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Note: ***** Our first evidence that this Michael existed is a tithe list in York Co., VA in 1672. Ten years later, in 1682, William and Thomas Claiborne, in New Kent, Co., VA received a patent for transporting Micha Wardrope and others. The record doesn't say when Micha was transported. Seventeen years later, in 1699, a Michael Waldrope was granted land in King William Co., VA. A number of documents show a dispute over this 1699 land grant that was not resolved until 1713. We call this OUR Michael and OUR Waldrop immigrant.
David Porter Smith and the team of Howard Leon Waldrop, Donald Wayne Waldrop and Jan Dawson are the source of much of what we know about the Waldrop family of the 1600's. We consider them the experts. However, a trip to the Library of Virginia in 2014 shed a new light on the Waldrop family that neither David, nor the team HLWDWWJD touched on in any of their notes as far as we can tell. There was a Thomas Wardrope/Wardrobe in York Co., VA at the same time these early researcher found Michael Waldrop there. Thomas was mentioned in numerous Court records from 1666 to 1671. He was literate, signed his name, rather than his mark. He was paid for writing the Will of Gabriel Jones. One document mentions Thomas Wardrope and Thomas Bell. A Thomas Bell was on the same list with Michael Waldrop in 1672 and 1682 sightings. We'd like to believe this Thomas Bell associated with Michael and the one associated with Thomas is the same man. How was Thomas and Michael Waldrop related? Were they? Thomas was not an indentured servant. He was witnessing documents. Who was he? [See Rin 35756].
We, and other researchers we have known believe Michael came to America as an indentured servant. We like to think he indentured himself in hopes of having a better life in America. We call his birth year 1645, making him about 25-27 years old when he arrived. We have no actual evidence of Michael's age, except that he was at least 16 years old in 1672 when he appeared on the tithe list. If only 16 in 1672, Michael would have been born in 1656. This first Michael being 11 years younger would dilute somewhat the theory of David Smith that there were four men named Michael Waldrop in succession in early Virginia. But, it wouldn't completely dispell it. And, David did write, "The theory of the first four Michaels was and is intended to be theory for further research."
The time lapses in sightings of Waldrop families in the 1600s and early 1700s leaves a lot of unanswered questions. It is hard to believe that the Michael of York Co., VA in 1672 fathered the Waldrop families we find in the 1730s and 1740s. For ease of access in this database, we have taken the Michael David Smith created and given the four Waldrop men of the early 1700's to him as sons. And, like David's "theory of the first four Michaels was and is intended to be theory for further research", our placing of these four men is intended for "ease of access".
After Michael served his time under contract as an indentured servant, he went north and west. He was probably motivated by cheap or free land in the less populated areas of King William Co., VA. He probably rented a farm for a few years before being assigned the controversial "Indian Lands" by Fuller and Johnson in 1699. He probably didn't even know there was a controversy until he tried to sell his land to Francis Arnold in 1704, and probably bought it back when he learned of the problem. It took until 1713 for Michael to obtain clear title to his land.
It is possible that Michael married a few years after he arrived in America, sometime between 1675-1680. The son David Smith created would have been born 1677-79. This son could have been the father of Luke in 1734 Hanover, VA; James in Caroline Co., VA; Michael in Orange Co., VA and Joseph in Amelia Co., VA. All four of these men were born 1700-1710 era. Michael, the son would have fathered these sons in his 20's and 30's.
One of the Michael's, probably the elder, transported two persons to the colony sometime before 1712. He received a headright of his own. We believe that Michael, the immigrant was dead or very old when the problem with the first 90 acres was resolved. We believe his son lived on the land and raised a family. There is nothing but a surname to link Michael I, Michael II and the Waldrop's born around 1700-1710.
Some researchers have been brave enough to go farther back and connect this Michael to Sir William Wardroper. Our imagination was exhausted after the ten year and seventeen year leaps to get the same Michael Wardrope from York to King William Co., VA. So, we stopped there.
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1672 --- YORK CO., VA. Tithe List. Michael Waldrop
On 24 Sep 1672, in York Co., Va, a John Keene was paid 200 pounds of tobacco for Michael Waldrop and Thomas Bell, "York County, Va, Records, 1672-1676," abstracted and Compiled by Benjamin B. Weisiger, III. The entry says, "At a grand assembly Sept. 24, 1672, the County of York." The entries under this title are payments that are being made to various people and is signed "TESTE James Minge, Clerk of Assembly for the levy" We do not know why Keene was being paid for Waldrop and Bell, but we do know Michael was in York Co., VA by 1672 and that he had to have been age 16 or older at that time, according to headright laws.
