Life History

Notes

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  JOHN GREGORY was father of the following chil­dren.6
  
  1.  John Gregory, of Rappahannock County.  In June, 1671, he witnessed a deed of John Prosser to John Stephens, recorded in Rap­pahannock County.7  In his will, dated April 21, 1676, Robert Bishop, of Rappahannock County, made John Gregory, Junior, his [continued to page 239]
  
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  [footnotes]
  
  1 Ibid., Volume 1663-1668, page 70.  "Son in law" in this deed probably carries the significance of "step-son."  It is not unlikely that John Gregory had married the mother of Thomas Edmondson.
  
  2 Rappahanock [sic] County Records, Volume 1671-1676, page 204.
  
  3 Register of the Land Office, Patent Book 6, page 565.  Among the head­rights to this patent is the name of "Tho: Edmunson."  This was doubtless Thomas Edmondson, called "son in law" in John Gregory's conveyance to him of eight head cattle on April 16, 1666 (see above).
  
  4 Rappahannock County Records, Volume 1677-1682, page 142.
  
  5 This "date" for John Gregory's death is obtained thus: Robert Bishop, of Rappahannock County, in his will, dated April 21, 1676, leaves his property to John Gregory, Junior (see will of Robert Bishop, post page 329).  On December 9, 1676, appears John Gregory, of Rappahannock County, Tanner, son and heir of John Gregory, deceased (see post page 329).  No
  record of the will, or administration on the estate of Jobn Gregory, the elder, has been discovered.
  
  [It is not clear how these two dates in FN 5 provide a range for John Gregory's death.  It seems that Robert Bishop was kin to John Sr's wife Elizabeth, whom many report as maiden-named Bishop or surnamed from a previous marriage.  Previous land transactions had occurred between John Gregory Sr and Robert Bishop.  Since Robert Bishop willed his property to John Gregory Jr, rather than John Greogry Sr, it seems a likely implication is that John Gregory Sr had already passed away.  We would surmise from this that John Gregory Sr had passed away before 21 April 1676.  --  OBJ]
  
  6 John Gregory was probably married more than once.  In January, 1674, the name of his wife was Elizabeth (surname unknown).  (Rappahannock Records, Volume 1671-6, page 201).  Whether she was the mother of his children is not now known.
  
  7 Rappahannock County Records.  Volume 1668-1672, page 514-19.
  
  --  "Gregory Family of Rappahannock and Essex Counties, Virginia," in Winston of Virginia and Allied Families, by Clayton Torrence (Richmond, Virginia: Whittet & Shepperson, 1927), p 238
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  [p 239 ]
  The Will of John Gregory Jr
  
  The will of John Gregory [Junior], bearing date December 18, 1677, was recorded in Rappahannock County October 5, 1678.
  
  In the name of God Amen.  I John Grigory being very sick and in body but in perfect mind and memory.  Doe make this my last will & Testam't, First I Give my soule to God that gave it me in a sure and Cer­taine hope that after this life Ended that at the last day my Soule & body shall be united together & my body to the Earth to be buried in a Terestiall buriall as my friend, shall think Fitt & as for my Worldly Goods I bestow as followeth.  Item I give unto my Sister Mary Grigory foure hundred and
  page 240]
  Eighty acres of Land bought by Robert Bish[op] of Mr.  Henry Awbrey to her, and her heirs forever but if my said Sister Die Wth out Issue lawfully begotten of her, that then the said Land to Return to the Nearest of Bloud, alsoe one pied Cow wth her Increase to her and her heirs for Ever, Onely the first cow calfe the said cow shall bring to be delivered to Katherine Armstrong to her & heirs for Ever.  I give to my Sister Elizabeth one Red Cow with all her Increase to her & her heirs forever, Alsoe I doe appoint my Brother Richard Grigory my whole & Sole Executr of this my Will to see it performed as Witness my hand this 18th of Decembr 1677.
  
  John Grigory
  
  Test,
  Tho: Games
  John Fugett
  
  The within Named Thomas Games doth depose that he did see the wth mentioned John Grigory Signe Seale & publish the wthin mentioned to be his last Will and Testamt & that he was In perfect Sence & memory at ye Signing Sealing & publishing thereof to the best of his Judgment.
  Juratus est Games Cur Couir Rappae 4o Die 7bris 1678 [4th September 1678] Et Probatr
  Sacramt Thomo Games Et Recordate 5o Die Octobr Ano 1678.
  
  Test
  Edmo Craske C.  L.  Cur.
  (Rappahannock County Records, Volume 1677-1682, page 59.)
  
