John Flood, Kent to Virginia

July 18, 2013 — 1 Comment

Jamestown

My 10th great-grandfather sailed to America in 1610, settling in Virginia.  He became the official interpreter for the colony, and served in many other public service capacities.

John Flood (1595 – 1658)

Notes- John Flood alias Fludd sailed from London aboard the ship “SS Swan(n)” in the summer of 1610 and landed at Jamestowne, Virginia, America in the same year. The passenger list describes him as “a gent” (gentleman). He took with him a considerable supply of provisions, including “corn, pease and beanes”, and also firearms and ammunition. He was the son of Nicholas Fludd, who was a younger son of Sir Thomas Fludd, a wealthy land owner living at Millgate, Bearsted, Kent. Nicholas married Elizabeth Davis at St. Andrews Church, Canterbury, Kent in February 1588/9.Initially John would have worked for various employers but he is known to have been employed in 1616 by The Reverend Alexander Whitaker, in Charles City, a settlement just to the west of Jamestowne, who is reputed to have converted Princess Pocahontas to Christianity in c1613. She is said to have been married to John Rolfe by Reverend Bucke at about this time. John was to marry Margaret Finche, widow, in c1624/5. She had arrived in Jamestowne in 1620 aboard the “SS Supply” with her husband William Finche and their daughter Frances. In September 1620 they are recorded as each holding fifty acres of land, but by 1624 William had passed away and John had married the widow Finche and they were living in Jordan’s Journey with their children Frances Finche and William Flood.By 1638 John had accumulated a considerable amount of land including that of his wife by right of marriage, and he was declared an Ancient Planter such that he was entitled to another 100 free acres of land. He was also granted a Patent of 2100 acres of land, where he established his plantation, located on the south side of the James River just opposite the town of Jamestowne. Here their other children were born, John c1627, Thomas c1629, and Mary c1635.His wife Margaret died c1644, leaving John with the young children. A year or so later he married Fortune Jordan, sister of Col. George Jordan, legislator, a member of a well known and influential family of Virginia. Their first daughter Jane, was born soon after and son Walter was born in 1656 when John was aged sixty-four.John served as a Representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses for twenty-two years, representing the areas of Flowerdieu Hundred, Westover and Weyanoke and served at least one term as their Speaker. By 1643 he was one of the representatives of James City County. In 1655 as Colonel John Flood, he was serving as a member of the local militia.At his death in 1658 he was Chairman of the Surry County Commission which held Court and administered the affairs of the County.John survived many hardships including the Indian uprising and massacre of 1644 which caused a break in the Colony’s fur trade. The Indian Treaty of 1646 gave the trade some protection with the erection of 4 forts along the frontier to which the Indians were permitted to come and trade. One of them, Fort Henry, was located on the south side of the James River, on the Appomattox. Across the river from the fort was the home of Captain John Flood, as he was then, who was appointed to the post of official interpreter for the colony.The Grand Assembly held at James City October 5, 1646, enacted the following: “that upon any occasion of a message to the Governor or trade, the said Necotowance and his people the Indians doe repair to fforte Henery, alias Appmattucke fforte, or to the house of Capt. John ffloud, and to no other place or places of the south side of the river, att which places the aforesayd badges of striped stuffe are to be and remaine. Indians found in ceded lands who were not wearing special striped coats picked up at the designated forts were to be killed on sight, and any white illegally entertaining Indians was to be punished severely. Be it also enacted that Capt. John ffloud be interpreter for the collony, and that for his service therin and transporting such Indians as shall be employed from time to tyme to the Gov=r in a message or otherwise, he is to be allowed from the publique the salary of four thousand pounds of tob’o yeerly.”