John Garner

John Garner was a seventeenth-century resident of Virginia’s Northern Neck who was associated with Northumberland County by the late 1650s and later with Horn Point in Westmoreland County. A reported 1663 deposition places his birth about 1633, although his exact birthplace and immigration remain uncertain. He married Susanna Keene, probably about 1660, and named ten children in his will of 22 January 1702. His will was proved on 25 May 1702.

John Garner was probably born about 1633. This estimate rests on a reported 1663 deposition in which he stated that he was 30 years old. Later family accounts describe him as English-born and variously place his birth in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, or in Northern Wales, but the supplied material does not establish a specific birthplace.

His arrival in Virginia is also uncertain. A 1650 land-grant account reportedly includes John Garner among 32 colonists whose transportation to Northumberland County supported a grant to Lewis Burwell. Separate family notes say that John and Richard Garner traveled from England to Virginia in 1637, but those notes conflict with the reported 1650 transportation account and are not supported here by a cited record that identifies this John Garner.

Garner was involved in land transactions in Northumberland County by the late 1650s. Francis Roberts received a patent for 500 acres on 15 July 1657, and on 20 February 1658 assigned that tract to John Garner and Joseph Fielding. The land was described as beyond Colonel Speake’s land and Doeg Island in the Potomac River. On 20 June 1663, Joseph Fielding and John Garner assigned their interest in the tract to John Garner Jr., identified as the son of John Garner, and John Bailes Jr. The supplied family account states that neither John Garner Sr. nor John Garner Jr. apparently lived on this land.

John Garner married Susanna Keene, probably about 1660. Supplied family accounts identify her as a daughter of Thomas and Mary Keene of Northumberland County, though one set of notes gives her parents as Thomas Keene II and Mary Thorley. The approximate marriage date is supported by records cited in the supplied material: in 1659 Susanna was identified as Susanna Keene in a record concerning her share of her father’s cattle, and in her mother’s 1662 will she was identified as the wife of John Garner and as having a daughter.

An account places John Garner by 1660 west of Garner’s Creek, near the present village of Lewisetta, on a neck of land then called Cherry Point and now known as Cowart’s Point, near the mouth of the Coan River. He later lived at Horn Point. The supplied material describes him as having acquired more than 3,000 acres in Virginia’s Northern Neck, but does not provide records for that total or for the statement that he was a builder.

John and Susanna had at least the ten children named in John Garner’s will: John, Henry, Vincent, Thomas, Parish, Benjamin, James, Mary, Susan, and Martha. The 1662 record also indicates that the couple had a daughter by that year.

John Garner made his will on 22 January 1702. He gave his sons John and Henry 800 acres of land where they were then living, to be divided equally. To his son Vincent he gave the land on which he lived at Horn Point, his long gun and hanger, a yoke of oxen, and one-half of the sloop Outcry. He gave his chest and wearing apparel to Henry. Vincent was directed to pay 2,000 pounds of tobacco to Thomas and Parish, and 2,000 pounds of tobacco to Benjamin when Benjamin reached age 21. James was to receive 2,000 pounds of tobacco. Mary, Susan, and Martha each received a “thomb” ring, as the supplied transcription reads. The remainder of the estate went to his wife, Susanna. William Garner, John Gilliams, and William Moore witnessed the will.

The will was proved on 25 May 1702 and recorded on 1 January 1703. John Garner therefore died after making his will on 22 January 1702 and before it was proved on 25 May 1702.

Susanna Garner survived her husband. Her estate was inventoried on 28 March 1716 by James Carr, James Thomas, and William Garner. On 30 May 1716, her son Benjamin stated that her clothing had not been appraised but had been divided among her daughters at the time of her funeral.

Historical context

The reported 1650 reference to John Garner appears in the context of Virginia’s headright system, under which land grants could be awarded for transporting settlers into the colony. The supplied family notes explain that planters, ship captains, and merchants could receive land for such transportation. However, the reported grant identifies a John Garner among transported colonists without, from the material supplied, resolving his earlier residence, origin, or whether he came directly from England.

Sources & research

Virginia Land Grant Book 2, page 250: Reported 1650 grant to Lewis Burwell for transporting 32 colonists to Northumberland County, including John Garner.

Northumberland County Record Book 15, page 102: Reported 1663 deposition in which John Garner stated that he was 30 years old.

Northumberland County Record Book 16, page 30: 1659 record concerning Susanna Keene’s share of cattle.

Northumberland County Record Book 15, page 92: 1662 will of Susanna Keene’s mother, reportedly naming Susanna as wife of John Garner and mentioning a daughter.

Virginia Land Grant Book 4, page 114: 15 July 1657 patent to Francis Roberts for 500 acres.

Northumberland County Record Book, 1658–1666, page 10: 20 February 1658 assignment from Francis Roberts to John Garner and Joseph Fielding.

Northumberland County Record Book 15, page 100: 20 June 1663 assignment by Joseph Fielding and John Garner to John Garner Jr. and John Bailes Jr.

Westmoreland County Deeds and Wills Book 3, page 153 et seq.: John Garner’s will dated 22 January 1702, proved 25 May 1702, and recorded 1 January 1703.

Westmoreland County Deeds and Wills Book 4, page 560: 28 March 1716 inventory of Susanna Garner’s estate.

Westmoreland County Deeds and Wills Book 5, page 57: 30 May 1716 statement by Benjamin Garner concerning distribution of his mother’s clothing.

Garner-Keene Families of Northern Neck Virginia, page 1, “John Garner (1633–1702)”: Supplied compiled family account.

Dr. James Luther Garner, “Garner Genealogy,” https://www.unf.edu/~jgarner/garnergeneaology.html: Website cited in the supplied notes; content not independently reviewed here.

J. H. Garner, 2007: Supplied family notes; full publication details not provided.