Untitled Page

SAMUEL BRIDGWATER, the immigrant ancestor of many Bridgwater/Bridgewater families in America , was baptized 20 September 1637 in the Church of St. Mary the Virginia in Sulhampstead Abbots Parish, Berkshire , England , son of Thomas Bridgwater. The parish church still stands and the ancient baptismal font remains a centrepiece of parish activity. The font is of the 12^th century and of tub shape, the sides being ornamented by eight semicircular-headed panels separated by small attached shafts with capitals and bases; the base upon which it stands is modern. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin consists of a chancel, north vestry, nave, north aisle, south porch and west wooden bell-turret. The church apparently dates wholly from about 1220, and had, as originally built, a south wall as well as a north aisle, the arcade of which was probably removed in the 15^th century when a new roof was put on spanning the whole width of the nave and former aisle, the south wall being raised to receive it. The walls of the nave, aisle and vestry are of flint with stone dressings, those of the chancel being covered with plaster, and the roofs are tiled. The bell-turret is an old timber construction, weather-boarded out side and now roofed with tiles, but formerly with copper. The nave has a fine 15^th century open roof. In the turret, by this century, were three bells, the older two being contemporary to Samuel: one bearing the date 1654 and the other bearing the inscription “Ellis and Henry Knight made me 1673”.

The Berkshire countryside into which Samuel was born consists of gently rolling hills sloping westward away from London proper. The parish of Sulhampstead Abbots is centrally located within the shire and is separated into three portions, the area of the whole parish being 1,417 acres, of which 132 cares are covered with woods and plantations, the rest being nearly equally divided between arable land and permanent grass.[1] The main portion forms a long strip, lying to the east of Sulhampstead Bannister parish (Upper End) and to the west of Burghfield parish. The

Second indenture, around 1669, Samuel would have likely acquired a small amount of land, or head right, sufficient to provide for himself. This may have been the tract of land at the head of Gilly Grove Malliga on the south side of little run, sometimes called Crawleys and later Gillys Creek. In any event, he was a freeman in Henrico County , Virginia , no later than 1670 when he witnessed the will of fellow Virginian, Jeremiah Benskin.[2]

Carpentry and farming were profitable ventures in early Virginia . There was no lack of buildings to be built and tobacco crops were abundant. Samuel’s estate grew gradually until it was sufficiently large enough to support a family. About 1676/77, he married Frances ______. They raised their family in and around Gilly’s Creek in Varina Parish near Richmond . Frances , whose parentage remains a mystery, was born about 1658[3] and died after _____, the last date her name appears in the court records of Henrico County .

Samuel was a successful carpenter and after ten years, on April 11, 1686, he sold part of his tract of land near Gilly Grove Malliga to Thomas Cardwell for 1,000 pounds of tobacco. This sale appears to have financed or assisted an expansion of his property. Slightly more than two weeks later, on April 27, 1686, Samuel acquired 333 acres in Varina Parish north of the James River .[4] A year later, on 20 April 1687, he acquired another 404 acres in the same parish.[5] Both grants were in exchange for Samuel’s paying the passage for immigrants to the Virginia colony.

Samuel was dealing extensively with William Paggen & Co., of London , and ran up a debt of 8,542 pounds of tobacco. On January 8, 1688, he mortgaged 400 acres and his household goods and farm animals, to John Pleasants, Paggen’s consignee, to satisfy the debt.[6] This paper was held in Pleasant’s family, eventually inherited by his son, and in 1708 satisfied when Samuel’s sons, Benjamin, Thomas, and William, purchased the note for 7,000 pounds of tobacco and allowed Pleasants the privilege to build a mill on any part with 5 acres.[7]

At sometime during this period, Samuel was in England away from his plantation in Virginia for a period of fourteen months.[8] The nature of his trip may have been business or to settle family affairs, perhaps an estate. Samuel and Frances were no strangers to colonial courts. They appear in numerous documents during the 1680’s and 1690’s in land transactions and law suits, both as participants and as witnesses, and at times as jurors. For example, “Samuel Bridgwater Sen.r having attended two days as an evidence against Roger Roberts on behalfe of Giles Webb order is Granted him agst the sd Webb for Eighty pounds of Tob:o according to law to be pd with Costs also Ex:o”[9]

The last direct references to Samuel are in the quit rent rolls of 1704[10] and in 1708 when three of his sons purchased the mortgage on their father’s property. He is not referred to as “deceased” in that document although it is likely he was deceased, it also may be referred that he died sometime after 1708.

