Askews, Quakers, and Colonization

I have recently discovered that my ancestors were involved in the Quaker movement from England to the English colony of Virginia.  This is another discovery that possibly illuminates one of the reasons that my ancestors came to Virginia.

First some background on the Quaker movement … originally known as the Religious Society of Friends.  During the English Civil Wars, George Fox pulled together groups of disparate seekers that formed the Religious Society of Friends in 1647. He targeted "scattered Baptists," disillusioned soldiers, and restless commoners as potential Quakers. Confrontations with the established churches and its leaders was inevitable as the Quakers believed that God could speak to average people, through his risen son, without the need to heed churchmen, pay tithes, or engage in deceitful practices. They found fertile ground in northern England in 1651 and 1652, building a base there from which they moved south, first to London and then beyond. Fox also established a more equal role for women, which served both to isolate the opposition and fuel discontent.  Despite the survival of strong patriarchal elements, Quakers believed in the spiritual equality of women, who were allowed to take a far more active role in the church.

Two acts of English Parliament made it particularly difficult. The first was the Quaker Act of 1662, which made it illegal to refuse to take the Oath of Allegiance to the King and country. The second act was the Conventicle Act of 1664, which reaffirmed that holding secret meetings by people who did not pledge allegiance to the country was a crime.

An early leader of the movement was George Fox’s wife, Margaret Askew Fell Fox, also known as the ‘Mother of Quakerism’.   She was born Margaret Askew in Dalton-in-Furness, a small town in the north of England, where the Askew family originated. She had married Thomas Fell in 1632, and became the lady of Swarthmore Hall. Thomas Fell had served as a Justice of the Peace for Lancashire County, England and in 1645 was a member of Parliament. He died in 1658 leaving Margaret Askew a widow.

In late June 1652, George Fox visited Swarthmoor Hall. Margaret stated of George Fox, he 'opened us a book that we had never read in, nor indeed had never heard that it was our duty to read in it (to wit) the Light of Christ in our consciences, our minds never being turned towards it before.' Later, she invited George Fox to preach at their local parish.  Over the next weeks she and many of her household became convinced.  Over the next few years, Swarthmoor Hall became a center of Quaker activity and Margaret served as an unofficial secretary for the new movement.  She wrote many epistles herself, as well as, collected and disbursed funds for those on missions. After her husband's death in 1658, she retained control of Swarthmore Hall, which remained a meeting place for Quakers and haven from persecution, even though it was sometimes, in the 1660s, raided by government forces.

In 1664 Margaret Fell was arrested for failing to take an oath and for allowing Quaker meetings to be held in her home. She defended herself by saying that "as long as the Lord blessed her with a home, she would worship him in it". She was sentenced to life imprisonment and forfeiture of her property. She remained in prison until 1668, during which time she wrote religious pamphlets and epistles. Perhaps her most famous work is "Women's Speaking Justified", a scripture-based argument for women's ministry, and one of the major texts on women's religious leadership in the 17th century. Margaret bases her argument for equality of the sexes on the basic premises of Quakerism that is spiritual equality. Her belief was that God created all human beings; therefore both men and women were capable of not only possessing the ‘Inner Light’ but also the ability to be a prophet.

After her release from prison she married George Fox in 1669. On returning to Lancashire after her marriage, she was again imprisoned for about a year in Lancaster for breaking the Conventicle Act. Shortly after her release, George Fox departed on a religious mission to America, and he too was imprisoned again on his return in 1673. Margaret again traveled to London to intercede on his behalf, and he was eventually freed in 1675.

Margaret spent most of the rest of her life at Swarthmore Hall. After the death of George Fox in 1691, she continued to take an active part in Quaker affairs.  She died at the age of 88.  One has to think that she was probably inspired by the Protestant Martyr, Anne Askew, possibly a distant ancestor of Margret. 

One also has to believe that she was possibly related to the Askew’s that migrated from England to the Isle of Wight in Colonial Virginia during the mid 17th Century.  Studying Isle of Wight history … I have discovered a strong Quaker connection.  The oldest group of Quakers in Virginia settled in the southeast corner of Virginia (e.g. Norfolk, Isle of Wight Co. etc.) and date to the time of arrival of the earliest Askew’s to the Virginia Colony. This group of Quakers spread from Southeast Virginia into the northeast corner of North Carolina. It is also interesting that the Askew family migrated from Southeast Virginia to Northeast North Carolina. 

