In my quest to explore and feature some of the "Fathers" in my family tree, some going back only a few generations, and other going back eight, nine or more, I looked primarily for those whom I have not posted on before in any depth. I've focused on many surnames from both parents' family trees. This surname is one I am loath to include, not for any reasons pertaining to the individual ancestor in question, with his very distant position in my family tree, but to a living and recent inclusion in my family tree from an intermarriage with someone of the same surname, for whom I now hold a deep and painful disdain. That opinion and emotional response should not color my presentation of Thomas Collier, High Sheriff of Surry County, Virginia, or any of his unknown descendants, yet it may.
The dissimilitude between the two individuals, one a law enforcer and the other a law breaker, is a vast genetic, characteristic and moral canyon.
The Colliers were among the earliest settlers of the outgrowth of James City and it's continuously spreading counties. There were at least three distinct branches and many of the same given names among them.
The Surrey County Colliers hasten back to a John Collier, who could not have had a more common name, who had moved to the area by November of 1652. The county itself was new, having been formed in 1652 from James City County.
John Collier was a planter and died between August of 1675 and April of 1678. This John was the father of the subject of this post, and the oldest proven ancestor of this line. They were of English origin. The name originated from the Old English name for "coal" and referred to someone who sold or mined coal, a Collier.
Thomas Collier was born during the 1660's in Surrey County, Virginia, different sources give a range of 1664 to 1670, well after the time his father was known to have settled in the county. Thomas was possibly named for his grandfather, Thomas Sowerby, father of his mother, Mary Sowerby Collier.
One of the most complete and information resources of the Collier family is a book by Paul H. Arnot, which covers a range of connected families, including the Davis and Tomlison families, which are also in my family tree. It can be found at the link below.
There's not a great deal of information that gives any indication of what kind of person Thomas Collier was.
He was among my 9th Great Grandparents and part of that consequential James River colonial settlers of which I have a broad collection of ancestry from. We know that after Thomas's father, John Collier died around 1676, his mother, Mary Sowerby Collier, married John Rawlings or "Rawlin". Mary was the daughter of Thomas and Anna Lee Sowerby. Thomas, a teenager by that time, but still a minor, seems to have not wanted to remain in the household with his mother and stepfather. His stepfather may have treated him badly. He petitioned the court to instead, live in the home of his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Anna Sowerby. The court granted his petition on the grounds that he teaches his younger brother, John Collier II, "the rudiments of Christian religion and bring him up according to his quality." There must have been a substantial age difference between Thomas and his little brother.
About 1685, Thomas married a girl named Mary. Some give her surname as Halso, which could have been conflated with his cousin, Joseph Collier who married Jean Halso. Then again, Mary and Jean may have also been relatives, even sisters. It's still in debate. Two years later, 1687, it is noted that he served as a Horseman in the Surry County Milita. These two things lead me to believe Thomas was born closer to 1664 and would have been 21 upon his marriage to Mary.
Thomas's beloved maternal grandfather, Thomas Sowerby, passed away by January 1695. His widow (aka relict) may have been a second, (and younger) wife. She was named as his Executrix, and petitioned the court for probate of the Will, after remarrying to John Jordan. Men outnumbered women greatly at this time and many widows were soon remarried for numerous reasons. Ann Lee Sowersby Jordan would die just two years later, and she also left a Will. She named one son of her own, Edward Evans, which of course means she at some point had been married to an Evans. In the Will, Ann left clothing to "the wives of John Sowersby, Thomas Sworsby and Richard Rose". She then mentioned if her son, Edward Evans was deceased at her passing, then her estate be given to the children of her brother-in-law, John Sowersby, brother of Thomas, her deceased husband. The Sowersby family, also my ancestors, date back to Francis Sowersby, Englishman, who shows up in Surry in 1659 and receives a grant in 1666. They settled on Grays Creek. He married a Katherine, and had four or five children, including Elizabeth who married Richard Rose. This relationship links Francis Sowersby to Thomas Sowersby, as Katherine would remarry John Vinson in 1679, and deeds of gift from the Vinson's would prove the relationship to Elizabeth Sowersby Rose. This same Rose family would also marry into my Davis family, along with the Marriott's and Colliers.
Thomas Collier's bend toward community service continued when he was elected a Justice of the County Court in 1714. In this station, he continued until 1720, when he gained a position of higher importance.
Thomas Collier was appointed the High Sheriff of Surrey County in 1720. This was an office of great importance in colonial days, responsible for such duties as tax collection, law enforcement and attending court and following through with judges' orders. To be eligible for the position, a man must have had at least a few years' experience as a judge and possess a rudimentary knowledge of the law, not as much as an attorney, per se, but enough to qualify for the position. Thomas was known to have a predilection for horses and horse-racing. He was known to breed or keep fine stock and have an affinity for the animals.
Thomas Collier passed away about 1727. He was 63 or 64 years old. He was only known to have had two children, at least two who survived until adulthood, John and Sarah. John married a Jane Thomas, and had two sons, named, course, John and Thomas, as if there were no other names in existence. John predeceased his father, passing in 1717. His widow remarried a Lawther. Sarah, my line, married William Marriott.
Thomas Colliers Will names his grandsons, John and Thomas Collier, and their mother, Jane Lawther or Lather, as the boys were under 21. Thomas received the Homeplace and plantation and some property in Isle of Wight. His younger brother, John, also received land in Isle of Wight, showing that Thomas had spread his wealth, ownership, stewardship and landholdings. Also named in the will were daughter, Sarah Collier Marriott and her children. Executors were named as Sarah's husband, William Marriott and Thomas's namesake grandson, Thomas Collier II.
The Will of Thomas Collier
Bequests:
Grandson Thomas Collier - "land where I now live", land in Isle of Wight County.
Grandson John Collier -"land whereupon Wm Wood liveth in the Isle of Wight County".
Daughter-in-law Jane Lawther
Daughter Sarah Marriott, wife of William Marriott.
Granddaughter Mary Marriott (my 7th Great Grandmother).
Grandsons William and Thomas Marriott.
Executors Son-in-law William Marriott, Grandson Thomas Collier.
