John Stith (abt. 1625 - 1694)

Born about 1625 in Kirkham, Lancashire, England

Husband of Jane (Drury) Stith — married 1656 in Charles City County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 3 Apr 1694 at about age 69 in Westover Parish, Charles City County, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

John Stith is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

John Stith was a Virginia colonist.

Birth and Settlement in the Virginia Colony

Major John Stith^[1]is often reported to have been born in the 1625/31 timeframe in Kirkham, Lancashire, England, the son of Robert and Mary (Townsend) Stith. However, it appears there is no evidence to support such claims: Dr. Christopher Johnston (1856-1914) of Baltimore, Maryland (himself a Stith descendant) stated as follows in an article written in Volume 21W(1), William and Mary Quarterly "The Stith family appears to have been long settled in the parish of Kirkham, in Lancashire and both the parish registers and the wills show that the Stiths were quite numerous in that locality. A careful search, however, fails to show any unmistakable trace of the Virginia immigrant, and it is probable that his immediate family had moved elsewhere, perhaps to London." ^[2]

John Stith was in the Virginia colony by 1656 ^[3][4]and at that time had received a 500–acre grant to him and to Samuel EARLE; the land was in Charles City County, VA on the James River upstream from Jamestown. There were land grants of 550 acres on July 29, 1664, 636 acres on May 11, 1675 and many other tracts in the vicinity of the James River.

John's lands and business evidently took him by the plantation of the then–deceased Thomas Gregory. On 28 June 1656 he was deposed in the Charles City County court and testified that he often saw a William Fisher help harvest tobacco on the plantation.^[5] This testimony related to a suit that had been brought by Joseph Parsons, the second husband of Gregory's widow, Jane. Parsons was seeking to recover tobacco from the guardian of young William Fisher, and John Stith's testimony supported Fisher's claim to a share of the harvest.^[6] Parsons himself died later in 1656, and the twice–widowed Jane married John Stith, as set out in greater detail in her WikiTree profile, Jane (Drury) Stith aka Gregory, Parsons (abt.1625-aft.1694). John became liable for Parson's funeral expenses and an inventory of his estate.^[7]

Although we do not know John's education or family connections, he came to the Virginia colony with assets to immediately acquire a plantation and the education necessary to begin to act as an attorney on behalf of others as early as 20 April 1658.^[8] His assimulation into the colony is evidenced by joining the militia as an officer at some time prior to a later appearance as an attorney on 24 Oct 1663, when he was addressed as Lieutenant John Stith.^[9] His relation to Judith Parsons is clarified by the court entry for 11 December 1663: "Itt is ord'ed that Judith the Orphand of Joseph Parsons dec'd be rendred and del'red into the care and tuicon of Lt John Stith who maried the mother in Law of the sd Orphand and that the Accct of her estate be presented at the next Com Co'rt."^[10] He was also recorded as an attorney on 3 April 1673.^[11]

Bacon's Rebellion

The destruction of records both during and after Bacon's Rebellion of 1676–1677 limit knowledge of how John Stith came to be named as a cause of the conflict. The significance of the conflict has been the subject of many historical studies, some identified in Wikipedia:Bacon's Rebellion, but none focus on his role.

The leader of the rebellion, Nathaniel Bacon, singled out two men, Wikipedia:John Stith and Wikipedia:Edward Hill Jr. for a law, passed at his demand, under the pressure of his armed forces, charging that:

Edward Hill, commonly called lt. coll. Hill, and John Stith, commonly callled lt. Stith . . . have been the greatest instruments and occasion of raiseing, promoteing and stirring up the late differences and misunderstanding that have happened between the honourable governour and his majesties good and loyall subjects . . .and in moveing, provoaking and occationing those grevious complaints which have justly been made against the illegal and burthensome taxes which for divers yeares last past by the art, skill and cunning of the said Hill and Stith, or one of them, and by advantage of theire being publique majestrates, officers or ministers for theire private ends and gaine imposed and raised on this majesties said subjects of Charles Citty county . . .

and enacted as law that:

all commissions, grants, concessions or elections, whereby the said Edward Hill and John Stith have, or claim to have any office of authoritie, either civill or military in the said Parish of Westover, or county of Charles Citty be from hencefoth null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever. And further be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted by the authoritie aforesaid, that the said Hill and Stith, and either of them be from henceforth utterly excluded, debarred and made incapable of haveing, useing, exerciseing or enjoying or to have, use exercise or enjoy any office of trust, judicature or profitt, or any other office either civill or millitary whatsoever within the countye of Charles Citty, at any time hereafter for ever.^[12]

When Edward Hill was required to account for the charges against him in a royal investigation following Bacon's death from dysentery, he described John Stith's role in suppressing the rebellion:

