Abraham Weeks, Gent.

Brief biography

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134776506/abraham-weekes

Abraham Weekes (Weeks) was baptized on 14 March 1629/30 at the Church of All Saints in Martin, Wiltshire, England (present-day Martin, Hampshire, England), a son of Francis Weekes, yeoman, and his wife Katherine of Martin and Amesbury.

On 17 December 1646, Abraham Weekes, son of Francis Weekes of Amesbury, Wiltshire, yeoman, was apprenticed to Edward Downer, grocer and merchant of Southampton, Hampshire, England, for seven years, to be instructed "in the knowledge of a merchant".

However, similar to roughly half of all indentured servants of his era, Abraham Weekes did not complete his apprenticeship as originally scheduled. He was in instead in Lower Norfolk County, Virginia (the present-day Independent City of Chesapeake, Virginia) by October 1648, where he witnessed two deeds together with William Hancock.

For the next five years, no further record of Abraham Weekes has been discovered. It is unknown if he was acting as an agent for Edward Downer as a merchant sailor for the latter's Virginia trading enterprise or if he left England for Virginia on his own accord.

Abraham Weekes removed to Lancaster County, Virginia by October 1653, where he accumulated extensive landholdings both north and south of the Rappahannock River, including acreage in what is presently Middlesex County, Virginia.

Abraham Weekes built a home on his farmland on the west bank of the Rappahannock River, south of the mouth of Harry George Creek and north of Weeks Creek. It consisted of a one room hall with an enclosed stairwell to the right of the western entryway. There was one room above stairs with four dormers, two facing inland to the west and two facing east toward the river. A large chimney was situated on the northern elevation, with a five-foot fireplace and a chimney closet. The eastern elevation mirrored its counterpart.

Constable for Lancaster County in 1654.

Family

Abraham Weekes and Millicent ______ were the parents of the following children.

1. Francis Weekes, b. about 1655 (m. Elizabeth Hobbs about 1676).

2. Mary Weekes, b. about 1658 (unmarried in 1703).

3. Catherine Weekes, b. 1661 (m. Henry Williamson in 1679).

4. Margaret Weekes, b. about 1664 (m. John Collins on 1 April 1684).

5. Elizabeth Weekes, b. about 1667 (m. John Vaus on 19 January 1688, Caleb Wheeling in 1691 and Thomas Spencer on 14 December 1693).

6. Millicent Weekes, b. about 1670 (m. John Jones in 1690 and James Blaise in 1694).

7. Lettice Weekes, b. about 1672 (m. Matthew Lidford on 6 January 1692 and William Montague in 1694).

Supporting data

From The Virginia Magazine of History and Genealogy, Vol. 5 p 168 Tithables of Lancaster County, VA:

Abraham Weekes was chosen a vestryman of Lancaster parish, 1657, was a justice of Lancaster, 1666, and of Middlesex. There is a deed recorded in Middlesex, and dated June 30, 1685, from Abraham Weekes, of the county of Middlesex, gent., and Millicent his wife, conveying to Mr. Henry Williamson, of Rappahannock county, and Catharine his wife (daughter of the said Weekes), part of a tract of land, the remainder of which had been conveyed to Francis Weekes, son of said Abraham Weekes. Mr. Abraham Weekes was a justice of Middlesex, 1676. The will of Abraham Weekes was dated, January, 1691-2, and proved March, 1691-2; legatees: son Francis, daughter Mary, daughter Letty Lidford, neice Katharine Collins, daughter Elizabeth Wheeling, son-in-law John Jones. Mr. Mathew Lidford, Mr. Francis Weekes, and Mr. Henry Williamson, executors.

There is recorded in Middlesex, a power of attorney, dated January 3, 1703, from Mildred, widow of Abraham Weekes, to her son Henry Goodloe, authorizing him to acknowledge a deed to her son-in-law Wm. Montague, and Lettice his wife. Francis Weekes, gave bond as sheriff of Middlesex, May 10, 1697, and as Francis Weekes, gent., was a justice of that county in 1700, and 1702. There is on record in Lancaster, a deed dated, May 31, 1687, and recorded April 8, 1702, from Francis Weekes, of Middlesex, gent., and Elizabeth his wife, conveying to Andrew Jackson, 350 acres in Lancaster, called Fairweather, lately purchased from Mr. Rawleigh Travers.

