Henry Lamb (abt. 1697 - 1761)

Born about 1697 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Henby) Lamb — married 1723 in Nansemond County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 10 Feb 1761 at about age 64 in St Luke's Parrish, Rowan County, North Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Michael Stills [send private message], Fred Remus [send private message], and Steven Hall [send private message]

Biography

Henry Lamb was a Virginia colonist.

It is estimated that Henry Lamb was born between 1697 to 1699.^[1] Yates shows that online researchers estimate his year of birth, based on the years of birth for his children, to be about 1696.^[2]

The earliest known record of Henry Lamb’s presence in British Colonial America is dated 20 Jul 1715. On that date, at a Court held at the house of Henry King, Patrick Laughly proved rights for the importation of thirteen people into the colonies. Among those thirteen people were named Thomas and Henry Lamb. Others for whom Laughly proved rights, at that same time, were: John Welch, Sr.; John Welch, Jr.; Elizabeth Welch; Edward Welch; John Gordon; Daniel Butler; Richard Marshall; Na. Tucker; Matthew Dyer; Henry Clark; Wm. Pratt.^[3]

According to Smith, “There was a Henry Lamb, about 1715, who was banished to VA from England, for utterances of unorthodox doctrines (Quakerism?).”^[4] If this was the same Henry Lamb as depicted in this profile, Smith’s research suggests that Henry may have been born in England.

Marriage & Family

According to Styles, Henry Lamb married Elizabeth in abt. 1723, prob. in Nansemond County, Virginia.^[5]

The earliest record suggesting that Henry was married is dated 04 Apr 1739 (Quaker: 4th da., 2nd mo., 1739), when Henry and his family were received by the Perquimans Meeting House on confirmation letter from the Nansemond Meeting House in Virginia.^[6]

According to Henry’s will, the children of Henry and Elizabeth included: Isam, Jacob, Josaph, Thomas, Isaac, Elesabath, Bathia, and Mary.

Transactions

Ten months after arriving in Perquimons, on 25 Feb 1739/40, Henry Lamb was appointed to the list of Jurymen for Perquimans Co.^[7]

Land ownership was a legally established prerequisite for receiving an appointment as Juryman within the Carolinas.^[8] As such, Constitutional law makes it reasonable to assume that Henry Lamb owned at least fifty acres of land in the Carolinas by his appointment date. However, record to prove land ownership by him, by the stated date, other than what is implied by his appointment as a Juryman, has yet to be located.

On 12 Oct 1740, for the sum of £25, Henry Lamb purchased 100 acres described as “at the Country Road, thence to Cypress Swamp, up Deep Branch, to Thigpens line,” from Samuel Newby.^[9] Three years later, on 24 Aug 1743, for the sum of £10, he purchased 50 acres described as “on South Side of Cypress Creek, part of 400a, granted to James Thigpen,” from James Padget.^[10]

On 29 Jul 1760, for the sum of £100, Henry sold the above-mentioned 150 acres to Caleb White.^[11] Two months later, on 01 Oct 1760 (Quaker: 1st da., 10th mo., 1760), Henry requested a certificate of transfer to the New Garden Monthly Meeting.^[12]

On 05 Oct 1760 (Quaker: 5th da., 10th mo., 1760), Henry was issued the requested confirmation letter from Perquimans, and was received on confirmation in the New Garden Monthly Meeting on 29 Nov 1760.^[13]

Death

“Henry Lamb, the progenitor of this family, was born about 1697, so tradition holds. He died on 10 Feb 1761 in St Lukes Parish, Rowan, NC. That fact was recorded in The Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Volume 1, North Carolina, by William Wade Hinshaw, page 660, at the Center Monthly Meeting, Guilford County, North Carolina.”^[14]

Will

The Family Bible of Perquimons County states “As Henry Lamb made no will it is not possible to find descent from him, although he surely had children, as shown by his son Isaac.”^[15] This statement is proven, by the will transcripted below, to be incorrect.