I had a comission full, and ample, from the Rt. [honorable] the King's [Governor] to raise men throughout James River. [On the North side] of the James] I finde Capt. Jno. Stith and Mr. Daniel Clark had assumed to raise men for the king, and countrey's servis. . . . I gave the command of the [solders] to Capt Stith and Mr. Clarke and tooke six horemen home with me, and ordered Capt Stith and Mr. Clarke to send me fifteen horsemen well armed out of each of theire companies.^[13]

By the King's order, the House of Burgesses on 20 February 1676/7 repealed the laws imposed on Hill and Stith.^[12]

Public Service after Bacon's Rebellion

John's career does not appear to have suffered as a result of Bacon's charges. Named as a lieutenant in the charges, he was a Captain by the time of Colonel Hill's defense and as early as the end of 1677 a major and a county burgess.^[14]In 1680, he was identified as a major in the militia and a justice of the county court.^[15] In 1680 he was also the sheriff of Charles City County, as evidenced by an order of the House of Burgesses on 14 May 1684 that he reimburse the claim of Mrs. Anne Morris of Henrico County that was mistakenly paid to another person by Charles City County.^[16] He was a member of the House of Burgesses 1685-6^[17] and identified as Major Styth when appointed to the committee to collect public claims and report them to the council.^[18] He was also identified as Major Stith in the Charles City County Court Order Book when included in the levy of December 1685 for 45 days service as a Burgess and two inquests as Coroner. ^[19] As late as November 1691, he was the high sheriff of Charles City County.^[20]

John has sometimes been credited with service as a Burgess 1692–1693, but the House's Journal identifed that "Captain John Styth" as "Jr.," the Major's son.^[21]

Marriage and Children

John married Jane (Drury) Parsons aka Gregory about December 1656.^{[citation needed][22]} At the time she had a child by her first marriage to Thomas Gregory (abt.1620-):

• Thomas Gregory Jr., said to have been born about 1650 in Virginia, died 1720 in Charles City County.^[23]

They also became responsible for the orphaned daughter of her second husband, Joseph Parsons

• Judith Parsons^[10], whose inheritance from her father remained under the guardianship of Edward Mosby for several years.^[24]

They had the following children together:^{[25] [26][27][28][29]}

• Jane Stith (abt.1657-abt.1709) who married Daniel Llewellyn (bef.1645-1712) before November 1690.
• John Stith (abt.1658-1724) who married Mary Randolph (bef.1686-aft.1730)^[27]
• Anne Stith (1660-aft.1711)^[29] who was the second wife of Colonel Robert Bolling (1646-1709) of Kippax; his first wife being Jane Rolfe, granddaughter of Pocahontas.^[26][27]
• Agnes Stith(1660/1661-1718)^[28][29] who married Thomas Wynne (abt.1657-abt.1718) before 1694.
• Drury Stith Sr. (abt.1670-bef.1742), who in 1693 married Susannah Bathurst (1674-1745), a daughter of attorney Lancelot Bathurst (abt.1646-bef.1701) of New Kent County, Virginia.^[26][27]

Will of John Stith

Will of John STITH, Sr. of Westover Parish, Charles City County, Virginia, Gentleman.
To oldest son John, all land I live on and my mill lately built, and all other lands belonging to me except my land on eastern branch of Herring Creek, which I give to my son Drury.
To my daughter Jane, now wife of Capt. Daniel Luellin, 5 pounds.
To my daughter Ann, now wife of Mr. Robert Bolling, 10 pounds.
To my daughter Agnes, now wife of Mr. Thomas Wynn, 5 pounds.
All rest of my estate divided in three parts to my wife Jane and sons John and Drury. Drury is to take his share of personal estate at plantation left to him, but if more than his share, then surplus to the other two.
To my loving friend Hugh Davis, 20 shillings to buy him a ring.
He is to settle any difference among my executors. Dated 13 Nov 1690
Wit: James Batty, Frances (FH) Batty, John Gay, Hugh Davis
Signed John Stith Recorded 3 April 1694
Codicil: I originally divided my estate in three parts. Since marriage of my son Drury, I have allowed him his third of my personal estate and made over the plantation left in my will. Therefore rest of estate is now divided into2 parts for my wife and son John. 3 Oct. 1693.
Wit: William Cole, John Jones, Thomas Grig
Signed: John Stith
Recorded 3 April 1694^[30][31]

Legacy

• President George Herbert Walker Bush (1924-2018) was an eighth great grandson of John and Jane Stith.
• President George Walker Bush is a ninth great grandson of John and Jane Stith.
• John and Jane's grandson, William Stith (1707-1755), was the third president of the College of William and Mary. Their granddaughter was the wife of the second president of the college, William Dawson (abt.1703-1752).
• We are fortunate to have several genealogies for John and Jane Stith, created by their descendants and relatives.

