Tag: Colonial

Love Against All Odds: The Story of Elias Boudinot and Harriet Gold at the Logan Homestead

📸ideogram.ai

I received a copy of a letter from the Gunn Memorial Library and Museum, written in 2008 by Marlene Flanders, a former aide to Mrs. Verna Logan, who passed away in 1987. In the letter, she mentioned a story she had heard about the Rising Sun Inn, also known as The Logan Homestead, which allegedly harbored an “interracial couple”: a Cherokee Indian man and a white woman. I was intrigued by this account, as I had not come across it before. This blog post tells the story.

Letter written in 2008 by Marlene Flanders, former aid to Mrs. Verna Logan., who died in 1987.

The Beginning: Two Lives, Worlds Apart

In 1803, a boy named Killekeenah Oowaite was born into the Cherokee tribe in New Echota, Cherokee Nation (now Georgia, USA). His upbringing was steeped in the traditions of his family, including his father Dutse Oowaite, and his mother, the daughter of High Cherokee Chief Attaculcullah. Their family name was eventually shortened to Watie. Two years later, in Cornwall, Connecticut, Harriet Ruggles Gold was born into the prominent Gold family, whose legacy was rooted in strong Christian values and community leadership.

Education and Encounter

At 18, Killekeenah met Elias Boudinot, a Revolutionary War figure, a friend and counselor to George Washington, and former President of the Continental Congress, who saw potential in the young Cherokee man. Boudinot sponsored Killekeenah’s education, sending him to the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall, where he adopted the name Elias Boudinot. It was here that he met Harriet Gold, whose family often hosted students from the school.

Their friendship deepened into love, but the cultural and racial norms of the time set them on a path fraught with opposition and challenges.

The Challenges of Love

In 1822, Elias returned to the Cherokee Nation due to illness but remained in contact with Harriet and her brother Franklin through letters. By 1824, their correspondence revealed a deepening relationship. When Harriet shared her intentions with her parents, they vehemently opposed the union. The Gold family, known for its standing in Connecticut, was divided. Harriet’s brothers-in-law, both ministers, argued it was her Christian duty to prioritize the mission school’s reputation over her personal happiness.

Harriet, however, stood firm in her convictions. Despite public outcry and even the burning of an effigy depicting Harriet, Elias, and an ally, Mrs. Northrop, Harriet’s resolve did not waver. (Elias’ cousin, John Ridge also attended the Mission School, where he met Sarah Northrop, the daughter of the school’s steward. The two became romantically involved and wed in January 1824.)

The Honeymoon at the Logan Homestead

After enduring months of familial and societal pressure, Harriet’s immediate family softened their stance. In May 1826, Harriet and Elias married at the Gold Homestead and spent their wedding night at the Logan Homestead, which was fortified and protected by Captain Logan and his armed men. This act of defiance by Captain Logan ensured the couple’s safety during a time of heightened tension.

The couple left Connecticut the next day, embarking on a 47-day journey to the Cherokee Nation in Georgia.

A New Life and Tragic Loss

Settling in New Echota, Elias became the editor of the Cherokee Phoenix, the first tribal newspaper in the United States. It was printed in English and Cherokee, using the Cherokee syllabary created by Sequoyah. In her family letters, Harriet described a good life, and that she had been warmly welcomed upon her arrival. Harriet gave birth to six children, but tragedy struck during her seventh pregnancy. In May 1836, Harriet’s child was stillborn, and she passed away three months later at the age of 31. She was buried in New Echota, and Elias erected a tombstone made from marble brought from Connecticut—a testament to her enduring connection to her roots.

Elias Boudinot, formerly known as Killekeenah Oowaite

The Aftermath

The Cherokee Nation’s land was increasingly encroached upon by settlers, culminating in the infamous Trail of Tears. Elias’ eventual support of the Treaty of New Echota, which advocated for Cherokee relocation, marked him and others as traitors in the eyes of many. In 1839, Elias was assassinated for his controversial stance.

