Individual Details
William Isbell
(1660 - 1 Jun 1730)
Dates are approximate only.
The Isbells, Wallers, and their neighbors worshipped in the original church erected in 1690 on this site in St. John's Parish, where it is thought he was buried.
William Isbell's property lay nearby adjoining the eastern boundary of the Waller plantation, Enfield, on Isbell Spring, south bank of the Mattapony River at the head of Fawn Creek. Isbell Spring was later called Church Spring. His brother John also owned land adjoining William Isbell and John Waller.
John and William Isbell on record in the 1690s-1703 are often identified as probable sons of John Isbell who came to Virginia before 1664; Richard Renshaw received 300 acres in Gloucester County in 1664 for paying passage for six persons including John Isbell (Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nugent v.5) . John Isbell (Jr) was later a headright of Richard Carew who apparently received 100 acres for paying John's [return] passage from England and later conveyed the same to John Isbell.
William Isbell surveyed the Northern Neck in 1699.
John Isbell and William Isbell were both identified as surveyors in the 1690s.
The Pamunkey Neck is a long narrow strip of land in eastern Virginia lying between the Mattaponi River on the north and the Pamunkey River on the south, northwest of the confluence of those rivers where they meet at the York River. In Colonial Virginia, the Pamunkey Neck was entirely within Old King William County. Today, portions lie within King William, Caroline, and Spotsylvania Counties.
12 January 1701/02 - DEED: Robert Carew, Miller, of New Kent County, to John Isbell, of St. John’s Parish, King & Queen County, for 1,000 pounds of Tobacco and Cask, 100 acres in St. John’s Parish, King & Queen County. Beginning at a Great Point and Path along John Waller’s line, to a branch, then to the south side of the Road near William Davis’ plantation–the said 100 acres being land bought of Thomas Baker, which was conveyed to said Baker and his wife Mary by Elias Downes, their brother, out of love and affection for them... /s/ Robert Carew. Wit: Isabella Smith,
William Bowles, Wm: Isbell. (Sparacio’s King William Abstracts, 1:6)
This was the 100-acre tract that James Taylor had surveyed simultaneously with the survey of the John Waller portion of the Talbott-Downes patent in 1696. The Baker-Isbell parcel was diametrically southeast across the Waller survey from the Davis Davenport Plantation of 1696.
This division further focused on the Pamunkey Neck. As explained by researcher John Scott Davenport: “Old King William County, Virginia included present-day King William County, the south-western fourth of Caroline County, and the most southern portion of Spotsylvania County. Old King William when created in 1701 was sixty miles long with an average width of nine miles. After Spotsylvania County (1722) and Caroline County (1728) took portions of Upper Pamunkey Neck into their jurisdictions, King William was reduced to its present dimensions--thirty-two miles long with an average width of eight miles.”
21 January 1702/03 - CONFIRMATION DEED: Job Howes to John West, son of Colonel John West, Decd., for better assuring and confirming title, 300 acres in St. John's Parish, being part of a tract patented by George Chapman, who sold the parcel to John York, Gentleman, of New Kent County, on 9 Jan 1683, and said York dying intestate, the land did escheate to the King and was then granted to said Howes, being described in said grant as beginning at a branch in Chapman's Old Field bounding on Mr. Thomas Baker, joining on land of Colonel John West, [portion missing], to land of Joseph Norment, to the Spring branch. For the consideration of £20, the said Job Howes did convey the 300 acres to Colonel John West, Sr., of St. John's Parish, New Kent County, by assignment of Deed of Escheat on 1 Jul 1689, which said Howes did afterwards confirm unto said Colonel West, Sr.'s son John West in New Kent County Court on 30 Aug 1697. This deed to assuage any intrepidations about said title that said John West may retain... /s/ Job Howes. Wit: John Quarles, Thomas Mallory, and Benjamin Arnold. (Sparacio’s King William Abstracts, 1:34)
Col. John West (1632-91) was the son of Colonial Governor John West, himself the son and brother of William West Sr and Jr, lords de la Warr. Col. John West served in the House of Burgesses and had a son John West by his first wife Unity Crowshaw as well as a much younger son named John West (1657-1716) by his second wife, Cockacoeske, the Queen of the Pamunkey tribe and a grand-niece of Pocahontas.
