William Farrar (bef. 1583 - bef. 1637)

Born before 28 Apr 1583 in Croxton Parish, Lincolnshire, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Cecily (Unknown) Farrar — married before 2 May 1625 in Charles City, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 11 Jun 1637 at about age 54 in Colony of Virginia

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Biography

William Farrar was a Jamestown colonist.

William Farrar is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

William Farrar is Notable.

Birth and Origins

William Farrer^[1] (aka Farrar, Ferrar, Farer), Gent., of London, was the third son of John Ferrer (aka Farrar), Esq., of Croxton and London and Cecily Kelke, daughter and co-heiress of William Kelke.^[2] He was baptized at Croxton, Lincolnshire on 28 April 1583,^[2] the parish record appearing as: "Willyam Farer son of John Farer".^[3][4]

William was a relative of immigrant Nicholas Farrar of London, who also had a son William.^[5] The son of Nicholas entered the bar in London a few months after this William had arrived in Virginia and had died by 1620, unmarried.^[6]

Immigration to Virginia

William was a subscriber of the 3rd charter of the Virginia Company^[7] where his name appears as "William Ferrers".^[8] He immigrated to Virginia on 16 March 1617/18 aboard the Neptune with Lord de la Warr,^[2][9] "first lord governor and captain-general of Virginia for life," who died at sea on the journey.^[10] William arrived in Virginia in August 1618 and later settled in Henrico County.^[2][11]

Timeline of William's Life in Virginia

17 June 1619: Court minutes stated that the ship Garland was carrying 130 passengers, 90 of them to be dropped off at Somers Island (now known as Bermuda) in the charge of Capt. Miles Kendall and the remaining 40 were to travel on to Virginia, where they would be under the charge of William Farrar.^[12]

22 June 1620: William was included in a list of Adventurers (investors) that had paid into the Virginia Company, William having paid £37, 10 s.^[12]

22 March 1621/2: The infamous Powhatan attack (aka the "Jamestown Massacre") occurred, in which 347 settlers were killed.

19 November 1623: William Farrar was appointed the administrator of the Estate of Samuel Jordan.^[13]

16 February 1623/4: On "A List of the Livinge" made 16 February 1623/4, "Siselye Jordan, Temperance Bayliffe, Mary Jordan, Margery Jordan, William fferrar" were the first five names of the living at Jordan's Journey (aka Jordan's Pointe), along with 37 others.^[14][15] At "Mr. William Farrar’s house", the location of which is not stated, nine had been killed: ​"Master John England and his man, John Bel; Henricke Peterson and Alice, his Wife, and William, her sonne; Thomas, his man; James Woodshaw; Mary and Elizabeth, Maid servants."^[12][16] It is thought this home of William Farrar was located on the Appomattox River, a property that was not patented to him until May 1625.^[6]

21 January 1624/5: On the 1624/5 Jamestown Muster appears the household of "fferrar, William mr & mrs Jordan," located in Jordan's Journey (now known as Jordan's Point), Charles City. Listed as co-head of household: William fferrer, aged 31 years, having arrived Aug 1618 on the Neptune. Also listed in that household were:^[17]

• Sisley Jordan, head, age 24, ship: Swan, arrived: August 1610^[17]
• Margrett Jordan, age 1, "borne heare"^[17]
• Mary Jordan, "her daughter", age 3, "borne heare"^[17]
• Temperance Baley, age 7, "borne heare"^[17]
• and ten servants: William Dawson age 25, Robert Turner age 26, John Hely age 24, Roger Preston age 21, Robert Manuell age 25, Thomas Williams age 24, Richard Johnson age 22, William Hatfeild age 21, John Pead age 35, and John ffreame age 16.^[17] Some of these people were originally in the group of 40 that had arrived in 1619.^[12]

Before May 1625, William was granted a 100 acre land patent along the Appomattox River. His plantation was attacked during the 1622 surprise Powhatan attack and ten persons were killed. It is not known if he was home and escaped or visiting Jordan's Journey.^[18]

2 May 1625: A Court canceled William Farrar's bond to administer Samuel Jordan's estate^[13] because William had married Samuel's widow prior to that date. See Marriage below.

