Hugh Daniel has been of keen interest to me since I first read the works of Charles Brunk Heinemann (1934 & 1949) and observed how he left open the placement of Hugh with any of the prominent Virginia Daniel families.   In an early manuscript (1934), Heinemann had given Hugh an expansive lineage. However, under criticism from Mr. Worth Ray of Texas, he retreated to a simple two generation outline in his book printed in 1949, Daniel Families of the Southern States. Mr. Heinemann was in hopes that some future researcher would flesh out this line and it has been my desire to try and meet this challenge.

Judge W. B. Newman would like to place William Daniel of Caroline in the line with Hugh, as a possible son or grandson.  Hugh’s son, William, would have to be over 100 years old in 1764 when William of Caroline died, and while there is a mention of a grandson William Junior, I view this choice as somewhat improbable without a reliable reference. Judge Newman would like to place James Daniel of Essex County in Hugh’s lineage, but there is no basis for this arrangement.  I have failed to find a history for a James Daniel in the line Hugh of Old Rappahannock  County, Virginia.  William Daniel may be the right age to be the son of James, I of Essex County, or he could be the brother of James?

Hugh Daniel, with wife Mary Billington, is listed in the lineage of Roger Daniell, Sr., as an ancestor of Mona Lee Daniel Allen (b. 1913) of Claxton, Georgia, in the book entitled The Family of Daniel or Daniell.  This was the first mention of a parental connection for Hugh Daniel I found in available reference materials. Where or when Hugh died has not been determined. The lineage of Roger Daniell, Sr., including Hugh Daniel, is provided in this compellation  for the readers information.

It is obvious that Hugh Daniel was a key participant in the early events of Northampton, Richmond, York, Middlesex, and Old Rappahannock Counties.  I will be happy to receive any information that will help clear up the confusion surrounding Hugh’s travels and relationships with other Daniel families of Virginia. It should be noted that Hugh's name does not appear in some early books about Old Rappahannock County, Virginia. 

Editor's Note:  This Hugh Daniel was not the only Hugh Daniel mentioned in archives for the colonial period and references to Hugh Daniel of Brunswick County, Virginia are prominent in early deeds and marriage records. 

                  From the Notes of William C. Daniel Sept. 2000:

Hugh Daniel, born c1630/1640 probably in England, and his father-in-law Luke Billington are found on the early records of Rappahannock County, VA.  In April 1660, John and Mary Williams sold to Richard Peacock and Hugh Daniell one parcel of land lying one westerly branch of Famham Creek.  On April 18, 1661, Luke Billington, of Fanham Creek in Rappahannock County, executed a bill of sale witnessed by Hugh Daniel and Richard Peacock.  On October 20, 1664 John Sugget gave William, son of Hugh Daniel, a calf, and on September 4, John Hines gave William a cow and calf.

The Will of Luke Billington, dated November 13, 1671, proved May 23, 1673, names wife Barbery, son Luke, Jr. (md.  Mary - died 1687), and daughters Elithia ( md. 1673 to Dr. John Russell), Elizabeth (md.  Dennis McCarty), Jane (md. Robert Baylis) and Barbery (md.  Joseph Tayloe) and daughter Mary Daniel  and her son William Daniel.  Luke Billington, Jr. was left land where Richard Peacock now lives in the Will of his father.  Barbery Billington, widow of Luke, made her will August 7, 1674, proved October 21, 1674.  James Daniel  (James Daniel of Essex Co., Va.) is also found on the records of Rappahannock and is presumed to have been a son of Hugh & Mary (Billington) Daniel.  In 1694, Rappahannock County became Essex County.  In 1694, James Daniel deposed he was 30 year old.  James Daniel's will, dated June 7, 1731, recorded August 17, 1742 in Essex names wife Mary, sons James, Jr., John and William (who married Frances). Note: Your compiler does not support the assumption that James Daniel of Essex was a son of Hugh Daniel.

Hugh Daniel is said to have died before 1672 when his widow married  Richard Hinds.  A Hugh Daniel is found on the 1704 Virginia Quit Rents in Norfolk County.  A Hugh Daniel is also found on Brunswick County parish records in 1737 and 1746 and on a deed recorded in Brunswick County from Hugh Daniel and Ann, his wife, dated November 1, 1744. These are undoubtedly unrelated Hugh Daniels. 

A critical look at Hugh Daniel of Old Rappahanock, Virginia, from other sources. 

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"For the sake of clarity, Rappahannock Co., Va. was formed in the year 1656 from Lancaster Co., Va., and became extinct in 1692 when it became two counties (not one), named Essex Co., Va., and Richmond Co., Va.  The formation was based on an order of the Virginia House of Burgesses, dated April 26, 1692.  Consequently, the year was not 1694 as William C. Daniel shows above nor did all of the land become the one county of Essex.  Also, most genealogists and historians refer to the county as "Old Rappahannock County" since there is currently a Rappahannock Co., Va. formed in 1833 from Culpepper Co., Virginia."

 Ray Ryan heritagefamilysearch@bigfoot.com