It is claimed that the Heaths of Virginia are descended from Sir Robert Heath, member of the Virginia Company of London and one of the Lord Proprietors of North Carolina.

The Heath coat of arms, granted 1558, was "Per pale or sable, in chief two mullets of the second in base of the heath cock of the first, combed and wattled gules." Crest not given.

A manifest for Safety, captained by Mr. John Graunt, shows that Thomas Heath was aboard on August 10, 1635. Thomas was age 23 and a carpenter. The ship named Safety was owned by th London Company and departed England from the city for which the company was named. The manifest states "Theis underwritten names are to be transported to Virginea, ..."

It seems probable that this was the same Thomas Heath that settled in York County, and made a deposition there in 1646. The will of Thomas Best of York County, written in 1648, names his godson Thomas Heath. Many researchers have assumed that his young Thomas Heath, believed to be the son of the above-named immigrant, was the ancestor of the Heath family of the Northern Neck.

Caroline Jett wrote in her article "In the Shadow of the Chicacoan Oak":

"It was in the 1680’s that Thomas Heath came to Northumberland County. As he died soon after arriving there, the folks of Northumberland County knew little about him. His wife was Mary, and much effort has been made to discover her maiden name. Some believe that she was the daughter of Captain William Lee (son of Richard Lee.) However, as no clear evidence or proof that she was Captain Lee’s daughter has ever been discovered, the Society of Lees of Virginia will not accept her descendants as members. Whether she was his daughter or not, she definitely was the executor of Capt. Lee’s estate."

Dr. Tyler in the "William and Mary Quarterly" settled the question as to whether Thomas Heath married the widow or daughter of Capt. William Lee. The latter’s will is dated January, 1696 – while according to Mrs. Keath in "The Heaths of Northumberland" Thomas Heath died several years prior to Capt. Lee "about 1690", therefore he could not have married the widow but did marry the daughter of Mary Lee.

To further examine the issues of Mary Lee Heath, it is important to understand Mary Lee’s father (Capt. William Lee) died young leaving her as heiress. She inherited land from her father. However, after her remarriage to Bartholomew Schreever and the circumstances associated with it, the Lee family filed suit against Mary for the land. Two court dates later, Mary had lost her inheritance and been disowned by the Lee family. To this day the Society of Lees of Virginia will not accept her descendants as members.

Another text says "Thomas Heath’s widow, Mary (who was probably not Thomas’ first wife) married Captain William Lee and after Captain Lee’s death remarried to Bartholomew Schreever Jr. (Bartholomew Schreever, Jr. was the son of Bartholomew Schreever Sr., one of the early settlers in Northumberland County.) This was Bartholomew Schreever Jr.’s second marriage; his first wife was also named Mary. A court record of September 16, 1696, designates her as Mary Schreever, formerly Heath, executrix of Captain William Lee.

On January 20, 1709, Colonel Richard Lee moved the Court that the Sheriff summon Mary Schreever, Samuel Heath, Thomas Heath, Jr., John Burne, and John Curtis (both were brother-in-laws to Samuel & Thomas) to appear and answer certain questions in Lee’s behalf.

The will of Bartholomew Schreever Jr. was proved March 15, 1721. He names wife Mary, his son Bartholomew Schreever III and directs that mourning rings should be presented to Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Charles Lee and wife, Mr. Samuel Heath and wife, Mr. Thomas Heath Jr. and wife, Mr. Thomas Waddy and wife, and his sister Bowley (probably the wife of Simon Bowley.)

Thomas Heath appears twice in the records of Northumberland County, Virginia. On January 20, 1687, he sued John Flowers and in February, 1687, Richard Hull brought suit against Thomas Heath.

It seems that Thomas Heath Sr. may have served in a military capacity for a period as he wore the title of colonel before his death. This is illustrated in an entry on page 213 of "First Families of America"; Compendium of American Genealogy.

Thomas Heath, Sr., of Northumberland County, who died before 1690, had six children (so it would seem from the Northumberland County Order and Wills Books): William, Samuel, Thomas, Peter, Elizabeth, and possibly a daughter who was the youngest child and later married John Curtis.

