James THELABALL

- 1693

• Name	James THELABALL
  	Some early Norfolk County Court records show the surname as "The La Balle".
  Birth	France   [1]
  	According to his British colonial naturalization papers, James was born in France.
  Gender	Male
  FSME	7 Nov 1648	Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [2]
  	In Thelaball hard file: was S3851 in UFT: "James Theleball" "The Huguenot" No. 18 (1951-1953): pp. 152-154 James had immigrated to Lower Norfolk Co, VA from France by 1637, at which time he imported Alex Massie into the colony. I have been unable to find any support for this claim. 16 June 2010. The first mention, found to date, of James in the extant records of Lower Norfolk County occurs on 7 November 1648, when he entered into an agreement with his mother-in-law, Alice Mason, and his brother-in-law, Lemuel Mason.
  land patent	15 Oct 1651	Lynnhaven Parish, Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [3, 4]
  	On 28 April 1651, James was given a certificate for 500 acres of land for the transportation of ten people into the colony. He patented 380 acres "adjoining to a place called woolfs Neck" in Lynnhaven Parish in Lower Norfolk County on 15 October of that same year. The patent notes that he was still due land for two of the ten headrights listed on his certificate.
  OFFH	1659 & 1660	Elizabeth River Parish, Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [5]
  	James served as a churchwarden for Elizabeth River Parish in Lower Norfolk County during 1659 and 1660.
  HIST	Aug 1664	Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [6]
  	The colonists of Virginia had thought that, once Charles II was restored to the throne of England, some of the strict laws imposed by the Cromwell's Commonwealth would be relaxed. That was not to be. In response to a new set of laws and the royal command that they be "strictly enforced", the Lower Norfolk County Court convened a Grand Jury during August 1662 that was to serve for six months. It's purpose was to review the new laws and their potential impact on the Lower Norfolk County area. James was one of the twelve men appointed to this Grand Jury.
  Naturalization	28 Nov 1683	Jamestowne, James City Co, Virginia Colony   [1]
  	On 28 November 1683, Nicholas Spencer, a Councillor of State for the Virginia Colony signed a document declaring "James Thelaball, born in France, professing ye protestant Religion, and having freely taken ye oath of allegiance, and paid the fees &c.......to be fully and completely naturalized,.......giving and granting unto him and his heirs forever all and singular ye privileges, immunities, and rights of ye inhabitants of this colony of Virginia..." James' naturalization papers were recorded in the Lower Norfolk County records on 17 September 1685.
  land patent	4 Nov 1685	Lynnhaven Parish, Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [7, 8]
  	James received a re-patent of his 380 acres in Lynnhaven Parish in Lower Norfolk County on 4 November 1685. The issue date of the re-patent is truncated, noting only "168-". However, an April 1694 patent to James' son James references this re-patent and notes it's date as 4 November 1685.
  anecdote	18 Oct 1690	Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [9, 10, 11, 12, 13]
  	By an agreement dated 18 October 1690, James and Elizabeth, "now well Stricken In yeares and nott well able to Live by our Selves" conveyed ownership of their home plantation in Elizabeth River Parish, Lower Norfolk County to their son Francis, while retaining their right of residence until their respective deaths. Francis and his wife Sarah and their family were to move from their own home plantation to that of his parents, where they would support and care for the elderly Thelaballs. On the same date, James Jr gave up all inheritance rights to the senior Thelaball's Elizabeth River Parish home plantation, leaving it entirely to his brother Francis. Francis, then, compensated his brother James, Jr by assigning to him property that had been gifted to Francis by James Sr on 23 February 1685/6. This land in Lynnhaven Parish, Lower Norfolk County was made up of the 380 acres originally patented by their father, James, Sr on 15 October 1651.
  Will	9 Apr 1691	Elizabeth River Parish, Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [14]
  	James' will appointed his "Wife Elizabeth my whole & Sole Executor". He signed his will on 9 April 1691. His signature and seal were witnessed by Lemuel Mason, Thomas Mason and Mary Mason.
  Death	c. 1693
  Will Recorded	15 Sep 1693	Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [14]
  	James' will was proved on the oaths of Col. Lemuel Mason and Mr. Thomas Mason before the Norfolk County Court on 15 September 1693, and ordered to be recorded.
  Person ID	I11137	mason
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth MASON,   b. Virginia Colony d. c.1708
  Marriage	Before 7 Nov 1648  [2]
  	The couple had married prior to 7 November 1648, when James entered into an agreement with Alice Mason and her son, Lemuel Mason, concerning the disposition of certain properties and goods that would fall to Thelaball as the son-in-law of Francis Mason, deceased.
  Children	1. Francis THELABALL   d. Abt 1705   2. Lemuel THELABALL   d. Before 9 Apr 1691   3. James THELABALL,   b. Virginia Colony d. c. 1711   4. Margaret THELABALL   d. Between 9 Apr 1691 and 12 May 1702   5. Elizabeth THELABALL,   b. Aug 1660   d. 19 Nov 1738 (Age 78 years)   6. Mary THELABALL   d. 1714
  Family ID	F531	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

• Notes

  Need Copies: 4DB167 & 4DB202a to Francis and 16 Jun 1684, deed of gift to son James.

  
  

• Sources

  [S4422] James Thelaball, naturalization (1685), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 4, f. 208. [S1816] Alice Mason & Lemuel Mason - James Thelaball, estate agreement (1651/2), Norfolk Co, VA Wills & Deeds "C", f. 1. [S1802] James Thelaball, Virginia land patent, 15 October 1651. [S74] Alice Granbery Walter, abstractor & compiler, Walter, Lower Norfolk County Virginia Court Records Book "A" 1637 - 1646 & Book "B" 1646 - 1651/2, ((Baltimore: GPC, 1994)), Book B, p. 170 [f. 177]. [S202] Edward Wilson James, editor, James, The Lower Norfolk County Virginia Antiquary, ((1895 - 1906, Rpt. New York: P. Smith, 1951)). Vol. 3 p. 141. [S4295] Florence Kimberly Turner, Turner, Gateway To The New World, A History of Princess Anne county, Virginia 1607 - 1824, ((Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1985)), ISBN 0-89308-523-5. p. 61 [Wills & Deeds Book D, 1656-1666, ff. 351-352, reel 45]. [S2336] James Thelaball, Virginia land patent, 20 April 1694. [S4180] James Thelaball, Virginia land patent, (4 November) 168(5). [S2337] James Thelaball, Jr. et ux to Francis Thelaball, renunciation assurance (1690/1), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 5, f.146. [S2338] James Thelaball et ux to Francis Thelaball, deed (1690/1), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 5, f.146a. [S2339] Francis Thelaball et ux to James Thelaball, deed (1690/1), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 5, f.146a. [S4381] James Thelaball et ux to Thomas Mason, power of attorney (1690/1), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 5, f.146. [S4883] James Thelaball et ux to Francis Thelaball, conveyance (1690/1), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 5, f. 146. [S4884] James Thelaball, will (1693), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 5, pt. 1, ff. 208-208a.