Thomas Osborne III
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Abt 1641 - (Henrico Co., Virginia) Christening: Death: 1692 - Henrico Co., Virginia Burial: Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Thomas Osborne II ( - ) Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. *Martha Griegg ( - ) Marriage: Bef 1667 Children: 1. Thomas Osborne IV (Bef 1668-Abt 1733) 2. John Osborne (After 1673- )
Notes
General:
BIRTH YEAR:
Henrico Co., Virginia Records 1688-1697, pg 107 (LDS microfilm 31770, item 3):
On December 2, 1689 Thomas Osborne aged about 48 years gives a deposition. The date is "X 2 1689".
PATENTS:
In April 1685 an 85 acre tract was patented to Thomas Osborne. It adjoins Coxendale.
The patent is described as follows in the Library of Virginia land patent database:
http://lva1.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/F/?func=file&file_name=find-b-clas30&local_base=CLAS30
Osborne, Thomas. grantee.
Land grant 20 April 1685.
Location: Henrico County.
Description: 85 acres in the parish of Varina, on the South side of James River; Begg. &c. a corner of the land known by the name by Procters and Ruth; thence along the head of his old patt. belongg. to Coxendale.
Source: Land Office Patents No. 7, 1679-1689 (v.1 & 2 p.1-719), p. 454 (Reel 7).
A facsimile image of the patent can be seen on page 454 at http://image.lva.virginia.gov/LONN/LO-1/001/401-500.html.
To all etc whereas etc Now Know yee that I the said ffrancis Lord Howard Govenor & etc doo w'th the consent of the Counsell of State accordingly give and grant unto Thomas Osborne a tract of land conteyning Eighty five acres lying and being in the county of Henrico and in ye p'ish of Varina and on the South side of James River (Vizt) begining at a corner Chesnutt tree being a Corner of the Land knowne by the name by Proctors _____ thence along the head of the said Osbornes ____tient pattent belonging to Coxendale South by East ____ hundred twentie fower pols to the redwater thence up the Redwater water South West by West three fowerths Westerly twelve pols to the line of Thomas Jefferson thence along the said Jeffersons line North West and by West one hundred ninety two pols to a Corner white oake standing in the fanting [?] ground of Proctors thence North East and by East halfe Easterly Eighteene pols to a corner black oake thence East by North along the line belonging to the land of Proctors seaventy Eight poles to a Corner Chesnutt thence North North East one hundred pols to the place wee began including the aforesaid Eight five acres of Land The said Land being due by and for the transportaton of two p'sons into this Colony etc To have and to hold etc To bee holding yeilding and paying etc P______ etc ____ on the 20th of Aprill 1685.
Peter Merritt M_____ __ossman
A facsimile copy of the following 1692 patent can be seen at the website of the Library of Virginia http://image.lva.virginia.gov/LONN/LO-1/008/201-300.html.
It is on page 215 of Book 8. Francis Nicholson was Lt. Governor of Virginia from 1690 to 1692 and from 1695 to 1705. Thomas Osborne (1641-92) wrote his will October 1, 1691, and it was recorded June 1, 1692. John Branch Cabell says that he died in March 1692. The patent was issued April 29, 1692. It is not implausible to believe that he applied for the patent before his death and that bureaucratic delays caused it to be issued after his death. However, it may be that his son Thomas Osborne applied for and received the patent. Both of them were indirect heirs of the original patentee Capt. Thomas Osborne. The patent says that Capt. Thomas is the father of the patentee. That is incorrect in either case. In my reconstruction of the family Capt. Thomas is the grandfather of Thomas (1641-92) and the great-grandfather of his son. In a 1696 deed the son says that he is the great-grandson of Capt. Thomas.
However, my reconstuction might not be correct. On page 218 of SOUTHERN KITH AND KIN, the author discusses the possibility that Thomas Osborne (1641-92) is the son of Capt. Thomas. In that case the Thomas who asserts in 1696 that he is the great-grandson of Capt. Thomas is in fact his grandson.
