Virginia and Maryland Heath Families
©2009; 2015 Kathryn Gearhart (No portion of this web site may be reproduced, in any form, including Internet, electronic or print, in whole or in part.)
April 23, 2016: I am no longer updating this Heath material. I am focusing on the William Heath material which is connected to my Gee family. You will find my most research, including preliminary research in England posted on Geesnmore.
~ Overview ~
There were several Heath families in the early years of Virginia and Maryland. The first are the descendents of Thomas Heath who arrived in 1635. The second are the descendents of William Heath who arrived in 1650. This is the branch which intermarried with the Gee family of Southside Virginia. Later, there is the family of James Heath of Princess Anne County and another large family descended from John Heath of Middlesex County.
All of these branches had descendents who migrated across Virginia and into North Carolina. Also in North Carolina were unrelated Heath families, or families for which a connection has not been established. The process of elimination has required a thoughtful exploration of all potential contributors to the William Heath family that eventually settled in Darlington County, South Carolina. It should be noted here that a large Heath group settled in New England, and also in Pennsylvania. The latter group is very interesting in that they originated in either Cheshire or Staffordshire and were closely linked to the Janney family of those counties. They were Quakers.
I want to say a word about spelling. In examining the records it quickly becomes clear that census takers, county record keepers, and members of the family themselves, spelled the Heath name in a variety of ways. It was not uncommon to find Heath, Hath, Hayth, Haythe, and even Haith used. Only one branch maintained this transition, and went from Heath to Hayth, to Haythe by 1850.
This material is organized by family groups, and in some instances the branches lived close to each other. This is my best impression of the Southern Heath family up to the Jacksonian Era. I have not traced further, as it was not needed to make the family connection to William Heath of Darlington, South Carolina. His descendents are beautifully traced in the established genealogy, Heath Trails, by Frank Miller Richey.
The Heaths of Kent
In 1635 John Heath, William Short, William Edwards, and Thomas Dawson with others were transported to Virginia by William Spencer. The Captain of the ship, William Pierce, Esquire, John Heath, William Short, William Edwards, and Thomas Dawson received headrights in Lawnes Creek, Charles City County. This John Heath is said to have been the younger brother of Sir Robert Heath. Sir Robert was at one time Lord Proprietor of North Carolina, but his support for Charles I resulted in the loss of his property and position. He died in France in 1649. The following year, in 1636, Robert Heath, age 30, arrived in Virginia. He was likely a cousin.
The Family of John Heath
According to Antiquities of Hengrave, the Heath family of Brasted in Kent were originally among the men who came from Normandy with William the Conqueror. Their name was Bruerio, which in English is translated heath. In return for their support the Bruerio family received land which became Brurio or Heath Manor, and which had remained theirs for many generations. Godfrey de Bruario held the manor in 1273. Godfrey was succeeded by his son Walter de Heath, who in turn was succeeded by his son William de Heath, then grandson Robert de Heath. Robert’s son John de Heath succeeded him. After three succeeding generations, in 1431 John Heath of Lympsfield, Surry was born. His will in 1491 notes three children, Isabel Heath, Joane Heath, and John Heath of Lympsfield, who was a lawyer. His will was filed in 1517 and it notes his wife Helen and children Elizabeth, Emma, Agnes, John and Robert Heath.
Robert Heath held land in Edenbridge and Lympsfield, and was the escheator of Kent in 1599. Robert Heath married Thomasine Seyliard of Brasted, Kent and they had three children Joane, John, and Robert. John married 1st Ellen Richards, 2nd Elizabeth Casinghurst. Robert Heath II married 1st Joane Foster, 2nd Ann Posyer in 1574 at St. Stephen.
The will of Robert Sulyarde of Brasted, gentleman was filed in 1576. He noted his cosin Robert Heath “my godson”, his cosin Ann, his wife; his cosin John Heath and Thomas Heath; and also mentions Johan Posyer (neé Potter), and cosins Robert Heath and Thomas Sulyarde my brother Nicholas’s son, overseers of the will administration. The will of William Seyllyarde of Delaware in Brasted, Esquire in 1595 notes his sister Anne Heath. One of the witnesses was Robert Heath.
In 1612 the will of John Seyliard of Isfield, Sussex, gentleman notes his cozins and friends Mr. Robert Heath of Inner Temple, and Mr. Nicholas Seyliard of Clifford’s Inn, who were selected as overseers. The witnesses were Robert Heath and Robert Heath, Junior. The will of Nicholas Seyliard of Eatonbridge, gentleman was filed in 1624 and Robert Heath was a witness.
