William Worsham

1625 - 1661  (36 years)

• Name	William Worsham
  Birth	1625
  Gender	Male
  Death	1661
  Person ID	I43058	Master
  Last Modified	22 Oct 2021

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Littleberry,   b. 1620   d. 1678 (Age 58 years)
  Children	+ 1. Elizabeth Worsham,   b. 1656, , Chesterfield, Virginia, USA d. 1705, Conjurers Neck, Henrico, Virginia, USA (Age 49 years)
  Family ID	F9957	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Oct 2021

  
  

• Notes

  William Worsham arrived in the Colony of Virginia by 1640 when Seth Ward sold him 200 acres at the old Indian Town, near Swift Creek, in what was then Henrico County. A George Worsham, who may have been his brother, got a neighboring 200 acres 15 February 1652/3. William and his wife Elizabeth lived at “Jordans” on Bailey Creek in what was then Charles City County and is today Prince George. They were parents of five children. William was a county commissioner of Charles City County from April to August 1657, and George was justice of the peace for Henrico in 1656. After William's death, probably in the late 1650s, Elizabeth married Francis Epes, the second of his name in the Colony, who was by then the father of the third Francis Epes. He became father to William's children. Charles and Mary were still minors 20 August 1678 when Epes gave the court an accounting of some livestock that belonged to them. Elizabeth’s wills of 1678 remembered children of both marriages. It has been suggested that William’s wife was Elizabeth Littleberry since she gave one of her sons by a 2nd marriage that peculiar name. Yet there is no evidence. Elizabeth’s 2nd husband was the son of Francis Epes who was in the colony by 1625. A patent issued to the elder Epes 26 Aug 1635 stated that the land granted to him was for the “personal adventure” of himself and for the transportation of his sons John Epes, Francis Epes, Thomas Epes, and 30 others. Elizabeth left a will in Henrico County in 1678 remembering daughter Elizabeth Kennon and her daughter Mary Kennon, daughter Mary Epes, son John Worsham, and her husband Epes’ children, whom she did not name (will dated 28 Aug 1678 and proved 1 Oct 1678 ). She amended the will 23 Sep 1678 to confirm gifts to children by her 1st husband, William Worsham, including John and Charles, and to divide the rest of her estate among children she had by her late husband Francis Epes, namely William Epes, Littlebury Epes, and Mary Epes. She appointed executors son-in-law Richard Kennon and stepson Francis Epes The first record of William Worsham in Virginia was a patent for William & George Worsnam for 400 acres of land in Henrico Co., VA dated 15 Feb 1652. Two hundred acres was part of a patent which WILLIAM WORSNAM purchased in 1640 from SETH WARD and two hundred acres was for transporting four persons. George was probably William's brother. William married Elizabeth by 1646. . . . [The land was at "the old Indian town" at Swifts Creek in what was then Henrico County.] On 1 November 1640 SETH WARD sold 200 acres purchased of WILLIAM WORSHAM 200 acres in Henrico County. [Wm. Worsham :& George Worsham, 400 acres, Henrico County, 15 Feb 1652, p 23. 200 acres part hereof lying at the old Towne at Appomattox River siding SW by the Old Towne Creek upon John Coogney's land extending NE upon Mrs. DOROTHY CLERK (sic Clarke), widow; and 200 acres being part of the old Towne aforesaid, bounded from the S by W corner of said Worshams first 200 acres upon the head of the said land N by E, thence into the woods towards Swifts Creek &c 200 acres being part of a patent granted unto William Clarke deceased, 6 May 1638, and by said Clarke sold unto Seth Ward from whom it was purchased by Willliam Worsham, 2 November 1640; and 200 acres for transport of 4 persons: Henry White, Jo. Plummer, Susan Chiles, Sarah Chiles; Oliver Green, land due for.] Source: Cavaliers & Pioneers, p 237-238. This patent was mentioned as follows in a patent to JOHN WILSON, 100 acres, Henrico Co., N side of Appomattox, 24 Sep 1667 (Patent Book 6, p 54) beg. at the river side @ by N. Nly along an old known fence being line parting his & Orphants of George & Will Wworsham &c. adj. his own land &c. Due for trans of 7 persons dated 6 May 1638 & the other 25 Sep 1663. Sd. 100 acres being part of a dvdt. purchased by WM. CLARKE containin 1100 acs. granted him by Sir John Havey late Govt. 6 May 1638; sold to LEONARD LANGTON 29 Oct 1638 who sold to SEATH WARD 3 Jan 1639 as by record of said deed at James City 24 Sept 1640 & assighnment endorsed may appear & for better confirmation the Widow DOROTHY CLARKE did afterwards surrender same to SEATH WARD at a court held at Varina 25 Mar 1640, who at a Ct. held at Varina 9 Nov 1640 assigned to Wm. Worsham 3200 acs. part oe 300 acs. lying at the Old Towne Cr. ^ by dec dated 2 Nov 1640 & endorced & C. Said WARD for good consideration assigned the other 100 acres to MICHAEL MASTERS 28 Oct 1642 at a Court held at Varina at which Court said Masters surrended up said 100 acres to HENRY ROWEN who in like manner at the same Court surrendered same to PETER FEEPOND who at the same Court surrended to said WILSON. From Patent Book #3: WM. WORSNAM & GEORGE WORSNAM, 400 acs., Henerico Co., 15 Feb 1652, p. 23, 200 acs. part herof lying at the old Towne att Appamattox Riv., bouding Ely, upon sd. Riv., sideing SW by the Old Towne DR. upon John Cooneys land, extending NE upon land of Mrs. Dorothy Clerk, widdow; & 200 acrs, being part of the old Towne aforesaid, bounded from the S by W corner of sd. Worsnams first 200 acs., upon the head of woods towards Swift Creek &C. 200 acres being part of a patent sould unto Seth Ward, from whom it was purchased by Wm. Worsnam, 2 Nov 1640; & 200 acs. for trans. of 4 pers: Hen. White, Jo. Plummer, Sasan (or Susan) Chiles, Sarah Chiles, Oliver Green, land due for. George Worsham, probably brother to William Worsham, died before 6 Jun 1666. On that date John Wilson patented 100 acres of land which was on the North side of Appomattox along a fence which line parted said Wilson and the orphans of George & William Worsham. After William died his wife, Elizabeth married Col. Francis Eppes II of Henrico Co., VA about 1661. Elizabeth Worsham Eppes made a will with a codicil and both were recorded in Henrico Co., VA Oct 1678. In her will, she named her daughter, Elizabeth Kennon; her granddaughter, Mary Kennon; daughter, Mary Worsham; daughter, Mary Epes; son, John Worsham; son, Charles Worsham. In the codicil she states she is Elizabeth Epes, widow & relict of Col. Frances Epes of Henrico Co. She also mentions former husband Wm. Worsham, dec'd. This time she names her Epes children: William, Littleberry & Mary Epes." Source: Worsham & Warsham Family History William & Elizabeth Worsham lived at "Jordans" on Bailey Creek in what was then Charles City County, and is now in Prince George County. On 20 August 1678 COL. FRANCIS EPES was present at an Orphans' Court in Henrico County, when he gave an account of the cattle belonging to CHARLES and MARY WORSHAM, orphans of Mr. WILLIAM WORHSAM. (Source: Adventurers of Purse & Person, page 858]