James Lea of Caswell County, North
Carolina
Now comes the following. an attempt to sift through rumors by using original sources to
determine the most likely genealogies of the three elder James Leas of Caswell
County circa 1790.
My mission is to determine which
James Lea married a daughter of Lawrence Bankston as revealed in the depositions of James Lea dated 1794 and 1797 (see transcriptions below).
There are three candidates who
lived on different watercourses in Caswell County within a few miles of
Lawrence Bankston; these James Leas will be referred to as James Lea of County
Line Creek, James Lea of Cobbs Creek, and James Lea of Kilgores Branch.
There were only three men named
James Lea living in Caswell County in 1790 old enough to have been this James
Lea. One man was deceased by the summer of 1792 leaving two men named James Lea, the right age, alive and living
in the right area – St. Lawrence District – the area that became Persons County
today. What are we missing?
This timeline, by The Rev. Dr.
Cynthia Forde, focuses on Edgecombe County, North Carolina where Lawrence
Bankston was granted fifty acres near Marlow’s Creek as headrights in 1744. A gazetteer shows a Marlowe Creek in north
central Person County, as a tributary of Story’s Creek, which flows into Hico
River: Granville County was created in 1746 from
Edgecombe County, and Orange County came out of part of Granville County in
1752. Caswell and Person Counties were later formed from Orange County.
One of two men named James Lea living in the area of Edgecombe that became Orange, then Caswell married Lawrence’s daughter about 1754 according a deposition in 1794: "I married Lawrence Bankston's daughter forty years ago."
1741: A Joshua Lee paid taxes in
Edgecombe County, NC. Henry Lee or Lea is not Listed (Heritage Consulting
Research Report, March 2006).
A Joshua Lee is located on:
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jocliett&id=I1208
1742: A John Lea paid taxes in
Edgecombe County, NC. Henry Lee or Lea is not Listed (Heritage Consulting).
Joshua Lee (above) had a brother, John, supposedly in the same area. See above
link.
1744: Lawrence Bankston received a
headright grant of fifty acres in Edgecombe County, near Marlow’s Creek:
We surmise that Lawrence’s first
home in North Carolina in 1744 was right there near Marlow’s Creek in present-day
Person County.
The Colonial Records of North
Carolina contains the court appearance of Lawrence Bankston on November 24,
1744, when he attempted to prove his right to one hundred acres of land for
bringing two persons into the colony.[1]
This appears to be the earliest mention of Lawrence in North Carolina. No Leas
or Lees were found in this same record.
Granville County covered a large
area of north central North Carolina. Since Granville was formed out of
Edgecombe County in 1746, records of that county were also searched for Leas
and Lawrence Bankston. Edgecombe formed from Bertie County in 1741. Records of
that county before 1741 do not show the Bankston name. A James Lee died in
1731, leaving a will. He gave property to his three sons, James, William and
Robert. But because Bertie County covered a vast geographical area at that
time, it cannot be assumed that this represented the ancestral Lea family. Land
records of Edgecombe County show that Robert and James Lee lived on the
Moratock River, and were still in Edgecombe County after the formation of Granville
County. They do not appear to be related.
1744: Laurance Bankson paid taxes
in Edgecombe County, NC (same as
present Person County, NC today).
Henry Lee or Lea is not listed.
1747: James Lee appointed constable
“from the head of Tarr River to the
County line Creek.” (Early
Granville County Records).
1747-1752: Lawrence Bankston served
as a justice of the county court.[2]
Henry Lea, or any other Leas, could not be connected to James then.
Ca. 1753 James Lee/Lea married
Lawrence Bankston’s daughter –
probably in Orange County, North
Carolina (Deposition of James Lee/Lea 1793, 1794, 1797http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df4zs446_3f6kdgq).
1750: Henry “Lee” was in another
taxing district which included the Dan River area from Country Line Creek (one
of James Lea of Country Line Creek’s witnesses to his will in 1771 was a Henry
Lea. James Lea of CL Creek had not yet appeared in the area. This Henry shown
on the 1750 tax list had two male tithables. It is possible that James was the
other one.
1750-1751: Printed tax lists of
Granville County show Lawrence ‘Banckson’ and James ‘Lee’ in the same taxing
district in 1750 and 1751.
