General Notes

Source:
Northumberland Co VA
1657
Stephen Bailey received a land grant from the King of England.
Northumberland ...later became Westmoreland Co VA
___________________________________________________
Stephen Bailey married Ann Walker, widow of William Walker. His will was probated in 1697. It named his sons, William and John, and daughters, Ann and Mary Smith and Ann, daughter of Stephen Bailey, indicating he had another son, Stephen.
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Bailey-Britton History Book
Westmoreland Co VA
8 Dec. 1697
In the name of God Amen. I Stephen Bailey of the Parish of
Cople, being sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect mem-
ory doe make, constitute and appoint this my last will and testa-
ment in maner and form following, Imprimis I commit my soul to
God, that gave it hoping through the Merits and Satisfaction only
of my dear Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain the forgiveness
of my sins and a blessed resurrection to everlasting life, and my
body to be buried at the discression of my Executors hereafter
named & as forwhat worldly estate, the Lord hath been pleased
to Lend me I give & bequeath as followeth, after my Debts and
Funeral paid,
#1- I give unto my son John Bailey all that tract of land in the forest,
by Estimation Fifty Acres, be it more or less with all houses fences
& appurtenances thereto belonging to him andhis heirs forever.
#2-I give unto my son William Bailey all that tract of land whereon
I now live with all houses, orchards, & appurtenances thereto
belonging, to him and his heirs males of his body begotten
forever, and for want ofsuch heirs males then it is my will that
the said land and all the appurtenances, be and remain to my
son John Bailey & his heirs males forever.
#3-I giveunto Anne Smith my daughter, one small iron pot and a
wearever pann, and my gray mare, branded S.B. to her and her
heirs forever.
#4-I give unto Ann Bailey daughter of Stephen Bailey deceased
one helfer called Doll, and all her female increase, the said
heifer to be and remain in the hands of John Bailey and deliv-
ered with all the female increase to the said Anne at 16 years
of age or day of marriage which first happens and the male
increase to John Bailey for his trouble, but in case the said
Anne die before the said time, then the said heifer & increase
to be divided among John Bailey's children;
#5-I give unto Mary Walker daughter of William Walker dec.'d
one heifer named Moll & all her increase to her & her heirs or
assigns forever to be delivered to her immediately after my death.
#6-I give unto my daughter Mary Smith one shilling.
#7-I give unto my son John Bailey, Anne Smith & William Bailey
all the residue of my personal Estate whatsoever, to be equally
divided amongest them at their own discression immediately
after my decease, Lastly I make constitute and appoint my
loving sons John Bailey and William Bailey Exors. of this my
last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto
sett my hand_____? & scalethe 8th day of December 1697.
Stephen Bailey
(seal)
Sealed & published in presence
of us
Henry Rosse
Saml. Damanville
Thomas Bee
_________________________________________________________
Westmoreland Co VA
23 Feb. 1697
will proved
Recorded deed book 2...page 129
Westmoreland Set. At a court held for the said county the 23rd
day of Feb. 1697.
The last will and testament of Stephen Bailey was this day
proved by the oath of the witnesses thereto subscribed and a
probate thereof granted to John Bailey & William Bailey the Execu-
tors therein named, & or to br recorded.
May 1 1950? A copy ________teste;
Teste;
James
Westcomb C.W.C.
Signed; Albert Stuart
Clerk of theCircuit Court of
Westmoreland Co VA
_________________________________________________________
Early Settlers of Lee Co VA...Vol.1...page 29, book written in 1977
A descendant of Stephen Bailey, Mrs Clara Bailey

From: Will Johnson
  I am contacting you today about your tree posted to the Ancestral World Tree at www.rootsweb.com or www.ancestry.com (same company), and in particular about Stephen Bailey who married Ann Jeffers which you have.

I have a few questions.
#1) Some of you have her as "Mary Ann Jeffers" and I wonder what is your source for her being called Mary ?

#2) Some of you have a specific marriage date for this couple.  I believe this is a mistake.  While it is true that there are web sites and even the IGI which has a specific marriage date, the underlying source is merely "family sheets submitted by...." and so is unreliable.


I believe the source for the marriage date is this court case
Virginia Colonial Abstracts, by Beverley Fleet, Volume I, page 417 Northumberland County, Records of Births, 1661-1810 page 554 "Jeffers, William, petitions that Stephen Bailey, who md the relict of William Walker, deceased, has in tuition his 'Jeffers's wife's brother. Which orphan he 'doth much abuse'. The orphan ordered to remain with Jeffers." 21 May 1660. 2.124

As you can see it specifies the relationship between William Jeffers, William Walker, and Stephen Bailey.  The date on this document is 21 May 1660 and so someone who has misunderstood that has specified this as their marriage date.  Actually the marriage date should read as BEFORE 21 May 1660.

#3) Some of you list Stephen Bailey's place of birth as Glouchestershire but on what basis?  That is what is your source for that place of birth?  I have found many cites which STATE it, but none which has a useful source for it.  That is, someone stated it in the past, and everyone else is just picking it up.  I don't think it's accurate and hopefully one of you has a useful primary source for it.

#4) Some of you have this Stephen Bailey as a son to another Stephen Bailey.  I believe this is an error.  The Stephen Bailey Will of 1697 lists a son Stephen.  It also lists a girl Anne Bailey, "son of Stephen Bailey Dec'd"  I believe this deceased Stephen is the SON of this Stephen, not his father.  And then this Anne is this Stephen's granddaughter, son of his own deceased son Stephen and NOT his sister.  If you read the will, this Anne is stated to be not yet 16 which the person who wrote the will is alledged to have been around 70.


The reason this is important, is that Stephen Bailey is a "gateway" ancestor.  That is, he is an immigrant, connecting the US back to England.  So getting his details absolutely correct is of concern.  He is also a gateway into the Medieval period, which is how he came to my attention.

I am hoping that by setting up this email list we can discuss what primary records actually exist for Stephen, and which of these "facts" are assumptions from some other source.

Thank you for your attention.
Will Johnson, Professional Genealogist