USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume I > Part 38
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Moryson, Lieutenant Robert, son of Sir Richard Moryson, of Leicestershire, lieu- tenant-general of the ordnance, was lieu- tenant of the fort at Point Comfort in 1641, in the absence of his brother, Captain Rich- ard Moryson. In York county the court permitted his widow, Jane, to qualify as an administratrix on his estate October 25, 1647.
Moseley, Arthur, son of William Moseley, an English merchant of Rotterdam, Hol- land, who came to Virginia in 1649 and re- ceived grants of land in Lower Norfolk county, was burgess in 1676, and one of the justices of his county. He died in 1705.
Moseley, Edward Hack, son of Hillary
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and Hannah (Hack) Moseley, was a bur- gess for Princess Anne county in 1752, 1753, 1754, 1755: 1755, surveyor and searcher of Elizabeth and Nansemond rivers; burgess for Princess Anne from 1762 to 1769. He was also sheriff and colonel of the county ; a Loyalist in the revolution and friend of Benedict Arnold. He married Mary Bas- sett, daughter of Colonel William Bassett, of "Eltham," New Kent county, who died in her thirty-eighth year, August 23. 1755, and is buried at "Greenwich," Princess Anne county, one of the Moseley seats. He mar- ried (second) Frances Wylie, who survived him. His will was dated May 24, 1782, and was proved April 10, 1783. He left a son Edward Hack Moseley, Jr. His residence in. Princess Anne was called "Rolleston."
Moseley, Edward, son of William Mose- ley and Mary Gookin, his wife, daughter of Captain John and Sarah Gookin, was born in 1661, and was county lieutenant of Prin- cess Anne county, justice of the peace and high sheriff, and burgess in 1700-1702, 1703- 1705, 1706. He died in 1736. He married several times, his first wife being Frances, daughter of Colonel John Stringer, of North- ampton county. His father, William Mose- lcy, was second son of William Moseley. merchant of Rotterdam.
Moseley, Edward Hack, Jr., son of Colo- nel Edward Hacke Moseley and Mary Bas- sett, his wife, was burgess for Princess Anne county from 1769 to 1775. He was born in 1743, and died February 4. 1814. He mar- ried Martha Westwood.
Moseley, William, lived in Essex county, was burgess for that county in 1695. His will, proved April 10, 1700, names sons, Wil-
liam and John, daughter Martha, and three brothers, Edward, Robert and Benjamin Moseley.
Mossom, Rev. David, son of Thomas Mos- som, chandler, was born at Greenwich, Kent, England, March 25, 1690, schooled at Lewisham, admitted sizar at St. John's Col- lege, Cambridge, June 5, 1705. He became rector of St. Peter's Church, New Kent county, Virginia, in 1727, and continued forty years. On January 6, 1759, he per- formed the marriage of George Washington to Martha Custis, widow of Colonel Daniel Parke Custis, and daughter of Colonel John Dandridge. He died January 4, 1767, leav- ing issue.
Mottrom, John, resided in 1644 at York, in York county, Virginia. He was a suc- cessful merchant and shipper. About 1645 he removed to Chicacone-the first settle- ment on the Virginia side of the Potomac river-where his house became a resort for Protestants who fled from Maryland. When Northumberland county was formed in 1645, he represented it in the house of burgesses. He was burgess again in 1652, and was justice of the peace and colonel of the militia. He had issue, among others Major John Mottrom (q. v.).
Mottrom, John, son of Colonel John Mot- trom, was a justice of Northumberland county court, and a major in the county militia. In 1675 he was a burgess. He left issue, Captain Spencer Mottrom.
Moyses, Theodore, was living in Virginia in 1625. Burgess for Archer's Hope in James City corporation in 1629.
Munford, Robert, son of James Munford.
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who in 1689 patented lands in Prince George county. He was a vestryman of Bristol parish, Prince George county ; a member of the house of burgesses, 1720-1722; justice of the county court, and colonel in the militia. He married, in 1701, Martha Ken- non, daughter of Colonel Richard Kennon, of "Conjuror's Neck," Henrico (now Ches- terfield county). He died about 1735, leav- ing issue: 1. Major James Munford. 2. Colonel Robert Munford (q. v.). 3. Ed- ward.
