Peter
Montague
Sr.
Born in Boveney, Burnham Parish, Buckinghamshire, England
Ancestors 
Son of Peter Montague
and Eleanor (Allen) Montague
Brother of
Richard Montague
Husband of
Unknown (Unknown) Montague
— married
1628 in James City, Colony of Virginia
Husband of
Cicely (Unknown) Parker
— married
about 1633 in Nansemond, Suffolk County, Colony of Virginia
Descendants 
Father of
Anne (Montague) Jadwin, Peter Montague, Elinor Eleanor (Montague) Thompson, William Montague and Elizabeth (Montague) Cocke
Died
at age 56
in Lancaster County, Colony of Virginia
Profile managers:
Clint Montague 
[send private message], Herbert Wolfe [send private message], US Southern Colonies Project WikiTree [send private message], and Gregory Walter [send private message]
[send private message], Herbert Wolfe [send private message], US Southern Colonies Project WikiTree [send private message], and Gregory Walter [send private message]Profile last modified
| Created 27 Mar 2011
This page has been accessed 18,042 times.
| Peter Montague Sr. resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies |
Contents |
Biography
Peter Montague Sr. was a Jamestown colonist.
Peter Montague Sr. is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society
Peter Montague[1] was the first Montague immigrant to America; he was a landowner, businessman, and member of the House of Burgesses for Nansemond County in 1652 and 1653, and for Lancaster County in 1657.[2][3]
Peter was born in Boveney, a small hamlet on the north side of the Thames river across the Thames from Windsor, wherein lies Windsor Castle, a residence of the monarchs of England. He probably received a fair education, based on his knowledge of Latin, although there is no evidence that he went to nearby Eton college, and he is not included in the Eton College register. Nonetheless, his Uncle, William Montague, was a fellow of both Eton and Kings College, Cambridge. Further, Peter's relative Richard Mountague was and Eton fellow 29 Apr. 1613-1624 and Jonas Mountague was a Lower Master of Eton 1619-1631, and other Montagues held faculty roles soon after, suggesting that many Montague family members in Peter's vicinity and childhood were highly educated.
Peter was the son of Peter Montague I and Eleanor (Allen) Montague of Boveney. His mother was the daughter of William Allen of Burnham. He was the older brother of Richard Montague, the progenitor of the New England Montagues.
Jamestown
Peter immigrated to Jamestown in November 1621 on the ship Charles (on its second trip to Jamestown) at the expense of William Ewen, in company with 1300 new settlers along with Sir Francis Wyatt, who had been appointed the new governor of the colony.[4] This source lists https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/southampton.htm Peter Montecue, on the 1622 voyage of the Southhampton, aged 21 at muster at Mathews Plant, James City as servant to Capt Samuel Mathews. [5]
A tradition traced to Latane Montague (b. 1731) claims that during "the first half day's work he did ruined [sic] his hands so that he had to rest. To pass the time, he began to read his master's books, who caught him reading Latin, and soon obtained for him the position of school teacher." The fact that schools were not established in Jamestown until the time that Peter landed suggests that this story is plausible, and that Peter may have been the, or one of the, first school teachers in Virginia.
In March of 1622, only five months after his arrival in Virginia, Peter survived an attack by Chief Opechancanough (which came to be called "The Good Friday Massacre") that killed 347 men, women, and children. Peter was then serving on the plantation of Captain Samuel Mathews along with 23 other men. Peter survived another attack by Opechancanough that killed over 500 settlers in 1644.
The muster roll from January 1623 shows that Peter resided on the estate of Captain Samuel Mathews, whose son later became Governor of the Colony of Virginia, along with two of his shipmates, William Lusam and William Field. In March of 1623, a plague killed 300 settlers in the colony, but spared Peter. He earned his first land patent in 1637. Peter is known to have been a planter or plantation owner. His crops consisted of wheat, barley, and tobacco, which was exported to England. Peter married his first wife (Name: Unknown) in James City in 1628 while residing at Capt. Samuel Mathew's plantation. He married his second wife, Cicely in 1633, according to History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond --- - see below. As Cicely Baily, Jordan, Farrar's last husband (William Farrar) did not die until at least 1635, it's unlikely that she was Peter's 2nd wife.
Peter Montague represented Nanesmond County in the Virginia House of Burgesses from November 25, 1652 through July 5, 1653, and also represented Lancaster Country from 1651 to 1658.
