Our Norfolk County, Virginia Roots
Otis Sikes of Texas has published his research
extending the work originally compiled by Dennis Maguire of California on
the Sikes/Sykes families of Early Virginia that includes the ancestors of
our Smith County, Tennessee Sykes family. His work is presented here, with
his permission, to assist other Sikes/Sykes researchers. We gratefully acknowledge
the hard work by Otis and Dennis and their willingness to share their work
is invaluable.
Descendants
of early Virginia Sikes
/ Sykes
1. Male1
Sikes was born ca 1590 in prob England.
He married Unknown.
Children
of Male Sikes and Unknown are:
+ 2 i. Female2 Sikes, born ca 1615.
+ 3 ii. John Sikes, born ca 1615 in prob England.
2. Female2
Sikes (Male1) was born ca 1615.
She married Unknown Costen.
Child
of Female Sikes and Unknown Costen is:
4 i. Walter3 Costen, born ca 1640 in
VA; died 1694 in Norfolk Co, VA.
Walter
Costen was born about 1640 VA. He signed a will on 7 Jun 1688 in Norfolk
Co, VA. Will witnesses; Thomas Butt.
John Weston, and Mary Linton. Gave land
to John Gammon Sr. on Costen's island. Had land adjoining John Edmonds. He died
in 1694 in Norfolk Co. VA,; estate probated on 15 May 1694 in Norfolk Co, VA.
Lived on an island at Great Bridge on Elizabeth River known by the name of
Hickory Knowle, which he bequeathed to his cousin, Walter Sikes Sr. and Walter
Sikes' sons, John, Walter Jr., Thomas, and Costen Sikes
3. John2
Sikes (Male1) was born ca 1615 in prob England.
John
Sikes was born about 1615 in Eng. He immigrated in 1637 to Virginia. A land patent in Upper County, New Norfolk, was granted to Thomas Sawyer for
transport of five persons, including John Sikes about May 1637 ( VA Magazine of
History, v6, p193).
1637
Bought 300 ac in upper Norfolk on East Branch of Elizabeth River, VA.
1642:
John Sikes; 746 ac in Isle of Wight Co., VA
Children
of John Sikes are:
+ 5 i. Walter3 Sikes, Sr., born ca 1645
in in of Norfolk Co., VA; died 1709 in Norfolk Co, VA.
6 ii. William
Sikes, born ca 1648 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died 28 Oct 1697 in Isle of Wight
Co, VA.
+ 7 iii. Thomas
Sikes, born ca 1646 in of Isle of Wight, VA; died Bef. 09 Aug 1708 in Isle of
Wight, VA.
5. Walter3
Sikes, Sr. (John2, Male1) was born ca 1645 in of
Norfolk Co., VA, and died 1709 in Norfolk Co, VA. He married Jane Biggs
01 Sep 1674 in Norfolk Co, VA. She was
born ca 1659 in Norfolk Co, VA, and died Aft. 15 Dec 1721 in Norfolk Co, VA.
Walter
Sikes Sr. was born about 1645 in of Norfolk Co, VA. 13 Aug 1679 - V4, p75
Norfolk VA - Registration of marks of John Sikes and Walter Sikes, both sons of
Walter Sikes. This conflicts with the
proported birth years of his sons John and Walter, so more research is required
to determine if they are the sons of Jane Biggs, or if the years of her birth
and marriage are incorrect, or if they were from an earlier wife of Walter
Sikes Sr.
He
signed a will on 9 Nov 1709 in Norfolk Co, VA.
Bk 8, #142: Will witnessed by Henry Shaller, John White, and Henry
Butt. He died before 15 May 1710 in Norfolk
Co, VA. He had an estate probated on 15 May 1710 in Norfolk Co, VA. 1704
Virginia Quit Rent Roll: 550 ac Norfolk
Co.
He
was married to Jeane/Jane BIGGS (daughter of John Biggs Sr and Johanna Sawyer)
on 4 Sep 1674 in Norfolk Co. VA.
Jeane/Jane Biggs was born about 1659 in Norfolk Co, VA. She died after
15 Dec 1721 in Norfolk Co. VA.
Children
of Walter Sikes and Jane Biggs are:
+ 8 i. James4 Sikes, born ca 1676 in VA;
died Bef. 20 Aug 1742 in Norfolk Co, VA.
+ 9 ii. John Sikes, born ca 1681 in VA; died Bef. 21
Aug 1719 in Norfolk Co, VA.
+ 10 iii. Thomas Sikes, born ca 1682 in VA; died Aft.
