Capt. Robert Napier, Sr.

Robert NAPIER (Sr.), Captain [009]

• Birth: BEF 2 May 1660, Hampton Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America
• Christening: 2 May 1660, Hampton Parish, York County, Virginia, British North America
• Death: AFT May 1743, York County, Virginia, British North America *Father: Patrick NAPIER, Chirurgeon (ABT 1634, <London>, England - AFT 26 February 1668 and BEF 12 April 1669, Queen’s Creek, York County, Virginia, British North America)
• Mother: Elizabeth BOOTH (15 November 1641, <York County>, Virginia, British North America - 1672, York County, Virginia, British North America)
• Marriage: 11 October 1688, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America
• Spouse: Mary PERRIN (1671/75, New Kent or Henrico County, Virginia, British North America - AFT 3 April 1718, New Kent or Henrico County, Virginia, British North America)

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Robert Napier Sr.’s children:

1. Booth Napier b. 1 Oct 1692, New Kent Co., VA d. Dec 1779–Jan 1780, Goochland, VA
2. Frances Napier b. 5 Feb 1694, New Kent Co., VA-living 25 October 1777, Fluvanna Co., Va. aged 82.
3. Robert Napier b.16 Sep 1697, King & Queen, VA d. 1762, Ablemarle Co., VA, age 65.
4. Katherine Napier b. 12 Oct 1700, King & Queen, VA
5. Elizabeth Napier b. 25 Dec 1704, King & Queen, VA d. after 1757.
6. Rene Napier b. abt. 1710, Henrico, VA d. Oct 1751, Goochland, VA
7. Patrick Napier b. 1 Feb 1713, Henrico, VA d. 23 August 1774, Ablemarle Co., VA.

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Child 1: Booth (Bouth) NAPIER (1 February 1692, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America: christened 1 October 1692, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - BEF 21 February 1780, probably on or about 1 December 1779, Goochland County, Virginia) [M]: m. Sarah UNKNOWN (? - AFT 20 January 1767, Goochland County, Virginia, British North America)

Child 2: Frances NAPIER (5 February 1694, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - 1778, Fluvanna County, Virginia) [F]: m. Benjamin WOODSON (1682, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia - AFT 25 October 1777, Fluvanna County, Virginia), 1720, Henrico County, Virginia, British North America

Child 3: Robert NAPIER (Jr.) (16 September 1697, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - 12 May 1763, Albemarle County, Virginia, British North America) [M]: m. Mary Tarleton HUGHES (ABT 1696, Virginia, British North America - AFT 9 December 1755, Albemarle County, Virginia, British North America), AFT 8 January 1722/23, Henrico County, Virginia, British North America

Child 4: Katherine NAPIER (12 October 1700, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - ?) [F]: m. John ADAMS (ABT 1705, Church Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, British North America - 1725, Stafford County, Virginia, British North America)

Child 5: Elizabeth NAPIER (25 October 1704, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America: christened 25 December 1704, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - AFT 19 July 1757) [F]

Note 1: Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was a landed proprietor in New Kent, King and Queen, King William, Henrico, and Goochland counties, Virginia. His principal crop was tobacco. From1690 through 1701, he received nearly 1300 acres for his importation of settlers. In the records of old King William County, Virginia, reference is made to him as "Captain," indicating that he was an officer in the colonial militia. See John Boddie, "Napier of Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi" in Southern Historical Families, vol 15, pp. 221-225.

Note 2: Concerning Robert NAPIER (Sr.) in Henrico County, Virginia, Records: 1688-89 (p. 74), the following is recorded: "Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes, which was backed by Mr. Robert NAPIER 10 lb a side. Mr. NAPIER did not produce the horse at the appointed time and the suit was for the amount of the stake, as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount." It is also recorded that Robert NAPIER (Sr.)’s wife Mary (PERRIN) once took him to court to prevent him from gambling away their children's patrimony and to ensure that he would spend a percentage of his income solely to support his family. In view of these two cases at law, it may be worth noting that Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was - by profession - an attorney and that, in his church in Hampton Parish, he held the office of vestryman.

Note 3: Mary PERRIN (sometimes spelled "PARIN") was the daughter of Richard PERRIN and his wife, Katherine ROYALL Katherine ROYALL’s father, Joseph ROYALL, was among the earliest settlers of Virginia, having arrived in the "Charitie" in July 1622; and, in the following year, he was listed at the Neck of Land in Charles City. (Hotten, ORIGINAL LISTS, p. 169).

Note 4: Benjamin WOODSON was the son of John WOODSON (1655, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia - Will proven1 May 1700, Virginia) and Mary TUCKER, who were married in 1677. Mary TUCKER was the daughter of Samuel TUCKER and Jane LARCOMBE. Mary Tucker WOODSON’s Will is dated 1710. The WOODSONs were Quakers.

Note 5: In May 1743, Robert NAPIER (Jr.) was sued for separation by his wife on the grounds of abuse. His Will is dated 9 December 1755 and was proven 12 May 1763. His wife, Mary Tarleton HUGHES, was the daughter of Jesse HUGHES and Sarah TARLETON, of Henrico County, Virginia. Robert NAPIER was a planter in Henrico, Goochland, and Albemarle counties, Virginia. He is thought to have inherited his father's plantation in a Will dated 1744, which has not been found. He is known to have received at least two royal grants of 300 acres in Goochland County, in1734 and 1735, by which time he had apparently moved inland, to the James River valley. In Goochland County, he deeded a negro girl to his wife on Jan 5, 1743; and he deeded a negro boy named Will to his daughter, Frances. He moved again to Albemarle County, Virginia, where he wrote his Will dated 9 December 1755.

Note 6: A Rene and a Patrick NAPIER are sometimes named as siblings belonging to this family-group. The reason for placing them in this family-group seems to be an unlikely tradition sustained in the family PERRIN. Rene and Patrick NAPIER, in fact, belong to the immediately succeeding generation of this line of the family NAPIER.

Source: http://gennotes.150m.com/napier.html ___________________

Note 1: Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was a landed proprietor in New Kent, King and Queen, King William, Henrico, and Goochland counties, Virginia. His principal crop was tobacco. From1690 through 1701, he received nearly 1300 acres for his importation of settlers. In the records of old King William County, Virginia, reference is made to him as "Captain," indicating that he was an officer in the colonial militia. See John Boddie, "Napier of Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi" in Southern Historical Families, vol 15, pp. 221-225.

Note 2: Concerning Robert NAPIER (Sr.) in Henrico County, Virginia, Records: 1688-89 (p. 74), the following is recorded: "Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes, which was backed by Mr. Robert NAPIER 10 lb a side. Mr. NAPIER did not produce the horse at the appointed time and the suit was for the amount of the stake, as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount." It is also recorded that Robert NAPIER (Sr.)’s wife Mary (PERRIN) once took him to court to prevent him from gambling away their children's patrimony and to ensure that he would spend a percentage of his income solely to support his family. In view of these two cases at law, it may be worth noting that Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was - by profession - an attorney and that, in his church in Hampton Parish, he held the office of vestryman.

Robert Napier, born 1660, married Mary Perrin. Robert Napier lived in Virginia.

Land grants were patented to him as follows:

         190 acres, recorded on page 121, Book 8 of the land patent records in the State Land Office at Richmond Va. covering years from 1689 to 1695.

753 acres, recorded on page 305, Book 8.
300 acres, recorded on page 614, Book 9, for the years 1695 to 1706.
Mary Perrin, wife of Robert Napier (2) was the daughter of Richard Perrin and Catherine Banks Royall, both prominent in the early history of Virginia and since.

