Francis Stockley

Brothers Francis and John Stockley II emigrated to America together in 1635 as they are noted on the passenger manifest of the ship, The Two Brothers, that first landed in Jamaica before traveling on to Virginia. In later documents, Francis' younger brother, John Stockley II, stated in court that he had "come to the Eastern Shore [of Virginia] at the Cost & Charges of his brother Francis, in exchange for three years of service, and first lived in what is now Northampton County, Virginia..."[1] John II gave testimony in court there on June 5, 1640. He was a tailor by trade. Francis was a tobacco planter. Both developed sizable plantations in the Accomack (northern) half of Virginia's Eastern Shore.

On December 22nd, 1636 Francis received a patent for 50 acres in Accomack County (Now Northampton) for the transport of one servant named Francis Jarvis. The land was described as bordering the woods, old plantation, creek and land of Henry Williams. Also around the year 1636 Francis married to Joan Hall, an immigrant from Warwick, England.

Francis wrote his will on December 12th, 1655 in Northampton County and signed it by writing his own name out fully. At that time Accomack County had changed names to Northampton and after Francis' death the county split into two separate counties.

To beloved wife 3 cows and 4 steares. To daughter Ann Stockley 2 cows and 3 steares. To son John Stockley 3 cows, 3 steares, and my gun. In case all three children die, then their legacies to their mother. To wife the best bed, curtains, and vallence. To daughters Frances and Ann Stockley a bed apiece. To my godson Francis Willyams one cow calf. That cow calf which brother John Stockley owes me, to his son Willyam Stockley. To wife all moveables and things belonging to me, and (for life) the plantation, and after her death to son John. And after the debts of Richard Wooton, deceased, are paid, the remaining estate to be divided by son John and his sister Francis