Saxon cild, which may be a title, “heir” (of a substantial family). As such, the surname Childe (and variants, Chiles, etc.), is of diverse origin. The name was often given a Norman/French variation – L’Enfant.

A Shropshire strand can be identified:

“In 1257 we find Richard Balle taking out a Writ of mort d’ancestre against Richard de Pauntele and others, concerning a messuage and tenements in Corston and Diddlebury. Soon after this, we have William L’Enfant, of Diddlebury, and Richard de Pantheloe, attesting a deed under Corston. At the Assizes of 1267, Richard fitz Roger recovered four acres in Dudelebyr, of which Richard Koc, his Uncle (avunculus), had died seized. A Ludlow Inquest of January 1284 was attended by William le Enfant and Richard de Paunthele. A Fine was levied Feb. 3, 1291, between John le Child, Plaintiff, and William son of Richard de Heyton with Alice his wife (concerning) a messuage and half virgate in Dudelbury (Mr. Eyton, ‘Antiquities’, 1857, p. 168).

The family of Child (l’Infant) were settled here for several generations. William l’Enfant was Bailiff of Corston in 1272, and Richard l’Enfant, in 1306, is among the witnesses of a deed relating to land at Corston. He again witnesses a similar deed in 1334, in company with Roger do Longenorle, Roger Lemmon, and John l’Enfant. (Shrop. Arch. Soc., 1892, p. 301).

This ancient family is of Shropshire descent, and the name was anciently spelt Le Chylde, Infans, and L’Enfant. In 1222, Robert l’Enfant was Provost of Shrewsbury. In 1308 a John le Chylde was a witness to the deed concerning the Abbey of Haughmond, Shropshire. In 1314, Nicholas le Chylde was Bailiff of Shrewsbury. (Debrett’s baronetage, p. 85, 1880).

A dau. of Richard L’Enfant was the ancestress of the Baldwin family of Diddlebury (which bore the Childe armorial: gules a chevron ermine between three eaglets close argent), and which intermarried with the Walker family of Stretton and (later) Ludlow.

The family of Walter Chiles of Virginia were almost certainly of this stock, and they were of Ludlow. He is not found in the Ludlow registers, so being a ‘known unknown’. The intermarriage of the families of Childe and Evans of Ludlow can be followed into Virginia, where there was a continued association with other Ludlow families, such as Harris, Lewis, and Walker, confirming that these families of Shropshire were the same as those in Virginia. These families have been little understood. The usual method for tracing Virginia descendants of English ancestors is to find an ancestor ‘of the same name’, as in the case of Walter Chiles, around which a narrative is composed, which is copied ad infinitum as fact, which it is not.

The first of the Ludlow Childes was perhaps this John Child: Bradshawe v Childe. Plaintiffs: Elizabeth Bradshawe. Defendants: John Child of Bromcroft (home of the Lutleys, in Diddlebury). Subject: Detention of deeds relating to a house and garden in Ludlow, and non-payment of price of cloth. Shropshire. 1538-1544. (C 1/945/49-50).

Ludlow registers:

1. John Childe, b. ca. 1490.
1.1. Richard Childe, b. ca. 1515.
1.1.1 Allice Childe, m. Robert Bedoe, Oct. 8, 1558. ….
1.1.2. Richard Chlde, b. ca. 1545, bur. Aug. 20, 1578.
1.1.2.1. Henry Childe, b. ca. 1575, bur. August 26, 1624.
1.1.2.1.1. Bridget Childe, m. John Evans (bapt. Nov. 14, 1613), on Aug. 10, 1637; d. in Virginia, July 24, 1689.

