Richard Thompson & Ursula Bish
“The Presley Family of Northumberland County” in Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume III, states, on page 76, that the father-in-law of RICHARD THOMPSON was Phillip Bish, Merchant of Bristol England. In an unpublished manuscript, “The Cox Family of Westmoreland County,” by Laura Collison Ray, received from her niece, Bette Hill, the author states that “Richard Thompson settled at ‘Wickanno’ Creek Northumberland County “Kings Neck” and died 1649. His daughter, Sarah, married Thomas Willoughby, Gentleman, in 1652.” She goes on to say that “URSULA BISH was the daughter of Philip Bish, Merchant of Bristol, England, and after the death of Richard Thompson, [her husband] she married Col. John Mattox, and then married third, Maj. George Colclough.” We don’t know what all her sources for the information were, but some we have been able to verify.
ELIZABETH’s father, RICHARD THOMPSON-1, died early in 1649, and his widow, URSULA, remarried twice. On March 25, 1649, she made a deed-of-gift as “widow of RICHARD THOMPSON, dec’d of Kigwohtan in Virginia” to her children, Richard Thompson-2, Sarah Thompson-2, and ELIZABETH THOMPSON-2, for cattle. Her second husband was Colonel John Mottrox, the first representative from Northumberland, and her third husband was George Colclough. [Virginia Colonial Abstracts, pg. 618.]
The guardians for Richard Thompson-2 and Sarah Thompson-2 were George Colclough and URSULA, his wife, “Mrs. URSULA Colclough, being their mother,” September 29, 1657 [Fleet, Virginia Colonial Abstracts.] Richard Thompson-2, orphan, having arrived at the legal age to chose his own guardian, [age 14?] chose Mr. Thomas Willoughby [his brother-in-law] on September 8, 1662. That would put Richard Thompson-2’s date of birth about 1643 or before. RICHARD THOMPSON-1 [Sr.] had patented 48 acres of land in Northumberland County. This was sold by Thomas Willoughby and Sarah [Thompson-2], his wife, and ELIZABETH THOMPSON-2 to William Thomas, February 20, 1663/4. [Fleet, Virginia Colonial Abstracts.] This was apparently shortly before ELIZABETH’s marriage to PETER PRESLEY-2.
In 1665, a man named Richard Thompson gave his age as 33 years “or there abouts.” That would place this man’s date of birth as 1632. This is not likely our Richard Thompson-2. In 1669, what must be this same man, swears he entered some lands for another man.
Interestingly,
there is a notation in the Virginia Colonial Abstracts Volume I,
Northumbria Collectanea 1645-1720 that mentions “George
Thompson’s wife was told by James Claughton
of his unfaithfulness to her in 1650/1.” James Claughton lived
adjacent to MATTHEW
RODHAM. [Ibid. pg. 9.]
The Children of Peter Presley, Sr.-2 and Elizabeth Thompson
Elizabeth Presley-3, this is based on presumptive evidence. She first married Ebenezer Saunders and second, John Cockrell. Elizabeth, wife of John Cockrell, was executor of the estate of “Ebenezer Saunders, Dec’d” [her previous husband] and divided land between her son, Edward Saunders, and her daughter, Elizabeth Saunders, and her husband’s brother, Edward Saunders. The will of Elizabeth Cockrell was probated in May, 1719. She left legacies to son, Presley Cockrell, and daughter, Hannah Cockrell.
Jane Presley-3, born June 29, 1664 [St. Stephen’s Register] married first Richard Rogers and he died in 1697. She married, in 1698, Captain Christopher Neale-3, the brother of DANIEL-3, and the son of Captain CHRISTOPHER NEALE-2 and his wife, HANNAH RODHAM. In 1709, Christopher Neale-2 and his wife, Jane, late Jane Rogers, “widow of Richard Rogers, Gent. Etc.” and one of the daughters of PETER PRESLEY, Sr.-2, Gentleman, Late dec’d of St. Stephen’s Parish, to Peter Presley, now elder, of the same parish, Gentleman, for 264 acres.” Her children by Christopher Neale-3 were Peter Neale-4, Edward Neale-4, and Presley Neale-4.
URSULA PRESLEY-3, married first DANIEL NEALE-3 of Cople Parish, Westmoreland County. He was a brother of the husband of her sister, Jane. His will was probated in 1713. She married, second, Wharton Ransdall. Her parentage is proven beyond doubt by the will of her brother, Peter Presley-3, and his estate papers in 1718.
Mary Presley-3, married Dr. Charnock Cox of Westmoreland County. His will was dated 1751, and probated in that year. It named sons Presley Cox, George Cox, and William Cox, and daughter Elizabeth Cox Rust, the wife of Samuel Rust. Dr. Cox [Cocke] was said to be one of the first, if not the first, physicians in the area. He was descended from some of the more prominent and early settlers in the area. Information on Mary and Dr. Cox has been supplied by descendants of this line.
Captain Peter Presley-3, born 1683, died 1718, without issue. He was mentioned in a codicil, which is still existent, to his father’s will which was burned in 1710 in a courthouse fire. His estate inventory was exhibited, along with his will, and presented by his sisters, URSULA [PRESLEY-3] Ransdall, and Mary [Presley-3] Cox, executors. The inventory had been done by his brothers-in-law, Wharton Ransdall and Charnock Cox. This Peter was called “Captain” Peter Presley. “Colonel” Peter Presley was called into court and made oath that he wrote Captain Peter’s will and that the deceased intended to give his negroes, not [otherwise] bequeathed, to his two sisters, URSULA Ransdale and Mary Cox. This seems incontestable proof that URUSULA Ransdale and Mary Cox were daughters of PETER PRESLEY, Sr.-2, whose will was proven April 19, 1693. Captain Peter Presley was the last male member of this line of Presleys.