The Pendergrass Family of Virginia by Jim White, April 3, 2005, Greenfield Missouri

Phillipp Prendergrass 1643, Philip Prendergrass 1647, and Philip Prendergrass 1655 asked for, and received three Virginia Land Grants in Charles County, or York County, Virginia. Records exist in the Virginia State Archives proving the three grants and no doubt exists that Philip Pendergrass immigrated by himself, as a single person, early in 1643. It should be noted here, Philip made at least two trips to Ireland after immigration 1643. There are Immigration records that support the premise without any doubt.

Philip and his wife had one son, James, who stayed in Ireland with his mother and grandparents. When James was of age, and had married Mary Henry, they immigrated to the United States in 1663, of which, immigration records exist for the both of them, separately, and properly
identify each of them by name . James . Mary.

Please note: The names are spelled with variations including Prendergras, Pendergrass, and Pendergast, which have been found throughout this research. Philip's name is spelled variously, Phillipp, Phillip, Philipp; Surname spelled variously seems to have ended with migration from Virginia, as most every name afterward is Pendergrass, which apparently the family fully decided on during the lifetime of James.

Follows are the immigration records for Philip Pendergrass

Name: Phillipp Pendergast
Year: 1643
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 6220
Primary Immigrant: Pendergast, Phillipp

Annotation: Record of 20,000 very early immigrants, with much relevant information. Taken from Patent Books 1 through 5. Title page states, "In 5 volumes," but up to 1979 only three had appeared. See nos. 6221 and 6223 for second and third volumes, published in 1977 and 1979. Issued originally by Nugent in parts between 1929 and 1931; the parts were then largely incorporated in this work, no. 6220. Stewart, item no. 9025, compiled the article, "Ancient Planters [1607]," pages xxviii-xxxiv.

Source Bibliography: NUGENT, NELL MARION. Cavaliers and Pioneers:
Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666. Vol. 1. Richmond
[VA]: Dietz Printing Co., 1934. 767p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing
Co., Baltimore, 1983.

Page: 148

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Name: Phillipp Pendergast
Year: 1643
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 2772
Primary Immigrant: Pendergast, Phillipp

Annotation: Includes 25,000 names from records of the Virginia State Land Office. Excerpts of the Irish names from the Greer list were published in no. 6258, O'Brien, Early Immigrants to Virginia....

Source Bibliography: GREER, GEORGE CABELL. Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666. Richmond [Va.]: W.C. Hill Printing Co., 1912, 376p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1978. Repr. 1982.

Page: 255
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Name: Phillip Pendergast
Year: 1647
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 2772

Primary Immigrant: Pendergast, Phillip

Annotation: Includes 25,000 names from records of the Virginia State Land Office. Excerpts of the Irish names from the Greer list were published in no. 6258, O'Brien, Early Immigrants to Virginia....

Source Bibliography: GREER, GEORGE CABELL. Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666. Richmond [Va.]: W.C. Hill Printing Co., 1912, 376p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1978. Repr. 1982.

Page: 255
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Name: Phil Pendergast
Year: 1655
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 2772
Primary Immigrant: Pendergast, Phil

Annotation: Includes 25,000 names from records of the Virginia State Land Office. Excerpts of the Irish names from the Greer list were published in no. 6258, O'Brien, Early Immigrants to Virginia....

Source Bibliography: GREER, GEORGE CABELL. Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666. Richmond [Va.]: W.C. Hill Printing Co., 1912, 376p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1978. Repr. 1982.

Page: 255
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Follows is the immigration record for the lifelong friend of Philip who immigrated 1647, when both he and Philip applied for Virginia Land Grants.  Lazarus Jessee, the famous Jessee connection of whom many Pendergrass men carry his surname for their first name down line among the offspring of Philip. Besides, Philip's wife was also the sister of one, Lazarus Jessee.!

Name: Lazarus Jessee
Year: 1647
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 3299.41
Primary Immigrant: Jessee, Lazarus

Annotation: Record of 20,000 very early immigrants, with much relevant information. Taken from Patent Books 1 through 5. Title page states, "In 5 volumes," but up to 1979 only three had appeared. See nos. 6221 and 6223 for second and third volumes, published in 1977 and 1979. Issued originally by Nugent in parts between 1929 and 1931; the parts were then largely incorporated in this work, no. 6220. Stewart, item no. 9025, compiled the article, "Ancient Planters [1607]," pages xxviii-xxxiv.