1.1.2.1.1.1. John Evans, b. c.a. 1640, d. April 2, 1690. John Evans Sr. for & inconsideration of the love and affection he beareth to his son in law Robert and daughter Winnifred give to Robert Hick and Winnifred his wife … part of a patent of about five hundred sixty acres formerly taken up by the said Evans bounded by the line of Majr. Genll Woods land now belong to ye Jones. Wit: Hen. Randolph,* James Cocke. At a Court for the 2nd of 1690, Mary, wife of John Evans, relinquished her right of dower in the said lands conveyed. Wit.: Wm. Vaughan, James Adams, and James Cocke (the son of Thomas Cocke (named as a “friend” in the Will of Major William Harris, bapt. in 1627 in Ludlow), son of Richard Cocke, of Bremo. James Cocke m. Elizabeth Pleasants, half-sister of Mary Woodson, wife of John Woodson III, nephew of Sarah Woodson, wife of William Lewis.* Richard Cocke’s Will was witnessed by *Henry Randolph and Henry Isham. Henry Randolph was the uncle of William Randolph (named as a “friend” in the Will of Major William Harris.

Richard Cocke, uncle of Richard Cocke, of Bremo, was probably he who was designated ‘Richard Cocke of Stafford‘ in Treswell’s Visitation of Shropshire, 1623. This seems the more likely in that his dau., Joane Cocke, m. John Rabon, of an established Shropshire family. Major William Harris made his Will on April 20, 1678: “I give & bequeath to my sonne Thomas all my land below the Ware to keep the Ware runn for his Bounds till he shall come to ye spring at ye hed & then to follow a bottom on ye lower side of the clearing of John Rabon”.

LANGFORD/LEWIS

1. Edward Lewis, gent (bur. June 12, 1632, in Ludlow), m. (2) Jane Langford,* grandmother of Major William Harris.
1.1. Edward Lewis, bur. May 16, 1665, in Diddlesbury, m. Elizabeth …
1.1.1. *William Lewis, bapt. March 16, 1661/2, in Diddlebury, probably he who m. Elizabeth, dau. of Robert Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co., having issue, Mourning Lewis, who m. Robert Adams; their dau., Sussanah, m. Mathew Graves (bapt. Oct. 23, 1710, St. Peter’s Parish (D.B. 4, p. 118), on Feb. 4, 1712, in Henrico Co.; probably brother of Ralph Graves, who m. Judith Womack. “Robert Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co. For good causes to my loving grandson’s, William & Joseph Lewis (children of his dau., Elizabeth Woodson, and William Lewis), 450 ac. patented to me and Richard Farris, Giles Carter, William Harris (son of Major William Harris), and Roger Cummings, on White Oak Swamp”. Rec. May 1, 1707.

1. *Jane Langford, bapt. Oct. 10, 1567, m. (1) Rowland Harris, Sept. 14, 1595. (2) Edward Lewis, gent. (bur. June 12, 1632, in Ludlow). Edward Lewis was the father by a first wife (Anna, dau. of Thomas Blashfield) of Thomas Lewis, b. 1600.*
1.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Sept. 4, 1603, Ludlow), removed to Virginia, ca. 1650, having land on Curles Swamp. He was almost certainly the stepfather of his niece and nephew, Mary and William Harris. (See appendix).
1.2. John Harris, bapt. March 5, 1604, m. Margaret Holland.

The granddau. of Richard Ligon and his second wife, Margaret, Katharine Ligon, m. Fleetwood Dormer, Esq.; who m. (2) Mary Harris. Richard Ligon’s br., Thomas, m. his cousin, Frances Dennys; their grandson, Col. Thomas Ligon, m. Mary Harris,* first-cousin of the said John and Thomas Harris. Fleetwood Dormer’s cousin, Henry Isham (m. Katherine Banks, relict of Joseph Royall), was the father-in-law of William Randolph, to repeat, named as ‘friend’ in the Will of Major William Harris.*