Robert II and Anne Poyser had five children: Sir Robert, born in 1575 in Kent, who married Margaret Miller of Tunbridge, Kent in 1600; Richard Heath, who died as an infant; Anne born in 1578, Mathias born in 1582, and John, born in 1590. It is this John who is often identified as the John Heath who immigrated to Virginia in 1635. As the youngest child, John would not have any substantial inheritance. That he would have been sent on a foreign adventure seems a reasonable possibility.
Sir Robert Heath purchased Brasted Park around 1625. He was the Recorder of London, Attorney General, solicitor General, and Lord Chief Justice from 1631 to 1634, and Lord Chief Justice K.B. 1641 to Charles I. As the King’s Prosecutor he acted against those accused of treason, and in this capacity was impeached by the House of Commons in 1643. He fled to France in 1646 where he died at Calais in 1649. He was buried at Brasted Church. Sir Robert Heath and Margaret Miller were the parents of Anne born in 1602; Mary born in 1608; Robert born in 1609 died in 1615; Sir Edward Heath born in 1612; Sir John Heath born in 1614; Elizabeth born in 1615; Reverend George Heath born in 1617; Robert Heath born in 1620, and Francis born in 1622. The estate passed to Sir Edward Heath. His younger brother, Sir John Heath eventually came into possession of the family estate and in 1662 became Attorney-General for the Duchy of Lancaster. He married Margaret Mennes. He served as a Member of Parliament, but was in severe financial difficulty after the Civil War and Restoration. Unfortunately he was of ill reputation, and known as a drinker. The king gave him £1,000.
John in 1635 and Robert in 1636 were likely from the Kent Heath branch, however no link has been shown between this Heath family and the families of either Thomas Heath of York County, and William Heath of Southside Virginia. Significantly the name Robert is not used in the first or second generations of either Virginia Heath family and neither John no Robert appears to have become established in Virginia after their arrival.
Heaths of Bardwell, Suffolk
Robert Heath and his wife Elizabeth were noted in the register of Bardwell as the parents of these children: Tertullian Heath, January 29, 1608; Thomas Heath, April 19, 1612; Richard Heath, March 13, 1613; Stephen Heath, May 18, 1617; William Heath, April 2, 1620. I suspect that this is the Thomas Heath, age 23 who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and settled in York County.
Transport List of Heaths in Virginia and Maryland (M)
1634 Thomas Heath (M) Ark and Dove by Copley was an Innkeeper in Baltimore County.1635 Thomas Heath by Henry Southell, Lower Norfolk County Re-entered 1637 by Lt. Popely upon marrying Southell’s widow.
1635 John Heath, by Captain William Pierce, Lawnes Parish (William Short, William Edwards, were among the 38 transported.)
1637 William Heth
1642 Ferdinand Heath, by Captain Daniell Gookin
1642 William and Ann Heath by John Brown, 100 acres in Northampton County
1643 Jane Heath by Captain John Upton, Isle of Wight County
1646 William Heath
1646 Mary Heath by Thomas Holmes, assigned by Thomas Heath, York River
1650 William Heath by Thomas Sawyer land in Lower Norfolk
1650 Margaret Heath by John Stratton land in Lower Norfolk
1650 Jane Heath by Epa. Lawson
1650 John Heath by John Brown, Northampton County
1650 Elizabeth Heath by John Brown, Northampton County
1650 William Heath and his wife Amey Heath, by John Brown, Northampton County
1651 Margaret Heath by John Stratton, Lower Norfolk County
1652 Abraham Heath by Alexander Addison, Occohannock Creek, Accomac
1652 Jno.Heath by Alexander Addison, Occohannock Creek, Accomac
1652 Amey Heath by Alexander Addison, Occohannock Creek, Accomac
1653 Nicholas Heath by Thomas Kidd, Lancaster County
1653 John Heath by Raleigh Travers
1653 William Heath by Thomas Sawyer
1654 Isabell Heath, by John Watson and John Bognall, Westmoreland County
1655 Richard Heath, by Howel Pryse, Charles City County
1656 Elizabeth Heath by William Justice, Charles City County
1657 Peter Heath by Howel Pryse, Charles City County
1657 Julian Heath by Howel Pryse, Charles City County
1660 Isabel Heath by John Ellsley, Northampton County
In 1656 it is noted …whereas Elizabeth Heath servant to Edward Ffitzgerald committed the act of ffornicacion and bore a child in the howse and service of her said master: It is therefore ordered that the said Elizabeth shall double the remaining time of service due from the time of her delivery and suffer such other corporall punishment as the Court shall Censure to be inflicted for her said offence according to Law to that purpose.
