John Little

Not the child of Thomas Little of the Plymouth Colony & Anna Little

born between 1626 and 1642 in maybe Corsham, Wiltshire County, England.914 Because of our DNA match with Barry Little of Wiltshire England, whose line is traced to Corsham in the 1600s, it seemed that our John Little might be the one who migrated to Barbados in 1657. There are two possible christenings for a John Little at Corsham: 1626 & 1635. The website sponsored by Price and Associates, cited Pether W. Coldham, The Bristol Registers of Servants Sent to Foreign Plantations, 1654-1686 and Anthony Salerno, "The character of emigration from Wiltshire to the American Colonies, 1630-1660," unpub. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Virginia, 1977, 229.

However, the record of Jon. Liddel's importation to Surry Co. by Gregory Rawlins in 1653 seems more credible. But why does John not show up in the records until 1683?

For now, I am basing his age on the military record. John Little found in Surry Co. VA in 1701 was listed as too old to serve, so he would have been born in 1641 or earlier (60 was upper age limit).

He immigrated on 10 Jun 1653 to Surry Co. VA.915,916 Jon. Liddel, 1653, by Gregory Rawlins, Surry Co. Virginia. Among the 10 transportees brought in by Rawlins were Jon Liddel and Adrian Poole. Rawlins received 476 acres on the S side of the James River and E side of Chipoakes Creek. He was living in 1683 in Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry Co. VA.917 John first showed up in the Tithables list in 1683, while William Little was in it as early as 1674. It is quite possible that John was living in Isle of Wight, since that is where the Procter family seemed to be. He was living in 1687 in Surry Co. VA.918 John Little was listed in the Militia in Surry County VA for Foot. He was living in 1695 in Surry Co. VA.919 In the 1695 list of tithables for Surry County were Jno. Little & Fra: Little. The first man listed was the head of household who was responsible for the tithe for the other men in the household age 16 and above. So generally, if the surname was the same, John would have been the father and Francis the son. He was living in 1701 in Surry Co. VA.920 John Little was listed as an old man unfit for service in Thomas Holt's Company of Foot. This would imply he is at least 60 since that was the age to be exempt. That would make him born by at least 1641. He died about Oct 1704 in Surry Co. VA.50 John Little devised his will 20 Feb., 1703/4. It was probated 7 Nov. 1704. He mentioned wife Elizabeth, son John. His estate was to be divided amonth "my children." The will was witnessed by Phillip Shelley and James Griffin. John Little was granted 100 acres in Northampton Co.VA near Cheristone Creek on Sept. 20, 1647 for transportation of 2 persons: John Little and Eliza. Bacon.

June 10, 1653, Gregory Rawlins, son of Gregory Rawlins dec'd, was granted 476 acres in Surry Co. on S. side of James River on E. side of Chipoacks Cr. for transportation of 10 persons including Jon. Lidell and Adrian Poole. (patent Bk 3; Cavaliers & Pioneers, pg. 239)

There was also a William Little who was granted 100 acres in Northumberland Co. on S side of great Wicocomoco River, 4 June 1655 for transportation of Martin Poole and Jane Poole. Patent Book 3, pg, 345. (C&P, Bk 3, pg 308). Patent assigned 8 Dec. 1658, p. 197 (287) from Little to John Hudnall. (C&P, Bk 4, p. 372)

Sep. 28 1657, p. 163 (24)) John Gillett was granted 600 acres on S. side of Rappa. Riv. for transportation of 12 person including Thomas Liddell. (C&P, Bk 4, p 363)

Jan 29 1657, John Little from Corsham, Wiltshire, laborer was transported from Bristol to Barbados by Daniell Sam mariner

August 18 1657, John Little was transported from Bristol to Barbados by John Ballman merchant

8 Dec. 1658, William Little & John Hudnall were granted

29 Mar 1666 in Northumberland Co., 2700 acres were granted to Wm. & Peter Prestly for transportation of 54 persons. Included were Peter Prestly, Wil. Prestly and his wife, Wm. Ould, Tho. Poole, Jno Price, and Jno Little. (Cavaliers & Pioneers, p. 4, Patent Book 6).

In Oct. 1666, p. 1, Geo. Dawson & Francis Haydon were granted 1000 acres for transportation of 20 persons including Thos. Poole, Jno Price, Sarah Price, Jno Little and others. (Northumberland Co. VA, Patent Book 6, pg 1) So is this the same group of people multiple times?

Sept. 6th 1692, in Surry County, John Little was on a grand jury (Surry County, Virginia Court Records, 1691-1700, Book V, pg 46).

July 1694 (Surry Co. VA, Book V, pg 106), Jno. Little & his wife Eliza. are defendants in a suit by Edwd. Cockerill. Sept. 1694, Edward Cockerhill as marrying Eliza. Proctor did not present his account against John Little and Eliza. his wife, so were ordered to pay damage. (Book V, pg. 109).

At same time Tho. Warren and Robert Hart were on a grand jury.

March 1696/97 Wm. Coggin "having caused John Little to be arrested to this Court set forth that ye sd. Liddle did at divers times & places publish & declare that the plt. had stolne (sic) his ye. sd. defendts. Meale whereby the plaintiff alleadged he was damnified at least tenn thousand pounds of tobo. for which he prayed judgement with cost ..." The jury found for the plaintiff 5 pounds of tobacco. Parents: Living. Spouse: Elizabeth [PROCTOR]. John LITTLE and Elizabeth [PROCTOR] were married about 1678 in Virginia.50 Elizabeth's first husband, Ambrose Procter, died in 1673. Francis Little was born about 1679. So she married John sometime in between.

The two sons of Ambrose and Elizabeth (John and William) were listed with John Little on the tithables list starting in 1684 for John and 1687 for William, which would have made them 6 and 3 when their father died.

In July 1694 (Surry Co. VA, Book V, pg 106), Jno. Little & his wife Eliza. are defendants in a suit by Edwd. Cockerill. Sept. 1694, Edward Cockerhill as marrying Eliza. Proctor did not present his account against John Little and Eliza. his wife, so were ordered to pay damage. (Book V, pg. 109). Edward Cockrill was listed on the tithables with John in 1688. He apparently was married to Elizabeth's daughter Elizabeth Procter and perhaps was suing for an estate issue.