Col. John George (c1603-1679) and Jane Cole & Ann (---) of England; Charles City County and Isle of Wight County, Virginia

Col. John George (c1603-1679) and Jane Cole & Ann (---) of England; Charles City County and Isle of Wight County, Virginia

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The author (Marty Grant) is a 10th Great Grandson of John George and Jane Cole.

Note: The George family is fully documented in the author's book "George Family History" now available. Click link for details. On the current web pages I am only presenting the most interesting documentation. There is a great deal more available that is not included here. Most of the available source documentation is in the book mentioned above. There are also many acknowledgments to be made. The book contains them all. Some are listed here.

John George was born ca 1602/03 [per age of "50" given in a deposition dated 5 Apr 1653.] He was most likely born in Essex County, England though that has not been completely proven.

I don't know who John George's parents are. There are several conflicting accounts, but none of them seem accurate. Research in Essex County, England may solve the mystery. [See my George Commentary Page for a little more on the subject of John's parentage.]

John George's wife was named Jane. It is generally accepted that he is the same John George named in the 4 Nov 1623 Will of Humphreys Cole of Essex County, England as a son-in-law. Although it is certain Mr. Cole he had a son-in-law named John George, it is not certain it was this same John. Unfortunately, Mr. Cole did not mention the name of his daughter who was married to John George. * I now believe that John George who married Jane Cole is an entirely different person and not the John George who came to Virginia.

John George migrated to Virginia before 7 Nov 1634 for on that date he received a patent for transportation of 17 persons including his wife "Jane George."

The patent was for 900 acres in Charles City County, VA, that is 50 acres for the personal transport of his wife Jane George, and 50 acres each for 17 other persons. This land was on Bayles Creek. * Bailey Creek (a.k.a "Bayles Creek") is currently part of the border between Prince George Co, VA and Hopewell (Independent City) and flows North East into the James River. Since Bailey Creek was the northern border of John George's property, this indicates his land is in modern Prince George County (formed in 1702 from Charles City County). [Virginia Land Patents Book 1 p. 297 from Marion Nell Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers ... 1623-1666, Vol. I.]

There are only a few other records for John George in Charles City County before he moved to Isle of Wight County ca 1642.

In 1647 and again in 1652, John George was listed as a member of the Virginia House of Burgess representing Isle of Wight County. [John Bennett Boddie, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia. pp. 703-704.]

John George lived on or near Cypress Swamp (and Creek) and Castle Creek near the present town of Smithfield, Virginia. Nicholas George, his probable kinsman, lived just a little west of there.

During Bacon's Rebellion (1677) John George supported Governor Berkeley and didn't side with the rebels. [John Bennett Boddie, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia. p. 161.]

Jane (Cole) George died at some point after her after the 1634 importation. Unfortunately that is the only record found with her name on it. She may have lived many years afterwards though. Sometime after her death, John George married Ann, presumably in Isle of Wight County (though he had dealings in neighboring Surry as well, so he could have met and married her in either place or even somewhere else.) Ann's maiden name is unknown. I've found no clues about that.

She outlived John by a few years at least.

John George's rise through the military ranks is noted in the records of Isle of Wight County. He was a Major in 1654; Lieutenant-Colonel by 1666, and a full Colonel by 1677.

On 2 Aug 1678 John George made his Will. It was recorded 9 Jan 1678/79 so he apparently died in between August 1678 and January 1679. [Isle of Wight Co, VA Wills & Deeds Book 2-170.] Here is a transcript:

In the name of God, Amen, I JOHN GEORGE of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following vis.I bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty God my maker, hoping through his mercy and the Merits of Jesus Christ to obtain forgiveness for all my sins and my body to the earth to be decently buried without guns or much drink and for my worldly estate I dispose of as followeth:

Item I give and bequeath to my son ISAAC GEORGE all that part or parcel of land I now hold and enjoy from the mouth of Castle Creek, running up the creek to the spring commonly called the Quarter Spring being near this dwelling house and from thence running westerly to the extent of my land including all my land on the North side of the said Castle Creek and Run to my said son ISAAC GEORGE and his heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, with all housing, orchards and appurtenances thereunto appertaining or belonging provided that my loving wife have full liberty and privilege to make use of my land at or upon the quarter now intended to be planted by me either with corn or tobacco for two crops after the finishing of this crop.

