Richard ‘of Curles’ Ferris

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ferris-5

Biography

From < “My Genealogy Home Page:Information about Richard of Curles Ferris Fariss” > by Paul F. Ammons.

The first person of this surname in Henrico County, Virginia, is that of Richard Ferris. Robert Hallom obtained a patent in Henrico Co., on 2 June 1636 for the transportation of twenty persons, one of whom was listed as Rich. Ferris1.This Richard Ferris1 must be the father of Elizabeth Ferris who married Robert Woodson, about 1656, on the north side of the James River. The close association with the Woodson family is evident for several generations.From the association of Robert Woodson with Richard Ferris2, we assume that Richard Ferris1 was the father of Richard Ferris2.

Children by an unknown wife:

1. Elizabeth (or Sarah) Ferris, b. abt 1637 / 1638. Henrico, VA., d 1689, Henrico, Virginia Colony. Married Robert Woodson.
2. +Richard Ferris Fariss, Jr., b. Abt. 1639 / 1641, Henrico, VA, d. Abt. 1725. Married Dorothy Gathright.

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Records

From < Llewellyn Family Archive >

1636 – Ralph Wyatt to Richard Johnson, Roger Davis and Abraham Wood – 21 yr lease. Dated last day of Dec. Witness DANIELL LEWELLIN
1636 – Note this property was in Henrico County:

Patent of Robert HOLLOM
02 Jun 1636

To All to whome these presents shall come I Capt John West Esq. Governr etc send greeting etc. Whereas By Letters etc. Now Know yee that I the said Capt. John West Esq. doe wth the consent of the Councell of State accordingly give and grant unto Robert HOLLOM one Thousand acres of lande situate lying and being in the County of Henrico butting Southerly upon the land of Edward OSBORNE Westerly upon the maine river Northerly up towards the ffalls Easterly up into the maine woods the saide lande lying right opposite against a Creake called the fallen Creake. (The Saide one thousand acres of land being due unto the said Robert HOLLOM by and for the transportation at his owne expense coste and charrges of twentie psons into this Colony whose namesare in the records mientaned Under this pattent To have and to hold etc. dated the second of June 1636.

Names: James Place, Rich Ferris, Nobr? Perfitt, Jon Nickols, Richard Baly, Edwd Hollom, Tho Smith, Anah Clarke, Francis Nissell?, Humphrey G. ?? Zell?, John Read, Qirk Dixon, James Roddey, Barth Cooke, Masry Aston, Humphrey Cassell, James Hormer, Tho Morethorpe and two Negro all servants.

Home?

“Curles Neck” at the Henrico Historical Society < link >

“Of particular interest are the ruins found during the excavations at Curles Neck in eastern Henrico along the James. Archaeologists uncovered the Thomas Harris house foundation, one of the oldest homes found in Virginia dating between 1635-1654. Thomas Harris served as Burgess for Curles Neck. The archaeologists noted that the framing posts of this house sat in the full basement and some were enclosed by bricks which was unique in the Chesapeake area. A large centrally located chimney suggests that there was a lobby entrance. Built later in the early 1700’s, adjacent to this structure, was the home of Nathaniel Bacon, the leader of the rebellion against the English authorities. Landscape features include intricate terraces and traces of underground tunnels down to the James River which could be used as an escape route from potential Indian invasions.” (Inventory of Early Architecture County of Henrico, Virginia)

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Identity: errors and guesses

1655-1677 All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. < Henrico County, Virginia Genealogy >

• He was not the son of Nicholas Ferrar and Mary Farrar (Woodenoth).
• Birth seen as abt. 1596 at London, which seems a mixup with the son of Nicholas Ferrar.
• Birth seen as 1616 in England.
• Death seen as 12/02/1637 which would make impossible for him to have fathered his known children.
• Death seen as after 1647.
• Wife seen as Mary Ferris without supporting evidence.
• Wife seen as Sarah Hambleton without supporting evidence.
• Wife seen as Elizabeth (?).
• Wife seen as Elizabeth Hollom.

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Comments

< Wikitree >

It is not known when or where Richard Ferris was born, or when he migrated to Virginia. There are many spurious attempts to link him to the well known and famous family of Nicholas Ferrar and Mary Wodenoth.

Nicholas and Mary did have a son Richard, but according to biographers Richard Ferrar was the blacksheep of the family and to spite his father spelled his name Farrar (not Ferris), Richard never migrated to Virginia, he married an Elizabeth, had two children Richard Jr and Mary.

There is an ongoing attempt, perpetuated by the internet and over eager researchers to morph Ferris into Ferrar or vice versa simply because both names have an F and two R's, and apparently Nicholas Ferrar was an officer of the Virginia company.

