One of the most influential men in the trade between Virginia and England was “Robert Burridge, merchant, ob. March 20th, 1675. Mrs. Elizabeth (Cogan) Burridge, his wife, died 16th Nov. 1688. Great storms of sighs thy death this March uprears, And April antedates by showers of tears; Where thou wert known, to praise thee were all one; to light a candle to the noon-day sun. Here lyes God’s servant, all in short together, the widow’s patron, and the orphan’s father. John Burridge, their son, died 6th Sept., 1733, aged 82. He represented this borough in the convention parliament, 1688, and in divers succeeding parliaments with great honour and faithfulness, and was also chosen thrice mayor of this town. On a stone defaced, Burridge quartering Tucker — Robert Burridge, their grandson, died 21st May, 1752, aged 69, daughter of Robert and Mary Burridge, died 7th July, 1717, aged 30. (George Roberts, The History and Antiquities of the Borough of Lyme Regis and Charmouth, p. 209, 1834).

Elizabeth Cogan was the sister of John Cogan, of Bristol, of more, anon.

Robert Burridge’s son, Robert (father of Robert and John), m. Mary Tucker (see Dorset Parish Registers, vol. 3). “Walter Tucker,* merchant, settled in Lyme about 1604; he was mayor in 1607, and served five times. Andrew Tucker, esq., was sheriff for the county in 1690, and resided principally at Nash, the family estate. John Tucker, esq., of Lyme, is a descendant. Arms — Barry wavy of six, argent and azure; over all a chevron, embattled, between three sea horses, azure. See Prince’s Worthies of Devon, p. 735, for an account of the celebrated William Tucker, or Tooker, grandson of Robert Tooker, who as Izaacke mentions, entertained at Exeter the Spanish ambassador and his whole retinue for three days”. (Ibid., p. 300).

Robert Burridge was of a family of Chard and Taunton, Somerset, and Bristol, Gloucestershire.

1. Robert Burridge, of Taunton, Somerset.
1.1. Joane Burrridge, m. Henry Cogan (Clothier, Will proved June 29, 1613), on Nov. 30, 1590, at St. Mary Magdalene, Taunton. He was probably the son of a namesake (who, on July 1, 1565, m. Elizabeth Carye, dau. of William Cary, of Bristol); br. of John Cogan, d. 1600, witnessed here: Cogan v Stegge. Plaintiffs: John Cogan of Chard, Somerset. Defendants: Nicholas Stegge. Subject: Failure to repay loan; detention of bond, c. 1570. This John Cogan being the father of John Cogan (see as follows, regarding charitable request to the poor of Chard in 1592); probable grandfather of John Cogan, d. 1689, in Virginia; husband of (1) Joyce Bland, d. 1677, a dau. of Gregory Bland, of London, (2) the relict and of Capt. Richard Tye, and, previously, of Cheney Boyse. There is little reason to connect one of Boyse’s 39 headrights (Thomas Harris, a common enough name) with the Thomas, d. 1672, and his namesake, d. 1688.

On Aug. 25, 1658, Maj. John Harper, Capt. Thomas Morgan, and Robert Dessell, citizens of Bristol, gave a power of attorney to “John Coggan of the city of Bristol, but now resident in Virginia, chirurgeon, to receive property belonging to Margaret Bird, administratrix of the goods belonging to Capt. Richard Bond, late of Bristol and Virginia. These Cogans descend from John Cogan, Merchant of Bristol (PROB 11/5/232, June 10, 1466); possible br. of William Cogan, vicar of St. Mary Magdalene, Taunton. (See N.A., E 326).

It would be idle to construct A ‘Cogan pedigree’ that would not satisfy the strictest of requirements, but such would miss the point, as a general criteria, based on the guiding principle of ‘continuation of kinship association’, is as much as can usually be attained of these times.

1.2. John Burridge.
1.2.1. John Burridge.
1.2.1.1. Robert Burridge, m. Elizabeth Cogan, sister of John Cogan, d. 1689, in Virginia.
1.2.1.1.1. John Burridge, of Lyme Regis, Dorset. b. c.1651, 1st s. of Robert Burridge, merchant, of Lyme Regis, by Elizabeth, sis. of John Cogan of Bristol. educ. Wadham, Oxf. matric. Mar. 13, 1668, aged 18. unm. suc. fa. 1676. Burridge’s father, of Taunton origin. (The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983).
1.2.2. Thomas Burredge. Burridge v Burridge. Plaintiffs: John Burredge. Defendants: Thomas Burredge. Subject: personal estate of John Burredge, Chard, Somerset. 1598. (N.A., C 8/35/54).

The Burridges and Tuckers, as many south coast merchants – the Sewards, Derrickes – held various properties in Somerset: Andrewes v Bishop of Winchester. Plaintiffs: Solomon Andrewes, Robert Burridge, Walter Tucker and William Smith. Defendants: George [Morley] Bishop of Winchester, Thomas Harvey, Joan Vinnicombe, Joan Hossam, Thomas Axe and Francis Kimberley. Subject: property in Taunton, Somerset. 1670. (C 8/169/2). Robert Burridge Sr. was the br. of John Burridge: Pitts v Pittard. Plaintiffs: John Pitts. Defendants: Thomas Pittard and John Burridge. Subject: personal estate of Alice Baker, widow, Somerset. 1651. (N.A., C 8/116/143).

The importance of the sons and grandsons of Robert Burridge (d. 1675) to the English south coast trade with Virginia was vast. Robert ‘King’ Carter corresponded with them, as summarised by Edmund Berkeley, Jr. – “Burridge, Robert (1683-1752), a merchant of Lyme Regis, Dorset, who came from an ancient Somerset family. He was mayor of Lyme in 1710 and 1721. His brother John was a London merchant who represented Lyme in Parliament. In Robert Carter’s letter to Robert Burridge of July 13, 1720, he mentions “Mr. Joseph Paise Yor. Partner“. (Pace). John Cogan m. Joyce, the widow of Cheney Boyce and Richard Tye in 1659. Their dau. Rebecca m. Francis Poythress, who died in 1688. Their dau., Rebecca Poythress, m. Richard Pace, by 1699.

The Burridges operated out of many south coast ports, including Bristol and London, and, as such, connected many families of the merchant class. When a person is shown to be a headright of “whoever” in Virginia, it is important to consider who “whoever” payed for transporting the headright; and look to such as the Burridges.

The Burridges were in some way connected to the Hardy family of Beaminster, Dorset, which, I suggest, was the family of George Hardy (father-in-law of Edward Harris, d. 1677, in Virginia: Hardy v Burridge. Plaintiffs: William Hardy. Defendants: Robert Burridge, George Hardy, Elizabeth Hardy his wife, Richard Waddon, Anne Waddon, Robert Colmer (Culmer), Elizabeth Hodder and William Clapp. Subject: personal estate of John Hardy, Beaminster, Dorset. 1669. (N.A., C 8/222/21). Will of John Hardy, Clerk of Beaminster, Dorset, June 29, 1668. (PROB 11/327). This is the same Hardy family as seen here: Lawrence v Lawrence. Plaintiffs: William Lawrence. Defendants: William Lawrence, John Hardy and George Hardy. Subject: property in Wraxall (in Beaminster parish), and Rampisham, Dorset. 1669. (N.A., C 8/246/34), which is 40 mls S.E. of Wiveliscombe, Somerset. George Hardy, associated with Edwrd Harris, was “kinsman George Hardy” named in the Will of George Hardy, proved April 14, 1655; who setled on Lawne’s Creek, adj. Alice Bennett’s land. (Nugent, p. 140).

As noted previously, the family of Bridgman Joyner, guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, were of Dorset, adj. Somerset.

POINTS OF ASSOCIATION

*George Moore, of Bristol, aged 78 in 1710, m. Jane Barcroft, dau. of Charles Barcroft, whose family held land in Chard, alongside the Burridge and Cogan families. (Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset, transported Charles Barcroft, IOW, 1650). The Fulgham family intermarried with that of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

*George Moore had issue: (1) Eleanor Moore, who m. Richard Piland, the son of James Piland, bapt. on 30 August 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642. (2) Ann Moore, who m. Thomas White. They had issue Thomas and John White (great-grandfather of Avis White, who m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688).

*George Moore’s sister, Katherine Moore, m. (2) Robert Flake, a tobacco factor for Bristol merchants. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps.

*Robert Braswell’s son and namesake, received one-half of his father’s 1,300 acres, m. Suzanne Burgess. The Will of Joyce Cripps (1679) named Susan Braswell “my sister’s daughter”. who she ‘Cut off with a shilling’.

*John Edwards, Jr., m. Ann Braswell, niece of Robert Brasswell Jr.; his sister, Ann Edwards, m. Henry Cary, Jr. See as follows for connection to the Burridge family. (And Harris?).

