1. Nathaniel Bradford of Accomack County, Virginia - Lower ...

Settling Bradford’s Neck: 1662-1665
On 26 March 1662, for the transportation of 20 headrights, Nathaniel Bradford received a patent for 1000
acres on the eastern banks of Matchapungo Creek, near the Indian village of Matchapreague 51 . Two years
later, in 1664, he received a patent for an additional 1400 acres north of the original 1000, this later portion
being on assignment from Colonel Edmund Scarburgh and for the transportation of 28 individuals 52 . In the
meantime Nathaniel had sold off his two other tracts, the 400 acres in Northampton in August 1663 53 and in
October 1664 the 500 acres inherited from Richard Smith 54 . The 2400 acres at Matchapungo became
Nathaniel’s home plantation and remained almost wholly in the possession of his descendants for yet
another century. Portions of the land continued in his descendants’ ownership for over a century longer. In
time the entire stretch of land came to be called Bradford’s Neck, as it is still known to this day. [Note:
Some sources state that Nathaniel’s plantation was called Atlantic View, but this is a misunderstanding.
There was a house called Atlantic View that was built much later on the property (probably in the 19 th
century) by the LeCato family, one of whom married Nathaniel’s great-great-granddaughter. If Nathaniel
had a name for his plantation, it has not been recorded.] 55
On the same day that Nathaniel & Alice sold the land inherited from Richard Smith, Nathaniel made a gift
of land to his son Nathaniel Jr., in order to honor the provision in Richard Smith’s will stipulating that
Alice’s inheritance was to run in the line of her children:
“Nathaniell Bradford, currier, for considerations accruing to him by the marriage of Alice Smith,
daughter of Richard Smith, deceased, granted to Nathaniell Bradford, Jr., "my heir and the heir of
the abovesaid Smith," 800 acres, being part of the 1400 acres purchased by Bradford, Sr. from
Col. Edmond Scarburgh, now the home plantation at Matchapreage. This was given in lieu of 500
acres sold by Bradford to John Fawsett and Dermon Selevant on the north side of the head of
Occahonnock Creek and formerly belonged to Richard Smith. The conditions: if Nathaniell
Bradford, Jr., or the heirs of Richard Smith when coming of age, trouble John Fawsett or Dermon
Selevant in regards to the possession of the 500 acres, then Fawsett and Selevant should possess
the 800 acres. Bradford acknowledged receiving 8000 lbs tobacco, and 4 cows and calves from
Fawsett and Selevant. Signed 18 October 1664, Nathaniell Bradford. Witnesses: John West and
Ed. Boteler. Recorded 20 October 1664, by Robt. Hutchinson” 56
When Nathaniel sold the Richard Smith land to Fawsett and Sellivant, the tract at Matchapreague was
referred to as “now the home plantation.” But even after settling at Matchapungo and selling off his other
land, it appears that Nathaniel may have maintained the use of the plantation at Occahannock for a time.
Indication of this appears in a deposition given by Nathaniel’s servant Robert Atkins on 16 June 1665 as
evidence in the suit of Nathaniel against Alphonsoe Balls for riding Nathaniel’s horse without permission:
“Deposition of Robert Atkins aged about 21 years: Said that after Alphansoe Balls and the wife of
Bartholomew Meeres used the horse, she took the horse to the tanner’s old plantation on a Friday
and gave it to Atkins, the tanner’s servant. On Saturday Atkins fetched the horse and carried to his
master’s house at Matchapreage two tables, a grindstone and three hides and then turned the horse
loose in the woods. On the following Friday Atkins was sent down into Matchapungo Neck to
look for the horse, where he found him looking well. His master saw the horse when he got home
and sent Atkins to Occahonnock to his old plantation for hides. After spending the night, Atkins
caught the horse and carried eight hides home. The horse did not falter in the least and ate corn
before being released in the woods. Toward the end of the next week, Atkins searched for the
horse and found him dead. Signed, Robt. (O) Atkins.” 57 [Emphasis mine.]
As Nathaniel had sold the plantation at Occahannock on 18 October 1664, perhaps the “old plantation”
Atkins refers to is the land inherited by Richard Smith’s other daughter Susan, who wed Robert Richardson
after her father’s death. Robert Richardson, like Nathaniel, was engaged in the leather trade. 58 Since
Nathaniel and Robert were related it’s not hard to imagine them working with one another in the production
of leather and the manufacture of shoes. Neither Dermon Sellivant or John Fawsett, to whom Nathaniel and
Page 12 of 74 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford