Fleming Family Traditions Tested

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A FAMILY TRADITION TESTED

       The Fleming family in Virginia had a most interesting tradition of
    descent from an Earl in Scotland. The Virginia Magazine of History
    and Biography, Vol. 23, page 214, explained it in these words:

       "An old record preserved in the Fleming family states that the
    immigrant ancestor was 'Sir Thomas Fleming, second son of the Earl
    of Wigdon in Scotland  who married in England Miss Tarleton, and
    came to Virginia in 1616, settling first at Jamestown and afterwards
    removing to New Kent County 'where he lived and died.' Besides
    several daughters he left three sons 'Tarleton, John and Charles.'
    How far this statement in regard to the descent from the Earl of
    Wigton is correct has never been investigated, but certainly the date
    given for the immigration is too early. There may be other errors in
    the tradition.... It is quite possible that the Virginia Flemings
    descended from one of the younger sons of the Earl. A letter written
    in Virginia more than a hundred years ago which states that one of the
    family, the older brother of judge Wm. Fleming, was then heir to the
    Earldom of Wigton, shows the antiquity of the tradition."

       Exact Statement of the Tradition. It is always instructive to
    read the exact wording of the traditional story, and to know something of
    the qualifications of the one who wrote down the account. The writer
    was Charles Woodson, born about 1710, the son of Tarleton Woodson and
    Ursula Fleming. He received a finished education and seemed "to have
    manifested more interest in his ancestors and the family history than any
    of his contemporaries. He it was who, after extended research and, necessarily,
    wide correspondence, compiled the historical and genealogical data upon which
    all subsequent publications have been based. Copies of his

			A Family Tradition Tested    		121

    manuscript have been given to a number of descendants and other
    members of the family." (The Woodsons and Their Connections, p.
    44.)

       While the record he compiled in his later years has its
    imperfections, it has been described as "highly authentic and
    valuable." Before his death he had a new frame put on an old looking
    glass, and on the walnut frame he inscribed these words: "This glass
    belonged to Stephen Tarleton who was my great-grandfather and
    died in the year 1687. I have had the present frame put on it this 14th
    of December, 1794."

       He was himself a Fleming descendant, and wrote, as a marginal
    note, in a book, the following declaration: "John Fleming, brother of
    the late Judge Fleming, of the court of appeals in Virginia, was heir to
    the earldom and estates of Wigton. He was an officer of the
    American Revolution and fell in the service of his country, refusing to
    leave her service for the immense estates and earldom of Wigton."

       Truth and Error in the Tradition. As in most stories transmitted
    through the generations, mostly orally, there is error to be detected in
    this one. judge William Fleming did have an older brother named John
    Fleming. But he died in 1767, before the American Revolution began.
    It was actually his son, John Fleming, who fell in that struggle.

       This young man was a Captain in the First Virginia Regiment of
    the Continental Line. Toward the end of the year 1776 his regiment
    marched northward and joined the American forces about
    Philadelphia under Washington. He commanded his regiment in the
    Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777. The Americans were being
    forced back, several companies broke and fled, and there was danger
    of a general stampede. Washington was alarmed and rode forward,
    great peril, to attempt to stem the retreat. He rode his horse between
    his men and the British, who were only about thirty yards apart, and
    became the target for the enemy's fire, but was providentially
    preserved. "It was just at this moment when disaster seemed
    imminent, that the First Virginia, led by its heroic young Captain
    Fleming, came out of the woods, cheering and shouting.'

    122     		Finding  Your Forefathers in America

         Stopping on a line with Washington, just 30 yards from the
    British, the brave young officer of 22 cooly ordered his men to 'dress
    the line before they fired.' Whereupon, the British exclaimed with
    curses 'We will dress you , and poured in a deadly fire. Undaunted
    the Virginians returned the fire. Then the British engaged in a bayonet
    duel with the Virginians in the course of which Captain Fleming and
    Lieutenant Bartholomew Yates (aged 19) were mortally stabbed.

