The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27

+ OF so much distinction and worth. and
which under so many victsitudes both
North ana South. have won such fame
as that OF Porter, which can be traced
in unbroken Hire from the earliest Eng
hsh period 70 the present time.
Among the companions OF John
Warham, who came over in the ship
! which sailed next after the Mayflower.
and landing in Plymouth Bay I'm 1885.
were two brothers. William and John
Porter. sixteenth 10 descent from VIII
f liam de-'a- Gra-:de. a Norman knight
who acquired much land at the time
or the conquest near kenilworth
County sarwiCk, England. His son,
Roger Cor Ralph WAS Grand Porteur"
10 Henry T.. from which the name or
Porter IS derived (See descendants Of
John Porter lSS2; Records IN the Lon
don Herald's College,
These Porters were OF the Gentry
class Of England. always bearing the
appellatiOn OF "Gentlemen." ESQ" or
Knight" and after they were made
d baroncts. some 81 them were in high
/ ONCE under tho crown. and their
/ names were frequently among the
members OF Parliament
There were soon after other mem
I hers Of the Porter family to come over
and settle IN New England. among
them were Alexander = Porter. James
J otis rorter. OF New Bedford Hon. VIII
liam Wagner Porter. OF Pennsylvania BE-.
and his son. Robert Porter. 1920. ami
George Porter. Of Connecticut All OF
these bear the same arms az the kns-
lish family as those brought over by
John Porter. the first eml grant. which
are given at the head Of this article.
and are described a. follows
~Arms-Argent on Jesse sable be
tween troo barrielets. or three church
bells OF the first
"Crest-A port-cul4ls Cor Iron gate.
argent. chained. or.
Observation-Disclosures 81 virtutl." CBy
Watchfulness and braveryp
Thus we learn from t.e arms. tha-
some OF the family had been high dt@ -
uitarles or tie church. for tne Port
cullls. or iron gate. with its armed
bars and golden chains. and the three
church bells. is the principal charge
DID tle arms Of Westmirstcr Abbey. and
was the badge as worn hv Henry VII
John Porter first settled Of Wey-
wouth in Aassachusetts. hut did not
remain there very long. being COM
rellcd ~ leave because OF lis liberal
religious views.
Roger williams lntercediug with the
Indians for Gle sale of "a large tract
az land. where the city ~ Newport now
stands where hc tenf fifteen men 70
scttlc. john Porter being among thcui
These were said 70 bc educated gen
Uemen Of character. largely of Baptists
and Quakers. with tolerant religion
. views They Drospcred there. but the
pGritans would not allow tAem 20 exist
even tnat near 90 Eoston in safety arc
after short residence there. ne. wiz
many OF thc best population LETT thc
colony ana John Porter came TO Nir
eiaia. Bat tails John Porter Who had
fled from tho NaseacLu@etts colony on
/ account OF religious f--rsecuDonA, iaica
lat little better here
Ifo became az once a member % the
! House o. Burgesses from Lower Norfolk
couuty. but upon snow ing loving atu-
tule tov-l rds Baptists and Qua&ers. anu
opposing tle baptism Of infants. and then
refusing % take the oath ~ allegiance
go England" he was expelled from Inc
/ House. September j. 1868.
lie had also been a Justice Or the peace
for Norfolk county. Va. Later. hc idcn-
Bned himself fully with the Quakers.
and being "a gentleman OF great culture
and Of large wealth. -ecame power
4 among them. lie died on his plantation.
4 Bro Norfolk county. 1910. Regarding his
Quaker views ani prosecutions in Nir
glnia. the following IS taken from our
Quaker Friends" by the Bell Publishing
/ COMPANY Lyuchburg va. 1908,
con the 18TH OF November. 1853 diI
/ Othc sheriff found another Quaker meet
/ lug at the residence o. Richard Russell.
/ and summoned some thlrty-hvc persons,
I including John Porter. ST. and John
I PORTER. Jr. 90 court. Ten days later NE
discovered a quaker meeting ON the ship
/ BLESSING. James Gilbert master. lying az
anchor in the southern branch Of Eliza
beth River. and summoned John Porter.
Jr.. Who was spcaking Mrs. Nary En-
peror and others 40 court December 18TH
I they We're fined 200 pounds Of tobacco
! each this being their first trial On the
/ same day others were fined fifty pounds
each for abscnting themselves from public
Worship and the grand jury present cd
John Porter. Jr.. and MIS-. Mary Emperor
and others for attending % meeting 10
the house ~ Mrs Emperor. John Porter
Jr, and Mrs. Emperor were fined 500
pounds OF tobacco each, it being their
second omense.
AT the trial on December 18th. Mrs
Emperor and Juo. Porter. Jr., were ordered
TO be sent out Of the colony st being their
7 third oncnsc. but the sentence passed
upon them was not carried out, as they
were persons Of influence I'm the county
and as there was no profit to the inform
or, tho sentence OF transportation was al
lowed TO die.
'Hus term as sheriff expired 1864, anC
P there was no further persecution OF
Quakcrs in this county until 1915"
From statistics We ind that John Por-
ter contributed 500 pounds OF tobacco f0i
building tine first meetue-hOusc in Nor
folk county. Va. at Bunkins. on the
east side of tho Nen~amoud River. though
SC is said there had been mccuoE-housc.
FAD Nirginia before this. The QualSers hao
entirely disappeared from Norfolk county
before 1900.
John Porter. Sr had a son. Thomas
who settled in Cumberland county 1868
and had two sous-NNnliam the eldest
who went 10 Missouri. and John Porter
who settled IN Prince Edward county
Va
The lands of Thomas Porter were ex
tcnsive. and lay in the pres mt counties O.
GoochMnd. Cumberland and Albcmaric
iu which latter county many of his he
scendants stin reside. and have let thei
name TO one OF It's towns. "Portcr's Ire
cinct' John Porter married Mary An
thony. who was the mother Of VIM. John
Oliver and Francis. as well as "a daugn
ter. Ann.
Tli- John. n<s his father. WA 4 nros