{"id":1447,"date":"2022-07-07T22:42:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T22:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pettitresearch.com\/familyhistory\/?p=1447"},"modified":"2026-01-06T01:51:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T01:51:31","slug":"first-pettits-in-america-series-7-francis-pettit-virginia-1630s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pettitresearch.com\/familyhistory\/2022\/07\/07\/first-pettits-in-america-series-7-francis-pettit-virginia-1630s\/","title":{"rendered":"First Pettits in America Series #7 -Francis Pettit Virginia ~1630s"},"content":{"rendered":"

Francis Pettit was an early immigrant who settled down in Northampton County, Virginia in the 1630’s.\u00a0 Much of the information involving him can be found in the many versions of abstracts of the colonial records performed by Beverly Fleet in the 1930s-1940s.\u00a0 Unless specified otherwise, the quotes used in this article mostly come from Virginia Colonial Abstracts <\/em>published in 1988 by Genealogy Publishing Company which was a three volume compilation of Fleet’s abstracts.<\/p>\n

Francis Pettit in America ~1630<\/h3>\n

Somewhere an early land grant or deed to Francis Pettit probably exists which would set a solid date for his arrival in Virginia.\u00a0 We know he had acquired land by the 1630’s and was leasing land out to others by 1638.\u00a0 Aside from this, the record indicates Francis Pettit was already living in Virginia, as early as September 5, 1636.\u00a0 It should be noted that Accomack County and Northampton County bounded each other on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and both counties have information on this Pettit.\u00a0 In Accomack County, 1632-1637,<\/em> Fleet recorded the following:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The court recorded that Francis Pettit was around 24 years old at the time his statement was given which was on September 5, 1636.\u00a0 This would put his birth year around 1612<\/strong>.\u00a0 It also indicates there was some kind of familial relationship between him and Mr. Robins who he called “my brother”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Plantation, Rent, and Other Business<\/h3>\n

By April 9, 1638, Francis Pettit was living on a plantation on Virginia’s Easter Shore.\u00a0 On that date, the Accomack Court recorded the following:<\/p>\n

Mr. John Neale and Nicholas Harwood concerning arrears in rent for plantation Mr. Pettit now lives on.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In May of 1638, Francis was before the court again claiming that Neale and Harwood owed him “700 poundes of tobacco arreares of rent for the Plantation which they sold” him.<\/p>\n

Later that year, in November of 1638, the court made an order in favor of Francis Pettit concerning his plantation:<\/p>\n

John Towleson to pay Francis Pettit for his plantation or else to replace the plantation againe to the said Pettit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Francis Pettit Land Location -Virginia Eastern Shore, Cherrystone<\/h3>\n

When an Indian uprising was feared in 1644 an order was given for the colonists to evacuate…<\/p>\n

“from<\/span> the<\/span> house<\/span> of<\/span> Francis<\/span> Pettett<\/span> on<\/span> both<\/span> sides<\/span> of<\/span> Churristone <\/span>Creeke <\/span>to<\/span> the<\/span> North<\/span> side.”\u00a0 <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thus we find that Francis Pettit’s house was near Churristone Creeke which, in modern English, would be called “Cherrystone Creek.”\u00a0 <\/span>The location of Cherrystone Creek is a bit hard to pin down.\u00a0 The original name of the creek was the “Accomack River” and was described very early on in John Smith’s history of Virginia who gives an account of the native Indian tribe that resided there.\u00a0 The reason for the name change to Cherrystone Creek was described by Nora Miller Truman in Eastern Shore of Virginia, 1603-1964:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The boundaries were designated as Cherrystone Creek, formerly Accomack River, and Savages Creek, originally Mattawoman Creek. This change of names of streams was becoming general in Virginia and sentiment was growing for the Indian name Accomack to be replaced by an English name for the county.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The creek is further described in the same book as the location of a business venture of Obedience Robins<\/strong>, who was the same Mr. Robins said to be Pettit’s “brother” in the 1636 records previously discussed.\u00a0 He had apparently settled on the south side of the creek not far from Pettit.\u00a0 Truman writes:<\/p>\n

