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Col. George W. Eskridge Sr. (1) was born on 30 Sep 1660 in Lancashire, Wales, England. He was buried in 1735 in Cople Parish Church Cemetery, Va.. He died on 25 Nov 1735 in Westmoreland Co., VA.

Notes from the biography of George Washinon:

Colonel George Eskridge, a deputy to the Virginia House of Burgess for many years in the first half of the 18th century, was a guardian to Mary Ball, the mother of George Washington the founder of our country. It is stated that Colonel Eskridge, who died in 1735, came to America about 1670, probably from Lancashire. From a story about George Washington's baptism..."One of these is a certain important gentleman from "down the river", Col. George Eskridge of Sandy Pointe-- he so belongs in the picture. He is a full-faced, dignified man, an eminent lawyer, and of high standing in the community. He long was the faithful guardian of young Mary Ball, now the wife of Augustine, and the mother of the child to be baptized. Much honor is come to him this day." George Washington descended from the Lancaster Ball Family through is mother, Mary Ball. Mary Ball was born in 1708 to Joseph Ball and Mary Montague Johnson. Her father died only a few years after his daughter was born. Mary's mother remarried a man named Richard Hewes. By 1721, when Mary was only thirteen, both her mother and stepfather had died. Colonel George Eskridge, a close family friend was appointed her guardian and Mary lived at his home in Sandy Point, Westmoreland Co. Va. until she married Augustine Washington. Mary met Augustine when she visited her half brother Joseph Ball in Loudon Co. Va. The two were married in 1731 at Sandy Point.

Notes from Family Tree Maker Website:

From Family Tree Maker, World Family Tree Vol. I, #2687, submitted by James B. Jenkins: "Col. George Eskridge came from Lancaster, England, who in 1670 was seized in Wales by press gang and who carried him aboard a ship bound for Virginia where he was sold to a planter as an indentured servant for 8 years. When freed, he returned to England to get his law degree and then came back to northern neck of Virginia between the Potomac and Rappahannock. He settled in Westmoreland County, VA in 1696. He was an eminent lawyer, served ten years as member of the house of Burgesses and a member of Quorum and King's Attorneys. His plantation of many thousand acres (land grants show 12,644 acres) was called Sandy Point and was located on the historic Potomac River. He played an important part in the life of our first President, George Washington. His [George Washington] mother's name was Mary Ball. Her father referred to her as 'his little rose of Epping Forest’. He died when she was about 3 years old. Her mother also died a few years later and in her will she named George Eskridge as the guardian of Mary. She spent her girlhood in the Eskridge home and later married a neighbor, Augustine Washington. The marriage took place at Sandy Point. When her first child was born, the son was named for Mary's much-loved guardian. Col. George was neighbor and friend to the Washington’s, Lees and Carters, of Virginia. He was a vestryman of Yeocomico Episcopal Church (est. 1655) in Virginia. He was the first Eskridge to come to America. His portrait, together with that of his wife Rebecca Bonum, hung for several years at Mount Vernon plantation but is now in the Department of Archives of the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, Va. Further reference to George Eskridge is in the Eskridge drawer in the Westmoreland County Museum, Va.--'Cleveland Co. Heritage' pages 218-222"

                  

   Yeocomico Episcopal Church Grave Yard                  Yeocomico Episcopal Church

Yeocomico Church

On Rt. 606 between Kinsale and Tucker Hill Va. Yeocomico Church is the oldest active church in the country. Originally built in 1655 of oak timbers sheathed with clapboards, the church was rebuilt in 1706 with bricks

The following is an Abstract of the will of Col. George Eskridge:

In the name of God I George Eskridge of the county of Westmoreland do make this my Last Will and Testament. Imprimis I give unto my son Samuel and his heirs forever the house and plantation where I now live containing eight Hundred Acres be the same more or less bounding upon the lands of John Crucher and Robert Ball and a Ditch made by me to divide this land from another tract I have upon the River and from the Ditch to John King's Creek including a parcel of Land I bought from One Rust. Item 1. give unto my son William Eskridge and the heirs of his body Lawfully begotten my tract of Land upon the River adjoining the aforesaid tract given to my son Samuel. Item 1 give to my Loving wife the aforesaid house and plantation and Lands before given to my son Samuel during her natural life- also I give to my said wife all the slaves she brought to me in marriage with their increase and ten other of my slaves during her natural life and after her death. I give the said slaves I had with her in marriage to my Daughter Elizabeth and her heirs forever. I give my land a Machotic commonly called Machotic Quarter in Westmoreland County to my son Robert and his heirs forever. I give unto my four sons of my son George deceased four slaves apiece when they respectively arrive at the age of twenty-one years. I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth and her heirs a tract of land I have at Polrick in Prince William County and all slaves and stock upon the same. I give to my aforesaid son Samuel and his heirs five hundred acres of land part of a tract at a place called Flatlick in Prince William County to be chosen by him in any One place out the said tract. I give to my son-in-law Willoughby Newton and Sarah his wife and theirs Eight hundred acres of land part of the said tract at Flatlick. All the rest of the said tract at Flatlick I give to be equally divided among the children of my son George and the daughter on my daughter Margaret Kenner and their heirs. I give to my wife the use of my Machotic land for five years after my decease. I give unto my son Robert and his heirs all my land at the March in Prince William County upon the condition that he pay all my debts I now owe to any person in Whitehaven in Great Britain. I give to my son Samuel ten negroes. To my son Robert sixteen negroes I mean those at my Machotic Quarter. I give five of the ten slaves hereinbefore given to my wife during her life unto my Daughter Elizabeth, the other five I give unto my son Samuel. I give to my son William and the heirs of his body ten slaves to be annexed to the land hereinbefore given to him. It is the will that my loving wife have the use of all my household stuff during her life and also the use of half of the cattle, hogs and horses upon my several plantations in Westmoreland County during her life. All the rest of my estates after my debts paid I give to be equally divided amongst my children now living. I give unto my son-in-law Howson Kenner and his wife and their heirs eight hundred acres of Land part of My Land at the Marsh before given to Robert which the said Howson is already in possession of and also five hundred acres more of the said Land at the Marsh adjoining to that, the rest I give to my son Robert upon the condition before mentioned. I do hereby revoke all former wills by me and declare this to be my last will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of October 1735. I do appoint my sons Samuel and Robert and my good friend Capt. George Turberville executors of this my will. (Signed) George Eskridge

Signed published and declared by the said testator, as his last will in presence of us- Edward Barradell, Samuel Cobbs, William Webb.

Westmoreland. At a Court held for the said County the 25th day of November 1735 this last will and testament of Col. George Eskridge dec'd was presented into Court by Samuel Eskridge, Robert Eskridge and George Turberville, Gent. His executors in the said will named. The said Samuel and Robert made oath thereto and the said Turberville prayed further time to consider thereof and the said will being proved by oath of Edward Barradell, Gent. Who wrote the same and was one of the witnesses also swore that Samuel Cobb and William Webb the other two witnesses subscribed their names thereto in his sight whereupon the said will is admitted to record (William Eskridge the eldest son and heir at law to the said decedent being present and consenting) upon the motion of the said Executors and their performing what is usual in such cases certificate is granted them for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form.

Teste

(Signed) G. Turberville C.C. W. Recorded the 5th day of December 1735. pr. G.T.C.C.W.

It is of interest that George's son Robert didn't like life in the new world and chose to go back to England even though he wasn't born there. See link to his page below.

 

He was married to Rebecca Bonum (daughter of Samuel Bonum and Margaret Philpot) in 1680 in VA. Rebecca Bonum was born in 1665 in Westmoreland Co., VA. She died on 27 Oct 1715 in Westmoreland Co., VA. Col. George W. Eskridge Sr. and Rebecca Bonum had the following children:

child+2 i. Maj. George Eskridge Jr..
child+3 ii. William Eskridge.
child+4 iii. Samuel Eskridge.
child+5 iv. Robert Eskridge.
child6 v. Sarah Eskridge(2) was born in 1708. He (or she) died in 1753.
child7 vi. Daniel Eskridge(2) was born in 1706. He (or she) died in 1735.
child8 vii. Rebecca Eskridge(2).
child9 viii. Margaret Eskridge(2) was born in 1715 in Westmoreland County Va.. He (or she) died on 8 Oct 1801 in Fauquier County Va..

He was married to ELIZABETH VAULX (daughter of ROBERT VAULX and MARY FOXAL) in 1716. ELIZABETH VAULX(2) was born in 1700. She died in 1744. Col. George W. Eskridge Sr. and ELIZABETH VAULX had the following children:

child10 i. ELIZABETH Eskridge(2) was born in 1717 in SANDY POINT, WESTMORELAND CO. VA..