Abraham Bush, Sr.

Disputed as son of John Bush, Gent., ‘of the Neptune’ & Elizabeth Bush

Abraham Bush

• Birth 1619 or perhaps June 02, 1622 “of” Stepney, London, England
• Gender Male
• Death between Will written - 14 Feby. 1686. Will recorded - 10 Aug. 1687. Lancaster County, Virginia
• Parents: unknown - probably not the son of John Bush, Gent., ‘of the Neptune’ (d. 1624) & Elizabeth (Stokes) Bush
• Spouses: 1) Martha 2) Ann
• Last Updated 31 May 2024

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Abraham Bush emigrated to Virginia in 1657.

Family

Abraham Bush married 1st to Martha, perhaps Merryman, in about 1645.

Retrieved from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Merryman-246 : Martha Merryman was born about 1625 in Lancaster County, VA. She died about 1669. On 25 July 1663 Richard Merryman conveyed a life interest in 200 acres of land to Abraham Bush with provisions for inheritance by the latter's son Daniel and on 2 May 1666, Susannah Merryman's consent to the deed was recorded. Daniel died at age five, before 20 June 1668. Martha and Abraham may have been seperated by this time because Martha Bush gave power-of-attorney to her friend, Mark Greiner to acknowledge her consent to the sale of the 200 acres deeded to her husband with provision for her son's inheritance.

The children of Martha and Abraham Bush were:

1. George b. 1652 d. 1758
2. Abraham b. 1654 d. ?? m. Elizabetha
3. Thomas b. 1656 d. ??
4. Mercy (Mersi) b. 1658 d. ??
5. Daniel b. 1663 d. 1663

Martha died about 1669, and Abraham remarried to the widow Ann Alexander. Ann was born about 1628 and died about 1689. Her maiden name is Unknown.

Ann's first marriage was to Unknown Alexander and children are:

1. William Alexander
2. Mary Alexander
3. Patience Alexander

Her second marriage is to Abraham Bush with children:

1. John,
2. Jacob,
3. Charity,
4. Elizabeth, and
5. Isaac.

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Will abstract

1653-1800 Lancaster County, Virginia Wills [Ida J. Lee];

• BUSH, Abraham. Will. 14 Feby. 1686. Rec. 10 Aug. 1687.
• Wife Ann, plantation I now live on.
• After her death to youngest son Isak.
• Sons Thomas, George, Abraham, John.
• Daughters, Charity Eliz., Marsey.
• William Alexander, devisee.
• Wits. Walter Welsh, Wm. Rawly, Rich. Eaton. W.B. 5, Page 115.

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Disputed origins

Concern or Conflict. From Message posted to the Bush forum by Georgianne Wakeham: "Some Bush researchers say that Abraham Bush Sr. was a son of "Neptune John" Bush who came to Va. in 1618, but they offer no documentation of that. I have done a great deal of research in primary and sencondary records and there is absolutely no evindence that this is true. An original document in Lancaster Co. Va. records states that Abraham was "transported" in 1657."

Bush DNA project allocates descendants to Group E and does not show him with parents.

https://www.hamiltondna.com/bushdna/Results.html

It is likely that all those in Group E have a fairly recent common ancestor who is most likely the immigrant Abraham Bush, b 1622 in London, England or possibly a relative of Abraham back in Britain; connections to this Abraham have been shown conclusively for B-004, B-044, B-049, B-075 and B-094 (see Ancestors) and the others will probably be shown to be derived from this immigrant when further traditional genealogy has be done. Marker values for those in Group E are rare. As a result, no-one in the FTDNA database matches most of these participants even at the 12 marker level. Notable sites where the marker value is rare for the Group E participants are DYS393 where a value of 14 occurs only 5% of the time in R1b1 individuals, and DYS385b where a value of 11 occurs only 2% of the time. …

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Biography

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169452318/abraham-bush

Some sources indicate Abraham Bush may have been born as early as 1619. Noted is a christening record for an Abe Bush in 1619 in Stepney, London, England. Though not confirmed to be Abraham, in the same parish and time period is a christening record for a Peter Elmore, a well-documented associate of Abraham's who voyaged with him to America and settled in Lancaster county, Virginia.

From England, Abraham was transported to Virginia in 1657 by a Thomas Powell, along with Peter Elmore, George Spencer and Sara Bannister (Certificate record, Order Book, Lancaster County Court, dated 30 September 1957).

In 1662, Abraham Bush first appears in Lancaster County, Virginia tax records. In 1663, Abraham purchased 200 acres from a Richard Merryman "lying on the head of Morattico Creek...to begin upon the furthmose Indian Field." Today's Lancaster Creek which flows into the Rappahannock River and forms the present boundary between Lancaster County and Richmond County. Where Abraham settled and spent the remainder of his life.

As an incentive to come to Virginia, he and Peter Elmore received a patent for land, dated 5 April 1664, in Lancaster county, Virginia. The county was established in 1651 from the counties of Northumberland and York. The three hundred acres they received was granted by Sir William Berkeley, Knight and colonial governor of Virginia. September 7, 1665, Elmore sold his share to Abraham.

