I am forwarding a note (with permission) posted to the Lovelace-L regarding John Lovelace of Wilkes County because it does contain some Laws related documentation that some of you may be interested in. Wanda Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 23:53:25 -0800 From: "Jack D. Lovelace" <lovelacejd@earthlink.net> To: LOVELACE-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <E16M2cW-0004u0-00@harrier.prod.itd.earthlink.net> Subject: John of Wilkes IS John of Halifax Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" This is an analysis of the data relating to John Lovelace of Richmond/Halifax Counties, Virginia and John Lovelace of Wilkes County, North Carolina which I have found in the archives for the Lovelace List. Any comments or questions appreciated. In some cases, John Lovelace (07 Sep 1727 - aft. 1800), son of Charles Lovelace and Bridgett Mc Laughlin, left a very prolific paper trail behind him. In other cases, he left nothing. John left numerous civil and legal documents in his trail but, so far, no marriage records or children's birth records have been found. John's birth, on 07 Sep 1737, was recorded in the parish register of the North Farnham Parish in Richmond County, Virginia. The next record we find for John is dated 15 Sep 1762, when he witnessed the will of John Oldham. In this document we find that John is married to one Leannah, who is probably Leannah Brown, the widow of James Oldham, and the sister, or aunt, of George Brown who also witnessed the will. (More research needs to be done in this area.) Based on John's age and Leannah's widowhood, they were probably married in 1860 or 1861. John and Leannah bought 40 acres on 30 Mar 1762, which they turned around and sold on 15 Sep 1763. It is not known if they left Richmond County at this time and then came back following the death of John's mother, Bridgett, or if they were living with her after they sold their farm. In either event, after John completed the administration of Bridgett's estate, in 1764, John and Leannah were in Halifax County, Virginia by 1765. Between 1765 and 19 Mar 1778 there are numerous civil and legal documents attesting to the presence of John Lovelace, son of Charles and Bridgett, in Halifax County, Virginia. We known which John it is because Leannah is also found as a witness on a deed for her brother, or nephew, George Brown, dated 06 Feb 1768. Thomas, John's brother, is also found in Halifax County during this time period. After 06 Feb 1768, no further record has been found for Leannah Brown Oldham Lovelace, so it is impossible to determine when she died. However, she was probably deceased by 1778. Leannah is definitely not Ann Laws. John and Leannah were definitely in Richmond County, Virginia, before 1765. William Laws, the father of Ann Laws, is documented as being in Halifax County since 1755. By 1778 John had acquired property near the Little Dutchman's Creek in Rowan County, North Carolina. This area would later be in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Again, we find numerous civil and legal documents to attest to John's presence in Wilkes County, North Carolina between 1778 and 1800. How do we known that John, son of Charles and Bridgett, and John of Wilkes are the same individual? After 19 Mar 1778, only one document bearing the signature of John Lovelace has been found in Halifax County. This is a deed, dated 24 Dec 1783, in which Henry Hereford of Burke County, North Carolina, sold 390 acres in Halifax County to Alexander Hitts of Halifax County, Virginia. This deed was not recorded until 18 Mar 1784. It is probable that John knew both of these men, or at least Alexander Hitts, and was asked to witness the document while residing in Wilkes County. On 15 May 1778, William Lowe/Laws purchased property in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and then sold his property in Halifax County, Virginia, on 02 Dec 1778. It is probable that John Lovelace and William Laws migrated together. This is the same William Laws who named his daughter "Ann Lovelace" in his will, which he wrote on 08 Jan 1780. When did John and Ann get married? It is not known. But the woman giving birth to John's children in 1790-1800 was not Leannah. The 1787 census data tells us that John had three sons under 21 and four daughters. In 1790, John had two sons over 16, three sons under sixteen, and four daughters. Between 1787 and 1790, two sons had been born. The 1800 census has four sons under ten, one son 10-16, and one son 16-26. John also had two daughters 10-16. Between 1790 and 1800, four sons had been born, the last was Permanus who was born in 1797. In 1800, John's wife is listed as 45+. Leannah and John were married by 