GENERATION 12

Eastern Shore Virginia Branch

The Pettyjohn family was among the early colonial families that left England and settled in America in the early seventeenth century. James Pettyjohn, who is the progenitor of the Pettyjohn (Pettijohn) family in America, was born around 1620 in Brixham, Devonshire, England and is presumably the son of John Pettyjohn. James Pettyjohn immigrated to the American colonies at a young age and likely worked his way over as an indentured servant. Since there has been no mention of Pettyjohn on any known passenger lists for the time period, it has been speculated that James Pettyjohn probably settled along the Eastern Shore of Virginia around 1635. At first, James Pettyjohn leased a tract of land in Northampton County from Thomas Savage.

James Pettyjohn soon acquired his own land and was successful in building a flourishing plantation and productive homestead. James Pettyjohn owned cattle, raised horses and hogs, and cultivated corn and tobacco. He was a cooper, a planter and was skilled in carpentry. According to the Webster Dictionary, a cooper is one that makes or repairs wooden casks or tubs; a planter is 1) one that cultivates plants: as a) Farmer b) one who owns or operates a plantation 2) one who settles or founds a place and especially a new colony; and lastly carpentry is 1) the art or trade of a carpenter; specifically, the art of shaping and assembling structural woodwork 2) timberwork constructed by a carpenter. Note* it is interesting because all of these definitions can be applied to James Pettyjohn and his time period. About 1654 in Northampton County, James Pettyjohn married Isabel, whose apparent nickname was Joane. The following was recorded at court in Northampton County on March 28, 1653:

Att a Court held att Northampton 28^th March 1653

The order by the Court that James PettyJno shall forthwith enter into a bond of sufficient severity for his good behavior towards : Harryson.

The order by ye Court yt Joane ye wife of James PettyJohn for her abusive scandalous speeche against Ann ye wife of Thomas Harrison pronounced by ye deposition of George Merridage & Jane his wife shall upon a Sabbath daye stand at ye Churche doore duringe ye tyme Tho ye psalme is singeinge with a gagge in her mouth.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia was one of the first areas to be colonized after the founding of Jamestown. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in America in 1607. It was located in eastern Virginia, southwest of Williamsburg on the James River. The Eastern Shore consisted of all the territory south of Delaware east of the Chesapeake Bay, eastern Maryland, eastern Virginia and sometimes Delaware was included. However, Accomack, which was located to the north of King’s Creek, was actually the first community to be established with the first church about 1624. Accomack County and Accomack Parish consisted of all the Eastern Shore south of Maryland. In 1643, this area became Northampton County and the lower parish. Nuswattocks Parish became the middle parish, which today would fall between Hungars Creek and Nassawadox Creek. The parish church was built about 1647. However, as the population grew, a third parish was formed in 1652 called Occahannock Parish, and in 1663 a second county was formed taking the original name Accomac. Thus, there were two counties, Northampton to the north and Accomac to the south. James and Isabel Pettyjohn were probably members of the Occahannock Parish.

The Pettyjohns were recorded in Hungars Parish in 1660. Isabel, the daughter of James and Isabel Pettyjohn, was recorded in the parish records as being baptized on May 16, 1660 at the age of 3 months. By 1661, Nuswattocks had given way to Hungars Parish and the church, which was built about 1647, became Hungars Church. In 1680, the second church was built and the plank ceiling of the first church was sound enough to be used in the construction of the second church (see picture). The church was built in Smith’s field and Major William Spencer gave the land to the church. The Pettyjohns had four children: James Jr., William, Isabell and John.

By 1664, James Pettyjohn had established himself quite well. He probably lived on Church Neck, between Church Creek and Hungars Creek, which today would be located just northwest of Eastville. James Pettyjohn owned a horse, hogs, thirty heads of cattle and two bulls. He also owned some wild cattle, some marked and some unmarked. In March 1664, it was reported that James had stray cattle within his fences so the court sent Thomas Harmanson and William Satchell "to go to James Pettyjohns, and view the cattle within his fence at his plantation, and make an exact account of the cattle as to ear marks, quality and natural marks". Apparently, the men where satisfied because they were reported in James Pettyjohn’s inventory. At this time James Pettyjohn needed extra help on his plantation so he entered a contract with John Michaels and agreed to pay him 1414 pounds of tobacco. The document was dated January 28, 1664 and was recorded in court on April 10, 1665. On Mar 10, 1665 in Northampton Co., James and Isabel Pettyjohn both tragically died leaving four young children. On June 6, 1665, the estate of James Pettyjohn was ordered to be sold at public outcry. Captain John Custis was appointed administrator of the estate, which was sold, by order of the court, for 27,308 pounds of tobacco and casks. Moreover, after all the debts were paid off, the court distributed among each children what remained of the 12, 324 pounds of tobacco and casks. Also, each child was appointed a legal guardian until they reached adulthood.