You remember this map? It’s an overlay of a Surry Land Patent Map from 1614 – 1666. It showed where John Roger’s held 200 acres of land he was granted on May 14, 1666. He later deeded this property (highlighted on the map where it is likely to be) to Edward Grantham where 1694 he was the subject of a presentation by the Grand Jury for “Entertaining Indians contrary to Law & for not comeing to church.”

Edward bought 200 acres in Surry County on September 23, 1682, from John Rodgers, Sr., and his wife Mary.  The land was purchased for 1,000 pounds of tobacco with the contract written on the back of the land patent that had been issued to Rodgers in 1666 by Governor William Berkeley.

Edward sold 100 acres of this land to William Jonson in 1684 for 1,650 pounds of tobacco. The other 100 acres and “40 foot dwelling” was sold to Thomas Davis in 1686 for 3,500 pounds of tobacco.

Edward received a land patent of 300 acres on May 29, 1683. The land was located in Southwarke Parish, Surry County, on the branches of Cypress Swamp adjoining Thos. Jordan. The patent was granted for the transportation of six persons into the colony: Isabel Huberd, Jon. Bincks, Tho. Peel, Jon. Anderson, Jon. Walker, & Timo. Jackson. Edward Grantham’s property on Cypress Swamp was known as Grantham’s Reeds. Many of the deeds concerning this land mention the “cart path,” which was actually a well traveled road leading from North Carolina to Southwarke Church and the warehouses at Gray’s Creek.

Here’s a passage about John Rogers from Southside Virginia Families, Volume 2 by John Bennett Boddie noting his role in Bacon’s Rebellion.

Here’s a much longer account of Sir Thomas Grantham’s role in the Bacon Rebellion shared with me today by someone who shared an interest in Edward Grantham in particular.

Somewhere among these Surry County Virginia land patents from the 1600s is the 200 acres Edward Grantham bought. This map showed the area 20 years prior to the purchase mentioned below. He sold the property a couple of years later for a good profit and got a new land patent. That property was known as Grantham’s Reeds.

Edward bought 200 acres in Surry County on September 23, 1682, from John Rodgers, Sr., and his wife Mary.  The land was purchased for 1,000 pounds of tobacco with the contract written on the back of the land patent that had been issued to Rodgers in 1666 by Governor William Berkeley.

Edward sold 100 acres of this land to William Jonson in 1684 for 1,650 pounds of tobacco. The other 100 acres and “40 foot dwelling” was sold to Thomas Davis in 1686 for 3,500 pounds of tobacco.

Edward received a land patent of 300 acres on May 29, 1683. The land was located in Southwarke Parish, Surry County, on the branches of Cypress Swamp adjoining Thos. Jordan. The patent was granted for the transportation of six persons into the colony: Isabel Huberd, Jon. Bincks, Tho. Peel, Jon. Anderson, Jon. Walker, & Timo. Jackson. Edward Grantham’s property on Cypress Swamp was known as Grantham’s Reeds. Many of the deeds concerning this land mention the “cart path,” which was actually a well traveled road leading from North Carolina to Southwarke Church and the warehouses at Gray’s Creek.

After scanning over the map, I found the 200 acres owned by John Rodgers. I pulled up a Google map of the land directly across from Jamestown, VA and then overlaid the old patent map. It was tough getting them to line up, but I moved it back and forth until some nearby creeks met and there it is, the first 200 acre property. I highlighted the area in yellow. Here’s the satellite view. I’m still looking for Grantham’s Reed.

The first time I read about the “Lousy Evil” was this weekend in distant relative Sir Thomas Grantham’s personal account of how he ended Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 on behalf of Virginia Governor William Berkeley.

Grantham said in his book An historical account of some memorable actions, particularly in Virginia that Nathaniel Bacon, the leader of Bacon’s Rebellion, “died of the Lousy Evil,” known medically as Phthiriasis. But you might know the Lousy Evil by its more modern name: crabs.

According to Grantham (who worked on behalf of the Governor), he basically showed up at one of the rebel meetings and convinced them to surrender in the wake of Bacon’s death. He provides an interesting account of the entire affair.

History may prefer the narrative that Nathan Bacon’s untimely death was for the cause and by the cause, but there it is tucked away in a distant relatives notes on the first American rebellion. Nathaniel Bacon died of crabs. Now, maybe it was just an insulting jab, but now I know why people wore merkins in the 1600s.

