S Butler and S Hibbs Family History Our Family's Journey Through Time

Lt. Col. John West, Jr

Male 1632 - 1691  (56 years)

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  • Name John West
    Title Lt. Col.
    Suffix Jr
    Misc Fact 1632  York Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    First child of European descent born on the York River 
    Birth 06 Jun 1632  Cescayack, York, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4
    Gender Male
    Misc Fact 06 May 1651  VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    First appears in the records as a head-right in a patent for land issued to the father 
    _MILT 1662  VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Was an officer in the militia - Captain 
    _MILT 1667  VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Was an officer in the militia - Major 
    _MILT 1673  VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Was an officer in the militia - Lieutenant Colonel 
    _MILT 1680  New Kent Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Was an officer in the militia - Colonel 
    Misc Fact 1680  New Kent Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 5
    Was senior justice of the Colonial General court 
    Misc Fact 1685  New Kent Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5, 6
    Representative in the House of Burgesses 
    Land Sale 1687  York Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    He and wife Unity sold 'Poplar Neck', the residence of Joseph Croshaw, to Edmund Jennings 
    Death Between 1689 and 1691  West Point, King William Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 5
    Will 15 Nov 1689  New Kent Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4, 5, 7
    Probated about 1691 - Has perished in the destuction of the county records 
    Findagrave.com 11 Jul 2023 
    See Notes 
    Misc Fact New Kent Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Spent his entire life as a resident of New Kent Co, VA, his home located near the present town of West Point 
    Burial Unknown  [3
    Person ID I1565  Butler Family Tree
    Last Modified 6 Jun 2026

    Father Governor John West, Sr,   b. 14 Dec 1590, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 01 Mar 1659, West Point, King William Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 68 years)
    Relationship natural
    Mother Anne ???
    Relationship natural
    Marriage Bef 1616 
    Family ID F520  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Unity 'Ursala' Crowshaw,   b. 1636, Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, James City, VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Apr 1669, New Kent Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 33 years)
    Marriage Bef 1654  [4
    Children 
     1. Nathaniel West,   b. 1655   d. 1724 (Age 69 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     2. Thomas West,   b. Between 1659 and 1670   d. 23 Dec 1714 (Age 55 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     3. Anne West,   b. 1655, West Point, King William Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1708 (Age > 54 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. John West,   b. 1657   d. 1716 (Age 59 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F517  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Jun 2026

    Family 2 Cockacoeske Powhatan,   b. 1634   d. 1686 (Age 52 years)
    Marriage Aft 20 Apr 1669 
    Notes 

    • Children:

      son John West 1677
    Family ID F707  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Jun 2026

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMisc Fact - First child of European descent born on the York River - 1632 - York Co, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 06 Jun 1632 - Cescayack, York, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMisc Fact - First appears in the records as a head-right in a patent for land issued to the father - 06 May 1651 - VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps_MILT - Was an officer in the militia - Captain - 1662 - VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps_MILT - Was an officer in the militia - Major - 1667 - VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps_MILT - Was an officer in the militia - Lieutenant Colonel - 1673 - VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps_MILT - Was an officer in the militia - Colonel - 1680 - New Kent Co, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMisc Fact - Was senior justice of the Colonial General court - 1680 - New Kent Co, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMisc Fact - Representative in the House of Burgesses - 1685 - New Kent Co, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsLand Sale - He and wife Unity sold 'Poplar Neck', the residence of Joseph Croshaw, to Edmund Jennings - 1687 - York Co, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Between 1689 and 1691 - West Point, King William Co, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsWill - Probated about 1691 - Has perished in the destuction of the county records - 15 Nov 1689 - New Kent Co, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMisc Fact - Spent his entire life as a resident of New Kent Co, VA, his home located near the present town of West Point - - New Kent Co, VA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 

