William PETTUS

                   Lots of Petty and related lines ancestry was obtined from the Molloy Family Tree Website:
http://www.themolloys.net/web/molloyfam/pafg18.htm

Known as Col. Thomas Pettit of "Littletown," James City, Co., Va.
The Pettus's came into VA. with the Williamsburg colonists.
It would be hard to believe that COL. THOMAS PETTUS was the only PETTUS
to cross the ocean. But, the English Pettus clan were mostly wealthy, in politics (one obtaining Knighthood, others in congress, deacons of churches, etc.) and did not need foreign adventure.

Bruton Parish Episcopal Church in Williamsburg, VA. has a Pettus pew.

Notes for THOMAS PETTY II:
Thomas PETTUS, JR. was born about 1608 in Norwich, England to WilliamPettus and Mary Gleane. He was about 35 years old when he came with his father's brother, Col. Thomas Pettus.
Col. Thomas Pettus, uncle and ten years senior, and Thomas Pettus, Jr. arrived in Norfolk, Virginia in 1643 after leaving England in 1637 or1638. Norfolk records show that Col. Thomas Pettus stayed in Virginia but Thomas Pettus, Jr. vanished for about six years. The Norfolk records were usually very accurate, but the records on Thomas Pettus, Jr. were very vague. There was a good reason for this vagueness. The rumor was that Thomas Pettus, Jr. had killed a man in England and was indicted in 1629,and was also indicted on a felony in 1631. In order to escape punishment by death, which was the punishment for killing a person, even in self-defense, he left England, pretending to be his uncle's son.
The Pettus' were a very influential family, (Thomas's father was mayor of Norwich), so they arranged the disappearance of Thomas, Jr. and had the records changed to protect his identity. It was easy to get him out of the country with his uncle, Col. Thomas Pettus, ( who was then a Captain), since Capt. Thomas Pettus had left England several times to go to the "Low Countries" during the Thirty Year War.
There was a six year period of time when there is no record of Thomas. He may have been using another name, or may have just been staying out of sight Researchers do not know where Thomas Pettus, Jr. went during the six years he was missing, but after the six years, it was safe for him to come to Virginia, since England and it's ruler, King Charles I, were busy fighting a Civil War against Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan army, called Roundheads.Trying to find Thomas would be the last thing on their mind
Just to be on the safe side, Thomas now spelled his last name Petty, Pettis, Pettus or even Pettit. In England, the name Pettus was pronounced"Pettys". The misspelling was also due in part because not everyone could read or write and had to have someone else write things for them, so names were misspelled a lot, but we can be sure that we are dealing with the same Thomas by checking the names of his parents, wife, siblings, and date of birth. *see note below
In 1657 in Rappahannock County, Virginia, Thomas married Katherine Morris, the daughter of Major George Morris and Eleanor of New Kent County, Virginia. He died in Rappahannock County, Virginia in the winter of 1663. He had one child, a daughter Dorothy. His wife, Katherine, was also pregnant at the time of Thomas' death and had the baby in the Spring.
After the death of her husband, Thomas, Kathrine married John Longe, who raised Thomas Petty, II in King and Queen Co., Virginia. Katherine later married Thomas Gaines.
The will of Thomas Pettit (Petty) of Farnham Parish, Rappahannock was dated September 23, 1663 and proved January 7, 1663. It mentions his wife Katherine and daughter Dorothy. This will was originally recorded in a record book that is now missing, but was re-recorded at the request ofThomas Games on March 11, 1694 as per Essex Records 1692-95, page 231 and 335b. In the will, Thomas names his wife "Catherine Morris Petty."
Thomas Games married Katherine (Morris) Pettit Longe as her third husband, as per Rappahannock Records, 1671-76 page 330.
Thomas Pettit (Petty) who died in 1663 had a child besides Dorothy who named in his will, a son Thomas Pettit, who was "born in the Spring after the death of his father." His son was born in April or May, therefore he was not entitled to any legacy by his father's will but it seems that his grandfather, Major George Morris wanted to provide for him and his half-sister Catherine Longe. This is according to the Essex Land Trial1711-16, page 20.
Thomas Pettit, born in 1664, was mentioned in the conveyance from his grandfather, Major George Morris in 1685. In 1712, while residing in King and Queen county, Thomas Pettit conveyed 488 acres in Essex county to Robert Coleman. It is recited that this is part of the same land that was patented on September 29, 1667 by Major George Morris and Mr. John Longe.It was conveyed to the grantor by " deed of gift" from Major George Morris. This is recorded in the Essex Records, Deeds and Wills #14, page43 and 299
(All of the above appreciatively drawn from the rootsweb/worldconnectdata of Wayne Carter.)
Will:I Thomas Pettit of ye County of Rappa. and in ye parish of ffarnham being in a Weak Estate of body but in perfect mind & Memory make this my last Will & Testament, first I bequeath my soul unto Almighty God & my body unto ye ground to be buried with assured belief of the Resurection and that after this life my Soul & body shall be united in one & enjoy that Eternall bliss where my Redemer liveth, First I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Dorothy** three ffemale Cattle, one Cow name Cherry, and two heifers Comonly called by ye name of Goodluck, & Slow them & their Increase, I give unto my aforesd, Daughter & her heirs for Ever but ye Male to remaine to those that look after them until she come of age I do also give and bequeath all my Land yt is Really mine yt is to say a pattent of one hundred acres adjoinging to ye Land I now live on ye which Land encludes two hundred & Eighty acres by conveyance specified this Land heretofore mentioned my aforesaid Daughter Dorothy** is to have when she cometh to age for her & her heirs for Ever, and in case of ye death of my aforesd. Daughter Dorothy before she cometh to Enjoy this Land according to ye term of my will then the sd Land here given unto my Daughter to my Wife Katherine for her & her heirs for Ever & in ye mean time untill my Daughter be of age as aforesd. my wife Katherine to inherit & enjoy for her use in every kind whatsoever not destroying any timber nor to make sale nor diminsh any more than what shall go for ye use of her own housing and Cropps & likewise I doe also include that in case my wife Katherine aforesd. keep her self a Widow that she shall freely and wholly enjoy the Land with the proffits thereof according to ye tenor aforesd. during her life I do also give & bequeath unto my Wife after my Death my debts Satisfyed all ye rest of my personal Estate both within doors & without unto her & her hrs for Ever I doe also here ordaine and apoint my friend Nicholas White and my friend Thomas Cooper overseers of this my last will & Testament ye day & year above writtenThomas Pettit Seal
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The following is a partial history of the Petty family in the US and includes the origins of the name.  The focus of this genealogy is narrow and does not include Jemima, but mentions her father.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnsmith/pia/pia1-5.htm

