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William Hancock (Simon) b. about 1648 d. 1687 m. __ Cockroft, d. about 1685; (she was a sister of William Cockroft, b. 1643 d. 1686 who m. Sarah ____ and left issue: Sarah, WIlliam
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Joshua, Thomas and John. It would seem likely that William Crockroft, his sister who m. William Hancock and a third child were the children of William Cockroft…
William and ______ (Cockroft) Hancock had issue: Simon (oldest son), William Samuel, John, Mary, Frances, Edward, George (known afterwards as Capt. George Hancock, justice of Princess Anne county, 1705, 1708, 1714, 1719). The following is an abstract of the will of William Hancock, dated April 14, 1687, proved May 17, 1687.
… unto my oldest Sone Simon Hancocke ye plantation I now live on being bounded with a small Cr ye north of wch runs in a little below the Chapell and runeth up nigh my dwelling house, and bounded Ey with an old trench on ye Nw on a Cr foremerly Cald hoskins Cr and nly on a branch cald deepe branch …
… my sone William …
… my Sone Samuell….
…unto my Sone John…
… unto my daughter Mary …
… unto my loving mother Sara Pigott all my stock of hogs…
… unto my Kinsman William Moseley libertie to live on any parts of my land until the heire thereof shall come to age …
… unto my two youngest sons Edward Nad George Hancock …
“My love friends Mr. Arthur Moseley, Bartha, Williamson, John Carraway and Edward Moseley to appoint a time meete and take an exact inventorie … likewise that they lay out and marke ye lands
p109 given unto my Sons according to my will …”
Witnesses: Anthony Lawson Will Hancock (seal)
John Carraway, Bartho. Williamson, Edward Moseley
(Brief Abstracts, Lower Norfolk county Wills, Vol. 1, page 113)
In 1675 Benjamin Johnson “of ye Easterne branch of Elizabeth River” in his will, dated Sept. 19, 1675, proved April 17, 1677, bequeathed, “my gunn … to William Hancock for making my Coffin …
(Brief Abstracts, Lower Norfolk County Wills, Vol. 1, page 51)
Robert Hancock (Simon) b. about 1650 d. 1709 m. about 1672 Johan Lyggon b. 1653 d. 1728 (daughter of Col. Thomas Lyggon of Henrico county who m. Mary Harris, daughter of Capt. Thomas Harris, b. 1585 and Adria Osborne, b. 1601. Capt. Thomas Harris came to Virginia in 1611 with Thomas Osborne and settled at the “Neck of Land” in Henrico county; was a member of the House of Burgesses 1623, 1625, 1639, 1647. He was second in command with Thomas Osborne in the Indian War of 1622. Col. Thomas Lyggon was a member of the House of Burgesses, 1644, 1645. (T.H. Harris, Harris Family of Virginia, page 7 et sequitur; Va. Mag. Hist. Vol 4, page 79)
Issue of Robert and Johan (Lyggon) Hancock: Sarah, b. about 1673 m. Arthur Moseley, Mary, b. about 1675 m. John Hatcher, William, b. about 1678, d. before 1719, Johan ELizabeth b. about 1682, d. before 1731, Robert, b. about 1684. He probably m. Margaret _____ and d. before 1745. Patented 500 acres of land in Henrico county in 1716 and 400 acres in 1731, Phoebe, b. about 1686 m ________ Bailey.
The first mention of Robert Hancock in the Henrico county records occurs in 1679, on which date he is included in the list of tithables with one. He appears as a juryman for the years 1679 and 1682. On April 2, 1683, William Byrd conveyed to Robert Hancock 137 acres of land for 500 pounds of tobacco. In 1684 Mary Lyggon, widow of Col. Thomas Lyggon made a deed of gift to “her son-in-law Robert Hancock” and to this children, Sarah and Mary Hancock. On October 30, 1686, Robert Hancock patented 600 acres of land in Henrico for the transportation of twelve persons to the Colony. In 1692 Robert and Johan Hancock conveyed to their son-in-law, Arthur Moseley, 600 acres of land. In the William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 24, page 278 there is to be found the following reference to him by Mr. Torrence:
“Mr. Robert Hancock, a man of comparatively comfortable means in his day, left many descendants … From the sons of Robert and Johan Hancock there is a numerous descent, including people in all walks of life; their daughters married a Moseley, a Hatcher and a Bailey.”
In the Quit Rent Rolls of Henrico county for 1705, he is shown to have possessed 850 acres of land, of which in June 1708, or a short while before his death, he deeded to his son-in-law Samuel Hancock and Johan his (Robert’s) daughter, 200 acres and at the same time made a similar grant to his son-in-law, John Hatcher and “to my daughter Mary”. His will, witnessed by Capt. John Bolling, John Alday and James Rutledge, was dated Oct. 18, 1700 and proved March 1, 1709. It mentions: ‘my loving wife, Johan Hancock”, daughter Phoebe Hancock, daughter Elizabeth Hancock, two sons Robert and William Hancock, son-in-law Samuel Hancock, “my five daughters: Sarah, Mary, Johan, Pheby and Elizabeth” and refers to “when my son Robert comes of age” (Henrico county Wills, Archives, VIrginia State Library). (Though the descent is possibly as traced here, it should be noted that there is no record evidence connecting Robert Hancock of Henrico with SImon Hancock, the emigrant)
Johan (Lyggon) Hancock, the wife of Robert Hancock, appears in the Henrico county records in 1683 as making a deposition which gives an interesting sidelight on the sporting proclivities of some of the early Virginians.
“Johan Hancocke, aged 30 years or thereabouts, sworn and examined saith: That some time this last sumer being at Abraham Womack’s house I heard Edward Hatcher, … in discussion concerning a hourse race and after some time I heard a challenge made between Ed Hatcher and Andrew Martin adn Will Puckett and James Baugh that ye said Edw Hatcher’s horse that he then had there was to run against ye said Andrew Martin’s horse …
… Johann (Lyggon) Hancock survived her husband seventeen yeas for her will, dated Feb. 22, 1726 and witnessed by Mary X Elam, Mary X Dudley and Arthur Moseley, Jr., was proved Nov. 7, 1728 in Henrico county. A copy of this will follows:
“In the name of God, Amen, I Johan Hancock of the Parish and county of Henrico being in perfect mind and memory, blessed be to God for it, do contain and commune this my last will and testament in manner and form following, first, I commit my soul unto the hand of Almighty God hoping through his meritorious death and passion of Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to receive free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins as deny body to be buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter menti. First I will and Desire that my debts and funeral charges be duly paid and discharged. Now I give to my daughter Sarah Moseley one shilling sterling. Now I give unto my daughter Mary Hatcher one shilling sterling. Now I give unto my daughter Johan Hancock one shilling sterling. Now I give unto my son Robert Hancock one shilling sterling. Now I give unto myd aughter Phoebe Baily my riding hoarse and sidesaddle and my black suit of clothes. Now I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elisabet my negro Girl Matt with her interest to her and her heirs forever during her life and after her death her interest to be equally divided amongst the children she shall them have that are lawfullyh begortten of her body and all the rest of my worldly Estate. I likewise order and constitute my said daughter ELizabeth Hancock my full and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament making void all other wills and Testaments by me heretofore made. Witness my hand and seal this 22 day of February 1726″ (Henrico County Records, Archives, Va. State Lib)
Daughter (Simon) m. Arthur Moseley (son of William Mosley who m SUsan ____ and d. 1655 in Lower Norfolk county). According to the Va. Hist. Mag. Vol. 5, page 327, William Moseley, a brother of Arthur and son of William Moseley is state to have m. Mary GOokin adn to have d. about 1671, having had issue: William,
John, Elisabeth and Edward. According to the will of Sarah Piggot, her daughter had issue by Arthur Moseley as follows: Susannah, Mary, William, Edward. These same children are all mentioned in the will of Arthur Moseley, dated Feb. 1, 1700 and proved in 1702 in Lower Norfolk county and in addition to those above mentioned: Benjamin, Arthur, George, Joseph, Amos, and Anthony. (Brief Abstracts of Lower Norfolk county Wills). Some of these last name children were possibly those of a second marriage as the will of Richard Hargrove, Sr. dated Nov 21, 1686 and proved in Lower Norfolk county, Jan 17, 1687 mentioneds his son-in-law Arthur Moseley. It was probably the William Moseley to whom William Hancock referred as his kinsman (nephew) in his will.
