Hancock Custis (died 1728) was a planter who served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, the elected lower house of the colonial Virginia General Assembly from Accomack County, VirginiaAccomack County was spelled "Accomac" until 1940. Accomac, Virginia is the county seat of Accomack County. in 1710–1712.
Early life and family
Hancock Custis was the middle of the three surviving sons born to the former Margaret Michael and her husband, Colonel John Custis III.Harrison, William Welsh. 'Harrison, Waples and allied families: being the Ancestry of George Leib Harrison of Philadelphia and of his wife Sarah Ann Waples'. Philadelphia: Private printing by Edward Steen & Co., Inc., 1910. . Retrieved March 1, 2013. pp. 97–98. His elder brother John Custis IV married Francis Parke, and moved to Williamsburg, having served in the House of Burgesses and the Virginia Governor's Council.Harrison, 1910, p. 96. His younger brother Henry Custis The family also included sister Elizabeth (who married cousin Thomas Custis and died circa 1717) and Sorrowful Margaret (the name reflecting that her mother died following the birth, though she herself died in 1750).James B. Lynch Jr, The Custis Chronicles: The Virginia Generations (Camden, Maine: Picton Press 1997 ) pp.19, 89-90.
Hancock Custis's brother, Major John Custis IV, became the father of Daniel Parke Custis, first husband of Martha Washington. Major John Custis named one of his sons "Hancock."Harrison, 1910, p. 106.
Personal life Hancock Custis married the widow Mary Littleton's will, which was proved May 7, 1728, mentions his wife Mary.Nottingham, Stratton. 'Wills and Administrations: Accomack County, Virginia, 1663-1800'. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1999. Originally published 1931. . Retrieved March 1, 2013. p. 93. Hancock and Mary Custis's children were sons John, Southey, Levin and Theophilus and daughter Leah, who married Levin Gale.Altough Hancock Custis's will and codicils identify Leah as his daughter in law but he also identifies her husband Levin Gale as his son-in-law. Nottingham, 1999, p. 93.
Career Planter Hancock Custis inherited a farm at King's Creek from his uncle, Adam Michael.Wise, Jennings Cropper. 'Col. John Wise of England and Virginia (1617-1695); his ancestors and descendants'. Richmond, VA: Bell Books and Stationery Co., 1918. . Retrieved March 2, 2013. p. 99.
Legislator Hancock Custis' public career, like those of his father and eldest brother, included legislative service. Accomac County voters elected Hancock Custis as one of their representatives in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1710, but he did not win another term.Cynthia Miller Leonard, The Virginia General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978) p. 65Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, ed. Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Volume 1. New York, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915. . Retrieved February 16, 2013. p. 220.
Death Hancock Custis died between the date of his signing the last codicil to his will, August 17, 1727, its admission to probate on May 7, 1728.Harrison, 1910, p. 98.
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