VIRGINIA LAND PATENTS - 1638

The Governor of Jamestown Colony (with the consent of the Counsel of the State) granted 50 acres of land to the responsible parties, for each person they transported from England to Jamestown. Research, so far, has shown that the arrangements between the "Responsible Parties" (these could range from Ship's Captains to enterprising individuals similar to the "coyotes" of today, or, worse yet, smugglers, slave traders, etc. Luckily, at that time, when women finally began to emigrate, like children, they still didn't count in the transportation tallies. The English government (monarchy) recognized the need to provide an incentive for citizens to relocate to this uncivilized, foreign environment in order for the colony to succeed. Choice land was abundant, thanks to the settlers totally ignoring the fact that they were seizing all the land near the rivers, lakes, creeks etc. from the native tribes who lived there. Unfortunately for the insensitive (or worse) English, there was a rare tribal unity within the area (under Chief Powhatan), a necessity to prevent other tribes from overtaking the lush, fertile region. This oversight did result in lengthy, bloody battles which were a deterrent to the new colony's early growth. A larger problem was the individual status of the initial settlers. The majority were English gentlemen, entrepreneurs, and people looking for gold, or any other method of achieving great wealth from natural resources in the new world. Absent were the farmers, laborers, craftsmen, and especially, soldiers, who were necessary for the enterprising young colony to be successful. It was John Rolfe's venture into the growth and marketing of tobacco which finally provided the colony with a profitable means to survive. Only then did the English and other Europeans, begin to bring their families and other vestiges of their homeland to this new land with unlimited potential for any hard working man.

Note: The following land patents are reproduced with their original spellings, punctuation, grammar, et al. Some words and references are indecipherable, hence the use of both spaces and "???". As detailed in "Origins of Eastwood Name", Family names continued to be the most misspelled words in the English language (notice "Garrett" in the selected patents). At this point in history, usually even the literate family members weren't in agreement on this issue.

Garett, John - undated but just after one dated 7 Nov 1640 - Upper Norfolk Co., VA - 150 Ac. - PB1 pg 693. ( Garratt ~ CARD 53 of 108 )

Upon a branch which issueth out of the Western of Nansemond river, adjoins land of Wm Eyres.New Norfolk County.To all to whome these p.sents shall come I Sir ffrancis Wyatt Lt. Governer &c &c Now Know yee that I the said Sir ffrancis Wyatt diw with the consent of the Counsell of State accordingly give, grant & confirm unto John Garnett one hundred and fifty acres of land scituate lying and being in the Countie of New Norfolk upon a branch which issueth out of the Westerne of Nansemmond river adjoyning to a p.cell of Land of Mr William Eyres beginning at a porberey marked w.th h?? notches each side running north north east for length and east south east for breadth &c the said one hundred and fifty acres –

NOTE: The patent is cut off by the bottom of page 693, and 694 starts with a patent to a William Garett in another part of Virginia, then page 695 begins with the middle of a patent to someone else. In short, the pages do not seem to be in order

Hatfield, William - 22 Aug 1638 - Upper Norfolk Co., VA - 300 Ac. - PB1 pg 592. ( Hatfield ~ CARD 77 of 79 )

Next adjoining to the land of Percivall Champion, run.g up a creek called Dumpling Island Creek.

To all to whom these presents shall come I sir John Hautboy Kt Governer &c ???d &c. whereas &c Now Know yee that I the said Sir John Hautboy Kt doe
with the consent of the Councell of State accordingly [pg 593] give and grant unto William Hatfieldthree hundred acres of land scituate lying and being in Nansemond river within the upper county of New Norfolk next adjoyning to the land of Percivall Champion and running up a creek called Dumpling Island Creek being on the east side of the said Creeke south and by west upon the said creek and north & by east into the woods The said three hundred acres of land being
due unto him the said William Hatfield by and for the transportation of six p.sons into this colony whose names are in the records mentioned under this pattent. To have and to hold &c dated the 22th of August 1638

* Note: "pockecory" is a hickory tree.

Storey, William - 17 Nov 1641 - Upper Norfolk Co., VA - 600 Ac. - PB1 pg 782. ( Stoneburner ~ CARD 68 of 106 )

Lying upon an arm of a branch of the western branch of Nansamund river, called the Indian Creek.

To all to whome these pr.sents shall come I Sir William Berkeley, Kt. Governer &c whereas &c. Now Know yee that I the said Sir William Berkeley Kt. doe with the consent of the Councill of State accordingly give and grant unto William Storey his heirs and assignes six hundred acres of land situate lying and being in the Countie of the Upper Norfolk and lying upon an arme of a branch of the western branch of Nansemund river called the Indian Creek and pokecory begining at a marked ^ running for length North by head West three hundred and twentie pole over the branch ^ unto a marked pockecory and soe again for breadth from the first mentioned marked tree East by North marked over the said branch unto a ^ small white oake part butting on the ???les end of a p.cell of land of John Garette and soe running againe for length North by West three hundred and twenty pole unto a marked Spanish oake The said six hundred acres being due unto him the said William Storey by and for the transportation of twelve s??b??nts into this Colony whose names are mentioned in the records ^ under this pattent To have and to hold &c to bee held &c yeilding and paying unto our said soveraigne Lord the King his heirs and Successors &c for every fiftie acres assigned herein by these p.sents given and granted yearely ? at the feast of St Michael the Arch.ell the fee rent of one shilling to his majties use which payment is to bee made seaven years after the date hereof Provided &c Given &c the seaventeeneth day of November 1641

Thomas Bagly, Richard Man?fort, William Howard, ???h May, Ann Neshbe, Thomas Bagly,

Richard Sh?ett, ??? Sand?ors, ??? Smith, ??? Ellis, ??? Smith, John Griffin.

