The Early Westrays
Just about the earliest record found on the Westrays is a land grant
deed to a William Westwary for 750 acres. It is dated Sept. 26, 1664. It can be
found in the Isle of Wight Patent Book #5, pages 422-423. Due to space restrictions,
In Cavaliers and Pioneers by Marion Nugent there is a record of a
Richard Westray being granted patents by James I in 1607 for plantations to be
made in Virginia The record also says the ship, captained by Robert Pitt,
carried 29 passengers, one being Richard Westray. I have found a record, that
shows the first three ships left London for Virginia in 1607. It also says that
Captain John Smith later recorded only 82 of the 100+ passengers in a letter to
the king. In looking at the 1607 colonial census of Virginia, we can see a John
Westray living in Virginia. It is safe to assume John was one of the passengers
omitted from Captain Smith's list and that he came over on one of those ships.
Richard remains a mystery, and although his name may have been omitted as well,
he is not shown in the 1607 colonial census of Virginia.