Mildred Lightfoot

William married Mildred Howell in 1746 in , , Virginia, USA. Mildred was born in 1720 in , Charles City, Virginia, USA; died on 17 Nov 1783 in Virginia Beach, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2, (Oct., 1894), pp. 104-111.

LIGHTFOOT FAMILY.
[Concluded]
BY THE EDITOR

The following notes regarding Philip1 Lightfot, the first of that name in Virginia, give all we know of him: Brother of Captain John Lightfoot, and resident of Gloucester county in 1671 (General Court Records); called "Mr." in 1677, lieutenant-colonel in 1680, captain in 1690, in which year he resigned his position as vestryman, and Captain John Smith succeeded him (Petsworth Parish, Gloucester county, Vestry Book); lieutenant-colonel of militia of Gloucester and justice of the peace in 1680 (Virginia magazine of History and Biography, January, 1894); administrator of Captain Francis Leigh in 1684-'85; and with John Grice, Samuel Pond, and John Marrable, justice of James City in 1694 (York Records); justice of James City in 1699, and

Page 105.

collector for the Upper District of James River (Virginia Magazine of History and Biography); surveyor-general in 1676 (Conway Robinson's Council Journal Notes); his will dated in 1708

(Hening's Stats., V., p. 111); wife was Alice, daughter of Henry Corbin, of "Buckingham House", Middlesex county. His tomb at Sandy Point is without date, and bears as arms Lightfoot impaling Corbin. The crest, I am now satisfied, is a griffin's head.

Philip Lightfoot had three tracts of land at Sandy Point, which was then in Wallingford parish, James City county, but in 1720 the Chickahominy River became the boundary line of James City, and Sandy Point fell in Westover parish. This land he willed to his son Francis, but in case of Francis dying without issue, then to his son Philip. Francis was justice of the peace of James City, and naval collector (Sainsbury MSS). He died January 7, 1727, in the forty first year of his age. His tombstone is at Sandy Point, and bears the Lightfoot arms. He married Elizabeth ----- (she died December 31, 1727, in the thirty-fourth year of her age, tombstone), and by her he had Francis3 Lightfoot, who died May 14, 1730, in the eighth year of
his age (tombstone), and a daughter, Elizabeth3, who married Beverley Randolph, eldest son of William Randolph, of the Council. Her fortune was announced to be L5,000(a). It would seem that Francis Lightfoot enlarged his plantation by purchase from "Thomas Lee, of Potomack, in Virginia, gentleman", of land at Sandy Point, the property of Dame Mary Dolliffe, relict of Sir James Dolliffe, knight, of London, but deceased(b), who had inherited the same from her
mother, Mrs. Mary Dunster (York Records). Under the will of Philip1 Lightfoot, the land passed to Elizabeth Randolph, but her father, Francis2, willed it to his brother Philip2, he paying L2,500 to his said daughter in full compensation. There were suits between Philip2 Lightfoot and his niece Elizabeth about the property, which were finally settled by an act of the Legislature in May, 1740. Philip2 was confirmed in the possession of the Sandy Point estate (Hening's Stts. and Barradall's Reports).

PHILIP LIGHTFOOT. - He was born in 1689, and died May 30,
(a) Virginia Gazette, January 30, 1737.
(b) In Le Neve's Knights occurs the following: "James Dolliffe, of London, merchant, als Do Olive, one of the directors of the South Sea Company. See the grant of arms or confirmation and assignment of crest vell grant, page 157: azure on a chevron or. bet. 3 crescents Arg. as many olive branches ppr. Crest: out of a castle Arg. an olive-fructed tree, pp. dated 22 Feb. 12 Annae, 1713-14. Knighted at St. James, 4 Oct., 1714."

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1748, and his tombstone at "Sandy Point", which has the Lightfoot arms, describes him as "descended from an ancient family in England, who came over to Virginia in a genteel and honorable character". "He rose to almost the highest honors of his country". He was appointed in 1707 clerk of York county, and served as such till 1733. In 1715, he became agent for the public store-house at Yorktown (York Records). October 20, 1733, Philip Lightfoot and Thomas Lee were sworn members of the Council (Barradall's Reports). He had a handsome house in Yorktown, where he and Thomas Nelson were the merchant princes. He married Mary, daughter of William and Anne Armistead, and widow of James Burwell, of King's Creek (anciently "Utimaria"),
and had issue, I. William3, who married Mildred Howell(c). II. Philip3 Lightfoot, who married Susannah ------, and had Francis4. Philip3 was dead before his father (1748); and as his grandmother does not mention him i her will, Francis4 was probably dead before 1773.

