Emanuel and Joan Cumbo of Colonial Virginia
by: Jim Farmer
jims-email@hotmail.com
February 15th, 2020
Seal of the Virginia Company of London – 1619. (Wikipedia)
Contents
Emanuel and Joan Cumbo of Colonial Virginia1619 – Brought to Virginia
1624 – Life at Piersey’s Hundred
1628 – Service under Elizabeth and Richard Stephens
1637 – Service under Mary and Thomas Hill
1638 – Emanuel’s Headright Sold to Kemp
1639 – Emanuel Travel’s to London
1639 – Joan’s Headright Sold to Davis
1643 – Emanuel and Joan at Middle Plantations
1644 – Emanuel’s Petition for Freedom and Land
1645 – Life at Essex Lodge
1650 – Emanuel and Joan’s Family’s Headrights
1657 – Back at Essex Lodge
1665 – Emanuel is Free
1667 – Emanuel becomes a Landholder
A Second Generation: Richard and Stephen Cumbo
Another Emanuel
References
1619 – Brought to Virginia
In 1619, Emanuel Cumbo arrived in Virginia with more than twenty Angolans aboard the very first ship to deliver Africans in bondage to the colony. As reported by John Rolfe, the Englishman who married Pocahontas:
About the latter end of August,
a Dutch man of Warr of the burden of a 160 tunes arrived at Point-Comfort, the
Comandors name Capt Jope, his Pilott for the West Indies one Mr Marmaduke an Englishman.
… He brought not any thing but 20 and odd Negroes, w[hich] the Governo[r] and
Cape Merchant bought for victuall[s]. (Kingsbury,
1953, p. 243)
Emanuel’s story—captured and shanghaied from Angola aboard a Portuguese slave ship before being commandeered at sea by an English privateer—is told in many history books but none identify Emanuel Cumbo’s connection directly. (See for example, “1619: Jamestown and the Forging of American Democracy” by James Horn.) So, this is his story—the story of Emanuel Cumbo and how the Cumbo family became a part of the fabric of America.
1624 – Life at Piersey’s Hundred
The first record that shows Emanuel Cumbo living in America did not identify him by name. After the 1622 massacre by the Powhatan Confederation of the English settlements strung out along the James River, the colony took a census of all those still living. Called “The Muster of 1624/1625,” it shows the people living at Piersey’s Hundred, a plantation on the south side of the James owned by Abraham Piersey, the Cape Merchant for the Virginia Company mentioned by Rolfe. Among the 36 servants listed at Piersey’s plantation, there were four “Negro Men,” a “Negro Woman,” and a “Negro Woman with a young child of hers.” Abraham Piersey, himself, and his daughters, Mary (age 11) and Elizabeth (age 15), were not at his plantation but living across the river in Jamestown. (www.virtualjamestown.org/muster/introduction.html)As Rolfe had explained, Piersey acquired a number of Negroes through trade with the English captain of the privateer when it arrived in 1619. Piersey died in 1628 and his daughters married soon after. Elizabeth married Captain Richard Stephens and later married the colony’s governor John Harvey. Mary married first Captain Thomas Hill before marrying much later Thomas Bushrod. Because of Piersey’s daughters and their marriages, Emanuel Cumbo’s life in colonial Virginia can be tracked. Piersey’s daughters’ lives revolved around the elite of Jamestown that included its governors, council members, state administrators and burgesses, thus leaving behind a number of revealing records. (Taylor, 1900, p. 257)
Frontpiece from “The General History of Virginia, New England,
and the Summer Isles” – 1624. (Wikipedia)
1628 – Service under Elizabeth and Richard Stephens
Four years after the Muster of 1624/25 Abraham Piersey died and his plantation fell into disuse. Presumably, as one of the four Negro men listed at Piersey’s Hundred, Emanuel Cumbo continued to work for the family but under Captain Richard Stephens, husband to Abraham’s daughter Elizabeth. Stephens, himself, had built one of the first—if not the first—house in the new James City just outside Jamestown. This would have placed him near the Pierseys although he is not listed in the muster. His patent for the James City lot is one of the earliest in the colony’s patent books. (Cabell, 1915, pp. 118-124)
RICHARD STEPHENS, 3 score rods,
Dated 1623, Page 1. James City. "For his better conveniens &c. that
others may be the more encouraged by his example to build and enclose some
ground about their howses for gardining, etc.," scituate & being about
a convenient dwelling house which he has lately builded & erected in James Citty,
the which land lyeth S. upon the Way along the great River, E. upon land of
Capt. Ralph Hamor, W. on land of Jaxon, &c. … (Nugent, 1934, no page number
given (Patent Book No. 1))
Stephens also acquired a considerable amount of lands in Elizabeth City County. As will be shown later, Richard Stephens must have made a considerable impression on Emanuel before he died in 1636.
After Stephens’ death, Elizabeth continued to patent land she was entitled to own, working to claim first her father’s estate, and then land re-patented by her husband.
MRS. ELIZABETH STEPHENS, 1000 acs. Chas.
