Revised 8/21/2017. Copyright @2017; The following Documentary Timeline has been compiled and created by Paul Rhetts. It may be copied for research purposes; but it may not be reproduced for inclusion in any printed or electronic distribution of any kind without the express written permission of the author. Any requests to use this information should be sent to Paul Rhetts, LPDPress@q.com.


Amer William VIA (1660-1725) m. Margaret SPENCER (1660-1716)
s/o Amos William VIA (1634-1711) and Elizabeth ____ (1645-1670)
d/o ??William J SPENCER (1640-1712) and Sarah ACKLEY (1645-1708)
p/o Margaret VIA (1701-1789)

Children:
1. William Sr. (1683-1783) m. unk, bef 1730
2. Gideon (1688-1783)
3. Naomi (1688-1688)
4. Josias (1690-1783)
5. Robert (1692-1765)
6. Jane (1692-1774) m. Robert Thompson Sr
7. David (1694-1783) m. Sarah Craig, abt 1719
8. Judith (1699- )
9. Margaret (1701-1789) m. Daniel Maupin, abt 1719
10. Mary (1703- )



14 Feb 1660 Amer William VIA born at Bologne, Haute-Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France [may have been known also by the name Pierre) [a Huguenot] (some sources say born 1658) [History of Genealogy of The Families of Miller, Woods, Harris, Wallace, Maupin, Oldham, Kavanaugh and Brown by William Harris Miller, Richmond, Ky. 1901] [Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume II, Patent Book No. 6, by Nell Marion Nugent]

1665 Margaret SPENCER born at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia

1670 mother Elizabeth ____ (VIA) died (probably in France)

4 Oct 1675 William VIER (some say this is Amer’s brother while some say this is Amer; but no records to prove Amer had a brother) was one of 102 persons transported by Mr. Henry Aubery and Aubery recorded 5100 acres in Rappahannock County, Virginia on 4 October 1675. The land was situated between branches of Pascattaway and Hodkins Creeks and brances of Mattapony River beginning by an Indian path nigh the Roade to Gellon's Mill to land of Paggett and Gouldman, to said Aubery's Quarter (Virginia Patent Book 6, page 565). Two years later there is record of Amor VIA, one of 14 persons transported by John Webb and John Rea: "John Webb & John Rea. 700 acs. In Up. Part of New Kent Co., on S. Side of land formerly taken up by Andrew Davis on Machumps Cr: ___ of___ 1677, 500 acs. belonging to sd. Webb & 200 to sd. Rea. Trans. Of 14 pers: Thomas Davis, Charles Halsey, Abigall Neale, Richd. Davenport, James the frenchman; Daniell Steere, Tho. Turpin, Tho. Barber, Amor (or Amos) VIA, Fr. Derige, Tho. Wallbrooke, Jo. Bird, Morrice Thomas, Deborah Buncks."["Cavaliers and Pioneers - Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants," Volume VII, pages 178, 619, Nell Marian Nugent]

1677 Amer William VIA (age 17) immigrated to Jamestown, Virginia [(one of 14 persons in group) is transported to Virginia by John Rea and John Webb of New Kent Co. VA -- [Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume II, Patent Book No. 6, pp 178-9; 619] [bought land in Jamestown area: See Tyler's Quarterly Vol. 31, pp 274-277 [(Immigration To the Netherlands Roll Verw-Villaine; FHL#0199946 ["From the Association Oath Rolls of British Plantations, May 1696, The Hague, Holland: Your magesties subjects residing at the Hague, Province of Holland: Phil McDonald Henry Yorkes Jean Vie John Chambers John Lillie John Colbert Richard Ball James Mercer George Jefferson Thomas Harrison Abram Fletcher". In Dorset and Devon, in the south of England, is found the family name VYE, occasionally spelled VIA. During the 1670s, when Amor VIA and William VIER arrived, groups of Huguenots were being sent to the New World by the British government, in order to quiet unrest in England over losses of prime English jobs to the French immigrants.

