Charles Sledge

  Research Notes:

Notes for Charles Sledge:
Charles Sledge and his father, Richard Sledge are the first in the proven line of Sledges in the United States.

In 1685 the King of England, Charles II, son of James I, died, leaving no legitimate heirs to the throne. However, he had an illegitimate son named the Duke of Monmouth who King Charles II recognized, honored, and endowed with certain entitlements throughout his life. The Duke of Monmouth felt that the throne should be his upon the death of his father. However, the title was taken by James II, a brother of Charles II, and an uncle of the Duke.

The Duke of Monmouth gathered about him a group of supporters and invaded from the West of England, which was the stronghold of Protestant dissent. He and his followers seized Axminster and Taunton. Parliament retaliated by making it an act of treason to support him. The Duke retreated through Frome, and was defeated nearby, at the Battle of Sedgemoor on July 5, 1685. Over 300 of his followers were beheaded, and their heads placed on long pikes for all to see. Today in Frome, this passageway is known as Gore Hedge. The Duke of Monmouth was captured and beheaded a short time later.

It was told to Jim Hicks, by Henry Sledge of Frome that Charles Sledge was a follower of the Duke of Monmouth, and upon sensing the certain defeat of the Duke, made his way on the fastest horse he could find to the nearest Port, which was nearby Bristol. He and his parents, Richard and Ann, then took passage on the first boat, Alithea, leaving for the Colonies. his arrival date is estimated at 1685-86 and confirmed by certain land grants from the Colony of Virginia. He entered this country as an indentured servant to pay for his passage.

It took him around a quarter of a century to become a landowner in 1710. In 1690, Charles Sledge married Mary Clarke, daughter of Robert Clarke of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The Charles and Mary Sledge Plantation was located in the part of Surry County that became Sussex County in 1753, along part of the Black Water River. Charles and Mary's holdings were quite extensive, and from the number of recorded land transactions, they were buying and selling as well as working the land.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Charles Sledge's will is found on B. 7 , p. 623, Surry County, VA. It was made on November 3, 1725. Proven on 16 February, 1725.
Their wills are on file in the VA Archives, Richmond, VA, and also Surry County, VA. Their daughter, Martha, was the wife of Peter Hays. Peter was the executor of Mary Sledge's will. The will was also witnessed by Peter and Thomas.

Charles Sledge came from England to the Jamestown Colony in Virginia in 1686. Charles received a land grant November 7, 1710 for 50 acres of land for importation of himself into this colony. Surrey County order book 1691-1713, page 353.

Charles received two land grants on August 1716, 100 - A and 150 - A, south of the Blackwater River, now Sussex county. Recorded Surrey County, Land Grant Book, 10.

"Will and Admos. Surry County, VA 1671-1750" DAR Library: States:

Sledge, Charles: leg. - To son-in-law, John Ellison, 75 acres for his life, this land on Pigin Swamp, where he now dwells; and at his decease, to my granddaughter, Judy Ellison. To my son, John Sledge, 100 acres of land in Surry, bounded by Samuel Chappell's land on one side and Col. Wm. Randolph'sland on the other side. To my daughter, Rebecca Ivey, one cow. To daughter, Martha Sledge, one cow. To granddaughter, Judy Ellison, one cow, rest to wife. Will made - November 3, 1725. Proven, February 15, 1725. Book 7 - page 623.

Charles was the son of Richard and Ann Sledge, immigrants who arrived in the "Alithea" in 1681. In Bristol, England they named Penford as their old home-place. (Hargreaves-Mawdsley, Ship Lists in Bristol and America, p. 174.)

Charles married Mary Clark of Isle of Wight County, thus establishing connections with the Flake, Hayes, and Clarke families. Charles Sledge died in 1726, and his wife, Mary, in 1728. Their wills are on file in the Virginia archives. Peter Hayes was the executor of Mary (Clarke) Sledge's will (Boddie, Southside VA families, Vol. I. p. 366). Historical Southern Families, by John Bennett Boddie, Volume XV, 1971.

Charles married Mary Clark about 1679 in Surrey County, VA. (Mary Clark was born in Isle of Wight County, VA.)