    • - Listed on Jamestowne Society in Williamsburg, VA

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/West/Roots in VA **

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/West/Winstons of VA **
      - 3/1659 - The VA Assembly passed an order declaring ' due to the important favors and service rendered to the country of VA by the noble family
      of the West, predecessors to Mr John West, their now only survivor, It is ordered, that the levies of the said Master West and his family be remitted
      and that he be exempted from the payment thereof during life'
      - in the summer of 1676 when Bacon's Rebellion was in progress in VA, John West distinguished himself in the service of the Governor, Sir William
      Berkeley, and sat as a member of the Courts Martial which tried the insurgents

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Winstons of VA **
      - He and wife Unity sold 'Poplar Neck' in York Co, the residence of Joseph Croshaw, to the Honorable Edmund Jennings, who renamed the estate
      'Ripon Hall' and made it his residence for the rest of his life

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/Croshaw/Southside VA Families **
      - Was the first child born of English parents on the York River
      - Mentioned in records as a Captain in 1662, a Major in 1767(? maybe 1667?), Lt. Colonel in 1673
      - He was taken prisoner in Bacon's Rebellion as he was acive on the side of Gov. Berkeley. However, he sat on Berkeley's Court Martial at "Green Springs" which condemned,
      as King Charles II said, "more men in that naked country than I did for the murder of my father".

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/West/Southside Virginia Families **
      - his father died bef March 1659/60 when the VA assembly at that session enacted the following order: "Whereas the many important favors and services rendered to the
      country of VA by the Noble family of West, predecessors to Mr John West, THEIR NOW ONLY SURVIVOR, it is ordered that the levies (taxes) of the said
      Master West and his family be remitted and that he be exempted from payment thereof during life" (Hening I-547)
      - Mentioned in records as Capt. in 1662, Major in 1667, Lt Colonel in 1673
      - He was taken prisoner in Bacon's Rebellion as he was acive on the side of Gov. Berkeley. However, he sat on Berkeley's Court Martial at "Green Springs" which condemned,
      as King Charles II said, "more men in that naked country than I did for the murder of my father".

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/West/Statutes-Laws-VA **
      - Description of the descendancy of land called Barbers-Fields that John willed to his son Nathaniel, who left it to his only child and heir Unity West, whose now deceased husband William
      Dandrige left the same land in his will dated 8/25/1743 to his son Nathaniel West Dandridge or possibly to his brother William Dandridge if he did not obtain a 'dock of intail'.
      - p. 429 - ... and John West, one of the sons of the said John West, the elder, being dead, without issue, the remainder of several lands under the will of John West, and the deed of
      Nathaniel West, must at all events, take place in the same person, as the heir of the body of Thomas West, will be right heir of the said Nathaniel West, in case the issue of the said
      Unity Dandridge should fail

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/West/VA-Historical-Genealogy **
      - brother of Thomas West, 12th Lord Delaware, Governor of VA 1610-18, died en route to VA in 1618

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/West/The Armistead Family **
      - born at 'Bellefield', Chyskiack, VA, the first English child born on the York river
      - sat on court martial which tried the rebels in Bacon's time

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/West/The West Family Register **
      - first white child born on the York River

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Found at findagrave.com on 7/11/2023

      LTC John West II

      Birth: 6 Jun 1632 New Kent County, Virginia, USA
      Death: 1691 (aged 58-59) West Point, King William County, Virginia, USA
      Burial: Jamestown Fort James Cemetery, Jamestown, James City County, Virginia, USA
      Memorial #: 145906688 ** This memorial is still there **
      Bio:
      Lt. Col. John West was the son of Governor John West of Virginia, and grandson of Thomas West, second Baron De la Warr, and Governor George Percy of Virginia. His uncle Thomas West was the third Lord De la Warr.

      William and Mary Quarterly, vol. XIV (1906), p.64:
      "YORKTOWN.
      "On October 8, 1630, the Council of Virginia determined to plant a settlement in the Indian district called Chiskiack, on the south side of York river. The leaders of the settlers were two councillors, Captain John Utie and Captain John West, brother of Lord Delaware, who were allowed 600 acres apiece on York river, on opposite sides of the mouth of King's creek.
      "Captain Utie settled at 'TJtimaria," on the west side, and Captain West on the east side, at a plantation afterwards called "Bellfield." Other settlers ranged themselves on the river on either side of Utie and West, and soon there were two parishes, Chiskiack and York.
      ...In 1633 was born, at "Bellfield," John West, Jr., founder of West Point, the first child born on York River."

