Rebecca Sykes

Rebecca married Thomas Cate about 1730 in Orange County, North Carolina. Thomas (son of Robert Cate and Ann) was born about 1702 in Prince George County, Virginia; died about 1770 in Orange County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sylvia Cate was born about 1758 in Orange County, North Carolina; died in 1840 in Orange County, North Carolina.

Notes:

His wife is sometimes said to have been a Frances Wyatt. There are certainly Sykes family connections with Wyatts in 17th- and 18th-century Virginia. This Bernard Sykes's daughter Rebecca's father-in-law Robert Cate was a witness to the will of Nicholas Wyatt of Prince George County in 1720. A Frances Wyatt, daughter of John Wyatt (d. <1721) (Anthony³, Nicholas², Anthony¹), married a John Sykes.

From Dr. Banks R. Cates, Charlotte, NC:

Sep 1718 - Prince George County Court: BERNARD SYKES, son of Bernard Sykes, dec'd made oath that his father died without a will and was appt. adm. with Richard Cureton his security. William Harrison, James Harrison, Gilbert Hay and James Jones to appr. his est. (Prince George County, VA, Miscellany, 1711-1814, Pg. 23, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

[The above passage can also be found in Weisiger, citation details below. --PNH]

9 Sep 1718 - Prince George County Court: Richard Sykes, one of the orphans of Bernard Sykes, dec'd chose Thomas Simmons, Jr., as his gdn. John Sykes, one of the orphans of Bernard, chose Richard Cureton as his gdn. (Ibid., pg. 23)

5 Aug 1718 - Prince George County Court: Inventory and Appraisal of Bernard Sykes' estate Aug. 5, 1718. Value £39/10/4 presented by BERNARD SYKES, adm'r. Recorded 12 Aug 1718. (Prince George County, VA Wills & Deeds, Pg. 31, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

9 Dec 1718 - Prince George County Court: Appraisal of the remainder of Bernard Sykes' estate £2/10/0 by Gib. Hay, James Harrison, William Harrison. Presented in court by BERNARD SYKES, Adm'r. (Ibid., pg. 34)

13 Jan 1719 - Prince George County Court; Accounts of Bernard Sykes' estate for 1718. Mentions Richard Cureton, Joseph Clarke. (Ibid., pg.35)

8 Apr 1723 - William Hardyman of Martins Brandon Parish, Prince George Co. deeded to William Cureton of same, for L15, 372 acres on north side of Blackwater Swamp, in same county and parish bounded on east by Benjamin Foster, north by William Epes, west by said William Cureton. Sd. land was conveyed by John Hardyman to said William Hardyman by Deed Nov. 13 last past. Witnesses: Thomas Simmons, Thomas Semple and BERNARD SYKES. (Ibid., pg.77)

8 Jul 1723 - John Hardyman of Prince George County and Henrietta Maria his wife to John Sykes of same, 271 acres on north side of Blackwater Swamp in Prince George County in Martins Brandon Parish, part of a tract granted to Robert Lucy, dec'd by patent Nov. 3, 1673, bounded by Cattail Swamp and the Blackwater. Wit: BERNARD SYKES, John Bonner, John Cheves. (Ibid., pg. 78)

14 Jun 1725 - John Sykes and Frances his wife of Prince George County, to BERNARD SYKES of same, 100 acres on north side of Blackwater Swamp in Martins Brandon Parish, part of a tract granted to Robert Lucy by patent Nov. 3, 1673, bounded by Cattail Swamp, William Harris and John Sykes. Wit: Geo. Hamilton, Jr., Richard Sykes, Eliza. Simmons. (Ibid., pg. 108)

4 Apr 1728 Abraham Odium deeded to BERNARD SYKES of Prince George Co.for L21, 100 acres in Martins Brandon Parish on west side of old Town Run, bounded on north by land of Phillip Jane, decd, east by land of Edward Hill, decd., and south by the main woods and land of Richard Pace. Wit: William Binford, Timothy Rives & Richard Flewelling. (Ibid., pg. 146)

Members of the Pace family lived near BARNARD SYKES (see above entries), William Gary witnessed the deed of John Sykes to Nathaniel Harrison in 1722, and William Gary and BARNARD SYKES were involved with the inventory of Thos. Gary in 1759. John Hardyman sold land to John Sykes in 1723. Old Town Run was the site of BARNARD SYKES's land adjacent Richard Pace in 1728. And Thomas Simmons and Richard Cureton had their own close relationships to the Sykes family as noted above. Edward Goodrich's land was sold to Abraham Odium in 1721 and by Odium to BARNARD SYKES in 1728. (Dr. Banks Cates)