August 15, 1648, a petition by William Allen and John Heath, merchants, who have equipped the Honor and the Prosperous Susan to transport many planters, with their wives, children and servants to Virginia, petition the House of Lords that their ships may be released from Embargo at Gravesend (Coldham, I:237)
In the records of the Exchequer Port Books it is recorded that in October, 1684, John Heath, master of the Olive Branch departed for Virginia. In June, 1685 he arrived from Virginia with a shipment of staves and hides. Again on August 19 it left Guernsey with a load of tobacco and then sailed outward in September for Virginia.
Unrelated Heaths noted in Maryland
St. Mary’s County
Susannah Heath: It should be noted that Edward Swann, arrived in 1635 to Virginia. He lived, variously at Swann’s Point and in England. In December 1664 he claimed as headrights Susannah Heath, whom he married. He founded a 1200 acre plantation in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.
James Heath: Also, in the early records of Maryland, in the Parish of St. Xaviers, Bohemia, are records from James Heath, a Catholic, and his son James, beginning in June 1668 and continuing until 1721. These include letters and records of indentures for land. The first record is a letter dated June 15, 1668 to Father Killick, of St. Mary’s. There are notations regarding the sale of land to a Thomas Mansell and Denis Nowland from 1704 through 1721 as well as a grant from Charles Calvert to James Heath in 1711.
Ark and the Dove, to Maryland in 1634: Thomas Heath as an indentured servant, who later witnessed the will of William Smith, a catholic, of Augusta Carolina, in 1635. Later in 1671 he was noted as a witness to the will of William Robeson, of Bush River, Baltimore County.
The only Heaths noted in Virginia in 1704 were James in Princess Anne County, and William and Adam in Surry and Prince George. However, we know that Heaths, as minor children living with guardians or a remarried mother, and Heaths, landless at the time were not included in the 1704 Quit Rents which were land based taxes.
Northampton Heath Records
William Heath and Hannah
William Heath was noted in 1703 on the sea side of Northampton County. Hannah, who likely was the wife of William, was noted there 1711. It is stated that William was the son of Anne Heath, who married James Heath, and upon his death she married another Heath, unnamed. This William Heath of Northampton and his wife Hannah are said to be the parents of Robert, James, Jacob, Joseph, and William Heath as well as daughters Mary Heath Budd and Elizabeth Heath.
In 1725-27 the land holders in Northampton were Anne Heath, James Heath and Robert Heath.
Robert Heath
Robert Heath married Mary and died February 12, 1750/51 in Northampton County, Virginia. Mary was noted as a land owner in 1750 in the same location as Robert had been noted in 1727. Their children were Luke, Ebron, William (ca 1741), Robert (ca 1758), Benjamin, and Anne. In 1736, in Accomack, Robert Heath was conveyed land by Abraham Smith and his wife Barbara.
Luke Heath was noted as a land owner in 1750. He married Bridget Dunton October 28, 1763. Luke Heath died November 16th 1780 in Northampton County, intestate. The 1788 tax list she is taxed for 2 slaves and 2 horses. Living adjacent to her was James Heath. In 1795 Laban Stoot, husband of Luke’s daughter, Betsy, went to court regarding the disposition of four slaves, Dean, Pleasant, Frank, and Ann, which were owned by Luke Heath at the time of his death. The suit makes it clear that Adah was a minor. The family agreed that the court needed to decide what to do about the slaves. Their children were: Seth Duntan Heath married Grace Elliot in November, 1798. He was noted as a land owner in 1809. Zorobabel Jones was security, with the consent of her father John Elliott. Elizabeh married Labon Stott June 11, 1795. Adah married Zorobabel Jones September 28, 1795. George Heath married Peggy Savage in August 1800, James Heath security. He died December 10, 1804.
William Heath was noted as a land holder in 1751 and 1752.
Ebron Heath lived in Accomack County. He served in the Revolution as a Private.
Robert Heath was noted as a land holder in 1750.
Benjamin Heath
Also in Northampton was Josiah Heath who married Mary Floyd, widow of John Floyd Dec. 1778 Josiah was counted for land in 1783, In Northampton County but was not in the tax roll in 1788 in Northampton or Accomack.
James Heath and Anne Cozier
James Heath of Northampton married Ann Cozier the daughter of Bartholomew Cozier and Luranah Johnson. James was noted as a landowner in 1725 and a James Heath continued to be noted in the same area in 1751, 1776, 1780, and 1800. Her father’s will of March, 1733 in Northamton County notes his daughter Ann Heath and son-in-law James Heath. James Heath died in 1750. Luanah was the daughter of Jeptha Johnson and Elizabeth Teague. Bartholomew was the son of Bartholomew Cozier and Elizabeth Denham.
James and Ann were the parents of James, William, and Bartholomew Heath.