Munford, Robert, son of Colonel Robert Munford and Martha Kennon, his wife, was a member of the house of burgesses for Prince George county in 1736-1740. He married Anna Bland and died in 1744, leav- ing children, Robert, Theodorick and Eliz- abeth. His widow married (second) George Currie, by whom she had two daughters.
Munford, Robert, son of Robert Munford and his wife, Anna Bland, was educated at Wakefield, England. He was in the French and Indian war under. Colonel William Byrd, last of that name. When Brunswick county was formed in 1765 he was made county lieutenant and was one of the first two members of the house of burgesses. He was burgess from 1765 to 1775. During the American revolution he saw much serv- ice of different kinds. He was a scholar, and in 1798 published a volume of prose and poetry. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Beverley, of Essex, his cousin, and had issue.
Nantaquas, brother of Pocahontas, whom John Smith compliments as "the manliest, comeliest, boldest spirit I ever saw in a savage."
Nash, Abner, son of Colonel John Nash, was burgess for Prince Edward county in the assemblies of 1761-1765; he moved to North Carolina, where he was elected first speaker of the senate, second governor of North Carolina, member of the assembly and member of the continental congress (1782-1786). His brother, General Francis Nash fell in the battle of Germantown.
Nash, John, was a burgess for Prince Ed- ward county in the assemblies of 1752-1755 and 1756-1758; one of the first justices of Prince Edward county (1754) ; colonel of the militia. He died in 1776 and names in his will sons, John, Abner and Francis; daughters, Anne Haskins, Lucy Le Grand, Mary Read and Betty Read, and grandson, Nash Le Grand.
Nash, John, Jr., son of Colonel John Nash, was member of the convention of March 20, 1775. He married, in 1768, Anna Tabb, daughter of Thomas Tabb, of Lunenburg.
Nash, Thomas, a burgess for Lunenburg county in 1756-1758.
Neale, Christopher, son of Christopher Neale and Hannah Rodham, his wife, daugh- ter of Matthew Rodham, was born June 23, 1671, and was burgess for Northumberland county in 1705-1706 and 1710-1712. He died in 1721.
Neale, John, merchant, leased fifty acres at Strawberry Banks, in Elizabeth City, in 1632,, removed to Accomac, and did a large business between 1632 and 1639; vestry- man, 1636; sheriff, 1636, and burgess for Accomac in 1639, and was justice the same year. His daughter, Henrietta Maria, mar- ried the second Richard Bennett.
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Neale, Richard, son of Christopher Neale and Hannah Rodham, his wife, was born August 28, 1682; was burgess for North- umberland county in 1712-1714.
Necottowance, chief of the Pamunkey In- dians and the last who held authority over the Powhatan confederacy. He made a treaty of peace with the English in 1646, in which he consented to many restrictions of his power.
Needler, Benjamin, son of Culverwell Needler, clerk assistant of the house of com- mons, and grandson of Rev. Benjamin Need- ler, a non-conformist minister, was bred to the bar in England. He came to Virginia and became distinguished as a lawyer. He was vestryman of Stratton Major parish, King and Queen county ; clerk of the coun- cil, 1739, and died before 1741. He married Alice, daughter of Gawin Corbin, of Vir- ginia, and had at least one daughter, who married Rev. William Robinson, commis- sary to the bishop of London ("Virginia Magazine," xiv, 26).
Nelson, Captain Francis, probably third son of Thomas Nelson, of Cheddleworth, Berkshire, England. He commanded the Phoenix, which brought a part of the First Supply, but did not arrive till April 20, 1608. He made several voyages to Virginia and in 1612 sailed with Captain Thomas Button to Hudson's Bay, and died there in the win- ter of 1612-13, at "Port Nelson," named for him.