Notes

From < “Notes on Judith Farris” >

The following is written on pages 87-89 in the book "Greer and Related Families of Sanders, Sims, Glenn, Christmas, Smith, Ferris, and Carver, the Carolinas and Virginia" by Brent Howard Holcomb, Certified Genealogist, copyright. 1987. Brent H. Holcomb Box 21766 Columbia SC 29221
He starts on page 87:

The author is greatly indebted to John Frederick Dorman, editor of “The Virginia Genealogist,” for his help in editing this section and for several of the references herein.

The first person of this surname in Henrico County, Virginia, is that of Richard Ferris. Robert Hollom obtained a patent in Henrico Co., on 2 June 1636 for the transportation of twenty persons, one of whom was listed as Rich. Ferris1.This Richard Ferris1 must be the father of Elizabeth Ferris who married Robert Woodson, about 1656, on the north side of the James River. The close association with the Woodson family is evident for several generations.

From the association of Robert Woodson with Richard Ferris2, we assume that Richard Ferris1 was the father of Richard Ferris2.

On 20 August 1677, William Clark and Robert Woodson were summoned to the next court to answer the petition of Richard Ferris, an orphan. (Henrico Co., Orphans Court Book 1677-1697, page 2)This Richard Ferris, orphan, is assumed to have been a minor at the time.If so, he cannot be the Richard Ferris (below) who appeared in court in 1692, as he could not have had a grown son by that time.Also, he cannot be the son to whom Richard Ferris deeded a cow, as his father was still living, and he could not have been considered an orphan.This Richard Ferris must have been a grandson of Richard Ferris1.

Richard Ferris2 was born probably in the 1640s.The name of his wife is as yet unknown.There is a patent of 20 April 1685 granted to Richard Ferris, William Porter, and Nicholas Amoss for 450 acres on the north side of White Oak Swamp.On 21 October 1687, Richard Ferres2 sic, William Ferres sic, Robert Woodson, Roger Cumins, and Giles Carter received letters of patent for 1780 acres in Henrico County, on the north side of the James River at a place known as White Oak Swamp.

Richard Ferris2 appeared in court and petitioned that a gift from him to his eldest son Richard Ferris3 might be entered on record, the gift of a pyed cow known by the name of Py and marked with a swallow fork and a nick in the left ear, 1 October 1692.This deed of gift may be on or near the time of Richard Ferris3 coming of age.Therefore, we might assume that he was born circa 1670.

Both Richard2 and Richard3 Ferris were still living in March 1711, when Richard Ferris was a witness for Richard Ferris Jr. against Humphrey Smith.

The proof or acknowledgement of a deed is noted in Henrico Co., Order Book 1719-1724, page 48, to Robert Childers, October 1720.This appears to be a portion of the patent mentioned above, dated 20 April 1685.

Another portion of 100 acres of this patent was sold on 30 March 1720 to Richard Moor. This deed is signed "Richard Ferris Sr.," thus proving that Richard Ferris2 was still living at the time.Richard Ferris2 may have died in the year 1725.Henrico Co., records are missing for that year. However, he was certainly dead by 1731 when James Hambleton sold one hundred acres at James Hambleton's old plantation, bounded by Richard Ferris Jr. and said Hambleton, which is presumed to the the same 100 acres which Richard Ferris2 sold to James Hambleton (probably father of the grantor of the 1731 deed), on 20 March 1687/88, bounded by Richard Ferris Jr. and said Hambleton. He was probably quite old, in his 80's, when he died.

The will of Richard Ferris3, dated 22 August 1744 and recorded in October 1750, leaves to each of his children one shilling, and appoints his son William Ferris executor.The witnesses to the will were Charles Woodson, Abram Truman, and Ann Truman.The inventory, recorded in May of 1751, showed an estate valued at only 6 pounds 7 shillings.Richard Ferris3 probably lived to an advanced age as did his father Richard2.The close association of William Ferris, Charles Ferris, Jacob Ferris, James Feris, and Joseph Ferris with Luke Smith and his wife Judah (Judith) in Lunenburg county Virginia (and later in Halifax county) points to a sibling relationship.

Since William is named in the will of Richard Ferris3 and there is mention of "each of my children," in this will, we assume that all of these were children of this Richard Ferris:1. William2. Joseph3. Charles4. James5. Jacob6. Judith Ferris, born 1716.

Judith Ferris was born in 1716 in Henrico county Virginia, and died in March 1811 in Union Dist., SC. She married Luke Smith, who was born about 1715 in Virginia and died about 1770 in SCShe married, second, Caleb Edmondson, by 1783.

Snippet views from google books:

Page 87

Page 88

Tidewater Virginia Families: Chapter 15: The Woodson Family (also Butler Ancestors). Page 404. < AncestrySharing >

CURLES NECK, HENRICO SHIRE, COLONY OF VIRGINIA

"This property is among the most significant properties in Henrico County covering almost four centuries in American history". Click < HERE > for more from the Henrico County Historical Society. The history of the area goes back to 8000 BC.

