Hugh Daniell of Old Rappahannock Co., VA

Hugh Daniell of Northampton and Old Rappahannock Counties, VA

Hugh Daniell first appears in Virginia records on the 4th of July 1653 when he is listed as a headright for a patent to Sampson Robbins, and his wife Alice, for 750 acres of land in Northampton County, VA. (Headrights: Phill. Matthews, Thos. Phillips, Danl. Chadwell, Hugh Daniell, John Nicholls, Elinor Nicholls, Edward Moore, Saml. Robins, Nicho. Nicholls, Elinor E Nichols). The patent mentions fourteen headrights, but only 12 people are listed in the patent, if Sampson and Alice Robbins are included. It may be that Sampson and Alice received two headrights, each, for importing themselves. For some reason, a few researchers have interpreted this record to imply that Hugh Daniell had a wife named Alice, an obvious error. (Virginia Land Office Patents No. 3, 1652-1655, p. 246 [Reel 2]).

This record probably indicates that Hugh came to Virginia as an indentured servant, obligated to perform four to seven years of service, to repay Robbins for his passage costs, room, board and freedom dues. Upon completion of their term of service, indentured servants often received a small amount of land or other compensation. This often included a new set of clothes. The fact that Hugh's first appearance in records is in 1660, may support this conclusion, though no records of Hugh's service have been found. Records indicate that Hugh was a carpenter, a skilled trade, which may have improved his lot.

Subsequent records prove that Hugh Daniell was married to Mary Billington around 1660. Mary was the daughter of Luke Billington who appears frequently in Northampton County records starting in 1645. Luke Billington does make one appearance in York County court records on 30 January 1645/46 but examination of the record shows that Billington had engaged Lewis Burwell to collect a debt owed to Billington by Richard Beetle, so Billington didn’t actually reside in York County. Though Hugh Daniell does not make further appearances in Northampton County records, it can be assumed that he may be traced due to his association with Luke Billington.

Hugh Daniell was later also associated with John Williams, Robert Bayley and John Suggett, William Barber, Richard Peacock and others who were also associated with Luke Billington in Northampton, Lancaster and Rappahannock Counties.

Luke Billington last appears in records in Northampton County, VA on 25 October 1656, and starts appearing in records in Rappahannock County in the same year, which suggests a migration to that county. Rappahannock was created from Lancaster in 1656. Billington, Daniell and several of their associates appear in records in Lancaster only one time as debtors in the record of merchants John Jeffries and Thomas Colclough in 1663. This does not necessarily mean that Billington or any of his associates ever resided in Lancaster County. (Lancaster Co.,VA Will/Deed Book 1654-1702 pp 263-4)

Northampton and Accomack, which was created from it, were separated from from the rest of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay and records do not support any connection between Hugh Daniell and the other Daniel families in Virginia at the time, in particular those in Middlesex, Warwick and York counties. Various researchers have tried to link Hugh to those Daniel lines but provide no primary record evidence to support their assignments. Many early researchers just assumed that all of the various Daniel families of 17th century Virginia must be related.

On 25 November 1654 Luke Billington was granted a patent of 250 acres in Northampton County for transporting 5 persons. He assigned this patent to John Williams (Northampton Co., VA Patent Book 3 p 296). This probably indicates a close relationship between the Billington and Williams families. This causes some confusion because other, unrelated Daniel lines in 17th century Virginia also had relationships to other, apparently unrelated Williams families.

On 3 April 1660 Luke Billington witnessed a deed from John and Mary Williams to Robert Bedwell in Rappahannock County, VA. (Rappahannock Co., VA Deed Book 2 pp 113-114)

On 28 April 1660 John Williams, Carpenter of Farnham Creek in Rappahannock County, with the consent of his wife Mary Williams, made a deed to Hugh Daniell and Richard Peacock, Carpenters of the same place, for a parcell of land of unspecified size in Rappahannock County. This deed was witnessed by Richard Powell, Robert Bedwell and Will Barber. John and Mary Williams signed their names (Rappahannock County, VA Deed Book 2 p 112). This deed probably indicates that Hugh Daniell had joined the circle of close acquaintances around the Billington and Williams families and suggests that Hugh and Mary Billington were married about this time.

On 18 April 1661 Hugh Daniell and Richard Peacock witnessed a deed of gift from Luke Billington to Mary Barber in Rappahannock County. Hugh Daniell and Richard Peacock made their marks (Rappahannock Co., VA Deed Book 1 p 135).