• In 1900, Armistead Churchill Gordon (1855-1931), their 5th great grandson, attorney and prolific author, Wikipedia:Armistead C. Gordon, published an article in the The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography which traced some of Mr. Gordon's ancestors to John and Jane's son John Stith (abt.1658-1724).^[32]
• In 1913, Dr. Christopher Johnston (1856-1914), another 5th great grandson, a medical doctor and professor at Johns Hopkins University, Wikipedia:Christopher Johnston (Assyriologist), wrote two articles for the William and Mary Quarterly,^[33][34] which differed from Mr. Gordon's lineage in several respects, including assigning the parentage of their grandson, John Stith (abt.1710-1762), to their son Drury and not their son John.
• Armistead Gordon defended and expanded his earlier lineage in three articles for the William and Mary Quarterly.^[35][36][37]
• Dr. Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1853-1935), son of U.S. President John Tyler and 17th president of the College of William and Mary (see Wikipedia:Lyon Gardiner Tyler) contributed to the discussion of the descendants of John and Jane Stith, both in the William and Mary Quarterly, which he founded and edited, and also in his other publications.^[38] While Dr. Tyler was not a Stith descendant, his first wife, Anne Baker (Tucker) Tyler (1855-1921), was John and Jane's 5th great granddaughter and she and Tyler's second wife were members of the Randolph and other families with which John and Jane's children intermarried.