Transcribed by Melody Carter

There has to be a starting point so ours will be a legend given me by Mrs. Grace P. FONVILLE of Jackson, Tenn. Mrs. Fonville who is descended from another branch of this same Petty family sent me the legend in a letter some years ago. According to this, the origin of the name PETTY is Saxon and came to Normandy with William the Conqueror. The one who received the sur-name for the performance of some deed or for some personal characteristic (That being the manner of receiving a sur-name) had the name PETTITT conferred on him. Later the name took on many different forms of spelling, among them being PETIT, PETTIS, PETITE, PETTUS, PETTYE, PETTIE, PETTEY, and PETTY. My father always insisted that the correct way was PETTEY - but in searching wills, deeds and other records of our family alone I have found the name used four different ways.
Continuing with the legend - it states that the Arms were bestowed in 1200 A.D. (The one pictured in this book was conferred on Sir William PETTY of England centuries later than that.) Another notation states that in 1188 Sir William La PETITE entered Ireland with Sir Hugh De LACY and was granted the Baroney of Magheyd in County Westmeath, anciently called the Baroney of Molygard. In 1188 Sir William defeated the Irish at Meath.
1190-1191 he was Lord Justice or Governor, of Ireland. In Pitts administration a Sir William PETTY was Chancellor of the exchequor in England. I have more about the family in the British Isles, but having set down enough to show its origin I think our chief concern is with the family after it appeared in America.
The first I was able to find was from notes made by Miss Katherine REYNOLDS in her study of North Carolina and Virginia records. Thomas (PETIT) PETTY who married Katherine MORRIS of Major George MORRIS and wife Eleanor of New Kent Co., Virginia. They lived in Farnham Parish, Rappahannock Co., Virginia and Thomas Petty died there in 1663 leaving one daughter Dorothy, and one son born posthumously in May  1664. Dorothy married James FUGETT. Thomas PETTYs widow, Katherine MORRIS PETTY married John Long and had a daughter Catherine who first married a TUNSTALL and then a WYATT. Proof for this is found in Tylers magizine Vol. 21  page 241in an article by Geo, H. S. KING: Memorial to Henry Fox, King Williams Co., Virginia. In chapter headed: TUNSTALL-WYATT-LONG-MORRIS. Major MORRIS patented 1,000 acres of land in Rappahannock and New Kent counties. Major Geo. MORRIS and Mr John LONG received a land patent for 1,600 acres July 29, 1667. On April 1, 1685 Major MORRIS conveyed his half interest in this 1,600 acres to the youngest children of his daughter Katerine MORRIS PETTY  namely Thomas (PETTIT) Petty (1) and his half sister Catherine LONG.
I - Thomas PETTY, son of Thomas PETTY and Katharine MORRIS, born May 1664, Essex (Old Rappahannock) Co., Virginia, died Essex Co., Va. in 1720 (Will pro May 17, 1720). He was Capt. of the Colonial Militia (Dragoon), member of the Council of James City, Va. and in 1714 was sheriff of King and Queen Co., Va. He married Rachael WILSON. His will mentions wife Rachael and six children: George, Thomas, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Rachael and Mary.
II - His son Thomas PETTY born about 1683 married Catherine GARTON, daughter of John and Martha GARTON, in Richmond Co., Va. in 1702. Thomas PETTY'S will pro. Orange Co., Va. May 24, 1750 mentions children: John, Thomas, William, James, George, Rebecca, and Martha PETTY and Mary WRIGHT. (I have the names of most of the families of these children of Thomas PETTY and Catherine GARTON but to follow through with all of these would make this work too voluminous - so we trace here only what we believe to be our own direct line.)