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(This document was sent to me via email by Terry Wasson, 21 April 2002)
Dorchester County, Maryland
The pedigree of Robert Offley of Gracechurch Street (STA F) can be considerably extended by reference to the family records and correspondence of the late Colonel Edward M. Offley of Maryland.
A start has been made in revising the Offley of Stafford pedigree by forming a new section, F 10, commencing with John Offley (presently at F II.3), who was baptised in 1593. Two of John's sons, John and Henry, settled in Virginia and Maryland respectively, and it is the latter John's line that is now under scrutiny.
John, baptised in 1638, had two children by his wife, Mabel, named John and Barbara and the family emigrated to Maryland in 1673. John Offley junior married Dorothy . . . . . . . , who married again after her husband's death in 1709. In 1724, she and her second husband, Robert Hollingworth, transferred a tract of land of 334 acres to "our nephews" John Collins and Robert Offley. John Collins was her sister-in-law Barbara's son by her husband Thomas Collins - but who was Robert Offley?
The pedigree provided by John Brockenbrough Offley, as compiled from his grandfather's papers, assumes that Robert was the son of another brother-in-law of Dorothy, but I am not sure that this assumption is correct. The unnamed brother-in-law allegedly had two sons, Edward and Robert, who were "sent from England to John Offley of Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1680." It appears that John and Dorothy had no children and my suggestion is that, after settling in Maryland for seven years, they sent home for someone to inherit the considerable tracts of land which they then owned.
Looking at two Offleys that could have been "sent from England", Edward at STA F.II.4 (2) could be a possible candidate, as "nephew” was subject to a wider interpretation in the 17th Century than now. But who was Robert?
Until the question of the parentage of Edward and Robert is solved, it is difficult to complete the pedigree of this branch of the Stafford family, which continues at least to the late 19th Century or early 20th Century.
The relevant part of the pedigree supplied by John Brockenbrough is as follows:
DESCENDANTS OF JOHN OFFLEY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND
I John Offley of Dorchester County, Maryland believed to have been the son of
John Gracechurch Offley and Elizabeth Moore Offley of London, he was
baptised at St. Benet’s Church, Street of that city on 15 August, 1638. He
emigratcd to Maryland in 1673, and was later a 'Gentleman Justice' for
Dorchester County in 1676. His brother, Henry Offley was baptised at St.
Benet's Church, Gracechurch Street on 13 November, 1640, and later emigrated
to Virginia where he settled in Lower Norfolk County. He died there in 1678,
and his will was proved on the 16th of August of that same year. It is believed
that Henry Offley was the source by which Norfolk County, (Virginia) Deed
Book Number 4 (1675) was inscribed in the account book of their father John
Offley of London. This account book contains entries dated from 25 November
1619 to 17 March, 1624, and is considered t be the “oldest record and oldest
paper so far found in Virginia”. (See Virginia Magazine of History and
Biography vol. 50 - no 1, January. 1942). John Offley of Maryland died in 1685. He married Mabel . . . . . who had emigrated with him in 1673, and was described as “very old and sickly” in 1687. John Offley and Mabel Offley had:
1. John Offley, Jnr., emigrated to Maryland with his parents in 1673. In 1696 he was serving as a military officer in Kent County Maryland. John Offley Jnr. marred Dorothy . . . . . He died in 1709 and the administration of his estate indicates that they had no children. He left a tract called "Offley's Delight” to his nephew John Collins. “Offley’s Delight” encompassed 200 acres, and was situated al the head of the Chester River in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. John Offley Jnr. also left a 200 acre tract on Anderson’s Branch to John Devige by his will which was dated 16 March,1708. Dorothy Offley married secondly, Robert Hollingsworth. In 1724, they transferred a 336 acre tract of land to "our nephews", John Collins and Robert Offley. This tract, called "Offley's Fortune", was located on the south side of the Chester River in Queen Anne's County. Maryland.
2. Barbara Offley, emigrated to Maryland with her parents in 1673. She married Thomas Collins of Kent County, Maryland. His will was dated . . . . . . . ,1698. Thomas Collins and Barbara Offley Collins had:
1. John Collins, married Roberts . . . . . In 1736, he and his wife
deeded land in Queen Anne's County, Maryland. to Robert Offley.
2. Catherine Collins.
3. Mabel Collins.
4. Barbara Collins
3. . . . . . Offley (II)
II . . . . . Offley, assumed to be the brother of John Offley, Jnr., whose widow, Dorothy Offley, deeded land to her “nephews” John Collins and Robert Offley in 1724. . . . . . Offley married . . . . . They had:
1. Edward Offley sent from England to John Offley of Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1680. No records have been found which record his marriage or children. He probably died sometime before 1709.
2. Robert Offley (III)
III Robert Offley, sent front England to John Offley of Dorchester County, Maryland in 1680.He married. . . . . . They had:
1. Robert Offley (IV)
Note: Sources used in thus compilation of the descendants of John Offley of Dorchester County, Maryland include:
1. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C.
2. Library, DAR, Washington, D. C.
3. Hall of Records, Annapolis. Maryland.
4. Maryland Historical society, Baltimore, Maryland. |
