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Cecily - The Wealthy Widow

The story goes that the romance of William Farrar (farrar1) and Cecily Green Bailey Jordan caused the first breach of promise suit in Virginia.

When Samuel Jordan died in 1623, there was a rush for the hand of his beautiful young wife, led by the Rev. Greville Pooley. Jordan was barely in his grave when Pooley sent Capt. Isaac Madison to plead his suit. Cecily replied that she would as soon take Pooley as any other, but as she was pregnant, she would not engage herself she said, "until she was delivered."

"Captain Isack Maddeson sworne and examined saith that (as near as he remenbeth) the first motion to him by Mr. Grivell, touching a match with Mrs. Jordan was about three or four days after the Mr. Jordan's death, who entreating this examinant to move the matter to her, he answered he was unwilling to meddle in any such business; but being urged by him he did move it. Mrs. Jordan replied that she would as willingly have him as any other, but she would not marry any man until she delivered.

"After this Mr. Pooley (having had some private talk with Mrs. Jordan) told this examinant that he had contracted himself unto her, and desired him and his wife to be witnesses of it, whereupon Mr. Pooley desiring a dram of Mrs, Jordan, and she bidding her servant fitch it said he would have it of her fetching or not at all. Then she went into a room, and the examinant and Mr. Pooley went to her, but whether she were privy to his intent this examinant knoweth not; when Mr. Pooley was come of her, he told her he would contract himself unto her and spake these words. I Grivell Pooley take thee Sysley to my wedded wife, to have and to hold till death us depart and there to I plight thee my troth. Then (holding her by the hand) he spake these words I Sysley take thee Grivell to my wedded husband, to have and to hold till death us depart; but this examinant heard not her say any of those words, neither doth he remember that Mr. Pooley asked her whether she did consent to those words or that she did answer ant things which he understood. then Mr. Pooley and she drank each to other and he kissed her and spake these words, I am thine and thou art mine till death us separate. Mrs. Jordan then desired that it might not be revealed that she did so soon bestow her love, after her husbands death; whereupon Mr. Pooley promised before God that he would not reveal it, till she thought the time fitting."

Pooley promised, but was soon boasting of his conquest, and this so ired the young widow that she refused to go through with the wedding and engaged herself to William Farrar when he asked her to marry him.

Rev. Pooley felt betrayed and was so angry that he sued the wealthy widow Cecily in November 1623 for breach of promise.

The case caused quite an uproar for the authorities at Jamestown and on April 21, 1624, they referred it to London, "desiring the resolution of the civil lawyers thereon and a speedy return thereof.."

Things moved along too slowly for Mr. Pooley and in January 1624/25, he appeared before the Cort and General Council to state " Mr. Farrar and Mrs. Jordan live skandeloufly together, being sayeth ye Conceveth it skandlous witness, ye produced none but Mr. Caufey (Nathanial) but sateth ye Conceveth it skandelous for Mr. Faffar to break the order in court which he hath done by being on ordinary diet in Mrs. Jordan's house and to frequent her company alone without some body else be to be in place according to the order of the court."

The Governor and the Council repeat "the determination of the business between Mr. Pooley and Mrs. Jordan till the first arrival of ship out of England. Wherein we expect a resolution and in the meantime things to remain in the state that they are and Mr. Farrar behaving himself witout scandel in the meantime and ye Court do conceive his being in ordyary dyett there nor any familiarities hath been alleged not cause of scandal ......."

But the London authorities declined to make a decision and returned the suit, saying they "knew not how to decide so nice a difference."

William Farrar, an attorney, sucessfully defended his future wife and Rev. Pooley finally withdrew his case.

The last item of that court session is as follows: "I Grevell Pooly preacher of the word do for myself freely acquit and discharge Mrs. Cycelie Jordan from all former contracts, promises and conditiond made by her to me in a way of marriage and do bind myself in five hundred pounds never to have any claim right or title to her that way. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of Januaury1624/25."

She didn't marry William until the baby was about 2 yeas old, in 1625. Rev. Pooley soon married another woman, and he and his family were tragically attacked and slaughtered by the Indians at their home in 1629. Because of this suit between Rev. Pooley and Cecily, it wasn't long before the Virginia Assemby enacted a law that made it illegal for a woman to be engaged to more that one man at a time.

Compiled from:

The Records of the Virginia Company of London as edited by Susan Kingsbury.

The Journals of the House of Burgess of Virginia as edited by H. R. McIlwaine.

The Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia as edited by H. R. McIlwaine.

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