Incorporated as the City of Nansemond in Merged with the City of Suffolk in 1974.

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1 Nansemond History Re: John Lee, Esquire (Father:Richard Henry Lee, Born 11 Nov 1677 in Nansemond, Virginia, died in King and King County, which once was a part of Norfolk, Nansemond: Formed as Upper Norfolk in 1637 from New Norfolk County, Renamed in 1642, Records were destroyed in ( where "state" is replaced by the state you wish to view). Incorporated as the City of Nansemond in Merged with the City of Suffolk in John Lee was born on 11 Mar 1695 in Nansemond County, Virginia. Note: this documentation indicates John Lee Esq. was born at Nansemond, Virginia. John Lee of Nansemond is projected YDNA Haplogroup I1a. This is contradictory to YDNA information documented elsewhere in this biography.he married Mary Bryan in 1725 in Nottoway, Isle of Wight, Virginia. He died on 4 Dec 1766 in Mill Creek, Johnston, North Carolina. Occupation: Esquire Note: John Lee came to Johnston County, North Carolina (Part of Nansemond before land division), then Craven County during the early 1740's. Nansemond County, VA - Territoy Division History: Established in 1637 as Upper Norfolk County and the name Nansemond was adopted in It became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972 and merged with the independent city of Suffolk in The entire area is now known as Suffolk. Prior to this, the Virginia counties of Upper Norfolk/Nansemond and Lower Norfolk would have been the repositories for any records relating to the Albemarle region. The oldest known deed for land in North Carolina, dated September 24, 1660, was discovered accidentally in 1965 among Norfolk County records in Chesapeake. It apparently grants the entire tip of the peninsula which is now Pasquotank County to Capt. Nathaniell Batts. It is signed with the mark of Kiscutanewh, King of the Yeopim Indians. There are old Nansemond County deeds relating to land beside Bennetts Creek which refer to the Creek, named for a Governor of Virginia, now in Gates County and not Bennett Creek now in the City of Suffolk (near the mouth of the Nansemond River): this land was considered part of the Upper Parish of Nansemond County until 1728, when the dividing line betwixt Virginia and North Carolina was finally settled. (Dunn, Joseph Bragg. The History of Nansemond County, Virginia Digital version at Internet Archive - free, County Seat: Suffolk Boundary Changes and record loss: Fire.pngWar.jpg1734, 1779, and 1866 Many records were lost by the burning of the county clerk's office where the records were in April 1734, when the courthouse was razed by British troops in 1779, and by a fire 7 February Lost censuses: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1890 NORTH CAROLINA ABSTRACTS OF LAND PATENTS BY MARGARET HOFMANN

2 1719: 2916 pg. 175 JOHN LEE 1 March 1719/ acres in Chowan precinct on ye N. side of Morattock River, joining JOHN PACE JR., EDMD. CLARK, and JOHN PACE SR. Witnesses: CHA. EDEN, THOS. POLLOCK, RICHD. SANDERSON, FRA. [FRED.] JONES, JOHN HECKLEFIELD. ROANOKE RIVER SETTLERS, 1720 Some very early settlers along Roanoke River in North Carolina, in present-day counties of Northampton, Halifax, Bertie, Martin, and Washington, in 1720; under jurisdiction of Chowan Precinct, Albemarle County, North Carolina, at that time, "Roanoac" was the 16th Century name of an American Indian village at the northern end of present-day Roanoke Island, in the eastern section of Dare County, North Carolina (near present-day town of Manteo, named for the 16th Century Indian chief, Manteo), and is the origin of the name "Roanoke" used as a place-name in Virginia and North Carolina. Roanoke River has its headwaters in Montgomery Co., Va., and flows southeast into North Carolina at the northeast corner of WarrenCo,, N.C. and continues to form the county lines between Northampton and Halifax Cos., between Halifax and Bertie Cos., between Bertie and Martin Cos., and between Bertie and Washington Cos., and finally empties into Batchelor Bay of Albemarle Sound--a total distance of around 400 miles, the last 150 in N. C. This 1720 List of Roanoke River settlers is in the Archives,,, P. 0. Box 1881, Raleigh, N.C File NOTE: This list was torn in two in the middle, and around a dozen names were either destroyed entirely or rendered nearly illegible. Fortunately, however, another similar list was found, with names in exact order, and it was possible to obtain most of the missing names. JOHN LEE IS AMONG THOSE LISTED By the 1740s, settlers were moving into lands in Johnston County- then known as Craven County. These immigrants included John Lee who on 26 July 1743 received grants for 400 and 100 acres of land along the south bank of the Neuse River. Many of his Conoho Creek neighbors such as Needham, John, and William Bryan also moved south to Johnston County prior to Court records detail his various land holdings,over 1700 acres in Johnston County and refer to his serving on juries, laying off roads, etc. John and Mary lived the remainder of their lives in Johnston County and raised at least nine children