Citty Co., 15 Oct. 1636, p. 395. Knowne & called by the name of Flowerdeu
hundred, being bounded from the Cr. of the same name, downe the maine river unto
the Spring Sw., being W. into the woods & lying alongst the S. side of the
maine river over against Weyonoake. Due in right of descent from her father,
Abraham Pearsey, late of Va., and is a part of her share & portion of
inheritance as coheir from her sd. father, to whom sd. land was due by purchase
from Sir Georg Yeardley, as by deed dated 5 Oct. 1624. (Nugent, 1934, p. 50 (Patent Book No. 1
— Part I))
MRS. ELIZABETH STEVENS (Stephens),
500 acs. Warwick Riv. Co., 23 Sept. 1637, p. 484. Towards the head of Blunt
Point Riv., abutting Sly. upon land of John Bayneham, extending Nly. toward the
head of sd. Riv. Due for trans, of 10 pers.* by her father Abraham Peircie,
late of Va., Esqr., which was taken up by her late husband Capt. Richard
Stevens in Waters his Creeke & was exchanged with Richard James, Clerke
Atty. for Capt. William Clayborne, etc. (Nugent, 1934, p. 72 (Patent Book No. 1
— Part II))
After receiving the patent for Flowerdew Hundred, Elizabeth sold it to William Barker, mariner and a member of a merchant association that was acquiring thousands of acres of land south of the James River. As noted in Barker’s patent, by the time she sold it Elizabeth had married to Sir John Harvey, thus being titled Lady Harvey.
WILLIAM BARKER, Marriner, 1300 acs.
Chas. Citty Co., 11 May 1639, p. 645. 500 acs. bounding upon land he purchased
of Mrs. Elizabeth Stephens, now the Lady Harvey, lying up to the head of the Cr.,
& 800 acs. in the same Cr., being a Neck of Land adj. land lately belonging
to Capt. Francis Hooke &c. Due for trans, of 26 pers: ….(Nugent,
1934, p. 108 (Patent Book No. 1 — Part II))
1637 – Service under Mary and Thomas Hill
After the death of Richard Stephens Elizabeth remarried to Sir John Harvey. He had just returned from London to become the crown governor of the colony. He was governor only until 1639. Presumably, at this time, Emanuel’s bondage transferred to Mary and Thomas Hill. This was the time Elizabeth and Mary’s father’s estate was settled. Harvey had a lot to do with it. Governor Harvey, when married to Elizabeth, made the following statement:
...January 18, 1638-'9, Governor
Harvey and the Virginia Council say that eleven years before Abraham Persey
"left the best estate that was ever yet known in Virginia, to his daughter,
Hill's wife.” (Stanard, 1894, p.187.)
After Piersey’s death, Colonel Samuel Matthews had married Piersey's widow. While Matthews was in England in 1638-1639, Harvey seized Piersey’s estate under pretense that Matthews was indebted to Piersey's children. For Thomas Hill and Mary, this did not see any land being transferred to them but it let them acquire many of Piersey’s servants, including at least three: Emanuel, Joan, and Gereen. The actual number was probably twelve.
According to the patent records, the Hills did not acquire any land on their own until after Richard Stephens’ death. They first patented and built a home on a lot in James City. Thomas Hill patented it side-by-side with Richard Kemp, the Secretary of the Colony of Virginia. Kemp was a close associate of John Harvey, but he and Thomas Hill must have had a close bond. It is obvious from this and later patents Since Richard Kemp’s first wife is unknown, she may have been related to Thomas Hill.
RICHARD KEMP, Esqr., a parcell of
land in James Citty conteyning 10 pole in length towards the water side & 8
pole in breadth, the totall being 80 pole, bet. land of Mr. Thomas Hill &
Richard Tree. 1 Aug. 1638, p. 587. Fee Rent: 1 Capon yearely at the feast of St.
Thomas the Apostle. Provided &c. By Act. of Assembly 20 Feb. 1636.
---
MR. THOMAS HILL, 6 po. in breadth
& 8 po. in length., in a direct line on the W. side to land of Richard
Kemp, Esqr. 1 Aug. 1638, p. 588. As above. (Nugent,
1934, p. 95 (Patent Book No. 1 — Part II.))
1638 – Emanuel’s Headright Sold to Kemp
In 1637, before acquiring the lot next to the Hills in James City. Richard Kemp had been given a large estate near the outskirts of the town. Almost completely surrounded by unclaimed woods, it bordered Archers Hope Creek where Emanuel would spend many years of his life.
RICHARD KEMP, Esqr., Secretary of
State, & to his Successors for ever 600 acs. in James Cittie Co., 14 Nov.
1637, p. 496. Bounded on the S. with Johnsons land, upon E. end with Archers hope
Cr., upon the N. side at the end neare sd. Cr. with a point of land & a
little Sw. & W. into the woods & part with a great deepe Sw. Whereas it
was ordered by Act of Court, 5 Oct. 1631, that in respect of the necessary attendance
of the Secretarie at James Citty in the execution of his place & office 600
acs. scituate as neare James Citty as might conveniently be found should bee laid
out & taken upp to belong to the place of Secretarie, etc Fee Rent: 4 pence
yearly. (Nugent,
1934, 75 (Patent Book No. 1 — Part II))
It is the next patent of Richard Kemp that specifically lists Emanuel Cumbo by name. He is found listed within the patent dated March 4th, 1638/1639. Emanuel’s name was listed as a headright along with 9 other men and a woman who were identified by name but noted in the record to be “Negroes.”
RICHARD KEMP, Esqr., 840 acs.,
called the meadowes neare unto the Rich Neck upon Archers hope Cr. purchased by
sd. Kemp of Georg Minifye, Merchant; 4 Mar. 1638, p. 627. Beg. at the horse path
over against part of the sd. Rich Neck, N. N. W. downe the side of the meadowes
to a br. of Powhetan Sw. &c. 50 acs. due for his own per. adv. & 800
acs. for trans, of 16 pers: Henry Fenton, Thomas Cooke, Robert Sumers, John How,
Georg Harrison, Francisco, Mingo, Maria, Mathew, Peter, Cosse, old Gereene, Bass,
young Peter, Paule, Emmanuell, Negroes. (Nugent, 1934, p. 104 (Patent Book No.
