The following was published to the VIA-L Message Board by VIA researcher, Judy Maupin Pons:

After studying some of the early records pertaining to the Via’s, here are some of my comments:

  • Amer was transported in 1677. No notation is given to indicate that he was a minor. The belief is that Amor was born in 1656 or before.
  • April 11, 1699 in St. Peter’s Parish the baptism of Judith Via, daughter of Amer Via was recorded.
  • August 3, 1701 in St. Peter’s Parish the baptism of Margaret Via, daughter of Amer Via was recorded.
  • February 27, 1703 in St. Peter’s Parish the baptism of Mary Via, daughter of Amer Via was recorded.
  • In 1704, Amer Vice paid a Quit Rent Roll tax on 50 acres of land in New Kent County, Virginia. (This information came from a transcribed book. I’ve seen the name on original records before that was written as Via but transcribed as Vice when the “a” was not completely closed.)
  • Amor Via’s land was processioned in New Kent County, St. Paul’s Parish in 1708/09. In 1711 Amor’s land was processioned and in his place is the name Marg: Via. It appears as though Amor died after March 1709/09 and before March 1711/12.
  • In 1711/12 the processioning records gives the name as Marg: Via. This record may refer to Amor’s wife. It still bothers me that she is not listed as “widow” as many of the other women are, but at this point I cannot think of any other reasonable explanation as to who she may have been.
  • In 1716 the processioning records gives the name as Mary Via. The return still lists the land as belonging to Amor Via. This seems to indicate that the estate of Amor was still not settled.

My first question has always been, “from whence came the ‘transported’ Amor VIA?” In Saint Peter’s parish records there is also this: “nohome daugh: to Amar Viah deceased ye 26 :d of 1688” I myself believe that Amor VIA was alive through the 1716 processioning records, and that the names that look like “Margaret” or “Mary” VIA, were transcription misreadings of the original records, as nowhere is this person described as a woman, such as “widow”. At this period of time in Virginia, only single women of age or widows had property rights.

On 3 April 1716, “Amor VIA” was processioned in Saint Paul’s parish at the lower church, according to “Vestry Book of Hanover County, Virginia 1706-1786,” pages 245, 251: “We have peaceably processioned the lands of Jonas Lawson, Wm Talley, Mark Anthony, Amor VIA, Widd: Thompson, Widd: Burnet, Widd: Peece & Widd: Crawfort Peter Plantine not present John Tally having no land adjoining - overseers Robt Horsley and John Matlock.” If “Amor VIA” was deceased at the time, 1716, the record should have shown him as “Estate of” or “Widow”, in my opinion.