Individual Details
John Machen
(Abt 1650 - 19 Feb 1726)
The Machen name has many variant spellings. The earliest John Macham is recorded in head right grants based on his transportation to the colonies by Christopher Branche in 2 grants dated 12 /8/1635 and 5/8/1638. This may be the same person or an earlier relative of John Machin, above, recorded later with his family in the Christ Parish Church records of Middlesex County, Virginia between 1679 to 1683. This later John Machin had his children baptised here so he obviously lived in the region for some time. There is a Thomas Machen in the area later that could indicate that John is also the father of him. We have very little additional information on this family. The various leads we have indicate that John Machin may be a relative but no conclusive evidence has been found. Due to the paucity of records of this time periods it may never be proved beyond a doubt. Although my own research indicates at least a distant connection to Scotland, most of the records seem to indicate that our original immigrant probably came from somewhere in England.
By 1666 there from four to eight Machen families living in Virginia.
There were several persons who came to the colonies and eventually claims headrights in early Virginia records abstracted by Nell Marion Nugent.
Eliza Machin transported by Edmund Scarborough 2 grants date 11/28.1635 and 8/3/1640
John Macham transported by Christopher Branche 2 grants dated 12 /8/1635 and 5/8/1638
Thomas Machin transported by John Hull Grant dated 6/5/1651
John Micham transporte by Nicholas Morris Grant dateed 4.22.1652
Edmund Machin transported by William Blackey Grant dated 11 /28/1656 [Nugent. ]
Laura Edwards also discovered in The Complete Book of Emigrants the name of John Machem, age 18. as a passenger dated July 6, 1635. Four more references were for goods being shipped to John Machen, planter, of Virginia from Bristol between 1668-1672. [Edwards. 3]
Samuel Macham is listed in records in Virginia as early as 1609. Whether he is related to any of the other Machens here later is still very speculative. [Virginia Colonial Rec. database., SR 07316, p.1]
Several land records also are listed in Virginia. One for Edmund Machen in New Kent Co., for 1000 acres on 20 July 1662. [Land Office Patents and Grants, Virginia website]
Thomas Machen may be the oldest child of this family but it was not recorded in the parish records. The family may have moved to This does not mean he was not a child of the family but that records are inconclusive. There are frequent examples of incomplete recording of births and deaths. Thomas was probably the oldest child and ends up becoming the executor of the estate of John Fearn. The Fearn family is closely connected with the Machen family in these early records.
1701-1710 - John's first wife probably dies between these years.
1710 - John marries Mary Brime, the widow of John Brime.
?1700- John Micham is accused of slander by Richard Willis, gentleman and JP. John Micham is himself a Justice of the Peace and militia man at this time. He is quoted as saying " You, Richard Willis are a rogue and I will prove it. You hath not done me justice in court." Willis asked for 200 pounds in damages but although he won the suit he was only awarded with one pound. This hollow victory was probably due to the juries view of what Willis true reputation had been. [Edwards. 7]
1713-The John Meachen died and his estate went to probate. In this we find his second wife's name is given as the widow of John Brame
Deed Abstracts of Middlesex County, Virginia, 1709-1720. Ruth and Sam Sparacio (Middlesex Co., Va., DB 3, Pt. 2:310-311) July 25, 1713. The Estate of John Meacham dec'd. who was lately one of the Adminrs. of the administrators of the Estate of John Brame dec'd. is Dr. To paid John Alldin by Judgmt; paid Wm. Stanard; to Sheriffs fees; to Mr. Harry Beverley a generail fee, to Nicho. Brame, to Thomas Hill; to Tobacco paid Colo. Corbin; to Edmd. Hamerton; to Cha: Lee, to Mr. Segar, to Capt. Wortham; to halfe of the bailance of 1362 Tobo returned in the Inventory came to hands of said dec'd. Meacham; to paid to the Widows part of Brames Estate; paid Nicholas Brame, Paid Eliza. Sowell, paid Mary Sears, paid John Brame, paid Alice Brame; paid Richins Brame, to Joanna Brame, to Thoms. Brame; to James Brame; by 2 hoggs sold Wm. Gardiner not inventoryed. In Obedience to an order of Middlesex Court dated the 8th day of July 1713 Wee the Subscribers mett at the house of James Meacham and there examined stated and settled all account and differences between James Meacham Executor of John Meacham who was lately one of the Administrators. of John Brame dec'd. and Mary Meacham ye surviving Adminx. of said John Brame dec'd. and we have allotted the Orphans of the dec'd. Brame their parts of the said Brames Estale and we doo award that Mary Meecham surviveing Administratrix of said John Brame dec'd. give the said James Meacham Executor of said John Meacham Estate a full discharge from the said James [sic mg] Brames Estate and wee doe also award that the severail orphans above mentioned give the said Mary Meacham Surviveing Administratrix a full discharge for their parts of their dec'd. Fathers Estate. Given under our hands this 25th day of July 1713.
