My 8x great-grandparents were Thomas and Rosamond (———-) Webster who lived in Henrico County, Virginia. Formed in 1634, Henrico County was one of the eight original shires. According to the Library of Virginia, all Henrico County court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. They note that many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War County court records do exist; however, almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War where they had been moved for safekeeping.[1] This presents a challenge in painting full a picture of Thomas and Rosamond (———-) Webster. Fortunately, some records from 1677 forward do exist and some of these include records of dated prior to 1677 that were recorded later.
We know nothing of the circumstances of their births nor their birth or arrival in Virginia. Rosamond’s maiden name is unknown. The Webster surname is of English and Scottish origin being an occupational name from Middle English “webbester” which meant “weaver” and Old English “webbestre” which meant “female weaver.”[2] There were numerous Websters who arrived in Virginia very early, but I have found no connection to our Thomas Webster. Land patent records are incomplete; however, extant records include five men named Thomas Webster being imported to Virginia by others who received land patents issued in 1642, 1653, 1657 (2) and 1662.[3] Given that patents could be issued several years after the fact, there is no way to tell if any of these men are our Thomas Webster.
Thomas Webster of Henrico County
Thomas Webster first appears in the Virginia record on 20 October 1665 when he received a land grant in Henrico County for 251 acres and 28 poles [a pole equaled 16 ½ feet] for the importation of five people.[4] The tract was described as being on “the north side of Appomattox River and at the head of the old town land.” On 6 June 1666, he received an augmented grant for the same 251 acres granted the previous year with additional 76 acres, one rood [a rood equaled ¼ acre] and 15 poles partially described as “to the second falls of the old Towne Creek” for the importation of two unnamed people.[5] He now a tract of land totaling 327 acres, one rood and 15 poles. On 20 April 1669, Thomas Webster added to his holdings with a grant for 115 acres described as being “adjacent George Archur [Archer], along the old towne run and old town creek” for transporting two people.[6] On 28 October 1673, he received a grant for 754 acres, which was in part a repatent of his prior three grants (+/- 251 acres, 76 acres and 115 acres) and an additional 311 adjoining acres.[7] Finally, he received a posthumous grant issued on 29 April 1692, in which he received a grant for 900 acres. This grant included a repatent of his prior grants totaling 754 acres, one rood and three poles and added an additional contiguous 146 acres.[8]
The general location of Thomas Webster’s land
All of these tracts were then in Henrico County but fell into Chesterfield County when it was formed in 1749. The description mentioning Old Town Creek is helpful in locating the general area. Old Town Creek is a tributary of the Appomattox River rising north of Matoaca in present-day Chesterfield County and flows generally northeast through the City of Colonial Heights and into the Appomattox just north of Temple Avenue where it crosses the river. Another helpful locator is the mention of Thomas Webster’s neighbor George Archer. See the red X on the map inset below and look just above that to see Archer Bluff.
Other records concerning Thomas Webster
Thomas Webster only appears in the record a few times aside from his land grants. On 27 Mar 1676, Essex Bevill and Thomas Webster entered into an agreement regarding their property line, which mentions Old Town Creek, the cart path from the mill to George Archer’s, the cornfield fence formerly in the occupation of Henry Crowder tenant to Thomas Webster, a hickory tree standing against Websters dwelling house, and Godfrey Ragsdale’s land. This agreement was not recorded in Henrico County until 1 June 1689 when Thomas Batte, who married the widow and executrix of Essex Bevill, did so.[9] On 1 April 1681, Thomas Webster served on a jury for a case concerning a land dispute.[10] On 22 August 1682, John Steward and Thomas Webster presented an inventory and appraisal (I&A) of the estate of Charles Featherstone, which was recorded on 2 October 1682.[11] Finally, on 28 May 1690, Thomas Webster, Godfrey Ragsdale and Thomas Batte, Sr. appraised the estate of William Harris. The I&A was presented at the Henrico Court on 2 February 1690/1.[12]
Through this last two records we learn that Thomas Webster was illiterate as he “made his mark” rather than signing his name:
The Death of Thomas Webster
Thomas Webster was dead by 1 October 1691when the Henrico County Court ordered an inventory and appraisal (I&A) of his estate be prepared. He left no will. The I&A was recorded with the Henrico County Court on 1 February 1692/3[13] and was valued at 14,867 pounds of tobacco.[14] This is the record from which we learn his wife was Rosamond Webster.