*Daniel Boucher (of Bristol); estate inventory was conducted by Mr. Robert Flake. Daniel Boucher’s Will was recorded May 1, 1668, mentioning (1) “Hodges Councill the younger” (of Wemore, Somerset); (2) Elizabeth Munger, the dau. of John Munger (Thomas Harris, d. 1672, was security, with John Munger, for the estate of Samuel Griffin); (3) Elizabeth Davis the dau. of John Davis, decd (Edward Harris, d. 1677, owed him money); (4) friend John Hardy,* probable br. of George Hardy, f-in-l of Edward Harris, d. 1677; (5) friend Thomas Taberer, who m. (1) Ann Bennett, probable sister of Richard Bennett, d. 1709, second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. His daus., Ruth Taberer, m. John Newman, br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672 (the Newman family were of Wedmore); Ann Taberer, m., as his first wife, Robert Spencer, “loving friend” of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

*John Hardy’s second wife was Alice Tucker/Allan (almost certainly of Walter Tucker’s family), widow of Arthur Allen, of Bristol. By his first wife, he was father of Olive Hardy, wife of Giles Driver; Lucy Hardy, wife of Hodges Council. His Will was witnessed by William Jennings.* R. June 9, 1677.

*Francis England, George Cripps, *William Jennings of Bristol, surgeon, appts. Thomas Moore (br. of George) of Pagan Creek his atty. to collect from Arthur Skynner, Gyles Dryver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and Joseph Whitson, and by virtue of a letter of atty. from John Hardiman of Bristol, taylor (Quaker), to collect from William Hudson in Nansemond. June 29, 1667. Robert Braswell’s estate was appraised on May 11, 1668 by Gyles Driver (B. 2, p. 55). Bridgman Joyner (guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688); appraised by Thomas Mandew, Giles Driver, Andrew Griffin. R. Dec. 4, 1719. Signed Ann Joyner. (G.B. 23).

Will of Walter Tucker, Merchant of Lyme Regis, Dorset, April 3, 1645. PROB 11/369/293. (Descendants moved to Chard). He was the br. of William (of Barbados), and Samuel Tucker: Badcocke v Tucker. Plaintiffs: John Badcocke. Defendants: Hugh Tucker, Rebecca Tucker his wife, and Samuel Tucker. Subject: money matters in Dorset. 1625-1640. (N.A., C 3/395/7). He was the father of Samuel* and Walter Tucker:* Captured ship: True Love of London or of Rotterdam, master John Pittman. History: an English ship, bound from Rotterdam to Jersey, laden with tobacco pipes, bricks, steel, deal boards, tar, brass frying pans, sugar, cod roes, cheeses etc by Samuel Tucker of Rotterdam, brother of Walter Tucker of Lyme; taken (in August 1672) by HMS Hatton ketch (Isaac White commanding) while anchored at Jersey, but was released and came into Poole and thence to Lyme [and there seized]. (HCA 32/9/35). “Samuel Tucker of Rotterdam (who) has received of (cousin – M.S) Samuel Tucker of Bristol goods lately in custody of John Edwards, cozen, in Isle of Wight. Aug. 5, 1664; John Edwards being a trading partner of Robert Burridge. *Will of Walter Tucker, Merchant of Lyme Regis, Dorset, April 3, 1645. PROB 11/369.

This John Edwards was probably the father of Ann Edwards, who m. Henry Cary Jr.; son of Miles Cary, bapt. in All Saints Parish, Bristol, on January 30, 1623, the son of the woolen draper, John Cary (br. of Elizabeth Cary, mother of Henry Cogan), as given.

“Walter Tucker of Lyme Regis in the county of Dorset appoints his friend Thomas Ousley (who m. Ann Harris, dau. of William Harris), of Lyme Regis his attorney to collect all debts. The connection here being: Owsley v Drewe. Plaintiffs: William Owsley, clerk on behalf of poor of Shepton Beauchamp (20 mls fr. Wiveliscombe and Wedmore). Defendants: Alice Drewe, widow, Christopher Rowswell, Agnes Cogan and John Allen. Subject: charitable bequests from William Drewe and John Cogan, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset. 1627. (Nat. Arch. ref. C 8/61/92). This was John Cogan, of Chard (see Reports of the Commissioners for Inquiring Concerning Charities, p. 85), who made his bequest in 1592, confirmed by his son in 1627.

