1. WILLIAM1 BOND was born Abt. 1715 in Gloucester?, VA1, and died Bef. 14 July 1768 in South Farnham, Essex, VA2. He married CONSTANCE DAVIS 24 October 1738 in Middlesex, VA3, daughter of JOHN DAVIS and MARGARET. She was born 10 March 1715/16 in Christchurch, Middlesex, VA4, and died Aft. 1778 in Lancaster, VA5.
Notes for WILLIAM BOND:
Records of Gloucester Co. (many of which no longer exist) do not mention a William Bond. The first mention of him being from Gloucester Co. is a deed in Essex Co., VA: , dated 16 Nov 1761, in which he purchases 126 acres of land in South Farnham Parish, Essex Co. from Francis Smith and wife Anne. William Bond is referred to as "William Bond of [Blank] Parish in the County of Gloster, Planter." The "Blank" in this case apparently was the parish name in Gloucester in the original deed that the county recorder for Essex County could not read. South Farnham Parish is the southern part of Essex Co., which borders Middlesex Co. (see Figure 1). North Farnham Parish, incidentally, is on the north side of the Rappahannock River and lies in Richmond County. The two Farnhams were established at a time when both were in Old Rappahannock County, which included both the current Essex and Richmond Counties.
Essex County lies on the south bank of the Rappahannock River, an estuary (river flooded by salt water) off of the Chesapeak Bay. It is bordered by the Rappahannock on the north, by Middlesex County on the east, by Spotsylvania Co. on the west, and by a river known as "the Dragon Swamp" on the south (see Figure 1). The land in tidewater Virginia does not possess much altitude or relief, and that rivers were routinely referred to as "swamps" provides some insight into the character of the land. For many years, the Dragon Swamp was an almost impassable impediment to travel between Middlesex and Gloucester, until a bridge was built . Compare the impediment imposed by the Dragon Swamp to the highway of travel and commerce provided by the Rappahannock.
William Bond's deed mentions that the land being transferred lies next to "Webb's Mill Swamp." In 1763, William Bond was ordered to "procession the lines" from "the Old Mill Swamp that leads to Piscataway Creek to William Cheney's (land) on the Dragon (Swamp)" . Current maps of Virginia show a Mill Creek that empties into Piscataway Creek and also parallels the Dragon. This area, some 5-6 miles due south of Tappahannock, is undoubtedly the area walked by William Bond. His farm would have been close by.
In 1703, about the time that William was born, Gloucester was the most populous county in Virginia, comprising 2628 males and 3206 females and children; by contrast, Essex Co. at that time had but 1090 males and 1301 females and children . However, by 1760, Essex Co. was quite populated.***data*** as people moved inland from the sea-coast. The same tax list that gives us a population of Gloucester Co. in 1703 also shows that none of the Gloucester land owners were named Bond. The usual progression of a Virginia colonist was from indentured servant/laborer to renter/farmer (often leasing land from the former master) to land owner/planter. Either the Bonds of Gloucester were still leasing at this time, or were yet to move to Gloucester from elsewhere.
William Bond married Constant (or Constance) Davis of Middlesex Co., VA. She was born on 10 March 1716 and she first married Robert Smither (or Smithey) on 24 Sep 1731 . Robert Smither died in 1735 (check). William Bond is documented to have married Constant Smither in Middlesex Co. 24 Oct 1738 . No children for William and Constant are listed at Christchurch, so presumably their children were baptized (if at all) in a Gloucester Parish (which ones?), for which records do not now exist. Judging from the age of Constant, William was born probably around 1710 +/- 10.
William was referred to as "planter" in his Essex deed, which 1) tells that he was a planter of primarily tobacco, but also 2) tells that he enjoyed a certain social status. He was considered on the middle tier of a three-tiered social heirarchy in which the elite were referred to as "so-and-so, Gentleman", the middling were referred to as "so and so, Planter", and the bottom referred to as simply "so and so". Social status was hard-won and persisted through the generations by careful selection of eligible marriage partners having equivalent status. That William Bond had attained some such status is also shown by the literacy of his family. There is no example of his signature, but his son, William, and his father-in-law, John Davis both could sign their names. This places them among the educated **** % of tidewater Virginia.