On 31 May 1692, Rosamond Webster, as “the relict and administrix of Thomas Webster”, presented an accounting of his estate which was recorded on 1 Jun 1692.[15] Included were debts paid amounting to 3,226 pounds of tobacco, debts as yet unpaid amounting to 3,426 pounds of tobacco (including 200 pounds for his coffin), goods and debts owed to Webster not yet inventoried amounting to 3,5871 pounds of tobacco. The record also noted a few items added to the inventory, which included “a new chest with lock & key, a new grindstone, a pair of iron tongs, a branding iron and a child’s cradle.”
Rosamond (———-) Webster and her children
In a deed dated 31 March 1694 and recorded in Henrico County on 1 Apr 1694, we learn that Rosamond Webster, widow and relict of Thomas Webster, deceased, was about to marry one Henry Hill. This is when we learn about her children. The records says, in part, “ a marriage is shortly intended” and “whereas the said Rosamond out of the natural affection and love she bares to her children, and for their future and better support and advancement, does purpose and intend before the said marriage shall be solemnized to give . . . to children each of them hereafter named a certain parcel of land and other moveables herein specified . . . a certain tract of land lying on the Great Branch on the North Side of the Swift Creek joining to the land of George Archer and containing 733 acres . . . said Henry Hill doth oblige myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns (after the said intended marriage is solemnized) to convey, transfer and make over . . . out of the aforesaid tract of land to her son Charles Cosons [Cousins] 150 acres, to her daughter Mary Webster 100 acres, to her daughter Elizabeth Webster 100 acres, to her daughter Rosamond Webster 100 acres . . . to them when they or any of them reach lawful age.”
Of his 733 acres, he was to provide Rosamond Webster’s children 450 acres. Hill received a patent for this grant on 21 April 1695.[16] There was no mention of neighbor George Archer in its description – but did indicate it was on the first great branch of Swift Creek. This demonstrates a patent could be issued after the fact – in this case a full year after Hill agreed to provide the land to Rosamond’s children.
The deed adds that the acreage designated for Rosamond’s children is to be laid off by survey. Hill goes on to list the aforementioned “moveables” to be provided when the children reach lawful age. Her son Charles Cousins was to receive a cow and calf, two sows, a young horse and one fixed long gun. Her daughter Mary Webster was to receive a cow and calf and a young horse. Her son Thomas Webster II was to receive a cow and calf, two sows, and one fixed long gun. Daughters Elizabeth and Rosamond Webster were each to receive a cow and calf and two sows. Additionally, Hill obliged himself to provide Rosamond Webster’s children with 10,000 pounds of “good merchantable tobacco.”[18]
Thomas Webster II was not provided any land by Hill as he had inherited his father’s 900 acres. On 1 April 1701 a deed was recorded in the Henrico County Court where Henry Hill confirms that he has given his wife Rosamond Hill – to her and her heirs – a 283 acre tract of land, which was the remaining part of a 733 acre tract granted to him on 21 April 1695. The land was described as being in Bristol Parish in the County of Henrico “and in the first great branch of Swift Creek.”[19]
I have been researching my family history for more than 45 years and I have never run across such as generous gift to an intended bride. Rosamond must have been quite a catch!
The deeds above make it apparent that Rosamond (———-) married 1st ———– Cousins, m. 2nd Thomas Webster and m. 3rd Henry Hill. We also know that none of her children had reached the age of 21 in 1694.
In 1704, Rosamond Hill is listed as being responsible for the quitrent [tax owed the King] for 1633 acres in Henrico County. She also appeared on list of landowners who had concealed land. In her case 33 acres.[20] This included the 900 acres that Thomas Webster II had inherited from his father and would take control of in 1711 when he turned 21, the 450 acres she was provided by Henry Hill upon their 1694 marriage for her children and the 283-acre balance Hill had given her in 1701. This record tells us that none of her children had turned 21 by 1704.
