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

Unity 'Ursala' Crowshaw

Female 1636 - 1669  (33 years)

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  • Name Unity 'Ursala' Crowshaw
    Birth 1636  Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, James City, VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female
    Death 20 Apr 1669  New Kent Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Findagrave.com 11 Jul 2023 
    See Notes - ** This memorial has been removed ** - new one added 
    Burial Unknown 
    Person ID I1566  Butler Family Tree
    Last Modified 6 Jun 2026

    Father Joseph Croshaw,   b. Between 1610 and 1612, James City, VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 10 Apr 1667, Marston Parish, York Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age < 57 years)
    Relationship natural
    Mother ??? ???,   b. 1612   d. Bef 1649 (Age < 36 years)
    Relationship natural
    Marriage Bef 1631  [1, 2
    Family ID F521  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Lt. Col. John West, Jr,   b. 06 Jun 1632, Cescayack, York, VA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Between 1689 and 1691, West Point, King William Co, VA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 56 years)
    Marriage Bef 1654  [3
    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

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1636 - Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, James City, VA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 20 Apr 1669 - New Kent Co, VA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 

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

      - ** See Misc-Docs-Pics/West/VA-Historical-Genealogy **
      - dau of Joseph Croshaw who died 1667, mentioned his dau Unity in his will

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

      Unity “Ursula” Croshaw West

      Birth: 8 Feb 1636 York County, Virginia, USA
      Death: 20 Apr 1669 (aged 33) New Kent, New Kent County, Virginia, USA
      Burial: Bruton Parish Episcopal Church Cemetery, Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA
      Memorial #: 200860337
      Bio:
      Unity Croshaw was the daughter of Major Joseph Croshaw, and a granddaughter of Raleigh Croshaw, who came to Virginia in 1608 with the Second Supply.
      Unity Croshaw married Colonel John West by 1664, and as a result of the marriage and the early death of Joseph Croshaw's intended heir, the Croshaw plantation at "Poplar Neck" passed to John West. Unity died after 30 October 1693, when she relinquished dower in "Poplar Neck".

      Called Ursula Croshaw West in most 19th and 20th-century publications, but Unity West in original documents.

      Her memorial has been deleted several times and tampered with by other online hackers. Numerous messages have been received regarding her, her husband, and the situation with Cockacoeske, often with racist overtones.

      URSULA WEST
      b. 8 Feb 1636 Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, James City Co, VA
      Ch. 1636 at West Point, King Wm Co, VA
      m) Lt. Col. John R. West II
      4 Nov 1654, Accomack Co, VA (allegedly divorced c1664)
      d. 20 Apr 1669, Chiscayack, York, VA
      Burial: Unknown
      Issue:
      •Captain Nathaniel West (b. 1655-1724), he was mentioned in records as a Captain in 1662, a Major in 1667, Lt. Colonel in 1673. He commanded the militia of the county. Nathaniel married his second cousin Martha Woodard. Their son-in-law, William Danridge, wasMartha Washington's uncle.
      •Unity (Susannah) West (b. 1657), married George Martin.
      •Anne West (b.1660-1708), married Henry Fox.

      Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors, Vol. I, Pg 275, bottom of page says:
      West, John (1632-89) Va.; m. Ursula Unity Croshaw. Burgess; Military service.
      Note: Unity was the d/o of Maj. Joseph Croshaw, JP York Co, VA
      and Elizabeth Yeardley.
      *************************
      The following was part of the original memorial for Unity West.:

      Unity Croshaw (ca. 1636 - April 20, 1669, New Kent County, Virginia) was the daughter of Major Joseph Croshaw, one of the main figures of early Jamestown Settlement. She was the grandchild of Raleigh Croshaw, one of the founders of Jamestown. She was the daughter-in-lawof Colonial Virginia Governor John West (governor) of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia (now part of the United States). But she is perhaps most notable as the reportedly shrewish wife of Colonel John West, son of Governor John West, who divorced him foradultery when he left her to live with Cockacoeske who was the queen of the Pamunkey Indians and a cousin of Pocahontas.

      Unity Croshaw was born at Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, James City, Virginia. She was christened in 1636 at West Point, King William County, Virginia, and she married Colonel John West there in 1654. The couple had the following children:

      1. Captain Nathaniel West (b. 1655-1724), he was mentioned in records as a Captain in 1662, a Major in 1667, Lt. Colonel in 1673. He commanded the militia of the county. Nathaniel married his second cousin Martha Woodard. Their son-in-law, William Danridge,was Martha Washington's uncle.
      2. Sarah "Anne" West (b.1660, West Plantation, West Point, VA)
      d. 1707(but likely after 1714), New Kent, VA Bur: Sweet Hall Cemetery, King Wm, VA: (MEMORIAL ID 169282631 & MEMORIAL ID 147576880)
      She married: Henry Fox Sr.

      3. Ursula Susanna "Unity" West (b. 24 Dec 1658, West Plantation, West Point, VA), m) 28 Apr 1683, George Thomas Martin.
      •Anne West (b.1660-1708), married Henry Fox.

