First Generation  

1. John Stamper was born about 1640 in England Or VA and died in Mar 1688 in Middlesex Co, VA about age 48.

General Notes: Middlesex Co, VA, John Stamper
Middlesex Co, VA
from Jesse Stamper <Leecorydon@juno.com> Based on two facts, it is pres um ed that John Stamper was the immigrant anc estor and that he was from E ngl and. (1). at the time he arrived, the immig rants of the Virginia Colo ny w ere almost exclusively from England. (2) Jo hn Stamper's handwriti ng poin ts to English rather than Colonial origin.

The parentage of John Stamper is not known, but there are some th eo ri es on who his parents might of been. Most Stamper researchers bel ie ve he w as the son of Phillipe 'Philip' Stamper and Weniffrid 'Winifr yd e' Hodgsho n, but this is not for certain. Philip Stamper married Wenif fr id Hodgsh on on June 17, 1645, in Crosthwaite, Cumberland, England. Th ey h ave 3 reco rded children: John, Anthony, and George. John was christ en ed on May 16, 1 647. Anthony was christened on May 24, 1651. George w as bo rn on July 16, 1 654. They were all born in Crosthwaite.

However, other Stamper researchers believe John was the son of Willi am S ta mper (1610-1682/3) and Elizabeth Partridge (ca.1612-1648). Willi am la nd ed in Massachusetts from Cumberland Co, England. However, there a pp ea rs to be no records of him having a son named John.

We are not for certain when John Stamper arrived in Virginia. The ea rl ie st mention of him is in 1665, when he was one of those listed as f it f or m ilitary service.

John Stamper was a literate man. He was both a planter and a carp en te r. He was requested by both the church and the court to view the q ua li ty of carpentry work done by others. At one time he was a Maj or in t he Lan caster militia. He entertained Minister John Shepherd in h is ho me in 167 9.

Early records refer to John Stamper as 'Mr'. At that time, 'Mr .' w as th en a title used for men of high standing in their community, w ho h ad estab lished themselves as gentlemen of integrity.

It is known that John had at least one bound servant. From Court Ord er s, B ook No. 1, 1673-1680 dated February 2, 1673, page 3: 'Mary Grie r, dau ght er of Anner Grier is bound apprenticed to John Stamper'. Abo ut a ye ar aft er John's death, we find in the court orders on April 6, 16 91: 'Ma ry Grie r, Apprenticed to John Stamper decd is this day discharg ed and s et free a nd ordered to be paid Corne and Cloathes according to a ct'.


Will of John Stamper:

In ye name of God Amen. I John Stamper of ye County of Midlesex b ei ng in g ood health of body, and of sound and pfect Mind and Memory, Pr ai se be ther efore given unto Allmighty God, doe make and ordaine th is my pe sent Last W ill and Testament in manner and forme following (th at is to sa y) first a nd principally I commend my Soul into ye hands of A llmighty Go d, hopeing t hrough ye Merrits death and passion of my Savi or Jesus Chri st to have fu ll and free pardon and forgiveness of all my S ins, and to in herite everlas ting Life, and my body I commit to ye Ear th to be decent ly buried at ye di screcion of my Executors hereafter Nam ed and as touchi ng ye discreti on of all Such Temporall Estate, As it ha th pleased Allmigh ty God to best ow upon me I give and dispose there of as followeth;

first I will that my debts and funerall charge shall be paid and disch ar ge d. Item I doe give and bequeath unto My Loving Wife Carew Stam pe r, & my Lo veing Sonn John Stamper all my Temporall Estate that Lie th of C onsiste th in goods and Chattles whatsoever Jointly betwene them b oath, w ho me I do leave my Joynt and Sole Executors of this my Last Wi ll and Test ame nt. Item I leaveth Richard Robinson my Sonns guardian It em That my Lov ei ng wife aforesaid Carew Stamper doe Injoy and possess t he third pa rt of a ll my Lands for her life, and in Case that my Sonn Jo hn die befo re he come th to age my will is that my aforesaid wife Carew S tamper Sha ll Injoy a nd possess all my Lands to her and her heirs foreve r, and I d oe hereby Rev oke and disanull and make voide all former wil ls and Testame nts by me here tofore made. In Witness whereof I the said J ohn Stamp er to this my Last wi ll and Testament Sett my hand and Seale, t his nin th day of November one th ousand Six hundred Eighty and Eight-168 8. John S tamper, Seal Sealed and Delivered in ye psents of Robard Vallic ot George W ortam William Vallicot Based on two facts, it is presumed th at John Stamp er w as the immigrant ancestor and that he was from Englan d. (1) At t he ti me he arrived, the immigrants of the Virginia Colony we re almost exc lusive ly from England. (2) John Stamper's handwriting poin ts to English r ather t han colonial origins. It is known that John h ad at least one bou nd servant. From Court Orders, B ook No. 1, 1673-16 80 dated February 2, 16 73, page 3: 'Mary Grier, daught er of Anner Gri er is bound apprentic ed to John Stamper'. About a year aft er John's deat h, we find in the cou rt orders on April 6, 1691: 'Mary Grie r, Apprentic ed to John Stamper de cd is this day discharged and set free a nd order ed to be paid Corne and C loathes according to act'. The Will of John Stam per: In ye name of God Ame n. I John Stamper of ye County of Midlesex bei ng in g ood health of bod y, and of sound and pfect Mind and Memory, Prai se be ther efore given un to Allmighty God, doe make and ordaine this my p esent Last W ill and Testa ment in manner and forme following (th at is to say) first a nd principal ly I commend my Soul into ye hands of A llmighty God, hopeing t hrough ye M errits death and passion of my Savi or Jesus Christ to have fu ll and fr ee pardon and forgiveness of all my S ins, and to inherite everlas ting Lif e, and my body I commit to ye Ear th to be decently buried at ye di screci on of my Executors hereafter Nam ed and as touching ye discreti on of all S uch Temporall Estate, As it ha th pleased Allmighty God to best ow up on me I give and dispose there of as followeth;

• Military: 1687. ¹

• Will Date: 9 Nov 1688.

John married Dorcas before 1660 in Prob Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA. Dorcas was born about 1645 and died on 16 Jul 1667 in Middlesex Co, VA² about age 22.

Marriage Notes: prob Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA

The child from this marriage was:

   2 M    i. Jonathan Stamper was born about 1660.

John next married Elizabeth about 1677 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA. Elizabeth was born about 1645 and died on 29 Apr 1683 in Middlesex Co, VA² about age 38. Another name for Elizabeth was Elizabeth Dandridge?.

Children from this marriage were:

+ 3 M    i. John Stamper was born on 29 Aug 1677 in Middlesex Co, VA, was christened on 8 Oct 1677, and died in Philadelphia, PA.

   4 M    ii. Joseph Stamper was born about 1680 in Prob Middlesex Co, VA.

+ 5 M    iii. Thomas Stamper was born about 1680 in PA.

John next married Cary / Carew on 8 May 1684 in Christ Church, Middlesex Co, VA.³ Cary was born about 1650, died on 2 Sep 1720 in Middlesex Co, VA² about age 70, and was buried on 4 Sep 1720 in Middlesex Co, VA.

Marriage Notes: Middlesex Co, VA

The child from this marriage was:

+ 6 M    i. Powell Stamper was born about 1685 in Middlesex Co, VA, died on 22 May 1727 in Middlesex Co, VA² about age 42, and was buried on 23 May 1727 in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex Co, VA.