Obedience Robins was expanding his cattle and tobacco raising activities on the south side of the mouth of Cherrystone Creek, formerly Accomack River. In 1642, he and an associate, John Wilkins, employed an itinerant millwright to erect a windmill.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Cherrystone Creek\/Accomack River found in these ancient colonial documents is most likely the large bay today known as Cherrystone Inlet.\u00a0 It is in Northampton County and is fed by several creeks, none of which have the name Cherrystone.\u00a0 However, a small unincorporated village by that name lies on the south east side of the inlet and does have a tiny unnamed stream which runs through it to the location of an old wharf.\u00a0 Since this creek was once considered a “river”, it stands to reason the entire inlet was probably considered Cherrystone Creek.\u00a0 The evacuation of the area in 1644 must have included all settlers on all sides of the inlet.<\/p>\n

Only one map has been located which refers to the area as Cherrystone Creek.\u00a0 It can be seen below:<\/p>\n

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Cherrystone Creek, Eastern Shore, Northampton Co, VA (Click to Enlarge)<\/p><\/div>\n

An older colonial map from 1719 only notes the location of “Cherriton”.<\/p>\n

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Cherriton, VA (Click to Enlarge)<\/p><\/div>\n

The location on a modern map can be seen below:<\/p>\n

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Location of Francis Pettit’s land at Cherrystone Inlet, VA (Click to Enlarge)<\/p><\/div>\n

(The location can be seen at coordinates 37.3072989328417, -75.99840908259084 found on a google map at this link.)<\/a><\/p>\n

Francis Pettit Sr, Jr, III, or IV?<\/h3>\n

At some point in the record we run into a problem distinguishing Francis Pettit from a man who was likely his son by the same name and many others.\u00a0 In 1650, Ann Pettit, presumably Francis Pettit Sr.’s widow, willed her entire estate to her two sons Francis and Justinian with the exception of one heifer given to her “husband’s goddaughter”, Dorothy Robins.\u00a0 The logic that follows is Francis Pettit Sr had died before 1650 and any records naming a Francis Pettit after that date would be in reference to his son (or subsequent generations).<\/p>\n

With that in mind we don’t know for sure if the Francis Pettit who appeared before the court in 1645 to give a deposition was the elder or the younger.\u00a0 At any rate, a Francis Pettit did appear to give testimony regarding a dispute between John Savage and his cousin Thomas Savage.\u00a0 He stated in open court:<\/p>\n

This deponent saith that about ffebruary last past Thomas Savage desired this deponent to goe along wth him unto John Savage and when they came unto the sd John Savage Asked the sd John Savage saying how is it Cozen And John Savage replyed saying I am much dampnifyed for want of my house and my hogd of tobacco. The sd John(sic) (Thos) Savage replyed saying I think I did you a courtesie in not comeing, for I should have but eaten upp yor Victualls the weather being soe vehement cold but I heare you will have mee to keepe upp my hogs in a penn all the yeare And the sd John Savage answeared you shall keepe upp yor hoggs as the rest of yor neighbors doth if they doth you shall or words to that effect, but further the sd Thomas Savage told him saying I will come and doe your work by the first of March you getting timber in readynes and I will pay you yor hogd of tobacco, And this deponent further saith that about March last past Tho: Savage being at work about the house of John Savage came to this deponent and entreated him to write the agreement betweene him and John Savage, And this deponent went and could not write it by reason his hand did shake soe John Savage did write it himselfe And further saith not. Signed: ffra. Pettett<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After this 1645 deposition, this researcher has found no other record of note that references Francis Pettit.<\/p>\n

It should be noted that some researchers have assumed the Francis Pettit who appeared in Virginia in 1636 and the Francis Pettit who left a will in 1688 are one in the same.\u00a0 This is an error which can be found in many family trees online.\u00a0 The confusion is probably because another man, Francis Pettit III, in this area was labeled “Junior” in some records leading to the conclusion he was the second of that name and not the third.\u00a0 However, this is not correct for several reasons.\u00a0 The use of the term “junior” at the time often meant “younger of the two” and was used even though the name-holder may have been the third or fourth with that given name.\u00a0 Also significant to this mystery is a rare bit of genealogy tucked away in a registry of cattlemarks by a Francis Pettit in 1667.<\/p>\n