1 — Part II.))
At this time in colonial Virginia, each person listed within a patent who was transported into Virginia was due 50 acres of land. This was their “headright.” In most cases, since the individual arriving in the colony had no means of support, they sold their right to fifty acres to someone else and also negotiated a contract for their labor for a set period of time. The labor agreement was called an indenture. At the end of a person’s indenture, the owner of the contract was expected to provide the individual with 50 acres of land and some homestead supplies. This was seldom the case for individuals identified as Negroes in the patents. Eventually, the expectation was that Africans arriving in Virginia were in bondage for life, but that was not the expectation for Emanuel and the others originally bought by Piersey. They considered themselves indentured servants, and many, like Emanuel, had to go to court to prove it.
In the case of Richard Kemp’s headrights, none of them seem likely to become indentured servants acquired to develop his new acquisition of 840 acres. Henry Fenton was titled a gentleman in a later patent; Thomas Cooke was Kemp’s clerk who witnessed many of the patents in 1636; John How or Howe was captain in the militia. Similarly, when Kemp acquired Emanuel’s headright and those of the others identified as Negroes, he did not acquire their indenture. In the case of Emanuel, Gereen, and the others, their indenture did not change. They remained the property of the Hills. Patents entered a few years later by both Kemp and Hill indicate that only their headrights were sold to Kemp.
London on the Thames – 1616. (Claes Jansz. Visscher Panorama - Wikipedia)
1639 – Emanuel Travel’s to London
At this time, Emanuel must have traveled abroad, presumably with Thomas Hill who would go often, back and forth to London. Hill sold one of his earliest headrights received after such a trip to a Jamestown neighbor, Edward Travis.
EDWARD TRAVIS, 300 acs. in Chichahominy
Riv., James Citty Co., 25 Apr. 1639, p. 642. …
SAME. 800 acs. Same Co. & date,
p. 643- In Chichahominy Riv., … Due for his own. per. adv. & trans, of 15
pers: … William Davis, Thomas Hill.
Note: Renewed 17 Feb. 1643 & a pattent of John Robins assigned to him,
dated 1 Apr. 1639 of 300 acs., added. (Nugent, 1934, p. 108 (Patent Book No. 1 — Part II))
It is expected the Emanuel and Thomas Hill sailed abroad together as Emanuel also acquired a headright at this time. Emanuel’s headright was sold to two other neighbors. They presumably did not file their patent right away, which explains the date being three years after the patent that included Thomas Hill’s headright. (Note that Emanuel’s name is mistakenly transcribed in Nugent’s publication. The original record on file at the Library of Virginia’s Digital Archives correctly shows it as “Emanuell a Negroe.”)
WILLIAM IRELAND & ROBERT WALLIS,
700 acs. Yorke Co., July 13, 1642, Page 812. At the head of St. Andrews Creek,
N. E. upon Joseph Croshaw & Richard Maior. Trans, of 14 pers.: Rebecca,
wife of Robert Wallis, Emanuella a Negroe, … (Nugent, 1934, p. 133 (Patent
Book No. 1 — Part II))
Emanuell a Negroe – Headright for Ireland and Wallis.
(LVA Digital Archives)
In this case and others to follow, Emanuel was not due the headright directly. Instead, since Hill paid Emanuel’s passage, Hill would own it and be able to sell it. For Hill, Emanuel’s headright was worth the expense of Emanuel’s passage, board and keep to London. And since Emanuel was already a long-time member of the family, having been with the family for almost twenty years, he would been useful to Hill onboard and in London.
1639 – Joan’s Headright Sold to Davis
Along with Thomas Hill’s headright in the Edward Travis’ patent, another neighbor’s name was included—William Davis. Only recently, he had acquired 200 acres above James City near where Kemp was building out what he would call “Rich Neck Plantation.” (Nugent, 1934, p. 108 (Patent Book No. 1 — Part II)), Then, about the time that Davis and Thomas Hill sold their headrights to Travis and about the time Kemp created his patent with Emanuel’s headright, Davis acquired more land next to Richard Kemp but on the other side of Archers Hope Creek. In this case, Davis used the headright of another Hill servant—Joan, Emanuel’s wife.Like Emanuel and at the same time, his wife Joan also had her headright sold. The only difference for her was that her headright was listed with William Davis, the neighbor of Richard Kemp and Thomas Hill.
WILLIAM DAVIS, 1,200 acs. James City
Co., June 28, 1639, page 661. N. upon land of Lt. Richard Popely, S. upon Capt.
Humphry Higginson, W. upon head of Archers Hope Cr. E. toward bryery Swamp. Due
for trans, of 24 pers: Sarah Browne, Isaac , Andrew Howell, Ann Keeding, Nicho.
Goldsmith, Wm. Burfur, Thomas Thorrogood, John Barker, Morgan Williams, Wm. Davis,
Richard Shaw, John Badden, Abigail Drewry, Richard Vardall, Mathew Burrow, Tho.
