William Overton

According to "America's First Families" William Overton of New Kent and Hanover Counties, VA was an original landed proprietor and colonel under Oliver Cromwell."

William Overton came to Virginia before 1659.

It is generally believed and stated, although without absolute proof, that Gen. Robert Overton was the father of the Virginia immigrant. He was one of Oliver Cromwell's chief officers, and distinguished himself at the battle of Marston Moor. He accompanied Cromwell to Scotland in 1650, and commanded a brigade of Ironsides at the battle of Dunbar. He was a soldier and scholar and an intimate friend of Milton. He ended his years as a political prisoner in the Tower of London. He married, in 1632, Anne, daughter of Jeremy Gardiner of Stratford Bow, Middlesex, England.

b. He is believed to have emigrated to Virginia shortly after his marriage in 1670 (another source states that they were married at Yorktown, on board the vessel in which Elizabeth Waters had come to Virginia). A book called Josephus, which was in the possession of their daughter, Barbara (Overton) Winston, and which she passed, in her will, to her son, John Winston, and through several generations after that, was destroyed in a fire, but not before several written copies of its entries had been made by several different descendants. These were entries of William Overton, his date of birth and marriage, and the names and dates of birth of his children. Some records call his wife Mary, others Elizabeth, which appears to be the case also with one of their daughters. But the will of Ann Waters, dated 7 Sep 1697, of St. Sepulchre, London, England, specifically calls her daughter Elizabeth Overton "now in Virginia". Also named as being in Virginia is her brother, John Waters. A deed is recorded in the Virginia land books for 4,600 acres of land on the south side of Pamunky River on Falling Creek, 23 April 1681, to William Overton, for transporting 92 persons to the colony, including Elizabeth Overton; this would appear to indicate that he had indeed married Elizabeth in England. An additional grant, dated 29 Oct 1690, was made to William Overton for 837 acres lying in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co. (now Hanover) for transporting 17 persons.