Harriet and Elias’ children were sent back to Connecticut, where they were raised by Harriet’s sister Mary Brinsmade. The boys, William, Frank, and Elias, attended The Gunn School in Washington, Connecticut, while the girls were cared for by their aunt.

Legacy of the Logan Homestead

The Logan Homestead, a witness to this extraordinary love story, remains a symbol of courage and resilience. Harriet and Elias’ union defied societal norms, blending two distinct cultures in an era resistant to change. Captain Logan’s decision to protect the couple during their wedding night speaks to the power of individual acts of bravery in shaping history.

Harriet’s grave stands as a poignant reminder of a woman who followed her heart, defied convention, and left an indelible mark on both her family and history.

Threatened by Georgia soldiers for championing Cherokee nationalism yet executed by his own people for treason, Elias Boudinot left a complex legacy.

1800 Photograph of the grave of Harriet Ruggles Gold Boudinot, New Echota, Gordon County, Georgia

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Stephen Bartkus, previous Curator of the Gunn Historical Museum, and Sarah Griswold, previous Curatorial Assistant, for their invaluable contributions to the previous research by Mark Oliver*.

References

  1. *Oliver, Mark B. “ONE New England” Elias Boudinot and Harriet Gold, www.onenewengland.com/article.php?id=356. Accessed Jan. 2025.
  2. Gunn Memorial Library and Museum Archives. (Special thanks to Amy Campanaro and Corinne Tabolt.)
  3. Correspondence of Harriet Gold and Elias Boudinot. To Marry an Indian: The Marriage of Harriett Gold and Elias Boudinot in Letters, 1823-1839. United States, University of North Carolina Press, 2006.
  4. Historical records from the Foreign Mission School, Cornwall, CT.
  5. Cherokee Phoenix archives. “History of the Cherokee Phoenix” Cherokeephoenix.Org, 13 Jan. 2015, www.cherokeephoenix.org/archives/history-of-the-cherokee-phoenix/article_30c25bf9-bc26-5628-9687-75e1be8581ba.html. Accessed Jan. 2025.
  6. Trail of Tears www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/elias-boudinot-ca-1804-1839/. Accessed Jan. 2025.
  7.  “[Photograph of the grave of Harriet Ruggles Gold Boudinot, New Echota, Gordon County, Georgia].” 1800/1994. January 25, 2025. https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/vang/do:gor379.

Surviving Shipwrecks and Enduring Captivity: A Family Legacy

When I watched an episode of Who Do You Think You Are? featuring actress Allison Janney, I was captivated by her journey tracing her ancestor Stephen Hopkins. Hopkins survived a shipwreck on the Sea Venture in 1609 and found himself stranded in Bermuda. The ship’s name, Sea Venture, nagged at me as I watched. It sounded so familiar, as though I had encountered it before. Sure enough, a dive into my family history revealed an incredible connection. Here is the story of my ancestry and the Sea Venture!

“Historic Voyage, Sea Venture and Consorts at Sea 1609,” a 1984 oil painting by Deryck Foster

The Fateful Voyage of the Sea Venture

The Sea Venture, also known as the Third Supply, was the flagship of a fleet carrying six hundred passengers—including men, women, and livestock—to the struggling colony at Jamestowne. On July 23, 1609, a hurricane separated the Sea Venture from the rest of the fleet. After four harrowing days, the ship began to take on water. Miraculously, it wrecked between two reefs on the island of Bermuda, allowing all 140 passengers to disembark safely.

Among the passengers was Stephen Hopkins, Allison Janney’s ancestor. The Hopkins family’s survival story was remarkable, but my personal connection to the Sea Venture lay elsewhere.