* John Garrett obviously was engaged in some form of the "Transportation" (immigration) business as he (as well as his brother, William) was granted numerous patents over the course of a decade.

Note: A quick search -

* Garett, John - 22 May 1642 - Upper Norfolk Co., VA - 400 Ac. - PB1 pg 774. ( Garratt ~ CARD 54 of 108 )
Upon the head of a creek or branch called the Indian Creek which issueth from a western of Nansamund river. .

To all to whome these pr.sents shall come I Sir William Berkeley, Kt. Governer &c whereas &c. Now Know yee that I the said Sir William Berkeley Kt. doe with
the consent of the Councill of State accordingly give and grant unto John Garrett his heirs and assignes fouer hundred acres of land being in the Upper Norfolke
upon the heads of a creeke or branch called the Indian Creeke which issueath from a westerne branch of Nansemond river beginning at a marked pockecory
adjoining on and below a p.rcell of land of William Hatfields runing for length north north east ???? a reedy swamp by a black wallnutt to a small oake
five three ^ hundred and twentie pole and for bredth to the aforementioned packetooy west north west two hundred pole by the mane branch side to a marked
beech standing on the edge of a valley and for length and twenty againe north north east three hundred ^ 20 pole by a white oake to a marked pockecory standing on the side of a reedy swampe The said fouer hundred acres of land being due unto him the said John Garett by and for the transportation of eight severall p.sons into this colony. To have and to hold &c to bee held &c yeilding and paying unto ye said soveraigne Lord the King his heirs and Successors &c for every fiftie acres of Land herein by these p.sents - given and granted yearely at the feast of St Michael the Arch.ell the fee rent of one shilling which payment is to
bee made seaven years after the date of this pattent and not before Provided &c Given &c this two and twentieth day of May Anno Dom.n 1642
Mr John ???, Roger ???, Tho???, John ???, Richard ???, ??en Wayhes, *Richard Eastwood*, ???nsem Bird.

Eyres, William - 22 May 1642 - Upper Norfolk Co., VA - 100 Ac. - PB9 pg 419.
( Ewings ~ CARD 45 of 65 : Upon the head of a creek or branch called the Indian Creek which issueth from a western branch of Nansamund river. .)
To all to whome these pr.sents shall come I Sir William Berkeley, Kt. Governer &c whereas &c. Now Know governer yee that I the said Sir William Berkeley Kt.^ doe
with the consent of the Councill of State accordingly give and grant unto William Eyres his heirs and assignes one hundred acres of land scituate lying and
being in the County of Upper Norfolke and lying upon the northern side of the westerne branch of Nansemond river and beginning at a marked gum
standing on a point mouth of a small gutt and running for length three hundred and twenty pole nigh unto a p.cell of land of John Seullow? unto a marked pokecory and
[ page 779 ]
for breadth from the first mentioned fiftie pole by the maine branch side unto a marked red oake and again for length East and by South of a marsh by and adjoining on a pcell of land of
to a marked white oake The said one hundred acres of land being due unto him the said William Eyres by and for the transportation of two p.sons into this colony whose &c. . To have and to hold &c
to bee held &c yeilding and paying unto ye said soveraigne Lord the King his heirs and Successors & for every fiftie acres of Land yearely at the feast of St Michael the Arch.ell the fee
rent of one shilling to his maj.ties use which payment is to bee made seaven years after the date of these presents and not before according &c. Provided &c Given &c the two and twentieth day of May 1642
Silbert Brooke

Bryan, John - 15 Oct 1652 - Nansemond Co. - 168 Ac. - PB 3, pg 115 ( Bryan ~ CARD 25 of 73 )
On a branch of Nansemum river called the Indian Creek.

To all &c whereas &c now know ye that I the said Richard Bennett Esq &c give and grant unto John Bryan one hundred Sixety Eight Acres
of Land Scituate and being on a branch of Nansemum river called the Indian Creek and begining at a Marked white oake standing by the
branch the joyneing to a patent of land of Mr John Garett and runing for length North one hundred and sixty poles unto a Marked
red oake butting on the land of William Storey and soe for Bredth west north west one hundred sixty eight poles unto the
Land of mr John Garrett's to a Marked pine soe South one hundred and Sixty poles to a Marked Cypress Standing on the branch side -
and soe down the by or Nigh Creeke Side to the first mentioned marked tree, The said Land being due unto the said John Bryan
by and for the transportation of four persons into this Colony &c to have and to hold &c Yeilding &c which payment is to be made -
&c. before provided Dated the 15th of October ~ 1652 ~

William Scott, John Merr, Grace Harris, Anne Stonehill