       "The British were forced back, and the example of the First
    Virginia had a saving effect." (Tyler's Quarterly, Vol. 12, p. 11 et
    seq.}

       On Jan. 24, 1777, a notice appeared in the Virginia Gazette:
    "By accounts from the northward, we have the melancholy news of
    the death of Captain John Fleming of the First Virginia Regiment, who
    proved himself to be a gallant officer, and nobly fell on the 3rd instant,
    near Trenton, at the head of his company, in defence of American
    freedom. He was universally esteemed by those who were acquainted
    with him, and his loss is much regretted."

       The Heir to the Earldom. It was a far cry from this youthful
    American patriot to the Earldom of Wigton in Scotland. But let us test
    the tradition about the second son of the Earl.

       The most authentic account of the historic Fleming family of
    Scotland is found in The Scots Peerage, a History of the Noble
    Families of Scotland, Volume VIII, pp. 519-558. Robert Fleming,
    the first from whom it is possible to trace descent, flourished in 1290.
    Eleventh in line from him was John Fleming, 1st Earl of Wigtown, who
    married Lilias Graham. Their second son, James Fleming, of Boghall,
    died in October 1623, leaving two sons, John and James, who both
    died without issue. Hence he left no male descendants to be heir to
    the title. .

       His older brother John became the second Earl of Wigtown. He
    was probably baptized at Kincardine about 9 Dec. 1589. He
    succeeded his father as Earl in 1619. He was a member of the Privy
    Council in 1626; and was appointed a

    			A Family Tradition Tested     123

    Privy Councilor by Parliament Tested 13 Nov. 1641, but he entered
    heartily into an association framed at his own house to support King
    Charles I, in the impending Civil War, in Jan. 1641-2. His marriage
    contract to Margaret Livingston, second daughter to Alexander, first
    Earl of Linlithgow, was dated 20 Feb. 1609. He died 7 May, 1650.

       Their son and heir, John Fleming, third Earl of Wigtown, was
    succeeded by his son John, 4th Earl and William, 5th Earl. The latter
    was succeeded by his two sons, John and Charles, sixth and seventh
    Earls, respectively, neither of whom left male descendants. After the
    death of Charles Fleming, seventh Earl, without male heir, the
    earldom was temporarily assumed by Charles Ross Fleming, in the
    year 1747. He claimed to be descended from Alexander Fleming

    4th son of the 1st Earl of Wigtown. When the House of Lords
    examined his claim they debarred him from the title, 25 Mar. 1762,
    and expressed grave doubts on the genuineness of the documents on
    which the claim was based. The dignity thereupon became dormant
    or extinct.

       A chart will show how this came about, that there was no heir
    to claim the title. (Only the sons are named.)

          John Fleming, 1st Earl of Wigtown md. Lilias Graham created
          Earl of Wigtown 19 Mar. 1605-6; died in April 1619.
       __________________________________________________________________
	 |					|			|				|
    John Fleming, 2nd 	James Fleming  		Malcolm Fleming      Alexander Fleming
    Earl, md. Margaret 	His two sons died	His two sons died    Had no proved
    Livingston 20 Feb.  without issue.    	without male issue.  descendants.
    1609. He died 7
    May 1650.
       __________________________________________________________________
	 | 							   |			  	 |
    John Fleming, 3rd     			Alexander Fleming,  (Sir) William
    Earl; d. in Feb.      			2nd son; merchant;   Fleming, 3rd son;
    1665.                			md. before 2 Apr.    died without issue.
    _____|_________________________		1646, Elspeth An-
    John, 4th 		William, 5th		derson. Only pos-
    Earl      		Earl        		sible heir to the
    no issue.      _______|_____	      	Earldom after 1762
                   |       	|	 	would be a de-
    		   John       Charles   	scendant from him.
         	   6th Earl   7th Earl

       From this it is self-evident that if there were any legal heirs to
    the Earldom in 1762, they must trace their lineage

    124                    Finding Your Forefathers in America

    through Alexander Fleming, the second son of the second Earl.

       This would seem to harmonize with the family tradition of the
    Fleming family in Virginia, that they were descended from the second
    son of the Earl of Wigton, even though the name of that son was
    different from that which had been handed down to them. The
    problem before us is to prove whether this Alexander, the 2nd son,
    left any male issue, who could have been in line to succeed to the title.

       CAPTAIN ALEXANDER FLEMING OF VIRGINIA. It is indeed true that
    an Alexander Fleming came to Virginia, and just at the time when many of
    those who had espoused the royal cause in the Civil War in England took
    refuge in the Colony. Was he identical with the "second son" and did he leave
    male issue?

       In Americana, Jan. 1939, pp. 326-348, appeared a scholarly
    article under the title, "Captain Alexander Fleming and Joyce, His
    Wife." In it the author, Lenora Higginbotham Sweeny, has assembled
    a fine store of record material about Captain Alexander, including his
    many land grants, his three marriages to three widows, and the names
    of his two daughters , Alexia and Elizabeth Fleming. She has made a
    real contribution, but there are still facts unexplained.

       On February 12, 1937, I sent for publication to the editor of the
    Virginia Magazine of History and Biography an article on "The
    Fleming Family." One paragraph read: "An exam of this family
    tradition in the light of facts now obtainable seems to indicate that the
    immigrant ancestor was Captain Alexander Fleming and not Sir
    Thomas, and that he was indeed the second son of John Fleming,
    second Earl of Wigtown in Scotland and that John Fleming elder
    brother of Judge William, was actually the legal heir to the earldom
    from 1747 until his death in 1767, after which his eldest son, Major
    John Fleming who fell in the Battle of Princeton, 'was then heir to the
    Earldom of Wigton."'

       The Americana article was inclined to a similar view:
    "The first Fleming of whom any record is found in Virginia, is Alexander
    Fleming, who came to Virginia in 1649-50, with

			A Family Tradition Tested>   		125

    other adherents of Charles I and who on August 6, 1655, purchased
    land in Lancaster County, Virginia, from William Moseley, a resident
    of that county. . . . (Lancaster County Deeds, &c., 1652-57, p.
    214.)

       "As nothing further is known of the history of Alexander
    Fleming, second son of the Earl of Wigton, it is possible that he is
    identical with Alexander Fleming, the Virginian immigrant of 1649-
    50....

       "From a deed of record in Rappahannock County, Virginia, we
    know that Captain Alexander Fleming died testate. The writer has
    been unable to locate his will....

       "Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Alexander Fleming and wife,
    Joyce, married Rowland Thornton.... Alexia, daughter of Captain
    Alexander and Elizabeth Fleming, married, not later than June 4,
    1683, Thomas Pace, of Rappahannock County, for on that date she
    united with her husband in a deed to a plantation ... part of Alexia's
    share of the estate of her deceased father, Captain Alexander
    Fleming, land given in his last will and testament to his daughter,
    Alexia. ... (Rappahannock County Deeds, &c., No. 7, p. 37.)

       "Alexander Fleming, who married Sarah, daughter of William
    Kenny, and was living in Richmond County, Virginia, January 3,
    1692, may have been a son of Captain Alexander Fleming by his first
    wife, Ursula, and perhaps there is a descendant and 'heir-male of
    lineal descent,' who could claim title to the Earldom of Wigton." (pp.
    328, 340, 348.)

       Alexander Fleming's First Wife. We must first make sure that
    Alexander Fleming, "the second son" did not live on and die in
    Scotland. If he did, that would be fatal to the tradition.

       Volume 56, of the publications of The Scottish Record Society
    contains records of the Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow,
    1573-1730. There were three ranks-a simple Burgess, a Freeman,
    and a Guild Brother. A Burgess could enter as a Guild Brother by
    payment of 13s. 4d. Honorary Burgesses were persons admitted
    gratis by favour of the Town Council, either by reason of their own
    eminence or through

    126     		Finding Your Forefathers in America

    the influence of their friends. A Guild Brother's son or son-in-law might
    become a Guild Brother by paying 20s. at his entry; but he must be
    worth in lands, heritage or moveable gear 500 merks if a merchant.