As I stated above, the 1692 patentee may be the father or he may be the son. Between Capt. Thomas and this son there may be 4 generations or there may be 3. There are thus 2x2=4 possible scenarios. In every case at least one of the documents (the 1692 patent and the 1696 deed) is in error. See page 218 in SOUTHERN KITH AND KIN for more discussion.
The 1692 patents follows:
To all &c: Whereas &c: Now know yee that I ye sd Fra. Nicholson Esq. their Ma____ Gov____ &c: grant unto sd Tho Osborn Sen'r One Thousand one hundred thirteen Acres of Land Situate lying & being in the County of Henrico & in the parish of Varina & on the south side of James River known now by the name of Coxendale but by former Pattent is known by the name of Fearing the w'ch Pattent is granted for one thousand Acres bearing date ye 6th day of Feb'ry 1637 but by this Resurvey is found to be one thousand one hund'd & thirteen Acres bounding as followeth Viz't Begining at ye Mouth of Proctors Creek & runeth thence up that Creek as it trendeth to a great Pine Standing by the mouth of ye Redwater thence South West & by west one fourth West one hundred & four poles to a Corner Chesnut tree, thence on the ______ South half East one hundred eighty eight poles, thence South East three fourths east one hundred fifty four poles to Corner white Oak on the main River thence as the sd River windeth & trendeth to the place we begun including the aforesd one thousand One hundred & thirteen Acres of Land & Swamp & is due to _____ Tho Osborn Sen'r as followeth Viz't One thousand Acres beinge formerly granted unto Capt. Tho Osborn father of this Pattentee by pattent dated as above mentoned & the Residue being Surplus lands included ___ in the bounds of ye sd Pattent & is due by & for the Importacon of three p'sons &c: To have & to hold &c: To be held &c: yeilding & paying &c: Provided &c: Dated the 29 day of Aprill ano Dom 1692
Mary Norman William Buckston Tom, a Negro
WILL:
Henrico Co., Virginia Records 1688-1697, pg 310 (LDS microfilm 31770, item 3). The character 'ö' in the will is actually something very similar to the Greek letter phi.
In the Name of God Amen I Tho Osborn of the p'ish of Varina in the County of Henrico being in p'fect health & memory yet knowing & confid__ing the frailty of my mortall body & ye incertainty of this temporall life I do make & ordain this my last will & testament in manner & form following viz't
Impö I Give & bequeath to my Son John Osborn two hund'd Acres of Land of my Plantacon call'd Fearing ___ Coxendale, One hund'd whereof I will to be of & adjoining to ye Seat whereon my Son Tho Osborn now dwelleth, and also one hund'd Acres of land more of my foresd Plantacon wch I will to be of ye land whereon Philip Turpin now dwelleth, wch two tracts of Land my will is shall conjoyn & not be divided by any Space or Intervall, & that it shall also extend & Conjoyn to a Tract of Land I have lately Pattented whereon Will'm Bass now dwells containing ninety five Acres the wch ninety five Acres I also give & bequeath to my Son John Osborn. all & ____ Singular & every part & parcell of the _____ Lands wö all rights priviledges & Appurts thereunto belonging I _____ I give & bequeath to my sd Son John Osborn & his heirs for evermore. Not wöstanding my will is that my Son Tho Osborn shall occupy possesse & enjoy ye Plant'n & appurts whereon he now dwells for & during the term of my wife Martha Osborns naturall life & no longer.
It'm I Will & Ordain that after my decease Martha my Wife shall have & enjoy as part of her dowry the house wherein I now live w'th all ye Orchard interely to her use during the term of her life
It'm I Give & bequeath to my Son Tho Osborn One Negro, But if in my life time I my Self give him a Negro then shall this bequest or Legacy after my decease be void & invalid.