Northampton County, VA Cattlemarks 1665-1742 – Transcribed by Frank V. Walczyk <\/em>states:
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

January 12th 1666:<\/p>\n

Mr. Francis Pettitts mark, underhalfed on both ears, and cropt on the left ear.<\/p>\n

September 14th 1667:<\/p>\n

Justinian Pettitts mark, which was Mary Andrew’s mark, cropt on both ears and a hole in the right ear, with two slits under the hole.<\/p>\n

Francis Pettitt Junior his mark, that was his grandfather’s mark, cropt and underhalfed on the left ear the right ear whole.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This last entry in 1667 is incredibly important.\u00a0 This entry for “Francis Pettit Junior” reveals that he was the third generation Pettit in Virginia to use the cattle mark.\u00a0 He stated he was using his grandfather’s mark.\u00a0 As we will reveal in the next section, there was a Francis Pettit living in the late 1600s whose father’s name was also Francis Pettit who died in 1688.\u00a0 It is highly likely he was the same man described above, making him Francis Pettit III even though he went by “Junior”.<\/p>\n

This assessment is admittedly a little confusing.\u00a0 In summary we can simply note that there were at least three Francis Pettits who had lived in Northampton Co., VA by 1690.\u00a0 One died before 1650, one in 1688, and one was still living in 1697.\u00a0 It may be difficult to distinguish between them but we can safely say there were three of them and the oldest was born in 1612 and died by 1650.\u00a0 He was the immigrant.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Francis Pettit Descendants and Associates<\/h3>\n

In Cavaliers and Pioneers Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants – 1623-1666, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1963, Vol. 1,\u00a0<\/em> by Nell Nugent we find the following entries of historical value:<\/p>\n

LT. COLL. WILLIAM KENDALL. 300 acs. in same [N’ampton] Co. 1 Sept. 1664, p. 121, (623). At the head of Cherristones Cr., W. on his own & land of Francis Pettit.<\/strong>.. [page 434-435]\n

FRANCIS PETTETT<\/strong>, 300 acs, N’ampton Co., 14 Oct. 1665, p. 424, (500). Near the head of Cheristones Cr. on S. side of Hogpen Cr. & main br. thereof, bounding on the N. part therewith dividing this from land of Capt. Jno. Savidge, on S. parte by Snag pine br. & trees running from the head thereof E.N.E. to marked tree parting this from land of Lt. Col. Wm. Kendall &c. 200 acs. formerly belonging to Capt. Jno. How, since escheated to his Majestie & granted to Maj. Wm. Andrews, who sold to sd. Pettett 4 Sept. 1664 & 100 acs. for trans. of 2 pers: Migo & Charles, Negroes [page 532]\n

Col.Wm.Kendall, 600 acs. according to the antient lawfull bounds thereof in N’ampton Co., 18 Oct. 1665. p. 427, (504). <\/span>Formerly belonging to Capt. Jno. How, dec’d. & lately found to escheate &c., the Jury sworne before Col. Jno. Stringer, <\/span>Dep. Escheator for that Co., dated 30 Sept. 1662 &c. & now granted sd. Kendall who hath made his compositon &c. Also <\/span>300 acs more joyning upon the sd. land, bounded Wly. on his own & land of Francis Pettit<\/span><\/strong>, Nly. on Jno. Savidge, Ely. on <\/span>Capt. Phill. Telyo, (?) dec’d., Sly. on land of Maj. Wm. Andrewes and a former pattent of Col. Obedience Robbins dated 20 <\/span>Mar. 1643. Granted to Major Wm. Andrewes 15 Oct. 1660, by him deserted & upon petition of sd. Kendall granted him by <\/span>order &c. & due for trans. of 6 pers: Mary Barnes, Walter Banington, John Hawkins, Tho. Hemence, Eliz. Merrick, Hester <\/span>Ridly. [page 533]\n<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The above tells the story of the Pettit family land and its location in greater detail than previously given.<\/p>\n

In August 28,1666, the names of\u00a0 a Francis Pettit (Jr) and Justinan Pettit are given in the county of Northampton’s list of titheables.<\/p>\n