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1. Event: Comment 2 BET 1690 AND 1701 he received nearly 1300 acres for the importation of settlers
2. Event: Comment 3 BET 1688 AND 1689 Sued by Cpt. Soane for ten pounds
3. Event: Comment 4 Sued by Mary Perrin to prevent him from gambling away the family's money
4. Note:

   NAPIER ROBERT KING WILLIAM COUNTY

1704 VIRGINIA RENT ROLLS
ON MARCH 9,1985 CLAN NAPIER IN NORTH AMERICA WAS ORGANIZED WITH LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICK AS CHIEF AND PATRON,AND TODAY IT HAS MORE THAN 255 MEMBERS IN 33
STATES AND THREE FORIEGN COUNTRIES. THE NAPIER TARTAN IS BLUE,BLACK AND WHITE
AND WAS ADOPTED WHEN KING GEORGE 1V MADE HIS CELEBRATED VISIT TO EDINBURGH IN 1822. THE CLAN MOTTO IS THAT OF IT'S CHIEF,"SANS TACHE",WITHOUT STAIN",AND IT'S BADGES THE CHIEF'S CREST STRAPPED AND BUCKLED.
http://www.jcsisle.com/napier.html
Robert Napier was the only son of Dr. Patrick Napier by his wife Elizabeth Booth. He was born ca 1660, in Hampton Parish, York Co., Virginia. He was living as of May, 1748, in Goochland Co., VA., aged about 88 years.
He married, between October 1688 and October 1689, (probably at St. John's Church) Henrico Co., VA., Mary Perrin, daughter of Richard and Katherine (Royall) Perrin of that county. Mary was born about 1670, in Henrico County, and was living on 3 April, 1718, in Henrico County, aged about 48 years.
Starting out as an orphan child did not stop Robert Napier from becoming a successful example to his peers. Militia officer, plantation owner, vestryman of his parish, man of influence. All these terms describe him. His father, though well known in his own time, did not attain his son's stature in public service, and it would be several generations down the line before his descendants equaled him.
Our information about this man is incomplete because of the loss of county records. Actually, this is an understatement, for not just one county is indicated, but most of those where he lived. York, New Kent, King and Queen, King William and Henrico - all the counties where Robert Napier and his family lived - have had extensive damage to their records. Only Goochland, his final residence, has a semblance of completeness, and, ironically, almost no mention of him is made in the records we have seen.
Upon the death of Dr. Patrick Napier in the early months of 1669, Robert was a nine year old without a father. Land wise, he was well taken care of, however, for he would inherit half of a huge plantation of 1500 acres in New Kent County upon the death of his mother, as set out in his father's will dated 26, February 1668/9 and proved less than two months later.
It would be the early 1680s before Robert Napier would reach his majority. It is about that time that we pick up the first notices of the Napier name. There is a grant of land, 28 September 1681, to Mr. William Crump for 1015 acres in New Kent County. It is described as "on the south side and narrows of York River. Begin by the Mill Roade near Stephen Crump's fence by a spring; by Westover Path ... Mr. Nappier etc. (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. 2, pp.223-224)." In other words, Mr. Napier's land bounded the grant. The Col. George Lydall here is doubtless the Captain George Lyddall described as a neighbor to his land, by Dr. Patrick Napier in his last will twelve years earlier. However, it should be stated that the Mr. Nappier of this legal description could refer to the deceased physician, not to son Robert, who was only coming of age at that time, and his mother, Elizabeth (Booth) Napier was probably still living and holding the property in 1681.
There are several other references in the Virginia Patent books to "Mr, Napier," as set out in out Appendix to this sketch. Some are surely references to Capt. Napier himself. That brings us to the first grant in his own name. On 23 October 1690 he patented 190 acres in New Kent, in St. Peter's Parish "beginning on his own land; to fork of the tanhous deep Southwest; on land late of Mark Warkman; to the line late of Hukestep, etc." Four headright were used, " by Rowland Davies's certificate to Robert Bouth, 6 August, 1683." Robert Napier used a certificate held, but not used, by his mother's brother, son of his grandfather, Dr. Robert Booth. Incidentally, the "Hukestep" here is probably the Mr. Walter Huckstep of other descriptions. This property was very near where Dr. Booth had lived, for the son, Robert Booth has been officially granted his father's land by Order of Assembly dated 25 April 1679, and he has sold or assigned same to Mark Warkman (op. cit. 2:228).
Robert obtained several other patents over the next few years: 753 acres in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent (29 April 1693); 310 acres in the Pamunkey Neck which fell successively into King and Queen and then into King William County (which he assigned to one John Pettiver), and 300 acres in King William County (20 October 1704) which really was in the same neighborhood. The headright he used were probably all assigned to him, for he was not a seafaring man and we have no indications of any trips abroad. The 1704 grant was within the bounds of the Indian Lease :Part of the land laid out according to the Articles of Peace for the Pamunkey Indians who at a General Court held 22 October 1701, relinquished their right & pretensions thereto, &c. Now granted by order." It began on the north side of the Swamp on the river, to the mouth of Nicatawance Creek, along side the creek, to Philip Williams' line &c. This patent was just two months before his daughter Elizabeth was born, as we shall see (Cavaliers, 2:385; 3:61, 86).
Counting his inherited land, and if he obtained the whole 1500 acres, supposing his sister Frances had not lived, he would have held 2743 acres, not counting the 310 assignment to Pettiver. However, apparently he had sold off some of the land. The Virginia Quit Rent Rolls show he held only 100 acres liable for quit rents in King William County (published 1957 by Annie Laurie Wright Smith, p.64).
It should be explained that King and Queen County was formed in 1691 from a part of New Kent, north of the Pamunkey and York Rivers. Napier seems to have continued in New Kent, being a vestryman of St. Peter's Parish, and having his children baptized in that church from 1692 through 1704. But this is not the case. Other records prove he had continued to live on the land which fell in King and Queen, and then into King William when it was erected out of the former in 1701.
A declaration of the inhabitants of King and Queen County, filed in England 12 March 1701/02, listing all the militia officers of the county, includes Robert Napier, Lieutenant. The French king had tried to set up "James III" on the English throne in place of King William III, but had failed. King and Queen County's officials were glad, and so expressed themselves in this letter of loyalty.
Thus we see that although he lived in King and Queen, Robert Napier maintained a sentimental connection with St. Peter's Parish. The extant vestry minutes show that Mr. Robt. Napier was paid a thousands pounds of tobacco for keeping the "Widdow faulkner" for the year ending 23 October 1693 "according to a former order of them to Mrs. Warkman." On 1 May 1694 is a similar order. He was paid 300 pounds of tobacco on 15 October 1705 and 4 May 1706 to Mr. George Poindexter "assignee of Robt. Napier" 200 pounds of tobacco. The entries of five of his children in the register are as follows: Bouth son of Robt. Napier & Mary (original register shows Mary; printed show Marg) his wife borne ye 1st of Octr. 1692; Frances daugh of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne Febry. ye 5th. 1694-5; Robt. son of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne 7br (September) ye 16th; Katherine Daughter of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne 8br (October) ye 12th, 1700; Eliza Daughter of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne 10br (December) ye 25th, 1704.
Before we move into the final phase of Capt. Napier's career, we should note that since his wife was a native of Henrico County, the family kept in touch with friends and neighbors there, even before he finally settled there. Record Book 1688-89, p. 74 for Henrico, we read this quaint account:
"Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes which was backed by Mr. Robert Napier, L10 side. Mr. Napier did not produce his horse at the appointed time, and the suit was for the amount of the stakes as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount."
Just after the erection of King William County out of King and Queen in 1701, Robert Napier witnessed a deed dated 1702, from Thomas Nichols and his wife Isabella to John Cawthorn, for land in the Pamunkey Neck.
In 1712, the Napiers had removed from their Pamunkey Neck plantation to the Tuckahoe Creek area of Henrico County, which would itself, not many years hence, be taken off into Goochland County. Volume 1714-1718 of records, Henrico County, containing wills and deeds, etc., page 59, has a deed from John Ellis to Robert Napier for five Thousand pounds of tobacco. It was for 150 acres by the mouth of Peter's branch where it entered Tuckahoe Creek. It is dated 3, December 1715 and was presented at December Term of court. Witnesses were Frances Epes, Jr., Thomas Williamson and Bouth Napier, the eldest child of Capt. Robert Napier, who was then only 23 years of age. Napier sold this land on 1 January 1717 to Nicholas Cox of Charles City County and we see the unique signature (copied by the clerk) RNapier for the first time ( the R and N joined by one stroke of the pen), differentiating it from the signature of his son of the same name. (This was proved at April Court 1718, p. 240 op. cit.)
The final indications of the public appearance of our subject are in Goochland Co. Wills and Deeds, Vol 1, pp.211 and 286. There, "R. Napier" signs as a witness to a deed from Samuel Burk to Michal Holland, 17 & 18 August 1730, and another from Thomas Christian to Matthew Harris, 3 September 1731. He was then about 71 years old.
Returning to Henrico County records, we believe that we have found the last record of Mary (Perrin) Napier, in this power of attorney appended to the deed of sale from her husband to Nicholas Cox.
I doe By these Presents appt. Capt. William Randolph my true & lawful Attorney for me & in my stead to acknowledge my right of Dower to one hundred and fifty acres of land sold by my husband to Mr. Nicholas Cox confirming the Same as if personally present myself, as Witness my hand this third day of Aprill 1718.
MARY NAPIER (SEAL)
Witnesses: John Speare
Samuel (S mark) Hix
James (1 mark) Spears
This passed Court in Henrico County 7 April 1718, William Randolph Clerk (P. 241 op. city.). It appears that Mary Napier was not able, for some reason, to be in court to relinquish her dower rights, which resulted in the affidavit above, or power of attorney. Other historians of the Napier family have apparently never seen the above, and have concluded that Mary (Perrin) Napier was dead shortly after her daughter Elizabeth was born, in 1704, thereby forcing wrong conclusions about the ages or birth dates of the two known children who were not baptized at St. Peter's, namely, Patrick and Rene Napier.
We cannot securely claim that Capt. Robert Napier died in Goochland County, although most of his children lived there during his life time. Henrico's records, and the other counties' already discussed above, were so damaged that it is possible he lived in one of them and wrote his will there, or his estate was administered and we have no clue to the same. There is no will or probate for him in Goochland County. The law suit titled Mary Napier vs. Robert Napier the Younger, held in Goochland's May Court, 1748, (being Mary (Hughes) Napier versus her own husband, Robert3 Napier) tells us that the older Robert was probably still alive, though now nearing 90 years of age.
Capt. Napier is seem to be the real progenitor of the family in Virginia, since he was the only male child of his parents, and had a much larger progeny than his father.
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http://www.crosswinds.net/~marlerjc/napier.html
Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was a landed proprietor in New Kent, King and Queen, King William, Henrico, and Goochland counties, Virginia. His principal crop was tobacco. From1690 through 1701, he received nearly 1300 acres for his importation of settlers. In the records of old King William County, Virginia, reference is made to him as "Captain," indicating that he was an officer in the colonial militia. See John Boddie, "Napier of Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi" in Southern Historical Families, vol 15, pp. 221-225.
Concerning Robert NAPIER (Sr.) in Henrico County, Virginia, Records: 1688-89 (p. 74), the following is recorded: "Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes, which was backed by Mr. Robert NAPIER 10 lb a side. Mr. NAPIER did not produce the horse at the appointed time and the suit was for the amount of the stake, as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount." It is also recorded that Robert NAPIER (Sr.)?s wife Mary (PERRIN) once took him to court to prevent him from gambling away their children's patrimony and to ensure that he would spend a percentage of his income solely to support his family. In view of these two cases at law, it may be worth noting that Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was - by profession - an attorney and that, in his church in Hampton Parish, he held the office of vestryman.

