Captain Samuel Jordan
Captain Samuel Jordan was from Dorsetshire in England, the son of Thomas Jordan. He was a member of the Virginia Company. In June of 1609, he set sail from Plymouth Harbor, bound for Virginia. He was a passenger on the Sea Venture,one of the nine ships which, in all, contained some 500 settlers, known as the "Third Supply" (Virkus,1942; Carrington, 1924). According to tradition his voyage to the New World became the basis for Shakespeare's play the Tempest.
The fleet was "caught in the tail of a hurrican" in the Atlantic. Of the original nine ships, one was sunk, and the flagship the Sea Venture-bearing Samuel Jordan, was wrecked off the cost of Bermuda, thus forming the basis of the The Tempest. For three days and nights the crew of the Sea Venture worked to keep the ship from foundering on the rocks. Wedged on the craggy shore, the Sea Venture was secured long enough for the crew and passengers to escape and most of the cargo was salvaged.
Also among the passengers was one Silvester Jourdain, also of Dorsetshire, and therefore likely a relation of Samuel Jordan. It is probable that the first authentic news of the Sea Venture disaster to reach England was throught Jourdain's pamphlet on the discovery of the "Barmudas" publihed in London in the Fall of 1610. Silvester Jourdain was the son of William Jourdain of Lyme Regis, Dorsetshire (Southall).
Samuel, is called "An Ancient Planter" of Virginia due to his early arrival in May of 1610. He established himself in Charles City County on the the plantation known as Jordan's Journey. His home was called "Beggar's Bush," named for a play by fletcher. Samuel, doesn't appear again into the records in VA till 1619 when he was a representative to the first legislative session in Jamestown.
(The Family Chronicles Book Two The Jordan Family & Related Lines by Joseph Neal Luther 1993 pgs.2-4 found at SLC US/CAN 929.273 L977lg V.2 1 Apr 1997)
Samuel Jordan of Virginia
Samuel Jordan, the "Ancient Planter" who sailed on the ill-fated "Sea Venture" in the 3rd Supply in 1609, arrived in Jamestown in 1610 and established his home up the River at the confluence of the James and Appotomattox Rivers, calling his plantation "Jordan's Journey" and his home "Beggars' Bush". Samuel, b. ca. 1578, was a young widower at the time of his arrival in Virginia, and was the father of three sons who later followed him to the Colony.
Samuel and Sylvester Jordan had joined with some "six hundred land men" in a fleet of "eight good ships" and one pinnace under the command of Admiral Sir George Somers. The Seaventure, flagship of the flotilla and the newest vessel of the group, floundered in a severe storm and was dashed upon the rocks on Bermuda. Among other notables aboard were Sir Thomas Gates, who was to be interim Governor for the struggling colony at Jamestown, John Rolfe, who later introduced the cultivation of tobacco into Virginia and married the Indian Princess, Pocahontas, and Capt. William Pierce, whose wife and small children sailed on the "Blessing", another ship of the flotilla which arrived safely in Virginia in August 1609. Also aboard the ill-fated Seaventure was Stephen Hopkins, who later was a passenger on the Mayflower to Plymouth, MA.
The two Jordans, Samuel and Sylvester*, are mentioned in a novel by author F. VanWyk Mason about the voyage of the Seaventure, but their relationship to one another has not been ascertained.. They may have been cousins, or perhaps even brothers. After a number of months on Bermuda the survivors of the wreck managed to build two small pinnaces named the "Patience" and the "Deliverance", using the wreckage of the original ship in the construction. These two small vessels were to carry them the rest of the way to Virginia. By the time of their arrival, all hope had been given up for their survival, and it was a joyful reunion for the families of those presumed lost many months before.
*Sylvester Jordan is noted for his written account of the voyage
Early Jordan Land Records
Samuel Jordan's land (pat. Dec. 1620) is described as being upon John Rolfe & N. upon the land of Capt. Wardleef; 2ndly, 1 tenement containing 12acres etc. encompassed on the W. by Martin's Hope, now in tenure of Capt. John Martin, Master of the Ordinance; & 388 acres in or near upon Sandys his hundred, towards land f Temperance Bailey, W. upon Capt. Woodlief etc."
