William Overton, of New Kent County

Not the son of Major-General Robert Overton & Anne Overton

Commonly given as a child of Anne Gardiner and her husband Major-General Robert Overton (1609-bef 2 Jul 1678), but unproven by any source/

Biography

Retrieved from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Overton-29 on 19 September 2024 and then edited.

Col. William Overton was born 3 December 1638 according to a family record which dates to the early 1800s.[1][2][3] This record was copied several times by descendants from a book which has come to be known as the Josephus Book originally owned by Barbara (Overton) Winston. No matching English records have been found to help prove his origins.

It was claimed in a 1915 newspaper article that he was the son of Maj. Gen Robert Overton.[4][5] There is no evidence this is true, and in fact is certainly incorrect. Robert Overton did not have a son William as is shown by his own will, the will of Robert's father John which names all of his grandchildren, and a lengthy 372 page manuscript written by Robert Overton which mentions his other children but no William.

The details of his family are also primarily known from the Josephus Book family record, though this does contain a couple of known errors. He married Elizabeth Waters on 24 November 1670. The copies of the Josephus Book, however, recorded her name as Mary which has led confusion as to whether it is Mary or Elizabeth. That her name was Elizabeth and not Mary is proven by the will of her mother and land records in Virginia.[1] They had five children whose birthdates are all recorded in the Josephus Book.

The date of William Overton's immigration to Virginia is not known with certainty. A variety of dates ranging from 1656 to 1680 can be found online which are not backed up by primary records. On 23 April 1681, William Overton and Eben Jones were granted forty-six hundred acres lying in New Kent (now Hanover) for 92 persons to the colony, including himself and Elizabeth.[1] On 29 October 1690, William Overton and were granted 837 acres in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County for the purpose of bringing over 17 persons.[1]

The date of William Overton's death is not known with certainty. He was certainly living in 1690 when he had a land grant and when his last child was born. The will of his mother-in-law on 29 September 1697 left him a bequest of 10s. so, at the very least, she believed him to still be alive as of this date.

Common Errors to Avoid

• Name of wife: The name of his wife was Elizabeth Waters; it was not Mary Waters. The error or confusion comes from the Payne and Prior copies of the Josephus Book, both which name the wife of William Overton as Mary. This is clearly incorrect as the will of Ann (Peake) Waters names her daughter as Elizabeth Overton. Land records also name the wife of William Overton as Elizabeth. A careful analysis of the Payne and Prior copies show that it is highly likely that the name of William Overton's wife did not appear in the Josephus Book at all but was added sometime later in the 19th century. Regardless of the cause of the error, the name Mary is a 19th century error and the name of the wife of William Overton was Elizabeth Waters.
• Birthdate: Two copies of the family record, both copied from the Josephus Book in 1821 give two different birth dates. One states that William was born in 1628 while the other states that it was 1638. Given the date of his marriage and birthdates of his children, the 1638 date is much more plausible.
• Names of parents: He is not a son of Maj. Gen. Robert Overton as is often said. There is no evidence to connect the two men. There is no evidence that Robert Overton even had a son named William.
• Col. William Overton?: What primary record calls him Col. Overton?

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Family

Retrieved from https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Waters-229 and then edited on 19 September 2024

Elizabeth Waters was born December 30, 1654 in St. Sepulchre Parish, London, England, the daughter of Ann Peak and Samuel Waters.

William Overton emigrated in 1669 and sent for Elizabeth to work as his maid, with the intention of her becoming his wife.

Elizabeth was a Catholic and William a protestant and they married as such to avoid the wrath of their families.

She married William Overton (b. 03 DEC 1638, Yorkshire, England) at the end of their journey from England 24 November 1670 in Yorktown, York River, Virginia at the age of 15.