On the 20th of October 1664 John Sugget made a deed of gift of “one cow calf” to William Daniell, son of Hugh Daniell. The deed also tasked Hugh Daniell with maintaining the calf until William came of age and then giving it to William. This proves that Hugh Daniell was living at this time (Rappahannock Co., VA Deed Book 2 pp 428-9). This deed was not recorded until 3 May 1665 when it was witnessed by Thomas Freshwater and Will Duboldie (sic). Duboldie and Sugget made their marks.

On 4 September 1665 Richard Hines made a deed of gift of “one brown cow calfe” and its increase to William Daniell. The deed noted that if William died before he came of age, the calf and its increase would go to his mother. This suggests that Hugh Daniell was deceased by this date as later records prove that Richard Hines married Hugh Daniell’s widow. The deed may indicate that Hines had already married or was to shortly marry Mary Billington Daniell. Incorrect transcriptions of this transaction identify “John” Hines as the grantor in this deed, but examination of the original records show this to be incorrect. This is possibly another attempt to link Hugh Daniell to another Daniell line in another county or just sloppy research (Rappahannock Co., VA Will/Deed Book 1 pp 7-8). This deed was witnessed by Will Barber and William Lun. Lun and Hines made their marks.

The last time Hugh Daniell appears in Rappahannock County records is on 3 November 1665 when Thomas Bowler engaged a representative to act for him in an earlier action. Hugh Daniell is mentioned as a party in this case, but in what capacity it is unclear. It may be that Hugh Daniell was trying to collect money owed him for work he had done for Thomas Bowler. It is possible that Hugh was deceased by this time as this entry seems to refer to an action that has been in process for some time. (Rappahnnock Will/Deed Book 1 p 69)

Dr Davis       November the 3th 1665

I formerly writ to you per Capt. Hankins to appear as my attorney anon again desire the same favour I have desired Mr. Hankins to give you the bill of Capt. Bryers which pray (proves?) an order of Court agt (Goose?) & also demand of the condition of this Hugh Daniel who hath arrested me for works done in part & I him as pr my petition will appear then may be please to write a shorter petition & make use of the writ to plead or what you think most convenient I leave it to your discreation which pray managed with what care you can for Yof.

                   Friend of court

                   Thomas Bowler

On 4 November 1671 in Rappahannock County, Robert Bayley deeded to William Daniell, son of Hugh Daniell, half of the land he had purchased of Richard Peacock, which had descended to Peacock upon the death of Hugh Daniell. The land was bounded by Robert Bedwell and James Tune. This was the land that Daniell and Peacock had purchased from John Williams in 1660. The deed also gave William Daniell’s mother, Mary Hinds, use of the land during her lifetime, if her son died without heirs. If William Daniell died without heirs, the land would revert to Robert Bayley after Mary’s death. Luke Billington was a witness to this deed. At the same time, the deed from Richard Peacock to Robert Bayley, dated 2 April 1664, was recorded. It was witnessed by Will Barber and Sam Dennrt. Robert Bayley was named "Loving Friend" and overseer of her children in the will of Barbary Billington, Luke's widow.

The name of Bayley frequently appears as Baylis in records. The land deeded to William Daniell later fell into Richmond County when it was created in 1692.

On 13 November 1671 Luke Billington made his will, which was proved in Rappahannock County on 23 May 1672. His will states “I give unto my daughter Mary apeece of plate to the value of thirty shillings and to her sonne my grandchild William Daniell a yew with a yew lamb by her side”. This was all that she and her son received from the estate. Mary was excluded in other bequests in Luke Billington’s will and, this, along with the fact that she is not mentioned in the will of Barbary Billington, widow of Luke Billington, has lead researchers to conclude that Mary was a child of the previous marriage. She also seems to have been much older that the children or Luke and Barbara Billington.

No further records have been found that can be attributed to Mary Daniel Hinds or her son William Daniell.

Robert Bayley apparently died in October 1688 based on the following record:

Mr. Samll. Hanford, Mr Wm. Barber, Mr. John Suggett, Mr. Richard Peacock or any three of them are ordered to meet at the late dwelling house of Mr. Robt. Baylis late decd. and that they Inventory & appraise all & singular the estate of the sd Decd. as it shall be presented to them and on the 16th of this (?) and make Report of their proceeding herein to the next Court held for this County. Mr. Samll. Peachy is Requested to (?) the sd appraisers for (?) appraismt. as also the Relict & (?) of the sd Mr. Baylis for a true discovery of the sd estate to the best of her knowledge.

