Richard Brock of Early Virginia

 

RICHARD BROCK's 1661 VA PATENT?

Richard Brock was said in the book, Brack Family Quilt: A Patchwork History of the Descendants of Nancy Jane Callahan and William Allen Brack, by June Selph Adams, 1995; p. 570, to have patented 350 acres in Hanover Co. (formerly part of New Kent Co.) on 1 Oct 1661; and 350 acres on 3 Oct 1671.

However, no such patent and no reference is found in the Virginia Patent Books to R. or Richd. or Richad Back, Brock, Brocke, nor is he mentioned in any other Virginia patent, neither in the patent books on-line nor in the Cavaliers & Pioneers books. A determined page-by-page search for the date has not succeeded, though admittedly the patents are not in strict chronological order. The 1671 period is much more difficult to decipher than the 1661, but it is more logical to believe Richard Brack or Brack purchased land (with a deed, not a patent) from a previous owner, than to believe the dedicated staff of the Library of Virginia were unable to read his name in a patent book.

On 20 Oct 1689 in St. Paul's Parish, New Kent Co., VA, John Brock patented 342 acres on the North side of Mattapony river. Beg.g &c. by the river side just by Colo. Abrahalls house and old field. This could, logically, be the father of our George Brock, Sr. and of Joshua Brock.

But St. Paul's Parish did not exist until Jun 1705 when St. Peters Parish was divided and the upper half was named St. Paul's Parish, both still in New Kent Co. until 2 Nov 1720 when the St. Paul's portion was made into a new county, Hanover.

Richard seems to have had a son named Richard, mentioned in the following record, dated 17 Aug 1725, in Hanover Co.: "deed by Richard Brock made over to the said George Brack by deed in Hanover ... (Hanover Co., Virginia, Court Records, 1733-1735: Deeds, Wills, and Inventories, by Rosalie Edith Davis, publ. by Heritage Trails, Manchester, MO, 1979; p. 87 of the book (p. 27 of the court book).

On 27 Jan 1732, Richard Brock [Jr.] owned a plantation when he gave a gift deed (or legacy) to his wife Mary in Hanover Co., VA:

 "In the year of our Lord God 1732 Mr. Richard Brock in a Consideration to my wife Mary Brock I do give her a legasey out of my astate: One Blak Cow with a whit calf; one featherbed and bolser and 2 peters and a pare of shots and a pare of blankets and Rog and a Fouk and Silver Cup and a flock box and small oll Rag and a blanket and bolster and a youe Hare in a small parsel of plank at the plantaseon and it is my Desire that it shud be kept for the plantaseon use. 27th Jan 1732. Richard (X) Brock

 Hanover Co., VA, Court Records 1733-35 Deeds Wills Inventories; p. 87 (p. 27 of original book)

Richard was mentioned in St. Paul's Parish records of Hanover Co., as follows:

In 1689, in Hanover Co., St. Paul's Parish (formerly New Kent Co.) Vestry Book, "ordered y't Rich. Brock for ye future doe pay noe parish Levy." The most common reason for "no levy" would be old age.

Undated, but before 11 Oct 1700 in St. Peters Par., New Kent Co., when Richard Brock, son of Richard Brock, was born or christened - so perhaps this is Richard III, a son of Richard Jr.

1711 in St. Paul's Parish of Hanover Co. Vestry book:

"The Lands of Jno Shelton, Edwd Bullock, Widdow House: Jeremiah Dumas Widdow England, Widdow Depriest, Jas. Durham, Edwd. Brock, Jno. Anderson, Jas. Tate, Thos. Collett, Frances Hester, John McKoy, Richd. Bullock & M. Wharton, being made one precinct, whereof the said John Shelton & Edwd Bullock being appointed Overseers, made this return, viz pursuant to an order of vestry dated 7br y, 17th, 1711, we the subscribers did on the 19th & 20th days of 9br, last past procession all the within mentioned Lands according to their Several respective ancient bounds In Company with John McKoy, widdow England, Widdow Depriest, Jere: Dumas, Johhn Corsley, Jas. Durham, Thos. Brock, Jno. Anderson not present, being lame, Jas. Tate, Thos. Collett, George Shepperson, Francis Hester, & Richd. Bullock we remain with due respect Gent: ye hble Servts, Jno. Shelton, Edwd. Bullock," pp. 224-225.

"At a Vestry held for St. Paul's Parish May 29th 1739. Ordered, that the Church Wardens find Richd Brock with meat to the value of Guinnea" (St. Paul's Vestry Book, Hanover Co., p. 157).

"At a Vestry held for St Paul's Parish for Laying the Levy Decr 4th 1739. Ordered, that the Church Wardens do let Richard Brock have Five hundred pounds of Tobacco out of this present Collection" (p. 161).

"Vestry held for St. Pauls Parish for Laying the Levy 14th day of Oct 1740, Richard Brock - 300" (p. 162).

Here we have a Richard Brock who had a mother and a daughter needing the church's assistance: "Vestry held for St Paul's parish for laying the Levy 10th Oct 1741.
To Richd Brock, for Self and Mother - 1200."

"To Mr Nathl Anderson on Accs for Richd Brock's Daughter - 400," pp. 164, 165."

On 1 Apr 1717 Mary Broche patented 420 acres in King & Queen Co. on north side of the Mattapony River, adjoining Col. Robert Abrahal's patent for 950 acres. King & Queen Co. was created out of New Kent Co. in 1691, and from King & Queen Co., King William Co. were created in 1700 and Spotsylvania Co. in 1720 (the same year Hanover Co. was created from New Kent Co.). Mary may have been the widow of Richard Brock who d. 1689, and the mother of his son Richard (see Richard Brock link above).

 Lt. Col. Robert Abrahal obtained a patent in 1660 for 640 ac on the north side of Mattapony River in New Kent Co. some four miles from the river on the branches of Oppactenoke Creek; and in 1662 a patent for 1,550 acres in New Kent Co., of which 550 acres were on the branches of Peanketank Swamp and 300 acres on Col. Claiborne's line. As Col. Robert Abrahal he received five more patents, in 1674 for 350 ac escheated, in 1678 for 1,000 ac on NE side of Mattapony River, in 1679 for 250 ac escheated on Tansantium Swamp on NE side of Mattapony River, in 1681 for 1,000 ac on both sides of Whorecock Swamp, and in 1683 for 600 ac on south side of York River on the W. most branch of Chickahominy Swamp -- all in New Kent Co. -- altogether totalling 9,390 acres.

He and Col. Claiborne between them owned so much land it's no wonder others patented land further and further west.

 

If all I attributed to Richard Brock, Sr., were his, he lived to be about 100 years old, so the parish items in 1730s were more likely for his son Richard, b. ca 1700, since his mother was said to have a mother and daughter in the parish 1741.

Presumably Richard Jr. was the father of the Edward, Thomas and Richard Brock mentioned in some Hanover Co. records.

 

 Doris

 

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