This is a STUDY of Lambert Tye showing what has been found so far in the records.
Added to the records are the PROBABLE connections that help put together a reasonable biography of Lambert and that of his family. By Lois Eggers 2008

c1655 Lambert Tye was very likely born to Captain Richard Tye and wife, Joyce/Frances Bland Boyce Tye in Charles City County, VA. There seems to have been just one Tye family living in southern Virginia during these early years. There is a possibility that Lambert was a new arrival as an adult for he is not mentioned until 1681. However it is not surprising that his name did not surface until that time. In 1681 he was living in Henrico County. However, when he died he was shown to be a member of Westover Parish in Charles City County which was the same parish of Richard and Joyce Tye. We know of Lambert’s birth year from a deposition in 1681 when he gave his age as 26.(See below.)
No records have been found that name Lambert Tye as a son of Richard and Joyce Tye, but Lambert’s age shows he certainly could have been born to them just 3-4 years before Richard died in 1658. One clue that might connect Lambert to Richard’s estate as an orphan, might be found below. Charles Sparrow, a partner of Richard’s told the court the following in 1659:

“It is added and condiscended by me Charles Sparrow abovesd that in case of Decesse of the sd Elizabeth Tye dureing her minority the sd 1000 acres of Land above given and graunted w’th all my rights and previledges therof shall descend and come by hereditrary succession to the surviv’r or surviv’rs of the orphanes of Capt Richd Tye aforsed decd witness my hand this first day of Sept: 1659 “ Test Thomas Drewe Charles Sparrowe rec, 7 br.8.59 Charles City County court records.

Elizabeth was the first-born child of Richard and Joyce. The above notice implies that if Elizabeth does not survive her childhood, there were other orphanS of Richard's to be considered. We know of only Frances. If Elizabeth was deceased, then there would only be one orphan left, that one being Frances. But this document mentions possible orphans as plural. Another orphan may well have been Lambert b. 1655. Also Charles Sparrow knew Richard and his family well. He certainly knew Elizabeth by name. If there were only Eliz. and Frances, why would he have not named Frances as the only other orphan?

I will assume that Lambert Tye was the son of Richard and Joyce Tye in the rest of this document.

Lambert had older sisters, Elizabeth b.c.1650 and Frances Tye b.c. 1652. He also had an older step-brother, Thomas Boyce, who was still living with Richard and Joyce Tye when Lambert was born in 1655. By 1663 Thomas Boyce had married Emelia ( maiden name Bethyer ?) as shown in a land sale of his to John Cogan. Lambert would have been under 10 years old when Thomas left the home.
Page 425 Abstract Deed Nov.20 1663. Charles City County Court records.

This info. shows Joyce, Lambert’s mother, as wife of John Coggan/Goggan whom she married soon after Richard Tye died.
Coggan, Mrs. Frances (d. 1677), Charles City county; wife of John Goggan, and daughter of Gregory Bland (b. 1587), of St. Gregories, London. Familiae Minorum Gentium. N.E.H. & G. Reg., Vol 47, p 354." [FTM Virginia Colonial Records, 1600s-1700s, Some Emmigrants to Virginia, Surnames, pg 24]

WFT 1023 lists John Coggin's wife as Joyce Bland, b 1618 in England, father Gregory Bland.

1658 Lambert’s father, Richard Tye died and his mother, Joyce, quickly married Dr. John Coggan. Richard Tye died when Lambert was around three to four years of age.

c1660 Rebecca Coggin was born to Lambert’s mother, Joyce Tye Coggin. She was Lambert’s 1/2 sister. Rebecca first married Francis Poythress and was widowed. She then married Charles Bartholomew who happened to be widower of Frances, Rebecca’s 1/2 sister.

1676 About this time, at age 21 Lambert may have married but there is no known record of it nor are there any known children born to Lambert until c.1689. However, Henrico County Records prior to 1677 were destroyed. Those that remain are fragmentary.

1677 Joyce Tye died. She was the mother of Lambert Tye. He would have been about 22 at this time. His step father was Dr. John Cogin. Lambert could still have been living at home.

