Michael (The Elder) King

  General Notes:

The following is from the book Bible Records of Suffolk and Nansemond Co., VA (digital image at ancestry.com) that first appeared in the Virginia Magazine, Volume 36, pages 194-195:
Solomon King Bible
Michael King was born in Old England and came out of the city of Norwich to Virginia [America] and there served his [bond] time with John Wight in Nansemond County [VA] after that he married with Elizabeth Hiry (indistinct - could be Hiry, Hairy, or possible Airy) and Lived in the Upper Parish of Nansemond County on the Southern Branch of the Nansemond River, & c-- and he had by his wife six children viz. Nathan William, Michael, Henry John & Elizabeth -- and there he bought A plantation in 1686 and bult (sic) a Large Dwelling hous with Brick and Bought several Negro Slaves and also had a larg Copper Still &c. Written by me Solomon King, son of Charles King the Said Charles was Son of William Which was a son of Michael the Older --
Charles King Father of Solomon King Departed this Life January 15th 1762 --
Mary King Mother of Solomon King Departed this Life February the 2 Day 1762 --
Henry King Uncell [uncle] to the Said Solomon King Departed this Life December the 7 Day 1771 --
Mary Hare aunt to the Said Solomon King Departed this Life February the 11 Day 1774 --
John Lee Father in Law to the Said Solomon King Departed February 9 day 1770 --
Henry King Brother to Solomon King Departed the Life April the 15th Day 1782 --
Bathsheba Porter Daughter of Solomon King Departed this life march 10th, 1789.
(The Bible was published by Alexander Kincaid, His Majesty's Printer, Edinburgh, MDCCLXIX)

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Michael King was born in Southern England. At the age of 16 his mother sent him to the market for some purchases. While on the way he ran into the Army marching down the road in front of their home. He was so taken with the fife and drums martial music he walked along with them forgetting about the errand he had been doing for his mother. He threw the reins of his pony over the gate post and off he went. This "adventure" led him into Ireland and then across the seas to America. He finally ended up in the James River Valley in Virginia where he made his home. There he married Elizabeth Hirey/HairyAiry and fathered five sons and a daughter. Michael received three land grants in 1667, 1671, and 1675 for his service to the crown totaling 1800 acres in Nanesmond County, Virginia. There he built the first brick home in the county, bought several negro slaves and a large Copper Still. The plantation was located on Somerset Creek. The house still stands today.
Additional information: Genealogies of Virginia Families From the William and Mary College Quarterly, Genealogical Publishing Co. (reprint 1982), Vol. III, pp. 283-290 and 683; The Lees and Kings of Virginia and North Carolina 1636 - 1976, by Reba Shropshire Wilson and Betty Shropshire Glover, Wilson and Glover Publishing Co. (1975); KENNARD KING KNIGHT HARDIN GOODING Their Ancestors & Descendants, by Alta Kennard Patterson (1988).
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kingheritage/michaelking.html

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from: http://home.comcast.net/~tinasgenealogy/surnames/king/loupero/michael/michadd5.htm:

General Court, August 7th 1697 John Lilly plaintiff versus Stephen Manwaring in a plea of slander, etc. ---"the said Lilly came from Rapahaenock to James River with a ring on his finger and a watch in his pocket and a saddle on his back and at the[Powson] house tooke a mare of Mr. Fulsam and brought her to Mr. Michael Kings and there the mare was stabled and there the said Michael King apprehended the said Lilly" etc. The verdict was for the plaintiff in the sum of twenty pounds.
What the above shows is that Mr. Michael King was between the James River and the Colony of North Carolina when this action occured, probably earlier in 1697.
The will of Michael was probated in Albemarle County in the Province of North Carolina in 1700. The Colonial Records of North Carolina contains these entries- "A will of Mr. Michael King Senior of the County of Nansemond in the Colony of Virginia was proved by a subscription of William Early and the oath of John Early". "On petition of William Early and John Early ordered that Mr. John King pay to William Early and John Early for their travel and attendance for two days with costs and executions". Since the will was probated in North Carolina and not Virginia it is probable that he was at the residence of his son John King. The Bible record indicated that he did indeed have a son named John King. It will later be shown that there were several patents in North Carolina to John King. Although probated, the will itself has not survived and its contents are unknown. Based on a date of death of 1700 and assuming a life span of 70 years Michael probably was born about 1630. There were patents to John Wright in 1638 and 1643. Neither mentioned Michael King as an importee. He was likely in Virginia by 1650. Indications from the will of Solomon King are that he married after he arrived here.

Michael married Elizabeth Hiry.