John Awbrey, apparently the son of Sir William Awbrey and Elizabeth Johns, was born 1626 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, South Wales, England. He married Jane Johnstone/Johnston on 1681 in Westmoreland, Virginia; she was born about 1659 in Westmoreland County.
Sir William Awbrey was born about 1583 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire. Elizabeth Johns was born December 24, 1595
at Carmarthenshire, Wales.
John immigrated to Virginia with his brothers Henry and Thoma.
Bishop William Meade in his "Old Churches and Families of Virginia" states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
"Historical Southern Families" notes "John Awbrey, son of Sir William Awbrey of Tredomen and Abercynrig, Wales, arrived in Virginia with two of his brothers. John married Jane Johnstone in Westmoreland County, Virginia. They had two sons: John Awbrey, Jr. and Francis Awbrey. Francis was later Sheriff of Prince William County, and a large planter in Northern Virginia."
John Awbrey's will was proved on Sept. 28 1692 and probate was granted to his widow, Mrs. Jane Awbrey (page 74 of the Westmoreland County Book).
it is reported that John Awbrey and Jane had seven children, but the names of two are known:
- John Awbrey, b. Bet. 1680 - 1682, Westmoreland County, Va., d. 26 Feb 1724, Westmoreland County (see link below);
- Francis Awbrey.
----------------------------
The evidence for John Awbrey as the son of Sir William Awbrey was detailed by researcher Jon Awbrey in his posting on Aug., 26, 2003 on the Awbrey Family page Genforum:
"1. All secondary sources reveal that Henry and John Awbrey were sons of Sir William Awbrey. These sources include recent family histories, scholarly articles, and a 19th Century history that appears now to be lost. These secondary sources do not once name an alternate pedigree.
2. The will of Sir William Awbrey indicates that he had sons John, Henry, and Thomas Awbrey -- all three names appear in Virginia records some twenty years later.
3. George Clark's Genealogies of Glamorganshire Families lists Sir William's sons as Henry, John, and Thomas.
4. I have yet to find any other Henry Awbrey in Welsh records from this period. The reason for this is simple- Henry carried the name of his maternal uncle, Sir Henry Johnes of Abermarlais. John and Thomas carried the names of their paternal uncles.
5. A cousin, John Aubrey, FRS, of Easton Pierce, began a suit to recover the Brecknockshire lands about 1656. This time corresponds roughly with the immigration of Henry to Virginia. Henry, John, and Thomas were the last heirs to Sir William Awbrey after the death of their brother Sir Edward Awbrey. However, Sir Edward had a son from a second marriage that became Sir William's heir. The three brothers recognized Sir Edward's son as heir and left for Virginia. Their cousin, John Aubrey, did not recognize Sir Edward's son as heir because he considered him illegitimate. However, John Aubrey lost his case, and William inherited. This information substantiates the family story that the brother's left Wales because of a lack of inheritance.
6. Sir William Awbrey had seven sons, all of whom were gone from Wales by 1656. This means that all seven would have to have died in before the age of forty-five. This is extremely unlikely seeing that most of them lived to adulthood. Furthermore, the fates of the older children are known, but the fates of John, Thomas, and Henry are unknown. This testifies to the fact that the family had little or no contact with the younger sons in later years. Again, this substantiates the claim that they were in Virginia.
7. The will of Sir William Awbrey contains references to Henry's education. Henry Awbrey of Virginia was an educated man who owned a small library of books, fairly rare in 17th Century Virginia.
8. Henry Awbrey refers to his Sarah as his "now wife" in 1664, indicating that he had been married before in Wales. Hugh Thomas in his History of Brecknockshire verifies this relationship, though he calls it illegitimate.
9. Henry Awbrey's son Richard Awbrey of Essex County makes references in his will to his sword and "Great Seale Ring" - both tightly restricted items according to 17th Century British sumptuary laws. These are items the belonged to the gentle classes.
10. Bishop William Meade in his Old Churches and Families of Virginia states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. He was active in Northern Virginia when descendents of John and Henry Awbrey could still be found (circa 1830). This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
11. Henry Awbrey was one of the largest planters and prominent men of 17th Century Virginia. He was a member of the House of Burgesses and Sheriff of Essex County. This indicates that he was a man of high standing and familiar with the qualities of leadership -- all things familiar to the Awbrey family of Brecknock.
