 11 October 1689.   Joshua Proctor was his brother-in-law.

 

June 1696              Surry tithables, list of William Browne for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan Senr. – 1

                              Richd. Jordan Junr. – 1

7 Jul 1696              Undated Deed Recorded:  William Foreman and wife Hester Foreman to Richard Jordan Sr., both of Southwarke parish, consideration not noted, 150 acres adjoining Bartholomew Owen and Johnchecohunk Swamp.  Proved 7 Jul 1696.  Witness:  William (x) Arnal, Anna (x) Potter.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p100 abstracted by Hopkins]

Hopkins’ abstract omits the date of the deed itself, giving only the recording date.  The date must have been prior to Richard Jordan’s will, for the will gives this land to Charles Jordan.  In addition, Robert Owen had sold the adjoining portion of his father’s patent in 1695, when he described this land as Richard Jordan’s. [D&W 5, p89]  Therefore, this seems to be the “missing” deed for the western part of Bartholomew Owen’s patent of 1673.  William Foreman had bought this land from Owen on 9 September 1674.  The land description must have been an old one copied from that 1674 deed, because Bartholomew Owen had died almost 20 years earlier, in 1677/8. 

Richard Jordan II’s patent of 1684 had referred to this land as “Jordan’s own land, being part of Mr. Owen’s dividend.” His will called it “formerly Mr. Owens.”  That suggests this deed was actually dated before 1684.  However, the fact that it is to Richard Jordan “Sr.” argues that it must have been dated later.  (If the “Sr.” refers to his father, then it wouldn’t have been his own land in 1684.)  Perhaps he was leasing the land in 1684 and didn’t purchase it until later. 

Whatever the case, this seems obviously to be the missing deed.  We can account for the sale of the rest of the Owen patent, leaving only this piece.  Nor does  there seem to be an “extra” 150 acres in any later record.

14 May 1696         Deed:  John Fort and wife Elizabeth Fort to William Rose, 300 acres in Southwarke parish on Johnshohokum Swamp (evidently the land purchased from Richard Jordan in 1695).  Signed:  John (x) Fort, Elizabeth (x) Fort.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p100 abstracted by Hopkins]

 

June 1697              Surry tithables, list of James Mason for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan Senr. – 1

                             
List of William Browne for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan Junr., Thos. Smith Junr. – 2

 

11 Nov 1697         Among a list of debits to the county for the year:  Richard Jordan Junr. “one wolve killed with a gunn”, 200 lbs tobacco.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p187]

 

3 May 1698           Suit dismissed:  George Williams vs. Richard Jordan, the plaintiff not appearing.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p190]

 

June 1698              Surry tithables, list of John Thompson for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan Junr. & Thos. Smith  – 2
Richd. Jordan Senr. – 1

 

3 Jan 1698/9          Mary Jordan being presented by the grand Jury for fornication, it is ordered that the Sheriffe summon her to appear at the next Court to answer the same. [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p194].  At the next court held on 7 March 1698/9:  Mary Jordan now Mary Sowerby who was presented by the grand jury for fornication… being called to come forthe and not appeareing it [is] ordered that the Sheriffe take her into his custody and there detaine her until shee shall enter into bond… [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p196]  At a court on 4 July:  Mary Sowerby having been presented by the grand jury for fornication by Mr. Dionisius Wright her attorney pleaded that the presentment… was not sufficient for the court to proceed against her…  The court rejected the argument and ordered her fined.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p199]

Although it is tempting to think this was the daughter of Richard Jordan, she was actually the daughter of an unrelated Thomas Jordan.  As this record shows, Mary Jordan married a Sowerby.  On 7 September 1700 Francis Sowerby deposed that he had married Mary Jordan, the daughter of Thomas Jordan deceased and granddaughter of Col. George Jordan.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p212] After being widowed in 1716, Mary remarried to John Tyus.

