George Archer Sr. (abt. 1618 - bef. 1676)

Born about 1618 in England

Husband of Unknown (Unknown) Archer — married 1653 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginia

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Royall — married about 1660 in Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died before Mar 1676 before about age 58 in Tunstall's Neck, Henrico County, Colony of Virginia

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George Archer Sr. resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Biography

George Archer Sr. migrated from England to Virginia.

George Archer is estimated to have been born about 1615-1618 in England. No record has yet been located to verify his birth date, location or parents. The 1615-1618 estimated year of birth is based on his transport to Virginia Colony as an indentured servant before August 1635 (See "Immigration").

Immigration to Virginia Colony

Two land owners in the early Virginia Colony, Capt. Francis Eppes (Epes) and Justinian Cooper, transported an individual named "George Archer" to the colony prior to 1635 and received the 50 acre head right arising from that transport. Both have been designated by different researchers as the person who brought this George Archer to Virginia.^[1]

• Capt. Francis Eppes received 1700 acres on 26 August 1635 in Charles City County for transport of himself, 3 sons, and 30 servants, including a Geo. Archer.
• Justinian Cooper received 1050 acres on 13 September 1636 in Warrosquoyacke County (later Isle of Wight) for transport of himself and 20 other persons, including a Geo. Archer.

Assuming one of these men named George Archer was our George Archer, he would probably have been at least 16 years old to be so transported. It is well known that the date of award of the head right acreage often took place several years after the actual transport. If the actual arrival was about 1633-34, then George could have been born about 1617-1618. Pending future research which may discover a confirmed birth record, I am estimating his birth date as about 1618. Strutton-11 17:24, 10 December 2021 (UTC)

Which man was responsible for George's transport? A little geography is helpful.^[2] It is known that George later settled in Henrico County, located on the northern border of Charles City County and closer to the northern border of what became the state of Virginia. Warrosquoyacke was located some distance away on the southern border of what became Virginia. It makes more sense that George would have settled near his original entry, therefore it is suggested he was transported by Capt. Francis Eppes.^{[3] [4]}

• An alternate date of arrival in Virginia is listed as 1629, but this is from an Ancestry.com page that is not accessible without a subscription.^[5][6]

Marriages & Children

George Archer was married twice, however the name of his first wife, married about 1653 in Henrico County, Virginia, is not known. They had one known son:

1. George Archer, of Henrico, born about 1654; died 1731; vestryman of Bristol Parish, 1721; married Elizabeth, sister of William Harris, of Henrico^[7] Appointed Executor of his father's will dated 24 November 1675 and proved in court 16 March 1675/76.

George married secondly about 1660 in Henrico County to Mary (maiden name unknown). Known children of this marriage were

1. Elizabeth Archer married Thomas Branch, of Henrico^[7]
2. John Archer of Henrico, vestryman of Henrico parish, and a justice in 1713, &c; married Frances, daughter of Thomas Shippey, and had no issue; married second Martha, daughter of Major Peter Field, [6]^[8] of - Henrico; died in 1717^[7]
3. Margery Archer^[7]

NOTE: Archer did not marry a daughter of Abraham Wood.^[9] Abraham had one daughter, Mary, who married Thomas Chamberlaine.

After George Archer's death, Mary married Joseph Royall, who was named guardian of the three younger children.^[10]

From records cited in Adventurers of Purse and Person, we find that Joseph Royall is named guardian of George Archer's orphans, with Margery Archer and Elizabeth Archer who married Thomas Branch specifically named.^[11] Margaret (aka Margery) Bullington left a will dated 20 January 1691/2, in which she left her son to her father-in-law [step-father] Joseph Royall.^[12] The same site that had an abstract of her will had a page of information abstracted from Henrico County, Virginia's orphans court that named John as the third orphan of George Archer with Joseph Royall as guardian:

• 20 August 1678 (page 3): Joseph Royall presents the account of stock belonging to the orphans of George Archer, decd.: Elizabeth Archer, Margery Archer, and John Archer are named as legatees.^[13][10]
• 20 August 1689 (page 24): Thomas Branch married Eliza., one of the orphans of George Archer, decd., and he acknowledges the receipt of his wife’s part of the decd.’s estate. John Archer is one of the orphans of George Archer, decd., now in the custody of Mr. Joseph Royal.^[14][10]

