Robert Beverley Jr (abt. 1668 - 1722)

Born about 1668 in Middlesex County, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Ursula Ann (Byrd) Beverley — married 1697 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 22 Apr 1722 at about age 54 in Beverley Park, King and Queen County, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Robert Beverley Jr was a Virginia Colonist.

Robert Beverley Jr is Notable.

Robert Beverley, Jr., of "Beverley Park," King and Queen county, the eldest son of Maj. Robert Beverley.

Origin

Robert was born probably 1667 or 1668, probably at Middlesex County, Virginia.^[1] He was a son of Robert Beverley and his second wife, Mary (Unknown) Keeble.^[2] We do not have record of his birth, but by September 1, 1690, he was of legal age, when he became guardian of his younger brother, John.^[1]

Marriage

Robert had only been married a short time when his young wife died, and he apparently never married again.

• He married in 1697, to Ursula Byrd, the daughter of William Byrd I.^[1] She was sixteen years old, and he was about twenty-nine.^[1] Ursula died within a year of their marriage, on October 21, 1698, and shortly after giving birth to their only son, William.^[1] She was not yet seventeen years old.^[1]

Property: Beverley Park, King and Queen County

Robert Beverley owned "Beverley Park," near the head of the Mattaponi River in King and Queen County.^[3] Robert was also one of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe who accompanied Alexander Spotswood on his journey to the crest of Blue Ridge Mountains in 1716, and Robert speculated on some property there.^[4]

Robert lived a simple and solitary life at "Beverley Park," which he had inherited from his father.^[1] He had a vineyard in which he grew several varieties, both native and French. From the three acres of vines, John Fontaine, who visited him in 1715, said four hundred gallons of wine were produced that year.^[1] According to Fontaine, Beverley "had nothing in or about his house but what was actually necessary, he had good beds, but no curtains, and instead of cane chairs used wooden stools. He lived mainly within himself upon the products of his land."^[1]

Positions

Robert served as clerk of the council in 1697 and clerk of King and Queen county (1699-1702), member of the house of burgesses for Jamestown in 1699, 1700, 1702, 1706, where he had a lot near the state house.^[5][6] In March 1703, he became, like his father and half brother Peter Beverley, clerk of the House of Burgesses.^[1] He was the presiding justice of King and Queen Co. in 1718.^[1]

Robert was appointed to the Elizabeth City County Court on 27 December 1700.^[1] After he lost a case in General Court concerning the ownership of some land in Elizabeth City County, Robert appealed to the Privy Council. In 1703, he traveled to London in order to prosecute the case (which he ultimately lost), and while he was away, the Virginia governor, Francis Nicholson, "deprived him of the clerkship of the House of Burgesses and engineered his dismissal as clerk of King and Queen County."^[1]

Author

While in England to settle the property dispute, Robert wrote The History and Present State of Virginia, (first published in 1705) considered the "first published history of a British colony by a native of North America" with a second edition in 1722.^{[1] [7]} A few years later, he wrote An Abridgement of the Publick Laws of Virginia, In Force and Use, June 10, 1720.^[1]

Death and Legacy

Robert died April 21, 1722 at "Beverley Park," in King and Queen County, Virginia Colony.^[1] He left most of his large estate to his son, William.

Only Child

Child of Robert and Ursula:^[1]

1. William Beverley (Col), of Essex and "Blandfield," b bef 11 Oct 1698, d 1756; m Elizabeth Bland, daughter of Richard Bland.

Research Notes

Needs Relationship Review - Ursula (Beverley) Dudley is shown as daughter and William is described as the only child born shortly before his mother Ursula (Byrd) Beverley died. Is there a confusion with another Ursula Beverley?

Locations:^[8]

In 1654, New Kent formed from York.
In 1691, King and Queen formed from New Kent.
In 1720-1721, Spotsylvania formed from Essex, King & Queen, and King William.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16} Ruggles, Jeffrey and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography,"Robert Beverley (d. 1722)." Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, 12 Jul. 2013, accessed December 8, 2014
2. ↑ Hatcher, Patricia, L., (2012) "Identifying Judith Hone, Wife of John 2 Armistead of Virginia, with Hone and Aylmer Ancestry of Presidents William Henry and Benjamin Harrison." American Ancestors Journal. AmericanAncestors.org NEHGS (Pages 352-64).
3. ↑ Stanard, W. G., (Oct., 1895) "Major Robert Beverley and His Descendants (Concluded)."] The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Virginia Historical Society, JSTOR.org (Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 169-176, citing pp 170-71).
4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, Robert Beverley.
5. ↑ Virginia. House of Burgesses; McIlwaine, H. R. (Henry Read), (1913) Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia... Richmond, VA: [Library Board, Virginia State Library] Archive.org (Vol 3).
6. ↑ Virginia. House of Burgesses; McIlwaine, H. R. (Henry Read), (1930) Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia... Vol 4. Richmond: [Library Board, Virginia State Library] Archive.org (Vol 4).
7. ↑ Beverley,Robert, Jr. “The History of Virginia in Four Parts” reprinted from the author’s second revised edition, London, 1722. J.W. Randolph, Richmond, Virginia, 1855. [1]
8. ↑ Germanna Colonies, "History of County Formations in Virginia 1617-1995." Germanna Colonies Family History: The State of Virginia.

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #79274063 database and images, accessed 19 Jul 2021, memorial page for Robert Beverley Jr. (1668–22 Apr 1722), citing Jamestown Fort James Cemetery, Jamestown, James City County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Pam Barns (contributor 46946976) .

• (Jan., 1902) "An Abridgment of the Laws of Virginia. Compiled in 1694." The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. Virginia Historical Society JSTOR.org (Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 273-288).

• Beverley, Robert Jr., (1705, rev 1722) The History and Present State of Virginia, excerpts, National Humanities Center, Resource Toolbox.

• Beverley, Robert, (1855) The History of Virginia, in Four Parts. Richmond, J. W. Randolph Archive.org and Documenting the South.

• Browning, Charles H., (1891) Americans of Royal Descent. A collection of genealogies ... 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Porter & Costes, HathiTrust.org (Page 668).

• Gwathmey, John Hastings, (1937) Twelve Virginia counties, where the western migration began ... Richmond: The Dietz press, GoogleBooks.com (Pages 407-410).

• Tarter, Brent. "Major Robert Beverley (1635-1687)." Magazine of Virginia Genealogy 31, no. 3 (August 1993): 163-183.

• Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I. "Burgesses and Other Prominent Persons." Pages 179-189.

• Wikipedia: Knights of the Golden Horseshoe - 1716 Expedition of Gov. Spotswood and others, including Robert Beverley, Jr.

• Wright, Louis, B., editor, (1701) "An Essay upon the Government of the English Plantations on the Continent of America."

• Ruggles, Jeffrey. "Beverley, Robert (d. 1722)," Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (12 Feb. 2021). Web. 19 Jul. 2021 [2]