Which Echols Went to America?

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: "ii. Abraham Echols", "v. Richard Echols", "iv. Joseph Echols", and "iii. William Echols"
• These four names match exactly with the four who patented land together in 1728
• The History states that John Echols (the journal author of 1758) was "probably a son of one of the four Echols" who patented in 1728

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

• He would be 109 years old in 1728 when his supposed sons patented land together
• This is biologically impossible for a man to father children who are old enough to jointly patent 6,000 acres

If John Echols (born 1650) came to America:

• If he came as a young adult (age 20-30, arriving 1670-1680), he would be approximately 48-58 years old in 1728
• His sons would be in their 20s-30s in 1728, which is a reasonable age for men to jointly patent land
• This timeline is consistent with the 1650 christening record in England

The The History of Pittslyvania County, Virginia provides additional evidence:

• Page 42: In 1741, "Richard Echols" is listed as one of "three first settlers" along with William Blevin and William Muncus
• Page 60: Richard Echols took an oath as a vestryman in Halifax County (established parishes)
• The 1734 land grant for Richard Echols mentions "Abraham Echols" as a neighbor, showing Abraham was already established in Virginia by this time

These records suggest that Richard and Abraham Echols were adults and established landowners by the 1730s-1740s, which supports their father (John Echols) being born around 1650 and arriving in Virginia in the late 1600s.

The 1650 christening of "John Eckles" in Nantwich, England could be:

1. The same person who later immigrated to Virginia (if he came as a child with parents, or as a young adult)
2. A different John Echols/Eckles family entirely (unrelated to the Virginia line)

Given that:

• The surname spelling variations (Echols/Eckles/Ecles) were common in this period
• Nantwich, England is a specific location that could be verified
• The 1635 passenger list shows "John Ecles" (different spelling variant)
• No connection has been established between the Nantwich christening and Virginia records

The christening record may represent a completely separate family line, making it less relevant to determining which Echols first came to America.

The weight of evidence now favors John Echols (born 1650) as the first Echols in the direct line to come to America:

1. Timeline consistency: The 1728 land patent by four brothers (Richard, Abraham, Joseph, William) requires their father to be of a reasonable age, which fits John (born 1650) but not John (born 1619)
2. Milner's account alignment: Milner's list of John Echols' children matches the four who patented land in 1728, suggesting this John Echols was the father
3. Early Virginia presence: Richard Echols appears as a "first settler" in 1741 and as a neighbor to Abraham in 1734, indicating both were established adults, which supports their father arriving in the late 1600s
4. The 1635 passenger record: The "John Ecles" who arrived in 1635 may be:
   • An unrelated individual with a similar name
   • A different branch of the family that did not continue in the direct line
   • A record that has been incorrectly associated with this family line

• When exactly did John Echols (born 1650) arrive in Virginia? (Likely between 1670-1690 based on his sons' ages in 1728)
• Is there any connection between the 1635 "John Ecles" and the later Virginia Echols family?
• Can the Nantwich, England christening record be definitively linked or excluded from this family line?