So, if Richard Bird did not move after 1717 and if BARNARD SYKES did not move after 1728, then they lived smack-dab next to each other in 1741. By this time John Sykes had moved from Prince George County to Edgecomb County, NC; and Richard Sykes was living on his 371 acres at Jones Hole Swamp in Prince George County. (Dr. Banks Cates)

This suggests that Thomas Cate, Senior of Orange County, who was married to Rebecca Sykes and was father of Barnard Cate (who married Jane Sykes), had married a daughter of BARNARD SYKES, and that Sarah Sykes at the Bird christening was daughter of BARNARD. It also suggests the the John Sykes-4 of Orange County father of Allen-5 and John-5, was also son of BARNARD SYKES, because of John's sons' close relationship with Preacher Thomas Cate, son of Thomas Cate, Senior. (Dr. Banks Cates)

No other records of Thomas Cate can be found in the scant Prince George records that exist. (Dr. Cates)

18 Apr 1733 - Thomas Simmons of Lyons (Lawns) Creek Parish in the County of Surry, in good health, signed his will. He left to son Thomas Simmons the upper part of the land lying on Powells Creek, adjacent Thos. Booth. He left to son Edward Simmons the lower part. He left to son Edward Simmons one feather bed and furniture, etc. All else was to be divided equally between wife Sarah and daughter Elizabeth Simmons. Executor: son Joseph. Wit: BERNARD SYKES, Edward Prince, and Edward Prince Junr. 15 Feb 1726. Probated 18 Apr 1733 by BERNARD SYKES and Edward Prince.

It is presumed that Sarah Simmons, wife of Thomas Simmons, was a sister of Barnard Sykes2, and that Elizabeth Simmons was a first cousin of BARNARD, John & Richard SYKES. (Dr. Banks Cates.)

1739 Prince George County Court: Will of John Simmons, exhibited by Lucy Simmons, relict and exectrx, and by Joseph Simmons and BERNARD SYKES. (Prince George Co. VA Miscellany 1711-1814, pg. 61, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr. 1985)

10 Jul 1759 - Joseph Halsey deeded to John Gramer land adjoining John Bonner's line. Line that was made by Thomas Eldridge, John Lovesay and Francis Pace to John Bonner's line. Wit: Richard (X) Cate, BERNARD SYKES & Catherine Short. (Abstracts of Prince George Co. Record book 1759-1760, Pg. 406, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

1759 - Inventory of the Estate of Thos. Gary, deceased. "To Dr. Abraham By water's bond." Wm. Gary, executor. WIT: BERNARD SYKES, Richard Kirkland & David good game. (Ibid., pg. 407)

Notes:

He appears on "The Rent Roll of the Land in James City County 1704," an appendix to The Planters of Colonial Virginia by Thomas J. Wertenbaker (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1922), owning 1,012 acres.

According to Peter Wilson Coldham's The Complete Book of Emigrants (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1990), a Bernard Sykes, presumably from chronology this one, arrived in Virginia in 1682.

He died without a will. From the research of Dr. Cates, below, we can see that one of his sons was named Richard, also the given name of his paternal grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather.

From Dr. Banks R. Cates, Charlotte, NC:

Sep 1718 - Prince George County Court: BERNARD SYKES, son of Bernard Sykes, dec'd made oath that his father died without a will and was appt. adm. with Richard Cureton his security. William Harrison, James Harrison, Gilbert Hay and James Jones to appr. his est. (Prince George County, VA, Miscellany, 1711-1814, Pg. 23, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

9 Sep 1718 - Prince George County Court: Richard Sykes, one of the orphans of Bernard Sykes, dec'd chose Thomas Simmons, Jr., as his gdn. John Sykes, one of the orphans of Bernard, chose Richard Cureton as his gdn. (Ibid., pg. 23)

5 Aug 1718 - Prince George County Court: Inventory and Appraisal of Bernard Sykes' estate Aug. 5, 1718. Value £39/10/4 presented by BERNARD SYKES, adm'r. Recorded 12 Aug 1718. (Prince George County, VA Wills & Deeds, Pg. 31, by Benjamin B. Weisiger, Jr.)

9 Dec 1718 - Prince George County Court: Appraisal of the remainder of Bernard Sykes' estate £2/10/0 by Gib. Hay, James Harrison, William Harrison. Presented in court by BERNARD SYKES, Adm'r. (Ibid., pg. 34)

13 Jan 1718/19 - Prince George County Court; Accounts of Bernard Sykes' estate for 1718. Mentions Richard Cureton, Joseph Clarke. (Ibid., pg. 35)

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptised: 13 Apr 1638, Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England
• Alternate death: Abt 1682, Charles City, Virginia

Notes:

Described in his 1662 marriage license as a merchant, of St. Stephen's, Coleman Street, London.