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1. Event: Comment 2 BET 1690 AND 1701 he received nearly 1300 acres for the importation of settlers
2. Event: Comment 3 BET 1688 AND 1689 Sued by Cpt. Soane for ten pounds
3. Event: Comment 4 Sued by Mary Perrin to prevent him from gambling away the family's money
4. Note:

   NAPIER ROBERT KING WILLIAM COUNTY

1704 VIRGINIA RENT ROLLS
ON MARCH 9,1985 CLAN NAPIER IN NORTH AMERICA WAS ORGANIZED WITH LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICK AS CHIEF AND PATRON,AND TODAY IT HAS MORE THAN 255 MEMBERS IN 33
STATES AND THREE FORIEGN COUNTRIES. THE NAPIER TARTAN IS BLUE,BLACK AND WHITE
AND WAS ADOPTED WHEN KING GEORGE 1V MADE HIS CELEBRATED VISIT TO EDINBURGH IN 1822. THE CLAN MOTTO IS THAT OF IT'S CHIEF,"SANS TACHE",WITHOUT STAIN",AND IT'S BADGES THE CHIEF'S CREST STRAPPED AND BUCKLED.
http://www.jcsisle.com/napier.html
Robert Napier was the only son of Dr. Patrick Napier by his wife Elizabeth Booth. He was born ca 1660, in Hampton Parish, York Co., Virginia. He was living as of May, 1748, in Goochland Co., VA., aged about 88 years.
He married, between October 1688 and October 1689, (probably at St. John's Church) Henrico Co., VA., Mary Perrin, daughter of Richard and Katherine (Royall) Perrin of that county. Mary was born about 1670, in Henrico County, and was living on 3 April, 1718, in Henrico County, aged about 48 years.
Starting out as an orphan child did not stop Robert Napier from becoming a successful example to his peers. Militia officer, plantation owner, vestryman of his parish, man of influence. All these terms describe him. His father, though well known in his own time, did not attain his son's stature in public service, and it would be several generations down the line before his descendants equaled him.
Our information about this man is incomplete because of the loss of county records. Actually, this is an understatement, for not just one county is indicated, but most of those where he lived. York, New Kent, King and Queen, King William and Henrico - all the counties where Robert Napier and his family lived - have had extensive damage to their records. Only Goochland, his final residence, has a semblance of completeness, and, ironically, almost no mention of him is made in the records we have seen.
Upon the death of Dr. Patrick Napier in the early months of 1669, Robert was a nine year old without a father. Land wise, he was well taken care of, however, for he would inherit half of a huge plantation of 1500 acres in New Kent County upon the death of his mother, as set out in his father's will dated 26, February 1668/9 and proved less than two months later.
It would be the early 1680s before Robert Napier would reach his majority. It is about that time that we pick up the first notices of the Napier name. There is a grant of land, 28 September 1681, to Mr. William Crump for 1015 acres in New Kent County. It is described as "on the south side and narrows of York River. Begin by the Mill Roade near Stephen Crump's fence by a spring; by Westover Path ... Mr. Nappier etc. (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. 2, pp.223-224)." In other words, Mr. Napier's land bounded the grant. The Col. George Lydall here is doubtless the Captain George Lyddall described as a neighbor to his land, by Dr. Patrick Napier in his last will twelve years earlier. However, it should be stated that the Mr. Nappier of this legal description could refer to the deceased physician, not to son Robert, who was only coming of age at that time, and his mother, Elizabeth (Booth) Napier was probably still living and holding the property in 1681.
There are several other references in the Virginia Patent books to "Mr, Napier," as set out in out Appendix to this sketch. Some are surely references to Capt. Napier himself. That brings us to the first grant in his own name. On 23 October 1690 he patented 190 acres in New Kent, in St. Peter's Parish "beginning on his own land; to fork of the tanhous deep Southwest; on land late of Mark Warkman; to the line late of Hukestep, etc." Four headright were used, " by Rowland Davies's certificate to Robert Bouth, 6 August, 1683." Robert Napier used a certificate held, but not used, by his mother's brother, son of his grandfather, Dr. Robert Booth. Incidentally, the "Hukestep" here is probably the Mr. Walter Huckstep of other descriptions. This property was very near where Dr. Booth had lived, for the son, Robert Booth has been officially granted his father's land by Order of Assembly dated 25 April 1679, and he has sold or assigned same to Mark Warkman (op. cit. 2:228).
Robert obtained several other patents over the next few years: 753 acres in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent (29 April 1693); 310 acres in the Pamunkey Neck which fell successively into King and Queen and then into King William County (which he assigned to one John Pettiver), and 300 acres in King William County (20 October 1704) which really was in the same neighborhood. The headright he used were probably all assigned to him, for he was not a seafaring man and we have no indications of any trips abroad. The 1704 grant was within the bounds of the Indian Lease :Part of the land laid out according to the Articles of Peace for the Pamunkey Indians who at a General Court held 22 October 1701, relinquished their right & pretensions thereto, &c. Now granted by order." It began on the north side of the Swamp on the river, to the mouth of Nicatawance Creek, along side the creek, to Philip Williams' line &c. This patent was just two months before his daughter Elizabeth was born, as we shall see (Cavaliers, 2:385; 3:61, 86).
Counting his inherited land, and if he obtained the whole 1500 acres, supposing his sister Frances had not lived, he would have held 2743 acres, not counting the 310 assignment to Pettiver. However, apparently he had sold off some of the land. The Virginia Quit Rent Rolls show he held only 100 acres liable for quit rents in King William County (published 1957 by Annie Laurie Wright Smith, p.64).
It should be explained that King and Queen County was formed in 1691 from a part of New Kent, north of the Pamunkey and York Rivers. Napier seems to have continued in New Kent, being a vestryman of St. Peter's Parish, and having his children baptized in that church from 1692 through 1704. But this is not the case. Other records prove he had continued to live on the land which fell in King and Queen, and then into King William when it was erected out of the former in 1701.
A declaration of the inhabitants of King and Queen County, filed in England 12 March 1701/02, listing all the militia officers of the county, includes Robert Napier, Lieutenant. The French king had tried to set up "James III" on the English throne in place of King William III, but had failed. King and Queen County's officials were glad, and so expressed themselves in this letter of loyalty.
