William Dandridge (1689-1744)

He was an officer in the Royal Navy when he came to Virginia and married, establishing himself as a planter and merchant. He became a member of the Governor's Council before resuming his career in the Navy. His success in Virginia encouraged his brother John (father of First Lady Martha Washington) to emigrate to the new colony. He married Unity West, grand-daughter and sole heiress of Colonel John West, nephew of the 1st Governor of Virginia, Thomas West, 3rd Lord De la Warr. Using her inheritance, between 1715 and 1720 they built Elsing Green in King William County. They were the parents of two sons and four daughters (listed above).