Cornelius Dabney, a son of Theodore Dawbney/Daubney and his wife, Dorothy Batte, was baptized December 11, 1630, in the parish of Bucknall in Lincolnshire, England. Cornelius probably emigrated to Virginia in the late 1650s or early 1660s. In the vestry book of St Peters parish, which begins in 1684, Cornelius Dabney is listed as churchwarden 1684-1685 and subsequently as a member of the vestry until his death in late 1693 or early 1694.

"Cornelius evidently possessed exceptional linguistic and diplomatic ability because in 1676 the government appointed him the official interpreter for Queen Cockacoeske of the Pamunkey Indians, a tribe then friendly to the colonial government. In 1677, the English government made gifts of rich clothing and jewelry to the queen who led the tribe, her son, and her chief counselor to reward them for refusing to participate in recent raids by other tribes and to partly compensate them for injuries inflicted by angry settlers. A new gray suit was also given to the queens interpreter, Cornelius Dabney, described as a man of goodly presence and of large stature in great esteem with the queen and her people. In the Journals of the House of Burgesses and the Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts are several orders and requests from 1676 to 1684 to pay Cornelius Dabney for his services as interpreter."

family

From http://www.dabney-early-virginia.info/getperson.php?personID=I92&tr...

Cornelius was married first to Eedeth (__), probably during the 1660s They had three children:

• James,
• George, and
• Sarah,

who were probably born during the 1660s or early 1670s. Eedeth was still living in 1678, when Cornelius mentioned her in a letter to Col. Moryson, but probably died soon after.

Cornelius remarried to Susannah (__) about 1679. They had six children, of whom 4 survived into adulthood:

• Dorothy, born before 1680, died about 1732;
• Benjamin, born ca 1682, died before March, 1722;
• Elizabeth, born ca 1684, died April 4, 1688;
• Cornelius II, born ca 1686, died 1764/65;
• John, born ca 1687, died April 7, 1688;
• Mary, born January 22, 1688, died September 7, 1748.

Benjamin is known from only two records, but both are official documents and therefore reliable. No records have been found for their birth dates except for Mary, so their birth order and dates are mostly estimated from indirect evidence.

After Cornelius death, Susannah remarried to David Anderson. They had one child, David Anderson, Jr. David Sr. died about 1716. Susannah died after March 7, 1722, when she signed her will. She left bequests to her then living children: Cornelius Dabney II; Dorothy (Dabney) Anderson Trice, wife first of Capt. William Anderson and second of James Trice; Mary (Dabney) Carr, wife of Capt. Thomas Carr; David Anderson Jr.; and her grandchild, William Anderson.

disputed origins

Dabney McLean has written (http://www.juch.org/gedpages/nti/nti01859.htm):

The origin of Cornelius Dabney, ancestor of the Dabneys of Colonial Virginia, never has been proven to my satisfaction. However, keeping in mind the variant spellings of the name, I would accept the preponderence of evidence that he was the "Cornelius Daubeny christened 11 Dec. 1631, the son of Theodor Daubney, town parish of Bucknall," Lincolnshire, England (Bishops Transcripts of Bucknall). "Theodor Dawbney was christened 6 June 1606, the son of John Daubney, town parish of Scotter,"Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire IGI, p. 6215). According to the Lincolnshire archivist (e-mailed to me on March 6. 1997), "it is highly likely" that Theodor was the son of "John Dawbney, born Scotter 1570, an alumnus of Cambridge University (St. John's College 1588), Vicar of Calverton, Nottinghamshire, and Rector of Scotter, Lincolnshire 1605-1610" (J. Venn, Alumni Cantabrigiensis, Part 1. From the Earliest Times to 1751, Vol. II (Fabbs-Juxton), 1922, p. 18). Theodor Dawbney married Dorothy Batts (Batte?) on 30 April 1630 (Bishops Transcripts of Bucknall). It is significant that Cornelius Dabney, the first in Virginia, named two daughters "Dorothy," presumably for his mother (see below). Unfortunately, no wills are extant for John, Theodor, and Cornelius Dawbney (Dabney).

