Making Sense - Research 2nd husbands!

When researching, though you may not find an interesting story with both members of the direct line, but a great story could be with the 2nd or 3rd spouse. Samuel Jordan is the 2nd husband of my 11th Great Grandmother on my Lauderback side. Here is their story discovered and recapped by many genealogists studying this line.

Samuel Jordan traveled to Virginia in 1610. Genealogists believe, but there is no solid evidence to the fact, that he was on the Sea Venture; but is the most reasonable assumption. It is told that a fleet of ships were "caught in the tail of a hurricane" and became part of Shakespeare's immortal tale, TEMPEST. There were originally nine ships; one sunk, and the flagship, called the Sea Venture, was wrecked off the coast of Bermuda. It is thought that the flagship carried Sir Thomas Gates, Governor of the colony; Sir George Somers, commander of the London Company's naval operations; and Vice-Admiral Christopher Newport, commanding the ship. Among the passengers on the flagship Sea Venture is believed to be Samuel Jordan.

Cicely Reynolds, who is my 11th Great Grandmother arrived on the Swan in 1611, and became Samuel’s wife before 1620, because she is mentioned in his patent.

Samuel Jordan was considered an Ancient Planter of colonial Jamestown. In about 1619, Samuel Jordan was elected to the first legislative assembly in America, the House of Burgesses in Jamestown, VA. In 1620 Samuel Jordan settled on the South side of James River. His plantation was known as Jordan’s Journey. His home was called Beggar’s Bush, which today is located in Prince George Co., VA.

Samuel Jordan's Patent was recorded in December 1620 and reads in part:

“...to Samuel Jourdan of Charles City in Virga. Gent, an ancient planter who hath abode ten years Compleat in this Colony and performed all services to the Colony that might any way concern him etc and to his heirs and assignes for ever for part of his first genll. dividend to be augmented &c, 450 acs. on his personal right, etc. and ...[for] the personall claim of Cecily his wife an ancient planter also of nine years continuance, one hundred acres more and the other 250 acs. in recompence of his trans. out of England at his own charges of five servants, namely John Davies, who arrived in 1617 for whose passage the sd. Samuel hath paid to the Cape. Mercht., Thomas Matterdy bound apprentice to sd. Samuel by indenture in England dated 8 Oct 1617; Robert Marshall brought out of England by Capt. Burgrave in May 1619, at the costs of sd. Samuel; Alice Wade the same year in the George, etc., & Thomas Steed in the Faulcon in July 1620; and maketh choice in 3 several places: one house & 50 acs. called --ilies Point [Bailies Point] in Charles hundred, bordering E. upon the gr. river, W. upon the main land, S. upon John Rolfe and N. upon the land of Capt. John Wardeefe; 2ndly, 1 tenement containing 12 acs., etc., encompassed on the W. by Martins Hope, now in tenure of Capt. John Martin, Master of the Ordinance; & 388 acs. in or near upon Sandys his hundred, towards land of Temperance Baley, W. upon Capt. Woodlief, etc."
reference: Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers, 226

In 1622 Samuel Jordan acquired 100 acres on the North side of the James River. The adjoining land of his plantation was owned by John Rolfe, who married Pocahontas, the Indian princess, in 1614. The local Indian tribes organized a surprise attack on the English colonists. This is known as The Indian Massacre of 1622. 

Many men, women, and children were killed in a coordinated series of attacks. Samuel Jordan gathered together a few of the survivors at his home, which housed 42 people, including many families who had gone there for protection, including William Ferrar (mention him in a minute).

Samuel Jordan died before April, 1623. The inventory of his estate included two plantations, five houses, two boats, and ten servants. After his death Cicely became a wealthy young widow. She became the target of two men, one the Rev. Pooley and the other William Ferrar. Mr. Pooley proposed only three days after the funeral. Cicely responded, that "she would not marry any man until she delivered" -- presumably being pregnant at the time with her daughter Margaret who was listed in the 1624/5 Muster as one year old. Mr. Pooley refused to take no for an answer, but instead took her hand and recited the words of the marriage service -- speaking for her as well as for himself! Cicely did not feel bound by Mr. Pooley's attempts to marry her without her permission. Eventually she asked William Ferrar to help with her estate, and eventually accepted his proposal. Mr. Pooley then took her to court, in what became known as the New World's first breach-of-promise suit. After several court matters, he eventually dropped the suit when he realized he would not win.

                                                         (Cicely is mentioned in this historical marker) 

I descend from Cicely (Reynolds) Baley Jordan Ferrar, from her first marriage thru her daughter Temperance Baley married to Richard Cocke. Samuel Jordan is Cicely’s 2nd husband and had quite a story to research even though he is not my direct descendant, he is still an interesting addition.