In a series of four deeds dated 19 April and recorded 2 June 1707 in Henrico County, Henry Hill sold these same tracts to Charles Cussins [Cousins] – 150 acres for £20 sterling, John Gill and Mary Gill his wife – 100 acres for £15 sterling, Essex Bevill and Elizabeth his wife – 100 acres for £15 sterling and Rosamond Webster – 100 acres for £15 sterling – all described as “in Appomattox on the south side of Swift Creek, bounded by the creek and Youle’s branch.”[21]
These deeds tell us that Thomas and Rosamond (———-) Webster’s daughter Mary Webster had married John Gill, daughter Elizabeth Webster had married Essex Bevill and that Rosamond Webster was unmarried. Recalling the 1694 premarital deed provided land to Rosamond’s children: “to her son Charles Cosons [Cousins] 150 acres, to her daughter Mary Webster 100 acres, to her daughter Elizabeth Webster 100 acres, to her daughter Rosamond Webster 100 acres . . . to them when they or any of them reach lawful age.” Did this mean when the eldest turned 21 or when each of them, in turn, reached 21 years of age? It appears that it was the former and that Rosamond’s eldest son, Charles Cousins, turned 21 about 1707 placing his birth year about 1686. Her youngest child – son Thomas Webster II’s birth year was about 1690 as evidenced by his appearance at Henrico County Orphan Court on 20 Aug 1711 to acknowledge his receipt from Charles Cousins, his older half-brother, the estate which was “due to him and doth discharge the said Cusens [Cousins] from same.” [22] The three Webster daughters would have been born between the two sons.
For this to be the case, Rosamond’s first husband, ———- Cousins must have died soon after his son was born – or perhaps even during her pregnancy – say in 1686. She would have married Thomas Webster almost immediately, which was not uncommon in that era. She would then have given birth to four more children over the next four years. Then her second husband died in 1691 leaving Rosamond with five children ranging in age from five to an infant. My dates may be off, but it can’t be by much. Can you imagine how strong a person she must have been to have buried two husbands and had five children in a span of just five or six years?
Ten years later, in a deed dated 9 October and recorded 4 Nov 1717, Henry Hill “for the love and affection which I have to my Daughter-in-law [meant stepdaughter back then] Rosamond Webster” gave her a long list of “goods and chattles” including three heifers, one calf, nine shoats (pigs), 22 hogs, four horses, seven mares, two feather beds, one flock [wool stuffed mattress] bed, one long table, one brass kettle, one brass spice mortar, one warming pan, three iron pots, eight pewter dishes, two pewter basins, six pewter plates, one pair of andirons, four chests, and one old gun. The record notes that all of these items were in the possession of “Rosamond the wife of the said Henry Hill at the time of her decease and now in the possession of the said Rosamond Webster.”[23]
Based on all of these records, Rosamond (———-) Cousins Webster Hill was probably born about 1665, died about 1717, married 1st, abt. 1684, ———- Cousins, d. abt. 1686, married 2nd abt. 1686, Thomas Webster [who must have been older – perhaps born in the 1640s – as he received a land grant in 1665] and then married 3rd in 1694, Henry Hill by whom she had no children.
Thomas Webster I, b.c. 1640s, d.c. 1691, Henrico County, Virginia, m. abt. 1686, Rosamond (———-), b.c. 1665, d. by 1717, who m. 1st, abt. 1684, ———- Cousins, d.c. 1686 and m. 3rd in 1694, Henry Hill.