My Ancestors and Jamestowne

Tracing my lineage through my great-grandmother Wescott’s line brought me back to Jamestowne. For historical context:

“In June 1606, King James I granted a charter to the Virginia Company to establish an English settlement in North America. By May 14, 1607, settlers landed on Jamestown Island to establish a colony 60 miles from the Chesapeake Bay.” (Source)

This leads us to Alice, my 11th great-grandmother, whose last name remains unknown. Alice’s first husband was Thomas Pierce, both born in England around 1585. Together, they had a daughter named Elizabeth. To understand Alice’s story, it is crucial to delve into Thomas Pierce’s history.

Thomas Pierce: A Life of Service and Tragedy

Thomas Pierce arrived in Virginia aboard the Margaret, which set sail in September 1619. He held a distinguished position as the Sergeant at Arms for the first legislative assembly in Virginia, which convened on July 30, 1619.

Pierce established a plantation south of Martin’s Hundred along the James River. On March 22, 1622, tragedy struck during the Indian Massacre of 1622. This violent conflict arose from tensions between colonists and the Powhatan people, exacerbated by the colony’s relentless expansion for tobacco cultivation.

Thomas, his wife, child, two other men, and a French boy were reported killed at the plantation. Thomas appears to have been a relative of Lt. William Pierce of the Sea Venture (1609), who served under George Yeardley, Captain of the Governor’s Company of soldiers.  Williams’ daughter, Jane Pierce, was the third wife of John Rolfe (who was also on the Sea Venture), the guy who married Pocahontas.

Image result for Jamestown 1618

Survival Against the Odds

Despite the devastation, Alice and her daughter Elizabeth somehow survived. It is believed they were among 20 captives taken by the Powhatan and later ransomed after about ten months in captivity. Identified survivors included Mrs. Boyce and Jane Dickenson, both widows of men killed at Martin’s Hundred.

The Bennett Connection

Alice later remarried Richard Bennett Sr. of Isle of Wight, VA, my 10th great-grandfather. It’s important to note that this Richard Bennett is often confused with another man of the same name, a governor of Virginia from 1652-55. The two Richards, while contemporaries, are from different lineages.

The internet is rife with misinformation about the Bennetts, often conflating the two families. However, careful research through sources like Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers: A Biographical Dictionary, 1607-1635 by Martha W. McCartney has helped clarify the facts.

Capture

The following is transcribed from Colonial Records of Virginia, R.F. Walker.

View the documents, “The Original Lists of Persons of Quality” edited by John Camden Hotten, 1874 at https://www.jamestowne.org/1623-lists-of-living–dead.html.

At Mr. Thomas Pierce’s House over against Mulberry Island.
​Master Tho: Pierce,
     his Wife,
     his Childe,
John Hopkins, (could he be related to Ms. Janney’s Stephen?)
John Samon,
A French Boy.

Named by the first colonists for its dense population of wild mulberry trees, Mulberry Island shows up in some of the earliest maps of Virginia, as well as the writings of Capt. John Smith.

Image result for Martin's Hundred

Burgesses of Virginia 1632
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Courtesy National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park

The following is a paragraph wildly spread on the internet but has been proven false by many history sites such as Chauco (Chanco) Virginia Indian.   

Chanco
Southside Virginia Families, Vol. I by John Bennett Boddie

In fact, it is more realistic to believe what is written on Historynet’s website:

These female colonists, perhaps 20 in all, were virtually the only captives taken by the Powhatans in the uprising. Few details of their ordeal have survived, and information about their lives is almost nonexistent. In fact, we may never know if they shared the fascinating, if often horrifying, adventures of more well-known Indian captives in American history. It is certain, however, that these women witnessed the violent deaths of neighbors and loved ones before being abducted; that they lived with their enemies while the English ruthlessly attacked Indian villages in retaliation; and that they received no heroes’ welcome upon their return to the colony.

From the Jamestowne Society’s website are names of “Qualifying Ancestors”.

Jamestowne Bennett's

The Richard Bennett above is not my Richard.  Thomas Bennett is mine and the father of my Richard Bennett (not listed), the son of Alice and Thomas and half-brother to Elizabeth.

