2. EDWARD2 HUMSTON II, born about 1670 (
Edward1
), married in Stafford County, Virginia, Lucy Gregg, daughter of Thomas and Lucy Gregg, who was born in Stafford (now King George) County, Virginia, probably between 1670 and 1675. The date of her death is unknown, but probably was before 1730, as she is not mentioned in her mother's will made in that year. She survived her husband several years and is buried, it is believed, on or near the home plantation.
Lucy Gregg's father, Thomas Gregg, the immigrant, settled in the Stafford region before the formation of the county. For the transportation of nine persons into the colony he was issued a regal patent by Sir William Berkeley March 18, 1662, for 450 acres of land upon branches of the Paspatanzie in Westmoreland (later Stafford;now King George) county. The tract was located thusly: “S.E. with the main branch or run of said creek, which divides this and land of William and John Heaberd, &c., to land formerly belonging to john Bainely, N.W. with land of Henry Meese, merchant and N.E. with a tract called Whitbye’s land.” This land was in the vicinity of Machodoc Creek where Edward1 Humston settled.
Thomas Gregg is mentioned frequently in existing Stafford records. In 1664 he was named a constable for the county, and vestryman for Potomac Parish in 1665. In 1691 he refused to take the oaths appointed by Parliament instead of the oaths of allegiance and supremacy and the oath of justice of the peace. He died about 1700. There is no record of his marriage, but in view of the closeness to the Heaberd family, it is interesting to note that a Lucy Heaberd was transported to by Robert Moseley prior to Nov. 19, 1665.
Thomas and Lucy Gregg had a son Thomas, Jr., a daughter, probably Mary, who married Benjamin Newton, and a daughter Lucy. Thomas Gregg, Jr., was appointed a surveyor in Stafford in 1680. In 1692 he or his father was a lieutenant of militia. In 1690 he was security on the estate of Capt. William Heaberd. On Jan. 26, 1694/5
Thomas Gregg, Jr., was granted 200 acres. Lucy, the widow of Thomas Gregg, Sr., made her grandson, Edward Humston III, her principle legatee. The abstract of her will, dated Jan. 9, 1730:
In the name of God amen I Lucy Gregg of St Pauls Parish in Stafford County being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory…. Item I give to my Grandson Edward Humston a malato woman named Bess and a malato girle named Iationsh and a malato girle named Lucy them and their increase for Ever. Item I give to my Grand Daughter Sarah Newton one cow and all the rest of my Estate both Royal and Personal I give to the said Edward Humston my Grandson and Lastly I do Constitute appoint and ordain my Grandson Edward Humston to be Executor of this my last will and Testament…. as witness my hand and seal this ninth day of January 1730.
Lucy x Gregg
Signed Sealed and Published in the presence of us
Charles Jones James Hall Edward x Bothworth
At a court….for Stafford County the Eleventh Day of March, 1730 the last will and Testament of Lucy Gregg Deced was presented into Court by Edward Humston Execr….On the motion of the said Edward Humston Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Test. Catesby Cooke C C
An inventory of Lucy Gregg’s estate was returned and recorded July 14, 1731. it included furniture, old pewter and a mulatto woman and two mulatto children, the whole being valued at ₤54, by Thomas Bunbury, Joel Stribling and Joseph King.
Edward Humston II, son of Edward, the immigrant ancestor, was born in Stafford County Virginia. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but available data indicate it must have been as early as 1670. There is no doubt, however, about the relation, for he stated that his father’s name was Edward. It has been impossible to obtain any information pertaining to his early life; Stafford County suffered the loss of many important records during the War Between the States. A thorough search has been made of available records, but Edward is first mentioned in 1702 when, with William Bunbury and William Hewitt, he witnessed the will of William King on May 27.
