Emigration in 1659: William Head Jason Head September 2025
William Head baptismal record
It is impossible to know people’s motives for dramatic change such as emigration to the New World in America. We can only guess what prompted William Head to leave Box in 1659 and risk travelling across the Atlantic Ocean to Virginia, USA. Jason Head researched his family roots from Box and his journey to found a new family dynasty in colonial Virginia.
Head Family in Box
William Head was the son of Henry Head, who married Alice Hendy in Box on 9 November 1620. From christening records at Box Church, we know that Henry fathered six children by Alice: Anthony (8 January 1625-26), Richard (23 December 1627),
John (23 November 1629), Henry (22 October 1632), Joan (August 1636) and Elizabeth (1 April 1638). Alice appears to have died shortly after the last child and Henry married his second wife, Mary, and had three more children: Mary (1 March 1640-41), William, my ancestor (26 December 1642), and George (26 October 1645). Henry died in Box in 1658 and was buried in Box Churchyard. There were (possibly) three Head brothers in Box, Henry, Anthony, and John (although John could have been a cousin).
William Head was the son of Henry Head, who married Alice Hendy in Box on 9 November 1620. From christening records at Box Church, we know that Henry fathered six children by Alice: Anthony (8 January 1625-26), Richard (23 December 1627),
John (23 November 1629), Henry (22 October 1632), Joan (August 1636) and Elizabeth (1 April 1638). Alice appears to have died shortly after the last child and Henry married his second wife, Mary, and had three more children: Mary (1 March 1640-41), William, my ancestor (26 December 1642), and George (26 October 1645). Henry died in Box in 1658 and was buried in Box Churchyard. There were (possibly) three Head brothers in Box, Henry, Anthony, and John (although John could have been a cousin).
Henry Head and Alice Hendy's marriage record
Throughout this period the children were christened by Rev John Coren, one of the most contentious vicars in Box, accused of adultery, drunkenness and blasphemy. Coren married Edith Long, daughter of the lord of Ashley manor of Ashley in 1601 and was appointed to the Box vicarage the same year by the lord of Box manor, George Speke. We might suspect that Coren was a Royalist by political sympathy as were the Speke family, sometimes accused of Recusancy (inclined to Catholicism). Coren’s incumbency was resented from the start. At Easter 1603, a weaver Christopher Butler and roughmason (stone quarryman) John Humphreys made a protest outside the church before morning prayers when they denydd the book of Common prayer and the book of Omiles (Homilies or suggested sermons). They claimed that Coren was not suitable for the role as an unpreaching mysnister would not rightly nor had noe power to administer the Sacrament. In other words, they thought Coren was too Popish (simply repeating the form of the Elizabeth texts) and insufficiently explaining of the word of God as set out in the Bible. Later, with Sylvester Butler, they beset John Coven (sic) and wanted him to be thrown out of his position as vicar.
Rev John Coren continued as vicar for the next forty years but was accused of multiple sins in a libel suit held in a trial in Star Chamber- sexual immorality, drunkenness and blasphemy.[1] Coren fell out with his wife who he described in the trial as a wyfe good enough, but that shee would chyde sometymes as other weomen doe.
Rev John Coren continued as vicar for the next forty years but was accused of multiple sins in a libel suit held in a trial in Star Chamber- sexual immorality, drunkenness and blasphemy.[1] Coren fell out with his wife who he described in the trial as a wyfe good enough, but that shee would chyde sometymes as other weomen doe.
William Head
William was christened at Box Parish Church on 26 December 1642. Because all the Head children were christened individually, it is probable that William was born earlier that year. It was an auspicious time shortly after the outbreak of the English Civil Wat with the Battle of Edgehill in October 1642. A year later the war came through Box with soldiers fleeing from Lansdown, Bath, to Roundway Hill, Devizes.[2] The significance of William’s christening on Boxing Day is difficult to fully explain. The English Protestants deplored the Twelve Days of Christmas celebrations with mummers plays, excessive feasting and drinking, and extended merrymaking and Christmas was partly banned in 1645. The choice of the date for the christening may reflect Henry’s religious beliefs. At the same time, this day was one of the few times when domestic servants (including butlers, grooms and home farm agricultural workers) were permitted a day off work, which may give some insight into Henry Head’s employment.
Coren’s death in 1644 led to the appointment of Walter Bushnell as vicar, and another religious dispute. Bushnell appears to have had similar religious views to Coren, centred on the Book of Common Prayer. The Civil War had spread across England that year and the Parliamentarian victory at Marston Moor led to Queen Henrietta Maria’s flight to France, at which time she is reputed to have been given shelter at Cheney Court, Box, owned by the Speke family. It is probable that Bushnell was appointed by George Speake. The execution of Charles I in 1649 resulted in the Puritan Commonwealth government and the abolition of the Church of England in 1646, with the Book of Common Prayer replaced by a Presbyterian theology.
After Oliver Cromwell’s appointment as Lord Protector in December 1653, parliament started investigating the religious inclination of individual vicars brought to its attention as delinquent (Royalist supporter). Bushnell was called an ignorant and scandalous minister by local residents who accused him of profanity, drunkenness, gambling and indecent behaviour.[3] Interestingly, one witness was Mrs Jane Hendy, possibly related to Henry’s first wife. Bushnell was found guilty and ejected from the Box living in 1656, replaced by a Puritan, Rev John Stern.
William was christened at Box Parish Church on 26 December 1642. Because all the Head children were christened individually, it is probable that William was born earlier that year. It was an auspicious time shortly after the outbreak of the English Civil Wat with the Battle of Edgehill in October 1642. A year later the war came through Box with soldiers fleeing from Lansdown, Bath, to Roundway Hill, Devizes.[2] The significance of William’s christening on Boxing Day is difficult to fully explain. The English Protestants deplored the Twelve Days of Christmas celebrations with mummers plays, excessive feasting and drinking, and extended merrymaking and Christmas was partly banned in 1645. The choice of the date for the christening may reflect Henry’s religious beliefs. At the same time, this day was one of the few times when domestic servants (including butlers, grooms and home farm agricultural workers) were permitted a day off work, which may give some insight into Henry Head’s employment.
Coren’s death in 1644 led to the appointment of Walter Bushnell as vicar, and another religious dispute. Bushnell appears to have had similar religious views to Coren, centred on the Book of Common Prayer. The Civil War had spread across England that year and the Parliamentarian victory at Marston Moor led to Queen Henrietta Maria’s flight to France, at which time she is reputed to have been given shelter at Cheney Court, Box, owned by the Speke family. It is probable that Bushnell was appointed by George Speake. The execution of Charles I in 1649 resulted in the Puritan Commonwealth government and the abolition of the Church of England in 1646, with the Book of Common Prayer replaced by a Presbyterian theology.
After Oliver Cromwell’s appointment as Lord Protector in December 1653, parliament started investigating the religious inclination of individual vicars brought to its attention as delinquent (Royalist supporter). Bushnell was called an ignorant and scandalous minister by local residents who accused him of profanity, drunkenness, gambling and indecent behaviour.[3] Interestingly, one witness was Mrs Jane Hendy, possibly related to Henry’s first wife. Bushnell was found guilty and ejected from the Box living in 1656, replaced by a Puritan, Rev John Stern.
Emigration
William left England three years later when he was only about 18 years old. He departed from the port of Bristol on 15 August 1659 bound for Nevis, south of St. Kitts in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. The island had Royalist leanings in the face of French colonization and was visited by the Royalist, Prince Rupert, Duke of Cumberland, in 1652, acting as a privateer after the Civil War. William was indentured to Mary Bevan of Nevis for four years, along with William Hubbert, weaver of Biddestone and Margaret and Richard Beazer, yeoman of Box.[4] In return for the cost of transportation, the indentured servants were obliged to stay at Nevis, the home of Mary Bevan. I haven’t been able to locate Nevis but it was probably the name of a plantation house surrounded by an estate with slaves and agriculture derived from the Caribbean Island of the same name.
Instead, the servants travelled to Northumberland County, Virginia, in the Northern Neck. Coastal Virginia has three necks (peninsulas of land between rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay), the Northern Neck is the land between the Potomac and the Rappahannock Rivers (both named after indigenous tribes). The most obvious reason for their departure from Nevis is that Mary died, but this is unproven. They arrived on 5 September 1660, almost 13 months after departing from Bristol.
William left England three years later when he was only about 18 years old. He departed from the port of Bristol on 15 August 1659 bound for Nevis, south of St. Kitts in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. The island had Royalist leanings in the face of French colonization and was visited by the Royalist, Prince Rupert, Duke of Cumberland, in 1652, acting as a privateer after the Civil War. William was indentured to Mary Bevan of Nevis for four years, along with William Hubbert, weaver of Biddestone and Margaret and Richard Beazer, yeoman of Box.[4] In return for the cost of transportation, the indentured servants were obliged to stay at Nevis, the home of Mary Bevan. I haven’t been able to locate Nevis but it was probably the name of a plantation house surrounded by an estate with slaves and agriculture derived from the Caribbean Island of the same name.
Instead, the servants travelled to Northumberland County, Virginia, in the Northern Neck. Coastal Virginia has three necks (peninsulas of land between rivers flowing into the Chesapeake Bay), the Northern Neck is the land between the Potomac and the Rappahannock Rivers (both named after indigenous tribes). The most obvious reason for their departure from Nevis is that Mary died, but this is unproven. They arrived on 5 September 1660, almost 13 months after departing from Bristol.