1681 Lambert is now living at Varina, Henrico County. He is working for Capt. Thomas Cocke who has an “ordinary” (a tavern). This was same year that Lambert had a “lycence” granted, so he may have just started working for Cocke. A liquor license was needed for Cocke’s ”ordinary”
Henrico Court, October 24, 1681, An Acctt of Lycences granted (in Anno 1681) & returned to Towne Jamestown, the seat of government. Seth Ward 200 /Mr. Tho: Cocke 200/ Jos. Tanner 200 /Mr. Jno. Gooch 200/ Melchiz: Richardson 200/ Lambert Tye 200 /Tho: Cheatham 200 600 800 800.

"In the 1680s the justices in the frontier county of Henrico ... conducted business in the tavern owned by Thomas Cocke. ..." page 58. The Courthouses of Early Virginia: An Architectural History - Google Books Result by Carl Lounsbury - 2004 - Architecture - 430 pages

1681 Lambert Tye gives his age in a statement for a court case. Taken from the court records of Virginia, the testimony offers conflicting statements about the behavior of a white woman and slave man one August afternoon in 1681.
“The examination of Katherine Watkins, the wife of Henry Watkins Henrico County in Virginia had and taken this 13 of September 1681"....“The Deposition of Lambert Tye aged about 26 yeares. Deposeth That being at Worke at Mr. Thomas Cocks....” He goes on to say, “coming into the house with William Hobson and the rest of Mr. Thomas Cocks servants and others in Company with them to drinke syder,...” Full version can be found at http://www.archiva.net/hist150ay01/hist150sex.html

1688 may be the year Lambert and Mary were married. Their daughter, Eliz. was born about 1689. Lambert was about 33. Rather late for a first marriage! However there was an Ann Tye in Henrico County in 1688.
1688 Henrico County Order Book 1678-1693: Pg. 266, Probate of the will of John Lewis granted to William Lewis on the oath of Anne Tye & John Mackmioll, the witnesses. Appraisers: Capt. Wm Randolph, Capt Thomas Cocke & Joseph Pleasants. Recorded 2 April 1688.
There were no descendents of Richard Tye named Ann known in Virginia, at least in this part of the colonies at this time , and there were no other Tyes in any of the records there other than Richard’s family. Was Ann a first wife of Lambert? If so, he could have married her and lost her by this time. Was Ann Tye a spinster and another orphan of Richard Tye? Lambert would then be her brother. But we know that Lambert did marry a Mary Tye. And Mary may have been a Mary Ann. Did she sometimes use her middle name? It seems likely that Lambert only married once and that would have been to Mary/ Mary Ann whose name was given only as Mary in Lambert’s will.

1688 a Lambert Tye was said to have been transported to the colonies. Did he leave VA and quickly return so that he could help friends claim headrights? This appears to be exactly what he did. He seems to be the only Lambert Tye mentioned in the colonies. In 1688 he would have been age 33. Thomas Cocke, Lambert’s boss, benefitted from this “arrangement” and Lambert probably received a bonus for doing this.
From Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume ?, page 326, Patent Book 7:
Mr. Thom. Cock Sr., 1,650 acres, Henrico Co. in Verina Parish, south side of Chickahominy maine Swamp adjoining Mr. Jno. Woodson, 20 Oct. 1688, page 668. Transportation of 33 persons: Jno. Smith, Anne Collins, Avis Collins, Jno. Bess, Roger Norris, Edwd. Richards, Tho. Charles, Humphrey Bradshaw, Mary Godfrey, Tho. Mitchell, Robt. Green, Hump. Smith, Lambert Tye ,Martin Gardner, Danl. Jordan, Edwd. Richardson, Richd. Martin, Tho. Hill, Roger Dormer, Wm. Lambort, Roger Holden, Wm. Banks, Henry Henderson, Dan Cock, Mary Clifford, Susanna Turner, Nicholas Prior, Robt. Cook, Wm. Soane, Job ____, Tho. Liburne, Peter Brant, Marie a negro.

