James WISHART

- c.1680

• Name	James WISHART
  	Spelling of the surname appears as WISHART and WISHARD.
  Gender	Male
  FSME	7 Oct 1654	Virginia Colony   [1, 2]
  	James' name appears for the first time in the records of Lower Norfolk County in early 1662. He signed as a witness to the signature of Charles Edgerton on a deed. James' name first appears in the records of the Virginia Colony as a headright on a land patent granted to Capt. Thomas Willoughby on 7 October 1654. His inclusion in the 7 October 1654 headright list, denotes that he had been imported prior to that date. It does not mean that he arrived on that date.
  Will	1 Oct 1674	Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [3]
  	James' will is dated 1 October 1674. It states that he was "Living att Ye little Creeke. In ye County of Lower Norfolk". He appointed his "two Loving frends and brothers in Law Exequetors" of his estate. Though unnamed in the will, the identification of these two men is revealed in James' estate audit, recorded 14 May 1683. They were William and Thomas Langley, brothers of James' first wife, Elizabeth Langley. James signed his will by mark & seal. William Hunter and William Narne signed as witnesses. Col. Lemuel Mason, Mr. George Newton, William Narne and William Hunter were named as overseers of the estate.
  Will Recorded	1 Mar 1679/80	Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [3]
  	James' will was proved in Lower Norfolk County Court on 1 March 1679/80, and duly recorded.
  estate audit	14 May 1683	Lower Norfolk Co, Virginia Colony   [4]
  	An audit of James' estate accounts was presented to the Lower Norfolk County Court on 14 May 1683 by William Langley & Thomas Langley, executors of James Wishart, deceased.
  Death	c.1680	Virginia Colony
  Person ID	I52653	mason
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Family 1	Elizabeth PURDY   d. Aft 1688
  Marriage	Before 1 Oct 1674  [5]
  	The identification of James' second wife is revealed by a document dated 19 October 1680 by which William Vaughan forfeited all of his rights in the estate of James Wichard that he had acquired by marrying Wichard's widow Elizabeth Purdy Wishard. The couple had married prior to 1 October 1674 when James stated in his will that his daughter Joyce was to have "a serge petticoat and wescoat wch belonged to her mother..., but noted that of other items, "shee haveing her Choice next after my wife".
  Family ID	F4278	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

  Family 2	Elizabeth LANGLEY,   b. Virginia Colony d. Before 1 Oct 1674, Virginia Colony
  Children	1. James WISHART,   b. Virginia Colony d. c.1718, Virginia Colony   2. Joyce WISHART,   b. Virginia Colony   3. John WISHARD,   b. Virginia Colony d. Before 15 Mar 1707/8   4. William WISHART,   b. Virginia Colony d. Jan 1736/7   5. Thomas WISHARD,   b. Virginia Colony d. 1728/9, Virginia Colony   6. Frances WISHART,   b. Virginia Colony
  Family ID	F3149	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S1808] Rogers Dey Whichard, PhD., Whichard, "Whichard (Wichard-Wishard-Wishart), 1654 - 1954, A Genealogical History". [S2332] Capt. Thomas Willoughby, Virginia land patent, 7 October 1654. [S4392] James Wishart will (1679/80), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 4, ff. 71a-72. [S4391] James Wishart estate audit (1683) Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 4, f. 136a. [S4415] William Vaughan to William Langley et al, deed (1681), Norfolk Co, VA Deed Book 4, f. 94a.