III.
John3, who had died without issue before 1769 (Hening's Statutes, VIII., 457). IV. Armistead3,
who died at his home in Yorktown about September 19, 1771 (Virginia Gazette). Inventory of
his personal estate valued at L1340,18.6, and has 253 books and 23 pamphlets (York county
Records). He married Anne, daughter of President Lewis Burwell (Keith), and had an only
child, Mary (Thomas Nelson her guardian in 1773), who married John Tayloe Griffin. The widow,
Anne, married in 1774 Charles Grymes, of Gloucester (York county Records).

The will of "Philip Lightfoot of the Town of York, Esq.," was presented in York court 20th
June, 1748, by William Lightfoot, one of the executors, and duly proved by Edmund Tabb
and John
___________________________________________________
(c) In the Index to the cases in the General Court in 1724, is the case "John Brown and
Mildred his wife, Charles Lewis and Mary his wife, residuary legatees of John Howell, gent.,
deceased, vs. Gawiin Corbin and John Lewis, jun. gent." It is known that Charles Lewis married
Mary Howell, and were not Mary Lewis and Mildred Brown daughters of John Howell? In 1732,
Henry Willis, of Spotsylvania, gent., and Mildred his wife, late widow of John Brown, whose
will was dated 8th September, 1726, are mentioned in the York Records. In Bruton parish
churchyard is piece of a stone to the memory of John Brown, with the date 1726 upon it.
Another stone is to the memory of Margaret Brown, who died in 1720, wife of Dr. John Brown of
Williamsburg [perhaps a first wife], late of Cold Stream, North Britain. See inscription in
Virginia Historical Collection, Vol. XI. Conway says that Mildred, who subsequently married
clonel Henry Willis, was a Washington - a grand-aunt of George Washington; but Lawrence
Washington, George's grandfather, had no sister Mildred to my knowledge.

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Amson, and thereupon certificate was granted William Lightfoot for obtaining a probate;
securities, William Nelson and John Lightfoot. He mentions his wife; sons William, John,
Armistead, Philip deceased, grandson Francis, and his (Francis's) mother, Susannah. Mentions
his plantations in York, Surry, Charles City, Brunswick, Goochland, New Kent and Hanover
counties; houses, store-houses and lots in Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Blandford; more than
180 slaves; large amount of plate; "four wheeled and two wheeled chairs", and "his coach and
six horses"; to each of his sons L2000 sterling, and other legacies to various persons.

"I give unto the Parish of York-Hampton the sum of fifty Pounds Current Moneh to be laid out
int he purchase of a handsome Flaggon and Challace with my arms engraven thereon for the use
of York church, and the sum of forty Pounds Current in Goods to be paid by my Executors into
the hands of William Nelson, Esq., and son William Lightfoot, to be by them distributed amongst
the poor of York-Hampton Parish. I give unto Elizabeth Burwell, the daughter of N. Burwell,
deceased, three hundred Pounds to be paid her when she shall arrive at the age of twenty-one
or marry with the approbation of her grandmother Lightfoot; but in case she dies before she is
entitled, then I will and direct it go with the residue of my estate, the legacy being void.
I give to the College of William and Mary the sum of five hundred Pounds Current, for a
foundation for two poor scholars forever, to be brought up to the ministry of the Church of
England or such other public employment as shall be most suitable to their capacities, which
sum I desire my executors to pay to the President and Masters of the College within twelve
months after my decease, to be laid out for that purpose, and its my will and desire that my
son William Lightfoot have the nomination and preference of the first six scholars".