Samuel and Frances Bridgwater of Varina Parish, Henrico Co., Virginia, had the following children:[11]

2. Benjamin Bridgwater was born about 1681 and died after 1734. He married Elizabeth and had at least one son:

3. Thomas Bridgwater was about 1684 and died before 1725. He married Hester and had

. . . . . + 4.2 Jane Bridgwater, b. about 1710; d. after 1778; m. Valentine Martin, b. 18 June 1710; d. before 10 July 1760.

4. Mary Bridgwater was about 1686 and died about July 1712. She married Mr. Ligon and had the following children:

. . . . . 7. Nathaniel Bridgwater was born about 1693 and died after 1754. He married Elizabeth and had issue, at least three sons:

. . . . . +7.2 Jonathan Bridgwater, b. 25 Dec. 1724; d. 4 Apr. 1805; m. Mary Clark, b. 18 Oct. 1729; d. 19 June 1774.

. . . . . +7.3 William Bridgwater, d. 1793; had issue, among them probably Elisha Allen Bridgewater [q.v.]

[1] Statistics from Board of Agriculture (1905).

[2] He appears with John Goode and Ann Higgleday as witnesses to the will of Jeremiah Benskin, dated April 13, 1670. Henrico County Wills and Deeds.

[3] Age 32 in deposition taken 2 June 1690. Henrico Co., Virginia , Will and Deed Book 1678-1697, p. 136.

[4] Include source and list of persons.

[5] Include source and list of persons.

[6] Henrico County Will and Deed Book, 1688-1697, p. 81: Whereas, I, Samuel Bridgwater of Henrico Co., stand indebted to William Paggen & Co. for 8542 lbs tobacco and 8 Jan. 1688 made over to John Pleasants, Paggen’s consignee, 6 cows, 6 heifers, 1 copper kettle, 3 feather beds & furniture, I therefore make this over to Pleasants and he has a right to carry it off,; and now for the rest of my debt, I make over my plantation I live on, 400 acres, next to Francis Reeves, unless 3542 lbs tobacco paid by last of Nov. next. 7 Aug. 1689. Wit: Hen. (H) Sherman, John Piggot. Signed: Sam’ll Bridgwater. Recorded 1 Oct. 1689. Documents in this series frequently bear a seal of red wax; this document is sealed “BW” with a “wafer”. From abstract, Henrico County , Virginia , Deeds, 1677-1705, compiled by Benjamin B. Weiseger III, Richmond , Virginia , 1986, p. 53.

[7] Henrico County Deed Book, 1706-1709, o. 125: John Pleasants of County & Parish of Henrico, for 7000 lbs tobacco, to Benjamin Bridgwater, Thomas Bridgwater, and William Bridgwater, sons of Samuel Bridgwater, carpenter, that land on north side of James River near the Falls, which was mortgaged to my father John Pleasants, Sr., dec’d, by Samuel Bridgwater, with goods and chattels for 8542 lbs tobacco 7 Aug. 1689, release the land except for privilege of building a mill on any part with 5 acres, where said Pleasants shall think fit. Land is to divided as follows: that part on forks of Gills Creek to Benjamin; that part on lower side of Henry Brazeal’s branch to Thomas; and lower part to William. Wit: Edward Goode, William Giles. Signed John Pleasants. Recorded 1 Nov. 1708. From abstract, Henrico County , Virginia , Deeds, 1706-1737, abstracted and compiled by Benjamin B. Weiseger III, Richmond , Virginia , 1985, p. 15.

[8] Henrico County Court Records.

[9] Henrico County Court Records.

[10] The [1704] Quit Rent Rolls of Virginia , comp. by Annie L. (Wright) Smith, 1957, p. 12: Samll Bridgwater, Henrico Co., 280 acres.

[11] Henrico County Will and Deed Book, 1688-1697, p. 113.


