George Yeardley (1588 - bef. 1627)

Born 28 Jul 1588 in St. Saviour's Parish, Southwark, Surrey, England

Ancestors

Husband of Temperance (Flowerdew) West — married 1618 (to 13 Nov 1627) in Jamestowne Colony, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 13 Nov 1627 before age 39 in Jamestown, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

George Yeardley is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

George Yeardley has English ancestors.

The Jamestowne Society gives this succinct summary:^[1]

Yeardley, Sir George - baptized 28 July 1588 Surrey County, England, buried 13 November 1627 Jamestowne Island (Landowner); 1616-27 (Councillor); 1616, 1625 (Deputy Governor); 1618, 1626 (Governor); (Muster of 1624/5).

Origin

A George Yeardley was baptized on 28 July 1588 at St. Saviour's, Southwark, Surrey, England, a son of Ralph Yeardley a London merchant-tailor, and Rhoda Marston.^[2] His parents were married on 15 November 1575 at St Saviour's.

Tyler reports that George was the son of Ralph Yardley, citizen and merchant tailor of Bionshaw Lane, London, who married (1) Agnes Abbot and (2) Rhoda Unknown. He was one of four brothers: Ralph, George (himself), John, and Thomas, and had a sister Anne, who married Edward Irby.

Career

George left London and chose the life of a soldier. He was a member of a company of English foot-soldiers who went to fight the Spanish in the Netherlands. Later he would be Captain of the personal bodyguard for Sir Thomas Gates while the latter was the Governor of Virginia Colony.^[2]

Yeardley's first trip to Virginia began on June 1, 1609, when he set sail with Gates aboard the Sea Venture, the flag ship for the perilous Third Supply to Jamestown.^[3] They were shipwrecked at Bermuda for ten months while two small ships were built. On May 23, 1610, the Deliverance and the pinnace Patience, finally arrived at Jamestown.^[2]

The complex story of the first 7 years of the re-launched colony is told elsewhere; suffice it to say that in 1616 Yeardley became Deputy Governor when Sir Thomas Dale returned to England at the end of his term.

Yeardley was replaced as Deputy Governor by Samuel Argall in 1617. Lord Delaware was still the Governor of the colony, although he had returned to England with malaria in 1611. In 1618, reports of a deteriorating situation prompted Delaware to sail for Virginia, but he died at sea.

A new Governor was needed who would take personal charge in the colony, and the choice fell on Yeardley. It's not known whether he returned to London at that point, or whether he was in London already, but he is said to have spent £3000 fittiing himself out for the role before his formal appointment on 18th November 1618. He was knighted by the King on the 24th.

Waters writes:^[4]

On the twenty-eighth of November Chamberlain writes that Captain Yeardley, "a mean fellow," goes Governor to Virginia, two or three ships being ready. To grace him the more the King knighted him this week at Newmarket, which hath set him up so high, that he flaunts it up and down the streets in extraordinary bravery, with fourteen or fifteen fair liveries after him,"

In fact Yeardley didn't set sail for Virginia until January 1619, and was then delayed by bad weather and didn't arrive at Jamestown until April 18th.^[5] Yeardley took with him a set of instructions from the Company Treasurer, Sir Thomas Smith, to reform the colony.^[6] During Yeardley's term of office, land was granted to Ancient Planters and to servants whose time was served, the headright system was established, and the first Assembly was convened. At its first meeting, 30th July to 4th August 1619, it consisted initially of the Governor, the Council members, and 2 Burgesses elected by each of the 11 "boroughs" and "plantations" which then existed. The meetings were held in the church, to which the members went in procession, Yeardley being accompanied by a guard of liveried halberdiers. Their first action after prayers was to exclude two of the Burgesses on a technicality.^[7]

Yeardley resigned his Governorship on his 3rd anniversary, probably because of increasing political warfare within the Company. He was succeeded by Sir Francis Wyatt. But he remained in the colony, having by that time amassed a substantial collection of properties by grant and purchase. In the 1623/4 Company census and the 1624/5 Muster, he is listed at James City with his family and many servants.

Following the ousting of the Company by the Crown, Yeardley was reappointed in some gubernatorial capacity in 1624 or 1625.^[8] He was reappointed as Governor by the King on 17th May 1626 (Tyler), and continued in office until his death.

Marriage and Children

George married Temperance Flowerdew,^[9] and they had 3 children:

1. Elizabeth Yeardley, born in Jamestown about 1619 (age 6 at the time of the 24 January 1624/5 Jamestown Muster)^[10]
2. Argall Yeardley, born in Jamestown about 1601 (age 4 at the time of the 24 January 1624/5 Jamestown Muster)^[10]
3. Francis Yeardley, born in Jamestown about 1624 (age 1 at the time of the 24 January 1624/5 Jamestown Muster)^[10]

Servitude & Slavery

Yeardley, "likely purchased some of the first Africans to arrive in 1619, making him one of the first slaveholders in Virginia."^[11][12]

"On February 16, 1624, the colony muster recorded Yeardley living in Jamestown with his wife, three children, eight white servants, and two unnamed black women,^[13] with other servants and enslaved Africans likely laboring at Yeardley’s other properties. Unlike with the white servants, the names and origins of the black women went unnoted, suggesting they were enslaved and making Yeardley one of the first slaveholders in Virginia. They may have come from one of the two ships that arrived in 1619.^[14] By the next year, when another muster was held on January 25, 1625, Yeardley’s holdings had increased substantially. He now claimed thirty-nine laborers, including twenty-four in Jamestown, eight of whom were black."^[15][11]

Servants ...