He bought 126 acres in Essex Co. and would have probably had a similar acreage in Gloucester Co., where he farmed from perhaps 1740 (the time of his marriage) to 1762 (just after the deed was recorded). Considering that his grandchild Anne Bond was christened in Kingston Parish in 1762 , he may have then lived in that part of Gloucester Co. that became Matthews Co. in 1791. By the time of his marriage, 1740, land in Gloucester would have all been long since claimed. Since he owned land in Gloucester Co. (he would not have been accorded the title "Planter" otherwise), it would not be surprising if he was the oldest surviving child in his family, and inherited it.
Tobacco planting was a profitable but labor intensive occupation - one which lent itself well to the importation of slaves to perform the labor: "The Virginia Planters sow the Tobacco-seeds in Beds, as the Gardeners in England do Colwort-seeds; they leave them there a Month, taking care all that time to have them well weeded. When the Plants are about the Breadth of ones Hand, they are removed in the first rainy Weather, and transplanted into what they Cal Tobacco Hills. In a Month's time the Plants will be a Foot high, and they top them, and then prune off all the bottom Leaves, leaving only seven or eight on the Stalk, that they may be the better fed by the Top, and these Leaves, in six Weeks time will be in their full Growth. The Planters prune off the Suckers, and clear them of the Horn-worm twice a Week, which is call'd Worming and Suckering; and this Work lasts three Weeks or a Month; by which time the Leaf from green begins to turn to brownish, and to spot, and to thicken, which is a Sign of its ripening. As fast as the Plants ripen you must cut them down, leave them in the Field for half a Day, then heap them up, let them lie and sweat a Night, and the next Day carry them to the Tobacco-house, where every Plant is hanged one by another, at a convenient Distance, for about a Month or five Weeks; at the End of which time they strike or take them down in moist Weather, when the Leaf gives, or else 'twill crumble to Dust; after which they are laid upon Sticks, and cover'd up close in the Tobacco-house for a Week or Fortnight to sweat, and then opening the Bulk in a wet Day, the Servants strip them and sort them, the top Leaves being the best, and the bottom the worst Tobacco."
William did own slaves; three are mentioned by name in a posthumous agreement between his wife and son.
Tobacco was almost the universal crop, and was so common and coin so scarce that most transactions were either barter or for tobacco. Wages and accounts could be paid in pounds of tobacco.
"The trade of this Colony, as well as that of Maryland, consists almost entirely of Tobacco; for tho' the Country would produce several extraordinary Commodities fit for Trade, yet the Planters are so wholly bent on planting Tobacco, that they seem to have laid aside all Thoughts of other Improvements. This Trade is brought to such Perfection, that the Virginian Tobacco, especially the sweet-scented, which grows on York River, is reckoned the best in the World..."
However, the Bonds would have grown other crops, such as corn and wheat, as well as raised livestock, as did most Virginians by the middle of the 18th century . The inventory of William's son (1776) contained sheep, swine and cattle as well as implements more suited to corn than tobacco growing .
The only known child from the marriage of William Bond and Constant Davis is the William Bond who, after the death of the elder William, entered into an agreement on 14 Jul 1768 with Constance Bond, his mother, regarding the disposition of the property of William Bond dec'd. Constance was shortly to marry Phillip Pendleton of King and Queen Co., VA, so to prevent any disputes concerning right of dower, William agreed to deliver "one negro woman named Sarah, one negro girl named Chriss, one black leather trunk, one small red trunk, and her side saddle..." The elder William had apparently died intestate prior to this date, although no evidence of his death was found in Essex Co wills, administrations or Order books. It is even possible that the William that purchased the South Farnham Parish land was the son, and that the father had already died in Gloucester Co. However, at the time of the above agreement, both Constance and her son were residents of Essex Co.