1762, which means that Leannah was born in 1747, or earlier. This would put her age at 43 in 1790 and 53 in 1800. It is possible that a woman might have one, or even two, children after 40, but I doubt if she would have four. If Leannah was the widow of James Oldham, as is probable, then she was born in 1739, or earlier. This would make her at least 51 in 1790. Women do not have children in their 50's (except in very rare cases). It is probable that John Lovelace and Ann Laws were married 1775-1778 in Halifax County, Virginia. Combining the census counts for 1787, 1790, and 1800 and factoring in Ann's age, we get the following breakdown for John and Ann's children: 1770-1775 2 1 1775-1783 1 1 1783-1787 0 2 1787-1790 2 0 [One of these males is not present in 1800.] 1790-1800 4 0 The two males and one female born 1770-1775 are probably the children of John and Leannah. Timeline for John Lovelace (07 Sep 1737 - aft. 1792), son of Charles and Bridgett McLaughlin Lovelace, and John Lovelace (1750-1755 - aft. 1800) of Wilkes County, North Carolina. To facilitate comparison and analysis, John Lovelace, son of Charles and Bridgett, will be referred to as John of Halifax and John Lovelace of Wilkes County will be referred to as John of Wilkes. 1737 Sep 07 -- John of Halifax was born in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, to Charles Lovelace (1696 - 05 Dec 1755) and Bridgett McLaughlin (03 Jan 1793-94 - Apr 1764). 1749 -- John Loveless, Lunenburg County, Virginia, Tithes and Tithestables [This is probably the John Loveless who married 2nd Rachel VanHook.] 1750 -- John Loveless, Lunenburg County, Virginia, Tithes and Tithestables [This is probably the John Loveless who married 2nd Rachel VanHook.] 1754 Feb 04 -- James OLDHAM, will; 4 Feb 1754, 6 May 1754 son William land wheron I now live, for want of any heirs, to my dau. Tabitha, then to my son James OLDHAM otherwise called James HEYDON; b-i-l John BROWN; ex wife Leannah and John Brown; wits: George BROWN, Rawleigh TILLERY, A. HOBSON. "Wills of Richmond County, Virginia, 1699-1800" p.29 [Father of Tabitha Oldham] 1755 -- A John Lovelace and Henry Hardin witnessed a deed in Anson County, North Carolina. [I believe that this was probably John Lovelace of Craven County, South Carolina.] 1755 May 15 -- William Laws appointed to road gang. Halifax County, Virginia. 1756 Mar 18 -- William Laws appointed to road gang. Halifax County, Virginia. 1756 May 22 -- William Laws a juror. Halifax County, Virginia. 1756 Jun 17 -- William Laws gave oath to prove a deed. Halifax County, Virginia. 1756 Dec 16 -- William Laws ordered to maintain road. Halifax County, Virginia. 1757-1762 -- John of Halifax married Leannah Brown. The Lovelace Letters, Nov. 1986. Richmond County, Virginia. 1757 May 19 -- William Laws ordered to maintain road. Halifax County, Virginia. 1757 Oct 20 -- William Laws appointed to appraise estate of William Dendy. Halifax County, Virginia. 1762 May 20 -- William Laws witnessed deed for Welcom William Hodges. Halifax County, Virginia. 1762 Jan 29 -- Will of John Oldham, Richmond County, Virginia. Names dau. Anne Brown. Witnessed by: George Brown, John Lovelace and Leannah Lovelace. 1762 Mar 30 -- John Lovelace bought 40 ares from William Jeffres. Richmond County, Virginia. 1763 Sep 15 -- John of Halifax and William Jeffries sell 80 acres to Samuel Dobyns. Richmond County, Virginia. 1763 Dec 13 -- William Laws witnessed a deed. Halifax County, Virginia. 1764 -- John of Halifax administered the estate of his mother, Bridgett McLaughlin Lovelace. Richmond County, Virginia. 1765 -- Thomas Lovelace, brother of John of Halifax, married Tabitha Oldham, dau. of James Oldham and Tabitha Hayden. 1765 - 1769 -- John of Halifax sued Samuel Dobyns and James Forrester in Halifax County, Virginia. Brings suit against at least six other men in this time period. 1767 May 03 -- John of Halifax was a defendant in a court case in Richmond County, Virginia. Case was dismissed because John "has privately removed himself out of this county and the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon him." 1768 Feb 06 -- Leannah Lovelace witnessed a deed for George Brown in Halifax County, Virginia. 1768 Apr 13 -- John of Halifax witnessed a deed for Daniel Swelavent and Jacob Hamapton in Halifax County, Virginia. 1773 Sep 13 -- John of Halifax leased land from Barnett McCollough, for a term of 30 years, in Halifax County, Virginia. Witnessed by Thomas Lovelace, Alexander Davis, and Charles Spradling. 1774 Dec 08 -- John Lovelace 186 acres in Rich Valley, Fincastle County, Virginia. [This is John Loveless who married 2nd Rachel VanHook.] 1775 Dec 23 -- John of Halifax witnessed a deed for James Henry and William Ryburn. Recorded in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. 