The below will was transcripted directly from the original will. Errors in spelling and punctuation, which reflect the language and writing style of the period, have been preserved in the transcription as have uses of the letter “f” to represent the letter “s”. Also preserved in the transcription are words that were written then struck through for correction by Henry Lamb, the author.

Last Will and Testament of Henry Lamb

Written: February 7, 1761; Proved: Apr Ct 1761; Recorded: North Carolina, Rowan County, Will Book A, p. 81.^[16]

“In the Name of God Amen the Seventh day of feburey in ye yeer our Lord 1761, I Henry Lambe of ye Parifh of Sant Luke in ye County of Rowan and Provance of North Caralinia being very sick and weak in bodey but of perfect Mind & Memrey thanks be given to God therfore calling to mind ye Martalety of my bodey & knowing that all men once itt is apointed for all men once to die do Make & ordean this my Laft Will and Teftment, that is to Say Princpley & fifst of all I give & Recomend my Soul into the hands of God that give itt and for my body I Recommend it to the Erth, to be buried in A Crifting Like Manner at ye difcrefhon of my Execu^er and as toching Such worley Efteate wherwith itt hath Pleased God to blefs me in this Life I give & Devife & Difpofe of ye same in the following Manner & farem-

“Inprime, itt is my will & I do Order that in ye firft Place all my Juft debtes & funerall Charges be paid and Sataffied.

“Item, I give & bequeath ^unto Elefabath, My dearly beloved wife all & singlar full Power & atharety Rite and title to all that is Mine or belongen During her Life if Shee Continue a wedow and att her Death or Marey to be Eaquley Devided between Isam Jacob & Jofaph Elefabath and bathia ^^{onley Referving ye wench vannus to Jofaph my Son & Jacob & Isham} ye Land in ye Corriher[?] to My three Sons Isam Jacob & Jofaph if they Live to gether and if My Son Isam will Not Com Up heer to Live one ye Land I Leave ye hole Land to My Son Jacob and Jofaph, whome I Likwife Conftute, Make and ordan my only & sole Executors of this my Laft Will and Teftment.

“Item, I give and bequeath Unto my Son Thomas Lamb Isaac and Mery an inglefs Shiling apees to be paid by My Execu^er after My Defese Utterly difalowing Revoking and difannul all and Every other formor Teftiment, will, and Execu^er by me in any way, before this time Named wille & bequeathed Ratifing and Confirmeng this & No other to be my Laft Will and Teftment in which whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seall ye day and yeer firft Above writing before signing and Sealing ye tow Negor wenfches in difpsed of ye one Nemed venas to Jacob and Jofaph to Jofaph Lamb & ye other wenfh nemed heatey to Isam and Jacob. Signed Sealed Pronounced and Declared by ye Said Henery Lambe as his Lafte Will and Teftment, in the Prefence of us ye Subcribors, Crs: Nation, Benjamin Beefon, Witt Provd. his Mark, Henerey Lambe.”

Research Notes

Other sources cited.^[17][18]

In proving his headrights, the order in which Patrick Laughly named the Lambs, naming Thomas before Henry, suggests that Thomas was the eldest of the two. If the estimates for Henry’s year of birth are correct, he would have been between 15 to 20 years of age when transported to the Colonies by Laughly. While records do demonstrate that Henry had a son named Thomas, if the estimates of Thomas’ year of birth are accurate then the Thomas Lamb transported by Laughly could not possibly have been Henry’s son. As such, the Thomas Lamb transported by Laughly was most probably Henry’s father, his elder brother, or an elder near-kinsman.

About Dates

This profile shows dates in OS/NS, NS, and Quaker date formats. In converting pre-1753 Quaker dates to OS/NS or NS, the fact that pre-1753 calendars began on the 25th of March (not the 1st of January) was taken into consideration.

Birth Notes

• Prior to this update (08 Aug 2022), Henry’s profile showed that he was born in “New Kent, Colony of Virginia.”