	Samuel Bridgwater - Draft Research Paper. These are rough notes. Please do not duplicate without further verification. Research is in progress and some "facts" are not necessarily proven or finalized. Additions and/or corrections with full documentation greatly appreciated. Thank you. Vern Paul, vp@vernpaul.com
	BRIDGWATER/BRIDGEWATER FAMILY AMERICAN BEGINNINGS
	SAMUEL BRIDGWATER, the immigrant ancestor of many Bridgwater/Bridgewater families in America , was baptized 20 September 1637 in the Church of St. Mary the Virginia in Sulhampstead Abbots Parish, Berkshire , England , son of Thomas Bridgwater. The parish church still stands and the ancient baptismal font remains a centrepiece of parish activity. The font is of the 12^th century and of tub shape, the sides being ornamented by eight semicircular-headed panels separated by small attached shafts with capitals and bases; the base upon which it stands is modern. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin consists of a chancel, north vestry, nave, north aisle, south porch and west wooden bell-turret. The church apparently dates wholly from about 1220, and had, as originally built, a south wall as well as a north aisle, the arcade of which was probably removed in the 15^th century when a new roof was put on spanning the whole width of the nave and former aisle, the south wall being raised to receive it. The walls of the nave, aisle and vestry are of flint with stone dressings, those of the chancel being covered with plaster, and the roofs are tiled. The bell-turret is an old timber construction, weather-boarded out side and now roofed with tiles, but formerly with copper. The nave has a fine 15^th century open roof. In the turret, by this century, were three bells, the older two being contemporary to Samuel: one bearing the date 1654 and the other bearing the inscription “Ellis and Henry Knight made me 1673”. The Berkshire countryside into which Samuel was born consists of gently rolling hills sloping westward away from London proper. The parish of Sulhampstead Abbots is centrally located within the shire and is separated into three portions, the area of the whole parish being 1,417 acres, of which 132 cares are covered with woods and plantations, the rest being nearly equally divided between arable land and permanent grass.[1] The main portion forms a long strip, lying to the east of Sulhampstead Bannister parish (Upper End) and to the west of Burghfield parish. The . <insert, data re Samuel's indenture in 1655> . Second indenture, around 1669, Samuel would have likely acquired a small amount of land, or head right, sufficient to provide for himself. This may have been the tract of land at the head of Gilly Grove Malliga on the south side of little run, sometimes called Crawleys and later Gillys Creek. In any event, he was a freeman in Henrico County , Virginia , no later than 1670 when he witnessed the will of fellow Virginian, Jeremiah Benskin.[2] . Carpentry and farming were profitable ventures in early Virginia . There was no lack of buildings to be built and tobacco crops were abundant. Samuel’s estate grew gradually until it was sufficiently large enough to support a family. About 1676/77, he married Frances ______. They raised their family in and around Gilly’s Creek in Varina Parish near Richmond . Frances , whose parentage remains a mystery, was born about 1658[3] and died after _____, the last date her name appears in the court records of Henrico County . . Samuel was a successful carpenter and after ten years, on April 11, 1686, he sold part of his tract of land near Gilly Grove Malliga to Thomas Cardwell for 1,000 pounds of tobacco. This sale appears to have financed or assisted an expansion of his property. Slightly more than two weeks later, on April 27, 1686, Samuel acquired 333 acres in Varina Parish north of the James River .[4] A year later, on 20 April 1687, he acquired another 404 acres in the same parish.[5] Both grants were in exchange for Samuel’s paying the passage for immigrants to the Virginia colony. . Samuel was dealing extensively with William Paggen & Co., of London , and ran up a debt of 8,542 pounds of tobacco. On January 8, 1688, he mortgaged 400 acres and his household goods and farm animals, to John Pleasants, Paggen’s consignee, to satisfy the debt.[6] This paper was held in Pleasant’s family, eventually inherited by his son, and in 1708 satisfied when Samuel’s sons, Benjamin, Thomas, and William, purchased the note for 7,000 pounds of tobacco and allowed Pleasants the privilege to build a mill on any part with 5 acres.[7] . At sometime during this period, Samuel was in England away from his plantation in Virginia for a period of fourteen months.