George Eskridge (1655 - abt. 1735)

Born 30 Sep 1655 in Over Kellet, Lancashire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca (Bonum) Eskridge — married 1688 (to 27 Oct 1715) in Westmoreland County, Colony and Dominion of Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 25 Nov 1735 at about age 80 in Sandy Point, Westmorland, Virginia

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Biography

George Eskridge was born in Lancashire, England.

George Eskridge was born on 30 September 1655 in Over Kellet, Lancashire, England, the older of two known children and the only son of George Eskridge and Elizabeth Unknown. ^[1]

In 1688, when he was in his early thirties, he married Rebecca Bonum. She bore him nine known children, five sons and four daughters:

1. William Eskridge
2. Sarah Eskridge
3. Margaret Eskridge
4. George Eskridge
5. Samuel Eskridge
6. Martha Eskridge
7. Katherine Eskridge
8. Robert Eskridge
9. Daniel Eskridge

After her death, he married Elizabeth Vaulx . Elizabeth bore him one known child, a daughter whom they named Elizabeth.

On 25 November 1735, when he was eighty, George died in Sandy Point, Westmorland County, Virginia, of unknown causes.

Guardianship

He was the guardian for Mary Ball, mother of George Washington. George Washington was named for Colonel George Eskridge. Because of an entry in the journal of a gentleman who attended, some believe George Eskridge held George Washington during the baby's Christening. That lead to the belief that Baby Washington was named after Mary's beloved guardian. Several site, erroneously list them as George Eskridge Washington and George Washington Eskridge. While I've seen articles about Washington's middle name that disavow that he had one, I can't seem to locate them anymore. While Col. Eskridge was a prominent lawyer in the Northern Neck of Virginia, I've seen numerous documents with his middle initial as M., I've never seen it as W.

Major events

Occupation: Deputy, VA House of Burgess, attorney, Member of the House of Burgess of VA, planter 12, 644 ac. Westmorland, Virginia, United States. Lawyer.

Buried 1735 Sandy Point, Westmorland, Virginia, British Colonial America.

Event: George Eskridge was seized by press gang and put aboard the Anne, owned by Jonathan Foward of London, England, and taken to Virginia Colony, America where he was sold to a planter as an indentured servant for 8 years.

Arrival 1670 Virginia Colony, America. Age: 9-10. After completing his 8 year indenture he returned to London to study Law.

Departure ABT 1678. London, England. Age: ABOUT 17-18. 58 acres.

Land Grant. 16 FEB 1704. Westmorland County, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 43.

Representing Westmorland County. Virginia House of Burgess. OCT 1705. Sandy Point Plantation, Westmorland, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 45.

Virginia House of Burgess. APR 1706. Age: 45.

305 Acres. Land Grant. 16 JAN 1709. Sandy Point, Westmorland County, Virginia. Age: 48.

Immigration: 1710 (how can this be?? (Patricia Prickett Hickin, 23 July 2018.) From Lincolnshire Co., England to Westmorland, VA. Age: 49-50.

Virginia House of Burgess. OCT 1710. Age: 50.

Virginia House of Burgess. NOV 1711. Age: 51.

Virginia House of Burgess. JAN 1712. Age: 51.

600 Acres. Land Grant. 26 AUG 1712. Northumberland County, Virginia, America. Age: 51.

Rebecca Bonum. Death of Wife. 27 OCT 1715. Sandy Point Plantation, Westmorland, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 55.

2298 Acres. Land Grant. 31 DEC 1715. Stafford County, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 55.

300 Acres. Land Grant. 10 NOV 1717. Richmond, Richmond, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 57.

2060 Acres. Land Grant. 27 DEC 1717. Richmond, Richmond, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 57.

Virginia House of Burgess. APR 1718. Age: 57.

850 Acres. Land Grant. 18 AUG 1719. Richmond, Richmond, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 58.

Virginia House of Burgess. NOV 1720. Age: 60.

Mother of George Washington. Appointed Guardian of Mary Ball. 1721 Sandy Point Plantation, Westmorland, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 60-61.

Virginia House of Burgess. MAY 1722. Age: 61.

Virginia House of Burgess. MAY 1723. Age: 62.

2510 Acres. Land Grant. 27 JAN 1725. Stafford County, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 64.

934 Acres. Land Grant. 3 FEB 1725. Stafford County, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 64.

62 Acres. Land Grant. 31 JAN 1726. Sandy Point, Westmorland, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 65.

Virginia House of Burgess. FEB 1728. Age: 67.

540 Acres. Land Grant. 25 JUL 1728. Stafford County, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 67.

612 Acres. Land Grant. 21 MAR 1729. Stafford County, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 68.

1115 Acres. Land Grant. 22 MAR 1729. Stafford County, Virginia Colony, America. Age: 68.

Virginia House of Burgess. MAY 1730. Age: 69.

Will Recorded. 17 OCT 1735. Age: 75.

