William Hatcher (1613 -1680) is accepted by the Jamestowne Society as a qualifying ancestor. The notation on their website concerning him states "Hatcher, William - A3608; died 1680, Henrico Co.: 1645-46, 1649, 1652, 1659 (Burgess)." Like many of our ancestor's lives, William Hatcher's has some disputed facts. The following is popularly claimed to be true about William Hatcher but ISN'T proven: William Hatcher was descended from the Careby Hatchers of Lincolnshire, England. There was a William Hatcher of Careby, a member of Parliament, who was indicted for treason in 1643, because he had taken up arms against the King. There was also a Sir Thomas Hatcher who was a Colonel in Cromwell's army and who was indicted for treason in 1643. "The Immigrant"to Virginia could have been the son of either of these "Round-heads" but there is no acceptable evidence to identify his father. After more than 10 years of researching the English records and documents, Emory Hatcher, through a professional British genealogist, has disproved all possible Hatcher males of the Careby Hatchers as the father of William with one exception. One Henry Hatcher simply disappears from the records after 1599. There is no evidence that this Henry is William's father, but because of the lack of records simply cannot be completely eliminated as a possibility. The Hatcher Families Genealogy Association states, "It is commonly believed that William Hatcher descended from the Careby Hatchers of Lincolnshire, England, and many books and family trees record this belief, some claiming his father to be a Thomas Hatcher, others claiming William Hatcher. But none can provide even a shred of documentation to support this claim." (Source #8 below) In 1635, at the age of about 22 Y/O, William Hatcher immigrated to Virginia aboard the ship "Abigail". It is recorded that he paid passage for 3 others, often assumed to include a wife and son, Edward, whom some believe to have been born in England circa 1633. William did emigrate to Virginia in 1635 but not with a wife and child as discussed below.
There is also a conundrum concerning William Hatcher's wife. The genealogical literature is replete with the uncorroborated info that William arrived in Virginia in 1635 with his wife and son. This incorrect info goes on to say that William married a Marian Newporte on 27 Dec 1632 in Ogburn St. George, Wiltshire, England and their son, Edward, was born in 1633 at St. George, Wiltshire, England and died in 1646 at Varina Parish, Henrico Co., VA. In the genealogical literature William's wife has also been identified as Alice Emmerton, Mary, Sarah. Mary Sarah Smith and others ("Source: See #8 reference below"). Having multiple theories in genealogy usually means that there are inconclusive records about a particular subject, as there is in the case of trying to identify William's wife. There has been no acceptable evidence found, to my knowledge, proving the name of William's wife. In fact, in June 1999 the "Jamestowne Society" accepted the hypothesis presented by Jerry Proudfit of Atlanta, GA, that William was not married when he arrived in Virginia in 1635. His argument was based on the fact that had William arrived with a wife and child, he would have claimed an additional 100 acres for importing them (head rights), thus increasing his 1636 land patent from 200 acres to 300 acres. He did not do this; and no wife relinquished her dowry for his early land grants. On 01 June 1636, William Hatcher was granted a 200 acre land patent in Henrico County on the "Appomatuck" (sic) River, 50 acres for his personal adventures (e. g., paying for his own passage to Virginia) and 150 acres for transporting 3 other persons (head rights) from England to Virginia, namely Richard Radford, John Winchester and Alice Emmerton. (Source: Virginia Land Patent Bk. No. "1", Part "1", p363) [See attached copy of Williams 1636 land patent] NOTE: This Alice Emmerton was one of the women who has incorrectly been assumed to be the wife of William Hatcher. These inconvenient facts support the theory that William, as mentioned above, did not marry Marian Newport on 27 Dec 1632 in Ogburn St. George, Wiltshire, England. It has been published on Ancestry.com by Jody Callender that she discovered the middle name of William Hatcher (1613-1680) to be "Gulielmus" on a 1632 English marriage document of Marian Newporte and Gulielmus Hatcher. In fact, this 1632 marriage document does not mention "William" Hatcher and assuming they are the same person is a large assumption. I believe that William Hatcher and Gulielmus Hatcher were probably not the same person. There is no acceptable documented record of the name of William's wife in Virginia. If Marian had married William and immigrated later than 1635, there is no doubt with William's obsession for head rights, he would have gotten 50 acres for her passage, which he didn't do. This probably indicates his wife was either born in Virginia or was imported before 1635 by someone else. William Hatcher's colonial documents, as far as I Know, were never signed using the name "Gulielmus" or signed using an initial "G" for his first or middle name. Records show there were several Hatcher families, not kin to William, who had lived in the Lincolnshire, England area long enough to have have children near his age but there is no record of him living there. There are, of course, other possible scenarios if by chance Marian did marry William Hatcher. Since there is no record in Virginia of William acquiring a 50 acre head right for a wife, it is very possible something happened in England either to Marian or to their marriage prior to William's immigration to Virginia without a wife. Whatever his wife's name, the couple probably married very soon after William's arrival in Jamestown as their first child, Edward, was born in 1636 and they eventually established a home they called "Varina" on the James River (the plantation still exists). William's literacy was demonstrated by him personally signing his extant 1676/7 will.
A copy of William's signature is attached to this memorial. Nel Hatcher(deceased) the former genealogist for the "Hatcher Families Genealogy Association" (see source #8 below) submitted the signature of William to the experts at the Library of Virginia. She supplied them with just the image of his signature and asked what this name was, what the colon after the name signified [if anything] and what did the words following the name mean. She also gave the date of this document, 1676/7. Almost immediately she received a response from H. B. Gill telling her the name appeared to be HATCH. The colon was used to signify an abbreviation - Hatch: equates to Hatcher. The words following the signature translate to "seald (sic-sealed) with red wax." H. B. Gill also surmised that the signer was likely an older man born in the early 17th century. He certainly hit that nail on the head and stated that this signature appeared to be in the older Elizabethan style.
On 10 Jul 1637, William received a land grant for 850 acres which included 200 acres of head right land for transporting 4 more colonists, e. g., Benjamine Gregory, Thomas Browne, Charles Howell and Elizabeth Willis. NOTE: Puzzlingly, the names Richard Radford, John Winchester and Alice Emmerton, head rights from William's 1636 land grant were recorded again on his 1637 land grant. [See attached copy of William's 1637 land grant.]
On 29 May 1638 William received 150 more acres for transporting 3 more persons, e. g., Nicholas Ison, Francis Dunell and Henry Lilley.
William received several more grants over the years totaling over 1200 acres. See accompanying map for the location of William Hatcher's "Varina" plantation along the Appomattox River near Swift Creek in lower left of the map. On the map, the dates associated with the names of the colonists indicate land grant dates.
A 1639 Act of Assembly appointed Mr. William Hatcher, Thomas Shippay, and Richard Johnson as "Viewers of Tobacco Crop" for Henrico County on the North side of the Appomattox River. A "viewer of tobacco crop" was a sort of government quality inspector/appraiser. [Ref. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Oct., 1897), pp. 119-123]. Besides being a tobacco planter, he became a member of the House of Burgesses from the Henrico Co., VA and served in that capacity in 1644, 1645/6, 1649, 1652 and 1658/9, his last public service (Ref: Colonial Virginia Register, p. 65; 5 V. 98). (NOTE: attached to this memorial are records of his service as a Burgess in 1645/46,1649 and 1652 from Henrico County, Virginia).
