Stephen Darden

The Dardens were a prolific family, the record is incredibly confused, and the vast majority of my research was superficial at best.  The reader is therefore encouraged to regard all the familial lines and relationships described in these pages with caution.  For example, several researchers claim that Stephen Durden was not the original immigrant, that instead his father and mother, John and Joan Duxford Durden, born in Lancashire and Hertfordshire respectively, were the first, and that Stephen was actually born in the Virginia Colony.  (Father John Durden supposedly died c. 1668 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.)  This researcher has never seen any documentation regarding this claim, nor have I, it must be admitted, pursued it.  I've included the Dardens only because any information may help another family researcher, but it should all be regarded as a starting point.  Verify, verify, verify.

Although no one – to my knowledge – has reliably traced the history of the Darden surname, some have speculated that "Darden" is derived from Dearden, a village in Lancashire whose founder may have come "from the Ardennes".   Whatever its origin, the English always wrote the name as Dearden, Duerden, or Durden - never Darden.   In fact, our earliest proven ancestor, Stephen "Darden" of Nansemond County, VA, spelled his name Durden.  It was only after several decades that Darden became the common, and eventually permanent, spelling.

9 Oct 1640: There was apparently a sale of land from Stephen to Thomas Brice in Upper Norfolk County, which became Nansemond County in 1642.[1]  Stephen must have been at least 18 years old, and probably much older, when this deed was conveyed.  This would agree with an oft claimed birth year about 1611.

14 Mar 1649: Stephen Durden received a grant for 150 acres on the east side of the northwest branch of the "Nanzimum River" adjoining George Chowning and Francis Malden in Upper Norfolk Parish, Nansemond County, VA.  Of this, 50 acres was the headright for transporting one person, while the other 100 acres was "assigned" to Stephen by George Chowning.[2]

We don't know the surname of Stephen's wife.  In fact, we can't even be certain of her first name, although according to Weldon Jelkes, her Christian name was Mary.  Her surname may have been Holland.  There are a few genealogists who claim that her name was Elizabeth Holland.

1651: Robert Brassem of Nansemond was given credit for transporting Stephen Dordon.  Was this merely an example of the notorious abuse of the headright system?

1666: Stephen held land in Nansemond adjoining William Cadogan.

1 Mar 1668: Stephen Durden received 250 acres on an upper branch of the Nazemond River for the transport of 5 persons, not Dardens.  The parcel adjoined Stephen's own land, Robert Hooke, Israel Johnson, Thomas Powell, and Thomas Galle.[3]

19 Feb 1679: He signed his will in Nansemond County, but we know of its existence only because of a grant to son Jacob dated 20 Apr 1682 stating that 100 of the 435 acres being granted had belonged to "Stephen Darden, late of Nanzemond County, deceased, who by his last will and testament bearing date the 19th of February 1679, bequeathed it to the aforesaid Jacob".  Nell Marion Nugent, however, claims 200 acres were left to Jacob in this will.  Jacob's grant further states that: "the residue being deserved by said Stephen Darden was granted to the said Jacob by an Order of the General Court dated the 28th of September 1681 and is due by and for the transportation of five persons".  Yet according to Newton Jasper Darden, it does not, by its description, seem to include the 250 acres granted to Stephen on 1 Mar 1668.  Darden claims that "most or all" of the 435 acres lay in Isle of Wight County rather than Nansemond.[4]

20 Apr 1694: John Darden [probably Jacob's son and Stephen's grandson] received a patent for 300 acres near Chuckatuck "escheated from" Stephen Darden.  This grant was confirmed on 28 Oct 1697.[5]

Children of Stephen Darden:

Jacob Darden (c. 1641 – c. 1719; m. Ann _______)

                Stephen may also have been the father of Stephen, Richard, John, and William Darden of Maryland.