Thursday, September 26, 2013 CURLES NECK FARM" THE VIRGINIA RESIDENCE of C. K. G. BILLINGS, Esq. ON THE JAMES RIVER. < link >

Curles Neck Farm's name is said to derive from the fact that the James River curls around the broad, flat peninsula known as Curles Neck. C. K. G. Billings developed the farm into a horse-breeding farm; however, the farm is better known for the extensive dairy operations conducted there under A. B. Ruddock. Curies Neck Dairy became the largest dairy farm in the county.

The riverside is dominated by a monumental portico with Ionic Order columns, brick pediment, and classical entablature.

Current day

In 2004 heirs of Frederick Watkins(dairy) put the Curles Neck property on the market for $24 million. < link >. It sold in 2006. In 2009, a 156-acre parcel was sub-divided from the larger property to preserve and protect most of the historic buildings. https://www.facebook.com/CurlsNeckCreekEstuary. The marsh is pockmarked with water-filled depressions because of sand and gravel mining. Since then plans for a steel wall to keep flood waters out of the marsh have been approved. Site of the VERY private < Curles Neck Duck Club >.

References

1. < “My Genealogy Home Page:Information about Richard of Curles Ferris Fariss” > by Paul F. Ammons
2. < Henrico County, Virginia Genealogy >
3. < “Notes on Judith Farris” >
4. ”Greer and related families : Sanders, Sims, Glenn, Christmas, Smith, Ferris and Carver of the Carolinas and Virginia.” Holcomb, Brent H. (Brent Howard), 1950- . < FamilySearch > (in copyright)
5. “One line of descent from Richard Faris, Henrico County, Virginia and 167 allied lines : ancestry of John Lester Farris.” Author: Lola Lewis Smead (Composer). (1979). < FamilySearch > page 4.
6. Tidewater Virginia Families: Chapter 15: The Woodson Family (also Butler Ancestors). Page 404. < AncestrySharing >
7. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Richard_Farris_%286%29
8. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Sarah_Hambleton_%283%29
9. https://reynoldspatova.org/getperson.php?personID=I6015&tree=reynolds1
10. [S3] Mary Frances Reynolds Eggleston, http://archive.org/stream/jstor-1915487/1915487_djvu.txt. Robert married Elizabeth Ferris, daughter of Richard Ferris, of Curies, in Henrico county. He had sons, John, Richard, Robert, Joseph and Benjamin; also daughters, Sarah, married to Edward Mosby; Elizabeth to William Lewis; Mary to George Payne, and Judith to William Cannon.
11. Americans of Gentle Birth Vol I page 358
12. HIstorical Genealogy of the Woodsons pp 23-24
13. "Greer and Related Familiesof Sanders, Sims, Glenn, Christmas, Smith, Ferris, and Carver Of the Carolinas and Virginia"by Brent Howard Holcomb,1987
14. https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/a/m/m/Paul-F-Ammons-TX/WEBSITE-0001/U...
15. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Family:Richard_Farris_and_Sarah_Hambleton_(1)
16. https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/ferris/1723/
17. http://www.ericjames.org/html2014/fam/fam11621.html
18. Genealogy.com Data recorded by Steven Wacker
19. http://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LCM5-DKT
20. Curles Neck Plantation (also known as Curles Neck Farm) is located between State Route 5 and the north bank of the James River in the Varina district of Henrico County, Virginia. One of the great James River Plantations, Curles Neck has remained in active use for almost 400 years and remains a privately owned working farm which is not currently open to the public. As "Curles Neck Farm", a 5600-acre property was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[1][2] In November 1635, a year after the formal designation of Henrico County as one of 8 shires (or counties) in the Virginia Colony, a land patent for 750 acres (3.0 km2) was granted to Captain Thomas Harris, who had apparently served under Sir Thomas Dale. The tobacco farm was referred to by early settlers as "Longfield", but soon thereafter became known as Curles Neck. Captain Harris served in the House of Burgesses at Jamestown as a Burgess for Curles Neck.
21. Tidewater Virginia Families: Chapter 15: The Woodson Family (also Butler Ancestors). Page 403. < AncestrySharing > “Curles” is not to be confused with the present day “Curles Neck Farm,” though it lies just a short ways down river from “Curles” of there seventeenth century. “Curles Neck Farm,” today, lies within Charles River County, while “Curles” was located, in the early days of the Colony, within the curl of the James River, farther up river in Henrico County. It was where present day Varina District is located.
22. Discovering Archaeology, "The Curles Neck Project" < link >
23. Mouer, L. Daniel. “Thomas Harris, Gent., as Related by His Second Sonne.” Historical Archaeology, vol. 32, no. 1, 1998, pp. 4–14. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25616587. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.