Floyd, John Peirce, Richard Prichard, Joan, a Negro. (Nugent, 1934, p. 112 (Patent Book No. 1 — Part II))
Joan a Negro – Headright for William Davis. (LVA
Digital Archives)
Unlike Richard Kemp, a few of the headrights used by Davis included contracts for indentured laborers, but only a few. Thomas Thorogood, in the list, was a son of an earlier colonist. Often, when a child born in the colony was old enough to travel abroad, he or she left Virginia so that they could see wonders of England their parents talked about. This was probably the case for Thorogood. Morgan Williams, on the other hand, often travelled back and forth to the colony. Those who apparently became indentured servants included John Barker and Richard Vardal (more often spelled Vardy). They patented land together in the same community fourteen years later, presumably after they had completed their term of indenture. They then sold it to Richard Foard.
RICHARD FOARD, 679 acs. James City
Co., last Nov. 1653, p. 7. Lying upon a N. E. branch of Powhetan Swamp, beg.
neer the swamp, running N. N. E., thence W. by N. unto the land of Sir Wm.
Berkeley &c. 200 acs. purchased of Richard Vardy (or Hardy) & John Barker;
167 acs. lately granted to him by patent dated 8 Nov. 1653 & 312 acs. for
trans, of 12 pers.* (Nugent, 1934, 230 (Patent Book No. 3))
At the same time Vardy acquired 650 acres on his own. The neighbor called Lady Lunsford mentioned in Vardy’s patent was the widow of Richard Kemp, Elizabeth Wormsley, living at Rich Neck Plantation who had remarried to Sir Thomas Lunsford. The neighbor John Bromsfield would soon acquire the Davis property, itself.
RICHARD VARDY, 650 acs. James City
Co., last of Nov. 1653, p. 225. On N. E. branch of Powetan Swamp, beg. upon the
bottom of the broad neck, running by Lady Lunsford's markt trees, etc., by
Poetan Beaver Swamp, etc., to land of Mr. Richard Foard, to Price's corner
& to Capt. Popelyes land. Being part of a patent granted unto John Sheppard
& Lucy his wife & by them assigned unto John Bromfeld, who assigned
same to sd. Vardy; & 250 acs., the residue, for trans, of 5 pers: Elizabeth
Vardy, Mary Bloodstone, Rachell Brigton, Robert Markason, Henry Underhill. (Nugent, 1934, 282 (Patent Book No. 3))
When William Davis died sometime before 1656, the land he had patented at Archers Hope Creek was re-patented by John Bromfield who had married Davis’ “relict” or widow. In the list of headrights Bromfield used in his re-patent of the 1200 acres, a few were also headrights used in Davis’ original patent. These included Morgan Williams and Matthew Burrows. Joan’s name was not among them, but, as will be seen, Davis’ land at Archers Hope Creek will be important to her and Emanuel.
JOHN BROMFIELD, 1200 acs. James
City Co., near the head of Archers Hope Cr., 15 Dec. 1656, p. 55, (81). Running
up deere bone Valley &c. to Tuttyes Necke, etc., unto trees dividing this
from land of Mr. Richard Brewster &c. to the mouth of Weare Cr. Formerly granted
unto Wm. Davis, 27 Mar. 1643, whoe dyeing intestate & noe heire apeareing,
it was ordered by the Govr. &c. on the 15 Dec. 1656 that the sd. Bromefield,
whoe marryed the relict of sd. Davis, should have a patent for the same &
for trans, of 24 pers: Abraham Sinckler, Wm. Mosse, Sarah Allyson, Rebecca
Bradshew, Francis Chambers, Sarah Allyson, Morgan Williams, Rob. Paddison,
Mathew Burrowes, Margarett Hilton (or Hibton). (Nugent,
1934, p. 336 (Patent Book No. 1 —
Part II))
1643 – Emanuel and Joan at Middle Plantations
In 1643 Richard Kemp and Thomas Hill established their plantations alongside each other, just like their James City houses. Kemp entered a patent for 1200 acres, but only half of the 1200 acres became part of Rich Neck Plantation. The other half of Richard Kemp’s patent was granted to Thomas Hill. Two years later, Hill completed a patent for the 600 acres that Kemp had granted him.
RICHARD KEMP, Esqr., Secretarie
& one of his Majesty's Councell of State, 4,332 acs. James City Co., Apr. 17,
1643, Page 877. Lying at the head of Archers Hope Cr., upon the Pallisadoes,
adj. Georg Lake's land upon the horse path. N. W. by N. upon Powhetan Sw., and
S. upon the Secretarys land. 1,200 acs. by purchase from Georg Minifie, Merchant,
which was not truly bounded as appears by survey made by William Wigg, Surveyor
authorized by the Court & 940 by several former patents. 2,192 acas. for
trans, of 44 pers.: His own 2nd adv., ..[a list 40 names] … Tonie and Gereene,
Negroes.…. 600 acs. of sd. 1200 acs. granted to Mr. Thos. Hill & the rent
to be paid by him; 50 acs. granted to Capt. Francis Pott, by order of June 13,
1642 & by him assigned to William Davis. [C&P Vol. 1, p. 143, (Patent
Book No. 1 — Part II)]
THOMAS HILL, Gent., 600 acs. James
Citty Co., Oct. 10, 1645, Page 46. Lyeing at the Rich Neck, in two parcells;
part of same adj. Francis Peale & the Palisadoes. Due by purchase from
Richard Kemp, being part of a 1,200 acr. patent purchased by Kemp of George Menefie.
