George Billups (abt. 1630 - aft. 1673)

Born about 1630 in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales [uncertain]

Husband of Sarah (Unknown) Billups — married 1655 in Gloucester County, Virginia Colony

Descendants

Died after 6 Aug 1673 after about age 43 in Milford Haven, Gloucester County, Virginia Colony

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George Billups migrated from Wales to Virginia in 1648.

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

Biography

George Billups Sr

Disputed Origins

Although it is generally accepted that George emigrated from Wales, there is precious little hard evidence of his life before immigrating to Virginia Colony. In addition, the Gloucester County Clerk's office had multiple fires over the years, so that what little remains was saved in the family, and is not public record.^[1]

Origin

George is said to have been born in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales in about 1625^[2] (unclear what is the evidence for this). George's father is assumed to have been Christopher Billups (possibly without evidence), but his mother's name is unknown.^[3] His parents were born and died in Wales.^[3]

Marriage and Children

George married c. 1655 to "a lady named Sarah," Sarah Unknown.^[1] in 1655 in Virginia. She is sometimes called Sarah Ann White, without documentation and without citation.

Children:^[1][3]

1. George Billups, Jr b. 1657, d 1716; mar Anne Unknown, inherited father's property
2. John Billups b. c. 1660, d after 1709; mar Mary Glascock.
3. Richard Billups b. 1661, d 1752
4. Daughter (unnamed) "Judith Billups"

Note: The torn will of George Billups showed only the names of two sons, George and John, and mentioned a daughter (unnamed). Richard Billups owned land nearby, but is not a proven son. Unclear where the unnamed daughter became "Judith," as she is sometimes called.

Occupation

A record fragment shows George's occupation between 1653 -1673 (beginning at age 23) is Shipbuilder at Milford Haven, Gloucester County, Virginia.^[1]

Immigrated to Virginia

George is said to have immigrated to Virginia in 1648,^[4] with his two brothers, whose names are uncertain. Researcher, Janet Ariciu calls them William and Thomas.^[1] Researcher, Gayle Mandell reports their names were Joseph and Christopher.^[3]

George is assumed to have come from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales to the Virginia Colony There is still a village in Wales known as Milford Haven. Today, it is assumed that the town of Milford Haven, Virginia was named by the Billups descendants in honor of their home in Wales.^[1]

George Billups is listed as an individual in the Ancestors of The National Society Daughters Of The American Colonists, but the only data given is "male" in the "Colony of Virginia." The other Billups listed is Christopher Billups.^[5]

Property

In 1653, George "Billops" received a patent for 750 acres in Gloucester County, Virginia Colony.^[6] This property abutted that of John Lilly.^[1]

An image of the original patent for 750 acres on Milford Haven (Patent Book 3, Page 2) is included in Records of Colonial Gloucester ... Vol 1.^[7]

This patent, dated November 25, 1653, reads:

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH

TO ALL to Whom these presents shall come Greeting Now Know yee, that I the said Richard Bennett, Esqr. Knight Governor &c. Do give and grant unto George Billups seven Hundred and Fifty acres of land, lying upon the branch of Milford Haven, Beginning at a Dividing point and running up a Creek which divides this land from the land of John Lillies, Southerly three hundred and seventy five pole, west by north eighty pole, North by west a little Northerly one hundred and sixty pole to dividing point first specified. The said land being due unto the said George Billups by and for the Transportation of fifteen persons into the colony&c. To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land &c. To be help etc. Yielding and Paying &c. Which payment is made on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel. Provided &c. Dated the 25th of November 1653. (Patent Book 3, p 2).^[1][8]

1658, June 11- Now due for transportation of 2 persons Ellis Mackeneckenhogah and Sander Mackonack. Assigned to George Billips & renewed in his name 18 March, 1662.^[8]

The property was in Kingston Parish of Gloucester (Now Mathews) County, Virginia. He built his home in 1666, situated on the southwest side of Milford Haven Creek, on a branch that was known as Billups Creek.^[1] Sited on Gwynn's Island in the Chesapeake Bay, he called it "Bellashon."^[4] Some of George Billups' descendants have inhabited the 750 acre estate since its beginnings.^[1]

January 27, 1663, George added another 250 acres on Garden Creek:

250 acs. Gloster Co., 27 January 1663, p 289, (250). On the head of Gording Cr. & on the S. side opposite to land of Forrister & c. Trans. of 5 pers: Fra. Blagrave, Robt. Severall, Jno. Blyly, Mary Blyly, Hen. Brand.^[9]

In 1674, another patent for 500 acres on Garden Creek was granted, but George was probably deceased by that time.^[1]

Death and Legacy

Only a fragment of George's will exists. The abstract reads in part:

Will of George Billups 6 August 1673 … I, George Billups, being in perfect … ordain this my last will and testament … … payment of … 1,200 acres of Land to my sons George and John Billups and daughter …^[1]

George probably died at his home at Milford Haven, Gloucester County, Virginia Colony.^[1]

Some descendants remained in the Gloucester County area, and others removed to Lunenburg County or to South Carolina and Georgia around the time of the Revolutionary War.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12} Ariciu, Janet, John Billups "Janet Ariciu family Bush" WDC GenWeb October 30, 2015, accessed December 24, 2014
2. ↑ National Park Service, (17 May 1977) "Billups House; Milford (Preferred)." /057-0023_Billups_House_1980_Final_Nomination.pdf National Register of Historic Places, Inventory
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Mandell, Gayle N., Chapter 14 - Strays, Allied Families & Gayle Family Slaves in Gloucester County The Gale &Gayle Families, accessed November 2, 2015
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Genealogical Gleanings, "Early Colonial Virginia." Copyright 1997-2004, accessed May 26, 2015
5. ↑ "Ancestors of The National Society Daughters Of The American Colonists", accessed August 11, 2014
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Coldham, Peter W. , Book Reviews. The Virginia Genealogist. (Vol 28, Pgs 230-31) Washington, DC: J. F. Dorman, 1957 - 2006. (Online database accessed July 4, 2015. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.)
7. ↑ Mason, Polly Cary, (1946) Records of Colonial Gloucester ... Vol 1. Newport News, VA: Mrs. George C. Mason, downloaded as a PDF from FamilySearch.org (Vol 1, Pages 9 Lily - Billups - Stoakes Family Papers).
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Nugent, Nell Marion, 1934 Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1800. [1st ed.] Richmond: Dietz Print Co., Archive.org accessed 29 May 2016, (Vol 1, Book 3, Page 227; Book 4, Pg 368).
9. ↑ Nugent, Nell M., Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1800. (Pg 488, Patent Book No. 5) [1st ed.] Richmond: Dietz Print Co., 1934, Web accessed August 11, 2014

See also:

• DHR Virginia Final Nomination of the Billups House
• EVESERAT, "WDC GenWeb - Descendants of George Billups." WDC Gen Web Project, accessed July 4, 2015
• Weiss, Gayle, Sarah Elizabeth Henry “Lizzie” Billups Gayle , Find A Grave: Memorial #47069104

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Janet Ariciu for your extensive research on the family and for publishing on the internet.
• Thank you to Gayle N. Mandell for your excellent charts and creative use of photos.