1928. Robert COLEMAN
Sherry Nicols emphatically stated in her research that Robert's father was not Richard or Henry. She wrote a book about the Colemans.
Sir James Coleman of Braxton Mango, Sussex, England was not the ancestor of Robert Coleman of Mobjack Bay. Henry Coleman of Elizabeth City, VA was not the ancestor of Robert Coleman of Mobjack Bay. Richard Coleman was not the father of Robert Coleman of Mobjack Bay. There is no evidence (yet) that a descendant of Col. Nicholas Spencer of Westmoreland Co. VA married into the Mobjack Bay Colemans. (Col. Spencer's wife was Frances Mottram, not Mothan.)
Robert Coleman's name appeared on a list of headrights on 2 Mar 1638 in Upper Norfolk Co., meaning he was in VA by that date. His name later appeared as a witness to York Co. records between 1646-48. Robert Coleman was among the early colonists in Gloucester Co., which was opened for white settlement on 1 Sep 1649. Robert died in Gloucester Co. sometime after 6 May 1682, the last mention of him in any existing record. During the War Between The States, Gloucester Co. records were taken to Richmond for safekeeping and were destroyed when Richmond was evacuated and burned. But the few records in existence are evidence that Robert Coleman lived in Abingdon Parish, Gloucestor Co. VA.
When Robert and his wife, Elizabeth Grizzell (marriage date unknown), crossed the York River to Tindall's Point in what became Gloucester Co., they probably settled along the Severne River between Tindall's Point and Mobjack Bay. In the early days of the colony, rivers and tidal streams provided the easiest means of transportation for settlers. The waterways also provided a source of food and a means of shipping tobacco, Virginia's major exportable commodity.
During Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, the Abingdon Parish Register was destroyed, forever denying us the facts about any children born to Robert Coleman and Elizabeth Grizzell. (VA law required that all births and deaths be reported to the parish minister.) Based on available evidence, the six known surviving children of Robert and Elizabeth Coleman were Thomas, Robert, Joseph, Grizzell, Daniel and John.
There is no evidence anywhere of Robert Coleman's birth year. However, he was not born in 1620 and did not marry Elizabeth Mott in Ireland or anywhere else. Records from Brent-Eleigh Parish in Suffolk, England prove this and are reprinted on pgs. 15-17 in my book.
The birth year of Robert Coleman of Mobjack Bay was more likely ca. 1630, and he was brought to VA as a young boy. He may have been a son of the Edward Coleman whose name appeared on a Lower Norfolk Co. headright list in 1637, and on a 1638 list of ages of people residing in that county. But this is only speculation. For anyone interested in pursuing the ancestry of Robert Coleman of Mobjack Bay, they should start with the Edward Colman of Suffolk, England whose will was proved in 1596. (See p. 15 of my book.)
Coleman genealogy by Emily Anne Croom is the most authoritative.
ROBERT COLEMAN, THE IMMIGRANT,
OF MOBJACK BAY, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, VIRGINIANo evidence has been found in any Virginia records to indicate the year of Robert Coleman’s birth, but his birth year has traditionally been estimated as ca. 1622. Robert’s name first appeared in the records of the colony on a headright list from Upper Norfolk County on 2 Mar 1638. He was listed as a headright of Thomas Symons. Although the headright list was dated 1638, Robert was probably in the colony at least by 1637 (see Headright information\).
The Coleman brothers made their way to York County before 1645. They may have traveled overland, but more likely went by boat. Virginia was a true wilderness in those days, heavily forested and occupied by Indians and wild animals. Traveling in small parties would have been safe enough by boat. Larger groups of settlers could travel overland with relative safety, depending on their number.
York County is likely where the Coleman brothers met and married their wives. Settlers throughout the Virginia colony had crowded into York in anticipation of the eventual opening of Indian lands to the north. Neither Gloucester nor Lancaster counties were open for white settlement until 1649, and all three brothers appear to have been married by that year.
York County is also where Robert Coleman became good friends with Thomas Ray, although the strong possibility exists that Thomas Ray was a cousin of the Colemans (see will of Edward Colman\). Thomas Ray was named Godfather to Robert’s oldest surviving son, Thomas Coleman.
Very few deeds or court actions still exist regarding Robert’s activities in the new colony, but those records are noted on page Unknown.
Robert married Elizabeth Grizzell, although no records exist as proof. Very little is known about Elizabeth, other than the name "Grizzell" is a Scottish form of "Grace". There were at least two men in the colony at that time with the surname of Grizzell: Humphrey and William. Nothing further is known about either man. Robert and Elizabeth had six known surviving children: Thomas, Robert, Joseph, Grizzell, Daniel and John.
1968. Francis ELLEDGE
This information is from Cynthia Snider 13003 Bellevue St., Beltsville, MD 20705 (301) 572-4224 e-mail is: cynthia@snider.org (1999)