22 January 1702/03 - ASSIGNMENT: John Isbell to Richard Marr, for [consideration not given], deed given to said Isbell by Robert Carew for 100 acres in St. John’s Parish, King & Queen County [now King William County] in 1701, joining William Davis’ plantation... /s/ John “I” Isbell. Wit: Wm: Isbell, Thomas “T” Fullilove. (Sparacio’s King William Abstracts, 1:28)
LINEAGE:
1 John Isbell (England to Gloucester County, Virginia by 1664), presumptive father of
2 William Isbell of Isbell Spring, St. John's Parish, King William County; father of Henry, John, William Jr., Daniel
+ wife unknown; next door to Enfield Plantation
3 Henry Isbell b.c1690 of Orange Co.; constable of Caroline Co., d. c1760
+ daughter of "James Cox, Gent.," d c1739 St. Mark's Parish, Orange Co. (July 25, 1733; Spots Orders, 7 Aug, p.240); (James Cox d.1739 Orange Co., VA., appointed William Waller executor)
sons: James (1720), William (1722), Henry Jr. (1724), Zachariah (c1726), possibly others
LEWIS, PENDLETON, TAYLOR, COX, WALLER CONNECTIONS
Col. John Waller (1673-1754) of Endfield (King William Co.), was the next door neighbor of William Isbell circa 1700. Col. Waller’s brother Col. William Waller of Spotsylvania was appointed executor of the estate of James Cox (1739 Orange Co.) whose daughter married Henry Isbell (some think named for Henry Pendleton). William Waller declined.
Col. John Waller’s daughter Mary Waller married Zachary Lewis who owned lands in Spotsylvania adjoining Henry Pendleton. Henry Pendleton married Mary Bishop Taylor, sister of Col. Zachary Taylor. Some researchers theorize that William Isbell was a brother-in-law of Zachary Taylor and/or Henry Pendleton.
Some researchers say James Cox’s wife Elizabeth was Elizabeth Pleasants and his parents Christopher Cock(e) and Grace Bolithoe.
A headright was granted John Woodson III (or IV) in 1703 for transporting one John Isbell to Virginia. This John Isbell was a broker according to one website, and thought to be brother of William Isbell, in which case he may have travelled to England and returned to Virginia.
John Woodson II (1632-84) married Mary Tucker, daughter of Samuel Tucker and Jane Larcom (Larcomb, Larcombe) Tucker who married secondly John Pleasants.
Some researchers show that James Cox (d.1739) married Elizabeth Pleasants, daughter of Jane Larcom(be) Tucker & John Pleasants and therefore the half-sister of Mary Tucker Woodson. John Woodson III (headright of John Isbell) would be a first cousin of James Cox's daughter who married John Isbell's nephew Henry Isbell.
The Isbells, Wallers, and their neighbors worshipped in the original church erected in 1690 on this site in St. John's Parish, where it is thought he was buried.
William Isbell's property lay nearby adjoining the eastern boundary of the Waller plantation, Enfield, on Isbell Spring, south bank of the Mattapony River at the head of Fawn Creek. Isbell Spring was later called Church Spring. His brother John also owned land adjoining William Isbell and John Waller.
John and William Isbell on record in the 1690s-1703 are often identified as probable sons of John Isbell who came to Virginia before 1664; Richard Renshaw received 300 acres in Gloucester County in 1664 for paying passage for six persons including John Isbell (Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nugent v.5) . John Isbell (Jr) was later a headright of Richard Carew who apparently received 100 acres for paying John's [return] passage from England and later conveyed the same to John Isbell.
William Isbell surveyed the Northern Neck in 1699.
John Isbell and William Isbell were both identified as surveyors in the 1690s.
The Pamunkey Neck is a long narrow strip of land in eastern Virginia lying between the Mattaponi River on the north and the Pamunkey River on the south, northwest of the confluence of those rivers where they meet at the York River. In Colonial Virginia, the Pamunkey Neck was entirely within Old King William County. Today, portions lie within King William, Caroline, and Spotsylvania Counties.
12 January 1701/02 - DEED: Robert Carew, Miller, of New Kent County, to John Isbell, of St. John’s Parish, King & Queen County, for 1,000 pounds of Tobacco and Cask, 100 acres in St. John’s Parish, King & Queen County. Beginning at a Great Point and Path along John Waller’s line, to a branch, then to the south side of the Road near William Davis’ plantation–the said 100 acres being land bought of Thomas Baker, which was conveyed to said Baker and his wife Mary by Elias Downes, their brother, out of love and affection for them... /s/ Robert Carew. Wit: Isabella Smith,
William Bowles, Wm: Isbell. (Sparacio’s King William Abstracts, 1:6)
This was the 100-acre tract that James Taylor had surveyed simultaneously with the survey of the John Waller portion of the Talbott-Downes patent in 1696. The Baker-Isbell parcel was diametrically southeast across the Waller survey from the Davis Davenport Plantation of 1696.
This division further focused on the Pamunkey Neck. As explained by researcher John Scott Davenport: “Old King William County, Virginia included present-day King William County, the south-western fourth of Caroline County, and the most southern portion of Spotsylvania County. Old King William when created in 1701 was sixty miles long with an average width of nine miles. After Spotsylvania County (1722) and Caroline County (1728) took portions of Upper Pamunkey Neck into their jurisdictions, King William was reduced to its present dimensions--thirty-two miles long with an average width of eight miles.”