When Samuel Jordan obtained this patent, it would seem that he had just married his 2nd wife Cecily, who was herself a widow. For in a list of those living "At Jordan's Jorney", February 1623-4, the first five names as given by Hotten, are those of "William Farrar"; and nearly a year later, 21 January 1624-5, in "The Muster of m' William Farrar Mrs. Jordan", the same names occur in a different order, with certain changes as follows:
William Farrar aged 31 years in the Neptune in August 1618 Sisley Cisley Jordan aged 24 yeres in the Blessing 1611 Mary Jordan her daughter aged 3 yeares Temperance Bailey aged 7 yeares
Accordingly, it is to be inferred that Mrs. Cecily Jordan was born in 1601, and was therefore a year younger than Samuel Jordan's eldest son. In other words, widower Samuel Jordan who married Cicely about 1 December, 1620 was old enough to be her father. There has long been a mystery surrounding this little girl who arrived in Virginia at the tender age of 10, apparently without her parents. Just as in the Two Gentlemen from Verona, when the question was "Who is Sylvia"? Genealogists have pondered the question, "Who was Cecily"? How did she happen to make the perilous journey to Virginia without her parents? Finally, the question can be answered.
Thomas Jordan, Patent, 900 acres in the county of Warrasquioke, near the head of Warrasquioke River, and adjoining an old Indian towne. July 2, 1635. (1, p. 233.)
Francis Jordan, Patent, 100 acres in Surry Co., on the River and lying between the lands of Mr. Ford, and Mr. Benjamin Harrison. Mch. 1652. (3, p.193.)
George Gourdan (Jordan), Patent, 100 acres in the west branch of Nansemond River, adjoining William Parker. Was formerly granted to Edward Cocke Mch 17, 1654, and by him assigned to the said George Gourdan. Mch. 11, 1652. (5, p. 176.)
Nicholas Jordan, Robert Jordan, Bartholomew Jugobrickson, John Prescott, Thomas Blanch, Patent 1000 acres in Lower Norfolk Co., adjoining the Mill Land at the head of Purle Creek in the southward branch of Elizabeth River, Sept. 29, 1666. (5, p. 401.)
Thomas Jordan, Patent, 550 acres in Nansemond Co., adjoining Jeremiah Rutter & Hopken Howell. Oct. 22, 1666. (6, p. 39.)
Lt. Col George Jordan, Patent 690 acres in the upper parish of Surry Co. on Cypress Swamp a branch of Black Water, adjoining Mr. Arthur Jordan, Reedy Marsh, Little Marsh and Middle Marsh. Nov. 20, 1675. (6, p.592)
Mr. Richard Jordan Sr.* of Isle of Wight Co., Patent 360 acres in the lower parish of Isle of Wight Co., on the N.W. side of the head of the lower bay creek and mouth of the main Cypress Swamp, adjoining Richard Reynold's Richard Jordan. Mch. 18, 1662. May 10, 1679. (6, p.684)
Mr. Arthur Jordan, Patent, 140 acres in the upper parish of Surry Co., adjoining Stony Run. Apr. 23, 1681. (7, p.70)
Mr. Thomas Jordan, Patent 265 acres in the upper parish of Surry Co., adjoining John Rogers and a great reedy branch. Sept. 22, 1682 (7, p.191)
Richard Jordan Jr., Patent, 260 acres in the upper parish of Surry Co., on the north east side of John Checokuck Swamp adjoining William Owen and the said Richard Jordan. Apr. 20, 1684. (7, p.369)
Mr. Arthur Jordan, Patent 240 acres in the upper parish of Surry Co., on the south side of Stony River. 150 acres part thereof was formerly granted to the said Arthur Jordan Apr. 23, 1678. Apr. 20, 1684. (7, p.372)
Richard Jordan, Patent, 200 acres in the upper parish of Surry Co., between the Cypress Swamp and John Chocorub swamp. Was formerly granted to Thomas Smith Apr. 20, 1684, and by him deserted. Oct. 20, 1688. (7, p.691)
Richard Jordan, Patent, 568 acres in Surry Co., adjoining Robert Owen and Matt. Roberts. 200 acres thereof was formerly granted the said Richard Jordan Oct. 20, 1688. Oct. 20, 1689. (8, p.5)
George Jordan of Surry Co., Patent, 100 acres in Isle of Wight Co., south side of Fountain Creek and adjoining Little Swamp. Sept. 6, 1723. (11, p.261)
Notes concerning family of Thomas Jordan3, leading Quaker, of Chuckatuck, and grandson of Ancient Planter, Samuel Jordan
Thomas Jordan (son of the immigrant, b. 1600-d. by Aug., 1644) came in the Diana and was living at James City, 1623; in 1624 heads the list of the Governor's men at Pasbehaigh (James City), indicating he was a soldier in the Governor's Guard. In 1629 he is mentioned as one of the Commissioners of Warriscoyack" (Isle of Wight Co. by 1637), which area he represented in the House of Burgesses, 1629, 1631-32." His land is of record 1635.