 

7 Mar 1698/9         Administration on the estate of Robert House, deceased, granted to Margaret House.  Robert Warren and John Case, securities.  George Williams, Thomas Warren, and John Beneham [Bynum] to appraise the estate.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p215]  Commission dated 11 March.  Inventory presented on 4 July 1699.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p198]  

Margaret House, as administratrix, was subsequently sued by several creditors.  These suits, and a deposition, clarify that Robert House was first married to Martha Spiltimber by 1682, by whom he had a daughter named Mary born about 1684. 

I found no references in the Surry records to any children of the marriage of Margaret Jordan and Robert House.  But see the suggestion that she was pregnant in 1693 in the court record below.

 

June 1699              Surry tithables, list of John Edwards for Southwarke parish:
Richard Jordan – 1

Richard Jordan II is apparently already dead, though his will would not be proven for another few months.  Only Richard Jordan III is in the tithables, and he is not designated as either “Senior” or “Junior”.  Nor is his father mentioned among the exempted tithables this year.

 

3 Oct 1699            Mr. William Drummond producing a bill under the hand and seal of Richard Jordan dated 21 September 1698 and praying that he might be admitted to make oath in court that he hath never received any part of satisfaction towards payment thereof, was accordingly sworn.   [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p203]

This is another record that suggests Richard Jordan may already be dead.   Drummond could not sue a dead man, nor could he sue the estate until after an executor was appointed.  The only reason I can think of why Drummond would take the time to establish this debt in court would be if Richard Jordan were dead but the will was not yet proved.  I’d note that there was no legal requirement to prove a will in any particular timeframe.

 

7 Nov 1699           The last will and testament of Richard Jordan proved by the oaths of Richard Ham and Joshua Proctor, and a probate thereof granted Elizabeth the relict and executrix of the said decd…  [See entry for 24 Sep 1695]   James Jones, James Ellis, and George Williams appointed to appraise the estate.  Elizabeth Jordan to present the inventory and appraisal to the next court.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p204]

As noted above, he may actually have died several months earlier.

7 Nov 1699           On a list of debits to the county for the year 1698:  Richard Jordan, one wolves head (taken in a pit), 300 lbs tobacco.  On the list of debits for the year 1699:  Richard Jordan, 1 wolves head taken in a pitt, 300 lbs tobacco.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p205]

There is no indication of the date in 1698 when these items were debited, but this may be another indication that his father had died quite a while prior to the will recording.

 

2 Jan 1699/1700    Elizabeth Jordan, executrix of Richard Jordan, failed to present the inventory and appraisal and is ordered to present them at the next court.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p206]

 

5 Mar 1699/1700   Elizabeth Jordan, executrix of Richard Jordan, failed to present the inventory and appraisal and is ordered to present them at the next court.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p207]

Same court:  Mary Howse, daughter of Robert Howse deced, making choice of Mr. Mathew Swann for her guardian…  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p208]

Later records show she was the daughter of Robert House Jr. and his first wife, Martha Spilltimber.  Mary must have been 14 or older to choose her own guardian.  Indeed a later record (see below) suggests she was 15 or 16 at this time.  A few months later, Mathew Swann sued Thomas Davis on her behalf, calling her “Mary House daughter to Martha House wife to Robert House Jr. decd” in several court records.

 

7 May 1700           Elizabeth Jordan, executrix of Richard Jordan, presents the inventory.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p209]   

This is the last record of Elizabeth Jordan alive.

 

7 May 1700           Indictment:  Margaret House for fornication, by the grand jury.  On 2 July 1800 a summons was issued for her appearance to answer that charge. On 5 November 1700 she appeared in court, was fined, and when asked who was  the “father of the child gotten in such fornication did upon oath declare that Richard Halliman was the father…”  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p258, p261, p264]  

This is her last appearance as Margaret House in the records.  She probably married the same Richard Halleman, who suddenly acquired a wife named Margaret.  As Margaret Halleman, she first appears on 1 May 1703 relinquishing dower rights to two deeds of Richard Halleman. [Deed Book 5, pp284-5]  He left a will in 1711 naming his wife Margaret and minor sons Richard, William, Thomas and Samuel. [Deed Book 6, p62]  Her indictment for fornication indicates that she had a child without having been married in the Anglican church – the only recognized form of marriage.  It is quite possible that she had remarried to Richard Halleman outside the church.