Jamestowne Pierce

Records were destroyed in the Civil War, so nothing more is known about Thomas except what was found in the will of Anthony Barham, who was one of Elizabeth’s husbands. Because of this will, we can trace his descendants.  Anthony Barham's Will

You can read more about their neighbors and relatives and how they all connect in the Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia: A History of the County … By John Bennett Boddie.

Richard Bennett, Jr., my 9th great-grandfather, was born June 1, 1644, in Isle of Wight, Virginia.  He married Ann, last name unknown, and they had five children.  Again, you can read about all five in the above link.

Will of Richard Bennett Jr. made on March 3, 1720

Isle Of Wight County, Virginia
March ye 3rd Day 1720 In the Name of God Amen. Rich’d Bennett in ye upper parish of Isle of Wight County in Virginia being sick & weak in body yet in perfect memory thanks be to God for it Do therefore do make this my Last Will & Testament as followith-first I Commit my soul to God our Heavenly Father trusting to be saved by Jesus Christ our only Saviour and my body on Earth to be Decently Buried & as for my worldly Goods I bestow as followith
I Give and bequeath unto my son Richd Bennett to him & his heirs lawfully begotten of his body two hundred acres of Land & over it being Land where on my Son Richard now lives
I give & bequeath unto my son James with ye other two hundred acres of Land where on he now lives. I lay to him & to his heirs lawfully begotton of his Body forever it is a Coveyance of four hundred acres of Land I bought of Mr John Coffers pattin of Land being fourteen hundred & fifty acres
1 Give & bequeath unto Jane Coffer & her two sons Rob Coffer & John Coffer to them & their heirs Lawfully of their body for ever my plantation and land whereon I now live I lay to them & to their heirs for ever it being part of Land Which was bought formerly of Mr Wm Miles
I Give and bequeath unto Jane Coffer a small trunk & a Gold Ring and a Great Iron pot
I Give & bequeath to Rich Coffer my Long Gun
I Give & bequeath to Magdalen Coffer one Great pewter Dish and one Great Basin
I Give and bequeath to Francis Manggum my Gran Daughter a feather Bed & all ye belongs to it 2
I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Silvester a Couple of Dishes & a Couple of plates
furthermore I do appoint Jane Coffer & Wm Allen to be my full and whole Exct to pay my Debts & to Receive what is owing to me & when these my Debts being paid ye rest of my Goods within Doores and outDoores to be Equally Divided amongst my Children
Desiring this my trusty friends Jno & James Carter to See this my Last Will & testament fulfilled In Witness here of I sett my hand & Seal Rich’d R Bennett (Seal)

Richard Bennett Jr.'s will

Richard Jr.’s daughter, Ann Bennett, married John Cofer circa 1699, my 8th great-grandparent.  You can continue this line by reading my previous blog post, The Cofer Legacy: A Journey Through Generations.

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Inside the fort at Jamestown, in the cellar seen just below the back wall of a stone foundation, archaeologists found a pendant that dates to the Virginia colony’s earliest years. A seventeenth-century church tower and the 1907 tercentenary obelisk are also seen. ~website at history.org

Reflecting on Family History

Discovering my connection to the Sea Venture and Jamestowne has been an exhilarating journey. It’s incredible to imagine the resilience of my ancestors, from surviving shipwrecks to enduring captivity, and their role in the early days of America. Their stories are not just tales of survival but of strength and determination, echoing across generations to inspire us today.

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The Cofer Family’s Antebellum Roots Revealed

Minnie Baylor Cofer’s roots trace back to her parents, Robert Emmett Cofer and Martha Ann Davis—my third great-grandparents. While much of their story comes from scattered records and family notes, they were both born in Virginia and married at 23 in Norfolk.

Martha Ann Davis: A Life of Privilege and Transition

Martha was the third of eleven children, coming of age during the tumultuous Civil War era. By 1863, President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and battles like Chancellorsville raged nearby. Martha’s granddaughter, Elizabeth Cofer Reed, recalled stories of her grandmother’s privileged upbringing: a private finishing school education, her own carriage with two horses, and never dressing herself until adulthood. Despite this sheltered life, Martha later worked as a professional nurse, as listed in the 1900 census at age 59—quite an accomplishment for a woman of her time.