William Heath (son of Thomas Heath Sr.) was appointed constable for the upper parts of Wicomico Parrish on May 18, 1717. He married probably Ann Ball, daughter of Captain George Ball. On May 20, 1719, Ann Heath, relict of William Heath made oath that the said William Heath made no will and she was admitted administrator of his estate. William had one child: a son named Samuel; presumably named after his younger brother. Young Samuel was apprenticed to Ralph Rutherford on May 21, 1729.

Samuel Heath (son of Thomas Heath Sr. and brother to William Heath) was sub-sheriff in Northumberland in 1712 and Justice of the Peace for several years. He married Ann, daughter of James and Elizabeth Johnson (William and Mary Quarterly.) The will of Samuel Heath was proved on March 18, 1730, but the will book in which it was recorded is missing. His executors were Captain William Eustace and Colonel Thomas Lee. Samuel had four daughters: Elizabeth, Mary, Ann, and Judith.

Elizabeth Heath (granddaughter of Thomas Heath Sr. and daughter of Samuel) first married about 1737 to Charles Jones (son of Captain William and Leanna (Lee) Jones.) She later remarried to Henry Miller. By her first marriage, Elizabeth had a daughter, Ann Jones, who married Walter Jameson. On June 13, 1737, Mary and Ann Heath chose Charles Jones as guardian and he was appointed guardian of Judith Heath; these children were all orphans of Samuel Heath and Elizabeth’s younger sisters.)

Mary Heath (granddaughter of Thomas Heath Sr. and daughter of Samuel) chose Charles Jones as her legal guardian on June 13, 1737. She first married on March 12, 1739 to Thomas (son of John) Pope. Judith Heath, Mary’s younger sister, chose Thomas Pope as here legal guardian after Mary and Thomas were married. Mary Heath later remarried to William Tebbs. July 9, 1739, Thomas Pope and George Conway sue for a division of Samuel Heath’s estate. On June 14, 1743, Mary (Heath) Pope made a deed to George Oldham for ¼ part of a water mill left to her by her father Samuel Heath, which formerly belonged to Bartholomew Schreever. In 1748/9, William Tebbs and Mary, his wife, daughter of Samuel Heath, gave a deed to land granted to orphans of John Dennis which was patented September, 1699.

Ann Heath (granddaughter of Thomas Heath Sr. and daughter of Samuel) was born May 9, 1721. She chose Charles Jones as her legal guardian on June 13, 1737; she was 16 years old. Ann first married George Conway before July 1739. At age 33, she remarried to Travers Downman on December 30, 1754. David Ball (son of Captain George Ball) calls Ann Heath Conway his "cousin."

Judith Heath (granddaughter of Thomas Heath Sr. and daughter of Samuel) was 15 years of age or younger when she was left orphan. The court appointed Charles Jones, her sister’s husband, as legal guardian of Judith. Judith later chose Mary’s husband, Thomas Pope, as her legal guardian. Judith Heath married John Sorrell. On April 8, 1745, there was a indented awarded between Henry Miller, William Tebbs, George Conway, and John Sorrell concerning the estate of Samuel Heath. (William and Mary Quarterly)

Thomas Heath Jr. (son of Thomas Heath Sr.) of Northumberland County, married Winifred, daughter Mr. Robert Jones, Jr., and early sheriff and Justice of Northumberland who was the son of Mr. Robert Jones Sr. and Martha, his wife. Robert Jones Jr. married Sarah, daughter of Mr. Christopher Garlington who mentions her in his will made December 21, 1709.

The will of Thomas Heath dated June 6, 1727, was proved July, 1729, and he names his wife Winifred and children William, John, Betty, and Mary. Mrs. Winifred (Jones) Heath remarried, after 1735, to George Oldham. She probably died in 1754 as on May 13 of that year Roger Winter and John Heath petitioned for their parts of estate in the hands of George Oldham. Thomas Heath Jr. and Winifred (Jones) Heath had four children; 2 girls and 2 boys. In order of age beginning with the oldest, there names were Mary, William, John, and Betty.