3 1734: 17 Aug John Lee sold to William Johnston, L12, 200 a. n- Conoconary Creek, part of his patent of 28 Sept Joseph Moore's line mentioned. Wit: Needham Bryant, Thomas Cook. [Halifax Co., N.C. Deeds 1, 131] 19 Oct John Lee of Bertie Pct. sold to Thomas Spite, L80, 300 a. n-connehoe Creek, part of his patent of 28 Sept Wit: Joseph Moore, Jr., John Ballard, Robert Butler. [Bertie Co. Deeds D-164] 1737: 28 Oct John Lee of Bath Co. sold to James Everett L48, 100 a. n-conoho, part of his patent of 28 Sept in Bertie Pct. Wit: John Wiggins, Robert Butters, Richard Wiggins. [Halifax Co. Deeds 1-437] 1738: 18 Nov Grant to John Lee, 500 a. in Beaufort Co. on north side of Tarr River. 1739: 19 Jan. 1739/40: John Lee, Rt. Butler, and Thomas Wiggins witnessed John Wood's deed to Wm. Rountree, 326 a. s-morratock (Roanoke) River, Cypress Swamp, part of Wood's patent of 1 Mar [Halifax Co. Deeds 1-333] 1740: 20 Apr John Lee of Edgecombe Co. bought from Roger Hodges L30, 200 a. s-morratock R. Wit: Wm. Bryant, Drew Smith, Wm. Andrews. [Halifax Co. Deeds 1-379] 21 Aug. 1740: John Lee of Edgecombe Co. and his wife, Mary, sold to Theophilus Pugh, 640 a. w-keneetoe Creek, granted to John Lee 28 Sept Wit: J. Barker, John Pugh, W.(Wm.) Taylor [Bertie Co. Deeds F-182] 1742: Feb. 1742: "Book of Rights, ", John Lee, Edgecombe Co., 11 whites 2 blacks [NORTH CAROLINIAN, Vol.XIII, NO. 1, p. 1829] 1744: 26 Jan John "X" Lee of Edgecombe Co. sold to Thomas Knite, L70, 400 a. s-morratock R. Wit:

4 Wm. Taylor, Wm. Reddon, Thos. Price [Halifax Co. Deeds 5-320] 1745: 1 (Jan.-?) 1745 John Lee witnessed the assignment of a patent from John Askue to Nicholas Sessums, 266 a. n-tarr R. in Bear Skinn Neck, adj. John Hodges and a slash of Indian Creek. [Halifax Co. Deeds 5-432] 1746: 18 July 1746 John Lee of Craven Co. sold: --to James Edwards, L12, 250 a. in Beaufort Co. on Conneto Creek, half of a patent of 18 Nov Wit: George Sugg, Wm. Brantley --to William Brantley, L8.15, 250 a. in Beaufort Co., n-tarr R., half of patent of 18 Nov Wit:: George Sugg, James Edwards [Beaufort Co. Deeds & 482] 1760: Tr.-1: Page 21 November 1760 (?-date in question by abstractor) John Lee of Johnston County to Richard Sanders. Bounding John Odoms.being part of a survey made by said John Lee in the year 1761 Four Original "Incorporations" Eight Original "Shires", Immediately Referred to as "Counties" Accawmack formed Charles City formed Charles River formed Elizabeth City formed Henrico formed James City formed Warrosquoyacke formed Warwick River formed New Norfolk formed from Elizabeth City Lower Norfolk formed from New Norfolk

