Colonel Robert Wynne, I

Biography

Robert Wynne (1622–1675) was a Virginia politician and landowner. He was one of the men representing Charles City County in the House of Burgesses from 1658 until 1675, and in 1658 and during the Colony's "Long Parliament" fellow burgesses selected him as their Speaker 1662–74.[1] This was the second longest tenure of any Speaker.[2]

Wynne was born in Canterbury, England, being baptized there on December 22, 1622. His grandfather, also Robert Wynne, had been mayor of Canterbury in 1599, and other relatives had served in Parliament.[2]

He settled in Charles City County, Virginia, in early 1656, though he may have arrived in Virginia earlier. He served on the county court, though he was fined for poor attendance in September 1659. He also did not serve as a burgess in that year's assembly, though he did the years before and after.[2]

The House of Burgesses called by Sir William Berkeley in 1661 continued without dissolving until 1676, meeting in seventeen sessions during that period. At the second session in 1662, Wynne was elected as Speaker to replace Henry Soane, who had died during the recess. Under Wynne's leadership, the House took an active role in business previously left to the Governor and Council, creating a standing committee to advise the Governor between sessions.[2]

Wynne died in 1675; his will was dated July 1.[2]

Family

• Son of Peter Wynne and Martha Mary (Coppin)
• Brother of Sarah Wynne, Mary Wynne and Elizabeth Wynne
• Husband of Mary Sloman — married 11 Dec 1653 in Canterbury, Kent, England. She was the daughter of John Sloman & Katherine Eppes, and the widow of Francis Poythress.

Their children:

1. Thomas WYNNE (1657, Charles City Co.-1718, Prince George or Surry Co., VA), m. 1)- and 2) Agnes STITH and had issue: Joseph (m. - LLEWELLYN), and Sloman (m. Elizabeth STITH) by first spouse; Thomas (m. 1] Ann, d/o Robert BOLLING and Ann STITH, 2] Martha, perhaps widow of his brother Joseph), Robert (m. 1] Martha JEFFERSON, 2] Mary PHILIPSON), Mary (m. Nathaniel MALONE), and Lucy (m. John COX), these by Agnes STITH.
2. Robert WYNNE (d. by 1675).
3. Joshua WYNNE (abt. 1662, Charles City Co., VA-1715, Prince George Co., VA), m. Mary, d/o Peter JONES, and had issue: Peter (m. 1] d/o Col. Edward HILL, and 2] Frances ANDERSON HERBERT), Joshua, m. Mary SLOMAN, Robert (m. 1]--HAMLIN and 2] Sarah KNIBB), William (m. Frances READ), Francis, Mary (m. John WORSHAM), and Margaret (m. Edward GOODRICH).
4. Mary, m. John WOODLIEF, s/o Capt. John WOODLIEF.

Will

• Robert Wynne of Jordan's Parish of Charles City County, in Virginia dated 1 July 1675. Will probated 15 August 1678.
• To be buried in Jordan's Church as near as possible to my son Robert.
• My estate in England as follows:
• To my eldest son Thomas Wynne one farm in White Staple Parish in Kent near Canterbury, and commonly called Linebett Banckes; if he dies, to my son Joshua, and if he dies, to my daughter Wodlief.
• To my son Thomas two houses in Canterbury in St. Mildreds' Parish in the same form as the said farm.
• To my youngest son Joshua Wynne one house and oatemeale mill lying in Dover Lane without St. Georges in Canterbury, commonly called the Lilly Pott, and two houses adjoining where a ropemaker and one Rawlins were formerly tenants.
• Touching my estate in Virginia, to my son Thomas all the cattle of his own mark except one cow called Moll which is to be killed for provisions;
• to my son Joshua my plantation called Georges withal the tobacco houses;
• to my daughter Wodlief, one servant of fewer years to serve the next shipping after my decease;
• to my grandchild and godson young George Wodlief one filly foal.
• All the rest of my estate in Virginia and England to my wife and executrix Mary Wynne.
• Overseers: Thomas Grendon, Merchant, and my son-in-law

Notes

[The testator, Captain Robert Wynne, was, in his day, one of the most influential men in Virginia. Beginning his service a representative for Charles City county at the sessions of March, 1657–8, and March, 1659–60, he was during the entire existence of Virginia's "Long Parliament" 1661–1674, Speaker of the House of Burgesses. It would appear from his will that he married a widow Poythress. The woodliefs are believed to be descendants of Captain John Woodlief, who came to Virginia in 1620 to take charge of the well-known Berkeley plantation, in regard to which the "Smith of Nibley Papers," now in the New York Public Library, give so much interesting information. Robert Wynne's sons were living and married early in the 18th century. Thomas Wynne, gent, of Prince George county, was living in 1707, and then aged 50. In November of the same year, he, together with Agnes his wife, made deeds, recorded in Surry, to his daughter Mary Melone, and his son Robert Wynne. Major Joshua Wynne and Mary his wife, deeded a tract of land in Surry in 1708. In that year he was a justice of Prince George county. These brothers are believed to be ancestors of the Wynnes of southern Virginia.]

Source: Virginia Gleanings in England. Page 163. < AncestrySharing >

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References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Wynne_%28Virginia_politician%29 Cites
   1. Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography (1915), vol. 1 p. 365
   2. Kukla, Jon (1981). Speakers and Clerks of the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1643–1776. Richmond, Virginia: Virginia State Library. ISBN 0-88490-075-4.
2. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sloman-1
3. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wynne-2
   1. Jamestowne Society: Wynne/Wynn, Robert - A9301; born ca. 1622, died 1675, Charles City Co.: 1658 (Burgess); 1661-74 (Speaker of House of Burgesses). accessed 14 September 2018. < link >
   2. New River Notes, Colonial Virginia Register < link >
   3. "Virginia Gleanings in England (Continued)," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 14, No. 2 (Oct., 1906), pp. 171-180. Published by: Virginia Historical Society, (p. 173 has transcript of will) [http://www.jstor.org/stable/4242799
   4. "Epes Family," Chapter 14, (accessed August 26, 2015). It is posted by the "Poythress Surname Genealogy Research" website. < link >