Cornelius Debany (Dabony) was granted 200 acres in New Kent County, Virginia on 27 Sept. 1664 beg, at the mouth of Totopotomoys Cr. Upon the S. side of Yorke Riv., etc. (Patent Book #5, p. 406); 640 acres upon the lower side of Tottopotomoys Cr. etc. on 7 June 1666 (Patent Book # 5, p.625), and 100 acres on south side Yorke Riv. Above Totopotomoyes Cr. beg. at the mouth of same on 16 Mar. 1667/8 (Patent Book #6, p.114; Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nell Nugent, Vol. 1, pp. 515 and 559, and Vol. 2, p. 31).This land is now in Hanover County. In 1679 the Pamunkey Indians leased for 99 years "six or seven hundred acres" to Cornelius Dabney (English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, compiled by Louis des Cognets, Jr., p. 58). In Sainsbury's Abstracts of Colonial State Papers, in the Public Records Office in London, there are two letters from Cornelius Dabney, the "Interpreter to the Queen of Pamunkey." The first is a state letter from the Queen of the Pamunkeys translated by Cornelius Dabney in his official capacity and transmitted to Colonel Francis Moryson of the Royal Commission of Virginia. The second is a personal letter to Colonel Moryson, dated Virginia, Jun ye 29th, 1678, in which Cornelius Dabney concluded: "...Sr. my wife Eedeth has her humble service p'sented unto y' Hono'. (she) would gladly send y' one of her Boyes a yeare or two hence.My humble service to y' Hono'. I am: Sr: y' Hono's most humble servant in all obedience. Cornelius Dabney." (Charles William Dabney, "The Origin of the Dabney Family of Virginia," Va. Mag. of History and Biography, April 1937, Vol. 45, No. 2, p. 134).

On 22 May 1686, Mr. Cornelius Dabnee was listed as a vestryman of St. Peter's Parish Church, New Kent. He died between 23 October 1693 and 1 May 1694 (Vestry Book and Register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia 1684-1786, transcribed and edited by C. G. Chamberlayne (Richmond: The Library Board, 1937, pp. 4, 40, 43)).

In 1699 his children "James Dabney, Geo. Dabney, Dorothy Dabney, and Sarah Dabney (were) devisees of Cornelius Dabney dec'd (of) 700 acres to which is added of Low Land thereto adjoining 150 acres" in Pamunkey Neck.(Louis des Cognets, Jr., English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, p.59).

"The Library of Virginia Digital Collection" (Electronic Card Index) records these Land Office Patents and Grants in King and Queen Co. in Pamunkey Neck:

Date
To Whom Granted Number of Acres Patent Book

25 Apr 1701 Dabney, James 204

1. 9, p. 346

" Anderson, Dorothy (Dabney) 179.5

1. 9, p. 350

" Dabney, George 293

1. 9, p. 351

" Dabney, Sarah 179

1. 9. p. 352

1 Apr 1702 Dabney, James 1000

1. 9, p. 445

Cornelius Dabney's children were recorded further by Louis des Cognets, Jr. (English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, pp. 4, 5, 14, 25, 36)as follows:

List of Justices of the Peace Appointed: 1702 King William Co. George Dabney 1710 " James Dabney, Gent. 1710 " William Anderson (husband of Dorothy Dabney) 1714 " George Dabney 1726 " George Dabney List of Sheriffs Appointed: 1713 King William Co. George Dabney

In the Vestry Book of St. Peter's Parish are records of:

Burials in April 1688 of "Jn: sone to Cornelius Dabenie (probably named for Cornelius' grandfather John Dawbney) and Eliz: daugh to Cornelius Dabenie" (Page 426).

Baptism on 11 Nov. 1698 of Eliz. daughter of Geo. Dabney (Page 349).

Baptism on 8 Jan. 1698/9 of Welthan daughter of James Dabney (Page 350).James Dabney had married Ann, daughter of Philip Sherwood of Rappahanock Co. (Essex Co. Book 8, p. 279, April 1690).

