Thomas Busby Sr. (abt. 1632 - bef. 1718)

Born about 1632 in England

Husband of Susannah (Grey) Busby — married before 1660 in Virginia

Descendants

Died before 1718 before about age 86 in Surry County, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Thomas Busby Sr. is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

Thomas Busby Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Thomas Busby ^[1]

Thomas Busby was transported by Arthur Bayly . He was Aurthurs servant,in 1637,Henrico County,Virginia.( This would have made Thomas 24 years old when he was transported in 1656 ^[2][3] On March 4,1662,Charles City County,Virginia, Thomas Busby of Surry County,Virginia ,sold an Indian boy ,age about 5,to Rollinson.^[4]

Deed below dated Oct. 20,1681 indicates a date of birth for Thomas. Stating Thomas Busby Sr. was b. ca 1632 as he gave his age as 59 in a deposition in 1691.

When he was 24 years old , he had earned a 400 acre estate in Surry County, Virginia. He paid his own passage and the passage of seven others from England to Virginia. Land was patented Jan.14, 1656. The land was on the south side of Upper Chippoakes Creek.^[5][6]

March 10, 1656, Thomas paid 450 lbs. tobacco to Will Thomas as tax to the crown.^[7]

When Thomas was 25 years old, he auctioneered during the absence of the county sheriff. He helped neighbor Robert Mosley with the sale of his possesions. He sold 1,100 acres to Arthur Jordan for 10,000 lbs. of tobacco. Right after the sale Robert Mosley went to the house of Arthur Allen and died.

Thomas helps Widow Short buy an Indian boy, named Weetoppin. July of 1659.^[8]

June of 1660, Thomas sold Peter Grey a 300 acre farm, use of Thomas's steer for four years, and the privilege of his pasture for cattle. The use of Thomas's cart. He also agreed to help Peter Grey build a house. He was also allowed to plant in Busby's orchards the first year.^[9]

He sold this tract to Peter Gray on 6 June 1660 (Surry 1:162, witnessed by Francis Gray, Anthony Allen). Then on 10 May 1667 Capt. Thomas Busby received a patent of 1170 acres on Chipoakes Creek in Surry and Charles City Counties, 520 acres of which had been assigned from Thomas Mudget (Nugent II:17). Thomas apparently sold most of the Surry part of this land in deeds from 1671 to 1681. The last of these sales was made on 20 Dec. 1681 by Tho. Busby Sr. and wife Susannah to Edward Greene (Surry 2:301, witnessed by Robert Wyatt, Beng. Harrison).^[10]

Thomas Busby received "5400 acres in Charles City County, Virginia, upon and between Joseph's SW and Jone's Hole, otherwise called Barlethorpe Creek in New Rutland, on north side of Nottaway River, about one and a half mile same, beginning in Parting Branch, which parts this and land of Mr. James Minge". - Abstract of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, Vol. III: 1695-1732.

April 10,1669- Land Patent: Mr. Thomas Busby,194 acres in Charles City County on the western branch of Upper Chippokes Creek, being 95 acres granted to John Rawlins & Michael Mittaine, who assigned to said Busby; 90 acres for transportation of 2 persons.^[11]

In Charles City Co. Thomas had another grant of 194 acres on Upper Chipoakes Creek on 16 Apr 1669, due for several transportation head rights, including a Robt. Busby (Nugent II:69). Robert is mentioned in Charles City Co. Orders of 1664-5. Thomas Sr. was apparently living in Prince George Co. (recently created from Charles City) at the time of the 1704 Quit Rent Roll, which lists Capt. Tho. Busby for 300 acres and Tho. Busby (Son)for 200 acres.

Aug. 16,1669 Thomas adds 194 acres for the transpotation of his brother Robert Busby, and William Emms. ^[12]

Dec.5,1669 , Surry County,Virginia , Thomas makes Mr. Richard Welbecke his attorney,in the suit with Jerimiah Ellis. See page 93 0f source. ^[13]

Jan 1, 1672, Thomas Busby of Surry Co. Virginia, moving, sells to Edward Green, land on Blackwater Swamp. It was acknowledged in court in 1676. Witt: John king, William Nance.^[14]

It appears that John Barker and Thomas Busby were among the rebels who took possession of Bacon Castle, (Arthur Allen home) during Bacon Rebellion. John Barker was ordered to pay Arthur Allen damages in connection with the destruction done to Arthur Allen’s brick house during the rebellion. Ben Harrison was the arbitrator in the settlement and his decision perhaps resulted in the foreclosure on Martin Brandon plantation owned by John Barker.

Bacon Castle derives its name from Nathaniel Bacon, who in 1676 led a rebellion against the rule of Col. Governor William Berkley. Bacon’s forces burned Jamestown in Sept 1676 and set up a stronghold in Surry County. They took over Arthur Allen house and occupied it for four months.

Allen a supporter of the colonial governor later sued the men who had occupied the house for the damages incurred.

(Surry p 83 bk 2 by Boddie) Barker and Busby were fined along with 27 othe rs for not attending church services of the established Church of England.

