Thomas Elam

Origins

Gilbert Elam, Sr. was baptized at Thurnscoe Parish, Yorkshire, on May 11, 1630. He came to Virginia about 1650 with his brother Martin. He married Ann Elam, apparently his cousin, perhaps around 1657. In 1671 he patented 867 acres on the south side of the James in what is now Chesterfield County. Subsequently he patented a huge tract of 2015 acres in Varina, on the north side of the river, with his son Gilbert Jr. and Edward Ward. In his will, proved in Henrico County Court June 1, 1696, he names four children, sons Gilbert and Thomas and daughters Elizabeth and Mary.

Sources:

1. Henrico County, VA Will Book 5, pg. 653.

2. Dodd, Jordan. Virginia Marriages to 1800 [database on-line] Provo, UT, The Generations Network, Inc., 1997; original data: Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Virginia.