1682 --- NEW KENT CO., VA. 20 Apr 1682. William Claiborne son of Col. William Claiborne dec'd and Thomas Claiborne, son and heir apparent of Mr. Thomas Claiborne, 545 acres, Beginning in the fork of Chicahominy River... Transportation of 11 persons: Thomas Bell, Robert Bowles, John Ireland, Richard Pearson, Corn Busby, Margaret Bright, Richard Ely, Micha. Wardrope, Mary Poll, Ann Hicks, and Andrew Hall. "Cavaliers and Pioneers" by Nell Marion Nugent, Patent Book 7, By Richard Bennet, Volume 2 page 236. [Thomas Bell and Michael Wardrope were both on the 1672 tithe list above.]
1699 --- KING WILLIAM CO., VA. Titles Upon Indian Leases, June 1699 - Mich. Wardrope, 90 acres assigned to him by Fuller and Johnson. (King William Co., VA Records, in "English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records," by Louis desCognets, Jr. 1981. p. 62)
Nineteen people laid claims to land in the same area where Michael bought land from Fuller & Johnson. Later, upon discovering these claims, the Proprietors determined the land had actually been set aside for the Pamunky Indians, and that it could not legally be assigned to anyone else. Therefore, they declared the patents NULL AND VOID.
Actual Text - Copy of page from book at VA Archives in file.-CW
"This committee conceived that the following claimes and titles to Land in Pamunkey Neck haveing their ground and foundation upon Indian leases are, ipso facto, Null & Voyd as being contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of the Articles of Peace and to the 136th Act of Assembly in the Printed Book. But because it conduces much to the advancement of his Maj'ties Interest and the peopleing of this his Maj'ties Colony that the said lands should be held of the King as others, and because the severall persons claiming thereby have their immediate dependance thereupon and have made severall improvements and have a long and continued & uninterrupted possession, this Committee therefore conceived that (his Maj'ties grant to his Royall Colledge of William & Mary and other the former salvo's reserved) a favourable Grant thereof may be made to them in severally, Viz:--" There follows a list of claimholders,including "MICH: WARDROPE, 90 acres assigned to him by Fuller & Johnson."
[Other names listed - Robert Napier, 100 acres leased to Alexander Mackdonald and assigned to him and 600 acres leased to himself; John Whitlock, 150 acres by the same title; Susanna Page 1000 acres leasted to herself; Anthony Fuller & James Johnson 300 acres leased to them by George Pargiter; Michael Wardrope 90 acres assigned to him by Fuller & Johnson; John Thompson 450 acres assigned by William Clark & Marg't Clarke; Joseph Hayles, Joseph Cockerham & John Dixon 1500 acres; Joshua Normand in behalfe of Joseph Southerland, Phillip Southerland and George Southerland orphans of George Southerland 300 acres; Thomas Ware 600 acres leased to himself; Thomas Mackgabee 100 acres leased to Daniell Grant & conveyed to him; Phillip Williams 100 acres assigned by Mackdonald; John Baker 500 acres; Edward Hackstep 550 acres leased to his mother & himself; Richard Glasedge 2000 acres; John Burt 80 acres; Francis Hill 250 acres; William Byrd, son and heir of Robert Byrd Gentl. dec'd 1200 acres leased to the said Robert.]
1701 --- "Virginia Journals of the House of Burgesses 1695-1702", Dated 14 Sep 1701 - Whereas the Commission appointed to Examine Claimes to Land in Pamunkey Neck have returned Surveyes and Certificates to the Secretary's Office concerning these Lands hereafter mentioned---Resolved that it is the Opinion of this house that Pattents be issued for the same as followeth:
To James HENDERSON for one hundred and fifty five Acres.
To George DABONY for two hundred and ninty three Acres.
To James DABONY for one Thousand Acres of Land.
To Thomas CARR for five hundred and forty Six Acres.
To Sarah DABONY for 179 1/2 acres of Land.
To Benjamin ARNOLD for two thousand one hundred Acres.
To Anthony FULLER and James JOHNSON for 300 Acres.
To Philip WILLIAMS for one hundred Acres of Land.
To Alexander ANDERSON for one hundred Acres of Land.
To MICHAEL WARDROP for ninety Acres of Land.
1704 --- KING WILLIAM CO., VA. Record Book 1, page 228. 21 Aug 1704. Francis Arnold and wife Frances acknowledge deed conveying [100 acres of] land to MICHAEL WALDROP.
