Family Part 1 - Colonial Virginia Womacks

This section documents the Womack family that started in Colonial Virginia, to include ancestor William Womack, the ancestor by "paper descent" of most Womacks in America of European ancestry.  He was not the ancestor of biological descent for many.  This William Womack died in Henrico Co, VA prior to 1677.

William Womack had 5 sons by documentation, but Y-DNA tests of his "descendants" show a different picture.  The most likely scenario is that William was the biological father of sons Abraham, William and Thomas, but adopted sons John and Richard (who had different fathers, but possibly the same mother).

The name(s) of William's wife or wives is unknown.  

Children (some not biological children):

• Abraham Womack

  • William Womack married UNKNOWN, she next married William Clarke

• John Womack

• Richard Womack

  • Thomas Womack

William Womack (circa 1620 - 1663/77) of Henrico County Virginia

The following are the only known records of the first William Womack, the second William Womack, and the first William Womack’s widow.

The records above are the only known records of the first William Womack in America who was the progenitor, at least in name, of the Womack family of Virginia. They are also the only record of his wife at the time of his death, and his son, the second William Womack.

There is a great amount of incorrect information and false assertions about the early Womack family. In this book, we will only deal with actual records. We will also have a section to refute some of the more common and persistent mistakes.

The Womack family began in the Bermuda Hundred area of what is today Chesterfield County, Virginia, but before 1749, was part of Henrico County, Virginia, south of the James River. Today, this area is a suburb of Richmond, but at the time of the first Womack records, the town of Richmond had not been founded yet. Henrico County was on both sides of the James River, and the Womacks and others on the Southside had to take the ferry to attend court at Varina on the north side of the river.

Other records of importance to the structure of the early Womack family:

• • Richard Womack gave 100 acres to his brother John Womack in 1680 (Henrico Co, VA WD 1677-1692:168)

  • Abraham Womack complained to the Henrico court in 1692 that the orphans of his brother Richard Womack suffered under the "tuition" of John Granger. (Henrico Co, VA WD 1677-1692:492). (Granger married Richard Womack’s widow after Richard died in 1684, and thus Granger was the step-father of Richard’s children.)

  • Thomas Womack wrote his will in 1697 (Henrico, Co, VA WD 1688-1697:716). It named:

    • • • Abraham Womack as his brother

        • John Granger - relationship not given.

        • Catherine Baugh as his goddaughter, and various Puckett family members as "brother", "couzen", "godson", etc.

  • Y-DNA tests of patrilineal descendants of Abraham, Richard and John Womack have shown three distinct haplotypes, meaning two distinct "non-paternal" events occurred within the first two generations. More on this subject below.

These records have been variously interpreted:

• • The Mary and Thomas Womack in the Orphan records have been interpreted as the children of the second William Womack, brother of Abraham. However, if the second William had surviving children, the colonial court would not have awarded Abraham with 2/3 of the second William’s estate; it would have gone to his children. Thus, we know the second William had no surviving children in April 1674. It is very likely that the second William’s widow, name unknown, remarried to William Clarke.

  • The first Orphans record, from Oct 1677, has been interpreted as referring to two distinct Mary Womacks, the widow and daughter of the first William Womack. However, the text starts with "an account of the cattle belonging to the orphans of William Womack deceased." These were the first William’s orphans, and no mention of his widow is made, and no attempt to disambiguate two different Marys. The second Orphans record from Aug 1678, "an account of the cattle of Mary and Thomas Womack," makes clear it is talking only about one Mary who had some cattle to herself, and some in common wih Thomas. Thus, there is no record that shows the first William Womack’s widow’s given name or surname.

  • The Timothy Allen who was apparently the guardian of Thomas and Mary Womack probably married the widow of the first William Womack. People tended to remarry quickly, and step-fathers often became the financial guadrdians of their step-children. The first William Womack’s widow, and the mother of Thomas Womack, probably remarried to Timothy Allen, and she died before June 1685.

