Many south-coast merchant families had strong ties to both Bristol and London, with divisions of their family residing in both. This makes for a complicated picture, which hid the connections between families that migrated to Virginia. Those “connected” need to be discerned from those of the same name who were not. One feature of early Virginia settlement was the importance of the Bennett and (intermarried) Bland families, which would have attracted many associations through their tobacco trading empire. What is very evident in the following notes is the connection of many “Bristol-basin” migrants to the family of Thomas Harris, d. 1672; himself a Bristol merchant, whose family were intermarried with the Bennetts. Such as the Harris of Blagdon, who lived within 30 mls of Thomas Harris in Somerset, shared the same trading connections, without having familial ties.

1. William Watkins.*
1.1. John Watkins, cooper, of Bristol, ca. 1595-1673.
1.1.1. John Watkins, d.v.p, cooper. Edward Prince deeds George Stephens, George Hardy, John Watkins, for 17,500 lbs. tob. one water mill at the head of Lawne’s Creek. Wit: John Hammond, James Brewer, Stephen Web, p. 529.
(Sept. 1657: Jo. Pauley* patent 600 ac. at the head of Lawnes Creek (June 10, 1639), which he sold to Thos. Webb, Aug. 25, 1644, who sold same to George Stephens (Feb. 15, 1644), and by sold by him to George Hardye (May 21, 1653), witnessed by Robert Pitt and George Hardye, p. 23. John Pauley’s sale of land to Richard Wilmot (north upon Thomas Thorpe, east upon Lawne’s Creek), on May 13, 1644, was witnessed by John George, and James Drake. His sale of land to Richard Atkins in 1645 was witnessed by Daniel Boucher and Henry White. John Watkins m. (1) Alice …
1.1.1.1. George Watkins, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Edmund Prime and … Ridley, sister Charles Barham’s wife. George Watkin’s Will names “Goddaughter, Elizabeth Spensor, dau. of Robert Spensor”, and instructs that the residue if his estate “be divided equally between my wife, Elizabeth, and cousin, Christopher Watkins,* of White Hart Court in Long Lane, London”. He gifts a coat to William Newsum, and “to friend, Wm. Sherwood, 20 shillings for a ring”. His estate was administered (Feb. 7, 1675) by “Mr. Robert Ruffin, who married ye relict”.

*Christopher Watkins m. Susan Pann, dau. of Michael Pann, and niece of John Pann: “Michael Pann, of p. St. Sepulchre Newgate, London, gent. (Born in p. Haceby, Lincs. Lands in Somersetshire.) Will (147 Essex) pr. Oct. 9, 1647 by brother John, and Thos. Muttlebury”. (Abstracts of P.C.C., John Matthews, George F. Matthews, eds., p. 365, 1906). Pann v Watkins. Plaintiffs: John Pann and another. Defendants: Christopher Watkins, Susan Watkins his wife and others. (C 5/387/202). It is likely that Susan Pann’s sister m. John Westcombe. Westcombe v Pann. Plaintiffs: John Westcombe. Defendants: John Pann. Subject: property in Dunster, Somerset. 1649. (C 10/37/215). Dunster was on the main trade road to Bristol, which passed through Glastonbury.