Thus we see that although he lived in King and Queen, Robert Napier maintained a sentimental connection with St. Peter's Parish. The extant vestry minutes show that Mr. Robt. Napier was paid a thousands pounds of tobacco for keeping the "Widdow faulkner" for the year ending 23 October 1693 "according to a former order of them to Mrs. Warkman." On 1 May 1694 is a similar order. He was paid 300 pounds of tobacco on 15 October 1705 and 4 May 1706 to Mr. George Poindexter "assignee of Robt. Napier" 200 pounds of tobacco. The entries of five of his children in the register are as follows: Bouth son of Robt. Napier & Mary (original register shows Mary; printed show Marg) his wife borne ye 1st of Octr. 1692; Frances daugh of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne Febry. ye 5th. 1694-5; Robt. son of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne 7br (September) ye 16th; Katherine Daughter of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne 8br (October) ye 12th, 1700; Eliza Daughter of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne 10br (December) ye 25th, 1704.
Before we move into the final phase of Capt. Napier's career, we should note that since his wife was a native of Henrico County, the family kept in touch with friends and neighbors there, even before he finally settled there. Record Book 1688-89, p. 74 for Henrico, we read this quaint account:
"Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes which was backed by Mr. Robert Napier, L10 side. Mr. Napier did not produce his horse at the appointed time, and the suit was for the amount of the stakes as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount."
Just after the erection of King William County out of King and Queen in 1701, Robert Napier witnessed a deed dated 1702, from Thomas Nichols and his wife Isabella to John Cawthorn, for land in the Pamunkey Neck.
In 1712, the Napiers had removed from their Pamunkey Neck plantation to the Tuckahoe Creek area of Henrico County, which would itself, not many years hence, be taken off into Goochland County. Volume 1714-1718 of records, Henrico County, containing wills and deeds, etc., page 59, has a deed from John Ellis to Robert Napier for five Thousand pounds of tobacco. It was for 150 acres by the mouth of Peter's branch where it entered Tuckahoe Creek. It is dated 3, December 1715 and was presented at December Term of court. Witnesses were Frances Epes, Jr., Thomas Williamson and Bouth Napier, the eldest child of Capt. Robert Napier, who was then only 23 years of age. Napier sold this land on 1 January 1717 to Nicholas Cox of Charles City County and we see the unique signature (copied by the clerk) RNapier for the first time ( the R and N joined by one stroke of the pen), differentiating it from the signature of his son of the same name. (This was proved at April Court 1718, p. 240 op. cit.)
The final indications of the public appearance of our subject are in Goochland Co. Wills and Deeds, Vol 1, pp.211 and 286. There, "R. Napier" signs as a witness to a deed from Samuel Burk to Michal Holland, 17 & 18 August 1730, and another from Thomas Christian to Matthew Harris, 3 September 1731. He was then about 71 years old.
Returning to Henrico County records, we believe that we have found the last record of Mary (Perrin) Napier, in this power of attorney appended to the deed of sale from her husband to Nicholas Cox.
I doe By these Presents appt. Capt. William Randolph my true & lawful Attorney for me & in my stead to acknowledge my right of Dower to one hundred and fifty acres of land sold by my husband to Mr. Nicholas Cox confirming the Same as if personally present myself, as Witness my hand this third day of Aprill 1718.
MARY NAPIER (SEAL)
Witnesses: John Speare
Samuel (S mark) Hix
James (1 mark) Spears
This passed Court in Henrico County 7 April 1718, William Randolph Clerk (P. 241 op. city.). It appears that Mary Napier was not able, for some reason, to be in court to relinquish her dower rights, which resulted in the affidavit above, or power of attorney. Other historians of the Napier family have apparently never seen the above, and have concluded that Mary (Perrin) Napier was dead shortly after her daughter Elizabeth was born, in 1704, thereby forcing wrong conclusions about the ages or birth dates of the two known children who were not baptized at St. Peter's, namely, Patrick and Rene Napier.
We cannot securely claim that Capt. Robert Napier died in Goochland County, although most of his children lived there during his life time. Henrico's records, and the other counties' already discussed above, were so damaged that it is possible he lived in one of them and wrote his will there, or his estate was administered and we have no clue to the same. There is no will or probate for him in Goochland County. The law suit titled Mary Napier vs. Robert Napier the Younger, held in Goochland's May Court, 1748, (being Mary (Hughes) Napier versus her own husband, Robert3 Napier) tells us that the older Robert was probably still alive, though now nearing 90 years of age.
Capt. Napier is seem to be the real progenitor of the family in Virginia, since he was the only male child of his parents, and had a much larger progeny than his father.
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http://www.crosswinds.net/~marlerjc/napier.html
Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was a landed proprietor in New Kent, King and Queen, King William, Henrico, and Goochland counties, Virginia. His principal crop was tobacco. From1690 through 1701, he received nearly 1300 acres for his importation of settlers. In the records of old King William County, Virginia, reference is made to him as "Captain," indicating that he was an officer in the colonial militia. See John Boddie, "Napier of Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi" in Southern Historical Families, vol 15, pp. 221-225.
Concerning Robert NAPIER (Sr.) in Henrico County, Virginia, Records: 1688-89 (p. 74), the following is recorded: "Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes, which was backed by Mr. Robert NAPIER 10 lb a side. Mr. NAPIER did not produce the horse at the appointed time and the suit was for the amount of the stake, as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount." It is also recorded that Robert NAPIER (Sr.)?s wife Mary (PERRIN) once took him to court to prevent him from gambling away their children's patrimony and to ensure that he would spend a percentage of his income solely to support his family. In view of these two cases at law, it may be worth noting that Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was - by profession - an attorney and that, in his church in Hampton Parish, he held the office of vestryman.