Land Transactions

• 22 Oct 1663 - At a Court at Westover 22 October 1663: Tho Mudgett sells George Archer 125 acres, part of land formerly belonging to Edward Dunston and now in possession of Thomas Webster, being in Henrico County adj land of George Archer upon Apamatuck Riv'r. Signed Tho: Mudgett. Wit: James Cruse, Chas Osborne, Danniell Llewellyn. TestL Hoel Pryse; Rec. 24 Oct. 1663^[15]
• Dec 1663 - George Archer, 250 acs. Henrico Co., according to the ancient bounds thereof, 30 Dec. 1663, p. 441, (527). Formerly granted to Edward Tunstall & lately found to escheate to his Majestie as by inquisition etc.^[16]
• June 1665 - George Archer, 550 acs. Henrico Co., 2 June 1665, p. 180, (69). In Bristoll Parish, on N. side of Appamatax Riv. ... at the mouth of a neck called Tunstalls, ... nere the dwelling house formerly sold by Wm. Ridly to Jno. Mudgett ... to where Mudgett formerly & Archer now liveth. 250 acs, purchased of Edward Tunstall ... said land was found to escheate to his Majesty ...[Dec 1663] 300 acs. for trans. of 6 pers: Xtopher. Kennings, Thomas Moore, Wm. Traveler, Benjamin Vintua (?), Robt. Crimly or (Croinly), Richard Reade.^{[16] [17]} Note, this includes the 250 acres previously recorded in December 1663.

Death & Legacy

Will written 24 November 1675, Tunstall's Neck, Henrico, VA^[18]

Will located in Henrico County dated 24 Nov 1675 appointed George Jr as administrator, proved in court 16 March 1675/76.^[19]

"Will drawn 24 November 1673" (but no source); Probate 16 March 1675/6: Henrico Deeds & Wills 1677-92, p. 25^[20]

Research Notes

Disputed Origins

It has been determined there is no valid documentation establishing that George Archer was the son of Richard Archer and Mary Bull and he was detached from them in 2021. Notes and purported documentation regarding this subject have been removed from the profile. They can be accessed by clicking the "Changes" Tab at the top of the page. If in the future sources are located establish this relationship, they can be reconnected.

Southside Virginia

The following source information may have been from the Pritchett biography, although not all points agree:

• 1655— 500 Acres near present-day Colonial Heights “Archers Hall” built: Patent Book 1, p. 280 1663— 250 Acres. 22 October 1663— 125 acres. Patent Book 5, p. 69; 1671— 1,393 acres— p. 527; Will drawn 24 November 1673; Probate 16 March 1675/6: Henrico Deeds & Wills 1677-92, p. 25

Southside Virginia Genealogies has a biography posted for George Archer by John W. Pritchett, as shared in a comment to Richard Archer's profile (to support that Richard was not George's father).^[3]

The Pritchett biography was introduced with the statement "The first Archer on record to this family is George Archer." and the information that "George Archer is the father of Ann Archer who married William Walthall." I think that Ann was possibly not the daughter of this George & probably not the daughter of Mary, whose Archer children's guardian was Joseph Royall (1678: Elizabeth, Margery, & John). Below is information abstracted from the Pritchett biography. ~ Noland-165, 10 August 2021

• Servant of Francis Epes, transported by him to Virginia before 26 August 1635.

• 1655 land grant of 500 acres "near present-day Colonial Heights where I established my home, 'Archer’s Hall.' I added to my plantation with grants of 250 acres in 1663, 784 acres in 1671, and 1,393 acres in 1673. Thomas Mudgett sold me 125 acres next to land I already owned on the Appomattox River 22 October 1663."

• "Mary and I were the parents of 2 sons and at least three daughters. I was dying when I made my will 24 November 1675 and was dead by 16 March 1675/6 when Henrico County granted our son George administration of my estate. Unfortunately, the will no longer remains." ~ Note - Henrico County Orphans Court records would indicate that three of George's children were quite young - born after 1660 & John still under 21 as of 20 August 1689 - leading me to believe that Mary was his second wife and mother of Elizabeth, Margery & John, but that George, who was an adult in 1675/6 (named administrator of his father's estate), and the third daughter (Ann m William Walthall?) were by a first wife. ~ Noland-165

• Mary, widow of George Archer, married the Joseph Royall (1646-1732) who was guardian of "my children". ~ Note - Henrico County Orphans Court records name Elizabeth Archer, Margery Archer, and John Archer as the orphans of George Archer, dec'd (1678, 1680/81, 1689) and Magaret Bullington's 1691/2 will names Joseph Royall her father-in-law.
  • "George Archer II (1654-1731) Margery (Archer) Bullington (-1691) Elizabeth (Archer) Branch A:225 Ann (Archer) Walthall Morris John Archer I (-1718)" Note - not sure what "A:225" means or whether it was meant for Elizabeth or Ann.