William obviously had an outspoken nature and was headstrong and foolish with a reputation of speaking his mind for as he learned, "even nonmembers who aspersed the dignity of the House of Burgesses or its officers suffered speedy censure". The troubles began in October 1654 when Hatcher, a former burgess from Henrico County, accused Edward Hill of blasphemy and atheism. These were serious allegations under any circumstances, but Hatcher's assumed larger proportions because of Hill's prominence as a senior militia officer and a former Speaker of the House of Burgesses. Hatcher could not sustain his charges in the Quarter Court, which dismissed them. The matter should have ended once the court "cleered the said Coll. Edward Hill," but Hatcher was foolhardy. When the General Assembly convened in November (1654) Hill's colleagues again elected him Speaker, and Hatcher "laid his slurs before the House". This time, though, he compounded the insinuations by asserting that "the mouth of this house was a Devil". Affronted by such contempt for their Speaker, the members haled Hatcher before the bar of the House and forced him on bended knee to acknowledge "his offence unto the said Coll. Edward Hill and Burgesses of this Assembly; which accordingly was performed and then he the said Hatcher dismist (sic) paying his fees (fines)". Ref: See source #1 below)
As late as 1674 William was still using the head right method as one way of acquiring land for on September 26 of that year, he was given 227 acres in Henrico Co on the South side of the James River between Gilbert Elam's and Henry Lown's property for the transport of five more people (head rights): Thomas Childers, Sarah Poynter, Henry Davernett, Edward Stringer, and Ann Fryer. It is possible that these people served as indentured servants to pay for their passage. This method of land acquisition (head rights) would indicate that William Hatcher was rather well-to-do (monied) when he arrived in Jamestown as he had to pay cash to transport these people to virginia.
In 1676, at the time of Bacon's Rebellion (an armed insurrection in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by young Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley), William Hatcher's foolhardiness again caused him trouble by his support of Bacon. At a court held by the Governor and Council, March 15, 1676-7: "William Hatcher being brought before the court for uttering divers mutinous words tending to the disquiet of this his Majesty's countrey, and it being evidently made appeare what was layd to his charge by divers oaths, and a Jury being impanelled to assess the damages, who bring in their verdict that they award the said Hatcher to pay ten thousand pounds of tobacco and caske, which verdict of the jury this honourable court doth confirme; but in respect the said Hatcher is an aged man, the court doth order that the said Hatcher doe pay with all expedition eight thousand pounds of drest pork unto his Majesty's commander of his forces in Henrico county, for the supply of his souldiers, which if he fayle to doe, that he pay eight thousand pounds of tobacco and caste the next cropp, and pay costs." William was much more fortunate than most who took part in Bacon's Rebellion. Many were committed to prison and forced to forfeit all or most of their property, which, incidentally was given to friends and supporters of the King.
A 1677 Henrico Co., VA deposition by William Hatcher indicated his age as about sixty-three years, making his birth date circa 1613/4. This 1677 deposition concerned Richard Martin who stated certain of his goods were seized for the passage of himself and two servants.
The children of William Hatcher and his unknown wife were:
1) Edward Hatcher, b. c1636 Henrico Co., VA, d. 1711 Henrico Co., VA, m. Mary Ward.
2) Henry Hatcher, b. c1637 Henrico Co., VA, d. Abt. Aug 1677, Henrico Co., VA, m. Ann Lound.
3) William Hatcher, Jr. b. c1639 Henrico Co., VA, d. Between Feb 1661-Aug 1667, Henrico Co., VA, m. Unmarried. Ref. Valentine Papers (Virginia), Vol. 1-4, 1864-1908
4) Jane Hatcher, b. c1640 Henrico Co., VA, d. Aft Dec 1710, Henrico Co., VA, m. (1) William Branch, (2) William Baugh, Jr., (3) Abell Gower. (See source #7 below)
5) Benjamin Hatcher, Sr., b. c1644 Varina Dale Parish, Henrico Co., VA, d. Between Apr 1727-Oct 1728, Henrico Co., VA, m. Elizabeth Greenhaugh, daughter of John Greenbaugh.
6) Susanna Hatcher, b. c1646 Henrico Co., VA, d. Aft Dec 1699, Henrico Co., VA, m. (1) John Stewart, (2) Thomas Burton.
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The will of William Hatcher was dated 1676/7 and was proved on 01 April 1680 The will was actually a deed of gift and was signed by William Hatcher, himself. It names no executor or residuary legatee and in fact does not mention a wife or any of his children. A copy of William Hatch's will is attached to this memorial and below is a transcription of the document.
The Will of William Hatcher, 1613-1680
Att a Court Holden at Varina
For the County of Henrico the first day of April (by his motion Justices of the Peace for said County) in the year of our Lord God 1680 and in the thirty-second year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, Charles The Second by the grace of God of Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland, King defender of the faith.
IN THE NAME OF GOD (amen) I William Hatcher being in perfect memory but now stricken in years do make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. In primus I give and bequeath my spirit to Almighty God who gave it to me whensoever it shall please him to call me out of this sinful world and my body to the ground. Item: I give unto Thomas Burton, Jr. the plantation between the land of Mr. Henry Lound and the land of Gilbert Elam to wit: two hundred and twenty-six acres, his choice of all my horses or mares, one heifer called blackchops, a young ewe, and a years schooling and clothes, till he reaches the age of seventeen years, to the confirmation of which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this two and twentieth day of February, 1676/7.
Signed and sealed in the presence of: John Pleasants, Henry Gee
Memorandum before the signing and sealing hereof, I do bequeath unto the above mentioned Thomas Burton Jr. the second choice of all my furniture thereunto belonging. s/Will Hatcher
Filed in Henrico County Court the first day of April 1680 by ye oath of Henry Gee and the testamony of John Pleasants who (being a Quaker) refused to sweare but only affirms that it to be Hatcher's deed, these two being witnesses to ye same.
Test: Hugh Davis, Dep Clerk of Court
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Although William's death date on this memorial records he died on 01 April 1680, that is the date his will was probated. His actual death date is unknown prior to this date. William Hatcher was buried on his plantation located on the north side of the Appomattox River near Swift Creek in what was then Henrico County, Virginia in the Hatcher Family Cemetery. It now is located in Chesterfield County, Virginia, that county being formed in 1749 from a portion of Henrico County.
DISCLAIMER: There is absolutely no proof Marian (Newport) Hatcher was the wife of the William Hatcher who settled in Henrico County, Virginia. The identity of William Hatcher's wife remains unknown and unproven.
Sources:
1) "A Little Parliament: The Virginia General Assembly in the Seventeenth Century" by Warren M. Billings, 2004, pp37-38 (See Nel Hatcher, Hatcher Families Genealogy Association)
2) "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1800" Abstracted by Nell Marion Nugent, Bks. 1-5, 1934, pp40,59,89,347.