In Old New Kent County, Vol. 2, p. 883, Dr. Malcolm Hart Harris reported that after the death of his first wife Eedeth, Cornelius Dabney married Susanah, whose second husband was David Anderson. In her will dated 5 February 1724 (Hanover County Will Book 1, 1862-1868, Reel 1, pp. 632-634, Virginia State Library), Susanah Dabney-Anderson named her children:

Cornelius Dabney, the executor of her will. He married Sarah Jennings on 17 April 1721 (Virginia Marriage Records, by Wm. M. Clemons, Virginia State Library). His will was proved on 7 Feb. 1765 in which he named his wife Sarah and children William, John, Cornelius (deceased), Mary Elizabeth Maupin, Fanny Maupin, and Anna Thompson (Hanover County Will Book 1, 1862-1868, Reel 1, beginning page 634, Virginia State Library).An executor of his will was his second son, John Dabney, who became a Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War.

Dorothy, wife of James Trice. Therefore, Cornelius Dabney named two daughters Dorothy, presumably for his mother Dorothy (Batts) Dabney. (His first daughter by Eedeth named Dorothy married William Anderson and may have died before this second daughter Dorothy by Susanah was born).

Mary, wife of Capt. Thomas Carr. They were the grandparents of Dabney Carr, who married Martha, sister of Thomas Jefferson (Old New Kent County, by Dr. Malcolm Hart Harris, Vol. 2. pp. 956-957). David Anderson.

As a 10th generation Virginian, I have worked on the Dabneys for 25 years. My data is well documented, mainly by original records. Please advise me if you have any additions or corrections to this data.

Contributed by Dabney N. McLean, author of:

Henry Soane, Progenitor of Thomas Jefferson (1985) Mary Horsmanden Byrd of "Westover" (1989) The English Ancestry of Thomas Jefferson (1996)

For more information, please contact Dabney N. McLean at: dmclean900@worldnet.att.net or visit the Virginia Genealogy web site at VAGenWeb

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Please read the following article by Charles William Dabney published in April 1937 Virginia Magazine of History and Biography regarding the longstanding controversy regarding whether the Dabney family of Virginia is of French Huguenot or Anglo-Norman origin. http://milleralbum.com/wp-content/uploads/tmm-docs/Dabney-Family-Or...

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The following article by Tor Hylbom is a well-written explanation of the controversies surrounding the origins of this family.

http://hylbom.com/family/paternal-lines/paternal-cl-to-du/dabney-3046/:

At this time, it is not definitely known from whom Cornelius Dabney (b. 1640) is descended. Many claims have been made that Theodore DAubigne was his father, and that that Theodore was a descendant of the French Huguenot Theodore-Agrippa dAubigne (1552 to 1630), who was a poet, soldier, propagandist and chronicler.[2] Whether or not Theodore D™Aubigne is actually the father of Cornelius Dabney (b. 1640) is unproven. There are also plausible theories that the Dabneys of Virginia were descended from Dabneys who had resided in England for centuries, and were not French Huguenots at all. Even under the Huguenot scenario, there seems to be agreement that the Virginia Dabneys migrated from England (or Wales), where they had lived for some years as refugees. The two theories are explained in an article in Charles William Dabneys article entitled Origin of the Dabney Family of Virginiaœ, Virginia Magazine, Vol. XLV, No. 2 (April 1937). The opposing theories are summarized as follows (paraphrased):

The Huguenot Theory[3]

