Christopher Calthrope settled Poquoson in 1631 when he was granted a 500-acre land patent in "New Poquoson." Calthrope's land patent was one of many granted by Royal Governor Harvey in order to extend the English settlement from the James River across the peninsula to the York River. Plantations dominated the area until the American Revolutionary War. By the late 18th century, new residents migrated from the eastern shore of Virginia and Maryland and began settling in Poquoson. It was during the 19th century that the distinct communities of Odd, Messick, Jeffs, Moores, and Poquoson began to be settled. These communities, though in close proximity to each other, had their own stores and post offices. As the 20th century progressed, new families moved into the area due to the establishment of nearby Langley Air Force Base and NASA.

The Martin family of Virginia. Descendants of Henry Martin of Messick Point, Poquoson Distr., York Co., Va., who was born about 1778 possibly on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Family members and descendants live mainly in Virginia.

From Tyler's quarterly historical and genealogical magazine.

Covering an incredible 375 years, this book sets forth the genealogical history of some forty families who have their roots in Tidewater Virginia, families whose very history mirrors the social development of Virginia itself. Starting with the earliest colonial settler, the origins of the following Tidewater families are presented: Bell, Binford, Bonner, Butler, Campbell, Cheadle, Chiles, Clements, Cotton, Dejarnette(att), Dumas, Ellyson, Fishback, Fleming, Hamlin, Hampton, Harnison, Harris, Haynie, Hurt, Hutcheson, Lee, Mosby, Mundy, Nelson, Peatross, Pettyjohn, Ruffin, Short, Spencer, Tarleton, Tatum, Taylor, Terrill, Watkins, Winston, and Woodson.

Joshua Cox and wife Mary Rankin came to Pennsylvania in 1725-1729 from Ireland. He died ca. 1747. The family moved to Virginia in 1756. Allied families were Ward, Elliott, Cornett, Bryan, Sutherland, Dick, and others. Descendants lived in Virginia, Maryland, Washington and elsewhere in the United States.

"The foundation for this work is the Muster of Jan 1624/25 which had never before been printed in full."--Page xiii, volume 1.