• (possible) ____ Gray^[16]
• Martin the Armenian^[17]

Servants at Hog Island

Muster

Muster at James Citty (16 Feb 1624):^[13]

• Sir George Yeardley, knt.
• Temperance, Lady Yeardly.
• Argall Yardley
• Frances Yeardley
• Elizabeth Yeardley

• Kilibett Hichcocke
• Austen Combes
• John Foster.^[18]
• Richard Arrundell
• Susan Hall
• Ann Grimes
• Elizabeth Lyon
• [...] Younge
• negro (woman)
• negro (woman)
• Alice Davison
• Edward Sharples
• Jone Davies

The Muster of Sir George Yeardley, kt. (20 Jan / 07 Feb 1625):^[15][19]

• Sir George Yeardley, Knight, (arrived in the Deliverance 1609).
• Temperance Lady Yeardley came in the Faulcon 1608
• Mr. Argall Yeardley aged 4 yeares
• Mr. Francis Yeardley aged 1 yeare Children borne heare
• Ms. Elizabeth Yeardley aged 6 yeares

Servants At James Citty

• Richard Gregory aged 40 (arrived in the Temperance 1620)
• Anthony Jones 26 (arrived in the Temperance 1620)
• Thomas Dunn 14 (arrived in the Temperance 1620)^[16]
• Thomas Phildust 15 (came in the Temperance 1620)
• Thomas Hatch 17 (arrived in the Duty 1619)
• Robert Peake 22 (arrived in the Margaret & John 1623)
• William Strange 18 (arrived in the George 1619).
• Robert (Roger) Thompson 40 (arrived in the London Marchannt 1620) [and] Ann his wife
• Richard Arrunell (arrived in the Abigall 1620).
• George Deverill 18 (came in the Temperance 1620)
• Thomas Barnett 16 (arrived in the Elsabeth 1620).
• Theophilus Beriston 23 (arrived in the Treasuror 1614
• Negro Men 3
• Negro Women 5
• Susan Hall (arrived in the William & Thomas 1618).^[20]
• Ann Willis (arrived in the Temperance 1620)
• Elizabeth Arrundell in the Abigail 1620

The rest of his servants at Hog Island.

Muster at Hog Island:^[21]

• Maximillian Stone age 36 (arrived in the Temperance 1620)

• Elizabeth, wife of Maximillian Stone, (arrived in the Temperance 1620)
• Maximillian (age 9 mo.), son of Maximillian Stone, (arrived in the Temperance 1620)

• Robert Guy age 22 (arrived in the Swann 1619).
• Edward Yates age 18 (arrived in the Duty 1619)
• Cesar Puggett age 20 (arrived in the Diana 1619).
• Allexander Sanders age 24 (arrived in the Truelove 1623).
• William Strachey age 17 (arrived in the Temperance 1620)
• George Whitehand age 24 (arrived in the Temperance 1620)
• Henery King age 22 (arrived in the Jonathan 1620)
• John Day age 24 (arrived in the London Marchannt 1620)

• [...], wife of John Day (arrived in the London Marchannt 1620)

• John Root (arrived in the Guift) - dweller
• Walter Blake (arrived in the Swann) - dweller
• Thomas Watts (arrived in the Treasurer) - dweller
• David Dutton, deceased
• Richard Baker, deceased.

The rest of his servants, provisions, arms &ct reconed at James Citty.

Death

George was buried,^[12] on 13 November 1627 at Jamestown, (later James City County), Colony of Virginia.^[22] The next day, Francis West was elected to act as Governor pending a new royal appointment, and the Privy Council was duly notified on 20th December 1627.^[4]

He left a will written on 12 October 1627 (with a codicil added on the 29th).

The will provided that George's property was to be sold and the proceeds divided: 1/3 each for his wife and his eldest son Argall, and 1/6 each for the other two children. We're told it was proved on 14 February 1627/8, and administration was granted to George's brother, Ralph Yeardley, on 14 March 1627/8, in the absence of his wife overseas.^[4]

Research notes

At least half a dozen other George Yardleys were born in England in the relevant timeframe, maybe a dozen. The reasons why this particular George is now selected as the immigrant have not been located. There seems to be no statement of his age in Colonial records; an estimate can be made from his career, but a birthdate of 1588 is at the limit of the range, as it would make him barely 21, if that, when he sailed with the Gates expedition, and slightly younger when he invested in the Company, but he is said to have had a previous career.^[23]