One theory was that the original founders of the family were Huguenots who first fled to England, married there, and then came to America. The advocates of the Huguenot theory claim descent from a Cornelius Dabney who married Sarah Jennings for his second wife in 1721, and was a descendant of the French Huguenot Theodore-Agrippa d™Aubigne (1552 to 1630), through his son Constant (b. 1609?). According to this tradition, brothers Robert and John immigrated to Massachusetts and Virginia, respectively, around the same time as Cornelius and founded three separate Dabney lines in America. This was a persistent tradition in all branches of the family for many years and was widely promulgated by the publication in 1888 of Mr. W. H. Dabneys book, The Dabneys of Virginia. This belief began to be questioned, however, when it was learned from old Colonial records that there was a Cornelius Dabney in Virginia as early as 1664, when he received land grants, at least twenty-one years before the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. In fact, Cornelius, the first immigrant who had established himself, learned the language of the Indians and been made agent of the Colony to the Indians, must have been in Virginia several years before 1664. It appears likely that the supposed progenitor of the Huguenot Dabneys in Virginia (Cornelius), was actually the son of the earlier Cornelius Dabney, who was resident in Virginia in 1664, prior to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and the Huguenot migration to America.

The Norman/English Theory

The second theory was that the Virginia Dabneys were originally Norman French and came over with William the Conqueror. There are numerous Dabneys in England whose genealogies can apparently be documented from English records. The records in Virginia indicate not only are there no grounds for supposing that the Virginia Dabneys are descendants of any Huguenot, but that, on the contrary, there is every reason for believing they were of English origin. The insuperable difficulty in the theory of the Huguenot origin of this family is the fact that a Dabney had been in Virginia at least thirty years before the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which was the occasion of the dispersion of the Huguenots. Not knowing this, the advocates of the Huguenot theory claim descent from a Cornelius Dabney who married Sarah Jennings for his second wife in 1721, when, as a matter of fact, this Cornelius was the son or grandson of the Cornelius who was in Virginia in 1664 and died in 1693.

St. Margarets Church, Bucknall, Lincolnshire (photo credit: Gary Brothwell)

One theory of the parentage of Cornelius Dabney is explained in William Deyos book (cited above). He cites the discoveries of Arden H. Brame, which were published in The Colonial Genealogist (Vol. XII, Issue 46, p. 172). According to Deyo (p. 31), Brame claims that:

œCornelius Dabney was christened as Cornelius Daubney on 11 Dec 1631 in the parish of Bucknall, Lincolnshire, son of Theodor Daubney. His mother was Dorothy bate or Batts, christened on 18 Feb 1604, daughter of Humphrey Bate (christened 19 Mar 1576, son of Humphrey Bate and Rebecca Dowe, who were married 15 Jan 1561). Theodor Daubney married Dorothy Batts on 30 Apr 1630. Theodor Dawbney was christened on 6 Jun 1606, in the parish of Scotter, Lincolnshire, son of John Dawbney. Cornelius Dabneys grandfather, John Dawbney, was born 1570 at Scotter, Lincolnshire. He graduated from St. John™s College, Cambridge University, in 1588. John Dawbney was the Vicar of Calverton, Nottinghamshire, and the Rector of Scotter (1605-1610). He was buried at Scotter on 28 Jan 1610/11. HJohn was designated on the records as the son of William Dawbney (about 1535-1613), whose wife was Agnes (bried 15 May 1604, Scotter). William Dawbney left a wil in 1613. Williams brother, John Dawbney, was the Vicar of Scotter before Williams son, John, had left a will at Scotter in 1605. William Dawbney (about 1535-1613) was named in the will of his father, Richard Dawbney (died 1545/6) of Scotter. Richard Dawbneys wife was Isabell

My own belief at this time, based on the reading I have done, is that the Virginia Dabneys were descended from an established English family, which had been resident in England probably as far back as the Norman conquest, and that the Huguenot connection is a legend. If there were a Robert dAubigne who went to Boston, and brothers, Cornelius and John d™Aubigne who went to Virginia, it is certainly wrong to call them Huguenots, for their grandfather, Constant, renounced the Protestant faith, if he ever held it., and was denounced in his father's wrtings for doing so. Moreover, there is evidence of at least one Dabney residing in Virginia decades prior to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which led to widespread Huguenot migration to America. Presumably for these reasons, he Dabney/DAubigne line is not a recognized Huguenot line by the Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia (although the lineage has apparently been recognized by the National Huguenot Society and the Huguenot Society of America).