Item I give and bequeath to my son ISAAC GEORGE my horse Jading, with my plush saddle and bridle, with all my wearing apparel both linen, wool or Etc., with my Rapier and new spanish leather belt and a long gun and also one new feather bed.

Item I give to my grandchild JOHN GEORGE, one negro woman called DIDO to be delivered to my son ISAAC for the child's account two years after the finishing of the present crop, and also one young mare with the whole increase both male and female of the Negro and mare to the property account and benefit of my said grandchild and his heirs forever and my will is that said grandchild after he is six years old be brought up to reading and writing with my wife at her charge and to her best convenience so far as writing and accounts may here be taught.

Item I give to my two daughters, REBECCA and SARAH to each of them forty shillings a piece to be paid them in money or goods within six months after my decease.

Item I give to my grandchildren JOHN and JOYCE LEWIS to each of them a heifer of two years old and to the and the children of PHILIP PARDOE one heifer of two years old to run in a joint stock betwixt them and the survivors of them to be paid to my said grandchildren's account in 1680.

Item I give to my daughter SARAH PEDDINGTON's two children she had by my son MORGAN LEWIS a cow and a cow calf to run in a joint stock betwixt them or the survivors of them and to be paid them in Anno 1681.

Item I give my kinswoman MARY BAUGH twenty shillings to buy her a ring.

Item I give and bequeath to my loving wife ANN GEORGE all the remainder of my whole estate viz my land I now live upon lying upon the south side of the Castle Creek and Quarter Spring with all houses fences orchards and appurtenances thereunto belongings, or in any wise appertaining, with all the rest of my lands goods and money or tobacco or whatsoever else it be herein not bequeathed,being properly mine in Virginia or England to my said loving wife ANN GEORGE and her heirs forever and I do hereby nominate and appoint my loving wife to by my whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament revoking all former wills by me made.

Desiring all my just debts may be fully paid and I do hereby request my friends Major JAMES POWELL and THOMAS TABERER to see this my Last Will and Testament fully performed and I do hereby give my said friends as a legacy twenty shillings a piece as a token of my love, confirming this my Last Will and Testament with my hand and seal this 2nd day of August Anno Domini 1678.

John George (Seal)

Signed Sealed and Delivered
in presence of
ROBERT PARDOE
THOMAS TABERER
EDWARD BECKINOR
GEORGE BRANCH

Proved by the oaths of Mr. ROBERT PARDOE, Mr. EDWARD BECKINOR and Captain GEORGE BRANCH in open court held for the Isle of Wight County the 9th day of January 1678 and ordered to be recorded.

John Bromfield, Ctr, Cur.

By June 1681, widow Ann (---) George had married Col. John Lear of Nansemond County, Virginia. He had been married before (perhaps several times.)

Ann apparently died before Col. Lear for she was not named in his Will dated 5 Nov 1695.

Others, going all the way back to Mr. Boddie at least, thought that Ann survived Col. Lear and married Robert Randall, but this is incorrect. Robert Randall's wife Ann was not the same one who had been married to Col. John George and Col. John Lear.

Children of Col. John George and Jane Cole: The Will of John George proves the names of three children: Isaac, Sarah and Rebecca. Of course there could have been other children left out of the Will for some reason or another (dead by then with no heirs; dead with heirs, but otherwise taken care of; disowned for some reason.) All the children are probably from John's first marriage to Jane Cole since they all seem to be close in age to one another, though there is room for debate on that subject.

Isaac George (1636-c1689)

Sarah George (c1638-c1700)

Rebecca George (c1640-aft 1695)

Isaac George (1636-c1689) Isaac George was born 20 Feb 1635/36 in Charles City Co, VA. He came to Isle of Wight with his parents ca 1642 and lived there most of his life. He married Hester, probably a daughter of Major George Fawdon. They died sometime after 8 Feb 1685 in Isle of Wight County, though it is possible they moved to Middlesex County around that time and died there shortly after. See their own page for more information.

