KING
From the files of Stephen M. Lawson
King Family Research Comments
As with many early American
families, especially those of the southern colonies, the publications
concerning the King family are based on limited source material and
recent research has revealed significant changes in the relationships
that have been in print for many years. While this brief King family
narrative is based on recent research in the following resources, it is
incomplete and continuing research may require a change in some of the
relationships included.
A
King Genealogy: Some Descendants of Michael King of Nansemond County,
Virginia, 1667 - 1987, by Henry Lee King (1988), together with
subsequent
research
to 1997 shared on the web site of Tina Hall.
Research
of
Lou Pero, also on the web site of Tina Hall.
Research of Kimball G. Everingham,
with a Register
Report
from Michael KING.
Note that due to county and colony
boundary changes that places in Nansemond Co., VA may have subsequently
been in Albemarle, Chowan and/or Bertie Co., NC.
CAUTION: While the following
publications include a number of important references to and quotations
from significant primary resources, the first publication includes many
suppositions and conjectures concerning KING family relationships and
the following two publications wrongly turn these tentative conclusions
into factual statements. Genealogies
of Virginia Families From the William and Mary College Quarterly,
Genealogical
Publishing Co. (reprint 1982), Vol. III, pp. 283-290 and
683; The Lees and Kings of Virginia
and North Carolina 1636 - 1976, by Reba Shropshire Wilson and
Betty Shropshire Glover, Wilson and Glover Publishing Co. (1975); KENNARD KING KNIGHT HARDIN GOODING Their
Ancestors & Descendants, by Alta Kennard Patterson (1988).
Michael and Elizabeth (Hiry) King
Michael KING - d. 1700, probably
in NC (will proved at Oct-Nov 1700 General Court in Albemarle Co., NC).
Michael, reportedly from Norwich, Norfolk Co., England, probably sailed
for America about 1650, being transported for service to John WRIGHT of
Nansemond Co., VA. Michael received three land grants totaling 1800
acres in Nansemond Co. in 1667, 1671, and 1675. Purchases by Michael
include a large copper still, and (in 1686) a plantation and slaves in
Nansemond Co. On his plantation, located on Somerset Creek, he built
the first brick house in the county. Michael does not appear on the
rent rolls of 1704 of Nansemond Co., although his sons do. Note that
the King family land in VA became part of NC with the 1728 boundary
settlement between VA and NC. It appears that Michael married after his
arrival in VA.
Elizabeth HIRY - Her surname
source, the Bible record
of great grandson Solomon, is very indistinct, and may be HAIRY,
HARE, WARE, etc.
Children of Michael and Elizabeth King
- Elizabeth -
- Nathan - b. Nansemond Co., VA.
Patented 635 acres in 1694 "along old Mr Kings line." He appears to
have settled at the mouth of the Roanoke River about 1695, where he had
been living for 12 years in 1707.
- Michael - b. Nansemond Co., VA; d.
after 1747, Nansemond Co., VA. Obtained two VA land patents in 1694
adjoining land of Nathan KING and "old Mr. King." Children of Michael
KING: John married first Winifred CONNER, second Mary (MERRITT) TAYLOR
(widow of Capt. Daniel TAYLOR), and third Rebecca (MOSS) ARMISTEAD
(John possibly married twice more); possibly Michael; and possibly
William.
- John - b. Nansemond Co., VA. Named
in grand-nephew Solomon KING's Bible record as son of Michael KING and
Elizabeth. No currently known records can be reliably connected to this
John KING.
- Henry - b.
Nansemond Co., VA; d. about Mar 1716, Salmon Creek, Chowan Precinct,
Albemarle (now Bertie) Co., NC.
- William - b. Nansemond Co.,
VA; d. 1725. Patented 540 acres in 1703, and possibly other land
at an earlier date. The name of his wife and mother of his children is
not known. Children of William KING: Solomon married Amy; Nicholas
married; Mary married Moses HARE; Henry married Sarah; and Charles
married Mary (parents of Solomon KING, whose Bible record provides
important early KING family data).