Colonial records indicate that there was a Dabney (cited as Cornelius De Baney and spelled variously de Bonis and deBoney) in Virginia certainly as early as 1664 when he received a grant of 200 acres on Tottopotomoy Creek, South Side of York River, a little below the fort of Manakin. (27 Sep 1664). Later, there is also record of a grant of an additional 640 acres on Tottopotomoys Creek (7 Jun 1666). These grants and subsequent records indicate residence in Virginia at least twenty-one years before the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, casting doubt on the claim that Cornelius Dabney was a Huguenot.

Primary source references are cited in Virginia Magazine, œOrigin of the Dabney Family in Virginia 1937. The author of this article concluded, based on the evidence reviewed, that, Cornelius immigrated to Virginia some time between 1649 and 1664 (at the latest). Furthermore, there is evidence that by 1664 he had established himself, learned the language of the Indians and been made agent of the Colony to the Indians, which suggests that a date closer to 1649 is probable. According to other sources, he is said to have been a negotiator and interpreter between the British authorities and Cockacoeske, queen of the Pamunkey Indians and widow of Chief Totopotomoi, a grandson of the sister of chief Powhatan, the father of Pocahontas.

Susannah Swann, the wife of Cornelius Dabney has been an enigma and not easily explained in the Swann family. Based on the birth dates of her children, she must have married prior to 1674. She requires further investigation, and gaps in the historical record may make it impossible to positively identify her. In many generologies, she is identified as the daughter of Thomas Swann and Margaret Delton. Thomas is the son of William Swann and Judith Greene. William had emigrated from England to America not long after Jamestown was settled, probably sometime after the year 1616, which was the year Thomas was born (whether in England or Virginia is unclear). William Swann was a pioneer when he crossed the James River and settled Swann™s Point, five miles from Jamestown. Several generations of Swanns family were born, lived and died at Swanns Point, in Surrey County, Virginia. Since Susannahs actual parentage is so unclear, I have not included Thomas and William among my direct ancestors, pending clarification.

Thomas Swann and Margaret Deltons first-born daughter, Susannah Swan, born 26 October 1640 and died 25 November 1660 without issue œHaving been married to Major William Marriott eight months and twenty two days and was buried at Swanns Point according to the records available. If this is true, she was not the wife Cornelius Dabney, although Cornelius wife may have been connected to this Swann family in some manner that has not been discovered. It is thought, for example, that Thomas father, William, remarried in 1637 following the death of his first wife, Judith Greene, in Virginia around March 1636, although the name of his second wife is unknown at present. However, William died the following year[4], leaving no record of children by his second wife.

If Susannah Swann, wife of Cornelius Dabney, was not the daughter of Thomas and Margaret, then who is she? There is not another contemporary Susanna Swann that fits the known facts. Although the surname of Swann is frequently attached to her in the historical narrative, I know of no documentary evidence to explain how that name became attached to her. Of course, the absence of facts invites speculation, which leads to an alternative theory, which will probably never be proven or disproven:

A historical marker located on Route 30 in King William County, Virginia (N 37 40.790 W 07 00.337)

At the time that Cornelius Dabney was married to Eedith, he know that he became the interpreter and close companion of Cockacoeske, Queen of the Pamunkey Indians, and widow of Chief Totopotomoi, a grandson of one of the sisters of Chief Powhatan, the father of Pocahontas. Because of Cornelius Dabneys close association with Queen Cocacoeske, it may be that he received a woman of the Queen's family to wed after the death of his first wife, Eedith. According to some family traditions, Cornelius Dabney's second wife, Susanna, is considered to have been of the family of Chief Totopotomoi and Cockacoeske. This is plausible and supported indirectly by a persistent family tradition among the Dabneys of Indian descent. If it is true, Susanna was most likely a granddaughter of Chief Totopotomoi and Queen Cockacoeske (perhaps by an English father), or possibly even a daughter, making Totpotmoi and Cockacoeske our direct ancestors (either 10th or 11th grandparents). For this reason, I have included an article on these Indian leaders under Notable Kin, even though the relationship has not been proved and probably never will be.

