man John BLAND‏‎, son of Adam BLAND and Joan ATKYNS‏.
Born ‎ 28 BFR, Sep at Sythlane, London, Middlesex, England, died ‎ 1632 at London, England ‎, 59 or 60 years
Note:
Occupation: grocer
Baptism: 28 SEP 1572 Baptized at St. Gregory by St. Paul, London, England
Married Susan DEBLERE on 30 Sep 1606 in Of, London, England.
Burial: Buried at Antholin's in his own vault

John BLAND was born in 1572 in Of, Sythlane, London, Middlesex, England. He was christened on 28 Sep 1572 in St Gregory, London, England.

"John Bland (10th son of Adam, but the 5th that survived, and third of the name,) was free of the 'Grocers and Merchants Adventurers' Company;' he died leaving a very great personal estate, and was buried in his own vault, at St. Antholin's having issue, by his wife Susan, 9 sons and 7 daughters, who survived him:"

"..., Merchant of the city of London..."
From Charles L. Bland, "Among Cousins - The Bland Family Newsletter," vol. 8, no. 2 (July-September 1990), pp. 8-11:

"The posture of Peter's brother John in this matter remains a mystery. Was he a legitimate executor, cut out of the proceedings by his unscrupulous nephew Lownes, or was he an accomplice who somehow profited from the scheme? Whatever the answer, the trouble with Peter's estate seems to have created a family crisis that would take a century and generations to heal. Peter died about 1627, and one of his brother's Gregory Bland (1567-???) fled to Ireland soon after his death. John Bland hastened to make up his own will in 1627 and its language left no doubt about his displeasure with Gregory Bland and Lawrence Lownes:
"I give to my god children twenty shillings apiece, except Lawrence Lownes daughter and Gregory Bland deceived me likewise, so neither they nor theirs shall have one penny of mine
. . . Judith Lownes not to have anything, the wife of Lawrence Lownes."

When Peter died, the sole male heir of Adam Bland and Joan Atkyns was their youngest son John Bland. John's huge family was instrumental to the settlement of the Bland family in Virginia. By 1627, John was a successful international merchant. Also, John was appointed receiver of the King's rents in Yorkshire in 1628 and was an active member of the Grocer's company, having bought his way into the Guild in 1626 and attaining the rank of Company Warden in 1629. John also was an active member of the Virginia Company of London. From 1618-1624, John held 400 acres in Virginia and was invested in Martin's Hundred. He was also a participant in a shipping consortium that conducted trade with Virginia. Because of his connection with the Grocer's Company (actually, very prominent merchants or 'grossers' who dealt in large volume merchandise), John is known to family genealogists as 'John the Grocer.'

Whether John Bland made his fortune on his own or got a boost from the estate of his brother Peter is not certain. When he died suddenly in 1632, however, John Bland was a wealthy man. The extent of John's wealth is suggested by a petition to the King by his widow Susan, who in 1633 begged protection from creditors, claiming already to have satisfied claims exceeding 15,000 pounds sterling. John's accumulated wealth and the breadth of his business ventures, suggests that by the time of his death, he had reached the upper strata of the London Merchant class and aspired to a position within the landed gentry.

ref: The Bland Papers, Vol 1, Pgs 146-148, book located at the William and Mary Wren Library.

Married ‎ Sep 30, at Stade, Germany (25 or 26 years married) to:

woman Susan DeBLERE‏‎, daughter of UNKNOWN DeBLERE and Maria Du DUBLEER‏.
Born ‎ 1590 at Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, died ‎ 1664/5 at London, England‎, approximately 74 years
Buried on 7 Feb 1664/1665 in St Antholin, Westminister, Middlesex, England.