James Heath married Patience Tankard in November, 1780. In 1788 tax roll James was taxed for 2 slaves and 3 horses. They were the parents of Peggy who married Robert B. Ward in March 1804 in Northampton, Deletha who married John Gray in 1816, and Nancy who married Obedience White, in 1813.
In Hungars Parish, Northampton in 1811 is a suit filed by Robert A. Joynes, and Polly his wife, Peggy Ward and Nancy Heath against Patience Heath, Thomas Johnson and Delitha Heath. Patience Heath was the widow of James Heath. The 177 ½ acres land was divided by the oaths of Seth Heath, Edmund Downing, Thomas Addison, Jon Cox, William White, Jr. Nathaniel Savage, William M. Ushur, William D. James, Thomas Johnson, Majore Pettitt, Arthur Robins and Golding Ward. Seth Heath’s land adjoined this land. The court also ordered that one half of the mill and appurtennces be sold to the highest bidder on a credit of six months. James Heath died March 1811 without a will, owning half interest in a Grist Water Mill with Thomas Johnson. The mill was falling into disrepair and so it was sold for the benefit of the heirs of Heath and Johnson.
William Heath was born in 1725 based on a deposition taken in 1773 in Northampton County. He married Mary Carpenter, widow of John Carpenter in July, 1769 with Thomas Dolby as Security. Willliam died in 1779. Clearly, Mary was his second wife. Mary was taxed in 1788 for 2 slaves and 2 horses.
William Heath, Jr., married Henrietta Joyne in September, 1770. She was the daughter of Edmund Joyne.
Bridget Heath daughter of William Heath, deceased married William Andrews April, 1781
Seymour Heath a daughter of William Heath married Addison Dowty in July, 1779.
Bartholomew Heath was noted as a land owner in 1751.
Accomack Heath Records
William Heath
William Heath died without children in 1732. The will of William Heath was filed in June, 1732 in Accomack, Virginia. To wife Mary, plantation where I now live for life then to my brother Jacob Heath. To wife whole personal estate, reversion to my brothers and sisters, Joseph, Robert and James Heath, Elizabeth Walthum and Mary Bud. His wife was the executor and the witnesses were Andrew Allen, Chrisopher Stokley and Christian Stokley.
John Heath (?)
Elizabeth Heath married Stephen Waltham who died in 1728. The will of Stephen Waltham was filed in 1728 noting …John Heath, alias Waltham, son of my wife Elizabeth Waltham, plantation where I now dwell, containing 150 acres…To son John Heath, alias Waltham, the plantation where his grandfather Heath dwells. This will was filed in Northampton County, and in 1779 John Heath was noted in the Northampton rent rolls.
John Robinson Heath married Mary Ann Corgins on January 20, 1807. Major R. Heath was his security. In the will of Weskit Elliot filed in 1816 in Accomack, is this Codicil of April … My aunt Seymour Corgin in her will gave to me & Joshua Burton all her estate in trust for her daughter Mary Ann Heath & 2 grandchildren Neal Corgin & John Davis Corgin & desired at the time she executed said will that as soon as we we were certified of the death of her son-in-law John Heath who was gone beyond sea, that we convey to Mary & her 2 children, which conveyance has not been made having had no evidence of Heath’s death….
Jacob Heath
Jacob Heath and Solomon Whaley were present one day to give testimony agains David Booth in Accomack County. (undated)
Joseph Heath
Joseph married Margaret Stakes. They lived in the area known as middle Accomack County. Joseph Heath served on a jury in Accomack County in 1736. In 1739 and again in 1742, Joseph served on a jury. In 1742 Joseph Heath was allowed to reroute the road going by his plantation to the Sea Side from Captain Revels provided that his road was as good as the old one. Evidently Margaret died as the will of Joseph Heath, filed in Accomack in June, 1765 notes his wife Comfort who received his whole estate during her widowhood. His son Fletcher Heath received 80 acres adjoining John Walker and James Rodgers. His son Joseph received the remainder of his land. His daughters were Leah and Margaret Heath who received the residue. The witnesses were Henry Heath, Margaret Heath, and Major Charnock.
Joseph and Margaret were the parents of Joseph, Leah, Margaret, Henry, and Fletcher.