Martha lived until 78, passing away from heart disease, and was laid to rest beside her husband in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Norfolk City, Virginia.

In my estimate, this is about 1918.
The MyHeritage tool estimated this picture to be take circa 1920.

Robert Emmett Cofer: A Skilled Tradesman

Robert was one of ten children, later gaining four half-siblings after his father remarried. Growing up in Surry County, Virginia, Robert learned the craft of carriage making as a teenager, later becoming a wheelwright—a trade that was invaluable to the Confederate Army.1 After 43 years of marriage, Robert succumbed to dysentery at 67.

The Cofer Family’s Antebellum Roots

Robert’s father, Isaac Cofer, owned a plantation in Surry County with a fluctuating number of enslaved individuals, peaking at fifteen by 1860. Following the Civil War, Isaac filed a claim for the loss of his enslaved worker, John, highlighting the entanglement of family history with America’s dark past.

Page 3 – Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, 1861-65 01 Jul 1864 https://www.fold3.com/image/30646096?xid=1945

Isaac’s wealth diminished significantly by 1870, and he passed away a few years later. His second marriage to Sarah Jones (possibly related to his first wife, Mary C. Jones) adds another layer to the family tree puzzle.

Isaac’s father, Reverend Joseph Cofer, was a Baptist minister and a patriarch of thirteen children. His first wife, Jerusha Lancaster, died young, leaving behind ten children, while his second wife, Martha Wrenn, added three more. Joseph’s plantation was substantial, with 25 enslaved individuals and connections to significant events like the crafting of samplers commemorating family deaths.

Innovations and Legacy

Isaac’s half-brother, Thomas Wrenn Cofer, stands out for his inventive spirit. During the Civil War, Thomas patented the Cofer revolver, a weapon used by the Confederate Army. 2Today, these rare firearms fetch thousands of dollars and are a testament to the family’s historical imprint.

Tracing Back to England

The Cofer line extends to John Coker, who arrived in America in 1635 aboard the Plain Joan.3 He earned his land through the headright system and eventually settled in Surry County, Virginia.4 Records tie the family to influential figures, including Richard Bennett Jr., and suggest English origins in Dorsetshire.

The video below shows an old grist mill owned by the Wrenn family, which stood on Route 677, north of Smithfield.  The video is made from scans of a roll of medium format film taken in the late 1960s with a Yashica Model “D” camera. The mill was demolished in 1989 after a pickup went off the road and crashed into it.5

The below article was something I found in my research while writing this blog.  A person from my Isle of Wight Facebook page owns the book and supplied the missing page 90 in order for me to complete my notes. 

The book title is In the Neatest Manner: The Making of the Virginia Sampler Tradition
By Kimberly Smith Ivey

Southampton, Surry, and Isle of Wight Counties
Unity A. Delk and Elizabeth M. Cofer worked almost identical samplers to honor the deaths of their respective parents, Wiley Jones Delk and Jerusha Lancaster Cofer (figs. 123 and 124). An earlier sampler, which was worked by Unity’s older sister, Martha, is not shown here, commemorating their father’s death. In 1824, four years after the death of Wiley Delk, his widow, Martha Wren Delk, of Southampton County, married Joseph Cofer, a Baptist minister from the Isle of Wight and Surry Counties. One year earlier, Joseph’s first wife,

Regarding Jerusha's Youngest
Samplers Delk and Cofer
Figure 123 – Sampler by Unity A. Delk, dated Sept. 5, 1834;
attributed to Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
Figure 124 – Sampler by Elisabeth M. Cofer, age sixteen, dated 1834,
attributed to Isle of Wight County, Virginia.

