Which Echols Went to America?

The earliest Echols/Eckholls who can presently be attached to the later Virginia family is probably John Echols (born circa 1650), documented in New Kent / King and Queen County, Virginia records by the late 1600s and early 1700s. The 1635 passenger "John Ecles" is earlier, but no record has been found that connects him to the later Echols family.

It is also important to consider Echols spelling variations as well as the various Virginia Counties they patented land in.

Evidence Hierarchy

John Eckholls in Virginia by 1703

The strongest bridge between the family tradition and Virginia records is the 1703 patent involving John Cave and John Eckholls.

The Library of Virginia's guide to the Colonial Papers lists an October 21, 1703 patent for "Samuel Craddock, John Cave, John Eckholls, and William Glover" (see John Echols (born 1650) for more).

This matters because it places a John Echolls in the same place and network as the Cave family, matching Milner's claim that John Echols married Mary Cave.

There may be earlier evidence in other land claims.

Later Echols Cluster

According to The History of Pittslyvania County, Virginia (Page 73, footnote 27), in 1728, "Richard, Abram, Joseph and William Echols patented 6,000 acres in Spottsylvania County on Bent Creek."

This is significant because:

  • Milner's The Echols Family History lists the children of John Echols (married to Mary Cave) as including Abraham, William, Joseph, and Richard.
  • These four names match the four Echols men Clement says patented land together.
  • Clement states that John Echols, author of the 1758 militia journal, was "probably a son of one of the four Echols."

1635 John Ecles

Genealogy: A Journal of American Ancestry prints a 23 June 1635 passenger list for the ship America, William Barker master, sailing from Gravesend to Virginia, including "John Ecles, 16" (archive.org).

We do not know if he is connected to the others or what happened to him after arriving in Virginia.

1650 Nantwich Christening

There is a record of the 1650 christening of a "John Eckles" son of "John Eckles" in Nantwich, England (FamilySearch).

This person is a plausible age for the Virginia John Eckholls found in the 1680s-1703 records. However, no record has yet connected the Nantwich child to Virginia.

Timeline Analysis

If John Echols (born 1619) came to America in 1635 at age 16:

  • He would be 84 years old at the 1703 John Eckholls / John Cave patent.
  • He would be 109 years old in 1728 when the presumed sons' generation appears together.
  • This is possible for a grandfather, but not persuasive for the immigrant who married Mary Cave and had children active in the 1720s-1740s.

If John Echols (born 1650) came to America:

  • He would be about 35 at the reported 1685 patent.
  • He would be about 53 at the 1703 patents with John Cave.
  • His sons would plausibly be adults by the 1720s-1740s.

This makes the circa-1650 John a much better fit for the documented Virginia family.