12. John's son, Captain Francis Awbrey, was Thomas Lee's most intimate friend. Thomas Lee was known to be an unrepentant snob, even to respectable families such as the Washingtons. The mere fact that Thomas Lee and Francis Awbrey were intimate friends indicates that Francis was likely descended from a genteel background. Furthermore, like Henry, Francis was also a prosperous planter and public servant.
13. Henry Awbrey arrived in Virginia during a period of mass exodus of Royalist from Britain. The Awbrey family of Brecknockshire were staunch Royalists. John and Henry's brother Reginald was killed fighting for the King at Edgehill.
14. Mary Newton Stanard, a social historian of Virginia, states that the first watch in Virginia was owned by Henry Awbrey. This indicates that Henry was extraordinary in his possessions-- a feature common to the once immensely wealthy Awbreys of Brecknockshire.
15. The final and most important piece of evidence. In 1728, Captain Francis Awbrey was a resident of Stafford County, Virginia. His immediate neighbors were William Berkeley and George Turberville, both of whom were cousins of Sir William Awbrey. Also, in 1740, John Awbrey, a son of Francis, was retained by a Thomas Johns of Pennsylvania to survey a tract of land that he had purchased. In 1740, Pennsylvania was a heavily Welsh colony. Furthermore, Sir William Awbrey's wife was Elizabeth Johnes, sometimes, Jones, sometimes Johns. "Thomas" was also the most popular given name in that family. It is very likely that Thomas Johns was a kinsman of Francis Awbrey's.
"These facts represent the bulk of evidence indicating John and Henry Awbrey to be the sons of Sir William Awbrey.
"Now for the one piece of evidence that seems contradictory.
Hugh Thomas in his essay History of Brecknockshire, states that all of Sir William's sons died without issue.
At first this seems too large an obstacle to overcome, however, a little more research reveals that the Thomas essay is full of flaws.
1. Hugh Thomas says that Sir Edward Awbrey died without issue. This is easily proven false. Sir Edward had a number of children, including his heir William who inherited Buckingham Place in Brecon, by a second marriage to Barbara Lloyd. Because Thomas did not believe in Sir Edward's right for a divorce, he simply accorded Sir Edward's second family illegitimacy, even though they were entirely lawful.
2. It seems that he may have done the same thing with Henry's first marriage. Henry calls the woman his wife, but Hugh Thomas refers to the marriage as an illegitimate union.
3. Nearly all of the Awbrey family had left Brecknockshire by 1656, some thirty-five years before Hugh Thomas wrote his article. Therefore, Thomas relied on at best second hand information. It is clear that Thomas disapproved of the actions of the family as a whole and may have written them off out of spite. It may also be possible that Thomas had no idea where the sons of Sir William Awbrey went. This is evident by the lack of any information about the younger sons past their thirtieth year. The most probable reason for the comment of Thomas is that the family had disappeared, and the few who were left degenerated to a marked degree. When considering the former greatness of the Awbreys, it probably made more sense to say that the sons died without issue than to say they ran away from their debts or degenerated into the poorest country people.
It must be remembered that the sons of Sir William Awbrey were all treated alike by Thomas, i.e., all died without issue, when it was patently obvious that they lived and had children. Thus, any remark of Thomas is likely to be incorrect, and no authority should be given to his essay."
Sir William Awbrey was born about 1583 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire. Elizabeth Johns was born December 24, 1595
at Carmarthenshire, Wales.
John immigrated to Virginia with his brothers Henry and Thoma.
Bishop William Meade in his "Old Churches and Families of Virginia" states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
"Historical Southern Families" notes "John Awbrey, son of Sir William Awbrey of Tredomen and Abercynrig, Wales, arrived in Virginia with two of his brothers. John married Jane Johnstone in Westmoreland County, Virginia. They had two sons: John Awbrey, Jr. and Francis Awbrey. Francis was later Sheriff of Prince William County, and a large planter in Northern Virginia."
John Awbrey's will was proved on Sept. 28 1692 and probate was granted to his widow, Mrs. Jane Awbrey (page 74 of the Westmoreland County Book).
it is reported that John Awbrey and Jane had seven children, but the names of two are known:
- John Awbrey, b. Bet. 1680 - 1682, Westmoreland County, Va., d. 26 Feb 1724, Westmoreland County (see link below);
- Francis Awbrey.