3)"The William and Mary Quarterly", Second Series, Vol. 16, No. 3 (Jul., 1936),"The Hatcher Family" by Rev. Francis Campbell Symonds, D.D., pp457-468.
4) "Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia" Part I, 1654-1737, by Benjamin B. Weisiger III, 1976, p6.
5) "The General Assembly of Virginia. July 30, 1619 - January 11, 1978. A Bicentennial Register of Members" by Cynthia Miller Leonard, 1978.
6) "Virginia Land Records" Indexed by Gary Parks, 1982, Genealogical Publishing Co., pp 635-637, 687.
7) "Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5" by John Frederick Dorman, 4th Ed., Vol. 1, 2007, pp367, Footnote #16.
8) Nel Hatcher's online site "Hatcher Families Genealogy Association".
9) "Our Kin", 1930, p. 146)
Bio by Gresham Farrar.
There is also a conundrum concerning William Hatcher's wife. The genealogical literature is replete with the uncorroborated info that William arrived in Virginia in 1635 with his wife and son. This incorrect info goes on to say that William married a Marian Newporte on 27 Dec 1632 in Ogburn St. George, Wiltshire, England and their son, Edward, was born in 1633 at St. George, Wiltshire, England and died in 1646 at Varina Parish, Henrico Co., VA. In the genealogical literature William's wife has also been identified as Alice Emmerton, Mary, Sarah. Mary Sarah Smith and others ("Source: See #8 reference below"). Having multiple theories in genealogy usually means that there are inconclusive records about a particular subject, as there is in the case of trying to identify William's wife. There has been no acceptable evidence found, to my knowledge, proving the name of William's wife. In fact, in June 1999 the "Jamestowne Society" accepted the hypothesis presented by Jerry Proudfit of Atlanta, GA, that William was not married when he arrived in Virginia in 1635. His argument was based on the fact that had William arrived with a wife and child, he would have claimed an additional 100 acres for importing them (head rights), thus increasing his 1636 land patent from 200 acres to 300 acres. He did not do this; and no wife relinquished her dowry for his early land grants. On 01 June 1636, William Hatcher was granted a 200 acre land patent in Henrico County on the "Appomatuck" (sic) River, 50 acres for his personal adventures (e. g., paying for his own passage to Virginia) and 150 acres for transporting 3 other persons (head rights) from England to Virginia, namely Richard Radford, John Winchester and Alice Emmerton. (Source: Virginia Land Patent Bk. No. "1", Part "1", p363) [See attached copy of Williams 1636 land patent] NOTE: This Alice Emmerton was one of the women who has incorrectly been assumed to be the wife of William Hatcher. These inconvenient facts support the theory that William, as mentioned above, did not marry Marian Newport on 27 Dec 1632 in Ogburn St. George, Wiltshire, England. It has been published on Ancestry.com by Jody Callender that she discovered the middle name of William Hatcher (1613-1680) to be "Gulielmus" on a 1632 English marriage document of Marian Newporte and Gulielmus Hatcher. In fact, this 1632 marriage document does not mention "William" Hatcher and assuming they are the same person is a large assumption. I believe that William Hatcher and Gulielmus Hatcher were probably not the same person. There is no acceptable documented record of the name of William's wife in Virginia. If Marian had married William and immigrated later than 1635, there is no doubt with William's obsession for head rights, he would have gotten 50 acres for her passage, which he didn't do. This probably indicates his wife was either born in Virginia or was imported before 1635 by someone else. William Hatcher's colonial documents, as far as I Know, were never signed using the name "Gulielmus" or signed using an initial "G" for his first or middle name. Records show there were several Hatcher families, not kin to William, who had lived in the Lincolnshire, England area long enough to have have children near his age but there is no record of him living there. There are, of course, other possible scenarios if by chance Marian did marry William Hatcher. Since there is no record in Virginia of William acquiring a 50 acre head right for a wife, it is very possible something happened in England either to Marian or to their marriage prior to William's immigration to Virginia without a wife. Whatever his wife's name, the couple probably married very soon after William's arrival in Jamestown as their first child, Edward, was born in 1636 and they eventually established a home they called "Varina" on the James River (the plantation still exists). William's literacy was demonstrated by him personally signing his extant 1676/7 will.
A copy of William's signature is attached to this memorial. Nel Hatcher(deceased) the former genealogist for the "Hatcher Families Genealogy Association" (see source #8 below) submitted the signature of William to the experts at the Library of Virginia. She supplied them with just the image of his signature and asked what this name was, what the colon after the name signified [if anything] and what did the words following the name mean. She also gave the date of this document, 1676/7. Almost immediately she received a response from H. B. Gill telling her the name appeared to be HATCH. The colon was used to signify an abbreviation - Hatch: equates to Hatcher. The words following the signature translate to "seald (sic-sealed) with red wax." H. B. Gill also surmised that the signer was likely an older man born in the early 17th century. He certainly hit that nail on the head and stated that this signature appeared to be in the older Elizabethan style.
On 10 Jul 1637, William received a land grant for 850 acres which included 200 acres of head right land for transporting 4 more colonists, e. g., Benjamine Gregory, Thomas Browne, Charles Howell and Elizabeth Willis. NOTE: Puzzlingly, the names Richard Radford, John Winchester and Alice Emmerton, head rights from William's 1636 land grant were recorded again on his 1637 land grant. [See attached copy of William's 1637 land grant.]
On 29 May 1638 William received 150 more acres for transporting 3 more persons, e. g., Nicholas Ison, Francis Dunell and Henry Lilley.
William received several more grants over the years totaling over 1200 acres. See accompanying map for the location of William Hatcher's "Varina" plantation along the Appomattox River near Swift Creek in lower left of the map. On the map, the dates associated with the names of the colonists indicate land grant dates.
A 1639 Act of Assembly appointed Mr. William Hatcher, Thomas Shippay, and Richard Johnson as "Viewers of Tobacco Crop" for Henrico County on the North side of the Appomattox River. A "viewer of tobacco crop" was a sort of government quality inspector/appraiser. [Ref. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Oct., 1897), pp. 119-123]. Besides being a tobacco planter, he became a member of the House of Burgesses from the Henrico Co., VA and served in that capacity in 1644, 1645/6, 1649, 1652 and 1658/9, his last public service (Ref: Colonial Virginia Register, p. 65; 5 V. 98). (NOTE: attached to this memorial are records of his service as a Burgess in 1645/46,1649 and 1652 from Henrico County, Virginia).