It'm I make Ordain & appoint my Dear & well beloved wife Martha Osborn Exec'x of this my Last will & testam't And do give & bequeath all the Rest of my Goods & Chattells to my sd wife to my son John Osborn to be equally divided between after my debts & funerall Charges are discharged. But if my sd Son John Osborn decease before he Attain to Eighteen years of Age, then my will is that my goods & Chattells after debts & funerall Charges paid as aforesd shall be divided into three equall parts, the Choice of two whereof I Give & bequeath to my wife Martha Osborn, the other third part I Give & bequeath to my son Tho Osborn or his heir if a male not Else.
It'm I will & Ordain that my Son John Osborn shall & may have power if he arrive to eighteen Years of Age to make a will give & dispose of his p'sonall estate
It'm I give & bequeath to my Son Tho Osborn two Silver Spoons of the same Sort whereof he hath had four already
In Testimony & full & clear declaracon & confirmacon of this my last Will & testam't I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seal the second day of Octob 1691 Sixteen hundred ninety & one
Sign'd Seal'd & Told in p'sence of Tho Jefferson
Philip Turpin
Sam'll Branch
Senn (mark of T the) Hickman
Thomas Osborne sener
ESTATE:
Henrico Co., Virginia Records 1688-1697, pg 350 (LDS microfilm 31770, item 3).
On September 1, 1692 Martha Osborn, relict and administratrix of Thomas Osborn Sen'r, presented to the court an inventory of the estate according to a court order of August 20. The inventory consisted of 89 items with a total value of £208 15/11 (mostly tools, household items, and livestock) plus several additional items of livestock with no specified value. There were no slaves.
BRANCHIANA:
The following is on pgs 131-35 of BRANCHIANA (James Branch Cabell, 1907). My corrections in brackets. In a note to the author of SOUTHERN KITH AND KIN Cabell says that this Thomas Osborne was married twice and that the second wife was the widow of John Branch. He believes that she was Martha Griegg rather than Martha Jones. BRANCHIANA is available online at
http://ia600303.us.archive.org/28/items/branchianabeingp00cabe/branchianabeingp00cabe.pdf.
Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" was the older son of his father, (Edward?) Osborne of Henrico, and was born in the year 1641. To his share fell the lower portion of his grandfather's estate, which portion was presumably the larger of the two, and in consequence, retained the name of "Coxendale." This Thomas Osborne, though he took no prominent [132]part in public affairs, was, whether it were by inheritance or acquisition, at his death, in 1692, a man of substance; his land holdings were by inheritance extensive, and he had added to them continuously; and his last act, so far as is known, was, in 1690, to patent an additional ninety five acres. [He patented 85 acres in 1685.]
The furnishings of his house and farm were valued at 208 pounds, fifteen shillings and eleven pence -- which approximated to a present-day value of some $10,000; and, in addition, there is an item in his inventory which hints at a distinct literary taste rather unusual for his neighborhood and period:
"A parcel of old books, viz., 1 large Q'rto Bible, Josephus in folio, and 5 or 6 or do. ....... valued at one pound, six pence."
For the time and locality this is the collection of a bibliomaniac.
Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" had married Martha, whose maiden name is unknown, and at his death left issue:
I. Thomas Osborne of the Parish and County of Henrico.
II. John Osborne, born post 1674.
The will of Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" is recorded at Henrico Court-House. It is dated 2d of October, 1691, and was recorded 1st June, 1692.
[133]It is evident from a perusal of the document that the testator has already given his older son and namesake such lands and personal property as he intends that son to have; of the latter it is impossible to swear to more than four silver spoons, but one may reasonably imagine that the gift was somewhat larger; and the lands assigned the younger Thomas Osborne, as was latterly attested by a deed which this Thomas Osborne gave in 1696, lay to the north of his father's possessions, and adjoined those of the testator's brother, Edward Osborne of Henrico.
To the testator's second son, John Osborne, is bequeathed 200 acres of "my plantation called 'Fearing,' alias 'Coxendale,' on condition that a hundred of these acres adjoin "the land where my son, Thomas Osborne, now liveth," and that the other hundred be laid out so as to adjoin both "the land where Philip Turpin lives" and be "conjoined to the land I lately patented, where William Bass lives," which land contained, by estimation, some ninety-five acres; and this land also is bequeathed to John Osborne.
