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Earliest Brocks in Virginia

Page Updated 4 Oct 2007

The first permanent settlement in North America began in 1607 at Jamestown, VA, twenty-two years after the Roanoke Colony and forty years after the Spanish landed at what is now St. Augustine, Florida.

The earliest English colony in North America was the Roanoke Colony brought by Ralph Lane in 1585. The passenger list included one named John Brocke. He was still there in 1587, as John Brook. John White came from England in 1587 bringing more than 100 additional soldiers, colonists, and scholars. Sometime between August of that year and 1590, when their governor returned to the island from a trip to England, all the colonists had vanished, leaving the sign CROATAN carved into a palisade of the fort and CRO on a tree.

In 1584, explorers Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe were the first to set eyes on the island. They had been sent to the area by Sir Walter Raleigh with the mission of scouting the broad sounds and estuaries in search of an ideal location for settlement. Amadas and Barlowe wrote glowing reports of Roanoke Island, and when they returned to England a year later with two Natives, Manteo and Wanchese, all of Britain was abuzz with talk of the New World's wonders.

Queen Elizabeth herself was impressed, and she granted Raleigh a patent to all the lands he could occupy. She named the new land "Virginia", in honor of the Virgin Queen, and the next year, Raleigh sent a party of 100 soldiers, craftsmen and scholars to Roanoke Island.

Under the direction of Ralph Lane, the garrison was doomed from the beginning. They arrived too late in the season for planting, and supplies were dwindling rapidly. To make matters worse, Lane, a military captain, alienated the neighboring Roanoke Indians, and ultimately sealed his own fate by murdering their chief, Wingina over a stolen cup.

By 1586, when Sir Francis Drake stopped at Roanoke after a plundering expedition, Lane and his men had had enough. They abandoned the settlement and left behind a fort, the remains of which can still be seen at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site today. Ironically, a supply ship from England arrived at Roanoke less than a week later. Finding the island deserted, the leader left behind 15 of his men to hold the fort and returned to England for reinforcements.

Raleigh was angry with Lane but not deterred from his mission. He recruited 117 men, women and children for a more permanent settlement, and appointed John White governor of the new "Cittie of Raleigh". Among the colonists were White's pregnant daughter, Eleanor Dare, his son-in-law Annanias Dare, and the Indian chief Manteo, who had become an ally during his stay in Britain.

Raleigh had since decided that the Chesapeake Bay area was a better site for settlement, and he hired Simon Fernandes, a Portuguese pilot familiar with the area, to transport the colonists there. Fernandes, however, was by trade a privateer in the escalating war between Spain and England. By the time the caravan arrived at Roanoke Island in July, 1587, to check on the 15 men left behind a year earlier, he had grown impatient with White and anxious to resume the hunt for Spanish shipping. He ordered the colonists ashore on Roanoke Island.

The colonists soon learned that Indians had murdered the 15 men and were uneasy at the prospect of remaining on Roanoke Island. But Fernandes left them no choice. They unloaded their belonging and supplies and repaired Lane's fort. On August 18, 1587, Eleanor Dare gave birth to a daughter she named Virginia, thus earning the distinction of being the first English child born on American soil. Ten days later, Ferndades departed for England, taking along an anxious John White, who hesitantly decided to return to England for supplies. It was the last time he would ever see his family.

Upon his arrival in Britain, White found himself trapped by the impending invasion of the Spanish Armada. Finally, two years after the stunning defeat of the Armada, he again departed for Roanoke Island. He arrived on August 18, 1590--his grand daughter's third birthday--and found the Cittie of Raleigh deserted, plundered, and surrounded "with a high pallisado of great trees, with cortynes and flankers, very fort-like". On one of the palisades, he found the single word "CROATOAN" carved into the surface, and the letters "CRO" carved into a nearby tree.

White knew the carvings were "to signifie the place, where I should find the planters seated, according to a secret token agreed upon betweene them and me at my last departure from them...for at my coming away, they were prepared to remove 50 miles into the maine". He had also instructed the colonists that, should they be forced to leave the island under duress, they should carve a Maltese cross above their destination. White found no such sign, and he had every hope that he would locate the colony and his family at Croatoan, the home of Chief Manteo's people south of Roanoke on present-day Hatteras Island.

Before he could make further exploration, however, a great hurricane arose, damaging his ships and forcing him back to England. Despite repeated attempts, he was never again able to raise the funding and resources to make the trip to America. Raleigh had given up hope of settlement, and White died many years later on one of Raleigh's estates, ignorant to the fate of his family and the colony.