The will of Mrs. "Mary Lightfoot, of the Town and County of York, widow", was dated 9 Nov.,
1771, and has two codicils dated respectively, 12 May, 1773, and 12 May, 1775. The whole was
proved 21st Aug., 1775, and William Allen, Esq., one of the executors, acknowledged bond
security, Joseph Hornsby, for obtaining probate. She mentions her daughter-in-law, Mildred
Lightfoot; grandson, James Burwell; Anne Burwell, daughter of my grandson James; granddaughter
Elizabeth Hewitt, wife of Rev. Richard Hewitt(d); daughter-in-law, Anne Lightfoot; grand-
daughters, Mary
_________________________________________________________

(d) QUARTERLY, II., No. 4, p. 232, and Vol. III., No. 1, p. 40, need correction: James3
Burwell (Lewis1, Lewis2) m. Mary Armistead (she md. 2n Philip Lightfoot) issue Nathaniel4
bacon, and Lucy4 d.s.p. Nathaniel Bacon4 Burwell, and had, as far as known, James5, and
Elizabeth5. James5 m. Anne, sister of Dr. Walter Jones. Elizabeth5 married, 1st, Rev. Richard
Hewitt; 2d, Col. Edward Harwood.
Richard and Elizabeth (Burwell) Hewitt had Elizabeth Burwell, Mary,

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Allen, and Mildred Coles, Elizabeth Coles, Anne Lightfoot; sons, William Lightfoot, deceased,
and Armistead Lightfoot, deceased; Mary, daughter of my son Armistead Lightfoot, deceased, and
the legacy given her, if she should die before 21, to be equally divided between the surviving
daughters of son William Lightfoot, deceased; grandsons, William Lightfoot and Philip Lightfoot;
legacy of 20 L to the poor people in the town of York; 20 L each to Lewis Burwell of Kingsmill,
William Allen of Surry, and the Rev. Richard Hewitt, whom she appoints executors; and by the
last codicil, Fielding Lewis, Esq. Witnesses to the last codicil, David Jameson, David

Jameson, Jr., William Barrow. (York Records).

"Died, Mrs. Mary Lightfoot at York, relict of the late Hon. Philip Lightfoot, Esq., one of
his Majesty's council of this colony, in the 79th year of her age. Her corpse passed through
town this morning to be deposited in the family vault at Sandy Point". (Va. Gazette, June 30,
1775).

WILLIAM3 LIGHTFOOT, son of Philip Lightfoot, was sheriff of York county in 1746 (York
Records), and died before 1771. He left, I. William4, of "Tedington"; I. Philip4, of Caroline.
III. Mary4, married William Allen, of Surry. IV. Mildred4, married Walter Coles, of Halifax.

WILLIAM4, of "Tedington", lived at Sandy Point, and the postoffice there is named "Tedington".
He married 1st Anne -----, and had, I. William Howell5; II. Francis5; III. Philip John5;
IV. Mary Elizabeth Bolling5, wife of George Blakey; V. Anne Cocke5, wife of William Lewis. He
married 2dly Anne Clopton Ellyson (she married 2dly John Colgin), and had, VI. Robert
Armistead5; VII. Sarah5. (Authorities: Will of "William Lightfoot, of Tedington", 27 April,
1809 - 17 Aug., 1809; Munford's Reports, V., p. 42; Deed of Gift recorded in Charles City Co.,
21 April, 1809). He imported many well-known thoroughbred horses.

WILLIAM HOWELL5 LIGHTFOOT, of Cabin Point, married Sarah Short, who married 2ndly John
Minge(e). He died in June, 1810,
____________________________________________________
Ann, Dorothy. Col. Edward5 Harwood (Capt. Thomas1, Esq., Humphrey2, Col. William3, William4)
married 1st Elizabeth5 Reads (Col. George1, Robert2, John3, John4) and had Elizabeth, who m.
Henry Lee, Sarah who m. Littleton Kendall, Mary who m. ------ Chapman (dead before 1797) and
Dorothy. He married 2dly, as above, Elizabeth, widow of Richard Hewitt. The two wives are
mixed up in the accounts before given, - both being named Elizabeth.
(e) By this marriage John Minge had an only daughter, Sarah Melville, who married Robert
Bolling, of Petersburg.

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aged 31. (Tombstone.) His only son, William, died October 27, 1831, aged 25 years and 27
days. (Tombstone at Sandy Point).

FRANCIS5 died before 1819, leaving children (Will of Philip John Lightfoot).

