COLONEL NATHANIEL LITTLETON
Few immigrants to the American colonies have left as many clues to their European origins as his lineage has. He was born in Hopton Castle, Shropshire, England in December 1605 during the reign of James I and christened on December 22, 1605. He is the sixth son of Sir Edward Littleton of Henly, Shropshire, England who served as Chief Justice of North Wales. His eldest brother Lord Edward Littleton (a knight) of Munslow was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in England.
Colonel Littleton was "a gentleman of the Earl of Southampton's Company in the Low Countries in 1625". He migrated to the Colony of Virginia in 1635 and established himself on the Eastern Shore where he settled at Nandua Creek, Accomac County. In 1636, he patented that tract of land for "an advanced post for trading with the Indians". His name is first in a list of Commissioners (also known as Justices) at the May Court of 1637. He succeeded the deceased John Howe to the title of Commander at the May court of 1638. His social, intellectual, and political background eminently qualified him to play a leading role in the life of the community. He is a descendant of many prominent persons: Kings of England (including William the Conqueror); Early Kings of Scots; Kings of France; Charles “The Hammer” Martel; Anglo-Saxon Kings of the English; Counts of Flanders; Dukes of Normandy; German Kings; Holy Roman Emperors (including Charlemagne); Byzantine Emperors; Early Rulers of Russia; Rulers of Bohemia, Poland, & Hungary; Rulers of Spain (including King Ferdinand [I] the Great of Castile & León); “El Cid”; Brian Boru, King of Ireland; etc. and descends from at least 13 of the 25 Magna Carta barons. One of his ancestors, the great 15th-century jurist Sir Thomas de Lyttleton (1422-81) was a Knight of Bath and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and authored the celebrated "Treatise on Tenures", dealing with English land laws of his day that is still used today as an authority on the feudal law of real estate.
By June 1640, Captain Littleton, "Governor of Accomache", married the widow of Charles Harmar. She was Ann Southey, the daughter of Henry Southey, Esq. who was killed at Jamestowne in the Indian Massacre of 1622; thus two prominent families of social distinction and landed wealth were united. They had 2 sons and 1 daughter. In 1640, Nathaniel was Chief Magistrate of Accomac County and on March 18, 1644 was appointed Commander of Accomac, an office which he held for a number of years. Nathaniel achieved the pinnacle of Colonial prominence in 1641 upon being appointed to the Governor of Virginia’s Executive Council from Northampton County, VA and served until 1652. The Accomac Shire or County name was changed in 1642 to Northampton in an effort by the English to eliminate "heathen" names in the New World.
Councillor Littleton signed his Will August 12, 1654 and died by the end of that year. He is "generally regarded as the foremost planter on the Eastern Shore". At his death, he owned over 5,700 acres of land principally at Nandua & Maggoty Bay, VA. His wife Ann died in 1656. Her Will is extremely valuable to historians because as a female in that era, she owned much property and the Will is long and very detailed which is unique. Nathaniel and Ann have numerous descendants in Virginia and all over America.
A great source is "The Littleton Heritage: Some American Descendants of Col. Nathaniel Littleton (1605-1654) of Northampton Co., Virginia" book by Matthew M. Wise.
~Bio compiled by Meredith Drew Trawick, a 10th great-granddaughter, Contributor #46908319
Few immigrants to the American colonies have left as many clues to their European origins as his lineage has. He was born in Hopton Castle, Shropshire, England in December 1605 during the reign of James I and christened on December 22, 1605. He is the sixth son of Sir Edward Littleton of Henly, Shropshire, England who served as Chief Justice of North Wales. His eldest brother Lord Edward Littleton (a knight) of Munslow was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in England.
