Nathaniel West (captain) explained

Nathaniel West
Office:Member of the House of Burgesses for New Kent County
Term Start:1705
Term End:1702
Preceded:Joseph Foster
Succeeded:John Stanup
Alongside:Nicholas Merriwether
Office2:Member of the House of Burgesses for King William County
Term Start2:1700
Term End2:1702
Preceded2:position established
Succeeded2:Thomas West
Alongside2:John West III
Birth Date:circa 1665
Birth Place:West Point plantation, Colony of Virginia
Death Date:circa 1723
Death Place:New Kent County, Colony of Virginia
Nationality:British
Occupation:Planter, militia officer, politician
Spouse:Martha Macon
Parents:John West
Unity Croshaw

Nathaniel West of Poplar Neck (c. 1665 – 1723) was a planter, military officer and politician of the British Colony and Dominion of Virginia who was one of the first two representatives for King William County in the House of Burgesses, and later represented New Kent County in that legislative assembly.

Early and family life

West was born into the First Families of Virginia, the third son of Colonel John West and his wife Unity Croshaw.[1] He had a sister, like their mother named "Unity," who would marry Henry Fox. His elder brothers John West and Capt. Thomas West would also represent King William County in the House of Burgesses.[2] The family's main plantation house, founded by his grandfather John West, was near the confluence of the Mattiponi and Pamunkey Rivers (which thereby form the York River), and the town now known as West Point, Virginia, but which beginning in 1705 was called "Delaware" to honor his relative Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr.

Career

Nathaniel West farmed using enslaved labor. He also held various local offices, particularly within the militia, receiving promotions from Captain to Lieutenant-Colonel. He became a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses: first as one of the first two representatives from King William County, Virginia (1700–1702), and later for New Kent County (in the 1703–1705 session).[3]

Marriage and issue

On May 14, 1702, Nathaniel married Martha Woodward Macon (1665–1727) in York County, Virginia. Martha was the widow of Gideon Macon, who represented New Kent County several times in the House of Burgesses. They lived at Poplar Neck plantation and had one daughter, Unity,[4] who married, as his second wife, William Dandridge (1689–1743), brother of John Dandridge.

Death and legacy

Nathaniel and Martha West both died in 1723 in New Kent County, Virginia.[4]

References

Notes and References

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  2. Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography (New York, 1915), vol. 1, pp. 356-357
  3. Cynthia Miller Leonard, The Virginia General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond, Virginia State Library 1978) pp. 60, 64
  4. Book: Patricia Brady. Martha Washington: An American Life. 30 May 2006. Penguin Publishing Group. 978-1-101-11881-8. 22.