1680 Amer William VIA and Margaret SPENCER married at [Blisland (St. Peter's) Parish, Kent Co. VA] (some sources say married abt 1687) (appears that Blisland was changed to St Peters Parish in abt 1688) (Amer may have been a blacksmith)

1683 son William VIA born at Virginia; died 1783 at Albemarle, Virginia [Both William Sr. and William Jr. lived about 5 miles north of the cityof Charlottesville, Virginia (seat of Albemarle County). In 1769, William Jr. purchased 100 acres on the Rivanna River and Ivy Creek. Then in 1773, William Sr. and William Jr. sold a tract of land in the same vicinity, amounting to about 101 acres. William Jr. was born about 1730. He died about 1775. His father lived until 1783. Both William Sr. and William Jr. were most likely farmers]

1688 son Gideon VIA born at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia; died 8 May 1783 at Fredericksburg, Stafford, Virginia; listed in Hanover, VA Tax Records: Columns are: Number of slaves; number of horses; number of cattle
1782 Gideon Via 8 2 10
1783 Gideon Via 8 2 9 (David Via, a minor)
1784 Gideon Via 8 2 9 (David Via, a minor) (slaves: Sue, Mike, Peter, Tom, Milly, James, Ode?, Nathan)
1785 Gideon Via 8 2 9 (David Via, a minor)
1786 Gideon Via 4 3 9 (and one adult)
1787 Gideon Via, Estate 4 3 11 (and one adult)
1788 Gideon Via, Estate 1 3 0

1688 dau Naomi VIA born at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia; died 26 Mar 1688 at St Peters Parish, New Kent, Virginia [Amer VIA was residing in Saint Peter's Parish, the western part of New Kent County, when his daughter died in 1688] [In 1689, the names of landholders in his neighborhood of New Kent County were: "Steph Moon, Nic Gentry, Rouland Horsley, Robt Lancaster, James Blackwell, Robt Thomson, Edw Burnett, and Jno Talle." Amer VIA was not on the tax roll in 1689
Hanover, VA Tax Records: Columns are: Number of slaves; number of horses; number of cattle
1782 Edward Burnett 3 2 7
1783 Edward Burnett 3 2 7
1784 Edward Burnett 3 2 7
1785 Edward Burnett 2 4 7 (Hatter)
1786 Edward Burnett 2 3 7
1787 Edward Burnett 2 3 7 (and William Via)
1788 Edward Burnett 3 3 0

1690 son Josias VIA born at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia; died 8 May 1783 at Fredericksburg, Stafford, Virginia; listed in Hanover, VA Tax Records: Columns are: Number of slaves; number of horses; number of cattle
1782 Josias Via 4 1 3 (slaves: Phillis, Peter, Daniel, Abigail)

1692 son Robert VIA born at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia; died 1765 in St Paul, Hanover, VA
listed in Hanover, VA Tax Records: Columns are: Number of slaves; number of horses; number of cattle
1782 Robert Via, Sr. 7 1 5
1783 Robert Via, Sr. 7 1 5
1784 Robert Via (slaves: Luce, Sarah, Peter, Tom, Amy, Penny, James)
Robert Via, Sr. 7 1 5 (petitioner)
1785 Robert Via, Sr. 6 2 3
Robert Via, Jr. 0 1 0
1786 Robert Via, Sr. 6 2 3
1787 Robert Via, Sr. 6 2 3
Robert Via, Jr. 0 1 2
1788 Robert Via, Sr. 2 2 0
Robert Via, Jr. 1 1 0

1692 dau Jane Hescott VIA born at St Peters Parish, New Kent, Virginia; died 1774 in Albemarle, VA; married Robert THOMPSON Sr

1694 son David VIA born at Virginia; died 8 May 1783 in Albemarle, VA; married Sarah Craig, abt 1719

1698 Pierre Viet, from France, settled at Manakintowne (a Huguenot settlement northwest of what is now Richmond; people migrated along the James River north westward toward the Charlottesville area in the 1700s), Goochland Co.VA --[The Compendium of American Genealogy, First Families of America, p.322] Pierre Viet is listed as a founder of the Huguenot Colony of Manakintowne--[The Huguenots at Manakintowne, p. 209]

??11 Apr 1699 dau Judith VIA born at St Peters Parish, New Kent, Virginia; died 26 Mar 1688 at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia

3 Aug 1701 dau Margaret VIA born at White Hall, Albemarle, Virginia; died 22 Mar 1789 at Charlottesville, Albemarle, Virginia; married Daniel MAUPIN 1719 at Louisa, VA [The Via Family in Early America Author: Michael M. Via Publisher: The Via Genealogical Committee] [Register of Qualified Huguenot Ancestors of the National Author: Arthur Louis Finnell, Registrar General, National Huguenot Society]