Colonel Littleton was "a gentleman of the Earl of Southampton's Company in the Low Countries in 1625". He migrated to the Colony of Virginia in 1635 and established himself on the Eastern Shore where he settled at Nandua Creek, Accomac County. In 1636, he patented that tract of land for "an advanced post for trading with the Indians". His name is first in a list of Commissioners (also known as Justices) at the May Court of 1637. He succeeded the deceased John Howe to the title of Commander at the May court of 1638. His social, intellectual, and political background eminently qualified him to play a leading role in the life of the community. He is a descendant of many prominent persons: Kings of England (including William the Conqueror); Early Kings of Scots; Kings of France; Charles “The Hammer” Martel; Anglo-Saxon Kings of the English; Counts of Flanders; Dukes of Normandy; German Kings; Holy Roman Emperors (including Charlemagne); Byzantine Emperors; Early Rulers of Russia; Rulers of Bohemia, Poland, & Hungary; Rulers of Spain (including King Ferdinand [I] the Great of Castile & León); “El Cid”; Brian Boru, King of Ireland; etc. and descends from at least 13 of the 25 Magna Carta barons. One of his ancestors, the great 15th-century jurist Sir Thomas de Lyttleton (1422-81) was a Knight of Bath and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and authored the celebrated "Treatise on Tenures", dealing with English land laws of his day that is still used today as an authority on the feudal law of real estate.
By June 1640, Captain Littleton, "Governor of Accomache", married the widow of Charles Harmar. She was Ann Southey, the daughter of Henry Southey, Esq. who was killed at Jamestowne in the Indian Massacre of 1622; thus two prominent families of social distinction and landed wealth were united. They had 2 sons and 1 daughter. In 1640, Nathaniel was Chief Magistrate of Accomac County and on March 18, 1644 was appointed Commander of Accomac, an office which he held for a number of years. Nathaniel achieved the pinnacle of Colonial prominence in 1641 upon being appointed to the Governor of Virginia’s Executive Council from Northampton County, VA and served until 1652. The Accomac Shire or County name was changed in 1642 to Northampton in an effort by the English to eliminate "heathen" names in the New World.
Councillor Littleton signed his Will August 12, 1654 and died by the end of that year. He is "generally regarded as the foremost planter on the Eastern Shore". At his death, he owned over 5,700 acres of land principally at Nandua & Maggoty Bay, VA. His wife Ann died in 1656. Her Will is extremely valuable to historians because as a female in that era, she owned much property and the Will is long and very detailed which is unique. Nathaniel and Ann have numerous descendants in Virginia and all over America.
A great source is "The Littleton Heritage: Some American Descendants of Col. Nathaniel Littleton (1605-1654) of Northampton Co., Virginia" book by Matthew M. Wise.
~Bio compiled by Meredith Drew Trawick, a 10th great-granddaughter, Contributor #46908319
COLONEL NATHANIEL LITTLETON
Few immigrants to the American colonies have left as many clues to their European origins as his lineage has. He was born in Hopton Castle, Shropshire, England in December 1605 during the reign of James I and christened on December 22, 1605. He is the sixth son of Sir Edward Littleton of Henly, Shropshire, England who served as Chief Justice of North Wales. His eldest brother Lord Edward Littleton (a knight) of Munslow was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in England.
Colonel Littleton was "a gentleman of the Earl of Southampton's Company in the Low Countries in 1625". He migrated to the Colony of Virginia in 1635 and established himself on the Eastern Shore where he settled at Nandua Creek, Accomac County. In 1636, he patented that tract of land for "an advanced post for trading with the Indians". His name is first in a list of Commissioners (also known as Justices) at the May Court of 1637. He succeeded the deceased John Howe to the title of Commander at the May court of 1638. His social, intellectual, and political background eminently qualified him to play a leading role in the life of the community. He is a descendant of many prominent persons: Kings of England (including William the Conqueror); Early Kings of Scots; Kings of France; Charles “The Hammer” Martel; Anglo-Saxon Kings of the English; Counts of Flanders; Dukes of Normandy; German Kings; Holy Roman Emperors (including Charlemagne); Byzantine Emperors; Early Rulers of Russia; Rulers of Bohemia, Poland, & Hungary; Rulers of Spain (including King Ferdinand [I] the Great of Castile & León); “El Cid”; Brian Boru, King of Ireland; etc. and descends from at least 13 of the 25 Magna Carta barons. One of his ancestors, the great 15th-century jurist Sir Thomas de Lyttleton (1422-81) was a Knight of Bath and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and authored the celebrated "Treatise on Tenures", dealing with English land laws of his day that is still used today as an authority on the feudal law of real estate.