  It would seem to appear from the above will that John Gregory died un­married and without issue.  However, the deed of gift of a heifer (see be­low) in 1683 from Joane Mills to John Gregory, son of John Gregory, de­ceased, and in case of his death under age to his brother Robert Hamblton, raises this question:  Did John Gregory marry a widow Hamblton between the dating of his Will, December 18, 1677, and his death, which occurred about August or Septmber, 1678, and by his wife (so married) become the father of a child -- posthumously born -- and named John Gregory and who would thus be "brother" to Robert Hamblton?  The deed from Joane Mills is as follows:
  
  Deed of Gift from Joane Mills, widow, to "John Gregory son of John Gregory deceased" and heirs and assigns forever; one yellow hiefer [sic].  Unless said John Gregory die before he becomes of age, then said cow to go to his brother Robert Hamblton.  Deed dated July 7, 1683.  Recorded July 8, 1683.
  (Rappahannock County Records, Volume 1680-1688, page 48.)
  
  --  "Gregory Family of Rappahannock and Essex Counties, Virginia," in Winston of Virginia and Allied Families, by Clayton Torrence (Richmond, Virginia: Whittet & Shepperson, 1927), p 239
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  4. MARY 2 GREGORY (born 1665; died post 1745), married, first, JAMES TAYLOR, of KING AND QUEEN COUNTY (see TAYLOR FAM­ILY. ante page 213); second, Rowland Thomas, of Caroline County.1
  
  RICHARD 2 GREGORY (son of JOHN 1 GREGORY) was born circa 1650; died 1701. He lived in Rappahan­nock and Essex counties. On February 11, 1679, RICHARD GREGORY" of Rappahannock County, planter, sold to William Stone, of Gloucester County, planter, 250 acres on south side Hoskins Creek, Rappahannock County, adjoining lands of John Meador, John Gate­wood, Thomas Wheeler and Mary Gregory.2  On Oc­tober 8, 1680, RICHARD GREGORY, of Rappahannock, planter, brother and heir at law of JOHN GREGORY. late of the same county, planter, conveyed to Thomas Wheeler 250 acres in Rappahannock County, which said John Gregory had by deed June 20, 1677 con­veyed to his sister, Elizabeth, wife of said Thomas Wheeler; the said land having been granted by patent, with other lands, to John Gregory, father of said John and Richard Gregory.3
  
  RICHARD GREGORY patented upwards of seventeen hundred acres of land in the County of New Kent and small acreage in Rappahannock (later Essex) County. The tracts granted in New Kent fell on division of that county in 1691 into King and Queen County and on di[vision ... to p 271]
  
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  [footnotes]
  
  ... Ann; sons Thomas, Robert, Richard and John (the last three under fifteen years of age) ; wife Elizabeth (Essex County Records).
  
  1 In April, 1687, James Taylor had a patent for land left by Robert Bishop to John Gregory and by said John Gregory to his sister Mary, now wife of said James Taylor. See Taylor F'amily, ante page 213, where the evidence is given for Mary Gregory's first marriage to James Taylor, and second marriage to Rowland Thomas.
  
  2 Rappahannock County Records, Volume 1677-1682, page 270
  3 Ibid., Volume 1677-1682. page 282.
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  --  "Gregory Family of Rappahannock and Essex Counties, Virginia," in Winston of Virginia and Allied Families, by Clayton Torrence (Richmond, Virginia: Whittet & Shepperson, 1927), p 241
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  RICHARD GREGORY (son of RICHARD and KATHE­RINE GREGORY) was born circa 1685-90;1 died 1725.  He lived in Essex County and died there, evidently un­married.  There are many references to him in the Essex County records.
  
  On November 24, 1718, RICH­ARD GREGORY, of Essex County, sold to Thomas Wheeler, of Essex, 300 acres in Essex County as by measures signified in a plot tested by George Morris, surveyor, dated December 1, 1668; which said 300 acres are part of a patent for 103 acres granted to Thomas Gaines, deceased, on February 12, 1665, and by the said Gaines sold to John Gregory on November 4, 1667.2
  
  FN 2 Essex County Records, Deeds and Wills, 1716-1718, page 252.  The de­scription of the property in this deed suggests that the 300 acres hereby conveyed were the 300 acres bequeathed by Richard Gregory, of Essex County, by his will dated February 1700, to his son John Gregory (see will of Richard Gregory, ante page 243.  Query:  Did John Gregory die and thus this land pass to his brother Richard Gregory who now sells it to Thomas Wheeler?
  
  --  "Gregory Family of Rappahannock and Essex Counties, Virginia," in Winston of Virginia and Allied Families, by Clayton Torrence (Richmond, Virginia: Whittet & Shepperson, 1927), p 245
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Sources

• 1. Virginia Will Records