Charles Jordan

From http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~jordanfamily/genealogy/richard_jorda...

Children of Richard JORDAN and Elizabeth are:

iv. Charles JORDAN, born ca 1679 in Surry Co, VA; died in Living in 1694 Surry Co, VA.

Notes

Notes for Charles JORDAN: This line has not been traced.

Surry Co, VA Deed Bk 5 p 62, 1695, RICHARD JORDAN, SR (II) of Surry Co and wife Elizabeth for quantity of tobacco sell to John FORT, 300 ac in Southwark Parish beg. at mouth of a great branch out of mouth of N E side of John Chohakek swamp. /s/ Richard Jordan, Sr. and Elizabeth X Jordan Witnesses: CHARLES X JORDAN and Richard Ham Rec. 10 Sep 1695

Charles was born between 1678 and 1679. He was not 20 years old in 1695 but was old enough to sign as a witness.

Charles is listed in his father's household on the 1694 tithables of Surry Co, VA so was of taxable age.

He is not listed in the 1698 nor 1704 tithables of Surry Co, VA.

From https://genfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Jordanchron1640-172... page 22

June 1694 - Surry tithables, list of Francis Clements for Southwarke parish: Rich. Jordan Senr., Cha. Jordan, Robt. Lanier – 3 Rich. Jordan Junr. – 1 Charles Jordan must have turned 16 within the last year, thus born in late 1677 or early 1678.

From https://genfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Jordanchron1640-172... page 24

June 1695 - Surry tithables, list of Francis Clements for Southwarke parish: Richd. Jordan Senr., Charles Jordan – 2
Richd. Jordan Junr. – 1

10 Sept 1695 - Deed: Richard Jordan Sr. and wife Elizabeth Jordan of the upper [Southwarke] parish of Surry County to John Fort, unspecified quantity of tobacco, 300 acres in Southwarke parish... beginning at the mouth of a great branch issuing out of the mouth of the northeast side of Johnchecohunk Swamp... Signed: Richard Jordan, Sr. and Elizabeth (x) Jordan. Witness: Charles (x) Jordan, Richard Ham. Both Richard Jordan and Elizabeth Jordan acknowledged on the same day. [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p62] The latter two deeds are part of a 1689 patent which adjoined the 1684 patent. The deed to John Fort implies that he was married to Elizabeth Jordan by September 1695. Either Margaret Jordan House or Elizabeth Jordan Fort was likely the eldest daughter.

From https://genfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Jordanchron1640-172... page 26 - 27

24 September 1695 - Will of Richard Jordan Sr., proved in 1699: To son Richard, what land & estate I have to bestow [bestowed?] on him, after my death a breeding sow, he being in possession of the sd land in my lifetime... To son Charles, a parcel of land which was formerly Mr. Owens being part of tract I now live on, being divided by a line of marked trees the lower part of it to him and the lawful heirs of his body forever, also all my working tools. To son Robert plantation and land I do now live on, that is to say the upper part of that line, after the death of my wife to him and the lawful heirs of his body. If either of my sons Charles or Robert die without issue, land shall go to the longest liver... [if they both die without issue, then the land to be equally divided between “my three youngest daughters or the longest liver of the three.” Bequests of livestock to daughters Rachel, Elizabeth Fort, and Margaret House. [eg, “unto my daughter Elizabeth Fort one breeding sow”] Bequests of one ewe and lamb each to daughters Hannah, Mary, and Sarah – “my three youngest daughters have the three sheep when they shall attain the age of sixteen years.” “My wife sole executrix... my wife shall enjoy my plantation during her natural life... my son Charles shall dwell with and work for his mother until he shall attain the age of 20 years and then to be possessed of the aforesaid land... my son Robert shall dwell and work for his mother until he shall attain the age of 18 yrs... if my wife shall die before my desire is that my son Robert be placed out until the age of 16 years... the rest of my plantation may be employed to the maintenance of my three youngest daughters until my son Robert shall attain the age of 21 yrs. “My trusted and well beloved friends Josiah Proctor and John Fort to be overseers” and wife Elizabeth Jordan executrix. Signed: Richard Jordan Sr. Witness: Joshua (x) Proctor, Robt. (x) Owins, Richard (x) Ham. [Surry County Deeds & Wills Book 5, p183] Proved 7 November 1699 on the oaths of Joshua Proctor and Richard Ham. [Surry County Orders 1691-1713, p204]

From later tithables, it appears Robert Jordan was born 1684/5 and was about 11 at this time. He was apparently close to 16 when his father died and, because his mother was still alive, does not appear to have been bound out after all. Charles Jordan appears to have been born 1677/8 and was about 18 at this time, consistent with the will’s implication that he was over 16 but under 20. The only two married daughters are Elizabeth and Margaret. Rachel is the next eldest. The three youngest daughters are all under 16.

Note that the will seems to clarify that Elizabeth was the mother of both Charles and Robert, something we couldn’t have been sure of without this record. Note also that the son Richard is not named an executor.

Note also that the language “to him and the lawful heirs of his body” created an entail on the land left to Robert and Charles. That is, it gave the sons a lifetime interest rather than an outright title. They could not sell the land, nor could they devise it in their own wills, for this language conveyed the land in tail to assure that it would remain in the family, passing from generation to generation. As best we can tell, given the uncertainty of the acreages in early surveys, Richard Jordan owned roughly 340 to 350 acres at this time, the eastern part of his 1684 patent and the western 150a of Owen’s patent. He divided this land between Robert and Charles.

This is the last record of Charles Jordan in Surry. He does not appear in the tithables for 1696-1703, nor in the court, deed, or will records. From the succession of land, he apparently died soon after this will was written, but before it was proved.