1751: James Lee paid taxes on
someone with the surname Howell and
Lawrence paid taxes on his sons,
Andrew and Peter. William and Robert Kilgore were listed in the same taxing
district, suggesting that these persons lived in the Kilgore’s Branch area.
Another taxing district which included the Dan River area from Country Line
Creek and upwards shows a Henry ‘Lee’ in 1750.[3]
11 Nov 1756: James Talbert received
a warrant for six hundred and forty acres in Orange County adjacent ‘Capt.
Bankson’.[4]
17 March 1794: Deposition of James
Lea in the home of Gabriel Lea stating that about forty years ago he married in the family of Laurence
Bankston Sen. And that he was as well acquainted with the proceedings of the
family as one might be in that case.
27 September 1794: Deposition of
James Lea stated that he was very well acquainted with the said family of Bankstons
because he married said Laurence Bankston’s daughter.
21 January 1797: Deposition of
James Lea reiterated that he was acquainted with the family of Lawrance Bankson
since he married a wife out of the family of said Bankson, my Bossom friend.
(The depositions of 1794 and 1797
are transcribed below in their entirety.)
Timeline Sources:
Ron S. Beatty: Bankston Timeline
URL:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pNbKnKmj8jWI8yTUtpkTAQg
(Original signatures and Citations have URL links in the timeline)
Heritage Consulting research reports
were furnished by Raquel Lindaas, AG for the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Forde in March
and April of 2006.
James Lea of Caswell County
[comes the following from the
Caswell County Historical Society, by Rick Frederick
That the Bankston and Lea families
were early on the scene in that part of North Carolina that became Caswell
County is supported by the following excerpt from the 1810 letter to the editor
written by Bartlett Yancey, Jr.:
This county was first settled about
the year 1750; from that time until 1754 or 5, there were about 8 or 10
families in that part of the county, now known by the name of Caswell: A family
by the name of Reynolds, and two others by the name of D[page edge worn] and
Bankston were among the first settlers; not one of the family are now in
county, and it is believed not one of their descendants: The Lea's, Graves',
Patersons, and Kimbros came to this County about 1753, 54 and 55: they came
from Orange and Culpepper in Virginia: Several hundred of there families and
their descendants are now living in the County: The object of the first
settlers, was to possess themselves of fertile land, and good pasture: I am
told by the first settlers, that cane was so plenty, at that time, that their
cattle [smudged] fat all thru winter without feeding.
While not totally relevant to the
present inquiry, please note that the following:
Bartlett Yancey, Jr., states that
the Graves family was one of the early settlers of Caswell County. This was the
family of John Graves (1715-1792), who married Isabella Lea (1738-aft.1796).
The Leas and Graves did not, however, relocated from either Orange or Culpepper
in Virginia. They moved to Caswell County from Spotsylvania County, Virginia,
during the 1750s (probably 1754). John Graves accumulated considerable land
holdings, much of which was along Country Line Creek, which generally runs from
the southwest portion of Caswell County to its northeast corner where it
empties into the Dan River at Milton, North Carolina.
___________________
Set forth below are depositions
given by a James Lea (also referred to as James Lea, Sr.) in connection with a
dispute over certain lands apparently claimed by the Bankston family. While
this dispute is interesting of itself, we are focusing here on the claim by
this James Lea that he married the daughter of Lawrence Bankston. Her name is
unknown. Relevant portions of the deposition have been highlighted.
Excerpts from three depositions of James Lea
from 17 Mar 1794, 27 Sep 1794, and 21 Jan 1797 now follow:
(Deposition Source:
NC State Archives
State Records A
Bankson, Laurance. Orange County
Group: Secretary of "State ,
Office of Granville Proprietary Land Office
Secretary, Office of the
Call No. S.108.270--S.108.283
Location MFR
Mars Id: 12.12.69.5 (folder)
Credit: Bess Antes and Grace Turner
- Date: 6 Mar 2005 2:40 PM GMT
1. First James Lea Deposition (17
March 1794)
State of North Carolina
Caswell County
17 day of March 1794
In obedience to a Dismus ???
Potestatism?
From the Honorable Superior Court
of Hillsborough found in October 1793 directed to take the deposition of James
Lea. We have accordingly caused the said James Lea to come before us in (?)
form (?) the being of Lawfully shown on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God.
Deposeth and saith,
That about forty years ago he
married in the family of Laurence Bankston Sen. And that he was as well
acquainted with the proceedings of the family as one might be in that case.