12 Feb 1738/39 in Norfolk Co, VA.
+ 11 iv. Walter
Sikes, Jr., born ca 1683 in Norfolk Co., VA; died ca 1730 in Norfolk Co, VA.
+ 12 v. Costen Sikes, born ca 1685 in VA; died 1719
in Norfolk Co, VA.
+ 13 vi. Jane Sikes, born ca 1688 in VA.
14 vii. Ruth Sikes, born ca 1688 in Norfolk Co, VA.
+ 15 viii. William
Sikes, Sr, born ca 1690 in Norfolk Co, VA; died ca 1772 in Norfolk Co, VA.
+ 16 ix. Joseph Sikes, Sr., born ca 1692 in VA; died
ca 1759 in Norfolk Co, VA.
17 x. Elizabeth
Sikes, born ca 1693 in VA. She married
John Smith in Prob Norfolk Co, VA.
She
was married to John Smith,brother of James Sikes' wife Mary Smith (son of John Henry Smith and Mary Foreman)
prob. in Norfolk Co., VA.
John
Smith signed a will on 2 Sep 1718 in Norfolk Co., VA. He died after 2 Sep 1718 in Norfolk Co., VA .
Will
witnesses; William Foreman, John Fife, and William Sikes.
Will
executor brother-in-law James Sikes. He
had an estate probated on 20 Mar 1719 in Norfolk Co., VA.
7. Thomas3
Sikes (John2, Male1) was born ca 1646 in of Isle of
Wight, VA, and died Bef. 09 Aug 1708 in Isle of Wight, VA. He married (1) Jane Cullen. She died
Bef. 1705 in Isle of Wight, VA. He
married (2) Elizabeth Hampton 09 Dec
1705 in Isle of Wight Co., VA.
Thomas
Sikes was born about 1646 in of Isle of Wight Co. VA. It is believed that this Thomas Sikes was the son of John Sikes,
but complete evidence has not been presented.
Any information will be appreciated.
He
signed a will on 29 Apr 1708 in Isle of Wight Co. VA listing wife Elizabeth and
children Thomas, Elizabeth, John, and Mary; bk 2; pg 491. He died after 29 Apr 1708 in Isle of Wight
Co, VA. He had an estate probated on 9 Aug 1708 in Norfolk Co, VA.
Possibly
same Thomas Sikes who bought 1839 ac in Charles City Co, VA in Weyanoak Parish.
1687, Warwick Co. VA, 264 ac of land near head of Black Swamp.
Thomas
reportedly first married Jane Cullen, daughter of Thomas Cullen. On Oct 20, 1689 Thomas SIkes and two others
requested administration of the estate of Thomas Cullen, who died intestate.
Thomas
married Elizabeth Hampton, widow of Thomas Hampton, on Dec 9, 1705. She was the daughter of Francis and Mary
Bridell.
Children
of Thomas Sikes and Jane Cullen are:
18 i. Mary4 Sikes, born ca 1680 in Isle
of Wight Co, VA.
+ 19 ii. Thomas
Sikes, Sr., born ca 1680 in Isle of Wight Co., VA; died Aft. 19 Jan 1729/30 in
Isle of Wight Co, VA.
+ 20 iii. Elizabeth Sikes, born ca 1680 in Isle of
Wight Co, VA.
+ 21 iv. John
Sikes, born ca 1680 in Isle of Wight Co, VA; died Aft. 05 Aug 1719 in Isle of
Wight Co, VA.
8. James4
Sikes (Walter3, John2, Male1) was born ca
1676 in VA, and died Bef. 20 Aug 1742 in Norfolk Co, VA. He married Mary Smith ca 1713 in Norfolk Co, VA. She was born ca 1690 in of Norfolk Co., VA.
James
Sikes was born in 1676 in Norfolk Co, VA
Appears
on Norfolk VA Titheables lists for 1730 - 1736, with the entries for 1735 and
1736 being James Sikes and son Jesse.
He
was married to Mary Smith (daughter of John Henry Smith and Mary Foreman) about
1713 in Norfolk Co., VA. Prob. Mary
Smith was born about 1690 in of Norfolk Co., VA. She had brothers; John and Richard; per John Smith will.
James
Sikes signed a will on 20 May 1742 in Norfolk Co, VA, and his estate was
probated on 20 Aug 1742 in Norfolk Co. VA.
James Sikes will listed wife Mary, sons Jesse, Jacob, James, Jonas, and
Joab, and daughters Abigail Taylor and Mary Sikes.
Children
of James Sikes and Mary Smith are:
+ 22 i. James5 Sikes, Sr, born ca 1710 in
VA or NC; died Aft. 06 Feb 1779 in prob Halifax Co., NC.