From Charles L. Bland, "Among Cousins - The Bland Family Newsletter," vol. 8, no. 2 (July-September 1990), pp. 8-11:

On September 30, 1606, John married a Hugenot girl, Susan DeBlere, (1590-1664/1665) in Stade, Germany. Susan bore John sixteen children, including twelve, eight sons and four daughters, who survived into adulthood. The marriages of these children left John and Susan's family well connected in London society. In 1626, their eldest daughter Mary maried Emmanuel Proby, whose father, and active member of the Grocer's Comopany, was also Lord Mayor of London. Daughters Susannah and Anne maried merchants and daughter Elizabeth married a minister of the gospel. Similarly, John's eight sons were groomed to succeed him. The eldest, Thomas Bland, (1610-1678) was trained at the Inner Temple and with his brother john (1612-1680), was appointed receiver of the King's Rents in yorkshire, possibly simply having them passed on from their father. Robert Bland (1617-1669) was trained in the ministry at Cambridge and was Rector of the Wigboro Magna Church in Essex. Robert's duaghter Elizabeth married a half-brother or in-law to Sir Joseph Williamson, the junior secretary of state for the Privy Council, called 'the northern secretary,' a high government official that Giles communicated with during Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia. Richard Bland, (1624-1692) moved to Leeds and was called 'Lord of Beeston Manor.'

The remaining sons were merchants, including most importantly Edward Balnd (1613-1652), Adam Bland, (1616-1647), William Bland (1622-1658) and Theodorick Bland (1629-1671). these sons became the spearheads of settlement of the Bland family in Virginia. From 1640-1671, the brothers managed the family's affairs somewhat as follows:

Thomas, with the assistance of John, acted as Receiver of the King's Rents at Yorkshire until 1648 and after the accession of Charles II in 1660. Apparently, the family was stripped of the position during the Puritan interregnum. John directed merchant affairs from London and later Tangier, supervising the family business in Malaga, Spain and Virginia. The younger brothers, Edward, Adam, William and Theodorick acted as on scene agents in Spain and Virginia.

Children:

1.
woman Susannah BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1609 at Wisbeach, Isle Of Ely, England., died ‎ 1664 at Stafford,, VA ‎, 54 or 55 years
Christened on 29 Oct 1609 in St Mary The Virg, London, England
2.
man Theodorick BLAND‏
Born ‎ 16, Jan, 1629 at St Antholins, London, Middlesex, England, died ‎ 23, Apr, 1671 at Burgess,Berkley,Westover,Va ‎, 42 years
Christening: 16 Jan 1629/30
Place: St Antholin,parish,London,England
Buried: in Westover, Charles City, Va.
_______________________________________________________________________

Note:
From Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Lyon Gardiner Tyler, ed., Vol. I, p. 129, originally published 1915, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., reprinted 1998 by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore:
"Bland, Theodorick, the ninth son of John Bland, an eminent merchant of London and member of the Virginia Company, was born on Jan. 16, 1629. He was a merchant at St. Lucar Spain, in 1646, at the Canary Islands in 1647-48, and came to Virginia in 1654 as the representative of his father, who had large interests in the colony. He settled at Berkeley Hundred, Charles City county, and in 1659-60 he represented Henrico in the house of burgesses, of which he was the speaker. By instructions from England, dated Sept. 2, 1662, the act passed by the assembly, imposing two shillings per hogshead on all tobacco from Virginia, was confirmed and 'Theodorick Bland, Esq.' was appointed collector of the same. A few years later Bland was appointed a member of the council, and was present June 21, 1665, July 10, 1666, and March and April, 1670. On April 17, 1665, Theodorick Bland bought 'Westover,' Charles City county an estate of 1,200 acres, for £170 sterling. His grandson, Richard Bland of 'Jordan's,' who says that his grandfather was 'both in fortune and understanding, inferior to no person of his time in the country,' also says that he built and gave to the county and parish the church at Westover, 'with ten acres of land, a courthouse and prison.' This may have been so, but it is more likely that he only gave the land. The worthy coucillor died on April 23, 1671, and was buried in the chancel of Westover church. The church has long since disappeared but the tomb remains with his arms and the following epitaph:
S.M.
'Prudentis & Eruditi Theodorici
Bland Armig. qui obijt Aprilis
23d A. D. 1671 Aetatis 41
Cujus Vidua Maestissima Anna
Filia Richard Bennett Armig:
hoc Marmor Posuit.'