In 1704 when Capt. William Jones of Northumberland County suggested to the Proprietors’ office of Lancaster that a certain tract of land, granted to Gervas Dodson in 1657, should escheat to the Proprietors, for want of heirs or other legal disposition, Edward Humston II, who had been in possession of 200 acres of this tract for several years, having inherited it from his father, entered a counter claim that he should be preferred to the escheat. He was successful, his claim being sustained by the Proprietors, and his ownership was confirmed, as the following deed shows:
Margaret, Lady Culpeper, Thomas, Lord Fairfax and Catherine his wife, Proprietors of the Northern Neck, etc. Capt. Wm. Jones of Northumberland county suggested to our office on February 1 last (1703) that 5200 acres lying in Stafford formerly granted to Gervas Dodson Sept. 16, 1657 which did escheat to us (the Proprietors) for want of heirs, or the making of any legal disposition thereof and Andrew Pedigrew having intermarried with Isabella, wido of the said Dodson, repatented said 5200 acres in his own name, he together with his said wife Isabella,k made sale thereto to Robert Howson of Stafford who also sold most of it in parcels to sundry persons—and whereas Edward Humston of said County comes and setts forth that he is in possession of two hundred acres of ye aforesaid land conveyed and made over by said Robert Howson unto Edward Humston his father—and ye said Edward Humston ye father, Descends and comes unto him ye said Edward ye son—Therefore ye said Edward moves to be preferred to ye escheat of ye 200 acres of land and we do for a consideration of ye composition paid unto us grant unto ye said Edward Humston all right, title, etc., to 200 acres belonging to ye said escheat, the said land lying on ye North side of Upper Machitoque Dam Etc. Our Office at Lancaster, Dec. 4, 1704.
After receiving a patent for the 200 acres of land, Edward discovered, in
making a survey of the tract, that the area actually contained 489 acres,
more than twice as many as his patent called for. He then made application to
the Proprietors for a new patent to comprehend the whole, and it was granted,
as is shown by deed:
Whereas Edward Humston of Stafford county has set forth to our office,
that there is surplus lands contained in the bounds of 200 acres of land
granted unto him the said Edward Humston by deed dated 4 th December, 1704
and having presented a survey of ye said land made by Mr. Thomas Gregg,
Surveyor, which shows that within the bounds of ye said 200 acres, there are
289 surplus acres of land—and he having moved for our deed to
comprehend the whole, we do hereby grant unto ye said Edward Humston 489 acres
lying and being in Stafford, according to above named survey.
Our office in >Lancaster, January 1705.
This parcel of land was situated on the north side of the Upper Machotick
(Machodoc) River, or creek, while the original grant
made to his father, the immigrant, was on the south side of the same creek,
the tracts being adjacent to each other. Thomas Gregg, the surveyor mentioned
in the foregoing deed, was his brother-in-law.
Edward Humston and Charles Martin inventoried the estate of Thomas Butler
on an order dated >Dec. 12, 1705.
Land transactions by Edward are described in records from Stafford:
To All Christian People to whom these presents shall come Now know ye that
I Edward Humston of the County of Stafford in the dominion of Virginia do by
these presents divers good Causes & Considerations me hereunto moving but
more particular for the full sum and just Quantity of 4000 pounds of good
Tobo by me in had already reced of Joel Striplin of the County aforesaid I
have given granted bargained sold envested and Confired & I do Give grant
bargain sell envest & Confirm unto him these Joel Striplin his heirs
forever a certain parcel of land situate lying & being in Stafford County
afsd Conta 63 acres Beginning at a marked tree standing in a Branch of
Machodock dam called the Cattail Branch otherwise the Mill Branch &
extending thence 120 poles to an old stup which hath formerly been a marked
tree thence S—172 poles to the afsd Cattail Branch to a marked corner
tree of 92 acres of land which was surveyed for Collo Richard Fossaker then
down the sd Cattail Branch according to the meanders thereof to the first
beginning the said land being part of a patent of 489 acres of land granted
to me the sd Humston out of the proprietors office bearing date the 28 th day
of January anno 1705 & I thesd Humston by these do Give grant bargain
sell envest & confirm to him the said Striplin & his heirs for ever
the said 63 acres of land with all its rights member Jurisdiction &
appurtances with all houses Fences woods underwoods & waters to it
belonging or in any wise appertaining To Have & To Hold the sd 63 acres
of land with all its rights members & appurtances as afsd to it
belonging, or in any wise appertaining to him the said Joel Striplin his
heirs & assigns for ever & to the only proper use of them & every