• A thorough examination of The Parish Register of Saint Peter’s, New Kent County, Va. from 1680 to 1787, which is inclusive of the estimated year of Henry’s birth, does not show a Henry Lamb born in New Kent, Virginia. The only Lambs shown within the Parish Register are a Richard Lamb and his daughter Jane.^[19]

• The FamilySearch Ancestral File referenced states that Henry was born in “Nansemond, Or, Isle Of Wight, VA.” However, no historic sources are cited to demonstrate either of these two places to be Henry’s birthplace.

• This is the same source which shows Henry’s parents to be Joshua Lamb and Mary Alcock of the Roxbury (Massachusetts Bay) Lambs - a parent-child relationship which has been discounted by author Marshall Styles.^[20]

• “Marshall Styles’ book on Henry & Elizabeth and their descendants states that no reliable record has been found for Henry’s birthplace. He states that Henry was born “about 1697” and it is not even known with any certainty whether he was born in the colonies or immigrated from somewhere in Britain. As can be seen above, many birthplaces are claimed, but I have yet to see any credible evidence supporting any of them.” -FR

• See Research Notes: Henry “The Glove Maker” Lamb, below. Marshall Styles transcripted a letter written by Isaac Lamb (John A., Isaac, Henry Lamb) dated 02 Apr 1878. In this letter, Henry’s great-grandson wrote that “Henry Lamb, one of the early settlers in America came from England in the 16th (17th) century, settled in Eastern North Carolina.”

Marriage & Family Notes

• Thus far, there appear to be no known records to demonstrate the maiden name of Henry’s wife, Elizabeth. Many online researchers assert that her maiden name was either Henley or Henby, and that she was a daughter of John Henley or Henby and Judith Attaway. Historic records have yet to be produced to prove the said assertions.

• The only children mentioned in Henry’s will were: Isam, Jacob, Josaph, Thomas, Elesabath, Bathia, and Mary. Connected to this profile as children, though they are not named in Henry’s will, are—

• Esau Lamb (d. 1790)—Generally believed to be the same person as Isam.

• William Lamb (d. 1758)—Died before Henry’s will was authored.

• Arthur Lamb (d. 1790), Reuben Lamb (d. aft. 1803), and Richard Lamb (d. 1786)—All living at the time Henry authored his will.

Will Notes

• In his will, Henry names: wife Elefabath [Elisabath]; sons Isam, Jacob, Jofaph [Josaph], Thomas, and Isaac; daughters Elefabath [Elesabath], bathia [Bathia], and Mery [Mary];

• There is no mention of the name “Esau” in Henry’s will;

• Elesabath, Bathia, and Mary are not expressly identified as daughters in Henry’s will, but their relation as such is implied by their sharing in the Estate bequeathed-

• At the death or marriage of Henry’s “wedow” [widow], Elesabeth and Bathia are to receive portions of the Estate equal to that received by Isam, Jacob, and Josaph;

• As with sons Thomas and Isaac, Mary is to receive an “inglefs Shiling” [English shilling].

• That part of Henry’s will transcribed as “in ye Corriher” is so illegibly written that word-matching had to be used on places in the Rowan area for characters which were legible, and Corriher was the only match that even came close;

• Henry bequeathed “tow Negor wenfches” [two Negro wenches] to his sons: vannas or venas [Venus] to son Josaph; heaty [Heaty] to sons Isam and Jacob;

• Names of the Negro wenches mentioned in Henry’s will are spelled with first characters in lower case. Handwriting analysis and character matching within Henry’s will confirms that the second wench bequeathed was named Heaty, not “Leaty” as shown in a user-provided file posted at FamilySearch.^[21]

• All mention in Henry’s will of bequeathing the wenches appears to have been made after the body of the will had been completely writtten, whereas,

• the first mention is inserted between the lines of the will, in the first Item;

• the second mention is written so as to wrap to the right of the text which follows after it.