  • The name "Mary Jane Allen" has been floated as the wife of the first William Womack. Given the Y-DNA results, discussed below, it is likely the first William Womack was married at least twice. Very few people had middle names, so the "Jane" is unlikely. The "Mary" comes from a misinterpretation of the Orphans records, above. The "Allen" surname comes from the involvement of Timothy Allen, but he was likely the husband of the first William Womack’s widow, not her brother or father. The "Mary Allen" name is also likely a conflation with Mary Allen who married William Womack III (married 12 Oct 1762 in Halifax Co, VA), great-grandson of Abraham Womack Sr. Thus, we don’t know any part of the names of the first William Womack’s wife or wives.

  • The notion that the first William Womack had recently died in 1677 has been floated, but he could have died any time after the conception of Thomas (born circa 1663) and the the Oct 1677 Orphans Court record. The earlier Orphans Court records don’t exist, and there are very few Henrico records before 1677.

Womack Surname Y-DNA Tests

In 2006 - 2009, several American men with the Womack, Wommack and Warmack surname, took Y-DNA tests. I (Robert E Burke) was the administrator of the DNA project, see Womack Surname DNA Project.

The results were unexpected. Although many of the participants had researched their Womack lineages back to "brothers" Abraham, Richard and John Womack, three distinct haplotypes emerged from the test.

• 1. Haplotype Group A - Richard Womack (died 1723 in Henrico Co, VA) and Elizabeth LNU

  2. Haplotype Group B - Abraham Womack (died 1733 in Henrico Co, VA) and UNKNOWN

  3. Haplotype Group C - William Womack (died before Feb 1778 in Halifax Co, NC) and UNKNOWN

Each of the three Haplotype Groups had a Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) who had test results from two or more sons, so we can determine the MRCA’a haplotype with a high degree of certainty.

Of the five original Womack "brothers" - Abraham, William, Richard, John and Thomas - Abraham, Richard and John had surviving children.

• 1. Richard Womack Sr had two sons, Richard Jr and William, but we only have test results through Richard Jr. The results are through three of his sons - Richard III, Thomas and Alexander. Thus Richard Jr is the MRCA of of Group A.

  2. Abraham Womack Sr had three sons, William, Abraham Jr and Thomas, and we have test results through all three sons, thus Abraham Sr himself is the MRCA of Group B.

  3. John Womack Sr had four known sons, but we only have tests results through son Williiam. The results came through three different sons of William, so William is the MRCA of Group B.

So, given the three different Y-DNA results, it is not possible that the first William Womack was the father or paternal grandfather of the three MRCAs. Two distinct "non-paternal" events occurred:

• 1. Richard Womack Sr did not have the same biological father as Abraham Womack Sr OR Richard Womack Sr was not the biological father of Richard Womack Jr (who has been determined through property and other records to be his son, at least through "paper descent").

  2. John Womack Sr did not have the same biological father as Richard Womack Sr OR John Womack Sr was not the biological father of his son William Womack.

The most likely explanation of the DNA results is that the first William Womack adopted John Womack and Richard Womack, and John and Richard had different fathers.

It could have happened something like this (JUST A HYPOTHESIS):

• • The first William Womack had sons Abraham and William by his first wife who subsequently died.

  • The first William Womack married his second wife, who was already twice widowed, having had John with her first husband and Richard with her second husband. The first William Womack adopted John and Richard.

  • The first William Womack had son Thomas with his second wife, and thus John, Richard and Thomas Womack were brothers in the sense that they had the same biological mother, but three different fathers.

  • Abraham was the brother of Thomas, since the first William Womack was biological father to both.

  • Richard was the only Womack to acknowledge John as a brother, because they had the same mother. John and Thomas also had the same mother, but perhaps were not as close.

  • This hypothesis breaks down on the fact that Abraham considered Richard his brother, although they had different fathers and mothers. Given that Abraham was 10 years older than Richard, he had to be aware Richard was adopted. However, Abraham may have been close to adopted brother Richard and considered him his brother.

Regardless of how the "non-paternal" events occurred, the Womacks considered one another "brothers". The DNA differences are a useful tool to narrow and focus research. In subsequent chapters, we may call the various Womacks "cousins", "second cousins", etc., but keep in mind that those relationships are through "paper descent" including adoption, and the blood relationships may not exist.

TODO - children of the first William Womack.