       On 10 April 1629 the following were admitted as Burgesses and
    Freeman, gratis:

       John Fleming, lord (This would be the later 3rd Earl.)
       Alexander Fleming, his brother
       William Fleming, also his brother
       Alexander Fleming, their uncle
       Patrick Fleming, in Balloch
       Malcolm Fleming, servitor to John, Earl of Wigtown
       Robert Fleming, servitor to John, Earl of Wigtown
                (son of Malcolm Fleming of Woddelie)
       John Fleming, servitor to Earl of Wigtown (p. 73)

       This was really quite a family party. You will note they were not
    made Guild Brethren. Alexander would then be about 17 years old.

       Volume 36 of the Scottish Record Society is entitled
    Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown It contains val-
    uable  family documents, some of which give genealogical
    information. No. 710 reads: "5 Apr. 1636. A Sasine of Alexander and
    William Fleming, lawful sons to John Earl of Wigtown, is two respective
    annual rents effeiring to the principal sums of 10,000 merks each
    upliftable forth of the lands of Harbetshire, barony of Denny and lands
    of Catscleugh...."                                (p. 85)

       Alexander Fleming, merchant, was admitted a Burgess and
    Guild Brother, 2 April 1646, as having married Elspeth, lawful
    daughter to the dec. William Anderson, merchant. (Scottish Record
    Society 56:118.) (William Anderson, cordiner became a Guild Brother,
    as the son of a Guild Brother, 22 Mar. 1610. (Ibid., p. 39.))

       Wills of Alexander's Uncles and Brother. I have
    before me the Testaments and Inventories of 1. Alexander Flyming,
    merchant burgess of Glasgow, who deceased in the month of April
    1666. This would be the uncle of the younger Alexander. No heirs
    are mentioned; 2. James Fleming of

			A Family Tradition Tested          127

    Boghall, in the parish of Killeland, who deceased in the month of
    October 1623. Given up by Jonet Birsbane, his relict, and four of
    "their lawful bairnes" are named. This was another uncle of
    Alexander; 3. Sir William Fleming one of H. M. Ushers to H. M.
    Privy Council. (This was Alexander's brother.) The heirs were "sister's
    children of the said Sir William; William, Earle of Wigtoune for
    himself and in name and behalf of Mr. Charles, Ledies (Ladies)
    Margaret, Lillias and Jeane Fleming his brothers and sisters, brother's
    children of the said Sir William, and only executors decerned to him."
    This was confirmed 22 June 1672. (Glasgow Testaments Vols. 35 and
    20; Edinburgh Testaments Vol. 74.)

       Had Alexander, the second son, been living in Scotland on the
    date of this will, or had he left heirs living there, surely he or they
    would have been named in his brother's will. There is no will listed for
    this younger Alexander.

       Captain Alexander Fleming, also called "Gent., had died in
    Virginia between 30 Dec. 1668 and 13 Mar. 1668-9. He had children,
    but they may not have been known in Scotland.

       The Traditional Three Sons. According to the story handed
    down the second son married in England Miss Tarleton and besides
    several daughters left three sons-Tarleton, John and Charles. The
    facts are twisted in the tradition. It was Charles Fleming who married
    Susanna Tarleton, the daughter of Stephen Tarleton. He named a son
    Tarleton.

       Here is an interesting sequence of headrights. Alexander
    Fleming is said to have come to Virginia in 1649-50. He was a
    headright 15 Feb. 1655.