1776 Aug 1 -- John of Halifax witnessed a deed for his brother Thomas Lovelace in Halifax County, Virginia. 1778-1784 -- Washington County, Virginia. 1777-1784 on the list of constables, John Loveless. [This John has not been identified. Is not John of Halifax or John or Wilkes.] 1778 -- A John Lovelace owns property near Little Dutchman's Creek in Rowan County, North Carolina (this area later became Wilkes County). 1778 Feb 18 -- Joseph Petty, Richard Carter, and George Brown witnessed a deed for Thomas Lovelace. Halifax County, Virginia. 1778 Mar 19 -- John Lovelace, Hugh Ferguson, Jane Ferguson, Luke Williams, and Richard Brown witnessed a deed for Thomas Lovelace. Halifax County, Virginia. 1778 May 15 -- William Lowe buys property in Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1778 Dec 02 -- William and Mary Laws sell property in Halifax and Pittsylvania Counties, Virginia. 1779 Mar 05 -- John of Wilkes listed as a member of a committee for Insolvants in Captain Guests District, Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1779 Dec -- William Laws entered land request for 100 acres on Lewis Branch, Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1779 Dec 05 -- William Laws a juror in Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1780 Jan 06 -- Will of William Laws, written in Wilkes County, North Carolina, named dau. Ann Lovelace. 1780 Jun 09 -- John Laws, Sr., ordered to appraise estate of William Laws. date unknown -- Ann Laws' brother asked to be excused from a jury duty in a case involving John Lovelace. 1782 -- John of Wilkes is taxed on 400 acres in Captain Abraham Demoss' District, Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1783 Feb 15 -- John of Wilkes witnessed a deed in Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1783 Dec 24 -- John of Halifax witnessed a deed for Henry Herriford (Hereford) and Alexander Hitts. Recorded in Halifax County, Virginia on 18 Mar 1784. [Note: Herriford is from Burke County, North Carolina, which, in 1783, was adjacent to Wilkes County.] 1784 - 1787 -- John of Wilkes appears on the North Carolina state census for Wilkes County, North Carolina. One male 21-60, three males under 21, five females. 1785 Oct 27 -- John of Wilkes is a member of a road jury from Monravian Creek to the main road. Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1786 -- John of Wilkes witnessed the will of Philemon Crane. Wilkes County, North Carolina. Wilkes County, North Carolina: Wills, Book 1 1786 Apr 27 -- John of Wilkes was a member of a jury. Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1786 May 18 -- Deed from Mary Wilson to Charles Womack. Witnessed by Richard Brown, John Whitworth, William Watson Woamck, Thomas Lovelace. Halifax County, Virginia. 1786 Jul 27 -- John of Wilkes was a member of a jury. Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1789 Jul 09 -- John of Wilkes witnessed a deed. Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1790 -- John of Wilkes appears on the Federal census. Wilkes County, North Carolina. Counts: 03-03-05-00-00. [Two sons have been born since 1787.] 1792 -- John Lovelace was given power of attorney by Sarah Brown, widow of Richard Brown of Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Wilkes County, North Carolina: Wills, Book 1 1792 -- John of Wilkes was a bondsman for the estate of William Watters. Wilkes County, North Carolina: Wills, Book 1 1792 Jun 03 -- John of Wilkes witnessed a deed. Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1796 Mar 20 -- John of Wilkes bought property on Rocky Creek from Jeremia Piles. Wilkes County, North Carolina. 1800 -- John of Wilkes appears on the Federal census. Wilkes County, North Carolina. John and his wife are both over the age of 45. Counts: 41101-02001-00. [No daughter has been born since 1790. Four sons were born between 1790 and 1800.] 1806 -- The Moravian land lawsuit, which named John of Wilkes as a defendant, was settled. Allen Poe of Lenoir, Caldwell County, North Carolina, is/was suppose to be the towns local historian. He is alleged to have stated/written that John of Wilkes was a "Jr.", came from Lunenburg County, VA., and thought that John was not closely related, if related at all, to the other Lovelxxx families living in that part of NC during the late 1700's. [Note: Halifax County Virginia was created from Lunenburg County, Virginia.] QUESTIONS Does the North Farnham Parish records record the birth, or marriage, of James Oldham? Does the North Farnham Parish records record the birth, or marriage, of Leannah Brown? Can we find a marriage record for John Lovelace and Leannah Oldham? Jack D. Lovelace