Mary Heath (granddaughter of Thomas Heath Sr. and daughter of Thomas Heath Jr.) married William Miller.

William Heath (grandson of Thomas Heath Sr. and son of Thomas Heath Jr.) was accorded his estate in 1739. He married Elinor __________ and in December 1757 they made a deed to John Heath. William later remarried to Martha __________. In 1757, William Heath patented 39 acres of land on the north side of Staunton River. In 1761, William Heath served in a corps raised for defense of state, commanded by Colonel Byrd. In 1771, he patented 333 acres on the south branch of Molley’s creek; also 91 acres on the south side of Staunton River. In the last deed his name is spelled "Haythe." William first made his home on Long Island, Staunton River. After selling his estate, he moved next to land near Pigeon Run adjoining the property of Robert Alexander. William had six children by Martha; 2 boys and 4 girls.

John Heath (grandson of Thomas Heath Sr. and son of Thomas Heath Jr.) married first, his cousin, Mary Waddy (the daughter of Thomas Waddy and Winifred’s sister) and had three sons; secondly Ann Dameron (who died within a year of their marriage leaving an infant daughter bearing the name of Ann Dameron Heath; the mother of the Rev. William Heath Kirk, the well-known Baptist minister); third, in July of 1768 Judith Glascock; forth, in 1771 Chloe Hughlett Glascock (daughter of John Glascock who owned Hughlett’s Tavern and widow of William Glascock.)

Betty Heath married Roger Winter.

Peter Heath (son of Thomas Heath Jr.) married Hannah, daughter of Edward Smith. They had one son named George. On July 13, 1748, George Heath was orphaned at age 14 and bound to Thomas Bearcroft until age 21.

Elizabeth Heath (daughter of Thomas Heath Sr.) first married a Mr. Brewer. She second married John Bashford; the son of Symon and Grace Bashford. March 17, 1726, Captain George Ball and Samuel Heath presented the affidavits of Mrs. Dameron, Thomas Dameron, Mrs. Dorothy Mahen, and Samuel Mahen. These affidavits were for the purpose of establishing the fact that John Bashford was indeed the son of Symon Bashford and his wife Grace, as he had fallen heir to an estate in England. This marriage had been celebrated at the home of Mr. George Dameron, according to testimony of Thomas Dameron, son to George, and Mrs. Dorothy Mahen (Thomas Dameron’s aunt.) John Bashford’s will was probated May 1735, by Thomas Edwards, Gent., but the will book in which it is recorded is missing.

John and Elizabeth (Heath, Brewer) Bashford had two daughters. The oldest was named Elizabeth Bashford, who had a younger sister named Judith Bashford. While the will of John Bashford is missing, Thomas Burne mentioned the two girls in his will, proved November 17, 1740.

Elizabeth (Heath), the daughter of Thomas Heath Sr. remarried a third time to John Burne. They had four children and named them James, John, Thomas, and Margaret.

John Burne was Elizabeth’s first child by her third husband, John Burne. Nothing else is known about James. John Burne died unmarried.

Thomas Burne married Grace Ball. Grace was the daughter of Captain George and Grace (Haynie) Ball. The will of Thomas Burne was proved November 17, 1740 and he names his wife Grace, son John, and cousins (actually nephews, sons of his sister Margaret) Samuel, John, Morris, and William Garlington; and cousins (actually nieces, daughters of his half sister, Elizabeth (nee Brewer) Bashford.) Elizabeth and Judith Bashford and brother-in-law George Ball, Jr.

Margaret Burne married Samuel Garlington. May 20, 1724, Mr. Samuel Heath, executor of Elizabeth Burne to deliver to Samuel Garlington and Mary (evidently Margaret) his wife, one of the daughters of John and Elizabeth Burne, deceased, the said Mary’s filial part of her deceased parents estate. Samuel and Margaret (Heath) Garlington had the following children (according to the will of Thomas Burne, proved in 1740): Samuel, John, Morris, and William Garlington.