Thomas Atwell (abt. 1640 - 1692)

Born about 1640 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Onóra (O'Sullivan) Atwell — married about 1670 (to 1692) in Westmoreland County, Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1692 at about age 52 in St. Mary's, Maryland [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lili Hammond [send private message]

Biography

There is a lot of contradictory information regarding Thomas Atwell. One account states he was born about 1640 in Westmoreland, Virginia and died 1692 in Westmoreland, Virginia being the son of Thomas Atwell and Margaret Dawson of England. Another account states he was born in England about 1640 and died 1692 in St. Mary's County, Maryland (across the Potomac from Westmoreland), the son of Thomas Atwell of England and Margaret Carter of Lancaster County, Virginia. Sometimes his surname/alias is seen as "Collins" and he is given the title of "Captain".

Detailed Deed Books and Court Records below show much of his life was spent in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He married Honora Sullivan.

Research Notes

"May 28, 1685 Honor ATWILL proved the will of William Hunt as his extrx., by the oaths of John Tanner and John Pye. Thomas ATWILL and John Howell became her securities (P. 409) [of orig. records.] Thomas Pope and Susan his wife proved the nunc. will of Thomas Watkins by the oaths of Thomas ATWELL and Honor his wife and were granted l. a. (p. 410) {orig. record] pg 422 \Westmoreland Co VA Order Book, Pt. 3, 1694-1698,pg. 69 in reprinted book, page 199 in original, [25 March 1696]: "John Pie attorney of Wm. Reyner confessed judgment to Honora ATWELL executrix of Thomas ATWELL for 608 pounds of tobacco due by account for work done by Thomas in his life tyme for Wm." Westmoreland Co VA Order Book 1690-1698, Pt 1, 1690-1 to 1692, abstracted and compiled by John Frederick Dorman, pg 13 [original will book page 74A]: 28 Sept. 1692 "The last will and testament of Thomas ATWELL was proved by Thomas TANNER and John PYE and a probate granted Honor ATWELL, relict of the decedent, and Thomas TANNER and John PYE assume to indempnifie the Court."

From Historical Southern Families at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~celticlady/thornton/Boddie-Thorntons.htm: The grandfather of Hannah (Atwell) Redman was Thomas Atwell, alias Collins, of Westmoreland Co. for whose importation to Virginia, along with his first wife (Susan Skery), land was granted Edward Grimes in Northumberland Co. in 1650 (C. & P., p. 212; Northumberland Deeds & Orders, 1650-52, p. 46). Thomas Atwell was deeded land in Northumberland Co. in 1662 by Walter English and Alice his wife (Record BK. 1658-66, p. 84), his and Walter English's children were legatees of Teague Olathman in Westmoreland Co. in 1669, along with Honora Sullivan and Daniel Occany (D. & W. 1665-77, p. 47), and his daughter Mary was a legatee of Henry Harpin in 1671, along with Walter English, Jr. (same, p. 104). Thomas Atwell alias Collins was granted 462 acres in Northumberland Co. June 29, 1666 (. & P., p. 560).Thomas Atwell's wife was named Honor or Honora. On May 27, 1685 Honor Atwell proved the will of William Hunt by the oaths of John Tanner and John Pye, and on the same date John Pye and Susan his wife proved the will of Thomas Watkins by the oaths of Thomas Atwell and Honor his wife (O. B. 1, pp. 409-10). Thomas Atwell died in 1692, probate being granted to Honor, his relict Sept. 28, 1692, (O.B.1690-98, p. 74a) Honora Atwell last appears in the records Mar. 25, 1696 (same, p. 199). There is some probability that Thomas Atwell's wife Honora was identical with Honora Sullivan mentioned above to whom Teage Olathman left land. If so, she was his third wife and not the mother of his children, for Honor Sullivan was still unmarried as late as April 26 1673 (D. & W. 1665-77, p. 145). Historical Southern Families by Ms. John Bennett Boddie, 1968, published by Genealogical Publishing Co. of Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The information is listed under: Thornton of Virginia, with related families Ransdell, Cox, Atwell, Alford, Williams and Curtis.

Annette Epps at genforum has this note: William was put on board the ship 25 Dec. 1635 to come to America. Elsewhere she says, per a number of ship arrival list: William Atwell came to Barbados at age of 21 in 1635. That is about the earliest mentioning of any Atwell that I have seen. Have no other information or anything that relates him to the MD or NY groups.

Sources

Thomas Collin Atwell Find A Grave Index Name: Thomas Collin Atwell Event Type: Burial Event Place: Saint Marys City, St. Mary's, Maryland, United States of America Age (Estimated): 52 Photograph Included: N Birth Date: 1640 Death Date: 1692 Cemetery: Trinity Church Cemetery Note: Contains Biography https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/GQFT-9DN

https://archive.org/details/cavalierspioneer00nuge/page/38/mode/2up?q=Atwell&view=theater

Source S700

Text: Westmoreland Co., VA Order Book 1690-1698, Pt 1, 1690-1 to 1692, abstracted and compiled by John Frederick Dorman, pg 13 [original will book page 74A]: 28 Sept. 1692 "The last will and testament of Thomas ATWELL was proved by Thomas TANNER and John PYE and a probate granted Honor ATWELL, relict of the decedent, and Thomas TANNER and John PYE assume to indempnifie the Court."

Source S703

Text: Westmoreland Co. Order Book, 1690-1698, Pt. 3, 1694-1698 Page --- [1696/7]: "Abraham Griffin aged four yeares is by his mother bound apprentice to Thomas ATWELL and Ann his wife and Honora their daughter with them to serve untill hee attaine to the age of one and twenty yeares, the which Mary Griffin his mother did in open Court own and declare."

"May 28, 1685 Honor ATWILL proved the will of William Hunt as his extrx., by the oaths of John Tanner and John Pye. Thomas ATWILL and John Howell became her securities (P. 409) [of orig. records.] Thomas Pope and Susan his wife proved the nunc. will of Thomas Watkins by the oaths of Thomas ATWELL and Honor his wife and were granted l. a. (p. 410) {orig. record] pg 422 of my photocopy and I don't know the source...]

Westmoreland Co., VA Order Book, Pt. 3, 1694-1698,pg. 69 in reprinted book, page 199 in original, [25 March 1696]: "John Pie attorney of Wm. Reyner confessed judgment to Honora ATWELL executrix of Thomas ATWELL for 608 pounds of tobacco due by account for work done by Thomas in his life tyme for Wm."

• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I29068&tree=Tree1

Atwell Israell 1635 Vectoris Christmas Elizabeth City Atwell Katherine 1638 Thomas Plomer & Samuel Edmonds James City Atwell Mary 1649 William Hoccaday  ??? Atwell Nicholas 1637 William Spencer  ??? Atwell Symon 1648 John Saynes James City Atwell Thomas 1650 Edward Grimes  ??? Atwill Nicholds 1635 William Spencer  ??? http://www.evmedia.com/virginia/

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of Shortened files.ged on 30 December 2010.
• Wilfred Vasile created the profile Atwell-573 for Thomas Atwell on July 5, 2012 (no sources given; merge proposal noted that Atwell-573 was an "orphaned, information-less profile of a Thomas Atwell").