Lancaster County began taxing him based on his labor force, assessing him for five tithables, 5 Nov 1656,[6] for five tithables, 16 Dec 1657,[7] for four tithables, 31 Oct 1658,[8] again for four tithables, 30 Nov 1659,[9] and again for four tithables, 15 Nov 1660.[10]
Musters of the Inhabitants in Virginia.[11]
1624/5.
…
Cap't Mathews Plant, James Citty
- PEETER MONTECUE aged 21 in the Charles in 1621
As to the date of Peter's death and final resting place, "He died the last of April or the first of May, 1659, and was buried on the north bank of the Rappahannock, near his home. His tombstone was standing as late as 1849, but much defaced by the hand of time" (pg. 56).[12]
Regarding his wife Cicely, "He married, probably in the spring of 1633, Cicely *----*. Effort has been made to discover the maiden name of his wife and something of the family to which she belonged."[13] It is not proven that this Cicely married Peter Montague.
Peter and Cicely [Unknown] were no doubt married some where in the vicinity of James City, for Peter Montague spent the first years of his life in the New World in and around James City county. Family tradition says she that was a daughter of Samuel Mathews, who was Governor of the Colony in 1656 but this is unproven. It is true that Peter lived on the plantation of Capt. Mathews during these early years, and that Capt. Mathews and Peter Montague were life-long associates and friends. However, no record of such a marriage has been found. All of the records of James City County were destroyed during the 1861-1865 war between the states so that no record there dates to before 1865. Peter's 2nd wife outlived him. She was the executor of his estate jointly with his eldest son, Peter Montague, Jr. No record of Cicely's death has been found."[12]
Children
Children of Peter Montague and his 1st wife, Unknown Unknown:
- Ann Montague, b. abt. 1630.
- Ellen Montague, b. abt. 1632; also known as Eleanor.
- Margaret Montague, b. abt. 1634.
- Peter Montague, b. abt. 1635.
Children of Peter Montague and his 2nd wife, Cicely Unknown:
- William Montague, b. abt. 1639.
- Elizabeth Montague, b. abt. 1640.
Will & Death
Last Will and Testament of Peter Montague[14]
27 March 1659/60 (signed)
25 May 1659/60 (proved)
In the name of God amen, I Peter Montague being weak in body and perfect memory do make this my last will and testament, this the 27th of March 1659 in name and form following,
First I bequeath my soul into the hands of my redeemer Jesus Christ, and my body to be buried.
Item, my debts being first paid I give to my loving wife Cicely one third part of all my real and personal estate according to law.
Item, I give to my two sons Peter and Will. Mountague all my land lying on Rappahannock river to them and their heirs forever, and the land being divided it is my will, that the elder is to have the first choice, and in case of want of heirs of either, the survivor to enjoy all the land, and in case both of them shall depart this life without heirs, lawfully begotten, then my will is that the said land be sold by the commissioners of this county after public notice given either at an outcry, or by an inch of candle and the produce thereof to be equally divided between my three daughters, Ellen, Margaret, and Elizabeth, and the child of Ann late wife of John Jadwin, and in case of any of these shall died without issue, then the produce of the said land to be divided between the survivors.
Item, I give the other two thirds of my personal estate to my four children Peter, Will, Margaret, and Elizabeth to be equally divided among them.
Item, I give to my daughter Ellen, the wife of Will Thompson, one thousand pounds of tobacco, and cask to be deducted, of a bill of thirteen hundred pounds of tobacco now due to me by the said Will Thompson. Lastly I ordain my loving wife Cicely and my son Peter jointly Executrix and Executor of this my last will and testament. In witness of the previous I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written 1659 interlined before the signing and sealing therof.
(Signed) Peter Mountague, (Ye seal)
Executors: my loving wife Cicely and my son Peter.
Witnesses: George Marsh, Thomas James.
Research Notes
Peter came to Virginia with Sir Francis WYATT (Sir Francis is the brother of Rev. Haute WYATT).
Douglas Richardson: Could not find "Peter Montague" or "Peter Montagu" in either Royal Ancestry and Magna Carta Ancestry. He also was not included in Medieval Lands (which cover up to 1500). ~ Liz Shifflett, Magna Carta project
Sources
- ↑ Jamestowne Society: Montague, Peter - A5601; born ca. 1603, died 1659 Lancaster Co.; Nansemond Co.: 1652-53, Lancaster Co.: 1658 (Burgess); (Muster of 1624/5). (accessed 25 Sep 2021)
- ↑ George William Montague, History and Genealogy of Peter Montague of Nansemond and Lancaster Counties, Virginia, and His Descendants, 1621–1894. (Amherst, Massachusetts: Press of Carpenter & Morehouse, 1894), pp49-58; image copy, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/historygenealogymont/page/n8/mode/1up?view=theater).