     2 July 1650.         Eliza Fleming headright of John Oliver.    (2:219)
    18 Feb. 1653.         Cha. Flemin a headright of Emperor, Gale and Morgan. (3:47)
     8 Nov. 1653.         John Fleming a headright of Joseph Croshaw, York Co., on the
                          south side of York River.   (3:51)
     1 Sep. 1653.         Christopher Fleminge a headright of Col. Wm. Clayborne, Sec.
                          of State, land at Pamunkey, N. side freshes of York River.(3:34)
    12 Oct. 1652.         Patrick Flemin a headright of Anthony Hoskins, Northampton Co.
    16 Sept. 1663.        William Fleminge a headright of Col. Abraham Wood, Charles
                          City Co.
    17 Apr. 1667.         Robert ffleming a headright of Alexander Fleming on south side
             		  of Rappahannock River.

    128                    Finding Your Forefathers in America

       It is significant that of these both Alexander and John received
    grants of land in 1658, each for 250 acres. Charles and William
    received no grants until 1688 and 1691, respectively, being evidently
    children when they were brought over. It is likely that the Eliza.
    Fleming was the first wife of Alexander Fleming, the Elpset (or
    Elizabeth) Anderson whom he had married before 1646 in Scotland.
    John was probably their son, and the father of Charles, William and
    perhaps Christopher. Nothing more is heard of him or Patrick or
    Robert.

       The family had extensive land grants. Alexander Fleming
    patented 5790 acres, between 1658 and 1667, on both sides of the
    Rappahannock River. No accounting has ever been made of all this
    land. John, between 1658-1680, was granted 2643 acres; and
    Charles, between 1688-1719, 11,700 acres.

       These three grants are quoted to show that Charles was the son
    of John:

    20 Apr. 1680.      To John Fleming & Andrew David, 1000 a. in New Kent County,
             	     for transportation of 24 persons.(Book 7:25)

    18 Apr. 1688.      To Charles Fleming of New Kent County, Planter, 1079 a. in
                       the Parish of St. Peter in the county aforesaid "to the line which
                       divides this from the lands late of John Fleming decd." Due for
                       importing 22 persons.   <Book 7:658>

    23 Oct. 1690.      To Charles Fleming, 1000 a. in New Kent County. The said
                       land being formerly granted to Jno. Fleming & Andr. David,
                       by patent dated the 20th of Aprill 1680 and by them deserted
                       & since granted back to Jno Fleming by order of the General
                       Court dated the 16th of Aprill 1690, and is due for importing
                       20 persons.             (Book 8:105)

       A Tentative Arrangement. In the light of the known facts
    and the family tradition, this seems to be' the logical Fleming
    genealogy:

       CAPTAIN ALEXANDER FLEMING, second son of John Fleming, 2nd
    Earl of Wigtown, and his wife, Margaret Livingston, was born about 1612,
    probably at Cumbernauld, Lanark, Scotland. He died in Rappahannock Co.,
    Virginia, between 30 December 1668 and 13 March 1668-69. He married 1st
    probably about 1631, ELSPET or ELIZABETH ANDERSON, daughter of
    William Anderson. She was probably the headright to Virginia in 1650. He
    married 2nd before 5 July 1658, URSULA, the widow of John Browne,
    "late of Accomacke, Decd."

			A Family Tradition Tested    		129

      She was living and signed a deed with him 19 Apr. 1660. He married 3rd
    before 5 Feb. 1660-61, ELIZABETH MADESTARD, sister of Thomas
    Madestard, and widow of Epaphroditus Lawson and William Clapham, Jr. On 3
    July 1666 she is called in a document "Late Wife of Mr. Alex. Fleming." He
    married, 4th by marriage contract signed about 15 May 1666, in Westmoreland
    County, JOYCE JONES, widow of Anthony Hoskins (County Court Note Book
    VI:23). She survived him and married 3rd Lawrence Washington; and 4th
    James Yates.

          Child of Alexander Fleming and Elizabeth Anderson:

    	x 1. JOHN,   b. abt. 1633, in Scotland; a Virginia headright in 1653;
    			 d. 27 Aug. 1686, New Kent Co., Va.; Md. MERCY or
                   MARY.   His birth should be sought in Scotland.