This deponent further sayeth that he often heard Laurence Bankston Sen say that
he held a claim of land lying on the south side of a larger tract of land
wheron he then lived. Lying on the waters of Panther Creek now in Caswell
County, but the deponent further sayeth that he don’t know that ever the said
Banckston obtained any right to the said land. The deponent further saith that
the said Banckston he believed died in Anson County before the war, and further
saith that he never knew of any will that the said Bankston made. And this deponent
further sayeth that Andrew Bankston was the Eldest son of said Laurence, he
believes and heir-at law and that Peter Bankston was the second son of said
Laurence and Laurance Bankston was the third son of said Laurence Sen. That
Daniel Bankston was the fourth son of said Laurance and that Jacob Bankston was
the fifth son of said Laurance and the youngest of his sons.
The plaintiff Ann Greer asks the
deponent the following questions to wit: Do you believe that Andrew Bankston is
the eldest son of Laurance Bankston Ser?
The deponent answered: “That I
believe he is to the best of my knowledge.
The plaintiff asks the second
question: Did you ever know of anybody laying claim to any part of parcel of
the said tract of land.
Answered by the deponent, No other
person but Laurence Bankston Sen and from him to the best of my knowledge.to
his son Jacob Bankston and further sayeth he don’t know that there was any
Right made from Laurance Bankston Sen to his son Jacob.
Question the 3rd: by the Plaintiff:
Do you believe that this Andrew Bankston the Eldest son of Laurance Bankston
Sen is deceased?
Answered by the Deponent: by
reliable information I am informed he is, and I believe he is.
Signed: James Lea
Given under our hands and seals and
sworn to and subscribed this 17 day of March 1794
Sam Johnston JP
Gabriel Lea JP
_______________
2. Second James Lea Deposition (27
September 1794)
27 September 1794:
Deposition of James Lea
State of North Carolina, Caswell
County.
Directed from the Honourable
Superiour Court for the District of Hillsborough, we Gabriel Lea and William
Risney justice for said county have caused James Lea Sr. to appear before us at
the dwelling house of said Gabriel Lea and him the said James Lea being first
sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God deposeth and sayeth as follows:
The plaintiff for Ann Greer puts
the first question –
“Do you believe that this deed from
the Earl of Granville to Laurence Bankston bearing date the 28 Day of January
1761 and beginning at a red oak. The west side of Hico Creek thence running
north 76 chains to a pine thence cropping north Hico of Painters Creek 85
chains to a white oak then ? 70 chains cropping a fork of Panther’s Creek to a
black oak then (?) cropping the forks and north Hico 85 chains to the first station,
covers the land of plantation whereon the aforesaid Laurance Bankston lived
about thirty years ago.
This deponent answers: I do believe
it does.
Question 2: How long ago do you
think the said Laurence Bankston died?
To this question the deponeth answers:
he believes about five or six and twenty years ago.
Question 3: Do you believe the said
Bankston died without a will?
Answer: I never heard that he had
one.
Question 4th: Which of the said
Laurance Bankstons sons was the eldest?
Answer: Andrew Bankston was the
eldest
Question 5th:Do you believe the
said Andrew is dead or not?
Answer: I believe he died several
years ago.
Question 6th: Was you not very well
acquainted with the said family of Bankstons?
Answer: I was, I married Said
Laurence Bankston’s daughter.
Signed James Lea
_______________
3. Third James Lea Deposition (21
January 1797)
Deposition of James Lee 21 January
1797
State of North Carolina
Caswell County – In obedience to a
writ to us directed from the Honorable the Superiour Court of Hillsborough we
have caused James Lea to come before us in the House of Nickolas Dilone at
Caswell Old Courthouse; on the 21st Day of January 1797 and he being first
sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God Deposeth and Sayeth –
Question 1st: Was you ever
acquainted with the family of Lawrance Bankson?
Answer: Yes, for I married a wife
out of the family of said Bankson my (Bossom?) friend.
Question 2nd: Who by name was the
oldest son of him, the said Lawrance Bankson and heir?
Answer: Andrew Bankson was the
oldest son and heir of the said Lawrance, deceased.
Question 3rd: Was the said Andrew
Bankson some time an inhabitant of Hico? Answer: Yes, he lived on Lynches
Creek.
Question 4th: Did he not move to
the south?
Answer: yes, I understand so.