(Nugent, 1934, p. 160 (Patent Book No. 2))
Note that Thomas Hill’s patent was acquired by “purchase” from Richard Kemp and no headrights were associated with Hill’s patent. Often, even with a purchase, headrights were part of the requirement to receive a patent. Not so for Hill. This suggests that Hill compensated Kemp for his half of the land grant by transferring twelve headrights to Kemp that he held coming from his wife Mary Piersey. Both the amount of land and the timing support this suggestion. 600 acres normally required twelve headrights and only Africans would likely remain in bondage 15 years after Abraham Piersey’s estate was settled.
1644 – Emanuel’s Petition for Freedom and Land
About this time Emanuel Cumbo was hoping to ensure his freedom. He had been in service to the Piersey family for over 20 years. Whereas English indentured servants would have had contracts drawn up stating their term of service, in the case of Africans, no such contracts were employed. Twenty years later, all Africans arriving though the expanding slave trade coming from Africa to Virginia, were placed in bondage. They were not indentured. Their headrights were assigned to their owners or masters. Emanuel Cumbo sought to ensure his status as an indentured servant not a slave. As explained later in a court records, in September of 1644 Emanuel petitioned the Virginia Assembly for his freedom. The fact that the assembly regarded him as “adjudged to be a Christian servant” was their basis for allowing Emanuel to be able to acquire his freedom. But the assembly attached twenty more years to his contract. The additional twenty years may have been added to his term of service because he also hoped to claim a headright of 50 acres of land.Within Richard Kemp’s patent in 1643 that showed 600 acres being granted to Thomas Hill, there was another unique transaction. Richard Kemp granted 50 acres to Captain Francis Potts who assigned it to William Davis. As shown above, William Davis’ own patent for 1200 acres would have bordered Kemp’s land on the opposite side of Archers Hope Creek. While the fifty acres may have been a section of land that better fit into Davis’s allotment, it also could have been a reserve for Emanuel and Joan. Twenty years later, when Emanuel is allowed to patent his own land, it will come from Davis’ parcel, not the Hill’s. In addition, Emanuel’s patent will not reference the fact, as shown above, that John Bromfield had re-patented the land after his marriage to Davis’ widow. All of this suggests that Emanuel and Joan had been living on the land for some time, even before 1643 when Kemp transferred it to Potts.
Otherwise, Emanuel and Joan’s homeplace during this time would have been located with the Hill’s plantation near Rich Neck Plantation alongside Archers Hope Creek. Today Archers Hope Creek is called College Creek. It flows south from Williamsburg into the James River. An archaeology review of the Rich Neck Plantation has been completed covering the time of Richard Kemp and the Lunsford. (The Archaeology of Rich Neck Plantation (44WB52): Description of the Features, David Muraca, Philip Levy, Leslie McFaden, 2003, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series - 0386
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library, Williamsburg, 2009.)
1645 – Life at Essex Lodge
By 1645 the Hills acquired “Essex Lodge” from William Brocas, a member of the Council of State. Court records in York County describe their purchase of the plantation. (Since George Washington headquartered at Essex Lodge during the siege of Yorktown in 1781, the site today is part of the Colonial National Historical Park.)
… By a deed dated 21 March, 1693,
Thomas Hill said that he was son of John Hill, who made his will December 9, 1670,
and that John Hill was son of Thomas Hill. The deed was to Samuel Eaton for 170
acres, a part of 600 acres called "Essex Lodge," first taken up by
Capt. William Brocas, a member of the Virginia Council in 1635, and sold by him
to Thomas Hill. (Taylor, 1900, 257)
The original patent entered by Brocas does not exist, but its
location was near “the Mills” and Warwick River, therefore near land owned at
one time by Richard Stephen, husband of Mary’s sister, Lady Elizabeth Harvey,
and the land she re-patented in 1637.
THOMAS BERNARD (Barnard), Gent.,
500 acs. Warwick River Co., 22 Aug. 1637, p. 464. N. towards the Mills, S. upon
the back Cr. towards land lately belonging to Capt. Richard Stevens, E. into the
woods towards land of Zachariah Cripps & W. upon Warwick Riv. opposite land
of Capt. Thomas Flint. (Nugent, 1934, no
page number given (Patent Book No. l PART II.))
William Brocas sold Essex Lodge to the Hills when he moved to Lancaster County. The acquisition of Essex Lodge by the Hills may have been completed the same way they worked out the purchase with Richard Kemp. In a later patent by Brocas after his move, he used a number of headrights that could have come from the Piersey estate. The inclusion of Robert Hill’s headright could be significant, but no other record ties him to Mary and Thomas Hill.
DENNIS CONNIERS, 700 acs. Lancaster
Co., upon the N. side of Pyanketanke Riv., towards the head of same. 18 Nov.
1653, p. 35. … and 400 acs. … Due for trans, of 8 pers. The following names
appear hereunder: … Mrs. Tabitha Brocas; Kate, Peeter, Grasheere, Dorothy, Xpher,
Edward, Susan, Martha, Negroes; "by assignment from Capt. William Brocas.
150 acres unto the said Capt. Brocas viz. the 3 last and placed to Mrs. Elianor
Brocas."
---
MRS. ELIANOR BROCAS, 250 acs.
Lancaster Co., upon the S. side of Rappa. Riv., 18 Nov. 1653, p. 35. Beg. at a
S. E. corner of another tract of her land, extending S. W. &c. thence along
Pianketank Riv. &c. Trans, of 5 pers: Edward, Susan & Martha, Negroes,
Robert Hill, William Narton. (Nugent, 1934, p. 245 (Patent Book No.