The Moseleys of Princess Anne county, according to the records, seem to have been among themost intimate friends of the Hancocks even before the marriage of one of their number to the daughter of Simon Hancock. This friendship, as well as relationship, persisted through ensuing generations with the removal of members of the Moseley and Hancock families during the latter part of the 17th century to Henrico county.
Samuel Hancock (William, Simon) may have gone, soon after the death of his father in 1687 when he became an orphan, to live with his uncle Robert Hancock in Henrico, although according to the will of his grandmother he was to be placed in the charge of Edward Moseley, his cousin. There is to be observed as early as 1689 the appearance of Arthur and Edward Moseley in the Henrico records. Among the marriage licenses returned in 1688-89 in Henrico is that of Arthur Moseley and Sarah Hancock, daughter of Robert and Johan (Lyggon) Hancock. It seems probably that this Arthur was of the third generation, the son of Arthur Moseley. In 1689 there is to be found in the Henrico records a deed from Robert Woodson to his son-in-law, Edward Moseley who had previously m. Sarah Woodson.
Samuel Hancock m. April 15, 1700, Johan Hancock, daughter of Robert Hancock (History of Henrico Parish, Page 227). In 1705 the
Quit Rent Rolls of Henrico county show hima s owning 105 acres of land along with Arthur Moseley, possessor of 450 acres and Edward Moseley, of 150 acres. In 1724 Samuel Hancock, together with Arthur Moseley, Jr. Patented 500 acres of land in Henrico county. On March 6, 1726, Samuel Hancock and Arthur Moseley, Jr. are joint parties to a deed witnessed by John Anderson, John Osborne and Will Cheatham, as they are also in 1733 in a deed witness by William Baugh, John Cobbs and William Bass, Jr. On March 27, 1729, Samuel Hancock deeds Gilbert Bowman 259 acres of land which is witnessed by John Green, Samuel Hudson and Edward x Loster. In 1732 Robert Hancock deeds 360 acres of land to William Moseley which is witnessed by Arthur Moseley, Edward Haskins and Aaron Haskins. (Henrico county records, Archives, Va. State Library).
Samuel and Johan Hancock ….
Sarah (Robert Simon) …
Elizabeth (Hancock) Jameston ..
The will of Samuel Hancock, dated Sept 1, 1760, was proved in Chesterfield county the same year. According to this will he left issue; Simon, John, Samuel, William, Johan m. ____ Branch, Frances m ____ Osborne, Sarah m.
According to a record contained in an old family Bible of the Hancocks, … the earliest known emigrant to Virginia by the name of Hancock was a William Hancock, one of the incorporators of the Second Virginia Company in 1609 and who was a subscriber to the amount of 62-10-6 pounds.
The account quoted from the Bible is as follows:
“In ye year 1620 William Hancock in search for Forrest for his building of ships, embarked for ye plantations, being one of ye company owners thereof, leaving his familye in England; on ye 22nd of March, 1622 he, with others, was massacreed by ye salvages at Thorpe’s House, Berkeley Hundred, fifty miles form Charles City.
