The Ancestors Of Thomas East of

Laurens Co South Carolina

      Thomas East Sr [E4], born perhaps by the early 1640s, lived in Henrico Co VA to at least 1687. On 20 August of 1672 a Thomas Cocke confirmed in writing that he, Cocke, had made an oral agreement with Thomas East about four years prior in Henrico Co whereby East, in consideration of a nominal rent "of one Ear of Corn" payable on Christmas Day each year, was to lease a parcel of land from Cocke for twenty years, with the option of purchase at the end of the lease. It appears that Cocke and East came to some disagreement in 1691 over this lease-purchase agreement. In 1693 Cocke advertised for an overseer to take care of the disputed land, plus other land in Charles City Co.

      Thomas East was listed on the 2 June 1679 Henrico Co VA tax list, living on Turkey Island Creek. He also was a witness on 28 September 1681 to a land sale between William Porter and Robert Woodson. On 1 February 1683 Robert Clark, a cooper in Henrico Co, sold 161 acres on the south side of White Oak Swamp to Robert Woodson for 2600 pounds of tobacco. This land was described as being a part of a grant to “Robert Woodson, John Woodson, Thomas East, the above Robert Clark and William Porter” on 28 September 1681. Anne, wife of Robert Clark, relinquished her dower right. In another deed record of 1 June 1681, Thomas East was described as owning land next to Robert Clark. Thomas East was a witness to the will of Peter Harris in Henrico Co on 20 September 1687; other witnesses to this will were Thomas Cocke, Robert Woodson, and Edward Mosby. Thomas East Sr, Thomas East, and Edward East were named on a "True and Perfect Rent Roll of all the Lands held of her Maj'tie in Henrico Co, Aprill 1705." The land they were renting was 475 acres, 554 acres, and 150 acres respectively.

      On 10 June 1690 Thomas East Sr, “for love and affection to my son Thomas East Jr and to Mavel East, my daughter,” gave farm animals and a gun to Thomas Jr and to Mavel he gave 1/5 of a tract of land “taken up by me, Robert Woodson Sr, John Woodson, William Porter and Robert Clark, 106 acres, on south side of White Oak Swamp” plus farm animals. In this gift, Thomas also said that his daughter Mavel had married John Robinson and they then lived on that land. Daughter Mavel and son Thomas must have been age 18 or older by then; son Thomas was probably age 21 or older. Then on 27 November 1796 Thomas gave “for love and affection” land bounded by Western Run and next to William Porter Sr, in a separate gift to his two sons Edward East and Thomas East. So this gift then completed the gifts of land to three children, and since Mavel was the first daughter to receive, she was likely the eldest girl. In later court records dated 8 March 1796, “Dorothy East, wife of Thomas,” relinquished her dower rights to the land gifts by Thomas Sr to their two sons. And on 29 March 700 Robert Green, a miller of Henrico Co sold to “Thomas East Sr of same, planter,” 275 acres on the n orth side of James River and bounded by Samuel Bridgewater, for 2,500 pounds of tobacco. This was land which Green purchased from Thomas Cardwell on 18 December 1691. On 29 March 1701 Thomas purchased another 275 acres of this land from Green for the same price. But on 27 October 1703 Thomas sold this prior 275 acres back to Green. In these deed records, Thomas “signed” his name with a mark which looked like the capital letters E and T on top of each other. And the last record of Thomas, before his will was entered into probate, was dated in May 1726 when he gave to “my soin Edward East, for his care in managing my plantation, 2 negroes, a man Jack, and woman Tabb.” Thomas again used his E mark to sign this record.

      Thomas had married twice. His first wife was Winifred Hudnate, with whom he had four children. She was born about 1645 in Henrico Co, and died there in 1674. Thomas then married Dorothy Thomas in Henrico Co on 8 August 1686. She was born about 1640, and died about 1702 in Henrico Co. This last marriage probably had no children.

