Colonel Thomas Ligon, III

Col. Thomas Ligon, in his own words

If he could speak to us today, Col. Thomas Ligon might describe his life as follows:

I was baptized at Walsgrave-on-Sowe, Warwickshire, England, 11 January 1623/4. The grandson of a second son, I had little chance of inheriting titles, land, or fortune. King Charles I Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland appointed my cousin William Berkeley Sir William Berkeley, Colonial Governor of Virginia the royal governor of Virginia and, although I was just 16, I decided to join him in the New World.

On 18 April 1644 Indians attacked our settlements, massacring about 300. I was then at the home of Sarah Woodson Sarah Johnson, wife of Dr. John Woodson Dr. John Woodson, of Flowerdew Hundred whom the Indians killed. Using my 8-foot gun, I killed 3 Indians with the first shot, then 2 with the second. I fired a third time as they fled, killing 7 in all. This gun with “Ligon” still carved in the stock, is now at the Virginia Historical Society.

Around 1648-50 I married Mary Harris Mary Ligon, the daughter of Capt. Thomas Harris Capt. Thomas Harris, Ancient Planter, and we were the parents of 7 children.

Berkeley appointed me to represent him in many matters. Because colonial records for Henrico and Charles City counties were mostly destroyed, little evidence of my official acts remains.

In 1656 I was a member of the House of Burgesses at Jamestown, where I was a member of “ye Committee for private Causes.” Maj. William Harris Major William Harris, my brother-in-law, was the other burgess representing Henrico County. I was a justice for Charles City County 1 August 1657, a militia colonel, and county surveyor from 1667 to my death in 1675.

Mary survived me 29 years. Able to fend for herself, she never remarried. Like me, she was handy with a gun, earning a bounty for killing 2 wolves in 1678. She once got into a dispute with our son William Maj. William Ligon, and when she failed to evict him from her land, she left his heirs out of her will.

http://www.virginians.com/redirect.htm?topics&3520

Thomas Lygon (also known as Ligon) was baptized on 11 Jan 1623/4, Walsgrave-on-Sowe, Warwickshire, England. The Lygon family is a very ancient and prestigious family in England. Thomas came to Virginia in the 1640s and married by 1649, Mary Harris, daughter of Thomas Harris and Adria Gurganey. He was a member of the House of Burgesses for Henrico County, Virginia, in 1656. Thomas acquired large tracts of land. In 1657 he bought a tract of 800 acres from Colonel William Byrd. On 5 Apr 1664 he was granted 800 acres at Powell's Creek next to that of Thomas Jones due him for transporting 16 persons from England. This was followed by 6 other patents, the last in the year 1672, just 3 years before his death. On 3 Oct 1664, Thomas Ligon and Captain William Farrar patented 375 acres in Henrico County on the north side of the James River for transporting 8 persons. On the same date 335 acres in Henrico County on the south side of the James River in 'Mount My Lady' field was assigned to Captain William Farrar and Thomas Ligon. Altogether, his patents totaled about 4,005 acres. He was a Justice of the Peace for Charles City County, Virginia, in 1657. Thomas was appointed Official Surveyor of Henrico County, Virginia, through his connection with his kinsman (2nd cousin) Sir William Berkeley the Royal Governor of Virginia. In 1667 he surveyed and named an area "Mawburne" or Malvern Hills, in Henrico County. In England, Malvern Hills is located very near Madresfield Court (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madresfield_Court) , the Lygon family ancestral home. Thomas remained surveyor of Henrico County for many years, up until the time of his death. On 18 Apr 1644, when he was a Lt. Colonel of the county, the Indians made a sudden attack upon the Virginia settlements, and massacred about 300 of the colonists before they were repulsed. While this furious attack was in progress, Lt. Col. Thomas Ligon, called 'Colonel' Ligon, who happened to be passing at the moment the residence of Dr. John Woodson, helped Sarah Woodson defend her home against the Indians. According to tradition their only weapon was an old gun which Colonel Ligon handled with deadly effect. At the first fire he killed 3 Indians, and 2 at the second shot. The howling mob on the outside took fright and fled, but Ligon fired the third time and killed 2 more, making seven in all. The old gun, which rendered such valuable service on that dreadful day, was made in England, and was later placed in the possession of the Virginia Historical Society. The name of Ligon was carved upon the stock. Colonel Ligon was also later among the men involved in a battle with the Indians near Richmond in 1656. The Indians won the battle, but apparently returned to the Blue Ridge where they had been living and did not make any further attacks. He made his will 10 Jan 1675, and administration of his estate was granted to his widow and executrix, Mary (Harris) Ligon on 16 Mar 1675/6.

