John Beheathland

John Beheathland

• Birth: Circa 1616 - Jamestown, Virginia, British Colonial America
• Death: Circa 1639 - England
• Parents: Captain Robert Beheathland and Mary

  ---

  
  

  ---

Origins

Robert Beheathland of Cornwall & Jamestown is the earliest documented colonial immigrant ancestor to the Virginia colony, with descendants living today. He was survived by two daughters; therefore, his surname is not well known. Scion of a wealthy mining family, Captain Beheathland brought sheet copper for the 1607 Virginia expedition for trade with the Indians. He is the only man on the original three ships to have documented descendants living today."[1]

The surname of his wife, Mary, is not known. Some claim she was Mary Nicholson but there is no documentation to support that. The widow, Mary Beheathland, married second, Lieut. Thomas Flint of Warwick County, Virginia. [10].

The three children of Mary and Robert Beheathland were:

1. Dorothy born in England or Virginia in 1612 or 1613. In Nov 1628 she is listed in Virginia court records as the step-daughter of Lt Thomas Flint living in Elizabeth city.
2. Mary was born in 1614 or 1615. About 1631 she married Captain Thomas Bernard of Warwick county. They had a daughter named Beheathland Bernard who married 1st to Francis Dade, alias Major John Smith and married 2nd to Major Andrew Gibson.
3. John was born in 1616 or 1617. He wrote his will in 1636 saying he was on the way to Virginia and the administration of his estate was granted in Oct 1639 to his cousin Charles Beheathland, who stated "John and died abroad, unmarried.

   ---

Research Notes

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Beheathland-1

"Robert Beheathland of Cornwall & Jamestown is the earliest documented colonial immigrant ancestor to the Virginia colony, with descendants living today. He was survived by two daughters; therefore, his surname is not well known. Scion of a wealthy mining family, Captain Beheathland brought sheet copper for the 1607 Virginia expedition for trade with the Indians. He is the only man on the original three ships to have documented descendants living today."[1]

"Until recently it was believed that one other original Jamestown colonist – William Spence(r) – also survived to marry and have descendants. There is a great deal of debate raging among historians, archeologists, and genealogists as to whether Spence’s descendants actually survived. Initially William Spence (no “r”), who arrived on the Susan Constant in 1607, was confused with William Spencer, who arrived aboard the Sarah in 1611. Spencer’s family has survived – that is not in question. However, he is not considered an “Original Planter”. It appears now that William Spence (no “r”, who arrived on the Susan Constant in 1607) and his wife were killed by natives during the Anglo-Powhatan war. Their 3 year-old daughter Sarah was left an orphan with no further indication of her survival past the single court record appointing a guardian for her in 1624. Given this new information it appears that only Beheathland’s descendants can, with any certainty, claim “first family” status." [2][13]

References

1. http://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KNCY-X1J