Thomas Avent (abt. 1671 - 1757)

Born about 1671 in Devon, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 31 Oct 1757 at about age 86 in Sussex County, Colony of Virginia

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Thomas Avent resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Biography

[Much of this section of the Biography is verbatim from The Avents and Their Kin of Avent Ferry.^[1]]

Col. Thomas Avent was born in 1671 in England^[2], came to America in 1698, asked for deposition (importation) rights in 1736, stating that he had been in this country 38 years and had not received same. This qualifies for admission to the Society of Founders and Patriots. (Brunswick County records) He died in 1757 and his will was probated 18 November 1757.^[3][4]

Col. Thomas Avent first appears in Surry County, Virginia, appearing as early as 1714 in the records of that County (Order Book 1713–14 p28).^[5]

Thomas received a land grant on 31 Oct 1716 in Surry County, described as 400 acres on The East side of the Otterdam swamp. Adjoins land of John Roberts...^[6]

Thomas Avent, and wife Elizabeth, sold 270 acres at Mount Royal on Morattuck River to Jacob Coleson on 16 Jul 1716. Test: Richard Moore, John Nairne. Thomas Avent and wife Elizabeth also sold 370 acres at Mount Royal on Morattuck River, patented 29 July 1712, to Robert Green on 16 Jul 1716.^[7]

On 4 Jul 1718, Thomas sold land to Richard Moore, and Elizabeth, his wife, relinquished her right in said land.^{[citation needed]}

(Surry County Order Book 1741–1744, p 1) [incomplete transcription] At a court held for Southward Parish, Surry County, 15 day of Dec. 1741, XV. George II reign. Present; - Thos. Avent, Jas. Chappell & Howell Briggs.^[8] This makes him a Colonial Ancestor.

Col. Thomas Avent was Justice of Sussex Court 1753–4. He was also Sheriff,^[9] and served as Colonel of the Virginia Colonial Militia.^[10]

Marriage

The wife of Thomas Avent was Elizabeth (___), who was named along with Thomas in a North Carolina land transaction on 16 July 1716.^[11]

Children

His children were as follows:

1. John, died in Sussex County, Virginia in 1775.
2. Thomas, died before September 21, 1756; his father's Will bequethed 20 pounds each to "my five grandaughters, daughters of Thomas Avent, dec'd on their attaining the age of twenty one years."
3. William, bequethed the plantation where his father dwelled, and land on the North side of Otterdam Swamp.
4. Peter, bequethed all his father's lands on both sides of Otterdam Swamp not devised for sale; dead by February 17, 1780, when his Will was probated in Sussex County (W.B.C. p350, Virginia Hist. Mag. Jan. 1911 p46.)
5. Mary Vincent, married Thomas Vincent; bequethed 193 acres of land in Sussex County.
6. Sarah Fox, married William Fox, son of Henry Fox of Brunswick County; bequethed 625 acres of land where on William Fox her husband lived.

Will & Death

Will of Col. Thomas Avent of Sussex County, Virginia^[3][4]

In the name of God Amen, September 21st, 1756.

I, THOMAS AVENT, of the Parish of Abermarle, in the county of Sussex, being of good health and of disposing mind and memory thanks be to God for the same, calling to mind the uncertain time of certain death, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first I bequeath my soul to God that Gave it, hoping and trusting in the advocacy and Mediatorship of my blessed Lord and Savior Christ for remission of all my sins and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried according to the directions of my Executors herein after named, and as for such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and desire for thereof as follows, to wit:

Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my son WILLIAM AVENT and to his heirs and assigns forever the plantation whereon I now dwell together with all the land I have on the North side of the Otterdam Swamp below the first great branch above the Meadow, commonly called the cart wheel branch and binding upon the said branch to the head thereof and from thence by a line of marked trees a strait across back to the great swamp and down the same as it meanders to the extent of my land, and also my land and plantation where on Thomas Johnson lately dwelt situate in the county of Northampton and province of North Carolina together with all my other lands situate in the County and province aforesaid all which I give to my said son William Avent and to his heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I give and devise to my son PETER AVENT and to his heirs and assigns forever all my lands on both sides of Otterdam Swamp not devised for sale, and also one hundred pounds current money of Virginia to him and his heirs and assigns forever in full of all that I intend him out of my estate.