George Fox visited Isle of Wight in 1672.  From George Fox’s journal, “On the 5^th we set sail for Virginia, and in three day’s came to a place called Nancemond … Next day we had a great meeting there of Friends and others.”  He continues, “Another very good meeting also we had at William Yarrow’s at Pagan Creek which was so large that we were fain to be abroad.”  One of the largest meeting houses of the Quakers in Virginia was located at Pagan Creek in Isle of Wight and located near John Askew’s property.  His journal goes on to mention ‘kinsmen’ attending these meetings … could these ‘kinsmen’ have been Askews?

The Quakers were also persecuted in Virginia.  In 1659 the Virginia General Assembly passed a law against the Quakers, fining 100 lbs. sterling to any ship's master who brought in Quakers and prison terms were imposed on Quakers who refused to leave the colony. This caused church members to flee to a colony to other locations such as the Maryland colony.  

In Virginia, the authorities refused to accept Quaker marriages as legal, and they were fined for fornication. For this reason, there are very few records of the first converts to the church. It was not only until 1688 that the Religious Toleration Act was passed.

Due to these acts many of the Quaker’s that remained in the Virginia colony probably held their religious beliefs in secret … which may be why it is difficult to positively identify these early Virginia Askews as tied to the movement; but, considering their possible connection to Margaret Askew Fell Fox, their timeline of arrival in the Virginia Colony, and their close proximity to the Isle of Wight Quakers, it is possible that my ancestors were tied to the Quaker movement as one of their reasons or means for migrating to Virginia in the mid 17^th century.

Margret Askew

Society of Friends' burial ground in Sunbrick, Urswick, England Margaret's resting place

Life in Colonial Virginia

I have written several previous posts on my Colonial Virginia ancestry.  These posts include:

Fort Boykin Virginia

More Askews in Colonial Virginia

Virginia Colonists – Isle of Wight

Last Summer my father and I had the opportunity to visit Cluade Moore Colonial Farm located near McLean, Virginia.  The farm is a living history demonstration of a Colonial Virginia family farm set in the year 1771.  Living history interpreters authentically recreate the colonial life and interact with visitors in order to allow them to step back in time to Colonial Virginia.  This visit provided us a glimpse into the life of our 18^th century ancestors that settled in Colonial Virginia.

Fort Boykin Virginia

My Father at Fort Boykin

While Chasing the Family Ghosts in Virginia, my father and I had the opportunity to visit Fort Boykin, located near Smithfield, Virginia.  Fort Boykin was established around 1623 in order to protect the entrance of the James River from raiding Spaniards.  Fort Boykin provided early warning and protection for the early colonists who had settled along the James River,.  We found the Fort Boykin to be very well preserved and maintained … it was easy to make out the layout of the Fort which was a wooden and dirt structure.  Fort Boykin fronts the James River on the highest point of land in the area, at a point where the navigable channel is close to the shoreline, which would have forced all vessels traveling the river within firing range.   The fort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Virginia Landmarks Register, Virginia Civil War Trails, Captain John Smith’s Trail and the Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail. Fort Boykin was named after Francis Marshall Boykin who was a Virginia state senator, general in the state militia and owner of the property on which the fort was built.  The fort is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk.  A link to the parks website:  http://www.virginia.org/Listings/HistoricSites/FortBoykinHistoricPark/

The Fort's Cistern

We chose to visit this historic site due to the fact that it was active when the first Askew colonists came to the area.  While standing at Fort Boykin … it is easy to imagine the passenger and supply ships that passed by on their way to these Virginia colonist settlements.  Fort Boykin was absolutely essential to their survival and existence. 

The Entrance to the Fort ... it goes over the original ramparts

My British Isle Heritage

Several of my earlier posts referenced my heritage from the British Isles …   

Genealogy and Genetics

Origin of the Family Name

The Askew Codex

Anne Askew – Protestant Martyr

I thought I would write about some of my possible ancestors in England ….

The earliest geographic location of the Askew family is Northern England, the name appears in both Cumberland and Lancanshire County England.   The earliest Askew’s can be dated back through property records.  Thurston de Bosco received from the Lord of Kirksanton, Aikskeugh (Askew) or Oakwood in 1202-3. It is certain that William, son of Guy Boyville granted lands in Kirksanton and Silecroft, near the two standing stones, to John, son of John of Aykescowgh (Askew). Sir Robert Mulcaster and Joan his wife and Margaret de Bampton granted 1403 to Richard de Ayscough their lands in Lacra and Scales. These estates descended to Matthew Ayscough* (Askew) who gave them to his son Richard in 1478. They descended to Hugh Askew (1558-1625) who married Elizabeth (1560-1649).   

