Philip Rootes (abt. 1693 - 1757)

Born about Dec 1693 in Virginia Colony

Husband of Mildred (Reade) Rootes — married about 1729 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 17 Aug 1757 at about age 63 in King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Philip Rootes was a Virginia colonist.

Birth in Virginia Colony is a guess, based on the notes included in the biography.

Research Notes

On 4 March 1748, a Philip Rootes, Bartholomew Yates, and John Yates, as executors of the will of Rev. John Reid, sought compensation for a runaway slave who had been captured in Gloucester County. The slave had stabbed on "Billops" who had tried to apprehend him. The slave had then suffered frostbite during captivity, which required the removal of both his feet.^[1]

MAJOR PHILIP ROOTES, the earliest ancestor to whom the Virginia family has been traced, lived at "Rosewall, " in King and Queen Co., immediately opposite West Point. He is mentioned in a record dated I738, as "Major Philip Rootes of King and Queen," and was a justice of that county in I739, and a vestryman of Stratton Major Parish. Besides his estate in King and Queen, he owned lands in New Kent and Orange, and lots in Fredricksburg. He married Mildred, daughter of Thomas Reade, and died in 1757. His will was dated Aug. 3, 1756 and was proved in King and Queen, with John Robinson, President of the Council, Humphrey Hill and his sons Philip and Thos. Reade, executors. (See cases reported in 6 Call., 21; and 6 Mumford 87, and also will of Susanna Livingston of Spotsylvania, who names several of his children.

FTM CD#174 "Virginia Vital Records #1, 1600s to 1800s" TOMBSTONE OF PHILIP ROOTES OF ROSEWALL By Rev. Arthur Gray, West Point, VA "Rosewall was situated about two miles above West Point on the Mattaponi river in King and Queen County. It was one of the many fine old mansions existing in this territory. Both Bishop Meade and Charles Campbell, the historian, said that this section was not excelled in Virginia for its wealth and culture, and the magnificence of the homes of many distinguished people. Of the Rootes family, it is recorded that a dancing master was employed for the daughters. There are traces today of the private racetrack on the plantation. The Rootes's were known to have kept a finestring of race horses. Such homes as those of the Corbins, the Merediths, the Thorpes, the Robinsons, the Dudleys, the Taliaferros, the Moores, the Sutherlands, the Foxes, and the Ruffins were a short distance up and down the river. Today the neck of land between the two creeks where Rosewall was situated is entirely deserted. For many years the only activity in this neck has been the cutting of timber. During the last four or five years even that has not been done, and the roads into the place have so grown up that it is almost impossible to reach the site of the old home except by water. A hole in the ground represents the old cellar and a few bricks of the foundations may still be seen. About a hundred yards up the river from the site of the Mansion are traces of an old cemetery. By prodding here, in April of this year (1933), we came upon the above tombstone, broken in two pieces. These were dug from underneath the surface of the ground. No inscription at all was visible at first, but on turning over one fragment there was found to be a very clear inscription, as recorded above. The date "1757 and the age "63" are unmistakable. We made a second visit to this tomb to verify the figures. The date upon the stone is slightly at variance with records that have come down to us from that period. It reads as follows: Underneath this stone lays The Body of Philip Rootes August the 17, 1757 aged 63"

Sources

1. ↑ Virginia. General Assembly. House of Burgesses; McIlwaine, H. R. (Henry Read), Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia ... Vol 7.] Richmond, VA: [Library Board, Virginia State Library] Archive.org (Vol 7 Page 331)

See also:

Spotsylvania, Virginia County Records, 1721-1800

DEED BOOK A 1722-1729

page 107

June 3, 1729. Augustine Smith and John Waller, Gentl., Directors and Trustees for Fredericksburg Town in Spts. Co., to Susannah Livingston, widow, of Spts. Co. During her natural life, and after her decease to Philip Rootes of King William County. £12 5s. curr. Two lotts in Fredksburg, Nos. 29 and 31. Witnesses: John Chew, Jno. Waller, junr.; W. Waller. Rec . June 3, 1729.

June 5, 1741. John Grymes of Middlesex Co., Esqr., and Francis Willis of Gloucester Co., Esqr., executors of the last will and testament of Henry Willis of Spts. Co., Esqr., Decd., to Philip Rootes of King and Queen Co., Gent. £12 curr. Lot No. 8 in Town of Fredksburg. Augustine Washington, John Thornton, Henry Willis. Augt. 4, 1741.

WILL BOOK A 1722-1749

page 8

LIVINGSTON, SUSANNA, Spotsylvania Co., d. May 22, 1745, p. June 4,1745 . Wit. Francis Thornton, John Thornton, Robert Jackson. Ex.Philip Rootes, Senr. Leg. Philip Rootes of King & Queen; mentions Philip Rootes, Junr., Lucy Rootes, Betty Rootes, son and daughters of the said Philip Rootes; to Thomas Matthews the large bible for the good of his soul; to Philip Rootes, Senr. the land and plantation whereon I now live. (Page 416)

DEED BOOK E 1751-1761

page 210

Jany. 19, 1759. John Robinson, Humphrey Hill, Philip Rootes, Thomas Reade Rootes and John Rootes of King and Queen Co., Gentlemen, Executors of the last will and testament of Philip Rootes, late of the sd. County, Gentl., Decd., to Charles Julian of Fredksbg., Tavern keeper. Whereas, sd . Philip Rootes, Decd., by his will Dated Augt. 13, 1756, directed his three lots in town of Fredksbg. sold for payment of debts, and legacies by the sd. will, etc. The sd. Executors for the sum of £98 curr., convey Lots 31 and 38 in town of Fredksbg. to sd. Julian, ete. Witnesses, Fielding Lewis, Daniel Fitzhugh, Henry Heath, Thomas Colson, junr., Roger Dix on. May 1,1759.

DEED BOOK E 1751-1761

page 214

July 11, 1759. John Robinson, Humphrey Hill, Philip Rootes and Thomas Reade Rootes of King and Queen Co., Gentlemen, executors of the last will and testament of Philip Rootes, late of the sd. County, Gentl., Decd., to Charles Colson of Fredksbg., Tavern keeper. Whereas, sd. Philip Rootes , Gentl., Decd., by his last will and testament, dated Augt. 13, 1756, and Recd. in King and Queen Co., did thereby direct the sale of his three lots in the town of Fredksbg., and did thereby appoint the sd. Robinson, Hill, Philip Rootes and Thomas Reade Rootes, Execrs., and also his son, John Rootes, when he should come of age, etc. These sd. Exeers. for the sum of £145 curr. convey lot No. 29 in Fredksbg. to the sd. Colson. Witnesses, James Hunter, John Stewart, Reuben Thornton. Feby. 4, 1760.

Pecquet du Bellet, Louise, 1853-,Jaquelin, Edward, 1668-1730,Jaquelin, Martha (Cary) 1686-1733. Some Prominent Virginia Families

• https://archive.org/stream/someprominentvir04pecq#page/76/mode/2up/search/Rootes

• Journal Article: The Rootes Family - T. R. Rootes; The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Oct., 1896), pp. 204-211 (9 pages), Published by: Virginia Historical Society