Thomas and wife Susanah, made an Indenture with Daniel Room for their land on Chipoakes Creek that adjoined william short, of 100 acres. It was a disputed sale, because the land was claimed to be in tract belonging to William Bird of Martins Brandon, dec'd, paid Thomas Bird the difference. April 7, 1680.^[15]

Thomas and Susannah Busby sold 200 acres of land to Edward Greene for 3,500 pds. of tobacco,Dec.20,1680.^[16]

On April 20,1680 Thomas Busby and Susannah his wife deeded 100 acres to Daniel Roome, George Foster and Thomas Flood being witnesses (Book 2, p.273 ), and they made a deed Oct. 20,1681 to Edward Greene In the latter deed the husband is called Thomas Busby Sr., indicating that he had a son named Thomas, as well as a son Jeffrey. Thomas Busby Sr. was b. ca 1632 as he gave his age as 59 in a deposition in 1691.

He was Interpreter to the Southern Indians 1682-1691 (Journal of the House of Burgesses). ^[17]

He seems to have had two other daughters, Mary and Sarah, who as Mary Malone and Sarah Jones, "daughters of Thomas Busby, decd." made a deed in Prince George County in the 1720 's (Prince George D. & W. 1713-28, p.595). The records regarding Thomas Busby and his family, above, show that Capt. Francis Gray died 1671 or earlier.

Thomas was a public interpreter for the Southern Indian Plantation. for York and Surry Counties in May of 1691.^[18]

SURRY COUNTY TITHABLES: 1693 Lawn's Creek Parish, upper Sunken Marsh Surry, Viriginia,Tho: & Jeffrey Busby, Jos: Kimball, Con Indian - 4^[19]

Captain Thomas Busby along with his son Thomas Busby are listed in the 1704 Virginia Rent Rolls.^[20]

There is more to come in the life of Thomas Busby.

Marriage & Children

Lt. Thomas Busby married daughter of Francis and Grace Singlton Grey, Susannah Grey, around 1667. Peter was the brother of Susannah.

1. Grace Barker (born Busby) 1668 - 1724
2. Janis Busby
3. Jeffrey Busby
4. Thomas Busby

Surry records of this period identify two of Thomas' children: On July 1671 Thomas assigned a bill of tobacco to his daughter Grace Busby, and if she died to his nephew Francis, son of Anthony Allen (1:389). On 5 May 16 74 Lt. Tho. Busby registered cattle marks for himself and daughter Janis Busby (2:56).

On July 22, 1671, Thomas Busby made a deed of gift to his daughter, Grace Busby, of a mare filly, to come to Grace when she was ten years old, and mention is made in this document of 150 pounds of tobacco, which Thomas owed to Capt. Gray, deceased.

Another daughter of Thomas Busby was Jane Busby, whose mark for cattle was handed in along with that of her father in 1674 (Bk.2, p.55). A son was Jeffrey Busby, who appears as a tithable in his father's family in 1687, so born ca 1670-1671.

Death

Captain Thomas Busby died before Jan. 1718, in Surry County, Virgina. There are documents stating him deceased.^[21]

Sources

1. ↑ Busby, Thomas - A9537; died 1723 Prince George Co.; Surry Co.: fl. 1685 (Indian Interpreter). There is an error on the Jamestowne site. The death date of 1723 in Prince George County is for Thomas Busby Jr. (1660-abt.1723). Thomas Busby, Sr. died before 1718 in Surry County, Virginia.
2. ↑ http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~busby/Buzbee_1.pdf
3. ↑ http://www.evmedia.com/virginia/
4. ↑ https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/jame1/moretti-langholtz/chap10a.htm
5. ↑ http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~johnsonsofva/genealogy/vacounties/surrycountyformed1652.htm
6. ↑ Nugent, Vol. I, p. 335.
7. ↑ Surry County Orders , 1645-1672,p.114
8. ↑ Surry County Deeds,Book 1,1652-1672,p.137
9. ↑ Surry County Deeds,no.1,1652-1672,p.162
10. ↑ http://www.maslandtech.com/familytree/np423.htm
11. ↑ Virginia Land Patents 6:248
12. ↑ Charles City County Patenets,Book 6,p.273
13. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/344519-surry-county-records-surry-county-virginia-1652-1684?viewer=1&offset=0#page=94&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=
14. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/344519-surry-county-records-surry-county-virginia-1652-1684?viewer=1&offset=0#page=140&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=
15. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/344519-surry-county-records-surry-county-virginia-1652-1684?viewer=1&offset=0#page=160&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=
16. ↑ Surry County Deeds,Wills,Ect.,Part 2, 1671-1684,pp.300a,301
17. ↑ A Study of Virginia Indians and Jamestown: The First Century
18. ↑ A Study of Virginia Indians and Jametown
19. ↑ [http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/free_Indians.htm
20. ↑ http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/misc/1704va.txt
21. ↑ Surry County Virginia Deeds and other Court Papers,1684-1733,p.102.

• https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-1/myheritage-family-trees?itemId=206694601-11-42&action=showRecord
• https://www.geni.com/people/Capt-Thomas-Busby/6000000006971819346

• Ancestry.com - Lynda Hill Clarke

Acknowledgments

• Chris Barker, firsthand knowledge.
• Teresa Davis, who did most of the research.