Nelson, Thomas, an eminent merchant of Yorktown, son of Hugh Nelson, of Penrith, county Cumberland, England, was born February 20, 1677, and came to Virginia about 1700, where he amassed a large for-
tune. He married (first) Margaret Reade, daughter of Robert Reade, eldest son of Colonel George Reade, secretary of state, and (second) Mrs. Frances Tucker (née Courtenay). He was father of William Nelson, president of the Virginia council.
Nemattenow, or "Jack-o'-the-Feather," an influential chief and a great favorite with Opechancanough. He killed a white man and was killed in turn by the white man's friend. It is believed that his death was the immediate cause of the Indian massacre of 1622.
Neville, Joseph, a burgess for Hampshire county from 1773 to 1776, and a member of the conventions of December 1, 1775, and May 6, 1776, which last declared independ- ence.
Newman, Alexander, burgess for Rich- mond county in 1696-1697.
Newton, George, was born 1678, and went to school in Lancaster, England. He was son of George Newton, one of the justices of Lower Norfolk county, Virginia, as early as 1645. He was a burgess for Norfolk county at the assembly of 1723-26. He mar- ried Apphia Wilson, daughter of Colonel James Wilson, and left issue-Thomas New- ton, who was father of Thomas Newton, burgess (q. v.).
Newton, John, eldest son of Thomas New- ton, of Hull, Yorkshire, was a ship captain, and settled in Westmoreland county about 1670. He married Rose Tucker, daughter of John Tucker, of that county, and died in 1695-1697. He was founder of a distin- guished family in that section of Virginia.
Newton, Thomas, son of Thomas Newton
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and Amey Hutchings, daughter of John Hutchings, of Norfolk, was burgess for Nor- folk county from 1765 to 1775, and member of the conventions of 1775 and 1776. He married Martha Tucker, daughter of Colo- nel Robert Tucker, of Norfolk, and was father of Colonel Thomas Newton, member of Congress from 1801 to 1831.
Nicholas, Major Abraham, was appointed adjutant-general of the militia of the colony in 1733 and was mayor of Williamsburg in 1736. He died in September, 1738. He was father of Abraham Nicholas Jr., attorney- at-law, who died December 18, 1751.
Nicholas, Dr. George, an eminent physi- cian, had a grant for land in Virginia in 1729. He married Elizabeth Carter, daugh- ter of Colonel Robert Carter, of "Coroto- man," and widow of Nathaniel Burwell, of "Carter's Creek," Gloucester county. He was father of Robert Carter Nicholas, the distinguished treasurer of Virginia at the time of the revolution.
Nicholas, John, son of Dr. George Nich- olas and Elizabeth Carter, his wife, served as clerk for Albemarle county from 1749 to 1815; as burgess from 1756 to 1768; and as member of conventions of 1774 and 1775 for Buckingham county. He married Martha, daughter of Colonel Joshua Fry.
Nimmo, James, came to Virginia from Linlithgow county, Scotland, about 1720, and settled in Princess Anne county, where he married Mary, daughter of Jacob John- son. For several years he taught school. but in 1728 he was appointed King's attor- ney and continued in that office till Novem- ber 10, 1752. He also acted as surveyor of the county. He died in 1753, leaving issue.
Nimmo, William, came from Linlithgow county, Scotland, to Virginia, where he qualified as an attorney-at-law in the gen- eral court in 1743. He had a large practice. His will was proved in the general court September 12, 1748. He was nephew of James Nimmo, of Princess Anne county, Virginia (q. v.).
Norsworthy, Tristram, patented 150 acres in 1643 in Isle of Wight county. He was burgess for Upper Norfolk county (Nanse- mond) in January, 1639-40. In 1656 he is referred to as "Lt. Col. Tristram Norsworthy of ye Ragged Islands, gent." In 1654 he was one of the justices of Nansemond. In 1699 George Norsworthy, eldest son of Major George Norsworthy, which last was eldest son of Tristram Norsworthy above named, was appointed by the council lieu- tenant-colonel and commander-in-chief of Nansemond county.