Of Shepton Beauchamp: A tenement with a dovecot passed in 1559 to Cuthbert Rosse (Rose) on the death of Joan Seager, widow. On Cuthbert’s death in 1560 it descended to Elizabeth, dau. of Nicholas Rose. (Visit. Som. 1623 (Harl. Soc. xi), 9–10; Som. Wills, ed. Brown, i. 56). The Rose family (intermarried with the Hodges of Wedmore) also inherited lands in the parish from Agnes Wogan (d. 1575), who left them to her nephew, John Rose. (Som. Wills, ed. Brown, i. 45; S.R.S. xlii. 181).

William Owsley, rector of Shepton Beauchamp (d. 1630), left £45 to buy ½ a. and build a hospital at Shepton for four poor men. (Prob. 11/157 (P.C.C. 59 Scroope). William Drewe and John Cogan purchased an annuity of £3 from the manor of Chedington (Dorset), then held by William Owsley, evidently for charitable purposes. From 1625 the annuity was distributed annually to the poor before Christmas Day. (12th Rep. Com. Char. H.C. 358, pp. 426–7 (1825).

Chedington juxta Beaminster, West Dorset.

The widow of Samuel Tucker (I suggest, of Bristol), m. John Pleasants:

1. John Pleasants, m. (c. 1670), Jane Larcome, relict of Captain Samuel Tucker. (See Lyme Regis (Dorset) deeds (5 & 6), regarding Damer’s house, Cleeves, and Arlinch Mead, associated with families of Larcombe, Damer, and Burridge, from 1642 (SHC, DD\TOR/130); and properties incl. tucking mill & pt. of Colway Farm; ten. called Wath al. Ware & “Stanley” tucking mill associated with families of Goss, Trickey, Wood, Thornton, Hart, Pitts, Rose, Larcombe, Gee, Stokes, Parsons, Hood, West, and Stone, from 1606 (ibid. DD\TOR/125).
1.1. Elizabeth Pleasants, d. 1751, Curles, m. James Cocke, son of Thomas Cocke, son of Richard Cocke, of Pickthorne, Shropshire.
1.1.1. Elizabeth Cocke, m. Robert Poythress, son of John Poythress and Christian Peebles.
1.2. John Pleasants: To son John Pleasants, (born of the body of my wife, Jane, formerly wife and executrix of Samuel Tucker, dec’d), all of plantation where I now dwell called “Curles”, 300 ac., which was purchased by me of William Cookson; also that plantation purchased of Philip Ludwell, called “Timber Slash” 900 ac.; also my part of a tract taken up between John Woodson, Hen. Rowing, and myself, the whole tract being 7000 ac., 1/2 being mine called “Half Sink”. If son John has no heirs, then above to son Joseph (also son of wife, Jane), and if he have no issue, to dau. Elizabeth Pleasants, (also dau. of wife Jane), and if no issue to my brother Samuel Pleasants, and if no issue, to my brother Benjamin Pleasants, and if no issue, to my br. Thomas Pleasants, and if no issue to my next of kin. Numerous items to son John and if he die to be divided betw. Joseph and Elizabeth, when they reach 18. To dau., Elizabeth, land I purchased of Abraham Childers, bordering Curles Swamp, 70 ac.; and also land purchased of Hen. Rowing and Robert Woodson, about 400 ac., also livestock and items. . . . . . . To the Friends (now called Quakers) a small parcel of land purchased of Benjamin Hatcher, next to Thomas Holmes, for a meeting house and burying place. To daughter in law Mary Woodson, 20 pounds sterling. To my dear and loving mother, 20 pounds My wife to be sole executrix.
1.3. Joseph Pleasants, m. Martha Cocke, dau. of Richard ‘Cocke, son of Richard Cocke, of Pickthorn, aforementioned, and Temperance Bayley, dau. of Thomas Bayley, of Dorset. (The link).

1. Robert Jordan, d. October 12, 1589 in Melcombe Regis, Dorset, m (2) … Melcombe Regis is 30 ml fr. Lyme Regis, along the coast. 1.1. Samuel Jordan, d. 1623, Jordan’s Journey, Jamestown, m. Cecily Reynolds. She may have been the dau. or granddau. of William Reynolds and Cecily Jellet, m. May 23, 1685, in Bloxgrove (20 mls, along the coast, fr. Melcombe Regis). Cecily Reynolds m. (1) … Bayley, having issue Temperance Bailey/Cocke; (2) Samuel Jordan (a probable cousin); (3) William Farrar, May 2, 1625, in Jamestown. Cheney Boyce’s patent of 1637 was ‘W. towards the head of Jordaynes & Bayleys Creek’.

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