3))
1650 – Emanuel and Joan’s Family’s Headrights
Like Brocas, with the capture and killing of Opechancanough and the signing of a treaty in 1646, many of the wealthy gentry who had already established themselves near James City began to acquire additional lands northward. Richard Kemp had been among them, patenting land in Mobjack Bay in 1649, but he died soon afterward. (Nugent, 1934, pp. 182-3, 212 (Patent Book No. 2)) The more adventurous settlers were carving out homesteads in the Northern Neck along the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers.Emanuel and Joan’s travels abroad with the Hills saw their headrights being used for patents in the Northern Neck as well.
RICHARD TURNEY, 2,109 acs.
Northumberland Co., 8 July 1651, p. 333. Abutting Sly. upon Potomeck Riv., Ely.
upon a great marsh, Wly. upon a bay, & Nly. upon a creek issueing out of
sd. bay. … Trans, of 42 pers: … Syon the Turke, Manuell the Negro, Joane the
Negro. … (Nugent, 1934, p. 218 (Patent Book No. 2))
Manuell the Negro, Joane the Negro – Headrights for Richard
Turney. (LVA Digital Archives)
Another patent entered by George Ludlow about the same time may have included a second generation of family members of Emanuel, Joan and others under the service of Mary and Thomas Hill. Ludlow was a member of the council of state and a resident of York County when he purchased the estate of Governor John Harvey. Like others, he hoped to profit off the new lands opening up along the Rappahannock River: His headrights include seven Negroes by name, an unusual inclusion that suggests these were individuals who were not recent arrivals. At least two of the individuals, Stephen and Joan, could have been children of Emanuel and Joan.
GEORGE LUDLOW, Esqr., one of his
Majestie's Councill of State, 1,000 acs. in Rappa. Riv. on the S. side, beg. on
the Swd. side of the mouth of Sandy Point Cr., adj. land of Randall Camblett
& James Arrock. 22 May 1651, p. 315. Trans, of 20 pers: … & 7 Negroes:
Robin, Stephen, James, Will, Mall, Susan & Joane. (Nugent, 1934, p. 214 (Patent
Book No. 2))
These last patents support the connection between Emanuel and Joan, showing them together in one patent and associated with another. In addition to these patents, for the first time the Hills also acquired a patent for their own land using their own headrights. At least that may have been their expectation. They hoped to move their entire family and servants to Northumberland, however, any such intention would have ended with the death of Thomas Hill. He died sometime just before 1656. His patent for 500 acres was still processed even though it had to be completed by Mary after she had remarried to Thomas Bushrod.
THOMAS HILL, 500 acs. in Petomeck
freshes, on S. W. side of Aquaconde Riv., beg. about half a mile below the falls
on S. W. side of John Wood's land assigned to a Scottish man & runing W. S.
W. &c. 18 Sept. 1657, p. 122, (181). Trans, of 10 pers: Capt. Thomas Hill 3
times, Mary Bushrode twice, Jno. Hill, Georg Hill, Thomas Hill, Mary Hill,
Francis Hill. (Nugent, 1934, p. 353 (Patent Book No. 4))
1657 – Back at Essex Lodge
After the widow Mary Hill remarried to Thomas Bushrod, they took up residence in York County at the Hill’s estate Essex Lodge. This is again where Emanuel is found mentioned in the patents. In this case, this one also signifies the last time Emanuel went abroad. It also suggests he may have had a second wife named Mary.
MR. ROB. BOURNE & MR. DANIELL
PARKE, 580 acs. Yorke Co., 8 Oct. 1655, p. 10, (14). Beg. on S. W. side of a
branch of the old Mill Swamp in the line of Thomas Smith, running to Richd.
Foards lyne &c. by Warreny path & hot water path, along Richohock path
&c. to tree in Thomas Smiths lyne &c. Trans, of 12 pers: Daniell Parke,
his wife, Peeter French, his wife, Tho. Bayly, Emanuell a Negro, Thomas
Hayward, Richard Palmer, Jno. Newnham, Isabel! Fletcher, Eliz. Conaway, Mary
a Negro. (Nugent, 1934, p. 324 (Patent Book No. 4))
Emanuel a Negro, Mary a Negro – Headrights for Bourne
and Parke. (LVA Digital Archives)
Mary Piersey’s third husband, Thomas Bushrod, was a wealthy merchant who is often found in the court records suing or being sued. He, himself, was not against finding ways of getting around the law:
[Order In Case Of Trotte Vs.
Bushrod.]
Whereas at a Quarter Court held at
James Citty the 13th of October, 1656, Nicholas Trotte obtained order ag'
Thomas Bushrod for present paym' three thousand two hundred twentyfower pounds
of tobacco and Caske, from which the said Bushrod appealed to ye Assembly,
exhibiting in his petition to them that he had tendred tobacco to the said Trotte
for satisfaction of the said order, & all other bills due (as the said order
of Court was), out of his own Crop; But it appearing upon full Examination of
the business, That ye tobacco was never legally tendred nor ye Viewers legally
qualified, nor that they were all present at one time, nor that any notice was
given of it to Mr. Trotte, nor that all the Viewers make a report of the
tobacco being good. …. (Randolph Manuscripts – Extracts from Preceedings of the House of Burgesses of
Virginia, 1652-1661, 1901)p. 395.]
Later on, the court records in York County capture a glimpse into the household of Mary Hill after she married Bushrod. Richard Barkshyre had been the Hill’s overseer and continued to work under Bushrod. In a suit against Bushrod regarding the misappropriation of salt, Barksyre explained his actions.