+ 23 ii. Jacob Sikes, born 1712 in VA.
+ 24 iii. Jesse Sikes, Sr., born 1713 in VA; died Aft.
02 Nov 1772 in Norfolk Co., VA.
+ 25 iv. Jonas Sikes, Sr., born 1715 in VA; died ca
1784 in Prob Halifax Co, VA.
26 v. Joab Sikes, born ca 1718 in Norfolk Co, VA;
died Aft. 1742.
Joab
Sikes is mentioned in the will of his father, dated 20 May 1742, but there is
no indication as to whether or not he resided in Norfolk VA. He is not noted in the 1730-1736, or
1750-1780 titheables lists, nor in any Norfolk Co. deeds located so far.
27 vi. Abigail Sikes, born ca 1720 in VA.
28 vii. Mary Sikes, born ca 1722 in Norfolk Co, VA.
9. John4
Sikes (Walter3, John2, Male1) was born ca
1681 in VA, and died Bef. 21 Aug 1719 in Norfolk Co, VA. He married Sarah ?Harlan?.
John
Sikes was born about 1681 in Norfolk Co., VA.
13
Aug 1679 - V4, p75 Norfolk, VA - Registration of marks of John Sikes and Walter
Sikes, both sons of Walter Sikes. This
indicates that the date of John's birth must be earlier than 1681. More
research is needed.
Will
of Walter Costen bk 5, p220, written 7 Jun 1688 bequeaths the land that John's
parents, Walter and Jane Sikes, live on to John, with the notation that John is
not yet 21.
He
died before 21 Aug 1719 in Norfolk Co., VA.
He had an estate probated on 21 Aug 1719 in Norfolk Co., VA. Will witnessed by Joseph Sikes and J.
Fife.
John
and Sarah Sikes, wife, with his parents, Walter and Jane Sikes, sell land to
George Suggs [deed bk 6, pg 250] 1704; Virginia Quit Rent Rolls; 200 ac., Norfolk Co. VA.
Notes
for Sarah ?Harlan?:
Deed
dated May 12, 1708 John Sikes of Southern Branch of Elizabeth River to Costen
Sikes of same. 21 pounds for 100 acres.
Part of division of land given to his wife Sarah by/from John Harlan(?). Land is plantation John lived on and is now
in possession of Costen. Signed Jno
(his mark) Sikes, Sarah Sikes. Wit:
Walter (his mark) Sikes, Jun.
From
this it appears that Sarah is the daughter of John Harlan, but it is not
complete proof.
Children
of John Sikes and Sarah ?Harlan? are:
+ 29 i. John5 Sikes, born 1708 in VA;
died ca 1758 in VA.
+ 30 ii. Solomon Sikes, Sr, born 1709 in VA; died
Aft. 1780 in prob Norfolk Co., VA.
31 iii. William Sikes, born ca 1711 in Norfolk Co,
VA.
1730
Norfolk titheables list indicates two William Sikes, one of which is listed
with Henry Smith, and is assumed to be William 1690VA, whose brother James
1676VA married the daughter of Henry Smith.
The other William Sikes in the 1730 and 1731 titheables list may be
William, son of John, but it is uncertain.
There
are two William Sikes in the 1732 list, but they are listed as William Sikes
and William Sikes, Jr., and the same for 1733.
In 1736 the listing is for William Sikes and son Josiah.
In
summary, this William Sikes may be the one listed for 1730 and possibly for
1731, but probably is not one of the William Sikes listed after that.
32 iv. Sarah Sikes, born ca 1713 in Norfolk Co, VA.
33 v. Ann Sikes, born ca 1715 in Norfolk Co, VA.
34 vi. Grace Sikes, born ca 1718 in Norfolk Co, VA.
35 vii. Unborn Sikes, born ca 1720 in Norfolk Co, VA.
Notes
for Unborn Sikes:
The
will of John Sikes, proved 21 Aug 1719 divides his lands between his sons John,
Solomon and William, but with the provision "But if Case the Unborn Child
which my wife Goes with Be a boy to have a Equall part of the beforemention'd
Land". To date no information is
known as to whether this child was male or female, but it must also be noted
that it is unknown as to the final disposition of John's lands.
10. Thomas4
Sikes (Walter3, John2, Male1) was born ca
1682 in VA, and died Aft. 12 Feb 1738/39 in Norfolk Co, VA. He married Mary Taylor ca 1708 in Norfolk Co, VA.
Thomas
Sikes was born about 1682 in Norfolk Co., VA.
He
was married to Mary Taylor (daughter of Theodore Taylor and Ann ?
