Re: Vass, Sharp(e) et al., Essex Co. VA 1600s, 1700s
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In reply to:
Re: Vass, Sharp(e) et al., Essex Co. VA 1600s, 1700s
Margaret Baldock 7/07/06
Margaret, thank you for your reply. I will try to comment on the points you make as I can find time to review some of my notes. I will begin by providing a more detailed outline of my work on the John Vause line of Middlesex County, VA.
There were two men named John Vause who lived in Middlesex—father and son. The senior John Vause married first Ann(e), last name unknown, some time prior to 9 Aug 1662 on which date the register of Christ Church parish records the birth of their daughter Diana. Ann(e) was still living on 2 Dec 1664 because, on that date, John and Anne jointly witnessed a land deal with Richard Lewys, a planter who had land adjacent to John Beauford, son of Richard Beauford. However, Ann(e) was deceased by 14 Jun 1679 since, on that date, the records of Christ Church parish show he remarried to Elizabeth Calloway. He died not long afterward, as the parish register notes that “John Vause departed this life on 26 Feb 1679/80 and was buried in Mr. Christopher Robinson's orchard." This was Christopher Robinson who resided at Hewick Plantation near present-day Urbanna.
The will of Mr. John Vause, dated 22 Feb 1679/80 and proved 1 Mar 1679/80, names wife Elizabeth, a son John, and daughters Diana and Catherine. Executors named in the will include his wife Elizabeth, son John, Ralph Wormeley, Esq., and John Sheppard. Witnesses were Cuthbert Potter and Christopher Robinson.
At a court held in Middlesex on 19 Jul 1680, there is a proceeding involving guardianship of John Vause's orphans. In these proceedings, it is noted that John Vaus and Diana Vaus “ye Orphants of Mr. John Vaus decd, being about ye age of ffourteene yeares apiece, have chosen Christr. Robinson to be their Gardian and he is by this Courte soe admitted.” The proceeding goes on to note that “Constance Vaus one of ye Orphts: of Mr. John Vaus desireing that Christr. Robinson may be by this Courte appoynted her Guardian, it is consented to by this Courte and ye sd Christr. Robinson is appointed her Guardian.”
In a further proceeding the court noted: “It is by this Courte ordered that ye Sheriff of this County doe Sumon (torn) Sander Smith, Mr. Humphrey Joanes, Mr. Richd. Willis & Mr. John (torn) or that they or any three of them doe meete at ye Howse of Mr. John Vaus decd in this County upon ye 29th day of this Instant And that after there being Sworne before some one of his Mats. (torn) Peace of this County They make a true & equally Division of ye (torn) sd John Vause amongst ye Widdow & Orphants of ye said John (torn) to ye Will of ye said John Vause, and that one Shaire bee (torn) ye Childe Mrs. Vaus now goes with to be disposed of according (torn).” From this latter wording, it can be deduced that Mrs. Elizabeth Vaus was pregnant at the time of this court proceeding of July 1680. The Christ Church records indicate that Mrs. Elizabeth (Calloway) Vause did not survive long after the death of her husband as the records show she was buried on 25 Dec 1680. No further mention is made of “ye Childe Mrs. Vaus now goes with.” It is possible Elizabeth died in childbirth and that the child also died but this is not proved.
The court record indicates that both the son John and daughter Diana were about 14 years old in Jul 1680, indicating they were probably born about 1666. There is no mention of the daughter Constance in the will of her father, nor is there further mention in the records of a Catherine Vaus. It is possible that the daughter Catherine mentioned in the will is the daughter Constance though there is no obvious reason for the discrepancy in names.
The younger John Vause married twice. His first wife was Lettice Obert, daughter of Bartram or Bertram Obert. Of the other two Obert daughters, Agatha married Christopher Robinson and Elizabeth married James Curtis.