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Robert NAPIER (Sr.), Captain [009] Birth: BEF 2 May 1660, Hampton Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America Christening: 2 May 1660, Hampton Parish, York County, Virginia, British North America Death: AFT May 1743, York County, Virginia, British North America Father: Patrick NAPIER, Chirurgeon (ABT 1634, <London>, England - AFT 26 February 1668 and BEF 12 April 1669, Queen’s Creek, York County, Virginia, British North America) Mother: *Elizabeth BOOTH (15 November 1641, <York County>, Virginia, British North America - 1672, York County, Virginia, British North America)

Marriage: 11 October 1688, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America Spouse: *Mary PERRIN (1671/75, New Kent or Henrico County, Virginia, British North America - AFT 3 April 1718, New Kent or Henrico County, Virginia, British North America)

Child 1: Booth (Bouth) NAPIER (1 February 1692, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America: christened 1 October 1692, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - BEF 21 February 1780, probably on or about 1 December 1779, Goochland County, Virginia) [M]: m. Sarah UNKNOWN (? - AFT 20 January 1767, Goochland County, Virginia, British North America)

Child 2: Frances NAPIER (5 February 1694, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - 1778, Fluvanna County, Virginia) [F]: m. Benjamin WOODSON (1682, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia - AFT 25 October 1777, Fluvanna County, Virginia), 1720, Henrico County, Virginia, British North America

Child 3: Robert NAPIER (Jr.) (16 September 1697, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - 12 May 1763, Albemarle County, Virginia, British North America) [M]: m. Mary Tarleton HUGHES (ABT 1696, Virginia, British North America - AFT 9 December 1755, Albemarle County, Virginia, British North America), AFT 8 January 1722/23, Henrico County, Virginia, British North America

Child 4: Katherine NAPIER (12 October 1700, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - ?) [F]: m. John ADAMS (ABT 1705, Church Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, British North America - 1725, Stafford County, Virginia, British North America)

Child 5: Elizabeth NAPIER (25 October 1704, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America: christened 25 December 1704, St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, British North America - AFT 19 July 1757) [F]

Note 1: Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was a landed proprietor in New Kent, King and Queen, King William, Henrico, and Goochland counties, Virginia. His principal crop was tobacco. From1690 through 1701, he received nearly 1300 acres for his importation of settlers. In the records of old King William County, Virginia, reference is made to him as "Captain," indicating that he was an officer in the colonial militia. See John Boddie, "Napier of Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi" in Southern Historical Families, vol 15, pp. 221-225.

Note 2: Concerning Robert NAPIER (Sr.) in Henrico County, Virginia, Records: 1688-89 (p. 74), the following is recorded: "Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes, which was backed by Mr. Robert NAPIER 10 lb a side. Mr. NAPIER did not produce the horse at the appointed time and the suit was for the amount of the stake, as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount." It is also recorded that Robert NAPIER (Sr.)’s wife Mary (PERRIN) once took him to court to prevent him from gambling away their children's patrimony and to ensure that he would spend a percentage of his income solely to support his family. In view of these two cases at law, it may be worth noting that Robert NAPIER (Sr.) was - by profession - an attorney and that, in his church in Hampton Parish, he held the office of vestryman.

Note 3: Mary PERRIN (sometimes spelled "PARIN") was the daughter of Richard PERRIN and his wife, Katherine ROYALL Katherine ROYALL’s father, Joseph ROYALL, was among the earliest settlers of Virginia, having arrived in the "Charitie" in July 1622; and, in the following year, he was listed at the Neck of Land in Charles City. (Hotten, ORIGINAL LISTS, p. 169).

Note 4: Benjamin WOODSON was the son of John WOODSON (1655, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia - Will proven1 May 1700, Virginia) and Mary TUCKER, who were married in 1677. Mary TUCKER was the daughter of Samuel TUCKER and Jane LARCOMBE. Mary Tucker WOODSON’s Will is dated 1710. The WOODSONs were Quakers.

Note 5: In May 1743, Robert NAPIER (Jr.) was sued for separation by his wife on the grounds of abuse. His Will is dated 9 December 1755 and was proven 12 May 1763. His wife, Mary Tarleton HUGHES, was the daughter of Jesse HUGHES and Sarah TARLETON, of Henrico County, Virginia. Robert NAPIER was a planter in Henrico, Goochland, and Albemarle counties, Virginia. He is thought to have inherited his father's plantation in a Will dated 1744, which has not been found. He is known to have received at least two royal grants of 300 acres in Goochland County, in1734 and 1735, by which time he had apparently moved inland, to the James River valley. In Goochland County, he deeded a negro girl to his wife on Jan 5, 1743; and he deeded a negro boy named Will to his daughter, Frances. He moved again to Albemarle County, Virginia, where he wrote his Will dated 9 December 1755.

Note 6: A Rene and a Patrick NAPIER are sometimes named as siblings belonging to this family-group. The reason for placing them in this family-group seems to be an unlikely tradition sustained in the family PERRIN. Rene and Patrick NAPIER, in fact, belong to the immediately succeeding generation of this line of the family NAPIER.

Robert Napier was the only son of Dr. Patrick Napier by his wife Elizabeth Booth. He was born ca 1660, in Hampton Parish, York Co., Virginia. He was living as of May, 1748, in Goochland Co., VA., aged about 88 years.

He married, between October 1688 and October 1689, (probably at St. John's Church) Henrico Co., VA., Mary Perrin, daughter of Richard and Katherine (Royall) Perrin of that county. Mary was born about 1670, in Henrico County, and was living on 3 April, 1718, in Henrico County, aged about 48 years.

Starting out as an orphan child did not stop Robert Napier from becoming a successful example to his peers. Militia officer, plantation owner, vestryman of his parish, man of influence. All these terms describe him. His father, though well known in his own time, did not attain his son's stature in public service, and it would be several generations down the line before his descendants equaled him.

Our information about this man is incomplete because of the loss of county records. Actually, this is an understatement, for not just one county is indicated, but most of those where he lived. York, New Kent, King and Queen, King William and Henrico - all the counties where Robert Napier and his family lived - have had extensive damage to their records. Only Goochland, his final residence, has a semblance of completeness, and, ironically, almost no mention of him is made in the records we have seen.

Upon the death of Dr. Patrick Napier in the early months of 1669, Robert was a nine year old without a father. Land wise, he was well taken care of, however, for he would inherit half of a huge plantation of 1500 acres in New Kent County upon the death of his mother, as set out in his father's will dated 26, February 1668/9 and proved less than two months later.

It would be the early 1680s before Robert Napier would reach his majority. It is about that time that we pick up the first notices of the Napier name. There is a grant of land, 28 September 1681, to Mr. William Crump for 1015 acres in New Kent County. It is described as "on the south side and narrows of York River. Begin by the Mill Roade near Stephen Crump's fence by a spring; by Westover Path ... Mr. Nappier etc. (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. 2, pp.223-224)." In other words, Mr. Napier's land bounded the grant. The Col. George Lydall here is doubtless the Captain George Lyddall described as a neighbor to his land, by Dr. Patrick Napier in his last will twelve years earlier. However, it should be stated that the Mr. Nappier of this legal description could refer to the deceased physician, not to son Robert, who was only coming of age at that time, and his mother, Elizabeth (Booth) Napier was probably still living and holding the property in 1681.

There are several other references in the Virginia Patent books to "Mr, Napier," as set out in out Appendix to this sketch. Some are surely references to Capt. Napier himself. That brings us to the first grant in his own name. On 23 October 1690 he patented 190 acres in New Kent, in St. Peter's Parish "beginning on his own land; to fork of the tanhous deep Southwest; on land late of Mark Warkman; to the line late of Hukestep, etc." Four headright were used, " by Rowland Davies's certificate to Robert Bouth, 6 August, 1683." Robert Napier used a certificate held, but not used, by his mother's brother, son of his grandfather, Dr. Robert Booth. Incidentally, the "Hukestep" here is probably the Mr. Walter Huckstep of other descriptions. This property was very near where Dr. Booth had lived, for the son, Robert Booth has been officially granted his father's land by Order of Assembly dated 25 April 1679, and he has sold or assigned same to Mark Warkman (op. cit. 2:228).