27 Feb 1703 dau Mary VIA born at New Kent, Virginia; married 1720 William BERRY

1704 In the Appendix on page 220 is Amer Via listed with 50 acres of land in the New Kent County Rent Roll] from the land held by her Maj in the Parish of St. Peters and St. Pauls. Anno 1704. The list has 100 people listed in the two parishes. [in 1704 "Amer VICE" appears in the records as holding fifty acres in Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia. [(Virginia Tax Records, Gary Parks, Genealogical Publishing Co) Perhaps the fifty acres that he possessed on the [1704 Quit Rent Roll] had not been recorded in 1689, especially if he had been fulfilling an indenture. By law, fifty acres was the amount of land awarded by the Crown at the end of an indenture, therefore it is an indication, although not proof, that he, Amer VIA, was indentured. Amer VIA was the only VIA on the [1704/1705 Quit Rent Rolls of Virginia.] Quit-rent taxes were a yearly amount of money paid by landowners, generally at a rate per one hundred acres of land, and usually started several years after the owner had settled on the property. Quit rents were abolished at the start of the Revolutionary War. {This 50 ac land stayed in Via family until the 1880s and is located in present day Hanover County, just east of the courthouse. [The Planters of Colonial Virginia, Thomas J. Wertenbaker, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1922, p.220]

14 Mar 1708 The name "Matadequin" is the name of the Creek that in 1706 was the dividing line between St. Peters's Parish and the new St. Paul's Parish. The portion above the mouth of the creek became the parish of St. Paul's Parish. The land procession returns made for the 14th day of March 1708/9 reveal the men named as in the 1689 processions now in the jurisdiction of St. Paul's Parish. The overseers of the precinct #27 were Amor Viah and George Turner, in the company of James Blackwell, Sr., Robert Thompson, Edward Burnett, John Howard, and George Jones. The Order had named the lands as those of James Blackwell Sr., George Turner, Benjamin Buckley, the widow Thompson, Gabriel Heath, John Barnet (Burnett), and Amor Viah. The 1732 return lists Wiliam Via, Edward Burnett, Robert Thompson, Blackwells, Turners, and Goodmans. These names are rather constant in the area. Robert Via also is listed with the Turner family, Burnett, Thompsons, Goodwins and other families in the book about the same time. VIA PIONEER ROOTS [Saint Paul's Parish was created in 1704 from the portion of Saint Peter's lying above the mouth of Matadequin Creek. On 24 September 1708/09, 39 precincts were ordered to be organized. Amer must have been a citizen of standing, for shortly thereafter, on 14 March 1708/1709, Amor VIAH and George Turner were appointed overseers to procession Precinct 27 in Saint Paul's Parish. Processioning was the manner in which landowners kept their neighbors cognizant of boundary lines. His precinct included the lands of James Blackwell, Senior, George Turner, Benjamin Buckley, Widow Thompson, Gabriel Heath and John Barnet. From The Vestry Book of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia 1706-1786, C.G. Chamberlayne, page 217: "The lands of James Blackwell Senr, Geo Turner, Benj Buckley the Widdow Thompson, Gabriel Heath, John Barnet, and Amor VIAH being made one precinct, of which the said Geo. Turner, and Amor VIAH, were Appointed Overseers, who made this return on the Back of the Order (viz,) in Pursuance of an Order of Vestry held for St Pauls Parish for processioning of Lands We Amor VIAH & Geo. Turner in Company with Robt Thompson, Edwd Burnet, John Howard and George Jones, have procession'd our lands into one precinct, except the failures hereafter mentiond and also the dividing Lines betwixt each other without any Exceptions: Also James Blackwell Senr, being in Company with us where his land Joind upon part of the Afores, land procession'd into one precinct. These following are the failures, viz:. Geo. Turners Land begins upon the main run of Mattadecun creek, thirty Chains below the mouth of a bottom, called the Spring Bottom and James Turners late of this county Deceas'd by a late Survey made a Small incroachmt, there Also Luke Howard Bought of James Turner late of this county, a parcel of Land for forty Acres, more or Less, bounding upon Geo. Jones's Line and upon Richd Butlers line, & upon Mr Robt Booths line, ye Said forty acres more or less, as Aforesd, hath three Sides, two thereof we find but the Line dividing it from the said Booth's Land we cannot Find. But thus far we find, viz. two corner Trees pointing out the line according to Our Judgments. Subscrib'd, Amor VIAH, & Geo. Turner." George Turner's land was said to be on the main run of Matadequin Creek, 30 chains below the mouth of Spring Bottom. [The Planters of Colonial Virginia, Thomas J. Wertenbaker, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1922]

24 Sep 1708 Here according to Law, and an order of the Said Vestry made on the Said 14th, of March Register'd Verbatim." George Turner and Amor Via were overseers of this processioning.

