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"

Born ‎ Jun 26, 1608 at Orton, Westmorland, England, died ‎± 1664 at England‎
Burial:
Westover, , England