Children of Colonel Thomas Ligon and Mary Harris:

Thomas Ligon (Jr.), b. ca 1651, d. unm. bef. 20 Aug 1678

Johan aka Joan Ligon, b. ca 1653, m. Robert Hancock

Richard Ligon, b. ca 1656, m. Mary Worsham

Matthew Ligon, b. ca 1659, d. unm w/o issue bef. 1 May 1689

(Maj) William Ligon, b. 1660, m. Mary Tanner

Hugh Ligon, b. ca 1661, m. Elizabeth Walthall

Mary Ligon, b. 1663, m. Thomas Farrar

Sources: The Hancock Family in England and America (1993), by Arvil Dale Hancock, 726 Jura Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94087, Publisher: Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, Md; The Ligon Family and Connections (1947), by William D. Ligon, Jr; Four Thomas Ligons (Lygons): An Abstract of New Findings (1978), by Michael J. Wood and Gary Boyd Roberts (The Va. Genealogist: 22:253-255); Further Observations on the Ancestry of Colonel Thomas Ligon of Henrico County (1994), by Neil D. Thompson (The Virginia Genealogist:38:48-51); Gateway Families (1994), by Christy Hawes Bond, distributed in coop. with The New England Historic Genealogical Society.

If he could speak to us today, Col. Thomas Ligon might describe his life as follows.

I was baptized at Walsgrave-on-Sowe, Warwickshire, England, 11 January 1623/4. The grandson of a second son, I had little chance of inheriting titles, land, or fortune. King Charles I appointed my cousin William Berkeley the royal governor of Virginia and, although I was just 16, I decided to join him in the New World.

On 18 April 1644 Indians attacked our settlements, massacring about 300. I was then at the home of Sarah Woodson, wife of Dr. John Woodson whom the Indians killed. Using my 8-foot gun, I killed 3 Indians with the first shot, then 2 with the second. I fired a third time as they fled, killing 7 in all. This gun with “Ligon” still carved in the stock, is now at the Virginia Historical Society.

Around 1648-50 I married Mary Harris, the daughter of Capt. Thomas Harris, and we were the parents of 7 children.

Berkeley appointed me to represent him in many matters. Because colonial records for Henrico and Charles City counties were mostly destroyed, little evidence of my official acts remains.

In 1656 I was a member of the House of Burgesses at Jamestown, where I was a member of “ye Committee for private Causes.” Maj. William Harris, my brother-in-law, was the other burgess representing Henrico County. I was a justice for Charles City County 1 August 1657, a militia colonel, and county surveyor from 1667 to my death in 1675.

Mary survived me 29 years. Able to fend for herself, she never remarried. Like me, she was handy with a gun, earning a bounty for killing 2 wolves in 1678. She once got into a dispute with our son William, and when she failed to evict him from her land, she left his heirs out of her will.

Colonel Thomas Ligon, III

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Col Thomas III "Ligon" Lygon· Memorial
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Learn about sponsoring this memorial...Birth: Jan. 11, 1623
Walsgrave on Sowe
Warwickshire, EnglandDeath: Mar. 16, 1675
Henrico County
Virginia, USA
This memorial is dedicated to my ancestor Thomas Ligon.
He was baptized on 11 Jan 1623/4, Walsgrave-on-Sowe, Warwickshire, England. The Lygon family is a very ancient and prestigious family in England. Thomas came to Virginia in the 1640s and married by 1649, Mary Harris, daughter of Thomas and Adria Harris.

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If Col. Lygon could speak to us today, he might describe his life as follows.
I was baptized at Walsgrave-on-Sowe, Warwickshire, England, 11 January 1623/4. The grandson of a second son, I had little chance of inheriting titles, land, or fortune. King Charles I appointed my cousin William Berkeley the royal governor of Virginia and, although I was just 16, I decided to join him in the New World.
On 18 April 1644 Indians attacked our settlements, massacring about 300. I was then at the home of Sarah Woodson, wife of Dr. John Woodson whom the Indians killed. Using my 8-foot gun, I killed 3 Indians with the first shot, then 2 with the second. I fired a third time as they fled, killing 7 in all. This gun with Ligon still carved in the stock, is now at the Virginia Historical Society.
Around 1648-50 I married Mary Harris, the daughter of Capt. Thomas Harris, and we were the parents of 7 children.
Berkeley appointed me to represent him in many matters. Because colonial records for Henrico and Charles City counties were mostly destroyed, little evidence of my official acts remains.
In 1656 I was a member of the House of Burgesses at Jamestown, where I was a member of ye Committee for private Causes. Maj. William Harris, my brother-in-law, was the other Burgess representing Henrico County. I was a justice for Charles City County 1 August 1657, a militia colonel, and county surveyor from 1667 to my death in 1675.
Mary survived me 29 years. Able to fend for herself, she never remarried. Like me, she was handy with a gun, earning a bounty for killing 2 wolves in 1678. She once got into a dispute with our son William, and when she failed to evict him from her land, she left his heirs out of her will.

Family links:
Parents:
Thomas Lygon (1586 - 1626)
Elizabeth Pratt Lygon (1602 - 1631)

Spouse:
Mary Harris Lygon (1625 - 1703)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial:
Unknown
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Record added: May 11, 2013
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Added: Feb. 3, 2015MY 9TH GREAT GRANDFATHER.
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