Descendants of Cornelius Dabney include Patrick Henry (the orator and Governor of Virginia), Dolly Madison (wife of President James Madison), Dabney Carr (brother-in-law of President Thomas Jefferson), Nancy Astor (first woman to sit in the British House of Commons), Zacchary Taylor (President of the United States), and his daughter Sarah Knox Taylor, the first wife of President Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy.

Cornelius Dabney is the 3rd great grandfather of Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), 12th President of the United States, as is another of our ancestors, Richard Lee[5], making President Taylor my 4th cousin 6x removed on his mother's side (through Dabney) and my 3rd cousin 8x removed on his father's side (through Lee).

Interestingly, Elizabeth Dabney Waller (1808-1881) was a descendant of Cornelius Dabney on both sides of her family, due to the fact that both of her grandmothers, Sarah Ann Dabney (1740-1822) and Mary Dabney (1742-1818), were children of John Cornelius Dabney (1724-1773) and Anna Harris (1724-1775). This means that Elizabeth's parents, Dabney Waller (1772-1849) and Elizabeth Minor (1768-1832) were 1st cousins, and Cornelius Dabney was her 3rd great grandfather in both the paternal and maternal lineages. It is worth noting that Elizabeth Minor is not of the lineage of Thomas Minor (1608-1690) of Stonington, Connecticut, who is discussed under his own heading, but rather of Meinert Doodes (1617-1677), whose son took his father's surname for his given name and adopted the Minor surname. With the marriage of Dabeny Waller and Elizabeth Minor, the Dabney lineage merges with the lineage of John Waller (1673-1754), and this lineage is continued under his own heading, as he was an immigrant to Virginia and is the first in his line.

Descendants in the direct lineage of Cornelius Dabney (i.e., those who are my ancestors) remained in Virginia until the mid 19th century, eventually settling in Spotsylvania County, where the Dabneys intermarried with the Waller and Carr families.

--------------------------------

• rootsweb.ancestry.com....

See: The Colonial Genealogist XII:3 has article written by Arden H. Brame Jr entitled "The English Birth and Ancestry of Cornelius Dabney (1631 - 1693/4) of Virginia".

Aka: Cornelius d'Aubigne. 1664- land patent New Kent Co., VA-Pamuney Nk. Father: John d'Aubigne descendant of: 1 Theodore Agrippa d'Aubigne , * b: 8 Feb 1551/52 d: 29 Apr 1630 + Suzanne Lezay d: 1596
2 Constant d'Aubigne , * b: 1584 + Ann Marchant 3 Theodore d'Aubigne , * b: ABT. 1610 4 John d'Aubigne , * b: ABT. 1640 5 Cornelius d'Aubigne 5 John Dabney 6 John Dabney + Sarah 7 Susanna Dabney b: 1700

At the time that Cornelius was married to Eedith he became the interpreter and close companion of Cockacoeske, Queen of the Pamunkey Indians, and widow of Chief Totopotomoi, a grandson of one of the two sisters of Chief Powhatan, father of Pocahontas.

Cornelius Dabney's second wife, Susanna, is considered by many to have been of the family of Chief Totopotomoi and Cockacoeske. Queen Cockacoeske had an illegitimate son, Capt. John West, by John West, son of Gov. John West of Va. Capt. John West was with his mother, Cockacoeske, and Cornelius Dabney in the late 1670s when the famous Treaty of Middle Plantation was signed by the various leaders of the tribes under Queen Cockacoeske. Died on the Pamunkey River, St. Peters Parish, New Kent County, Va

From: zomrak@wanadoo.fr To: jbass@digital.net Sent: Saturday, June 08, 2002 Subject: Dabneys of Virginia: "I am looking for informations on Cornelius Dabney, I read somewhere on the web that he was born 1631, Lincolnshire, England, married twice, Eedith and Susanna Jenning : family of chief Totomatoi and Cockacoeske, Pamunkey indians; Totomatoi, a grand son of one of the two sisters of chief Powhatan, father of Pocahontas. Do You know any thing about a possible link between the Dabneys and the Powhatans? I come from the Winstons of Hanover Co, Va, and the brothers married Dabneys sisters, that's why I am searching for more informations. Confusing, I know, but if You know something or somewhere to look, I would appreciate it. Thank You very much."