      4. Capt Thomas Oliphant West, b. 1559, West Plantation, West Point, VA
      d. 23 Dec 1714, New Kent, New Kent, VA
      Married: Agnes Frances (Estes) Burton, on 20 Aug 1703 in New Kent Co, CA, (1670-1720)
      ***********************
      Unity died on April 20, 1669 in New Kent County Virginia.
      SOURCES:
      •"Records of York County, Croshaw, vol. 1664-1672, p. 257"
      •"Long Melford Through The Ages, by Barry L. Wall, East Anglian Magazine Ltd., Ipswich, Suffolk"
      •"Claiborne of Virginia, Descendants of Colonel William Claiborne, The First Eight Generations, by John Frederick Dorman and Claiborne T. Smith, Jr., MD,Gate Way Press Inc., Baltimore, Maryland"
      •"The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Apr., 1894)"
      •"Middle Peninsula Historic Marker "Cockacoeske"
      •"Cockacoeske, Queen of Pamunkey: Diplomat and Suzeraine." W. Martha W. McCartney."
      •"Tax Rolls, March 1660. 3 March 1659."∼1Ursula Unity (Croshaw) West was born ca. February 08, 1630 and died aft. October30, 1693

      Daughter of Joseph Burgess and Elizabeth (Ueardley) Croshaw

      Married 1st., …

      Wife of Robert Blackwell (b.: ca. 1620, England- d.: ca. 1664, York Co., VA) ~ married ca. 1654, Bruton Parish, York Co., VA

      Married 2d.,...

      Wife of John West (II) ~ married bef. November 04, 1664, VA
      Family Members
      Parents
      Joseph Croshaw 1610-1667
      Elizabeth Yeardley Croshaw 1614-1660
      Spouse
      John West 1632-1691
      Siblings
      Mary Croshaw 1631-1687
      Half Siblings
      Rachel Croshaw Walker 1655-Unknown
      Children
      Anne West Fox 1660-1708
      Nathaniel West 1665-1723
      Created by: Ray Isbell (47188697)
      Added: 5 Jul 2019
      URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200860337/unity-west
      Citation: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200860337/unity-west: accessed 11 July 2023), memorial page for Unity “Ursula” Croshaw West (8 Feb 1636-20 Apr 1669), Find a Grave Memorial ID 200860337, citing Bruton Parish Episcopal Church Cemetery, Williamsburg, Williamsburg City, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Ray Isbell (contributor 47188697).
      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      found at findagrave.com bef 7/11/2023

      Ursala "Unity" Croshaw West ** This memorial has been removed **

      Birth: 1636
      West Point
      King William County
      Virginia, USA
      Death: Apr. 20, 1669
      New Kent County
      Virginia, USA

      Unity Croshaw (ca. 1636 - April 20, 1669, New Kent County, Virginia) was the daughter of Major Joseph Croshaw, one of the main figures of early Jamestown Settlement. She was the grandchild of Raleigh Croshaw, one of the founders of Jamestown. She was the daughter-in-law of Colonial Virginia Governor John West (governor) of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia (now part of the United States). But she is perhaps most notable as the reportedly shrewish wife of Colonel John West, son of Governor John West, who divorced him for adultery when he left her to live with Cockacoeske who was the queen of the Pamunkey Indians and a cousin of Pocahontas.

      Unity Croshaw was born at Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, James City, Virginia. She was christened in 1636 at West Point, King William County, Virginia, and she married Colonel John West there in 1654. The couple had the following children:

      •Captain Nathaniel West (b. 1655-1724), he was mentioned in records as a Captain in 1662, a Major in 1667, Lt. Colonel in 1673. He commanded the militia of the county. Nathaniel married his second cousin Martha Woodard. Their son-in-law, William Danridge, was Martha Washington's uncle.
      •Unity (Susannah) West (b. 1657), married George Martin.
      •Anne West (b.1660-1708), married Henry Fox.
      •John West III (b. 1666), married Judith Armistead.
      •Captain Thomas West (b. 1670-1714), married Agnes Frances Ester

      Unity died on April 20, 1669 in New Kent County Virginia.

      SOURCES:
      •"Records of York County, Croshaw, vol. 1664-1672, p. 257"
      •"Long Melford Through The Ages, by Barry L. Wall, East Anglian Magazine Ltd., Ipswich, Suffolk"
      •"Claiborne of Virginia, Descendants of Colonel William Claiborne, The First Eight Generations, by John Frederick Dorman and Claiborne T. Smith, Jr., MD,Gate Way Press Inc., Baltimore, Maryland"
      •"The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Apr., 1894)"
      •"Middle Peninsula Historic Marker "Cockacoeske"
      •"Cockacoeske, Queen of Pamunkey: Diplomat and Suzeraine." W. Martha W. McCartney."
      •"Tax Rolls, March 1660. 3 March 1659."

      Family links:
      Spouse:
      John West (1632 - 1689)

      Children:
      Nathaniel West (1665 - 1723)*

      *Calculated relationship

      Burial:
      Unknown

      Maintained by: Lindsay Hale
      Originally Created by: P Fazzini
      Record added: Aug 08, 2010
      Find A Grave Memorial# 56812535 ** This memorial has been removed **
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Sources 
    1. [S47] See Misc Docs Pics, /Croshaw/Five wives of Joseph Croshaw **.

    2. [S47] See Misc Docs Pics, /Croshaw/Winstons of VA **.

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