Theodorick Bland married Anne, daughter of Gov. Richard Bennett. She married secondly, Col. St. Ledger Codd, and died Nov. 1687, at Wharton's Creek. Maryland. He was ancestor of Richard Bland, the great Virginia patriot of 1776."
_______________________________________

From "Extracts on the Bland Family from Bishop Meade," published 1858, p. 444

"From the genealogy of the Blands preserved at Jordans, we take a few extracts, sufficient to comply with the character of these sketches, - their religious character. It is an old and highly respectable English family. I leave it to others to speak of the gallant conduct and fatal end of Giles Bland in Bacon's rebellion, and begin with Theodoric Bland, who settled at Westover, in Charles City, in 1654 and died in 1671. He was buried in the chancel of the church, which church he built and gave it, with ten acres of land, a court house and prison, for the county and parish. His tomb is now to be seen in old Westover grave and, lying between those of two of his friends, William Perry and Walter Aston. The church is fallen down. He was one of the King's Council for Virginia, and was both in fortune and understanding inferior to none in the Colony. He left three sons,- Theodoric, Richard and John."
________________________________________

From "Old Virginia Houses Along the James," by Emmie Ferguson Farrar, Hastings House Publisher, New York, 1957:

"Captain Samuel Jordan came to Virginia in 1609, which was just before the 'starving time.' He patented 450 acres of land just below the confluence of the Appotomattox and the James and called his plantation Jordan's Jorney, or Beggar's Bush. The same year (1619) he represented his own and neighboring plantations in the first House of Burgesses. When the Indian Massacre occurred in 1622, Jordan's Jorney and all its inhabitants were saved. He gathered his neighbors into his home 'where he fortified and lived in spite of the enemy.' Burgess Jordan died the next year. On day of his burial Rev. Greville Pooley, who had conducted the services, proposed to his widow, who had been left alone to face the perils of the frontier with her children. She told him, since she would have to marry someone apparently, to be her protector, she would as soon it were he, but asked for time to think the matter over. She cautioned him not to cause a local scandal by talking about this premature proposal. But the overjoyed minister 'blabbed.' This incensed the young widow, and when he later repeated his proposal, she remained silent. Soon after she became engaged to Col. Wm. Farrar. Pooley thereupon instituted the first American breach of promise suit. Finally Cecilly won out.

At Jordon's Jorney, in 1676, the volunteers of Charles City County south of the James assembled to join in Bacon's Rebellion.

For perhaps one hundred years Jordan's Jorney was the home of members of the Bland family. Richard Bland, an ardent patriot in the struggle against the British, owned it at the time of the Revolution. The old plantation house he would have occupied has long since vanished." [p. 136]

From the same source:
"Theodoric Bland was an ancestor of John Randolph of Roanoke. Bland is buried at the Old Westover Church at Westover. Bland was a member of the King's Council, and at this time extablished a county seat for Charles City. He gave ten acres of land, a church, a court house, and a prison. Though born an English subject, had before coming to Westover been a Spanish Merchant." [p. 100]
__________________________________

From "The Descendants of Capt. Thomas Carter of 'Barford'", by Joseph Lyon Miller, M.D., in Virginia State Library, p. 74:

"Theodoric Bland, baptized at St. Antholin's, Jan. 16, 1629, died at Westover, Va., April 23, 1671, is the ancestor of the Virginia Blands. He was a merchant at Luars, Spain, with his brother Edward, when he came to Virginia in 1654. Here he purchased and settled the now famous James River plantation, 'Westover,' and gave for the use of the county and parish, ten acres of ground on which he had built a courthouse, prison and church, known as 'Westover Church,' in the chancel of which he is buried. He was speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1659-61; member of the Council in 1665, and Campbell and Mead say that 'he was in fortune and undertanding inferior to none in the colony.' He married Anne, daughter of Col. Richard Bennett of Weyanloke and Kiccotan, who was a member of the House of Burgesses as early as 1629, member of the Council in 1639, and elected Governor by the House in 1652. [Under Cromwell] Died in Virginia in 1675. Mrs. Bland died at Wharton Creek, Md., in 1687. They had issue: Theodorick, Jr., of 'Westover,' member of the Council, died in 1702; Richard of 'Jordon's Point, abd John. Richard Bland, born at Berkely in 1665, died at Jordon's Point, April 6, 1720; was a merchant and planter, member of the House of Burgesses in 1700-1702, and '06, etc. He married (1) Mary, daughter of Col. Thomas Swann of "Swann's Point," Surry County, and had issue six children, all of whom, Mr. Slaughter says, died young; (2) Elizabeth, daughter of Col. William Randolph of 'Turkey Island,' founder of the distinguished Randolph family of Virginia. Mrs. Elizabeth R. Bland died Jan. 22, 1719, leaving five children: Mary, married Henry Lee of 'Lee Hall,' Westmoreland; Elizabeth, married William Beverley of 'Blandfield,' Essex; Richard, Jr., of Jordan's Point; Anne married Capt. Robert Munford; and Theodorick of 'Cawsons' and 'Kippax,' ancestor of John Randolph of Roanoke."
______________________________________________________________ref: "Burke's American Families with British Ancestory," pg 2992, book held in Willard Library, RGH REF 929.2 Burk

