William Byrd I
Encyclopedia
William Byrd I was a native of Shadwell
, London, England. His father, John Byrd (c. 1620-1677) was a London goldsmith with ancestral roots in Cheshire, England.
William Byrd came to Virginia in the late 1660s. On October 27, 1673, he was granted 1200 acres (5 km²) on the James River. Byrd became a well-connected fur trader in the Richmond, Virginia area. Byrd's land became (after his death) the site of modern day Richmond, Virginia
. About 1673, he married Maria Horsmanden, a native of Hampton, Kent, England. They would become the parents of two sons, including William Byrd II
, and three daughters.
Their daughter, Ursula married Robert Beverley, Jr.
, Major Robert Beverley's son. They had five children including William Beverley (1696-1756). Colonel William Beverley married Richard Bland
's daughter, Elizabeth Bland. They had four children. Their son, Robert married Maria Carter on February 3, 1763. Her parents were Landon Carter
and Maria Byrd.
In 1676, Byrd was a sympathizer of Nathaniel Bacon
in Bacon's Rebellion
, but probably took no active part in the rebellion. He later allied himself with the Governor and became a prominent citizen.
Also in 1676, Byrd established the James River Fort on the south bank of the James River in what is now known as the Manchester District of Richmond. He was active in Virginia politics, serving many years on the council of the Virginia House of Burgesses
.
Byrd died on 4 Dec 1704, at his plantation home of Westover
, in Charles City County, Virginia
. He is buried near the original site of the Westover Church
.
Shadwell
Shadwell is an inner-city district situated within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets located on the north bank of the Thames between Wapping to the south and Ratcliff to the east...
, London, England. His father, John Byrd (c. 1620-1677) was a London goldsmith with ancestral roots in Cheshire, England.
William Byrd came to Virginia in the late 1660s. On October 27, 1673, he was granted 1200 acres (5 km²) on the James River. Byrd became a well-connected fur trader in the Richmond, Virginia area. Byrd's land became (after his death) the site of modern day Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. About 1673, he married Maria Horsmanden, a native of Hampton, Kent, England. They would become the parents of two sons, including William Byrd II
William Byrd II
Colonel William Byrd II was a planter, slave-owner and author from Charles City County, Virginia. He is considered the founder of Richmond, Virginia.-Biography:...
, and three daughters.
Their daughter, Ursula married Robert Beverley, Jr.
Robert Beverley, Jr.
Robert Beverley, Jr. was an important historian of early colonial Virginia. He was born in Jamestown and died in King and Queen County, Virginia...
, Major Robert Beverley's son. They had five children including William Beverley (1696-1756). Colonel William Beverley married Richard Bland
Richard Bland (burgess)
Richard Bland , sometimes known as Richard Bland of Jordan's Point, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, the father of Richard Bland, the son of Theodorick Bland of Westover, and the grandson of Richard Bennett, an English Governor of the Colony of Virginia...
's daughter, Elizabeth Bland. They had four children. Their son, Robert married Maria Carter on February 3, 1763. Her parents were Landon Carter
Landon Carter
Landon Carter was a planter from Virginia, best known for his account of life before the American War of Independence, The Diary of Colonel Landon Carter.-Biography:...
and Maria Byrd.
In 1676, Byrd was a sympathizer of Nathaniel Bacon
Nathaniel Bacon
Nathaniel Bacon was a colonist of the Virginia Colony, famous as the instigator of Bacon's Rebellion of 1676, which collapsed when Bacon himself died from dysentery.-Early life:...
in Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was an uprising in 1676 in the Virginia Colony in North America, led by a 29-year-old planter, Nathaniel Bacon.About a thousand Virginians rose because they resented Virginia Governor William Berkeley's friendly policies towards the Native Americans...
, but probably took no active part in the rebellion. He later allied himself with the Governor and became a prominent citizen.
Also in 1676, Byrd established the James River Fort on the south bank of the James River in what is now known as the Manchester District of Richmond. He was active in Virginia politics, serving many years on the council of the Virginia House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
.
Byrd died on 4 Dec 1704, at his plantation home of Westover
Westover Plantation
Westover Plantation is located on the north bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. It is located south of State Route 5, a scenic byway which runs between the independent cities of Richmond and Williamsburg...
, in Charles City County, Virginia
Charles City County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,926 people, 2,670 households, and 1,975 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 2,895 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
. He is buried near the original site of the Westover Church
Westover Church
Westover Church is a historic church 5 miles west of Charles City off VA 5 in Charles City, Virginia. It was built in 1731 and added to the National Register in 1972....
.