Robert Sisson, Sr.

Biography

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sisson-89

Robert Sisson was transported to Virginia in 1653.[1]

Robert Sisson was one of the witnesses to the will of Thomas Wright, dated Oct. 23, 1661, and porobated Mar. 10, 1666 (Rappahannock Co., Virginia). He was also a witness to the will of Roger Williams, dated Feb. 26, 1675, probated Jasn. 6, 1677. Robert Sisson served as a clerk of county court, or at least sometime clerk, for Rappahannock County when the northern section (i.e. the north side of the Rappahannock River) had to have its own court session.'[2]

On 30 Sept. 1674 Robert Sisson of Farnham Parish in Rappahannock County, "out of the love and affection I beare unto my Sonne and Daughter in Law Martin and Margaret Dye and my God Sonne Arthur Dye the Sonne and heire of the said Martin and Margaret Dye," granted, "during the natural life" of Margaret Dye and Arthur Dye, "as much ground on and about the place where the said Martin is now seated as he himself can sufficiently tend and also for what hands [laborers] the said Martin can for himself purchase together with what timber he shall have occasion to make use of to his own proper use," together with firewood, water, and permission to come and go, to go into effect as soon as Martin planted and fenced an orchard of 100 apple trees on the land.[3]

The following is from the Sisson Genealogy Site:

"Robert Sisson was born about 1630 in England. He died about 1692-1699 in Richmond County, Virginia. Robert married Amye in 1656 in Virginia. Amye was born about 1630."

"Barbara Marsh says,'As Robert shows up alone in Virginia, I rather imagine he came over by himself to make his fortune......Robert was clerk, and was therefore literate. Did he have a tutor or, as was not uncommon, was he sent back to England to be schooled? He would have left Virginia as a child and returned as a amn, so to speak, in perhaps 1653.

".....Robert Sisson was one of the witnesses to the will of Thomas Wright, dated Oct. 23, 1661, and porobated Mar. 10, 1666 (Rappahannock Co., Virginia). He was also a witness to the will of Roger Williams, dated Feb. 26, 1675, probated Jasn. 6, 1677. Robert Sisson served as a clerk of county court, or at least sometime clerk, for Rappahannock County when the northern section (i.e. the north side of the Rappahannock River) had to have its own court session.”

Possible second marriage:

"'Cavaliers and Pioneers' page 139 says that on Nov. 5, 1673, Thomas Parker transferred 73 1/2 acres in Sittinghorse Parish, Rappahannock County, Virginia, on the south side of the Rappahannock River, to Robert Sisson and Mary Sisson. Barbara Marsh wonders: 'I think possibly Robert remarried.... I don't know of any deeds at this time with Amye's name on them as wife......'

Robert's will:

Sue Ketchun says 'Robert Sisson was a planter of tobacco in North Farnham Parish, Rappahannock County, Virginia. Farnham Parish existed in its original form from 1663 to 1814, and it covered both sides of the Rappahannock River. In 1684 it was divided into North and South Farnham Parishes, separated by the Rappahannock River. In 1692 South Farnham Parish became Essex County and North Farnham Parish became Richmond County. In 1732 Lunenburg Parish was formed in Richmon County. Robert's will is to found in Will Book 1 (with the old Rappahannock records in Rappahannock Court House, Essex County), but the will is unreadable.'

Barbara Marsh wonders,

'Even if it is unreadable, can it be dated.....by looking at the pages before and after?' Robert's Will, according to Barbara Marsh, mentioned grandson George, so possibly Robert Jr. was already dead. Robert Jr.'s wife Abigail made a deed of gift in 1698 to three children to protect their claim.

....Sharon Miller wrote,

'I have a speculative last name for Amye: Wright. I believe she was the widow of William Wright, who seems to have been an early business partner of Robert's. When William died in 1656, Robert was appointed to 'settle his affairs and give the balance to William's widow Amye.'

Barbara Marsh adds,

'Old Rappahannock County records note that Robert's wife was 'Amye' at least as of the Dec. 26,1659 sale of land through the last public mention of her on Nov. 14,1666.' Sharon continues, 'Given that 'Amye' was a very unusual name for the time, I'm fairly certain that this speculation is correct, but hasve no confirmation.'

Barbara again,

'Additionally, Robert Sisson was one of the witnesses to the will of Thomas Wright, dated Oct. 23, 1661 and probated Mar. 10, 1666 in Rappahannock County.' ......"

David Arne Sisson, dasisson world net .att.net, 9/7/00

Sources

• Robert Sisson notes.
• Robert Sisson notes, quoting a letter from Barbara Marsh.
• Margaret Sisson's page at the Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck website, citing Old Rappahannock Co Deed Book 5 - 1672-1674, pp. 234-35. Witnesses were Robert Walker and Thomas Freshwater; the deed was registered on 21 Oct. 1674
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I4098...