There is a deed in Lancaster, 1713, from Hobbs Weekes, of Middlesex, planter, son of Frances Weekes; and a deed in Middlesex, dated July 25, 1738, from Thomas Hobbs Weekes, of the town and county of Southampton, England, Esq., eldest son and heir of Hobbs Weekes, who was the surviving son (and only one who had issue), of Francis Weekes, who was the only son of Abraham Weekes, of Middlesex, Va., gent., conveying to Richard Corbin, of Virginia, Esq., 450 acres in Middlesex, called Weekes' creek, or plantation, first granted to the aforesaid Abraham Weekes.

Will of Abraham Weekes

https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I3256...

• 1690-1694 Middlesex Co Va Order Book; Antient Press: (Page 599)
• Court 15th of December 1692
• - MRS. MILLASANT WEEKES in open Court acknowledges and confirmes hir late Husband, Mr, ABRAHAM WEEKES, his Will and Testament, and every clause and part thereof and that these following Legasies given by hir said Husband to the severall parties hereafter mentioned be duely paid & performed after hir death, vizt,
• To Mr. FRANCIS WEEKES a hand mill & carte wheeles, a gun & pistolls & ye Boy, James;
• To MRS, MARY WEEKES three Negroes named Dick. Sandy and Harry;
• To MRS LETTICE LIDFORD one Negroe called tom & Jane his Wife, & two Negroe boyes called Dick & Abraham;
• To CATHERINE COLLINGS one Negroe man called Sampson & his Wife, Cate, & hir two Children & in case the said CATHERINE dye before shee comes of age, then ye said Negroes is to be devided between Mr. FRANCIS WEEKES & Children as ye sd. Will mentions & expresses;
• To MRS. ELIZABETH WHELLING six thousand pounds of tobacco and one Negroe boy called Ishmaell to be paid and delivered according as ye said Will mentions & expresses relation being thereunto had may more fully appeare;
• To Mr. JOHN JONES, a Silver Tobacco Box;
• Test EDWIN THACKER, C. Cur signed MATT: KEMP

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William and Mary Quarterly 1964,p. 159

Weeks Farm Now Riverdale Farm

One of the early seventeenth century emigrants to the Colony of Virginia was named Weeks and not long after his arrival we find him taking out a patent for land in upper Middlesex County upon a beautiful creek to which he gave his name. His grant of land was located close by that of the family of Corbin, himself an early patentee, while not far was Perrott's Neck, the home of Richard Perrott, Weeks' colleague in the General Assembly of 1677, and later he served with Christopher Robinson and John Burnham in that capacity. Not only was Abraham Weeks, a Burgess, but we find that he was a devoted churchman as well. His name appears as vestryman for Christ Church, Middlesex, for the first meeting of that body in 1663, and he served as such until 1690. When Middlesex was formed from Lancaster in 1673, the court was designated, and we find, among nine gentlemen justices sitting in the first court for Middlesex the name of Abraham Weeks. Weeks Farm was the home of Abraham Weeks, and is now called Riverdale Farm, which name was given by the present owners.

From National Genealogical Society quarterly, Volume 62 p 40 The progenitor of the Weekes family of Middlesex County, Va., was Abraham Weekes, Gent., Burgess for Middlesex County in 1676-7 (W.G. Standard, Colonial Virginia Register, p. 81). On 3 Apr. 1662 he received patent for 450 acres, 300 of which had been assigned him 1 Nov. 1650 by Mr. David Fox, and the residue being a renewal of patent to said Weekes dated 22 Nov. 1653 (Va. Land Patents 4:279). This land is found divided in the Quit Rents of 1704 as 225 acres to Francis Weekes and 225 acres to the Widow Weekes, in Middlesex County. Abraham Weekes, Gent., aged about 60 years [thus born about 1631-32], dated his will 20 Jan. 1691/2, proved 7 Mch. 1691/2, and bequeathed land and slaves to his son Francis Weekes and his living children, after the death of his mother [not named]. His other legatees were his daughters Mary, his son-in-law John Jones [could mean "stepson"]; and to his niece Katherine Collins (underage) (Middlesex County Wills, 1675-1788, pt. 1, 73). Lettice, daughter of Abraham Weekes, married, first, Mathew Lidford, and, second, William Montague (Jester and Hiden, Adventurers of Purse and Person, p. 73). The daughter of Elizabeth Weekes married, first, 19 Jan 1687, John Vause, Gent. (who died 3 Sept. 1692), second, Caleb Welling, and, third, 14 dec. 1693, Thomas Spencer of King and Queen county, Va. (George H.S. King, Marriages of Richmond County, Va., p. 228). For more about this family see the article by J.B. Whitmore in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 47 (1939); 48-50.