PHILIP JOHN5 married Mary Ann -----, and died without issue. (Will, 16 June, 1819 - 15 July,

1819). In 1839, William A. Lightfoot of Buckingham county, and Caroline, his wife, deeded a
lot in Williamsburg, the property formerly of William Lightfoot, of Charles City, as one of
the devisees of Philip John, said William's son. The deed refers to a cause entitled Lewis &c.
vs. Blakey &c., in the Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Henrico county (1835), in which
a division was made of Philip John Lightfoot's property.

PHILIP4 LIGHTFOOT, son of William3 Lightfoot, lived at Cedar Creek, Caroline county; died
in 1786; was a lieutenant in Harrison's artillery, Continental Line, and received two grants of
land for his services. He married Mary Warner Lewis, only daughter of Col. Charles Lewis and
Lucy Taliaferro, his wife. Issue, an only child, Philip, of Port Royal, born Sept. 24, 1784,
and died there July 22, 1865. He married Sally S. Bernard, daughter of William Bernard, of
"Belle Grove", King George Co., Va., afterwards of "Mannsfield", a fine old Colonial residence
near Frederickburg, burned during the late war. Issue, I. Dr. Philip Lewis5, m. 1st Mary
Virginia Smith; 2d Isabella Drummond. II. William Bernard5, b. Dec. 16, 1811; d. Feb. 5, 1870,

in Mobile, Alabama. Married 1st Roberta Beverley, dau. of Robert Beverley, of Essex Co., Va;
married 2d Sarah Bee Ross, of Mobile. III. John Bernard5, m. Harriet Field. IV. Edgar Vivian,
d.s.p. V. Fannie Bernard, m. Capt. Robert G. Robb. VI. Ellen Bankhead5 m. Dr. Carter
Wormeley, of King William county. VII. Mary Lewis5, m. Mr. Vail, and died in England.

MARY4 LIGHTFOOT, daughter of William3 Lightfoot, married William Allen, of Surry. She died
before her husband, who was perhaps the wealthiest man in his county. His will (4 Sept.,
1789 - Sept. 24, 1793) mentions children, William, Patsy, Anne Armistead, John, Martha Bland;
grandson William Allen Harrison; "Miss Garrett to continue as tutoress and to be paid as
heretofore twenty guineas per annum"; plantations in Surry, James City, New Kent, Sussex,
Nansemond, Southampton; new chariot, &c.

The following, by Mrs. William Reynolds, gives some details of

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much interest regarding the portraits and plate once at Sandy Point or Tedington:

"There is preserved a portrait of William Lightfoot, with date 1750, full length, life size,
in blue court dress; a portrait of his brother Philip, same size and style, in red court dress.
These portraits were pronounced very fine by Volkmar, the best authority in this line. He said
the only ones he had ever seen like them were some sent him to be cleaned by General Robert E.
Lee, and identified them positively as the work of Hudson, the master of Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Portrait of Mrs. Howell, with infant daughter, Mildred (afterwards the wife of William Light-
foot), on her knee. The mother's figure is life size, and in white court dress. This is also
a very fine picture, and Volkmar thought it must be a Copley. Portrait of "Sir John Howell,
London, 1680" (name and date on back of canvas), full length, in grey court dress, leaning on
sword. He was, presumably, the grandfather of Mildred. Portrait of half-grown youth and
landscape, pronounced in Philadelphia to be the work of Sir Peter Lely - a Howell picture.

"These last two Howell portraits were given Mrs. Selden and Mrs. Starke by Mr. Bolling,
when Sandy Point was dismantled. There were many other portraits at the old place, which
were scattered among various descendants, but these were the finest.