[8] The nature of his trip may have been business or to settle family affairs, perhaps an estate. Samuel and Frances were no strangers to colonial courts. They appear in numerous documents during the 1680’s and 1690’s in land transactions and law suits, both as participants and as witnesses, and at times as jurors. For example, “Samuel Bridgwater Sen.r having attended two days as an evidence against Roger Roberts on behalfe of Giles Webb order is Granted him agst the sd Webb for Eighty pounds of Tob:o according to law to be pd with Costs also Ex:o”[9] The last direct references to Samuel are in the quit rent rolls of 1704[10] and in 1708 when three of his sons purchased the mortgage on their father’s property. He is not referred to as “deceased” in that document although it is likely he was deceased, it also may be referred that he died sometime after 1708. Samuel and Frances Bridgwater of Varina Parish, Henrico Co., Virginia, had the following children:[11] . 1. Samuel Bridgwater, b. about 1678; probably d. before 1708 . +2. Benjamin Bridgwater, b. about 1681; d. after 1734; m. Elizabeth . +3. Thomas Bridgwater, b. about 1684; d. before 1725; m. Hester . +4. Mary Bridgwater, b. about 1686; d. 1712; m. Mr. Ligon . 5. Elizabeth Bridgwater, b. about 1689 . 6. William Bridgwater, b. about 1691; d. 1718; never married . +7. Nathaniel Bridgwater, b. about 1693; d. after 1754; m. Elizabeth . . *SECOND GENERATION* . . 2. Benjamin Bridgwater was born about 1681 and died after 1734. He married Elizabeth and had at least one son: . . . . . . 2.1 Benjamin Bridgwater . 3. Thomas Bridgwater was about 1684 and died before 1725. He married Hester and had the following children: . . . . . . + 4.1 Samuel Bridgwater, d. April 1772 . . . . . . + 4.2 Jane Bridgwater, b. about 1710; d. after 1778; m. Valentine Martin, b. 18 June 1710; d. before 10 July 1760. . 4. Mary Bridgwater was about 1686 and died about July 1712. She married Mr. Ligon and had the following children: . . . . . . 4.1 Elizabeth Ligon . . . . . . 4.2 Simon Ligon . . . . . . 4.3 Peter Ligon . . . . . . 4.4 Ann Ligon . . . . . . 4.5 Martha Ligon . . . . . . 4.6 Mary Ligon, b. 1708; m. Robert Kent, b. 1710; d. 1782 . . . . . . 7. Nathaniel Bridgwater was born about 1693 and died after 1754. He married Elizabeth and had issue, at least three sons: . . . . . . 7.1 Nathaniel Bridgwater . . . . . . +7.2 Jonathan Bridgwater, b. 25 Dec. 1724; d. 4 Apr. 1805; m. Mary Clark, b. 18 Oct. 1729; d. 19 June 1774. . . . . . . +7.3 William Bridgwater, d. 1793; had issue, among them probably Elisha Allen Bridgewater [q.v.] . [1] Statistics from Board of Agriculture (1905). [2] He appears with John Goode and Ann Higgleday as witnesses to the will of Jeremiah Benskin, dated April 13, 1670. Henrico County Wills and Deeds. [3] Age 32 in deposition taken 2 June 1690. Henrico Co., Virginia , Will and Deed Book 1678-1697, p. 136. [4] Include source and list of persons. [5] Include source and list of persons. [6] Henrico County Will and Deed Book, 1688-1697, p. 81: Whereas, I, Samuel Bridgwater of Henrico Co., stand indebted to William Paggen & Co. for 8542 lbs tobacco and 8 Jan. 1688 made over to John Pleasants, Paggen’s consignee, 6 cows, 6 heifers, 1 copper kettle, 3 feather beds & furniture, I therefore make this over to Pleasants and he has a right to carry it off,; and now for the rest of my debt, I make over my plantation I live on, 400 acres, next to Francis Reeves, unless 3542 lbs tobacco paid by last of Nov. next. 7 Aug. 1689. Wit: Hen. (H) Sherman, John Piggot. Signed: Sam’ll Bridgwater. Recorded 1 Oct. 1689. Documents in this series frequently bear a seal of red wax; this document is sealed “BW” with a “wafer”. From abstract, Henrico County , Virginia , Deeds, 1677-1705, compiled by Benjamin B. Weiseger III, Richmond , Virginia , 1986, p. 53. [7] Henrico County Deed Book, 1706-1709, o. 125: John Pleasants of County & Parish of Henrico, for 7000 lbs tobacco, to Benjamin Bridgwater, Thomas Bridgwater, and William Bridgwater, sons of Samuel Bridgwater, carpenter, that land on north side of James River near the Falls, which was mortgaged to my father John Pleasants, Sr., dec’d, by Samuel Bridgwater, with goods and chattels for 8542 lbs tobacco 7 Aug. 1689, release the land except for privilege of building a mill on any part with 5 acres, where said Pleasants shall think fit. Land is to divided as follows: that part on forks of Gills Creek to Benjamin; that part on lower side of Henry Brazeal’s branch to Thomas; and lower part to William. Wit: Edward Goode, William Giles. Signed John Pleasants. Recorded 1 Nov. 1708. From abstract, Henrico County , Virginia , Deeds, 1706-1737, abstracted and compiled by Benjamin B. Weiseger III, Richmond , Virginia , 1985, p. 15. [8] Henrico County Court Records. [9] Henrico County Court Records. [10] The [1704] Quit Rent Rolls of Virginia , comp. by Annie L. (Wright) Smith, 1957, p. 12: Samll Bridgwater, Henrico Co., 280 acres. [11] Henrico County Will and Deed Book, 1688-1697, p. 113.