Pilgrims Progress

Virginia Branch, National Society, Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims

Vol. XVIII, No. 2

June, 2015

http://virginianssdp.weebly.com
Paul Walden Editor

Greetings from the Branch Governor

Dear Virginia Branch Pilgrims,
Thank you for your support and for the honor you have bestowed upon me as your Virginia
Branch Governor, National Society Sons & Daughters of the Pilgrims. Each one of you is
important to me and to the Society. Please share with me your ideas for programs, events
and projects that would be of benefit to the community as well as our Society.
Our first project will be to provide can goods or nonperishable food to people who are less
fortunate. Please remember to bring these items with you to every meeting. If each of us
contributes a little, it will make a big difference. I will see that your contributions will be
distributed to different church pantries.
If you have ever been to Bethesda Naval Hospital (Walter Reed), you would see what war
has done to many of our fine men & women. Their lives are changed forever. Being a military
wife, I know some of the hardships that the families feel. I would like to see us do something
for these Veterans and their families. We recognize our ancestors in the different wars and
conflicts that they fought and we should do the same with our military men and women right
here at arm's length. They are protecting us now. Freedom has always come with a high price.
Please let me know of any projects that you would be interested in supporting for our fine
men & women who are risking their lives right now for us. If you would like to Chair a
Committee, please let me know.
I look forward to a great year ahead and hope to see all of you at our next meeting at the
Bavarian Chef in Fredericksburg on Sunday, Oct 18th. Have a wonderful summer.

InsideVol.XVIII,No.2
June2015
Page 1- Greetings from the VA
Branch Governor
Page 2March 8th Meeting
New Officers Elected
Page 3NSSDP 107th General Court
Registrars Update-Donna Hall
Treasurers Update-Owen Jacobs
Page 4 - Our Pilgrim Ancestors
Thomas Harris-Chuck Poland

Virginia Hurtes Rouse

Virginia Branch Governor
NSSDP

Page 5 Our Pilgrim Ancestors

Pilgrims Everywhere-Carla Odom
Page 6 - Next Meeting Sunday
Oct 18 Bavarian ChefFredericksburg (Not the usual date)

Virginia Branch Governor

Virginia Hurtes Rouse

Belle Haven Country Club

March 8 Branch Meeting
Despite several weeks of winter weather, Mother Nature blessed us with clear weather on that Sunday and allowed an
impressive turnout of 36, including 4 prospective members. This was one of the largest meeting attendance in some time.
The meeting was held at the august Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria and featured a three course lunch of butternut
squash bisque, roasted chicken, and apple pie a la mode. We were honored by the presence of Governor General Carole
Belcher, who brought greetings and installed the new branch officers for the 2015-17 term.

MarchMeetingAttendees

BelleHavenCountryClub

New Officers Elected for 2015-17 Term

National Governor Carole Belcher installing new Virginia Branch Officers for 2015-17 Term at March meeting: Left to
Right: Gov. Gen. Carole Belcher, Branch Governor, Virginia Hurtes Rouse; 1st Deputy Governor, Stuart Whitehead;
2nd Deputy Governor, Charles "Chuck" Poland; Recording Secretary, Helen Warren; Corresponding Secretary, Jennifer
Smith; Treasurer, Owen Jacobs; Registrar, Donna Hall; Historian, Paul Walden; Elder, Donna Hubner;
Jacque-Lynne Schulman, Parliamentarian (not in photo)

General Court
Virginia Branch Delegates to NSSDP 107th General Court, Mayflower Hotel,
Washington, DC, April 13, 2015

Left to Right: Jacque-Lynn Schulman, Robert Odom, Carla Odom, Chuck Poland, Virginia Rouse, Paul Walden, Ann
Williams Garner, Helen Warren

Registrars Update Donna Hall

Please welcome our newest members approved for membership since March, bringing our
current membership to 104:
1. Sarah Nolia Lenore Langford Hardy, Admitted 29 Mar 2015, National #12247, State #230
2. Linda Montgomery-Blair, Admitted 29 Apr 2015, National #12253, State #231
3. Roy Abbott Martin, Jr., Admitted 30 Apr 2015, National #12260, State #232
4. Barbara Powers Wyatt Huff, Admitted 17 May 2015, National #12271, State #233
5. Trudy Ann Cauthen Tanzillo, Admitted 17 May 2015, National #12273, State #234
6. Patricia O'Brien Everts, Admitted 26 June 2015, National #12294, State #235
Supplementals Approved
1. Paul Walden ancestor Matthew Howard #11749S03 approved May 23, 2015.