"Headrights were granted for bringing someone into Virginia, whether from Great Britain or only from Maryland. It was a simple matter for a person to arrange to go into Maryland and then be transported back into Virginia and the transporter could then receive land for the trasportees as new headrights....." A Moseley Genealogy by Thomas Byrd Moseley - Southern States - 1993 Published 1990 H.M. Goggans Page 227

c.1689 Elizabeth was born to Mary and Lambert. He would have been about 34. Was he married earlier? Elizabeth married Wm. Blackburn. Their children were John Blackburn b.c. 1707 to 1757, William Blackburn II c.1708 to c. 1754 , Elizabeth Blackburn b.c.1710, Lambeth Tye Blackburn b.c.1710, Susannah Blackburn b.c.1712 to c.1801.
Elizabeth’s birth is about 6-7 years before that of her brother, Allen’s.

1689 Lambert is shown to have acted once more as a headright for a James Moore who received land for importing 12 persons, including Lambert Tye. This is the second time Lambert has agreed to do this. Perhaps he needed the extra money to support his family. There was a George Moore who witnessed the will of Lambert Tye in 1728 who may have been related somehow to James Moore.
From Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume 339, page27 , Patent Book 8:
James Moore, 573 acres, Henrico Co. in Verina Parish on south side of Chickahominy main Swamp on Uffnum Brook, 21 April 1690.

c. 1684-1700 Somewhere within these years Jean Tye was born to Lambert and Mary. It is possible that Jean could have been the daughter of an earlier marriage of Lambert, perhaps to Ann. But there may not have been another marriage at all. Jean married an Overbee. (Spelled this way on the original will of her father, Lambert Tye.) She may have married Nicholas Overbee Sr. b.c. 1684. He had a son, Nicholas b.1720 who may be Jean’s son. Nicholas was said to have married a Jane, but perhaps it was Lambert’s Jean.

James son of Nic: & Jane Overby born 5th sep'las bap' 4th Octo' 1720 Births from the Bristol Parish Register of Henrico, Prince George, - Page 73 by Bristol Parish, Va, Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne, Bristol Parish Va.

1690 Lambert worked for Thomas Cocke for several years. He was shown as late as 1690 to be living in Henrico County and probably still working for Cocke at the tavern.


c. 1695 Allen Tye born to Mary and Lambert Tye. The actual birth year is not known. Allen Tye became known for supposedly discovering the river that was named “Tye” in western Virginia. Allen married a Mary too and fathered several children including, Lambeth Tye b.c. 1720, Frances Tye b. 1722, William Tye b.1730, Agnes b 1731 and died 1733, Solomon b. 1734, Anderson b. 1741, and quite probably, John b.c. 1742.


1707 This is possibly the year that Thomas Cocke died who owned the “ordinary” at Varina. It may be that Lambert no longer had a job at the “ordinary” after Cocke’s death. However this may be another Thomas Cocke.
"Capt. Thomas Cocke (Thomas, 3 Lt. Col. Richard) b. in 1664 at Malvern Hills, Henrico County, Virginia; d in 1707, before 1 April, Henrico County, Virginia."
http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/burned/partyah.asp

1725 Lambert and John Poval proved the will of John Cocke in Henrico County, so Lambert may have still been living there. This John Cocke’s relation to Thomas Cocke is not known.
1725 John Povall & Lambert Tye prove the will of John Cocke, decd. Wm. Randolph & Wm.Kennon qualify as securities for James Povall Cocke Executor thereof. Apr. Crt. 1725. Ibid p. 332. From: The Edward Pleasants Valentine papers. Page 1302 Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1979, 2784 pgs.(This seems to have been copied from Vol. 1719-24 of Henrico County Records.

Eventually it seems that Lambert and Mary may have moved back to Charles City County. Their wills were registered at Westover Parish. Right after Lambert died, Mary was unable to appear in court to give her oath to the will because of her age and her declining health. A person was appointed to go to her house to obtain it. This may indicate the house was close by in the parish and that the Tye home was not still in Henrico County.

1728 Lambert Tye died in August and Mary died later the same year or just the next.
It's Thomas Clarke, David Royster and George Moore who witnessed the 10 APR 1728 will of Lambert Tye of Westover Parish, Charles City Co.; but it's Thomas Clarke JR. who proved the will in court in August that year.” Wills and Deeds, 1724/5-1730, p. 205) http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~lksstarr/reports/ltcoldaniel....

Location Manuscripts Call Number Mss3 C3807 b Author Virginia. County Court Charles City County. Title Will book, 1724/5 February 3-1731 June 2. Description 8- 9, 12-29, 32-187, 194-355 p. : handwritten ; 17 x 11 in.
General Note Kept by Lewellin Epes and Littlebury Epes, clerks.