Item: I give and devise to Thomas Avent, son of JOHN AVENT, deceased, and to his heirs and assigns forever the land and plantation that I purchased of John Golightley lying in Sussex and Southampton County's and one hundred and seventy five acres adjoining patented in my own name and an entry adjoining that is unsurveyed.

Item: I give and bequeath to my five granddaughters, daughters of THOMAS AVENT, deceased, on their attaining the age of twenty one years respectively the sum of twenty pounds Virginia currency each in full of all that I intend them out of my estate.

Item: I give and devise to my daughter MARY VINCENT one hundred and ninety three acres of land joining Joseph Prince and Robert Lynn in Sussex County and to her heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I give and devise unto my daughter SARAH FOX and to her heirs and assigns forever six hundred and twenty five acres of land where on William Fox her husband now lives together with all the appurtenances there to belonging.

Item: I give and devise my tract of land on Dickery's Creek in Lunenberg County and that part of my land lying on each side of the great swamp in Sussex County to be sold at the discretion of my Executors and that they convey the same to the purchaser and the money arising herefrom I give to be equally divided amongst William Avent, Mary Vincent, Sarah Fox, and the children of John Avent, deceased, share and share alike, the children of the said John to have but one share for all of them.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Athaliah Casiah Norris and to her heirs and assigns forever one negro girl named SUE and also ten pounds Virginia currency and also my riding horse named Glaees and likewise the second best bed and furniture and one trunk and likewise the priviledge of living in my mansion House six months after my death and to be maintained with diet out of my estate all of which I devise to her and her heirs forever.

[This transcription is incomplete, omitting a final "Item" and the last paragraph appointing his son William Avent and his Son in Law Thomas Vinson as joint executors.]

Thomas Avent The 21st day of September in the year of our Lord 1756

[end of trancription]

The Will was witnessed by Nathaniel Wyche, William Dabey, Mary Dabey, and John Barlow.^[4]

Death

Date: 31 OCT 1757

Place: Sussex, Virginia, USA

Age: 85-86

On 18 November 1757, the Will was presented in Court in Sussex County by William Avent and Thomas Vinson, the executors, and was proved by the oaths of witnesses William Dabey, Mary Dabey, and John Barlow.^[4]

On 22 October 1760, William Avent of North Carolina and Thomas Vinson of Brunswick County, Colony of Virginia, Executors of Thomas Avent, Gent., deceased, sell to John Dillard of the Parish of Albemarle in the County of Sussex, for £8.5, 200 acres of land in Sussex, on the east side of the great Swamp, adjoining Peter Avent – directed by will to be sold, etc. Witnesses: William Doby, Joseph Doby, John Doby [likely same as Dabey in Will]. Proved and recorded 21 November 1760.^[12]

Timeline

[Some of] The following tidbits added by Dennis Stewart (16676).

1703 - According to "Surry County, Virginia Tithables 1668–1703," by MacDonald & Slatten, Thomas Avent first appears in Surry County, Virginia by 1703.

1714 May 19 - Upon the Petition of Thomas Avent it is Ordered that his Mark being an under half moon in the Right Ear & a Crop in the left be Admitted to Record.^[5]

1723 Jun 20 - Sundry petitions for Leave to take up Land were read and Granted Viz't, To Tho Avent for one thousand Acres on Otterdam Swamp in Surry County being the wast Land adjoyning to Robert Humphreys and Richard Paces Surveys.^[13]

1729 May 2 - To Thomas Avent 1200 acres in Surry County beginning on Richard More's line, thence to Stewart's line and over the Otterdam Swamp to include all the land between John Davis and Richard Pace's land with his own plantation.^[14]

1734 - According to "Surry County, Virginia Deeds, 1734–1787", by Hopkins, Capt. Thomas Avent became Sheriff in Surry County, Virginia in 1734.

1734 Apr 23 (or at the next Council) - The Governor was pleas'd to Nominate & appoint the following Persons to be Sherifs in the ensuing Year [1735] Viz't, For the County of Surry, Thomas Avant.^[9]

According to the same source ("Surry County, Virginia Deeds, 1734–1787"), Thomas Avent owned 1,525 ac. in Surry County, Virginia and extending to the Brunswick County, Virginia line, and another 1,250 ac. also in Surry County, plus 625 ac. in Brunswick County, Virginia according to "Some Land Grants In Brunswick County, Virginia," which seem to indicate that they lay in what is now Greensville County," 1726–1763, and the 200 ac. home plantation in Sussex County, Virginia, totaling Avent's real estate holdings at about 3,600 ac. in Virginia.

