The Cochrane & Allied Families
Cochranes from Scotland to Colonial Virginia (c 1760), to Kentucky (1811), to Kansas (1859) and beyond. Allied families to the United States from England, Scotland, Ireland and Switzerland.
WINSTON, Major William "Essex" III
Abt 1704 - 1781 (77 years) Has 18 ancestors and more than 100 descendants in this family tree.
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Name WINSTON, William "Essex" Prefix Major Suffix III Birth Abt 1704 New Kent County, Colony of Virginia, England 
[1, 2] Gender Male Will-Heir Abt 1725 Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK [3] will leaving land to his wife, Barbarba, and his four sons, Isaac Jr., William "Essex", John and James, - Role: Heir
His son Isaac was an executor.
Land 17 May 1732 King William County, Colony of Virginia, UK [4] that he inherited from his mother, and sold it to his cousin, Cornelius DABNEY, Court Case Oct 1736 Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia, UK [5, 6] "Winston & ux. ag't. Henry & uxor, adm'x of Syme", in the General Court of Virginia, Land 30 Sep 1738 Henrico County, Colony of Virginia, UK with his wife, Rebecca, and James and Elizabeth BALFOUR, called Surinam Island in the James River, which they sold to William BYRD - The island, approximately 40 acres, is located about 7 miles above the falls of the James River at Richmond, and is now called Williams Island. Rebecca BOBBY WINSTON and Elizabeth BOBBY BALFOUR were sisters.
Land 1740 Charles City County, Colony of Virginia, UK [7] that he sold to James BALFOUR Appointed 1750 to 1764 Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK [8] Sheriff Court Case 1750 Caroline County, Colony of Virginia, UK [9] where he petitioned for the privilege of building a mill on the Pamunkey River - It was ordered that the sheriff summon a jury to review the land for the proposed mill. The outcome is unknown. This location was probably just north of Hanover, Hanover County.
Land 20 May 1751 Essex County, Colony of Virginia, UK [10] that he inherited from his father, 300 acres on Gibeons Creek, that he sold to Thomas WARING and Robert BAGGE - His father, William WINSTON II had acquired this land from his second wife, Martha TOMLIN.
Land 1754-1768 Louisa County, Colony of Virginia, UK [11]
- On 28 May 1754 sold 400 acres on the Pamunkey River to John GARDNER.
- On 6 Jun 1768 sold 100 acres on MOBSY's line to Ludwell BRITTON.
Land 1746-1780 Goochland County, Colony of Virginia, UK [12]
- On 11 Sep 1746 purchased 1000 acres on both sides of the south fork of Fork Creek, adjacent to the county line with Louisa County, from John HENRY and his wife Sarah WINSTON SYME HENRY, a cousin of William "Essex" WINSTON. This tract is part of 3400 acres that was granted to John SYME I, and inherited after his death by his wife Sarah WINSTON. It was sold during Sarah's second marriage to John HENRY.
- On 6 Mar 1760 transferred 500 acres on the branches of the Fork Creek to John WINSTON, his son. This tract was part of that purchased from John HENRY. On 3 Dec 1762 John mortgaged this land to his father.
- On 6 Mar 1760 sold 50 acres on the branches of Byrd Creek to Joseph CAMP.
- On 4 May 1767, with his son John, sold 950 acres of the purchase from John HENRY on Fork Creek to Rev. William DOUGLAS.
- On 21 Sep 1778 purchased 103 acres on the north side of Castle Branch from William ISBELL.
- On 21 Feb 1780 sold 100 acres on the north side of Castle Branch to John CURD.
Death Mar 1781 Hanover County, Virginia, USA [1, 2, 13, 14] Will Probated 5 Apr 1781 Hanover County, Virginia, USA [13, 15] by executors David COCHRAN, Thomas WINSTON and Francis IRWIN - The will, signed on 23 Feb 1781 in the presence of Thomas AUSTIN, John RICHARDSON, J. C. LITTLEPAGE and William RADFORD, provided the following:
- William WINSTON (son): 250 acres off of the land where William WINSTON III now lives. Six head of cattle and six head of sheep.
- Thomas WINSTON (son): All the remainder of the land where William WINSTON III now lives. Seven slaves. All remaining livestock. Household items.
