Christopher Wormeley was a prominent planter, militia officer, and colonial official in Middlesex and James City Counties, Virginia. He first appears in the records in 1662 as a witness of a power of attorney filed in Rappahannock County. Through his marriage to Frances (Armistead) Aylmer Elliott, he acquired substantial landholdings and social standing. He served as vestryman, militia colonel, justice of the peace, high sheriff, and was later appointed to the Governor's Council. He held extensive lands in Middlesex, James City, and Rappahannock Counties and served as Naval Officer and Collector of customs duties in the Potomac region until his death.
Christopher is related to the Wormeley family that lived at Rosegill, Middlesex County, Virginia; however, the exact nature of that relationship is unknown.
Personal life Christopher was born about 1641.Estimate based on his being 25 years at his marriage in 1666. He had to be born before 31 December 1645 as he was added to the Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia, vestry on 31 December 1666 and would have to have been 21 on that date. Also four years earlier he witnessed a power of attorney on 5 May 1662 and while it is possible he was a minor, if he was not he was born before 5 May 1641. He died in 1698.H. R. McIlwaine, editor, Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia: Vol. 1 (June 11, 1680-June 22, 1699), 6 volumes (Richmond: Superintendent of Public Printing, 1925), Vol. 1, page 386, 8th July 1698 Coll° Christopher Wormeley ... being lately decd; digital images, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/executivejournal01virg/page/386/mode/1up : accessed 14 October 2025).Will of Christopher Wormeley dated 20 Jun 1698 and proved 7 Jul 1701, Will Book A, pages 91-94, Middlesex County, Virginia. Will books, 1698-1870; general index to wills, 1675-1950. Middlesex County Courthouse, Saluda, Virginia, FHL microfilm 32456 Item 3, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-Y3KS?view=fullText : accessed 14 October 2025).
Christopher married Francis (Armistead) Aylmer Elliott in 1666.Frances’ husband Anthony Elliott in his will written on 12 August 1666 mentions his wife, though not by name. When Anthony Elliott’s will was proved on 9 January 1666/7 Frances had married Christopher Wormeley.Ida Johnson Lee, Abstracts Lancaster County, Virginia, Wills 1653-1800 (Richmond, Virginia: The Dietz Press, Inc., 1959), page 81; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/265865/?offset=0#page=87 : accessed 20 January 2026)William Ellyott & John Armisted relinquished their Right of Executorship to the Will of Lt Coll. Anth: Ellyott (deced.) probate of the Estate granted to Mr. Xpofer Wormeley & his Wife, the widow of Anth:, on 9 January 1666/7, Order Book, v. 1 1666-1680, page 21, Lancaster County, Virginia, Order books, 1656-1866, Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, Virginia; FHL microfilm 32141 Item 1, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-R391-F : accessed 20 January 2026).
Christopher married Elizabeth (Travers) Carter in 1690.Coll. CHRISTOPHER WORMELY as marrieing ELIZABETH, the late Widdow and Relicte of Coll. JOHN CARTER, late of this County (deced), doth in Court relinquish his Right of Executorship to his saide Will, on 14 January 1690/1, Order book No. 3, pages 75-76, Lancaster County, Virginia, Order books, 1656-1866, Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, Virginia; FHL microfilm 32141 Item 2, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-R3SS-L?view=fullText : accessed 23 October 2025).
Christopher married Margaret - after 5 March 1693/4. Margaret died before 20 June 1698. She is buried in Christopher Wormeley Garden, Middlesex County, Virginia.
Career Christopher first appears in surviving Virginia records on 5 May 1662 when he witnessed a power of attorney from Cuthbert Potter to Mathew Bellamy that was filed in Rappahannock County, Virginia. He may have been living at Rosegill, Middlesex County, the home of the other Wormeley family living in Middlesex County. This is the only connection of Christopher to Rosegill.Chri: Wormley was a witness to a power of attorney on 5 May 1662, Deed Book 2, 1656-1665, Rappahannock County, Virginia, page 227, Essex County and Rappahannock (old) County, Virginia. Deeds, wills, etc., 1656-1901; general indexes, 1656-1936. Essex County Courthouse, Tappahannock, Virginia, FHL microfilm 1929926, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P6-3D2F : accessed 29 January 2026).
