John Bishop Sr. (abt. 1590 - abt. 1656)

Born about 1590 in Linlithgow, Linlithgowshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about Mar 1656 at about age 66 in Charles City County, Colony of Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Dede Wilkinson [send private message], Rebecca Bishop [send private message], and David Bishop [send private message]

Biography

John Bishop Sr. is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

John Bishop Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

John Bishop/Bishopp^[1]

Captain John Bishop was born about 1590 in Linlithgowshire, Scotland. He was the son of William Bischop and Elizabeth Ramsay of Scotland. He passed away between December 1655 and 3 April 1656 in Charles City County, Virginia.

John Bishop, the first of his family in Virginia, settled before 1638 in what became Prince George County. He founded the Swan's Bay Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia, and became a Captain in the Virginia Militia. Captain John Bishop sent the tobacco he raised back to Greenock, the port for Glasgow, Scotland, to his brother James Bischop. Captain John Bishop was a part owner in the ship the Golden Lyon. ^[2]

John appears to have brought his wife to Virginia Colony before October 1643 when he was granted headrights for her transport. They apparently returned to England after that date because in 1651 John is again granted land for the transport to Virginia of himself, his wife Eliza. Bishop, daughter Mary Bishop, and Jno. Bishop, Junr., his son.

Marriage & Children

John married Elizabeth Unknown (possibly Booker) about 1642, possibly in England. In October 1643 John Bishopp was granted 891 acres in James City County, Virginia for the transport of 18 persons (only 15 (or 16?) are named). One entry in the list was "John Bishopp his wife..." This is somewhat ambiguous. Does it mean the wife of John Bishopp, or John Bishopp and his wife? I'm inclined to think it refers to John's wife and indicates when she first came to Virginia. Known children include:

1. John Bishop, Jr., md Sarah, daughter of Mrs. Mary Lawrence-Rose before about 1664^[3]
2. Elizabeth Bishop
3. Mary Bishop, md Sylvanus Stokes,^[4] before 1658^[3]
4. William Bishop
5. Edmond Bishop, b c 1646, Charles City
   1. In 1662 Edmond Bishop, orphan of Capt. John Bishop, decd.,16 years old, selected Silvanus Stokes [brother-in-law] as his guardian.^[3]

Offices Held

• 1644 Assembled October 1st - John Bishop, Burgess, Charles City County, Virginia
• 1652, Assembled April 26th - Captain John Bishopp, Burgess, Charles City County
• 1653, Assembled July 5th - Captain John Bishopp, Burgess, Charles City County^{[5] [6]}
• Served as Vestryman "Att a Vestry att Westov'r for that parish. Jun: 4th 1655.^[7]

Land Grants & Transactions

• Nov 1638 - John Bishopp, 150 acs. James Citty Co., 9 Nov. 1638, p. 604. At the head of Tappahannock Cr., Northerly upon a path, Wly. towards a reedy swamp, E. towards a sunken marsh & Sly. into the woods. Due for trans. of 3 pers: John Tompkins, John Bonner, John Wright.^[8]
• Oct 1643 - Mr. John Bishopp, 891 acs. James City Co., Oct. 16, 1643, Page 915. Upon the head of David Jones' Cr., E. N. E. from Mr. Hoes uppermost plantation. Trans. of 18 pers.: Phillipp Pendergast, Robert Andrew, Tho. Hanscome, Eliza Sdney, Symon Hasleton, Joyce Browne, William Andrews, Ralph Lester, Jeffery Denchfeild, Richard Smith, Tho. Warner Adrian Foord, Robert Taylor, Symon Symonds, John Bishopp his wife. Note: Renewed in the name of Capt. Thos. Swann, 8 Apr. 1650. [Note: text says 18 persons, but only 15 (or 16?) are named including John Bishopp's wife.]^[8]
• Apr 1651 - "Mr. JOHN BISHOP, 300 acs., lyeing upon the S. side of Upper Chipoaks Cr., commonly called by the name of Swan Bay. Due sd. BISHOPP for trans. of 6 pers: JOHN BISHOPP, ELIZA. BISHOPP, MARY BISHOP, 1 Negro wench, ANN INGLETON, JNO. BISHOP, Junr. 9 Apr. 1651, p. 323."^{[9] [8]}
• Feb 1653 - John Bishop & James Mason, 50 acs. Surry Co., on S. side of James Riv. & on S. E. side of Tapahanock Cr., 27 Feb. 1653, p. 222. Trans. of 1 per: Mary Wade. Mary Mason, land due for.^[8]
• Sep 1657 - William Edwards, Gent., 490 acs. Surry Co., 17 Sept. 1657, p/ 120, (178). On S. side of James Riv., opposite James Citty, ... Edwards had order from Govr. &c. to patent certaine marsh and wood land formerly granted [1653] to James Mason & John Bishopp & by them deserted which land is included in the above pattent.^[8]
• Mar 1658 - John Bishopp, son & heir of John Bishop, dec'd., 300 acs. James City Co., 25 Mar. 1658; p. 176, (263). Wly. upon land of Thomas Crouch, Nly. upon land of George Powell. Granted to his father 4 July 1641, deserted & now renewed for trans, of 6 pers: ....