"Wee the subscribers Francis Arnold to and with the consent of my wife Frances Arnold doe by these presents for wee our heirs - etc. - doe acknowledge our wholeright title and interest of a certain parcel of land unto MICHAEL WALDROP or his order. It being the land ye which I formerly bought of the said MICHAEL WALDROP as witness our hands this 21 day of August 1704. (S.S. Francis (FA) Arnold, Frances (X) Arnold. At a court held for King William County on Monday 21st day of August. Frances relinquishes dower." King William Co. Patents Book 10, p. 64. Also in King William County, Virginia Records, 1702-1707, Vol. 1, by Ryland. p. 22. Record Book 1, p. 228. Also in Extracts of King Wm. Co. Records, Bk. XI, found in Va. Hist. Mag., V. 24, 1916, p. 388.)
1705 --- In October 1705, there was enacted into the Laws of Virginia "An Act for prevention of misunderstandings between the tributary Indians and other subjects of her Majesties colony and dominion; and for free and open trade with all Indians whatsoever... Provided nevertheless that it shall and may be lawful for the general court of this dominion to receive and examine the several claims of George Shilling to 300 acres of land; of MICHAEL WALDROP to 90 acres of land; and of the heir of George Southerland, deceased, to 200 acres of land; All which lands are said to be a part of the lands laid out for the Pamunkey Indians... to grant patents to the several persons before named." There followed in this act rather detailed provisos governing what the "English" and Indians could and could not do. For example, no English could plant nearer than three miles from an Indian town, and the Indians could enjoy their convenience of "oistering" and fishing and gathering on English land so long as they were licensed. (Hennig's Laws of Virginia, Vol. 3, p. 466, Article IV. October 1705--4th Anne.)
1706 --- MICHAEL WALDROP, George Shilling, William Reynolds and John Fox presented to the court arguments for their claims to the Pamunkey Indian land. 28 May 1706.
1706 --- KING WILLIAM CO., VA. Record Book 1, page 302-304. 2 Jun 1706. Attachment of Samuel Cradock upon estate of William (Dabney or Morey). Inventory returned by William Lipscomb, Martin Slaughter, Michael Waldrop.[Copy of abstract in file.-CW]
1706 --- KING WILLIAM CO., VA. Record Book? VI-363-(349)? Upon an Order of King William Co. Court bearing date the ? day of May 1706 made upon an Attachment obtained by Samuel Chadwick against William Morey is endorsed as followeth, viz Martin Slaughter, William Lipscomb and Michael Waldrop were sworne before me 7 Jun 1706. Wm. Noyes.
In Obedience to the within Order, we the Appraisers being constitute and appointed have weighed and appraised the tobaccoe being One thousand one hundred and ninety eight pounds, one hundred thereof being small and indifferent, the which we value at eight shillings and the remainder at (? ten pds.). William Lipscomb, Martin (M) Slaughter, Michael (S) Waldrop. Vere Recorder. Test. Wm. aylett, Cl Cur.
1712 --- KING WILLIAM CO., VA. St. John Parish. 26 April 1712. Grant from England to Michael Waldrop. Pamunkey Neck, Va. Archives, Book 10, Page 64-65. Michael Waldrup, 100 acres
Actual Text - Copy of original document in file.-CW
Anne etc. To all &c: Know yee that for diverse good causes & considerations but more especially for the consideration of the importation of two persons to dwell within this our colony of Virginia whose names are John Pompett & Thos. Hancock we have given granted & confirmed and by these presents for us our heires & successors do give grant & confirm unto Michael Waldrup of the County of _____one certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred acres lying & being in the parish of St. Johns between the College Land the Long Branch & the Great Swamp in King William County and bounded as followeth to witt Begining at the mouth of the Long Branch thence up the run of the said branch to a maple in the branch thence north seventeen degrees easterly sixty poles to four small black oakes in the College Line thence along that line south sixty three degrees easterly one hundred sixty eight poles to a hickory by a branch thence down the run of the said branch to the run of the Great Swamp thence down the run of ye Great Swamp to the begining with all &c: o have hold & to be held & yeilding & paying &c: Provided &c: In witness &c: Witness our trusty & well beloved Alexander Spotswood our Lieut: Governor &c: at Wmsburgh under the seal of our said colony the twenty sixth day of April one thousand seven hundred & twelve in the eleventh year of our reign
A. Spotswood
