The Bobbitt Family In America

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John Peterson of Bristol Parish, to John Fitzgerald of the same Parish, all that water grist or corn mill call Froghole mill on Bailey's Creek, 118 acres and is bounded as by deed dated January 26, 1677 from Francis Whittington to John Peterson Senior, deceased, which descended to said John Peterson, as heir at law, on part of which land the mill stands. Another tract of land adjoins and contains 60 acres as in deed dated October 11, 1703 from Henry Batts to John Peterson, the said tract of land had descended to Henry Batts from his father Henry Batts Senior. The other tract of land of 95 acres, was purchased by John Peterson from William Bobbitt (Junior) by deed on May 12, 1703, it being land on which the said Bobbitt then lived, and was granted to William Bobbitt (Senior), father of the said William Bobbitt Junior, by patent on October 27, 1673 and descended to William Bobbitt Junior as heir at law.

Witnesses: Henry Wood

                    Joshua Irby

                  Francis Poythress                    (signed) JOHN PETERSON

Note the names of Henry Batts and Francis Whittington in the list of land grants and in the deeds recorded in Prince George County. All of these land grants were made at about the same time that our William Bobbitt received his land grant in 1673.

Francis Whittington, Henry Batts, and William Bobbitt had land on the south side of the Appomattox River, and on the south side of the James River.... at the head of Baileys Creek, on the second branch of the Blackwater River, near Cattail Branch. The land today is in the Arlington section of the city of Hopewell Virginia. It is bounded by state route 36 on the north, and route 156 on the west, and Bailey's Creek on the south.

Froghole Mill tells some of the story of the Bobbitt family and in the history that follows it is evident that many members of the family were trained in running mills. The family in Pittsylvania County Virginia had a mill and the family in Warren County North Carolina had a mill. There is little doubt that William Bobbitt Senior was a skillful yoeman from Wales and knew exactly how to serve the needs of the early settlers in the Virginia colony. His service was the means by which he was able to raise his family on what even in his time was a small acreage for supporting a family.

I do not believe that any members of the family were living in Prince George County by 1760.