More on the case for Jane Drury

Note from Wanda Stith Hagen 3 April 2000:  

Here are my compliments to Harriet Fast Scott. I agree with her %100 and found the information she supplied about JANE DRURY to agree with what I have in my files. Refer to my book, "The Stith Family, Vol. I" p.18 etc. which discusses my theory that John Stith's wife was named "DRURY' and not "Mosby". I think it is possible that Thomas Drewe was her uncle and that her father may have not come to the colonies or perhaps have died but I have no verification. This is a puzzle that keeps coming up and it would be a great break through if it was solved!!

Although I have had a correspondent send me information that her surname was "Bolling" I never found that to be accurate and he had no verification for it. Harriet's explanation is the best I have seen and very thorough. - Wanda

Excerpt from:

The Stith Family Part 1, Virginia, by Wanda Stith Hagen, printed by Access Laserpress, Phoenix, Arizona, 1994.

Parts of pages 18 and 19 follow along with the reference page for the chapter, page 22.

   Speculation has it that Jane's surname may have been Drury or Drewry, because the given name of "Drury" was passed on for many generations, not only through male descendants, but also through female descendants. It has been suggested that Thomas Drewe may have been the father of: Jane and that the name "Drewry" was derived from "Drewe". This is disproved by a Charles City County court order,
                                  18

Vol. 13, p. 5'39, as follows: Deed of Gift, 11 Nov. 1665. Lt. Col. Thomas Drewe gave six negroes to his "...dear and onely(sic) child Dorothy Drew...." It says that if she dies before marriage they go to his "...Brother George Drew, Exqr. of the realme of England...."

    It has also been suggested that Jane's surname may have been "Mosby"; however, this is not probable, since none of her children were named either "Edward" or "Mosby". A reasonable probability would be that Edward Mosby may have been the father of the first wife of Joseph Parsons, and therefore would be the grandfather of Judith Parsons. After the death of Jane's second husband, Joseph Parsons, "Edward Mosby" had been made guardian of Joseph's daughter, Judith Parsons. By an order in Westover Court, October 27, 1656, Edward Mosby was ordered to pay "Tho. Drewe" for the expenses of the funeral of ".. Joseph Parsons and other dues...."13 In another court order it is ordered that "...John Stith pay to Edd Mosby 3,'8 sterl' pd by him to Mr Thomas Drew for nesecaris for the funeral of Joseph Parsons...''l4 When John Stith and Jane Parsons were married, Edward Mosby retained guardianship of Judith. The marriage had taken place about October, 1656, and it was seven years later on December 3, 1663, only after the death of Mosby, that: John Stith was granted guardianship of the girl.15 In a Westover Court record of April 12, 1664, it is mentioned that the orphan of Joseph Parsons had been "...in the care of Edd Mosby, Dec'd...."l6 Judith was probably about sixteen to eighteen years of age at this time, because in Westover Court' October 18, 1664, there is an agreement between John Stith and "Richard" Mosby, concerning the estate of Judith Parsons, whereby Mosby is to pay Stith half of the estate of "Ed" Mosby by Christmas, 1605 and the other half by Christmas, 1666 It states that in the case of marriage of the orphan, the payment is to be made to her husband, therefore she may be near the marrying age. "Richard" may have been the son of Edward Mosby and for some reason the estate of Judith Parsons had become a part of his father's estate. In another abstract, recorded at about this same time and dated October 3, 1665, Richard Mosby gave a deposition in a lawsuit (not relative to this family), and his age is listed as "about 39". This would be a probable age for him to be Judith's uncle. Judging from many court records which involved John Stith, he was not a man who bargained easily, therefore this contract suggests that these people were all part of his family or his wife's family.

1. Fleet, Beverly, Virginia Colonial Abstracts Vol. 10, Gen. Pub. Co. Baltimore, 1961 p.91 Charles City County Court Orders (C10-p.116) Merchants Hope

2. Hotten, John Camden, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600- 1760, p.141, Pub.1931 "Importation of Howell Pryse" age 25 -Taken oath of Alleg. "being husbandman" - To be transported to the Barbadoes, imbarqued in the Expedition of Mr. Peter Blackler, from England - 20 Nov. 1635

3. Greer, G. C. Early Virginia Immigrants - 1623-1666 Pub. 1912, a collection of the original records of the land office in Richmond, Virginia

4. Fleet, Va. Col. Abstracts Vol. 10, p. 44 (C10, p.58)

5. Foley, Louise Pledge Heath, Early Virginia Families Along The James River - Vol. II, Gen. Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1980, pp.3,0,31,46 - (500 acres, Chas. City Co. Pat. Book 3, p.299) (550 acres, Book 3, p.304) (636 acres, Book 6, p.555) (263 acres, Book 7, p.244)
6. Fleet, Vol. 10, p.54 (Charles City Co. Court Order Book 10, p.69)
7. Fleet, Vol. 11, p.96/97 (C11, p.277)
8. Fleet, Vol. 10, p.63 (C10, p.81)
9. Fleet, Vol. 13, p.19 (C13, p.516)

10. More information about Bacon's Rebellion: Chpt. I 'DRURY STITH(2) AND SUSANNAH BATHURST"