Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
Pioneers of St. Clair County, Michigan - Person Sheet
NameJohn CONGDON 
Birthabt 1604, England2555, p 11
Removalabt 1639, Virginia2555, pp 12-3 Age: 35
Deathabt 1645, York County, Virginia2555, p 26 Age: 41
FlagsEarliest Immigrant
FatherWilliam CONGDON (~1584-)
MotherEleanor STOCKTON (~1588->1640)
Individual Notes
• THE EARLY BACKGROUND OF THE VIRGINIA CONGDONS.
In the Foreword to this Chapter regarding the Virginia Congdons it has been indicated that the first Congdon to migrate to America came to Charles River County (now York Co.), Virginia. It is of interest to give at this time, the early background of this John Congdon, the Cavalier to Virginia, since he was connected with several prominent allied families, both in England and early Virginia history. We will start therefore with the family of William and Eleanor (Stockton) Congdon with residence as far as can be ascertained from the records resided near London, Middlesex Co., England.
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND ELEANOR (STOCKTON) OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, ENGLAND.
M.12. John Congdon (b. 1604 + or -). He was the son of William and Eleanor (Stockton) Congdon of Middlesex Co., England. He married Mary Herbert (b. 1610 + or -), dau. of Sir Phillip and Susan (Vere) Herbert about 1633. Sir Phillip Herbert was the 4th Earl of Pembroke and the 1st Earl of Montgomery.
John Congdon is recorded as the first English Congdon to emigrate to the English Colonies, when he was brought to Charles River County (now York County), Virginia by Capt. Christopher Wormeley, with patent for head right to Wormeley, dated 27th of January, 1638, for the 2nd year of adventure, with John Congdon being 15th person on the list in patent. The proof of this emigration to Virginia by John Congdon was copied from the original record in Patent Book, Part II, now in the Land Office, Richmond, Virginia. (page 11)
From the early records John and Mary (Herbert) Congdon of Virginia had three sons: Benjamin (b. ca 1634); John (b. ca 1635); and David (b. ca 1636) Congdon. The first son always went by the name of Congdon, but the last two sons adopted the shortening of the name to Condon. (page 15)2555
• He transported John(1) Congdon to Charles River County (now York Co.) Va., his patent dated for the adventure on Jan. 27th, 1638.2555, p 8
• Vol. I-p 82, Yorktown Records, Va.; Deed John Congdon to Edward Persival, Planter, dated May 21, 1639; 25 acres, County Charles River. Back Creek. 2 boarded houses &c. Letters Patent dated Aug. 21, 1638.2375, p 212
• I have spent time at the Virginia State Library in Richmond going over all the available records, but many of the pertinent ones, for Gloucester County were destroyed. Nowhere, in any of the primary or first hand accounts does it say the names of John Congdon's three orphans. The assumption that their names were Benjamin, John, and David was made in later, secondary sources. One of the first genealogical accounts, written by Clark, says that it is “assumed” that their names were Benjamin, John, and David, but it does not tell what evidence she used to come to that assumption. Unfortunately, others have jumped on the bandwagon, and by now it is almost taken as fact that they were Benjamin, John, and David. That is where I get hung up; there is no evidence that I know of, to verify it. If you know of any, please advise me.2777
• John Connydon (or Conngdon), 208 acres in Pyanketank Bay, July 1, 1642. Near land of William English, down the bay into the narrow or head of Milford Haven. Transportation of his wife and 3 persons.
The above land was in Kingston Parish, near the land of William English in Gloucester County (now a part of Matthews Co.), Virginia. This place appears to have been his home until he and his wife died prior to 1646, but there is record that this land was still in the possession of his orphans up to March 1657, according to patents of William English, Richard Carey, and George Poyndexter.2555, p 14
• At this time just before Sept. 1651, at the death of Ralph (10) Wormeley, the children of John Congdon were presumably, at the ages of 17, 16, and 15 years of age, respectively, and while there is no record that these orphans of John Congdon were under the guardianship of this branch of the Wormely family, after the death of Ralph (10) Wormeley, Sr., they probably were under the guardianship of Sir Henry Chicheley, who married the widow of Ralph (10) Wormeley, Sr., who at his death had a young son, Ralph (11), Jr., born in 1650.2555, p 10
• [His] first son always went by the name of Congdon, but the last two sons adopted the shortening of the name of CONDON.2555, p 15
In the Foreword to this Chapter regarding the Virginia Congdons it has been indicated that the first Congdon to migrate to America came to Charles River County (now York Co.), Virginia. It is of interest to give at this time, the early background of this John Congdon, the Cavalier to Virginia, since he was connected with several prominent allied families, both in England and early Virginia history. We will start therefore with the family of William and Eleanor (Stockton) Congdon with residence as far as can be ascertained from the records resided near London, Middlesex Co., England.
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND ELEANOR (STOCKTON) OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, ENGLAND.
M.12. John Congdon (b. 1604 + or -). He was the son of William and Eleanor (Stockton) Congdon of Middlesex Co., England. He married Mary Herbert (b. 1610 + or -), dau. of Sir Phillip and Susan (Vere) Herbert about 1633. Sir Phillip Herbert was the 4th Earl of Pembroke and the 1st Earl of Montgomery.
