John George

John George (1603–1679) was an early Virginia colonist, landowner, soldier, county court justice and legislative representative (politician). He served at least two terms as a burgess in the Virginia House of Burgesses in the 1640s and 1650s representing Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Early life, family, settlement John George gave his age as 50 in a 1653 deposition. Therefore, he was born in England, probably in 1603. His wife was named Jane. Although some sources cite circumstantial evidence that her maiden name was Cole, no definitive evidence of her maiden name has been found. John and Jane had three children, Isaac, Sarah and Rebecca. John George had a second wife named Ann but there is no record of when his first wife died and when the second marriage occurred. There is also no record of any children of this second marriage. Several sources state that Hester Fawdon, daughter of George Fawdon, also a member of the House of Burgesses from Isle of Wight County and a militia officer, married John George's son, Isaac. On November 7, 1634, John George received a patent for 900 acres of land on Bailey Creek, also spelled Bayles Creek, in what was then Charles City County, Virginia but is now Prince George County, Virginia bordering Hopewell, Virginia. The George family moved to Isle of Wight County, Virginia in about 1642. When the George family moved to Isle of Wight County, they lived near Cypress Swamp and Creek and Castle Creek, near the present town of Smithfield, Virginia. Other records show that John George added 350 acres to his property on April 17, 1667. Virginia burgess and court justice In 1647 and in 1652, John George was listed as a representative of Isle of Wight County in the Virginia House of Burgesses, the lower house of the colonial Virginia legislature. Since the records show that the 1648 session was a reconvened session of the 1647 assembly and list only two new members, John George likely served in that session. John George is not on the list of burgesses for the 1649 assembly and there is no record for a 1650 assembly. The list of burgesses for the 1651 assembly does not include members from Isle of Wight County so John George's participation in that assembly can not be verified, but he is listed as a member for the first 1652 assembly. Only one member for Isle of Wight County, not John George, is listed for a second assembly in 1652.