Question 5th: Do you know what the
name his oldest son was called by?
Answer: I do not know whether
Daniel or James.
Question 6th: Do you know anything
of your own knowledge of the death of said Daniel Bankson, son of Andrew
Bankson or James?
Answer: I do not.
Question 7th: How long do you
suppose it to be since the death of the aforesaid Lawrance Bankson?
Answer: He died before the war.
Question 8th: Do you know any will
the said Lawrance Bankson ever made of any of his property?
Answer: No, for I do believe that he
never made any
Question 9th: Was not Jacob
Bankston the youngest son of the family of the said Lawrance Bankson?
Answer: yes, for Andrew the oldest
son (unreadable word), the next Daniel, the next Lawrance Jnr, and Jacob
Bankson was the youngest son of Lawrance Bankson, deceased.
Question 10th: Did you believe that
you are capable of attending the Superior Court?
Answer: No, I believe that I am not
by the infirmity of old age.
Sworn before us the day and year
above written, witnessed our hand and seal: Samuel Johnston, Gabriel Lea (Le)
James Lee.
James Lee/Lea – Lawrence Bankston
_______________
Several men named James Lea have
been considered as candidates for the person who gave the following depositions
and who claims to have married a daughter of Lawrence Bankston:
1. James (Country Line) Lea. His
wife was named Anne. However, this James Lea's will was proved in Caswell
County Court in March 1792. In his will, which was written in 1771, he
mentioned his wife, Anne, and his sons: William, John and Major. Thus, he could
not have given the depositions of 1794 and 1797.
2. James (Kilgore's Branch) Lea.
His wife was named Anne but he also is believed to have died before 1794:
Wilhelmina Lea, in her genealogy of
the Lea family, gives the name of this James Lea's wife as "Annie"
and his children as: Gabriel, William, James, Polly, Betsy and Phebe. We have
found no record of his will or the estate settlement of this James Lea, but an
entry in the Rose Family Bible says that "Jas Lea, brother of Captn
William . . . departed this life . . . at his son W . . . at Caswell Court
House . . . April 1792". In my opinion, this entry refers to James Lea of
Kilgores Branch. Source: Rose-Steel Anthology, by Ben Rose (1932) at 103f.
3. James (Cobb's Creek) Lea. He
apparently lived long enough to have given the subject depositions.
Based upon the 17 March 1794
around 1754 the James Lea of the deposition married a daughter of
Lawrence Bankston. Assume for purposes of analysis that the James Lea was
twenty-one years old when he married the Bankston daughter. This would provide
a birth year for him of no later than c. 1733.
_______________
A James Lea gave one of the two
depositions shown below in the home of a Gabriel Lea because he was "too
old and infirm to travel" to the courthouse. This James Lea apparently
lived near Gabriel Lea. And, both James Lea candidates apparently lived near
each other. The principal candidates are James (Cobb's Creek) Lea and James
(Kilgore's Branch) Lea. Query whether James (Cobb's Creek) Lea first married
the Bankston daughter, became a widower, and then married Elizabeth Unknown. Or
did James (Kilgore's Branch) Lea move to to North Carolina as a widower and
marry the Bankston daughter? Until a death date can be established for James
(Kilgore's Branch) Lea by reference to a reliable record, both James Leas must
continue to be considered as candidates for the husband of a daughter of
Lawrence Bankston.
Thus, James (Kilgore's Branch) Lea
remains a candidate for the husband of the Bankston daughter even though some
researchers show his death year as 1788. No primary source has been found
confirming that death year. And, James (Kilgore's Branch) Lea did name a
grandson Lawrence Lea (otherwise not a common Lea given name).
_______________
For much more
analysis and background information go to Lea Links to Caswell County.
[1]
Document 23: William L. Saunders, The Colonial Records of North Carolina,
Volume IV: 1734-1752 (Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Co., 1993).
[2]
Document 22: Thomas McAdory Owen, History and Genealogies of Old Granville
County, North Carolina, 1746-1800 (Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press,
1993).
[3]
Document 19: Timothy W. Rackley, Granville County, North Carolina Tax List,
1755 (privately published, no date).
[4]
Document 21: Margaret M. Hofmann, The Granville District of North Carolina,
1748-1763: Abstracts of Miscellaneous Land Office Papers, Volume Five (Weldon,
NC: p. p., 1995).
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