1713 --- On November 10, 1713, MICHAEL WALDROBE's right to a land grant of 90 acres was accepted by the Governor's Council. "Whereas the several Proprietors of Lands within the bounds laid out pursuant to the Articles of Peace for the Pamunkey Indians, did this day attend the Governor in Council, etc. It is ordered that publication be made at the courthouse of King William County that the following persons have made appear their Right to Land, VIZ: George Shilling and MICHAEL WALDROBE. Their patents will be considered at the next General Council." (English Duplicates of Lost Virginia Records, ibid. p.113. See also Hennig's Statutes, V. 3, p. 466, in Swem's Index.)[Copy of page from VA Archives in file.-CW]
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Published Error - David Dobson of St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland--a specialist in Scottish immigration, documents Michael Wardrope's sons as James, John, Joseph, Michael, and Luke. Dobson's source has been proven unreliable for documentation. Howard Hunt Waldrop tracked down the sources for this printed material. The information given to David Dobson was an American lady, Dr. Grace Batson, who submitted her material as a query. This person was contacted by Howard H. Waldrop and she had no documentation for her query, and based it only on speculation and name frequency. The quote from Dobson's book follows: "From Scotland to America. Received a land grant in Virginia 1699. Father of John, Michael and Joseph." (From Scottish Settlers in North America, 6 vols. Vol. 1, p. 259, Geneal. pub. Co.,Inc., 1984.)
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The date of 1682, when the Claibornes collected their land for transporting him does not indicate his year of arrival. [Note from David P. Smith --- The introduction to Vol. I, of Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nugent states that "the headrights may have arrived in the Colony long before the patentee had entered claim for land thereby due."
Thomas J. Wertenbaker in his "The Spring of Colonial VA." Part II, p. 77 states that this time interval was on the average 12 or more years.]
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MICHAEL WALDROP, IMMIGRANT, Essay by Jan Dawson, 9/02
In order to understand the immigration of Michael Waldrop, it is important to know a little about the history of that time.
Jamestown, Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in North America. On May 6, 1607, three ships stopped at Cape Henry, at the southern entrance to Chesapeake Bay, after more than four months at sea. (Jamestown is about 20 miles or so from where Michael Waldrop later settled.)
As the colonies began to grow, there was a demand for labor, both skilled and unskilled. The system of indenturing servants started during the 1600's to provide cheap labor for the colonies. (Over half of all immigrants to the colonies after the 1630's came as indentured servants.) An indentured servant was someone who worked without wages for a period of time in exchange for passage to the American Colonies. The term most commonly refered to Europeans who signed a contract to work a term of years, usually four to seven, in return for payment of their voyage, food, clothing, and shelter. The contract was called an indenture. Most indentured servants were young men between the ages of 16 and 25 looking for jobs and a better life. Some debtors and convicts were also sent to the colonies as indentured servants.
Beginning in 1618, the colony of Virginia offered a headright, a grant of 50 acres per head (that is, per head count) to any person who imported servants to Virginia. The "headright" belonged to the person who paid for the servant's passage. The servant was recruited in the British Isles. He "sold" himelf to an agent or a ship's captain and signed an indenture contract. The contract was then sold to a buyer in a colony. The crossing was difficult. Three biscuits and a pint of water a day was not unusal fare. Upon arrival, the servant usually ended up doing household or agricultural work or unskilled labor. If the servant had a craft, such as weaving, carpentry, blacksmithery or the like, he would bargain for a shorter term of indenture. Some servants, when they completed their term of servitude, were given "freedom dues" or small amounts of land.
Whoever bought the headright for the transported servant surrendered it to the colony who in turn awarded him 50 acres of land. However, it was more common for the owner of the headright either to keep the headright until he had accumulated a number of them and then exchange them for a larger tract of land, or else sell the headright to another person, who in turn might sell it to someone else, and so forth.
We assume from records in Scotland that Michael Waldrop probably was from Edinburgh, but we have no proof. We do know from two records, however, that he was an indentured servant in Virginia. In the 1672 list of tithables (A tithable was any male age 16 or older.) for York Co., Virginia, John Keene was paid 100 pounds of tobacco for MICK WALDROP and Thomas Bell. Deeds prove that John Keene was a Virginia landowner and planter, and therefore, logically, owned indentured servants.