The 117 pioneers of Roanoke Island had vanished into the great wilderness. 

 From "The Lost Colony" by Eric Hause

Today researchers of the Lost Colony Center for Science and Research actively seek to unravel the mystery of their disappearance. See the Center's website, particularly the maps of the colony's location.

The Virginia Company of London, England, commissioned three ships carrying Capt. John Smith and English colonists which arrived in what became Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. The majority of colonists died during the first winter, but some reinforcements arrived in 1608 and 1609. By the Fall of 1609 there were 450 or so colonists ~ but by spring of 1610, only 60 had survived. More reinforcements arrived and the colony managed to continue.

Virginia became a Royal Colony in 1624. To encourage continued immigration, Colonists were entitled to 50-acre patents of free land, and those who transported colonists got 50 acres for every person they transported. As a result, Virginia has excellent Patents and Grants records. The earliest Brock land patent was in 1637.

Rumored to be the progenitor of our Brock family and the father of Aaron Brock, Sr. (aka Chief Red Bird), but no evidence of him has been found, was a Reuben Brock, b. abt 1680, said to be a British soldier. Reuben was not mentioned in the old family histories from various branches of descendants. He left no record, received no Patent. He is on no extant militia list, although militia duty was required of all able-bodied males [though not all county lists have survived]. It is possible he went quickly to live with the Indians, married a Cherokee, and left no record. The parents of Reuben are unknown, if indeed he existed.

Strong oral tradition in the Brock family tells us that Aaron Brock was the treaty-signer Chief Red Bird, Tsalagi' Ugvwiyuhi Totsu'hwa, for his family has for nearly 200 years cared for his burial place as a sacred responsibility. Because the U.S. government took care to obtain the most influential Cherokee to sign treaties, he may have been the son whose name is unknown of the great Chief Willenewah, Great Eagle, and Woman Ani-Wadi. Brock descendants tested with DNA Print have a percentage of Native American DNA, but known descendants of Jesse, Jehu, Jeremiah, James, and Elder George Brock have matching Y-chromosome (patrilineal descent) DNA of haplogroup J1 European immigrant ancestry. This indicates their European ancestor married a Native American.

Aaron's son Jesse Brock was said in testimony by his grandson to be "about 3/4 Indian," so one of Jesse's parents was the child or grandchild of a European immigrant.

One such European was Christian Gottlieb Priber, who immigrated abt 1735 from Zittau, Germany, went quickly to live with the Cherokee which he saw as an idyllic lifestyle. Leaving a wife and children in Germany who he meant to send for, he instead married a daughter of the great Cherokee Chief Moytoy. Her name is unknown, but one of their four daughters married the Chickamaugan Cherokee, Chief Doublehead, who lived in the same area in Kentucky and elsewhere that Aaron Brock lived.

Who were the earliest Brock land patentees in Virginia? That's easy to find out ~ the Library of Virginia (Richmond) website has an index to and images of the patents. Earlier, the patents were abstracted and published by Nell Marion Nugent in a wonderful series of books: CAVALIERS & PIONEERS: ABSTRACTS OF VIRGINIA LAND PATENTS, available in good genealogical libraries, Vols. I-VIII.

The Brock DNA Project has revealed surprisingly the close kinship/common ancestry of Jesse Brock's descendants and those of George Brock, Sr., who was in New Kent Co., VA, by 1703. George transported (imported) six persons to VA, but was not reported as a transportee himself, which leads to the conclusion that he was not an immigrant colonist, but rather the son or grandson of one. As eight Virginia counties (shires) were created beginning 1634, the population grew and citizens moved further west away from the Tidewater, one piece of land could be in several successive counties. Two men named George Brocke and George Broche were imported (by two different men) to Virginia in June 1666 -- the first, to Lancaster Co., and the second, to "Rappahannock River." A few years could pass before the transporter was issued a patent which listed those he transported, which of course showed where his land was, but not where his transportees settled. In 1650 a William Brocas also had land on the Rappahannock River, 1750 acres in two patents.

This is the area of Virginia known as the Northern Neck. See here the animated formation map of Virginia Counties.

There were Brock records for this family in each of the following, plus several others:

 From "A HORNBOOK OF VIRGINIA HISTORY" published by the Virginia State Library in 1965:

LOUISA COUNTY was named for Princess Louisa, a daughter of George II. It was formed from Hanover in 1742. Its area is 514 square miles, and the county seat is Louisa.