Source Bibliography: NUGENT, NELL MARION. Cavaliers and Pioneers:
Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666. Vol. 1. Richmond
[VA]: Dietz Printing Co., 1934. 767p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing
Co., Baltimore, 1983.
Page: 184

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Follows are the immigration records of James Pendergrass and his wife Mary.  Please note that James and Mary are listed on the same page of source

Name: James Pendergras
Year: 1663
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 2899.10
Primary Immigrant: Pendergras, James

Annotation: Date and place of intended destination. Place of origin or last residence and name of ship may also be provided. Extensive historical information is also provided.

Source Bibliography: HARGREAVES-MAWDSLEY, R. Bristol and America, A Record of the First Settlers in the Colonies of North America, 1654-1685, Including the Names with Places of Origin of More Than 10,000 Servants to Foreign Plantations Who Sailed from the Port of Bristol to Virginia, Maryland, and Other Parts of the Atlantic Coast, and also to the West Indies from 1654 to 1685. This List is Compiled and Published from Records of the Corporation of the City of Bristol, England. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Co., Inc., 1997. 182p.

Page: 142
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Name: Mary Pendergras
Year: 1663
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 943
Primary Immigrant: Pendergras, James
Family: Wife Mary

Annotation: From the archives of Bristol, England, with the title, "Servants to Foreign Plantations." Emigrants to New England, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands. The information was transcribed by R. Hargreaves-Mawdsley, and occasionally the work will be found under his name rather than "Bristol...." An index of 16 pages was issued in 1931 separately, but it is now incorporated in the G.P.C. reprint. Pages 1-26 of Book 1 of "Servants to Foreign Plantations" were also in no. 2899, Hargreaves-Mawdsley, and in nos. 3438 and 3440, Gordon Ireland. Source Bibliography: BRISTOL AND AMERICA; A RECORD OF THE FIRST SETTLERS IN THE COLONIES OF NORTH AMERICA, 1654-1685, Including the Names with Places of Origin of More Than 10,000 Servants to Foreign Plantations Who Sailed from the Port of Bristol to Virginia, Maryland, and Other Parts of the Atlantic Coast, and Also to the West Indies from 1654 to 1685. London: R.S. Glover, [1929]. 182p. Reprinted, with index of 16 pages bound in, by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1967. Repr. 1978.

Page: 142

Please note: Both James and his wife Mary are correctly identified as Servants to Foreign Plantations since their passage was paid for by James' father, Philip. But if you note on the record for Mary . she is properly identified as Wife Mary, and James is listed as the Primary Immigrant.
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The generations

1. Philip Pendergrass b. 1617 Beleek, County Mayo, Ireland d. 1670, Beleek, Mayo County, Ireland ~ Spouse: Mary Jessee b. 1619 Beleek, County Mayo, Ireland d. 1669 Beleek, Mayo County, Ireland.

Children: James Pendergrass b. 1639 Beleek, County Mayo, Ireland Source: Parish Records, Beleek, County Mayo, Ireland, James d. 1681, Middlesex, Virginia

Philip Pendergrass immigrated to Virginia in order to give his family a new start. He left his wife and son James in Ireland, and set sail for Virginia 1643 aboard ship Tryall out of Yougal Ireland. He established a working plantation with substantial acreage, which he turned over to son James in 1664, after whence Philip returned to Ireland where he lived out his life with wife Mary.

Ship manifest, Tryall, Yougal Ireland to Virginia 1643
60 head kyne

Philip Pendergrass
Arthur Buckley & Ann Burk
Daniel Maley
John Moone
Francis Fludd & wife Jean, sons Daniel, Patrick, Peter, and daughter
Eleanore

Passage was at no cost by the East India Trading Company in exchange for caring for 60 head of kyne (cattle) during the trip.
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Here it must be noted: To prove where someone died in Virginia, there must be records that prove the County name since the Virginia Counties were in a constant state of flux during that era. Following is a breakdown of County Formation for counties of concern.