Signed by Oliver Segar, Robt. Daniell John Owen (1713) At a Court held for Middlesex County the 4th day of August 1713, the above account and report is admitted to record [provided by Marcia McClure - Rivermet@aol.com]
1712- John Machen dies leaving his estate to Joseph, James, Daniel and Henry. The will was thus written before Joseph died in 1709. It is also assumed that Pead and William had died by this time since they are not included in the will. However, even though Thomas Machen is not included in the will does not mean that he was not a member of the family or an heir. It was apparently was common practise that the oldest son was the understood heir to the estate and therefore there was no need to mention him.
source:
Edwards, Laura Cleveland. Three Centuries in America: Thomas Machen of Middlesex County, VA, 816 Perry Howard Rd., Fuquay-Varina, N. C. 27526, 1999. (This is the most recent history of the Machen family still available.) email - jledwards@mindspring.com The Diary of Henry Machyn, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London, from A. D. 1550 to A. D. 1563. edited by John Gough Nichols. printed for the Camden Society, J. B. Nichols and son, 35, Parliament Street. 1868 Probate record of John Machen provided by Marcia McClure - Rivermet@aol.com Records of Christ Parish Church, Middlesex County, Virginia, 1653 - 1812 (DAR) Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneeers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants,
Possible parents:
Jeremiah Meacham 1614–1696
Margaret Browne Meacham 1613–1679
By 1666 there from four to eight Machen families living in Virginia.
There were several persons who came to the colonies and eventually claims headrights in early Virginia records abstracted by Nell Marion Nugent.
Eliza Machin transported by Edmund Scarborough 2 grants date 11/28.1635 and 8/3/1640
John Macham transported by Christopher Branche 2 grants dated 12 /8/1635 and 5/8/1638
Thomas Machin transported by John Hull Grant dated 6/5/1651
John Micham transporte by Nicholas Morris Grant dateed 4.22.1652
Edmund Machin transported by William Blackey Grant dated 11 /28/1656 [Nugent. ]
Laura Edwards also discovered in The Complete Book of Emigrants the name of John Machem, age 18. as a passenger dated July 6, 1635. Four more references were for goods being shipped to John Machen, planter, of Virginia from Bristol between 1668-1672. [Edwards. 3]
Samuel Macham is listed in records in Virginia as early as 1609. Whether he is related to any of the other Machens here later is still very speculative. [Virginia Colonial Rec. database., SR 07316, p.1]
Several land records also are listed in Virginia. One for Edmund Machen in New Kent Co., for 1000 acres on 20 July 1662. [Land Office Patents and Grants, Virginia website]
Thomas Machen may be the oldest child of this family but it was not recorded in the parish records. The family may have moved to This does not mean he was not a child of the family but that records are inconclusive. There are frequent examples of incomplete recording of births and deaths. Thomas was probably the oldest child and ends up becoming the executor of the estate of John Fearn. The Fearn family is closely connected with the Machen family in these early records.
1701-1710 - John's first wife probably dies between these years.
1710 - John marries Mary Brime, the widow of John Brime.