Norton, John, a merchant of London, came to Virginia and settled at Yorktown; burgess for York county in 1752-1755. He married Courtenay Walker, daughter of Jacob Walker, of Elizabeth City county, and had issue-Frances, who married her first cousin, John Baylor, and John Hatley, George and Daniel Norton, who all came from London and settled in Virginia.
Norton, Captain William, contracted with some private merchants in London to come to Virginia in 1621 to conduct the glass fac- tory near Jamestown. Norton took four Italians and two servants with him, and made all manner of glass, especially glass beads for trade with the Indians. He died ir 1623, and George Sandys succeeded him in charge of the glass works.
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Norvell, William, a descendant of Hugh Norvell, an early immigrant, was burgess at the last assembly under the royal govern- Inent, 1775-1776, and member of the conven- tions of 1775 and 1776. He died in 1802, leaving his property to his great-nephews and nieces, children of William Lightfoot, of James City county.
Norwood, Captain Charles, was a near kinsman, perhaps a brother, of Colonel Henry Norwood, and served in the army of King Charles 1. From 1654 to 1657 he was clerk of the general assembly of Virginia. He was afterwards a captain under Colonel Henry Norwood at Tangier in 1667.
Norwood, Colonel Henry, was an officer in the royal army during the civil wars; emigrated to Virginia in 1649, and after- wards wrote an account of his voyage; was sent by Governor William Berkeley to King Charles II. in 1650, and in 1653 went to England, where he was arrested and con- fined for several years in the Tower of Lon- don; at the restoration was made treasurer of Virginia and captain of Sundown Castle, lieutenant-colonel of Lord Rutherford's regiment, and lieutenant-governor of Tan- gier. He was living as late as 1682.
Nottingham, Benjamin, was a burgess for Northampton county, 1703-1705 and 1710- 1712. He left issue, and the family is still prominent on the "Eastern Shore."
Ogle, Cuthbert, a musician, residing in Williamsburg. He died in 1735, leaving an interesting collection of songs and other musical literature.
Oldis, Thomas, settled in Elizabeth City county and was burgess in January, 1640.
His grandson Thomas was living in Eliza- beth City in 1691. William Oldis, mer- chant, and his wife Jane, were living in Isle of Wight county in 1665. William Oldis had a brother Valentine, an apothecary of London.
Opechancanough, chief of the Pamunkey Indians; he planned the massacres of 1622 and 1644. He was captured by Sir William Berkeley and was killed while a captive at Jamestown in 1646 by a soldier out of re- venge. He was also known as Apachisco. He was able, resourceful and unforgiving.
Opitchapam, brother of Powhatan, who was succeeded by him in 1618 as chief of the Powhatan confederacy. He was also known as Taughaiten, Itopatin, Istan, Sas- sapen, etc. He was succeeded by Ope- chanough.
Opie, Thomas, was a ship captain from Bristol, England. He married, about 1672, Helen Lindsay, daughter of Rev. David Lindsay, of Northumberland county, who was son of Sir Hierome Lindsay, of Scot- land. He died in 1702, leaving issue in Vir- ginia.
Opussoquionuske, Queen of the Appomat- tox Indians. In 1610 she surprised some of the members of the company sent by Lord Delaware to find gold mines and killed four- teen of them at a feast. Captain Yardley then landed and burnt her town. When Dale founded Bermuda Hundred in 1613, he drove the Indians away entirely.
Osborne, Edward, Jr., was a son of Ed- ward Osborne, of Chesterfield county. He was a justice in 1749 and member of the house of burgesses in 1769 and 1770.
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Osborne, Jenkin, was born in 1600, came to Virginia in 1617, and was living at Shir- ley Hundred in 1624. In 1635 he patented 400 acres in Charles City county on the south side of James river, between the lands of Captain John Woodlief and William Bailey.
Osborne, Richard, was a delegate to the house of burgesses for Fairfax county in 1748-1749.
Osborne, Captain Thomas, came to Vir- ginia in November, 1616, and settled at Coxendale, in the present Chesterfield county, about 1625. He also patented land on Proctor's creek, Henrico county (now Chesterfield) ; was a commissioner (justice) for the "upper parts" in 1631, and member of the house of burgesses, 1629, 1629-30, 1631-32, 1632-33.