We have papers pending for Michael Furr, Nancy Marie Redman Hill, and Mary Lou Walden
Lewis, and a pending fourth Supplemental for Paul Walden on ancestor Richard Cheney.
Treasurer Update - Owen Jacobs
All tax reports have been filed and accepted. All bank accounts have been changed over to new
administration.
3

Our Pilgrim Ancestors

Thomas Harris, Ancestor of Charles Poland

HenricoCounty,VirginiaHistoricalMarker

Thomas Harris, my 10th great-grandfather, was born in Cricksea, Essex, England before 19 December, 1585. He arrived in
Jamestowne, Virginia in May 1611 on the Prosperous with Sir Thomas Dale. He was an investor in the second Corporation
of Jamestowne. He is considered an Ancient Planter. He became a Captain in the Militia, and moved to the Henricus
settlement. Pocahontas and her husband John Rolfe lived there for several years, while she was educated in Christianity and
English behavior. While at Henricus, Captain Harris fought against the Powhatan Indians in the 1622 massacre, where 64
people were killed. He survived the attack, but the Henricus settlement was abandoned afterwards, and he returned to
Jamestowne. The site is now Henricus Historical Park (see www.henricus.org), where there is a small plaque for Thomas
Harris, and a monument to the massacred settlers. He was elected a member of the House of Burgesses in 1624. His primary
plantation, although not his first land holding, known initially as Longfield, and later as Curles, was 750 acres, purchased
in 1636. In 1649, Capt. Harris became commander of the Henrico militia. His land holding grew to 2,500 acres by his death
in 1658. His wife was Adria Hoare, whom he married in England. He had two children: Mary Harris (see below) and Major
William Harris, who was born 12 March 1630 in Henrico, Virginia and died 20 April 1678 near Richmond, Georgia in an
Indian battle.
Mary Harris was born about 1620, and died on 18 March 1702 in Henrico County, Virginia. Before 1649, she married
Thomas Ligon (also spelled Lygon) in Henrico County, Virginia. Thomas arrived in Virginia in 1642 with his 2nd cousin,
Colonial Governor Sir William Berkeley. He was a Lt. Col. in the Henrico County militia. On 18 April 1644, Indians
attacked Virginia settlements, and massacred about 300 of the colonists before they were repulsed. While this furious attack
was in progress, Lt. Col. Thomas Ligon, who happened to be passing at the moment the residence of Dr. John Woodson,
helped Sarah Woodson defend her home against the Indians. According to tradition their only weapon was an old gun
which Colonel Ligon handled with deadly effect. At the first fire he killed 3 Indians, and 2 at the second shot. The howling
mob on the outside took fright and fled, but Ligon fired the third time and killed 2 more, making seven in all. The old gun,
which rendered such valuable service on that dreadful day, was made in England, and was later placed in the possession of
the Virginia Historical Society. The name of Ligon was carved upon the stock. Thomas Ligon was also Surveyor for Henrico
County, Justice of the Peace, and was elected to the House of Burgesses in 1656. Mary and Thomas Ligon had seven
children, including Johan Ligon, my 8th great-grandmother, who married Robert Hancock. Thomas held over 4,500 acres of
land at his death about 1675.