 

June 1700              Surry tithables, list of Nathaniel Harrison for Southwarke parish:
Richard Jordan – 1

 

11 Jan 1700/01      On a list of debits to the county for the year 1700:  Richard Jordan, 1 (wolf) head (taken in a pit), 300 lbs tobacco.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p215]

 

Nov 1701              On a militia list for Surry County, Capt. William Gray’s company:   Richard Jordan, Robert Jordan.  [Virginia's Colonial Soldiers, Lloyd DeWitt Bockstruck (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988), p221]

Obviously, these were Richard Jordan III and his brother Robert Jordan, and Robert is now over 16.  Note that Charles Jordan is not listed.

 

6 May 1701           Richard Jordan sworn to grand jury for the ensuing year.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p218]

 

June 1701              Surry tithables, list of William Browne Jr. for Southwarke parish:
Rich. Jordan, Robt. Jordan – 2

This is Robert Jordan’s first appearance in the tithables, confirming the militia record that he is now 16.  Note that their mother may still be alive.

 

June 1702              Surry tithables, list of William Browne Jr. for Southwarke parish:
Rich. Jordan & Robt. Jordan – 2

 

June 1703              Surry tithables, list of William Browne Jr. for Southwarke parish:
Richd. Jordan, Robt. Jordan – 2

 

7 Nov 1704           Following the last court in 1704, a list of debits to the county for the year 1704:  Richard Jordan 1 (wolf) head shott  200 (lbs tobacco).  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p261]

 

7 Jun 1704             Deposition of Mary Thompson, age 41, wife of Samuel Thompson, in a suit between Peter Deberry and William Thomas (in Surry County) states that she knew Martha Spilltimber, the reported daughter of Anthony Spilltimber and wife of Robert House Jr., who 20 years ago asked her to be godmother to a daughter named Mary House and is now known as Mary Carrell the wife of Thomas Carrell.  [Isle of Wight Deed Book 1, p419 abstracted by Hopkins]

Another reference to Robert House Jr.’s child by his first marriage, suggesting that the daughter was born about 1684, not long after the marriage to Martha Spilltimber.  Despite this abstract, there is no record of any such suit in Surry County.  However, there may have been an inquiry not entered in the court records, dealing with descent of land.  Thomas Carrell and his wife Mary sold land to William Thomas two years later, when they described it as a patent to John Spilltimber (Anthony’s brother) which descended to Mary Carrell as his only heir.  (The land descended to John’s older brother’s heirs of which there was only one.)  That record also clarifies that Mary was the only child of Robert House and Martha, or at least the only one who was living in 1706.

 

1704                      Quit Rent Rolls:
Isle of Wight:          Jno. Jordan                  100a
                              John Jordan                    150a
                              Joshua Jordan                150a
                              Benja. Jorden                 150a
                              Matt. Jorden                1950a
                              Tho. Jorden                    207a
James City County:
                              John Jordan                  1000a
Surry County:
                              George Jurden                620a
                              Richard Jurden            350a
At end of Surry list: “Geo. & River Jordan one tract denys to pay qt. rents for it and no persons living thereon.”

The list of quit rents does not include lands on which no rent was collected or attempted.  Therefore, the lists are not necessarily complete. 