- ↑ Virginia. General Assembly. House of Burgesses; McIlwaine, H. R. (Henry Read), Journals of the House of Burgesses of VA, 1659/60-1963. (Vol 1 1619-1658/1659, Page ) Richmond, VA: [Library Board, Virginia State Library] Archive.org accessed 3 February 2016.
- ↑ https://archive.org/stream/virginiacaroloru00neil#page/20/mode/2up
- ↑ https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/southampton.htm
- ↑ 1656 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 5 Nov 1656. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Deed & Will Book 1, 1652-1657, pp. 302-307. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 23 Mar 2024. To see what others appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
- ↑ 1657 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 16 Dec 1657. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book, 1655-1666, pp. 40-44. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 30 Mar 2024. To see what other colonists appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
- ↑ 1658 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 31 Oct 1658. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book 1655-1666, pp. 60-64. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 24 Jan 2024. To see what other colonists appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces, visit Lancaster County Tax Records.
- ↑ 1659 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 30 Nov 1659. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book 1655-1666, pp. 100-105. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 25 Jan 2024. Visit Lancaster County Tax Records to see what other colonists appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces.
- ↑ 1660 Tax Assessment. Tax Assessment Record, 15 Nov 1660. Lancaster County, Virginia Colony, Order Book 1655-1666, pp. 131-132. Available online without restriction courtesy of FamilySearch here. Accessed 10 Apr 2024. Visit Lancaster County Tax Records to see what other colonists appear on this tax assessment, in alphabetical order, and for a list of the colonists with the largest labor forces.
- ↑ Hotten, p233; digital images, Archive.org (p233).
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Montague, George William, 1894 History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and Lancaster Counties, Virginia, and his descendants, 1621-1894 (Pages 15, 52, 56) Amherst, MA: Press of Carpenter & Morehouse, Archive.org accessed 8 February 2016.
- ↑ Montague, History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond ---, p. 56. footnote: "The Muster Roll of 1624 contains the names of but two persons of the name of Cicily. One was Cicily Greene at the plantation of Capt. Ralph Hamor at James City. The other was Mrs. Cicily Jordan, of Jordan's Journey at Charles City. She was a young widow, age 24 years, who came in the ship "Swan," in August, 1610, when she was but ten years of age. She owned the plantation at Jordans Journey, and William Farrar was the manager. Her husband had recently died (1624). She had two children, Mary aged three years, and Margaret aged one year, both born in Va. Robert Manuell and John Hely, who came with Peter Montague in 1621, were both located on Mrs. Jordan's plantation. Their names appear in both lists, that of Feb'y, 1623, and Jan'y, 1624."
- ↑ George William Montague, History and Genealogy of Peter Montague of Nansemond and Lancaster Counties, Virginia, and His Descendants, 1621–1894. (Amherst, Massachusetts: Press of Carpenter & Morehouse, 1894), p57; image copy, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/historygenealogymont/page/n8/mode/1up?view=theater).
Citation Sources:
- John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants; Religious Exiles; Political Rebels; Serving Men Sold for a Term of Years; Apprentices; Children Stolen; Maidens Pressed; and Others Who Went From Great Britain to the American Plantations 1600–1700. (New York, New York: J. W. Bouton, 1874); digital images, Archive.org (title page).
See also:
- New England Historical and Genealogical Register, volume 142 no. 2 (April 1988): pages 149-164. "The English Origin of Peter and Richard Montague," by Myrtle Stevens Hyde. AmericanAncestors.org
- https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiuo.ark:/13960/t6zw2gx2q&view=1up&seq=17&skin=2021 Peter Montague transported 3 persons. See #17, p239.
- The statutes at large; being a collection of all the laws of Virginia, from the first session of the legislature, in the year 1619. Vol 1 Author: Hening, William Waller, 1750 (ca.)-1828. Publisher: Bartow, New York 1823. Pages 373, 379, 431.
- Kinard, June. comp. Early Immigrants to Virginia from the 1500s and 1600s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com; Operations Inc., 2000. Published by The Researchers, PO box 39063, Indianapolis IN. 46239-0063.