14 March 1626: William was appointed to the Council on 14 March 1625/6 and served in that position for the remainder of his life.^[2][6]

7-8 August 1626: The General Assembly ordered monthly courts at Charles Hundred to hear petty disputes and carry out the punishment of petty offenses. The assembly named William as a Commissioner of the "upper partes" (along with Thomas Pawlett, Ens. Epps, Ens. Chaplin, Mr. Cawley and Thomas Harris).^[13] The court mandated that the sessions were to be held at Jordan's Journey or Shirley Hundred under the direction of William Farrar.^[13]

28 September 1626: Elmer Phillips, John Crowdicke and Nathaniel Cawley swore oaths that they had been in Jordan's Journey at the home of William Farrar, where a Proclamation had been read.^[13]

28 May 1628: William was a legatee in the will of his father,^[2] John Farrar the elder of London, Esq., dated 24 April and proved 28 May 1628: "...To my son William Farrar all my messuages lands etc in Hodesdon Bloxbourne and Amwell in Hertford heretofore conveyed to Henry and John Ferrar my sons to my use to my son William and heirs To him also and his wife and children £20 annuity and the longest liver of them ... My son William shall receive of my executor £50 at his return into England .... Other goods between my sons Henry, John, William and Humphrey. William's part shall be reserved for him or the value, in case he be not living to be reserved for his wife and children..."^[19] John's entire will can be viewed HERE.

June-September 1631: William visited England arriving before 28 June 1631 and, on 6 September 1631, sold to his brother, Henry Farrar of Reading, Berkshire, the properties and annuities he had inherited from his father. The deed transferring the properties also names William's wife Cecily, his daughter Cecily and son William.^[6] The sale of William Farrar's inheritance is recorded in The Farrar's Island Family and Its English Ancestry.^[20]

11 June 1637: William Farrar, sonne & heire to William Farrar, was granted 2,000 acres on the former site of the Virginia Colony's second settlement in Henrico County.^[21][22] The estate known as Farrar's Island would remain in the Farrar family for 100 years. William was only about nine or ten when his father died about 1636. The Farrar's Island patent was granted by Governor John Harvey posthumously to his father for forty headrights, which he transported to Virginia in 1619, although some accounts say that the Garland never arrived in Virginia. The patent was awarded by Governor Harvey during his short lived second tour. The patent reads:

"Patent to Capt Wm Farrar, 2000 acres on the north side of James River Bounding and abutting lands of Varina, thence extending .... Due for transportation of 40 persons...And upon survey there shall not be found the said quantities of 2000 acres of lands within the aforesaid bounds, that then the said Wm Farrar measured his full quantities upon the northerly bounds of the said lands into the woods"

Marriage and Children

William married Cecily (_____) Bailey Jordan, widow of Thomas Bailey of Henrico County (died 1619) and Samuel Jordan of Charles City (died 1623) before 2 May 162[5],^[2][11] when William's bond to administer Samuel Jordan's estate was cancelled.^[13]

It should be noted that after the death of Cecily's second husband, Samuel Jordan, she had agreed to eventually marry Rev. Greville Pooley. Evidently, Cecily changed her mind and decided to marry William Farrar, and this was the catalyst for the colony's first breach of promise lawsuit.^[6] The contract dispute is detailed in examinations of three witnesses on 4 June 1623 and another two on 17 November 1623.^[18] Rev. Pooley dismissed his suit on 3 January 1624/5,^[13] leaving Cecily free to marry William.

Cecily had three children from her previous marriages: Temperance Bailey, Margaret Jordan and Mary Jordan. William and Cecily had three more children together:

• Cecily,^[2] was born in 1625 and named in a 1631 deed. She may have married Peter Montague OR she may have married twice, first to Isaac Hutchins and second to Henry Sherman.^[6] More research is needed.
• William,^[2] was born in 1627, died before February 1677/8, married Mary ____ and had children.^[6]
• John,^[2] was born ca. 1632, left a will dated 4 March 1684/5 that named no issue or spouse.^[6]

Thomas Pawlett, who had arrived in Virginia aboard the Neptune with William,^[17] died without issue and named several of his godchildren in his 12 January 1643 will, including William's son, William.^[23]

Death

William died in Virginia, shortly before 11 June 1637,^[2][11] when his son William received a patent of land that was due to his father.^[6] His place of burial is unknown and no probate proceedings have been found.