of them as fully & amply as it is to me granted he or they yielding &
paying the quit rents thereof to the Chief Lord of the Fee & I the said
Edwd Humston do Covent for myself my heirs Exs & adms to & with the
sd Joel Striplin his heirs & assigns and every of them the sd 63 acres of
Land for ever to warrant agt the claim or Claims of me the said Humston or my
heirs & against Claim or Claims of any person or persons whosoever
claming from by or under me or them or any of them In Witness of the promises
I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 12 th day of March
anno Dmi 1705/6
Edwd Humston (Seal)
Signed sealed & delivered in
The presence of us
Wm Bunbury Rd Fossaker
Jos K King
(Recorded June 12, 1706)
To All To Whom these presents shall come Now know ye that I Edward Humston
of the County of Stafford in the dominion of Virga do by these presents for
divers good Causes and Considerations me hereunto moving but more
particularly for sum and just Quantity of 5000 pounds of good Tobo by me in
hand already reced of Richard Fossaker Gentl of the County afsd I have given
granted bargained sold invested & Confirmed and I do give grant bargain
sell Invest & Confirm unto him the said Richd Fossaker & his heirs
for ever a certain parcel of land situate lying and being in Stafford County
aforesaid conta 92 acres beginning at a marked tree standing in the Cattail
Branch being a Branch of the dam ^&Y in the westward bounding line of the
land surveyed for Edwd Humston as afsd & Extending thence S-88 poles to a
marked Locust & Saplin thence E-5d S-150 pole to a Locust post in Edwd
Humstons old Line thence NW-170 pole to a marked white oak standing at the
mouth of a Branch of the afsd Cattail Branch thence the Cattail Branch according
to the meanders of the said Branch to the beginning first meconed the said
land being part of a patent of 489 acres of land granted to me the said
Humston out of the proprietors office bearing the date the 28 th day of Janry
1705 and I the said Humston do by these presents give grant bargain sell
invest & Confirm to him thesaid Fossaker & his heirs for ever the sd
92 acres of Land with all houses its rights members & appurtances with
all houses Fences woods & underwoods & water to it belonging or any
wise appertaining To Have & To Hold…In Witness of the premises I
have ;;hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 12 th day of June anno
domini 1706.
Edward Humston (Seal)
Signed Sealed & delivered
In the presence of us
Willm Bunbury Joel Stripling Joseph K King
(Recorded June 12 th 1706)
Further searches in the records of Old Stafford have not revealed any
other information about Edward. The order books of the county contain the
names of a great many people before the court on various complaints. Nothing
was found in them relating to Edward, however, and it is evident that he was
singularly independent as well as respectful of the rights of his neighbors.
He died intestate, the Stafford County Index of Wills of the lost Liber K
(1721 – 1730) showing that administration bonds were ordered on his
estate about 1725, and that an inventory of his estate was taken shortly
afterward. A will was made by his wife, Lucy, which is mentioned in a deed
made by his son in 1758. The date of his death is unknown, but probably was
about 1725. Neither is the place of his burial known, but it is presumed to
be on or near the home plantation.
Edward Humston II had for children of record, but here may have been
others. Edward III was the oldest son.
4. i. Edward3, born probably about 1705 in Stafford County.
5. ii. Thomas3, born in Stafford County about 1707.
6. iii.William3, born in Stafford County. Little can be learned of
him except that he left home while a young man and probably never was heard
from again. His mother willed land to him and his brother John, in joint
tenancy, but in 1758, in the sale of the land, John stated that William had
been absent a number of years and had not been heard of nor appeared to claim
his part of the estate. Whether William was dead, living elsewhere in Virginia,
or whether he had left the colony remains undisclosed.
7. iv. John3, born in Stafford County about 1710.
Additional records of the Greggs, Thomas, Sr., and Thomas, Jr., are to be found in Stafford and Westmorland. Thomas Gregg, Sr., married Lucy Heaberd and had Thomas, Elizabeth, who married Benjamin Newton II, Lucy, who married Edward2 Humston, and perhaps another son, James. A 1706 deed from Thomas Gregg to William Wood mentions "brother James Gregg," but it is not known whether this Thomas was the senior or junior Gregg. A James Gregg, James Gregg, Jr., and Thomas Gregg(jr.) were in Overwharton Parish in 1724.
The Humstons and Bunburys were neighbors and close friends for three generations. It has been noted that Edward1 and Thomas Bunbury were together in Northumberland County in 1663. This was probably Thomas Bunboury, Sr., who died in 1681.
On April 1, 1722, Edward2 Humston and Edward Humston, Jr., witnessed a deed of John and Rachel Colclough to Benjamin Colclough.