1.2.1. *Mary Harris, bapt. April 3, 1625, Ludlow. In 1689, Mary (Harris) Ligon gave a deposition stating her age to be 64. “John Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co. (br. of Elizabeth Woodson Lewis) to Edward Lester, land next to Richard Cocke, next to land formerly William Harris’s on Curles Swamp.
1.2.2. *Major William Harris, bapt. Jan. 13, 1627, Ludlow. On June 22, 1663, he acquired 450 ac. in Henrico County, on the N. side of the James River, to a 4 mile creek, called by name “the Slashes”, E. upon the Malverne Hills plantation of Richard Cocke, p. 304.
1.2.2.1. William Harris (b. ca. 1675), was involved in the determination of the lands of Thomas Langford, Feb. 26, 1731. (Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 214-215), descended from his great-grandmother’s brother.
1.2.2.1.1. George Harris, bapt. April 13, 1701, in St Pauls Parish; a Vestry meeting there in 1719 connecting him to the lands of George Alvis, who had married the widow of Major William Harris.
1.2.2.1.1.1. William Harris, b. ca. 1725, of Wolf Swamp.
1.2.2.1.1.1.1. George Harris (b. ca. 1750), m. Sarah Hudson.
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1. Graves Harris (b. ca. 1775)), m. Elizabeth Baldwin, dau. of John Baldwin Jr., who witnessed a deed (July 22, 1797), with Richard Ligon and Thomas Ligon, concerning “Ligons Town” (Amelia co., D.B. 20, pp. 303-4). These Ligons were sons of William Ligon III., d. bef. Oct. 27, 1796, in Amelia Co., son of Wiliam Ligon II, d. 1764, in Amelia Co; son of Maj. William Ligon and Mary Tanner; son of Colonel Thomas Ligon, son of Thomas Ligon and Mary Harris, bapt. April 3, 1625, in Ludlow.

BLASHFIELD/LEWIS/MARSTON

1. William Marston, m. (Ludlow, 5 March 1571), Katherine, the dau. of Thomas Blashfield of Ludlow. Jane Langford, m. (2) Edward Lewis, of Sutton Magna, Diddlebury, who had firstly m. Anne Blashfield, dau. of Thomas Blashfield, having issue: *Thomas Lewis (aged 23 in 1623), recorded in a patent of Hannah Boyse, Nov., 1635, concerning land of her mother Alice Edlowe; 200 ac. for transportation of servants, viz.: “Thomas Lewis, Robert Hollum, Joseph Royall, Edward Holland, and Oliver Allen”. (Virginia Magazine, v., p. 97). By Edward Lewis, Jane Langford had issue: William Lewis, who m. (Aug. 21, 1634), Anne Lutley, of Burwarton (dau. of Robert Lutley and Mary Holland), having issue: Edward Lewis, probable father of William Lewis, bapt. March 16, 1661, in Diddlebury, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of Robert Woodson.
1.1. Ralph Marston, of Stanton Lacy, was bur. there 26 Nov. 26, 1584. He m. Joan, the dau. of Richard Hopton, of Hopton, by his wife, Jane, dau. of John Langford (see Pedigree of Hopton in Visitation of Salop, 1623).

The continuation of association between the Marstons and their Shropshire kin continued in Virginia, as given by B.T. Shannon:

“Elizabeth Marston (d. 11 Aug. 1759) m. Thomas Green, their daus Martha Green and Lucy Green m. the brothers Rev. Charles Clay and Henry Clay, sons of Henry Clay (d. c. 1760); another brother, Rev. John Clay, m. Mary Watkins; they were the parents of Rev. John Clay (d. 1781, Hanover Co.) who m. Elizabeth Hudson, their son being the statesman Henry Clay. Elizabeth Hudson, da. of George Hudson, son of John Hudson (d 1732) of Hanover Co. and his wife Elizabeth Harris, granddau of Maj. William Harris. Another son of John Hudson and Elizabeth Harris was William Hudson of Prince Edward Co. whose da., Sarah, m. George Harris, her second cousin. George Harris’ father was William Harris of Wolf Swamp, son of George Harris, whose sister was the said Elizabeth Harris , wife to John Hudson. All of which evidences the same patterns of interbred kinship continuing in Virginia”.

EVANS cont.

