Isle of Wight County, Virginia

The lands of this county were originally part of one of the original eight shires of the Colony of Virginia. Warrosquyoake Shire, previously known as Warascoyack County, was formed in 1634. The Puritans were the first white settlers there, and they suffered heavy losses during the Great Massacre of 1622. Following the massacre, a fort was built and the Warraskoyak Indians were driven from the area. 

The shire was renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637, and this county would eventually contribute additional land to Brunswick County in 1732, though Brunswick was formed from Prince George County in 1720. Greensville County would be cut from Brunswick in 1780. From Isle of Wight was also formed Southampton County in 1748.

Present day Isle of Wight County is located south of the James River, and its southern boundary is the Blackwater River. A more detailed accounting of this region can be found in an article entitled "A Brief History of Isle of Wight County, Virginia" ➚.

THOMAS BUTLER, who married John Brewer I's widow, Marie/Mary

The following was taken from The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 3, pages 182-184 ➚

"THOMAS BUTLER, Clarke and Pastor of Denbie, 1000 acres in the County of Warrosquoiacke, within a small river that falleth into the bay of Nanzemond and runneth on the back of the land of George Fawdor and John Perrot, the land beginning at a Cedar point about two miles within the mouth of the said river upon the south side thereof, running southerly to an Indian Town &c., the said land being the right of John Brewer Esq., 50 acres due for his own personal adventure, 50 for the personal adventure of his wife Marie Brewer, and the other 900 for the transportation of 18 persons (names below), which said John Brewer deceasing, and said Thomas Butler Clarke, marrying with Marie Brewer, his relict [widow], said land transferred to said Butler. Grant by West June 11, 1635.

"John Potter, Rice Davis, Elizabeth Rawell, Elizabeth Wallis, Ann Williams, Susanna Williamson, Dorias Hound, John Jordan, Dennis Mahoney, Edward Willis, Redman Fitzgarret, Nicholas Welsh, Thos. Kethe, John Langston, Micheal Babbington, Roger Williams, Robert Johnson and Thos. Witney."

An addition note was included as follows:

"The land granted in this patent is still known as "Brewer's Neck," and lies between Brewer's and Chuckatuck Creeks. John Brewer, mentioned in the patent, was a member of the House of Burgesses for Warwick River 1629-30, commissioner, member of the Council 1632, and died in or before 1635. His will has been published in Waters' Gleanings in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register... Administration [of John Brewer's will] was granted to the widow, Mary Brewer, als Butler, the testator being said to have lately died in Virginia. It is probable that the son, John, was the person of the name who was Burgess for Isle of Wight in 1657-8. The name was continued in Nansemond to the present day. Paul Brewer owned land in Nansemond in 1717. Thomas Brewer was vestryman of Newport parish, Isle of Wight, in 1722. John Brewer patented land in Isle of Wight in 1742. Thomas Brewer was sheriff of Isle of Wight 1725. In the General Court record-book, under date November 20th, 1671, it is stated that Mr. John Harloe informed the court that Mr. Anthony Holliday [of Nansemond or Isle of Wight], who married the widow of Mr. John brewer, held more land in Warcick county than the patent called for."