      From 'The Armistead Family' by Virginia Armistead Garber (1910) page 58: "Colonel West was one of the first settlers to patent lands on King's Creek. His plantation was known as "Bellfield". In 1632 his son, John West Jr, was born, becoming the first child of English parents born on the York River. Governor West sold Bellfield plantation in 1650 to Edward Digges, Esquire (Governor of Virginia from 1655-1656) and moved to his plantation called West Point in the fork of the York River. It is now located in the city of West Point, Virginia."

      John West II was Commander of the New Kent Militia in the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and a representative of the same county in the House of Burgesses.

      He served in the militia from 1652 to 1673. He was a supporter of Governor Berkeley during Bacon's Rebellion, and appears in the list compiled by the King's Commissioners of those who suffered grievances during the uprising: "Col. John West, a person greatly impaired in his stock & goods by the Rebells, and a most constant Loyall Gentleman during the late Rebellion, and was for some time after Bacons death Imprisoned by the Rebell Partie." (ref., Persons who Suffered by Bacon's Rebellion. The Commissioners' Report", The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jul., 1897), pp. 64-70.)

      He afterward served as a member of the courts-martials which tried the rebels.(ref., Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia, p.27.)

      In 1659 his father died, the last of the four sons of Thomas West, 2nd Baron De La Warr, who came to Virginia. In recognition of the family's contributions to the colonial enterprise, the Virginia Assembly passed the following Act:
      "WHEREAS the many important favours and services rendered to the countrey of Virginia by the noble family of the West, predecessors to Mr. John West, their now only survivor, claim at least that a grateful remembrance of their former merrits be still continued to their survivor, It is ordered, That the levies of the said master West and his ffamily be remitted, and that he be exempted from payment thereof during life." (ref.,Hening, Statutes at Large, vol. 1, p. 547.)

      In 1685 West represented New Kent in the House of Burgesses. "His will dated November 15, 1689, was probated about 1691. It was destroyed along with the other County records in a fire in 1787" (ref., Wikipedia).

      He married Unity (Ursula) Crowshaw, daughter of Maj. Joseph Crowshaw and granddaughter of Rawleigh Crowshaw, and had a number of children including John West III (1676-1734) who was a justice and sheriff of King and Queen County and a House of Burgesses representative for King William County.

      He and Cockacoeske, Queen of the Pamunkey, had one son, John West born in 1677. She was the former consort of his first cousin, "Toby" (Totopotomoi) Thomas West, who was a son of Thomas West, third Lord Delaware, and Rachel Powhattan.

      Various references give his dates of birth and death as "about 1632" and 1689-91. Kerry Phillips (#47317145), 9th Great-Grandson of Capt. John West of West Point, gives his birth date Jun. 6, 1632 and death as 1691.

      Historic marker erected by Colonial Dames of the XVII Century:
      "COL. JOHN WEST II
      (1633-1689)
      Inherited 6,000 acres of this land from his father, John West I. Land-grant ca. 1650. John West II was taken prisoner during Bacon's Rebellion. He later sat on court martial for those 'Rebels'. He was Colonel of Militia and Burgess for New Kent County 1685-1686. In the 1659-60 session of the House of Burgesses an act was passed to exempt him from taxes for life in consideration of 'the many important favors and services rendered to the country (sic) of Virginia by the noble family of the Wests, predecessors to Mr. John West, their now only survivor."