William obviously had an outspoken nature and was headstrong and foolish with a reputation of speaking his mind for as he learned, "even nonmembers who aspersed the dignity of the House of Burgesses or its officers suffered speedy censure". The troubles began in October 1654 when Hatcher, a former burgess from Henrico County, accused Edward Hill of blasphemy and atheism. These were serious allegations under any circumstances, but Hatcher's assumed larger proportions because of Hill's prominence as a senior militia officer and a former Speaker of the House of Burgesses. Hatcher could not sustain his charges in the Quarter Court, which dismissed them. The matter should have ended once the court "cleered the said Coll. Edward Hill," but Hatcher was foolhardy. When the General Assembly convened in November (1654) Hill's colleagues again elected him Speaker, and Hatcher "laid his slurs before the House". This time, though, he compounded the insinuations by asserting that "the mouth of this house was a Devil". Affronted by such contempt for their Speaker, the members haled Hatcher before the bar of the House and forced him on bended knee to acknowledge "his offence unto the said Coll. Edward Hill and Burgesses of this Assembly; which accordingly was performed and then he the said Hatcher dismist (sic) paying his fees (fines)". Ref: See source #1 below)
As late as 1674 William was still using the head right method as one way of acquiring land for on September 26 of that year, he was given 227 acres in Henrico Co on the South side of the James River between Gilbert Elam's and Henry Lown's property for the transport of five more people (head rights): Thomas Childers, Sarah Poynter, Henry Davernett, Edward Stringer, and Ann Fryer. It is possible that these people served as indentured servants to pay for their passage. This method of land acquisition (head rights) would indicate that William Hatcher was rather well-to-do (monied) when he arrived in Jamestown as he had to pay cash to transport these people to virginia.
In 1676, at the time of Bacon's Rebellion (an armed insurrection in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by young Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley), William Hatcher's foolhardiness again caused him trouble by his support of Bacon. At a court held by the Governor and Council, March 15, 1676-7: "William Hatcher being brought before the court for uttering divers mutinous words tending to the disquiet of this his Majesty's countrey, and it being evidently made appeare what was layd to his charge by divers oaths, and a Jury being impanelled to assess the damages, who bring in their verdict that they award the said Hatcher to pay ten thousand pounds of tobacco and caske, which verdict of the jury this honourable court doth confirme; but in respect the said Hatcher is an aged man, the court doth order that the said Hatcher doe pay with all expedition eight thousand pounds of drest pork unto his Majesty's commander of his forces in Henrico county, for the supply of his souldiers, which if he fayle to doe, that he pay eight thousand pounds of tobacco and caste the next cropp, and pay costs." William was much more fortunate than most who took part in Bacon's Rebellion. Many were committed to prison and forced to forfeit all or most of their property, which, incidentally was given to friends and supporters of the King.
A 1677 Henrico Co., VA deposition by William Hatcher indicated his age as about sixty-three years, making his birth date circa 1613/4. This 1677 deposition concerned Richard Martin who stated certain of his goods were seized for the passage of himself and two servants.
The children of William Hatcher and his unknown wife were:
1) Edward Hatcher, b. c1636 Henrico Co., VA, d. 1711 Henrico Co., VA, m. Mary Ward.
2) Henry Hatcher, b. c1637 Henrico Co., VA, d. Abt. Aug 1677, Henrico Co., VA, m. Ann Lound.
3) William Hatcher, Jr. b. c1639 Henrico Co., VA, d. Between Feb 1661-Aug 1667, Henrico Co., VA, m. Unmarried. Ref. Valentine Papers (Virginia), Vol. 1-4, 1864-1908
4) Jane Hatcher, b. c1640 Henrico Co., VA, d. Aft Dec 1710, Henrico Co., VA, m. (1) William Branch, (2) William Baugh, Jr., (3) Abell Gower. (See source #7 below)
5) Benjamin Hatcher, Sr., b. c1644 Varina Dale Parish, Henrico Co., VA, d. Between Apr 1727-Oct 1728, Henrico Co., VA, m. Elizabeth Greenhaugh, daughter of John Greenbaugh.
6) Susanna Hatcher, b. c1646 Henrico Co., VA, d. Aft Dec 1699, Henrico Co., VA, m. (1) John Stewart, (2) Thomas Burton.
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The will of William Hatcher was dated 1676/7 and was proved on 01 April 1680 The will was actually a deed of gift and was signed by William Hatcher, himself. It names no executor or residuary legatee and in fact does not mention a wife or any of his children. A copy of William Hatch's will is attached to this memorial and below is a transcription of the document.
The Will of William Hatcher, 1613-1680
Att a Court Holden at Varina
For the County of Henrico the first day of April (by his motion Justices of the Peace for said County) in the year of our Lord God 1680 and in the thirty-second year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, Charles The Second by the grace of God of Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland, King defender of the faith.
IN THE NAME OF GOD (amen) I William Hatcher being in perfect memory but now stricken in years do make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. In primus I give and bequeath my spirit to Almighty God who gave it to me whensoever it shall please him to call me out of this sinful world and my body to the ground. Item: I give unto Thomas Burton, Jr. the plantation between the land of Mr. Henry Lound and the land of Gilbert Elam to wit: two hundred and twenty-six acres, his choice of all my horses or mares, one heifer called blackchops, a young ewe, and a years schooling and clothes, till he reaches the age of seventeen years, to the confirmation of which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this two and twentieth day of February, 1676/7.
Signed and sealed in the presence of: John Pleasants, Henry Gee
Memorandum before the signing and sealing hereof, I do bequeath unto the above mentioned Thomas Burton Jr. the second choice of all my furniture thereunto belonging. s/Will Hatcher
Filed in Henrico County Court the first day of April 1680 by ye oath of Henry Gee and the testamony of John Pleasants who (being a Quaker) refused to sweare but only affirms that it to be Hatcher's deed, these two being witnesses to ye same.
Test: Hugh Davis, Dep Clerk of Court
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Although William's death date on this memorial records he died on 01 April 1680, that is the date his will was probated. His actual death date is unknown prior to this date. William Hatcher was buried on his plantation located on the north side of the Appomattox River near Swift Creek in what was then Henrico County, Virginia in the Hatcher Family Cemetery. It now is located in Chesterfield County, Virginia, that county being formed in 1749 from a portion of Henrico County.
DISCLAIMER: There is absolutely no proof Marian (Newport) Hatcher was the wife of the William Hatcher who settled in Henrico County, Virginia. The identity of William Hatcher's wife remains unknown and unproven.
Sources:
1) "A Little Parliament: The Virginia General Assembly in the Seventeenth Century" by Warren M. Billings, 2004, pp37-38 (See Nel Hatcher, Hatcher Families Genealogy Association)
2) "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1800" Abstracted by Nell Marion Nugent, Bks. 1-5, 1934, pp40,59,89,347.
3)"The William and Mary Quarterly", Second Series, Vol. 16, No. 3 (Jul., 1936),"The Hatcher Family" by Rev. Francis Campbell Symonds, D.D., pp457-468.
4) "Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia" Part I, 1654-1737, by Benjamin B. Weisiger III, 1976, p6.
5) "The General Assembly of Virginia. July 30, 1619 - January 11, 1978. A Bicentennial Register of Members" by Cynthia Miller Leonard, 1978.
6) "Virginia Land Records" Indexed by Gary Parks, 1982, Genealogical Publishing Co., pp 635-637, 687.
7) "Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5" by John Frederick Dorman, 4th Ed., Vol. 1, 2007, pp367, Footnote #16.
8) Nel Hatcher's online site "Hatcher Families Genealogy Association".
9) "Our Kin", 1930, p. 146)
Bio by Gresham Farrar.