They had the following children:

1. Elizabeth b 28-6-1673-1735, m. Captain Robert Anderson
2. William 1675-d 18 Jun 1759; m. Margaret "Peggy" Garland.
3. Temperance b. 1678/79, New Kent, VA, d 19 Feb 1716, Hanover, VA. She md Capt. William Claiborne Harris abt 1695, son of Maj. Robert Harris and Elizabeth (Mary) Claiborne.
4. Margaret Overton, 1680-1704. no spouse
5. Samuel b: 14 AUG 1685 d 1759 Hanover, VA; m. Anne Carr 1710, Hanover, VA
6. James, Captain, b: 14 AUG 1688 in St. Martin's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia d 18 Jun 1749, Louisa, VA; md Elizabeth Garland.
7. Truhart Overton, 1689 - bef 1725. m. Elizabeth
8. Barbara b: 05 FEB 1690 -1766, m. William Winston

William and Elizabeth Overton (probably) died after 29 September 1697, in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia (now St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County), when the widow Anne Waters of St. Sepulchres, London, wrote her will. She included "daughter Elizabeth Overton, now in Virginia, 10s, and William her husband,10s."

He is believed to have emigrated to Virginia shortly after his marriage in 1670 (another source states that they were married at Yorktown, on board the vessel in which Elizabeth Waters had come to Virginia). A book called Josephus, which was in the possession of their daughter, Barbara (Overton) Winston, and which she passed, in her will, to her son, John Winston, and through several generations after that, was destroyed in a fire, but not before several written copies of its entries had been made by several different descendants. These were entries of William Overton, his date of birth and marriage, and the names and dates of birth of his children. Some records call his wife Mary, others Elizabeth, which appears to be the case also with one of their daughters. But the will of Ann Waters, dated 7 Sep 1697, of St. Sepulchre, London, England, specifically calls her daughter Elizabeth Overton "now in Virginia". Also named as being in Virginia is her brother, John Waters. A deed is recorded in the Virginia land books for 4,600 acres of land on the south side of Pamunky River on Falling Creek, 23 April 1681, to William Overton, for transporting 92 persons to the colony, including Elizabeth Overton; this would appear to indicate that he had indeed married Elizabeth in England. An additional grant, dated 29 Oct 1690, was made to William Overton for 837 acres lying in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co. (now Hanover) for transporting 17 persons.

Source: http://www.geneajourney.com/overton.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60859736/william-overton

William OVERTON Compact Disc #11 Pin #435036 (AFN: 9LQ0-PF)

Sex: M

Birth: 3 Dec 1638

Place: Of Easington,Yorkshire,England

Death: 1697

Place: Jamestown, James City, Virginia

Burial:

Place: ,New Kent,Virginia

Parents:

Father: Robert OVERTON Col. Disc #11 Pin #435184

Mother: Anne GARDINER Disc #11 Pin #435185

Marriage(s):

Spouse: Elizabeth Overton WATERS Disc #11 Pin #435037

Marriage: 24 Nov 1670

Place: Yorktown,York River,York,Virginia

Notes and Sources:

Notes: None

Sources: Available on CD-ROM Disc# 11

Submitter: Charles MCGRATH

1619 Pinoak Pl Jonesboro Arkansas 72404-8038

Source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=1988-ques...

It is generally believed and stated, although without absolute proof, that Gen. Robert Overton was the father of the Virginia immigrant. He was one of Oliver Cromwell's chief officers, and distinguished himself at the battle of Marston Moor. He accompanied Cromwell to Scotland in 1650, and commanded a brigade of Ironsides at the battle of Dunbar. He was a soldier and scholar and an intimate friend of Milton. He ended his years as a political prisoner in the Tower of London. He married, in 1632, Anne, daughter of Jeremy Gardiner of Stratford Bow, Middlesex, England.