Plantations of the Northern Neck (courtesy https://damerongeorge.com/plantations.html)
Virginia was one of the earliest colonies when it was founded in 1607. It became a crown colony in 1624, controlled by a royal governor based at Jamestown. During the English Civil War, the colony demonstrated allegiance to the English king and expelled Puritans to Bermuda in the 1640s. The area was popularly known as The Old Dominion in the reign of Charles II. It had a rapidly expanding population in the 1650s and 60s, a mixture of English immigrants, native American tribes, enslaved Africans, and an older Indian population. It had an insatiable demand for labour and many white English men and women signed indentures (contracts) for four years to work either in a domestic position or often ending up in plantation work.[5] Under the governorship of Sir William Berkeley, the colony continued to expanded its population and diversity of agricultural crops such as lemons, sugar and silk at the same time as tobacco generated wealth for plantation owners.
Back in Box
Other Head family members may also have emigrated to Virginia but the rest of this branch of the Head family remained in Box. Anthony senior fathered Martha (26 November 1620); Georg (16 March 1622); Anthony junior (1 January 1625-26); Gifford (1 November 1627 – Gifford sired Daniel 3 October 1659 with wife, Ann); and possibly Hester. The most interesting name is Gifford, the first name commonly used in the Head family for generations of Box residents.
Anthony’s son, Anthony junior, was apparently quite a character. He had eight children all born between 1652 and 1660 by two different women, Rachel of Kingsdown and Jone of Middle Hill. Anthony junior fathered: Anthony (January 1651-52 by his wife, Rachel of Kingsdown); William (January 1653-54 by his wife, Rachel of Kingsdown); Elizabeth (22 April 1655 by his wife, Jone of Middle Hill - Elizabeth was born 12 April 1655); Jone (24 August 1656 by Jone); Richard (5 October 1656 by Rachel – born 3 September 1656); Ann (22 October 1658 by Jone); Georg (21 December 1659 by Rachel); Anthony (22 July 1660 by Jone).
William’s third brother, John, fathered: Abraham (30 October 1623); John (28 November 1624); Martha (August 1627); Dorothy (February. 1629-30).
Other Head family members may also have emigrated to Virginia but the rest of this branch of the Head family remained in Box. Anthony senior fathered Martha (26 November 1620); Georg (16 March 1622); Anthony junior (1 January 1625-26); Gifford (1 November 1627 – Gifford sired Daniel 3 October 1659 with wife, Ann); and possibly Hester. The most interesting name is Gifford, the first name commonly used in the Head family for generations of Box residents.
Anthony’s son, Anthony junior, was apparently quite a character. He had eight children all born between 1652 and 1660 by two different women, Rachel of Kingsdown and Jone of Middle Hill. Anthony junior fathered: Anthony (January 1651-52 by his wife, Rachel of Kingsdown); William (January 1653-54 by his wife, Rachel of Kingsdown); Elizabeth (22 April 1655 by his wife, Jone of Middle Hill - Elizabeth was born 12 April 1655); Jone (24 August 1656 by Jone); Richard (5 October 1656 by Rachel – born 3 September 1656); Ann (22 October 1658 by Jone); Georg (21 December 1659 by Rachel); Anthony (22 July 1660 by Jone).
William’s third brother, John, fathered: Abraham (30 October 1623); John (28 November 1624); Martha (August 1627); Dorothy (February. 1629-30).
Later Head Family in USA
There is little evidence of William’s direct descendants in USA but it is believed that many of the present Head families derive from William’s heirs. Nonetheless, many researchers have attempted to trace their roots back to Box.[6]
There is little evidence of William’s direct descendants in USA but it is believed that many of the present Head families derive from William’s heirs. Nonetheless, many researchers have attempted to trace their roots back to Box.[6]
Most big decisions have a variety of motivations – hence the idea of listing up the pros and the cons. So William’s reason for emigrating may not have been just political or religious sympathies. It could have been a desire for adventure, chance to make a fortune, or simply a row at home. But with the troubled times of England in the mid-1600s, it could be that uncle Anthony’s desire to emigrate in middle age is the more illuminating about these times.
References
[1] Thompson, Anne, Parish Clergy Wives in Elizabethan England and Cheryl Nicol, Long Family of Ashley
[2] See Hazelbury Hoard
[3] David Ibberson, The Vicars of St Thomas a Becket, Box, 1987, p.8-15
[4] The Ancestral Homeplace of the - Genealogy.com
[5] Indentured Servants in Colonial Virginia - Encyclopedia Virginia
[6] Colonial VA Head Family Genealogy<br> <title>Descendants of William Head of Box Parish, Chippenham Hundred, Wiltshire Co., England and Richmond Co., Virginia
[1] Thompson, Anne, Parish Clergy Wives in Elizabethan England and Cheryl Nicol, Long Family of Ashley
[2] See Hazelbury Hoard
[3] David Ibberson, The Vicars of St Thomas a Becket, Box, 1987, p.8-15
[4] The Ancestral Homeplace of the - Genealogy.com
[5] Indentured Servants in Colonial Virginia - Encyclopedia Virginia
[6] Colonial VA Head Family Genealogy<br> <title>Descendants of William Head of Box Parish, Chippenham Hundred, Wiltshire Co., England and Richmond Co., Virginia