On September 3, 1678, a Thomas Heddy willed a Franics Pettit 475 acres and also gave his bed to “Mary Pettit Jr.”\u00a0 From this reference it can be somewhat safely assumed that this Francis Pettit’s wife was named Mary Pettit (Sr.) and their daughter was Mary (Jr).\u00a0 Heddy also gave one heffer to a John Pettit.\u00a0 The immigrant Francis Pettit’s wife and widow was named Ann so the man mentioned in the Heddy will with a wife by the name of Mary would most likely me Francis Pettit II.<\/p>\n

On February 9, 1688, Francis Pettit II made out his will.\u00a0 He listed his children as follows: eldest son Francis Pettit (III), son William Pettit, son Thomas Pettit, son John Pettit, son Justinian Pettit, son Bartholomew Pettit, daughter Mary, and daughter Anne.\u00a0 His will was probated on March 29, 1688.<\/p>\n

In 1697 Francis Pettit III gives some important genealogy information in a land deed.\u00a0 He stated that his land conveyance included part of a tract left by his “deceased father Francis Pettit to my brother Thomas Pettit”.<\/p>\n

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Northampton County Virginia Deeds and Wills, Book XVI, Vol 12, 1692-1707 p168. (Click to Enlarge)<\/p><\/div>\n

From later land transaction and wills of Pettits and other related families a simple family chart can be constructed.\u00a0 (The reoccurring names of “Francis” and “Bartholomew” Pettit in later generations complicate things significantly.)\u00a0 This Pettit family flourished very early in colonial Virginia.\u00a0 It is not known if there are any living descendants of Francis Pettit today though such a possibility would be very likely.\u00a0 Below is a list of the first few generations into the early 1700s.<\/p>\n

Francis Pettit I (b. ~1612 – d. ~1650) + Ann (d. 1652)<\/p>\n

Francis Pettit II (d. ~March 1688) + Mary<\/p>\n

Mary Pettit<\/p>\n

Francis Pettit III<\/p>\n

William Pettit<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 William Pettit Jr<\/p>\n

Thomas Pettit<\/p>\n

Francis<\/p>\n

Mary<\/p>\n

Ann<\/p>\n

Sarah<\/p>\n

Elizabeth<\/p>\n

John Pettit<\/p>\n

Agnes<\/p>\n

Justinian Pettit<\/p>\n

Bartholomew Pettit<\/p>\n

Bartholomew Pettit II<\/p>\n

Jacob Pettit<\/p>\n

Vienna Pettit<\/p>\n

Peggy Pettit<\/p>\n

Mason Pettit (daughter)<\/p>\n

Elisha Pettit (daughter)<\/p>\n

Ann Pettit<\/p>\n

Ann Pettit<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Summary and Conclusion<\/h3>\n

A Francis Pettit was born around 1612 and was living in Northampton County, VA as early as 1636.\u00a0 He owned a plantation near Cherrystone Creek on the Eastern Shore.\u00a0 He was married to a woman named Ann and had at least one son named Francis.\u00a0 He was also related in some manner to Obedience Robins.\u00a0 He died around 1650 and his widow died around 1652.\u00a0 He had many descendants who resided in the area for a number of years afterwards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Change Log<\/h3>\n

1-5-2026<\/strong> Removed a section from the original article that questioned whether a reference to “Francis Pett\/ Francis Pott” may have been a reference to Francis Pettit.\u00a0 It was determined that Francis Pott was a different individual.\u00a0 Original section (which is no longer applicable) stated:<\/p>\n

“After this 1645 deposition, this researcher has found one other record of note that may have been generated by the elder Francis Pettit.\u00a0 The record is actually from Maryland but refers to Northampton Co, VA.\u00a0 The abstract is in Maryland, Early Settlers, Land Records by Ann Walker Burns Bell and states that a Captain Francis Pett? [Pettit] from Northampton County, VA, in 1648 gave to Thomas Hatton his son by the same name (Thomas Hatton).\u00a0 Thomas Hatton the junior was born March 14, 1642, so it is not entirely clear what happened to require Francis Pett\/Pettit to give Thomas Hatton his son.\u00a0 This record prompts two questions which we cannot currently answer.\u00a0 1) Was this indeed Francis Pettit or was it someone from the same county in 1648 named Francis Pett?\u00a0 2) Was Francis Pettit a ship captain?<\/em>“<\/p>\n

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