----------------------------
The evidence for John Awbrey as the son of Sir William Awbrey was detailed by researcher Jon Awbrey in his posting on Aug., 26, 2003 on the Awbrey Family page Genforum:
"1. All secondary sources reveal that Henry and John Awbrey were sons of Sir William Awbrey. These sources include recent family histories, scholarly articles, and a 19th Century history that appears now to be lost. These secondary sources do not once name an alternate pedigree.
2. The will of Sir William Awbrey indicates that he had sons John, Henry, and Thomas Awbrey -- all three names appear in Virginia records some twenty years later.
3. George Clark's Genealogies of Glamorganshire Families lists Sir William's sons as Henry, John, and Thomas.
4. I have yet to find any other Henry Awbrey in Welsh records from this period. The reason for this is simple- Henry carried the name of his maternal uncle, Sir Henry Johnes of Abermarlais. John and Thomas carried the names of their paternal uncles.
5. A cousin, John Aubrey, FRS, of Easton Pierce, began a suit to recover the Brecknockshire lands about 1656. This time corresponds roughly with the immigration of Henry to Virginia. Henry, John, and Thomas were the last heirs to Sir William Awbrey after the death of their brother Sir Edward Awbrey. However, Sir Edward had a son from a second marriage that became Sir William's heir. The three brothers recognized Sir Edward's son as heir and left for Virginia. Their cousin, John Aubrey, did not recognize Sir Edward's son as heir because he considered him illegitimate. However, John Aubrey lost his case, and William inherited. This information substantiates the family story that the brother's left Wales because of a lack of inheritance.
6. Sir William Awbrey had seven sons, all of whom were gone from Wales by 1656. This means that all seven would have to have died in before the age of forty-five. This is extremely unlikely seeing that most of them lived to adulthood. Furthermore, the fates of the older children are known, but the fates of John, Thomas, and Henry are unknown. This testifies to the fact that the family had little or no contact with the younger sons in later years. Again, this substantiates the claim that they were in Virginia.
7. The will of Sir William Awbrey contains references to Henry's education. Henry Awbrey of Virginia was an educated man who owned a small library of books, fairly rare in 17th Century Virginia.
8. Henry Awbrey refers to his Sarah as his "now wife" in 1664, indicating that he had been married before in Wales. Hugh Thomas in his History of Brecknockshire verifies this relationship, though he calls it illegitimate.
9. Henry Awbrey's son Richard Awbrey of Essex County makes references in his will to his sword and "Great Seale Ring" - both tightly restricted items according to 17th Century British sumptuary laws. These are items the belonged to the gentle classes.
10. Bishop William Meade in his Old Churches and Families of Virginia states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. He was active in Northern Virginia when descendents of John and Henry Awbrey could still be found (circa 1830). This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
11. Henry Awbrey was one of the largest planters and prominent men of 17th Century Virginia. He was a member of the House of Burgesses and Sheriff of Essex County. This indicates that he was a man of high standing and familiar with the qualities of leadership -- all things familiar to the Awbrey family of Brecknock.
12. John's son, Captain Francis Awbrey, was Thomas Lee's most intimate friend. Thomas Lee was known to be an unrepentant snob, even to respectable families such as the Washingtons. The mere fact that Thomas Lee and Francis Awbrey were intimate friends indicates that Francis was likely descended from a genteel background. Furthermore, like Henry, Francis was also a prosperous planter and public servant.
13. Henry Awbrey arrived in Virginia during a period of mass exodus of Royalist from Britain. The Awbrey family of Brecknockshire were staunch Royalists. John and Henry's brother Reginald was killed fighting for the King at Edgehill.
14. Mary Newton Stanard, a social historian of Virginia, states that the first watch in Virginia was owned by Henry Awbrey. This indicates that Henry was extraordinary in his possessions-- a feature common to the once immensely wealthy Awbreys of Brecknockshire.
15. The final and most important piece of evidence. In 1728, Captain Francis Awbrey was a resident of Stafford County, Virginia. His immediate neighbors were William Berkeley and George Turberville, both of whom were cousins of Sir William Awbrey. Also, in 1740, John Awbrey, a son of Francis, was retained by a Thomas Johns of Pennsylvania to survey a tract of land that he had purchased. In 1740, Pennsylvania was a heavily Welsh colony. Furthermore, Sir William Awbrey's wife was Elizabeth Johnes, sometimes, Jones, sometimes Johns. "Thomas" was also the most popular given name in that family. It is very likely that Thomas Johns was a kinsman of Francis Awbrey's.