. (The farming of tobacco was so widespread that it was used as a basis for money and trade).FLOOD(from page 301; “VIRGINIA HISTORICAL GENEALOGIES”, by Boddie)Col. John Flood (ca 1595-1658), of James City and Surry Counties, Va., arrived in 1610. In the “Muster Rolls, of Settlers in Virginia, 1624/5” is; “The MUSTER of John Fludd: John Fludd arrived in the ‘Swan’ 1610, Margaret, his wife, in the ‘Supply’ 1620. Frances Finch, her daughter, in the ‘Supply’ 1620, William Fludd, his son, aged 3 weeks”. John Flood was living in Charles City in 1616 and at “Jordan’s Journey” in 1625; in 1638 he patented land and settled in James City County just across the river from Jamestown in the section which in 1652 became Surry County.The above mentioned patent, dated May 12, 1638, was issued to “John Fludd, Gent,” and was for 2100 acres “E. upon land of Capt. Henry Browne, N. upon the maine river, S. into the maine woods & W. upon Benjamine Harrisons marked trees being upon the W. side of Sunken Marsh Cr.”, for transportation of 42 person. On June 7, 1650, “Capt. John Flood, Gent.” surrendered this patent and was given another of 1100 acres “on S. side the river, bounded S.E.S. upon land of Capt. Henry Browne, N.W. by N. upon land of Mr. Charles Foord and Richard Baven.” Among his headrights were listed: John Flood, an Ancient Planter, Margt., his wife, Frances Finch her daughter, John Flood, Junr., Eliza. Browne, John Lawrence, John Wright, Wm. Wood, and others. (“Cavaliers and Pioneers”, pages 86 and 194).On Jan 16, 1643/4, John Flood witnessed the will of Capt. Thomas Pawlett (owner of Westover) who left one silver spoon and one sow shote apiece to his godchildren, Wm. Harris, John Woodson, Tho. Aston, Thomas Fludd, Henry Richley, John Bishop, Tho. Woodward, Tho. Boyse, Tho. Poythers, and William Bayle. (“Title of Westover”, by Dr. Lyon G. Tyler, in Wm & Mary Qrtly, Vol 4, p 151).The Grand Assembly held at James City October 5, 1646, enacted – “That upon any occasion of message to the Gov’r. or trade, the said Necotowance and his people the Indians doe repair to fforte Henery alias Appmattucke fforte, or to the house of Capt. John ffloud, and to no other place or places of the south side of the river, att which places the aforesayd badges of striped stuffe are to be and remaine.” ***”Be it also inacted that Capt. John ffloud be interpreter for the collony, and that for his service therein and transporting such Indians as shall be employed from time to time to the Gov’r. In message or otherwise, he is to be allowed from the publique the salarey of four thousand pounds of tob’o yeerly.”The Grand Assembly held at James City July 5, 1653, ordered – “And the commissioners of York are required that such persons as are seated upon the land of Pamunkey or Chickahominy Indians be removed according to a late act of Assembly made to that purpose, and Coll. John Fludd to go to Tottopottomoy to exam the preceedings of business and to deliver it upon his oath.”John Flood was only a boy when he came to Virginia but he was active and energetic and rose to high honors. He was Burgess for Flowerdieu Hundred in 1630, for Westover, Flowerdewe in September 1632; he was one of the Burgesses for James City County in 1643, 1645, and 1654. He was Captain in 1643 (and probably earlier), Lieutenant-Colonel in 1652, and Colonel in 1653. At his death in 1658, he was Chairman of the Surry County Commission which held Court and administered the affairs of the county; the other commissioners at that time were Lt. Col. Thomas Swann, Capt. George Jordan, Capt. Benjamin Sidway, Mr. George Stephens, Mr. Thomas Warren and Mr. James Mason. He was also Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1652. (5 V. 185) Spouses1 Margaret Unknown, F Death Date1644Death PlaceVAMarr Dateabt 1624Marr PlaceVAChildrenMary , F (~1635-~1678)2Fortune Jordan, F Birth Date abt 1623 Birth Place England Death Date14 Jul 1668 Age: 45Death Place VA Father Arthur Jordan , MMother? Unknown , F Marr Date 1645 Marr Place VA Children Walter , M (-1722)