Geography 

Modern Chesterfield Co, VA:

Location of early Womack land in modern Chesterfield Co, VA (from DeedMapper):

(Note that this map shows Chesterfield boundaries as of 1749, before areas were taken for the cities of Manchester, Richmond and Colonial Heights.)

Land Patents in map, above - besides the obvious patents granted to Womacks, the other highlighted patents are:

• • Henry Soane, 690 acres, 1718 - Soane apparently sold his survey to Richard Womack Jr, who in turn sold it to Richard Grills in 1712, 6 years before the patent process finished.

  • Richard Grills, 3000 acres, 1714 - Richard Grills sold the southernmost 200 acres, on Winterpock Creek, to Richard Womack Jr in 1712, 2 years before the patent was granted.

  • William Grills, 400 acres, 1714 - William Grills sold this land to Richard Womack Jr in 1712, 2 years before the patent was granted.

The earliest records of the Womack family in America are from Henrico Co, VA, but it should be understood that they lived in the part of Henrico that was south of the James River, and which became Chesterfield Co in 1749.  

Today, Chesterfield Co is part of the Richmond Metropolitan Area, but the Womacks were in the area long before Richmond existed.  Richmond began in 1737, was incorporated in 1742, and became the state capital in 1780.  Richmond became an Independent City in 1871 (meaning not part of a county), but, like many Virginia cities, it kept its own records from early times.  Before 1910, Richmond was entirely on the north of the James River.  Manchester was the city on other side of the James River, in Chesterfield Co.  Manchester became an independent city in 1874, and merged with Richmond in 1910.  The City of Richmond has annexed some areas of Chesterfield Co.

Note that Richmond did not become the county seat of Henrico Co until 1752, after Chesterfield Co (where the Womacks were) was split off in 1749.  Before Richmond, the county seat was at Varina, on the north side of the James River, meaning the Womacks had to take a ferry to attend court.

The notion that the early Womacks lived in present-day "downtown Richmond" is incorrect.  The lived outside Richmond city limits, in three areas:

• • Bermuda Hundred area in east Chesterfield Co

  • In central Chesterfield Co on Swift Creek

  • In west Chesterfield Co, where Sappony Creek flows into Appomattox River

Chesterfield Co is primarily bounded by the James River to the north and the Appomattox River to the south.  Bermuda Hundred in basically the triangle of land where the Appomattox flows into the James.  Swift Creek flows through the center of the county and into the Appomattox River.

When Chesterfield Co was formed in 1749, a new county seat was created at Chesterfield Court House, called the town of Chesterfield today.  The patent that Abraham Womack, John Worsham and Edward Stratton received in 1691 was on Swift Creek, very close to Chesterfield Court House.  Pocahontas State Park is a large wilderness and recreation area just west of Chesterfield Court House; it was created in the late 1930s when the Civilian Conservation Corps bought up thousands of acres of farmland and planted trees,  The land which Richard Womack Jr bought from Henry Soane was in or near Pocahontas State Park.

Virginia

Virginia was originally an English Colony, established in 1607, until 1 May 1707 when England and Scotland merged to become Great Britain, after which Virginia was a British Colony in the British Empire.  In 1776, Virginia was one of the 13 British Colonies in America to declare independence, and became part of the new nation, the United States.

• • Old Style Dates - See Research Note.

  • What "Junior" and "Senior" Really Meant - See Research Note.

  • Ages in records - See Research Note.

Proving the link between Richard Womack Sr and Richard Womack Jr - TODO

Henrico Co, VA records

WD = record books which contained wills and deeds, but also contained depositions in the early years

OB = order books, court records

See also American Womack records before 1701:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

15 Mar 1673 (OS 1672) - Earliest known Womack record in America - patent of Richard Womack - VA Land Patent, Book 6, p.447, 15 Mar 1673 (OS 1672), Henrico Co, VA.  Note that when Richard Womack deposed on 2 June 1679 that he was about 24 years old (WD 1677-1692:100 (img 33)), that was slightly over 6 years (6 years, 2 months 18 days) after he received this patent, so he was likely about 18 when he got the patent.  Some have asserted he was only 17, but this come from a misunderstanding of Old Style dates.

