BLEDSOE GENEALOGY (CONTINUED)

AN INTRODUCTION TO BLEDSOE GENEALOGY (PART 3)
A genealogy of the Dameron family by Mrs. Helen Foster Snow, (BK#846), shows that a Thomas Dameron, son of Lwrence and Dorothy Dameron, ion Northumberland County, married Sarah Bledsoe, daughter of George Bledsoe. This Thomas Dameron has been frequently listed as Junior, but his father was Lawrence and there was no other Thomas Dameron in that area untill later. This Thomas had brothers and a sister, all born between 1645 and 1656, but his birth is shown as 165_, as the record was not clear ("Tyler"((BK#659)) Vol.23, p. 122). However it seems clear from the other dates that his birth must have been in 1650. As most young men in the early colonies married women very near their own age, it can be assumed that Thomas Dameron who was born in 1650 married a woman only a few years younger than himself, probably born about 1653.
(Page 5) In his will of 1704/5 George Bledsoe noted that he had land adjoining that of Thomas Dameron Senior, and the will was witnessed by one who signed himself Thomas Dameron Junior. Thomas Dameron and Sarah Bledsoe had only two sons, Charles and Andrew, but Thomas' brother George who married Elizabeth _________ had a son Thomas born in 1683. This Thomas was then called Junior to destinguish him from his uncle, which was a common practice at the time. This younger Thomas became 21 years old in 1704 and then was legallly able to sign as a witness to George Bledsoe's will. This younger Thomas Dameron later had the title of Colonel and was also called Senior after he had a son Thomas.

The name of George Bledsoe shows up several times after 1652. For Instance:

From the "Minutes of the Council and General Court of Virginia", (BK#847), p.318.

"At a Genll Court holden at James City the 8th November 1672. Afternoone. Ransom vs Bledshaw defdant about a parcel of land of Nine Hundred and fifty Acres in Northumberland County on teh North Side of Devideing Creeke. It is Ordered that a Jury by the Sherriffe of the County be impannelled as neare as Can be to said Land, who are to Enquire whether that Land was seated or Deserted by Peter Ransom ffather to the said James within due time according to his Pattent and returne their Report thereof under their hands to the 3d Day of the Next Genll Court for Judgement."

p.324
"At a Genll Court held at James Citty the 12th March 1672/3 Ransom vs Blettsoe. It is Ordered by Consent of the Plaintiff & Defendant James Ransom and Geo: Blettsoe that the Cause of last Court refferred to this be Continued and Refference to the Third Day of the next Genll Court in September to which Court the Juries Vrdt as by that ord is to be returned for Judgmt."

It would seem from that that George Bledsoe had attempted to take possession of land that James Ransom claimed had been left to him by his father Peter Ransom. The vedrdict of the jury does not show.

"Duval (Northumberland Co Records)", (BK #848) lists several references to George Bledsoe. p.4. On Jan. 10, 1679 there was a suit between George Bledsoe and John Harris, John Waddy and Thomas Ingram. p.6. This suit was still pending April 20, 1681. On June 16, 1681 there was another suit by Ann Gaylord, administratrix of James Gaylord, deceased, vs George Bledsoe. p.10. In 1687 George Bledsoe was appointed with Mr. John Curtis and Henry Butler to be surveyors of highways, and p.23, on July 27, 1689, on the petition of Mary, widow of Capt. Richard Lynsfield, deceased, probate to her of his last will by the oaths of Thomas Winter and George Bledsoe. Then the "Genealogical Bureau of Virginia", (BK#849), shows that on May 20, 1691, Mrs. Anne Bledsoe acknowledged a deed made by her husband, George Bledsoe, to Thomas Dameron for 60 acres of land, and finally in the Northumberland Co., Record Book 1706-1710 is found the will of George Bledsoe dated Jan. 23, 1704/5 and proved Aug. 15, 1705.

(Page 6) A George Bledsoe came to Virginia Dec. 6, 1652 as a headright. The records do not show when or where he was born or married or where he claimed his land, but the fact that he was a headright seems to be sufficient justification for saying that he was at least 21 years old when he arrived. If this George Bledsoe was already 21 years old in 1652, it does not seem that he would have had a son in 1697 when he was at least 66 years old, but the will of 1704/5 names a son Thomas, who was not then21, who still had to be kept in school for three years, who was to be allowed to live and work on his brother William's farm until the age of 21. This Thomas seems to have reached his majority in 1718 when he was arrested and fined for not going to church. If he reached the age of 21 in 1718, he was born in 1697.

The other four sons named in the will were all 21 years or older in 1704/5 because they were all old enough to own land in their own names. It may then be assumed that they were not born after 1683, and it does not seem that they were born very much before that date, so using the generally accepted figure of two years between births it can be said that they were born in 1683, 1681, 1679, and 1677.

The great majority of young men of that day seem to have married when they reached the age of 21 and had first child at the age of 22. If the first child in this family was born in 1677, when the father was 22 years old, then the father must have been born in 1655 and could not have been the headright of 1652.

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