In 1678, the colony awarded 437 acres near Northumberland County to Abraham and Richard Merryman for transporting nine persons to the colony.

Abraham was first married to Martha (last name likely Wingate). With Martha he had five children: George, Abraham, Thomas, Mercy, and a son Daniel who was born ca 1663 and died before June 1668. In 1668 Martha Bush, wife of Abraham Bush gave power of attorney to her friend Mark Greiner to acknowledge her consent to the sale of the 200 acers deeded to her husband with provision for her son's inheritance, indicating that young Daniel had died. This is a quote from Purse and Person 1st edition and gives the source data The Records of the Virginia Company of London, by Swan Myra Kingsbury 1656-1684 p 44. Martha passed around 1669.

After Martha's death, Abraham later became the husband of Ann Alexander. Virginia records indicated they married before 14 February 1686 and that she was the mother of three children (William, Mary and Patience Alexander). From Abraham and Ann's union, four children were born: John, Jacob, Charity (married Peter Cash) and Elizabeth.

Abraham Bush "achieved a modicum of success after coming to Virginia in 1657, probably as an indentured servant. After completing his servitude, he made a successful transition to yeoman farmer. He was able to acquire enough land to leave a legacy to his wife and four sons at a time when almost 90 percent of Virginians were landless. He also acquired five horses, nine cows and some pewter dishes, any of which would place him above the norm in Lancaster County.

Abraham raised tobacco on his plantation, no doubt aided at times by his sons and indentured servants. In his later years the title of "planter" was affixed after his name. In the colony's highly stratified society, he would have ranked far below the landed gentry. In fact, "planter" usually applied to men who toiled on their own land. The term used for the landed gentry was "gentleman." These men performed no labor on their plantations.

Transactions indicate Abraham divested himself of the plantation where he lived and his holdings on Morattico Creek. But he died in 1687 leaving his plantation to his wife and 225 acres of adjoining land to his sons.

Abraham began and ended his American sojourn in Lancaster County, according to the custom of his day, was probably buried on his home place as was common custom.

Abraham's son John would leave Lancaster County behind...he followed the Virginia frontier as it was pushed ever farther west."

Sources: Captain Billy Bush and the Bush Settlement, Clark County, Kentucky, By Harry G. Enoch; tax, court and land records.

• Land Grant, 1654, Lancaster Co., VA. To all Ye whereas Ye now know Ye that I the said Sir William Berkeley Knight Governor Ye gives and grant unto Abraham Bush and Peter Elmor Three Hundred Acres of land lying on the north side of Lancaster County bourrded as followeth runing from a marked poplar south one hundred and fifty poles from a marked spanish oak, west three hundred and twenty poles north one hundred & fifty poles East to the place where it began. The said land being due unto the said Abraham Bush and Peter Elmor by and for the transportation of six persons To have and to hold to ne held yealding and paying provided Date the fifth of April one thousand six hundred and fifty four.

• Headrights, 1657. 81 The earliest mention of Abraham Bush,known to date, is the record of his transportation by Thomas Powell in 1657. (If "headrights" are disputed in this case, it would also hold true for John Bush)

The first known record of Abraham Bush obtaining his own land is in 1663. The time span of 5/6 years between being transported, and obtaining land, would be a normal time of indenture.

Abraham Bush was at least 37 years old in 1657,but prior to 1657 there is no mention of him in Virginia records;deeds,tax lists,titables,court records. (The record used to document his age is Lancaster Court Order Bk. 1666-1680, p. 526. It is dated March 10,1679/80, and excuses Abraham Bush from paying taxes because "the saide Bush being upwards of sixty yeres of age and haveing a greate charge to mainteine and noe servt. to worke for hym..." If being upward of sixty years means in his sixtieth year, he was born about 1619/1620. If being upward of sixty years means 62, 63,65, then he obviously would have been born earlier.

Conclusion: Abraham Bush arrived in Virginia in 1657 and was probably indentured to, or otherwise working for Thomas Powell.

Will of Abraham Bush

• Will: Why is Jacob not mentioned in father's will, but is mentioned in mother's?, 14 Feb 1686, Lancaster Co., VA. I have a copy of original will signed 14 February 1686 and recorded 10 August 1687.

The following is a transcribtion from "Will Abstracts of Lancaster County, Virginia 1675-1689" by Ruth & Sam Sparaccio.