"Much of the large quantity of old English silver originally belonging to Sandy Point was
stolen by the British, and the rest has been divided and scattered. The punch-bowl, large
silver dish, candlesticks, and other smaller pieced in herited by my grandfather, and still in
the possession of his children, are pieces of this old English silver, and are very massive
and handsome, and engraved with the Lightfoot arms. I have a book with the book-plate
representing the Lightfoot crest and arms, and the words engraved, 'Wm. Lightfoot, Esq.,
Tedington, 1750'. It is the fourth volume of Pope's Satires, illustrated, and dated 'London,
1757'. There were a great many of these old English books, with book-plates inside, at my
grandfather's. I could send you a copy of this plate if you have not seen it. My cousin,
Mrs. Powhatan Stark, inherited many valuable relics from William and Mildred Lightfoot. The
beautiful old brocade dresses of the latter were left at her home on the James River when
abandoned during the late war, and were, of course, carried off. Among the relics she has
recently shown me are William Lightfoot's miniature, with bow-know of diamonds; a large gold
snuff-box, with an exquisite miniature, inside the lid, of his wife, Mildred; his mourning ring,
a hoop of diamonds enclosing gold ring, with inscription, 'William L--, b. 10 June, 1764 -
aetat 40'. Also, two very quaint mourning pins surrounded with diamonds, and one inscribed,
'Mrs. Mildred Lightfoot, obiit 17 Nov., 1783, setat. 60'. She is said to have lived in great
style, and always drove in her own coach and four. I send you photographs of these above
miniatures, thinking they might interest you as an antiquarian. Please return them to me.

"I send also Philip Lightfoot's will, and that of his wife. Perhaps some of the dates and
names in the latter might be needed. The communion set mentioned in his will was stolen in the
late war, but was afterwards restored to the minister in charge by the commanding officer on
hearing its history and age. It is now in use.

Page 111.

"We have also the will of my great grandfather, Philip, of the Revolution, husband of
Mary Warner Lewis. He leaves as guardians to his only child, Philip, 'my worthy friends,
Joseph Jones, Esq., Dr. John Tennant, and Isaac Coles, Esq.,' and devises property in Caroline,
Brunswick and Pittsylvania counties, and all his landed estate in Ohio, to his nephew Charles
Augustus Lewis, in case of the death of his infant son, my grandfather Philip, of Port Royal."

Philip married Mary Armistead on 6 Oct 1719 in , , Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of William Armistead and Anna Kendall Lee) was born in 1696 in , Northumberland, Virginia, USA; died on 29 Jun 1775 in , Charles City, Virginia, USA; was buried in Tettington, Charles City, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Phillip Lightfoot came to the colony of Virginia before 1670 from England, possibly with his brother John. He served as a Lt. Col of Militia and Justice of Gloucester Co in 1680; Justice of James City Co 1694-99; Collector of Customs for Upper James River and Surveyor General. He registered his will in 1708 and died thereafter (1708-1710). His tomb is without date and bears arms "Lightfoot Impaling Corbin." The coats of arms of both the Lightfoot and Corbin families are displayed side-by-side.

Phillip purchased three tracts of land at Sandy Point along the Chickahominy River, most of which he willed to his sons Francis and then Philip.

Source: Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, VA. Call number 2330.

From Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, VA, 1958:

p. 69
The Lightfoots were among the earliest colonists in Virginia. They seem to have settled originally in Gloucester and James City when the latter embraced what is now Charles City County. Col Philip Lightfoot was a vestryman of Petsworth Parish as early as 1683. By his last will he devised his lands to his eldest son Francis, remainder to his son Philip. Francis devised his lands to his daughter Elizabeth, who married Peter Randolph of Henrico; remainder to his brother Philip Lightfoot. The entail was docked by the House of Burgesses in 1740, and by agreement between the parties these lands were vested in Philip Lightfoot.

At Sandy Point there were at one time portraits of the old Lightfoots. There were three William Lightfoots in succession at Sandy Point, and their tombs are still there. The first died in 1727, the second in 1809, and the third in 1810. Tedington was one of the four farms which composed the splendid estate of Sandy Point, between the James and the Chickahominy Rivers.

In 1726 we find the name of Major Goodrich Lightfoot as a member of the vestry of St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania, when that parish and county embraced what was afterwards the parish of St. Mark's and the county of Culpeper. He was one of the lay readers at the Germanna Church, and he and Robert Slaughter were appointed to count all the tobacco plants from the mouth of the Rapidan to the north of Mountain Run, and up Mountain Run and across to the mouth of the Robinson River, in obedience to the Act of the Assembly limiting the number of plants to be cultivated by each planter.