Dorothy Batte/Batts/ Botts. She married Thoedor Dabney probably in England on April 30, 1690. They had a son named Cornelius Dabney whoes second wife, Susanna/Susannah is thought to be a relative of Pocahontas, this is still up for much discussion. Theodor Dabney from La Rochelle, France, and removed to England to escape persecution.

Settled on N. Bank of Pamunky River, Virginia 1715-1717

Birth: Dec. 11, 1631 Bucknall East Lindsey District Lincolnshire, England Death: Oct. 19, 1694 New Kent County Virginia, USA

1874. Cornelius DABNEY was born on 11 Dec 1630/1632 in Bucknall, Lincolnshire England. He died 23 Oct 1693 - 1 May 1694 in Virginia. He married Susanna about 1664 in Pamunkey River,Saint Peter, , New Kent, Virginia. [Parents] Cornelius Debany (Dabony) was granted 200 acres in New Kent County, Virginia on 27 Sept. 1664 beg, at the mouth of Totopotomoys Cr. Upon the S. side of Yorke Riv., etc. (Patent Book #5, p. 406); 640 acres upon the lower side of Tottopotomoys Cr. etc. on 7 June 1666 (Patent Book # 5, p.625), and 100 acres on south side Yorke Riv. Above Totopotomoyes Cr. beg. at the mouth of same on 16 Mar. 1667/8 (Patent Book #6, p.114; Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nell Nugent, Vol. 1, pp. 515 and 559, and Vol. 2, p. 31).This land is now in Hanover County.

Cornelius DABNEY was married to Edith he became the interpreter and close companion of Cockacoeske, Queen of the Pamunkey Indians, and widow of Chief Totopotomoi, a grandson of one of the two sisters of Chief Powhatan, father of Pocahontas. Cornelius Dabney's second wife, Susanna, is considered by many to have been of the family of Chief Totopotomoi and Cockacoeske. Queen Cockacoeske had an illegitimate son, Capt. John West, by John West, son of Gov. John West of Va. Capt. John West was with his mother, Cockacoeske, and Cornelius Dabney in the late 1670s when the famous Treaty of Middle Plantation was signed by the various leaders of the tribes under Queen Cockacoeske.

In 1679 the Pamunkey Indians leased for 99 years "six or seven hundred acres" to Cornelius Dabney (English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, compiled by Louis des Cognets, Jr., p. 58). In Sainsbury's Abstracts of Colonial State Papers, in the Public Records Office in London, there are two letters from Cornelius Dabney, the "Interpreter to the Queen of Pamunkey." The first is a state letter from the Queen of the Pamunkeys translated by Cornelius Dabney in his official capacity and transmitted to Colonel Francis Moryson of the Royal Commission of Virginia. The second is a personal letter to Colonel Moryson, dated Virginia, Jun ye 29th, 1678, in which Cornelius Dabney concluded: "...Sr. my wife Eedeth has her humble service p'sented unto y' Hono'. (she) would gladly send y' one of her Boyes a yeare or two hence. My humble service to y' Hono'. I am: Sr: y' Hono's most humble servant in all obedience. Cornelius Dabney." (Charles William Dabney, "The Origin of the Dabney Family of Virginia," Va. Mag. of History and Biography, April 1937, Vol. 45, No. 2, p. 134).