HANOVER COUNTY was named for George I, who, at the time of his accession to the English throne, was Elector of Hanover, Germany. The county was formed from New Kent in 1721. Its area is 466 square miles, and the county seat is Hanover.

NEW KENT COUNTY was probably named for the English county Kent. Colonel William Claiborne, a native of Kent, was a prominent resident of the Virginia county at the time of its formation. New Kent County was formed from York about 1654. Its area is 221 square miles, and its county seat is New Kent.

YORK COUNTY was originally named Charles River, and was one of the eight shires formed in 1634. The present name was given in 1643, probably in honor of James, Duke of York, the second son of Charles I. Its area is 123 square miles, and the county seat is Yorktown.

NOTE: patent search and images are available on-line at the Library of Virginia.

The earliest Brock land patents in Virginia were:

(1) JOHN BROCK and wife BARBARY in Charles River Co. immigrated to VA bef 24 Nov 1637 when granted two patents (1) for 400 acres butting upon a point of Queens Creek, for transporting himself, his wife BARBARA BROCKE and six other persons to the Colony; and (2) 300 acres bounded by a swamp by the Indian Cabin, lying upon Queens Creek, for transporting six persons to the Colony at his own expense. On 16 Sep 1639, he was granted a patent for 300 acres butting upon Queenes &c. at the head of the Creek with the Maiden Swamp, for having transported five persons into the Colony.

In Apr 1638 John Broche, surgeon, "freely bestowed upon my godson John Major, sonne of Richard Major of Queens Cr., boate right, age 3 3/4 yrs, one cow one heifer and one yearling, etc., to be delivered when he is 18 yrs." And, in May 1638, he assigned his 400 acres in Charles River Co. to Nicholas Jarnew. Perhaps he moved from there to New Kent Co., for in Nov 1669, 50 acres granted to John Brocas, decd., was by inquisition patented by the Deputy Escheater to Jno. Broccus; and 1800 ac. granted by John Broche decd. was by inquisition patented to Capt. William Bassett by the Deputy Escheater.

JOHN BROCK's 1637 VA PATENT

(2) WILLIAM BROCK was in Lower Norfolk Co., VA by 1664 (with two patents, the first for 420 acres, the second for 100 acres for transporting 2 persons to the Colony); on 27 Sep 1680 granted a patent for 1000 acres in the parish of Lynhaven at the fresh ponds, to the Southward of Rudee - Bounded &c. 350 acres of it in the Dam neck at the head of the fresh ponds for 1000 acres);

WILLIAM BROCK's 1670 VA PATENT

(3) GEORGE BROCK (Sr.), born 1680 in England (descendants say) was in St. Peters Parish, New Kent Co., VA, by 1711/12 when he was processioned, and again 1714/15 processioned. In 1719 he received a patent for 300 ac for transporting 6 persons; the land adjoined John Sims; on the West branch of Stonehorse Creek. On the same day his neighbor John Sims' patent adjointed George Brock. The patents were signed by Governor Alexander Spotswood.

It appears that GEORGE Sr. moved to Albemarle Co., VA, where on 20 Aug 1748 he was granted a patent for 95 acres on both sides of Bremore Creek near the head. In 1752 George Brock wrote a will saying he was sick and bequeathed to his loving grandson, John Brock, the son of George Brock II, part of his plantation of 95 acres on Bremore Creek and cattle; the residue to his friend, John Melton in consideration of the care he had given to George. Patrick Napier witnessed both the deed and the will.

George Brock and his 1719 VA patent

(4) JOSEPH BROCK, Gentleman, born 1680 in Chester, England, according to descendants, received a nearly 4-page patent from King George the Second in 1738 for 7,467 acres in the Parish of St. George, Spotsylvania Co., VA.

Joseph Brock's 1738 Patent

(5) WILLIAM BROCK ~ possibly the son of #4, Joseph Brock, above?

Was he the William Brock granted a patent on 2 May 1713 in Princess Anne Co., VA, for 254 acres at a place called and known by the name of the Dam neck Joining on the fresh pond alias white marsh?

Descendants say he was b. 1694 in Spotsylvania Co., VA; md. Mary Carter, and d. 29 Jan 1768 in Spotsylvania Co.

William Brock's 1713 Patent

(6) Cousins HANSS MICHEL BRACK (JOHN MICHAEL BROCK) and (7) RUDOLPH (RUDY/RUDAL) BRACK/BROCK, settled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia ca 1732-36. In 1740 they were granted adjoining Northern Neck Patents in the portion of Orange Co., VA, which became Augusta Co.

