James Vanerit was granted 1000 acres of land in Elizabeth City County, Virginia, October 17, 1936, "for the breath from Sandy Bay along Point Comfort Creek, N. E. and into the woods, S. W., due by purchase from Stafforton to whom it was due for transportation into the colony of twenty persons and among whom was William Whitehurst.
The 20 persons transported into the colony did not include the family of William Whitehurst so it is assumed that they joined him later.
The ages of his children and grandchildren would indicate that he was married, and that his children were born before he came to Virginia.
William Whitehurst is thought to ahve been the father of Richard William Whitehurst who died in 1651 but no definite proof has been established. William Whitehurst, the emigrant, apparently left no will and it appears possible that he may have been a brother of Richard and not the father.
If this is our ancestor, he would have been born in Trentham, Staffordshire, England.
The earliest Whitehurst found in Virginia records was William Whitehurst, in Elizabeth City, County, October 17, 1636.
Sources of information:
The American Ancestry of Simon Whitehurst Revoluationary Soldier by
Wesley Francisco Lafayette RussellVirginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666, Page 396
Cavaliers and Pioneers, Nugent, Page 50
Early Virginia Immigrants, Greer
Extracts from Trentham Parish Register
Written by Gail Whitehurst Hughes