There is a priceless piece of information contained in a Will of 1685; that Nathaniel Upton of Fitzhead was related to Henry Upton of Burlescombe, whose son, William, leaves a bequest to ‘Mrs. Paris Sloughter’, that is, the wife of ‘Paris Sloughter’.
The forename ‘Paris’ is almost singularly attached to the Slaughter family of Over Slaughter, Gloucestershire, where church monuments confirm that John Slaughter and his wife Elianor Baghott (dau. of Charles Bagehott of Holborn, gent), were the parents of Paris Slaughter Esq., d. February 26, 1597. His inheritor was Chambers Slaughter, d. 1646, of Upper Slaughter Hall, co. Gloucester, of whom it is adduced that a younger brother was John Slaughter, the emigrant to Virginia, whose son, William, sealed a bond in 1685 with the armorial of the Slaughter family of Over Slaughter; argent, a saltire azure (Rudder’s Gloucestershire, p. 666). Rob. son of Mary de Sloutre, Lord William of Sloctre, Alan Le Sloughtre, Hen. de Sloctres, Rob. son of Gerard de Sloctre, are witnesses to very ancient deeds of Winchcombe abbey.
The Paris Slaughter of 1685 is evidenced here: Slaughter v Carter. Plaintiffs: Anne Slaughter and Paris Slaughter. Defendants: John Carter. Place or subject: personal estate of John Carter, Charlton Abbots, Gloucestershire. Nat. Arch., ref. C 7/483/29. 1670.
The familial relationship between the Slaughters and the Carters is probably given here: Robert Pannil, Will probated 3 April, 1717. Money in hands of Mr. William Dawkins , merchant in London , to the poor people of Sepulchre parish; my wife’s brother in London, Mr. Henry Williamson, his sister Elizabeth and his sister Jane ; god-daughter Barbara, daughter of William Carter. Legacy to Elinor Carter, to Will Carter, god-daughter Barbara ye daughter of Samuel Kerchevall, god-son Robert Strother, David Jones, son of Lewis Jones, Robert Taylor, god-daughter Mary Tutt.* Gifts to the church of Hanover parish. Residue to friends Francis Slaughter Sen., and Samuel Wharton executors. Witness Simon Miller &c. *Daughter of William Underwood.
Francis Slaughter, eldest son of John Slaughter, died about 1657 in Essex Co. Virginia. He married a a step-dau. of John Upton, and sister of Ann Underwood:
Capt. John Upton was commander-in-chief of Isle of Wight county, was a member of he House of Burgesses, and muster-master-general. His will, dated 16 Jan., 1651-’52, was proved in Isle of Wight county December 16, 1652. (Vol. VII., p. 220.) His son, John Upton, died without issue. His widow, Margaret Upton, had issue by a former husband (1) William, (2), Elizabeth, (3) Sarah, (4) Margaret and (5) Ann Underwood. She removed to Lancaster county, and married, thirdly, in 1657, Thomas Lucas, Sr. The will of Thomas Lucas was dated Dec. 14, 1669, and was proved March 14, 1673. (Virginia Magazine, III., p. 61.) Of the daughters, Elizabeth married, first, Capt. Francis Slaughter, of Rappahannock county, who was a justice, and died about 1657. Issue, Francis Slaughter, Jr. She married, secondly, Col. John Catlett, of Rappahannock county. She married, thirdly, in 1672, Rev. Amory Butler. Her will is on record in Tappahannock, dated May 17, 1673, proved June 16, 1673. (Virginia Magazine, III., 64)
Returning to Nathaniel Upton of Fitzhead (relative of Henry Upton of Burlescombe, whose son, William, leaves a bequest to ‘Mrs. Paris Sloughter’), it can be seen that his family intermarried with that of the Blakes of Over Stowey, Somerset, who also held land in Milverton (near Wedmore) and Wivelscombe, Somerset; this latter place being where Thomas Harris married Judith Blake, on November 20, 1623; she being certainly of this family:
1. Humphrey Blake, of Old Hall, Eastontown, Andover, Hampshire, m. Agnes James, of Tuxwell Manor, Spaxton
1.1. John Blake b. 19 OCT 1521 in Over-Stowey, Co. Somersetshire Burial: 10 DEC 1576 in the chancel of the Over Stowey Church He succeeded to the manor of Plainfield and to other estates. He received by will the patron age of the church at Aisholt, co. Somerset will proved 25 January 1576.