The dep[osition] of Richard Barkshyre,
age 38, and the dep[onent] was Mary Hills’ overseer at Essex Lodge & about
April or May last by order from Thomas Bushrod he was sent up to Mrs. Mary’s
house, for 2 bushels of salt, one of white salt and another of Bay salt, and
other goods that Bushrod had bought of Thomas Bowler for the sd, Mrs. Hill
& reference to the Bay salt & some other goods being at MR. Modes’
house. Sworn 29 Jan 1656 by James Goodwill. The Mark of R. Barkshire. Rec. 26 Jan. 1657. (Wills and Deeds of York County,
Virginia, 1657-1659, 1973, p. 21)
At the same time, Bushrod also charged Barkshyre to build him a tobacco barn. When Barkshyre died before completing the job, Bushrod sued Barkshyre’s estate for compensation for damages to his tobacco crop. (Bushrod sued a lot of estates according to the minutes.) Bushrod’s brother Richard gave a deposition explaining what he felt happened:
Dep[osition] of Richard Bushrod, aged 32, says that in 1656 Richard Barksyre, being
overseer to the Dep[onen]t’s brother, Mr. Thomas Bushrod, was to build the
brother of the Dep[onen]t, Thomas Bushrod, a tobacco house where the brother of the
Dep[onen]t would appoint him for the curing of the sd. cropp of tobacco that
year made, which house Barkshyre neglected, and so the crop was on the ground
& the tobacco rotted & Barkshyre did not fence in the orchard, and many
of the trees were broken down, & Barkshyre left ye sd. crop & hands in
topping time & went unto Mr. Bourne’s wedding to Pyanketanke (and) was absent
from his charges 8 to 10 days.
(Wills
and Deeds of York County, Virginia, 1657-1659, 1973, p. 41, see also pp.
44, 57, 64, 67, 71)
When Mary Piersey Hill died, Thomas Bushrod endeavored to be in charge of whatever he could related to her estate. This presumably included Emanuel and her other servants.
17 Feb 1661. Thomas Bushrod, who
married the relict and executrix of Capt. Thomas Hill, dec’d. entered a caveat
that no administration be granted to any person without his knowledge to goods
not administered by his late wife Mary executrix of said Thomas Hill, which said
Mary is also lately deceased. (Benjamin B. Weisiger, 1993, 115)
As will be shown, Thomas Bushrod sold Emanuel Cumbo to William Whittacre. In fact, Emanuel was not the only servant acquired by Bushrod through his marriage to Mary. Gowin (also spelled Gereen) can also be traced through the Hill records before being placed under Bushrod’s ownership. A court order set Gowin free from Bushrod’s service later on.
18 October 1670. It is ordered that
Gowin, an Indian Servant to Thos. Bushrod, serve his said master six years
longer and then to be free. (McIlwaine, 1924, p. 233)
1665 – Emanuel is Free
The ultimate source on Emanuel’s life was provided some 48 years after Emanuel’s arrival when William Whittacre, Emanuel Cumbo’s last owner, petitioned the Virginia Assembly to compensate him for the loss of Emanuel’s labor. Emanuel became free in 1665. Whittacre’s petition explains how Emanuel acquired his freedom:
To
the Honourable Sir Wm. Berkeley Knight Governor &c. And the Honourable Council
of Virginia.
The humble petition
of Wm. Whittacre Sheweth.
That he formerly
bought of Mr. Thomas Bushrod a Mulata named Manuel who bought him of Colo. Wm.
Smith's Assignee as a Slave for Ever but in September I644 the said Servant was
by the Assembly adjudged no Slave and but to serve as other Christian servants
do and was freed in September 1665. Your petitioner most humbly prays he may have
satisfaction from the Levy being freed by the Country and bought by your Petitioner
at L25 Sterling.
The Assembly not
knowing any Reason why the Publick should be answerable for the inadvertency of
the Buyer or for a Judgment given when justly grounded as that Order was. Have
Ejected the Petition. (The Randolph Manuscript-Virginia Seventeeth Century
Records, 1909, p. 232)
Whittacre was a burgess for James City County and had patented 90 acres there on the Yorke path in 1656. Because he did not make any improvements to the land as required, he had to reapply for a new patent to the same land in 1662. Presumably this was why he needed Emanuel and why Emanuel would have worked for Whittacre. Emanuel had been living in the in the Yorktown community for almost twenty years and would have been a good resource for anyone who needed to make improvements to a new homestead. (Nugent, 1934, p. 317, (Patent Book No. 3); p. 471, (Patent Book No. 5))
1667 – Emanuel becomes a Landholder
As mentioned in Whittacre’s petition, Emanuel was the property of Thomas Bushrod until he was sold to William Whittacre. He may have served Whittacre for about five years before seeking his freedom in September, 1665, as promised by the Assembly. Two years after being freed from bondage, in 1667, Emanuel Cumbo applied for and received a patent for his own 50 acres. It was allocated from a part of William Davis’s land and may have been the 50 acres that Richard Kemp assigned over to Davis in 1643. As mentioned before, its location suggests that this was Emanuel and Joan’s old homeplace established early on, possibly even as much as thirty years before. Now it was his and as such, it was property that he could pass on to his children. The patent for his land reads:
EMMANUEL CAMBOW, Negro, [received] 50
acres in James City County, 18 April 1667, [being] part of a greater quantity
granted to Will. Davis
Emanuel
Cumbow Negro – 1667 Patent. (LVA Digital Archives)
This is the last record of Emanuel. Stolen from Angola, highjacked on the seas, forced into bondage along the shores of the James River, he labored for 47 years as a servant to the wealthiest individuals in colonial Virginia. In spite of this, he became an essential part of the Jamestown and Yorktown communities, avowing a faith in Christianity, even traveling abroad to England. Eventually he was freed from bondage and allowed to acquire 50 acres of his own. This is the life story of Emanuel Cumbo and the beginning of the family in America.