) prob. before 1708 in Norfolk Co., VA; It is possible that her name was Mercy or Marecy, as a deed
dated Feb 16, 1716 (V9, p558, Norfolk, VA) lists Thomas and Mercey Sikes
selling 25 acres in Cypress Swamp, and their daughter's name was listed as
Marecy in Thomas's will.
18
Apr 1718; Sarah Crawley and Eliza Jones, two orphan girls are bound over to
Thomas Sikes and his wife, Mary.
1730
- 1736; Thomas Sikes shown as tithable. 1731 Thomas and son (not named). 1736 Thomas and son Jeremiah.
He
signed a will on 12 Feb 1738/39 in Norfolk Co., VA. Will witnesses; James Hodges, John Gammon, and William
Nicholson. Son Jeremiah Sikes appointed
as Executor.
Will
mentions daughter Sara Maning and grandsons Thos. and Jonathan Maning, daughter Marecy Taylor and Granddaughter
Elizabeth Taylor, daughter Alice Creekmur and grandson Joshua Creekmur,
daughter Anne Sikes, and son Jeremiah Sikes.
He
died after 12 Feb 1738/39 in Norfolk Co., VA and had an estate probated on 16
Mar 1738/39 in Norfolk Co., VA.
Children
of Thomas Sikes and Mary Taylor are:
+ 36 i. Sarah5 Sikes, born ca 1710 in VA.
+ 37 ii. Marcey Sikes, born ca 1711 in VA.
+ 38 iii. Alice Sikes, born ca 1713 in VA.
39 iv. Jeremiah
Sikes, born ca 1715 in VA; died 1788 in Norfolk Co., VA. He married Hannah.
Notes
for Jeremiah Sikes:
Will
- Norfolk Co., VA 6 Jun 1788, recorded
15 Jan 1789 leaves use of land to wife Hannah for rest of her life, then the
land shall go to William Creadle Maning and Alexander Creadle. Wit: John Bulley, Haner Nichols, Dorkis
Maning No children listed or known.
40 v. Anne Sikes, born ca 1717 in VA.
11. Walter4
Sikes, Jr. (Walter3, John2, Male1) was
born ca 1683 in Norfolk Co., VA, and died ca 1730 in Norfolk Co, VA. He married Elizabeth Unknown.
Walter
Sikes, Jr. was born abt 1663 in Norfolk Co., VA.
13
Aug 1679 - V4, p75 Norfolk VA - Registration of marks of John Sikes and Walter
Sikes, both sons of Walter Sikes. This indicates
that the date of Walter's birth must have been earlier than 1683. More research is needed.
Deeds
of Norfolk VA indicate land transactions by Walter betwen 1704 and 1725, and he
witnessed a deed on 15 Jul 1726.
He
died between 1725 and 1730 in Norfolk Co., VA.
1734,
1735; a Walter Sikes shown as tithable.
Is this the same Walter?
Child
of Walter Sikes and Elizabeth Unknown is:
+ 41 i. ?Walter?5 Sikes, born ca 1720.
12. Costen4
Sikes (Walter3, John2, Male1) was born ca
1685 in VA, and died 1719 in Norfolk Co, VA.
He married Katherine Unknown
Bef. 1711.
Child
of Costen Sikes and Katherine Unknown is:
42 i. Frances5 Sikes, born ca 1708 in
Norfolk Co, VA; died Aft. 1734.
Notes
for Frances Sikes:
Deed
dated Sept 14, 1734 - Frances Sikes, only daughter of Costen Sikes, to John
Hodges. 25 acres of land that said dec'd father lived on, bounded between land
of John and Solomon Sikes, above Southern Branch Great Bridge.
13. Jane4
Sikes (Walter3, John2, Male1) was born ca
1688 in VA. She married Robert Gammon ca 1710 in Norfolk Co,
VA. He died Aft. 14 Jan 1717/18 in
Norfolk Co, VA.
Children
of Jane Sikes and Robert Gammon are:
43 i. John5 Gammon, born in Norfolk Co,
VA.
44 ii. Jane Gammon, born in Norfolk Co, VA.
45 iii. Susanna Gammon, born in Norfolk Co, VA.
46 iv. Elizabeth Gammon, born in Norfolk Co, VA.
47 v. Abigail Gammon, born in Norfolk Co, VA.
48 vi. Lucretia Gammon, born in Norfolk Co, VA.
15. William4
Sikes, Sr (Walter3, John2, Male1) was born
ca 1690 in Norfolk Co, VA, and died ca 1772 in Norfolk Co, VA. He married Dorothy.
He
signed a will on 8 Mar 1771 in Norfolk Co., VA.