5 Upper Norfolk formed from New Norfolk New Norfolk ceases to exist Isle of Wight (name changed from Warrosquyoake) Warrosquyoake ceases to exist Northampton (name changed from Accawmack) Accawmack ceases to exist York (name changed from Charles River) Charles River ceases to exist Warwick (name changed from Warwick River) Warwick River ceases to exist Northumberland formed from Indian District of Chickacoan Nansemond (name changed from Upper Norfolk) Upper Norfolk ceases to exist Gloucester formed from York Lancaster formed from Northumberland Surry formed from James City Westmoreland formed from Northumberland New Kent formed from York Rappahannock (Old) formed from Lancaster Accomack formed from Northampton Stafford formed from Westmoreland Middlesex formed from Lancaster King and Queen formed from New Kent Norfolk formed from Lower Norfolk Princess Anne formed from Lower Norfolk

6 Lower Norfolk ceases to exist Essex formed from Rappahannock (Old) Richmond formed from Rappahannock (Old) Rappahannock (Old) ceases to exist King William formed from King and Queen Prince George formed from Charles City Hanover formed from New Kent King George formed from Richmond Spotsylvania formed from Essex, King & Queen, and King William Caroline formed from Essex, King & Queen, and King William Goochland formed from Henrico Prince William formed from King George and Stafford Brunswick formed from Prince George Brunswick gained from Isle of Wight and Surry Orange formed from Spotsylvania Amelia formed from Brunswick and Prince George Fairfax formed from Prince William Louisa formed from Hanover Frederick formed from Orange Albemarle formed from Goochland Augusta formed from Orange Lunenburg formed from Brunswick Culpeper formed from Orange Chesterfield formed from Henrico Cumberland formed from Goochland

7 Southampton formed from Isle of Wight Dinwiddie formed from Prince George Halifax formed from Lunenburg Bedford formed from Albemarle and Lunenburg Prince Edward formed from Amelia Hampshire formed from Frederick Sussex formed from Surry Loudon formed from Fairfax Fauquier formed from Prince William Albemarle gained from Louisa Amherst formed from Albemarle Buckingham formed from Albemarle Charlotte formed from Lunenburg Mecklenburg formed from Lunenburg Yohogania formed from Augusta Monongalia formed from Augusta Ohio formed from Augusta Pittsylvania formed from Halifax Botetourt formed from Augusta Fincastle formed from Botetourt Dunmore formed from Frederick Berkeley formed from Frederick Powhaten formed from Cumberland and Chesterfield Fluvanna formed from Albemarle Henry formed from Pittsylvania

8 Kentucky formed from Fincastle Montgomery formed from Fincastle Washington formed from Fincastle Fincastle ceases to exist King George exchanged with Westmoreland (overlap) Greenbrier formed from Botetourt and Montgomery Illinois formed from Augusta Rockbridge formed from Augusta and Botetourt Rockingham formed from Augusta Shenandoah (name changed from Dunmore) King George exchanged with Westmoreland (overlap resolved) Kentucky divided into Fayette, Jefferson, & Lincoln Fayette formed from Kentucky Jefferson formed from Kentucky Lincoln formed from Kentucky Kentucky ceases to exist Greensville formed from Brunswick and Sussex Campbell formed from Bedford Harrison formed from Monongalia Illinois discontinued Nelson (KY) formed from Jefferson Franklin formed from Bedford and Henry Hardy formed from Hampshire Madison (KY) formed from Lincoln Mercer (KY) formed from Lincoln