Joseph Heath was noted in the 1788 tax roll for two white males over 16, 3 slaves and 3 horses. Joseph married Susannah Heath on February 11, 1786 in Accomack County with Henry Heath standing as security. He died before 1813 as shown in the will of Jane Heath. Jane Heath May 6, 1813: Isaac Smith executor. To son Elbert Roles Heath all my Negroes and all other property and should he not live until age 21, then to Peggy Nock, daughter of Robert Nock, and she to have Negro girl Mary & that Susannah Doughty, daughter of William Doughty, to have Negro boy Smith & Susannah Heath, widow of Joseph, shall have the remainder of my Negroes & the rest of my property. Witt. William S. Martin, Henry Walker, Isaac Bell and James Walker. Prob: Thomas R. Joynes and Henry Parker securities. Jane Heath, May 1813 filed December: Inventory and Sale, Audit 1815: Negroes Adah, child Margaret Jane, boy Charles, boy Wilson, boy Abel and girl Mary. Buyer Susannah Heath. Appraisers: William P. Moor, William S. Martin, Smith Martin.
Margaret Heath’s will was filed in November, 1798. It notes her brother Joseph Heath, and requested he pay Fletcher Heath 8 pounds if Fletcher was living, and notes Cassey Heath. Joseph Heath witnessed a will in 1809 of John Belote. In 1800 he stood as security for George Coleburn administration.
Fletcher Heath married Leah in Accomack about 1795.
Henry Heath of Northampton County, in 1763, gave a loan to Thomas Moore and Isaac Moore for fourteen pounds and interest due in 1765, which Henry had to go into chancery to collect in 1769. In the 1788 tax roll Henry was taxed for 3 white males over 16, 1 slave, 3 horses and 2 wheels. In 1781 Henry heth, with G. W. Corbin, Charles Bagwell, J. Burton and Sam Waples petitioned for the Removal of Embargo on corn and oats, the petitioners’ principal products, or acceptance of them in payment of taxes.
James Heath married Mary Guy March 1778 widow Major Wilkins security
Edmund Heath in 1743 was taken into custody because he had no security to ensure he would save the parish from supporting the illegitimate child he reportedly fathered with Arcadia Belot. He arranged for Joseph Heath and Thomas Budd to be his securities.
Tabitha Heath married William Dowty October, 1799, John Savage surety. (parentage unknown for Tabitha)
Polly Heath married in 1802, Henry Mason, Edward Martin stood as security.
Teakle Heath was counted in the 1788 tax roll for 3 white males over 16, 1 slave and 2 horses.
Marriage records for Northampton County
William Heath and Polly Dennis December, 1826 William Martin security
Carey Heath to Sally Pratt March, 1822 James Heath security. Married by J. Elliott
James Heath to Sally Turner Feb. 1794 do John Turner dec’d
John S. Heath to Mary Anno April 1811 married by J. Elliott
In Accomack the will of John Heath was filed in September 1837: wife Elizabeth Heath … but this is to debar her from her dower. Also to wife all my right, if I have any, to the money she possessed before our marriage, which I have never had in my possession. To son Elijah Heath, Friend John Arlington. Witness John Alington, Ebern Bird & Albert R. Heath.
AlliedFamilies 
There is also record of 1 Henry Heath who was transported and endentured in 1863 by Maj Robert Beverly. He sailed with Jonas Gebson. This is recorded in the “Middlesex County Virginia Wills and Inventories 1673, – 1812 and other Court Papers by William Lindsay Hopkins”. He is a likely candidate for Father of John Heath of Middlesex VA and Craven Co NC.
I am a YDNA-proven descendant of Edward Swann b~1630 and Susannah Heath Swann b~1630 (christened 25 Feb 1630, St. Thomas Parish, Surrey, England). I have TONS of information on the Swann family and can clear up much of the garbage that is on ancestry.com. I have written a few books and they are in many eastern US libraries and genealogical society libraries. I am interested in understanding the Heath family and the origins of Susannah Heath Swann, my 7th grt-grandmother. I have her christening records and those of some of her siblings and parents from Surrey County, England. I am a member of The Swann Project at FTDNA in Houston and collaborate with The International Society of Genetic Genealogy in the UK and Swann/Heath researchers in the US, Canada, NZ, Iceland, Belgium, and elsewhere. We do not post on ancestry.com or any other such forum but distribute information on a selective basis.
Apparently, my Susannah Heath was transported to America in the mid 1600s and married Edward Swann about 1660. Their first child, Susannah, was born about 1661 at Eagleton Plantation.
I’d be pleased to share information with you and I am especially interested in more evidence of the family of my Susannah Heath and more about her origins.
regards,
phil swan doverphil@live.com
I AM A DESCENDANT OF THOMAS SWANN AND THE NEXT FOUR SAMUEL SWANNS. I HOPE THE RESEARCH I HAVE IS ALL PERFECT. ALICE SPENCER HAUBNER STOTT
My 3rd great grandmother was JANE JENNY SWANN born in Virginia in 1769. Would appreciate anything you know about her parents.