In 1630, Augustin, son and heir of William, came to Virginia to
“claim the estate, and died, leaving childre, Robert, William, Sarah and Ruth. William, born 1631, died 1672, leaving sons George, born 1648; Jubal 1660; Jubal killed by Indians at “Jinto”. George died leaving one child, Robert, born 1679, died 1732. Robert left children …
(1) The progenitor of the Hancocks which follow was Simon Hancock, a planter, who appears to have settled on the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Lynhaven Parish in what is now Princess Anne county as early as 1637. It is possible that he was another son of William Hancock of the Second Virginia Company though there is nothing to establish that fact. The earliest record of him occurs under date of April 12, 1641, when the following entry in the Lower Norfolk county recors is to be found:
“These are to certifie that Simon Handcock hath maid appear to this court that he hath due to him fifty accers of land by the transportation of Abraham Thomas into this Colony in the Allexander in Ann Do 1637…
Mr. Lea, who made the extracts, notes that Simon Hancock was styled in the records “planter” and that before May 25, 1642, he had married the relict and administratrix of GIlbert Gaye, Mrs. Sarah Gaye.
The name of SImon Hancock recurs frequently in the early records. “At a court holden at Will Shipp’s for ye county of Lower Norfolk ye sixteenth of Jannarie, 1642” and “Where there were present Captain John Gookin Esq. Commandr., Captain John Sibsey, Mr. Henry Seawell and Lieut. ffrancis Mason:
“The Sheriff Doth positively aver yt Mr. Powis after a Sumon served upon him for his appearance to this Court, did question wheather there was any Authority to command or request him thither to this county and he hath not apppeared according to ye tenor of ye Sumon, to answer ye Suite of Symon Hancock in an action of Debt.” …
Simon Hancock and Mr. Robert Powis seem to have preserved their mutual difficulties for at least seven years for, at a court held in Lower Norfolk county, Dec. 16, 1649, “upon petition of Mr. Robt. Powis, Clerke, it is ordered yt Simon handcocke shall be authorized to gather ye sd powis his tythes in ye Eastern branch …
On July 31, 1650, “Simond Hancocke” witnessed the will of Richard Foster of Elizabeth River, VIrginia, making bequests to Sarah William, John Carrawy, Roiger Carrawy, William Carraway.
On June 1, 1652 certificate was granted to Simond Hancocke for 200 acres for the transportation into the COlony of Randall Hewett, John Cooper, Simon Robinson and George Gay.
Simon Hancock d. sometime between June 1, 1652 and June 22, 1654 as, on the latter date, letters of administration were granted on his estate to his widow, Sarah Hancocke, her sureties being Mr. WIlliam Moseley and John Carraway. On November 29, 1654, a patent for 300 acres of land was granted Sarah Hancock of Lynhaven Parish in Lower Norfolk county, 200 acres of which was granted for the transportation of Richard Belt, John Browne, Mary Stoute and William Piggott into the Colony and 110 acres was “the residue of her husband Simon Hancock of Thomas Holt, the said land being due unto the said Sarah Hancock, vizt, one hundred acres part thereof being part of a patent of five hundred acres granted unto Thomas Holt, dated 22nd May 1637, and by Symon Hancock purchased of the said Thomas Holt and accrueth to the said Sarah Hancock as being the relict and administratrix of the said Symon Hancock.
Following the death of SImon Hancock his widow, Sarah m. a Piggott or Pigot, whether the William Piggott who had appeared as one of the headrights in the patent of land granted her in 1654 or a John Pigot, living at the time in Lower Norfolk county, is uncertain. John Pigot gave his age as 38 in Lower Norfolk county in 1658 and under date of Sept 7, 1652 there appears in the Lower Norfolk county records a power of attorney from “ffrancis Welles of St. Giles-in-the-fields, county Middlesex, Gentleman, to friend John Pigot of Virginia, merchant and citizen and merchant taylor of London.”
From the will of Sarah (Hancock) Piggott, of the Parish of Lynhaven, dated April 1, 1689 and proved May 15, 1689, she had issue by Simon Hancock: (2) Simon (3) William (4) Robert (5) daughter.
The following is an abstract of her will:
“… unto my Grand Daughter Susannah Moseley, a feather bed wih all the furniture thereunto belonging foure pewter dishes … two ewes, one chest, one negro woman … one large table cloathe and half a dozen of Ozenbrings napkins … a heifer … a paire of good sheets foure breeding sowes and a horse called Sparke …
“… unto my grand Daughters Mary and Susan Moseley all my wearing Clothes …
“… unto my Grand son George ye son of William Hancocke … one Ewe … when he comes to age.