To eldest son, Humfrey Blake all tenements in Plainfield … To son William Blake, all my land in the parish of Bishops Lydeard in Busshops Woode and Busshops downe … To son Richarde Blake all my land in Wurstin in the parish of Burnham late in the tenure and ocupation of Nicholas Sheperd and now in the tenure of one Smithes and of the widow Everett’s children … To Johan,* my wife and son Richard all my interest in the Rectorie or personange of Over Stowey … To dau. Alice Richardes, ten shillings and six shillings to each of her children … To dau. Anne Saunders, ten shillings … Overseers: The right Worshipful Mr. Thomas Mallett, Esq., Robert Blake … Witnesses: Samuel Mercer, Robert Blockinge, Ottywell Artur, Richard Blake, Robert Black, Thomas Blake (brother?), Humfrie Blake, William Blake, and Richard Blacke. *Joan Rawson, of Over-Stowey.
1.1.1. William Blake.
1.1.2. Richard Blake bapt 1 Jan 1563.
1.1.3. Robert Blake bapt bef. 12 MAY 1566.
1.1.4. Humphrey Blake, d. bef 10 Mar 1619.
People then become confounded. It was not this latter Humphrey Blake who m. (23 Sept. 1639) Elizabeth Upton, daughter of Nathaniel and Catherine Upton of Fitzhead, Somerset. This is probably his grandson, son of his son, Humphrey, bapt. 13 Nov. 1580.
Nathaniel Upton of Fitzhead, Som, gent. Will dated 11 Oct. 1650. He names his son, George (bapt. 28 May 1626, m. Ann Sellicke, 9 Feb 1647), daughter, Joane, his grandchildren: Humphrey, Nathaniel, Arthur, Roger,and John Blake. George Upton of Fitzhead, Somerset, gent. Dated 15 Oct. 1689. He bequests to ‘to poor of Milverton (next to wedmore) 20s’ … Nathaniel my son my lands in Huish-Chamflewer, Chattworthy, Brompton Ralph, Over Stowey, Stogursey, and Spraxton, Somerset, and to his heirs for ever … to Priscilla Collins my daughter £15 per annum for life to be paid to her use … my kinsman John Harrison of Fitzhead, gent (133 Dyke).
Catherine Upton of of Fitzhead, Somerset, widow. Dated 28 June 1665. To be buried in Fitzhead Churchyard near my son Roger Studyeard; to poor of Fitzhead, of Wilscombe (Wivelscombe), and of Milverton; to my daughter Mary, ux. Alexander Harrison, gent., £40; to Ames Harrison one of the sons of said Alexander Harrison 20s.; to Alexander, John, William, Roger, George, Katherine, and Mary, sons and daughters of my son-in-law Alexander Harrison and Mary his wife, each £20 at 21; to my daughter Elizabeth Blake, late wife of Humfry Blake, gent., dec’d, £40; and to John Blake son of said Humfry Blake 20s.; to Nathaniel, Arthur, Roger, Elizabeth, and Mary Blake, my grandchildren, sons and daughters of said Humfry Blake, each £20 at 21; to my kinsman Henry Upton* of Burlescombe, gent., £10; to John Robbins, son of James Robbins, gent., my brother, dec’d, £10, or, if he be dead, same to his sisters Dorothy Robbins and Jane Robbins; to my kinswoman
Frances Thorn £10; to Robert, Mary, Frances, Roger, and Alexander Wynter, sons and daughters of my kinsman John Winter, dec’d, each 40s. at 21; to Roger Upton my grandchild my silver tankard, etc.; to Katherine, Anne, and Elizabeth Upton, children of my son George Upton, each £20; residue to my son George Upton, and
appoint him executor. Proved 16 Feb. 1665-6 by ex’or. (35 Mico.)
*Henry Upton, of Burlescombe, Devon, gent. Dated 17 Nov. 1674. To be buried by my father in Burlescombe Churchyard. To William* my son my mess, and tenement in Stawleigh, Somerset; to Henry my son two tenements, etc., in Burlescombe; to my daughter Sarah Upton the messuage, etc., in which I dwell; to my grandchildren James, Mary, and Elizabeth Cadbury each 20s. when 15; residue to daughter Sarah, and appoint her executrix. Proved 7 July 1675 by exec’x. (79 Dycer).