Major Goodrich Lightfoot was chosen a vestryman for the first vestry at St. Mark's, for his home was within the limits of the new parish. He served as vestryman and churchwarden until his death in 1738, and was succeeded by Capt Goodrich Lightfoot in 1741, who served until he left the parish in 1771. William Lightfoot was also a vestrymann from 1752-1758, when he moved out of the parish.

Philip married Alice Corbin. Alice was born on 14 Feb 1659 in Christ Church, Middlesex, Virginia, USA; died in 1713 in , Charles City, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Anna Kendall Lee in 1693 in , Gloucester, Virginia, USA. Anna (daughter of Hancock Lee and Mary Kendall) was born on 5 Jan 1681 in Ditchley, Northumberland, Virginia, USA; died in Oct 1754 in Hancocks Neck, Northumberland, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Records show that John II followed briefly in his father's footsteps attending both Lincoln College and Gray's Inn Law School (1641-1643). He does not appear to have practiced law for any extensive period leaving the family profession to his younger brothers William and Richard. John II is identified as a Captain of the Royal Navy operating in the waters off Virginia in 1666. His ship was lost in that year. He also commanded the HMS Covertine of London which returned from a voyage to Virginia in 1670. He migrated with his two sons to America shortly therefater. On 10 June 1670, he was appointed Auditor General of Virginia to replace Thomas Stegge who had died in office. English records clearly establish that John II died in the West Indies (Surinam) or the waters therof in 1686.

John Lightfoot II is probably the most elusive and mysterious link in the Lightfoot genealogy. His migration to America and profession as a Ship's Captain contributed to that somewhat. In addition, he was occasionally confused with his son John III by some early genealogy researchers. The inability of researchers to identify his wife is particularly vexing and curious. She apparently died young since they produced only two heirs ( John III and Phillip ) and since John II was identified as a "widower" at the time of his death in 1686.

The records do show that John II followed briefly in his father's footsteps attending both Lincoln College and Gray's Inn Law School (1641-1643). But he does not appear to have practiced law for any extensive period apparently leaving the profession and family business to his younger brothers William and Richard. He apparently migrated with family ( sons John III and Phillip ) to America shortly thereafter. But his residence there is uncertain.

John II is identified as a Captain of the Royal Navy operating in the waters of Virginia in 1666 when he lost his ship, and is also believed to have commanded the "Covertine of London" which returned from a voyage to Virginia in 1670. On 10 June, 1670 he was appointed the Auditor General of Virginia to replace Thomas Stegge who had died in office.

In any case English records clearly establish that he died in the West Indies (Surinam) or the water thereof in 1686. His brother William (in England) was subsequently appointed executor of his estate in England to administer the goods etc. of the said deceased during the absence and for the use of the said children ( John III and Phillip ) living in parts beyond the seas (America). His sons would have been in their mid-twenties and presumably beginning their own careers at that time.

John Lightfoot married Elizabeth Tailor, daughter of John Tailor of Maidstone, Kent, England. She died before him since he is listed as a widower who died at Surinam in the West Indies. We know that Capt John Lightfoot was in Virginia waters in 1666 when he lost his ship. We also think it is very likely he was the Captain Lightfoot who commanded a merchant ship, The Covertine of London, which had just returned from a voyage to Virginia in June 1670.

He was known as the "Honorable" Captain John Lightfoot of Middlesex County, England and he died before 7 Mar 1687 in Surinam, West Indies as War Captain of his Majesty's Ship.
A notation found in Herald's Visitation of London, 1687:
John Lightfoot a Captain of one of the H.M. Ships, died at Sea: Anno.1682 Aet: Circa 55 years, 1682.

He was admitted 18 Feb 1641 into Gray's Inn, aforesaid as the eldest son of John Lightfoot, one of the Fellows. We may assume that he was about nineteen years old at the time since that was the age at which his father was admitted to Gray's Inn.

