Nathaniel West (captain)

Nathaniel West of Poplar Neck (c. 1665 – 1723) was a planter, military officer and politician of the British Colony and Dominion of Virginia who was one of the first two representatives for King William County in the House of Burgesses, and later represented New Kent County in that legislative assembly.

Early and family life
West was born into the First Families of Virginia, the third son of Colonel John West and his wife Unity Croshaw. He had a sister, like their mother named "Unity," who would marry Henry Fox. His elder brothers John West and Capt. Thomas West would also represent King William County in the House of Burgesses. The family's main plantation house, founded by his grandfather John West, was near the confluence of the Mattiponi and Pamunkey Rivers (which thereby form the York River), and the town now known as West Point, Virginia, but which beginning in 1705 was called "Delaware" to honor his relative Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr.

Career
Nathaniel West farmed using enslaved labor. He also held various local offices, particularly within the militia, receiving promotions from Captain to Lieutenant-Colonel. He became a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses: first as one of the first two representatives from King William County, Virginia (1700–1702), and later for New Kent County (in the 1703–1705 session).

Marriage and issue
On May 14, 1702, Nathaniel married Martha Woodward Macon (1665–1727) in York County, Virginia. Martha was the widow of Gideon Macon, who represented New Kent County several times in the House of Burgesses. They lived at Poplar Neck plantation and had one daughter, Unity, who married, as his second wife, William Dandridge (1689–1743), brother of John Dandridge.

Death and legacy
Nathaniel and Martha West both died in 1723 in New Kent County, Virginia.