Today I’m reading Sir Thomas Grantham’s account of his role in Bacon’s Rebellion and how he got the rebels to surrender to Virginia Governor William Berkeley. The introduction described Berkeley as “uncompromising.”

Virginia groaned beneath the accumulated oppressions of Charles the Second and his insatiate minions. The profligate monarch found a fitting viceroy in the choleric and uncompromising Berkeley, who gives infamous testimony to his own character in his memorable reply to an inquiry of the English Council: “I thank God there are no free-schools, nor printing, and I hope we shall not have these three hundred years; for learning has brought disobedience into the world, and printing has divulged them and libels against the best government. God keep us from both!”

Governor Berkeley sounds a lot like some politicians today. Berkeley commissioned Sir Thomas Grantham to intercede in Bacon’s Rebellion on Virginia’s behalf. It was America’s first rebellion by colonists. Grantham took advantage of Nathaniel Bacon’s death to quickly convince rebel leaders they’d be treated with mercy, and they surrendered. Once in the custody of Governor Berkeley, the rebels were hung.

My great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandpa was pardoned by the Grand Assembly in Virginia,

William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol 3, No. 2. (Oct., 1894), pp. 81-96.

In March, 1655, the Grand Assembly, con-sisting of the Governor, Council and Burgesses, pardoned(2).
“Leift.-Coll. Thos. Swann, accused and impeached for the death of his servant, one Elizabeth Buck”, the ordinary course by petition to the chancellor being impossible, as “this collony is not as yet settled with such officers as belong to passing such pardon, and noe publick seale being in the countrey.”

and he rounded up the boys to get the Indians.

On 10 March 1638/9, Thomas renewed his deceased father’s patent to 1200 acres on the south side of the James River. In 1639, Thomas was named as Viewer of Tobacco for James City County, Virginia, from Smith’s Fort to Grindall’s Hill. As a viewer, Thomas was responsible for enforcing the rules governing the growing of tobacco. In 1644, the Virginia Assembly ordered that various counties march upon enemy Indian tribes. Captain Shepard and Mr. Swan were to raise 50 men in Surry [James City?] County as their contribution to a march to Pamunkey.

In November 1645, Thomas was a member, from James City County, of the Virginia Assembly. His wife Margaret died 5 April 1646 at Swann’s Point, where she was buried. In 1649, Thomas served from James City County in the Virginia House of Burgesses.

and owned slaves.

On 9 April 1674, Thomas Swann was one of the Councillors present when the General Court was held in morning and afternoon sessions. On 3 November 1674, the Surry county court found in favor of Thomas Swann in a lawsuit he brought against Francis Gray. Thomas was awarded 2769 pounds of tobacco. In the list of tithables for 1675, Thomas was one of the few men in Surry County who owned slaves. On that list, Thomas, of Southwark Parish, had 3 white servants and 2 Negro slaves. On 16 March 1676, Thomas was appointed administrator of the estate of Francis Sumner.

(AUTHOR NOTE: the following is a repost I wrote while working on a 13th District Virginia House of Delegates race in 2005 – read comments here)

You never know who you’re gonna meet when you knock on hundreds of doors throughout the 13th District. Sometimes you come across old friends. Sometimes you meet new ones. But today, I knocked on a very special door.

As I approached the house, one of the first things I noticed was a “Bob Marshall” bumper sticker on a truck in the drive way. It was the first time I had seen one, but I’ve seen my share of “W” bumper stickers in driveways and found their owners very pleasant and eager to learn more about Bruce. One thing about an eagerness for change in the 13th district is its bipartisan nature.

The closer I got to the door, the more I realized something about this particular house that I later confirmed online. This was the home of our opponent.

I had spoken on the phone a couple of times with Bob, but I had never been to Bob Marshall’s house. Bob lists his home as his Prince William County office. I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be paying my delegate a visit with a huge “No Trespassing” sign on the steps. I’ve never really seen a “No Trespassing” sign on property listed as the public office of a delegate before, but you learn something new everyday in a campaign.

As I rang the doorbell, I thought to myself, “What am I going to say?” It was as though I felt I needed to say something other than what I say at all the doors.

“Bruce is a 20 year retired firefighter here in Prince William County. He teaches at George Washington University. He’s served his country, and now wants to serve you in the House of Delegates.”

No answer. So, I left our calling card just to let them know we were sorry we missed them and look forward to representing ALL of the people of the 13th District in the Virginia House of Delegates.