?1700- John Micham is accused of slander by Richard Willis, gentleman and JP. John Micham is himself a Justice of the Peace and militia man at this time. He is quoted as saying " You, Richard Willis are a rogue and I will prove it. You hath not done me justice in court." Willis asked for 200 pounds in damages but although he won the suit he was only awarded with one pound. This hollow victory was probably due to the juries view of what Willis true reputation had been. [Edwards. 7]
1713-The John Meachen died and his estate went to probate. In this we find his second wife's name is given as the widow of John Brame
Deed Abstracts of Middlesex County, Virginia, 1709-1720. Ruth and Sam Sparacio (Middlesex Co., Va., DB 3, Pt. 2:310-311) July 25, 1713. The Estate of John Meacham dec'd. who was lately one of the Adminrs. of the administrators of the Estate of John Brame dec'd. is Dr. To paid John Alldin by Judgmt; paid Wm. Stanard; to Sheriffs fees; to Mr. Harry Beverley a generail fee, to Nicho. Brame, to Thomas Hill; to Tobacco paid Colo. Corbin; to Edmd. Hamerton; to Cha: Lee, to Mr. Segar, to Capt. Wortham; to halfe of the bailance of 1362 Tobo returned in the Inventory came to hands of said dec'd. Meacham; to paid to the Widows part of Brames Estate; paid Nicholas Brame, Paid Eliza. Sowell, paid Mary Sears, paid John Brame, paid Alice Brame; paid Richins Brame, to Joanna Brame, to Thoms. Brame; to James Brame; by 2 hoggs sold Wm. Gardiner not inventoryed. In Obedience to an order of Middlesex Court dated the 8th day of July 1713 Wee the Subscribers mett at the house of James Meacham and there examined stated and settled all account and differences between James Meacham Executor of John Meacham who was lately one of the Administrators. of John Brame dec'd. and Mary Meacham ye surviving Adminx. of said John Brame dec'd. and we have allotted the Orphans of the dec'd. Brame their parts of the said Brames Estale and we doo award that Mary Meecham surviveing Administratrix of said John Brame dec'd. give the said James Meacham Executor of said John Meacham Estate a full discharge from the said James [sic mg] Brames Estate and wee doe also award that the severail orphans above mentioned give the said Mary Meacham Surviveing Administratrix a full discharge for their parts of their dec'd. Fathers Estate. Given under our hands this 25th day of July 1713.
Signed by Oliver Segar, Robt. Daniell John Owen (1713) At a Court held for Middlesex County the 4th day of August 1713, the above account and report is admitted to record [provided by Marcia McClure - Rivermet@aol.com]
1712- John Machen dies leaving his estate to Joseph, James, Daniel and Henry. The will was thus written before Joseph died in 1709. It is also assumed that Pead and William had died by this time since they are not included in the will. However, even though Thomas Machen is not included in the will does not mean that he was not a member of the family or an heir. It was apparently was common practise that the oldest son was the understood heir to the estate and therefore there was no need to mention him.
source:
Edwards, Laura Cleveland. Three Centuries in America: Thomas Machen of Middlesex County, VA, 816 Perry Howard Rd., Fuquay-Varina, N. C. 27526, 1999. (This is the most recent history of the Machen family still available.) email - jledwards@mindspring.com The Diary of Henry Machyn, Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London, from A. D. 1550 to A. D. 1563. edited by John Gough Nichols. printed for the Camden Society, J. B. Nichols and son, 35, Parliament Street. 1868 Probate record of John Machen provided by Marcia McClure - Rivermet@aol.com Records of Christ Parish Church, Middlesex County, Virginia, 1653 - 1812 (DAR) Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneeers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants,
Possible parents:
Jeremiah Meacham 1614–1696
Margaret Browne Meacham 1613–1679
Events
| Birth | Abt 1650 | England | |||
| Marriage | 1679 | Saluda, Middlesex County, Virginia - Michall Blake | |||
| Marriage | Mar 1710 | Mary | |||
| Death | 19 Feb 1726 | Middlesex County, Virginia | |||
| Burial | Christ Church Cemetery, Middlesex County, Virginia |  |
Families
| Spouse | Michall Blake ( - 1704) |
| Child | Thomas Pead Machen ( - 1730) |
| Spouse | Mary ( - ) |
Endnotes
1. Find A Grave Memorial 138084138.