Orphans Court - these are THE ONLY known records that refer to William Womack Sr

p.1 (img 256 Original, img 214 Copy) - 1 Oct 1677 - orphans of William Womock deceased, Thomas & Mary Womack.

p.3 (img 257 Original, img 217 Copy) - 20 Aug 1678 - Thomas & Mary Womack.   Note that William Womack not actually named, but implied from the 1 Oct 1677 Orphan's Court record.

This is THE ONLY known record of William Womack Jr

Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia, By Henry Read McIlwaine, published 1924, p.369.

8 Apr 1674.

Tho: Ludwell {Secretary of Virginia}

Womeck & Clarke.

The Difference Between Abra: Womeck and Wm Clarke about the estate of Wm Wm {sic} Womeck Deced. It is ordered that the Said Abra: Womeck (brother of the said William) have two thirds of his Estate, both reall {sic} and psonall {sic} and the widdow have the other Pt.

• • WD 1677-1692:168  Richard Womack to brother John Womack, dated 10 Feb 1680, 100 acres.  [image 67]

OB 1678-1693:49 - 20 June 1678 - Abraham Womeck aged about 32 years...

OB 1678-1693:49 - June 1678 - Abra Womeck aged about 33 years...

WD 1677-1692:99 (img 32) - 2 June 1679 - Mary Womock aged about 22, John Puckett her brother...  Also, her mark.

WD 1677-1692:100 (img 33) - 2 June 1679 - Abraham Womecke aged about 35 years... Also deposed at same age on p.101 (2 June 1679, img 33) & 109 (9bris 1679 [Nov 1679], img 37).

WD 1677-1692:100 (img 33) - 2 June 1679 -  Richard Womecke aged about 24 years...

WD 1677-1692:457 (img 215) - 1 Aug 1687 - Abraham Womeck aged about 42 years...

WD 1677-1692:492 (img 235) - 1 Oct 1692 - Abra Womeck complains orphans of brother Richard Womeck suffer under "tuition" of John Granger...

OB 1678-1693:186 - 1 June 1685.  Thomas Womeck, lately an orphan under Guardianship of Timothy Allen; upon Petition is is ordered that sd Allen do on July 1, next in presence of Mr Richard Cocke deliver to sd Womeck remainder of gift bestowed on him by his deceased mother, with costs ats Exec he having received no part thereof (but ye gun & suite of cloathes without flying coat) as by sd Allen's confession appears, & Mr Cocke is hereby requested and appointed to see sd delivery.  

WD 1688-1697:12 (img 269) - 12 Oct 1688 - John Womeck aged about 35 years...

WD 1688-1697:25 (img 275) - Xbr 1, 1688 [1 Dec 1688] - Jane Gower aged about 48 years...

WD 1688-1697:220 (ing 373) - 1 Aug 1691 - Abraham Womeck aged 49 years...

WD 1688-1697:336 (img 432) - 1 Aug 1692 - Will Pucket aged about 38 years...

WD 1688-1697:337 (img 432) - 1 Aug 1692 - Thos Womeck aged about 28 years...

WD 1688-1697:716 (LDS Film # 007645093, img 627) - 21 Jan 1697 (date of will) - Will of Thomas Womeck.  Proved 2 Aug 1697.  Names several persons, including "brother Abraham Womeck", "brother Thomas Puckett", John Granger [no relationship stated], and Will Puckett [no relationship stated]

2:287 -  OB 1678-1693:287 - Mary Puckett - img 359 (copy), 12 Oct 1688, att court for Saml Fowler Jr vs John Granger

5:3 - WD 1688-1697:3 - Anne Puckett - img 287 (copy), 12 Oct 1688, Anne Puckett wife of William Puckett relinquishes dower on land sold by Wm Puckett, signed 2 Apr 1688, Anne Puckett (her mark)

5:14 - WD 1688-1697:14 - Mary Puckett - img 294 (copy), aged about 26, 12 Oct 1688, deposes about incident at home of John & Mary Granger

WD 1714:1718:48 (img 38) - Thomas Puckett (his T P mark) to son William Puckett, 4 Mar 1712 [probably OS, so 1713 NS], witnessed by Mary Granger (her M mark) & John Granger, proved 3 Oct 1715 by John Granger.