However, note that Richard Jordan III has paid for 350 acres.  This suggests the deed of gift may have been for 150 acres rather than 130 (the deed is unclear).  Neither Robert Jordan or Charles Jordan has paid a quit rent for their inherited land.   Robert Jordan, the only one of the two brothers who is known for sure to be alive, is still under age, so his guardian would likely have been charged with the quit rents -- that person’s identity  is unknown.  (We can’t be certain of the acreage involved, so we don’t know what precise acreage to look for.  Our best guess is that it was 330 to 350 acres.  A much later deed implies it was 334 acres.)  Charles Jordan would have been of age by now, if he were still living, but does not appear on the list.   The John Jordan of Isle of Wight charged with 100 acres is apparently the son of John Jordan and grandson of Richard Jordan.  The other Jordans are unrelated.

 

9 Nov 1704           Deed:  John Jordan of Newport parish and wife Jane Jordan, to Nicholas Casey of same, 100 acres (now in the occupation of said John Jordan and was a deed made by his grandfather Richard Jordan Sr. to his father John Jordan dated 31 March 1679 and 1 November 1679… which descended to sad John Jordan) bounded by Cypress Swamp and Mr. Thomas Pitt, decd.  Witness: Richard Reynolds, William West Jr., Thomas Weston. [Isle of Wight County Deed Book 2, p6 abstracted by Hopkins]

 

16 March 1706/7   Will of George Rivers: Legatees – wife Mary and her daughter Mary, daughter Sarah.  Witness:  Arthur Jones, Charles Jordan, Richard Jordan.  [Isle of Wight Will & Deed Book 2, p479 abstracted by Chapman]

A George Rivers was either the stepbrother or half-brother of Elizabeth Reynolds Jordan.  Whether this is the same person or not is unknown.  The witness Charles Jordan was apparently not the son of Richard Jordan II, but rather the son of George Jordan.  That other Charles Jordan was living in Isle of Wight (see later deed) and, unlike the son of Richard Jordan II, could sign his name.  Likewise, the witness Richard Jordan apparently signed his own name, meaning that he was not Richard Jordan III, who signed in Surry with his mark.  

 

1 Nov 1709           Richard Jordan sworn to a grand jury for the ensuing year.  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p331]

 

1 Nov 1709           Undated Deed proved this date: William Rose to Richard Jordan, both of Southwarke parish, 1600 lbs tobacco, 300 acres on the south side of Johnchecohunk Swamp.  [Proved in Surry Orders 1691-1713, p333 and recorded in Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p437 abstracted by Hopkins] 

Although the abstract says “south”, this is the same 300 acres that Richard Jordan II had sold to his son-in-law John Fort.  John Fort had sold that land to William Rose in 1697.  Several later deeds (see below) and Richard Jordan III’s own patent of 1725 make it clear that he owned the Fort land.  In addition, that parcel is the only one William Rose owned that we cannot account for in other deeds.   William Rose, incidentally, was married to the widow of Thomas Jordan, son of Arthur Jordan.

 

2 Jan 1709/10        Deed:  Edward Napkin to William Little, 200 acres in Lawnes Creek parish, part of a patent to Philip Hunniford on 14 May 1666 sold to Edward Napkin Sr…. description mentions Richard Jordan’s line.  [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 6, p439] 

This is the other half of the old Hunniford patent, which Edward Napkin had long ago bought.  The metes and bounds are copied word for word from a 1682 deed from Hunniford to Napkin, so the adjoining land owners are those from 1682.  Richard Jordan II  had sold the adjoining land more than two decades earlier.

 

4 Jul 1710              Richard Jordan appointed overseer of the high way in the room of [to replace] Bartholomew Andrews…  [Surry Orders 1691-1713, p346]

Bartholomew Andrews had replaced Lawrence Fleming, who had replaced Elias Fort.  When Elias Fort was assigned, his district was “from Clayes bridge to Troopers old field…” and he was charged with building a cart bridge over the Indian Spring branch.  Clayes bridge was just northeast of Richard Jordan’s land and the district appears to have run northward from there.

 

7 Nov 1710           At a court held at Southwark... A commission of administration is granted Martha Jordan on the estate of Robert Jordan deceased...  Daniel