William Robert Copeland, I

Sir Thomas Lundsford was issued a land patent on the south bank of the Rappahannock River in Lancaster Co., VA on 24 Oct 1650 for 3,423 acres and for the transport of 65 persons including William & Mary Copeland. He was living on 6 Jun 1655 in Lancaster Co., VA. June 6,1655- Lancaster Co., VA- William Copeland, Order to him for 1000 lbs. tobacco in suit vs J. Phillips for nonappearance of Abra Moone(Lancaster Co., VA Court Orders, 1652-1655, pg 196)

Aug. 6,1655-Lancaster Co., VA -William Copeland- Judgement confessed to him by Abra Moone for 2000 lbs. tobacco with 1 year interest. (Lancaster Co., VA Court Orders, 1652-1655, pg 208

Oct 25,1655- Lancaster Co., VA- William Copeland, says Mr. Kempe owes him 270 lbs tobacco. Mr. Tho. Greefoeth and Mr. Kemp to pay the costs of the suit. (Lancaster Co., VA-Cout Orders, 1652-1655,pg 211)

Dec. 7,1655-Lancaster Co., VA- William Copeland, Security for Robt. Burton, guardian of Jo. Johnson and his brothers and sisters(Lancaster Co., VA Court Orders, 1662-1655,pg 231) He was blessed on 1 Jan 1671 in (Old) Rappahannock Co., VA- Essex Co., VA. On Dec. 31,1673, this land was returend to the Dikes as William and Mary Copeland could not make payments (Essex Co., VA Deeds and Willisa 1699-1701, pg 51. He died before 10 Jun 1701 in Essex Co, VA. The Copeland line which originated in Virginia provided the proginitors

for my family. It started with William and Mary Copeland, and settled in what is now Middlesex County (then Lancaster County), Virginia, on the south bank of the Rappahannock River prior to 1650.

After 1616, every immigrant to Virginia earned a headright for the person who paid for his or her transportation. This was a right to patent 50 acres of land; 100 acres if he came by 1616. A land patent was issued to Sir Thomas Lanksford of Susses, England on October 24, 1650 for 3,423 acres "lying on a bay on the south side of the Rappahannock River" for the

"transport of 65 persons," including himself and family members and William (#1) and Mary Copeland. Cavaliers & Pioneers Vo. I,II, & III- Patent Book No. 2 p.254

William Copeland (or Will as he was called) was known as a carpenter in the early years in Virginia.

In 1655 he bought 537 acres of land "on the S. side of the Rappahannock River and on the N. side of Sunderland Creek, bordering land of Richard Lewis" from Daniel and Elizabeth Welsh.

In March 9,1663 Will Copeland was appointed Constable of Lancaster County in the portion south of the Rappahannock, which became Middlesex County in 1673.

Feb. 8,1664-Certificate to William Copeland for Transportation of Thomas Mann, William Dyer and Sarah Johnson

Mar 8,1665,Patent Book 5, p.537-Mr. Jno Curtis, 250 acres, Lancaster Co., on S. side of Rappahannock Riv. Beg. at land of Mr. Henry Corbin and against the land of William Copeland, running W. to land of Robert Price, thence W for the transfer of 5 persons.

He was living there in 1688

Between 1607 and 1624 there were more than fifty sites occupied on both sides of the James River by individual settlers or plantations. Under the Charter of 1609, there were to be four political divisions called corporations or cities. Each city was to be a parish. These city[parishes were James City, Elizabeth City, Charles City, and Herico City. By 1634, these four had expanded to eight shires which now included these four and Warwick River(Warwick), Warrosquyoake(Isle of Wight), Charles River(York), Accomack. The parish development we are concerned with here is Charles River Parish, which had the following transformation: Charles River(1634-1643) York(1643) divided into three parishes: Gloucester(1651), New Kent(1654), and Lancaster(1651).

Lancaster- sub divided into two parishes: Rappanannock in the years of 1656-1692 and Middlesex in 1669. In 1692, Rappahannock became know as Essex County. By 1721, much of Essex was divided into two addditional counties. These were Spotsylvania Co., in 1721, in 1734 Orange Co.