Research Notes

William, Son of John Farrer

Because of the lack of important content it is apparent that Ms. Holmes, in her work, included the following references as evidence of the existence of William Farrar as son of John Farrer. All references on pages 25 and 26 are from Close Rolls and mention William, son of John Farrer the elder:

20th Feb, 2 Charles I (20 Feb 1624/5), Abstract of Land in Newgate: Between John Farrer the elder of London Esq. and Henry Farrer and John Farrrer the younger, sons of John Farrer the elder, John the Elder and Humphrey his other son by indenture of 8th Feb, 12 James I (8 Feb 1614/5), granted to Robert Pye, a messauge in Pincote or Pymcocke Lane, Parish of Christ-Church, Newgate, Pye paying during the lives of John Farrer the younger, William and Humphrey sons of John Farrer the elder and during the life of the longest liver of John, William and Humphrey, 30£ p.x. John Farrer the elder confirms to Henry Farrer and John Farrer the younger the rent of 30 £, if John Farrer the younger, William Farrer and Humprey Farrer happen so long to live. Henry and John Farrer the younger are to perform the trust.^[24]

Residence at Jordan's Journey

The profile of wife Cecily (___) Farrar previously included this statement:

"William Farrrar was living at Jordan's Journey as late as September 1626, and possibly until 1631/32."^{[citation needed]}

The September 1626 date has been reliably sourced.^[25]

McIlwaine, Minutes of the Council, contains no 1631 and one 1632 Court meeting. William and Cecily are not named. Spratlin-29 15:42, 27 August 2023 (UTC)

Note: McIlwaine, Journals of the House, does not appear to refer to William Farrar at Jordan's Journey in these two years. Spratlin-29 16:35, 27 August 2023 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ Jamestowne Society: Farrar, William - A2604; baptized 28 April 1583 Lincolnshire, England, died 1637, Charles City Co.: 1626-32 (Councillor). accessed 7 January 2021
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Douglas Richardson. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 4 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham. 2nd edition. (Salt Lake City: the author, 2011), vol. II, page 142 FARRER 17.
3. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, (FamilySearch: 30 December 2014), Willyam Farer, 28 Apr 1583; citing Croxton, Lincoln, England; FHL microfilm 421,982, 436,026.
4. ↑ Baptismal Records of Croxton Parish, Lincolnshire, England at Lincs to the Past.
5. ↑ "The English Ancestry of William Farrar (1594-C.1637), of Henrico County, Virginia" in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 50, no. 4, 1942, pp. 350–359. Online at JSTOR.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8} John Frederick Dorman. Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5. 4th ed., Vol. 1 A-F (Genealogical Publishing Company, c 2004-2007). Online in .pdf file accessed 14 Nov 2019, pages 926- 930.
7. ↑ "American History, from Revolution to Reconstruction", documents transcribed by students at the University of Groningen, Netherlands.
8. ↑ Samuel M. Bemiss, ed. "Third Charter" in The Three Charters of the Virginia Company of London with Seven Related Documents. Williamsburg, VA: Virginia 350th Anniversary Celebration Corporation, 1957, page 7.
9. ↑ See the compiled passenger list for Neptune by Ann Stevens, which calls this the "Aug 1618 voyage".
10. ↑ J. Frederick Fausz. "West, Thomas, third Baron De La Warr (1577–1618), colonial governor" in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. October 04, 2008. Oxford University Press. Accessed 15 Nov 2019, online at ODNB, with subscription.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Douglas Richardson. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham. (Salt Lake City: the author, 2013), vol. II, page 547, FARRER 22.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3} Records of the Virginia Company, 1606-26, Volume III: Miscellaneous Records on Library of Congress website accessed 14 Nov 2019, pages 177 (Jun 1619), 324 (Jun 1620), and 566 (Feb 1623/4).
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6} H.R. McIlwaine, ed. Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia. (Richmond, VA: The Colonial Press, Everett Waddey Co., 1924). Online at Archive.org, pages 8 (Nov 1623), 42 (3 Jan 1624/5), 57 (May 1625), 106 (Aug 1626), 113 (Sep 1626).
14. ↑ Thos. H. Wynne and W. S. Gilman, comp. Colonial Records of Virginia. (Richmond, VA: R.F. Walker, 1874). Online at Archive.org, page 39.
15. ↑ The USGenWeb transcription of the 16 Feb. 1623 census also lists them as the first five people under the heading "At Jordon's Journey", but with different spellings; e.g., "Farrar" instead of "fferrar" (accessed 10 Jan. 2021).
16. ↑ Jamestowne Society website: Lists of the Livinge & Dead in Virginia - February 16th, 1623.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6} VirtualJamestown.org: Jamestown Muster, 21 January 1624/5.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} Records of the Virginia Company, 1606-26, Volume IV: Miscellaneous Records on Library of Congress website accessed 14 Nov 2019, pages 218-220 (1623 Pooley/Jordan contract), and 554 (1625 patent).
19. ↑ "Virginia Gleanings in England" in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 22, no. 4, 1914, p 398. Online at JSTOR.
20. ↑ Alvahn Holmes. The Farrar's Island Family and Its English Ancestry. (Baltimore: Gateway Press; 1972). Not available online, limited searches on GoogleBooks and HathiTrust: Sale of William Farrar's Inheritance” recorded at the Public Record Office: London, Calendar of Close Rolls. Vol 54/2904, cited on page 31.
21. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.1 1623-1643 VOL.1&2, pp436-437; digital images, Library of Virginia (image 436, image 437).
22. ↑ Nell Marion Nugent. Cavaliers and Pioneers; abstracts of Virginia land patents and grants, 1623-1800 (Richmond, VA: Dietz Print Co, 1934) Vol. 1, p60.
23. ↑ "Evidences Relating to Westover" in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 47, no. 3, 1939, page 194. Online at JSTOR.
24. ↑ Alvanh Holmes, Some Farrar Island Descendants, (Golden Rule: the author, 1977) page 25, citing Close Rolls 1615 C 54/2715 25; 11626 C 54/2715 17 (Abstract of Land in Newgate).
25. ↑ McIlwaine, Minutes of the Council, p113; digital images, FamilySearch (p113).