          Child of Alexander Fleming and Elizabeth Madestard:

        2. ELIZABETH,      b. abt. 1662-1666, Rappahannock Co., Va.; Md.
	     ROWLAND THORNTON.

          Child of Alexander Fleming and Joyce Jones:

 	  3. ALEXIA b. by 1668, Rappahannock Co., Va; dead by 6 Sep. 1692; md.
           by 1683, THOMAS PACE.

      JOHN FLEMING, son of Alexander Fleming and Elizabeth Anderson, was
    born about 1633, perhaps in Glasgow or Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
    He died in New Kent County, Virginia, 27 Aug. 1686. He married MERCY or
    MARY. He had generous grants of land in New Kent County, in the years
    1658, 1661, 1670, 1673, 1680. The Registers of Charles Parish, York County,
    Va., 1648-1789, yield these entries:

      "Lidia Flemming, dau. of John by Marcy, bap. Oct. 30, 1679."

      "John Fleming, son of John by Mary, b. April 14, 1683." (p. 90)

      "John Fleming departed this Life ye 27th day of August and was

      Buried ye 30th of Augt, 1686." (p. 59)

    His will, if he made one, was lost in the destruction of the New Kent records.

          Children of John Fleming and Mercy or Mary ................

      x 1. CHARLES,    b. abt. 1652, in Scotland; Virginia headright of 1653;
                       d. between 7 Oct. 1717 and Dec. 1720; Md. abt. 1684,
                       SUSANNA TARLETON.

      x 2. WILLIAM,    b. abt. 1659, pro in Virginia; headright of 1667; will
                       proved 4 Oct. 1744; md. 1st . ; Md. 2nd, ELIZABETH.

        3. HENRY,      b. abt. 1665, Virginia;
                       appointed guardian to his brother John, 24 Nov. 1699.
                       (Standard's Extracts from Virginia Records (Va. 62),(P. 40.)

      x 4. ALEXANDER,  b. abt. 1670, Virginia;
                       will proved 2 Jan. 1711, Richmond Co., Va.;
                       Md. by 1689, SARAH KENNY.

     130                    Finding Your Forefathers in America

        5. LYDIA,         bap. 30 Oct. 1679, St. Charles Parish, York Co., Va.

        6. JOHN, JR:      b. 14 Apr. 1683, recorded in St. Charles Parish, York
                          Co., Va. "24 Nov. 1699, John Fleming Jr. Being 16
                          years of age petitions the court that his brother Henry
                          may be appointed his guardian." (Stanard, p. 40.) John
                          Fleming was living in Petsoe Parish, Gloucester Co., Va.
                          in 1719, 1723, 1726 and 1727.

      CHARLES FLEMING, son of John Fleming and (perhaps) Mercy or Mary ..
    was born about 1652, perhaps in Glasgow or Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, Scotland,
    and came by 1653 with his parents to America. He and his wife were living
    7 Oct. 1717; but he was dead by Dec. 1720, when his executor to his will, John
    Fleming, was mentioned. His will is gone. He married about 1684, SUSANNA TARLETON.
    She was the daughter of Stephen Tarleton who died in 1687. He resided in New Kent
    County, just south of York River. He was a merchant and planter, owning slaves and
    extensive tracts of land in New Kent, King William, Henrico and what is now
    Goochland Counties. The family were Quakers.'

           Children of Charles Fleming and Susanna Tarleton
    				(born in New Kent Co., Va.)

        1. ELIZABETH,       b. abt. 1685; bpat. 28 Oct. 168-, St. Peter's Parish, New
                            Kent Co., Va.; md. 10 Dec. 1703, SAMUEL JORDAN.

        2. URSULA,          b. abt. 1687; md. 3 Aug. 1710, her first cousin, TARLETON
				    WOODSON. It was their son Charles who wrote the tradition.

        3. JUDITH,          b. abt. 1689; d. before 1743;
                            md. 1st, at St. Peter's Parish, 16 Oct. 1712, COL.
                            THOMAS RANDOLPH;
				    md. 2nd, contract dated 24 Dec. 1733, NICHOLAS DAVIES.