Robert obtained several other patents over the next few years: 753 acres in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent (29 April 1693); 310 acres in the Pamunkey Neck which fell successively into King and Queen and then into King William County (which he assigned to one John Pettiver), and 300 acres in King William County (20 October 1704) which really was in the same neighborhood. The headright he used were probably all assigned to him, for he was not a seafaring man and we have no indications of any trips abroad. The 1704 grant was within the bounds of the Indian Lease :Part of the land laid out according to the Articles of Peace for the Pamunkey Indians who at a General Court held 22 October 1701, relinquished their right & pretensions thereto, &c. Now granted by order." It began on the north side of the Swamp on the river, to the mouth of Nicatawance Creek, along side the creek, to Philip Williams' line &c. This patent was just two months before his daughter Elizabeth was born, as we shall see (Cavaliers, 2:385; 3:61, 86).

Counting his inherited land, and if he obtained the whole 1500 acres, supposing his sister Frances had not lived, he would have held 2743 acres, not counting the 310 assignment to Pettiver. However, apparently he had sold off some of the land. The Virginia Quit Rent Rolls show he held only 100 acres liable for quit rents in King William County (published 1957 by Annie Laurie Wright Smith, p.64).

It should be explained that King and Queen County was formed in 1691 from a part of New Kent, north of the Pamunkey and York Rivers. Napier seems to have continued in New Kent, being a vestryman of St. Peter's Parish, and having his children baptized in that church from 1692 through 1704. But this is not the case. Other records prove he had continued to live on the land which fell in King and Queen, and then into King William when it was erected out of the former in 1701.

A declaration of the inhabitants of King and Queen County, filed in England 12 March 1701/02, listing all the militia officers of the county, includes Robert Napier, Lieutenant. The French king had tried to set up "James III" on the English throne in place of King William III, but had failed. King and Queen County's officials were glad, and so expressed themselves in this letter of loyalty. Thus we see that although he lived in King and Queen, Robert Napier maintained a sentimental connection with St. Peter's Parish. The extant vestry minutes show that Mr. Robt. Napier was paid a thousands pounds of tobacco for keeping the "Widdow faulkner" for the year ending 23 October 1693 "according to a former order of them to Mrs. Warkman." On 1 May 1694 is a similar order. He was paid 300 pounds of tobacco on 15 October 1705 and 4 May 1706 to Mr. George Poindexter "assignee of Robt. Napier" 200 pounds of tobacco. The entries of five of his children in the register are as follows: Bouth son of Robt. Napier & Mary (original register shows Mary; printed show Marg) his wife borne ye 1st of Octr. 1692; Frances daugh of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne Febry. ye 5th. 1694-5; Robt. son of Robt Napier & mary his wife borne 7br (September) ye 16th; Katherine Daughter of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne 8br (October) ye 12th, 1700; Eliza Daughter of Robt Napier & Mary his wife borne 10br (December) ye 25th, 1704.

Before we move into the final phase of Capt. Napier's career, we should note that since his wife was a native of Henrico County, the family kept in touch with friends and neighbors there, even before he finally settled there. Record Book 1688-89, p. 74 for Henrico, we read this quaint account:

"Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes which was backed by Mr. Robert Napier, L10 side. Mr. Napier did not produce his horse at the appointed time, and the suit was for the amount of the stakes as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount."

Just after the erection of King William County out of King and Queen in 1701, Robert Napier witnessed a deed dated 1702, from Thomas Nichols and his wife Isabella to John Cawthorn, for land in the Pamunkey Neck.

In 1712, the Napiers had removed from their Pamunkey Neck plantation to the Tuckahoe Creek area of Henrico County, which would itself, not many years hence, be taken off into Goochland County. Volume 1714-1718 of records, Henrico County, containing wills and deeds, etc., page 59, has a deed from John Ellis to Robert Napier for five Thousand pounds of tobacco. It was for 150 acres by the mouth of Peter's branch where it entered Tuckahoe Creek. It is dated 3, December 1715 and was presented at December Term of court. Witnesses were Frances Epes, Jr., Thomas Williamson and Bouth Napier, the eldest child of Capt. Robert Napier, who was then only 23 years of age. Napier sold this land on 1 January 1717 to Nicholas Cox of Charles City County and we see the unique signature (copied by the clerk) RNapier for the first time ( the R and N joined by one stroke of the pen), differentiating it from the signature of his son of the same name. (This was proved at April Court 1718, p. 240 op. cit.) The final indications of the public appearance of our subject are in Goochland Co. Wills and Deeds, Vol 1, pp.211 and 286. There, "R. Napier" signs as a witness to a deed from Samuel Burk to Michal Holland, 17 & 18 August 1730, and another from Thomas Christian to Matthew Harris, 3 September 1731. He was then about 71 years old.

Returning to Henrico County records, we believe that we have found the last record of Mary (Perrin) Napier, in this power of attorney appended to the deed of sale from her husband to Nicholas Cox.

I doe By these Presents appt. Capt. William Randolph my true & lawful Attorney for me & in my stead to acknowledge my right of Dower to one hundred and fifty acres of land sold by my husband to Mr. Nicholas Cox confirming the Same as if personally present myself, as Witness my hand this third day of Aprill 1718.

MARY NAPIER (SEAL)

Witnesses: John Speare

Samuel (S mark) Hix

James (1 mark) Spears

This passed Court in Henrico County 7 April 1718, William Randolph Clerk (P. 241 op. city.). It appears that Mary Napier was not able, for some reason, to be in court to relinquish her dower rights, which resulted in the affidavit above, or power of attorney. Other historians of the Napier family have apparently never seen the above, and have concluded that Mary (Perrin) Napier was dead shortly after her daughter Elizabeth was born, in 1704, thereby forcing wrong conclusions about the ages or birth dates of the two known children who were not baptized at St. Peter's, namely, Patrick and Rene Napier.

We cannot securely claim that Capt. Robert Napier died in Goochland County, although most of his children lived there during his life time. Henrico's records, and the other counties' already discussed above, were so damaged that it is possible he lived in one of them and wrote his will there, or his estate was administered and we have no clue to the same. There is no will or probate for him in Goochland County. The law suit titled Mary Napier vs. Robert Napier the Younger, held in Goochland's May Court, 1748, (being Mary (Hughes) Napier versus her own husband, Robert3 Napier) tells us that the older Robert was probably still alive, though now nearing 90 years of age.

Capt. Napier is seem to be the real progenitor of the family in Virginia, since he was the only male child of his parents, and had a much larger progeny than his father. Children of Capt. Robert Napier and Mary (Perrin) Napier:

1. Booth (or Bouth) Napier, born 1 October 1692, King & Queen County, baptized at St. Peter's Parish, New Kent, died 1779- January 1780, Goochland Co., Va., aged 88 years, 2 months, married Sarah (maiden name unknown).

2. Frances Napier, born 5 February,1694/5 living 25 October 1777, Fluvanna Co., Va. aged 82, married Benjamin Woodson, Sr. See Woodson Family history for continuation of my husbands line.

3. Robert Napier, Jr., born 16 September 1697, King & Queen Co. Va., baptized as above, died 1762, Ablemarle Co., Va. aged 65, married Mary Hughes, daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Tarleton) Hughes, of Henrico County.

4. Katherine Napier, born 12 October 1700, King & Queen Co., Va., baptized as above, no further information.

5. Elizabeth Napier, born 25 December 1704, King & Queen Co., Va., baptized a above. Believed to be the same who was tithed for 100 acres of land in 1763 in Hanover Co., Va. Witnessed a deed of her brother Booth Napier 17 February 1728/29 in Goochland Co., and also was tithed in 1755 in Goochland Co, for nephew Rene Woodson, and Negroes Jack, Speedwell and Nel. She also witnessed the last will of her nephew Booth Woodson, proved 19 July 1757, Goochland County.

