Capt. John Drummond ¹

From the "Miles Files" at Eastern Shore (VA) Public Library: John was born circa 1637 at England. John Drummond gave several depositions in Accomack Court in which his age was given. The first, on May 22 1663, states he was about 26 years old, placing his birth circa 1637.

He was Quaker. John Drummond (as Drummen) was named as a headright on Mar 10 1652 at Accomack Co., VAfor Jenkin(s) Price when he was granted 100a in Northampton County. Jenkins Price patented 800a in the county on Apr 26 1655, a resurvey of an earlier100a where 700a was added, for John "Drummer" (sic) was again named as a headright.

John Drummond's name appeared a number of times in early Accomack records (Northampton prior to 1671), which started in 1663. He was appointed a constable "from the head of Cradock Creek to the head of Pungoteague Creek" on Apr 21 1663. He was on the list of tithables - he was shown as Jno. Durmon with 3 tithes. On Jan 17 1666 John Drummond was to be sworn as constable "from Pocomoke to the south side of Deepe Creek on the Bay Side and to Mattomkin Bridge on the Sea Side." He served on jury duty many times in the early years. On Nov 19 1677 Herbert Jeffreys, Governor of Virginia, appointed eight "honest persons as county justices and commissioners for monthly courts. John Drummond was one of those named (AccVA-Orders-1676/78:69,70). On Apr 6 1697, when the will of John Lewis Senr. was presented to court for probate, John Drummond, one of the witnesses thereto, "being present in court did declare after the manner of Quakers in ye presence of God that he writ the said will and saw it signed and sealed by the testator (Ibid-1690/97:234,235).

On Sep 18 1672, John patented 800a land in Accomack Co, VA. He bought 600a from Richard Bundick and wife Ruth on Mar 25 1673. This was part of the land Richard Bundick had patented in Parker's Neck, and John Drummond left it to his sons Robert & James in 1714. He also bought 300a from "Gentleman" John Custis in 1690, land he and wife Patience sold to John Taylor in 1705. (NOTE: Nothing has been found of the 800 acres John Drummond patented in 1672. Evidently this was land someone else had already claimed and the claim did not hold. There is no record of this patent in the Virginia Land Patents in Richmond and John Drummond did not leave it in this will, nor has any record been found of him selling it.) The Quit Rents of Virginia compiled by Annie Laurie Wright Smith, shows John Drummond owning 1,550 acres in Accomack County in 1704.

Drummond wrote his will on Oct 10 1713 and it was proven at Accomack Co. on Jan 6 1713/4:
- To 2 sons James & Robert 550a on the seaside, James to have that part lying on Arcadia Branch. Also mentions son Hill Drummond, son Richard Drummond, grandaughter Patience Allen, daughter Margaret Bagwell, daughter Mary Chance, grandson John Drummond, son of Hill; son John Drummond; five sons Richard, Hill, James, Drake & Robert Executors. Mentions grandson James Allen, grandsons Scarburgh & Richard, his brother, grandson Richard Drummond. Witnesses: Robert Jones, William Northam, Ann Drummond, Patience Miles. (AccVAW-1692/1715:615)

John married Patience Hill, daughter of Capt. Richard Hill and Mary Drake, about 1665 in Northampton Co., VA. (Patience Hill was born about 1649 and died before 15 Nov 1713 in Accomack Co., VA.)