Sir William Askew, possibly the son of Richard Askew, was knighted by Henry the VIII in 1513 at the age of 24 of Stallingsborpugh, Lincolnshire, England.  Sir William Askew was a commissioner in Lincolnshire county during the Louth Rising against King Henry VIII .  Sir William Askew is the father of Anne Askew, discussed in a previous Blog article. 

Sir Hugh Askew is believed to be the son of Sir William Askew and brother to Anne Askew.  Sir Hugh Askew was granted two estates by Henry the VIII, Marsh Grange and Seaton Priory in the year 1542. Marsh Grange was granted to the Askew Family or (Ascough, Asketh, or Askey) by Henry the VIII in the year 1542.  In 1547 he was created knight-banneret at Musselburgh, in Scotland, after the battle of Pinkey.  A brass plate on the wall of a church in Bootle, England bears the effigy of Sir Hugh Askew, who, as the inscription says, was knighted at the battle of Musselburgh, in 1547, and died in 1562. He married into a noble family, his wife being a cousin to Queen Jane Seymour, mother of Edward the Sixth.  He died leaving no children.    His estates in Lancashire then became the property of his nephew, William Askew (possible son to Anne Askew the martyr) and a niece named Bridget Askew.  Marsh Grange fell to William Askew and Seaton Priory to Bridgett Askew who later married a Pennington. 

According to the Lancashire County, Dalton in Furness - Parish Register, 1565-1620, John Askew married  Margaret Pyper on 08 Feb 1612.  John was possible son of William Askew (Son of Anne the martyr) and was buried in Lancashire County, Dalton in Furness on 25 May 1691.

One possible reason for the Askew migration from England was the English Civil War which occurred in England in the mid-17th century, between the royalist and parliamentarians.  The areas of Royalist support tended to be the North, West and Wales. Royalist support would include Lancashire County and Cumberland County where the Askew family was prominent.  Parliament was supported by the richer South and East, including London.

But much more research must be conducted in order to positively identify my English Ancestors and why they decided to begin a new life in the American Colonies.  

Historic Map of Britain

Map of the Counties of Britain

More Askews in Colonial Virginia

While in Virginia, with my Father, we stopped by the St Peter’s Church in New Kent County Virginia … the third oldest Church in Virginia.  As we looked through the Parish Register (1680-1787) we discovered several other Askews that were present in Colonial Virginia.  These entries were as follows:

Page 53
Sarah Askew departed this Life Jany. ye 16, 1709-10.
Jno Askew Departed this Life ye 25th February, 1719.

Page 54
Alexr. son of Jno Askew Dyed Decemr ye 20th, 1726.

Page 75
Anne ye Dar. of Jno & Anne Askew born Octr 29, baptizd Decr 3d, 1727.

Page 76
Eliz. ye Daur of Jno & Anne Askew born Jany. 13, 1729-30.

We also discovered that the above John Askew had received headrights in New Kent County of 900 acres on June 16, 1671 and 1900 acres on December 15, 1673. (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, Compiled by Marion Nell Nugent)  This record places his arrival in the Virginia Colony in the early 1670’s.

A headright is a legal grant of land to settlers. Headrights are most notable for their role in the expansion of the thirteen British colonies in North America; the Virginia Company of London gave headrights to settlers and the Plymouth Company followed suit. The headright system was used in several colonies, including Maryland, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Most headrights were for 1 to 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land, and were given to anyone willing to cross the Atlantic Ocean and help populate the colonies. (Wikipedia)

A little history on St Peter’s Church, “St. Peter's Church was established in New Kent County, Virginia, on April 29, 1679. Construction began in 1701 and was complete by 1703.  One of St. Peter's vestrymen, Colonel Daniel Parke Custis, married Martha Dandridge in June 1749. She became a widow after only eight years of marriage. On January 6, 1759, the Rector of St. Peter's, Rev. David Mossom, united Martha Custis and Colonel George Washington in marriage. Debate ensues over the exact location of the marriage; some believe it occurred within the church while others believe it took place a few miles away at the White House Plantation on the Pamunkey River.  Following the American Revolution, the church was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Sometime around 1820, Presbyterians started worshiping at the church. Episcopalian services began again in 1843. Both denominations shared the church, alternating weeks, until 1865.  Being centrally located in New Kent County, the church suffered greatly during the Civil War. Union soldiers stabled their horses in the pews and carved their names in the brick exterior. On October 23, 1869 General Robert E. Lee wrote “St. Peters is the church where General Washington was married and attended in early life. It would be a shame to America if allowed to go to destruction.” His son, General William Henry Fitzhugh Lee oversaw the partial restoration in 1872. After being designated as “The First Church of the First First-Lady” by the Virginia General Assembly in 1960, restoration again began on the church with the assistance of architectural and ecclesiological experts. The renovation required making structural improvements to the church and completely gutting the interior.” (Wikipedia)

We also discovered that the St Peter’s Church registry mentions a Thomas Askew and Joseph Askew. Little else is known of these New Kent County Askews or if they are related to the Isle of Wight Askews or what has become of their decendents.   What we do know is that we have another mystery to solve and more Ghosts to Chase.

