To all Eanes family members: 2014 marks 300 years since our original immigrant, Edward, arrived in America. The documentation is in a book titled Cavaliers and Pioneers, which I came across in the Library of Virginia, in Richmond. This finding is not mine originally; I was tipped off to it by someone on a message board and I have not been able to find it since. However, below is a copy of p. 142 of the book and it clearly states Edward’s name. His headright was given to …. In early Virginia, immigrants were granted 50 acres. However, many people gave their headright for passage to America and it appears that Edward did that. Within a decade he had married and within 15 years had substantial amounts of land in Chesterfield County. Later posts will document all that.
Charles Hudson and John Bradley received 608 acres on the north side of he James river in Henrico county. Their business or operation was called “Young Men’s Adventure,” and Edward (shortened to Edw.) is listed among 13 people who were imported. More research about the two men Hudson and Bradley may yield further records, such as where they came from in England and how they came up with this list of immigrants. Did they all come on one ship? Did they merely pay their passage? Lots of questions! More research on importation and headrights may yield some clues. A link to an article in the Library of Virginia on headrights can be found here.
The actual date of immigration is unknown; the date of June 14 is simply the date that the land was given and the transaction recorded. However, since we have no proof yet of any earlier date, this is the date that we will assume. . Happy 300th birthday Eanes!
~Russ Eanes, a ninth generation Eanes