      Thomas left his will in Henrico Co: “In the name of God Amen I Thomas East of Henrico County being in sound and perfect will and mind do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following the first I recommend my Soul into the hand of Almighty God hoping for the merits of Jesus Christ my Savior to obtain the pardon and forgiveness of my sins and my body I commend to ye dust from whence it came and as to my personal Estate I leave in manner and form following. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Dorothy East all my Negroes Abraham Isaac Jenny Agy and likewise the plantation whereon I now live with all the appurtenances there unto belonging with all the stock both Cattle Sheep and Hoggs horses and mares. Item I give and bequeath unto my son my Thomas East my plantation whereon I now live after my wife decease. Item I give unto my son Edward East, one-shilling sterling. Item I give unto Mary Alsop my daughter one-shilling sterling. All the rest of my goods and Chattles I leave unto my well beloved wife Dorothy East of what sort or degree whatsoever making her my sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament dated this 11th Aug 1726.” The will went to probate on 2 January 1727, indicating that Thomas had died at the end of December 1726. Since his naming of daughter Mary wasn’t until he was near death, then she probably was the youngest child. Thomas and his wife Dorothy had two sons and two daughters-

a.    Thomas East Jr, b abt 1667

b.    Mavel East, b 1668-1672, married John Robinson on or soon before 10 June 1690.

c.    Edward East Sr, b abt 1670

d.    Mary East, b abt 1680s, married William Alsope by 1726. (MV,JY,29p) (M81, M85,M86,EP,JE,29pzy)

      Thomas East Jr [E4a], son of Thomas East Sr of Henrico Co VA and Dorothy Thomas, was born about 1667. Thomas Jr married Ann Perrin in Henrico Co on 19 April 1695 at St Johns Church. She was the eldest daughter of Thomas Perrin and Ann Porter. Richard Perrin, who died around June 1704, is the above Ann's brother; his inventory was presented in court by his mother (Mrs) Anne Perrin. She was also granted administration. In 1706 a John Perrin sold land that descended to him from his brother Richard. The father of Ann Perrin stated in December 1681 that he was 42 years old. Thomas East Jr in 1695 stated he was 28 years old.

      Ann (Porter) Perrin, mother of Thomas East’s wife Ann Perrin, left a will in Henrico Co: In the name of God Amen the 6th day of July 1711 I Ann Perrin of the County of the Parrish of Henrico being sick in body .. I give Bequeathed the same as followeth. first I give and Bequeath to my Eldest Daughter An East one hundred acres of Land Lying and being in Henrico County on the North to James River on the uper side of Lamsons Flats Joyning on Capt Webbs Line to her the sd An East and her heirs for Ever and I also give to the sd An East one feather bed and furniture.. I give and bequeath the Remaing part of my Land at Lamsons Flats to my Daughtr Elizabeth A Alday and her heirs for Ever .. I Give and Bequeath the Half of my Land on the South Side of James River at Long Swamp to my Daughter Jean Bagby and her heirs for Ever ..I Give and Bequeath the other half of my Lands at Long Swamp to my Daughter Martha Cardwell and her heirs for Ever .. my will is that my Two mares Be Equally Divided Between An East Jane Bagby & Martha Cardwell. Item I give to my Boy Roger Roberts .. I give to Willm Bradshaw one pewter Dish and plate and one Spoon.. I give to Charles Ballow Ten Shillings And all my personall Estate that Shall Remain after all Legacies and Debts are paid to be Equally Divided Between my four Daughters.. I make and ordain my Daughter Elizabeth Allday my Sole Executrix in wittness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and seal this 6th day of July 1711 Signed Sealed and published in pressents of Chas Ballows Mary M Hardin.. her marke Anne X Perrin.

      There were several deeds that prove John and Richard Perrin were the sons of Anne and Thomas Perrin. They were also the brothers of Ann (who married Thomas East), Elizabeth (who married Elam?, John Alday, and Seth Hatcher), Jane (who married Thomas Baily and William Ballowe), and Martha (who married Thomas Cardwell). Apparently Mrs Anne Perrin gave to her daughters because the sons had already received their share of inheritance from their father years before.

      Thomas East Jr rented 554 acres in Henrico Co in 1705 from Her Majesty the Queen of England. Thomas was on jury duty in 1700, and in the October court of 1723 he was sued by John Povall over 1,000 pounds of tobacco. Povall won. Sometime after 1723 Thomas apparently moved to Hanover Co. He and Edward Moseby sold 106 acres in Henrico Co on 16 May 1737 to Sackville Brewer. This land was described as being on the south side of White Oak Swamp and bounded on the west by land of Edward Moseby, on the south by Colonel Benjamin Harrison, on the east by James Powell Cocke, and on the north by John Hales formerly Pleasants. The land was part of a larger tract granted by patent to Thomas East, deceased, of Henrico Co and father of the Thomas East selling the land with Moseby. Witnesses to this sale were Robert and John Woodson, William Porter, and Robert Clarke. There is a deed record dated 1 April 1717 in Henrico Co where “Thomas East and his wife Anne” are indebted to Seth Hatcher and his wife Elizabeth, William Ballew and wife Jane, and Thomas Cardwell and wife Martha, for £50. Apparently in the inheritance of these wives from “John Perrin dec’d” (their grandfather?), the four sisters (the above wives) still owed their brother John Perrin £50 more to make the inheritance correct.