1.2.1.1.1.1. John Evans, b. ca. 1663, m. Sarah Batte.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Mary Evans, m. William Jones, bef. 1729, in Prince George Co.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. Lucy Jones, m. Joshua Worsham.* (Brother of the wife of Richard Ligon, nephew of Major William Harris).
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.2. Peletiah Jones, sister-in-law of Joshua Worsham, m. David Walker, br. of Mary Walker, who m. William Adams.
1.2.1.1.2.2. Winifred Evans, b. ca. 1665, m. Robert Hicks, April 1694.
1.2.1.1.1.3. Ann Evans, b. c.a. 1670, d.v.p.

ROYALL AND WORSHAM

1. Katherine Banks, m. Joseph Royall.
1.1. Joseph Royall.
1.1.1. Joseph Royall, m. Elizabeth Kennon, Dec. 1698, in Henrico.
1.1.1.1. Mary Royall, m. (1) Josiah Woodson, son of John Woodson and Judith Tarleton, son of Robert Woodson and Sarah Farris, and br. of Elizabeth Woodson, wife of William Lewis; parents of Mourning Lewis who m. Robert Adams, and Sarah Lewis, who m. James Cocke, son of James Cocke and Elizabeth Pleasants, supra.
1.1.1.2. John Royall, m. Elizabeth Worsham, Dec. 31, 1750 in Amelia Co., dau. of Daniel Worsham (br. of Martha Worsham, who m. Seth Ward, parents of Martha Ward, wife of Richard Hudson); son of Captain John Worsham, and br. of (1) Sarah (Worsham) Womack, (2) Mary (Worsham) Ligon, wife of Richard Ligon, son of Thomas Ligon and Mary Harris; (3) *Joshua Worsham.
1. Katherine Banks, m. Captain Henry Isham Sr.
1.1. Mary Isham, m. William Randolph, to again repeat, named as a friend in the Will of Major William Harris.

CHILDE/CHILES cont.

1.2.1.2. Walter Chiles, d. 1653, m. 1. Mary…
1.2.1.2.1. Walter Chiles.
1.2.1.2. Walter Chiles, m. 2. Susannah …
1.2.1.2.1. Henry Chiles.
1.2.1.2.1.1. Henry Chiles.
1.2.1.2.1.1.1. James Chiles, b. March 27, 1735, in St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent, m. Jemima Graves. (Her ancestry is most likely of the Graves family of this account).
1.2.1.2.1.1.2. Susannah Chiles, m. James Walker.
1.2.1.2.1.1.2.1. Mary Walker, m. Hezekiah Holland, on Feb. 1765, in St James Northam Parish, Goochland, son of John Holland (and Martha Weeks), son of Michael Holland.
1.2.1.3. John Childe (called Chiles and Childe in records) was appointed the guardian of Ann Evans. (York Co. Records, vol. 8, p. 300). John Childe d. at Elizabeth Bloxton’s home, in 1706.

ADAMS/EVANS/WALKER

1 …
1.1. John Evans, m. Margret Asterley (Astley), April. 5, 1561.
1.1.1. Lewis Evans, m. Gwen Davis, Oct. 26, 1587.
1.1.1. Thomas Evans, bapt. July 1, 1604, m. Margery Harris, June 8, 1634. (She was peripheral kin of Major William Harris).
1.1.2. John Evans, bapt. Nov. 14, 1613, m. Bridget Childe, Aug. 10, 1637.
1.1.1.3. Katherine Evans, m. Rowland Mytton, Nov. 21, 1633.
1.2. Richard Evans, m. Alice Walker, Oct. 21, 1575, sister of William and Roger Walker.*