1. Thomas Sherwood, of London, gent.
1.1. …
1.1.1. Will of John Sherwood, Merchant Tailor of London, pr. Aug. 5, 1542.
1.1.1.1. John Serwood.
1.1.1.1.1. William Sherwood, m. Dionisia Butler, of All Hallows, May 7, 1577, at that place.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Robert Sherwood, of St Martin-in-the-Fields, merchant taylor, m. Judith Warters, of St Andrew, Holborn, dau. of Raphael Warters, cooper, at St. Catherine, Coleman, July 23, 1616.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. William Sherwood, “born in the parish of White Chappell near London.” His Will was proved in James City on Feb. 7, 1687. Petition of William Sherwood of James City, Virginia, for himself and for Richard James, an orphan, to the King. During the rebellion on Sept. 19, 1676 houses were burnt in James Town belonging to Sherwood in the right of Richard James, to a value of L1,000. The houses were destroyed by Richard Lawrence, who has fled the country. Requests to receive from Lawrence’s estate as much as will bee needed to rebuild the houses. (In 1675, he m. the widow of Rev. Richard James,* who had patented a part of the western portion of Jamestown Island (Land Register). John Jarrett, d. bef. 1710, nephew of William Sherwood, m. Joanna Lowe, sister of Micajah Lowe (d.1703), a merchant in Charles City Co., and a grandniece of Micajah Perry, a prominent tobacco merchant. After John Jarrett’s death, Joanna (Perry) Jarrett was the housekeeper at Westover, of William Byrd. John Smith, Brewer, was an overseer of the Will of Roger James, Brewer, of London, proved on March 13, 1591. Roger James was the father of the three brothers who m. three Smith sisters: (1) Sarah m. Roger James, of Upminster Hall, Essex, eldest son of Roger James and Sarah Morskyn. (Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica. Fourth Series, pp. 105-113), at St Saviours, Southwark, on June 24 1588. He d. in 1596 and Sarah then m. Thomas Cleyborne,* in 1598, at St Dunstan, Stepney (per register). (2) Gertrude m. Richard James, on June 12 1599, at St. Dunstan, having issue *Rev. Richard James, a graduate at Trinity College, Cambridge, who served as clergyman on Kent Island. (3) Etheldreda m. George James, at St. Dunstan. *It is possible that William Claiborne, of Virginia note, was their son, who was associated with a William Harris, and a John Phipps, in Virginia. In this regard, the contention of Mr. Phillip Harris that this William Harris was of the Southminster family of Harris should be fairly considered.

(1. William Harris of Southminster, m. (1) Johanna Smith; (3) Agnes Rutter.
1.1. William Harris, m. Jane Seymour, of Bocking.
1.1.1. William Harris, of Willingale Doe, m. Joan Hardings, May 6, 1576.
1.1.1.1. William Harris, came to Virginia in 1621 as a surveyor with William Claiborne.
1.1.1.1.1. William Harris, lived in Jamestown in 1658. June 5, 1654: 24 acres to Anthony Coleman assigned to John Fitchet and by him assigned to John Philps and William Harris and by said Phlpps.
1.1.1.1.1. John Harris. William Sherwood, deed, May 11, 1696, to John Harris for land in Jamestown; “formerly Fitchetts”. William Drummond Jr. makes a deed (June 15,1753) for one and a half acres in Jamestown, formerly granted William Sherwood and sold by said Sherwood to John Harris* and by John Harris to William Drummond, father of the William Drummond Jr).

William Sherwood was born in White Chappell on Sept. 19, 1641, and, as “William Sherwood, gent, of St. Mary Whitechappell, bachellor, about 22”, m. “Elizabeth Palmer, of same, spinster, about 23, with consent of mother, Frances Palmer, of same, widow. Aug. 10, 1663. She was bapt. April 13, 1639, in St. Katherine by the Tower; dau. of Thomas Palmer.

William Sherwood, 28 acs., at the mouth of James City Island, Apr. 23, 1681, p. 97. Beg. at James Riv., at the head of a gr. slash issuing into the back river; to Block Howse Hill point; to Mr. Richard James; to a hr. of Pitch & Tarr Sw; and granted to John Baldwyn, Oct. 4, 1656. Given. by will of Baldwyn to John Fulcher, who sould to sd. Sherwood, Oct. 22, 1677. Same in James Citty on which formerly stood the brick howse formerly called the Country howse which said howse and land formerly belonged to … The Grand Assembly (and) was sould and assigned to Major Richard Webster, who assigned to Richard Ricks, deed., & by order (Oct. 17, 1660) was sould to John Phipps, whoe amongst other lands sould to John Knowles, Oct. 5, 1661, who conveyed said howse and acre of land to Jonathan Newell (Apr. 23, 1667), whoe dying without issue the same descended and came to David Newell, his bro. and heire at law, whoe sold the ruins of the sd. howse and the acre to sd. Sherwood (Feb. 6, 1677), whoe hath built a faire howse and appurtenances on the same; which acre begins at a stake before Col. White’s dove, running towards his howse, WNW, Apr. 23, 1681, p. 9.

William Sherwood, deed, May 11, 1696, to John Harris* for land in Jamestown.