b. He is believed to have emigrated to Virginia shortly after his marriage in 1670 (another source states that they were married at Yorktown, on board the vessel in which Elizabeth Waters had come to Virginia). A book called Josephus, which was in the possession of their daughter, Barbara (Overton) Winston, and which she passed, in her will, to her son, John Winston, and through several generations after that, was destroyed in a fire, but not before several written copies of its entries had been made by several different descendants. These were entries of William Overton, his date of birth and marriage, and the names and dates of birth of his children. Some records call his wife Mary, others Elizabeth, which appears to be the case also with one of their daughters. But the will of Ann Waters, dated 7 Sep 1697, of St. Sepulchre, London, England, specifically calls her daughter Elizabeth Overton "now in Virginia". Also named as being in Virginia is her brother, John Waters. A deed is recorded in the Virginia land books for 4,600 acres of land on the south side of Pamunky River on Falling Creek, 23 April 1681, to William Overton, for transporting 92 persons to the colony, including Elizabeth Overton; this would appear to indicate that he had indeed married Elizabeth in England. An additional grant, dated 29 Oct 1690, was made to William Overton for 837 acres lying in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co. (now Hanover) for transporting 17 persons.

From "History and Genealogies", by W.H. Miller, published by Press of Transylvania Co., Lexington KY, 1907:

"Temperance Overton, (the wife of William Harris) came to this country with three brothers and settled in Virginia. She was a daughter of William Overton, and Mary Waters, William Overton was a Colonel under Oliver Cromwell, and commanded one wing of the army at the battle of Dunbar; for some cause he was cast into the Tower of London by Cromwell, and died there."

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OVERTON/2000-03/09528...

----------------------------------------------------

From Hylbom Family Ancestry Project:

http://hylbom.com/family/paternal-lines/paternal-ni-to-po/overton-6...

The names of William Overton and (Mary) Elizabeth Waters‘ children have been compiled from “the Josephus Book,” and from Anderson, Early Descendants of William Overton and Elizabeth Waters; from Boddie, Historical Southern Families, Vol. V; and from “The Overton Family” by W. E. Dickinson in Richmond-Times Dispatch, 5 and 12 Sept 1915. One account, published by Media Research Bureau before 1939, named nine children: “Mary, Barbara, James, John, William, Ann, Elizabeth, Temperance, and probably Samuel.” However, most accounts contain only the six from Josephus (although gaps in the birthdates would allow for other children who did not survive).

William‘s life in America was spent in the county of New Kent, where all records have been destroyed by fires. Part of his land later fell into Mathews and King William counties, and his offspring resided on land which became Hanover and Louisa counties. Some descendants went to North Carolina, thence to Kentucky, and some remained in Kentucky for several generations before moving westward to Texas and other states. Still another group migrated to Tennessee and Louisiana, where several became prominent in state affairs.

The record of the family of William Overton and Elizabeth (Mary) Waters, all born in New Kent County, Virginia is as follows (compiled from Anderson, Early Descendants; from “Overton of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Louisiana,” in Boddie’s Historical Southern Families, Vol. V; and from “The Overton Family” in Richmond-Times Dispatch 5 Sep 1915:

Elizabeth (the Anderson family records call her Mary), born 28 Jun 1673 may have married Robert Anderson.

William, born 6 or 14 Aug 1675 married Margaret (Peggy) Garland. He died 18 Jun 1759.

Temperance Overton, born 2 Mar 1679. In about 1695 she married William Harris. She died 19 Feb 1710, according to her grave marker at “Cedar Hill” in Hanover County, Virginia. William Harris was born in Virginia. After Temperance died, he married (2nd) Mary Butler [Ellis].

Samuel, born 14 Aug 1686 married Miss Carr[17]; he died before 1725.

James, born 14 Aug 1688 and died 18 Jun 1749. In 1706 he married Elizabeth Garland (widow Truhart); she was born in 1690 and died 19 Nov 1739 [Carr Bible]. Margaret and Elizabeth Garland were sisters.

Barbara, born 5 Feb 1690 married James or John Winston and died in 1766.

