Background on the area which ties together with my article from January 18th
The English in Virginia had early contact with the Nansemond Indian Tribe who lived in several villages along the Nansemond River near Chuckatuck (now known as Suffolk). The English raided the Nansemond Indians villages in 1608. They burned their homes and destroyed their belongings and crops. This was the start of hostilities between the Indian tribes and the new English settlers. The Indian tribes had to relocate their villages several times, as more settlers came to the area.
Thomas Jordan Sr Immigrated to Virginia colony aboard the "Diana" in 1620. He is listed in the census in 1624 and 1625 where he headed the list of a dozen of the Governor Sir George Yardley's men. Thomas was one of the Governor's guards, a position of great honor. He followed the Puritan religious faith, which is why he probably followed the Puritan trek to Nansemond. He was a member of the House of Burgesses from 1628 until 1632.
In 1632 he personally paid for 18 new colonist to come to Virigina and in 1635 he was rewarded by a land grant of 900 acres near Isle of Wight in Warresquioake County.
One of his son's was Thomas Jordan Jr.
Thomas Jordan Jr was born 07 Jul 1634 in Chuckatuck, Nansemond, Virginia. He was the Husband of my 9th Great Grand Aunt. He is related to the Samuel Jordan whom I spoke of January 18th in my blog about second husbands. Yes, I know "husband of a great grand aunt is not a vary close connection, but is a connection anyways, and an interesting person!
Thomas Jordan married Margaret Brashare in 1660, and she was a very strong minded woman. Margaret lured Thomas away from his father’s faith that I spoke of above - being a Puritan, and converted Thomas to Quakerism, and this influenced his family for many years. Because of his connections back in England, Thomas was able to give Virginia Quakers a little protection from Puritan authorities who were also supported by his own father (also named Thomas). Thomas was also somewhat of a martyr that suffered for his beliefs throughout his life.
From Adventures of Purse and Person , Virginia1607-1624 Families, it states: “….Nansemond County where there were many Puritans and, by 1660, a well developed Quaker movement. In that year Thomas is recorded as having “received the truth,” after which he “abode faith full in it: And in constant unity with the faithful friends thereof”. The Jordan’s became the leading family of Quakers in Isle of Wight and Nansemond Counties and their tribulations under the Virginia legislative enactment of 1662 for suppression of the sec are recounted in the Quaker records. ….Thomas “lived an exemplary life in the faith.”
HINSHAW’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN QUAKER GENEALOGY notes: "Thomas Jordan was probably the most influential Quaker in lower Virginia being a man of position and substance."
In 1661, Thomas Jordan Jr writes, "in six weeks imprisonment for being taken at a meeting at my own house and released by the King's proclamation." This royal proclamation shows that the Jordan family was influential in both England and in Virginia. During that same year, Thomas went thru the following abuses for his Quaker beliefs: ". . . for being taken at a meeting at Robert Lawrence's and bound over to the court of Nansemond for refusing to swear according to their wills and against the commands of Christ, was sent up to Jamestown a prisoner for upwards of ten months. Presently John Blake took away my three servants and left my wife in a distressed condition with a young child at her breast . . . which servant was kept nine weeks and released by order of the Governor. There was taken by John Blake, Sheriff of Nansemond, two feather beds, two feather bolsters, and furniture which together with other goods amounted to 3,907 lbs. tobacco and also a serving man who had three years to serve. There was taken by Thomas Godwin, Sheriff, ten head of cattle amounting to 5,507 lbs." This testimonial was signed, "Thomas Jordan, Chuckatuck, 1st month, 1661."
In 1666, Thomas Jordan Jr was deeded 550 acres in Nansemond County. Thomas and Margaret Jordan had a large family! They had ten sons: Thomas III, John, James, Robert, Richard, Joseph, Benjamin, Matthew, Samuel, and Joshua.
Thomas Jordan Jr died 08 Oct 1699 in Chuckatuck, Nansemond, Virginia. Thomas Jordan "departed this life the eighth day of the tenth month of the sixth day of the week about the second hour of the afternoon and was buried the 12th day of the said month on the third day of the week of the year 1699." As his memorial notes, in part, " . . . he stood in opposition against the wrong and deceitful spirits, having suffered the spoiling of his goods and the imprisonment of his body for . . ."
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