Robert Beheathland played an important role in the establishment of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement (1607) in North America. His progeny are the only known descendants of this settlement.[1][2]
Robert's birth date is not known since the early registers of the Parish of St. Endelyon are lost. Some speculate without documentation that he was born in 1587.
Robert Beheathland[3] was a gentleman, youngest son born in a family of 4 sons. Thus he stood little chance of inheriting anything. (sometimes the 2nd son was trained in law, the 3rd son might be trained in clergy or army/Navy. A 4th son must rely on his wits and find his own calling and training. Robert’s father invested in Virginia Company hoping to make a quick investment, and ridding himself one less mouth to feed.
Robert left Blackwall, late December 1606 when about 15 years old. Christopher Newport was the captain of Susan Constant. Captain Smith became his mentor. Upon arrival in the new land,the ships anchored in the broad river up the Chesapeake Bay on May 13, 1607.[4] In a demonstration of loyalty to their king, they named the river “James”. Once in Jamestown many settlers died from malaria starvation, gallos, execution or by a fit of rage by their fellow settlers. The following year additional supply ships brought food, tools, and more colonists who were better suited to building. Some were carpenters.
In Jan 1608, after arrival of the First Supply, Capts. Smith and Newport took a group of about twenty men, one of them Robert Behethland, and went to the village of Powhatan for a visit.[5] Later in the year, on 29 Dec 1608, Capt. Smith undertook a journey up the Pamaunkee River for another visit with Powhatan. Robert Behethland traveled in the Discovery barge with Capt. Smith; other gentlemen, soldiers, and sailors followed in a pinnace.[6] On the way back, they stopped at the house of King Opechancanough; Capt. Smith took with him a group of about fifteen, including Behethland. When they were threatened with capture, Powell and Behethland guarded the door while Capt. Smith seized the King by the long lock of his hair and held him hostage as they escaped.[7]
Robert was an Ancient Planter, and thus received land for being present during the Muster of the Living and the Dead.. source for Ancient Planter[8] http://www.ancient-planters.org/ancestors.html Robert married Mary (unknown) and had at least 3 children:[9]The surname of his wife, Mary, is not known. Some claim she was Mary Nicholson but there is no documentation to support that. The widow, Mary Beheathland, married second, Lieut. Thomas Flint of Warwick County, Virginia. [10]
Robert’s brother Anthony died in May 1615. Robert and his brother George sued Anthony's widow Ursula for their interests in the estate. In 1618 the judge ordered the widow to pay 80 pounds divided among Antony's relatives.
By 1620 Robert was in England petitioning the Royal Council of England for a qualified governor for Virginia.
Robert died 1627. His widow Mary married Lieutenant Tomas Flint of Elizabeth City, when her name appeared in court records in regard to land she had inherited.[11][12]
"Robert Beheathland of Cornwall & Jamestown is the earliest documented colonial immigrant ancestor to the Virginia colony, with descendants living today. He was survived by two daughters; therefore, his surname is not well known. Scion of a wealthy mining family, Captain Beheathland brought sheet copper for the 1607 Virginia expedition for trade with the Indians. He is the only man on the original three ships to have documented descendants living today."[1]
"Until recently it was believed that one other original Jamestown colonist – William Spence(r) – also survived to marry and have descendants. There is a great deal of debate raging among historians, archeologists, and genealogists as to whether Spence’s descendants actually survived. Initially William Spence (no “r”), who arrived on the Susan Constant in 1607, was confused with William Spencer, who arrived aboard the Sarah in 1611. Spencer’s family has survived – that is not in question. However, he is not considered an “Original Planter”. It appears now that William Spence (no “r”, who arrived on the Susan Constant in 1607) and his wife were killed by natives during the Anglo-Powhatan war. Their 3 year-old daughter Sarah was left an orphan with no further indication of her survival past the single court record appointing a guardian for her in 1624. Given this new information it appears that only Beheathland’s descendants can, with any certainty, claim “first family” status." [2][13]
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B > Beheathland > Robert Beheathland Gent.
Categories: Ancient Planters of Virginia | Jamestown, Virginia Colony | Susan Constant, sailed Dec 1606 | Featured Connections Archive 2023 | Jamestowne Society Qualifying Ancestors | Jamestown Colonists
edited by Jim Ward
"Descendants of Capt Robt Behethland of Jamestown" by John Bailey Calvert Nicklin; Vol 9, No 1 (Jan 1929) pg 60-63 avail at JSTOR and secondly, "More Descendants of Captain Robert Beheathland of Jamestown and of Major Francis Dade" by Alice Elizabeth Trabue; Vol 12, No 1 (Jan 1932) pgs 26-38. Avail at JSTOR
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