Coleman Family
The Coleman Family
of Mobjack Bay, Virginia
Exciting new discoveries have been made regarding the Coleman family of Mobjack Bay, Virginia. Across America, a surge of interest in genealogy has made available to researchers family Bible records, family histories and family genealogies. The use of the Internet and the USGenWeb project has opened up new and convenient sources of research tools. In the forty years since Judge Solon B. Coleman finished his two manuscripts on the Mobjack Bay Coleman family, new and exciting information has been discovered to add to the family history.
There were four Robert Colemans in early Virginia at approximately the same time. Robert Coleman of Isle of Wight Co. had no male descendants. Robert Coleman of Nansemond Co. had two sons, both of whom died in Edgecome Co. NC: William in 1752 and Robert in 1761. The other two Robert Colemans and their descendants have been chronicled in books.
The Charles City, Virginia line of Robert Coleman was compiled by James P. Coleman, former Governor of Mississippi, now deceased. His book, “The Robert Coleman Family From Virginia to Texas, 1652-1965” is available on microfilm through the LDS Library in Salt Lake City. The Colemans in this line who migrated to other areas settled mainly in the Carolinas before spreading westward from Georgia to Texas. If you suspect your line might descend from the Charles City Colemans, please study the microfilmed book for clues.
Robert Coleman of Mobjack Bay, Virginia is thought to be the progenitor of the largest percentage of Colemans from that state. Robert came to Virginia from England in 1638 as a headright. His birth year has not been determined. Robert married at least once, to Elizabeth Grizzell, and with her had six known surviving children: Thomas, Robert, Joseph, Grizzell, Daniel and John.
Among the Virginia counties these Colemans settled in were Gloucester, New Kent, King & Queen, King William, Caroline, Essex, Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Orange, Cumberland, Buckingham, Albemarle, Amherst, Goochland, Chesterfield, Stafford, Shenandoah, Hanover, Pittsylvania, and at least one line in Mecklenburg and Lunenburg Counties.
After the American Revolution, descendants of this Robert Coleman migrated into Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, across the south to Texas and then to every corner of America.
If you would like to know more about the Coleman family of Mobjack Bay, Virginia, please e-mail me. A supplement to a new book about this family is being compiled. Your line could be a welcome addition to this supplement.
pr9toes@gte.net
Sherry Nicol