John Congdon is recorded as the first English Congdon to emigrate to the English Colonies, when he was brought to Charles River County (now York County), Virginia by Capt. Christopher Wormeley, with patent for head right to Wormeley, dated 27th of January, 1638, for the 2nd year of adventure, with John Congdon being 15th person on the list in patent. The proof of this emigration to Virginia by John Congdon was copied from the original record in Patent Book, Part II, now in the Land Office, Richmond, Virginia. (page 11)
From the early records John and Mary (Herbert) Congdon of Virginia had three sons: Benjamin (b. ca 1634); John (b. ca 1635); and David (b. ca 1636) Congdon. The first son always went by the name of Congdon, but the last two sons adopted the shortening of the name to Condon. (page 15)2555
• He transported John(1) Congdon to Charles River County (now York Co.) Va., his patent dated for the adventure on Jan. 27th, 1638.2555, p 8
• Vol. I-p 82, Yorktown Records, Va.; Deed John Congdon to Edward Persival, Planter, dated May 21, 1639; 25 acres, County Charles River. Back Creek. 2 boarded houses &c. Letters Patent dated Aug. 21, 1638.2375, p 212
• I have spent time at the Virginia State Library in Richmond going over all the available records, but many of the pertinent ones, for Gloucester County were destroyed. Nowhere, in any of the primary or first hand accounts does it say the names of John Congdon's three orphans. The assumption that their names were Benjamin, John, and David was made in later, secondary sources. One of the first genealogical accounts, written by Clark, says that it is “assumed” that their names were Benjamin, John, and David, but it does not tell what evidence she used to come to that assumption. Unfortunately, others have jumped on the bandwagon, and by now it is almost taken as fact that they were Benjamin, John, and David. That is where I get hung up; there is no evidence that I know of, to verify it. If you know of any, please advise me.2777
• John Connydon (or Conngdon), 208 acres in Pyanketank Bay, July 1, 1642. Near land of William English, down the bay into the narrow or head of Milford Haven. Transportation of his wife and 3 persons.
The above land was in Kingston Parish, near the land of William English in Gloucester County (now a part of Matthews Co.), Virginia. This place appears to have been his home until he and his wife died prior to 1646, but there is record that this land was still in the possession of his orphans up to March 1657, according to patents of William English, Richard Carey, and George Poyndexter.2555, p 14
• At this time just before Sept. 1651, at the death of Ralph (10) Wormeley, the children of John Congdon were presumably, at the ages of 17, 16, and 15 years of age, respectively, and while there is no record that these orphans of John Congdon were under the guardianship of this branch of the Wormely family, after the death of Ralph (10) Wormeley, Sr., they probably were under the guardianship of Sir Henry Chicheley, who married the widow of Ralph (10) Wormeley, Sr., who at his death had a young son, Ralph (11), Jr., born in 1650.2555, p 10
• [His] first son always went by the name of Congdon, but the last two sons adopted the shortening of the name of CONDON.2555, p 15
Spouses
Birthabt 16102555, p 11
Deathabt 1645, York County, Virginia2555, p 26 Age: 35
FatherSir Philip HERBERT (1584-1650)
MotherSusan DE VERE (~1586-)
Individual Notes
• Parents putative; she is given as having died unmarried.2778,2573, p 2
• [excerpts] That Elizabeth Albro, daughter of John Albro, did marry Benjamin Congdon abt. 1741 [sic; should be 1671] is not in dispute. The issue is whether or not Benjamin’s mother was a daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. This time the claim is a long-standing Congdon family tradition, albeit lacking documentary proof. Beaman states that “Benjamin CONGDON b ca 1642 probably near St. David, Pembrokeshire, Wales, according to secondary sources the son of John Congdon (br 1610) and a daughter of an Earl of Pembroke.”
Thus there is no recorded evidence in support of the claim that John Congdon married a daughter of an Earl of Pembroke.2573, p 2
• Dear Mr Rumbold,
Frequent enquiries are made to us regarding the survival and whereabouts of records relating to the Earls of Pembroke in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly the 3rd and 4th Earls. Unfortunately, there has been an almost total loss of family and estate records before about 1730. Some of this must have been caused by the fire at Wilton House in 1647. However, a pedigree of the Herberts, in the Wilton House collection, taken from A Complete English Peerage, c1760, shows that the 4th Earl’s daughter Mary died unmarried.
Robert Jago
Archivist2779
• [excerpts] That Elizabeth Albro, daughter of John Albro, did marry Benjamin Congdon abt. 1741 [sic; should be 1671] is not in dispute. The issue is whether or not Benjamin’s mother was a daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. This time the claim is a long-standing Congdon family tradition, albeit lacking documentary proof. Beaman states that “Benjamin CONGDON b ca 1642 probably near St. David, Pembrokeshire, Wales, according to secondary sources the son of John Congdon (br 1610) and a daughter of an Earl of Pembroke.”
Thus there is no recorded evidence in support of the claim that John Congdon married a daughter of an Earl of Pembroke.2573, p 2
• Dear Mr Rumbold,
Frequent enquiries are made to us regarding the survival and whereabouts of records relating to the Earls of Pembroke in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly the 3rd and 4th Earls. Unfortunately, there has been an almost total loss of family and estate records before about 1730. Some of this must have been caused by the fire at Wilton House in 1647. However, a pedigree of the Herberts, in the Wilton House collection, taken from A Complete English Peerage, c1760, shows that the 4th Earl’s daughter Mary died unmarried.
Robert Jago
Archivist2779
Marriageabt 1633, London?, England2555, p 11,2780, marriage only
Marriage Notes
• Frequent enquiries are made to us regarding the survival and whereabouts of records relating to the Earls of Pembroke in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly the 3rd and 4th Earls. Unfortunately, there has been an almost total loss of family and estate records before about 1730. Some of this must have been caused by the fire at Wilton House in 1647. However, a pedigree of the Herberts, in the Wilton House collection, taken from A Complete English Peerage, c1760, shows that the 4th Earl’s daughter Mary died unmarried.
Robert Jago
Archivist2779
Robert Jago
Archivist2779