Person:James Cary (10)

  Featured Page: Week of December 13, 2010

Biography

James Cary was named alternatively as a Citizen, Salter and Merchant of London.

Faifax Harrison in The Virginia Carys refers to him as: "The founder of the house of Virginia merchants subsequently known as "Robert Cary & Co." when they were Colonel George Washington's correspondents."^S1

Possible Origins of James Cary

In Volume II of The Devon Carys, published in 1920 (pp. 694-695),^S13 Fairfax Harrison wrote:

Another, and in this case a direct, migration of the Devon Carys to London to engage in trade appears in the family of James Cary (1622-1694) of Hampstead, a Virginia merchant and the first of three generations in that trade who sold tobacco on commission for the Virginia planters and purchased for them in England those supplies from a “Fashionable sett of Desert Glasses” or “2 wild beasts, not to exceed 12 inches in height nor 18 in length,” to a “chariot in the newest taste, handsome, genteel and light,” and so contributed to that English flavour in Virginia colonial life which is its racy characteristic.

No evidence has yet come to light definitively to identify the origin of this James, but the tradition of his descendants is clear that he was a scion from the Devon tree, and it seems likely from the iterated reproduction of the Clovelly name Robert among those descendants that he came of that household. This assumption finds a warrant in the fact that a cadet line of the Clovelly family had been engaged in trade in Bideford for two generations when in 1622 they baptized a son James, otherwise unaccounted for, who fits into the known facts relating to our Virginia merchant. ....

Here Mr. Harrison inserts a footnote to refer to a passage in his first volume of the same work (p.281),^S14 in which he treats of the family of George Cary (1578?-1643) of Cockington, and where, listing George’s sons, he had written:

VIII James, born 1627, has left no earmark for identification. He may have been the contemporary James Cary, Virginia merchant in London, whom we have preferably identified as his kinsman of the Clovelly family. ....

These present the two possibilities, within the so-called Devon Cary families, which could answer to the parentage of James Cary ‘Citizen and Salter of London’, as he so styles himself in his will.^S11 The Clovelly family one providing possible parents: James Cary (1597–1634/5), of Bideford and Alwington, and his wife, Elizabeth née Grenville (1594–1635);^S15 while the Cockington family would be: George Cary (1578/87–1643), of Cockington, and his wife, Elizabeth née Seymour (c.1591–?).^S16

In his earlier work, The Virginia Carys,^S17 Fairfax Harrison had made a ‘tentative’ identification of James Cary with this possibility of a Cockington Cary parentage, which he was now, a year later, considering less likely. However, there are some indications that his first thoughts may prove to be more compelling after all.

... This James Cary has been tentatively identified as another brother of Sir Henry Cary, of Cockington, and so of Francis Cary, supra. ….

In his will,^S11 James Cary makes a bequest of twenty pounds to his “loving neece Mary Buzby.” And we find in Harrison’s The Devon Carys, Vol. 1 (p. 275),^S14 the following reference: “In the meanwhile, on February 10, 1663, Sir Henry (Cary) had married his daughter Grace, now twenty-one, to one ‘Robert Busby of St. Bride’s, London, gent., bachelor, aged about 25,’ ….” This marriage is also referenced in the Allegations for Marriage Licences.^S18 One of the children of this marriage was a certain Mary Busby, born “about 1668 Holborn, London.”^S19 She would then be a great-niece of her grandfather Henry’s brother, James – as the daughter of his niece, Grace Busby née Cary.

This is not yet conclusive evidence, but it does add some significant weight to the Cockington side of the scales. But more research will have to be done on this. — Robin Cary Askew, 17 August 2009

1.   Fairfax Harrison, The Virginia Carys (New York: De Vinne Press, 1919), pg. 143.

   "My late sonne Oswell Cary, deceased" is named in the will of James Cary (citing P.C.C. Box, 343)

2. ↑ Torrence, Clayton, ed; Edward Pleasants Valentine; and Mary Lightfoot, index Garland. The Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers: Abstracts of Records in the Local and General Archives of Virginia Relating to the Families of Allen, Bacon, Ballard, Batchelder, Blouet, Brassieur (Brashear), Cary, Crenshaw, Dabney, Exum, Ferris, Fontaine, Gray, Hardy, Isham (Henrico County), Jordan, Langston, Lyddall, Mann, Mosby, Palmer, Pasteur, Pleasants, Povall, Randolph, Satterwhite, Scott, Smith (the Family of Francis Smith of Hanover County), Valentine, Waddy, Watts, Winston, Womack, Woodson. (Richmond, Virginia: Valentine Museum, 1927), p. 304.