Citation Sources:

• John Frederick Dorman (editor), Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607–1624/5 Fourth Edition, 3 Volumes (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company for Clearfield Company, 2000); digital images, ReynoldsPAtoVA.org (http://www.reynoldspatova.org/histories/Adv_of_Purse_and_Person-1607-1624.pdf).
• H. R. McIlwaine (editor), Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia, 1622–1632, 1670–1676, With Notes and Excerpts From Original Council and General Court Records, Into 1683, Now Lost (Richmond, Virginia: Library Board, Virginia State Library, 1924); digital images, FamilySearch (title page).

See also - for more information:

• Wikipedia: William Farrar (settler).
• Wikipedia: Cecily Jordan Farrar.
• Wikipedia: Samuel Jordan.
• Wikipedia: Indian massacre of 1622.
• Wikipedia: Jordan Point, Virginia.
• Wikipedia: Cecily Jordan v. Greville Pooley dispute.
• Wikipedia: Farrar's Island.

See also:

• McCartney, Martha W. Virginia Immigrants and Adventurers, 1607-1635, (Genealogical Publishing Co., 2007). Snippets view at GoogleBooks, page 290.
• Foster, Joseph. Pedigrees of the County Families of Yorkshire, Vol. 1, (London: the author, 1874). Online at Archive.org, page 119: son of John and Cecily (no further info on William).
• Tyler, Lyon Gardiner. Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, (Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1915), online at GoogleBooks page 93. Note - The entry for William Farrar confuses him with the son of Nicholas Farrar (see above).
• Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 13 November 2019), memorial page for William Farrar (25 Apr 1583–11 Jun 1637), Find A Grave: Memorial #28700353, citing Jordans Journey Parish, Jordan Point Manor, Prince George County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by brenda joyce (contributor 47000293): unsourced, states burial at Jordans Journey Parish, Charles County.

Acknowledgements

Magna Carta Project

This profile was re-reviewed/updated to meet current standards and approved by Traci Thiessen 14 November 2019.

William Farrar is listed in Magna Carta Ancestry as a Gateway Ancestor (vol. I, pages xxiii-xxix) in trails badged by the Magna Carta Project in 2015 to Magna Carta Surety Barons William d'Aubigné, Richard de Clare, Gilbert de Clare, John de Lacy, Saher de Quincy, and Robert de Ros. William Farrar is also the Gateway in a Richardson-documented trail to surety barons Hugh le Bigod and Roger le Bigod (vol. II, pages 141-142 FARRER) that was badged by the Project in November 2022. The trail to the Bigods branches off into a trail to surety William Malet, which was also badged at the same time. All of these trails are set out below.

See Base Camp for more information about identified Magna Carta trails and their status. See the project's glossary for project-specific terms, such as a "badged trail".