Charles River County formed 1634, and renamed York County 1642-43
Northumberland County formed 1643 from Indian District of Chickacoan
Lancaster County formed from Northumberland & York County 1651
New Kent County formed from York County 1654
Middlesex County formed from Lancaster 1673
King and Queen County formed from New Kent County 1691
King William County formed from King and Queen County 1701
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Generation Two

2. James Pendergrass b. 1639 Beleek, County Mayo, Ireland d. 1681 Middlesex, Virginia - Spouse: Mary Henry, Married 1662, Beleek, Mayo County, Ireland, Mary Henry b. 1640 Beleek, Mayo, Ireland d. 1681 Middlesex County, Virginia

Please note: We do not know whom the husband was of Mary Pendergrass that died 15 Sep 1715 at Middlesex Virginia, we presume it to be wife of James Jr., or John because our down line is through Michael who married Rebecca Bolling, and the reason that we explained the problem of her being the Rebecca Boling of Pocahontas fame. Michael died 1735 in Lancaster County, Virginia on land left to him by his father James.

Children:

It is certainly evident all children were born in Virginia.  We have only proved the name of one daughter: Elizabeth, and we do not know order of her birth. Elizabeth Pendergrass married William Philips, who died Before 2 Apr 1694. She was then married to Charles Holdsworth of Charles City, no later than 2 Apr 1694. We know nothing else about Elizabeth.

Quote: "A son may have been Charles Holdsworth who appeared in Surry County tithable lists from 1688 through 1690. In 1691 Charles City County appointed Holdsworth official county leather sealer - the "Keeper of the Seal" - and he served until dismissed in April 1693. In 1693 Robert Napier successfully sued Holdsworth for ruining 100 hides he was to have tanned for Napier. Holdsworth was married to Elizabeth (-) Phillips, the widow of William Phillips, by 2 April 1694." Source: The Family History of John W. Prichett. We own the book since the Prichett family has a connection to our White Family.

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Here reference must be made to Rebecca Bolling of Pocahontas fame. This researcher has not found any evidence supporting premise the Rebecca Boling who married Michael Pendergrass was related in any way whatsoever to.  Captain James Rolfe, and Matoaka Powhatan. Firstly, the Rebecca Bolling who married Michael Pendergrass immigrated to the United States 1681.

Name: Rebecca Bolling
Year: 1681
Place: Virginia
Source Publication Code: 4641.12

Primary Immigrant: Bolling, Mary

Annotation: Date and place of destination in the New World. Extracted from original records, known as the Lord Mayor's Waiting Books, located at the Guildhall Library in London, England.

Source Bibliography: LIST OF ALL THE EMIGRANTS FROM IRELAND TO AMERICA FOR THE PERIOD 1682-1692. In Family History Monthly, no. 22 (July 1997), pp.
53-57.

According to the Will of John Bolling, Jr., With Codicil may be found in the Chesterfield County Will Book No. 1, pages 262-268.  Copied from a transcript of February 1, 1975 by T.G. Hobbs, Jr.
The will was signed and witnessed on September 4, 1749.  The codicil was signed and witnessed on September 4, 1757.

John Bolling, Jr. died September 6, 1757.  The names mentioned as heirs in the will and codicil list the following persons

1. "my loving wife Elizabeth Bolling"
2. "my Son Thomas Bolling"
3. "my Son John Bolling"
4. "my Son Robert Bolling"
5. "my Son Edward Bolling"
6. "my Daughter Mary Bolling"
7. "my Daughter Sarah Bolling"
8. "my Son Archibald Bolling"
9. "my nephew Bolling Eldridge"
10. "my Friend John Childers"
11. "my Friend Richard Taylor"
12. "my Daughter Anne"

There are very detailed and precise provisions covering the division of John Bollings' property between each of the twelve heirs listed above.

Suffice it to say, the marriage of Michael Pendergrass to Rebecca Bolling was at least one hundred years too early to be any possible connection to Matoaka Powhatan.

The second trip to the New Land found Philip Pendergrass again boarding a ship that belonged to The East India Trading Company. This time it was the . Aeneas . one of the smaller ships used to transport livestock from Ireland to the New Land. Displacement was 160 tons, and it could not carry more than 40 kyne (cattle).