Henry “The Glove Maker” Lamb

In Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Vol. II, it is written that Isaac Lamb, born on April 21, 1821, near Richmond, Wayne, Indiana, “traces his ancestry back to 1658, to one Henry Lamb, a glove-maker, who came to this country from Scotland and settled in North Carolina. He was a Quaker of the Fox type, and freely suffered martyrdom in the cause of his beloved religion. His son, Isaac Lamb, was also of that faith, and was a glove-maker and also a mason by occupation. He was also a native of North Carolina, where he died, leaving a family of children, among whom was Thomas Lamb. He was born in Perquimans county, and followed in the steps of his forefathers in that he was a Quaker and a glove-maker. He died about the year 1780. His son, Thomas, was the father of our subject, and was born in the same county, July 7, 1780.”^[22]

The foregoing biographical sketch provides for the following pedigree: Isaac Lamb (Thomas, Thomas, Isaac, Henry Lamb).

Apparently, a book or article titled Isaac Lamb Memoirs of Wayne County exists in which the same genealogy is told as in the aforementioned biographical sketch. Personally, this researcher has not seen this particular book or article, yet it is cited in another article titled Henry Lamb Special Report which is circulating online.^[23] Within that “Special Report,” Henry Lamb’s family is, once again, “reputed to have left Scotland for the New World in 1658.”

If the biographical sketch for Isaac Lamb, of Wayne, Indiana, is correct, his 2nd great grandfather, Henry Lamb, of Scotland, must have been an entirely different individual than the subject of this profile. This is first demonstrated by the fact that his Henry Lamb could be traced to 1658, whereas the subject of this profile wasn’t even born until roughly c.1697 – thirty-seven years later. This is demonstrated next by the fact that Henry Lamb’s presence in British Colonial America wasn’t even made until c.1715, when he was imported by Patrick Laughly. Even still, publications by modern-day researchers appear to be considering the two as the same individual due to the following similarities in their families—

• the heads of both lines were named Henry Lamb;

• they both were Quakers;

• they both settled in North Carolina;

• they both had sons named Isaac;

• their families are both present in Perquimans, North Carolina.

The mention of Henry and his family being Quakers, and of their family’s presence in Perquimans, convinces this researcher that the author of the aforementioned biographical sketch borrowed the subject of this profile and his son, Isaac, in order to manufacture a pedigree for an individual where a pedigree was not known.

In a letter authored by Henry Lamb’s real great-grandson, Isaac Lamb (John A., Isaac, Henry Lamb), it is demonstrated further that the aforementioned pedigree of Isaac Lamb, of Wayne, Indiana, was manufactured. Transcripted and annotated by Marshall Styles, the below letter was authored by Isaac Lamb to an unknown addressee, dated 02 Apr 1878 (Quaker: 2nd da., 4th mo., 1878), and sent from Oregon, Holt, Missouri.^[24]

“Dear Friend and Nephew: Finding a letter directed to Willie Lamb and there being no person in this country by that name, having a brother of that name, though he leaves in Eastern North Carolina, I took the privilege to open the letter. My name is Isaac Lamb, a brother to Barnabus Lamb, thy grandfather. Now to answer thy request. I will begin as far back as I can ascertain through tradition or otherwise. Henry Lamb, one of the early settlers in America came from England in the 16th (17th) century, settled in Eastern North Carolina. Some years after, removed to the Western part of the State. His son, Isaac Lamb, married Elizabeth Nixon and remained in the same settlement, raised a family viz: (also whom they married), Phineas, Dorothy White; Restore, Millicent Winslow; Zachariah, Miriam Griffith; Armagor, Sarah Munden (Anderson?); Elizabeth, Thomas Stover; John, Sarah Smith; Joseph, Lovey Smith; John Lamb and Sarah Lamb, formerly Smith, remain in the same settlement, raised a famly viz: (and whom they married) - Hosea, married Mary; Barnabus, Ruth Bentley; Achsah, Exum Elliott; Ery, Rebecca Pearson; Miles, Nancy Modlin; Rachael, Charles Harred; Jamima, Joshua Trombled (Trueblood); Willis, Mary Newby; Phineas, Hulda Bundy; Isaac, Catherine White; Lydia, Daniel Gwinn (Gwynn). The foregoing is as near correct as I am able to give. Hosea Lamb’s wife’s family name I cannot give at this time and the name of Hosea’s wife. If thee should find any not correct, please correct them and excuse the writer of this. Perhaps some of thy father’s people can give thee the family name of Hosea’s wife. My uncle Jacob perhaps can give thee the name required. This is principally given from memory as thee has no intention to publish this, I will not hesitate to let thee have it as it is. With respect, thy friend and uncle. (signed) Isaac Lamb (son of John A. Lamb and Sarah Smith)”