"...Theodoric Bland, son of John Bland (b. 1573, d. 1632), merchant of the City of London, left England and settled at Westover, Virginia, ca. 1654, where he received a grant from the crown of about 20,000 acres; Burgess and Speaker 1659-1660; member of council 1664-1665, b. 1629; m. Anne Bennett, and d. 1671, leaving issue,Richard Bland, member of the House of Burgess, b. 1665; m. 2ndly, Elizabeth, dau. of Col. William Randolph, and d. 1720, leaving issue,
1. Richard Bland, of whom presently.
2. Theodoric, great grandfather of John Randolph, of Roanoke
3. Mary, m. Lieut-Col Henry Lee, by whom she had issue, Lieut-Col Henry Lee, father of Major-Gen Henry Lee, whose son was Robert E. Lee, the celebrated Confederate General.

The elder son, Richard Bland, Burgess, Member Virginia Convention and Committee of Safety, Delegate Philadelphia Congress, b. 1710, m. 1729, Anne, dau. of Peter Poythress of "Fleur de Hundred," and d. 1776, leaving issue, a son, Peter Bland, who was the father of Richard Edward Bland, who left issue, a son, John Randolph Bland, m. Maria Harden, and had issue,
* Richard Howard (Bland), of whom we treat
* a dau, m. *William Wallace Symington, of St. George's Road, Baltimore..."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ref: "Through Centuries Three" by Squires

pg 171
"William Claiborne continued as secretary of State and Theodoric Bland was elected Speaker of the Burgesses.
Theodoric, the first of the Blands(2), was now a man of thirty (born in London, January 16, 1630). He came to Virginia in 1654 and married Anne, daughter of Governor Richard Bennett. Claiborne and Bland were pronounced Puritans..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the notes of Elizabeth Brown Stuart:

"Theodorick Bland established the estate of Westover on James River where he is buried. Married Anne Bennett, daughter of Richard Bennett, Gov. of the Colony. Theodorick's son, Richard I, moved to Jordan's Point in Prince George Co.; married twice, 2nd wife Elizabeth Randolph, daughter of Col. Wm. Randolph of Turkey Island. 'Westover' is now open to visitors (garden only, I believe) and is never mentioned as being estate of Theod. Bland. I wrote Va. Library concerning this -- they sent book confirming it was sold to Byrd family by Theo. Bland."

3.
woman Mary BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1607, at London, England, died ‎ 1652, ‎
Christening: 11 Nov 1607 London, London, England
4.
man Thomas BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1610 at London, London, England, died ‎ Sep 26, 1678‎
Christening: 03 MAR 1610 St Mary The Virgin, , Yorkshire, England
5.
man John BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1612 at London, England‎
ref: The Bland Papers, Vol 1, Pgs 146-148, book located at the William and Mary Wren Library
From Charles L. Bland, "Among Cousins - The Bland Family Newsletter," vol. 8, no. 2 (July-September 1990), pp. 16-21:

"John Bland "The Merchant":