Death & Legacy

John's exact date of death is unknown. The best we can do is examine subsequent records to determine approximate date of death. It does appear John Bishop left a will as "Capt Henry Perry esqr and Capt David Peibils" are found acting as executors. At a court on 1 September 1656 a committee is "appointed and requested to Divide the estate of Capt John Bishopp dec'd according to the will amongs the children."

Unfortunately, this will has not yet been located. We can ascertain that John Bishop, Jr., inherited the 300 acres known as "Swan Bay" which he later sold in September 1664. In September 1656 daughter Mary (Bishop) Stokes received a distribution from the estate of "...8435 lb tobo" ... "And is for Mary Stokes Daughter of Capt John Bishopp dec'd as also all the cattle due to her." Any other bequests are still unknown.

• 3 Dec 1655 - The following items, out of order, are of the Court proceedings of Dec. 3rd 1655.
  • page 28. A Com'ison pf admra'con is granted to Capt John Bishop of the estate of Wm Hienders decd he finding Caution as is accustomed.^[7]
• 3 Apr 1656 - Att a Co'rt holden at Westov'r the 3d of Aprill 1656
  • page 45. Itt is ordered that Capt Henry Perry esqr and Capt David Peibils pay unto Wm Burford under sheff 683 lb tobbo out of the estate of Capt John Bishopp dec'd^[7]
• 21 Apr 1656 - Att a Co'rt holden att Westov'r Apr 21. 1656
  • page 51. Abstract. Admrs of Capt John Bishop dec'd ordered to pay 646 lb tobo to Tho: Northway or Erasmus Miller or either of them.^[7]
  • page 51. Abstract. Admrs. of Capt. Jo: Bishopp ordered to pay Gilbert Platt for the estate of Reignald Evans dec'd 420 lb tobo., less discount for contra a/c.^[7]
• 1 Sep 1656 - Att a Co'rt holden att Westov'r Sept primo 1656
  • page 62. Abstract. Ordered that 300 lb. tobo. be pd. Richd Rawlins from the est. of Capt. Jno. Bishopp dec'd.^[7]
  • page 62. Mr. Thomas Drew Capt Richd Tye Capt Tho: Stegge and mr Theod: Bland are appointed and requested to Divide the estate of Capt John Bishopp dec'd according to the will amongs the children (sic). Capt Jo: Bishops estate is Cred' per inventory 15075 and cask^[7]
  • page 66. Abstract. Admr of est of Capt. Jno. Bishop, dec'd., ordered to pay Nich: Perry 200 lb tobo. due.^[7]
• 3 Oct 1656 - Att a Cort holdon att Westov'r Octobr 3d 1656
  • page 68. Abstract. Exor. of Jno. Bishop, decd., ord. to pay Jas. Crewes 800 lb. tobo. ^[7]
• 23 Sep 1658 - page 169. Abstract. Rec'd 23 Sept. 1658 of Henry Perry, 8435 lb tobo "And is for Mary Stokes Daughter of Capt John Bishopp dec'd as also all the cattle due to her". Signed Sylvanus (x) Stokes; Wit: John White, Thomas Turvile; Rec. 17 Dec. 1658. ^[4]
• 14 Sep 1664 - John Bishop of "Buckland", Charles City, planter, and Sarah his wife, sold to George Watkins of Lawne's Creek Parish 300 acres in Surry ... called "Swans Bay"^[3]