St Peter's Church, New Kent County, Virginia during our visit

Sam Snow – Setting the Record Straight

I previously produced a blog entitled, 'Sergeant Sam Snow of the 8th Mississippi Infantry, A Letter from his First Sergeant, and an Unknown Mississippi Soldier's Grave' back on July 5, 2010.  The Blog referenced the possibility of Sergeant Sam Snow being interned as an unknown Confederate Soldier in the Resaca Confederate Cemetery.  Some time ago, my father and I were able to visit the Resaca Confederate Cemetery; while at the cemetery my father recalled a conversation that he had overheard as a child … that Sam Snow’s father had traveled to Georgia to recover his Son’s remains.  While in Georgia, the father recovered Sam Snow’s remains from two sisters.  While at the cemetery we read the story of Ms. Green and the story my father had heard as a child made perfect sense. 

The story of Ms. Green and the Resaca Confederate Cemetery is as follows, “After the battle, a family known as the Green family returned to their plantation and the sight that met them there was almost more than they could bear. The bodies of confederate soldiers were buried in crude makeshift graves all across the yard. Compelled by a sense of respect to those who had fallen in action, Mary J. Green and her sister began collecting the bodies to bury properly. Though poverty was rampant the Green daughters wrote friends asking for any amount money they could give. Col. John Green gave his daughters 2.5 acres (10,000 m2) of land for use as a cemetery for these soldiers. With the money collected and the land provided, the Green daughters and their mother began work on what we now call the Resaca Confederate Cemetery.” (Wikipedia)

So the search for Sergeant Sam Snow continues ….

At LT Clark's Grave

AT Resaca Confederate Cemetery

Resaca Confederate Cemetery Marker

Genealogy and Genetics

My father, brother, and I have been very successful tracing our genealogy back to 17th Century England using archival records research.  We have definitively traced our family to the North Western portion of the British Iles prior to their arrival to the Virginia colony.  I have always wanted to take the next step and determine if our family descended from one of the original Celtic tribes, such as the Picts or did my ancestors migrate from another culture to the British Isles. It has been difficult to trace our direct ancestry in Britain so the best we have been able to do is determine general relations based on family surnames and common variations.

During this past Fall I took another route and tried a DNA test through Family Tree DNA.  This test looks at the Y chromosome DNA which traces the male lineage.  DNA in the Y chromosome is passed from father to son, and Y-DNA analysis is now a growing method in genealogy research.

Generally speaking this Y-DNA analysis classifies the descendent within a Haplogroup.   A Haplogroup is defined as branches in the human genetic tree (Phylogenetic tree). They are tied to deep ancestry (think 10,000s or 10s of 1000s of years). It basically groups people based on their genetic markers to certain regions of the World.  Maps have also been developed based on archeological finds and DNA samples which trace the origins and migrations of these groups over time.

My Haplogroup turned out to be I2b1.  I was very surprised to learn that Haplogroup I2b1 is a fairly small group. It reaches its highest numbers in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands where it can constitute as much as 10 to 12.5 percent of the population. This haplogroup most likely arrived in England with the Anglo-Saxons or Vikings. 

It is very likely that my ancestors were either from an Anglo Saxon Tribe from northern Germany that conquered the British Isles from 400-600 AD, establishing the Kingdom of Northumbria or were of Viking decent whom conquered the British Iles from 800-1066 AD. 

And now another clue has been answered; however, it has generated as many questions as answers.  We will continue to pursue the DNA approach to genealogy in order to ‘Chase the Family Ghosts’ to the farthest corners of history.  I have joined several groups through Family DNA Tree to include a group project entitled Askew Family.  Hopefully this approach will assist in unlocking answers and discovering new paths to explore.

Map depicting the Viking Invasion of the British Isles

Map depicting the Anglo-Saxon invasion of the British Isles

Map depicting the origin and migration of Haplogroup I2B