FLOWERDEW HUNDRED AND SIR GEORGE YARDLEY.

This place has been variously referred to in the Records as Flower de Hundred, Flower dew Hundred, &c., but recent investigations show that it got its name from Sir George Yardley's wife, Temperance Flowerdew.

In the early days of the colony the territory of the Weyanoke Indians lay on both sides of James River, and their chief town lay at the head of Powell's Creek. The land on the south side was known as Greater Weyanoke, and the land of the north side as Little Weyanoke (Tanks Weyanoke).

In 1617, Sir George Yardley received from the Indian King the gift of Tanks Weyanoke, and in 1618 he patented one thousand acres on the south side, west of a creek, and called both creek and place Flowerdew Hundred. At a point of land called in the early records "Tobacco Point," and which is now known as "Windmill Point," he erected, in 1621, the first windmill in the United States. In 1619, the plantation was represented in the first Legislative Assembly by Edmond Rossingham, and John Jefferson, the supposed ancestor of Thomas Jefferson. In certain records Rossingham is referred to as Yardley's nephew.

Before 1624 Sir George Yardley sold Flower dew Hundred to Capt. Abraham Peirsey, one of the leading merchants of Virginia. In that year there were on Peirsey's land, which included Windmill Point, twelve dwellings, three storehouses, four tobacco houses and one windmill. Sir George Yardley died in 1627, and his widow, Temperance married 2dly., Col. Francis West, brother of Lord Delaware, and deputy-Governor of Virginia. The same year died Abraham Peirsey, the then owner of Flowerdew Hundred, whose wife, Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Hinton, was a widow of Nathaniel West, another brother of Lord Delaware, and married 3rdly., Col. Samuel Mathews. Peirsey left two daughters, Elizabeth, who married 1st. Captain Richard Stephens and 2d. Sir John Harvey, and Mary who married Captain Thomas Hill.

After Peirsey's purchase Flowerdew Hundred was called "Peirsey's Hundred," but, in 1635, Mrs. Elizabeth Stephens patented it as "Flowerdewe Hundred." Shortly afterwards she sold to Dilliam Barker, mariner.

At the close of the 17th century, Flowerdew Hundred was owned by Captain John Taylor, of Prince George County, who devised it to his daughters Henrietta Maria and Sarah, who married respectively John Hardiman and Francis Hardiman. They sold it to Joseph Poythress, and at the close of the 18th century it was the property of John V. Willcox, whose descendants still own it.

Two questions puzzled the historians: What was the maiden name of Sir George Yeardley's wife? and why was the plantation on the south side called Flowerdew Hundred?

For a long time these questions remained unanswered, but recent investigations conducted in England at the instance and expense of G. C. Callahan, of Philadelphia, have brought the answer. The only clue that offered itself was the statement made by Edmund Rossingham to the Privy Council that Sir George Yardley was his uncle. Fortunately his litigations with Ralph Yardley disclosed the fact that Lady Yardley was his aunt. A further search in Chancery Proceedings produced the suit Rossingham v. Knevett & this gave the maiden name of Mrs. Rossingham & Lady Yardley. However, the matter would not have been absolutely certain if Edmund Rossingham's grandmother Martha, who by the time she made her will had changed her name by a second marriage from Flowerdew to Garret, had not bequeathed her signet ring to her daughter Temperance Yardley otherwise Flowerdew. It seemed perfectly natural that Sir George Yardley should name his plantations on the southside after his wife Temperance Flowerdew.

Papers showing the immense research made for the relationships of Sir George Yardley and his wife are before the writer, and a selection is made of the most interesting.

I. Parentage of Sir George Yardley and the 2d marriage of his wife Temperance to Col. Francis West.

REPORT.

The result of the search which has been made concerning the parentage of Sir George Yardley, establishes beyond question, that he was the son of Ralph Yardley, citizen & merchant taylor of London. In the inquisition taken after the death of Ralph Yardley he is said to have been seised of a capital messuage in Southwark called le Horne, which property he bequeathed by will to his five children Ralph, George, John, Thomas & Anne. In his will he also mentions a daughter by a former marriage, whose married name was Earby. A search among the wills proved in the P. C. C. at Somerset House produced the will of Edward Irby citizen & grocer of London. In his will dated the 27th of February 1616/17 he mentions the great messuage called the Horne situate in Southwark, and bequeaths £40 to his brother in law George Yardlie now being at Virginia upon condition that he makes assurances of the said messuage to the testator's son Edward. According to Hotten's Lists of Emigrants to America (from which extracts are enclosed) there was no other George Yardley then living in Virginia. This appears to put the matter beyond all doubt.

No mention has been met with in any printed book of Lady Yardley's second marriage to Francis West. The Dictionary of National Biography, which asserts positively that Sir George was son of Ralph Yardley the merchant taylor, says that her maiden name was West. This seems rather unlikely. The abstracts of Chancery Proceedings & note from the proceedings of the Privy Council relative to the dispute between Francis West & Ralph Yardley, the apothecary, may prove interesting.

Abstracts of the will & inquisition of Ralph Yardley the elder had been made before Waters' Gleanings had been seen.

