MADISONS OF COLONIAL VIRGINIA

(Revised)

 

December 6, 2002

By:  Bob Allen

San Jose, CA

 

Introduction

 

 

This article attempts to present the available documentary references of the Madisons of colonial Virginia.  The primary focus is on John Mad(d)ison, the earliest known ancestor of James Madison, Jr., President of the United States, and his descendants down to the generation of Ambrose Madison, the proven ancestor of President James Madison, Jr.  In some cases documentation from later generations is presented as supporting proof of facts related to the earlier ancestor(s).  At the end of the article, records of yet-to-be connected Mad(d)ison of VA are presented. 

 

The Madison family being examined had major connections with the Virginia counties of New Kent, King & Queen, King William and Caroline through the first ½ of the 18th Century.  Most of the records concerning these counties was destroyed by fires in the 19th Century, mainly by a fire in Richmond set by the evacuating Confederates during the Civil War.  This unfortunate destruction of records makes the research of the Madison family particularly difficult.  Circumstantial evidence often is the only evidence available.  One is required to make interpretations of the available evidence.  This author has added his analysis to the records where it seems to this author that reasonable conclusions can be drawn from the records.  The analysis is certainly subject to error.  In some instances, this author’s analysis of the records differs from commonly accepted  theories and points out, and hopefully corrects, some errors and misconceptions of the past. The opinions expressed in this article are the private opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinions of James Madison University.   

 

This is a work in progress and will probably remain so for the rest of this author’s life.  It is the hope of this author that others will be able to add primary source documentation and analysis to bring the true facts more into focus.  This author intends to make periodic revisions to this article if additional significant records are found, new or revised analysis can be made, and/or errors are identified and/or corrected.

 

Lots of people have contributed information, documentation, analysis and argument over the years that have added to my level of understanding and knowledge of the Madison family for which I am grateful.  I want to particularly identify and thank Margaret Amundson, CG, also a Madison descendant, for the records and abstracts of records and analysis that she has shared with me, without fee, that have significantly contributed to my level of information and some of my analysis presented herein.

 

The most common first name in the early Madison family of colonial Virginia is John Madison.  John Madison, the probable immigrant ancestor, had a son named John Madison and the son has a son named John Madison who are all discussed in this article.  I have referred to them in my titles and analysis as John Madison, Sr., John Madison, Jr., and John Madison, III.  If the title “Jr.” or “Sr.” is used in a documentary reference, I have used the designation included in the document, not the designation mentioned above.  I also realize that the designation of “Sr.” and “Jr.” attached to persons of the same name in a particular county does not conclusively mean that they are father and son and this author has taken this into account in his analysis.

 

John Mad(d)ison, Sr.

 

1.      He was probably born in the first quarter of the 17th Century, probably in England.  His wife was Mary __?__.  They married about 1645.  He may have been the John Maddison who appears in the York Co., VA, records between 1646-1648 (see below).  He was definitely in VA by January 1653/54.  He probably died in New Kent Co., VA, between 10 June 1678 (when he received a deed of 280 acres in (Old) Rappahannock Co., VA, from John Pigg) and 24 September 1680 (when his son, John Maddison, Jr., deeded this land to Thomas Williamson).  Of particular interest is a John Maddison who married Mary Tayler on 8 June 1645 in Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, England, because, as will be proven below, John Maddison, Sr., of Virginia had a wife named Mary, and his property in 1653 was adjacent to a Col. William Tayler/Taylor/Tayloe (husband by Elizabeth Kingsmill), a member of the Council of Virginia in the 1650s until his death about 1655.  The Parish Register of Witton-le-Wear, Durham County, England, also has an entry for the Christening of two children of a William Tailer/Tailor, William Tailer who was Christened 9 March 1600/01 and Mary Tailor who was Christened on 3 October 1619.

 

2.      On 4 January 1653/54 John Madeson received a land patent of 600 acres in Gloucester Co., VA on the North side of the Mattapony River, adjacent to Col. Taylor’s Creek and Adam Holland for the transportation of 12 persons to VA, including John Madison (Patent Book 3, page 217).

 

  1. The apparent original or this land patent is located at the Alderman Library at the University of Virginia among the Baylor Collection (Accession No. 2257, Box 2, Legal Papers, 1653-1712).  This patent says that it is based on (an order?) at James City on 12 day of March 1651/52.  Below the land patent itself are several assignments apparently showing the ownership of this parcel of property.  John Maddison and his wife, Mary, assigned the property to Thomas Jones on 24 Feb. 1659 (presumably 1659/60).  Thomas Jones assigned the property to William Hurt on 10 May 1660.  William Hurt and his wife, Margaret, assigned the property to William Nichalls (sic) on 3 Feb. 1682 (presumably 1682/83). 

 

“I John Mattison do authority to have sold unto Thomas Jones all my right and title of this land which is above Richard Davis and do bind myself and my wife Mary Mattison to acknowledging the same … as witness my hand this 24th of February 1659.” 

 

                                                            “John   J M  Mattison

                                                                   his mark”

 

“Witnesses:  William Hurt”

 

“Teste … 1660 Acknowledged in Court by said Mattison.”

 

/s/  “W. Claiborne, Sr.”

 

(1)   Note:  Gloucester Co., VA was formed in 1651 out of York County, VA.  New Kent Co., VA, was formed in 1654 out of York Co., VA, and a portion of Gloucester Co., VA, which contained the land involved in this 1653 land patent to John Maddison.

 

(2)   “Col. Taylor’s Creek” refers to the creek which divided the land of John Maddison and Col. William Taylor/Tayler/Tayloe, husband of Elizabeth Kingsmill, a member of the Virginia Counsel of State at his death, who died circa 1655 and who, before he died, sold his land to Anthony Arnold (See Land Patent Book 7, page 365).