William Hatcher (1613 -1680) is accepted by the Jamestowne Society as a qualifying ancestor. The notation on their website concerning him states "Hatcher, William - A3608; died 1680, Henrico Co.: 1645-46, 1649, 1652, 1659 (Burgess)." Like many of our ancestor's lives, William Hatcher's has some disputed facts. The following is popularly claimed to be true about William Hatcher but ISN'T proven: William Hatcher was descended from the Careby Hatchers of Lincolnshire, England. There was a William Hatcher of Careby, a member of Parliament, who was indicted for treason in 1643, because he had taken up arms against the King. There was also a Sir Thomas Hatcher who was a Colonel in Cromwell's army and who was indicted for treason in 1643. "The Immigrant"to Virginia could have been the son of either of these "Round-heads" but there is no acceptable evidence to identify his father. After more than 10 years of researching the English records and documents, Emory Hatcher, through a professional British genealogist, has disproved all possible Hatcher males of the Careby Hatchers as the father of William with one exception. One Henry Hatcher simply disappears from the records after 1599. There is no evidence that this Henry is William's father, but because of the lack of records simply cannot be completely eliminated as a possibility. The Hatcher Families Genealogy Association states, "It is commonly believed that William Hatcher descended from the Careby Hatchers of Lincolnshire, England, and many books and family trees record this belief, some claiming his father to be a Thomas Hatcher, others claiming William Hatcher. But none can provide even a shred of documentation to support this claim." (Source #8 below) In 1635, at the age of about 22 Y/O, William Hatcher immigrated to Virginia aboard the ship "Abigail". It is recorded that he paid passage for 3 others, often assumed to include a wife and son, Edward, whom some believe to have been born in England circa 1633. William did emigrate to Virginia in 1635 but not with a wife and child as discussed below.
There is also a conundrum concerning William Hatcher's wife. The genealogical literature is replete with the uncorroborated info that William arrived in Virginia in 1635 with his wife and son. This incorrect info goes on to say that William married a Marian Newporte on 27 Dec 1632 in Ogburn St. George, Wiltshire, England and their son, Edward, was born in 1633 at St. George, Wiltshire, England and died in 1646 at Varina Parish, Henrico Co., VA. In the genealogical literature William's wife has also been identified as Alice Emmerton, Mary, Sarah. Mary Sarah Smith and others ("Source: See #8 reference below"). Having multiple theories in genealogy usually means that there are inconclusive records about a particular subject, as there is in the case of trying to identify William's wife. There has been no acceptable evidence found, to my knowledge, proving the name of William's wife. In fact, in June 1999 the "Jamestowne Society" accepted the hypothesis presented by Jerry Proudfit of Atlanta, GA, that William was not married when he arrived in Virginia in 1635. His argument was based on the fact that had William arrived with a wife and child, he would have claimed an additional 100 acres for importing them (head rights), thus increasing his 1636 land patent from 200 acres to 300 acres. He did not do this; and no wife relinquished her dowry for his early land grants. On 01 June 1636, William Hatcher was granted a 200 acre land patent in Henrico County on the "Appomatuck" (sic) River, 50 acres for his personal adventures (e. g., paying for his own passage to Virginia) and 150 acres for transporting 3 other persons (head rights) from England to Virginia, namely Richard Radford, John Winchester and Alice Emmerton. (Source: Virginia Land Patent Bk. No. "1", Part "1", p363) [See attached copy of Williams 1636 land patent] NOTE: This Alice Emmerton was one of the women who has incorrectly been assumed to be the wife of William Hatcher. These inconvenient facts support the theory that William, as mentioned above, did not marry Marian Newport on 27 Dec 1632 in Ogburn St. George, Wiltshire, England. It has been published on Ancestry.com by Jody Callender that she discovered the middle name of William Hatcher (1613-1680) to be "Gulielmus" on a 1632 English marriage document of Marian Newporte and Gulielmus Hatcher. In fact, this 1632 marriage document does not mention "William" Hatcher and assuming they are the same person is a large assumption. I believe that William Hatcher and Gulielmus Hatcher were probably not the same person. There is no acceptable documented record of the name of William's wife in Virginia. If Marian had married William and immigrated later than 1635, there is no doubt with William's obsession for head rights, he would have gotten 50 acres for her passage, which he didn't do. This probably indicates his wife was either born in Virginia or was imported before 1635 by someone else. William Hatcher's colonial documents, as far as I Know, were never signed using the name "Gulielmus" or signed using an initial "G" for his first or middle name. Records show there were several Hatcher families, not kin to William, who had lived in the Lincolnshire, England area long enough to have have children near his age but there is no record of him living there. There are, of course, other possible scenarios if by chance Marian did marry William Hatcher. Since there is no record in Virginia of William acquiring a 50 acre head right for a wife, it is very possible something happened in England either to Marian or to their marriage prior to William's immigration to Virginia without a wife. Whatever his wife's name, the couple probably married very soon after William's arrival in Jamestown as their first child, Edward, was born in 1636 and they eventually established a home they called "Varina" on the James River (the plantation still exists). William's literacy was demonstrated by him personally signing his extant 1676/7 will.
A copy of William's signature is attached to this memorial. Nel Hatcher(deceased) the former genealogist for the "Hatcher Families Genealogy Association" (see source #8 below) submitted the signature of William to the experts at the Library of Virginia. She supplied them with just the image of his signature and asked what this name was, what the colon after the name signified [if anything] and what did the words following the name mean. She also gave the date of this document, 1676/7. Almost immediately she received a response from H. B. Gill telling her the name appeared to be HATCH. The colon was used to signify an abbreviation - Hatch: equates to Hatcher. The words following the signature translate to "seald (sic-sealed) with red wax." H. B. Gill also surmised that the signer was likely an older man born in the early 17th century. He certainly hit that nail on the head and stated that this signature appeared to be in the older Elizabethan style.
On 10 Jul 1637, William received a land grant for 850 acres which included 200 acres of head right land for transporting 4 more colonists, e. g., Benjamine Gregory, Thomas Browne, Charles Howell and Elizabeth Willis. NOTE: Puzzlingly, the names Richard Radford, John Winchester and Alice Emmerton, head rights from William's 1636 land grant were recorded again on his 1637 land grant. [See attached copy of William's 1637 land grant.]
On 29 May 1638 William received 150 more acres for transporting 3 more persons, e. g., Nicholas Ison, Francis Dunell and Henry Lilley.
William received several more grants over the years totaling over 1200 acres. See accompanying map for the location of William Hatcher's "Varina" plantation along the Appomattox River near Swift Creek in lower left of the map. On the map, the dates associated with the names of the colonists indicate land grant dates.
A 1639 Act of Assembly appointed Mr. William Hatcher, Thomas Shippay, and Richard Johnson as "Viewers of Tobacco Crop" for Henrico County on the North side of the Appomattox River. A "viewer of tobacco crop" was a sort of government quality inspector/appraiser. [Ref. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Oct., 1897), pp. 119-123]. Besides being a tobacco planter, he became a member of the House of Burgesses from the Henrico Co., VA and served in that capacity in 1644, 1645/6, 1649, 1652 and 1658/9, his last public service (Ref: Colonial Virginia Register, p. 65; 5 V. 98). (NOTE: attached to this memorial are records of his service as a Burgess in 1645/46,1649 and 1652 from Henrico County, Virginia).