A note had been made of the letter from John Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton in which he refers to Captain Yardley, a mean fellow, knighted & going as Governor to Virginia, dated 28th November, 1618, but that also is printed in the Gleanings.

[Abstract] Chancery Inquisition post mortem. Series II. Vol. 650. No. 130.

[A. D. 1625] Writ dated 3 March 22 James I

The Borough of Southwark.

Inquisition taken at St. Margarets Hill in the parish of St. Saviour in the Borough of Southwark co. Surrey on the 11th of March 33 [A. D. 1625] James I, before John Gore esq. Mayor of the city of London, escheator of the King in the said borough, after the death of Ralph Yardley citizen and merchant tailor of London.

The jurors [named] say that the aforesaid Ralph Yardley was seised in his demesne as of fee, of and in a capital messuage called le Horne, formerly divided into two several messauges, in the said parish of St. Saviour. The said Ralph Yardley, being thus seised, on the 25th of August 1603 made his last will by which he bequeathed all his freehold lands and tenements in Southwark or elsewhere to his children Ralphe, George, John, Thomas and Anne Yardley, to hold to them and their heirs for ever. The said Ralph Yardley died on the *1st of July 1618. His son & heir Ralph Yardley was aged twenty one and more at the time of his father's death.

The jurors further say that the capital messuage aforesaid was and is held of the Mayor, Commonalty & citizens of the city of London, in free socage, as of their manor of Southwark by a yearly rent of 28. and is of the clear yearly value of one grain of pepper dur ing a certain demise made by the said Ralph Yardley to a certain Richard Yerwood citizen & grocer of London, dated the 16th of July 1603, for the term of 100 years. After the determination of the said demise, the premises aforesaid will be of the clear yearly value of £3.

24 Harte

Will of Ralph Yardley

Citizen and Merchant tailor of London

dated 25 August 1603.

[Abstract] I desire that my goods shall be divided into three equal portions accordings to the custom of the city of London.

I bequeath one third part to my wife Rhoda.

I bequeath one other third part to be equally divided between my children Ralphe, George, John, Thomas and Anne Yardley, to be paid to my sons when they shall attain the age of twenty one, and to my daughter when she shall attain the age of twenty one or be married.

I bequeath 20s. to the poor of the parish of St. Saviour in Southwark where I now dwell, and to such of the Bachelors and sixteen men of the company of Merchant tailors, London, as shall accompany my body to burial, 20s., for a recreation to be made unto them. And to the vestry men of the same parish 20s. for a recreation to be made unto them.

I bequeath small legacies to my sister Palmer, to my cousin John Palmer, her husband, to my daughter Earby (my first wife's wedding ring,) to my son Erbye her husband, and to my cousin Richard Yearwood.

*This is obviously a mistake. It is written over other words which have been erased.

I give to my brother Thomas Yardley a gold ring.

I bequeath all my freehold lands & tenements in Southwark or elsewhere to my said children, Ralph, George, John, Thomas & Anne Yardley, to hold to them and their heirs for ever.

Executor. My son Ralph Yardley.

Overseers. The said Richard Yerwoode & my son Edward Earbye. Witnesses. John Hall, public notary, Hugh Ireswell his apprentice, and John Alanson.

Proved on the 27th of February 1603/4 by Ralph Yardley, son & executor.

P. C. C.

Will of Ralph Yardley

Citizen & Apothecary of London

18 Berkeley Dwelling in the parish of St. Alban, Wood Street.

Dated 5 June 1654.

Proved 4 Jan. 1655/6.

[Abstract] I bequeath to my son John Yardley & his heirs my copyhold tenement in Stoke Newington co. Middlesex whereof I made a surrender to the Lord of the Manor of Stoke Newington, dated the [A. D. 1638] 28th of October 14 Charles I. I also bequeath to him, with remainder to his son Andrew Yardley, my messuage in Mark Lane, London upon condition that they pay my son Ralph Yardley an annuity of £20. Out of these bequests I desire my son John to provide for my grandchild Elizabeth Marsham until she shall be eighteen or married.

I give my son in law Robert Archer & my daughter Rose his wife two messuages in the parish of St. Katherine Crechurch in London, & desire my said son in law to provide for my grandchild Ralph Marsham until he is sixteen years of age.

I give to my daughter Anne Harris three messuages in Kingston on Thames, co. Surrey, & my livery gowns to my son in law Simon Harris.

I make bequests to my grandchildren John, Robert, Katherine & Elizabeth Archer, Rhoda Archer, and Elizabeth, Anne, Ralph, Rose & Prudence Harris. I bequeath to my son John & my son in law Robert Archer the leases of the house where I now dwell & of the house in Coleman Street, the profits thereof to be for the maintenance of my granddaughter Rose Marsham, and I leave £100 in trust for my grandson Thomas Marsham. Also certain money is to be expended about the recovery of the copyhold estate due to my grandson Ralph Marsham out of the manor of Ramplingham co. Norfolk.

I bequeath to my son John, & son in law Robert Archer my four messuages in the parish of St. Alban in Great Wood Street, London,