- William & Thomas WINSTON (sons): Grist Mill.
- Elizabeth, Mary Ann & Susanna WINSTON (daughters): All remaining slaves. Household items.
- John WINSTON (son): Ten pounds money per year for life, to be paid to him by Thomas WINSTON.
- David COCHRAN (son-in-law): One slave.
Occupation Hanover County, Virginia, USA [16] Magistrate
"He was the presiding Magistrate of Hanover Co., and bore a highly respectable character." - Dr. William Cochran
Age 77 years Person ID I297 Cochrane Genealogy Last Modified 22 Oct 2025
Father WINSTON, William Jr., b. Bef 1680, New Kent County, Colony of Virginia, England d. Between 19 May 1725 and 17 Jan 1725/26, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK (Age 45 years) Mother DABNEY, Sarah, b. Aft 1678 d. Bef Feb 1712/13, New Kent County, Colony of Virginia, UK (Age 34 years) Family ID F124 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family BOBBY, Rebecca, b. 1715, Charles City County, Colony of Virginia, England d. Feb 1779, Hanover County, Virginia, USA (Age 64 years) Marriage Abt 1730 Colony of Virginia, UK [1, 2, 14, 16, 17, 18] Age at Marriage He : ~ 26 years - She : ~ 15 years. Marriage Status Ended with Wife's death Court Case Oct 1736 Colony of Virginia, UK [19] brought by William "Essex" and Rebecca (BOBBY) WINSTON against John and Sarah (WINSTON) (SYME) HENRY, - The purpose of this lawsuit was to recover property from the HENRYs that was inherited by Rebecca and her sister, Elizabeth, from their Grandfather, John GEDDES Jr., based on his Will of 18 May 1719 in James City County. The Will stated his wife, Margaret (DANSIE) GEDDES, was to have use of, during her life, his plantations at Totero Fort and Sandy Point and the household goods, cattle and slaves at thoses plantations. After her death, his estate was to be split up between his daughter, Elizabeth (GEDDES) BOBBY and her children. Elizabeth had two sons who died before her in 1722 and 1727.
GEDDES' wife Margaret remarried with John SYME I in 1725, who took control of her inherited estate
Children + 1. WINSTON, Geddes, b. Abt 1731, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. 10 Jun 1794, Thomas Rutherford Residence, Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, USA (Age 63 years)+ 2. 
WINSTON, Sarah, b. 27 Sep 1733, New Kent County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. 5 Apr 1761, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK (Age 27 years)+ 3. WINSTON, John Sr., b. Abt 1735, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. Abt 1783, Hanover County, Virginia, USA (Age 48 years)4. WINSTON, Thomas, b. Abt 1738, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. Abt Jan 1785, Hanover County, Virginia, USA (Age 47 years)> 5. WINSTON, Mary Ann, b. Abt 1741, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. Between 1811 and 1819 (Age 70 years)+ 6. WINSTON, William Sr., b. Abt 1745, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. Dec 1789, Hanover County, Virginia, USA (Age 44 years)> 7. WINSTON, Elizabeth, b. Abt 1750, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. Between 1785 and 15 Jul 1806, Henrico County, Virginia, USA (Age 35 years)+ 8. WINSTON, Susanna, b. Abt 1757, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. Abt 1826, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Virginia, USA (Age 69 years)+ 9. WINSTON, Lucy, b. 1760, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK d. 6 Oct 1802, Hanover County, Virginia, USA (Age 42 years)Family ID F123 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 8 Apr 2025
- Role: Heir
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Notes - (Research):William Winston (which one?) had land bought from John Brown that was adjacent to 99 acres of land purchased by John Humbler from Vinkler Cobbs in Dec. 1734 in Hanover County. Records of Hanover Co., William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. XXI, No. 1, p 56.
"William Winston, witness to a power of attorney from Thomas Dansee to Michael Holland. 1735. Hanover Co. Records, Vol. 1733-35, p. 334. - E. P. Valentine Papers, Vol. III, p. 1639.
- (Research):William Winston (which one?) had land bought from John Brown that was adjacent to 99 acres of land purchased by John Humbler from Vinkler Cobbs in Dec. 1734 in Hanover County. Records of Hanover Co., William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. XXI, No. 1, p 56.