Notwithstanding the multiple records of his marriage to Elizabeth Rawlett having taken place after 4 April 1662, the handwritten record in the parish register clearly says the wedding took place on 8 April.

Paul Sykes (citation details below) notes that although the London administration of Bernard Sykes's estate is listed as May 1682 (in English Estates of American Colonists 1610-1699, and evidently in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury transcription on findmypast.co.uk), in fact the original document in Latin states that the administration took place on 3 May 1683.

Also according to Paul Sykes, on page 392 of volume II of Nell Marion Nugent's compilation of early Virginia records, Cavaliers and Pioneers, which we have not seen, Bernard Sykes and his family were imported to Virginia by Maj. Arthur Allen.

Bernard Sykes is described in Lyon Gardiner Taylor's 1915 Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography as "an active friend of Nathaniel Bacon, Jr.; resided in Charles City county and was a member of the assembly called by General Ingram after Bacon's death in October, 1676."

It seems evident that Bernard Sykes was fortunate to avoid being executed in the immediate wake of the failure of Bacon's Rebellion and the return to power of Governor William Berkeley. Following the report of an investigative committee commissioned by Charles II, Berkeley was relieved of his governship and sent back to England, and the remaining landowners who had supported Bacon, including Sykes, were left unharmed.

Bernard Sykes is also mentioned in this legal record.

From Dr. Banks R. Cates of Charlotte, North Carolina:

May 1677. Charles City County - "We the Subscribers haveing been desired and requested there unto by the Inhabitants of this County (this day convened at Westover in the sd county for that purpose) doe present this their Humble Remonstrance and addresse to his Ma'tys Hon'ble Commissioners for Virg'a affayers this 10 day of May, 1677. Signed: BERN'D SYKES, James Minge, Tho. Blayton, N. Wyatt, Wm. Duke, Tho. Grendon, James Bisse." (Virginia Magazine of History & Biography)

9 Jun 1677 - Charles City County Court: Upon motion and testamony of Dan. Clarke Sherr and Jas. Mings that it was order of the Rt. Hon. Herb. Jeffreys, Esq: Governor etc: that BARNARD SYKES & Mr. Thos. Grendon be sworn as Justices they being present but the court considered that Mr. SYKES had not been an inhabitant of the colony the necessary time, decided to suspend the oath until further instructions from the Governor. Mr. Grendon refused the oath until the whole matter was cleared. (Charles City County VA Order Book, 1676-1679, Pg. 4, by Margaret McNeill Ayres, 1968, private printing.)

16 Jun 1677 - Charles City County Court: Jno. Coggan plt. agst. BERNARD SYKES attorney of Roland Place Esq. deft. referred to next court. (Ibid., pg. 6)

14 Sep 1677 - Charles City County Court: Gilbert Plat plt. agst. MR. BERNHARD SYKES dft., referred to next court. (Ibid., pg. 14)

19 Nov 1677 - Charles City County Court: Jame Mason & his wife summoned as witnesses in the suit of Gilbert Plat, plt. & BERNARD SYKES, deft., not appearing are fined. The difference between Mr.Gilbert Platt plt. & Mr. BERNARD SYKES deft. concerning a servant man is by joint consent referred to the arbitration of Coll. Edward Hill & Mr. Tho. Grendon, and in case of difference, to chose an umpire. (Ibid., pg. 27)

4 Feb 1678 - Charles City County Court: The difference between Gilbert Platt plt. & Mr. BERNARD SYKES deft. was referred to the arbitration of Coll. Edw. Hill & Mr. Thos Grendon. They award Mr. Gilbert Plattplt. 1200 lbs to b. (Ibid., pg. 38)

15 Apr 1678 - Charles City County Court: Admin. granted Mr. Jno. Stith on the estate of Rich. Hanson. MR. BERNARD SYKES security: Mr. Rich. Moseby & Jno. Turner to appraise it. (Ibid., pg. 49)

16 Apr 1678 - Charles City County Court: On an order of the Hon. Herb Jeffreys Esq. gov. etc., MR. BERNARD SYKES was sworn a Justice of the Peace. (Ibid., pg. 49)

