John West (Governor)

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John West, Governor of Virginia, 1635-37, (List of colonial governors of Virginia) was the twelfth child of Thomas West, 2nd Baron De La Warr, and his wife Lady Anne Knollys, daughter of Sir Francis Knollys (Knollys (family)). He was born between 5 & 6 in the afternoon. His Godfathers were: Sir John Norreys, Mr. John Foskin; His Godmothers: Mrs. Sccudamore, Mrs. Ratcliffe. At Magdalen College on 17 Feb 1603/9 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts on the 1st of Dec 1613. He emigrated on the Bonny Bess in 1618 with his brother Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, Francis West,and Nathaniel WEST (Lt. Col.) and resided at "West Point", Virginia. He was made a member of the Colonial Council, where he served 1630-1659. When a decision was reached in 1630 to plant a settlement on the York River, Colonel John West was among the first to patent lands there and by 1632 he was established on his plantation, which he sold to Edward Digges in 1650, and which was then known as the "A.D. Plantation" and later as "Bellefield". From York, John West moved to his plantation at the fork of the York River on the site of the present town of West Point originally called Delaware. This tract of 3000 acres may be identified in a patent issued to him 6 Mar 1653, which included 850 acres granted to him, 3 Jul 1652. In addition, he was granted 1550 acres, 6 May 1651, about 6 miles up the York River up the fort (fork) on the south of the River." which he subsequently sold to Major William Lewis, who included the land in his patent for 2600 acres issued, 20 Jan 1656. On 27 May 1654 John West patented 1000 acres in Gloucester County, on the "N.E. side of the Mattapony river". On May 17, 1635 the Colonial Council prevailed upon him to accept the office of Governor, when Governor Sir John Harvey was expelled. He was the third West brother to be a Governor of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia. In 1637 West was commissioned Muster Master General of the colony by King Charles II of England in his own hand. He sold his Bellfield estate in 1650 moved to his West Point estate of over 6000 acres. Most of his acres were granted to him for bringing many new settle rs to Virginia in his ships. It was customary at the time for 50 acres to be given for each person brought in, family, relatives, and servants included. Port Richmond West Plantation was settled by John West about 1655. This was in William County, Virginia, not far from Elsing Green. There John West and his wife Anne Percy had three sons, Colonel John West who was the first child of European descent born on the York River and his two brothers, Matthew West and Anthony West. His plantation is the site of the present town of West Point and the Military Academy that both bear his name. John West died at his West Point plantation, 1659, and March 1660 the House of Burgesses passed a resolution of good will in recognition of "the many important favors and services rendered to the country of Virginia by the noble family of West, predecessors of Mr. John West, their now only survivor ..... It is ordered that the levies of the said Master West and his family be remitted, and that he be exempt from payment thereof during life".