John West III

John West III (1676–1734) was a justice and sheriff of King and Queen County and a House of Burgesses representative for King William County, all in the US Colony and Dominion of Virginia. He was the second son of Colonel John West of West Point, Virginia and Unity Croshaw. His birth is debated, however, he may have been the son of Colonel John West and Cockacoeske, Queen of Pamunkey with whom John West lived after his wife left him because of his adultery.

Biography

He lived at 'West Point', the seat established in Virginia by his grandfather, Governor John West. In 1692, he was appointed justice in King and Queen County and also as a sheriff of the county. He represented the newly formed County of King William in the House of Burgesses from 1702 to 1706 and was also a justice of the peace.

Marriage and issue

On October 15, 1698, in Elizabeth City County, he married Judith Armistead, the daughter of Captain Anthony Armistead. They had the following children:

• Major Charles West, who inherited the 'West Point' estate of some 4,000 acres (16 km²). Charles died unmarried and without issue. His will dated 1734 bequeathed 'West Point' to his first cousin Thomas West, the son of his uncle, Captain Thomas West. He served in the 3rd Virginia Regiment with the rank of major from February 1, 1777 to July 6, 1778.
• Luranna West, married William Pace.

Ancestry

Sources

• "Middle Peninsula Historic Marker "Cockacoeske"
• "The Powhatan Indians of Virginia: Their Traditional Culture. Rountree, Helen C., University of Oklahoma Press, 1989.
• "Cockacoeske, Queen of Pamunkey: Diplomat and Suzeraine." W. Martha W. McCartney.
• "Powhatan's Mantle: Indians in the Colonial Southeast by Peter H. Wood.