      From Quinnhistory.com: "He was the first English child born on the York River. On June 6, 1632 the Council of Virginia took recognition of the first Christian child born on the York River and granted his father 2000 acres of land for this honor. It is likely that he was sent to England for his education, and returned to Virginia about 1651. At that time his father Governor John West made a claim for land for the entry of his wife and his only son into the colony. Mentioned in various records as Captain in 1662, Major in 1667 and Lieutenant Colonel in 1673. He figured prominently in Bacon's Rebelliion in 1676. Senior presiding justice of County Court of Kent County in 1680, and Colonel commanding the militia of the county. He was taken prisoner during Bacon' Rebellion. As to what Bacon's men did to him is not recorded but as he later sat on the court-martial that tried the rebels he more than evened with them. In the 1659-60 session of the House of Burgesses, an act was passed exempting him from taxes for life in consideration of the important favors and services rendered to the county of Virginia by the noble family of the Wests, predecessors of John West and their now only survior. Member of House of Burgesses, 1685 - 88. He inherited 3/4 of the "Popular Neck Plantation" from his father-in-law Major Joseph Crowshaw due to his brother-in-law's death prior to reaching majority. His will was dated November 15, 1689. The Wests were Tories."

      Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography Volume I (1915) by Lyon G. Tyler, page 356: "Colonel John West, son of Captain John West, governor, etc., was born at "Bellfield", York River in 1632. being the first child of English parents born on York River; lived at West Point, sat on the courtsmartial that tried the rebels in Bacon's time; senior justice and colonel of the New Kent county militia; married Unity, daughter of Major Joseph Croshaw; burgess of New Kent county in 1685 and 1686.
      He had three sons, John, Nathaniel and Thomas, and one daughter, Unity, who married Henry Fox of King William county."

      Capt. Nathaniel West, reported as the son of Col. John West, married Martha Washington's grandmother, Martha Woodward Macon, and was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Patrick Henry, Dorothea Spottswood Dandridge.
      Patrick Henry was himself a descendant of Toby West (Indian name Totopotomoy), first cousin of Capt. John West II, and Cockacoeske, Queen of Pamunkey.

      Ancestry: See
      Anthony Hoskins, “Mary Boleyn’s Carey children - offspring of King Henry VIII?”, Genealogists’ Magazine, vol. 25, no. 9 [March 1997], pp. 345-352∼Son of John (I) and Anne (Percy) West

      Husband of Ursula Unity (Croshaw) West

      Their son, Nathaniel West (m. Martha Woodward)
      Family Members
      Parents
      John West 1590-1659
      Anne Claiborne Percy West 1600-1667 ????
      Spouses
      Cockacoeske West 1634-1686
      Unity Croshaw West 1636-1669
      Children
      John West 1657-1716
      Anne West Fox 1660-1708
      Nathaniel West 1665-1723
      John West 1666-1734
      Created by: Ray Isbell (47188697)
      Added: 1 May 2015
      URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145906688/john-west
      Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145906688/john-west: accessed 11 July 2023), memorial page for LTC John West II (6 Jun 1632-1691), Find a Grave Memorial ID 145906688, citing Jamestown Fort James Cemetery, Jamestown, James City County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Ray Isbell (contributor 47188697).
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      found at findagrave.com bef 7/11/2023

      LTC John West ** This memorial has been removed **

      Birth: 1632
      Death: 1689

      Family links:
      Parents:
      John West (1590 - 1659)
      Anne Clairborne Percy West ????

      Spouse:
      Ursala Croshaw West (1636 - 1669)*

      Children:
      Nathaniel West (1665 - 1723)*

      *Calculated relationship

      Burial:
      Unknown

      Created by: P Fazzini
      Record added: Aug 08, 2010
      Find A Grave Memorial# 56812486 ** This memorial has been removed **
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Sources 
    1. [S47] See Misc Docs Pics, /In Grateful Rememberance of father John West.

    2. [S47] See Misc Docs Pics, /West/The Armistead Family.

    3. [S25] Findagrave.com.

    4. [S47] See Misc Docs Pics, /Croshaw/Southside VA Families **.

    5. [S47] See Misc Docs Pics, /West/Winstons of VA.

    6. [S47] See Misc Docs Pics, /West/Southside Virginia Families.

    7. [S47] See Misc Docs Pics, /West/Southside Virginia Families.