John Upton Land Records in Isle of Wight County, Virginia

by Carey Bracewell

JOHN UPTON who was born about 1599, came to Virginia in the Bona Nova in 1622, and in 1625, was living in Persey's Hundred, in the employment of ABRAHAM PERSEY. He afterwards settled in Isle of Wight County and was long a man of prominence. He died without issue in 1652.

July 1, 1635

CAPTAIN JOHN UPTON granted 1650 acres in Warresquicake County (Isis of Wight) for transportation of 33 persrns, including ROGER BAGNALL. The patent was located "about three miles up Pagan Point Creek, bounding almost west from the creek into the woods, a little creek running in by the said land out of the Pagan Point Creek to a great poplar tree.”

November 10, 1638  
LIEUTENANT JOHN UPTON granted 1500 acres in Isle of Wight County, “1,000 acres adjacent AMBROSE BENNETT’s land, 500 acres of which lies on the other side of the breach opposite against the aforesaid and running east into the woods, beginning at an Indian path which goeth over the head of that branch." Patent for the transportation of thirty persons, including GEORGE GILLIN.

July 10, 1643
LIEUTENANT JOHN UPTON granted 139 acres on branches of Pagan Point Creek and New Towne Haven for the transportation of three persons.

1643
LIEUTENANT JOHN UPTON granted 700 acres "upon Northernmost side of Warrasquiake Bay (Isle of Wight)", 300 acres of which is marsh. Due for the transportation of 14 persons.

September 29, 1645
WILLIAM SMITH granted a patent for 700 acres in Isle of Wight County adjacent to ANTHONY JONES, TRISTRUM NORSWORTHY, NICHOLAS SMITH (called Pagan Point), and CAPTAIN JOHN UPTON. "Southwest upon Hutchingson's Creek dividing the Marsh from the Marsh of CAPTAIN JOHN UPTON which said Marsh is a perfect Isle.

November 18, 1651
LIEUTENANT JOHN UPTON, with wife, MARGARET, sold 400 acres to WILLIAM UNDERWOOD, "part of which said patent is adjacent to 300 acres sold to ROBERT BRASWELL, CLERKE." The original patent to UPTON was granted November 10, 1638, and contained 1600 acres. Witnesses were ISAAC CAVALIER and THOMAS SCOTT. See the transcript.

January 16, 1652
The 300-acre plantation of MR. ROBERT BRASWELL was mentioned in the will of CAPTAIN JOHN UPTON, signed this date. UPTON gave 350 acres to his eldest son, JOHN UPTON, and divided 1500 acres among his remaining children, WILLIAM, ELIZABETH, SARAH, and MARGARET UNDERWOOD (daughters-in-law). Land near AMBROSE BENNET's.

June 9, 1664
WILLIAM and ELIZABETH TIOMPSON sold RICHARD IZARD some land bought from MRS. MARGARET UPTON adjoining ROBERT DUNSTAR and MR. ROBERT BRACEWELL.

January 16, 1668
REVEREND ROBERT BRASWELL gave his son, RICHARD, 400 acres of the land that he had bought from CAPTAIN UPTON.

To ALL to whome this present Writing shall come I Lieuten^t JOHN UPTON Esq^r Send greeting . . . Wheras by a patent granted to me for Sixteen Hundred Acres of Land Scituate Lying & being in the Isle of Wight County in Virginia . . . dated the Tenth of November One Thousand Six Hundred & Thirty Eight . . . KNOW YE That I the S^d Lieu^t Col° JOHN UPTON with Consent of my Loveing Wife MARGARETT UPTON for a Valuable Consideration in hand received . . . Set over unto WILLIAM UNDERWOOD of the Isle of Wight afore^sd . . . four Hundred Acres of Land part of the Said pattent of Sixteen Hundred aforesd . . . the S^d four Hundred Acres of Land being next Adjoyning to Three Hundred Acres formerly Sold to ROBERT BRACEWELL Clarke part of the aforesd Devidend and to take his Bredth & Length according to the a. pattent . . . . IN WITNESS whereof I the Said Lieut. Col° UPTON with my aforesd Wife have Set to our hands & Seals this Eighteenth of November One Thousand Six Hundred Fifty & One.

Signed Sealed and                                                                    JOHN UPTON

Deliv^d in p^rts of us                                                                     MARGARET MU UPTON

                                                                                                            her mark

ISAAC CAVALEIR THO^S SCOTT

DEEDS, WILLS, GUARDIANS ACCOUNTS BOOK A,1636-1767, PAGE 32