Note that three of the appraisers, Barber, Suggett and Peacock, are close associates of Luke Billington and Hugh Daniell. (Rappahannock VA Deed Book 1686-92 P 114, 3 October 1688)

It appears that Robert Baylis/Bayley Jr. died around the same time as Robert Baylis/Bayley and James Baylis was appointed his executor. At any rate, no Robert Baylis/Bayley appears in Rappahannock or Richmond County records after this time.

In Richmond County Court 2nd of October 1695 Judgment was granted to Gabriel Allaway as marrying Elizabeth Hinds against Capt. Alexander Swan as marrying Judith, the Administrx. of Richd. Hinds, for Six thousand one hundred pounds of tobacco & cask being the part portion & share belonging to the said Eliza: of her deced Fathers Estate, Seven hundred & sixty seven pounds of tobo: being deducted out of the said part or share as due the sd Alexr Swan from the sd Gabriel upon his proper Acct., to be paid with cost of suit alias Execution. Judgment is granted to Gabriel Allaway as Guardian to Richard Hinds against Alexander Swan as marrying Judith Hinds for six thousand eight hundred & sixty seven pounds of tobacco in cask being the part share and portion belonging to the said Richd. Hindes of his deceased father’s estate to be paid with cost of suit alias execution. Richard Hinds Jr. also married a woman named Mary, both dying around 1720 in Richmond County, and are sometimes confused with the older couple.

Based on these records we can assume that Hugh Daniell was a single man who was imported into Northampton County, Virginia in 1653 as an indentured servant, where he became closely associated with Luke Billington and his associates. Hugh was probably born between 1630 and 1635. Hugh Daniell was probably married to Mary Billington by April of 1661. They had only one child, a son William, probably born about 1661. Hugh Daniell seems to have died in late 1665 and his widow soon after married Richard Hinds/Hines. There are no probate records for Hugh Daniell in Rappahannock County, but he was active there up until the time of his death. Hugh Daniell and several of his associates were illiterate and worked as carpenters even though they were also planters. The fact that their craft was explicitly called out in land deed records indicates that they were probably master carpenters. Mary Billington Daniell Hinds likely died before 1695 when her husband’s estate was mentioned in Richmond County records, since she is not mentioned in the division of his estate. It is uncertain whether the children mentioned in the estate record were hers or from a later wife of Richard Hinds. They appear to have been too young to be from a previous wife of Hinds. There is no mention of the land deeded to William Daniell, son of Hugh, by Robert Bayley in Rappahannock records between the time that Bayley made the deed and the time of his death. The land should have been passed back to the heirs of Robert Bayley by 1695 if William Daniell had died without heirs by this time and his mother was also deceased. To date no mention of this land has been found in deeds made by anyone named Bayley/Baylis in Rappahannock or Richmond county records. William Daniel does not appear in deed records of Old Rapphannock or Richmond Counties after he is mentioned in his grandfather's will.

There are numerous other records that demonstrate the close associations between the Billington, Williams, Peacock, Bayley, Sugget, Tune, Bedwell and other families in Northampton, Lancaster and Rappahannock Counties, many of which continued after Essex and Richmond Counties were created in 1692 with the demise of Rappahannock County. There are no records that suggest Hugh Daniell was associated with any other Virginia Daniel family.

The fate of William Daniell, son of Hugh and Mary Billington Daniell is uncertain but he is a candidate to be the father of William Daniel 1680-1765 of Essex and Caroline Counties, VA who was also an illiterate carpenter, associated with other men who were carpenters and who had connections to Essex and Richmond Counties. William Daniel of Essex and Caroline Counties married a Williams girl, the daughter of Robert Williams. Robert Williams, John Billington and John Almond witnessed an agreement between Thomas Jillett and Judith Roberts in Old Rappahannock County in 1683. Robert Williams was the Deputy Sheriff of the “southside” of Old Rappahannock County in 1690/91. The land deeded to William Daniell by Robert Bayley has been difficult to trace, but searching records in Richmond County between 1692 and 1695 may shed some light on this. Traditions passed down by the descendants of William Daniel of Caroline claim that their immigrant ancestor was a carpenter from Wales.