Aylett family of Virginia

The Aylett family of Virginia was a prominent family in King William County in Colonial Virginia which also supplied several brides to the Washington and Lee families. The family descended from Thomas Aylett (1570-1650) of Hovells, in Coggleshall, Essex, via his son William (1607- 1677) who became a merchant taylor in London. It was his son William (?1640-1679) who moved to Virginia.[1] Aylett, Virginia is named for the family.[2]

Notable members of the family include:

  • Col William Aylett Jr. (c. 1667 - 1732) -- Founder of Fairfield Plantation where he probably lived from about 1704.[3] Probable son of William Aylett and Lydia Aylett. Married Anne of unknown family. Father of Philip Aylett, Capt. William Aylett III; John Aylett; Benjamin Aylett; Lydia Aylett Boyd (later Herron), Ann Aylett Curtis; Elizabeth Aylett Buckner, Jane Aylett Buckner.[4][5] Step brother of Jerome Ham Jr.; John Hubbard; Rebecca Edloe (Hubbard); Matthew Hubbard and Matthew Hubbard. First clerk of the Council of Burgesses when King William County was formed in 1702.[6]
  • Captain William Aylett III (c. 1703 - August 28, 1744) - Son of Col. William Aylett and Anne Aylett, Wm III married twice (Ann Ashton [7] and Elizabeth Eskridge, later Steptoe)[8][9] had four daughters, Elizabeth and Anne from his first marriage, and a second Anne and Mary from his second marriage. His Daughter Elizabeth, who was probably the oldest, married Col. William Booth and lived at the Aylett family's Nomini Plantation;[10] his first daughter Anne married George Washington's half brother Augustine Washington Jr.[10] and lived at Pope's Creek.
  • Col William Aylett (Sep. 12, 1743 - Apr. 12, 1781) - He married, in 1766, Mary, daughter of Col. James Macon and Elizabeth Moore, of Kennington. He had inherited the Aylett plantation, "Fairfield" in King William County, from his father Philip Aylett. Burgess for King William Co., Va., at the assemblies of 1772-1774 and 1775–1776. Member of the Conventions of 1774-1775-1776. Resigned from the convention to accept commission as Deputy Commissary General in Virginia. Died at Battle of Yorktown. His eldest son, Philip (1767-1831) married Elizabeth Henry, a daughter of Patrick Henry.
  • Col. William Aylett represented King William County in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1801–1806.
  • Col William Roane Aylett (May 14, 1833 - Aug. 8, 1900) - Lived at the Aylett family's Montville Plantation. Great-grandson of Patrick Henry. Married to Alice Roane Brockenbrough with whom he fathered 12 children. Practiced law; served as colonel of the 53rd Virginia Infantry Regiment in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and was present at Pickett's Charge during which he took temporary command of the 53rd. Letters of his are available at the Virginia Historical Society.[11]
  • Patrick Henry Aylett (19 May 1825 - 27 Apr 1870) was the elder brother of William Roane Aylett and a Prosecuting Attorney,[12] becoming Distract Attorney for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.[13] He also provided editorial material for the Richmond Examiner, and fought a duel with O Jennings Wise of the Richmond Enquirer 15 July 1859, which both survived, over their opposed positions on intervention/non-intervention of Congress with respect to slavery in the territories (Wise for intervention, Aylett for non-intervention).[14] He was killed in the 1870 Virginia State Capitol collapse.

References
  1. National Archives PROB 11/354/493 William Aylett, Merchant Taylor of London, probate 28 August 1677, written 4 May 1677.
  2. "Tour 20". virginia.edu.
  3. King William Co. VA Records Book 1, 1702-1707 '1704. John Yarbrough planter, to William Aylett. Deed. Land sold and exchanged by the Chickahominy Indians with Arnold for other lands, and by said Arnold, of King and Queen, sold to John Hurt of King and Queen (St. Stephens Parish). Deed acknowledged in King and Queen Nov. 12, 1691, and by said Hurt sold to Richard Yarbrough, father of said John, as by deed acknowledged in King and Queen Feb. 12, 1695-6, and by virtue of deed for half interest conveyed from said John's brother Richard Yarbrough (P. 104-133-modern). ‘
  4. Will of William Aylett Nov 18 1730, codicil Jan 6 1732, prob Mar 17 1733.
  5. The Caroline County Order Book 1755-1758 suit in chancery dated 14 Nov 1755
  6. 'America and West Indies: March 1702, 11-13', Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: 1702, volume 20 (1912), pp. 126-132. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=71639. Date accessed: 06 September 2008.
  7. Westmoreland County Wills Book VIII. Will of Henry Ashton date 26 Feb 1730 prob 24 Nov 1731
  8. Westmoreland County Wills Book X.Will of Elizabeth Eskridge (mother) dated 20 Oct 1744 27 prob Nov 1744
  9. "William Aylett, III (c.1695 - 1744) - Genealogy". geni_family_tree.
  10. "[May 1768]". archives.gov.
  11. Letters of his held at the Virginia Historical Society: Aylett Family Papers, 1780-1942. 1,077 items. Mss1AY445b.
  12. Richmond Whig of 20/4/1865: " on Ninth street, stands the mansion of Patrick Henry, now in the occupancy of his blood relative, Patrick Henry Aylett, Prosecuting Attorney"
  13. Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume III "He attended Rumford Academy, Washington College at Lexington, Virginia, the University of Virginia, which he entered in 1844, and remained one session in the academic department, then entered Harvard College, where he was graduated in law in 1846 he began the practice of law in Richmond.. ; upon the establishment of the "Richmond Examiner," in 1847, he became a contributor to its editorial columns.....subsequently appointed by the same President ... United States district attorney for the Eastern Distract of Virginia..."
  14. London Times 24 July 1859 p9
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