• General Notes

  [316552.ftw]
  
  In 1666, Hannah Rodham, married Cpt. Christopher Neale and a land deed was
  made out to her from her mother and father as a wedding gift.
  CURRY DESCENDANTS by Judge Noble K. Littell pp30 ref#3410.
  Recieved from Ruby Simonson McNeil (RubyM@@localaccess.com) on 18 Dec 1997.
  Notes for Hannah Rodham:
  From Mary and Robert Pettitt:  See the notes of Hannah's father, Mathew
  Rodham, for a transcription of a deed of gift from Mathew to Hannah and her
  husband Christopher Neale dated December 17, 1666. This was a large grant of
  land that Mathew Rodham gave them, apparently as a wedding gift. This seems to
  indicate that Hannah and Christopher were married sometime around this time
  period.
  There is a rather interesting record about Hannah from 1671, taken from
  William and Mary College Quarterly, Vol. 17, series I, pp. 247-8: "The general
  prevalence of a belief in witchcraft is abundantly evident in the early
  records of Virginia, but (the) records are singularly free from the atrocities
  that disfigure those of England and New England. No death penalty was ever
  inflicted and a few stripes and fines were the extent of the punishment. To
  keep off witches, a horseshoe was supposed to have a magic potency, and this
  superstitution has come down to us, for the horseshoe over the threshhold is
  still supposed by many to bring good luck. Below is an interesting instance in
  the belief in its power, found in the 17th century records of Northumberland
  Co., VA.
  'I Edw: Le Breton deposeth that being aboard of our ship & Mr. Edward Cole
  talking then there of severall psons & among all ye rest of Mrs. Neall saying
  yt (that) a certeyne time some yeares past there grew difference between them
  and said Mr. Cole she then made some kind of prayer that he nor none of his
  family might never prosper and shortly after his people all fell sick & much
  of his cattle dyed and did saye then (which was since ye arrivall of our ship
  from the barbadoes) that he accused her of it. And further depose that now yt
  his wife was sick he did acuse Mrs. Neal of it alsoe. But a certyne time he
  sent for Mrs. Neal to come to see his wife, and she did come and after yt he
  saw her come over the threshold where there is an horseshoe nailed and that
  when she was by his wife shee prayed heartily for her he was then psuaded to
  ye contrary again. And this I heard him relate of all yt is above not 10 days
  since at ye house of John Cokrell and further I know not April ye 11 1671.
  Sworn before us Peter Knight, Leon Howson (signed) Edward Le Breton'
  'Whereas I was in Company with Mr. Edw: Cole since we came last on this river
  (at Mr. John Cockrells house) he said that the suspition of Doctor Saunders &
  others was that his wife was under an ill tongue, & if it was soe he concluded
  yt it was Mrs. Neal by reason of imprecations made by her & yt indeed he
  thought soe, but since she came to his house and passed over the horseshoe
  nailed at ye door & prayed soe heartily for his wives recovery, that suspition
  was gone from him then speaking of some stories he said (what continued was
  deleted) (signed) J Bandill April ye 11 1671 Sworn before us Peter Knight,
  Leon Howson'
  'I Edward Cole doe acknowledge yt ye words which I did speake concerning Mrs.
  Neale as tending to defame her with the asperpersion of being a witch and a
  ___ were passionately spoken (signed) Edward Cole' "
  (Leon Howson was apparently Leonard Howson (bef 1641-1689) married to
  Elizabeth Lee and father to Hannah Howson, who married Francis Kenner)
  Notes for Christopher Neale:
  From Mary and Robert Pettitt: Christopher was claimed for transport in 1650 by
  Richard Axom and Thomas Godwin. (Greer, "Early Virginia Immigrants")
  Captain Christopher Neale served with distinction in the House of Burgesses
  from Northumberland Co., Virginia in November 2, 1685 session, and as a Civil
  Officer from 1680-1885. He was a staunch and liberal supporter of the
  Established Church.

Details of Hannah's family with Christopher NEALE