Capt married Elizabeth Tayloe. Elizabeth was born in 1622 in Stepney, London, England; died in 1686 in , Northamptonshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: , , Virginia, USA
• Married: 1665, , Gloucester, Virginia, USA

Notes:

A son of William Armistead, of Elizabeth City county, and grandson of Anthony Armistead, of Kirk Deighton, in Yorkshire, England, settled in Gloucester county, of which he was sheriff in 1676, and a justice and lieutenant-colonel of horse in 1680. In 1685 he was a member of the house of burgesses, and on Feb. 14, 1687-88, Gov. Effingham wrote to the English government that a vacancy had occurred in the council and that he had nominated Col. John Armistead as in every way qualified for the place. This nomination was confirmed on April 30, 1688, and Col. Armistead was sworn as member on Oct. 18 of the same year. He remained a councillor until 1691, when, feeling that he could not consistently with the allegiance he had sworn to James II., take the same oath to William and Mary, he declined and was accordingly removed from the council. It is probable that he later realized the hopelessness of the Stuart cause, and relented in his determination, for in 1693 Gov. Andros wrote that Col. John Armistead had retired from the council. He died soon after. He left two sons and two daughters and through them was the ancestor of many distinguished Virginians.; ; III--Colonial Councillors of State

John Armistead was a member of the governor's Council of Virginia late in the seventeenth century. A planter in Gloucester County, he also entered into several successful business ventures. Becoming active in politics, Armistead sat on the county court and served as sheriff. He opposed the tobacco cutting riots and favored English policies put in place after Bacon's Rebellion (1676–1677). Armistead twice represented Gloucester in the House of Burgesses before the governor appointed him to the Council in 1688. Armistead relinquished his seat in 1691 when he refused to take the oaths to the new monarchs William and Mary. Although restored to his place later in the decade, Armistead did not rejoin the Council. His date of death is unknownArmistead was the second of three sons and one of at least four children of William Armistead and Anne Armistead, of Kirk Deighton, Yorkshire, England. He may have been born in Virginia, his parents having settled in Elizabeth City County in the mid-1630s, which is the most likely approximate time of his birth. When he reached adulthood he moved to Gloucester County, where he lived and farmed for the rest of his life. His father had prospered so rapidly after immigrating to Virginia that both of his surviving sons began their adult lives as substantial planters. He may have sent John Armistead to Gloucester County in the 1650s to manage the properties he acquired after that section of the colony was first opened to English settlement.

Sometime in the 1660s Armistead became associated with Robert Beverley (1635–1687), an association that led to several profitable joint business ventures. The relationship grew even closer when Armistead married Beverley's sister-in-law Judith Hone. Armistead had two sons and two daughters, and he acquired even more influential family connections later, when one of his daughters married Ralph Wormeley (d. 1701) and the other married Robert "King" Carter.

Destruction of most of the records of Gloucester County has obscured the details of Armistead's participation in politics. He probably became a vestryman of Kingston Parish within a few years of moving to the county, and by 1670 he was a member of the county court as well as a colonel in the county militia. He became sheriff in 1676 and again in 1680. In 1682 he arrested several local women who were destroying tobacco plants. This put him in opposition to Robert Beverley, the putative instigator of the plant-cutting riots, by which the perpetrators hoped to reduce the supply of tobacco and thereby raise its price. Armistead differed from Beverley on political issues, too. Beverley grew increasingly outspoken in his opposition to English policies designed to control Virginia after Bacon's Rebellion, while Armistead inclined favorably toward the new order.

Armistead served in the House of Burgesses twice. Elected in 1680, he sat at the first meeting of the General Assembly of 1680–1682. His part in suppressing the plant cutters may explain his absence at the second session, and he did not return to the House until 1685. By the mid-1680s he was on friendly terms with Governor Francis Howard, baron Howard of Effingham, who resided at times with Armistead's son-in-law Ralph Wormeley. The association with Effingham proved beneficial, and in 1688 Effingham appointed Armistead to a vacancy on the governor's Council. He was sworn in on October 18, 1688, but his tenure lasted only two and a half years. In April 1691, following the Glorious Revolution, Armistead refused "thro Scruple of Conscience" to swear allegiance to the new monarchs, William and Mary. He consequently lost his seat on the Council. Seven years later the Crown ordered him restored to his place, but Armistead did not take the oaths after the commission was presented to the Council on December 9, 1698.

John Armistead may have been dead by that date, but he could also have been alive and in political retirement in Gloucester County while continuing his refusal to forswear his oath to James II. The date and place of his death are not recorded.