William obviously had an outspoken nature and was headstrong and foolish with a reputation of speaking his mind for as he learned, "even nonmembers who aspersed the dignity of the House of Burgesses or its officers suffered speedy censure". The troubles began in October 1654 when Hatcher, a former burgess from Henrico County, accused Edward Hill of blasphemy and atheism. These were serious allegations under any circumstances, but Hatcher's assumed larger proportions because of Hill's prominence as a senior militia officer and a former Speaker of the House of Burgesses. Hatcher could not sustain his charges in the Quarter Court, which dismissed them. The matter should have ended once the court "cleered the said Coll. Edward Hill," but Hatcher was foolhardy. When the General Assembly convened in November (1654) Hill's colleagues again elected him Speaker, and Hatcher "laid his slurs before the House". This time, though, he compounded the insinuations by asserting that "the mouth of this house was a Devil". Affronted by such contempt for their Speaker, the members haled Hatcher before the bar of the House and forced him on bended knee to acknowledge "his offence unto the said Coll. Edward Hill and Burgesses of this Assembly; which accordingly was performed and then he the said Hatcher dismist (sic) paying his fees (fines)". Ref: See source #1 below)
As late as 1674 William was still using the head right method as one way of acquiring land for on September 26 of that year, he was given 227 acres in Henrico Co on the South side of the James River between Gilbert Elam's and Henry Lown's property for the transport of five more people (head rights): Thomas Childers, Sarah Poynter, Henry Davernett, Edward Stringer, and Ann Fryer. It is possible that these people served as indentured servants to pay for their passage. This method of land acquisition (head rights) would indicate that William Hatcher was rather well-to-do (monied) when he arrived in Jamestown as he had to pay cash to transport these people to virginia.
In 1676, at the time of Bacon's Rebellion (an armed insurrection in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by young Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley), William Hatcher's foolhardiness again caused him trouble by his support of Bacon. At a court held by the Governor and Council, March 15, 1676-7: "William Hatcher being brought before the court for uttering divers mutinous words tending to the disquiet of this his Majesty's countrey, and it being evidently made appeare what was layd to his charge by divers oaths, and a Jury being impanelled to assess the damages, who bring in their verdict that they award the said Hatcher to pay ten thousand pounds of tobacco and caske, which verdict of the jury this honourable court doth confirme; but in respect the said Hatcher is an aged man, the court doth order that the said Hatcher doe pay with all expedition eight thousand pounds of drest pork unto his Majesty's commander of his forces in Henrico county, for the supply of his souldiers, which if he fayle to doe, that he pay eight thousand pounds of tobacco and caste the next cropp, and pay costs." William was much more fortunate than most who took part in Bacon's Rebellion. Many were committed to prison and forced to forfeit all or most of their property, which, incidentally was given to friends and supporters of the King.
A 1677 Henrico Co., VA deposition by William Hatcher indicated his age as about sixty-three years, making his birth date circa 1613/4. This 1677 deposition concerned Richard Martin who stated certain of his goods were seized for the passage of himself and two servants.
The children of William Hatcher and his unknown wife were:
1) Edward Hatcher, b. c1636 Henrico Co., VA, d. 1711 Henrico Co., VA, m. Mary Ward.
2) Henry Hatcher, b. c1637 Henrico Co., VA, d. Abt. Aug 1677, Henrico Co., VA, m. Ann Lound.
3) William Hatcher, Jr. b. c1639 Henrico Co., VA, d. Between Feb 1661-Aug 1667, Henrico Co., VA, m. Unmarried. Ref. Valentine Papers (Virginia), Vol. 1-4, 1864-1908
4) Jane Hatcher, b. c1640 Henrico Co., VA, d. Aft Dec 1710, Henrico Co., VA, m. (1) William Branch, (2) William Baugh, Jr., (3) Abell Gower. (See source #7 below)
5) Benjamin Hatcher, Sr., b. c1644 Varina Dale Parish, Henrico Co., VA, d. Between Apr 1727-Oct 1728, Henrico Co., VA, m. Elizabeth Greenhaugh, daughter of John Greenbaugh.
6) Susanna Hatcher, b. c1646 Henrico Co., VA, d. Aft Dec 1699, Henrico Co., VA, m. (1) John Stewart, (2) Thomas Burton.
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The will of William Hatcher was dated 1676/7 and was proved on 01 April 1680 The will was actually a deed of gift and was signed by William Hatcher, himself. It names no executor or residuary legatee and in fact does not mention a wife or any of his children. A copy of William Hatch's will is attached to this memorial and below is a transcription of the document.
The Will of William Hatcher, 1613-1680
Att a Court Holden at Varina
For the County of Henrico the first day of April (by his motion Justices of the Peace for said County) in the year of our Lord God 1680 and in the thirty-second year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, Charles The Second by the grace of God of Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland, King defender of the faith.
IN THE NAME OF GOD (amen) I William Hatcher being in perfect memory but now stricken in years do make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. In primus I give and bequeath my spirit to Almighty God who gave it to me whensoever it shall please him to call me out of this sinful world and my body to the ground. Item: I give unto Thomas Burton, Jr. the plantation between the land of Mr. Henry Lound and the land of Gilbert Elam to wit: two hundred and twenty-six acres, his choice of all my horses or mares, one heifer called blackchops, a young ewe, and a years schooling and clothes, till he reaches the age of seventeen years, to the confirmation of which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this two and twentieth day of February, 1676/7.
Signed and sealed in the presence of: John Pleasants, Henry Gee
Memorandum before the signing and sealing hereof, I do bequeath unto the above mentioned Thomas Burton Jr. the second choice of all my furniture thereunto belonging. s/Will Hatcher
Filed in Henrico County Court the first day of April 1680 by ye oath of Henry Gee and the testamony of John Pleasants who (being a Quaker) refused to sweare but only affirms that it to be Hatcher's deed, these two being witnesses to ye same.
Test: Hugh Davis, Dep Clerk of Court
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Although William's death date on this memorial records he died on 01 April 1680, that is the date his will was probated. His actual death date is unknown prior to this date. William Hatcher was buried on his plantation located on the north side of the Appomattox River near Swift Creek in what was then Henrico County, Virginia in the Hatcher Family Cemetery. It now is located in Chesterfield County, Virginia, that county being formed in 1749 from a portion of Henrico County.
DISCLAIMER: There is absolutely no proof Marian (Newport) Hatcher was the wife of the William Hatcher who settled in Henrico County, Virginia. The identity of William Hatcher's wife remains unknown and unproven.
Sources:
1) "A Little Parliament: The Virginia General Assembly in the Seventeenth Century" by Warren M. Billings, 2004, pp37-38 (See Nel Hatcher, Hatcher Families Genealogy Association)
2) "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1800" Abstracted by Nell Marion Nugent, Bks. 1-5, 1934, pp40,59,89,347.