John Bland was born in 1612, the fourth child and second eldest son of John Bland the Grosser and Susan Deblere. His educational background is unclear, but in the midst of well educated brothers, we may assume that he was equally well trained. Though Samuel Pepys would later pronounce him 'no scholler, he knows not the rules of writing orderly,' John wrote several pamphlets on trade and commerce, including "Trade Revived, or a Way Proposed to Restore the Trade of This Our English Nation," (1659), "To the King's Most Humble Majesty, the Humble Remonstrance of John Bland," (1663), and probably "A Short Discourse of the Late Forren Acquests Which England Holds, Vis, of Dunkirk, Tangier, Boombay, Jamayca, ect.," (1662). It is clear from Neville Williams' brief essay that by 1640 John Bland was well established among London merchants, trading in wine and tobacco in Seville, Virginia and London. John was intensely interested in business, well respected among his peers though not brilliant, persistent, harsh, stubborn and heavy handed.

John was an Anglican and was a member of the St. Olaves Parish from the 1640's, but when religion collided with business or personal affairs, like other members of his family, he was pragmatic. He married, about 1645, Sarah Greene, daughter of Giles Greene, a prominent parliamentarian from Dorset on the Puritan side. It was a move that reflected John's religious toleration and good business sense, though oblique refernces by Pepys also suggest that Sarah was a beautiful and stunning woman. Although he was a Loyalist during the Civil War period, John attempted to tread carefully between the warring factions, testing and probing but trying to avoid provocation of either side."

[The narrative goes on for several more pages, describing John and Sarah's involvement in Spanish and Virginia trade and landholdings.]


John, was father of Giles Bland, "a man of good parts, of courage and resolution, who came to Virginia in the time of Sir William Berkeley's government, and having a personal quarrel with the governor, sided with Bacon in his rebellion, and after Bacon's death surrendering himself upon a proclamation of a general pardon, he was hanged under pretence of being the ringleader." Another son was Edward, a Spanish merchant, afterwards of "Kimages," Charles City County, Va. who died 1653, leaving descendants named New and Horton.
6.
man Edward BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1613 at London, England, died ‎ 1690 at Westover, VA‎, 76 or 77 years
Note:
ref: "The Bland Papers," Vol 1, pg 147, held by the William and Mary's Wren Library

" Edward, third son of John, was a Spanish merchant, anno 1643; but afterwards went to Virginia, where he lived at Kymages, in Charles City county, upon a seat of land of his own, containing 8000 acres, and dying anno 1653 was buried there, having by his wife Jane, (who afterwards married John Holmwood, of the same county,) Edward, his only son, who died about the year 1690, and was buried at Westover, and left one daughter, Sarah, who married first Edward New, by whom she had one son, John New, now married and living, and by her second husband, Horton, she has a son, Bland Horton, and divers daughters, who are in low circumstances."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ref: "Early Virginia families Along the James River," Vol III, Henrico Co.-Goochland Co., by Foley, RFH, VA, 929.3, Foley, V. III.

Pg 40
"Edward Bland, of London, Merchant, 2,000 acs. Lawnes Creeke, July 7, 1646, page 50, S. upon land of Alice Delke, widdow, N. upon William Spencer, E. upon sd. cr., & W. towards Chipoake Cr. Due by purchase from Capt. William Peirce & assignment of a patent dated June 22, 1635"

Pg 52
"Mrs Jane Bland, late the wife of Edward Bland, dec'd., 4,300 acs. James City Co., near the head of upper Chipoakes Cr. 9 May 1652, p. 200. Bounded from the division of the maine middle run of sd. Creek & c., & upon a path leading from Swann Bay to the Indian Fields & c. 3,000 acs. granted unto Thomas Hill, Gent, 1 Dec. 1643 & purchased of him by sd. Edward Bland, merchant; 1300 acs. granted sd. Bland 10 Mar. 1647, by order of the Gov'r. & Council to be joined in one patent in the name of the sd. Jane."


ref: "Early Virginia families Along the James River," Vol III, Henrico Co.-Goochland Co., by Foley, RFH, VA, 929.3, Foley, V. III.