Cornelius was the interpreter for Queen Cockacoeske of the Pamunkey Indians from Virginia, who was the daughter of Chief Opechancanough whom was the brother of Chief Powhatan. Chief Opechancanough was a brilliant tactician and War Chief. On a raid in 1622 that was comprised of an assault front that was no less than 140 miles in length. His warriors killed over 350 colonists and destroyed the towns' ironworks. This was so effective in hindering the colonists that there were no further raids until 1644. He could have easily wiped out the remaining colonists at Jamestown, however his goal was to curtail the encroachment of the settlers on his hunting grounds that were needed to feed his people. This treaty was ratified in the year 1677 and was signed by Queen Cockacoeske who was known as the Weroansqua. An excellent website complete with historical art and pictures that explores the history of the Powhatan Confederacy and associated tribes may be found at The Mariners Museum.

http://www.comanchelodge.com/western-cherokee.html

Virginia County Records, VI New Kent County Book No. 6. Original Source Page Name: 114 Cornelius Dabney 1667 Comment: 300 acres ID: I00711 Name: Cornelius D'AUBIGNE Sex: M Birth: 1640 in France Cornelius Dabney The Dabney family was originally of French descent and the name was changed from the French d'Aubigne to the English Dabney.

Probably one of the first of that name who came to the colonly of Virginia was Cornelius Dabney who patented land here in 1664, 1666, and 1667. He was a vestryman in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, and was interpreter for the Crown to the Queen of the Pamunkey Indians. 1664 Sept 27, Cornelius DeBaney (his name, appearing several times in the patent, has been incorrectly copied as DeBonis and DeBoney); 200 acres on Tottopotomoy's Creek, South side of York River, a little below the fort of Manaskin. For the transportation of 4 persons. 1666 June 7th, Cornelius Dabney, 640 acres upon the lower side of Tottopotomey's Creek, beginning at the upper line of Robert Henderson and John Fleming, purchased of Mr. Littlepage and James Turner, running to the extent thereof s.s.e.eastely, etc., June 7, 1666, for the transportation of 13 persons. 1667-8 Mar 16, 300 acres in New Kent Co., "on the south side of York River and upper side of Tottopotompy's Creek. For the transportation of 2 persons, Jone Winter and Besse, an Indian. 1668 married in England about this time. Susanna was born about 1643 in of the family of Chief Totopotomoi and Cockacoeske. She died after 5 Feb 1724 in Hanover, Virginia. Susannah is believed to be the daughter or granddaughter of Cockacoeske and her husband, Chief Totopotomoi. If the Dabneys descend from Totopotomoi and Cocacoeske, th y not only have a double descent from Pocahonta's father's sisters, but also descent from his brother Opechancanough , who married Powhatan's daughter, Cleopatra, the wife of Opechancanough.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/a/x/Marlene-D-Maxwell-...

Thanks go to Clyde Ray IV for the majority of the family information.

First wife Edith was still living as of Jun.29,1678, since researchers reported on reading a letter in the Public Record Offices, in London, England, prior to 1935, sent by Cornelius Dabney, in Virginia, to Col.Francis Morrison, no doubt a relative of Edith's, with that date, which included Edith's respects to Col.Morrison and the announcement of her intentions of sending her sons to England, and his care, (no doubt for their education), within a year or two. Therefore references in the biography to the marriage of Cornelius Dabney and Susanna Swann taking place around 1664 are definitely wrong, and Susanna is probably much younger than the birth year given to her. Her 1724 will, by which time she was the widow of David Anderson, only indicates 4 children: Cornelius Dabney Jr., (ca.1686-1764); Mary (Dabney) Carr, (1688-1748); Ruth (Dabney or Anderson?), who had married before that date James Trice; and David Anderson, (abt.1698-1735). There is no evidence linking any child of Cornelius Dabney Sr., other than those named in Susanna's will, to his second wife.

Family links:

Parents:

 Theodore Dabney (1610 - 1700)

 Dorothy Batt Dabney (1603 - 1635)

Spouses:

 Edith Morrison Dabney (1631 - ____)*

 Susannah Pamunkey Dabney (D'Aubigne) (1643 - 1724)*

Children:

 George Dabney (1669 - 1734)*

 Mary Dabney Winston (1679 - 1760)*

 Dorothy Dabney Anderson (1683 - 1742)*

 Mary Dabney Carr (1685 - 1748)*

 Cornelius Dabney (1688 - 1765)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Unknown

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Maintained by: Find A Grave Originally Created by: Lila Cole Record added: Oct 06, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 42781373 https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42781373