        4. SUSANNA,         b. abt. 1691; d. in 1757, between 4 May and 15 Nov.;
                            md. 1st, 12 Apr. 1713, JOHN BATES, JR.;
                            md. 2nd, after 1723, JOHN WOODSON.

        5. GRACE,           b. abt, 1693; int. to marry, 10 Apr. 1712, GEORGE BATES.

        6. SARAH,  	    b. abt. 1695; md. abt. 1719, BOWLER COCKE.

        7. JOHN,            b. Nov. 1697;
                            d. 6 Nov. 1756;
                 		    md. 20 Jan. 1727, MARY BOLLING.

        8. TARLETON,        b. abt. 1699;
                            d. in 1750, between 30 Oct. and 18 Dec.;
                            md. HANNAH (?BATES).

      WILLIAM FLEMING, probable son of John Fleming and Mercy or Mary......
    was born about 1659, probably in Virginia,.and in New Kent County. He was a Virginia
    headright, 16 Sep. 1663. On 28 April 1691 there was a grant

				A Family Tradtion Tested		       131

      "To William Fleming, 600 a. in Pettsoe Parish in Glocester Co.;

      200 a. of it bought by aforesaid Fleming & 200 acres taken up by ffrancis
      Ironmonger by patent 21 Aug. 1665 & sold to Wm Fleming 9 Mar. 1685;
      200 a. for transporting 4 persons. (Patent Book 8, p. 144.) He was of
      Petsoe Parish in 1700, 1707, 1715, and on to 1743. In 1704 he was on the
      Quit Rent Roll for Gloucester Co., Petsoe Parish, owning 600 acres. On 21
      Apr. 1727 he was appointed Sheriff of Hanover Co." (Virginia Historical
      Magazine, Vol. 32, p. 14.)

      "William Fleming, sheriff of Hanover, was probably son of John Fleming,
    who patented land in New Kent in 1658 and 1661, and died Aug. 30, 1686.
    Robert Fleming, burgess for Hanover County 'died at his father's house in
    Hanover,' Feb. 1737 (Va. Gazette)." (Ibid., 33:26.)

      "As the records of Hanover and the counties from which it was derived
    have been almost entirely destroyed, nothing can be learned of this William
    Fleming, who was sheriff of Hanover 1727-8. He may have been the father of
    Robert Fleming, Burgess for Caroline, who on February, 1737, 'died at his
    father's house in Hanover.' (Va. Gazette)" (Ibid., 32:62.)

      On March 10, 1737-8, the Will of Robert Fleming, gent., was proved by
    Elizabeth Fleming, executrix. (Ibid., 20:204.) This was in Caroline Co.

      Some descendants later lived in Louisa County. On 15 July 1766 Robert
    Fleming was a party to suits against Robert Fleming Bibb and Charles Bibb. In
    March 1767 William Fleming was plaintiff against Robert Fleming, Executor of
    Robert Fleming deceased. (Louisa Co. Order Book, 1766-1772 (F Va. L 5d. Part
    2, pp. 15, 81, 146.)) We have not made any extensive search on this line, as yet.
    Below is a tentative lineup.

           Children of William Fleming and Elizabeth.... 

        1. ROBERT, 	b. abt. 1685, Petsoe Parish, Gloucester Co., Va.;
                 		will proved 10 Mar. 1737-8, Caroline Co., Va.;
                 		d. at the house of his father in Hanover Co., Feb. 1737-8;
                 		md. ELIZABETH....

        2. ELEANOR,     b. abt. 1690, Petsoe Parish, Gloucester Co., Va.;
                 		md HENRY BIBB. They had children: Benjamin Bibb,
                 		Charles Bibb, Henry Bibb, John Bibb, Robert Fleming
                 		Bibb and Thomas Bibb.

