Background
He was the fifth son and twelfth child of Thomas West, 2nd Baron De Louisiana Warr, and was born at Testwood in Hampshire.
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John West
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He came to Virginia in 1618. "Felgates" refers to Robert Felgate"s 1632 grant of "350 acres lying at Kiskeyacke upon Pamunkey". West sold the 600 acres, along with adjoining land, to Edward Digges in 1650.
lieutenant became known as the "East.D." plantation, renamed by later owners as "Belfield".
West subsequently patented 3300 acres at the fork of York River, at the site which eventually developed into the present-day town of West Point. Charles West had no issue.
West patented a further 1550 acres in 1651, and 1000 acres in Gloucester County in 1654. In 1635, after the "thrusting out" of Governor Sir John Harvey, John West was chosen as temporary replacement., and served until 1637 when Harvey was restored to his position.
In 1640 West was ordered to England, along with three other "thrusters", to answer charges in the Star Chamber.
All four were eventually cleared, and returned to Virginia. West"s 3000-acre land grant on the York River became the location of the present town of West Point, Virginia. He died by March 1659/1660, when the Virginia Assembly passed the following act in recognition of his family"s services to the colonial enterprise: WHEREAS the many important favours and services rendred to the countrey of Virginia by the noble family of the West, predecessors to Mr.
John West, their now only survivor, claim at least that a gratefull remembrance of their former merrits be still continued to their survivor, lieutenant is ordered, That the levies of the said master West and his ffamily be remitted, and that he be exempted from payment thereof during life.
Membership
He was a member of the House of Burgesses (1628-1630).