Last will and testament

In the name of God I George Eskridge of the county of Westmorland do make this my Last Will and Testament. Imprimis I give unto my son Samuel and his heirs forever the house and plantation where I now live containing eight Hundred Acres be the same more or less bounding upon the lands of John Crucher and Robert Ball and a Ditch made by me to divide this land from another tract I have upon the River and from the Ditch to John King's Creek including a parcel of Land I bought from One Rust. Item 1. give unto my son William Eskridge and the heirs of his body Lawfully begotten my tract of Land upon the River adjoining the aforesaid tract given to my son Samuel. Item 1 give to my Loving wife the aforesaid house and plantation and Lands before given to my son Samuel during her natural life- also I give to my said wife all the slaves she brought to me in marriage with their increase and ten other of my slaves during her natural life and after her death. I give the said slaves I had with her in marriage to my Daughter Elizabeth and her heirs forever. I give my land a Machotic commonly called Machotic Quarter in Westmorland County to my son Robert and his heirs forever. I give unto my four sons of my son George deceased four slaves apiece when they respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years. I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth and her heirs a tract of land I have at Polrick in Prince William County and all slaves and stock upon the same. I give to my aforesaid son Samuel and his heirs five hundred acres of land part of a tract at a place called Flatlick in Prince William County to be chosen by him in any One place out the said tract. I give to my son-in-law Willoughby Newton and Sarah his wife and theirs Eight hundred acres of land part of the said tract at Flatlick. All the rest of the said tract at Flatlick I give to be equally divided among the children of my son George and the daughter on my daughter Margaret Kenner and their heirs. I give to my wife the use of my Machotic land for five years after my decease. I give unto my son Robert and his heirs all my land at the March in Prince William County upon the condition that he pay all my debts I now owe to any person in Whitehaven in Great Britain. I give to my son Samuel ten Negroes. To my son Robert sixteen Negroes I mean those at my Machotic Quarter. I give five of the ten slaves herein before given to my wife during her life unto my Daughter Elizabeth, the other five I give unto my son Samuel. I give to my son William and the heirs of his body ten slaves to be annexed to the land herein before given to him. It is the will that my loving wife have the use of all my household stuff during her life and also the use of half of the cattle, hogs and horses upon my several plantations in Westmorland County during her life. All the rest of my estates after my debts paid I give to be equally divided amongst my children now living. I give unto my son-in-law Howson Kenner and his wife and their heirs eight hundred acres of Land part of My Land at the Marsh before given to Robert which the said Howson is already in possession of and also five hundred acres more of the said Land at the Marsh adjoining to that, the rest I give to my son Robert upon the condition before mentioned. I do hereby revoke all former wills by me and declare this to be my last will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of October 1735. I do appoint my sons Samuel and Robert and my good friend Capt. George Turberville executors of this my will. (Signed) George Eskridge

Signed published and declared by the said testator, as his last will in presence of us- Edward Barradell, Samuel Cobbs, William Webb.

Westmorland. At a Court held for the said County the 25th day of November 1735 this last will and testament of Col. George Eskridge dec'd was presented into Court by Samuel Eskridge, Robert Eskridge and George Turberville, Gent. His executors in the said will named. The said Samuel and Robert made oath thereto and the said Turberville prayed further time to consider thereof and the said will being proved by oath of Edward Barradell, Gent. Who wrote the same and was one of the witnesses also swore that Samuel Cobb and William Webb the other two witnesses subscribed their names thereto in his sight whereupon the said will is admitted to record (William Eskridge the eldest son and heir at law to the said decedent being present and consenting) upon the motion of the said Executors and their performing what is usual in such cases certificate is granted them for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form.

Teste

(Signed) G. Turberville C.C. W. Recorded the 5th day of December 1735. pr. G.T.C.C.W. ^[2]

George was born about 1665 and passed away about 1735

Sources

1. ↑ George Eskrigg birth record 30 Sept 1655 in Over Kellet, Lancashire, England, England Births and Christenings 1538-1975 in FamilySearch database accessed 7 Dec 2020. George Eskrigg birth record
2. ↑ Westmorland County, VA, Deeds and Wills, Vol. 8-2 1732-1738, pp. 349-351, accessed on familysearch.org on 11/24/2022 [1]

• Sharon Marden, "Marden Web Site," My Heritage Family tree: 463350171-1 Discovery Media: 463350171-1 George M. Eskridge, II 22 APR 2018 Added via a Person Discovery
• https://www.accessgenealogy.com/virginia/biography-of-colonel-edward-j-steptoe.htm
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/240656536/george-eskridge: accessed 11 June 2023), memorial page for George Eskridge (30 Sep 1665–25 Nov 1735), Find a Grave Memorial ID 240656536, citing Yeocomico Episcopal Churchyard, Kinsale, Westmoreland County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by CMWJR (contributor 50059520).