      On 28 August 1728, “Thomas East Sr of St Pauls Parish, Hanover County” sold to John Lefon (Lofton?) of same, for 2,100 pounds of tobacco, land on the orth side of James River (in Henrico Co) on Gillies Creek, 204 acres. This land was part of the 404 acres purchased by said Thomas East of John Robinson on 1 August 1704. Witnesses to this sale were Thomas (T) East Jr, John Robertson, and Alexander Robertson. The reason that Thomas, the seller, was called a Sr was that he now had a son Thomas, and Thomas Jr’s father, the original Thomas East Sr of Henrico Co, was now dead. Since seller Thomas East had to differentiate between himself and his son was probably because his son was of legal age in 1728. So from this deed, we can assume that Thomas Jr (husband of Anne) had moved to Hanover Co soon after his father died in Henrico Co in late 1726. On 30 August 1728 “Thomas East Sr of St Pauls Parish, Hanover County, planter,” sold to George Abney of same , for 1,900 pounds of tobacco, 200 acres of land on the north side of James River on Gillies Creek, bounded by James Bailey and the creek. This then completed the sale of the 404 acres Thomas had purchased from his brother-in-law John Robinson and sister Mavel East on 1 August 1704. On 3 June 1735 “Thomas East of Hanover County” sold to John Williams of Henrico Co for £30, 350 acres of land on the north side of James River. Note that Thomas had been a citizen of Hanover Co for years, and his son Thomas (III) had been a citizen of Henrico Co for years, so the titles Jr and Sr were not used. This land just sold was called Hellgarden and was bounded by lands of Colonel William Randolph, James Cocke, William Porter, Tarleton Woodson, and Edward East. This Edward East was probably a brother of Thomas East Jr of Hanover Co. 150 acres of the land was was given to said Thomas by his father Thomas East dec’d by deed 27 November 1696, and another 100 acres by the will of his late father. Thomas East Jr of Hanover Co signed with his mark, a letter T on its side.

      A 16 May 1737 sale of 106 acres by “Thomas East of Hanover Co, son and heir of Thomas East, Sr of Henrico Co, dec’d,” to Sackvil Brewer of Henrico Co for £10 was for land on the south side of White Oak Swamp, bounded by Edward Mosby, Colonel Benjamin Harrison, James Powell Cocke, and John Hales land, formerly Pleasants’ land. The land was granted to Thomas East dec’d, William Porter, John Woodson, and Robert Clark. The land was “formerly given by Thomas East dec’d to his daughter Mavel East for life, which term being expired, land reverts to said Thomas East as heir at law.” Thomas signed the deed transfer with an upright capital letter T. Thomas Jr and his wife Ann had sons-

1.    John East, b abt 1695

2.    Thomas East III, b bef 1696

3.    William East, b abt 1700 (MV,M85, M90,JE,M15, 29mpz)

      William East [E4a3], son of William East, was born about the start of the 18th Century. By 31 March 1748 he owned 400 acres on Ellis Creek in VA next to the 400 acres held by his son. This was apparently the same William, or his son, mentioned in the 11 February 1763 land grant of Tarlton East [E4c5]. William married and had at least one son-

a.    William East, b 1720s (JA,EP)

      William East [E4a3a], son of William East, was born by the 1720s. He married Ms _____ (Langston?, daughter of John Langston), lived in VA (Augusta Co? see Josiah East [E4a3a1]), and died in Charlotte Co in 1767; he left a 9 July 1766 will in Charlotte Co. His wife died prior to 1766. They had eight children-