He
died between 8 Mar 1771 and Feb 1772, when his estate was probated in Norfolk Co., VA. 12 Nov 1719; collects
bounty for wolfs head and is in Norfolk Co., VA as late as 1741.
1730,
1734; William Sikes shown as tithable
1750,
1751 Norfolk VA titheables list - William and sons Nathaniel & William
Appears
on Norfolk titheables list through 1771.
He
was married to Dorothy ? about 1711 in Norfolk Co., VA
Children
of William Sikes and Dorothy are:
49 i. Dorothy5 Sikes, born 1712 in
VA. She married Unknown Curling.
50 ii. Mary Sikes, born ca 1715 in Norfolk Co, VA.
51 iii. Josiah Sikes, born ca 1720 in VA.
Notes
for Josiah Sikes:
No definitive record of this Josiah Sikes
has been found in Norfolk Co., VA.
52 iv. Ruth Sikes, born 1720 in VA. She married Unknown Gammon.
53 v. Henry Sikes, born ca 1725 in Norfolk Co, VA;
died Aft. 1784.
Notes
for Henry Sikes:
Henry
Sikes appears on Norfolk Co. VA titheables list from 1750 until 1774. It is believed that he moved to Halifax Co.
NC between 1774 and 1777.
May
18, 1774 Henry Sikes & wife Sarah sell 150 acres in Norfolk VA to James
Halstead for 50 pounds, at a place commonly known as Folk.
Henry
Sikes appears on the Halifax Co. NC tax list 1782, 1783, 1784.
54 vi. Lydia Sikes, born ca 1725 in Norfolk Co, VA.
+ 55 vii. Joel Sikes, Sr., born ca 1729 in Prob Norfolk
Co., VA; died Aft. 15 Jul 1794 in Prob Halifax Co., NC.
56 viii. Nathaniel Sikes, born ca 1729 in Norfolk Co,
VA.
Nathaniel
Sikes first appears on the Norfolk VA titheables list in 1750, as William Sikes
and sons Nathaniel and William. He does
not appear on the titheables after 1751, and it is unknown if he is the
Nathaniel Sikes who is shown on the Halifax Co., NC tax lists in 1782 and
afterwards. More research is needed.
57 ix. William
Sikes, born ca 1729 in Norfolk Co, VA; died Aft. 30 Jan 1788 in prob Halifax
Co., NC.
William
Sikes first appears on the Norfolk VA titheables list in 1750, shown as William
Sikes and sons Nathaniel and William.
He is shown on the titheables list through 1774, and it is believed that
he then moved to Halifax Co., NC along with his brothers and other Sikes
families.
Deed
dated Jan 30, 1788 William and Henry Sikes, now of Halifax Co., NC are selling
50 acres believed to have belonged to their father William Sikes, now
deceased. Sale is to Joel Gammon, land
bounded by Jesse Hankbury, Daniel Hodges, Daniel Seville, Thomas Nichols,
William Nichols and John Gilcrest (dec'd).
Wit: Cortney Sikes
One
or more William Sikes appears on the Halifax Co., NC tax lists through 1790,
and it is believed that the one who appears on the 1790 list is this William
Sikes.
58 x. Jane Sikes, born ca 1730 in Norfolk Co, VA.
16. Joseph4
Sikes, Sr. (Walter3, John2, Male1) was born
ca 1692 in VA, and died ca 1759 in Norfolk Co, VA. He married Isabella
Creekmour ca 1730 in Norfolk Co, VA.
He
signed a will on 30 Aug 1754 in Norfolk Co., VA. He died about 1759 in Norfolk Co., VA. He had an estate probated in May 1759 in Norfolk Co., VA, listing
sons Thomas, Willis, Joseph and Malachi and wife Isabella.
21
Dec 1722, James Gammon petitions court to have Joseph Sikes as his legal
guardian - He is of lawful age to make choice; court orders, 1719/1723, pg
52a.
1730
- 1735; Joseph Sikes shown as tithable.
1750
- 1756 Joseph Sikes shown as titheable, but not in 1757 or thereafter. 1758 tax rolls are not available, but in
1759 Isbell Sikes paid for sons Thos, Joseph, Willis and Malachi.
He was married to Isabella Creekmour
(daughter of Edward Creekmour and Mary
? ) about 1730 in Norfolk Co.,
VA. Surname of Mary ? could be Gammon.
Notes
for Isabella Creekmour:
Isabella
Creekmour Sikes died after 26 Sep 1761 in Norfolk Co., VA. She was born in Norfolk City, VA.
Children
of Joseph Sikes and Isabella Creekmour are:
59 i. Thomas5 Sikes, born ca 1734 in
Norfolk Co, VA.