   James Cary of London Merchant & Ann Mallory of London Widdow & executrix of the last will and testament of Ralph Mallory late of London merchand deceased power of attorney to Capt. Jno. Purvis commander of the ship Loyall Effingham now bound for Virginia.(citing Middlesex County, Va. Deed Book 1679-1694, p. 490)

3.   Peter Wilson Coldham, The complete book of emigrants, 1661-1699.

   pg. 288: July 16, 1677 Deposition by James Cary of London, merchant aged 45, and his servant, Daniel Sheriffe, aged 22, that they consigned goods to Mr. James Waddinge of Virginia by the Planters' Adventure, Mr Ellis Ellis. In October 1673 Mr. Robert Workman sent tobacco from Virginia by the Price of London, Mr. Robert Connaway, and in August 1674 by the George of London, Mr. Thomas Grantham. (LMCD)
   ----
   pg. 292: 13 August- 3 October [1677] Shippers by the Concord, Mr. Thomas Grantham, bound from London for Virginia: ... James Carey, .... (PRO:E190/72/1, 80/1)
   ----
   pg 341: 6 August - 6 September [1679] Shippers by the Henry, Mr. Thomas Arnold, bound from London for Virginia: ... James Cary ... (PRO:E190/84/1)
   ----
   pg 419: 27 July - 17 August [1683] Shippers by the Jeffreys, Mr. Thomas Arnold, bound from London for Pennsylvania and New Jersey: ... James Cary ...(PRO: E190/115/1, 125/3)
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   pg 429: 3 - 23 October [1683] Shippers by the Paridise, Mr. William Eveling, bound from London for Virginia: ... James Carey .... (PRO:E190/115/1)
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   pg 610: 28 - 30 August 1688 Shippers by the Anne, Mr. Richard Howard, bound from London for Virginia: ... James Cary ... (PRO:E190/145/1)
   ----

4.   Adminstration of George Reeves (1675).

   The will of George Reeves, written 1 November 1675 and proved 26 April 1689, mentions an obligation owed to "James Johnson of St. Sepulchers. London, Gent, and James Cary, Citizen and Salter". James Cary also appears among the witnesses to the will. National Archives

5.   Will of Luke Johnson (1659).

   In his will dated 25 June 1659 and proved 1 August 1659, "Luke Johnson of Virginia, planter" names his uncle John Turton and James Cary as executors. He also leaves a bequest to James Cary and "To Elizabeth, the wife of said James Carie". National Archives

6.   James Cary and Elizabeth Stone, in Woodhead, J. R. The rulers of London, 1660-1689 : a biographical record of the city of London. (London: London & Middlesex Archaeological Society, 1966), pp. 42-56.

   CAREY, James
   Co Co Bread Street 1689-90 (1) St Margaret Moses, 1664, West Smithfield, St Sepulchre, 1670, St Augustine, 1689, 1694 (2) SALT (3) d Oct-Dec 1694, bur St Augustine (4) Will PCC 243 Box pr, 20 Dec 1694 mar (A) 1658, Elizabeth, da of Oswell Stone of Froston, Leic, and AH Bread Street, (B) 1664, Anne, da of Robert Dabson of Aston, Oxon (5) Tobacconist (5) Property Berks (6) ? Tory, not Whig (7)
   
   (1) VBk, St Augustine (2) Boyd 13855, will of Mark WARKMAN, GR, VBk, St Augustine, will (3) Will, Boyd 13855 (4) Will, Reg, St Augustine (5) Boyd 13855 (6) Will (7) H of L, MS 154 (f)
   British History

7.   James Cary and Elizabeth Stone, in William Bruce Bannerman, The registers of St. Mildred, Bread Street, and of St. Margaret Moses, Friday Street, London.

