Thomas Jordan Sr. (abt. 1700 - aft. 1765)

Born about 1700 in Virginia

Husband of Sarah (Cocke) Jordan — married after Jul 1743 in Virginia

Descendants

Died after 2 Sep 1765 after about age 65 in Virginia

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Biography

Thomas Jordon, Sr.

Birth: about 1700 Virginia, British Colonial America

Death: after 2 Sept 1765 British Colonial America

Parents:

Henry L. Jordan and Ann Stubbs

Thomas was a ward of John Whitlow, his brother-in-law, until he reached his majority in 1721.^[1]

Spouse #1 and Children:

Martha Unknown m. aft 1730 Virginia, British Colonial America

Winifred Jordan 1735–1806

Benjamin Jordan –1784

Spouse #2:

Sarah Cocke 1696–1754 By Aug 1743 Thomas Jordan had married secondly to the widow Sarah (Cocke) Cox.

Spouse #3 and Children:

Unknown

Thomas Jordan Jr.

Sarah Jordan 1729–1816

'"Court Records 1754"' ^[2] Goochland, Virginia Order Book 7, page 402 Jordan vs. COX Plaintiff: Thomas Jordan Defendant: JOHN COX Date: May court 1754

(Note: Since this case concerns individuals with the surnames Cock and Cox, I have capitalized those particular names to remind myself and other readers that they are spelled herein just as they are in the deed.)

The court order tells us that WILLIAM COCK died about 1736, possessed of several enslaved individuals. After that time, two of his children died by the age of 8 years (the date of their deaths is not given). At their deaths, the said enslaved individuals descended to "Sarah, the wife of the plaintiff, Thomas Jordan, Temperance, wife of Abraham Bailey, Mary, the wife of John Redford, sisters & co-heiresses of the said WM. COCK, & John Burton Jr, son & heir at law of Catherine, then deceased, late the wife of John Burton, the said Catherine being likewise one of the sisters of the said WM. COCK". In other words, the enslaved persons descended to William Cock Jr's sisters, brothers-in-law, and nephew.

The jury finds that "Sarah, wife of the said plaintiff was, at the time of her intermarriage with the said plaintiff, widow and relict of one WM. COX, & that the said WM. COX departed this life before the death of the said infant children of the said WM. COCK" (the date is not given).

The jury finds that "the defendant, JOHN COX, is son & heir at law of the said WILL'M COX by the said Sarah".

The jury finds that Thomas Jordan, Abraham Bailey, John Redford and John Burton Jr, immediately after the death of the children of WILLIAM COCK (again, the date is not given), "did cast lots for choice thereof" and the enslaved man called Sam fell to Sarah, the wife of Thomas Jordan, thereby becoming the property of Thomas Jordan.

About four years later (the date is not given), "Sarah, wife of the said Thomas Jordan, the plaintiff, departed this life" and the defendant, JOHN COX, believing himself to be the rightful owner of Sam, "did apply to the plaintiff, Jordan, to deliver him possession of the said slave" and Thomas Jordan "did deliver the said slave to the said defendant, and that the said slave Sam is now in the possession of the defendant".

Some time later, Thomas Jordan told a friend that he "had given his right of the said slave to the said defendant". Further arguments are to be heard at the next court.

Sources

1. ↑ Henrico Co. Minute Book 1719-24; Thomas Jordan acknowledged receipt of his estate from his guardian John Whitlow; 5 Jun. 1721
2. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-4SMZ-8

• Goochland County, Virginia Order Book#7 p402

• Henrico County, Virginia Minute Book 1714-1719; Text: Thomas Jordan acknowledges receipt of his estate

• Henrico County, Virginia Wills And Deeds 1748-1750; p427; Feb 1750 Court

• Adventurers of Purse and Person 1607-1624/5 edition#3 by John Frederick Dorman & Virginia M. Meyer & Dietz Press Inc. of Richmond, VA in 1987 p93, 214

• Adventurers of Purse and Person 1607-1624/5 edition#4 by John Frederick Dorman & Genealogical Publishing Co. of Baltimore, MD in 2004 v1 p733 & p125 citing Henrico County, Virginia Order Book 1737-1746 p228

• The Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers; Abstracts of the Records of the Local and General Archives of Virginia; v2 Families of ... Jordan ... Mann, Mosby, Palmer, Pasteur, Pleasants (note: 140+ pages on the Jordan family)
• Family Search