A map of Virginia showing Emanuel Cumbo’ locations:
A-Piersey’s or Flowerdew Hundred 1619-1628,
B-Blunt Point (i. e., Newport News)1628-1636,
C-Rich Neck and Middle Plantations at Archer’s Hope Creek
1638-1661,
D -Essex Lodge, near Yorktown, 1650-1661, and
E-Emanuel Cumbo’s 50 acre Patent, 1667.
(The Fry-Jefferson Map of 1755)
A Second Generation: Richard and Stephen Cumbo
Unfortunately for us, it is difficult to know much more about Emanuel and Joan’s children. The majority of the records for James City County where Emanuel established his home have been lost or destroyed. This keeps us from knowing much about his family. It is certain that Emanuel and Joan Cumbo had a child named Richard. He may have been named for Richard Kemp, but it is much more likely he was named for Captain Richard Stephens, Elizabeth Piersey’s first husband. Richard Cumbo left a number of records in neighboring New Kent County. He was mentioned in both the vestry book and in the registry for St. Peter’s Parish. When the 1704 Quit Rent Roll was taken, thereby listing all landowners in the colony, he was shown living in New Kent County, personally owning 80 acres.It also seems likely that Emanuel and Joan Cumbo had other children. One son other than Richard must have been named Stephen, and since he remained in James City County, we have no record of him. Only one other record lists Stephen by name—the George Ludlow patent that also included names of six others identified as Negroes. In addition to being found in Ludlow’s patent, Stephen is the one name that has been carried down through all the different Cumbo lines, including Richard’s. Few men were named Stephen at this time in Virginia with the one standout for Emanuel being Captain Richard Stephens. As shown above, Richard Stephens died in 1636 about the time Emanuel and Joan started their family. Their son named Stephen must have died before 1704 since he was not listed in the Quit Rent Roll for James City County.
Seven Negroes Robin,
Stephen, James, Will, Mall, Susan, and Joane – Headrights
for George Lodlow. (LVA Digital Archives)
Another Emanuel
Emanuel Cumbo was not the only
Emanuel in the records of colonial Virginia. Another African named Emanuel lived
south of the James River and was a servant of Nicholas Reynolds (also spelled
Reignolds) who lived at Lawnes Creek. (Nugent, 1934,
pp. 29, 53) This Emanuel’s unsuccessful attempt to escape his bondage is
recorded in the court records.
In 1640 Captain William Peirce (Study Unit 4
Tract F Lot B and Study Unit 1 Tract D Lot B) filed a complaint with the
Council of State because six of his servants and Mr. Reignolds’ African servant
had runaway together, in an attempt to reach the Dutch plantation. They had
stolen powder, shot and guns and escaped in Peirce’s sloop, but were captured
in the Elizabeth River. Two of Peirce’s servants (Christopher Miller and John
Williams) were Dutch. Each man was to receive 30 lashes at the whipping post and
to have his cheek branded with an R. The white males were required to serve some
extra time. However, Emanuel, the African, who was credited with stealing the
skiff, was required “to work in shakle one year or more as his master shall see
cause” (McIlwaine 1924:467). This raises the possibility that Emanuel was a slave
and therefore could not have his time extended. (McCartney, 2003)
References
Benjamin B. Weisiger, I. (1993). York County,
Virginia, Records 1659-1662. Athens: Iberian Publishers.
Cabell, J. B. (1915). The Majors and Their
Marriages. .Richmond: W. C. Hill Printing Co.
Kingsbury, S. M. (Ed.). (1953). Records of the
Virginia Company (Vol. III). Washington: United States Printing Office.
Library of Virginia. (2016). Land Office Patents.
LVA Digitial Archives. Retrieved from Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants
1623-1774: http://lva1.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com
McCartney, M. W. (2003). A Study of the Africans
and African Americans on Jamestown Island and at Green Spring, 1619-1803,.
Williamsburg,: National Park Service-Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
McIlwaine, H. R. (Ed.). (1924). Minutes of the
Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia. Richmond.
Nugent, N. M. (1934). CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS Vol.1,
Abstracts Of Virginia Land Patents And Grants 1623-1666. Richmond: Library
of Virginia.
Nugent, N. M. (1977). CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS Vol.2,
Abstracts Of Virginia Land Patents And Grants 1666-1695. Richmond: Libarary
of Virginia.
Randolph Manuscripts - Extracts from Preceedings of
the House of Burgesses of Virginia, 1652-1661. (1901, April). The Virginia
Magazine of History and Biography, 8(4).
Stanard, W. G. (1894). Abstracts of Virginia Land
Patents. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 1.
Taylor, L. G. (Ed.). (1900). William and Mary
College Quarterly Historical Magazine, VIII.
The Randolph Manuscript-Virginia Seventeeth Century
Records. (1909, July). The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 17(3).
Wills and Deeds of York County, Virginia, 1657-1659.
(1973). In L. O. Duvall (Ed.), Virginia Colonial Abstracts Series 2
(Vol. 5). Southern Press,.
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