Osborn, Thomas, was born in Chesterfield county, and removed to Prince William county, of which he was a burgess in 1736. He died before 1750, leaving a daughter Anne, who married John Randolph, and a daughter Mary, who married William Hen- ley, of Henrico.
Owen, Goronwy (Gronow), son of Owen Gioronwy, was born at Llanfair, Mathafarn Eithaf, in the shire of Anglesea, Wales. He attended the grammar school at Bangor, and was afterwards at Jesus College, Ox- ford, from 1741 to 1745. After this time he was curate of several parishes in Wales and England and taught school. In 1757 he was appointed master of the grammar school of the College of William and Mary, and came to Virginia. He held this place till about September, 1760, when he was compelled to resign because of his drinking habits. He
was soon after appointed minister of St. Andrew's Parish, Brunswick county. He died in 1770. Mr. Owen was not only cele- brated for his classical attainments, but also for his poetic genius, which ranks him as the greatest poet of Wales. He married three times (first) Ellen Hughes, (second) Anne Dawson, widow of James Clayton, (third) Joan Simmons. He has descendants living in Alabama and Louisiana. His most famous poems are "The Last Day of Judg- ment" and an "Elegy" on his friend Lewis Morris.
Ousley, Captain Thomas, was burgess for Stafford county in 1692-93.
Pace, Richard, came to Virginia before 1620, when he received a grant for 400 acres on the south side of James river, four miles above Jamestown, which grant he called "Pace's Paines." In 1622 he saved James- town and other settlements by informing the authorities of the impending massacre which had been revealed to him by one of his servants, a converted Indian named Chanco. His widow, Isabella, married (sec- ond) Captain William Perry, of the council. His son and heir, George Pace, married Sarah, daughter of Captain Samuel May- cox.
Page, Francis, eldest son of Colonel John Page, of the Middle Plantation, was first clerk of the house of burgesses commis- sioned by the governor, which he held till his death. He died May 10, 1692, aged thirty-five. He married Mary Digges, daughter of Governor Edward Digges, and had an only daughter Elizabeth, who mar- ried her cousin, John Page.
Pagett, Anthony, came in 1623 as a serv-
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ant ; burgess for Flowerdieu Hundred in 1629.
Palmer, John, was a clerk in the office of the attorney-general, and in 1740 was ad- mitted as an attorney to practice in the county courts. He was bursar of the Col- lege of William and Mary and died in 1759. He married Elizabeth Low Tyler, daughter of John Tyler, and left daughters.
Palmer, Thomas, came to Virginia with his wife and daughter in 1621, burgess for Shirley Hundred Island in Charles City cor- poration in 1629.
Panton (Penton), Anthony, first rector of the first settlements on York river-Chis- kiack and York; he came to Virginia about 1630, and after several years incurred the displeasure of Governor Harvey and Rich- ard Kemp, his secretary of state, and on October 8, 1638, he was heavily fined and banished from the colony, on pain of death if he returned. He appealed his cause to the King, who upon the recall of Harvey referred the complaint to his successor, Sir Francis Wyatt and his council. They sus- Fended Harvey's order and required that Panton should be indemnified for his losses out of Harvey's estate which was done. His York plantation and his lots at Jamestown were sold to reimburse Panton and his other creditors.
Paradise, John, was son of Peter Para- dise, of Greek extraction, who in 1753 was English consul at Salonica, where John Paradise was born. He was educated at the University of Padua, but resided the greater part of his life in London, where he was an intimate of Dr. Samuel Johnson. He married Lucy Ludwell, youngest daugh-
ter of Hon. Philip Ludwell, of "Green- spring," Virginia, removed to Virginia but about 1788 returned to London and died there December 12, 1795. A table at which Dr. Johnson and other members of the Essex Street Club played, and formerly the property of Paradise, is still preserved in Williamsburg. His daughter Lucy, born in England about 1770 married in 1787 Count Barziza, a Venetian subject, and one of their sons came to Virginia and made Williamsburg his home.
