| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. The book "17th Century Isle of Wight County Virginia," by John Bennett Boddie, 1938, chapter XVI, Descendants of Richard Bennett of Isle of Wight: "It seems that Thomas Bennett's wife, Alice, was formerly the widow of one Pierce, for at that same General Court in October, 1624, "Elizabeth Pierce chose her father in law (stepfather), Thomas Bennett, as her guardian." (V.M. 20, page 155.) She was unmarried and then because John Filmer to whom she was engaged had just died and left all his property to her. This was the reason for her choosing a guardian. It is probable that this Elizabeth Pierce afterwards married Anthony Barham."
2. FHL book 975.5 D2b5, "Southside Virginia Families," by John Bennett Boddie, vol. 1, 1976-1996, pp. 50-54; this section describes the great Indian Massacre of March 22, 1622, in which one quarter of the population of Jamestown was massacred:
"…All of which is of interest in connection with Thomas Pierse:
The official report of the slain shows that his plantation was the next one to the south of Martin's Hundred, near Mulberry Island. The dead at his place included Thomas, himself, "his Wife and Childe", two other men and a French boy. (3 Ibid. 570). Word of the massacre and the list of those slain or supposed to be, did not reach England until July, 1622. At a Quarter Court in London, October 2, 1622, "Edward Peirs Cittizen and Merchantaylor in London", petitioned for administration upon the estate of "one Thomas Peirs his Brother, late inhabitating neare Mulberry Islands in Virginia (who was there slain with his wife and Childe in the late massacre)". Edward satisfied the Court that he and sister Anne were the only heirs in England, so instructions were issued to authorities in Virginia to lend aid to Edward in salvagÂing his brother's estate. (2 Ibid. 106.)
However, there is no indication anywhere in the records, that Edward Pierse and his sister acquired any part of the estate of their brother, Thomas. On the contrary, extant records show beÂyond reasonable doubt that Thomas Pierse must have been one of the husbands and fathers slain in the presence of their terrified families who were carried off as captors of the savages… For subsequent recÂords seem to prove that the Alice Peerce, widow, who married Thomas Bennett was the widow of Sergeant at Arms Thomas Pierse; and that her daughter, Elizabeth Peerce, who chose her step-father, Thomas Bennett to be her guardian, and who married, first, Anthony Barham; and then Richard Jackson, must have been the "Childe" of Thomas Pierse listed among those killed at his house.
At a Court held at Jamestown, October 10, 1624, "Alice Bennett" testified that she and her husband and Richard Richards found a runaway servant of John Proctor's, and took her home. Richard Grove, a servant of Proctor's, deposed in this connecÂtion that when "Mr Richards and Thomas Bennett brought her home last, she received no Corrections, but when they two and the wife of said Thomas Bennett brought her home, last, then she reÂceived Correction".
"Mr. Anthony Barram" also testified in this case. (Minutes of the General Court, 23.) These people all lived at or near Warrasqueake on the southside of James River, at the time of these occurances, where the Bennetts, Barhams, Proctors and Richards had lands. (4 Records of the Virginia Company, 552-554; C. P. 10).
At a General Court held November 1, 1624, George Fadom reÂported that "about the 4th of July last past", he had written a will for John Phillimore (Filmer), who "signed and sealed it". But when Phillimore died the will could not be found. Fadom testified that "said Philimore did give all of his estate to Elizabeth Peerce to whom he was assured and meant to have married". One Sully, to whom Fadom had read the will, also said that Phillimore had bequeathed to said Elizabeth all of his "goods, lands and Chattells". Others gave the same testimony. Whereupon the Court ordered that the guardianship and administration of the lands and goods of John Phillimore be granted to "any friende whom the said ElizaÂbeth Peerce shal choose to her use". Elizabeth "made choyce of Thomas Bennett her father in law" (stepfather). (Minutes of the Court, 27.) Three months later, the bereaved Elizabeth was marÂried to another - none other than the Anthony Barham or Baram (Barram &c), who lived in the neighborhood with the Thomas BenÂnetts on the southside; but at the time of the census or Muster of 1624/25, Anthony Baram and wife Elizabeth were listed as living at Mulberry Island. This is on the northside of the James River, and where Thomas Pierse had his plantation. The record shows that Anthony came in the Abigail (1621); and Elizabeth in the WilÂliam and Thomas (1618). (Hotten's Lists). Anthony was Burgess from Mulberry Island, 1629-30. Thomas Bennett represented MulÂberry Island in 1632. In that day, however, in Virginia as in EngÂland, a man did not have to live in the community he was Burgess from, but as a rule they did. (Jour. H. B., 1619-1658/9, pp. xi; xiii.)
That Elizabeth, wife of Anthony Baram, was the foregoing Elizabeth Peerce, is borne out by the will of "Anthony Barham, Gent. of Mulberry Island, Virginia and at present residing in England": This will dated September 6, 1641, was probated in England September 13 as follows:
Wife Elizabeth, goods for her to be sent over to Virginia.
Daughter Elizabeth, ₤100 to be sent to my wife for her use.
To Mother Bennett
to brother in law Richard Bennett
to my sister Mrs. Mary Duke; to sister Groves and her son.
to friend Edward Major; to friend and gossip William Butler
To Mrs. Joan Pierce wife of Mr. William Pierce.
To Martha Major, wife of friend Edward Major
To Goddaughter Sarah Butler daughter of William Butler
To friend Edward Aldey minister of Canterbury
To Thomasine David.
Executors: Edward Major and William Butler.
(N. E. list. and Genealogical Register, Vol. 42, p. 393; Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight, p. 291.)
This will leaves no room for doubt that Barham's wife, ElizÂabeth, listed with him in the Muster of 1624/5 as having come in the William and Thomas, 1618, was the Elizabeth Pierse (Peerce) who, in November, 1624 chose her stepfather, Thomas Bennett, as her guardian and administrator of the estate left Elizabeth by her deceased fiance; nor can there be any doubt "Mother Bennett" of the will was the Alice (Peerce) Bennett, wife of Thomas Bennett and mother to said Elizabeth, wife and widow of Anthony Barham. It is equally evident that the Richard Bennett of the will was the son of Alice and Thomas Bennett, and so, half brother to Elizabeth (Pierse) Barham.
A thorough check of every contemporary Pierce - including every variant of the name shows that Alice and Elizabeth could not have belonged to any Pierce or Peurce &c, in Virginia, other than Sergeant at Arms Thomas Pierse of the Convention and AsÂsembly of 1619. This being the case, then the fact that Elizabeth is shown to have come in the William and Thomas, which sailed for Virginia in August, 1618, indicates that Thomas Pierse with wife Alice and daughter Elizabeth, emigrated to America on that ship. The William and Thomas was a "magazine ship" - that is, contained merchandize to be retailed to the colonists for their personal use. In other words, the "department store" of that time. In as much as Thomas was given an official position in the ConÂvention and Assembly, it suggests that he probably came in some official capacity in connection with the Magazine. (3 Rec. Va. Comp. 239.) When we remember that twelve years was a legal marriageable age for girls in early Virginia; and we take into consideration the scarcity of young girls in the Colony, it is easily deducible that Elizabeth may have been engaged even before she was twelve - this in 1624; and therefore, she might well have been a "Childe" of ten or less at the time of the massacre in 1622..."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1580 - 1622 (~ 42 years)