*William Upton of London, factor. Dated 24 June 1685. To James Cadbury son of my brother James Cadbury by his former wife Elizabeth|| £50 at 21, but if he die before, then same to his sister Elizabeth Cadbury at 18 or marriage; to my niece Elizabeth Upton, daughter of my late brother Henry Upton, late of Burlescombe, dec’d, £100 at 18 or marriage; to poor of Burlescombe £12; to Mrs. Paris Sloughter and George Gresham each 20s. for a ring; all my lands, etc., and residue of personalty to my sister Sarah Upton, and appoint her executrix. Proved 8 Oct. 1685 by exec’x. (127 Cann).
The Uptons were originally from Cornwall: Upton v Baker. Plaintiffs: John Upton of Somerset, son of William Upton. Defendants: John Baker, prior of Launceston. Subject: Detention of deeds relating to a messuage and land in Launceston. Cornwall. C 1/684/1. 1529-1532.
They intermarried with a family of Butcher (Annes Butcher & John Underwood, July 1570, Stowey (St Nicholas and the Blessed Virgin Mary), and became kin to the Vowles; Susanna Vowles & William Butcher, 21 Nov 1631, Stowey. Margaret Upton, in Virginia, made a deed conveying land to John Butcher dated 3 February 1651; she styled herself as Widow of Capt. John Upton, whom she had married by 13 Sept. 1644, when ‘Captain John Upton and Margaret his wife sold land to John Mason. The Mason family of Stowey were kin of the Bishops: Elizabeth Mason & Robert Byshoppe, 18 Nov. 1632, Over Stowey (St Peter and Paul). On 12 June 1657, ‘Mr William Edwards has order from Govre. to patente certaine marsh and wood land formerly granted to James Mason & John Bishopp & by them deserted’ (Louise Pledge Heath Foley, Early Virginia Families Along the James River, p. 86, 1974). The Vowle family were mostly of Wedmore, where they were kin of various families:
Johannam Counsell & Gulielmus Frie 7 Jun 1602 Wedmore
Joannes Harris & Penelopie Millard 9 September 1611 Wedmore
Agnetam Millard & Thomas Webb 22 Feb 1611 Wedmore
Rebecca Blake & Thomas Skinner 23 Sep 1611 Milverton (juxta Wedmore)
Mariam Kirby & William Counsell 27 Jan 1615 Wedmore
Maude Mason & Willielmus Counsell 3 Oct 1622 Wedmore
Georgius Harris & Joana Webb 28 April 1623 Wedmore
Joannam Taylor & Richardus Counsell 12 Aug 1640 Wedmore
Mary Vowles & John Millerd 18 Jul 1654 Wedmore
Joane Thatcher & Richard Harris 14 Apr 1656 Barrow Gurney (juxta Wedmore), residence of the Counsell family.
Bethsheba Vowles & Thomas Webb 9 Oct 1656 Wedmore
William Harris & Anstice Kerbey 20 June 1660 Wedmore
Robert Thatcher & Alice Webb 09 Aug 1660 Wedmore
It is likely that Judith Blake, who m. Thomas Harris, November 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe, was of the family intermarried with the Uptons, who held land at Wedmore and Wivelscombe.
Capt. John Batte bought land in Isle of Wight County from John Upton on 3 Feb. 1654. In 1657, Thomas Harris, d. 1672, sold a tract of land he had acquired from William Batte and Mrs. Margaret Upton, widow of Lt. Col. John Upton; whose Will was proved by oaths of William Underwood and Edward Skinner, 16 Jan. 1652. Witnesses: John Gallins, James Taylor (W&M, vol. 7, no. 4., pp. 205-315, Apr. 1899).
It is likely that the Uptons of Virginia were of the family described heretobefore.
In tracing the ancestry of Virginia colonists, it is rare to get within a parish of the answer, let alone a field in that parish, the haystack within the field, the needle within it; yet, in conjunction with my notes on Hodges Counsell of Virginia, The Real Harris, and Harris and West, at least the haystack is in sight, I suggest.
copyright m stanhope 2016
Walter FitzGilbert de Hamilton 