———- Cousins and Rosamond (———-) Cousins Webster Hill had the following child:
Charles Cousins, b.c. 1686, m. Margery Archer
Thomas Webster and Rosamond (———-) Cousins Webster Hill had the following children:
Mary Webster, b.c. 1687, m. by 1707, John Gill
Elizabeth Webster, b.c. 1688, m. by 1707 Essex Bevill
Rosamond Webster, b.c. 1688, m. William Worsham
Thomas Webster II, b.c. 1690, d.c. 1747, m. (1) Mary (———-), (2) Prudence (———-)
Postscript:
John and Mary (Webster Gill) purchased the 100 acres given by Henry Hill to Essex and Elizabeth (Webster) Bevil by deed dated 3 October 1726 and recorded 7 August 1727.[24] A decade later, in a deed dated 30 August 1737 and recorded 1 September 1737, they purchased the 100 acres provided by Hill to stepdaughter Rosamond Webster from William and Rosamond (Webster) Worsham.[25]
Next Time – Webster Family of Henrico County & Amelia County, Virginia
Part 2 – Thomas Webster II (my 7x great-grandfather)
[1] Lost Records Localities: Counties and Cities with Missing Records, Research Note Number 30, Library of Virginia; https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/rn30_lostrecords.pdf
[2] Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022; Ancestry.com
[3] Cavaliers & Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1800, Nell Marion Nugent, Vol. I 1623 – 1666, p. 140, 257, 351, 352 & 403
[4] Land Office Patents No. 5, 1661-1666 (v.1 & 2 p.1-369), p. 517 (Reel 5), Library of Virginia
[5] Land Office Patents No. 5, 1661-1666 (v.1 & 2 p.1-369), p. 618 (Reel 5), Library of Virginia
[6] Land Office Patents No. 6, 1666-1679 (pt.1 & 2 p.1-692), p. 216 (Reel 6), Library of Virginia
[7] Land Office Patents No. 6, 1666-1679 (pt.1 & 2 p.1-692), p. 483 (Reel 6), Library of Virginia
[8] Land Office Patents No. 8, 1689-1695, p. 217 (Reel 8), Library of Virginia.
[9] Henrico County, Virginia Deeds, Wills, Etc. 1688-1697, p. 70; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-SW3M?i=297&cat=397197; accessed 13 March 2023
[10] Henrico County, Virginia Records 1677-1692, Part 1, p. 162; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-S7K2?i=63&cat=397197; accessed 13 March 2023
[11] Henrico County, Virginia Records 1677-1692, Part 1, p. 226; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-S7K2?i=63&cat=397197; accessed 13 March 2023
[12] Henrico County, Virginia Deeds, Wills, Etc. 1688-1697, p. 184; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-SW95?i=354&cat=397197; accessed 13 March 2023
[13] The first day of the year until 1752 was March 25. Dates occurring between 1 January and 24 March are shown as 1 February 1692/3 to avoid confusion.
[14] Henrico County, Virginia Deeds, Wills, Etc. 1688-1697, p. 271; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-S711?i=398&cat=397197; accessed 9 March 2023
[15] Henrico County, Virginia Deeds, Wills, Etc. 1688-1697, p. 315; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-S71H?i=420&cat=397197; accessed 9 March 2023
[16] Land Office Patents No. 8, 1689-1695, p. 426 (Reel 8); Library of Virginia
[17] Browne, C. (1685) A new map of Virginia, Maryland, and the improved parts of Pennsylvania & New Jersey. [London: Sold by Christopher Browne at the Globe near west end of St. Paul’s Church, ?] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2005630923; accessed 11 March 2023
[18] Henrico County, Virginia Deeds, Wills, Etc. 1688-1697, p. 483; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-S7T3?i=507&cat=397197; accessed 11 March 2023
[19] Henrico County, Virginia Deeds, Etc.1697-1704, p. 212: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P6-KV8?i=109&cat=397197; accessed 11 March 2023
[20] Virginia Quit rent Rolls, 1704, The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 28, No.8, July 1920, https://archive.org/details/jstor-4243771/page/n5/mode/2up
[21] Henrico County, Virginia Records 1706-1709 Deeds, Wills, Settlements of Estates, pp. 44, 45, 47, 48; https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007645094?i=278&cat=397197; accessed 11 March 2023
[22] Henrico County, Orphans’ Court 1677-1739 by Pauline Pierce Warner, p. 104
[23] Henrico County, Virginia Wills and Deeds 1714-1718, p. 212; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-SLPG?i=137&cat=397197; accessed 11 March 2023
[24] Henrico County, Virginia Deeds and Wills 1725-1737, No. 1 Part 1, p. 127; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-SLVG?i=247&cat=397197; accessed 14 March 2023
[25] Henrico County, Virginia Deeds and Wills, 1725-1737, No. 2, Part 2, p. 638; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-SLPR?i=516&cat=397197; accessed 14 March 2023
A Son of Virginia 