I discovered this information on the Colonial Williamsburg website about a sampler created by Elizabeth M. Cofer, which includes the exact date of Jerusha’s death.6 It would be wonderful to have this, and I am thrilled to have found it! The sampler was passed down in the family to Mary Wrenn Cofer Ballard and was donated to Colonial Williamsburg by her husband, Mr. L. W. Ballard.

A Living History

The Cofer legacy is a tapestry of privilege, hardship, and resilience. From Martha’s cherished stories to the craftsmanship of Robert and Thomas, every thread connects to the broader narrative of Virginia’s history. Artifacts like Elizabeth M. Cofer’s 1834 sampler—now at Colonial Williamsburg—offer tangible links to these ancestors, reminding us of the enduring impact of their lives.

  1. “Historic Trade: Cooper & Wheelwright” http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/locations/wheelwright/. ↩︎
  2. Black, Daryl. “10 Facts: Confederate Manufacturing” American Battlefield Trust, http://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-confederate-manufacturing. Accessed 2024. ↩︎
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8) ↩︎
  4. “Southside Virginia Families” Google Books, http://www.google.com/books/edition/Southside_Virginia_Families/a7tx6lhj-CkC?q=Nancy+Abraham+Jones,+Isle+of+Wight+Virginia&gbpv=1&bsq=headright. A ↩︎
  5. YouTube, youtu.be/fUixvmtnfXs?si=h-7cFxlt93oSqfDj. ↩︎
  6. “Sampler by Elizabeth M. Cofer” emuseum.history.org/objects/49200/sampler-by-elizabeth-m-cofer;jsessionid=AA0F539A77F4C2FD5579DE424B4775AA. ↩︎

While the majority of the writing is my own, I used ChatGPT to help with some minor formatting and edits.

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Tracing the Wescott Family Origins in Virginia

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My Eighth Great-Grandfather: Once Again, We Find the Wescott’s on the Shoreline

Many researchers have studied the Wescott name, but the exact origins of our lineage remain uncertain. Most findings are based on deductions rather than definitive records.

The earliest known record of our lineage traces back to John Wescott, who lived in Accomack County (now Northampton), Virginia. Much of the information about him comes from “The Miles Files,” a valuable research collection compiled by M.K. Miles. These files, generously donated to the Virginia Eastern Shore Public Library, contain over 83,000 names from the Eastern Shore counties of Accomack and Northampton, Virginia; Somerset, Worcester, and Wicomico in Maryland; and Sussex County, Delaware. This collection documents the Westcott family along with “hundreds of families from the Eastern Shore, from Charlemagne to the early 1900s.”

It is believed that John Wescott I was born in Accomack County, Virginia, in 1659. Although unproven, his father may have been William Wescott, one of three brothers from England and a nephew of Stukely Wescott.

John’s age was recorded in November 1684 in Northampton County, Virginia, as “Jno Wescott, 25.”

John married Elizabeth Clarke, daughter of George Clarke II and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), before June 28, 1690, in Northampton County, Virginia.

The Elizabeths in this lineage can be confusing. In an email, M.K. Miles suggested that “George Clarke II’s first wife, Elizabeth, likely died after their children were born, and he then married a second wife named Elizabeth, who was young enough to be the mother of John Wescott’s children.”

John and Elizabeth frequently appeared in court records. One notable mention is a court order from June 28, 1690, in Northampton County, Virginia. On that date, “upon the petition of Wm. Sterlinge against John Wescott as marrying Elizabeth, the widow of George Clarke deceased, the court ordered Wescott to provide an account of Clarke’s estate at the next court session.” Sterlinge was Elizabeth’s first husband.

John was mentioned again in a court order on February 2, 1691, in Northampton County, Virginia. The record states that “John Wescott, having married Elizabeth Clarke, administrator of George Clarke’s estate, petitioned for a valuation of certain cattle on Hogg Island belonging to the deceased’s estate and for a division of the livestock between himself and Clarke’s children.”

John also witnessed a will before October 28, 1698, in Northampton County, Virginia. On this date, he, along with William Kendall and Robert Browne, witnessed the will of William Sterlinge, whose wife was named Elizabeth.

