Thomas Curle (abt. 1640 - bef. 1699)

Died before 20 Aug 1699 before about age 59 in Elizabeth City, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Note: There were two contemporaneous Thomas Curles in the Elizabeth City area, one a cordwainer (cord winder), the subject of this profile and one a prominent judge. It is very unlikely that a prominent judge would have also been a "cordwainer", but these two Thomas Curles were put together as one person in the abstracts of the Wills of Elizabeth City (see below).^[1] Notes on the Curle family in the William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. IX, No.2, October 1900, page 125, regarding Thomas Curle, state:

The records show that there were five persons of the name of Curle living in Elizabeth City County at the close of the seventeenth century: Thomas, Pasco, and Samuel Curle, brothers; Joshua Curle, probably another brother; and "Thomas Curle, cordwinder", who was of a humbler station in life.

Thomas the Cordwainer married a woman named Ann Preedy.

Children

Based on the deeds shown below, these are the children of Thomas Curle, cordwainer:

1. Henry Curle d. after May 1695.
2. Sarah Curle d. after May 1695.
3. Elizabeth Curle d. after May 1695.
4. Thomas Curle d. after abt. 1737. He married Ann Preedy, daughter of Daniel Preedy.
5. Ann Curle d. before 17 Jan 1720.

Deeds

The following deed confirms Thomas Curle (the cord winder) had living children Henry, Sarah and Elizabeth Curle as of May 1695:

"May 1695. Thomas Curle, cordwinder, of Elizabeth City Co., for love and affection to his son Henry Curle. 100 acres bounding Capt. Jenkins and Capt. Armistead. If Henry dies without children, the land is to be divided between Thomas Curle’s two daughters, Sarah Curle and Eliza. Curle. If Henry lets or mortgages the land, the deed has to be void. Signed: Thomas Curle, Ann Curle. Wit.: John Hayward, Charles Batts."

This deed shows the younger Thomas Curle (son of the cordwainer) had a sister, Ann Curle, deceased by 17 Jan 1720:

"17 Jan 1720. Thomas Curle, planter, to Matthew Williams, planter, both of Elizabeth City County, 50 acres, that part of said Thomas Curle’s manor plantation which is —— adjoins to the land that was given to Ann Curle, dec’d sister to the said Thomas Curle. Wit.: William Westwood, Thomas Morgan."^[2]

A deed dated 1721 proves this younger Thomas Curle had married Ann Preedy, daughter of Daniel Preedy.^[3]

A deed proven 21 Feb 1738 appears to have been written in 1737:

Thomas Curle (the son) and wife Ann sell land to William King the “parcel of land left him by the last will and testament of Thomas Curle, dec’d Father of the said Thomas Curle” which is described as 50 acres and with reference to the Beaver Dams in the description. The deed includes another parcel of 41 acres, though it’s not expressly clear whether this second parcel was also devised by the elder Thomas Curle. The description for the second parcel references the “head of David Davidson’s land” and “John Skinner’s land”. Wit.: Giles Ridout, John Walker, George Morgan. ^[4]

Abstract of Will

As noted above, the abstract of the wills of Thomas Curle combines two different Thomas Curles. It is not always clear which passages refer to which Thomas, as they were both apparently married to someone named Ann. It should also be pointed out that the published “Wills and Administrations of Elizabeth City County” contain abstracts, or summaries, of court records and do not contain the entirety of the will or record itself. ^[5] Three parts of the abstract regarding Thomas Curle (two Thomas Curles) are shown here with their different parts separated:

Curle, Thomas, Cordwainer;

Probation granted Ann Curle his relict as Extx. August 20 1699. Order Book 1689-1699, p 153. (Both Thomas Curles were married to someone named Ann.)

Will recorded 31 May 1700 leaving bequest to Pasco and Joshua Curle, sons of Pasco Curle. Pasco Curle died intestate leaving his brother Nicholas Curle, who died August 15 1714 leaving issue Wilson Curle, born 18 December 1709.

Thomas Curle, cordwainer. Administration granted John Dixson June --, 1701. Book 1689 - 99, p. 217.

Research Notes

This family appears to be connected to the Hayward and King families (see the Deeds)

Sources

1. ↑ Wills and Administrations of Elizabeth City County, Virginia, 1688-1800 ...By Blanche Adams Chapman Google Books
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021. Notes: Deeds, Wills, Inventories, and Orders With Mixed Dates 1715-1721. Image 153 of 303 on Ancestry. Pages 289-290 of record book itself. Original data: Virginia County, District, and Probate Courts.
3. ↑ Virginia Historical Genealogies by John Bennett Boddie. Available on Google Books here: https://books.google.com/books?id=AyhusD7Hc2MC&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=daniel+preedey+elizabeth+city+county&source=bl&ots=9nc0VTZ6J5&sig=ACfU3U0nd4zdGy7fXZ19TrK6YhW52DXUIw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiViJyesomEAxX-ZzABHctfAu8Q6AF6BAgYEAI#v=onepage&q=daniel%20preedey%20elizabeth%20city%20county&f=false
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021. Notes: Deeds and Wills 1737-1749, Bonds 1743-1756. Image 32 of 390 on Ancestry. Pages 59-60 of record book itself. Original data: Virginia County, District, and Probate Courts.
5. ↑ Wills and Administrations of Elizabeth City County, Virginia, 1688-1800 ...By Blanche Adams Chapman Google Books