The Bridger Family of Virginia was one of the First Families of Virginia

First Families of Virginia

First Families of Virginia were those families in Colonial Virginia who were socially prominent and wealthy, but not necessarily the earliest settlers. They originated with colonists from England who primarily settled at Jamestown, Williamsburg, and along the James River and other navigable waters...

. The family originated in Gloucester

Gloucester

Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....

, Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The family first appeared in the United States of America in 1654 when General Joseph Bridger, Sr., the son of Samuel and Mary Bridger, came to Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight, Virginia

Isle of Wight is an unincorporated community in and the county seat of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, United States.The town mainly consists of a post office, a church, historic Boykins tavern, Isle of Wight Academy , and the Isle of Wight courthouse complex.-References:...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

. General Bridger represented Isle of Wight in the House of Burgesses

House of Burgesses

The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...

 from 1657-1673. General Bridger also served as the Speaker of the House of Burgesses. General Bridger was close friends with Governor William Berkeley and a loyalist to King Charles II

Charles II of England

Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...

. General Bridger served as the co-acting Governor of Virginia

Governor of Virginia

The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....

 1684 and 1685. General Bridger was also the Col. of the Isle of Wight Militia, the adjutant General of Virginia in 1666, and the Deputy Vice Admiral of Virginia in 1683. General Bridger owned 16400 acres (66.4 km²) in Isle of Wight County

Isle of Wight County, Virginia

As of the census of 2010, there were 35,270 people, 11,319 households, and 8,670 families residing in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile . There were 12,066 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...

 and other surrounding areas making him the largest land-owner south of the James River

James River

The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...

 and one of the tenth largest in the state of Virginia. General Bridger is buried at St. Luke's Church

St. Luke's Church (Smithfield, Virginia)

St. Luke's Church, also known as Old Brick Church, or Newport Parish Church, is a historic American church located in the unincorporated community of Benns Church, near Smithfield in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The present dedication was ascribed in 1820...

in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. General Bridger married Hester Pitt, daughter of Col. Robert Pitt of Isle of Wight, and resided at Whitemarsh Plantation. General Bridger has numerous descendants throughout the United States.