John Archer, of Elizabeth City County

Not the son of Mary Royall & George Archer, Sr. and not the same as John Archer, of “Archer Hall”

concerns

If this John's date of birth is correct, he was born too early to have been a son of George or Mary. Further research is warranted. George would have been c. 24 years old, but Mary only c. 13?

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Archer-632

John Archer patented land in Elizabeth City County about 1695.[1] John Archer had died prior to late 1713 based on 13 November 1713 (and later) adjacent patentees who referred to his land as "heirs of John Archer, dec'd."

Land Records

Cavaliers and Pioneers, volume II (1695-1732) includes four entries mentioning John Archer:

page 134 - in a 13 November 1713 patent, alongside "land of heirs of John Archer dec'd" page 157 - same in a 16 June 1714 patent (by Thomas Allen)
page 196 - "to Mr. John Archer" in describing a boundary in a 22 January 1717 patent.
page 353 - heirs of dec'd John Archer alongside a 1729 patent to Miles Carey, Gent.

It seems the three mentions of "land of heirs of John Archer dec'd" were in Elizabeth City County. The 1717 patent (p 196) was Henrico County. The Elizabeth City County land was alongside Capt Henry Royall's land. The 1717 Henrico County patent was to Francis Epes & lines mentioned included Capt Jefferson's & John Gill's.

Land grant dated April 22?, 1695 for land in Elizabeth City Co., VA. 375 acres. To John Archer. The land grant references the lands of Pascho Curle, Capt. Henry Jenkins, Capt. Anthony Armistead? & Capt. Thomas Alomby?, dec’d.[2][3]

Will

A will for John "Arthur" was proved in Elizabeth City County:[2][4]
"I, John Arthur… sick & weak etc… bequeath...
"to son Thom. Arthur my seat of Land where I now live after his mother's death…" 375 acs and also cattle, household items & tools.
to daughter Hannah, cattle & household items.
to daughter Eliza., cattle & household items.
to daughter Sarah, cattle & household items.
The remaining part of land is to be divided between "my three daughters." Dear & well-beloved wife Eliza. is to be executrix.
Dated: 17 Feb 1695/6. Signed: John Arthur. Wit: Thom. Allin, Wm. Williams, Thom. Williams. Pro: 18 March 1696/7 by same three witnesses.

Research Notes

Conflated Information: It seems there were two John Archers, one with land by 1695 in Elizabeth City County, and one who was born in Henrico County c1675. The one in Elizabeth City died before 13 November 1713; the one in Henrico County left a will dated 1717 and proved in 1718. The Henrico County John Archer was George Archer's youngest son, and was born no earlier than 1668, as he was still in the custody of his guardian as of 1689. The two profiles (Archer-1764 and this one) had been conflated.

That this John and the Henrico County John are two different people are proved by this John having died before the other John wrote his will.

Detached Profiles

The profiles attached as parents of this John (born 1644) were detached 10 August 2010:

George Archer (abt.1630-1675)
Mary (Wood) Archer (abt.1631-bef.1682)

Note - The widow of George Archer, Mary, married Joseph Royall. Her maiden name is not known. Mary Wood, the daughter of Abraham Wood, did not marry an Archer. She married Thomas Chamberlayne.

Sources

1. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Archer-632
   1. Blanche Adams Chapman, Wills and Administrations of Elizabeth City County, Virginia, 1688-1800..., p 139
   2. Posted by Al Batts to GenForum, "(Archer/Royall/Batte) - John Archer & Elizabeth Royall of Elizabeth City Co., VA", 15 September 2008 (accessed 17 August 2021).
   3. Also listed in William Armstrong Crozier's Virginia county records, page 112.
   4. See also William Armstrong Crozier, Virginia county records, page 4.
   5. See also GenForum (helpful)
   6. https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/archer/3317/
   7. https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/archer/3318/
   8. Find A Grave: Memorial #176015278 for John Archer (born 1744, died 1717), accessed 7 May 2021 (conflated)
2. Elizabeth City County has been incorporated into the City of Hampton, and Warwick County has been incorporated into the City of Newport News. Source: Library of Congress, A map of the state of Virginia, constructed in conformity to law from the late surveys authorized by the legislature and other original and authentic documents (1859).