9 Bourbon (KY) formed from Fayette Russell formed from Washington Yohogania discontinured Randolph formed from Harrison Pendleton formed from Augusta, Hardy, and Rockingham Nottoway formed from Amelia Kanawha formed from Greenbrier and Montgomery Mason (KY) formed from Bourbon (KY) Woodford (KY) formed from Fayette (KY) Wythe formed from Montgomery Bath formed from Augusta, Botetourt, and Greenbrier Mathews formed from Gloucester Patrick formed from Henry Part of Fairfax ceded to Fed. Gov. for District of Columbia Counties separated as State of Kentucky (Bourbon, Fayette, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Mason, Mercer, Nelson, & Woodford) Grayson formed from Patrick and Wythe Lee formed from Russell Madison formed from Culpeper Brooke formed from Ohio Wood formed from Harrison Monroe formed from Greenbrier Tazewell formed from Russell and Wythe

10 Jefferson formed from Berkeley Mason formed from Kanawha Giles formed from Monroe, Montgomery, and Tazewell Nelson formed from Amherst Cabell formed from Kanawha (Boundary changes :) Grayson gained from Patrick Tazewell gained from Russell Harrison gained from Ohio Tyler formed from Ohio Scott formed from Lee, Russell, and Washington Lewis formed from Harrison Nicholas formed from Greenbrier and Kanawha Preston formed from Monongalia Morgan formed from Berkeley and Hampshire Pocahantas formed from Bath, Pendleton, and Randolph Alleghany formed from Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe Logan formed from Cabell, Giles, and Kanawha (Boundary changes :) Nicholas gained from Kanawha and Lewis Lee gained from Scott Giles gained from Monroe and Tazewell

11 Tazewell gained from Washington and Wythe Preston gained from Randolph Floyd formed from Montgomery Fayette formed from Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Logan Page formed from Rockingham and Shenandoah Jackson formed from Kanawha, Mason, and Wood Smyth formed from Washington and Wythe Rappahannock formed from Culpeper Marshall formed from Ohio Clarke formed from Frederick Warren formed from Frederick and Shenandoah Braxton formed from Kanawha, Lewis, and Nicholas Mercer formed from Giles and Tazewell Greene formed from Orange Roanoke formed from Botetourt Pulaski formed from Montgomery and Wythe (Boundary changes :) Preston gained from Randolph Tazewell gained from Russell Carroll formed from Grayson Marion formed from Harrison and Monongalia Wayne formed from Cabell

12 Barbour formed from Harrison, Lewis, and Randolph Ritchie formed from Harrison, Lewis, and Wood Taylor formed from Barbour, Harrison, Marion, and Preston Appomattox formed from Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, and Prince Edward Doddridge formed from Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie, and Tyler Gilmer formed from Kanawha and Lewis Part of District of Columbia ceded by Fed. Gov. back to Fairfax Wetzel formed from Tyler Alexandria formed from Fairfax Highland formed from Bath and Pendleton Boone formed from Cabell, Kanawha, and Logan Hancock formed from Brooke Putnam formed from Cabell, Kanawha, and Mason Wirt formed from Jackson and Wood (Boundary changes :) Mercer and Giles gained from Monroe Braxton gained from Kanawha and Lewis Preston gained from Monongalia Powhaten gained from Chesterfield Roane gained from Montgomery Franklin gained from Patrick

13 Raleigh formed from Fayette Wyoming formed from Logan Craig formed from Botetourt, Giles, Monroe, and Roanoke Pleasants formed from Ritchie, Tyler, and Wood Upshur formed from Barbour and Lewis Calhoun formed from Gilmer Roane formed from Gilmer, Jackson, Kanawha, and Wirt Tucker formed from Randolph Wise formed from Lee, Russell, and Scott Taylor gained from Marion Carroll and Henry gained from Patrick Buchanan formed from Russell and Tazewell McDowell formed from Tazewell Clay formed from Braxton and Nicholas Webster formed from Braxton, Nicholas, and Randolph Bland formed from Giles, Tazewell, and Wythe Counties separated as State of West Virginia Grant (WV) formed from Hardy (WV) Mineral (WV) formed from Hampshire (WV) Lincoln (WV) formed from Boone (WV), Cabell (WV), Kanawha (WV), and Logan (WV)