To the testator's older son is bequeathed "one negro, unless I give it to him during my lifetime," and two silver spoons, "of ye same sort whereof he hath had four already." And it is rendered apparent that a part at least of the younger Thomas Osborne's lands have been merely loaned him, for he is to retain his present home merely during the lifetime of the testator's wife; yet there is no provision for its subsequent disposal after that event. Indeed, the entire document has a haphazard air, and a [134]rearrangement of its several clauses is necessary to render it even partially intelligible.
To the testator's wife, Martha Osborne, is bequeathed "the house where I now live, and my orchard," and the testator's wife is appointed his executrix.
The remainder of the estate -- lands, slaves and chattels -- is to be divided between John Osborne and Martha Osborne equally; and if John Osborne chance to die before reaching the age of eighteen, two-thirds of the estate is to go to Martha Osborne, and one-third to the testator's elder son, Thomas Osborne of Henrico, "or his heir, if a male, and not else." And at eighteen John Osborne is by the testator authorized to make a will and to dispose of the property assigned him as he may elect.
No provision is made for the event of Thomas Osborne's having only female children, nor for Martha Osborne's dying before John Osborne reaches eighteen, nor for Thomas Osborne's dying before Martha Osborne; everywhere one scents an abysmal unpracticality which renders it the more astounding that Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" ended his life, as he unquestionably did, a far wealthier man than he began it; and that the will did not result in a lawsuit must be imputed to the direct intervention of blind chance.
The witnesses of the document are Thomas Jefferson (who married the granddaughter of Christopher Branch of "Kingsland"), and Philip Turpin, and Samuel Branch (the grandson of Christopher Branch of "Kingsland"), and Samuel Hickman.
[135]By an inventory, taken 1st of October, 1692, the chattels of Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," as previously recorded, were valued at 208 pounds, fifteen shillings and eleven pence.
Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale" had, as previously recorded, married Martha _______, who survived her husband, and married Thomas Edwards of Henrico within a year of Thomas Osborne's death --- before 20th August, 1692, when she and Thomas Osborne of Henrico asked the court to appoint an appraiser for the estate of Thomas Osborne of "Coxendale," deceased. This was done 1st of September, 1692, the appraisers being Captain William Randolph, Captain Francis Epes, Captain William Farrar and Henry Randolph. [She married Thomas Edwards October 20, 1692.]
WIFE:
The following was written by James Branch Cabell and is on page 224 of SOUTHERN KITH AND KIN:
As to Martha Branch-Osborne-Edwards; The will of Robert Griegg, dated 10 February 1702-03, recorded in Henrico 2 August 1703, mentions the testator's grandchildren, John Cocke, Thomas Edwards Jr., Mary Ward and Edward Branch. The witnesses are Edward Warding, John Clark, and Jane Gower, who is named Executrix. She was the mother of that John Branch who was Martha Griegg's first husband, having married successively William Baugh Jr., William Branch, and Abel Gower.
AGE OF CHILDREN:
When Thomas Osborne wrote his will in October 1691, his son John was not yet 18. Thus he was born after 1673. There is no indication that his other son Thomas is underage, and so we conclude that he was born before 1673. The father Thomas Osborne only has 2 children. Children are usually spaced at intervals of 2 to 3 years. There may have been children between Thomas and John who died young. Even so, we would conjecture that Thomas is a little over 18 and John is a little under 18. However, Thomas married before December 1, 1688 because on that date his wife gave a deposition under the name Martha Osborn, not Martha Jones. He was probably at least 20 and thus was born in 1668 or earlier. Thus Thomas Osborne, the father, and Martha (Griegg) probably married in 1667 or earlier.
Home | Table of Contents | Surnames | Name List
This website was created 3 Oct 2022 with Legacy 9.0, a division of MyHeritage.com; content copyrighted and maintained by nparker41@att.net