 

(a)    This author believes the Col. Taylor Creek is now called Garrett’s Creek.

 

3.      On 23 November 1653 John Mad(d)ison received a land patent of 80 acres (county not stated) on the Eastward side of Mandecoa (Mandin?) Creek (Patent Book 3, page 217).

 

  1. Note:  It is unknown where this land is located.  This John Mad(d)ison is identified as John Maddison, Sr., because this land patent is on the same page of the Patent Book, immediately below the 4 January 1653/54 patent mentioned above.

 

4.      On 28 Aug 1657 John Maddison received a land patent of 800 acres in New Kent Co., VA on the North side of the Mattapony River adjacent to his own 600 acres and Mr. Holland’s (Patent Book 4, page 112/166).  Renewed 18 March 1662/63.

 

5.      On 28 August 1658 John Maddison received a land patent of 300 acres in New Kent Co., VA on the North East side of the Mattapony River and the North side of Whorecock Swamp. (Patent Book 4, page 184/273).

 

6.      On 22 July 1659 William Goffe received a 650 acre land patent in New Kent Co., VA on the North side of the Mattapony River behind Mr. Diggs.  He assigned to John Maddison, who later assigned to Martha Goffe who patented the land on 18 Feb. 1663/64 (Patent Book 5, page 315/297).

 

  1.  This patent was deserted by Martha Goffe and the land was repatented by Phillip Watkins on 23 May 1673 (Patent Book 6, page 386), however, it appears as if the patent was never actually taken up by Phillip Watkins.  This land was again repatented to John Prosser and deserted and sold to Robert Spencer on 28 September 1681 (Patent Book 7, page 118).

 

7.      On 9 August 1659 John Maddison received a 300 acres land patent which was renewed on 18 March 1662/63 (see Patent Book 5, page 232/147).

 

8.      In 1661 John Madison, John Pigg and Richard Evans received a 685 acre land patent (See Patent Book 8, page 141).

 

  1. On 28 April 1691, 312 acres was patented to St. Stephens Parish for a Glebe (church), being a part of a 685 acres land patent to John Maddison, John Pigg and Richard Evans in 1661, John Maddison, having sold his part to the Parish, said parcel being adjacent to Mr. John Stark, George Godards, main Quintanockack Swamp, William Watts and Col. Abrahall’s line (Patent Book 8, page 141; Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Fleet, Vol. II, page 239-240).

 

9.      On 18 March 1662/63 John Maddison received a 300 acre land patent in New Kent Co., VA on the North side of the Mattapony River, adjacent to John Pigg’s land, formerly granted to John Maddison on 9 August 1659 and is being renewed (Patent Book 5, page 232/147).

 

  1. On 16 April 1683, John Maddison, Jr., received a land patent of 430 acres in St. Stephens Parish, New Kent Co., VA on the North side of the Mattapony River, adjacent to Robert Bagbie, John Miles, Mr. Chamberland, 300 acres of which was formerly granted to JOHN MADISON, SR., deceased, on 18 March 1662 (Patent Book 7, page 246).

 

10.  On 5 May 1663 John Pigg “of Mattapony in the County of New Kent, planter” deeded 365 acres in (Old) Rappahannock Co., VA, on Draggon Swamp to John & George Mott.  The witnesses were Anthony Arnell and Edward Eastam.  John Pigg signed a Power of Attorney, appointing his “loving friend” John Maddison as his attorney in fact to acknowledge this deed for him in the (Old) Rappahannock County Court.  The witnesses were Anthony Arnell and Joane Arnell.  Recorded 10 (?)  May 1663.

 

11.  On 18 February 1663/64, John Maddison received a 280 acre land patent on (Old) Rappahannock Co., VA on the North side of a great branch of Peanketanck Swamp, adjacent to (2-1/2 miles from) Capt. Claybourne’s quarter and a path leading to Mr. Paynes of Rappahannock (Patent Book 5, page 655).

 

  1. On 10 June 1675, John Pigg received a land patent of this same property in which it says that the property was formerly granted to John Maddison by Patent dated 18 __?__ 1663 and deserted and was then granted to Edward Hudson and by him deserted (Patent Book 6, page 554).

 

  1. On 10 June 1678, John Pigg deeds this 280 acres to “John Maddison, Sen., of the Parish of St. Stephens in New Kent.”  This deed describes the fact that this land was formerly patented by John Maddison and it lapsed and it was repatented to Edward Hudson and he deserted the land.  Recorded in Rappahannock Co., VA on 12 July 1679.  [(Old) Rappahannock Co., VA Deed Book 6, page 76]

 

12.  On 4 July 1664 John Maddison received a 320 acre land patent in New Kent Co., VA, adjacent to Mr. Lockey and Richard Morley (Patent Book 5, page 223/131).

 

  1. John Maddison sold this land to Isaac Collier sometime before 1683 and he deserted the land.  It was repatented to John Easterly & Robert Clifford on 22 September 1683 (Patent Book 7, page 325).

 

13.  On 4 July 1664 John Maddison and John Pigg received a 1050 acre land patent in New Kent Co., VA on the main swamp of Piantetanke (Patent Book 5, page 223/132).

 

  1. On 28 April 1690, Phillip Lightfoot, Esqr., received a land patent of 525 acres in New Kent Co., VA.  Anthony Arnold purchased of John Pigg, called Doctor’s Field on Draggon Swamp, being a moyety of 1050 acres granted to Pigg and John Maddison on 4 July 1664 (Patent Book 8, page 79)

 

(1)