14 (Boundary changes :) Upshur (WV) gained from Randolph (WV) Wirt (WV) gained from Wood (WV) Jackson (WV) gained from Mason (WV) Summers (WV) from Fayette (WV), Greenbrier (WV), and Mercer (WV) (Boundary changes :) Floyd gained from Franklin Hampshire (WV) gained from Mineral (WV) Raleigh (WV) gained from Wyoming (WV) Wayne (WV) gained from Lincoln (WV) Tucker (WV) gained from Barbour (WV) Dickenson formed from Buchanan, Russell, and Wise Warwick gained from Elizabeth City Webster (WV) gained from Greenbrier (WV) and Nicholas (WV) Rockbridge gained from Botetourt Mingo (WV) formed from Logan (WV) Bland gained from Giles Arlington (name changed from Alexandria Co.) Elizabeth City Co. abolished, merged into Hampton City Warwick Co. abolished, incorporated as Warwick City Princess Anne Co. abolished, merged into Virginia Beach City

15 The original 18 Virginia incorporated cities were first recognized as independent of counties in the 1900 U.S. Census. The formalization of the independent status of Virginia cities evolved in stages by legislative acts and court decisions, starting in 1887, and concluding with the Virginia Constitution of The original 18 incorporated cities, the counties in which they were located, and dates they were incorporated: Williamsburg City (James City and York Cos.) Manchester City (Chesterfield Co.) Richmond City (Henrico and Chesterfield Cos.) Salem City (Roanoke Co.) Norfolk City (Norfolk Co.) Petersburg City (Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, & Prince George Cos.) Alexandria City (Arlington and Fairfax Co.) Lynchburg City (Campbell Co.) Portsmouth City (Norfolk Co Winchester City (Frederick Co.) Fredericksburg City (Spotsylvania Co.) Roanoke City (Roanoke Co.) Charlottesville City (Albemarle Co.) Danville City (Pittsylvania Co.) Bristol City (Washington Co.) Buena Vista City (Rockbridge Co.)

16 Radford City (Montgomery Co.) Newport News City (orig. in Warwick Co., which was abolished in 1952) Later cities incorporated as being independent of any county, the counties in which they were originally located, and dates of incorporation as independent cities: Clifton Forge City (Alleghany Co.) Hampton City (Elizabeth City Co.) Suffolk City (Nansemond Co.) Manchester City (Chesterfield Co.) merged into Richmond City (Manchester City therefore ceased to exist.) Harrisonburg City (Rockingham Co.) Hopewell City (Prince George Co.) South Norfolk City (Norfolk Co.) Martinsville City (Henry Co Falls Church City (Fairfax Co.) Waynesboro City (Augusta Co.) Covington City (Alleghany Co.) Virginia Beach City (in Princess Anne Co.) Warwick City (Warwick Co., which was abolished in 1952) Galax City (Carroll & Grayson Cos.) Norton City (Wise Co.) Warwick City merged into Newport News City South Boston City (Halifax Co.)

17 Stanton City (Augusta Co.) Colonial Heights City (Chesterfield Co.) Fairfax City (Fairfax Co.) Franklin City (Southampton Co.) Chesapeake City formed from Norfolk Co. and South Norfolk City Norfolk County no longer exists South Norfolk City no longer exists Lexington (Rockbridge Co.) Emporia (Greensville Co.) Bedford (Bedford Co.) Salem (Roanoke Co.) Nansemond (entire Nansemond Co.) Nansemond Co. ceases to exist Nansemond City merged into Suffolk City Manassas (Prince William Co.) Manassas Park (Prince William Co.) Poquoson (York Co.) South Boston City merged back into Halifax Co. (no longer independ.) Accawmack: Created in Renamed Northampton in 1642/43 Charles River: Formed in Renamed York County in 1642 Dunmore: Formed in 1772 from Frederick County. Renamed Shenandoah County in Elizabeth City:

18 Originally created in 1634 as Elizabeth River Shire, it was one of eight Shires created in the Virginia Colony by order of the King of England. In 1636, it was subdivided, and the portion north of the harbor of Hampton Roads became known as Elizabeth City Shire. It was renamed Elizabeth City County a short time later. The town of Hampton, established in 1680, became the largest town in Elizabeth City County, and was the county seat. In 1908, Hampton was incorporated as an independent city, and in 1952, the county and the former town of Phoebus in the county were merged into the independent city of Hampton. Elizabeth City is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. Its records were damaged and/or destroyed during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. A few early deeds, wills, orders, and guardian's accounts survive. Fincastle: Formed in 1772 from Botetourt County. Fincastle County (extinct) was named either for George, Lord Fincastle, Lord Dunmore's son; for John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle; or, for the town of Fincastle, Virginia, which was named after Lord Botetourt's home in England. It became extinct in 1776 when it was divided to form Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky (now the state of Kentucky) Counties. Some Fincastle records may be found in the Montgomery Co. Courthouse in Christiansburg. Historic Fincastle, Inc., & James Early Cabin, 121 East Murray Street Fincastle, VA (540) Kentucky: Formed in 1777 from Fincastle. Abolished in 1780 Lower Norfolk: Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk. Abolished in Records are in the City of Chesapeake. Nansemond:

19 Formed as Upper Norfolk in 1637 from New Norfolk County. Renamed in Records were destroyed in Incorporated as the City of Nansemond in Merged with the City of Suffolk in All records transferred to City of Suffolk. Records include: Marriage from 1866, Land from 1734, Probate from 1866, and Court Records from County Court Records were destroyed in three separate fires, the earliest of which consumed the house of the court clerk in April 1734 (where the records were kept at that time), and the last on 7 February A few Fee Books have been found in the records of Sussex County. New Norfolk: Formed in 1636 from Elizabeth City. Abolished in 1637 and divided into Lower and Upper Norfolk Counties Norfolk: Formed in 1691 from Lower Norfolk. Merged with the City of Chesapeake in All record were transferred to the City of Chesapeake. Some records may also be located in the City of Portsmouth. Records include: Marriage from 1866, Land from 1734, Probate from 1866, and Court Records from Norfolk County (extinct) probably was named by Adam Thoroughgood, a local resident, for his native county in England. The county seat was Portsmouth. Princess Anne: Formed from Lower Norfolk County. Merged with, and records transferred to, the City of Virginia Beach in The records include Marriage from 1724; Death from 1853; and Land, Probate, and Court Records from 1691.

20 Princess Anne County (extinct) was named for Anne (daughter of James II) who became Queen of England in The County Seat was Princess Anne. (Now Virginia Beach.) Old Rappahannock: Formed in 1656 from Lancaster County. It became extinct in 1692 when it was divided in into Essex and Richmond Counties. The records were transferred to Essex County Records include Land, Probate, and Court Records from Upper Norfolk: Formed in 1637 from New Norfolk County. In 1646, it was renamed Nansemond County for the area's Nansemond Indians. Suffolk. The county seat was The county became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972, and, in 1974, Nansemond merged with the city of Suffolk. The entire area is now known as Suffolk. Warrosquyoake: Formed in in 1634 as one of the original eight Shires. Renamed Isle of Wight County in Records were transferred there. Warrosquyoake County was named for the Warrosquyoake Indian tribe. Warwick River: Formed in 1634 as one of 8 original Shires. Renamed Warwick County in It was named either for Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick, a prominent member of the London Company, or

21 for the County of Warwick in England. Warwick County became extinct in 1952, when it became the independent city of Warwick. consolidated with Newport News in 1958, and took the latter's name as an independent city. was the county seat. It was Denbigh Warwick is one of the Commonwealth's Burned Records Counties. County Court Records were destroyed several times, with the most destruction occurring during the Civil War. A Seventeenth Century Livestock Registry, one Order Book, and one Minute Book from the Eighteenth Century survive. It has the earliest records for Land from 1662, Probate from 1648, and Court from (Records are missing from pre-civil War times. City of Newport News. Extant records are located with the City Clerk in the Yohogania:Created from the West Augusta territory in The county was ceded to Pennsylvania in 1785