Lambert Tye’s Will
“In the name of God Amen I Lambert Tye of the parish of Westover and the County of Charles City being sick and week of body but of good Losting? memory ----thanks? be to almighty God for the Same Do I make and ordain this my last will and testament making void all Will or Testament whatsoever formerly made by me and adknowledge this my last Will and Testament, First I boquoath my Sole to Almighty God. then I give unto my Daughter Jeane Overbee One Shilling. then I give unto Edward Bayes one Shilling. Then I give unto Thomas Lester one Shilling. And Mary my loveing wife I leave my whole and sole Executor and Esaocutrix. And the Romainder of my Estate after her Decease to be Equally Divided between my Son Allen Tye and my Daughter Elizabeth Blackburn of this my last Will and Testament to which I set my hand and Seale this tenth Day of April 1728.” Lambert Tye-seal. David Royster, Thomas Clarke, George X More (marke)

Charles City County
At a Court holden at the Court house for the said County the first Wednesday in August 1728 being the seventh day of the month: The afforwritten last Will and Testament of Lambert Tye Decd was probated in Court and proved by the Oathes of David Royster Thomas Clark Jr. and George Moore wittnosos there to and there upon is Ordered tobe recorded. and for that Mary Tye his Executrioc by reason of the infirmitys of old age and in disposition of bocy is not able to come to Court to make Oath to the said will as the Law Directs. Order for the Obtaining a Certificate for a Probate there of Therefore Francis Hardyman one of the members of this Court is Desired by the Court to go to the said Mary Tye’s house and take her Oath to the said will as the Law Directs and Ceritfio the same to the next Court to this ----?Certificat be granted her for obtaining a Probat therof in due form. Test Littlebury Epes /Cl Cur

It’s interesting that Lambert left just one shilling to his daughter Jean Overbee. He left the same amount to two others, Edward Bayes and Thomas Lester. Then the rest of the Estate was to be divided between his son, Allen and his daughter Elizabeth Blackburn. Who were these two gentlemen, Bayes and Lester? Could Bayes be another spelling of the Boyce name? Lambert’s mother was Joyce Bland Boyce Tye, and Lambert had a step-brother named Thomas Boyce. Many questions remain.

1729 Mary Tye , wife of Lambert Tye, dies.
Title Tye, Mary ( wife of Lambert) Publication 1729 Gen. note Part of index to wills not listed in Virginia Wills and Administrations, 1632-1800 (Torrence). Note Inventory Returned 5 Nov. 1729 Charles City Co. Deeds, Wills, etc., 1724/5-1731, p. 260
Lambert’s wife, Mary evidently died the year following his death. Her estate showed the inventory of her meager belongings. Her daughter, Elizabeth Tye Blackburn presented the inventory to the court Nov. 1729.
On the same page #260 there is the inventory of William Blackburn, husband of Elizabeth. Even a plank for his coffin is listed at 10 Shillings. Elsewhere, there are notes that Elizabeth and William both died in 1729 as well. But I think Elizabeth lived on past that date.

1763 A grandson of Lambert Tye, Lambeth Tye , was mentioned as executor of Allen Tye’s will. He was the first born son of Allen Tye. Many persons seem to have confused Lambert and Lambeth as being the same person. Dinwiddie County Fee Book of 1763, p. 66 Mary Tye and Lambeth Tye, executors of Allen Tye, rson. dec'd.

1779 Lambeth Tye, the son of Allen Tye, put an ad in the Virginia Gazette. He was mentioned earlier as having been executor of Allen Tye’s will in 1763. He seems to have lived in Dinwiddie County, VA. probably along Mowhipponock Creek where his father, Allen, his mother and most of his siblings grew up. He would have been born about 1722.
Tye, Lambuth, /Virginia Gazette. Publisher: Dixon Page: 3, Column: 2, 1779-05-08
“Taken up, on Mowhipponock creek, Dinwiddie county, a small flea-bitten horse, has a small bell on, about 4 feet 4 inches high, not branded, some dark spots on his breast, and appears to be 12 or 14 years old." App(r)aised to 50l. (!!) Lambuth Tye”

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