William Hancock of Jamestown

Descendants of William Hancock

http://www.kykinfolk.com/henry/hancock.htm

1. WILLIAM HANCOCK born 1580, Devonshire, England married __________; arrived in Chesapeake Bay on 11/30/1619,killed by Indians on 3/22/1622 (Good Friday), at the massacre at Thorpe House, Berkeley Hundred, Jamestown, Va.

Children:( Likely had others in England) Those known are:

• 2a. Augustine Hancock: (born ca.1605, England, died after 1630, ca.1650, Va.)
• 2b. Simon Hancock: (born ca. 1610, England, died 1654, Lower Norfolk, Va.)
• 2c. William Hancock: (born ca. 1615, England, died 1693, Surry Co., Va.)

[The above info was taken from an old Hancock family Bible]

About the plaque shown on this profile it is commemorating the Indian Massacre plot at Jamestown, 3-22-1622. It is not a coincidence that William Hancock died at Jamestown on 3-22-1622.

He came to Jamestown in 1619 in a group that founded the Berkley Hundred. William was killed at Berkley Hundred on March 22, 1622 in the Indian Massacre. He had left his wife and young family in England. In the 1630's, three of his sons, August, Simon, and William came to America

According to a record contained in an old Hancock family Bible, William left England in 1619, aboard the ship "Margaret of Bristol" bound for America. He was coming to America in search of lumber for his shipbuilding business. Leaving his family behind in England, William sailed out through the Bristol Channel on Thursday, September 16, 1619. The "Margaret" dropped anchor in Chesapeake Bay on November 30, 1619. Then on December 4, 1619, William stepped off the "Margaret" and onto American soil at a site on the north shore of the James River, about halfway between present-day Williamsburg and Richmond, Virginia. The Berkeley Hundred Plantation was built at this location. It is still there today, but none of the original houses are still standing.

Berkeley Hundred Plantation is a huge plantation consisting of many homes. It resembled a small village. It was also the site for the first official Thanksgiving Day Service held in America, which William Hancock attended. Berkeley Hundred Plantation was the home of many of the first Govenors of Virginia, and later home to many early American Presidents.

"Thorpe's House" at Berkeley Hundred Plantation was home to several of the English gentlemen who were associated with the Virginia Company. This is where William lived. It was owned by Captain George Thorpe. Captain Thorpe put much confidence in the Indians and wanted to convert them to a more civilized way of life. During the winter of 1621-1622, it seemed he was making progress. The Indians seemed more friendly and were frequent visitors to the plantation and other surrounding settlements. The settlers were convinced that their Indian troubles were over. Little did they know, it was all a trick.

In the early morning hours of March 22, 1621/22, which was Good Friday, groups of Indians drifted into the settlement of Berkeley Hundred. They were unarmed, but soon armed themselves with guns and knives that were easily accessible in most homes. They then attacked the settlers. William Hancock, along with about 300 others were massacred. It was said the settlers were so surprised, they never had a chance to defend themselves.

There was one Indian who had befriended a family in Jamestown. When he learned of the impending attack, he couldn't bear the thought of this family being killed. He warned this family of the attack, and he was credited with saving Jamestown. When the attackers arrived at Jamestown, they were met by armed settlers. The Indians returned to their tribe without incident.

The progenitor of this Hancock family line was William Hancock who was born about 1580 in England. He was a member of The Virginia Company Of London which was created by King James I for the purpose of colonizing in America. The first settlement was established at Jamestown in 1607. William was a member of "The Virging Company", which was a company chartered by the King of England and it's purpose was to start a colony in America. William left his family in England and traveled to America in 1620. He came in search for timber for his shipbuilding business according to an old Hancock Bible record. As an investor in the Virginia Company, William traveled to Jamestown in 1619 aboard the "Margaret" of Bristol. He was a member of a group that founded Berkeley Hundred. On 22 March 1622 the settlement was attacked by Indians and William, along with many others, was massacred. He lived at Thorpe's House at Berkeley Hundred Plantation. William, along with about 350 other settlers were massacred by Indians at Berkeley Hundred Plantation on Good Friday, March 21, 1691/1692.