1741 - According to "Surry County, Virginia, Court Records, 1712–1745," by Haun, the wife of Thomas Avent was named Elizabeth. No indication so far as to her maiden name. The same source in 1741 calls Thomas Avent "Gentleman Justice."

1741 Dec 15 - At a Court held for Surry County the 15th Day of December 1741. Present: Thomas Cocke, John Ruffin, Thomas Avent, Richard Cocke, James Chappel (Jr?), Howell Briggs, Gent'l. Justices.^[8]

Research Notes

Brunswick County, Virginia was created in 17 Dec 1720 from Prince George County. Parts of Isle of Wight County and Surry County were added in 1732.

Sussex County, Virginia was created in 28 Nov 1753 from Surry County.

Col. Thos. Avent died 3 October 1757, reported by Wm. Avent.^[15] Need to review register image to see if it is 3 Oct or 31 Oct.

Sources

1. ↑ Mamie Lee Advent Parker and Claude Hunter Moore, The Avents and Their Kin of Avent Ferry (North Carolina?: 1961) p7; image copy, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/aventstheirkinof00park/page/n5/mode/2up).
2. ↑ Avant Jr., David A. Some Southern Colonial Families Vol. 3, (L'Avant Studios, Tallahassee, FL 1989) pp628-632.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Mamie Lee Advent Parker and Claude Hunter Moore, The Avents and Their Kin of Avent Ferry (North Carolina?: 1961) pp8-9; image copy, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/aventstheirkinof00park/page/n5/mode/2up).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} County Court, Sussex County, Virginia, Will books, 1754-1864; index to wills, 1754-1948, Index to wills 1754-1948 Will book, Vol. A 1754-1764; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GY-QD6M?i=348&cat=366507), images 349-340.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} County Court, Surry County, Virginia, Order books, 1671-1877, Order books 1691-1718, 1741-1744; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKK-JQDG-N?i=354&cat=374004), image 355.
6. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents No. 10, 1710-1719, p. 300 (Reel 10)
7. ↑ North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. I, p. 295 - https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/235623?token=96008c4f94a8862500a1880bf7c7ac12a44c2daf4ce4c0d5a22d00cc4d3f80fb
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} County Court, Surry County, Virginia, Order books, 1671-1877, Order books 1691-1718, 1741-1744; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKK-JQD4-B?i=433&cat=374004), image 434.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia, Vol. IV (October 25, 1721–October 28, 1739) (Richmond, Virginia: The Virginia State Library, 1930) p319; image copy, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/executivejournal0004virg/page/n3/mode/2up?q=avent).
10. ↑ Avant Jr., David A. Some Southern Colonial Families Vol. 2, (L'Avant Studios, Tallahassee, FL 1989) p212.
11. ↑ "Abstracts of Conveyances,"The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, 1:284-300, at 295; images, Internet Archive, (https://archive.org/details/northcarolinahi00hathgoog : accessed 31 Oct 2022); "Thomas Avent and wife Elizabeth, to Jacob Coleson. 270 acres at Mount Royal, on Morattuck River; July 16, 1716"); citing Book B, No. 1.
12. ↑ County Clerk, Sussex County, Virginia, General index to deeds, 1754-1878; deeds, 1754-1864, Deeds, Vols. B-C 1759-1768; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-KCMN-H?i=77&cat=401440), image 78.
13. ↑ Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia, Vol. IV (October 25, 1721–October 28, 1739) (Richmond, Virginia: The Virginia State Library, 1930) p51; image copy, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/executivejournal0004virg/page/n3/mode/2up?q=avent).
14. ↑ Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia, Vol. IV (October 25, 1721–October 28, 1739) (Richmond, Virginia: The Virginia State Library, 1930) p201; image copy, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/executivejournal0004virg/page/n3/mode/2up?q=avent).
15. ↑ John Bennett Boddie, Births, Deaths, and Sponsors, 1717–1778, from the Albemarle Parish Register of Surry and Sussex Counties, Virginia (Baltimore, Maryland: Clearfield Company, Inc., 1958) p7.

See also:

• Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s–1900s. Place: Virginia; Year: 1714; Page Number: 159; Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012