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Theodorick Bland
Member From: 1660 - 1662
- Birth Date: 1629 (?) Birth Place:
- Death Date: before May 16, 1672
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse:
- Children: Theodorick, Richard
- Religion:
- Education:
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession:
- Additional Info: At the two sessions over which Speaker Theodorick Bland presided, the General Assembly transitioned from allegiance to the Commonwealth, to Charles II. At the first session in March 1660, the political situation in England was unknown, following the death of Oliver Cromwell and the abdication of Richard Cromwell. The House of Burgesses declared itself "the supreme power of the government of this country...until such a command and commission come out of England as shall be by the Assembly adjudged lawful." The burgesses adjourned themselves and met again in Oct. 1660, by which time Charles II had been restored to the throne of England.
1660 [Charles Citty] 1661-62 [Henrico]
- Bio: THEODORICK BLAND was Speaker of the House of Burgesses in 1660 when he represented Charles City County. He had come to Virginia in 1653 as a factor for the commercial enterprise that his father, John Bland, of Syth Lane (1573-1632), had built and passed to his eldest son, John, who died in 1680. Prior to his arrival in Virginia, Speaker Bland had conducted the family's business in Spain and the Canary Islands, while his brother Edward, who died in 1652, served as the family's Virginia factor.
According to the younger John Bland's will, the Bland family owned "the several plantations of Bartletts, Kimerges, Herring Creek Mill, Jordans, Westeffer, Upper Chippoakes, Sunken Marsh plantation, Basse's Choice, [a] Jamestown lot, [and] Lawne' s Creek.'' Speaker Bland himself lived at Berkeley Hundred until 1665, when he purchased Westover from Sir John Pawlett for £170. (In 1688 his sons Theodorick, who died in 1700, and Richard, who died in 1720, sold 1,200 acres at Westover to William Byrd.) Upon Speaker Bland's death in 1672 his nephew Giles Bland arrived to handle the family's Virginia estates, but he soon fell into conflict with Virginia authorities, and in 1677 was executed for his part in Bacon's Rebellion.
At the two sessions over which Speaker Bland presided, the General Assembly made a rather smooth transition of allegiance from the Commonwealth to Charles II. At the first session in March 1660 the political situation in England remained unknown. Oliver Cromwell was dead and Richard Cromwell had abdicated, but Charles II was still on the Continent. The House of Burgesses resolved that the best course was to declare itself to be "the supreme power of the government of this country . . . until such a command and commission come out of England as shall be by the Assembly adjudged lawful.'' After careful negotiations Sir William Berkeley accepted the offer to serve as interim governor until the situation in England was settled. Berkeley agreed that all writs would issue in the name of the General Assembly, and that he would call the assembly into session at least once every two years and not dissolve it ''without consent of the major part of the House." The burgesses adjourned themselves and met again in October, by which time Charles II had been restored to the throne of England.
Speaker Bland, who had not previously served in the House, was not reelected later. In 1664 he was a justice for Charles City County and appointed to the Council, where he served until 24 November 1671. He died before 16 May 1672. - Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices:
Speaker of the House of Burgesses: 1660
Justice for Charles City County: 1664
Member of the Council of State: 1664 - 1671
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1660 | Charles City | Speaker of the House | |||
| 1661-1676 | Henrico | Grievances |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.