Family record from Solomon King's Bible
(published 1769)
Michael King was born in Old England and came out of the City of
Norwich to Virginia and there served his time with John Wright in
Nansemond County after that he married with Elizabeth Hiry (indistinct)
and lived in the Upper Parish of Nansemond Co. on the Southern Branch
of Nansemond River - and he had by his wife six children viz. Nathan
William Michael Henry John and Elizabeth and their he bought a
plantation with land in the year 1686 and built a large dwelling house
with brick and bought several negro slaves and also a large copper
still. Written by me Solomon King son of Charles King the said Charles
was the son of William which was son of Michael the older.
Charles King Father of Solomon King Departed this Life
January the 15,1762.
Mary King Mother of Solomon King Departed this Life
February the 2 day 1762.
Henry King uncell to the said Solomon King Departed this
life December the 7 day 1771.
Mary Hare Aunt to the said Solomon King Departed this Life
February the 11 day 1774.
John Lee Father in Law to said Solomon King Departed this
Life February 9 day 1770.
Henry King Brother to Solomon King Departed this Life
April the 15th day 1782.
Bathsheba Porter Daughter of Solomon King Departed this
Life March 10th 1789.
Henry and Catherine King
Henry KING - b. Nansemond Co.,
VA; d. about Mar. 1716, Salmon Creek, Chowan Precinct, Albemarle (now
Bertie) Co., NC. Son of Michael KING and Elizabeth
HIRY.
Henry patented 302 acres on 7 Sep 1701 which adjoined that of John
KING. His will (dated
Feb.
25, 1714, and proved in Apr. 18, 1716) left land
in Nansemond Co., VA to his children. Henry died between Oct.
2, 1715, when was given a power of attorney, and Apr. 4, 1716,
when his widow was called the wife of Gerrard LYNCH and relict
of Mr. Henry KING. All three of Henry's sons and four daughters
are mentioned in his will.
Catherine - After the death of
Henry, and by Apr. 1716, she married second Gerard LYNCH. Gerard and
Catherine LYNCH sold 640 acres of her land on that date. Catherine is
not Catherine CLARKE (d. by 1688), daughter of John and Mary (FALKE)
CLARKE, in 1684, Isle of Wight Co., VA. Catherine CLARKE married about
1679 Henry KING (b. about 1658; d. after 1740, Brunswick Co., VA) as
his first wife. Henry KING, Jr., son of Catherine (CLARKE) KING,
was born about 1681, and had possession of, and sold land previously
owned by his grandfather John CLARKE.
Children of Henry and Catherine King
- Henry - d. 1755, Chowan Co., NC.
Married Ann. Children of Henry
and Ann KING: Catherine; Ann; Prudence; and William married Ann.
- Michael - b. about 1700, Chowan Co.,
NC; d. about 1741, Bertie
Co., NC. Called a minor son of Henry in 1716, he was placed with John
KING, as guardian. Lived between Cashie River and Salmon Creek, Bertie
Co., NC in 1719. Michael's name appears on many land transactions in
Bertie Co., including the sale of 304<sic> acres patented by
Henry KING on 7 Sep 1701. His will dated May 20, 1741, and proved in
1741 in Bertie Co., NC, names two horses, 16 slaves, wife Isabel, and
children. Michael married Isabella 'Isabel' FERGUSON-BELL (d. aft
1743), daughter of John FERGUSON and Ann WOODNOT, and step daughter of
Robert BELL.
The birth order of their children is uncertain. Isabel married second
by 1743 Mr. DIALL. Children of Michael and Isabel KING: Michael married
first Mary SNELL (grandparents of V.P. William Rufus KING), and second
Mary BOONE; Henry married first Ann SNELL (who married second Stephen
BLACKMAN, and third Simon LENDON); John Sterling married Amy; Catherine
married Moses SMITH; Isabel; Penelope married Jonathan DIXON; and Mary
married Edward BYRD.
- Charles - b. about 1704, Chowan Co.,
NC. He resided in Chowan Co.
and the Roquist Island area of Bertie Co., NC. Charles married
Elizabeth VANN, probably daughter of William. Children of Charles and
Elizabeth KING: 'Roquist' Henry married; William; and Charles married
first Judah, and second Elizabeth GARDNER, daughter of Martin.
- Elizabeth - Married Richard PARKER.
- Catherine - Married John BRYD II,
son of John BYRD I and Rebecca
SUTTON.
- Mary -
- Ann - Married William PARKER,
believed to be son of Thomas
PARKER, Jr. and Jean EARLY.