Shortly after 1630, three of William's sons came to America. Augustine, Simon and William became prominent planters in Virginia and established a family line that today includes many thousands of their descendants. From Virginia, their descendants migrated throughout the southeastern and midwestern states and today are living in all parts of the country.

He was a member of The Virginia Company Of London which was created by King James I for the purpose of colonizing in America. The first settlement was established at Jamestown in 1607 but he did not arrive until a few years later. As an investor in the Virginia Company, William Hancock traveled to Jamestown and in 1619 had taken up residence there. William was a member of a group that founded Berkeley Hundred.

On 22 March 1622 Indians attacked the settlement and William, along with many others, was massacred. Shortly after 1630, three of William's sons came to America. Augustine, Simon and William and they too became prominent planters in Virginia and all established families there that today probably include several thousand descendants.

Son of Thomas Hancock, II

William Hancock, Husband of Susan (Poyntor) Hancock ~ married September 26, 1604, St. Dunstan's, England

Their children were:

• 1. Augustine Hancock, 1605-1630 (m. unk.)
• 2. Simon Hancock (m. Sarah Gaye)
• 3. William Hancock (m. Elizabeth Spencer)
• 4. Mary Hancock
• 5. John Hancock

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THANKSGIVING On December 4, 1619 settlers stepped ashore at Berkeley Hundred along the James River and, in accordance with the proprietor's instruction that "the day of our ship's arrival ... shall be yearly and perpetually kept as a day of thanksgiving," celebrated the first official Thanksgiving Day. In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims held a celebration to give thanks to God for his bounty and blessings. This occasion was the origin of the traditional Thanksgiving as we know it today.

The First Thanksgiving Thomas Hancock was born in 1525 in St. Mary Woolnot Church in London. One of Thomas's grandsons came to America in 1619. William Hancock, born Sept. 4, 1580 in Devonshire England, became an investor in the Virginia Company of London which was created by King James I for the purpose of colonizing America. The first settlement of the company was established in Jamestown in 1607.

Later, in 1619, 38 men including William traveled to America from Berkeley Castle in Glouscestershire England. The company they formed, the Berkeley Company, received a grant of 8,000 acres in Virginia. They sailed from England on the small ship Margaret. It was an arduous three-month voyage. Finally, on December 4th, 1619, they arrived at their New World destination. Captain John Woodlief and Anglican missionary George Thorpe led the troop ashore and then, followed the orders they had been given in England. And, what were they to do? The proprietor's instruction said, "the day of our ship's arrival ... shall be yearly and perpetually kept as a day of thanksgiving." Today, a plaque at Berkley Plantation located Charles City, VA, about 30 miles west of Jamestown, states, "The first official, annual Thanksgiving in America was observed by Berkeley’s brave adventurers on December 4, 1619." This Thanksgiving was celebrated more than one year before the Pilgrims set foot on New England’s shore (Oct. 1621).

"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;" Psalms 107:1-2

However, on March 22, 1622 the Berkeley Hundred settlement was attacked by Indians and William, along with many others, was massacred. Shortly after 1630, three of William's sons came to America. Augustine, Simon and William became prominent planters in Virginia and established a family line that today includes many thousands of their descendants. From Virginia, their descendants migrated throughout the southeastern and midwestern states and today are living in all parts of the country. Simon Hancock had a son named William. One of this William Hancock line moved to Craven Co., North Carolina and then on to Lowndes, Berrian, Colquit, and Cook counties of Georgia.

One of those descendants, James Newton Hancock, Jr., married a married a beautiful lady named Louise Russell and settled in Irwin County, GA. They became the proud and faithful parents of three children, five grandchildren and, at present, eight grandchildren.

One other note of interest: In the early 1700s, the Harrison family purchased the Berkeley Hundred land where William was killed and built a plantation. This became the ancestral home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, two presidents—Old Tippecanoe (William Henry Harrison) and his grandson Benjamin Harrison, and two Governors.

Respectfully Submitted, Jay Hancock Matthews, NC October 9, 2005

Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67563963/william-hancock

William Hancock came to America in 1619.