From Weekes of Chirst Church, Middlesex County, Virginia and Ashley, Hants, England J.B. Whitmore, F.S.A.

... NOTES AND QUERIES SOME VIRGINIA BOYS EDUCATED IN ENGLAND By JB Whitmore, FSA In a list of Virginia boys who were educated at Westminster School, England, are: Thomas Hobbs Weekes, admitted to Westminster in January 1727/8, aged 12. Abraham Weekes, admitted at the same time, aged 10. Francis Weekes, admitted at the same time, aged 8. They were the three sons of Hobbs Weekes, of Middlesex County, Virginia, and Mere Court, Sparsholt, Hampshire, England, by Mary, daughter of Richard Perrott, of Virginia.

Thomas Hobbs Weekes died in 1742. Abraham Weekes died at Boulogne, France, June 8, 1755; he married, in 1743, Frances, daughter of Sir John Astley, Bart. Francis Weekes was baptised at Sparsholt March 18, 1719/20; I have not traced the date of his death, but it was after 1740 and almost certainly before 1756.

The following pedigree of the family is given and it is curious that after settling in Virginia they should have drifted back to England, but this was probably due to their succession to the Hobbs property.

WEEKES Of Christ Church, County, Virginia, and Ashley, Hants, England. JB Whitmore, FSA

Francis Weekes, son of Abraham Weekes, of Christ Church (see Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. V., 169), mar. Elizabeth, probably sister of Thomas Hobbs, of Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, and Ashley, Hants. "Medicus et Proto-Chirurgus" to Charles II, James II, and William; both living 1716, when "Elizabeth, wife of Francis Weekes of Virginia, Merchant, now lodging at the house of ___ Wilcocks, of Harrow" was a deponent in a Chancery suit of Wilcocks v. Page; perhaps she was buried as "Mrs. Francis Weekes" at Ashley, 4 Nov. 1745; they had issue

1. Abraham; said to have been born at St. Clement Danes, London, but baptism not recorded there; called nephew by Thomas Hobbs; adm. a scholar of Winchester College 1692*, aged 13; Magd. Coll. Oxford, matric. 4 July 1696, aged 17; M.A. 1706; probably dead 1723 (see Oxford Historical Society, Hearne's Collections, viii. 112); mar. ____ widow of ________ Walker, who kept the King's Head Tavern, Oxford; they had issue

1. Elizabeth: died 30 Aug. 1723, aged 14; administration of her estateVirginia Historical Society - 1939 - Snippet view Elizabeth: died 30 Aug. 1723, aged 14; administration of her estate, as a minor, granted to her grandmother, Elizabeth Weekes, in PCC 11 Aug. 1724. 2. Francis; called nephew by Thomas Hobbs; d. unm. 1714/5; of St. Martin in the Fields, London; will dated 29 Nov. 1714, proved in PCC 7 Feb. 1714/5; mentions Ashley Farm, Ashley, Hants, and lands at "Rappa Hanock River", Va. 3. Thomas; called nephew by Thomas Hobbs; bapt. Christ Church 5 Aug. 1683; probably dead 1714; not mentioned in will of brother Francis. 4. Hobbs; see below: Hobbs Weekes; bapt. Christ Church 21 Jan. 1686; called nephew by Thomas Hobbs; of Christ Church, Va., and Ashley, Hants; administration of his estate granted in P.C.C. 30 June, 1722; mar. Mary, daughter of Probert Prescott, of Virgnia; she buried Ashley 10 Sept. 1733; they had issue: 1. Elizabeth bapt. Christ Church 2 Oct. 1709; probably dead 1756; living unm. 1740. 2. Millecent: b. 2 May 1713; mar. (license 5 April, 1740) Leonard Cropp, of Holy Rood, Southampton, England, merchant; she living 1756. 3. Thomas Hobbs; b. 11 June, 1715; bapt. Christ Church 30 July, 1715; admitted to Westminster School Jan. 1727/8; New College, Oxford, matric. 12 July, 1731; of Southampton, England, 1738; buried at Ashley, 29 April, 1742, will dated 9 Jan. 1740, proved in PCC 13 May, 1742. 4. Abraham, b. 22 Sept. 1717; bapt. Christ Church 27 Oct. 1717; admitted to Westminster School Jan. 1727/8; of Rookley, Crawley, Hants; d. at Boulogne, France, 8 June, 1755; buried Ashley Hants; MI; mar. at Ashley 14 Sept. 1743, Frances, daughter of Sir John Astley, of Pateshull, Salop, Bart.; she remarried in or before 1756 James O'Donnell, Esq., and died Dec. 1764; they had issue 1. Abraham; buried at Ashley 18 April 1745, aged 14 days. 5. Francis; bapt. Sparsholt, Hants, England, 18 March 1719/20; admitted to Westminster School Jan. 1727/8; left 1729; readmitted Jan. 1730/1; admitted a scholar of Winchester College 1732; left 1737; Queen's College, Oxford, matric, as son of "Thomas" Weekes of Mere Court (now a farm on the edge of Sparsholt village) Hants, 2 Dec. 1737; BA 1741; apparently dead 1756. 6. Catherine; living unmarried 1740; apparently dead 1756. 7. Mary; living unmarried 1740; married, before 1756, Henry Hammond, of Southampton, England; d. 2 Nov. 1768, aged 46; buried Barton Stacey, Hants, England; MI NOTE. — The arms on the monument of Abraham Weekes in Ashley church are practically illegible, but sufficient remains to suggest that the family used the arms of Weekes of Honichurch, Devon, viz. ermine, three battle-axes, sable. [End of Article]