Following Lettice’s death, John Vause married secondly, on 19 Jan 1687/88, Elizabeth Weekes of Middlesex County. According to an article in Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume IV, page 329 (Robinson Family, Robinson and Potter Family Connections) the younger John Vause “married Elizabeth Weeks widow of Francis Weeks who was the son of Abraham Weeks of Middlesex County.” However, as you correctly point out, this cannot be right. In Volume 62 of the series Genealogical Gleanings in England, pages 38-40, there is an article entitled “Weekes Family of Middlesex County, Virginia.” There, in footnote 1, is mention of the will of Abraham Weekes of Middlesex. This will, dated 20 Jan 1691/92 and proved 7 March 1691/92 bequeathed land and slaves to his son Francis Weekes and his living children, after the death of his mother [not named]. His other legatees were his daughters Mary, Let(t)ice Lidford, Elizabeth Wheling also seen in some records as Wheeling; his son-in-law John Jones; and his niece Katherine Collins (underage). According to this footnote: “The daughter Elizabeth Weekes married, first, 19 Jan 1687, John Vause, Gent.( who died 3 Sep 1692), second Caleb Welling [sic], and, third, 14 Dec 1693, Thomas Spencer of King and Queen County, Va.” Therefore, it would seem that the younger John Vause married Elizabeth, the daughter of Abraham Weeks and not the widow of Francis.
John and Elizabeth were the parents of Agatha Vause, who was christened in Christ Church parish on 8 Sep 1689. On 27 Dec 1708, Agatha married James Curtis, son of James Curtis who married Elizabeth Obert. James Curtis resided in Middlesex County and left a will dated 2 Nov 1720, proved 3 Jan 1720/21. James and Agatha Curtis had issue Christopher Curtis, born 11 A pr 1714, who married Frances, last name unknown. There is also some evidence that John Vause also had a daughter named Elizabeth. This is suggested by a Middlesex court record of 10 May 1697 that is a bond given by James Blaise, Tobias Mickleburrough and William Briscoe of Middlesex. Therein, it is stated “The Condition of this obligation is such that Whereas James Blaise is by the Justices appoynted gardian of Eliza Vause Daughter of John Vause deced as by an order of Court dated 5th Aprill 1697…” She is not mentioned in the will of her father which, as noted above, is dated 8 Sep 1691. This will mentions daughter Agatha, wife Elizabeth, nephews and nieces, William Daniel “the son of my sister Constance,” James Curtis, Averilla Curtis and Chichley Curtis, “children of my loving sister Elizabeth Curtis,” and nephew Christopher Robinson. Witnesses were Christopher Robinson and Abraham Weekes. The Christ Church parish register notes that William Daniel married Constance Vause 24 Jul 1688.
Agatha Vause was still an infant when her father died. The records of Middlesex indicate that James Blaise was appointed her guardian. In the Middlesex order books we find the case of Blaise vs. Spencer brought on 1 Jan 1699/1700. In the case "James Blaise, Gardian of Agatha Vause daughter of John Vause dec'd plaintiffe in an Action of the Case against Thomas Spencer of this County now of King and Queen County became possessed of all singular the Goods and Chattells of the said John Vause dec'd, which said Estate now is and for severall years hath bee in his the said Spencers possession as by an Inventory and appraisement thereof amounteth to two hundred and Eight pounds three shillings and five pence sterling money the one half of which said same being one hundred and four pounds and one shilling and Eight pence halfe penny lawfully and Rightfully belongeth and ap[pointed] unto the said Agatha the daughter of the said John Vause dec'd and the said Thomas Spencer Refuses to make payment of the said sume."
A subsequent court proceeding of 2nd September 1700 refers to "James Blaise Gardian of Agatha Vause daughter and Legatee of John Vause dec'd," and states that the orphan had one half of the estate, “the other halfe of the said deceased Vauses Estate being in the hands of Thomas Spencer who marryed the execu'x and Legatee of the said John Vause dec'd."
As previously mentioned, following the death of John Vause the son, his widow Elizabeth married, on 1 Jun 1692, Caleb Welling of Christ Church parish Middlesex. Welling died 3 Sep 1692, whereupon the widow married thirdly Capt. Thomas Spencer of King and Queen County. He may have been the son of Robert Spencer who owned land in 1687 next to a 560 acre tract belonging to Col. John Walker, possibly the John Walker who witnessed the will of William Daniel. In 1683 Robert Spencer was one of 65 men petitioning for a popularly elected vestry in St. Stephen's parish, New Kent (later King and Queen) County.