Our Pilgrim Ancestors

Carla Whitehurst Odom
Honorary Virginia Branch Governor
Pilgrims, Pilgrims, Everywhere!
I have been invited to share some brief details about my beloved pilgrims. Considering there are 20 verified to date this issue will
be confined to the four Carolina pilgrims. The following Province of North Carolina pilgrims have also been verified by the Order of
First Families of North Carolina and other groups along with some of their children, even to the fourth generation for the Blounts and
two of the four wives, the widow Susannah Travis, and Lidia Windley. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to introduce the reader to
this members' Virginia and Rhode Island pilgrims in a future issue.
Tenth generation Francis DeLaMare came to the new world for religious freedom. On January 1, 1694, he and presumably a
relative Isaac DeLaMare acquired land patent #110 verified in early Carolina records as located in Pasquotank Precinct. Historian R.
T. Bonner stated July 7,1915 that the Frenchman came to Carolina before 1690. It is speculated his immigration date occurred shortly
following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes on October 7, 1685 when Huguenots were suddenly thrust into acute persecution. On
October 10, 1694 this pilgrim appeared in court with his wife Susannah who was the widow of Daniel Travis. They came to court for
the purpose of settling her late husband's estate. Francis DeLaMare served as a Justice of the General Court, attorney, representative for
the Colonial Council, and as member of the vestry. The papers were not dated, but sometime prior to 1702, when Queen Anne came to
the throne, the Huguenot refugee petitioned for citizenship. That record is found in the North Carolina Colonial Records, Vol. 1. He
stated he, being by nation a French Man and being Protestant was compelled to fly from his Country on account of his religion. He also
stated while in France he read his bible by stealth and kept it hidden in a secret bottom of his chair. Francis DeLaMare disappeared
between April 2 and July 1, 1713 during the Tuscarora War when all men holding office in the colony were required to muster. His
eldest son Francis DeLamare settled his estate.
Another of the earliest families in the Province of Carolina includes that of tenth generation pilgrim Nicholas Daw. This gentleman
immigrated from England to Newfoundland and then removed to the Carolinas. He married Lydia Windley the daughter of Robert
Windley. In 1696 Daw was appointed a Justice of the Court in Bath Precinct that is today a section of the northern part of Beaufort
County, North Carolina. In 1701 Governor Henderson Walker sent Captain Nicholas Daw and two other gentlemen to interface with
the Matchapungo and Bear River Indians for peace, and to return five Indians who had had made trouble with colonists. It is speculated
these three gentlemen aided in influencing peace for some years before organized uprisings began throughout the colony. In 1705 this
pilgrim and two other gentlemen were commissioners/founders of Bath Town, the first town in North Carolina. He died sometime in
1713 which was during the Tuscarora War.
Nicholas Daw's father-in-law Robert Windley had been transported to Northampton County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in
1652. Soon after he served his time for his passage, Cavaliers and Pioneers records verify that Windley received land on April 12, 1661
in Northampton County. His wife Jane's maiden name has not been found. When he removed to Carolina Windley was the fifth patent
holder recorded in the Province of North Carolina. A land grant to him is also verified in the Colonial Records of North Carolina, Vol
1, for the transportation of persons to the province. Windley's plantation was located in Shaftsbury Precinct, in the Chowan area. His
will dated July 31, 1688, survives in the Secretary of State Papers at the North Carolina Department of Archives and History in Raleigh,
North Carolina. His will names his wife Jane, son William and daughter Lydia who married Nicholas Daw. Robert Windley directed
that he be buried in the manner of the Quakers.
Twelfth generation Captain James Blount's family has been hailed as the First Family of North Carolina. Captain Blount was
already in the new world before 1655 when he was identified in the will of his uncle Charles Blount back in England. The will states
provisions were left to nephew James Blount who has gone beyond the seas. This pilgrim resided in Isle of Wight, Virginia brief years
before removing to Chowan Precinct in the Province of Carolina. He served as an elected representative to the House of Burgesses,
Member of the House of Commons, Justice of the Court, and he enjoyed status as a large land holder with a sizable family. His first
wife's name has not been found. The North Carolina Governor's mansion is located on Blount Street that is named for this family.
Blount's will written July 6, 1685 is secured in the Secretary of State Papers in the North Carolina Archives. Detailed provisions were
bequeathed to his second wife Ann, son Thomas Blount (Sr.) and other children. Captain James Blount's son Captain Thomas Blount
was a famous Indian fighter. Indian Chief Thomas Blunt adopted my ancestor's name in honor of his military acumen.
Ten Virginia pilgrims and six Rhode Island pilgrims complete the remainder of my verified ancestors. Perhaps these biographies
will encourage you to continue to search for your pilgrim/immigrant ancestors.

Bavarian Chef- Fredericksburg

Save the Date: Sunday-October 18, 2015
Virginia Branch NSSDP Fall Meeting to be held at the ever-popular Bavarian Chef in
Fredericksburg. A meeting call will be issued later this summer.

Inthehistorictrainstation
200LafayetteBoulevard
downtownFredericksburg,VA224016067
(540)6562101