6 Rene Napier born ca. 1710, King William (or Henrico) C., Va., died ca. October 1751, in Goochland Co.,, Va., aged about 41 years, married about 1740, to Winifred (Champion) Hudnall, Widow of Thomas Hudnall of Prince William Co., Va.

7. Patrick Napier, born 1 February 1713, Henrico Co., Va; died 23 August 1774, Ablemarle Co., Va., aged 61; married ca. 1735, Virginia, Martha Claiborne, daughter of Thomas and Anne (Fox) Claiborne of Henrico County.

Robert Napier migrated from Edinburgh, Scotland abt 1655 t o Yor k or New Kent County VA, Robert Jr. migrated to Gooch land then Ashford went to Franklin. It appears Ashford had no male heirs. Ashford's dau. Catherine md. a John Daniel and died in Yancy NC At a vestry held at the house of Mr. James Moss on ye behalf o f St. Peter's parish this 25th day October, 1693. Mr. Jacob Ware minister.Capt. Jno. Lydall, Mr. Henry Wyatt, Mr. Geo. Smith, Mr. Wm. Bassett, Mr. Con'l Dabboni, Mr. Jno. Parks, Vestrymen.Capt. Jo Foster, Mr. James Moss, Church wardens. St. Peter's parish Dr. to this following Charge To Wm. Booth for keeping ye Widdow Davis two months after ye rate of one thousand pounds of Tob. P'r year 167 To Mr. Rob't Napier for keeping ye widdow faulkner and for some things she hath had as p Acc't after ye rate of 1000 Lbs.

Tob.P'r year, according to a former order of this to Mr. Warsman 11 60 note appointment presence of William Booth, note son's name, Booth and Con'l Dabboni (Dabney?) SOUTHERN HISTORICAL FAMILIES By John Boddie VOL XV "NAPIER O F VA, TENN, MISS" P. 221-5 from Napier website

• ROBERT NAPIER, son of Patrick, was born ca 1660, and appe ars a s Capt. ROBERT NAPIER in the records of Old King Will iam Co. , Va. He was evidently an officer in the Colonial M ilitia. Between the years 1690 and 1701 he received nearl y 1300 acres for the importation of settlers. He married Oc t 11, 1688 MARY PARIN, daughter of Richard Perrin and his w ife Katherine Royall. Katherine's father Joseph Royall wa s one of the earliest Virginia settlers, having arrived i n the "Charitie" Jul y 1622, and was listed at the Neck o f Land in Charles City th e following year. (Hotten, ORIGIN AL LISTS, p. 169).
• ROBERT NAPIER'S lighthearted attitude towards his

responsibilities is evidenced by the following: "Captain Soane  had made an agreement to run his horse against one belongin g to Mr. Littleberry Epes, which was backed by Mr. ROBERT N APIE R 10 lb a side. Mr. NAPIER did not produce the horse a t the appointed time and the suit was for the amount of th e s take, as an agreement had been made that the horse whic h d id not appear should forfeit the whole amount." Henric o Co. , Va., Records, 1688-89, p. 74).

• It is also recorded that ROBERT'S wife MARY (PERRIN) onc e took him to court to prevent him from gambling away thei r children's patrimony, and to ensure that he would spen d a percentage of his income solely to support his family.
• Issue of ROBERT and MARY (PERRIN) NAPIER: (1) Booth Napier, b. Oct 1, 1692, m. Sarah (2) Frances Napier, b. Feb 5 1694/5, married Benjamin Woods on , who d. 1778 in Fluvanna Co., (W. Bk. 1, p. 9) (3) Robert Napier, Jr. (4) Katherine Napier b. Oct 12, 1700 (5) Elizabeth Napier b. Dec 25, 1704 Two other sons may have been Patrick (b. 1713) and Rene (b . ca . 1715). More About Robert Napier: Occupation: Tobacco planter, militia officer, attorney, par ish v estryman23

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Captain Robert Napier

Added by durfkey on 7 Apr 2007 Captain Robert Napier Robert Napier was the only son of Dr. Patrick Napier by his wife Elizabeth Booth. He was born ca 1660, in Hampton Parish, York Co., Virginia. He was living as of May, 1748, in Goochland Co., VA., aged about 88 years.

He married, between October 1688 and October 1689, (probably at St. John's Church) Henrico Co., VA., Mary Perrin, daughter of Richard and Katherine (Royall) Perrin of that county. Mary was born about 1670, in Henrico County, and was living on 3 April, 1718, in Henrico County, aged about 48 years.

Starting out as an orphan child did not stop Robert Napier from becoming a successful example to his peers. Militia officer, plantation owner, vestryman of his parish, man of influence. All these terms describe him. His father, though well known in his own time, did not attain his son's stature in public service, and it would be several generations down the line before his descendants equaled him.

Our information about this man is incomplete because of the loss of county records. Actually, this is an understatement, for not just one county is indicated, but most of those where he lived. York, New Kent, King and Queen, King William and Henrico - all the counties where Robert Napier and his family lived - have had extensive damage to their records. Only Goochland, his final residence, has a semblance of completeness, and, ironically, almost no mention of him is made in the records we have seen.

Upon the death of Dr. Patrick Napier in the early months of 1669, Robert was a nine year old without a father. Land wise, he was well taken care of, however, for he would inherit half of a huge plantation of 1500 acres in New Kent County upon the death of his mother, as set out in his father's will dated 26, February 1668/9 and proved less than two months later.

It would be the early 1680s before Robert Napier would reach his majority. It is about that time that we pick up the first notices of the Napier name. There is a grant of land, 28 September 1681, to Mr. William Crump for 1015 acres in New Kent County. It is described as "on the south side and narrows of York River. Begin by the Mill Roade near Stephen Crump's fence by a spring; by Westover Path ... Mr. Nappier etc. (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. 2, pp.223-224)." In other words, Mr. Napier's land bounded the grant. The Col. George Lydall here is doubtless the Captain George Lyddall described as a neighbor to his land, by Dr. Patrick Napier in his last will twelve years earlier. However, it should be stated that the Mr. Nappier of this legal description could refer to the deceased physician, not to son Robert, who was only coming of age at that time, and his mother, Elizabeth (Booth) Napier was probably still living and holding the property in 1681.

There are several other references in the Virginia Patent books to "Mr, Napier," as set out in out Appendix to this sketch. Some are surely references to Capt. Napier himself. That brings us to the first grant in his own name. On 23 October 1690 he patented 190 acres in New Kent, in St. Peter's Parish "beginning on his own land; to fork of the tanhous deep Southwest; on land late of Mark Warkman; to the line late of Hukestep, etc." Four headright were used, " by Rowland Davies's certificate to Robert Bouth, 6 August, 1683." Robert Napier used a certificate held, but not used, by his mother's brother, son of his grandfather, Dr. Robert Booth. Incidentally, the "Hukestep" here is probably the Mr. Walter Huckstep of other descriptions. This property was very near where Dr. Booth had lived, for the son, Robert Booth has been officially granted his father's land by Order of Assembly dated 25 April 1679, and he has sold or assigned same to Mark Warkman (op. cit. 2:228).

Robert obtained several other patents over the next few years: 753 acres in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent (29 April 1693); 310 acres in the Pamunkey Neck which fell successively into King and Queen and then into King William County (which he assigned to one John Pettiver), and 300 acres in King William County (20 October 1704) which really was in the same neighborhood. The headright he used were probably all assigned to him, for he was not a seafaring man and we have no indications of any trips abroad. The 1704 grant was within the bounds of the Indian Lease :Part of the land laid out according to the Articles of Peace for the Pamunkey Indians who at a General Court held 22 October 1701, relinquished their right pretensions thereto, c. Now granted by order." It began on the north side of the Swamp on the river, to the mouth of Nicatawance Creek, along side the creek, to Philip Williams' line c. This patent was just two months before his daughter Elizabeth was born, as we shall see (Cavaliers, 2:385; 3:61, 86).