Sources

1. ↑ Jamestowne Society: Stith, John - A7608; born ca. 1638, died 1694, Charles City Co.: 1685-86, 1693 (Burgess). accessed 13 November 2018
2. ↑ The Stith Family, A Living History
3. ↑ Gale Research, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s (Provo, UT, USA, The Generations Network, Inc., 2006), www.ancestry.com, Place: Virginia; Year: 1656; Page Number: 63
4. ↑ VIRKUS, FREDERICK A., editor. Immigrant Ancestors: A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1964. pg 63
5. ↑ Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 10, 1656-1658, 44; deposition of Jo. Stith Charles City County Court, page 58 of original; "Charles City County, Virginia, British Colonial America records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2H56?view=explore : Oct 6, 2023), image 67 of 132; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
6. ↑ Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 10, 1656-1658, 41; abstract of 25 June 1656 court session, page 54 of original; "Charles City County, Virginia, British Colonial America records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2HRC?view=explore : Oct 6, 2023), image 64 of 132; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
7. ↑ Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 10, 1656-1658, 63 (see also page 61); abstract of 17 Feb 1656/7 court session, pages 79 & 81 of original; "Charles City County, Virginia, British Colonial America records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2HGH?view=explore : Oct 7, 2023), image 87 of 132; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
8. ↑ Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 11, 1658-1661, 63; abstract of 20 April 1658 court session, page 1 of original; "Charles City County, Virginia, United States records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2CBD?view=explore : Oct 10, 2023), image 19 of 125; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
9. ↑ Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 12, 1661-1664, 63; abstract of 24 Oct 1663 court session, pages 412-13 of original; "Charles City County, Virginia, British Colonial America records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2HDS?view=explore : Oct 7, 2023), image 89 of 126; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 12, 1661-1664, 79; abstract of 11 Dec 1663 court session, page 433 of original; "Charles City County, Virginia, British Colonial America records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2CL5?view=explore : Oct 7, 2023), image 99 of 126; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
11. ↑ Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 13, 1650-1696, 79; appearance as attorney about 3 Apr 1673 before Charles City County Court, page 509 of original;"Charles City County, Virginia, British Colonial America records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2H4V?view=explore : Oct 6, 2023), image 99 of 125; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Act XX, June, 1676–Bacon's Laws, Laws of Virginia', 364-65.
13. ↑ "Defense of Col. Edward Hill," from Winder Papers, Virginia State Library, The Virginia magazine of history and biography, vol 3, no.3, 251 (1896); https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044090087560?urlappend=%3Bseq=64%3Bownerid=27021597765385831-68
14. ↑ Margaret McNeill Ayers, Charles City County, Virginia, Order Book 1676–1679, 249 (1968)
15. ↑ "Public Officers in Virginia, 1680," The Virginia magazine of history and biography, Vol 1, No.3, 226;https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b3624034?urlappend=%3Bseq=268%3Bownerid=9007199258184083-282
16. ↑ Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1619-1776, v.02, 224; https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t5s75nk22?urlappend=%3Bseq=302
17. ↑ "John Styth," Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1619-1776, v.02, xii,https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t5s75nk22?urlappend=%3Bseq=16
18. ↑ Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1619-1776, v.02, 263, 273, 280, 282,https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t5s75nk22?urlappend=%3Bseq=341
19. ↑ Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 13, 1650-1696, 99; "Charles City County, Virginia, British Colonial America records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2H4M?view=explore : Oct 6, 2023), image 120 of 125; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
20. ↑ Charles City County, Virginia, Orders 1687–1695, 373 (Dec 1691); images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-J3Q2-L : July 10, 2022), image 353 of 480; Virginia. County Court (Charles City County).
21. ↑ Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1619-1776, v.02, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t5s75nk22?urlappend=%3Bseq=491/
22. ↑ Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Ancestry online publication, 2004). Text: Submitter Code: HJM, Record for John Stith
23. ↑ Entered by Valentine Van Zee, Jan 2, 2012 for Gregory-906
24. ↑ Beverley Fleet, ed., Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol 11, 1658-1661, 96 (15 Jul 1661); "Charles City County, Virginia, United States records, Sep 10, 2020," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-2HNC?view=explore : Oct 10, 2023), image 115 of 125; Fleet, Beverley, 1883-1950.
25. ↑ Genforum Post by Vera Cotter, July 30, 2005
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1 26.2} Supplement to Tuckahoe and the Tuckahoe Randolphs, Note E, published in Genealogies of Virginia Families from Virginia Magazine of History and Biography (citation given by Vera Cotta for their children Drury, William, John & Anne in her Genforum Post, July 30, 2005
27. ↑ ^{27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3} "The Stith Family" by Armistead C. Gordon published in William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 22, No. 1, transcribed on Rootsweb.com archives by Kathy Merrill (citation given by Vera Cotta for their children John, Drury, and Ann in her Genforum Post, July 30, 2005
28. ↑ ^{28.0 28.1} Jane and Agnes listed by Jess B. Scott (Stith Family Page), details on this page
29. ↑ ^{29.0 29.1 29.2} wife Jane; daughters Jane Llewellyn, Agnes Wynn, Ann Boiling; sons John Stith and Drury Stith named in will (from Wanda's post, Stith Valley website)
30. ↑ From: Charles City Virginia Records 1737-1774, p.185
31. ↑ See also the transcription of Charles City County Record Book, 1692-1700. Enter Charles City in the Name box at https://virginiamemory.com/collections/lost (accessed 13 February 2022). Will of John Stith is in the first section (Transcription of Pages 1-99), starting on page 25 of 100.
32. ↑ "Descendants of John Stith and Mary Randolph," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Jul ., 1900) pp. 95-96; https://www.jstor.org/stable/4242319
33. ↑ The Stith Family," Christopher Johnston, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Jan., 1913), pp. 181-193. Published by Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Article DOI: 10.2307/1914697. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1914697
34. ↑ "The Stith Family," Christopher Johnston, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 4 (Apr., 1913), pp. 269-278. Published by Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Article DOI: 10.2307/1915353. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1915353
35. ↑ "The Stith Family," Armistead C. Gordon, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Jul., 1913), pp. 44-51. Published by Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Article DOI: 10.2307/1915072. Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1915072
36. ↑ "The Stith Family," Armistead C. Gordon, Vol. 22, No. 3 (Jan., 1914), pp. 197-208. Published by Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Article DOI: 10.2307/1915260. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1915260
37. ↑ "Further Notes on the Stith Family," Armistead C. Gordon, The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 4 (Apr., 1914), pp. 273-275. Published by Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Article DOI: 10.2307/1914821. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1914821
38. ↑ The Editor, "Some Notes on Dr. Johnston's Stith Family," The William and Mary Quarterly Vol. 22, No. 2 (Oct., 1913), pp. 131-33; https://www.jstor.org/stable/1914978

Bibliography:

• Wikipedia: John Stith
• Christopher Johnston. "The Stith Family," The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Jan., 1913), pp. 181-193 (Published by: Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, Article DOI: 10.2307/1914697)
• Stith Name Study provides citations and some links to articles that continue Dr. Johnston's research cited above and to other sources for the Stith family.
• Family of John Stith of Virginia provides citations to other sources cited in prior versions of this profile.
• Filby, P. William, ed., Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s (Gale Research, Ancestry Online Publication: 2006).
• National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, "U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970" (Ancestry Online Publication: 2011).
• Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography; edited data on vagenweb.org; original text published by Lewis Historical Publishing Co. of New York, 1915).

Acknowledgments

Julie Partridge created WikiTree profile Stith-215 through the import of PARTRIDGE-663-0c2069.ged on Feb 1, 2013.

Dave McIntosh created WikiTree profile Smith-52060 through the import of Family Tree 3.ged on Sep 25, 2013.

Jeff Smith created WikiTree profile Stith-137 through the import of Descendants of John Smith.GED on Aug 22, 2011. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Jeff and others.