   « 27 Feb 1658 James Cary of this par., Tobakkenerst, & Elizabeth Stone of All Hollis, Bredgstreet, spinster, d. of Osnole Stone of Froston par. in Lestershire. Publication on 13 Feb , 20 Feb & 27 Feb »
   Accessed on ancestry.co.uk
   AncestryUS link

8.   James Cary and Anne Dabson - marriage licence, in England: - Marriage Licences Issued By The Faculty Office, 1632-1714, September, 1664 .

   « 27 Sep 1664 *Cary, James Dabson, Anne » Accessed on ancestry.co.uk

9.   James Cary and Anne Dabson - marriage licence, in Joseph Foster, London marriage licenses, 1521-1869, p. 251 , 1887.

   « Cary, James, of St. Margaret Moses, Youdon, salter, widower, and Anne Dabson, spinster, 21, daughter of Robert Dabson, of Aston, co. Oxon, gent., who consents–at Lutenor, co. Oxon. 27 Sept. 1664. F. »
   Google Books

10.   James Cary and Anne Dabson - marriage , in International Genealogical Index / British Isles.

    « James Carey Gender Male Marriage: 27 SEP 1664 <St Margaret,Moses, , , England / Spouse: Anna Dahson » Accessed on FamilySearch.org - (no primary or secondary source cited)

11. ↑ ^11.0 11.1 Will of James Cary, 21 Oct 1694.

    The will of James Cary dated 21 October was probated in the PCC 20 Dec 1694.
    see Transcript

12. ↑ London Burials Index 1538-1872, in British Origins.

    « Burial Year: 1694 / Last Name: Cary / First Name: Jas / Parish: London (St Augustine Watling Street) / County: London »
    Burial Index 1538-1872

13.   Harrison, Fairfax: The Devon Carys, De Vinnne Press, New York, Vol. II, pp. 694-695, 1920.

    Taken from photocopy of page from original publication - courtesy of Thomas Hamm.
    GoogleBooks snippet view

14.   Harrison, Fairfax: The Devon Carys, De Vinnne Press, New York, Vol 1, pp. 275, 281 .

    Taken from photocopy of page from original publication - courtesy of Thomas Hamm. GoogleBooks snippet view

15.   James Cary - possible baptism, in International Genealogical Index / British Isles.

    « James Cary / Gender: Male Christening: 08 MAY 1622 Alwington, Devon, England / Father: James Cary; Mother: Elizabeth Grenville »
    Accessed on FamilySearch.org - no source cited

16.   James Cary - possible baptism, in International Genealogical Index / British Isles.

    « James Cary / Gender: Male Birth: About 1626 Of, Cockington, Devon, England / Father: George Cary; Mother: Elizabeth Seymour »
    Accessed on FamilySearch.org - no source cited

17.   Harrison, Fairfax. The Virginia Carys: An essay in genealogy. (New York: De Vinne Press, 1919), p. 143, 1919.

    Taken from copy, a photo-reproduced facsimile reprint by Higginson Book Company, 148 Washington Street, Post Office Box 778, Salem, Massachusetts 01970 - web site: http://www.higginsbooks.com

18.   Robert Busby and Grace Cary - marriage licence, in Joseph Lemuel Chester; George J Armytage, Sir; Allegations for marriage licences issued by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, 1558 to 1699 : also, for those issued by the vicar-general of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1660 to 1679, p. 83, 1886-92.

    « MARRIAGE ALLEGATIONS IN THE REGISTRY OF THE / VICAR-GENERAL OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
    1662-3
    Feb. 10 Robert Busby, of St Bride's, London, Gent, Bachr, about 25, & Grace Cary, of St Giles in Fields, Spr, abt 21 ; consent of father Sir Henry Cary, Kt.; at St Mary’s Whitechapel, St Dunstan’s East, or Gray’s Inn Chapel. » Google Books

19.   Mary Busby - birth, in International Genealogical Index / British Isles.

    « MARY BUSBY / Gender: Female / Birth: About 1668 Holborn, London, England / Father: ROBERT BUSBY / Mother: GRACE CARY » Accessed on FamilySearch.org - no source cited.