Robert C. Dorsey Family Home Page:Information about Edward Booker
Colonel Edward Booker (b. June 2, 1680, d. November 2, 1750)
Notes for Edward Booker:Edward Booker along with Samuel Cobbs were among the early landholders recorded in Amelia County. On 28 September, 1728, Edward Booker of Henrico County had a grant of 2050 acres on both sides of Knibbs Creek in Prince George County (now Amelia) and on 31 July, 1732, 950 acres between Knibbs Creek and Flat Creek. Edward moved from Gloucester County to Prince George County, now Amelia County, in 1733. He named his plantation in Amelia County, "Winterham".
The first court held after Amelia County was formed from Prince George County was on May 9, 1735 and was presided over by five "Gentlemen Justices".Edward was one of these first Justices of Amelia County and one of the first Burgess, serving from 1736 to 1747.The "Gentlemen Justices" attending that first court were Edward and his brother Richard, Charles Irby, Abraham Green and James Clark. The first courthouse and Jail were located on land owned by Benjamin Harrison, near Prideville, (now Truxillo).After the courthouse burned in 1766, court was held at Edward's "Winterham" plantation house and continued to do so for nearly four years until the new courthouse could be built.
Edward served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Militia and he was the "Presiding Justice of Amelia County" from 1636 to 1743. (Virginia Historical Register, p.135).Raleigh Parish was established in 1735, after Amelia County was cut off from Prince George County.
Edward, along with Mr. Thomas Tabb and Colonel Archer, built "Grubhill Church" in Raleigh Parish.The Tabbs, Egglestons, and Bookers had family galleries and there was one public gallery at the "Grubhill Church". (Meade's Old Churches, Ministers & Families of Virginia, p.20).
Edward lived out his final years at "Winterham". The will of Edward Booker, Sr. was dated 18 July, 1750, and probated on 16 November, 1750.His legatees were his wife Judith, son Edward Booker, Jr. and daughter Judith Booker.He made provisions in case Stith Hardaway, or any other person in his own right, "or in the right of the daughters of my wife by her first husband, should bring suit against my executors, in regard to the father or grandfather estates.This refers to the plantation at "Winterham", where he lived.He appointed his sons Richard and Edward Booker, Jr.; and sons-in-laws Richard Clarke and Samuel Tarry, as executors.The inventory of his estate placed it's value at 1,288 Pounds, 2 Shillings, and 6 Pence.
Edward was married twice.
1st Marriage: His first wife was Mary Goode.Mary was the daughter of John Goode and granddaughter of Richard Goode.
2nd Marriage: Edward's second wife was Judith Archer, sister of William Archer and the widow of Daniel Worsham.Judith died at the plantation "Winterham" on January 12, 1750-1.Judith's will was dated December 14, 1750, and proved January 18, 1750-51.The will listed her legatees as her daughter Judith Booker, "my four daughters" [doubtless by her first husband].She chose her brother William Archer, and a friend Samuel Cobbs as her executors.
WINTERHAM - Reference to this plantation can be found in " Old Homes & Buildings of Amelia", Vol. II. It is impossible to determine accurately the location of the earlier house "Winterham" from the descriptions given in deeds, but apparently it was about one fourth of a mile southwest of the present house.A log building, which apparently was one of the outbuildings, remained standing, near the presumed site of the house until it was torn down by the owner during the 1940's.From 1789 to 1793, while the county court house was being built, court was held at Col. Edward Booker's home "Winterham". The house was occupied by his widow and minor children when his estate settlement was made in 1798.
On July 31, 1732, Edward Booker of Henrico Co. (first of the name in Amelia) patented 1000 acres of new land on the lower side of Flatt Creek and the upper side of Knibbs Creek in Prince George Co., now Amelia Co.On the same date he patented 950 acres of new land in the fork between Knibbs Creek and Flatt Creek. (LB 14, pp. 458 and 460).
In a deed for adjacent land to his son Richard, dated July 10, 1735, Edward Booker says the land is bounded in part by "a point of fork of Knibbs Creek where I now live." (DB 1, p.3)
The present house "Winterham" was built ca. 1848 by John Garland Jefferson Jr. and Otelia Howlett Jefferson, his wife.The original land had been fragmented over the year until John Garland Jefferson, Sr. purchased the mill and continued to purchase the original land until he assembled 1200 acres. By 1972, "Winterham" acreage totaled 905.7 acres and was owned by John Garland Jefferson, 4th, his brother's widow, and his sister.The farm was then sold to a general partnership called Winterham Farm and then again on 13 July, 1793 it was sold to the present owners, James C. Lunsford and his wife, Wavel J. Lunsford (date:1981).
More About Edward Booker:
Baptism: June 2, 1680
Fact 1: Presiding Justice of Amelia Co., Virginia1636 to 1743.
Residence: "Winterham", Amelia County, Virginia.
Children of Edward Booker and Mary Goode are:
- Lucy Booker, b. Abt. 1703, Henrico County, Virginia, d. 1761, Amelia County, Virginia.
- Rebecca Booker, b. Abt. 1707, Henrico County, Virginia, d. November 23, 1769, Amelia County, Virginia.
- +Richard Booker, b. July 28, 1707, Virginia, d. April 3, 1760, Amelia County, Virginia.
- Mary Booker, b. November 3, 1711, d. November 3, 1769.
- Edward Booker Jr., b. December 30, 1715, Henrico County, Virginia, d. 1760, "Winterham" Estate, Amelia County, Virginia.
Children of Edward Booker and Judith Archer are:
- Judith Booker, d. date unknown.