3)"The William and Mary Quarterly", Second Series, Vol. 16, No. 3 (Jul., 1936),"The Hatcher Family" by Rev. Francis Campbell Symonds, D.D., pp457-468.
4) "Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia" Part I, 1654-1737, by Benjamin B. Weisiger III, 1976, p6.
5) "The General Assembly of Virginia. July 30, 1619 - January 11, 1978. A Bicentennial Register of Members" by Cynthia Miller Leonard, 1978.
6) "Virginia Land Records" Indexed by Gary Parks, 1982, Genealogical Publishing Co., pp 635-637, 687.
7) "Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5" by John Frederick Dorman, 4th Ed., Vol. 1, 2007, pp367, Footnote #16.
8) Nel Hatcher's online site "Hatcher Families Genealogy Association".
9) "Our Kin", 1930, p. 146)
Bio by Gresham Farrar.
There is also a conundrum concerning William Hatcher's wife. The genealogical literature is replete with the uncorroborated info that William arrived in Virginia in 1635 with his wife and son. This incorrect info goes on to say that William married a Marian Newporte on 27 Dec 1632 in Ogburn St. George, Wiltshire, England and their son, Edward, was born in 1633 at St. George, Wiltshire, England and died in 1646 at Varina Parish, Henrico Co., VA. In the genealogical literature William's wife has also been identified as Alice Emmerton, Mary, Sarah. Mary Sarah Smith and others ("Source: See #8 reference below"). Having multiple theories in genealogy usually means that there are inconclusive records about a particular subject, as there is in the case of trying to identify William's wife. There has been no acceptable evidence found, to my knowledge, proving the name of William's wife. In fact, in June 1999 the "Jamestowne Society" accepted the hypothesis presented by Jerry Proudfit of Atlanta, GA, that William was not married when he arrived in Virginia in 1635. His argument was based on the fact that had William arrived with a wife and child, he would have claimed an additional 100 acres for importing them (head rights), thus increasing his 1636 land patent from 200 acres to 300 acres. He did not do this; and no wife relinquished her dowry for his early land grants. On 01 June 1636, William Hatcher was granted a 200 acre land patent in Henrico County on the "Appomatuck" (sic) River, 50 acres for his personal adventures (e. g., paying for his own passage to Virginia) and 150 acres for transporting 3 other persons (head rights) from England to Virginia, namely Richard Radford, John Winchester and Alice Emmerton. (Source: Virginia Land Patent Bk. No. "1", Part "1", p363) [See attached copy of Williams 1636 land patent] NOTE: This Alice Emmerton was one of the women who has incorrectly been assumed to be the wife of William Hatcher. These inconvenient facts support the theory that William, as mentioned above, did not marry Marian Newport on 27 Dec 1632 in Ogburn St. George, Wiltshire, England. It has been published on Ancestry.com by Jody Callender that she discovered the middle name of William Hatcher (1613-1680) to be "Gulielmus" on a 1632 English marriage document of Marian Newporte and Gulielmus Hatcher. In fact, this 1632 marriage document does not mention "William" Hatcher and assuming they are the same person is a large assumption. I believe that William Hatcher and Gulielmus Hatcher were probably not the same person. There is no acceptable documented record of the name of William's wife in Virginia. If Marian had married William and immigrated later than 1635, there is no doubt with William's obsession for head rights, he would have gotten 50 acres for her passage, which he didn't do. This probably indicates his wife was either born in Virginia or was imported before 1635 by someone else. William Hatcher's colonial documents, as far as I Know, were never signed using the name "Gulielmus" or signed using an initial "G" for his first or middle name. Records show there were several Hatcher families, not kin to William, who had lived in the Lincolnshire, England area long enough to have have children near his age but there is no record of him living there. There are, of course, other possible scenarios if by chance Marian did marry William Hatcher. Since there is no record in Virginia of William acquiring a 50 acre head right for a wife, it is very possible something happened in England either to Marian or to their marriage prior to William's immigration to Virginia without a wife. Whatever his wife's name, the couple probably married very soon after William's arrival in Jamestown as their first child, Edward, was born in 1636 and they eventually established a home they called "Varina" on the James River (the plantation still exists). William's literacy was demonstrated by him personally signing his extant 1676/7 will.
A copy of William's signature is attached to this memorial. Nel Hatcher(deceased) the former genealogist for the "Hatcher Families Genealogy Association" (see source #8 below) submitted the signature of William to the experts at the Library of Virginia. She supplied them with just the image of his signature and asked what this name was, what the colon after the name signified [if anything] and what did the words following the name mean. She also gave the date of this document, 1676/7. Almost immediately she received a response from H. B. Gill telling her the name appeared to be HATCH. The colon was used to signify an abbreviation - Hatch: equates to Hatcher. The words following the signature translate to "seald (sic-sealed) with red wax." H. B. Gill also surmised that the signer was likely an older man born in the early 17th century. He certainly hit that nail on the head and stated that this signature appeared to be in the older Elizabethan style.
On 10 Jul 1637, William received a land grant for 850 acres which included 200 acres of head right land for transporting 4 more colonists, e. g., Benjamine Gregory, Thomas Browne, Charles Howell and Elizabeth Willis. NOTE: Puzzlingly, the names Richard Radford, John Winchester and Alice Emmerton, head rights from William's 1636 land grant were recorded again on his 1637 land grant. [See attached copy of William's 1637 land grant.]
On 29 May 1638 William received 150 more acres for transporting 3 more persons, e. g., Nicholas Ison, Francis Dunell and Henry Lilley.
William received several more grants over the years totaling over 1200 acres. See accompanying map for the location of William Hatcher's "Varina" plantation along the Appomattox River near Swift Creek in lower left of the map. On the map, the dates associated with the names of the colonists indicate land grant dates.
A 1639 Act of Assembly appointed Mr. William Hatcher, Thomas Shippay, and Richard Johnson as "Viewers of Tobacco Crop" for Henrico County on the North side of the Appomattox River. A "viewer of tobacco crop" was a sort of government quality inspector/appraiser. [Ref. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Oct., 1897), pp. 119-123]. Besides being a tobacco planter, he became a member of the House of Burgesses from the Henrico Co., VA and served in that capacity in 1644, 1645/6, 1649, 1652 and 1658/9, his last public service (Ref: Colonial Virginia Register, p. 65; 5 V. 98). (NOTE: attached to this memorial are records of his service as a Burgess in 1645/46,1649 and 1652 from Henrico County, Virginia).
