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John GRESHAM is believed to be the John GRESSAM, age 22, who on 21 Aug. 1635 was to be transported to VA on the Thomas.1 Some researchers in the past believed him to be the son of Sir Edward GRESHAM of Titsey, Surrey, England, and grandson of Sir William GRESHAM of Titsey. They had based this on a pedigree chart which as a footnote stated "John and Edward were his second and third sons, ...." They had interpretted this as meaning John (of later VA) and Edward (of later VA) were the second and third sons of Sir Edward. Closer examination of the chart shows this footnote referred to Sir John (of Titsey, d. 1643)) and Sir Edward (of Titsey, the alleged father of our John) as the 2nd and 3rd sons of Sir William.2 Therefore, the ancestry of John GRESHAM of MD and VA is unknown. John settled on the Isle of Kent, MD, which was also claimed by VA. In February 1639 (possibly 1639/40) he signed as witness to a document.3 On 7 Sep. 1640 John GRESHAM of the Isle of Kent, planter, demanded 100 acres for transporting himself into the Province at his own charge. On 24 September 1640, the surveyor was ordered to lay out 100 acres for him on the Isle of Kent.4 Before John acquired patent to the land, he sided with William CLAIBORNE and VA in the ongoing dispute between VA and MD over ownership of the Isle of Kent. For his part in the "rebellion", the land of John GRESHAM was seized on 9 November 1648 by the Proprietors of Maryland.5 John's tract Beaver Neck was awarded to Francis BROOK(S) for his service during the rebellion by Leonard CALVERT.6 BROOK(S) assigned the land to John SALTER, who received a patent to the land on 27 Sep. 1658.7 With other exiles from the Isle of Kent, John GRESHAM settled in Northumberland Co., VA. The name of John's first wife is unknown. He secondly married Mary, the widow of John PLAYCE, he having died in 1650. John GRESHAM died between 30 Jan. 1655/6 when he sued in court,8 and 14 Feb. 1655/6 when administration was granted on his estate9 in Northumberland County. John GRESHAM and first wife had children: 1. Katherine11 GRESHAM b. say 1640 Northumberland Co., VA; m. Justinian TENNIS10 (TENNISON); living 1711 Charles Co., MD18 2. Mary12 GRESHAM living 165612 3. Martha11 GRESHAM; m. by 1671 Richard FLYNT;13 living 1701 Northumberland Co.14 John GRESHAM and second wife Mary (-?-), widow of John17 PLAYCE16 had child: 1. Justinian10 GRESHAM b. say 1655; d. by 1658 Northumberland Co.15 Some researchers claim that John GRESHAM is the father of John GRESHAM who was transported into MD in 1670, and died there about 1713. In that John in 1640 claimed transportation only for himself, it would appear he did not marry until after his arrival. As such, any child John would have been a minor at the time of his death. No records are found of guardianship for a son John, or any mention of another John in Northumberland County.
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