References

1. http://hylbom.com/family/paternal-lines/paternal-ni-to-po/overton-6...
2. http://www.geneajourney.com/overton.html
3. Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: May 7 2023, 17:37:33 UTC
4. WikiTree contributors, "Elizabeth (Waters) Overton (1654-1697)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Waters-229 : accessed 19 September 2024). cites
   1. Virginia gleanings in England : abstracts of 17th and 18th-century English wills and administrations relating to Virginia and Virginians : a consolidation of articles from the Virginia magazine of history and biography], Baltimore, Md. : Reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Pub. Co., 1998, ©1980, p.39, 8 April, 2014.
   2. Secretary of the Colony serving as the colonial Land Office, [https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Overton-29 Virginia State Land Office. Liber No. 7, p78 Dated 23rd April, 1681.
   3. Anderson, William Pope, The early descendants of Wm. Overton & Elizabeth Waters of Virginia, and allied families, Cincinnati? O., 1938, p.97, 8 April, 2014.
   4. Secretary of the Colony serving as the colonial Land Office
   5. Withington, Lothrop, Virginia gleanings in England : abstracts of 17th and 18th-century English wills and administrations relating to Virginia and Virginians : a consolidation of articles from the Virginia magazine of history and biography, Baltimore, Md. : Reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Pub. Co., 1998, ©1980, p.40, 8 April, 2014.
   6. WITHINGTON Lothrop. Virginia Gleanings in England, p 38
   7. ANDERSON, William Pope, "Early descendants of Wm. Overton & Elizabeth Waters of Virginia: Anderson-Overton; a continuation of Anderson family records", pub 1936 and "The early descendants of Wm. Overton & Elizabeth Waters of Virginia, and allied families, Cincinnati, Gibson and Perin, 1938, p. 97.
5. BASKERVILLE, Patrick Hamilton.Andrew Meade of Ireland and Virginia: His Ancestors, and Some of His Descendants and Their Connections, Including Sketches of the Following Families: Meade, Everard, Hardaway, Segar, Pettus, and Overton] Old Dominion Press, 1921, p.51.
   1. Find A Grave: Memorial #60861465
   2. http://www.geneajourney.com/overton.html Overton of Yorkshire, England, and New Kent, Virginia]
   3. POPE, Colonel William Rivers. "Histories of Pope, Carter and McFerrin Families of Middle Tennessee" McQuiddy Printing Company, 1950. Cited in RootsWeb.
   4. http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=patchildr... RootWeb] Curtis mathis Family Tree
   5. WEST, Nan Overton. The Overtons: 700 Years. With Allied Families from England to Virginia, Kentucky, and Texas.
   6. Records of Lewis, Meriwether and kindred families : genealogical records of Minor, Davis, Wells, Gilmer, Clark, Garland, Overton, Cosby, Dickenson, Trower, Berry, Winston, Washington, Carr and more families.http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=genealogy-glh23150673....
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   10. England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906. Ancestry.com.
   11. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Ancestry.com
   12. England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991. Ancestry.com
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   14. Historical Southern Families. Volume XV. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=FLHG-SouthernFamilie....
   15. International, Find A Grave Index for Select Locations, 1300s. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60861465/mary-elizabeth-overton.
   16. London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812. Ancestry.com.
   17. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000. Andrew Meade of Ireland and Virginia : his ancestors and some of his descendants and their connections, including sketches of the following families : Meade, Everard, Hardaway, Segar, Pettus and Overton.
   18. Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1532-1812. Northamptonshire Record Office; Northampton, England; Register Type: Parish Registers; Reference Numbers: 255P/4.
   19. Wiltshire, Church of England Baptisms,Marriages and Burials,1538-1812. Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Reference Number: 1656/4.
   20. Tidewater Virginia Families: Generations Beyond. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=FLHG-TidewaterVAFami....
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   23. Warwickshire, England, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1535-1812. Warwickshire County Record Office; Warwick, England; Warwickshire Anglican Registers; Roll: Engl/2/1207; Document Reference: DR 360.
6. "~ Aside ~ William Harris and Temperance Overton" < harrisandrelatedfamiliesofvirginia >
7. Anderson, William Pope. The early descendants of Wm. Overton & Elizabeth Waters of Virginia, and allied families (1938). < FamilySearch >
8. Anderson, William Pope. Anderson - Overton : a continuation of Anderson family records, published 1936, and the early descendants of William Overton & Elizabeth Waters of Virginia, and allied families, published 1938. (1945) < FamilySearch >