By June 1640, Captain Littleton, "Governor of Accomache", married the widow of Charles Harmar. She was Ann Southey, the daughter of Henry Southey, Esq. who was killed at Jamestowne in the Indian Massacre of 1622; thus two prominent families of social distinction and landed wealth were united. They had 2 sons and 1 daughter. In 1640, Nathaniel was Chief Magistrate of Accomac County and on March 18, 1644 was appointed Commander of Accomac, an office which he held for a number of years. Nathaniel achieved the pinnacle of Colonial prominence in 1641 upon being appointed to the Governor of Virginia’s Executive Council from Northampton County, VA and served until 1652. The Accomac Shire or County name was changed in 1642 to Northampton in an effort by the English to eliminate "heathen" names in the New World.
Councillor Littleton signed his Will August 12, 1654 and died by the end of that year. He is "generally regarded as the foremost planter on the Eastern Shore". At his death, he owned over 5,700 acres of land principally at Nandua & Maggoty Bay, VA. His wife Ann died in 1656. Her Will is extremely valuable to historians because as a female in that era, she owned much property and the Will is long and very detailed which is unique. Nathaniel and Ann have numerous descendants in Virginia and all over America.
A great source is "The Littleton Heritage: Some American Descendants of Col. Nathaniel Littleton (1605-1654) of Northampton Co., Virginia" book by Matthew M. Wise.
~Bio compiled by Meredith Drew Trawick, a 10th great-granddaughter, Contributor #46908319
Few immigrants to the American colonies have left as many clues to their European origins as his lineage has. He was born in Hopton Castle, Shropshire, England in December 1605 during the reign of James I and christened on December 22, 1605. He is the sixth son of Sir Edward Littleton of Henly, Shropshire, England who served as Chief Justice of North Wales. His eldest brother Lord Edward Littleton (a knight) of Munslow was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in England.
Colonel Littleton was "a gentleman of the Earl of Southampton's Company in the Low Countries in 1625". He migrated to the Colony of Virginia in 1635 and established himself on the Eastern Shore where he settled at Nandua Creek, Accomac County. In 1636, he patented that tract of land for "an advanced post for trading with the Indians". His name is first in a list of Commissioners (also known as Justices) at the May Court of 1637. He succeeded the deceased John Howe to the title of Commander at the May court of 1638. His social, intellectual, and political background eminently qualified him to play a leading role in the life of the community. He is a descendant of many prominent persons: Kings of England (including William the Conqueror); Early Kings of Scots; Kings of France; Charles “The Hammer” Martel; Anglo-Saxon Kings of the English; Counts of Flanders; Dukes of Normandy; German Kings; Holy Roman Emperors (including Charlemagne); Byzantine Emperors; Early Rulers of Russia; Rulers of Bohemia, Poland, & Hungary; Rulers of Spain (including King Ferdinand [I] the Great of Castile & León); “El Cid”; Brian Boru, King of Ireland; etc. and descends from at least 13 of the 25 Magna Carta barons. One of his ancestors, the great 15th-century jurist Sir Thomas de Lyttleton (1422-81) was a Knight of Bath and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and authored the celebrated "Treatise on Tenures", dealing with English land laws of his day that is still used today as an authority on the feudal law of real estate.
By June 1640, Captain Littleton, "Governor of Accomache", married the widow of Charles Harmar. She was Ann Southey, the daughter of Henry Southey, Esq. who was killed at Jamestowne in the Indian Massacre of 1622; thus two prominent families of social distinction and landed wealth were united. They had 2 sons and 1 daughter. In 1640, Nathaniel was Chief Magistrate of Accomac County and on March 18, 1644 was appointed Commander of Accomac, an office which he held for a number of years. Nathaniel achieved the pinnacle of Colonial prominence in 1641 upon being appointed to the Governor of Virginia’s Executive Council from Northampton County, VA and served until 1652. The Accomac Shire or County name was changed in 1642 to Northampton in an effort by the English to eliminate "heathen" names in the New World.
Councillor Littleton signed his Will August 12, 1654 and died by the end of that year. He is "generally regarded as the foremost planter on the Eastern Shore". At his death, he owned over 5,700 acres of land principally at Nandua & Maggoty Bay, VA. His wife Ann died in 1656. Her Will is extremely valuable to historians because as a female in that era, she owned much property and the Will is long and very detailed which is unique. Nathaniel and Ann have numerous descendants in Virginia and all over America.
A great source is "The Littleton Heritage: Some American Descendants of Col. Nathaniel Littleton (1605-1654) of Northampton Co., Virginia" book by Matthew M. Wise.
~Bio compiled by Meredith Drew Trawick, a 10th great-granddaughter, Contributor #46908319
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