It is probable that the younger William was not the first born of William and Constant. Statistics on Middlesex Co., VA show that only 11% of eldest males in VA families were named after the father . That siblings are not mentioned in the agreement between young William and Constant, or that other siblings did not make agreements of their own with Constant, may have been that none survived. Infant mortality in 18th century Virginia was high: "Roughly one-third of newborn babies perished within the first 20 months of life, and nearly half were dead before they reached adulthood" . On the other hand, sisters may not have been mentioned in or had agreements regarding the estate, even if they had survived.
Constance married Phillip Pendleton of King and Queen Co., VA in 1768; she was then 53 years old. Records of King and Queen Co. do not reveal what happened to the future Mrs. Pendleton. Even Phillip Pendleton left no will there.
Little can be learned about Wm Bonds ancestry - the Gloucester records are mostly missing. John and William Bonds were present in York Co., and also Lancaster Co. was the home of many Bonds. Quite a few persons named Bond were imported via Head Rights into VA in the 1600's, any one of whom could have been the immigrint ancestor.
2 Mar 1713, Middlesex Co., VA Wills & Inv. 1673-1812, 975.533 P28h: p. 230: Order Book 5 (orig. p. 168): Charles Cooper is administrator of John Bond decd [this could be the father of William Bond, but no proof].
Christ Church Register, Middlesex Co., VA, 975.533 K2: p. 170, William Bond and Constant Smithey married Oct 24 1738.
2 Feb 1741, Middlesex Co., VA Wills & Inv. 1673-1812, 975.533 P28h: p. 273 Orders 1740-1744 (orig. p. 182), mentions heirs of John Davis, decd.: sons John Davis and Benj. Davis, John Rhodes Jr & wife Mary Rhodes, James Dunlevy & wife Elizabeth Dunlevy and William Bond and wife Constant Bond (see Will Book B 1713-34 part 2, p. 386: will of John Davis).
7 Apr 1752, Middlesex Co., VA Wills & Inv. 1673-1812, 975.533 P28h: p. 107: Mary Bond is adm. of Robert Bond, decd [this could be a brother of William Bond, but no proof].
16 Nov 1761, Essex Co., VA Deeds 29, p.105-106: William Bond of - Parish in the Co. of Gloster buys land in South Farnham Parish in Essex Co., 126 acres adjoining Webbs Mill Swamp and lands of Andrew Allen, Edward Bomer, Henry Crutcher, John Blatt and Francis Smith; purchased from Francis Smith.
14 Jul 1768, Essex Co., VA Deeds 30, p.188: Articles of agreement between William Bond and Constance Bond, relict of William Bond, deceased. William Bond delivers to Constance one negro woman named Sarah, one negro girl named Cribs, one black leather trunk, one small red trunk, and her side saddle (this done to prevent problems upon her upcoming marriage to Phillip Pendleon).
Notes for CONSTANCE DAVIS:
After looking through the Smither (Smithey) laden Christchurch Parish Register,
no Constance Smithey was present. I then looked for any Constance and found
two. Finally, I discovered Constance's first marriage, and her christening
as Constance Davis.
Having been raised in Middlesex Co., and marrying the local Robert Smither,
she married Wm Bond of Gloucester Co., VA in 1738. In 1761, they moved to
South Farnham Parish, Essex Co., VA, where Bond died before 1768
14 Jul 1768, Essex Co, VA Deeds 30, p.188: Articles of agreement between Wm
Bond (her son) and Constance before her upcoming re-marriage to Phillip
Pendleton. For her dower, he gives her one negro woman named Sarah, one negro
girl named Chide, one black leather trunk, one small red trunk, and her side
saddle.
She removed to Lancaster Co. with Phillip Pendleton
