Arthur Jordan II (abt. 1629 - 1698)

Born about 1629 in England

Husband of Elizabeth (Bevin) Jordan — married 12 Apr 1654 in Southwark Parish, Surry, Virginia

Descendants

Died 3 Jan 1698 at about age 69 in Southwark Parish, James City, Virginia

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Biography

Arthur Jordan II was a Virginia colonist.

Arthur Jordan, the brother of George Jordan, was born about 1629 in England,^[1] He married Elizabeth Bevin on 1654 in Surry County, Virginia, daughter of Richard Bevin and Mary.^[2]

From the JORDAN JOURNAL

Henry Browne sponsored George Jordan's arrival into the colony from England. George was the older brother of Arthur Jordan.

ARTHUR JORDAN is the ancestral head of the Jordan family in America. (pp. 2A5-2A11).

Arthur Jordan apparently had a strong sense of fairness and right, as he saw it, and would contest any who challenged otherwise. He can almost be viewed, during the Bacon civil war, as one who sat waiting in his doorway with two muskets across his lap. Arthur Jordan was a most respected man in the community and was not bothered by the rebels, even though his brother George shifted political sides in public during the hostilities.

Arthur's birthdate can be pinned down to a two year span. He made at least three depositions in Surry County where his age was mentioned. The first record dated November 9, 1659 (R.B. 1-143) listed Arthur's age as "32 or there about". This would put his birth date within the years 1626-1627. The second deposition was made July 3, 1677, which listed Arthur's age as 50 years (R.B. 2-131). This would again give a birth date as 1626-1627. The last deposition was made September 1, 1691 (Deed Book 4-228) when Arthur's age was given as "65 years of there about" which would give a birth date of 1625-1626.

Arthur Jordan may have arrived in Virginia about the same time as his brother, George, possibly on the same ship. Arthur Jordan's name was used by John Moone on a patent dated October 21, 1635. Arthur Jordan was about 7-8 years old when he arrived in Virginia.^[3]

Death

He died Jan. 3 ,1698 in Surry County, Virginia.^{[4] [5]} His will dated September 24, 1698 - Probated January 3, 1699

In the name of God, Amen the twenty fourth day of September in the Year of Ye Lord God 1698, I, Arthur Jordan, of Southwark Parish in Surry County being very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God. I do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say First and ?stly I give my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it me and my body I commend to the earth to be decently buried in Christian buriall at the discretion of my Executor, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God; as ? (ing) my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give devise bequeath and dispose the same in manner and form following:

Item I give and bequeath unto my son George Jordan all the land that I now posses and also a negroe boy that now lives with him by name George and a good feather bed with a rugg and an blankett.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son River Jordan one good feather bed with a rugg and a blankett, a negroe boy that now lives with him by name William and one Mallatto by name John and a negroe girl by name Sarah.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son and daughter Washington one good feather bed and guff and a pair of blanketts and a pair of sheets one bay mare called (Jatho?} one Negroe girl that already lives with them by name Soabra, and a negro boy that lives with them likewise by name Sam.

Item I give unto my granddaughter Elizabeth Jordan one red pyd cow named Deggs.

Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson Arthur Washington one black pyd cow named Spott.

Item I give and bequeath all my other estate being in Virginia or elsewhere unto my two sonnes George and River Jordan to be equally divided between them share and share alike.

I do also will and warmly desire that my Negroe woman Charity be and immediately after by decease quietly posses and enjoy her freedom and whereas there being ye such act of Assembly that has obligated all negroes enjoying their freedom to be transported out of the country before they ran her freed, I do therefore command and oblige you George and River Jordan as ye are aforementioned that you at your own proper costs and charges to send her out of the country and to bring her in again and suffer her (?)arrably to enjoy her freedom as aforesaid.

Nath Harrison Tho: Flood Arthur {A} Jordan Walter Flood

On the backside was written: And of this my last will and testament I make my son River Jordan my full and whole executor and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and annull all and other former testaments which bargained bequeath and entered by me and on my wise before this front named will & bequeath rectifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament. I Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and year above written.

Arthur {A} Jordan

Signed sealed published pronounced^[6]

Marriage

He married Elizabeth (Bevin) Jordan in 1654.^[5]

Issue:

1. Thomas Jordan, b. 1655, d. 1685.^[5] (He is mentioned by name in his uncle George Jordan's will.)
2. James Jordon, b. 1657, d. 1697.^[5]
3. George Jordan II, b. 1660, Surry County, Virginia, d. July 1718, Virginia.^[5]
4. River Jordan, b. Abt. 1661, d. 1700.^[5]
5. Elizabeth (Jordan) Washington, b. Abt. 1664, d. 1735^[5]Book 1691-1713, p. 193).

There must have also been three other sons, because Arthur's brother George mentions "I give to my brother, Arthur Jordan, to be equally divided amongst my seaven nephews and my neece Eliz. Jordan, only a mourning ring to himself..."

Sources

1. ↑ Boddie, John Bennett. Southside Virginia Families. Vol I. Jordan of Surry. pg 294.pg 293 $,
2. ↑ Deposition files in Surry County Book 1, p. 413, states that Arthur Jordan was born in 1629.
3. ↑ Jordan, Robert A. Jordan Journal: History of the George and Jordan Families of Virginia, NC & Indiana from 1634.
4. ↑ http://www.nyvagenealogy.com/vaDeathRecords1600.html
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} Boddie, John Bennett. Southside Virginia Families. Vol I. Jordan of Surry. pg 294 $
6. ↑ Surry County, Virginia, Will Book 5, page 160

• History of the Jordan Family of Surry County, Virginia -- Part 2, Assembled by Joseph Luther Works in Progress, Jul 1987 & Jan 1990
• The Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers. Abstracts of the Records of the Local and General Archives of Virginia. In Four Volumes. Volume II: Families of... Jordan..Mann, Mosby, Palmer, Pasteur, Pleasants Paperback – July 30, 2014 (Note: 140(+) pages on the Jordan Family.)