21 January 1702/03 - CONFIRMATION DEED: Job Howes to John West, son of Colonel John West, Decd., for better assuring and confirming title, 300 acres in St. John's Parish, being part of a tract patented by George Chapman, who sold the parcel to John York, Gentleman, of New Kent County, on 9 Jan 1683, and said York dying intestate, the land did escheate to the King and was then granted to said Howes, being described in said grant as beginning at a branch in Chapman's Old Field bounding on Mr. Thomas Baker, joining on land of Colonel John West, [portion missing], to land of Joseph Norment, to the Spring branch. For the consideration of £20, the said Job Howes did convey the 300 acres to Colonel John West, Sr., of St. John's Parish, New Kent County, by assignment of Deed of Escheat on 1 Jul 1689, which said Howes did afterwards confirm unto said Colonel West, Sr.'s son John West in New Kent County Court on 30 Aug 1697. This deed to assuage any intrepidations about said title that said John West may retain... /s/ Job Howes. Wit: John Quarles, Thomas Mallory, and Benjamin Arnold. (Sparacio’s King William Abstracts, 1:34)
Col. John West (1632-91) was the son of Colonial Governor John West, himself the son and brother of William West Sr and Jr, lords de la Warr. Col. John West served in the House of Burgesses and had a son John West by his first wife Unity Crowshaw as well as a much younger son named John West (1657-1716) by his second wife, Cockacoeske, the Queen of the Pamunkey tribe and a grand-niece of Pocahontas.
22 January 1702/03 - ASSIGNMENT: John Isbell to Richard Marr, for [consideration not given], deed given to said Isbell by Robert Carew for 100 acres in St. John’s Parish, King & Queen County [now King William County] in 1701, joining William Davis’ plantation... /s/ John “I” Isbell. Wit: Wm: Isbell, Thomas “T” Fullilove. (Sparacio’s King William Abstracts, 1:28)
LINEAGE:
1 John Isbell (England to Gloucester County, Virginia by 1664), presumptive father of
2 William Isbell of Isbell Spring, St. John's Parish, King William County; father of Henry, John, William Jr., Daniel
+ wife unknown; next door to Enfield Plantation
3 Henry Isbell b.c1690 of Orange Co.; constable of Caroline Co., d. c1760
+ daughter of "James Cox, Gent.," d c1739 St. Mark's Parish, Orange Co. (July 25, 1733; Spots Orders, 7 Aug, p.240); (James Cox d.1739 Orange Co., VA., appointed William Waller executor)
sons: James (1720), William (1722), Henry Jr. (1724), Zachariah (c1726), possibly others
LEWIS, PENDLETON, TAYLOR, COX, WALLER CONNECTIONS
Col. John Waller (1673-1754) of Endfield (King William Co.), was the next door neighbor of William Isbell circa 1700. Col. Waller’s brother Col. William Waller of Spotsylvania was appointed executor of the estate of James Cox (1739 Orange Co.) whose daughter married Henry Isbell (some think named for Henry Pendleton). William Waller declined.
Col. John Waller’s daughter Mary Waller married Zachary Lewis who owned lands in Spotsylvania adjoining Henry Pendleton. Henry Pendleton married Mary Bishop Taylor, sister of Col. Zachary Taylor. Some researchers theorize that William Isbell was a brother-in-law of Zachary Taylor and/or Henry Pendleton.
Some researchers say James Cox’s wife Elizabeth was Elizabeth Pleasants and his parents Christopher Cock(e) and Grace Bolithoe.
A headright was granted John Woodson III (or IV) in 1703 for transporting one John Isbell to Virginia. This John Isbell was a broker according to one website, and thought to be brother of William Isbell, in which case he may have travelled to England and returned to Virginia.
John Woodson II (1632-84) married Mary Tucker, daughter of Samuel Tucker and Jane Larcom (Larcomb, Larcombe) Tucker who married secondly John Pleasants.
Some researchers show that James Cox (d.1739) married Elizabeth Pleasants, daughter of Jane Larcom(be) Tucker & John Pleasants and therefore the half-sister of Mary Tucker Woodson. John Woodson III (headright of John Isbell) would be a first cousin of James Cox's daughter who married John Isbell's nephew Henry Isbell.
Events
| Birth | 1660 | Gloucester County, Virginia | |||
| Marriage | 1680 | Virginia - Rosamunde Pendleton Lewis | |||
| Death | 1 Jun 1730 | Isbell Spring, King William County, Virginia | |||
| Burial | Acquinton Church Cemetery, King William, King William County, Virginia |  |
Families
| Spouse | Rosamunde Pendleton Lewis (1655 - 1694) |
| Child | Henry Isbell (1690 - 1760) |
| Father | John Isbell (1633 - 1664) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Livingston (1633 - 1660) |
Endnotes
1. Find A Grave Memorial 105031338.