| Notes |
- THE LEWIS DAVIS YANCEY BRANCH OF THE FAMILY IN CULPEPER COUNTY, VIRGINIA
Besides the Hanover/Louisa County branch of the Yancey family, which descend from the above mentioned Charles Yancey, the other main branch of the family found living in early America could be named the "Culpeper County branch" - as they descend from a Lewis Davis Yancey who was an early settler of that area which was later to be Culpeper County in Virginia. Some researchers feel that Lewis Davis Yancey may have been the brother of the Charles of Hanover and some evidence would indicate that Lewis Davis Yancey may have come from the Hanover County area during the early 1700's to settle in Orange County (from which Culpeper County was formed in 1748). It is interesting to note that on the 1704 Quit Rent Roll of King William County where the Charles Yancey is recorded there is also record of a man by the name of Lewis Davis. It would seem that the Davis family may have been intimately associated with the Yanceys. Records show a Lewis Davis living in Hanover county in 1735 near the Yanceys and dying in Louisa county in 1747 without leaving a will. Going back to Lewis Davis Yancey - about the year 1730 he married Mildred Winifred Kavanaugh - daughter of Philemon & Sarah Williams Kavanaugh (Mildred Winifred was usually referred to solely as Winifred). Philemon Kavanaugh had come to this country from Ireland in 1705 and is said to have held a land grant of 40,000 acres of land in what was later to be Culpeper County. It was a portion of this land that he deeded to his daughter Winifred in 1731 and upon which was built the Yancey estate of "Arlington" (which was passed down though the family for many generations). In 1733 Lewis Davis Yancey received a patent for two hundred seventy acres of land lying near the fork of the Rappahanock River - this land lay near the land that had been deeded to his wife. In 1748 he was granted an additional 300 acres in the same area. Lewis Davis Yancey's family lived during the period of the Revolutionary War and various of his sons and grandsons served in the war against the British. Lewis, himself, being of a relatively advanced age, did not actively serve in the military - but various records do document him supporting the revolutionary cause by "stalling" beef to the militia in 1781 ("Stalled" beef meant beef on hoof - ready to be slaughtered") . It was during the Revolutionary era that Lewis wrote his will (in 1778) and at the time the will was written, two of his sons were away from home serving in the Revolutionary Army and he was not sure that they would return. They did return and did claim their inheritance when the will was probated in Culpeper County in 1788 (four years after Lewis had died). Lewis Davis Yancey was buried there on the Yancey Estate - as was his wife. They were the parents of ten children - all born in Culpeper County: Elizabeth, Charles, John, Philemon, Lewis, Winifred, Ann Eleanor, Richard, Robert and James. The exact death date of Winifred Kavanaugh Yancey is not known, but she is known to have been living in 1797 when she "relinquished" land in Culpeper County to her son Charles. It would seem that she must have passed away soon after this. She was buried next to her husband. A tombstone (not the original) still marks their graves. Inscribed on the tombstone of Lewis is: "LEWIS DAVIS YANCEY 1689-1784 MARRIED 1710 MILDRED W. CAVANAUGH". The markers not being original and the dates not being consistent with other verified dates, many researchers have come to the conclusion that the date given for Lewis' birth may be in error. He was probably born in 1698. The marriage date recorded also seems to be in error and is probably the birth date of Winifred.
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The Will of Lewis Davis Yancey :
In the name of God, Amen, I LEWIS DAVIS YANCEY, of the county of Culpeper, being in perfect sense and memory, blessed be God, yet knowing the uncertainty of this mortal life, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all wills prior made. First, I bequeath my soul unto the hands of it's Divine Author, trusting in the forgiveness of my savior to receive pardon and remission of all my sins. My body I commit unto the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors and as to worldly goods, it has pleased God to bless me with, I dispose of the same in the manner following:
Item: I give and bequeath to my following children (viz) CHARLES, RICHARD, LEWIS, JOHN, PHILEMON, ANN NALL, and WINIFRED NALL one shilling Sterling each, they having received their full portion of my slaves and personal estate.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son JAMES, two slaves, Judy and Posh on this provision, that my son JAMES, should live and make application for them within two years after my deceased, but if he should die or fail to apply for them within the time afore said then the slaves I give to my son ROBERT, should he survive, but in case he should die without being in legal possession, I then direct the said slaves and their increase to beequally divided between all my children and their representatives.
Item: I lend to my beloved wife WINIFRED all the rest and residue of my slaves and personal estate after my just debts are paid during her natural life and after her decease, I give the same to my beloved son ROBERT and his heirs but in case he should die in the service of his country and not return to enjoy the same, I then direct the whole to be equally divided between all my children and their representatives.
Item: I appoint my beloved sons, LEWIS, RICHARD, and ROBERT executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills, in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand seal this seventeenth day of April1778.
his mark
LEWIS DAVIS YANCEY (L.S)
Signed, sealed, published & declared by the said LEWIS DAVIS YANCEY as his last will in the presence of:
JAMES PENDLETON
HENRY PENDLETON
ELIZABETH YANCEY
___
A codicil to the above will, made this day and year, underwritten:
It being my will and desire to alter the second clause in my will above, do in manner and form following: making the said clause entire and substituting in it's stead, viz, I give and bequeath to my loving son, ROBERT YANCEY, two slaves, viz, Judy and Posh, he paying unto my loving son, JAMES YANCEY, sixty pounds in gold or labor when demanded (as equivalent for the above two Negroes) to him and his heirs forever, in witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of May 1782.
Signed sealed and acknowledged,
his mark
LEWIS DAVIS YANCEY
In presence of:
BIRKET DAVENPORT
H ____ FREEMAN
FRANCES MILLER.
___
At court held for Culpeper County April 22, 1788, this last will and testament of LEWIS DAVI S YANCEY, deceased, was exhibited to the court by ROBERT YANCEY, executor therein named and was proven by the oaths of JAMES PENDLETON and HENRY PENDLETON, two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and at court held for Culpeper County June 16, 1788, a codicil to the last will and testament of LEWIS DAVIS YANCEY, deceased, was proven by the oath of BIRKETT DAVENPORT, one of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said executor, certificate is granted him for obtaining the probate thereof in due form, he having made each thereto and given bond and security according to law, liberty bring reserved for the other executor to qualify when he may think fit.
TESTE: JOHN JAMESON, CC: Court
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Davis Uriah I | Born 1707
Abt 1698 - 1784 (~ 86 years)