- Montague III, Robert V., 2013 History and Genealogy of Peter Montague of Jamestown, VA 1603-2003. p15.
- “My Maternal Ancestors” Compiled by Ruth Cobb Oliver (1987); Ruth Cobb Oliver and her mother did extensive genealogical research. They traveled to archives across the United States gathering information which was documented/copied/compiled in a book "My Maternal Ancestors" in the Ashville, Alabama archives.
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M > Montague > Peter Montague Sr.
Categories: Boveney, Buckinghamshire | Charles, sailed 1621 | Jamestown, Virginia Colony | Nansemond County, Virginia Colony | Lancaster County, Virginia | House of Burgesses, Virginia Colony | Jamestown Colonists | US Southern Colonies Project Needs Research | Jamestowne Society Qualifying Ancestors
It occurred to me that if Cicely died as early as 1634, as some say, and then William Farrar, Sr. died in 1637, that the children would have been left as orphans. There should, therefore, be a document mentioning this. There isn't. I know documentation has largely been destroyed, but in this case, I would expect at least some indication. That is so especially because on June 11, 1637, “William Farrar, sonne & heire to William Farrar, late of Henrico” was deeded 2,000 acres of land in Henrico County, Virginia for the transportation of 40 persons at his own cost, including Robert Coleman. Obviously, since William Farrar, Jr. was not born until about 1626, he was not old enough to actually inherit this property at this time. However, he was named heir of this property, which was obviously granted to his father for the transportation of 40 persons. So, we do have a document and it does not refer to William as an orphan. So, it becomes obvious that Cicely was still living. The dates for Peter Montague marrying someone named Cicely are guesswork. But the later date of about 1637/38 is more plausible just based on the likely birth dates of the two children, William and Elizabeth. I find that the story that Cicely was a Matthews is purely family lore with no documentation to back it up. I accept family tradition when some documentation can help back it up. There really isn't any here other than that Mr. Montague resided on the property of Mr. Matthews. That she was a relict of a Mr. Thompson is also without any documentation and there is nothing whatsoever to back that claim up at all that I have seen. Cicely's dependent children by her previous marriages, unless married (and some were still too young), would have been brough up within the household of whomever she married next, unless she remained unmarried. There is no documentation of her as a widow. If she lived, she undoubtedly remarried. Peter Montague died in 1659. I was inclined to accept that Cicely then remarried to Thomas Parker, but it is evident that Thomas Parker married the widow of some other Peter Montague, not this one. This is shown by the will of Peter Montague. I don't claim my analysis as proof, but I am not ready to discount her later marriage to Peter Montague.
edited by Mark Browder
Or at least make sure the dates in the bio match the birth dates of the linked wives and children. Please.
I'm confused. There is no Cicely Farrar attached. There is a Cicely *Clark* attached, and it looks like she should be merged into Cicely Unknown.
Ah.. I see what you're talking about. On the profile of Cicely Unknown, it indicates that one of her husbands was a Farrar.
So... it looks like there's a fair amount of work to be done on the profile of Cicely Unknown, including detaching her from Peter Montague and his children. And then it looks like we need to take Cicely Clark, leave her as wife of Peter M, and mother of his children, but change her LNAB to Unknown. Is that right?
For these societies I had to have solid proof through books like Adventurers of Purse and Person. There is no mention of Cicely’s fourth or fifth husband.
I hope this helps!
Can you provide more about your theory? What sources suggest / support it?
Robert (1505) > Lawrence (1545) > Richard (1575) > Son Richard Robert (1505) > William (1536) > Peter (1573) > Peter of Virginia (1603) Comments?
Mary Montague aka Payne, Johnson, Ball, Hewes
same profile and same husbands Mary Montague
Also William Montague married Hannah Ball daughter of Richard Ball relative of Joseph Ball who married the profile(s) above.
Please be patient as we work out the confusion surrounding this profile, potential duplicates and all of the connecting profiles and their multiple duplicates. Please note our process is to find original sources and add the facts from those sources. There is a current search of digital images of documents in progress. Despite the urge to make decisions based on previously held belief, please be patient. This profile and it's possible duplicates is being researched as part of the Montague family. I expect that this profile will take longer than the rest. Our goal is to strip away anything not proven and sourced. Once what is clearly fact is demonstrated, we will all reach consensus on how to present theories.