Unity Croshaw was a colonist of British Colonial Virginia, the first surviving European colony in North America. Born in the colony, she was the daughter of Major

Joseph Croshaw Major Joseph Croshaw (c. 1610-12–1667) was a planter living near Williamsburg in the Colony of Virginia. He was the son of Captain Raleigh Croshaw. He became a planter and lived a few miles from present-day Williamsburg, Virginia. On December 10 ...

, and a granddaughter of

Raleigh Croshaw Captain Raleigh Croshaw or Crashaw (c. 1584 – 1624) was an English merchant and early immigrant to the Colony and Dominion of Virginia who represented Elizabeth City County in the House of Burgesses in 1624. Virginia settler Although Croshaw i ...

, who came to the

Colony of Virginia The Colony of Virginia, chartered in 1606 and settled in 1607, was the first enduring English colonial empire, English colony in North America, following failed attempts at settlement on Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland by Sir Humphrey GilbertG ...

in 1608 with the Second Supply to Jamestown. She married Colonel John West.

Biography

Unity Croshaw is believed to have been born about 1636 to Joseph Croshaw and his 1st wife. Unity was a middle child and had as many as four sisters and brothers. Unity married Colonel John West sometime before November 1664. As a result of the marriage, and the early death of Unity's half-brother, the intended heir, Croshaw's plantation at "Poplar Neck" passed to John West. Unity Croshaw and John West had the following children: *

John West III John West III (1666–1734) was a justice and sheriff of King and Queen County and a House of Burgesses representative for King William County, all in the Colony of Virginia. He was the eldest son of Colonel John West, and grandson of John West ...

, married Judith Armistead, daughter of

Anthony Armistead Captain Anthony Armistead (ca. 1645–before 1705) was a planter, militia officer, politician and Justice of the Peace in the Colony and Dominion of Virginia in the British Empire. He may be best known for participating in the courts-martial af ...

. *Thomas West 1669–1714, married Agnes 1670-1720 *

Nathaniel West Nathanael West (born Nathan Weinstein; October 17, 1903 – December 22, 1940) was an American writer and screenwriter. He is remembered for two darkly satirical novels: ''Miss Lonelyhearts'' (1933) and ''The Day of the Locust'' (1939), set re ...

, married Martha Woodward, widow of

Gideon Macon Gideon (or Gedeon) Macon (c. 1648–1702) was an early American settler.Cabell, James Branch. "The Majors and Their Marriages 1915" The W.C. Hill Printing Co., 1915 There are conflicting theories regarding Gideon Macon's lineage. The one which ...

. *Anne West, married Henry Fox. Unity died after 30 October 1693, when she relinquished dower in "Poplar Neck."Dorman, Vol. 1, p.773.

References

Sources

*"Records of York County, Croshaw, vol. 1664-1672, p. 257" *"Notes and Queries", ''The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 4 (Apr., 1894)'' *"Tax Rolls, March 1660. 3 March 1659." {{DEFAULTSORT:Croshaw, Unity People from colonial Virginia Unity Croshaw