Sarah George (c1638-c1700) Sarah George was born ca 1638 (an educated guess) probably in Charles City County, Virginia.

She married Morgan Lewis who made his Will on 26 Jan 1676/77 and was dead by 9 Jun 1677. Sarah then married Thomas Peddington (descendants later changed to Pennington) before 2 Aug 1678.

By the 1690's Thomas and Sarah moved to neighboring Surry County, Virginia where she died sometime between 7 Jul 1696 and 1702 for by then Thomas was married to Abigail (---).

Rebecca George (c1640-aft 1695) Rebecca George was born ca 1640 (an educated guess), either in Charles City County or possibly in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.

She married Thomas Lewis who died before 9 Aug 1670 in Isle of Wight County. Rebecca then married Phillip Pardoe sometime shortly afterwards.

Phillip Pardoe was dead by 6 Apr 1678.

Rebecca George Lewis Pardoe was still alive as of November 1695, assuming she was the "poor widow Perdue of Isle of Wight" mentioned in the Will of Col. John Lear (who had married her step-mother Ann.)

Register Report

Descendants of

Colonel John George and Jane Cole

1. Colonel John¹ George , born 1602/03 in Writtle, Essex Co, England; died Jan 1678/79 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. He married (1) bef 4 Nov 1623 in Essex Co, England Jane Cole , born abt 1604 in Essex Co, England; died in Isle of Wight Co, VA, daughter of Humphries Cole and Hester (---) ; (2) in Isle of Wight Co, VA Ann (---) , died bef 1695 in Nansemond Co, VA.

Children of Colonel John George and Jane Cole were as follows:

+ 2 i Isaac² George , born 20 Feb 1635/36 in Charles City Co, VA; died aft 8 Feb 1685 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. He married Hester Fawdon .

+ 3 ii Sarah² George , born abt 1638 in Charles City Co, VA or Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 1696/1702 in Surry Co, VA. She married (1) Morgan Lewis ; (2) Thomas Peddington .

+ 4 iii Rebecca² George , born abt 1640 in Charles City Co, VA or Isle of Wight Co, VA; died aft 1695 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. She married (1) Thomas Lewis ; (2) Phillip Pardoe .

Generation 2

2. Isaac² George (John¹), born 20 Feb 1635/36 in Charles City Co, VA; died aft 8 Feb 1685 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. He married abt 1654 in Isle of Wight Co, VA Hester Fawdon , born abt 1635 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died aft 8 Feb 1685 in Isle of Wight Co, VA, daughter of Major George Fawdon and (---) ? .

Children of Isaac George and Hester Fawdon were as follows:

+ 5 i Robert³ George , born 20 Feb 1665/66 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 21 Jan 1733/34 in Middlesex Co, VA; buried 23 Jan 1733/34 in Middlesex Co, VA. He married Sarah (---) .

+ 6 ii John³ George , born 1674/78 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 1711 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. He married (1) ? (---) ; (2) Frances Servant .

3. Sarah² George (John¹), born abt 1638 in Charles City Co, VA or Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 1696/1702 in Surry Co, VA. She married (1) bef 1677 in Isle of Wight Co, VA Morgan Lewis , died bef 9 Jun 1677 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; (2) in 1677/78 in Isle of Wight Co, VA Thomas Peddington , died 1702 in Surry Co, VA.

Children of Sarah George and Morgan Lewis were as follows:

7 i Sarah³ Lewis .

8 ii Jane³ Lewis , born in Isle of Wight Co, VA. She married (1) bef 1695 in Surry Co, VA Thomas Sidway , died 1695 in Surry Co, VA; (2) in 1695 in Surry Co, VA John Griffin .

9 iii Ann³ Lewis , born in Isle of Wight Co, VA. She married bef 1696 in Surry Co, VA Robert Andrews .

Children of Sarah George and Thomas Peddington were as follows:

+ 10 i Thomas³ Pennington , born abt 1683 in Surry Co, VA; died 1727 in Surry Co, VA. He married Mary (---) .

+ 11 ii Edward³ Pennington , born abt 1685 in Surry Co, VA; died 1727 in Surry Co, VA. He married Tabitha (---) .

12 iii John³ Pennington , born abt 1687 in Surry Co, VA.

