TIDWELL FAMILY

We have many Tidwells amongst us.  I found this article on Family Search dating back to 1635. 

 Westmoreland, Colony of Virginia

     The first known Tidwell in America was Richard Tidwell, the son of Robert and Marie Marsh Tidwell, born about 1635, from Staffordshire, England. The name of Tidwell is found in County Devon, England and is spelled Tidswell, Tidwell, Todwell, Tydswell, and Tyddeswell.  Richard came to Westmoreland County, Virginia as an indentured servant in 1657, between the ages of 14-21. He was indentured to a man by the name of Richard Nelms or Helms. Richard Nelms patented his land 25 November 25 1662, and renewed it 29 January 1663. In 18 March 1663, he granted Richard Tidwell and a Robert Jeffries, 350 acres of prime land on the Yeocomico River.  In about 1670, Robert sold his share of the land to Richard. The town of Kinsale now stands on the land once owned by Richard and his family. Also nearby, is the small town of Tidwells. 

     Land Records for Richard Tidwell and Robert Jefferies March 18, 1663: “Northumblerland Co. Records, 1652-1658, page 75: These are to certify that according to sufficient proofs made befoe this court there is due to Richard Nelmes 200 acres of land for Transportation of 4 persons into this colony (viz.t) Richard Langdell, Jno Philpott, Richard Tidewell, Alice Meredith - 21 November 1657. Richard Nelms patented the land which the town stands on November 25th, 1662. He sold to Riochard Tidwell and Robert Jefferies March 18th 1683. By an act of the Assembly in Oct. 1705 the town was founded (See Henning) on the land of Richard Tidwell, Tidwell and Jefferies had previously divided the land, Jefferies taking the part south of the road about as it now runs.”

     While living in Westmoreland, Richard met and married Ann Barnett, daughter of Peter and Maria Marsh Barnett, who was born 1 January 1650, in Westmoreland. The couple was married 9 May 1674, in Cople Parish, Westmoreland and had six known children born there: the 1st child, a daughter Martha 1 January 1675; the 2nd child, a son Richard 1 January 1679; the 3rd child, a daughter Ann 1 January 1683; the 4th child, a son John 1685; the 5th child, a son Peter 1688; and the 6th child, a son John 1 January 1690. Early Virginia records show that their sons were men of honor and trust, holding high office in social and religious affairs of the Colony, but no record exist for any family member holding a public office in the Colony.

Yeocomico Episcopal Church

     There’s a historic church with a churchyard cemetery in the original Cople parish and town of Kinsale, Westmoreland, Virginia called Yeocomico Episcopal Church, originally built in 1655. It was rebuilt in 1706, with locally fired bricks. As to the religion, this family adhered for many generations to the Church of England and the old Virginia records show that they were of the Episcopal Church. It’s likely that this building is the where the family attended church services. 

     In a Virginia Historical Magazine Mrs. McCall writes:“all three brothers all settled on the Potomac River in Westmoreland County, Virginia in about 1683, and the town of Yeocomico was establish on the lands of Richard Tidwell in 1705. She also writes that Richard’s son John Tidwell, “lived his life as a quiet planter, owning many acres of land, and was a wealthy and influential man. He resided on the Potomac River and belonged to the Church of England. His name and the names of his two sons, Robert and John, were on the Parish Register of the Yeocomico Church. The records also show that they were strong adherents of the King of England.”

     With a land ownership of over 350 acres, Richard Tidwell was a wealthy, Virginia plantation owner.  His children were raised learning the tobacco industry and married local families. The early Virginian’s grew Orinoco tobacco and the entire economy was based on it. Debts and taxes were charged in pounds of tobacco.  In the winter his farm would have grown wheat and rye as a secondary cash crop. The wheat and rye was sown in September, after most of the other crops are harvested. 

     The family’s diet was supplemented with cured pork and fish from the nearby Yeocomico River and vegetables from the kitchen garden. Corn was a primary food staple, planted in the spring, with squash and melons planted around the basse of the stalks. The kitchen garden was tended to by the women and daughters where beans, cabbages, onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, beets, carrots, cucumbers, okra and potatoes were grown. The family also had an herb garden for growing thyme, chives, sage and rosemary along with herbs like comfrey, elecampane, garlic, pennyroyal grown for family’s “medicine cabinet.”  Apple trees were grown for cider to drink year round and to make cider vinegar for pickling. The family would also eat fried apples, dumplings and fritters. 

     Richard Tidewell was mentioned for the last time, about 12 years before his death, in a Fauquier County, Virginia Deed Book 7, page 308, 17 October 1780. Richard and Ann lived their entire lives in Westmoreland, Virginia where they both died in Cople Parish: first Richard 25 May 1692 and four years later Ann in January 1696.  It’s probable that they were buried on their plantation in a Tidwell Family Cemetery or in the church yard cemetery of the local Yeocomico Episcopal Church. 

     By 1790, the name of Tidwell was extinct in Virginia and the name does not appear in the 1782 or 1783 Census. After the Revolutionary War, the continental government was economically destitute and in debt. At first money was printed, but as the economy depreciated the states were pressured to force people to accept an exchange for goods and services in payment for debts. Many original, wealthy land owners lost or sold what was left of their property. The Tidwell family drifted apart and established separate families in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Mississippi Territory.  

History of Westmoreland County, Virginia Land Deed Records, Eaton's Historical Atlas of Westmoreland County, page 73 for map of Richard Nelms, Founders of Early American Families-Emigrants from Europe 1607-1657, copyright 1985; McCall-Tidwell, 1931; Effie’s book-Virginia Genealogist, 17-3; Historical Accounts of 1700’s Plantations; Wikipedia for Kinsale City and  Yeocomico Episcopal Church; Ancestry and Family Search 

Compiled by Diane Buck Dalton-April 2017, 7th great granddaughter