“… unto my Grand son Edward Hancock … Ewe when he comes to age …
“unto my Son Simon Hancocke children Every one of them a Lamb to bee DD them when they are weanable of this present yrs Stocks …
“unto my grand Daughter ffances Hancocke a yeares schooling.
(Will of Sarah Hancock Piggott continued):
On consideration of the above bequeaths to my four daughters, I am lead ot think I have not done them that justice that is due to such affectionate children, it is therefore my will that at the death of my wife the negroes she has in possession at the time of her death be laid offinto four equal parts as possible without partine men and their wives, that three of the said four parts be equally divided between my said sons Benjamin and Carter and that the other fourth part be equally divided betwixt my four daughters over and above what I have before given them. This bequeath is not to alter except as to the fourth part of the slaves given to my duaghters, the bequeath in my will of the slaves to my sons or the survivor of them.
Benjamin Harrison …
(Hancock Family continued)
Mary, Polly Hancock …
Vol. 33, No. 2 p 140 – 1692
James Forrest & Alice his wife plts for whom Mr Edwd Chilton is attorney having brought an Accon Ag:t An Perrin did in Court deliver five shills for a nonsuit obtain’d pr ye def:t agt ye plts in a former suit & ye same plea & did then complain For that Robert Porter by his last will & testament under his hand & duely prov’d in this Court Octob: ye first Ao dm: 1651 did give & bequeath to his son Robert three hundred Acres of land lying in this County, Comonly known by ye name of the Long Swamp by wch words the sd Robert had onely an estate for life, after whose death ye aforesd land was by the aforesd will Order’d to be equally divided amongst the other children of the testator who were three daughters Viz: ye pet:r Alice, the def:t & one not long since dead, the moytey of wch sd land held by ye deced’t is become ye estate of your pet:r def:t Anne wth force &c: on or about ye last day of May last into ye same did enter &c: Wherefore they ye plts pray their Ma:ties Writt &c: to sch ye def:t Anne answers That after ye death of their bro: Robt ye decd sister did in her life time wth ye plt & def:t agree to lett ye whole three hund:d Acres remain in ye possession of Richd Peirce father in law of them ye sisters dureing his naturall life he paying ye Quit rents & that after his death they should each have one third part, by vertue of wch agreem:t (altho she can not prove ye same) the sd Richd Peirce did many years wth Consent of ye plt & def:t after ye death of the other sister who was eldest enjoy it & ye sd Richd some time since dying the def:t did by Conveyance Recorded in this Court June 1: 1688 purchase her dec’d sister’s part of John Jameson son & heir to ye sd deced:t (whose right ye def:t did then & still doth conceive it at that time was) by force of wch purchase she ye def:t did then imediately enter upon ye same & ye same hath sthout any demand or molestacon ever since untill the last Court held for this County peaceably possessed. Al wch she submitts to ye Judgem:t of the Court who upon consideracon of ye whole are of the Opinion that ye greater title includes the lesser & that since the law doth make them Parceners they ought not by ye will to be limited to an estate for life except there had been some other nominated who after their decease was to claim by the will & have therefore adjudged the sd land to be inheritable in fee by ye respective Heirs of ye three sisters & according to their sd Judgm:t have Dismist ye plts Accon wth Costs.
From this Judgem:t the plts appeal to the sixth day of ye next Genll Court wch is granted provided they give security according to law.
Edwd Hatcher in open Court enters himself security for ye Appellants due prosecucon of their Appeal.
Com: Hen:ci primo die Feb:ry Anno Dom: 1691
[p. 412] Anne Perrin is Order’d to give security to answer the Appeal of James Forrest & Alice his wife at ye sixth day of ye next Gen:ll Court.
Com: Hen:ci primo die Feb:ry A:o Dm: 1691
[p. 411]
Source: http://hatcherfamilyassn.com/getperson.php?personID=I43720&tree=WmTheIm
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