Hi Virginia, I was just reviewing postings on Kathryn’s excellent website and thought I would try to offer some help re your posting. Jane Jenny Swann is almost certainly and undoubtedly a descendant of William Swann of Swann’s Point, VA. I descend from Edward Swann of MD who’s descendants have an entirely different YDNA signature from William’s descendants. However, I have a research colleague in the UK who has a lot of info on both Swann families. His name is Brian Swann and his email is bps@norvic8.force9.co.uk Brian is very much involved in DNA stuff and quite THE expert. He is also a co-administrator of the Swann Project at FTDNA in Houston (I am a member). I am focusing my research on the Heath family (Susannah Heath and Edward Swann were my 7th grt-grandparents). Brian should be able to connect you with other descendants of William Swann with whom you can share information. Good luck and if you wish to contact me, I’m at doverphil@live.com phil swan
The notes above include this clip: ‘Edward Swann, son of William Swann, arrived in 1635. He lived, variously at Swann’s Point and in England. In December 1664 he claimed as headrights Susannah Heath, whom he married. He founded a 1200 acre plantation in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.’ This is incorrect. Please follow my explanation. While I can give you some information on my Heath family, I want to help you and others understand the Swanns/Swans of Maryland and of Virginia. It is important to note here, for fellow researchers and for others who are interested in knowing, that the descendants of my 7th grt-grandfather, Edward Swann of Eagleton Plantation, fall into a YDNA Haplogroup R1b-P312 and those descendants of William Swann of Swann’s Point, VA fall into Haplogroup R1b-U106 (no common ancestor within a few thousand years). The Edward of Eagleton Plantation and husband of Susannah Heath was not the son of Edward Swann of Swann’s Point, VA. Also, there is a 3rd unrelated Swann family which originated in Derbyshire, England and moved from Prince George’s County, MD to sw PA. I wrote a book in November 2014, ‘The Swans of Tenmile Country, PA’. The PA Swans are YDNA Haplogroup G. My Descendant Report on my Edward Swann of Eagleton Plantation is over 650 pages. My database does not show a Jane ‘Jenny’ Swann until a Virginia Jane ‘Jenny’ Swann appears in NC. I checked the Swans of PA and nothing there I can see. A colleague in the UK specializes in the William Swann clan of Swann’s Point, VA. If you write to my email, I will send you his email address and I will attach some data on my Swanns and Heaths. This part of the statement is correct: ‘Edward Swann, son of William Swann, arrived in 1635.’ My 3rd book, ‘My Swann Family With Wilson, Shipley And Alcock Families’ is in about 60 libraries and I can send you a list. If you tell me whereabouts you live, I can be more specific. My email address is doverphil@live.com . I live in Dover, NH. I would like to help, if I can.
regards,
phil swan
PGCGS Bulletin—Volume 46 Issue 4—Page 87
BOOK ‘My Swann Family With Wilson, Shipley, and Alcock Families’
Reviewed by Heber MacWilliams
Swan, Phillip E. ‘My Swann Family With Wilson, Shipley, and Alcock Families’. (Dover, NH: Published by the author, 2 June 2014.) Hard Cover, 537 pp. in 2 volumes.
It is always a pleasure to see the published results of years of painstaking family history research. This family’s roots go back to the early years of the settlement of Maryland. Phillip Swan has traced his family back to Edward Swann, born before 1630 in Kent County, England, who arrived in Maryland before March 1653/4. He married, acquired a large farm in St. Mary’s (later Charles) County, raised a family, and died at his home in 1708. Among his descendants was Thomas Swann, Mayor of Baltimore (1856-1860), Governor of Maryland (1865-1869) and U.S. Congressman (1869-1879).
As one might expect, piecing together this family over ten generations was a daunting task. Swan’s research led him to untold hours at the usual archives as well as important discoveries in unexpected places. He gratefully acknowledges the assistance of staff at the Prince George’s County Genealogical Society, the Maryland Historical Society, the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore, the Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg, VA, and the Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Fredericksburg, VA. This work is proof that not everything can be found on the Internet. To find the “good stuff” one has to get out of his chair and seek original documents.
As it often happens, research into the principal family line can lead to interesting genealogies of allied families. Mr. Swan’s research generated considerable material on several of these families and they are included in this work as well.
The author has made good use of DNA analysis to support and augment his conclusions in cases where colonial records are incomplete. A Swann researcher in England contacted Mr. Swan in 2012 and encouraged him to participate in an active English Swann/Swan DNA project. The results of the test confirmed his descendancy from Edward Swann. He also used information from Swann researchers in England to reject a possible connection to a well-documented Swann family in colonial Virginia.