In 1682, the headright for transporting Michael Waldrop was finally surrendered for land in New Kent County, VA. (This does not mean that Michael Waldrop was in New Kent Co.; Merely that the headright owner was.) It appears the transporter was Col Wm. Claiborne, Jr., who gave or sold it to his son William, who gave or sold it to Thomas Claiborne, who gave or sold it to his son Thomas Claiborne, Jr. The document, which clearly states that headrights were claimed for eleven persons, one being Michael Waldrop, reads as follows: (From NellNugent's "Cavaliers & Pioneers" Volume II, p. 236, Patent Book #7.)20 Apr 1682, William Claiborne, (Claibourne), son of Col. Wm. Clayborne Jr., deceased, Thomas Claiborne, son & heir apparent of Mr. Thomas Claiborne, 545 acres, New Kent Co., VA., 20 Apr 1682 (p. 154). Beginning in the fork of Chickahominy River where the SW ends, & continues. Transportation of 11 persons: Thomas Bell, Robert Bowles, John Ireland, Richard Pearson, Cornwallis Bushy (or Busby), Margaret Bright, Richard Ely, MICHA WALDROPE, Mary Poll, Ann Hicks, and Andrew Hall.
The two records, 1672 and 1682, give us specific information about Michael Waldrop. The 1682 record proves he was an indentured servant, because Claiborne received a headright (which he received from someone else) for Michael's transportation to Virginia. Since a tithe was paid for Michael in 1672, he must have been at least 16 years of age at that time, because that was the minimum tithable age. This means Michael Waldrop was born not later than 1656, and possibly earlier, since he may have been older than 16 when he was tithed. Because Col. Claiborne, who transported him, did not cash in the headright when it was issued, we do not know exactly when Michael Waldrop arrived in America, but it must have been before 1672 when his name appeared on the Virginia tithe list. The interesting thing to point out is that he undertook a difficult voyage to this country at a young age, during a time of uncertainty, and probably about 60 years or so after the first settements were established. (No doubt a courgeous thing for a young man to do.)
Many Virginia records were burned or destroyed in wars and in courthouse fires over the years. Thus, we have only scanty amounts of data for our immigrant ancestor. No records tell us his wife's name or those of all his children. We do know that in 1672 he was in York Co., VA where his name appeared on the tithe list, and that he settled in King William County, VA by 1699. We also know that he himself received 100 acres of headrights in 1712 for transporting two men to Virginia.
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Post to Waldrop Board in 2000 by Jan Dawson
I do not have all the answers, but so many people seem to be uncertain about the early lineage that I thought I'd list the conclusions of a number of the authorities, based on documents and circumstantial evidence. There are many early Waldrops named Michael, Luke, Joseph, John and James, and it is easy to confuse them. The Michael line:
MICHAEL I, b. c1644 Great Britain. (Scotland not proved!), d. Va.
MICHAEL II, b. c1677 Va; d. aft 1727 Va.
MICHAEL III, b. c1708 Va; m. Sarah; d. c1775 Spart.Co., SC
MICHAEL IV, b. c1734 Va; d. c1806, Laurens Co., SC
MICHAEL V, b. c1755 ?Orange Co., NC; d. c1815/16 Maury Co., Tn
MICHAEL VI, b. c1773 Spartanburg Co., SC; d. c1839 Wayne/Lawrence Co., Tn
The children of Michael II were
JAMES I, b. c1705
MICHAEL III, b. c1708
LUKE I, b. c1710
(?daughters)
The children of Michael III were
JAMES, b. c1732
MICHAEL, b. c1734
SHADRACK, b. c1750
WILLIAM "OLD BILLY", b. c1754
(Several daughters)
The children of Michael IV were
JAMES, b. c1750
MICHAEL, b. c1755
JOHN, b. c1757
(?daughters)
The children of Luke, b. c1710 were (Note that old time researchers say Luke had three wives, one of whom was Christian Trevillian. I do not know what evidence they had.--jd)
JOHN, b. c1732 Va; m. ?Millicent & Tabitha; d. 1794 NewCoSC
JAMES, b. c1735 Va; m. Mary ?Henderson; d. 1799 NewCoSC
MARY ANN, b. c1737 Va; m. Samuel Henderson; d. 1828 ?Cass Co Ga
JOSEPH, b. c1744 Va; m. Hannah Johnson/Eliza Jones; d. c1818 CrawCoIL! (Note: He did not die in Martin Co., IN)
MICHAEL, b. c1748 Va.
LUKE II, b. c1750 NC; m. Mary ?Henderson; d. 1828 RuthCoNC
JECHONIAS, b. c1754; m. Margaret Harrison; d 1826 RuthCoNC
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