B. about 1680 in (probably) New Kent County, Virginia
M. before about 1718 in (probably) New Kent, Virginia
Wife: _______ Chiles
D. before June 14, 1739 in King William County, Virginia
There are few surviving records from colonial King William County, Virginia. During the late 19th century, a courthouse fire destroyed nearly everything, making it impossible to track many families. In the case of Joseph Sutherland, only two documents record him by name: a 1699 record regarding his father’s probate, and a 1701 ruling for the same case. With this, we know the name of his father and his two brothers.
Joseph was born in about 1680 in colonial Virginia, likely in the county of New Kent. He seems to have been a third-generation American of Scottish and English descent. Joseph’s parents were George and Elizabeth Sutherland (his mother’s maiden name is thought to be Norment), and he was their oldest surviving son. New Kent County was tobacco country, and just about everyone who lived there either grew it, or traded it. Joseph’s father had acquired a vast amount of land from the Pamunkey Indians between two small rivers, and this was likely where Joseph grew up.
George Sutherland died by June of 1699, leaving behind Joseph and two younger brothers, Phillip and George. None of them were of age, and their situation seemed ominous: the courts were questioning the legality of their father’s property title. Basically the authorities said that since it had been acquired directly from the Indians, the Sutherlands had no right to it because only the King of England or his representative could grant land in the colony. The issue was appealed, with Joseph Norment serving as the boys’ guardian, and on September 4, 1701, this order was made by the Virginia House of Burgesses:
Resolved: That it is the opinion of this house that no patents be issued to any persons claiming land within the bounds assigned the Pamunkey Indians, and for this reason no patents to be issued unto Joseph Norment in behalf of Joseph Sutherland, Phillip Sutherland and George Sutherland, orphan sons of George Sutherland, deceased, for 300 acres.
The issue of ownership of this land was mentioned again on October 28, 1702 when a grant of 312 acres was now approved for the “orphans of George Sutherland,” but only Phillip and George were mentioned, not Joseph. Researchers believe that this indicated Joseph had come of age, thus establishing a rough birth year of 1680. They also think that as an adult, he had received his land separately.
In January 1705, Phillip and George were paid money for their claim on land they inherited. Later that year, another document used the phrase “heir of George Sutherland, deceased,” and this exact wording was repeated in a grant dated June 14, 1739. The recipient of the grant was Fendall Sutherland, grandson of George. Unfortunately, the generation between George and Fendall wasn’t named, but since Phillip and George had sold out, this would leave Joseph as the father of Fendall.
Some have inferred from the uncommon name of “Fendall” that Joseph had a wife with that surname, but this does not seem to be true. Instead, evidence suggests that Joseph’s wife was the daughter of John Chiles (~1666-~1723). The case is made for this because of son Fendall’s later connection to the Chiles family in probate and land records, and a document saying that John Chiles had two daughters, one of whom married a Sutherland. Besides Fendall, three other children have been tied to Joseph, all born between about the years 1718 and 1734; this age range fits with a John Chiles daughter being the wife of Joseph.
The June 1739 land grant does have one conclusive fact about Joseph: he was deceased by that date. Most likely his death occurred earlier that year, although the timing of the grant may also be linked to his son Fendall coming of age and Joseph may have died up to about 5 years earlier.
Children:
1. Fendall Sutherland — B. about 1718, King William County, Virginia; D. before 24 Aug 1789 in King William County, Virginia; M. (1) UNKNOWN, about 1740; (2) Mary Coleman (?-1818), about 1757
2. John Sutherland — B. about 1720, (probably) King William County, Virginia; D. before 21 Mar 1771, Carteret, Virginia; M. Ann _______, 1745, Virginia
3. Elizabeth Sutherland — B. 2 Feb 1726, Prince George County, Virginia; D. about 1819, Amelia County, Virginia; M. Thomas Whitworth (1726-1801), 1745, Virginia
4. Joseph Sutherland — B. about 1734, (probably) Virginia; D. 16 May 1807, Louisa, Virginia; M. Grissell Mallory (1744-1807)
Sources:
