Individual Details

WILLIAM Longmire

( - Bef 3 Mar 1749)


There is a problem with two divergent records. First of all, babes were baptized within days or a few weeks of birth, given the high rate of infant mortality. A baptism some 4 years after birth would be HIGHLY unusual.

Wm Longmire, born, Hawkshead, Lancashire, England, male child of Geo. Longmire, 23 Feb 1701. These are the Bishops' Transcripts of the Parish records (a copy) and digital image is on FamilySearch at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GM-P9L3-K?i=423, "Births of Dissenters, as Follows"
It is interesting that nearly all of the Bishops' Transcripts of Hawkshead do not list births, but baptisms and it is quite plausible this was a baptism, not a birth. No wife is named.
Hawkshead is in the very northwestern corner of England - a very long distance from London (in the Southwest corner) in a time that most transportation was by foot - in fact about as far as you can get and still be in England.

William Longmire christening 4 Feb 1704/5, St Andrew Holborn Above the Bars with St. George the Martyr, at Holborn, London, England, male child of George and Anne Longmire. There is no question about this record as the digital Parish record is available on Ancestry.

"English Convicts in Colonial America, Vol2" By Peter Coldham, Jr
Per Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild:A true list of all Prisoners taken from Newgate for London and the County of Middlesex and shipped aboard the Rappahanock Merch.Charles Whale Commander bound for Virginia which were shipped by Mr. Jonathan Forward of Lond Merch.11/21/1725.
Delivery date to Virginia 11/21/1725.
Prisoner at Newgate Prison London, England.
"William Longmire accused of accosting a gentleman on the King's Highway and stealing his hat worth five shillings." There is no record of an adequate defense and William was sentenced to hang.
Capt. Charles Whales of the Rappahannock Merchant Ship "purchased" William from the New Gate Prison, and brought him to America to labor for 14 years; William departed England in 1725, and arrived in Virginia, in April, 1726.

Emigrants in Bondage, 1614-1775, by Peter Wilson Coldham, c. 1988, p. 509 [Has excellent introduction explaining the system.]
Longmire, William. S (sentenced to transportation) Oct. T (Transported) 14 yrs Nov 1725 Rappahannock LC (Landing Certificate)
Rappahannock Apr 1726 L (London)

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey: Londo's Central Criminal Court, 1674-1913
https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=t17251013-19
William Longmire, was indicted for Assaulting Thomas Warren on the Highway, putting him in fear, and taking from him a Hat, val. 5sh, Sept 1
Thomas Warren thus deposed: Crossing Lincoln's-Inn-Fields between Nine and Ten at Night, the Prisoner came by me, turn'd about, and look'd me full in the Face. I pass'd him, and he follow'd me. I went into the White Dragon Alehouse in Holborn, and he soon came in after me. I did not tarry long before I came out again. I saw no more of the Prisoner till I came to the Corner of Leather-Lane, and there he suddenly stept to me, knock'd me down, snatch'd off my Hat, and ran down the Lane. He endeavour'd to take my Wig too, but I made shift to hold it fast; and crying out, stop Thief, he was quickly taken and brought to me again.
Benjamin Mills thus deposed: I heard somebody cry, stop Thief, whereupon I and another pursued the Prisoner, who fell down; and so we took him and brought him back to Mr. Warren, who was coming to meet us as well as he could, for he was a little disguis'd in Drink; and by the way we found Mr. Warren's Hat.
James Noblet swore to the same Effect and the Jury found the Prisoner Guilty. Death.
NOTE: Lincoln's-Inn-Fields is the largest public square in central London.

Letter (presumably genuine - posted on Ancestry, origin unknown)
From: Condem'd Hold Newgate
October 21 1725
Mr. Collum I return you a Thousand Thanks for your favours as for my Life I have no friend to turn about To I have No Dependence & I don't Know but yt Dead ____ ,May come down a Saturday Night or a Sunday we Expect it Farthest do I have If we Die a Monday you will be so kind as to Let Me See you Once More at Chapell a Sunday But Let ye haven't Come down When it will As soon as I Know I will Send you Directly as you Shall Know When it is I Should be Glad to See you Once More Which Is all at Report from your Most Misfortunate Servant
William Longmire
I Should for Ever be bound to Pray for you If you would give me a few papers into ye Church for me Write Only your Prayer as Disir'd for the Young Man yt is Under Sentence of Death

The King George Co., VA Order Book #2, p. 619, dated March 3, 1749, states: "The nuncupative will of William Longmire, Dec'd was presented into Court by Susanna Longmire." (a nuncupative will is an oral will that must later be reduced to writing). A notation on the book entry stated that no will was found in the records. An inventory of his estate was recorded in Inventory Book #2, p.47, dated June 2, 1749.

Events

Christen4 Feb 1704Holborn Saint Andrews, London, England
MarriageAbt 1735Virgina - SUSANNA [Longmire]
DeathBef 3 Mar 1749Virgina

Families

SpouseSUSANNA [Longmire] (1715 - 1783)
ChildGeorge Longmire (1736 - 1785)
ChildCharles Longmire (1739 - 1797)
ChildWILLIAM Longmire (1740 - 1816)
ChildSimon Longmire (1749 - )
ChildElizabeth Longmire (1748 - 1820)
FatherGEORGE Longmire ( - 1720)
MotherANNE ( - )
SiblingGeorge Longmire ( - )
SiblingAnne Longmire ( - )