"These facts represent the bulk of evidence indicating John and Henry Awbrey to be the sons of Sir William Awbrey.
"Now for the one piece of evidence that seems contradictory.
Hugh Thomas in his essay History of Brecknockshire, states that all of Sir William's sons died without issue.
At first this seems too large an obstacle to overcome, however, a little more research reveals that the Thomas essay is full of flaws.
1. Hugh Thomas says that Sir Edward Awbrey died without issue. This is easily proven false. Sir Edward had a number of children, including his heir William who inherited Buckingham Place in Brecon, by a second marriage to Barbara Lloyd. Because Thomas did not believe in Sir Edward's right for a divorce, he simply accorded Sir Edward's second family illegitimacy, even though they were entirely lawful.
2. It seems that he may have done the same thing with Henry's first marriage. Henry calls the woman his wife, but Hugh Thomas refers to the marriage as an illegitimate union.
3. Nearly all of the Awbrey family had left Brecknockshire by 1656, some thirty-five years before Hugh Thomas wrote his article. Therefore, Thomas relied on at best second hand information. It is clear that Thomas disapproved of the actions of the family as a whole and may have written them off out of spite. It may also be possible that Thomas had no idea where the sons of Sir William Awbrey went. This is evident by the lack of any information about the younger sons past their thirtieth year. The most probable reason for the comment of Thomas is that the family had disappeared, and the few who were left degenerated to a marked degree. When considering the former greatness of the Awbreys, it probably made more sense to say that the sons died without issue than to say they ran away from their debts or degenerated into the poorest country people.
It must be remembered that the sons of Sir William Awbrey were all treated alike by Thomas, i.e., all died without issue, when it was patently obvious that they lived and had children. Thus, any remark of Thomas is likely to be incorrect, and no authority should be given to his essay."
John Awbrey, apparently the son of Sir William Awbrey and Elizabeth Johns, was born 1626 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire, South Wales, England. He married Jane Johnstone/Johnston on 1681 in Westmoreland, Virginia; she was born about 1659 in Westmoreland County.
Sir William Awbrey was born about 1583 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire. Elizabeth Johns was born December 24, 1595
at Carmarthenshire, Wales.
John immigrated to Virginia with his brothers Henry and Thoma.
Bishop William Meade in his "Old Churches and Families of Virginia" states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
"Historical Southern Families" notes "John Awbrey, son of Sir William Awbrey of Tredomen and Abercynrig, Wales, arrived in Virginia with two of his brothers. John married Jane Johnstone in Westmoreland County, Virginia. They had two sons: John Awbrey, Jr. and Francis Awbrey. Francis was later Sheriff of Prince William County, and a large planter in Northern Virginia."
John Awbrey's will was proved on Sept. 28 1692 and probate was granted to his widow, Mrs. Jane Awbrey (page 74 of the Westmoreland County Book).
it is reported that John Awbrey and Jane had seven children, but the names of two are known:
- John Awbrey, b. Bet. 1680 - 1682, Westmoreland County, Va., d. 26 Feb 1724, Westmoreland County (see link below);
- Francis Awbrey.
----------------------------
The evidence for John Awbrey as the son of Sir William Awbrey was detailed by researcher Jon Awbrey in his posting on Aug., 26, 2003 on the Awbrey Family page Genforum:
"1. All secondary sources reveal that Henry and John Awbrey were sons of Sir William Awbrey. These sources include recent family histories, scholarly articles, and a 19th Century history that appears now to be lost. These secondary sources do not once name an alternate pedigree.
2. The will of Sir William Awbrey indicates that he had sons John, Henry, and Thomas Awbrey -- all three names appear in Virginia records some twenty years later.
3. George Clark's Genealogies of Glamorganshire Families lists Sir William's sons as Henry, John, and Thomas.
4. I have yet to find any other Henry Awbrey in Welsh records from this period. The reason for this is simple- Henry carried the name of his maternal uncle, Sir Henry Johnes of Abermarlais. John and Thomas carried the names of their paternal uncles.