Magna Carta Trails

Badged trails (2015) to Albini, Ros, the Clares, Lacy and Quincy:

Gateway Ancestor William Farrer (badged/re-reviewed 14 Nov 2019)

1. William is the son of Cecily Kelke (badged/re-reviewed 31 Mar 2023)

2. Cecily is the daughter of William Kelke (badged/re-reviewed 2 Apr 2023)

3. William is the son of Christopher Kelke (badged/re-reviewed 5 April 2023)

4. Christopher is the son of Elizabeth de la See (badged/re-reviewed 7 Apr 2023)

5. Elizabeth is the daughter of Elizabeth Wentworth (badged/R&A 7 Apr 2023)

6. Elizabeth is the daughter of Philip Wentworth (badged/re-reviewed 4 Jan 2020)

7. Philip is the son of Margery Despenser (badged/re-reviewed 25 Apr 2018)

8. Margery is the daughter of Elizabeth de Tiptoft (badged/re-reviewed 16 Dec 2019)

9. Elizabeth is the daughter of Robert de Tibetot (badged/re-reviewd 17 Dec 2019)

10. Robert is the son of John de Tibetot (badged/re-reviewed 21 Dec 2019)

11. John is the son of Agnes de Ros (badged/re-reviewed 22 Dec 2019)

12. Agnes is the daughter of William de Ros (badged/re-reviewed 22 Dec 2019)

13. William is the son of Isabel de Albini (badged/re-reviewed 27 Dec 2019)

14. Isabel is the daughter of William d'Aubigny (badged/re-reviewed 27 Dec 2019)

15. William the son of Magna Carta Surety William d'Aubigné

13. William de Ros is the son of Robert de Roos (badged/re-reviewed 23 Dec 2019)

14. Robert is the son of William de Roos (badged/re-reviewed June 2019)

15. William is the son of Magna Carta Surety Robert de Ros

10. Robert de Tibetot is the son of Margaret de Badlesmere (badged/re-reviewed 18 Dec 2019)

11. Margaret is the daughter of Margaret de Clare (badged/re-reviewed 18 Dec 2019)

12. Margaret is the daughter of Thomas de Clare (badged/re-reviewed 18 Dec 2019)

13. Thomas is the son of Richard de Clare (badged/re-reviewed 21 Sep 2019)

14. Richard is the son of Magna Carta Surety Gilbert de Clare

15. Gilbert is the son of Magna Carta Surety Richard de Clare

13. Thomas de Clare is the son of Maud de Lacy (badged/re-reviewed 7 May 2018)

14. Maud is the daughter of Magna Carta Surety John de Lacy

14. Maud de Lacy is the daughter of Margaret de Quincy (badged/re-reviewed 7 May 2018)

15. Margaret is the daughter of Robert de Quincy (badged/re-reviewed 20 Dec 2019)

16. Robert is the son of Magna Carta Surety Saher de Quincy

Badged Richardson-documented trail to the Bigods (MCA II: 141-142 FARRER):

8. Margery is the daughter of Philip le Despenser (badged/R&A 9 Nov 2022)

9. Philip is the son of Philip le Despenser (badged/R&A 10 Nov 2022)

10. Philip is the son of Philip le Despenser (badged/R&A 11 Nov 2022)

11. Philip is the son of Philip le Despenser (badged/R&A 11 Nov 2022)

12. Philip is the son of Isabel de Beauchamp (badged/re-reviewed 25 Aug 2021)

13. Isabel is the daughter of Maud FitzJohn (badged/re-reviewed 3 Feb 2020)

14. Maud is the daughter of Isabel le Bigod (badged/100%)

15. Isabel is the daughter of Magna Carta Surety Hugh le Bigod

16. Hugh is the son of Magna Carta Surety Roger le Bigod

Badged trail to Malet:

10. Philip le Despenser is the son of Joan de Cobham (badged/R&A 12 Nov 2022)

11. Joan is the daughter of Joan de Beauchamp (badged/re-reviewed 23 Mar 2020)

12. Joan is the daughter of John de Beauchamp (badged/re-reviewed 24 Mar 2020)

13. John is the son of Cecily de Vivonne (badged/re-reviewed 24 Mar 2020)

14. Cecily is the daughter of William (Vivonne) de Forz (badged/re-reviewed 6 Mar 2020)

15. William is the son of Mabel Malet (badged/re-reviewed 6 Mar 2020)

16. Mabel is the daughter of Magna Carta Surety William Malet