Time Line
1650s - Sometime during this decade, John Armistead's father William Armistead sends him to Gloucester County to manage the properties he acquired after that section of the colony was first opened to English settlement.
1660s - Sometime during this decade, John Armistead becomes associated with Robert Beverley. Armistead will marry Beverley's sister-in-law Judith Hone.
1670 - By this year, John Armistead is a member of the Gloucester County court and a colonel in the county militia.
1676 - John Armistead becomes sheriff in Gloucester County.
1680 - John Armistead is elected to the House of Burgesses.
October 18, 1688 - John Armistead in sworn in to fill a vacant seat on the governor's Council.
April 1691 - Following the Glorious Revolution, John Armistead refuses to swear allegiance to the new monarchs, William and Mary, and loses his seat on the council.
Categories Colonial History (ca. 1560–1763) Colonial Government

John married Judith Bowles Hone Robinson in 1656 in , Gloucester, Virginia, USA. Judith (daughter of 1st Baronet of London, Lord Mayor of London Sir John Robinson and Lady Elizabeth Catherine Potter - Robinson (1619-1688), (Immigrant) (Eng to VA)) was born in Dec 1645 in Heswick, Cleasby, Middlesex, Yorkshire, England; died in Jan 1693 in Kingston, Gloucester, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Elizabeth Phillips. Elizabeth was born on 16 Feb 1601 in Stepney, London, England; died on 24 Dec 1683 in , Northamptonshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: , , , USA
• Baptism: 3 Aug 1610, Kirk Deighton, Yorkshire, England
• Arrival: 1636, , , Virginia, USA

Notes:

1. William ARMISTEAD was born in 1610 in Hesse, Gloucester, Virginia, USA. He died in 1666 in Hesse, Gloucester, Virginia, USA.

LAND: Descriptions of Lands patented within the present boundaries of Gloucester and Matthews Counties, Virginia. Abstracted from the Land Patent Books in the Land Office, Richmond, Virginia. Book 2, Pg 331, July 1, 1651, 1231 acres.

On the head of Eastermost River in Mockjack Bay on the NW side of a small creek on the NE side of river encompassing the heads of river to the SW side.

Headrights: Elizabeth Price, John Crists, John Lancelott, Richard Gold, Robert Hunly, William Frasey, Barbary Frasey, Edward Morgan, Theo. Frasey, John Paptast, James Kittenue, Roger Paynter, Katherine Teye, Thomas Hudson, William Taylor, John Frasey, Jose: Brewster, William Smith, Mary Rekey, Kath. Ayres.

LAND: Matthews County, Book 2, Pg 331, July 1, 1651, 600 Acres.

On E side of Eastermost River in MockJack Bay above Pudden Creek. Headrights: James Steward, Thomas Jones, Ann Perry, Mary Hall, William Wells, John Owen, Henry Edwards, Tho. Dyer, Danil Forrest, John Hunningford, Tho. Guige, Marg. Brookes. (These rights are written my mistake on Philip Hunley's patent of June 29, 1651).

BIRTH: Alternate location is Kirk, Deigton, York, England

William married Ann E. ELLIS about 1642 in , Middlesex, Virginia, USA. Ann was born in , Gloucester, Virginia, USA. She died in Hesse, Gloucester, Virginia, USA.

They had the following children:
+ 2 M i. Colonel John ARMISTEAD was born about 1635. He died about 1698.
+ 3 M ii. Anthony ARMISTEAD was born about 1637. He died in 1726.
+ 4 F iii. Catherine ARMISTEAD was born about 1643. She died on 23 Apr 1692.

SOURCE: William Armistead, 14 generations in America, http://www.surnames.com/jamesriver/descendants/william_armistead/default.htm

William married Anne Netherton Ellis in 1632 in Giggleswick, Yorkshire, England. Anne was born in 1611 in Giggleswick, Yorkshire, England; died on 4 Dec 1678 in Hampton, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; was buried in Hampton, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1636, , , Virginia, USA

John married Lady Elizabeth Catherine Potter - Robinson (1619-1688), (Immigrant) (Eng to VA) on 15 Nov 1640 in Cleasby, Yorkshire, England. Lady was born on 16 Sep 1616 in Cleasby, Yorkshire, England; died on 1 Mar 1688 in Cleasby, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]