Research Notes

Questions exist as to the parents and birth date of John Bishop/Bishopp who was Burgess from Charles City County, Virginia Colony. It is generally stated that John was son of Sir William Bishop and Lady Elizabeth Ramsey of West Lothian, Scotland. ^[10]

The problem is the birth date. William Bishop was born in 1570 in Scotland. Some researchers state his son, John Bishop, was born about 1590-95, also in Scotland. These two birth dates appear appropriate, about 20-25 years apart. Other researchers, including the ones who created this profile, state John Bishop was born about 1612, sometimes in England, sometimes in Scotland.

The 1612 birth date is based on one entry in Hotten:

Jo. Bishopp, age 23 (b 1612), immigrated to Virginia aboard the Paule of London, Leonard Betts, Master, on 6 July 1635.^[11]

It is not confirmed that this entry refers to John Bishop, Burgess. If he was the son of Sir William Bishop, there exists a considerable gap in ages. Sir William would have been about 42 years old when John was born. His other children, William Bishop the Younger, James Bishop and Elizabeth Bishop, were all born between about 1588 to 1595.

A second difficulty arises from the age of the Jo. Bishop who immigrated in 1635. It is problematic that such a young man could by 1638 be in a financial position to finance the transportation of other immigrants. He would have been only 26 years old and a resident for only 3 years. It is also possible that he came over as an indentured servant. If so, there is no way he could have been elected Burgess in 1644 less than 10 years later.

Based on the age and marriage date of his purported parents and the problem of such a young man attaining to Colony importance in such a short time, I don't believe the 1612 birth date is accurate. The Jo. Bishop who immigrated in 1635 must be another Jo. Bishop. It appears logical that John Bishop, Burgess, was born about 1589-1590 in Scotland. (Shirley Dalton 15:27, 1 July 2021 (UTC))

Sources

1. ↑ Bishop/Bushopp, John - A811; died by 1656, Charles City County: 1644, 1652-53 (Burgess).
2. ↑ For descendants of Captain John Bishop
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Boddie, John Bennett. Southside Virginia Families. in 2 volumes. Redwood City, Calif., Pacific Coast Publisers, 1955- Volume 1, Pages 65-67
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Fleet, Beverly. Virginia Colonial Abstracts. 34 Volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah : Digitized by FamilySearch International, 2011. Charles City County Court Records, Vol. 11, Page 27
5. ↑ Stanard, William G. and Mary Newton Stanard. The Colonial Virginia Register.Albany, N. Y.: Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers. 1902. Pages 64, 68, 70
6. ↑ New River Notes; The Colonial Virginia Register
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8} Fleet, Beverly. Virginia Colonial Abstracts. 34 Volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah : Digitized by FamilySearch International, 2011. Charles City County Court Records, Vol. 10, Pages 6, 21, 34, 39, 48, 51, 54, 62
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} 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 98, 148, 216, 281, 353, 367
9. ↑ Early Virginia Families along the James River: Their Deep Roots and Tangled Branches, Vol 3, pge., 48 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/49136/images/FLHG_EarlyVAFamJamesRiv3-0064
10. ↑ William Bishop, the Elder
11. ↑ Hotten, John Camden, Editor. The Original Lists of Persons of Quality; Emigrants' Religious Exiles; … and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700. John Camden Hotten: London, 1874. Reprinted Empire State Book Co., New York. Page 23

• https://www.geni.com/people/John-Bishop-of-Swan-s-Bay/6000000002474907429

• https://www.houseofbishop.org/surname