16 Apr 1678 - Charles City County Court: Mr. BERNARD SYKES petitions the court for confirmation of a license for an ordinary at Westover granted to him by the Hon. Herb. Jeffreys, Gov. etc...The court confirms same but stipulates that it shall not injure Coll. Edw. Hill who has a bargain and agreement with the Justices. (Ibid., pg. 51)

16 Apr 1678 - Charles City County court: Judgm't granted MR. BERNARD SYKES plt. vs. Maj. Jno Stath adm. for Sam'l Phillips' estate for 1402 lbs. tob. it being for goods delivered acording to the account. (Ibid., pg. 53)

26 Jun 1678 - Charles City County Court; MR. BERNARD SIKES, sworn in the case of Hix & Hamlin deposes cattle were made to him for security, known of Maj. Stith. MR. SIKES then asked to let the poor man have them but deft. wanted pay in tobacco. SIKES then asked Hix why he marked them and plt. said they were his own. (Ibid., pg. 62)

6 Dec 1668 - Charles City County Court: Westover - present same justices. To MR. SYKES for 5 days as juryman---240. (Ibid., pg. 83)

18 Feb 1679 - Charles City County Court; Westover, Pres: Lt. Coll. Clarke, Lt. Coll. Grendon, Mr. BAR. SYKES, Maj. Pythress, Maj. Stith, Mr. Blayton and Mr. Hen. Batt. (Ibid., pg. 100)

4 Aug 1679 - Charles city County Court: MR. BERN. SIKES, plt. VS Thos. Blanks as marrying the relict of Jeffrey Mumford being a matter of dispute is referred to next court. The papers examined & audited by Col. Thos. Grendon and Maj. Jno. Stith to audit and balance papers to determine dispute. (Ibid., pg. 108)

4 Aug 1679 - Charles City County Court: MR. BERN. SIKES proved claims agst. Jas. Mason's est. for 642 lvs. tob. (Ibid, Pg. 109)

16 Oct 1679 - Charles City County Court: MR. BERN. SYKES assignee of Mr. Jno. Drayton plt. VS Joshua Mecham dft. the plt. has judgmt. agst. the dft. for 1698 lbs. tob. due by judgmt. to Mr. Jno. Drayton 16 Aug 1678 for 1489 lbs. tob. & for 259 lbs tob. fees & levys. judgmt. awarded for 1200 lbs. tob. plus cost and expenses. Jdgmt. awarded MR.SYKES vs. the estate of Alex fflowler in the hands of Mr. Rich. Moseby for 681 lbs. tob. for funeral of Ann ffowler. (Ibid., pg. 117)

3 May 1682, The Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury, London: Letters of Administration from BERNARD SYKES, late of City of London but in Virginia, to Geo. Gay the Admr. (during absence of ELIZ. SYKES, widow now in parts overseas). (English Estates of American Colonists, by Peter W. Coldham, Gen. Pub. Co. 1980 Baltimore.)

May 1682 - Will of BERNARD SYKES of London, who died in Virginia. Administration by decree to George Gay during absence of relict ELIZABETH SYKES. (Immigrants to America appearing in English records, by Frank Smith, Everton Pub. 1976.)

Bernard married Elizabeth Rawlett on 8 Apr 1662 in Trinity, Minories, Middlesex, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Rawlett) was born about 1640 in England; died after May 1683 in Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Or Rawlott.

Described in her 1662 marriage license as "of St. Lawrence Jury", London.

Joseph Foster's London Marriage Licenses, 1521-1869 (citation details below) states that she was married in 1662 at age 22 with the permission of her father Thomas Rawlett, gentleman of Spalding, Lincolnshire. But it's worth noting that findmypast.co.uk's database "England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975" contains a record of an "Eliza. Rollet" being baptized 3 Jan 1640 at Spalding, daughter of Joseph Rollet and his wife Alice.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: of Yorkshire, England

Notes:

He inherited the lordship of the manor of Shelley from his father, who had purchased it. To his fourth son Bernard he willed "lands in South Kirkby, &c." He is mostly remembered, though, as rector of Kirkheaton, from which office he was removed by Parliament for refusing to sign the Solemn League and Covenant.

A detailed account of the various fines to which he was subjected by Parliament can be read in Volume 1 of the Yorkshire Royalist Composition Papers, or the Proceedings of the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents During the Commonwealth ed. John William Clay, Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record Series Volume 15, 1893, pp. 177-80.

