Thomas Tinsley (Kodi Reeder’s 10th Great Grandfather)
Thomas Tinsley or Tinsley, who immigrated to Jamestown, Virginia in 1638, is considered to be the first Tinsley in America. He is also known as Thomas Tinsley of Totopotomoy Creek. He has been believed to be the son of John Tynsley and Elizabeth Robinson of Tinsley, Yorkshire, England. Thomas would have been about twenty years old at the time of his voyage to America. Therefore, his birth year is estimated 1618.
Thomas was brought to Jamestown Virginia Colony by John Robins as an indentured servant. In 1645, when Thomas was about 27 years old, his indenture contract would have been completed. Records show that upon being freed, he was awarded 50 acres of land on Moses Run Creek, which flowed into the Chickahominy River in James City. Within a short time, he was able to build a solid reputation as an astute and productive planter who shipped tobacco to England in return for domestic luxuries which were not available in America at the time. In Colonial land documents his name is transcribed as Thomas Tilsley (1638), Thomas Tilsey (1650), and Thomas Tinslie (1655). On February 7, 1650, a man named Philip Charles was granted 450 acres on the west side of the Chickahominy River upon Moses Run. This parcel was described as "next above Thomas Tinsley." So, Tinsley seems to have been well established on the west side of the Chickahominy River before he received the deed to the Totopotomoy farm.
On December 13, 1650, Virginia Governor William Berkeley issued a land patent for 300 acres upon Moses Run, on the west side of Chickahominy River in James City County, deeded to Thomas Tinsley. The land was granted unto Thomas Tinsley for paying the price of passage from England to the colony for emigrants Robert Arwin, Milliscent Thompson, Walter Villecott, Abraham Watson, Thomas Sawer, and Elin. Faning. In 1662, Thomas Tinsley purchased 300 more acres of land from Martin Baker. This tract was on the south side of the York River in New Kent County.
Thomas Tinsley was married to Elizabeth Randolph. The couple has been credited with the following children:
Thomas Tinsley II (1638–1715), who was named in the will of his father.
Cornelius Tinsley (1639–1748), who was named in the will of his father.
Ann Tinsley Tyler, who was named in the will of her father.
John Tinsley, who was named in the will of his father.
Isaac Tinsley (1640–1716)
Rachel Tinsley (1640– )
Edward Tinsley (1640– )
Martha Tinsley (1642– )
Richard Tinsley (1642–1748)
Alice Tinsley (Sneed) (1646–1720)
Sicily Tinsley (Jennings), who was named in the will of her father.
Phillip Tinsley (1655– )
Mary Tinsley (1658–1662) (died young)
Edward Tinsley (1660–1715)
Ann Tinsley (1662–1666) (died young)
Totomoi Plantation
During those years, Thomas and Elizabeth built their home on what is now Totopotomoy Creek. The property is 12 miles north of Richmond Virginia and was named "Totomoi" in honor of a great Indian king called Tottopottoma who was slain in battle while fighting for the Christians against the Mahock and Nahyssan Indians. Their original house is no longer standing. The house that took its place and carries the same name was built in 1800 by Thomas Tinsley VI. The house and property are still owned and maintained by the Tinsley family and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
1676 was not a peaceful time in Virginia. Strong criticism was being directed at the governor Berkeley, who refused to defend the settlers against violent attacks by Native Americans. He also granted special privileges to his close friends and supported high taxes and low prices for tobacco. Anger bubbled to the surface under the leadership of Nathaniel Bacon in an action dubbed “Bacon's Rebellion".
Despite many protests nothing was resolved until a very frustrated Bacon recruited his friends and neighbors and led two attacks against native tribes. Thomas Tinsley was one of the planters who supported Bacon as he confronted the Governor and demanded that the ever-growing list of wrongs be righted.
The Governor had Nathaniel Bacon arrested on trumped up charges. This arrest of a popular local man backfired on the Governor when it wakened the anger of supporters, and he was forced to set Bacon free. Bacon gathered his supporters and marched on Jamestown, where the cornered governor was forced to allow him to continue his campaigns against Native Americans.
The governor fled to the Eastern Shore of the state, where he put together enough manpower to allow him to return to Jamestown and proclaim Bacon and his followers traitors. Several of the men were hung.
Bacon and his men rushed into Jamestown, they torched the entire town, burning it to the ground. As the governor fled, Bacon’s supporters terrorized what remained of the town and the governor’s supporters.
Bacon died suddenly a few months later. Without his leadership, the rebellion collapsed and the Governor, who was not done with wreaking bloody havoc on his enemies, returned to take his vengeance on the population he felt had betrayed him.
Since Thomas Tinsley was a participant in Bacon’s Rebellion, he gladly added his name to a document titled “Blisland Parish Grievances,” which was dated April 2, 1677 and listed the many grievances perpetrated by the Governor that had eventually led to the rebellion. The document was sent to England and caused such a stir that three royal commissioners were sent to investigate the reasons for the armed revolt.
This document was later considered by historians to have been the opening gun of the long struggle for American independence which wouldn't actually begin for almost 100 years." Bacon’s Rebellion was the most serious challenge to royal authority before the American Revolution. Historians often connect this event to the decline of indentured servitude and the rise of slavery within the colonies.
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In his will dated October 9, 1700, he left his eldest son, Thomas Tinsley II: "one young gray stoned colt branded TT." This brand, which was used by him in seventeenth century Virginia, was one to the first in what would eventually be known as the United States of America. His use of this ownership mark was 100 years before burned brands had come into limited use by the end of the 18th century. George Washington, however, followed the same practice and burned "G.W." on his cattle, the position on the animal indicating the plantation where they were pastured.
Thomas and Elizabeth must have set records at that time in our country's history by being married more than 60 years. Even more amazing is the fact that they seem to have died the same day in 1702. They are both buried at St. Peters Church in Hanover Co., Virginia which pre-dates the revolutionary war.