Counting his inherited land, and if he obtained the whole 1500 acres, supposing his sister Frances had not lived, he would have held 2743 acres, not counting the 310 assignment to Pettiver. However, apparently he had sold off some of the land. The Virginia Quit Rent Rolls show he held only 100 acres liable for quit rents in King William County (published 1957 by Annie Laurie Wright Smith, p.64).

It should be explained that King and Queen County was formed in 1691 from a part of New Kent, north of the Pamunkey and York Rivers. Napier seems to have continued in New Kent, being a vestryman of St. Peter's Parish, and having his children baptized in that church from 1692 through 1704. But this is not the case. Other records prove he had continued to live on the land which fell in King and Queen, and then into King William when it was erected out of the former in 1701.

A declaration of the inhabitants of King and Queen County, filed in England 12 March 1701/02, listing all the militia officers of the county, includes Robert Napier, Lieutenant. The French king had tried to set up "James III" on the English throne in place of King William III, but had failed. King and Queen County's officials were glad, and so expressed themselves in this letter of loyalty.

Thus we see that although he lived in King and Queen, Robert Napier maintained a sentimental connection with St. Peter's Parish. The extant vestry minutes show that Mr. Robt. Napier was paid a thousands pounds of tobacco for keeping the "Widdow faulkner" for the year ending 23 October 1693 "according to a former order of them to Mrs. Warkman." On 1 May 1694 is a similar order. He was paid 300 pounds of tobacco on 15 October 1705 and 4 May 1706 to Mr. George Poindexter "assignee of Robt. Napier" 200 pounds of tobacco. The entries of five of his children in the register are as follows: Bouth son of Robt. Napier Mary (original register shows Mary; printed show Marg) his wife borne ye 1st of Octr. 1692; Frances daugh of Robt Napier Mary his wife borne Febry. ye 5th. 1694-5; Robt. son of Robt Napier mary his wife borne 7br (September) ye 16th; Katherine Daughter of Robt Napier Mary his wife borne 8br (October) ye 12th, 1700; Eliza Daughter of Robt Napier Mary his wife borne 10br (December) ye 25th, 1704.

Before we move into the final phase of Capt. Napier's career, we should note that since his wife was a native of Henrico County, the family kept in touch with friends and neighbors there, even before he finally settled there. Record Book 1688-89, p. 74 for Henrico, we read this quaint account:

"Captain Soane had made an agreement to run his horse against one belonging to Mr. Littleberry Epes which was backed by Mr. Robert Napier, L10 side. Mr. Napier did not produce his horse at the appointed time, and the suit was for the amount of the stakes as an agreement had been made that the horse which did not appear should forfeit the whole amount." Just after the erection of King William County out of King and Queen in 1701, Robert Napier witnessed a deed dated 1702, from Thomas Nichols and his wife Isabella to John Cawthorn, for land in the Pamunkey Neck.

In 1712, the Napiers had removed from their Pamunkey Neck plantation to the Tuckahoe Creek area of Henrico County, which would itself, not many years hence, be taken off into Goochland County. Volume 1714-1718 of records, Henrico County, containing wills and deeds, etc., page 59, has a deed from John Ellis to Robert Napier for five Thousand pounds of tobacco. It was for 150 acres by the mouth of Peter's branch where it entered Tuckahoe Creek. It is dated 3, December 1715 and was presented at December Term of court. Witnesses were Frances Epes, Jr., Thomas Williamson and Bouth Napier, the eldest child of Capt. Robert Napier, who was then only 23 years of age. Napier sold this land on 1 January 1717 to Nicholas Cox of Charles City County and we see the unique signature (copied by the clerk) RNapier for the first time ( the R and N joined by one stroke of the pen), differentiating it from the signature of his son of the same name. (This was proved at April Court 1718, p. 240 op. cit.)

The final indications of the public appearance of our subject are in Goochland Co. Wills and Deeds, Vol 1, pp.211 and 286. There, "R. Napier" signs as a witness to a deed from Samuel Burk to Michal Holland, 17 18 August 1730, and another from Thomas Christian to Matthew Harris, 3 September 1731. He was then about 71 years old.

Returning to Henrico County records, we believe that we have found the last record of Mary (Perrin) Napier, in this power of attorney appended to the deed of sale from her husband to Nicholas Cox.

I doe By these Presents appt. Capt. William Randolph my true lawful Attorney for me in my stead to acknowledge my right of Dower to one hundred and fifty acres of land sold by my husband to Mr. Nicholas Cox confirming the Same as if personally present myself, as Witness my hand this third day of Aprill 1718.

MARY NAPIER (SEAL)

Witnesses: John Speare

Samuel (S mark) Hix

James (1 mark) Spears

This passed Court in Henrico County 7 April 1718, William Randolph Clerk (P. 241 op. city.). It appears that Mary Napier was not able, for some reason, to be in court to relinquish her dower rights, which resulted in the affidavit above, or power of attorney. Other historians of the Napier family have apparently never seen the above, and have concluded that Mary (Perrin) Napier was dead shortly after her daughter Elizabeth was born, in 1704, thereby forcing wrong conclusions about the ages or birth dates of the two known children who were not baptized at St. Peter's, namely, Patrick and Rene Napier. We cannot securely claim that Capt. Robert Napier died in Goochland County, although most of his children lived there during his life time. Henrico's records, and the other counties' already discussed above, were so damaged that it is possible he lived in one of them and wrote his will there, or his estate was administered and we have no clue to the same. There is no will or probate for him in Goochland County. The law suit titled Mary Napier vs. Robert Napier the Younger, held in Goochland's May Court, 1748, (being Mary (Hughes) Napier versus her own husband, Robert3 Napier) tells us that the older Robert was probably still alive, though now nearing 90 years of age.

Capt. Napier is seem to be the real progenitor of the family in Virginia, since he was the only male child of his parents, and had a much larger progeny than his father.

Children of Capt. Robert Napier and Mary (Perrin) Napier:

1. Booth (or Bouth) Napier, born 1 October 1692, King Queen County, baptized at St. Peter's Parish, New Kent, died 1779- January 1780, Goochland Co., Va., aged 88 years, 2 months, married Sarah (maiden name unknown).

2. Frances Napier, born 5 February,1694/5 living 25 October 1777, Fluvanna Co., Va. aged 82, married Benjamin Woodson, Sr. See Woodson Family history for continuation of my husbands line.

3. Robert Napier, Jr., born 16 September 1697, King Queen Co. Va., baptized as above, died 1762, Ablemarle Co., Va. aged 65, married Mary Hughes, daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Tarleton) Hughes, of Henrico County.

4. Katherine Napier, born 12 October 1700, King Queen Co., Va., baptized as above, no further information.

5. Elizabeth Napier, born 25 December 1704, King Queen Co., Va., baptized a above. Believed to be the same who was tithed for 100 acres of land in 1763 in Hanover Co., Va. Witnessed a deed of her brother Booth Napier 17 February 1728/29 in Goochland Co., and also was tithed in 1755 in Goochland Co, for nephew Rene Woodson, and Negroes Jack, Speedwell and Nel. She also witnessed the last will of her nephew Booth Woodson, proved 19 July 1757, Goochland County.

6 Rene Napier born ca. 1710, King William (or Henrico) C., Va., died ca. October 1751, in Goochland Co.,, Va., aged about 41 years, married about 1740, to Winifred (Champion) Hudnall, Widow of Thomas Hudnall of Prince William Co., Va.

7. Patrick Napier, born 1 February 1713, Henrico Co., Va; died 23 August 1774, Ablemarle Co., Va., aged 61; married ca. 1735, Virginia, Martha Claiborne, daughter of Thomas and Anne (Fox) Claiborne of Henrico County.

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• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 5 2019, 2:12:32 UTC

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• Residence: USA
• Residence: New Kent, Virginia - Bet. 1684–1786
• Residence: Richmond, Virginia, USA - Bet. 1884–1979
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Oct 23 2019, 3:30:40 UTC

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• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Dec 13 2020, 3:29:40 UTC
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I1076...

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References

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Napier-325