1.*Roger Walker.
1.1. John Walker, bapt. Dec. 3, 1608 m. Elizabeth …
1.1.1. John Walker, bapt. Aug. 4, 1644, m. Anne …
1.1.1.1. William Walker, bapt. June 2, 1667. William Walker was a tithable in St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent Co. in 1698. He owned 650 ac. in New Kent Co., and 500ac. in Henrico Co. in 1704,
His Wll was proved on August 1723, in Henrico Co. William Woodson and John Walker,* were securities for Elizabeth (probablyTandy) Walker, executrix.
1.1.1.2. *John Walker, b. ca.1670, m. Constance Tayler, on Aug. 11, 1695.
1.1.2. Mary Walker, m. William Adams, bapt. Feb. 18, 1637/1638, in Ludlow; probably he who d. Nov. 18, 1690, in James City.
1.1.2.1. Robert Adams, m. Mourning, dau. of William and Elizabeth (Woodson) Lewis. Robert Adams patented 400 ac. in Goochland Co. on br. of Licking Hole Creek, adj. Hollon’s (Michael Holland’s) land, Aug. 25, 1731, p. 264.
1.1.3 George Walker, m. Katherine Ryder, Jan. 1, 1684/5.
1.1.4. David Walker.
1.2. Margaret Walker, m. Rowland Holland, Sept. 29, 1636, probable br.-in law of John Harris, bapt. March 5, 1604, in Ludlow, who m. Margaret Holland, having issue: Major William Harris.
1.2.1. Margaret Holland, m. Richard Harding.

HOLLAND

1. Michael Holland, gent (b. ca. 1685), of Goochland (who can reasonably be taken to be a great-grandson of Michael Holland of Pickthorne).
1.1. John Holland.
1.1.1. Hezekiah Holland, m. Mary, dau. of James Walker and Susannah Chiles.
1.2. George Holland.
1.2.1. Mary Holland, m. Charles Burton. Marriages of Goochland Co., 1733-1815 (Williams), p. 12, Nov. 2, 1763: ‘Charles Burton and Mary Holland, dau. of George Holland. Sur. George Holland. Charles Burton was b. in 1740, son of Robert Burton. Judith Payne dau. of Robert Burton, wife of George Payne,* makes affadavit as to his age, p. 11. *He was the son of a namesake and Mary, dau. of Robert Woodson, and sister of Elizabeth (Woodson) Lewis, kinswoman of Major William Harris. Robert Burton m. (2) Priscilla, dau. of William Farrar III, by his first wife, Priscilla Baugh. William Farrar’s second wife was Mary, dau. of Joseph Tanner, and relict of William Ligon, son of Thomas Ligon and Mary Harris, sister of Major William Harris.

Appendix

Major William Harris was not a son of Captain Thomas Harris of the 1624/25 Muster, who was deceased by 1646, when an act of the Assembly of Virginia of that year ordered a fort to be erected at the Falls of James River, to be called Fort Charles; an abstract being: “And, whereas, there Is no plantable land adjoynlng to fort Charles, and therefore no encouragement for any undertaker to maintnaine the same, lt is therefore, thought fitt and inacted, that if any person or persons purchasing the right of Capt. Thomas Harris shall or will settle or inhabit on the south side of James River right opposite to the said fort, soe it be done this or the ensueing yeare”. (Act of the Assembly of Virginia, 1646).

His “Longfield” was for sale; he dying without heirs. Thomas Harris held land on the S. of the James river called “Longfield”, a distinct entity from the 300 ac. acquired on August 15, 1637, N. of the river, by Robert Craddock and John Davis, also called “Longfield”, a common enough English name concerning long strips of land. William Randolph (named as “friend” in the Will of Major William Harris) purchased, from the colonial government, the escheated lands of Nathaniel Bacon in this locality. This land, on Curles Swamp, was adj. to that of Major William Harris, p. 386: The Broadnax versus Soane case of 1700 shows the “Longfield” of Captain Thomas Harris to be Crown property, to be re-granted as an escheat, its last owner having died without issue, hence allowing “person or persons purchasing the right of Capt. Thomas Harris”.

Property law in England at this time was based on the doctrine of estates – that all land in England (and Virginia) was owned by the Crown, so that any subject held only an ‘estate’ in that land. Such tenures were of two main types: a “fee simple”, in which land could be inherited by the owner’s heirs – whether under a Will or the statutory rules of intestacy. A “fee tail” – a form of trust established by a settlement deed, causing it to pass automatically to an heir determined by the deed – almost invariably to an oldest son.

copyright m stanhope 2022