In 1606, King James I chartered the Virginia Company of London for the purpose of colonizing in America. The company consisted of noblemen, gentlemen and merchants. They believed that there were precious metals in America. The incorporators who invested their money in the company were called 'Adventurers,' while those who went to America and risked their lives were called 'Planters'. The first Jamestown Colony was established in 1607. Each Adventurer and Planter was to share in the company's profits, but the company never earned a profit. The company was reorganized under a new charter in 1609 as the Second Virginia Company. William Hancock was on the Adventurers in the Second Virginia Company. According to an old family bible which is now in the library of Randolph-Macon College, 'in the year 1620, Wm. Hancock, in search of forests for his building of ships embarked for ye plantations, being one of the company owners thereof, leaving his families in England, On the 22nd of March 1622, he, with others, was massacred by ye Savages at Thorps House, Berkeley Hundreds, fifty miles from Charles City. In 1630, son Augustine came to claim the estate, and died, leaving children.'

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~haddockfamily/genealogy/familyconnec...

William Hancock was born about 1640 Surry, VA, died 1693 Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry, VA, and was a son of William Hancock born 1615 in England, and a grandson of William Hancock (1580-1622) the patriarch of the Hancock line. This William III was killed at Bacon's Rebellion and who was referred to as one of those "Giddy headed, Rude & Seditious" persons who participated in Bacon's Rebellion.

William and his wife Elizabeth had only one son, John, as proven by his will.

References

• http://www.kykinfolk.com/henry/hancock.htm
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 12 2018, 16:14:42 UTC
• http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~haddockfamily/genealogy/familyconnec...
• https://www.scribd.com/document/62593348/Descendants-of-Richard-Han...

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Born in Plymouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom
but must have come over to america
He immigrated to Jamestown, Virginia, British Colonial America in 1619 an. and then died here 1622

As an investor in the Virginia Company, William Hancock traveled to Jamestown and in 1619 had taken up residence there. William was a member of a group that founded Berkeley Hundred. On 22 March 1622 Indians attacked the settlement and William, along with many others, was massacred.

During the reign of Henry VIII, Thomas Hancock was born in 1525 in London and baptized at St. Mary Woolnot Church. One of Thomas's grandsons, William Hancock, came to America in 1619. William, born Sept. 4, 1580 in Devonshire England, became an investor in the Virginia Company of London which was created by King James I for the purpose of colonizing America. The first settlement of the company was established in Jamestown in 1607.

Later, in 1619, 38 men, including William, traveled to America from Berkeley Castle in Glouscestershire England. The company they formed, the Berkeley Company, received a grant of 8,000 acres in Virginia. They sailed from England on the small ship Margaret. It was an arduous three-month voyage, but finally, on December 4th, 1619, they arrived at their New World destination. Captain John Woodlief and Anglican missionary George Thorpe led the troop ashore and followed the orders they had been given in England. The proprietor's instruction said, "the day of our ship's arrival ... shall be yearly and perpetually kept as a day of thanksgiving."

Today, a plaque at Berkley Plantation located Charles City, VA, about 30 miles west of Jamestown, states, "The first official, annual Thanksgiving in America was observed by Berkeley’s brave adventurers on December 4, 1619." This Thanksgiving was celebrated more than one year before the Pilgrims set foot on New England’s shore (Oct. 1621).

"O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;" Psalms 107:1-2

However, on March 22, 1622 the Berkeley Hundred settlement was attacked by Native Americans and William, along with many others, was killed. Shortly after 1630, three of William's sons came to America. Augustine, Simon and William became prominent planters in Virginia and established a family line that today includes many thousands of their descendants. From Virginia, their descendants migrated throughout the southeastern and midwestern states and today are living in all parts of the country. Simon Hancock had a son named William. One of this William Hancock line moved to Craven Co., North Carolina and then on to Lowndes, Berrian, Colquit, and Cook counties of Georgia.

One of those descendants, James Newton Hancock, Jr., married Louise Russell and settled in Irwin County, GA. Newt and Louise, my grandparents, became the parents of three children, five grandchildren and, at present, eight grandchildren.

One other note of interest: In the early 1700s, the Harrison family purchased the Berkeley Hundred land, where William was killed, and built a plantation. This became the ancestral home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, two presidents—Old Tippecanoe (William Henry Harrison) and his grandson Benjamin Harrison, and two Governors.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jay Hancock

Matthews, NC

October 9, 2005