Gov. Samuel Stephens - Land in Elizabeth City Co., VA
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In reply to:
Re: Richard Stephens 1602 Isle of Wight, England
Linda (Noland) Layman 5/05/04
I came across a deed record for land in Elizabeth City Co., VA that recites a chain of title for a parcel called “Boatwright’s Field” that was owned by a Samuel Stephens, Esq. (Samuel Stephens, Gov. of North Carolina in the 1660’s, sometimes appears with the title Esq.).Bear in mind that records for Elizabeth City Co. do not exist for periods prior to the 1680's.
Elizabeth City Co., VA.Leonard Yeo and Mary his wife of Eliz. City Co. grant for…to Sebastian Perrin and Frances his wife a tract lying upon Backriver in the afsd [aforesaid] Co….50 acs or thereabouts, commonly called Boatwright’s Field…beg. at a swamp on Backriver at the easternmost end of the land belonging to the above named Leonard Yeo, formerly his father’s land – Col. Leo Yeo, dec’d…running SE…westward of the house John Powell lived in…on land…purchased by Xtopher Needham [Christopher Needham] of Samll. Steephens, Esqr., [Samuel Stephens, Esq.] since sold to Henry Cursell, dec’d, by Thomas Needham, son and heir of the sd Needham and by right belonging to us by the last will…of the sd Henry Cursell, bearing date of 24 Nov 1676.Dated:26 Nov 1686.Wit.:Geo. Walker, Cha. Jennings [Charles Jennings], Tho. Carner.Signed:Leonard Yeo, Mary Yeo.Ack: 20 Dec 1686.Rec.: 30 Nov 1686.This day being the 26th of Nov the 10th mo (sic)…Land was delivered, etc.p170(85), p171(86).
Based on the above deed, it appears that the “Boatwright’s Field” parcel was owned by Samuel Stephens, Esq., then sold to Christopher Needham, somehow transferred to Christopher’s son Thomas Needham, then sold to Henry Cursell whose will was dated in 1676 and which left the parcel to Leonard Yeo and/or his wife Mary, who then jointly sold the land to Sebastian Perrin.Leonard Yeo coincidently owned land adjacent to the “Boatwright’s Field” parcel that he had inherited from his father, also named Leonard Yeo.
More Replies:
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Re: Gov. Samuel Stephens - Land in Elizabeth City Co., VA
Linda (Noland) Layman 7/19/10