Following his marriage to Frances (Armistead) Aylmer Elliott in 1666, Christopher’s public career advanced rapidly. On 31 December 1666 he joined the vestry of Christ Church in Lancaster County.Mr. Christopher Wormeley joined the vestry of Christ Church in Lancaster County on 31 December 1666, Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia, Parish register and miscellaneous material, 1653-1814 [Middlesex County, Virginia], image 11; digital images, FHL microfilm 30821, Photocopy of the original parish register, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-S9PY-6 : accessed 14 February 2026). He had received a commission as a captain in the militia by 30 January 1666/7.Captain Christopher Wormeley attended the vestry meeting of Christ Church in Lancaster County on 30 January 1666/7, Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia, Parish register and miscellaneous material, 1653-1814 [Middlesex County, Virginia], image 11; digital images, FHL microfilm 30821, Photocopy of the original parish register, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-S9PY-6 : accessed 11 February 2026). Captain Christopher Wormeley became a justice of the peace for Lancaster County on 8 May 1667.Captain Christopher Wormeley became a justice of the peace, on 8 May 1667, Court Orders Etc. No. 1, 1666-1680, page 35, Lancaster County, Virginia, Order books, 1656-1866, Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, Virginia; FHL microfilm 32141 Item 1, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-R395-X : accessed 11 February 2026). His wealth and social status are reflected in the Lancaster County tithables lists of 1667Tithable list, on 1667, Order Book, v. 1 1666-1680, pages 51-52, Lancaster County, Virginia, Order books, 1656-1866, Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, Virginia; FHL microfilm 32141 Item 1, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-R39L-Y : accessed 11 February 2026). and 1668,Tithable list, on 1668, Order Book, v. 1 1666-1680, pages 86-87, Lancaster County, Virginia, Order books, 1656-1866, Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, Virginia; FHL microfilm 32141 Item 1, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-R39J-J : accessed 11 February 2026). where he was assessed with nineteen tithables each year—the fourth-highest total in the “Southside,” the portion of Lancaster County that later became Middlesex County. These figures indicate that he was a substantial landholder employing numerous laborers.
In addition to land acquired through marriage, Christopher was given a patent for 800 acres in Rappahannock County on 22 April 1668, expanding his holdings and influence.Captain Christopher Wormly patent for 800 acres, Rappahannock County, Virginia, 22 April 1668, Land Patents Book 6, 1666-1679, page 121; Patents, 1623-1774, 42 vols.; index, land patents, [to] volumes 1-42, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLZ-PSKV-1 : accessed 15 February 2026), FHL film no. 29323.
Middlesex County created 1669
When Middlesex County was created in 1669 from part of Lancaster County, Christopher continued his leadership role. He continued as a Captain of the militia.Captain Christopher Wormeley attended vestry meeting of Christ Church in Middlesex County on 3 May 1670, Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia, Parish register and miscellaneous material, 1653-1814 [Middlesex County, Virginia], page 16; digital images, FHL microfilm 30821, Photocopy of the original parish register, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-S9P5-L : accessed 17 February 2026). By 5 November 1672 he had been promoted to colonelColonel Christopher Wormeley attended vestry meeting of Christ Church in Middlesex County on 5 November 1672, Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia, Parish register and miscellaneous material, 1653-1814 [Middlesex County, Virginia], page 19; digital images, FHL microfilm 30821, Photocopy of the original parish register, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY6-S9PB-Q : accessed 12 February 2026). and by 2 March 1673/4 he was the “High Sheriff” of the county a position he held until May 1674.Richard Robinson sworn in as High Sheriff of Middlesex Couty, on 4 May 1674, Order Book 1, 1673-1680, sheet 10, Middlesex County, Virginia, Order books, 1673-1904, Middlesex County Courthouse, Saluda, Virginia; FHL microfilm 32449, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYD-2RTG : accessed 17 February 2026). By July of that year, he was justice of the peace for Middlesex County.Lt Coll Wormeley Justice of the Peace present, various Court actions, on 6 July 1674, Order Book 1, 1673-1680, sheet 11, Middlesex County, Virginia, Order books, 1673-1904, Middlesex County Courthouse, Saluda, Virginia; FHL microfilm 32449, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYD-2RLM : accessed 17 February 2026).
Bacon’s Rebellion 1676-1677
During Bacon's Rebellion, mostly white current or former indentured servants first attacked Native peoples, seeking their land, then seized wealthy landowners and vandalized their properties. Christopher Wormeley, Henry Chicheley, Ralph Wormeley and neighbors (and sometime burgesses) Christopher Robinson, Walter Whitaker and John Burnham would all be taken hostage and parts of their plantations destroyed, before Robert Beverley and his flying squadron pacified the county on behalf of Governor Berkeley.Martha W. McCartney, Jamestown People to 1800: Landowners, Public Officials, Minorities, and Native Leaders (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2012), p. 458.Darrett B. and Anita H. Rutman, A Place in Time: Middlesex County, Virginia 1650-1750 (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1984), p. 81. Burnham, Wormeley and Chicheley, and other Middlesex justices of the peace (with Robert Lee and Nicholas Spencer from Westmoreland County, who also were target's of Bacon's rebels in attendance), all sat as a court at Richard Robinson's house to hear Christopher Wormeley's suit against the Baconians on September 7, 1677.Darrett B. and Anita H. Rutman, A Place in Time: Middlesex County, Virginia 1650-1750 (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1984), pp. 87-92