"In the name of God Amen. This being the last Will and Testament of my Estate as followeth,vizt. First, I doe give unto my loveing Wife,An Bush,this Plantacon I now live on and the Neck of Land thereto belonging for her life time and after her decease it to fall unto my youngest Sonne Isack. And I doe alsoe give unto my Sonne, George Bush and my Sonne,Abraham Bush,seventy five acres of land a peice lying all together joyneing the land of Job Hill up towards the Dry Bottom. I doe alsoe give unto my Sonne,John Bush,seventy five acares of land joyneing upon the Branch and the Neck I felt my Wife, and if my Sonne, Isack,should dye without leaveing lawfull issue behind him the land to fall unto my Daughter, Charity Bush, after her Mothers deceased,and after the decease of my Daughter,Charity,to fall to my Daughter, Elizabeth Bush,and after the decease of my Daughter, Elizabeth Bush, the sd. lande to fall unto the next heire: Alsoe I doe give unto my Sonne, Thomas Bush, one Neck of Land comonly called Peumen Neck unto him and his heires for ever. But is in case the ad. Thomas Bush should die without the leaveing of lawfull issue,the land to fall unto ye next heire: Alsoe I doe order it thus that if in all my Sonnes die without leaveing any lawfull issue behind them, then the whole divident of land to be equally divided between William Ellixander and my Daughters. And if my Daughters dye without leaveing any issue then the whole dividend of land to dedound to him forever, and his heires forever. Item. I doe order it then that my Sonne, George,shall stay and work with and for his Mother two yeares and work for her and then he is for himself,alsoe my Sonne Abraham,work for his Mother three yeares then he shall be himselfe: Further, I dispose of my Cattle as followeth, vizt.,First I doe give unto my Wife, one cow called Starr and three steeres & a bull. And Alsoe I doe give my Daughter, Marsi Bush, one Cow and all her female increase forever. Alsoe two pewter dishes and for all the rest of my Pewter unto my Wife. Alsoe all the other household moveables alsoe my Wife is to have all the Bull Calves of my Sons Cattle. The time they stay with her for her use: Alsoe, I doe give my Sonne, Thomas,one cow called Liley and her increase forever. Alsoe to my sone, George, one cow called Cherry with all her female increase for ever. Alsoe to my Sone, John,called by the name of Mad Braines one Cow and all her female increase for ever. Alsoe my old white mare named Bess unto my Wife & increase for ever and her heirs. Alsoe to my Sone, George, one Sorrell Mare called Jone, shee and all her increase for ever, excepting the first fold the sd. Mare bringeth to good bee it horse or mare & that for my Sonne, Thomas Bush. Also my Sonne, John, one black horse called Fanney. Alsoe unto my daughter,Marsy Bush,one bay Mare called Bonney,shee & all her increase for ever. Alsoe unto my Sonne, Abraham, one Roane mare with a bald face called Old Jeane & all her increase for ever. Alsoe I doe order it thus that my Daughter, Marsy, shall stay with her Mother the space of three years except she marryes in the sd. space, if not maryed in the sd. space shee to be cleared at the three yeares end. As Wittness my hand & seale this fourteenth day of February 1686/7. Signed Abraham Bush Wittnesses:Walter Welch, William Rowly,Richard Eaton. Probat Cur Com Lancastr:decimo die Augustii 1687. Oaths of Walter Welch and Richard Eaton and admitted to record. Test. Peter James Dept. Cl Cur."

Source: "Will Abstracts of Lancaster County, Virginia 1675-1689" by Ruth & Sam Sparaccio.

References

• WikiTree contributors, "Abraham Bush (abt.1622-abt.1687)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bush-1241 : accessed 31 May 2024). Cites
  • http://gordonbush.com/genealogy/bg-ped/2024.htm (dead link) - Disputes John Bush who sailed on ship Neptune and Elizabeth Stokes as parents of Abraham.
  • "Will Abstracts of Lancaster County, Virginia 1675-1689" by Ruth & Sam Sparaccio.
  • http://genforum.genealogy.com/bush/messages/2295.html
• https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/bruce/6929/
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 3 2021, 13:27:05 UTC
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Mar 3 2021, 8:42:19 UTC
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Mar 3 2021, 10:36:47 UTC
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 4 2021, 3:52:24 UTC
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I3704... shows parents as John Bush, Gent. & Elizabeth (Stokes) Bush and does not show a first wife Martha.
• https://www.familytreedna.com/public/Bush?iframe=ycolorized Matched Group 04 (E) Abraham Bush, 1622-1687 R-BY208321 (derived from R-M269)
• https://www.hamiltondna.com/bushdna/EAnc.html Abraham Bush, b 1622 in London, England, d bef 1687 in Lancaster Co, VA, m aft 1665 Ann, b 1628, d 1690.
• WikiTree contributors, "Martha (Merryman) Bush (1625-1669)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Merryman-246 : accessed 01 June 2024). Martha Bush formerly Merryman. cites
  • "Adventures of Purse and Person", p. 111-112.
• WikiTree contributors, "Ann (Alexander) Bush (1628-1689)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Alexander-3548 : accessed 01 June 2024). Cites
  • Name: Ann Alexander Marriage Date: Abt 1686 Spouse Name: Abraham Bush Marriage Location: Virginia, United States Source Information Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649–1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003.
• Abraham Bush Will 2 Mar 1687 Lancaster Deed and will books, 1652-1900 ; general indexes, 1652-1900 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PF-CSX1-K Describe The Record (Notes) 007646126 image 631-653