Records of Oxford: Weekes, Abraham res. 1706. Matr. at Magdalen Hall, 4 July 1696, aged 17. Son of Francis Weekes of London, gen. B.A. 23 Apr. 1700 M.A. 3 Feb 1701-2 Prob. F 1706-1707. Author of Lines in "Exequirae desideratissimo Principi, Gulielmo, Glocestrice Duci, ab Oxon. Acad. 1700; and Pietas Univ. Oxon. in Obitum aug. Regis Gulielmi III. 1702.

A.D. 1707. Jul. Mr Weekes sponte recessit. V. P. Reg. Extracts from Hearne's Diary.

A.D. 1723. Aug. 31. " Last night died of the small-pox, at her lodgings in the old Butcher Row, Oxford, Miss Weekes, a very pretty young girl of fourteen years of age, the only child of the late Mr. Abraham Weekes of Magdalen College, who married the widow of the late Mr. Walker, of the King's Head Tavern, Oxford, which Walker had no child by his said wife, who was a fine woman even when Weekes married her, and she was very rich; but Weekes spent all, which I suppose might break her heart, for she hath been dead also several years."

A.D. 1723. Sept. 18. " Young Miss Weekes, whom I have mentioned above, was buried on. Sunday night, Sept. 1, in St. Ebbe's Church, Oxford, a great many being at her funeral. She was related to Brazier, a glover, of St. Peter's in the East, Oxford, and she hath left £500, part of which is said to have come to the said Brazier, or else to his son, a Chorister of Magdalen College, a poor, silly, empty boy, a little older than Miss Weekes, who however was designed to have been married, had she lived, in a little time to this boy."

Names as one of the founders of Jamestown, VA Abraham Weekes was baptized on 18 March 1629/30 in Martin, Wiltshire, England (present-day Martin, Hampshire, England), a son of Francis Weekes and Katherine ______.

He journeyed to Lancaster County, Virginia by 1653, where he accumulated extensive landholdings both north and south of the Rappahannock River, including acreage in what is presently Middlesex County, Virginia.

Constable for Lancaster County in 1654.

He married Millicent ______ about 1654. Father of seven children.

He was chosen as vestryman, first for Lancaster Parish in 1657 and later beginning in 1666 for Christ Church Parish (in Middlesex County from 1673 onward after its formation from Lancaster County), a position which he would hold until 1687 when the title was transferred to his son Francis Weekes.

Justice of Lancaster County, Virginia in 1666, serving afterward as a justice in Middlesex County and in the House of Burgesses.

On 31 December 1666, Abraham Weekes was placed in charge of completing the upper chapel in Christ Church Parish on the north side of Sunderland Creek (present-day Lagrange Creek), near his home at Weeks Creek.

Abraham Weekes died between the writing of his will on 20 January 1691/92 and its probate on 7 March 1691/92.

References

• https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2021/203/134776506_7d3ec412-48... shows baptism as likely date 14 March 1629/30.
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 5 2019, 13:06:43 UTC

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• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 1 2021, 17:52:22 UTC
• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I3255...
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/vitals/LRH9-7QL

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http://shaybo-therisingtide.blogspot.com/2011/08/descendants-of-joh...

John married Margaret Weeks in April 1684. They were married at the home of her father, Abraham Weeks. After John died (two years later in July 1686), Abraham Weeks signed John's estate papers on July 7, 1686, in Essex Co., VA. Source: World Family Tree Vol. 11, tree 0778.