Thomas Jordan, 900 acs. Warrasquioake Co., 2 July 1635. Near head of Warrasquioake Riv. on Wly. side of an old Indian town....being the N.W. side of the River.
A patent issued to Thomas Davis, 10 August, 1644, for 300 acres in Nansemond Co. notes that it adjoined the land of Thomas Jordan dec'd. NOTE:: Adventurers of Purse & Person, p. 221 states this Thomas Jordan m. Lucy Corker, but Corker genealogy gives Lucy Corker's birth date after death of said Thos. Jordan. She did marry a Thomas Jordan, who was undoubtedly one of the Surry Co. family of Jordan. (See land records of Surry Co. Jordans above.)
Lucy Corker Jordan had only daughters. Children of the first Thomas Jordan and _______, his wife were: Thomas (b. 1634) m. Margaret Brashear, dt. of Robt. Brashear Margaret, m. James Davis, s. of Thos. Davis Richard, m. Elizabeth Reynolds (Perhaps others) Joshua Jordan, (10th son of Thomas Jordan & Margaret Brashear of Chuckatuck)"seised of Joshua Jordan for Priests Tithes as followeth". ..........."seised January ye 29th of Mr. Joshua Jordan ninty pounds of Tobb. for the ministers Dues for the year 1717 by George Narsworthy Sheriff". "seised Jany. the 29th 1717 by vertue ye an Execution bearing date ye 22 day of may 1715 of Mr. Joshua Jordan two hundred fourty six and my fees twenty pounds of Tobacco it being for ministers Dues upon account of Andrew Wodley by me George Narsworthy Shr.
Joshua Jordan, will of; dated Feb. 28, 1717. To wife, Elizabeth, Furniture, etc. To daughter Sarah, iron pott & one ewe lamb; daughter Rachel, son Joshua, daughter Elizabeth, son Matthew small gun & shoemaker tools, daughter Margarett to Susannah. Brothers Robert & Matthew to value remainder of estate & divide into three parts. Elizabeth, wife to be executrix. Ibid. p. 641 (See English Duplicates of lost Va. Records.) Will appears on p. 659, Valentine Papers, Jordan: Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.
Joshua had 150 acres Isle of Wight Co., Virginia 1704 Joshua Jordan of Isle of Wight Co. An inventory of his estate. Dec. 30, 1718. Elizabeth Jordan. (Ibid. p.641) Daniel Sanborn (father-in-law of Joshua) had 150 acres.
The marriage of Rachel Jordan, daughter of Joshua Jordan, is recorded in (The Valentine Papers, Jordan Records of the Society of Friends, p.741) Rachel Jordan, daughter of Joshua Jordan, of Isle of Wight Co., marriage to Thomas White, son of John White, of same Co. 13 day 7mo. 1719. (See also Hinshaw Va. Vol. Chuckatuck MM for record of above marriage.)
"The Samuel Jordan of Virginia" and "Land Records of Jordan" information on my page are listed with the permission of Miriam Bertelson. Miriam, a cousin from the Jodan line, has done genealogy for many years and specializes in Quaker research. If you would like to get touch with her, I have listed her E-mail address below. The information she has is astoneshing. Some of the major lines are Davis, Jordan, Newby, Ratcliff, Reynolds, Willoughby and Whites. She is also a great speaker on Quakerism.
Thank you Miriam for all your help and information. You are a cherished friend.
5 Mar 1998