17 Mar 1711 In 1711, according to the parish vestry book, Amer was still located in Saint Paul's. "At a Vestry held for St Paul's Parish at ye Lower Church march ye 17th 1711/1712 from the Surveyors of the precincts that the said Parish was divided into for the processioning of Lands by an order of the said Parish Vestry held the 17th of 7b 1711 are hereby according to law and an order of the said Vestry made on the said 17th day of March, Register'd verbatim as they were returned. The Lands of Robt Horsley, John Matlock, Peter Plantine, Jonas Lawson, Wm Talley, John Talley, Mark Anthony, Marg: VIA, Widdow Thomson, Widd Burnett, Jno Peece & Widd Crawford, being made one precinct, whereof the Sd Robt Horsley & Jno Matlock were appointed Overseers, made ye return viz, 9br ye 24th 1711, in Obedience to this Order of Vestry, we the Subscribers have, with ye within mention'd persons, procession'd the Lands of the within mention'd Order. John Matlock, Robt Horsley"

24 Nov 1711 father Amos Amer VIA died at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia

1714 [1714 Viet, Pierre n.a.: Virginia, 1714 953 p75] --[Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1982-85 Cumulation, p. 3141 1708] "Returns made to the vestry of St Pauls Parish March 14th, 1708/9 from the Surveyor of the 39 Precincts that the said Parish was divided in to for the Processioning of Lands by an order of the Said parish Vestry held

1716 Margaret SPENCER died at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia (one source says Hanover, VA)

3 Apr 1716 The last record known of Amer VIA is 3 April 1716 when the land of Amor VIA was processioned in Saint Paul's at the lower church. From "Vestry Book of Hanover County, Virginia 1706-1786", pages 238, 251: "At a Vestry held at the Lower Church ye 3d of April 1716 it was ordered that ye Clerk record the returns for processioning, verbatim as they were returned by the Overseers. - The Lands of Robt Horsley, John Matlock, Peter Plantine, Jonas Lawson, Wm Talley, Jno Talley, Mark Anthony, Mar; Vin, Widdow Thomson, Widdow Burnet, Jno Peece & Widdow Crawford, being made one precinct, whereof the said Robt Horsley & John Matlock were appointed Overseers made this return viz, 9br ye 24 1711 carried Forward" and from pages 245, 251: "We have peaceably processioned the lands of Jonas Lawson, Wm Talley, Mark Anthony, Amor VIA, Widd: Thompson, Widd: Burnet, Widd: Peece & Widd: Crawfort Peter Plantine not present John Tally having no land adjoining- overseers Robt Horsley and John Matlock".

2 Sep 1716 At a Vestry held at the Lower Church ye 3d of April 1716, it was ordered, that ye Clerk record the returns for Processioning verbatim as they were returned by the Overseers. "The lands of Robt Horsley, Jno Matlock, Peter Plantine, Jonas Lawsom, Wm Talley, Jno Talley, Mark Anthony, Mary Via?". [This is the same land formerly processioned in the name of Amer Via.] Amer

24 Nov 1725 Amer William VIA died at New Kent, New Kent, Virginia

1732 The precinct returns included Edward Burnett, Robert Thompson, Blackwells, Turners, Goodmans and William VIA. In 1732 Edward Burnett's precinct was on Blackwell's Neck which was on Pamunkey River in Hanover County. Most have assumed that the William VIA appearing in 1732, on what seems to be Amer VIA's land, was Amer's son. It could also be that between Amer's last record of 1716 and the appearance of William in 1732, that Amer had changed his name to William VIA. There was a William VIA mentioned in the New Kent County, Virginia Vestry Book of Saint Paul's Parish in 1715 and 1716. (C.G. Chamberlayne, [Vestry Book of Saint Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia 1706-1786, pages 200, 201).]