Mr. Swan used the ‘Book’ feature of the Family Tree Maker (FTM) program to publish his results. The bulk of this work, 422 pages in two volumes, contains standard Genealogy Reports produced by FTM of the descendants of Edward Swann and the allied families, along with an Index of Names to the individuals in the Genealogy Reports. This is a powerful feature of FTM. The author has embedded source information as well as some personal comments and research communications in the ‘Notes’ section for key individuals.
Volume One also contains a 99 page original narrative by the author. Organized by family, it consists of a brief overview of each family, with notes from his research process, family and relevant local history, transcribed source documents, and images of noteworthy original letters, deeds, documents, buildings and gravestones. Also included are a number of short essays on interesting people and places connected to the Swanns and their allied families. It is a very impressive collection of family history and genealogy which Mr. Swan notes in his Preface “will not be found in any single source anywhere…..if you found the information at all.”.
Mr. Swan has also published a CD of the work which is full-text searchable, a welcome companion to the book. More family histories should include such an aid in the future. The lack of an index or table of contents, means that a reader might, as with the printed copy, never find some of the interesting content. This work is an important contribution to the genealogical literature of colonial Maryland. If the reader’s ancestry connects with any of these families, it will be a valuable resource.
phil swan doverphil@live.com
Glad for your input Phil. I only wish I was following the Swan family… but it is the Heaths I struggle with. I will leave your comment to stand on its own and hope if any interested in the Swanns come this way they will contact you.
Kathryn
I’m tracing the Heath’s from Virginia to Kentucky. James Heath b.1800 in Virginia and son Jesse Heath b.1833 later moved to Lincoln County, Kentucky. Have info on Jesse, but James is another story. It does appear James was married to a Mary Ann “polly” Williams of Kentucky which suggests James moved to Kentucky. Can not locate a death record for James however he does appear on a couple of census reports with his wife and children.
Anyone ever come across a K.K. Heath (male) from Virginia?
Kathryn, I am a descendant of Isabel Heath who married James Pettyjohn via Isabel Pettyjohn & John Oakham, her second husband. I stumbled across your excellent page while working on verifying Isabel is the daughter of William & Anne/Amy GALE Heath & I noticed there are two listings for Isabel(l) Heath coming to Virginia, are there two separate Isabel(l)’s or did she leave for a while after arriving in 1654 only to return in 1660?
I don’t know. Isabell was a name used by different branches in England, so we can’t be certain. I am working on the DNA connection to Enoch Heath of Staffordshire. I am not convince Amy Gale/Hale is the correct linkage. It seems really clear that Abraham was from the Staffordshire Heaths around Wolverhampton.
In thinking about this… not having the records in front of me… it may be that these are renewals of headrights… this did occur when individuals had purchased land initially granted under headrights granted to someone else.
Just a thought.
Hi Lena, I’m just now reviewing Kathryn’s excellent website and thought I would invite you to contact me and to work with me on Heath research. Kathryn and I have already exchanged some information and I’m looking forward to the future. I made some postings in October and they warrant a quick re-read once. I just finished my 7th book, a history of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Dover, NH and I’m gearing up for a full blown attack on the Heaths. I will say that I need to review all of my folders and gatherings on the VA Heaths. It is clear to me that my 7th grt-grandmother was christened in 1630 in Southwark Parish, Surrey County, England and, so far, I have not connection to the VA Heaths. I have much on the VA Heaths but not as much as Kathryn, I’m sure. I will say with some certainty, that there were 2 Isabel Heaths. One of them belongs to the VA Heaths and the other was a sister to my 7th grt-grandmother, Susannah. I offer my note which you may have already seen: ‘Cavaliers and Pioneers, Patent Book No. 3, pg 290-291, shows an Isabel Heath as transported by John Walton and John Bagnall, 10 June 1654….or claimed on that date. no ship name shown.’ My 8th grt-aunt, Isabel Heath was christened 22 May 1636 at Southwark Parish, Surrey County, England. Much work needs to be done and I have many resources and connections. You can contact me at doverphil@live.com regards, phil swan
@geesnmore it’s strange that Virginia has no listing for the birth of James Heath b.1799 or 1800. Virginia kept excellent records. But James is listed on several census reports as being born in 1800 in VA. Is there a better resource to find birth records and just as important, who the parents were? Thank you for posting so much info on the Heath families. This site is a great resource.
I’m really enjoying following the entrys on your site, Kathryn. I want to jump in with both feet and hope to offer to do so just after the New Year. I am going to go after my Heaths, at least, and I’m sure lots of information I come up with will apply to other Heath families….and you may already have some information to share that applies to my Heaths. I’m just finishing and publishing a history of my church: ‘St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Dover, NH – Our History -‘ and will try to finish a book on the Bickfords asap and then get back to my Heaths and Swanns. Keep up the good work and thanks for this great website where kin can meet. Phil Swan doverphil@live.com
Look forward to your input.