Parahunt, a son of Powhatan, sometimes called "Tanx Powhatan," the little Powha- tan. He was chief of the Indians at the falls of James river in 1607.
Parker, George, of Accomac was son of Thomas Parker, 1633-1685, of Isle of Wight county. He was sheriff of Accomac, for many years justice of the peace and major of the militia. He bought lands in Acco- mac county called "Poplar Grove." He died in 1674, leaving a son, Major George Parker, who married Anne Scarborough.
Parker, Richard, son of Dr. Alexander Parker, a prominent physician of Essex county, Virginia, was born in 1729, and died ir: 1813. He studied law and settled at "Lawfield," Westmoreland county. In 1775, he was member of the Westmoreland county committee of safety, and in 1788 was elected judge of the general court, in which office he continued till his death. He mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of William Beale, of Richmond county.
Parker, Richard, son of James Parker, of Trangoe, Cornwall, England, emigrated to Nansemond county, Virginia, about 1654. He had three sons, Thomas, Richard and
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Francis Parker, who were living in 1681. From Richard was descended Dr. Richard Henry Parker, who died at Portsmouth in 1855.
Farker, Sacker, was a burgess for Acco- inac county in 1736-1738, and died in July, 1738.
Parkes, William, born in England, and emigrating to Maryland, he established in 1729 at Annapolis "The Maryland Gazette." Soon after he established a printing press at Williamsburg, Virginia, and was em- ployed by both governments to print their laws. He issued in Williamsburg, on Fri- day, August 6, 1736, the first number of a weekly called "The Virginia Gazette." In 1742 he opened a book store in Williams- burg. He died at sea on a trip to England, April 1, 1750. His daughter Sarah married John Shelton, and their daughter Sarah was first wife of Patrick Henry.
Parramore, Thomas, was a burgess for Accomac county in 1748-1749, 1758-1761, 1761-1765, 1766-1768, 1769, 1769-1771.
Pasteur, Dr. John, a native of Geneva, came to Virginia in 1700 in the French Huguenot colony. He settled at Williams- burg and practiced his profession as sur- geon, barber and wigmaker. He married and had several children, among them: I. James, rector of St. Bride's parish, Norfolk. 2. John James "peruke maker." 3. Dr. Wil- liam, mayor of Williamsburg.
Pasteur, Dr. William, was son of Dr. Jean Pasteur, and was partner with Dr. George Gilmer, as surgeon and apothecary ; justice of the peace of York county, and mayor of Williamsburg in 1775, when the
powder was removed from the magazine by Lord Dunmore. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Stith, president of William and Mary College.
Pate, Richard, was a member of the house cf burgesses for Gloucester county in July, 1653. He died in 1657, when his nephew, John Pate, afterwards member of the coun- cil, qualified as administrator.
Fatton, James, was born in 1692 at New- ton Limmavady, Ireland, and was for many years master of a merchant vessel, engaged in bringing immigrants from Ireland to Virginia. He was largely interested with William Beverley in investments in Vir- ginia lands. He settled finally in Angusta county, and on May 27, 1742, was commis- sioned county lieutenant, and was burgess for Augusta in the assembly of 1752-1755. While still a member he was killed by some Indians at Draper's Meadow in Montgomery county. He left issue Mary, wife of Wil- liam Thompson and Margaret, wife of Colo- nel John Buchanan. His sister Elizabeth was wife of John Preston, of Donegal, Ire- land, who also came to Virginia.
Fayne, Florentine, was a burgess for Elizabeth City county in 1641 and 1658- 1659.
Payne, John, son of George Payne and Mary Woodson, his wife, was born Decem- ber 4, 1713, in Goochland county. He served in the house of burgesses from 1752 to 1768, and was lieutenant-colonel com- manding the militia. He married twice, but the name of his first wife is not known. His second wife was Jane Smith, daughter of Philip Smith, of Northumberland county,
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and widow of John Chichester. He died July 28, 1784.
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