4. Rebecca² George (John¹), born abt 1640 in Charles City Co, VA or Isle of Wight Co, VA; died aft 1695 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. She married (1) bef 1670 in Isle of Wight Co, VA Thomas Lewis , died abt Aug 1670 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; (2) in 1670/78 in Isle of Wight Co, VA Phillip Pardoe , died 1678 in Isle of Wight Co, VA.

Children of Rebecca George and Thomas Lewis were as follows:

13 i John³ Lewis , born bef 1670 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died bef 9 Dec 1692.

14 ii Joyce³ Lewis , born bef 1670 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. She married in Isle of Wight Co, VA Phillip Brantley , born 1655 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 1725 in , VA, son of Edward Brantley .

Children of Rebecca George and Phillip Pardoe were as follows:

15 i Phillip³ Pardoe , born 1670/78 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 1721 in Isle of Wight Co, VA.

16 ii Elizabeth³ Pardoe , born 1670/78 in Isle of Wight Co, VA.

17 iii Sarah³ Pardoe , born 1670/78 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. She married bef 1 Dec 1692 in Isle of Wight Co, VA (---) Dadway .

Generation 3

5. Robert³ George (Isaac², John¹), born 20 Feb 1665/66 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 21 Jan 1733/34 in Middlesex Co, VA; buried 23 Jan 1733/34 in Middlesex Co, VA. He married on 6 Jul 1687 in Middlesex Co, VA Sarah (---) , died 14 Apr 1734 in Middlesex Co, VA.

Children of Robert George and Sarah (---) were as follows:

18 i Catherine⁴ George , born Dec 1689 in Middlesex Co, VA; christened 11 Dec 1689 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA; died aft 1733 in Middlesex Co, VA.

19 ii Sarah⁴ George , born 20 Feb 1692/93 in Middlesex Co, VA; christened 12 Mar 1692/93 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA; died aft 1733 in Middlesex Co, VA.

20 iii Robert⁴ George , born abt 1697 in Middlesex Co, VA; died 1766 in Caroline Co, VA.

21 iv Elizabeth⁴ George , born abt 1698 in Middlesex Co, VA; died aft 1764 in Halifax Co, NC.

22 v Jane⁴ George , born Apr 1702 in Middlesex Co, VA; christened 19 Apr 1702 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA; died 18 Jan 1729/30 in Middlesex Co, VA.

23 vi John⁴ George , born 18 Aug 1704 in Middlesex Co, VA; christened 3 Sep 1704 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA; died abt 1784 in Caroline Co, VA.

24 vii Susannah⁴ George , born abt 1707 in Middlesex Co, VA; died aft 1741.

25 viii Richard⁴ George , born May 1709 in Middlesex Co, VA; christened 29 May 1709 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA; died May 1773 in Caroline Co, VA.

6. John³ George (Isaac², John¹), born 1674/78 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 1711 in Isle of Wight Co, VA. He married (1) bef 1693 in Isle of Wight Co, VA ? (---) , died bef 1696 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; (2) on 16 Jun 1696 in Elizabeth City Co, VA Frances Servant , daughter of Bertrond Servant .

Children of John George and ? (---) were as follows:

26 i William⁴ George , born 1689/93 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died abt 1720 in Isle of Wight Co, VA.

Children of John George and Frances Servant were as follows:

27 i Frances⁴ George , born 1696/1707 in Isle of Wight Co, VA.

10. Thomas³ Pennington (Sarah² George, John¹), born abt 1683 in Surry Co, VA; died 1727 in Surry Co, VA. He married in Surry Co, VA Mary (---) .

Children of Thomas Pennington and Mary (---) were as follows:

28 i Thomas⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.

29 ii William⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.

30 iii Edward⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.

31 iv John George⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.

32 v Mary⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.

33 vi James⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.

11. Edward³ Pennington (Sarah² George, John¹), born abt 1685 in Surry Co, VA; died 1727 in Surry Co, VA. He married in Surry Co, VA Tabitha (---) .

Children of Edward Pennington and Tabitha (---) were as follows:

34 i Edward⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.

35 ii John⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.

36 iii Edmond⁴ Pennington , born in Surry Co, VA.