Virginia Magazine of History and Bibliography, Vol. 2, p. 60: (Speaking of the First legislative Assembly in America sitting at Jamestown, VA, 1619): "The representatives for Charles City were Samuel Sharp and Samuel Jordan, names that have been honored in the subsequent history of Virginia. Samuel Jordan came to Virginia at an early date. His plantation was perhaps the first in Virginia to which an alliterative name was given. It was called 'Jordan's Journey.' He survived the Indian Massacre, and gathered some of the stragglers about him at a place called 'Beggar's Bush,' where we are told 'he fortified and lived in despight of the Enemy.' Within a few weeks after his death, in 1623, his widow, Cecily, distinguished herself greatly by introducing into the Colony the art of flirting, an art which has been practiced somewhat in Virginia ever since. It was alleged that she had accepted two suitors, the Reverend Greville Pooley, and Mr. William Ferrar. Each claimed her hand. Their hot dispute as carried before the Council. That body, after solemn consideration, declared that the case was too knotty for them, and referred it to the Council in London. We are not informed as to their decision." (she married Farrar, I believe) p. 405 -- in a small article about "The Genealogy of The Cocke Family of Virginia, prepared by James C. Southall": Richard Cocke, born about 1600, died 1665 . . . His relative, Thomas Jordan, represented Warrosquyoake in the Assembly of 1632." In the will of Richard Cocke there is a legacy to his "cousin Daniel Jordan." Samuel Jordan was a member of the first Legislative Assembly in Virginia from Charles City (1619); his plantation was called in the alliterative style of that day, 'Jordan's Journey.' Thomas Jordan was Burgess for Isle of Wight 1629, 31, 32. Richard Jordan was a Burgess in 1676 and Sheriff of Nansemond in 1718. George Jordan was a Burgess from James City County in 1644. The name Jordan was also a prominent one at the beginning of the eighteenth century in Bristol Parish (Prince George). Volume 3, p. 186: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents Note [211] Thomas Jordan [1],900 acres in the County of Warrosquoiacke, near the head of Warrosquoiacke River, beginning at the western side of an old Indian town. Due for the transfer of 18 persons. By West July 2d., 1635 NOTE [I] Thomas Jordan was born in 1600 and was living in Virginia in 1624 (Hotten); Burgess for Warrosquoiacke (Isle of Wight) 1629, 1631, and Sept. 1632, and Commissioner in 1627. His descendants have been numerous in Isle of Wight, and one branch of the family possessed the land granted in the patent above until about 1840, when it was owned by Thomas Jordan who married Celia Cosby and had six sons, all of whom died without issue. Richard Jordan was Burgess for Isle of Wight 1676. Thoas Jordan Sheriff of Nansemond in 1718. Thomas Jordan patented land in Nansemond in 1666. James M. Jordan member of the House of Delegates from Isle of Wight 1824. Dr. George H. Jordan member of the House of Delegates from Isle of Wight 1879-80.

I thought that was an amusing turn of phrase -- that Cecily Jordan had "distinguished herself greatly by introducing into the Colony the art of flirting." Julia Cherry Spruill, in her book "Women's Life and Work in the Southern Colonies," mentions this same case. She says: "In 1623 Virginia had an exciting breach-of-promise case featuring Mistress Cicely Jordan, a young and wealthy widow with variable affections. A few days after the death of Captain Samuel Jordan, the Reverend Greville Pooley, mindful of the desirabilit of his widow and fearful lest a rival precede him, presuaded his friend Captain Isaac Madison to broach for him a proposal of marriage. Madison, reluctant to "meddle in such business," nevertheless approached the widow and returned with the answer that she would as soon marry Pooley as anyone but intimating that she thought such haste not quite decent. Thus encouraged, Pooley visited her and secured a promise of marriage, but with the understanding that he would not reveal their engagement until she thought "the time fitting." But the parson, evidently too elated over his success to keep it to himself, and possibly, too, hoping to bind the widow more firmly, told it. Whereupon the high-spirited lady, angered by his exposing her unseemly haste, and finding another suitor more to her liking, engaged herself to him, declaring of the discarded parson that he "had fared better had he talked less." Pooley sued the widow for breach of promise, but he not only lost his case but had to give bond in the sum of five hundred pounds "never to have any claim, right or title to her." Ms. Spruill references Bruce's "Social Life of Virginia," pp. 224-26 for this information. This is the only reference in the book to a Jordan. --- [email protected] wrote: > Virginia Magazine of History and Bibliography, Vol. 2, p. 60: > > (Speaking of the First legislative Assembly in America sitting > at Jamestown, > VA, 1619): "The representatives for Charles City were Samuel > Sharp and Samuel > Jordan, names that have been honored in the subsequent history > of Virginia. > Samuel Jordan came to Virginia at an early date. His > plantation was perhaps > the first in Virginia to which an alliterative name was given. > It was called > 'Jordan's Journey.' He survived the Indian Massacre, and > gathered some of > the stragglers about him at a place called 'Beggar's Bush,' > where we are told > 'he fortified and lived in despight of the Enemy.' Within a > few weeks after > his death, in 1623, his widow, Cecily, distinguished herself > greatly by > introducing into the Colony the art of flirting, an art which > has been > practiced somewhat in Virginia ever since. It was alleged > that she had > accepted two suitors, the Reverend Greville Pooley, and Mr. > William Ferrar. > Each claimed her hand. Their hot dispute as carried before > the Council. > That body, after solemn consideration, declared that the case > was too knotty > for them, and referred it to the Council in London. We are > not informed as > to their decision." (she married Farrar, I believe) ===== Heather [email protected] http://members.tripod.com/eponalady/MainGenealogyPage.html