1. John Harris, bapt. April 7, 1558, d. 1633. (Blagdon, Somerset). He was of the same family as the Harris of Southminster.
1.1. John Harris, bapt. 1589/90, in Blagdon
1.1.1. John Harris,* infant in 1624, witnessed, with Sackford Brewster, a bond of Robert Mosley to John Felton in 1654. (V.C.R, v. xi, p. 31). “William Lea and Alice (Feltham), his wife, to William Heath, 150 ac. … formerly Thomas Felton’s … formerly (Robert) Moseleys … “joyneing upon the lands which was (Sergeant) John Harryes lyeing in the County of Surry in Virginia commonly called Upper Chippoakes”. Surry Co. tithables, 1681. Chipoaks Precinct: Mr. William Newsum, *John Harris, William Barton, Henry and Thomas Hart (5). Taken by Robert Ruffin.
1.1.1.1. *John Harris, m. a dau. of Thomas Busby, as John Barker Jr., grandson of William Barker, mariner, bapt. on May 7, 1592, in St. Werburgh’s, Bristol; merchant and mariner. Thomas Busby’s son and namesake m. Mary Simmons, dau. of William Simmons Sr., and sister of William Simmons Jr., whose land adjoined that of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30. John Barker Jr. was the admon. of the estate of John Harris, rec. Feb. 11, 1698.
1.1.1.2. William Harris, m. Elizabeth, her widow’s estate admon. by (eldest son) Henry Harris. R. June 16, 1711. Wit. John Barker Jr., son of John Barker Sr., son of William Barker, mariner.

SHERWOOD cont.

1.2. William Sherwood, bur. Dec. 22, 1558, Bruton, Somerset.
1.2.1. John Sherwood. John Herbert of London, gent., and Andrew Palmer, citizen and goldsmith of London, sold to John Dodington of the city of Westminster in the co. of Middlesex, gent., and Nicholas Harvie of Brockley, in the co. of Somerset, gent., land which included “a ten. in Brodestrete between the ten. once of Richard Harvie, now of John Sherwood. 1575. (Brist. Arch., P/AS/D/BS B 17). Andrew Palmer is mentioned in the i.p.m. of “Henry Roberts, citizen and brewer of London”, as being deeded by him on June 21, 1563, with John Jackson, and their heirs, three messuages in Knightrider street. Henry Roberts held land in common with John James.
1.2.1.1. John Sherwood, bapt. March 1, 1562, Bruton.
1.2.1.2. Thomas Sherwood. Parties: Sexey v Calcott and Sherwood. Subject: Proceedings on recognizance of debt. London and Somerset. 1582. (Crist. Arch., 43/9/145).
“Thomas Sherwood, gent, receiver of temporalities of the bishopric of Bath and Wells” (1591). Sherwood v Francics. Plaintiffs: Thomas Sherwood. Defendants: Humphry Francis and Thomas Catcott or Calcott and Ciceley Catcott or Calcott. Subject: Appears to relate to a demise made to the plaintiff by Thomas Catcott and John Catcott, of the capital messuage or farm of Lanivet, Somerset; and for securing him in possession thereof, they agreed to convey to him the fee of a messuage and land in Lanivet. (C 2/Eliz/S8/1).
Matthew Ewens to Fanshawe: for an attachment against Walter Illinge who seeks to remove the goods of Thomas Sherwood, deceased, whose debt for the profits of the bishopric of Bath and Wells sede vacante was stalled; his sureties fear Illinge will run away to Ireland. Robert Owen, *William Watkins, and Richard Hodges are appointed to seize Sherwood’s goods. 1596. (Brist. Arch., SP 46/40/fo96). Thomas Sherwood, bur. Aug. 3, 1596, Bruton.
1.2.1.2.1. … Sherwood.
1.2.1.2.1.1. William Sherwood, m. Joane Parsons, Sept. 29, 1664, in Bruton, Somerset.

WATKINS cont.

1.1.1. John Watkins m. (2) Elizabeth Corker, who m. (2) Sackford Brewster.
1.1.1.1. John Watkins, d. 1708), m. Elizabeth Spencer, orphan of Capt. Robert Spencer, who chose Thomas Jordan as her guardian, who had m. Robert Spenser’s relict, Jane Browne. (Order Book, p. 265), dau. of Colonel William Browne and his first wife, Mary, and the sister of Mary Browne, who m. George Jordan Jr., having issue: George Jordan, who m. Sarah, dau. of William Hunt and Sarah Simmons, dau. of William Simmons Sr.; sister of William Simmons Jr., whose land was adj. that of Thomas Harris, d. 1729/30; that is, also, adj. those formerly of (Sergeant) “John Harryes”, on Upper Chipoaks.

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