Pg 40
"Edward Bland, of London, Merchant, 2,000 acs. Lawnes Creeke, July 7, 1646, page 50, S. upon land of Alice Delke, widdow, N. upon William Spencer, E. upon sd. cr., & W. towards Chipoake Cr. Due by purchase from Capt. William Peirce & assignment of a patent dated June 22, 1635"

Pg 52
"Mrs Jane Bland, late the wife of Edward Bland, dec'd., 4,300 acs. James City Co., near the head of upper Chipoakes Cr. 9 May 1652, p. 200. Bounded from the division of the maine middle run of sd. Creek & c., & upon a path leading from Swann Bay to the Indian Fields & c. 3,000 acs. granted unto Thomas Hill, Gent, 1 Dec. 1643 & purchased of him by sd. Edward Bland, merchant; 1300 acs. granted sd. Bland 10 Mar. 1647, by order of the Gov'r. & Council to be joined in one patent in the name of the sd. Jane."
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ref: "Bristol Parish," pg 152

Edward was buried at "Kymages" just above "Westover" on the north side of James River, Va."
------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Charles L. Bland, "Among Cousins - The Bland Family Newsletter," vol. 8, no. 2 (July-September 1990), pp. 12-13:

"Edward Bland was a formidable man, educated at Westminster and fluent in Spanish, Dutch and Latin. He was a Spanish merchant in 1643, just before moving to Virginia. Soon after his arrival in Virginia, Edward ceased calling himself a 'London Merchant' and simply called himself a merchant. By the time he died in 1652, he had built a house in Virginia. Edward had also brought his immediate and extended family with him to Virginia, suggesting, in conjunction with these other attributes, that he intended to settle down.

Edward was principally engaged in land acquisition. In 1646 and 1647, through head rights and direct purchase, he gained 3,300 acres in Charles City and Surry Counties. In 1649, he gained an additional 3,000 acres and at about the same time, purchased an 8,000 acre tract called Kymages, originally a part of Berkeley Hundred.

Thus, soon after his arrival in Virginia, Edward had acquired some 14,300 acres. His brother Theodorick would later add to these holdings, especially a 2,000 acre tract called Westover, and another large property named Jordans, so that by 1678, John Bland could boast of extensive family ownership of land in Virginia, including:
'Barletts, Kimechys, Herring Creek, Jordanes, Westover, Upper Chippoakes, Sunken Marsh, Basses Choice, Jamestown Lott, Lawnes Creek and all other lands.'

Edward is best remembered for "The Discovery of New Brittaine" which recounts his travels with three Englishmen and a native guide south from Fort Henry to upper North Carolina. Convinced that the area would yield a rich tobacco and sugar crop, Edward wrote the pamphlet, circulated it in London and petitioned the Virginia Council for permission to settle the territory. The council granted the petition, but Edward died in 1652 and the project with him.

Edward Bland represents the prototype of the younger English son sent to Virginia to draw together the rudimentary elements of a settlement in order to replicate the style of the English landed class in the entirely unpredictable social, legal and physical environment of the new world. Edward's death undoubtedly disrupted this family striving, and his death must have given pause to John Bland while he considered his next move. By now Virginia had claimed the lives of two brothers. The prospect of sending more of his family's blood there might not have been inviting to John. On the other hand, John had little choice, for the huge family land holdings as well as John's lucrative shipping interests in far away Virginia were vulnerable to encroachment. Coupled with set-backs John had experienced with the Cromwell Government and the precarious nature of trade with Spain, the Virginia situation demanded the on-scene coordination of a highly trustworthy person to manage family affairs. For this task, John turned to his youngest brother, Theodorick."

Deed to Edward Bland, March 10, 1647:
"To all & whosoever & Now Know you that I the Said Sir William Berkeley Gov. do with this device and consent of the council of Govs, Accordingly give and grant unto Edward Bland Merchant thirteen hundred acres of land lying on the south side of James river a mile or there about from the head of the Upper Chipoak, bounded as followeth from the path leading from Swann Bay to the Indian Fields thence one hundred and twenty chains - along the southernmost branch of the river - thence five hundred eighty five chains northwest, thence one hundred and seventy chains north east thence two hundred and three cahins by north a quarter of a point more north and then south east one hundred and twenty chains to the above said path ~ The said thirteen hundred acres of land being due unto the said Edward Bland by and for the transportation of twenty six persons into the colony all whose names are recorded ~ Indentioned unto said Bland to have and to hold & to be held for yielding & to which payment is to be made seven years after the date for rights of any former order or grant and not before provided & dated ye 10th day of march 1647.
Edward Bland Robert Woodruffe Nich. Weather William Turke
Jane Bland Jo. Smith Kat. Lands Thomas Ridley
Wm. Beare Lydia Emeroy Ann. Farrar Richard Strader
Eliz. Bland Mary Beard Geo. Marrow Charles Baldwin
Tho. Leigh Griffeth Davis Lucy Evans
Geo. Proby John Thomas Geo. Price
Richard Litler Anna Burk Tho. Darwin"

