Claiborne (No. 1.) family genealogy

Of Romancock, in Virginia, United States, America

Arms: Quarterly, first and fourth, arg. three chevronels interlaced in base sable, a chief of the last. Second and third, arg. a cross engrailed vert. Crest: A demi wolf ppr., rampant reguardant. Motto: (Saxon) Lofe clibbor na sceame[1]; and Confide recti agens.

William Claiborne, the second son of Edmond, who is No. 16 on the “Cleborne” pedigree, infra, was the ancestor of this branch of that family.

17. William (b. 1587; d. 1676): second son of Edmond, of Cleburne Hall; was Secretary of the Colony of Virginia. (See Note “Secretis,” under the “Cleborne” genealogy, infra). This William married Jane Buller, of London, and had three sons and one daughter:

1. Lieut.-Col. William, of whom presently.
2. Thomas, b. 1647, d. 7th Oct., 1683.
3. Leonard Claiborne, of Jamaica, West Indies (died 1694), who married Martha —, and had: 1. Elizabeth, and 2. Catherine (co-heirs).

The daughter was Jane.

18. Lieut.-Col. William Claiborne, of Romancock, Va.; son of Secretary William, and living in 1674; m. and had one son and two daughters:

1. William, of whom presently.
1. Ursula, who mar. William Gough, of Va., and had a son William Claiborne Gough.
2. Mary.

19. William (died 1705): son of Lieut.-Col. William; m. and had:

20. William, who mar. Elizabeth Whitehead, and had, with others:

21. Philip Whitehead Claiborne, of Liberty Hall, in Virginia, who mar. Dolly Dandridge, sister of Martha, wife of General George Washington.

Notes

[1] Sceame: This Anglo-Saxon Motto means: “Tenacious of what is right, not of what is shameful;” in allusion, perhaps, to Mr. Secretary Claiborne’s action in leaving the service of King Charles II., for that of the Parliament, in 1650. By the Royalists his action was regarded and characterized as shameful; but he took that step believing it to be best for the interests of Virginia, as it proved to be.