Rudolph was born 1692 in Zweibreucken, Switzerland, moved to Germany, and he and his wife and a child immigrated from Germany aboard the ship HOPE in 1732 from Rotterdam to England, to the port of Philadelphia, PA, where they stayed a few years in Lancaster. Perhaps he was an indentured servant. He wrote his will in Augusta Co. in Jan 1748/9 which was recorded a month later.

Hanss Michel BRACK (John Michael Brock), immigrated from Germany to New York in 1709-10, stayed several years, moved to PA abt 1724, and joined a large German settlement in the portion of Orange Co., VA, which became Augusta Co., and then Shenandoah and Rockingham Co. with his cousin Rudolph Brack/Brock.

Both men had adjoining Virginia land grants in Augusta Co., probably the first land they'd ever owned. Rudolph left his interest in his surveyed but not yet granted land to his minor son George Brock.

Rudolph and John Michael Brock


(8) GEORGE BROCK, son of Rudal/Rudolfo who wrote his will in Jan 1748/9 in Augusta Co., VA, was granted on 9 Feb 1749/50 in Augusta Co. by Thomas Lord Fairfax, Baron of Cameron, Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia, for 224 acres 20 perches joining on Mary Hill (widow) and Peter Courtner on Holemans Creek. Brocks Gap in present-day Rockingham Co., VA, mentioned by George Washington in the journal of his passage there when fighting Indians, was named for him by mid 1700s. George appears to be the progenitor of a large family which went to SC.

George Brock Patent 1749/50

(9) Isaac Brock, b. 1744 Augusta Co., VA, son of Rudolph's son/George's brother Frederick Brock; d. 1845 in Buncumbe Co., NC. Descendants say he was a trader among the Cherokee (note by Lisa Mitchell on Genforum 6 Nov 2001), "trapping and establishing trade routes. In the course of his 'business' he became acquainted with various other tradesmen whose genealogies can be notated through Quaker records of SC and NC: Lamb, Lynch, Siniard, Edmondson and Thompson. 'My Josiah Brock (son of Hiram) married Sarah Clarinda (Clara) Siniard who was the daughter of James Thomas Siniard (a French Indian Trapper) and Margaret Lamb, the half sister of Chief Red Head Will Webber.' "

Isaac and his brothers and sons lived near sons of his 1st cousin George Brock.

Isaac's children were born mostly in Orange Co., NC and in Pendleton District which later became Anderson Co., SC. He served as a quartermaster in SC during the Revolution. He had brothers Reuben (b. 1754 Orange Co., NC, served in Revolution from NC, d. 1842 Anderson Co., SC), Loyd, and prob. sister Ellender. Their father is said to have been born in Germany. Isaac's tested descendants' DNA is haplogroup J2 and does NOT match that of Jesse Brock descendants.

NOTE that none of these early Virginia Brocks was REUBEN, b. ca 1680, reputed to be the father of Aaron Brock, Sr. No record of him has been found.

An article reportedly in KENTUCKY GENEALOGIST, Vol 4 (3), p. 120, 1962 ~ which I can't find and may not exist ~ says: "Aaron Brock born ca 1721, lived in Cumberland Co., VA, 1751, son Jesse settled 1799 in Knox Co., KY (later Harlan Co.). Edward Callahan born 1743 removed 1800 with wife Mahala Brock from Russell Co., VA to Clay Co., KY . . ."

Let's hope the answers to possible relationship among all these people still exist, since several early VA county records have burned. It will take continued study, and remains to be seen whether, through further research, a relationship can be proven among:

Surely REUBEN BROCK was some relation to these. Perhaps he and GEORGE were sons of WILLIAM, and it's conceivable that WILLIAM was a son of JOHN. At least with JOSEPH BROCK there is an English locale to check for parish and other records for the family.

The earliest Brock land patents in Virginia were:

John 1637, William 1664, George, Sr., 1711; William Brock 1713; Joseph 1738;

1st cousins John Michael & Rudolph Brack/Brock ca 1740

Rudolph's son George 1749;

Rudolph's grandson Isaac Brock from VA in SC

NOTE: patent search and images available on-line at the Library of Virginia.

 

 Doris

 

 Click to see/print hyperlink Pedigree, Descendant, Ancestor Reports from Doris's Gedcom on Rootsweb's WorldConnect Project. Next, in search window, type firstname, lastname of individual (no living people shown), such as, "Brock, Millard Lee"

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