Person:Abraham Piersey (1)

[last accessed 9 Nov 2012]
... Frances Grevill West married Abraham Peirsey, a man of considerable substance who, in addition to a residence at Jamestown, had bought the 1000 acre "Flowerdew Hundred" on the south bank of the James, from Sir George Yeardley. When Peirsey died in January 1627/8, he apparently "left the best estate ever known in Virginia," (12) thus making Frances Grevill West Peirsey a still young and second time widow. That she was by now somewhat used was amply compensated for in the eyes of any colonist by the value of her legacies. Frances was executrix of Peirsey's will and she was charged "to make saile of all the estate as aforesaid to the profit it can be sould for." (13) This she was in no hurry to do, possibly because she was more concerned with her marriage to Samuel Mathews who apparently hooked her very soon after her former husband's demise. The Peirsey estate was still waiting to be settled when she died in 1633.

It has been suggested, without any proof that Samuel Mathews himself discouraged the settlement as he wished to avoid the sale of the Peirsey lands. Abraham Peirsey had two daughters by his first wife, Elizabeth Draper; Elizabeth was born in 1610 and Mary in 1614, both of whom outlived their stepmother. On May 10th, 1633 the latter became the administrator of her father's will and thus came in conflict with Samuel Mathews. Mary Peirsey was then married to Captain Thomas Hill. Peirsey's elder daughter, Elizabeth was married on about 1628 to Richard Stephens (14) and subsequently (prior to 1638) to Governor Sir John Harvey. ...

p 133 -
ELIZABETH DRAPER of London, Widow. Will 17 August, 1625 ; proved 2 September 1625. To my son Vincent Draper, in lieu of his child's pte., £ 150. To my grandchild Darcis Draper, daughter of said Vincent, £ 150 when 18 or day of marriage, her Aunt Sara Symons to have the education of her. If she die, one-half to her father and the other half to her said aunt. To my grandchildren Elizabeth and Mary Peirsey, daughters of my sonne-in-law Abraham Peirsey, merchaunte, resident in Virginia, £ 100 apiece when 18 or marriage ; if they die, the money to be divided between the said Vincent and Sara. To Abraham Peirsiey [sic] a ring of value of 30s. To my son in law Thurston Symons, one Ringe value 30s. To Mrs. Cowley, my cosen, 30s. to make her a Ringe. To my god-daughter Elizabeth Cowley, one Ring with eight Dyamond Stones in it. To my daughter Elizabeth Peirsey one dyamond Ringe. To Mary Peirsey one Dyamond Ringe set after the Duch fashion. To Darkis Draper, one Opell Ringe with sixe Opelle stones of several colours in yt. To my cosen Smythson, 20s., and to his wife, 20s., and his daughter Elizabeth, 20s. To the poore of St. Clements neare Candelwicke streete, in London, wherein I nowe dwell, 50s. To John Peirsye, 13s., 4d. To Mr. Price, Clarke of St. Clements paryshe, 20s. To Netherwood, the sexton of same p'sh., 10s. To Katherin Ruter, my mayde servant, 50s. To Robert Mincharde, Scrivener, 13s., 4d. All the rest to my executors in trust for my daughter Sara Simmons, her husband and Thurstone [sic] Symons not to have any claim (he, notwithstanding his pretensions of giving up his vile and lewd courses, having wronged me). Executors : my lovinge Cozens Mr. Richard Berisford, marchante of London, that sometime dwelt uppon Newe Fyshstreet Hill, London, and ___ Warriner, merchante, dwelling in Mark Lane, in London. Mem. of Scrivener, Robert Mincharde, that the said testatrix did order me to draw up her will in the aforesaid manner in the presence of Katherin Ruter. Clarke, 93.

(Abraham Persey or Piersey, who died in 1628, was a member of the Council, and was reputed to be the wealthiest man of his day in Virginia. He married twice, his first wife, evidentally the daughter of Mrs. Draper, was the mother of his two children, Elizabeth and Mary. His will was printed in full in Neill's Virginia Carolorium, 404-406, and an abstract from the P.C.C., given in the Magazine XII, 177-178. See also this Magazine I, 187-188 )
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[Identifies him as the husband of Elizabeth Draper and father of Elizabeth and Mary.]

His will mentions:
- his wife Francis Persey
-his friends Mr Grevill Pooley minister and Mr Richard Kingsmill(?) of James Cilly(?) Island gent (overseers in Virginia)
-his friend Mr Delywell (?) Russell of London, merchant (overseer in England)
-his sister Judith Smythson in England
-his brother John Persey
-his friend in England Mr Delywell Russell, merchant
-his wife Frances’s son Nathaniell West
-his daughters Elizabeth Persey and Mary Persey

He mentions he went to England in March 1620

Percy or Piercy, Abraham, merchant came to Virginia in the ship "Susan" in 1626 and was for a number of years certainly between 1619 and 1623, cape-merchant and treasurer of the colony. At the time of Argall's suspension from the office of admiral of Virginia, he appointed Persey, "the Cape-merchant," his vice-admiral, but this the Virginia Company held he had no power to do and instructed the governor and council of Virginia to make the appointment. Persey was a member of the house of burgesses in 1622, and on October 24, 1623, was appointed by the king one of the commissioners to examine the affairs in Virginia. The following year he was appointed to the council and held his seat in that body until his death in 1628. Persey was undoubtedly one of the richest men in the colony and his estate was for some time a bone of contention between his heirs. Its seizure by Governor Harvey was one of the numerous acts of that gentleman which aroused the ire of the colonists and finally led to his deposing.

He married Frances, widow of Capt. Nathaniel West, and she married thirdly Capt. Samuel Mathews. She was probably a daughter of Sir Thomas Hinton .
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[cos1776 Note: Likely error. See Palmer ¹ for explanation.]