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Event Map 
Birth - Abt 1704 - New Kent County, Colony of Virginia, England 
Will-Heir - will leaving land to his wife, Barbarba, and his four sons, Isaac Jr., William "Essex", John and James, - Abt 1725 - Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK 
Marriage - Abt 1730 - Colony of Virginia, UK 
Land - that he inherited from his mother, and sold it to his cousin, Cornelius DABNEY, - 17 May 1732 - King William County, Colony of Virginia, UK 
Court Case - "Winston & ux. ag't. Henry & uxor, adm'x of Syme", in the General Court of Virginia, - Oct 1736 - Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia, UK Court Case - brought by William "Essex" and Rebecca (BOBBY) WINSTON against John and Sarah (WINSTON) (SYME) HENRY, - Oct 1736 - Colony of Virginia, UK 
Land - with his wife, Rebecca, and James and Elizabeth BALFOUR, called Surinam Island in the James River, which they sold to William BYRD - 30 Sep 1738 - Henrico County, Colony of Virginia, UK 
Land - that he sold to James BALFOUR - 1740 - Charles City County, Colony of Virginia, UK Appointed - Sheriff - 1750 to 1764 - Hanover County, Colony of Virginia, UK 
Court Case - where he petitioned for the privilege of building a mill on the Pamunkey River - 1750 - Caroline County, Colony of Virginia, UK 
Land - that he inherited from his father, 300 acres on Gibeons Creek, that he sold to Thomas WARING and Robert BAGGE - 20 May 1751 - Essex County, Colony of Virginia, UK 
Land - 1754-1768 - Louisa County, Colony of Virginia, UK 
Land - 1746-1780 - Goochland County, Colony of Virginia, UK 
Death - Mar 1781 - Hanover County, Virginia, USA Will Probated - by executors David COCHRAN, Thomas WINSTON and Francis IRWIN - 5 Apr 1781 - Hanover County, Virginia, USA Occupation - Magistrate - - Hanover County, Virginia, USA = Link to Google Earth
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Sources - [S492] Alfred Sumner Winston III, Book - Winstons of Hanover County, VA, (Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc., 1992.), 24 Jul 2013, Major William "Essex" Winston: 653-61.
- [S1552] Anne Baker, Research Report - Decendants of Winston, Wm. Essex & Bobby, Rebecca, 8 Apr 2025, p. 1.
- [S709] Clayton Torrence, editor, Book - Valentine, Edward P. - Papers - Vol. I-IV (Ancestry), (The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA, 1927; reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979.), 25 Sep 2013, Vol. III: p 1684.
1746, John Winston; Louisa County Deed Book A, p 261.
EPVP, Vol. III, Pg. 1684 - John Winston - [S935] Virginia. King William County., Land Deeds - VA - King William County (Microfilm), 25 Jan 2014, Book 5: 80-81, Indenture, William Winston of King & Queen Co. to Cornelius Dabney of King William Co,, re-recorded 29 Apr 1887; Microfilm Reel 25.
The original deed record for the land sale on 17 May 1732, was destroyed by fire 18 Jan 1885.
King William Co., VA Deed - William "Essex" Winston to Cornelius Dabney - [S158] Miriam Margaret (Cochrane) Hunter, Book - Cochrane Family History, (Coshocton, Ohio: self published, April 1943.), 28 Mar 2020, p 5.
- [S1164] Magazine - William and Mary College Quarterly - Series 1 & 2 (JSTOR), 28 Mar 2020, S. O. Southall, "Records of Hanover County," (Series 1) July 1912, Vol. 21, No. 1, p 48; digital images, JSTOR.com (https://www.jstor.org/stable/1922081?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents : accessed 28 March 2020).
William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. XXI, No. 1 - [S709] Clayton Torrence, editor, Book - Valentine, Edward P. - Papers - Vol. I-IV (Ancestry), (The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA, 1927; reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979.), 25 Sep 2013, Vol. III: p 1618.
1740, William Winston; Charles City County Order Books, 1737-1750.
