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William Armistead arrived in Virginia in 1633.[1]
"Note, William Armistead settled in Elizabeth City County in 1633, was vestry man of Hampton Parish 1646, Married --------- and had with other son I Col. John Armistead long Justice of Gloucester County, sheriff, 1675, appointed to the council 1687, His John's seat was 'Hesse' Gloucester county."[2]
On 7 July 1636, William Armestead was granted 450 acres, in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, southeast upon the land of Mr. Southell, northeast upon the land of John Branch, easterly upon the Creek, westerly into the woods, for the transportation … of nine persons. Nine persons are listed: Ann his wife, Rowland Owen, Rich. Clements, Robt. Glenister, Yorath Dane. Rich. Banks, Robt. Kendall, Andr. Strecher, Gilbert Guy.[3][4]
An account submitted by Joseph Clifton, executor of Daniell Hopkinson merchant of the Tristram and Jane of London, Mr. Joseph Blow, for servants carried on her late voyage to Virginia. Dated April 26,1637, this list includes: Turned over to William Armstead: a maid Katherin Teague.[5]
"Mention of John Armistead heir and one of the executors of Mr. Wm. Farmstead deceased, who was assignee of Mr. Mathew Bassett, Sept. 11, 1660."
Children:[6]
His second son, John, was named heir of his first son, William, who died childless.[7]
William died by 1660, when on the "last of August" 1660 John Armistead, as executor for his brother, William Armistead, made power of attorney in York County, Virginia.[8]
William Armistead was born 3 August 1610 in Kirk Deighton, Harrogate,Yorkshire, England the son of Anthony and Frances Thompson Armistead.
Kirk Deighton, Yorkshire, England is often given as the place of origin for William Armistead, however we have no record to prove this. Patricia Hatcher, in her 2011 article on Judith Horne, does not accept the idea. She argues there are chronological difficulties with the claimed relationships. In addition, she points out that the surname, "Armistead," is common in Yorkshire, and the given names are found in other areas.[9]
Anthony Armistead and Frances Thompson are frequently named as the parents of William Armistead, immigrant,[7] yet the only "evidence" is that William named two of his children "Anthony" and "Frances." It seems there are no actual records which prove William Armistead's ancestry.[10]
The family of Anthony Armistead and Frances Thompson had a son, William, christened at All Saints Church, Kirk Deighton, Yorkshire, on 3 August 1610.[10] However, if this was the immigrant who patented large tracts of land in Virginia in 1636, then he was "a rather younger man than one would expect," at only twenty-six.[11]
The Parish Records at Kirk Deighton, Yorkshire, England have by now been thoroughly searched, and there is not a Ralph Armistead.[12] On record, there are 10 baptism dates, 6 burial dates (some of William's siblings), but no Ralph.[12] In fact there is not any record of birth, baptism or death for any Ralph Armistead in Yorkshire.[12]
When this is viewed in connection with the discrepancies in time-line between Ralph, supposed son of William, and the other children of William, as pointed out by Virginia Garber, the chances that William had a son named Ralph seem very remote.[13]
Above are the only proven children of William and Anne. Others include the child below (without evidence, source is Ancestry Family Trees and U.S. and International Marriage Records):
Note: Virginia Garber is not sure that Ralph Armistead (who patented 48 acres in 1678 at Kingston Parish, Gloucester) was a son of William, because his timeline is different than the other children (Page 19).[13] As noted above, it now seems there was no sibling named Ralph, so the chances the Ralph who immigrated in 1678 was a son of William seem remote. If Ralph was not a family name, there is actually no reason to believe he was closely related to William.
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Categories: Colony of Virginia, Immigrants from England | Armistead Name Study | Virginia Colonists