5. A cousin, John Aubrey, FRS, of Easton Pierce, began a suit to recover the Brecknockshire lands about 1656. This time corresponds roughly with the immigration of Henry to Virginia. Henry, John, and Thomas were the last heirs to Sir William Awbrey after the death of their brother Sir Edward Awbrey. However, Sir Edward had a son from a second marriage that became Sir William's heir. The three brothers recognized Sir Edward's son as heir and left for Virginia. Their cousin, John Aubrey, did not recognize Sir Edward's son as heir because he considered him illegitimate. However, John Aubrey lost his case, and William inherited. This information substantiates the family story that the brother's left Wales because of a lack of inheritance.
6. Sir William Awbrey had seven sons, all of whom were gone from Wales by 1656. This means that all seven would have to have died in before the age of forty-five. This is extremely unlikely seeing that most of them lived to adulthood. Furthermore, the fates of the older children are known, but the fates of John, Thomas, and Henry are unknown. This testifies to the fact that the family had little or no contact with the younger sons in later years. Again, this substantiates the claim that they were in Virginia.
7. The will of Sir William Awbrey contains references to Henry's education. Henry Awbrey of Virginia was an educated man who owned a small library of books, fairly rare in 17th Century Virginia.
8. Henry Awbrey refers to his Sarah as his "now wife" in 1664, indicating that he had been married before in Wales. Hugh Thomas in his History of Brecknockshire verifies this relationship, though he calls it illegitimate.
9. Henry Awbrey's son Richard Awbrey of Essex County makes references in his will to his sword and "Great Seale Ring" - both tightly restricted items according to 17th Century British sumptuary laws. These are items the belonged to the gentle classes.
10. Bishop William Meade in his Old Churches and Families of Virginia states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. He was active in Northern Virginia when descendents of John and Henry Awbrey could still be found (circa 1830). This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
11. Henry Awbrey was one of the largest planters and prominent men of 17th Century Virginia. He was a member of the House of Burgesses and Sheriff of Essex County. This indicates that he was a man of high standing and familiar with the qualities of leadership -- all things familiar to the Awbrey family of Brecknock.
12. John's son, Captain Francis Awbrey, was Thomas Lee's most intimate friend. Thomas Lee was known to be an unrepentant snob, even to respectable families such as the Washingtons. The mere fact that Thomas Lee and Francis Awbrey were intimate friends indicates that Francis was likely descended from a genteel background. Furthermore, like Henry, Francis was also a prosperous planter and public servant.
13. Henry Awbrey arrived in Virginia during a period of mass exodus of Royalist from Britain. The Awbrey family of Brecknockshire were staunch Royalists. John and Henry's brother Reginald was killed fighting for the King at Edgehill.
14. Mary Newton Stanard, a social historian of Virginia, states that the first watch in Virginia was owned by Henry Awbrey. This indicates that Henry was extraordinary in his possessions-- a feature common to the once immensely wealthy Awbreys of Brecknockshire.
15. The final and most important piece of evidence. In 1728, Captain Francis Awbrey was a resident of Stafford County, Virginia. His immediate neighbors were William Berkeley and George Turberville, both of whom were cousins of Sir William Awbrey. Also, in 1740, John Awbrey, a son of Francis, was retained by a Thomas Johns of Pennsylvania to survey a tract of land that he had purchased. In 1740, Pennsylvania was a heavily Welsh colony. Furthermore, Sir William Awbrey's wife was Elizabeth Johnes, sometimes, Jones, sometimes Johns. "Thomas" was also the most popular given name in that family. It is very likely that Thomas Johns was a kinsman of Francis Awbrey's.
"These facts represent the bulk of evidence indicating John and Henry Awbrey to be the sons of Sir William Awbrey.
"Now for the one piece of evidence that seems contradictory.
Hugh Thomas in his essay History of Brecknockshire, states that all of Sir William's sons died without issue.
At first this seems too large an obstacle to overcome, however, a little more research reveals that the Thomas essay is full of flaws.
1. Hugh Thomas says that Sir Edward Awbrey died without issue. This is easily proven false. Sir Edward had a number of children, including his heir William who inherited Buckingham Place in Brecon, by a second marriage to Barbara Lloyd. Because Thomas did not believe in Sir Edward's right for a divorce, he simply accorded Sir Edward's second family illegitimacy, even though they were entirely lawful.
