PETER PRESLEY, Sr.-2, the son of WILLIAM-1, the immigrant, was a Justice of the Peace in Northumberland County from 1660, and a Burgess for the county in 1677, 1684, and possibly other years. He died in 1693, but we have not found his will. His wife was ELIZABETH THOMPSON, the daughter of RICHARD and URSULA [BISH?] THOMPSON. They were married about 1664, when a deed joins them with ELIZABETH’s sister, Sarah Thompson, and her husband, Mr. Thomas Willoughby.
According to several secondary sources, URSULA BISH [Bysh?] was the daughter of PETER BISH, a merchant of Bristol, England. “The Cox Family of Westmoreland County,” an unpublished manuscript by Laura Collison Ray, gives this undocumented information.
PETER PRESLEY, Sr.-2, and Peter Presley, Jr.-3., were both justices in 1686. PETER, Sr.-2, had been a justice several times, including 1685. PETER PRESLEY, Sr.-2, died in 1693. [Fleet, Virginia Colonial Abstracts, page 584, from the Family Tree Maker, Virginia Colonial Abstracts Volume I, Northumbria Collectanea 1645-1720, Broderbund Software, Inc.] Hannah Newman was a headright of William Presley-2, January 21, 1660/1 [OS/NS].
Several depositions in 1673, concerning Eleanor Newman, the “servant maid of Edward Hill” being verbally abused by Margaret, wife of John Baxter, who apparently came on the same ship with this servant girl, called her a “barzen face bitch” and “whore” and said that she had a baby on the boat over, but murdered it.
A lady named Elizabeth Newman, possibly the wife of Robert Newman, Chirurgeon, [who was mentioned in August, 1655, and then as deceased in 1659,] was mentioned in January, 1655, as a midwife aged 80 or thereabouts. Robert and Elizabeth Newman had sold 50 acres in Newman’s Neck to Robert Smyth in 1652. [Ibid.]
Elizabeth Newman left gifts to Peter Presley, Jr.-3 [s/o William Presley-2] and Martha and Elizabeth Haynie. The Haynie connection had come about when Daniel Neale and Elizabeth Holland Neale’s daughter had married as a second husband, John Haynie. So this mention ties together the Neale, Presley, Haynie and Newman families. When Robert Newman, Chirugeon, presumed husband of Elizabeth the midwife, died, his inventory was submitted by William Presley in 1659. Since this was after the date of death of WILLIAM PRESLEY-1, this would, of necessity, make this William Presley-2. [Ibid.] This does point toward WILLIAM-1 being married to a Newman wife, but is not conclusive proof.
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.