SAMUEL JORDAN

SAMUEL JORDAN
Charles City, Virginia
ca 1577-1623

Sanuel Jordan came to Virginia, 1610, according to the patent for 450 acres in Charles City issued to him 10 Dec. 1620, which recited that he was "as ancient planter who hath abode ten years complete in this colony." This grant was divided in three parcels which, together with houses thereon, are described in the patent.

The location at which Samuel Jordan lived originally was called "Beggar's Bush," and after the massacre of 22 March 1621/2, "Master Samuel Jordan gathered together but a few of the stragglers about him at 'Beggar's Bush,' where he fortified and lived in despite of the enemy."

In maintaining his settlement Jordan had the approval of Governor Francis Wyatt who wrote to the Council in London, April 1622, "that he thought fitt to hold a few outlying places including the plantation of Mr. Samuel Jordan's; but to abandon others and concentrate the colonists at Jamestown." By 1623, this plantation on the south side of James River across from "Berkeley" was known as "Jordan's Journey."

Samuel Jordan represented Charles City at the first representative legislative assembly in the new world which convened at Jamestown, 30 July 1619. He died before April 1623 and the following November a warrent was issued "to Mr. Farrar to bring in the account of Mr. Jordan's estate." and at the same time "another warrant was issued to Mrs. Jordan that Mr. Farrar put in security for the performance of her husband's will."

Samuel Jordan married Sisley (Cicely) [---], who came to Virginia in 1611 and was listed in the census of 1623/4 at "Jordan's Journey." (See below) She presumably was the widow of [---] Baley and mother of Temperance Baley. She married (3), 1625, William Farrar.

Issue of marriage to Sisley: Mary, born in Virginia, 1621; Margaret, born in Virginia, 1623.

(Source: Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5; pages 378-379; published by Order of First Families of Virginia, 1607-1624/5.)

THE MUSTER OF THE INHABITANTS
OF JORDANS JORNEY AND CHAPLAIN CHOICE
TAKEN THE 21TH OF JANUARY 1624

THE MUSTER OF MR. WILLIAM FERRAR & MRS. JORDAN

William Ferrar aged 31 yeares in the Neptune
in August 1618

Sisley Jordan aged 24 yeares in the Swan in August 1610

Mary Jordan her daughter aged 3 yeares - borne heare
Margrett Jordan aged 1 yeare - borne heare
Temperance Baley aged 7 yeares - borne heare

SERVANTS: (Ten males between the ages of 16 and 35 with names listed along with the ship names and dates of their arrival in Virginia.)

PROVISIONS: Corne, 200 bushells; Fish, 2 hundred.

ARMES AND MUNITION: Powder, 14 lb; Lead, 300 lb; Peeces fixt, 11; Coats of Male, 12.

CATTLE, SWINE, ETC.: Neat cattel young and old, 16; Swine, 4; Poultrie, 20.

HOUSES AND BOATS: Houses, 5; Boats, 2.

(Source: Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5; pages 16 & 17; published by Order of First Families of Virginia, 1607-1624/5.)

(ed. note: The following are notes compiled by Mrs. Sara Sullivan Ervin, Ware Shoals, South Carolina, January, 1965.)

Samuel Jourdan left Dorchester, England, in the Sea Voyage in 16-- with Sir George Somers. They were wrecked off the coast of Bermuda 1608 and arrived in Virginia 1609. Two authorities say he was married twice. Our family records say he was married first in France and daughter Anne Marie was born there 1597. One authority says that Samuel Jourdan came to Virginia when he was about 32 and that he arrived in 1609. He married second wife, Cicely [---] in 1618.

Samuel Jourdan was a member of House of Burgesses 1619 and of the first Legislature that convened in America. After the Great Massacre of 1621 he gathered together the stragglers left about him at Beggar's Point, fortified it, and held it in spite of all the Indians and disturbances. He died 1623. His home was on the James River, known as Jourdan's Point.

Back to Biographical Sketches or TimeTraveler's Genealogy Page