Ship manifest . Aeneas . out of Yougal Ireland
40 head kyne

Himself, Philip Pendergrass
Lazaraus Jessee
Henry Maddin
Thomas Clary
John Cannaday
Thomas Coggin
Thomas Sherridon
William Tandy

Before returning to Ireland 1654, Lazarus Jessee sold his Virginia Land grant to Philip and they returned to Ireland together. In 1655 Philip again returned to Virginia, where he asked for and received the Land Grant of 1655 - that was for transporting others besides himself, and he claimed their Headrights. He again sailed aboard a ship owned by The East India Trading Company . The Marigold . and brought 60 head of Kyne (cattle), which paid for passage of self and immigrants brought with him. The passengers were,

Ship manifest . Marigold . out of Yougal Ireland
60 head kyne

Himself, Philip Pendergrass
Cormack Malloy
Patrick Clark
Mahan Carty
Teague Owen
John O'Drenne
Donell O'Graham
William O'Naught
Teague Row
Patrick Steward
Patrick Talling
Brian Teague
Dennis Teague
Teague Trassey

It appears Pendergrass family members as they left Virginia moved to North Carolina, then into Tennessee, and eventually spread to Georgia and Texas.  My family married into the Pendergrass family in New Mexico, at Alamogordo 1905, but they first become acquainted somewhere in the Dickens County Texas area, and moved to New Mexico as a group. My great-great-grandfather, James Caldwell White first met Marion Delaney Pendergrass & family in Dickens Texas circa 1886, and then both families were in New Mexico 1890. Marion Pendergrass wife died 7 Mar 1906 at La Luz, Otero County, New Mexico. They buried Nancy Matilda in the Lu Luz Catholic cemetery, 8 Mar 1906.

We have some evidence that James White met William Pendergrass during the Civil War in the battle for Vicksburg Mississippi. James was a member of the 6th Missouri Cavalry, and William a member of the 12th Tennessee Calvary, as well as many other members of the Pendergrass family of Tennessee. They all fought on the Union side, while brethren in Georgia fought for the Confederacy. The William Pendergrass spoken of here was the father of Marion Delaney Pendergrass, the father of my Grandmother.

Some explanations:

John and James both went after Virginia Land Grants, which were quickly rescinded, and the lands granted to someone else, but we think they were sons of John and or James, for the grants were made in 1724 & 1725, and we think both of Michaels brothers were dead prior to dates of the later grants. Michael of our line had three sons we know of besides William who perpetuates our line.

Michael b. 1706 - we know nothing else
Jesse Garret b. 1708 - we know nothing else
Robert b. 8 Dec 1711 - He supposedly married Elizabeth Manley, which we cannot prove..!


After spending the past several days chasing Quaker Meeting Houses, today I received a confirmation letter from a friend who lives at Dublin Ireland.  In it is the information that I have been searching for off and on for several months. Philip Pendergrass was Roman Catholic. He knew there might not be any priests in the New Land - during his last trip to Ireland 1654, before immigration of James and Mary, Philip asked for and received a "Special Dispensation" from the Vatican at Rome. It was issued in April 1660, and was received in Ireland March 1661. The Special Dispensation provided for what we call today Common Law marriages in the New Land to be valid until such time the couple could have the Vows performed by a Priest.  Any children born to such marriage was to be baptized according to Church Law, which can be done by anybody, including non-Catholic persons.

Apparently there was a shortage of Missionary Priests for I have not been able to prove a single marriage of any of the Pendergrass men from James & Mary 1661 in Ireland until William Pendergrass who married Frances Fanny Wilborn 12 Dec 1842 at Overton, Tennessee. After that, I have marriages complete by date and location. The Special Dispensation is still extant at Dublin in their collection of Parish Records, which will be transcribed there from the Original Latin, and sent to me whenever it is completed. We have thought all along the family members were Roman Catholic, and thought that would explain the absence of marriage records. We have solid evidence in the family bible the Pendergrass family were Roman Catholic, but could never prove it.

That is but one reason we did not believe Ann Pleasants who married Michael was the daughter of John Pleasants, the preeminent Quaker of Virginia fame who married Jane Larcome Tucker. We agree the name is correct from other records, but have no evidence she was a Quaker, or of that famous family.

The flux of Irish immigrants beginning 1640 was because of the Big Chill of 1639-1640. One of our immigrant ancestors lost father and mother, plus his wife's father during the winter of 1640. People were freezing to death in their homes simply because they could not keep them warm. Food was scarce, crops failed for two consecutive years, and most people suffered due to the terribly harsh conditions.

I do not think we have adequate information to follow any of the other lines because of lack of records. Roman Catholics did not trust government during that era, and would not regularly used wills of a civil nature. After leaving Virginia, the family was clearly highly mobile using that as an advantage, and there is no doubt they were groundbreakers in this new land after becoming established here. They were some of the first families in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Jim White
April 3, 2005
Greenfield Missouri
United States of America