William obviously had an outspoken nature and was headstrong and foolish with a reputation of speaking his mind for as he learned, "even nonmembers who aspersed the dignity of the House of Burgesses or its officers suffered speedy censure". The troubles began in October 1654 when Hatcher, a former burgess from Henrico County, accused Edward Hill of blasphemy and atheism. These were serious allegations under any circumstances, but Hatcher's assumed larger proportions because of Hill's prominence as a senior militia officer and a former Speaker of the House of Burgesses. Hatcher could not sustain his charges in the Quarter Court, which dismissed them. The matter should have ended once the court "cleered the said Coll. Edward Hill," but Hatcher was foolhardy. When the General Assembly convened in November (1654) Hill's colleagues again elected him Speaker, and Hatcher "laid his slurs before the House". This time, though, he compounded the insinuations by asserting that "the mouth of this house was a Devil". Affronted by such contempt for their Speaker, the members haled Hatcher before the bar of the House and forced him on bended knee to acknowledge "his offence unto the said Coll. Edward Hill and Burgesses of this Assembly; which accordingly was performed and then he the said Hatcher dismist (sic) paying his fees (fines)". Ref: See source #1 below)
As late as 1674 William was still using the head right method as one way of acquiring land for on September 26 of that year, he was given 227 acres in Henrico Co on the South side of the James River between Gilbert Elam's and Henry Lown's property for the transport of five more people (head rights): Thomas Childers, Sarah Poynter, Henry Davernett, Edward Stringer, and Ann Fryer. It is possible that these people served as indentured servants to pay for their passage. This method of land acquisition (head rights) would indicate that William Hatcher was rather well-to-do (monied) when he arrived in Jamestown as he had to pay cash to transport these people to virginia.
In 1676, at the time of Bacon's Rebellion (an armed insurrection in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by young Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley), William Hatcher's foolhardiness again caused him trouble by his support of Bacon. At a court held by the Governor and Council, March 15, 1676-7: "William Hatcher being brought before the court for uttering divers mutinous words tending to the disquiet of this his Majesty's countrey, and it being evidently made appeare what was layd to his charge by divers oaths, and a Jury being impanelled to assess the damages, who bring in their verdict that they award the said Hatcher to pay ten thousand pounds of tobacco and caske, which verdict of the jury this honourable court doth confirme; but in respect the said Hatcher is an aged man, the court doth order that the said Hatcher doe pay with all expedition eight thousand pounds of drest pork unto his Majesty's commander of his forces in Henrico county, for the supply of his souldiers, which if he fayle to doe, that he pay eight thousand pounds of tobacco and caste the next cropp, and pay costs." William was much more fortunate than most who took part in Bacon's Rebellion. Many were committed to prison and forced to forfeit all or most of their property, which, incidentally was given to friends and supporters of the King.
A 1677 Henrico Co., VA deposition by William Hatcher indicated his age as about sixty-three years, making his birth date circa 1613/4. This 1677 deposition concerned Richard Martin who stated certain of his goods were seized for the passage of himself and two servants.
The children of William Hatcher and his unknown wife were:
1) Edward Hatcher, b. c1636 Henrico Co., VA, d. 1711 Henrico Co., VA, m. Mary Ward.
2) Henry Hatcher, b. c1637 Henrico Co., VA, d. Abt. Aug 1677, Henrico Co., VA, m. Ann Lound.
3) William Hatcher, Jr. b. c1639 Henrico Co., VA, d. Between Feb 1661-Aug 1667, Henrico Co., VA, m. Unmarried. Ref. Valentine Papers (Virginia), Vol. 1-4, 1864-1908
4) Jane Hatcher, b. c1640 Henrico Co., VA, d. Aft Dec 1710, Henrico Co., VA, m. (1) William Branch, (2) William Baugh, Jr., (3) Abell Gower. (See source #7 below)
5) Benjamin Hatcher, Sr., b. c1644 Varina Dale Parish, Henrico Co., VA, d. Between Apr 1727-Oct 1728, Henrico Co., VA, m. Elizabeth Greenhaugh, daughter of John Greenbaugh.
6) Susanna Hatcher, b. c1646 Henrico Co., VA, d. Aft Dec 1699, Henrico Co., VA, m. (1) John Stewart, (2) Thomas Burton.
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The will of William Hatcher was dated 1676/7 and was proved on 01 April 1680 The will was actually a deed of gift and was signed by William Hatcher, himself. It names no executor or residuary legatee and in fact does not mention a wife or any of his children. A copy of William Hatch's will is attached to this memorial and below is a transcription of the document.
The Will of William Hatcher, 1613-1680
Att a Court Holden at Varina
For the County of Henrico the first day of April (by his motion Justices of the Peace for said County) in the year of our Lord God 1680 and in the thirty-second year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, Charles The Second by the grace of God of Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland, King defender of the faith.
IN THE NAME OF GOD (amen) I William Hatcher being in perfect memory but now stricken in years do make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. In primus I give and bequeath my spirit to Almighty God who gave it to me whensoever it shall please him to call me out of this sinful world and my body to the ground. Item: I give unto Thomas Burton, Jr. the plantation between the land of Mr. Henry Lound and the land of Gilbert Elam to wit: two hundred and twenty-six acres, his choice of all my horses or mares, one heifer called blackchops, a young ewe, and a years schooling and clothes, till he reaches the age of seventeen years, to the confirmation of which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this two and twentieth day of February, 1676/7.
Signed and sealed in the presence of: John Pleasants, Henry Gee
Memorandum before the signing and sealing hereof, I do bequeath unto the above mentioned Thomas Burton Jr. the second choice of all my furniture thereunto belonging. s/Will Hatcher
Filed in Henrico County Court the first day of April 1680 by ye oath of Henry Gee and the testamony of John Pleasants who (being a Quaker) refused to sweare but only affirms that it to be Hatcher's deed, these two being witnesses to ye same.
Test: Hugh Davis, Dep Clerk of Court
******************************************************************************************
Although William's death date on this memorial records he died on 01 April 1680, that is the date his will was probated. His actual death date is unknown prior to this date. William Hatcher was buried on his plantation located on the north side of the Appomattox River near Swift Creek in what was then Henrico County, Virginia in the Hatcher Family Cemetery. It now is located in Chesterfield County, Virginia, that county being formed in 1749 from a portion of Henrico County.
DISCLAIMER: There is absolutely no proof Marian (Newport) Hatcher was the wife of the William Hatcher who settled in Henrico County, Virginia. The identity of William Hatcher's wife remains unknown and unproven.
Sources:
1) "A Little Parliament: The Virginia General Assembly in the Seventeenth Century" by Warren M. Billings, 2004, pp37-38 (See Nel Hatcher, Hatcher Families Genealogy Association)
2) "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants 1623-1800" Abstracted by Nell Marion Nugent, Bks. 1-5, 1934, pp40,59,89,347.
3)"The William and Mary Quarterly", Second Series, Vol. 16, No. 3 (Jul., 1936),"The Hatcher Family" by Rev. Francis Campbell Symonds, D.D., pp457-468.
4) "Colonial Wills of Henrico County, Virginia" Part I, 1654-1737, by Benjamin B. Weisiger III, 1976, p6.
5) "The General Assembly of Virginia. July 30, 1619 - January 11, 1978. A Bicentennial Register of Members" by Cynthia Miller Leonard, 1978.
6) "Virginia Land Records" Indexed by Gary Parks, 1982, Genealogical Publishing Co., pp 635-637, 687.
7) "Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5" by John Frederick Dorman, 4th Ed., Vol. 1, 2007, pp367, Footnote #16.
8) Nel Hatcher's online site "Hatcher Families Genealogy Association".
9) "Our Kin", 1930, p. 146)
Bio by Gresham Farrar.