Sources

1. ↑ Jamestowne Society List of Qualifying Ancestors.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Wikipedia
3. ↑ Wikipedia: the 1609 expedition.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Waters, Henry F: "Genealogical Gleanings in England", in N.E.H.G.R, 38 (1884), p. 69. Also at American Ancestors.
5. ↑ Argall had left on the 9th, perhaps fearing arrest. Some writers date Yeardley's Governorship from this time.
6. ↑ Sometimes presumptuously called the "Great Charter". Also in V.M.H.B, Vol. 2 #2 (Oct 1894), p. 154.
7. ↑ Garrett, W.R: "The Father of Representative Government in America", in American Historical Magazine, Vol. 1 #1 (Jan 1896), p. 3. (Written by a descendant: large pinch of salt required.)
8. ↑ Sources are vague. See EV, EV again, and Tyler for differing versions.
9. ↑ See Temperance's profile for discussion as to the date of the marriage, and whether Temperance was a widow.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} http://www.virtualjamestown.org/Muster/search.muster.cgi?start_page=0&search_type=basic&database=muster_1624&last=year%25&first=&muster=&age-op=&age1=&age2=&month=&year=&date=
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} "Yeardley, Sir George (bap. 1588–1627)," in Encyclopedia Virginia.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Geggel, L. (2018, July 24). Headless Body Might Be One of America's 1st Politicians … and Slave Owners. LiveScience.com.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Hotten, 1874, p. 173 - 174.[1]
14. ↑ "As noted by Rolfe, when the White Lion arrived in what is now present-day Hampton, Virginia, the Africans were offloaded and “bought for victuals.” Governor Sir George Yeardley and head merchant Abraham Piersey acquired the majority of the captives, most of whom were kept in Jamestown, America’s first permanent English settlement.

    .

    The arrival of these “20 and odd” Africans to England’s mainland American colonies in 1619 is now a focal point in history curricula. The date and their story have become symbolic of slavery’s roots, despite captive Africans likely being present in the Americas in the 1400s and as early as 1526 in the region that would become the United States."

    .

    Ponti, C. (2019, August 26). America's History of Slavery Began Long Before Jamestown. History.com.

15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Hotton, 1874, p. 222.[2]
    Yeardley's Muster, (26 Jan 1625). WikiTree.com
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} See family of Alice Gray Dunn, and photo: William Dunn, Sr. genealogy
17. ↑ Malcom, M.V. (1919). The Armenians in America, p. 51. The Pilgrim Press. Google Books.
18. ↑ Category: Virginia, Forster Name Study
19. ↑ Africans: From Servitude to Slavery in 17th Century Virginia. Historic Jamestown, citing: (Virginia M. Meyer, ed., Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5, 3rd edition, page 29). National Park Service.
20. ↑ see Category: Hall Name Study
21. ↑ Hotten, 1874, p. 238.[3]
22. ↑ Minutes of the Council and General Court, ed. McIlwaine, p. 157.
23. ↑ Brown says he subscribed £25, so he isn't listed in the 1609 Charter only as an immigrant.

• McCartney, Martha W: Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers, 2007, p. 771. Cites the colonial primary sources. See also "Flowerdew Hundred", p. 62.
• (Not seen) Dorman, J.F: Adventurers of Purse and Person, Vol. 3 (R-Z) (2007). Also Vol. 1 (A-F) (2004) for the 1624/5 Muster.
• Colonial Records of Virginia (1874), p. 41. Company census of 1623/4 (Feb 16th). (This book contains several other references to Yeardley)
• Hotten, John Camden: The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants... (1874). 1623/4 census, p. 173. 1624/5 Muster, p. 222. Servants at Hog Island, p. 238. The book also mentions Yeardley at p. 157, Sep 18th, 22 Jac. 1 (1624), (commission as Governor, from Patent Rolls index), and at p. 274 (Corporation of Elizabeth City).
• Virtual Jamestown website, 1624/5 Muster (Jan 24th). Household of Sir George Yeardley at James City, not including his servants at Hog Island. Note the list runs to 2 pages. Also a biography, and other references, including the finding of his probable grave.
• Wikipedia: George Yeardley, accessed 8 February 2016.
• Encyclopedia Virginia, biography.
• Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1853-1935): Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Vol. 1, (New York, Lewis historical publishing company,1915), p. 39. Transcribed on VAGenWeb.
• Brown, Alexander: Genesis of the United States, Vol. 2 (1897), p. 1065.
• Shaw's Knights, Vol. 2, p. 170.
• Grayson County, Virginia Heritage Foundation, Inc., List of Council and Burgesses Grayson County Virginia, Heritage Foundation Inc. and New River Notes, accessed 8 February 2016.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #42557848 for Sir George Yeardley (1588-1627)
• Gale Research, 2009 Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. The Generations Network, Inc., Originally Filby, P. William, ed., Farmington Hills, MI. (1609-1610 Bermuda p. 17; 1609 Virginia p. 29; 1616 Virginia p. 75; 1623 Virginia p. 24; 1619 Virginia pp. 29).
• The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Jul., 1908), pp. 30-38. Virginia Historical Society. JSTOR.
• Wikipedia: Flowerdew Hundred Plantation