Family History

Chiles

By William B. Snavely

The author of this site, William B. Snavely of Oxford, Ohio, is a 13th generation decendent of Left. Col. Walter Chiles, born in England, who emigrated to Jamestown prior to 1638. He sailed to Virginia in his own ship with his wife Elizabeth, sons William and Walter, and four other persons: Henry Fulton, John Shaw, John Govey, and Sarah Cole.

For these emigrants he was awarded 400 acres in Charles City County, now Prince George, Virginia, near the falls of the Appomattox River. The stipulation was as follows: 50 acres being due for his own adventure, 50 for his wife Elizabeth, 50 for son William, 50 for son Walter, and 200 for the transportation of four other persons to the colony.

On May 2, 1638, he received a further grant of 250 acres on the Appomattox River (land book 551 and 625). This grant was described as westerly from ye river and easterly, upon the land of Edward Tunstall. He received 50 acres for his own personal adventure and 200 for the transportation of four other persons: William Webb, Stephan Corris, John Kimberlin, and Ann Polory.

He later received other grants - 613 acres in Charles City County, March 1638 (L.O.I., 859) and others.

In 1641 he was granted a charter to undertake to discover a new river, or unknown land, bearing West, southerly from the Appomattox River, and given the privilege of trading with the Indians there found for the period of 14 years.

Colonel Walter Chiles reportedly built the first brick house in the New World in Jamestown (Kemp House) which was later willed to his son Walter.

He served in the House of Burgesses and represented James City in council, elected Speaker 1652.

Walter Chiles was the son of William Childes and his wife, Margaret Payne, who lived in Wrington Parish, Somerset, England. Walter's father, William, had been born ca. 1520. The parents were married in Wrington Parish on 8 December 1565. William died there in November, 1616. The parish record contained the note, "he was almost 100 years old." Margaret also died in Wrington Parish, and was buried on 9 October 1625.

Walter was baptized in the same parish on 1 May 1572. On 28 September 1592 in Bristol, England, he was apprenticed to Francis Knight, a dealer in textiles. The term was for eight years, and Walter was "to be instructed in the art, occupation craft or mystery that the statutes require."(1)

(1) Thanks to Judith H. Dixon for this information.

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