Simon Sturgis (abt. 1595 - aft. 1643)

Born about 1595 in England

Died after Jun 1643 after about age 48 in Virginia Colony

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Biography

Simon Sturgis was a Jamestown colonist.

Birth and Name

Simon Sturgis was born in England around 1595. His surname is recorded as "Sturgis," "Turgis," "Sturges," or "Turges." Historians have chosen the surname "Sturgis,"^[1] and his hogsheads of tobacco bore the mark "SS."^[2] His given name is sometimes spelled "Symon."

Arrival in Jamestown

In 1618, Simon left England and sailed to the Virginia aboard the ship William and Thomas.^[3]

Life at West and Shirley Hundred

He settled at West and Shirley Hundred, a plantation where many lives were lost during the Indian attacks that began in Mar 1622. Simon survived, and is listed with the "Living and Dead in Virginia" as living at West and Shirley Hundred in Feb 1624.^[4][5]

He was still living at West and Shirley Hundred, Charles City County, when the 1624/25 census was taken. He shared a well-provisioned household with his partner, Henry Bagwell.^[6]

THE MUSTER OF ROBERT BAGWELL etc^[7]

HENERY BAGWELL aged 35 yeares in the Deliverance 1608

SYMON TURGIS aged 30 yeares in the William & Thomas 1618

SERVANTS

RANDALL BAWDE aged 30 yeares in the Due Returne 1623

CHARLES aged 19 yeares in the Jacob 1624

PROVISIONS:

Corne, 80 bushells; Fish, 1 hundred, ARMES AND MUNITION: Powder, 3 lb; Lead, 50 lb; Peeces fixt, 4; Coats of Male, 2 and 3 headpeeces; buffe Coat, 1. SWINE & POULTRIE: Sow pigg, 1; Poultrie, 12. HOUSES: House, 1.

Business of the General Court

Simon's name appears several times in the minutes of the General Court. On 4 Apr 1625, he testified that he witnessed the death of Andrew Dudley, slain by Indians on 18 Mar 1623.^[8] On 28 Jul 1626, he testified that John Joyse, Servant to Ensign Francis Epps, having lately run away from his master, carried with him two Snaphance peeces with powder and shott, together with a canoe which in like manner he stole away from Symon Sturgis. Joyse was ordered to be severely whipped, returned to his master to serve an additional half year, then transported over to serve the colony for five years.

Petitions to the Authorities

In July 1631, Simon and other Virginia planters asked the king for relief from customs duties.^[2] Then, on 26 May 1634, Simon and other planters petitioned the governor of Virginia, claiming that they, "having maintained families in Virginia for several years, ... fear to lose from the appointment of Morris Thompson as sole shipper." ^[9]

The Isle of Kent Venture

On 31 Jan 1629, an entrepreneur named Captain William Claiborne obtained a commission from then Governor Yeardley to explore more of the region and attempt to establish a trading settlement. He chose a large island in the Chesapeake Bay that would later be named the Isle of Kent.^[10] The initial group of investors for the venture included Simon Sturgis, and permission from the king was received on 16 May 1631.^[11] Simon chose to withdraw from the venture for some reason, and this was probably a sound business decision, for the project ultimately failed, with Kent Island falling into the purview of the Colony of Maryland.^[10]

Land Aquisition

On 16 Mar 1636, Simon, together with John Sadler and Richard Quiney, identified as London merchants, patented 4550 acres in Charles City County, a tract of land commonly called Martin's Brandon plantation, located between Chippokes Creek and Wards Creek. The purchase was confirmed on 9 Jun 1643.^[12][13]

Death

There being no further records found for Simon Sturgis, we will list his year of death as "after Jun 1643."

Sources

1. ↑ Surname Sturgis
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} McCartney, Martha W. Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers 1607-1635: A Biographical Dictionary; Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD, 2007, p. 676-677.
3. ↑ Passenger List of the William and Thomas Research and compilation by Anne Stevens, packrat-pro.com.
4. ↑ Living - Symon Surgis
5. ↑ Coldham, Peter Wilson. The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1660, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, MD, page 36
6. ↑ Jester, Annie Lash., Hiden, Martha Woodruff. 1883. Musters of the Inhabitants in Virginia 1624/1625, Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1625: FamilySearch International, Title No. 2058494., page 13.
7. ↑ Footnote: This variation of first name in the heading and first name on the list is in the original.
8. ↑ McIlwaine, H.R., ed. Minutes of the Council and General court of Colonial Virginia, Richmond: The Library Board, 1924; repr. Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1979., p. 51.
9. ↑ Coldham, page 115
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} The Isle of Kent Venture (accessed 3 Mar 2021)
11. ↑ Maryland Historical Magazine. United States: Maryland Historical Society., 1907. Page 160.
12. ↑ Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants Section: Patent Book 1, Part; Source Information: Cavaliers and Pioneers. Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666, Vol. I [database on-line]., page 55.
13. ↑ Boddie. Patent for 4550 acres, Virginia Historical Genealogies., page 147 (159 of the viewer)