        3. DAUGHTER,	md. ... POLLARD Their daughter Mary Pollard
                 		md. Thomason.

      ALEXANDER FLEMING, son of John Fleming and probably Marcy or Mary...
    was born, probably in New Kent County, Virginia, about 1670. His will was dated
    11 Nov. 1710; and proved in Richmond County, Virginia, 2 Jan. 1711. In it he
    bequeaths to son John Flemmon "my plantation where I now live after my wife's
    decease"; to son Alexander Flemon fifty acres of land; "the plantation

    132     		   Finding Your Forefathers in America

    on the other side of the Beaver Damm to the maintenance of 'my wife and
    Children amongst them"; to daughter Margaret Flemon; to son William
    Flemon; to son Charles Flemon; to Samll Kannady, Elizabeth Kannady and Anne
    Kannady, all under twenty-one. Wife Sarah Flemon sole executor. (Richmond
    Will Book 3, pp. 60-61.) The births of some of the children are recorded in
    Farnham Parish. He married SARAH KENNY, daughter of William.

            Children of Alexander Fleming and Sarah Kenny
    				(born in Richmond Co., Va.)

        1. JOHN,   	b. 23 Mar. 1690, Farnham Parish;
                 		will proved 26 Feb. 1744, Westmoreland Co., Va.

        2. MARGARET,    b. abt. 1692;
                 		md. Nov. 1710, Richmond Co., WILLIAM SMITH, JR.

        3. ALEXANDER,   b. 17 Apr. 1696, Farnham Parish;
                 		d. 5 May 1720. There was an Alexander Fleming whose
                 		inventory was taken in Westmoreland Co., in 1751.

        4. SARAH,  	b. 31 Apr. 1698, Farnham Parish;
                 		not' mentioned in her father's will.

        5. WILLIAM,     b. 2 Dec. 1706, Farnham Parish;
                 		he may be the William whose will was proved in
                 		Westmoreland Co., 28 Apr. 1767, wife Abigail.

        6. CHARLES,     b. 20 Aug. 1708, Farnham Parish.

        7. ELIZABETH,   b. 18 Feb. 1710, Farnham Parish;
                 		not named in her father's will.

       A Similarity of Names. Attention is called to the likeness of given
    names in the families of Charles Fleming and Alexander Fleming. One
    might say that both named their firstborn son John; both had an
    Elizabeth and a Sarah. Alexander could have named sons after his
    brothers William and Charles. Charles could have named a daughter
    Ursula after his father's stepmother, Ursula Browne. Margaret was
    presumably the name of the mother of Capt. Alexander Fleming.

       Of course, the logical next step is to examine the parish registers
    of Scotland where the Fleming family resided, in the hope of locating
    the baptism of John Fleming, emigrant. These are on films in our
    Library, under the general call number "F Scot. 6."

       An examination of these registers shows that Cumbernauld,  Barony,
    Gorbals, Govan, Biggar and Cambuslang parishes all have registers
    which begin too late to help with this problem. A search of the
    baptism records of Glasgow parish, Lanarkshire, reveals this entry
    for a child of Alexander Fleming and Elspet Anderson, his wife:

			A Family Tradition Tested		 133

    "fflemyg Alexr fflemyng & Elspt Andrsone L Dochtr (i.e., lawful daughter)
    Mart; gd fathrs Rot. Cubo, Hendrew(?) Moresone, 13 September 1644." (F
    Scot. 6, part 966, Glasgow baptisms, Vol. 4, p. 350 b.)

       It is written that the father of Alexander above had a private
    chaplain to serve his family, who probably baptized the other
    children.

This information taken from the Book, Finding Your Forefathers in America, by Archibald Bennett. Printed and original copyright by Bookcraft Inc, 1957. Original copy retained by them. This revised digitized copy of Chapter 11, is copyrighted by the Webmaster, Dedcember 18, 1999. All rights reserved by both holders. Usage of this data permitted only for personal genealogies and may be copied in its entirety only if this statement is retained with it. Commercial usage, except by the original holder is prohibited.
Library of Congress Catalog, Card Number 57-14510