Another intriguing court case involved Elizabeth and Ellenor Carter, a freewoman, and revolved around 17th-century cloth. The dispute ultimately resulted in John Wescott paying a fine to Ellenor’s husband, Thomas Carter.

17th-Century Cloth and Its Importance

Dowlas was one of the most common linens of the period. Another widely used imported fabric was “ozenbrig,” a tough, coarse linen woven in Osnabruck, Westphalia. This fabric was used for making breeches, entire suits, sheets, table covers, and carpetbags.

(See Habiliments And Habits)

Land Transactions and Legal Matters

In 1706, records indicate land transactions involving John Wescott. George Clarke sold several parcels on Hog Island, Northampton County, Virginia: 100 acres to William Harmanson, 200 acres to John Westcote, 100 acres to Edward Joynes, and 200 acres to Jonathan Bell.

On March 12, 1728, John was named in the settlement of his son’s estate. The court ordered John Wescott, as heir-at-law, to appear and explain why Simon Elliott should not be granted administration of the estate of Littleton Wescott, John’s deceased son.

John Wescott’s Will

John made his will on June 16, 1728, in Northampton County, Virginia. In it, he bequeathed:

  • 100 acres on the south side of his land to his son John for life, then to his grandson John Wescott.

  • The remaining 100 acres, including his house and plantation, to his grandson Littleton Jarman.

  • The remainder of his estate (except for his mill) to be divided among his three children: John Wescott, Elclanah Barker, and Francis Ellit.

  • His mill to be shared between the two plantations.

  • Executors: His son John and son-in-law Simon Elliot.

  • Witnesses: Matthew Floyd, John Satchell, and John Esdell.

John Wescott passed away before July 9, 1728, when his will was proved in court.

Children of John and Elizabeth Wescott

John and Elizabeth had five children:

  1. John Wescott II (c. 1692–before November 13, 1733) – Our ancestor

  2. Elclanah Wescott (c. 1698–unknown)

  3. Frances Wescott (c. 1700–unknown)

  4. Littleton Wescott (c. 1702–before March 12, 1728)

  5. A daughter (name unknown, c. 1704–before June 16, 1728)

Wescott Family Origins

Wescott Family Origins

Many believe that all Westcott, Wescoat, and Wescott families descend from Stukely Wescott. However, it is unclear whether our direct ancestor was Stukely, his brother, or his nephew. The exact lineage remains uncertain.

The name “Wes” is thought to derive from “Wessex,” while “Cot” may refer to a cottage or protected home.

The story of John Wescott and his descendants highlights the challenges of early American colonial life. Through court records, land transactions, and family connections, we gain a glimpse into the resilience and legacy of our ancestors. Though many details remain uncertain, the Wescott family played a vital role in shaping the communities of the Eastern Shore. As we continue our research, we honor their journey and preserve their history for future generations.

For more about Stukely Westcott, read History and Genealogy of the Ancestors and Some Descendants of Stukely Westcott and The Ancient Westcott Family in England and Part 2: Stukley Westcott in England and His Emigration to America.

Resources used by Mr. Miles

William R.M. Houston M.D. & Jean M. Mihalyka, Colonial Residents of Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Whose Ages Were Proved Before Court Officials of Accomack and Northampton Counties), p. 114.
 Albert Mack Sterling, The Sterling Genealogy, Volume One, p. 230 (William Sterling of Hungar’s Parish, Northampton County, Virginia).
 Frank V. Walcyzk, Northampton Co, VA, Bk 13, Orders & Wills, 1689-1698, Vol 1 (1689-1694), p. 154 (origin page number) (a division of the estate of George Clarke).
James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 161 (will of William Sterling, wife Elizabeth).
 Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia’s Eastern Shore (A History of Northampton and Accomack Counties), p. 369 (tract N62).
James Handley Marshall, Northampton Co, VA, Abstracts of Wills & Administrations, 1632-1802, p. 264 (will of John Westcott).