Sources:
1. Title: Bland Family, www.intercall.com/~jmarshal/esmd63.htm
2. Title: Bland, Charles L., "Among Cousins - The Bland Family Newsletter," Vol. 5, No. 1 (Jan-June 1987)
Page: 10
3. Title: Slaughter, Philip, "A History of Bristol Parish Virginia, with Genealogies of Families Connected Herewith," pub. by J.W. Randolph, Richmond, 1879
Page: 152

From Charles L. Bland, "Among Cousins - The Bland Family Newsletter," vol. 8, no. 2 (July-September 1990), pp. 12-13:

"Edward Bland was a formidable man, educated at Westminster and fluent in Spanish, Dutch and Latin. He was a Spanish merchant in 1643, just before moving to Virginia. Soon after his arrival in Virginia, Edward ceased calling himself a 'London Merchant' and simply called himself a merchant. By the time he died in 1652, he had built a house in Virginia. Edward had also brought his immediate and extended family with him to Virginia, suggesting, in conjunction with these other attributes, that he intended to settle down.

Edward was principally engaged in land acquisition. In 1646 and 1647, through head rights and direct purchase, he gained 3,300 acres in Charles City and Surry Counties. In 1649, he gained an additional 3,000 acres and at about the same time, purchased an 8,000 acre tract called Kymages, originally a part of Berkeley Hundred.

Thus, soon after his arrival in Virginia, Edward had acquired some 14,300 acres. His brother Theodorick would later add to these holdings, especially a 2,000 acre tract called Westover, and another large property named Jordans, so that by 1678, John Bland could boast of extensive family ownership of land in Virginia, including:
'Barletts, Kimechys, Herring Creek, Jordanes, Westover, Upper Chippoakes, Sunken Marsh, Basses Choice, Jamestown Lott, Lawnes Creek and all other lands.'

Edward is best remembered for "The Discovery of New Brittaine" which recounts his travels with three Englishmen and a native guide south from Fort Henry to upper North Carolina. Convinced that the area would yield a rich tobacco and sugar crop, Edward wrote the pamphlet, circulated it in London and petitioned the Virginia Council for permission to settle the territory. The council granted the petition, but Edward died in 1652 and the project with him.

Edward Bland represents the prototype of the younger English son sent to Virginia to draw together the rudimentary elements of a settlement in order to replicate the style of the English landed class in the entirely unpredictable social, legal and physical environment of the new world. Edward's death undoubtedly disrupted this family striving, and his death must have given pause to John Bland while he considered his next move. By now Virginia had claimed the lives of two brothers. The prospect of sending more of his family's blood there might not have been inviting to John. On the other hand, John had little choice, for the huge family land holdings as well as John's lucrative shipping interests in far away Virginia were vulnerable to encroachment. Coupled with set-backs John had experienced with the Cromwell Government and the precarious nature of trade with Spain, the Virginia situation demanded the on-scene coordination of a highly trustworthy person to manage family affairs. For this task, John turned to his youngest brother, Theodorick."

