General Notes

Came from England to Va. settled at Popes Creek on a grant from King Charles I, 1655. Col. Nathaniel's will, 1659, named only 2 sons -- Nathaniel Jr. & Thomas, both of whom were still minors. "Col. Nathaniel Pope, Gentleman," of Appomatox, Westmoreland Co., VA. He was a commissioned officer, and John Washington, serving under him, as major, married his daughter.
London Visitation 1664, p. 112 Nathaniel Pope son of John Pope of Shenfield, Essex and Mary Nicholls of London.

Immigrated to America in 1635 and settled in what is know as St. Mary' Hundred; was a member of the MD Assembly, 1641-42; and was dent as agent to Kent Island in 1647; removed to Virginia_________acres of land and named it "The Cliffs" in 1651. Commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of Westmoreland Troops Virginia, April 4, 1655. He married Lucy-----named in will Luce.

Will:(from Crozier's Virginia County Record Publications) Pope,Nathaniel, 16 May 1659; 26 April 1660 To son Thomas Pope land and plantation situated upon the cliffs, to aforesaid Thomas five cows or heifers to be given him when he shall come to the age of 21 years or day of marriage, which shall first happen. To son Nathaniel Pope the land and plantation where on I now live; my wife Lucy Pope to have the land where I now live as long as she live or remains unmarried. To John Washington that sum of money which he oweth unto me. To my son in law John Washington; to my son-in-law William Hardidge; son Thomas to be exor, and in case of his death son Nathaniel. Witnesses: John Rosier, Laurence Washington; John Washington, William Hardich.

Nathaniel's daughter, Ann married Colonel John Washington, at which time Nathaniel deeded her 700 acres of "The Cliffs". This land became part of the "Wakefield" estate, the ancestral home of the Washingtons. The land on which the Clifts Plantation was situated was first patented in 1651 by Nathaniel Pope, shortly after the Northern Neck was first opened to white settlement. Pope was one of a relatively small group of men who through connections with provincial government managed to obtain huge tracts of land in what was then a wilderness. These men and their descendants would rule Westmoreland Co., VA throughout the colonial period. Although he arrived in the New World as an illiterate yeoman, Pope was one of the richest men in Westmoreland County, a justice of the peace and a Colonel in the county militia when he died in 1660.

Nathaniel willed the Clifts Plantation to his son Thomas, during whose ownership it was first occupied circa 1670 Three Pope Immigrants came to America and settled in adjoining counties in the Northern Neck Nathaniel He setted on the Potomac in Westmoreland co., VA between Appomattox (central Virginia, where General Lee surrendered to General Grant Apr 9 1865, ending the Civil War), now Mattox, and Pope's Creek.

Excerpt from Wills: volume 1 Pope,Nathaniel, of Appomatox, 16 May 1659, 20 Apr 1660 son Thomas when 21; son Nathaniel; my wife Lucy; my son in law John Washington; son in law William Hardidge. Wit. by John Washington, Lawrence Washington, John Rosier.
Americans of Gentle Birth by Hannah Pittman Vol II: Lieut-Col. of Militia, 1655, Westmoreland Co., VA