2. It seems that he may have done the same thing with Henry's first marriage. Henry calls the woman his wife, but Hugh Thomas refers to the marriage as an illegitimate union.
3. Nearly all of the Awbrey family had left Brecknockshire by 1656, some thirty-five years before Hugh Thomas wrote his article. Therefore, Thomas relied on at best second hand information. It is clear that Thomas disapproved of the actions of the family as a whole and may have written them off out of spite. It may also be possible that Thomas had no idea where the sons of Sir William Awbrey went. This is evident by the lack of any information about the younger sons past their thirtieth year. The most probable reason for the comment of Thomas is that the family had disappeared, and the few who were left degenerated to a marked degree. When considering the former greatness of the Awbreys, it probably made more sense to say that the sons died without issue than to say they ran away from their debts or degenerated into the poorest country people.
It must be remembered that the sons of Sir William Awbrey were all treated alike by Thomas, i.e., all died without issue, when it was patently obvious that they lived and had children. Thus, any remark of Thomas is likely to be incorrect, and no authority should be given to his essay."
Sir William Awbrey was born about 1583 in Abercynfrig, Brecknockshire. Elizabeth Johns was born December 24, 1595
at Carmarthenshire, Wales.
John immigrated to Virginia with his brothers Henry and Thoma.
Bishop William Meade in his "Old Churches and Families of Virginia" states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
"Historical Southern Families" notes "John Awbrey, son of Sir William Awbrey of Tredomen and Abercynrig, Wales, arrived in Virginia with two of his brothers. John married Jane Johnstone in Westmoreland County, Virginia. They had two sons: John Awbrey, Jr. and Francis Awbrey. Francis was later Sheriff of Prince William County, and a large planter in Northern Virginia."
John Awbrey's will was proved on Sept. 28 1692 and probate was granted to his widow, Mrs. Jane Awbrey (page 74 of the Westmoreland County Book).
it is reported that John Awbrey and Jane had seven children, but the names of two are known:
- John Awbrey, b. Bet. 1680 - 1682, Westmoreland County, Va., d. 26 Feb 1724, Westmoreland County (see link below);
- Francis Awbrey.
----------------------------
The evidence for John Awbrey as the son of Sir William Awbrey was detailed by researcher Jon Awbrey in his posting on Aug., 26, 2003 on the Awbrey Family page Genforum:
"1. All secondary sources reveal that Henry and John Awbrey were sons of Sir William Awbrey. These sources include recent family histories, scholarly articles, and a 19th Century history that appears now to be lost. These secondary sources do not once name an alternate pedigree.
2. The will of Sir William Awbrey indicates that he had sons John, Henry, and Thomas Awbrey -- all three names appear in Virginia records some twenty years later.
3. George Clark's Genealogies of Glamorganshire Families lists Sir William's sons as Henry, John, and Thomas.
4. I have yet to find any other Henry Awbrey in Welsh records from this period. The reason for this is simple- Henry carried the name of his maternal uncle, Sir Henry Johnes of Abermarlais. John and Thomas carried the names of their paternal uncles.
5. A cousin, John Aubrey, FRS, of Easton Pierce, began a suit to recover the Brecknockshire lands about 1656. This time corresponds roughly with the immigration of Henry to Virginia. Henry, John, and Thomas were the last heirs to Sir William Awbrey after the death of their brother Sir Edward Awbrey. However, Sir Edward had a son from a second marriage that became Sir William's heir. The three brothers recognized Sir Edward's son as heir and left for Virginia. Their cousin, John Aubrey, did not recognize Sir Edward's son as heir because he considered him illegitimate. However, John Aubrey lost his case, and William inherited. This information substantiates the family story that the brother's left Wales because of a lack of inheritance.
6. Sir William Awbrey had seven sons, all of whom were gone from Wales by 1656. This means that all seven would have to have died in before the age of forty-five. This is extremely unlikely seeing that most of them lived to adulthood. Furthermore, the fates of the older children are known, but the fates of John, Thomas, and Henry are unknown. This testifies to the fact that the family had little or no contact with the younger sons in later years. Again, this substantiates the claim that they were in Virginia.
7. The will of Sir William Awbrey contains references to Henry's education. Henry Awbrey of Virginia was an educated man who owned a small library of books, fairly rare in 17th Century Virginia.