Sources

1. ↑ Nugent, Nell Marion, Abstracted and Indexed by. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1800. In Five Volumes. Richmond, VA.: Press of the Dietz Printing Co., 1935.Pages 31, 47
2. ↑ Virginia Formation Map
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Source & biography: Southside Virginia Genealogies, John W. Pratchett, page 3,136" (from comment posted to Richard Archer's profile on 7 August 2020, accessed 10 August 2021).
4. ↑ Crozier, William Armstrong. Virginia County Records. Vol. VI. Originally Published As Virginia County Records. Volume VI; The Genealogical Association; Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, 1909. Reprinted Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1971. Page 22
5. ↑ Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Gale Research Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009. Record on Ancestry.com
6. ↑ Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Gale Research Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Filby, P. William, ed., Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2006. Ancestry.com record
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} "Written for The Critic. Genealogical Letter 34 Archer—Part I" (see this WikiTree page on the Archers, accessed 30 August 2021).
8. ↑ "[6]" in cited source with no footnote information
9. ↑ Wikipedia article about Abraham Wood
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} Abstracted from Pauline Pearce Warner’s book, Orphans Court Book 1677-1739 of Henrico Co., Virginia (Tappahonnock, VA: privately published, 1963).... The dates are when the court met. And all of the meetings in these records were in the Varina courthouse.
    : https://liveasfreepeople.com/2019/01/03/essential-records-of-a-key-orphans-court-part-1-1677-1690/ (accessed 7 August 2021).
11. ↑ Annie Lash Jester, Adventurers of Purse & Person (1956). FamilySearch copy, accessed 6 August 2021, pages 101/see footnote K p 102 (136-7 of 491), 285/see also footnote M (image 331 of 491).
12. ↑ https://liveasfreepeople.com/2017/03/20/ishams-of-early-virginia/
13. ↑ County Court, Henrico County, Virginia, Henrico County, Virginia, court records, Record book, Vol. 3, Deeds, wills, settlements of estates, 1694-1699; vol. 4, Orphans' Court, 1677-1739; v. 5, deeds, wills, settlements of estates, 1688-1697; database with images, FamilySearch (image 216).
14. ↑ County Court, Henrico County, Virginia, Henrico County, Virginia, court records, Record book, Vol. 3, Deeds, wills, settlements of estates, 1694-1699; vol. 4, Orphans' Court, 1677-1739; v. 5, deeds, wills, settlements of estates, 1688-1697; database with images, FamilySearch (image 229).
15. ↑ Fleet, Beverly. Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume 12; Charles City Couty, Court Orders 1661-1664. Richmond Virginia. Digitized by FamilySearch International, 2011. Images 69-70 of 118.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Nugent, Nell Marion, Abstracted and Indexed by. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1800. In Five Volumes. Richmond, VA.: Press of the Dietz Printing Co., 1935. Pages 452, 537
17. ↑ Virginia County Records. Vol. VI. Edited by William Armstrong Crozier. Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, 1971, p. 83
18. ↑ Family Data Collection - Deaths. Edmund West, comp. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2001. Ancestry.com record
19. ↑ Rootsweb (no apparent sources).
20. ↑ From an unknown reference:
    • 1655— 500 Acres near present-day Colonial Heights “Archers Hall” built: Patent Book 1, p. 280 1663— 250 Acres. 22 October 1663— 125 acres. Patent Book 5, p. 69; 1671— 1,393 acres— p. 527; Will drawn 24 November 1673; Probate 16 March 1675/6: Henrico Deeds & Wills 1677-92, p. 25

See also:

• Marriages of Henrico County, Virginia, 1680-1808 compiled by Joyce H. Lindsay, Richmond, Virginia, 1960. FHL Collection. Quote from page 11: before August 1689. Thomas BRANCH and Elizabeth Archer, orphan of George Archer. Orphans Court 1677-1739. p 24.
• George Archer, The Immigrant accessed 3 May 2021
• Find A Grave: Memorial #185860765 for "George Saunt Archer" (accessed 21 January 2022) lacks sources and should be ignored.
• https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-1-202228631-1-3691/george-archer-in-myheritage-family-trees?s=216760841
• https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-1-299607651-2-31534/george-archer-in-myheritage-family-trees?s=216760841
• Ancestry Family Trees
• Ancestry Family Trees
• http://www.virginians.com/redirect.htm?topics&a