Individual Details

A John Thomas Stamps is said to have been born to Timothie Stampe and his wife Marie Gunner. Most men of this time did not have two given names and it is likely this man did not. I believe the early Stamps lineage to be highly unreliable.

Sailed to America at age 31 from the Port of London on the ship "Plaine Joan" 15 May 1635, bound for Virginia. Sons other than Timothy said to have been: Arthur who married Sarah Barker; Ralph who received a patent for 195 acres in Blisland Parish, New Kent Co 21 Apr 1695 and was a tax collector in VA from 1704-1708; John whose wife was Johannah and had a land grant in New Kent on the south side of the York in 1662 and may have left records in St. Peters Parish and who died bef Mary 1684; Thomas who died bef 10 May 1723 in Prince George Co MD and whose wife was Elizabeth. [Some of these dates would make me question if perhaps there isn't an extra generation included here. There was no proof furnished for these early connections. I did later find that there was likely a missing generation - probably a William Stamps who was the father of Timothy. There was apparently not a son Timothy of this John Thomas Stamps.]


Found on Roots Web's WorldConnect: Stamps Family History & Lineage, updated 22 Mar 2009, viewed August 2009. The webpage author had copied the following:

John Thomas Stampe, the immigrant, was born in 1603 to Timothie Stampe and his wife, Marie Gunner. When he was 31 years old.... Thomas sailed from the Port of London aboard the ship "Plaine Joan": "15th May 1635 to Virginia ... embarqued in the'Plaine Joan' Richard Buckham licensed to 'go beyond the seas' ... Mr.Tho. Stamp."1

"Accompanying Thomas Stamp to Virginia was Edward Clarke, 27."2 Mr.Clarke had been in Virginia, earlier, as we have a record of him being in Elizabeth City in 1623. Edward Clarke was the son of Edward Clerke of Stevenache, Hertfordshire, and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John Stampe and Sybbell Plott.....

Thomas Stampe was a person of quality, a cavalier and a pioneer in the New World. In Virginia, he was known as Mr. Thomas Stampe. John Boddie writes the following: "Another Isle of Wight County immigrant who came with these settlers was Mr. Thomas Stamp who in 1638 patented 200 acres northwest upon the Nansamond River. He came with James Noakes who obtained a grant in North Carolina on the north side of the Caroline River, adjacent to Henry White the Quaker."3 At some other time, Thomas Stamp also purchased 70 acres from Dunning and James Noakes on the west side of the Carolina River for transporting six persons at his expense into the colony. This parcel of land became the property of John Stamp,his son, and his wife Johannah Stampe.

On Aug. 14, 1638, Thomas Stamps and Gresham Coffield patented 200 acres on the Nansamond River. On Feb. 24, 1636/38, "Mr. Thomas Stamp patented 500 acres in James City County on a swamp at the head of Lowndes Creek,adjoining Nicholas Reynolds, 50 acres for his own advantage and 450 acres for transportation of nine persons, including William Stamps." For this,he received patent No. 676. On May 12, 1640, he was granted patent to Hogg Island in the James River, south of James City. The patent was issued to James Taylor and Lawrence Baker at a later date.4

It appears from the records that Thomas Stamps rather quickly became a holder of large amounts of land. He also operated a mill on Lawnes [Lowndes] Creek. His chief crop appears to be tobacco, as on at least two occasions, he was appointed a viewer of tobacco. "An act of Assembly 1639, men of experience and in dignity for the careful viewing of each man's crop of tobacco from Grindham's Hill and both sides of the lower Chippohec Creek: Mr. Thomas Stampe, Stephen Webb and Erasmus Carter."5

By order of the Governor and Council, on Sept. 20, 1647, Mr. Thomas Stamp (first written as John Stamp and crossed out) was granted three score and ten acres on an island called "Phillip, his Island" on the west side of the Chicoanomony River. Two years later, in 1649, he was appointed,again, as viewer of tobacco from Grindall's Hill and both sides of Lower Chippoakes Creek in James City County.6

On March 11, 1645/46, Thomas Stamp witnessed the will of Thomas Chapman.In 1640, he witnessed the Intention in Accomac of Sir George Yardley,taking up land at Mattawomes.7

Thomas Stamps was a justice of the peace. It is my opinion that he was also a lawyer, having studied at one of the Inns of Court in London.

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1 Original Lists of Persons of Quality, 1600-1700, Hotten, page 78-79.
2 Virginia Records of Cavaliers and Pioneers, Crozier.
3 Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight, Virginia, John Boddie, page 1.
4 Cavalier & Pioneers Virginia Patents and Grants 1623-1800, NullNugent. <>
5 Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol. 5, page 120.
6 Colonial Surry, John B. Boddie, page 93.
7 Northampton Records, Vol. II, page 26.

SPECULATION [by the webpage author]

There is much question in my mind as to whether or not Thomas Stamp really was named John Thomas Stampe; and, that he was the son of Timothie Stampe and Marie Gunner.

A look at the records I have thus far searched, indicates the possibility. A year after the death of Timothy Stampe, in 1617, his wife,Marie, married Abel Gower at Shipton Under Wychwood, Oxfordshire. In 1637, John Stampe, son of Timothy Stampe of Shipton, was a student of the Inner Temple.

John Thomas Stampe left for Virginia in 1635.

The will of Abell Gower, written in 1632, mentions only six Stampe children: Timothy, born ca. 1606; William, born ca. 1611; John, born ca.1616; Clarke; Marie; and, Anne. No mention is made of a Thomas. John Thomas Stampe was born ca. 1604; being 31 years old when he sailed to Virginia in 1635.

Family tradition seems to indicate that seven Stampe brothers settled in Virginia: namely, Thomas, Timothy, William and Clark Stampe; andstep-brothers Abell and William Gower. Records, however, appear to keep Timothy and William Stampe in England. Abell's son, Abell Gower, settled in Henrico Co., VA where he was justice of the peace from 1677 to 1687,sheriff in 1681, member of the House of Burgess in 1679.

MY BEST BET: There IS a John Stampe, son of Thomas Stampe of Peasmore, who MAY fit the description we are looking for. John was born ca.1605. He was a student at Gray's Inn in 1629, and was incorporated at Cambridge in 1633. Could "this" John be our John Thomas Stamp, justice of the peace in Virginia. The changed signature on the Phillip Island grant may be an indication of his entire name and that he wished to be known as "Thomas", perhaps in honor of his father????

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The wife of Thomas Stampe is unknown. It was earlier thought that Thomas Stampe was married to Jane Mallory, daughter of Dean Thomas Mallory, rector of Eccleston, Lancashire, England. The date of the marriage, 06 Nov 1669 at Formby, Lancashire, would have made OUR Thomas Stampe much too old at about 68 years old. Also, OUR Thomas Stampe's children appear to have been well established in the 1660's. It is interesting to note,however, that Thomas, Mary and Robert Mallory were both in Virginia at the time of their father's death, ca. 1671(?).

Birth	Abt 1603	England
Death		James City County, Virginia

Child	William Stamps (1660 - )
Child	Arthur Stamps ( - )
Child	Ralph Stamps ( - )
Child	John Stamps ( - )
Child	Thomas Stamps ( - )