[Excerpt on Bird from "Colonial Surry" by John B. Boddie, 1966] [posted 29 Apr 2004] p. 91 In 1633, "Smith's Mount, the other side of the Water, and Hog Island," was represented by Thomas Grendon, son of Edward Grendon, heretofore mentioned as an "Ancient Planter", and owner of "Grindall's Hill". Colonel Thomas Grendon was a London merchant who resided frequently in Virginia. He married Elizabeth Stegge, widow of Colonel Thomas Stegge, Puritan Commissioner to Virginia who was lost at sea in 1651. (17th Cent., p. 62.) Elizabeth Stegge was the mother of Grace Stegge who married John Byrd, goldsmith of London, father of the first Colonel William Byrd of Westover. Colonel Thomas Grendon's will was probated in London, December 15, 1678. He described himself as "of St. James Duke Place, London, citizen and draper", gave his son Thomas Grendon, "now in Virginia", lands in Shelton, County Stafford, and to his daughter Hannah Duke, "now in Virginia" certain property there. (Sherwood, American Colonists, p. 53) Thomas Grendon, Jr., died at sea, dsp. in 1685. Hannah Grendon was married four times. Her husband was Thomas Jennings of London, merchant, by whom she had a son Thomas, also a London merchant living there in 1685. She married, secondly, William Bird of Martin's Brandon in Charles City, on the south side of the James, now Prince George. William Bird had succeeded Captain Charles Sparrow as Virginia representative of the London merchants, John Sadler and Thomas Quiney. One of Thomas Quiney's brothers had p. 92 married Shakespeare's daughter, Judith. William Bird was associated with and may have been related to John Byrd of London [brother? also of Thomas?-mm], for in 1658-59, he gave a note to "John Bird, citizen and draper, of London." In 1661, he was a Justice in Charles City along with Robert Wynne. (V.M. 42, pp. 41, 247.) On July 4, 1671, he purchased from Thomas Busby "a grist mill and appurtenances at head of Chippokes Creek" in Surry, also 150 acres adjoining, and another tract of 300 acres adjacent to William Shorte. (Bk. 1, p. 386-7.) By September 29, 1672, William Bird was deceased and his widow had remarried. His son and heir, Thomas Bird, was in possession of the mill (OB. 1, p. 18.) March 5, 1674-75, William Duke, who had married the widow, was ordered to pay a debt due by William Bird's estate to Anthony Wyatt. (Mins. Gen. Court.) Duke died in 1678 and on November 28, 1681, William Archer was granted 600 acres of land due his predecessor, William Duke. (Bk. 2, p. 38.) Thomas Bird, son of William, in 1680, bought more land from Thomas Busby, and added to his mill property. He was deceased before January 5, 1688, for by that time his relict, Mary, had married George Nicholson. (B. 4, p. 113.) He left three daughters as shown by a deed made March 4, 1728, by Elizabeth Lanier, wife of John Lanier of Southwark Parish, who conveyed to Richard Jones and Tabitha, his wife "daughter of Thomas Bird, who by his will dated January 21, 1680, devised land to his three daughters, Mary now deceased, and Elizabeth and Tabitha, 300 acres on the South Branch of Upper Chippokes Creek. The mill remained in possession of the Lanier's for several years. [Southwark Parish & Lawne's Creek Parish combined about 1730's to form Albermarle Parish, where Simon, Arthur, & Richard Murphy families were- mm]