Parish records are about the only alternative, or wills
Census information is frequently incomplete or inaccurate… lazy or poorly educated census takers along with distrustful citizens combine to make a problem for many researchers.
I look after the Heath Surname DMA Project for familtreedna as I was the first Heath to ask for DNA analysis. I have several Heath’s who believe that they’re descended from Sir Robert and have matching DNA’s. I have traced their ancestors back the Surrey-Kent region to the mid 1500’s and agree with their claim. A fourth DNA study is currently under way.
Wonderful Chris… I began looking at the DNA only last month. I will contact you off line.
Hi Chris, I’m a member of the Swann Project at FTDNA at Houston and have tested out to 111 markers. Just thought I’d mention that you did the right thing by testing. I’m a firm believer in the irrevocability of YDNA testing and comparisons. Now, I am turning my attention and my energy to my Heath heritage, as my 7th grt-grandmother was Susannah Heath who married Edward Swann of Eagleton Plantation, Charles County, Maryland. My Susannah Heath was christened at Southwark Parish, Surrey County, England on 22 Feb 1630. Her father was christened 15 Dec 1605 at St. Andrew’s Holborn, London, England and his father was shown as Henry Heath.
I’m just now reviewing Kathryn’s excellent website and thought I would invite you to contact me and to work with me on Heath research. Kathryn and I have already exchanged some information and I’m looking forward to the future. I made some postings in October and they warrant a quick re-read once. I just finished my 7th book, a history of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Dover, NH and I’m gearing up for a full blown attack on the Heaths. I will say that I need to review all of my folders and gatherings on the VA Heaths. So far, I have not connection to the VA Heaths. I have much on the VA Heaths but not as much as Kathryn, I’m sure. regards, phil swan doverphil@live.com
Am Interested in DNA project, My Heaths are from UK Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire and I do have a few notable people in my tree
Thank you so much for your detailed family history!
I am a descendant of the many Heath, Chappell, Hubert, Searcy, and Flewellen families who are linked to William Heath and Elizabeth Gee and their sons, John Heath (married Elizabeth Chappell) and Thomas Heath (married Sarah). These lines go from Surry and Sussex to Halifax County and onto to Wilkes County, Georgia (but area is present day Warren County).
I have traced the Heaths since 1992 and it has been a task, but I have loved it!. More recently, I have just started to trace the Chappell families as I realized the many marriages between the Virginia families and early settlers prior to their migration into North Carolina.
My Heath ancestors were slaves of Henry Heath, his parents, William Heath and Sarah “Sallie” Bonner, and William’s parents Abraham Heath and Winnifred “Winny” Cotton. Abraham is the son of Thomas & Sarah. On another branch, my Heath ancestors were slaves of Archelaus Flewellen and Nancy Pace. Archelaus was the son of James Flewellen and Sarah Heath. Sarah was the daughter of John Heath and Elizabeth Chappell. Elizabeth was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Chappell.
I researched all families just to find my Ancestors and tracked all the movements from Virginia to North Carolina to Georgia. From there, I have linked many Heath, Hubert, Flewellen, Searcy, and Lynn families back to the slave Ancestors. It’s been an incredible journey, but I have loved every minute of it!
All the best to you and fellow family members in sharing the legacy of our Ancestors!
Enjoy your website, thanks for the detailed information. It seems the only way to research this family is to look at them all so your comprehensive approach is very much appreciated. I have researched the Surry/Stokes family for some time and am looking to find evidence of their origins in the colonial period. Your comment about the possibility of Thomas of Princess Anne/Chowan being related is most intriguing. Documentation of this Thomas is scant and seems to end about 1735. I have been unable to find evidence of any marriages or family for him. Would you give further information as to why you think this is a possibility?
John Browne used William and Amy Heath as headrights twice – in 1646 and 1650, both in Northampton Co. VA. But William Heath died ca 1640 and his wife Amy re-married to Garrett Anderson and then Nicholas Waddelow and then Thomas Fowkes. With Nicholas Waddelow she lived in MD for a bit, but returned to VA. She died in Northampton Co. VA in 1678. Amy and William Heath had no children, but she had several Anderson and Waddelow children.
Therefore, the William Heath who lived in Charles City Co. VA and Surry Co. VA must have been a different man from a different family.
My website has 17 coats of arms with the surname Heath from the famous genealogist Bernard Burke’s book “The General Armory”:
https://coadb.com/surnames/heath-arms.html
I am a descendant of Doll Heath. In your titled document below she was listed as a slave, possibly purchased by Adam Heath in 1695. Do you have any additional information or documents referencing her.
Thanks
Adam Heath of Surry
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