From the House of Commons Journal for 20 Dec 1647:

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of Thirteen hundred and Fifty Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of Richard Sykes, of Kirk Heaton in the County of York, Clerk: His Offence, That he left his Habitation, and resided in the Enemies Quarters: He rendered in November 1645: His Estate, in Fee, per Annum, Two hundred Seventy Pounds; personal Estate, Forty Pounds: For which, his Fine, at a Third, is Thirteen hundred and Fifty Pounds: But in regard it doth appear that he lost a good Church Living of Three hundred Pounds per Annum, and a great personal Estate, and hath a great Charge of Children, This Committee doth recommend it to the House, to take One thousand Pounds, if they think good, for his Fine: And further, that he was an Opposer of Bishops, and a very moderate Man.

An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto Richard Sykes, of Kirk Heaton in the County of York, Clerk, for his Delinquency, and for taking off the Sequestration of his Estate; was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Richard married Grace Stock on 20 Oct 1627 in Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England. Grace (daughter of Alexander Stock) died on 2 Mar 1646 in Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England; was buried in Mar 1646 in Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Paver's Marriage Licenses" (citation details below) gives the surname for her and her father as "Stocks."

Notes:

Described as "gentleman" of Spalding, Lincolnshire in Joseph Foster's London Marriage Licenses, 1521-1869 (citation details below).

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Abt 1567
• Alternate death: 29 Mar 1645

Notes:

He may be the Richard Sykes recorded as baptized at St. John the Baptist, Halifax, Yorkshire on 17 Oct 1568, son of Richard Sykes.

He was one of the "new, exuberant generation of confident, buccaneering merchants, whose determined exploitation of their influence over local parliamentary elections culminated in 1626 in the grant [to Leeds] of a charter of incorporation, whose provisions ensured that power was to reside unequivocally in their hands." [Joan Kirby, citation details below]

Alderman (in essence, mayor) of Leeds in 1629-30 and 1636-37. Further from Joan Kirby: "His wealth attracted a demand for a contribution to the Privy Seal loan and a fine of £60 (the highest in the county) for distraint to knighthood. Not surprisingly he is believed to have been the first 'private gentleman' in Leeds to own a carriage. The complete absence of business records and correspondence, however, means that nothing is known about the enterprises which brought wealth to him and to others like Thomas Metcalfe, Joseph Hillary, and John Harrison; but his will provides impressive evidence of Sykes's investment in real estate. Unlike the childless Harrison who was able to devote a large part of his fortune to the achievement of lasting renown as the town's most munificent benefactor, Sykes had a large family to provide for in a manner that would reflect credit upon his reputation. A trustee of the Grammar School and member of the prestigious Committee for Pious Uses, his own great civic benefaction was to take an intiative in the purchase of the manor of Leeds from the City of London to which it had been sold by Charles I. Thereafter he and the other eight shareholders (each having a one-ninth share in the lordship of the manor) transferred the major part of the manorial rights to the Corporation of Leeds."

His will includes a bequest of "a suit of apparel" to "my poor kinsman Alexander Reame", "and his dinner euery Sabboth Day that he goeth to the Church in the same suit of apparrell, to be at my Executrix disposing."

Richard Sykes (d. 1645) = Elizabeth Mawson (d. 1646)
William Sykes (1605-1652) = Grace Jenkinson (d. 1685)
Daniel Sykes (1632-1697) = Deborah Oates
Richard Sykes (1678-1726) = Mary Kirkby (1681-1714)
Mark Sykes (1711-1783) = Decima Woodham (1714-1793)
Christopher Sykes (1749-1801) = Elizabeth Egerton (d. 1803)
Tatton Sykes (1772-1863) = Mary Anne Foulis (d. 1861)
Tatton Sykes (1826-1913) = Christina Anne Jessica Cavendish-Bentinck (~1856-1912)
Mark Sykes (1879-1918), of the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement

Richard married Elizabeth Mawson on 30 Jan 1594 in St. Peter's, Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Elizabeth died on 19 Aug 1644; was buried on 19 Aug 1644 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her burial record calls her "wife of m^r Richard Sikes of Brigait." Briggate was historically the main street of Leeds, leading north from Leeds Bridge. Among Richard Sykes's extensive property holdings was a burgage house in Briggate, which is where Elizabeth Sykes died "during a severe outbreak of plague, when the parish church was closed, the registers were discontinued, and the daily toll of the unnamed dead was reported to the military governor of the town." [Joan Kirby, citation details below]

Ironically, since he outlived her by eight months, Richard Sykes's 1641 will bequeaths to her "all that Burgage scituate in Briggate in Leeds with all the apppurtences [sic] thereto belonging".

Notes:

Rector of Kirkheaton. With Sir Richard Beaumont, in 1610 he founded a free grammar school for boys in Kirkheaton. It survived until 1982.