EPVP, Vol. III, Pg. 1618 - William Winston - [S1600] Hanover Co. (VA) Historical Society, editor, Book - Hanover Co. (VA) Historical Society Bulletins - Vol. I, (PO Box 91, Hanover, Virginia 23069: n.p., n.d.), 3 Sep 2025, p 164.
(No. 8, May 1973)HCHS Bulletins, Vol I, p 164 - [S709] Clayton Torrence, editor, Book - Valentine, Edward P. - Papers - Vol. I-IV (Ancestry), (The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA, 1927; reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979.), 25 Sep 2013, Vol. III: p 1616.
1750, William Winston; Caroline Co. Order Books, 1746-1755, p 11.
EPVP, Vol. III, Pg. 1616 - William Winston - [S709] Clayton Torrence, editor, Book - Valentine, Edward P. - Papers - Vol. I-IV (Ancestry), (The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA, 1927; reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979.), 25 Sep 2013, Vol. III: p 1632.
1725-1751, William Winston; Essex County Record Books, Vol 18, p 73; Vol 25, p 161.
EPVP, Vol. III, Pg. 1632 - William Winston - [S709] Clayton Torrence, editor, Book - Valentine, Edward P. - Papers - Vol. I-IV (Ancestry), (The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA, 1927; reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979.), 25 Sep 2013, Vol. III: p 1685.
1768, William Winston; Louisa County Orders Book, 1767-74, p 58.
EPVP, Vol. III, Pg. 1663 - William Winston - [S709] Clayton Torrence, editor, Book - Valentine, Edward P. - Papers - Vol. I-IV (Ancestry), (The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA, 1927; reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979.), 25 Sep 2013, Vol. III: p 1635-36.
1835-46, William Winston; Goochland County Records, Vol 5, p 188; Vol 8, p 143-44, 330; Vol 9, p 92; Vol 12, p 186; Vol 13, p 22.
EPVP, Vol. III, Pg. 1635 - William Winston 
EPVP, Vol. III, Pg. 1636 - William Winston - [S1140] Magazine - Tyler's Quarterly (FamilySearch), 13 Jul 2020, George Harrison Sanford King, "Copies of Extant Wills from Counties Whose Records Have Been Destroyed," April 1938, Vol. 19, No. 4, 218-221; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ : accessed 13 Jul 2020).
"Will of Major William Winston of Hanover County."Will - Major William "Essex" Winston - [S1140] Magazine - Tyler's Quarterly (FamilySearch), 13 Jul 2020, George Harrison Sanford King, "Copies of Extant Wills from Counties Whose Records Have Been Destroyed," April 1938, Vol. 19, No. 4, 221-224; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ : accessed 13 Jul 2020).
"Estate of Andrew Balfour of Charles City County."Law Suite - Estate of Andrew Balfour - [S514] Eugenia G. and Preston G. Glazebrook, Book - Virginia Migrations Hanover Co., Vol. I, (1943; reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Company, 2000.), 13 Sep 2013, Will of William Winston, Senior: pg. 99-100.
VA Migrations Hanover Co., Vol. 1, pg. 99-100 - [S944] Cochran, Dr. William, Artifact - Cochran Family History - William Cochran (1779-1853), 10 Dec 2010.
- [S709] Clayton Torrence, editor, Book - Valentine, Edward P. - Papers - Vol. I-IV (Ancestry), (The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA, 1927; reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979.), 13 May 2014, Vol. III: p 1637.
Hanover County Records, Vol. 1733-35, p. 10.
E. P. Valentine Papers, Vol. III, Pg. 1637, Hanover Co. Records - [S1267] Magazine - VA Genealogical Society Quarterly (VA Genealogical Society), 6 Apr 2020, John Frederick Dorman, "Will of Thomas Winston of Hanover County, Virginia,"Vol. 7 1969.
Will of Thomas Winston - [S1199] R. T. Barton, editor, Book - Virginia Colonial Decisions (Google Books), (Boston, MA: The Boston Book Company, 1909.), 1 Jul 2019, Winston & Ux. ag't Henry & Ux. Adm'x of Syme: p 213-223.
Lawsuit - Winston v Henry
- [S492] Alfred Sumner Winston III, Book - Winstons of Hanover County, VA, (Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc., 1992.), 24 Jul 2013, Major William "Essex" Winston: 653-61.