8. Henry Awbrey refers to his Sarah as his "now wife" in 1664, indicating that he had been married before in Wales. Hugh Thomas in his History of Brecknockshire verifies this relationship, though he calls it illegitimate.
9. Henry Awbrey's son Richard Awbrey of Essex County makes references in his will to his sword and "Great Seale Ring" - both tightly restricted items according to 17th Century British sumptuary laws. These are items the belonged to the gentle classes.
10. Bishop William Meade in his Old Churches and Families of Virginia states that the Awbrey family in Virginia was of Welsh extraction. He was active in Northern Virginia when descendents of John and Henry Awbrey could still be found (circa 1830). This origin is also stated by the Jamestowne Society. The only gentle family in Wales with the name Awbrey was rooted in Brecknockshire, the home county of Sir William Awbrey.
11. Henry Awbrey was one of the largest planters and prominent men of 17th Century Virginia. He was a member of the House of Burgesses and Sheriff of Essex County. This indicates that he was a man of high standing and familiar with the qualities of leadership -- all things familiar to the Awbrey family of Brecknock.
12. John's son, Captain Francis Awbrey, was Thomas Lee's most intimate friend. Thomas Lee was known to be an unrepentant snob, even to respectable families such as the Washingtons. The mere fact that Thomas Lee and Francis Awbrey were intimate friends indicates that Francis was likely descended from a genteel background. Furthermore, like Henry, Francis was also a prosperous planter and public servant.
13. Henry Awbrey arrived in Virginia during a period of mass exodus of Royalist from Britain. The Awbrey family of Brecknockshire were staunch Royalists. John and Henry's brother Reginald was killed fighting for the King at Edgehill.
14. Mary Newton Stanard, a social historian of Virginia, states that the first watch in Virginia was owned by Henry Awbrey. This indicates that Henry was extraordinary in his possessions-- a feature common to the once immensely wealthy Awbreys of Brecknockshire.
15. The final and most important piece of evidence. In 1728, Captain Francis Awbrey was a resident of Stafford County, Virginia. His immediate neighbors were William Berkeley and George Turberville, both of whom were cousins of Sir William Awbrey. Also, in 1740, John Awbrey, a son of Francis, was retained by a Thomas Johns of Pennsylvania to survey a tract of land that he had purchased. In 1740, Pennsylvania was a heavily Welsh colony. Furthermore, Sir William Awbrey's wife was Elizabeth Johnes, sometimes, Jones, sometimes Johns. "Thomas" was also the most popular given name in that family. It is very likely that Thomas Johns was a kinsman of Francis Awbrey's.
"These facts represent the bulk of evidence indicating John and Henry Awbrey to be the sons of Sir William Awbrey.
"Now for the one piece of evidence that seems contradictory.
Hugh Thomas in his essay History of Brecknockshire, states that all of Sir William's sons died without issue.
At first this seems too large an obstacle to overcome, however, a little more research reveals that the Thomas essay is full of flaws.
1. Hugh Thomas says that Sir Edward Awbrey died without issue. This is easily proven false. Sir Edward had a number of children, including his heir William who inherited Buckingham Place in Brecon, by a second marriage to Barbara Lloyd. Because Thomas did not believe in Sir Edward's right for a divorce, he simply accorded Sir Edward's second family illegitimacy, even though they were entirely lawful.
2. It seems that he may have done the same thing with Henry's first marriage. Henry calls the woman his wife, but Hugh Thomas refers to the marriage as an illegitimate union.
3. Nearly all of the Awbrey family had left Brecknockshire by 1656, some thirty-five years before Hugh Thomas wrote his article. Therefore, Thomas relied on at best second hand information. It is clear that Thomas disapproved of the actions of the family as a whole and may have written them off out of spite. It may also be possible that Thomas had no idea where the sons of Sir William Awbrey went. This is evident by the lack of any information about the younger sons past their thirtieth year. The most probable reason for the comment of Thomas is that the family had disappeared, and the few who were left degenerated to a marked degree. When considering the former greatness of the Awbreys, it probably made more sense to say that the sons died without issue than to say they ran away from their debts or degenerated into the poorest country people.
It must be remembered that the sons of Sir William Awbrey were all treated alike by Thomas, i.e., all died without issue, when it was patently obvious that they lived and had children. Thus, any remark of Thomas is likely to be incorrect, and no authority should be given to his essay."
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