1.    Josiah East, b abt 1743

2.    William East, b abt 1745

3     Mary East, b bef 1751

4.    Keziah East, b bef 1760

5.    Rebecca East, b bef 1766

6.    Shadrack East, b bef 1761

7.    Obedience East, b bef 1766

8.    Sarah East, b bef 1766

In the Name of God Amen the Twenty ninth day of July one thousand seven hundred and sixty six I William East Senr. of Charlotte County being of good and perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that all flesh must yield to Death when it shall please God to call and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last will & Testament in manner form Following that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recomme___ my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommen___ to the Earth to be Burried in a Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter and herein mentioned nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as Touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to Blefs me with after my Just Debts, Funeral Expences [sic], & Legacies are paid I give Demise & Dispose the [sic] of the same in the following manner. Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Son William East all my Land whereon I now Live on the north side of John Caldwells mill Creek to him and his heirs. Imprimis I give and bequeath the remain___ part of Land lying on the South side of John Caldwells mill Creek unto my Son Josiah East and his heirs & c. Imprimis I give and bequeath to my Son Shadrack East three hundred and ninety acres at the Lower end of my La___ in Hallifax County to him and his heirs. Imprimis I give and Bequea___ Remaining part of my Land in Halifax County unto my Son William & his heirs. Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Daugter Mary Dickerson one Cow and Calf her choice of all my Cattle. Imprimis I give my Negro boy Charles with all the rest of my Cattle Horses & hogs and all my houshold furtur___ with all the rest of my Estate to be Equally Divided among my Six child. herein and hereafter Named, Kiziah East, Sarah East, Josiah East, Ric East, Shadrack East and Obedience East to be paid to them by my Executors Required as soon as they come to years of Miturity; Imprimis It is my _____ and Desire that my Estate may not be appraised; Imprimis I _____ that _____ Estate may be Equally Divided by my Executors; Imprimi_.

William East and William Sims Executors of this my present Last Will _____ Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my hand and _____ day and year first above written.

William East _____

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us
John Halloway
Jame________
John Caldwell
William Black

An Inventory of the Estate of William East Deceased was taken by David George and William East Executors on the fifth day of December one Thousand seven hundred & sixty seven. (JA,24p,26m)

      Shadrack East [E4a3a6], son of William East and _____ Langston of Charlotte Co VA, was born about 1761 in VA, probably in Charlotte Co. He married Mary Hundley in Campbell Co VA on 8 September 1784; she was of age at the time (born by 1763), and the marriage bond was posted by Shadrack East and John Boughton. Shadrack was listed on the 1785 Halifax Co tax list; Halifax Co was where John East and sons John East [E1] and William East [E2] lived during the 1750s-1780s. In 1783, and definitely by 4 April 1788 (Deed Book B, Page 409), Shadrack and Mary had sold his inherited 390 acres and moved to Laurens Co SC, in the north part of the county close to the Enoree River. According to 1790 census records, Shadrack lived quite a distance from the other East families of the county (see the biography of William East, Shadrack's father), but was just seven doors from William Young, a brother of Nathaniel Young Sr of Spartanburg Co. Shadrack had four children by 1790 (and three slaves), and five children in all. He left a 12 November 1792 will in Laurens Co in which he named his wife Mary (gave to her his "negro wench Milly") and children; Shadrack's brother "William East & James Cook planter" were named as executors of his will; witnesses were Samuel Henderson, William Young of Spartanburg, and Thomas Wadsworth. Shadrack died in 1794 in Laurens Co, and after his death his widow married John Sinclair by 2 June 1814 (Deed Book K, Page 71). John Sinclair died by 3 June 1816, naming his wife Mary as the executor. The children of Shadrack and Mary were-

a.    Allen East, b 1785-1790 in Laurens Co SC, died 15 March 1804, probably in Laurens Co. There is no indication that he had married or had any children.

b.    Keziah East, b 1785-1790 in Laurens Co SC, married William Henry Milner, and by 1820 they had moved to Lincoln Co TN. In 1832 they were living in Cherokee Co AL; for a time they lived in Limestone Co AL. They had at least one child-

      1.    Nancy Milner.

c.    John East, b 1785-1790, died by 15 March 1804. He never married and had no children.

d.    Thomas East, born in 1790, moved to Giles Co by 1830.

e.    Nancy Ann East, b 1792in Laurens Co SC, married John Hewitt (M81,JA, JY,25m, 3apz)

In order to make it easier to do updates, all East biographies are now contained within one master set of East files at The East Families of the Southeast USA.

Those descendants of the Laurens Co SC East familes who first settled in Giles Co TN when they moved from SC will have an ID # starting with [E4a3a6d... These people are descendants of Thomas East [E4a3a6d] who was born in 1790. To find only the descendants of this Thomas East, do a search for [E4a3a6d once you open the Biography section of the above web address.