Home
Table of Contents
Abraham Peirsey's sister, Judah Peirsey, md __________Smithson and lived in England. Abraham's brother was named John Peirsey.
Abraham Peirsey (Piersey/Persey) came to Virginia from London, England, 1616, on the SUSAN, the first Magazine Ship sent to the Colony. Prior to 1616 all supplies were sent to the Colony through the Virginia Company. A change of policy permitted organization of and subscription to a "joint stock for traffic with people of Virginia". This was known as the Magazine and profits or losses were distributed among those who were subscribers. As a cape merchant (Treasurer) his mission in part was to dispose profitable of the goods shipped in exchange for tobacco and sassafra, the only two commodities produced in the Colony at the time which would bring a profit when disposed of in England. Abraham Peirsey returned to England on the Susand and the following year came back to Virginia in the same capacity on the second Magazine ship, the GEORGE. Thereafter he appears to have remained in the colony to receive and disburse cargoes sent in the Magazine ships.
However, in 1618, Peirsey was sent in the GEORGE to Newfoundland as Cape Merchant with a cargo of tobacco to be exchanged for fish. He gave an account of this voyage in a letter to Sir Edwin Sandys, 24 May 1621: "I have sent a copy of the account of business which you desired of me with a return of the fishing voyage by the George to Newfoundland", mentioning that he had invested in good tobacco as a cargo. Then he noted that the "county (Virginia) is not provided with any good thing, tobacco excepted, whereby I might show my thankfulness unto you...but desire that you accept a small rundlett of sturgeon of our Virginia making". (VA Hist Mag, Vol 10, p 418)
As an investor in two shares of stock of the Virginia Company, Abraham Peirsey was entitled to land. On 15 Nov 1619, while he was engaged in Company's business across the seas, his wife exhibited a petition to the Court in London helf for Virginia:...that in view of his (Peirsey's) long service done the Company, they would gratify him with giving him some land in Virginia; which sundry of the Court acknowledging his paynfull (sic) endeavours have agreed for the present to give him 200 acres (if the Quarter Court shall allow...). Following the allowance by the Quarter Court, 1619, as requested, Peirsey petitioned in 1621 that the "Court would plese assigne him the place where he desires his land might be sett out..." By 1622, Peirsey was seated on the Appomattox River "some five miles off the College People", where four of his men were slain in the massacre of 1622. ("College People" were those living on lands assigned the College to be established which later became William and Mary College, oldest College in VA, chartered 6 Feb 1693). In 1625, Peirsey's holdings at this location embraced 1150 acres.
5 Oct 1624 Peirsey had purchased from Sir George Yeardley the tract of land of 1000 acres on the south side of the James River, known as "Flowerdew Hundred" and the same forthwith was changed to Peirsey's Hundred". This sale together with that for 2200 acres at Weyanoke on the opposite side of the water was reaffirmed by Temperance, Lady Yeardley, 16 Nov 1627. At the same time Peirsey maintained a store house at Jamestown and probably had a dwelling there for in the muster, 1624, he is listed at the colonial capital with his two daughters, Elizabeth, age 15 and Mary, age 22, who came in the SOUTHAMPTON, 1623. Twenty-seven of his men and four Negro slaves were listed at "Peirsey's Hundred".
In 1624, Peirsey owned Windmill Point, which included twelve dwellings, three storehouses, four tobacco houses and one windmill (first one in US) erected in 1621 by the original owner, Sir George Yeardley..
Abraham Peirsey was appointed on 24 Oct 1623 to the Commission, along with John Pory, John Harvey, John Jefferson and Samuel Mathews to "look into the state of Virginia" and had been appointed to the Council 1624. He was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1625.
On 13 Jan 1626: "Thomas Ward sworne and examined saith upon the 13th day of March last past he this deponent being in ye woods at Matrins Hundred with one Henry Elyott and Richard Crocker they two being in speech together about nailes. Henry Elyott said that John Day at Hog Island sold nails for a barrell of ears a thousand but he will sale noe more soe because Capt Hamor sells nails for a barrell of courne & 101. of Tobacco a thousand then Richard Crocker said, I, there are tow of them that are not fitt to sitt at ye Councill table which is Cpt Hamor & Mr. Persey, the merchant for they deale uppon nothing but extortion."
It is ordered that Richard Crocker of Martin's Hundred for his offence in taxing Cpt Hamor, dec., & Mr. Peirsey, unjustly of extortion & saying that they are unfitt to sitt at the Council shall suffer one months punishment and shall at the end thereof sitt in the pillary & have his eares nailed & shall further give fine of 300/ of tob. with sufficient suretyes for his good behavior & to appeare at the next quarterly court."
The above court action is a prime example of the unjust, severe punishment of the times for rash talk concerning a prominent official.
When Abraham Peirsey died about 16 Jan 1627/28, he was reputed to be the wealthiest man of his day in Virginia. Greville Pooley, Minister, appeared in Court 8 Feb 1627/28 and testified that he was the sole witness to the decedent's signatue to his will. Frances Peirsey, widow, appeared in Court 24 Mar 1627/28 and produced the "inventory of the whole estate of her late husband Abraham Persey, Esq, deceased". Peirsey's will directed that he be buried "without pomp or vainglory in the garden plot where my new frame doth stand" and charged the executrix "to make saile of all the estate as aforesaid to the profit it can be sould for". (Abs. of will in Tylers Quarterly Mag, Vol 8): had two daughters by his first marriage.
Abraham Peirsey's first wife, Elizabeth Draper (bapt 7 Dec 1583 London,
England) came to VA with her daughters, 1623, on the SOUTHAMPTON; and apparently
died shortly after her arrival. Abraham Peirsey md 2) Frances (Hinton)
West, dau of Sir Thomas Hinton, and widow of Nathaniel West (one son, Nathaniel
West, Jr.). Frances Hinton West Peirsey md 3) Capt. Samuel Matthews.
"Samuel Matthews emigrated to Va. in the ship SOUTHAMPTON in 1622...he
md at least twice. The last wife was the widow of Abraham Peirsey
who died ca 1638..." (Gen of Va Fam, Vol III,
p. 578) In 1648, a newswriter announced that Matthews md the
dau of Sir Thomas Hinton (Forces Tracts)
1. Elizabeth Peirsey b 1610
2. Mary Peirsey bapt 12 Mar 1612 East Cheap, London, England
Get your own Free Home Page