Deed to Edward Bland, March 10, 1647:
"To all & whosoever & Now Know you that I the Said Sir William Berkeley Gov. do with this device and consent of the council of Govs, Accordingly give and grant unto Edward Bland Merchant thirteen hundred acres of land lying on the south side of James river a mile or there about from the head of the Upper Chipoak, bounded as followeth from the path leading from Swann Bay to the Indian Fields thence one hundred and twenty chains - along the southernmost branch of the river - thence five hundred eighty five chains northwest, thence one hundred and seventy chains north east thence two hundred and three cahins by north a quarter of a point more north and then south east one hundred and twenty chains to the above said path ~ The said thirteen hundred acres of land being due unto the said Edward Bland by and for the transportation of twenty six persons into the colony all whose names are recorded ~ Indentioned unto said Bland to have and to hold & to be held for yielding & to which payment is to be made seven years after the date for rights of any former order or grant and not before provided & dated ye 10th day of march 1647.
Edward Bland Robert Woodruffe Nich. Weather William Turke
Jane Bland Jo. Smith Kat. Lands Thomas Ridley
Wm. Beare Lydia Emeroy Ann. Farrar Richard Strader
Eliz. Bland Mary Beard Geo. Marrow Charles Baldwin
Tho. Leigh Griffeth Davis Lucy Evans
Geo. Proby John Thomas Geo. Price
Richard Litler Anna Burk Tho. Darwin"
7.
man Adam BLAND‏‎
Born ‎ 1616 at London, England, died ‎ 1647 at Died at Sea‎
Christening: 03 SEP 1616 Saint Stephan Coleman Street, London, London, England


Note: Adam died at sea in 1647, probably enroute to Virginia
8.
man Robert BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1617 at London, England, died ‎ Apr 05, 1669 at Cambridge Colleg, Essex, England‎, 51 or 52 years
Christening: 22 FEB 1617 Of, , London, England

Robert Bland (1617-1669) was trained in the ministry at Cambridge and was Rector of the Wigboro Magna Church in Essex.

Sources:
1. Title: Bland, Charles L., "Among Cousins - The Bland Family Newsletter," Vol. 8, No. 2 (July-December 1990)
9.
woman Hester . BLAND‏‎
Born ‎ Jan 18, 1622/23 at London, England, died ‎ Jan 05, 1625/26 at London, England‎, approximately 2 years
10.
man Willliam BLAND‏‎
Born ‎ 1622 at London. England, died ‎ 1647 at Spain‎, 24 or 25 years
Christening: 26 DEC 1622 St Antholin, Par, Cornwall, England

Died in Spain while on a business trip.
11.
woman Annabella BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1619 at London, England‎
Christening: 26 MAY 1619 Saint Antholin Budge Row, London, London, England


12.
woman Elizabeth BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1620 at London, England, died ‎ 1673 , at Middlesex Co., Virginia, ‎
Christening: 20 AUG 1620 St Antholin, Par, Cornwall, England

13.
man Arnel (Arnold ) . BLAND‏‎
Born ‎ 1628 at London, London, England, died ‎ 1634 at London, London, England‎, 5 or 6 years

Christening: 24 FEB 1628 Of, , London, England

Burial: 18 OCT 1634 London, London, England

14.
woman Rachel . BLAND‏‎
Born ‎ 1626 at St Antholin Par, London, London, England, died ‎ Aug 23, 1633 at St Antholin Par, London, London, England‎
Christening: 14 NOV 1626 Of, , London, England
15.
woman Joneane (Joan Amy) . BLAND‏‎
Born ‎ 1631 at London, London, England, died ‎ May 05, 1632 at London, London, England‎, 0 or 1 years
Christening: 10 JAN 1632 Of, , London, England

Burial: St. Antholin, Budge Row, London, England
16.
man Richard BLAND‏
Born ‎ 1625 at London, London, England, died ‎ Nov 20, 1692 at Leeds, York, England‎, 66 or 67 years
Title: 'Lord of Beeston Manor.'

Christened: 11 Feb 1624/1625 London, London, England


2nd marriage
man John BLAND‏‎, son of Adam BLAND and Joan ATKYNS‏.

Married ‎± 1604 at Colchester,Colchester,England (approximately 28 years married) to:

woman Isabella DRAKE‏‎, daughter of William DRAKE and Joan MERRYLLS‏.
Born ‎ 1572 at Elmstead,Essex,England, died ‎ Oct 12, 1639 at Watertwon,Middlesex Co.,MA ‎
Divorced??
Burial: 12 OCT 1639 Watertwon,Middlesex Co.,MA

1 Child: Isabell SMITH (BLAND)
b: Abt 1602/11 in Colchester,Essex,England