In the written words of Henry Lamb’s real great-grandson, the letter of Isaac Lamb demonstrates that Henry Lamb, the subject of this profile, was born in England, not Scotland. Additionally, the author of the letter was able to name all of the children (and their spouses) of his grandparents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Nixon) Lamb, as shown in historic records. Those named were his uncles and aunts, yet he did not mention a single uncle by the name of Thomas Lamb.

Sources

1. ↑ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Ancestral File,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:MZ9Z-Q1V : accessed 8 August 2022), entry for Henry LAMB (GN5T-KQ); record merged from multiple submissions.
2. ↑ Yates Publishing, U.S. and International, Marriage Records, 1560-1900 - Marriages (Online publication: Provo, UT; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; 2004. Original data: Data extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases.); Lamb, Henry: YOB: c.1696; POB: VA.
3. ↑ “Court Records, taken from Book B, No. 1—Register of Deeds Office, Chowan Co., at Edenton, N. C.” In The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 147. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847.
4. ↑ Smith, Billie Lee. “Part II, Ancestors of John Lamb, Father of Hezekiah Lamb,” in “My Friends the Lambs.” Accessed: 16 Jun 2022. http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~myfriendsthelambs2/genealogy/part2/part2.html
5. ↑ Styles, Marshall L. Descendants of Henry and Elizabeth Lamb of North Carolina: A Quaker Family Legacy, 1697-2000. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Co, 2000.
6. ↑ “Perquimons Monthly Meeting.” In Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 1, by William Wade Hinshaw, p. 57. Ann Arbor, MI: Edward Brothers, Inc, 1936.
7. ↑ Weeks, Stephen Beauregard, Walter Clark, and William Laurence Saunders. Colonial Records of North Carolina, Vol. 4. Raleigh, NC: Nash Brothers, 1886-1914, p. 517.
8. ↑ The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina (1669). Anchor: A North Carolina History Online Resource. Accessed: 13 Jun 2022. https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/fundamental-constitutions (item “Sixty-eight. In the precinct court no man shall be a juryman under fifty acres of freehold. In the county court, or at the assizes, no man shall be a grand-juryman under three hundred acres of freehold; and no man shall be a petty-juryman under two hundred acres of freehold. In the proprietors’ courts no man shall be a juryman under five hundred acres of freehold.”)
9. ↑ North Carolina, Perquimons County. Deed Book D, No. 23.
10. ↑ North Carolina, Perquimons County. Deed Book D, No. 131.
11. ↑ North Carolina, Perquimons County. Deed Book F, No. 393.
12. ↑ “Perquimons Monthly Meeting.” In Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 1, by William Wade Hinshaw, p. 57. Ann Arbor, MI: Edward Brothers, Inc, 1936.
13. ↑ “New Garden Monthly Meeting.” In Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 1, by William Wade Hinshaw, p. 556. Ann Arbor, MI: Edward Brothers, Inc, 1936.
14. ↑ Styles, Marshall L. Descendants of Henry and Elizabeth Lamb of North Carolina: A Quaker Family Legacy, 1697-2000. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Co, 2000, p. 15 (Citing: Hinshaw, William Wade, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 1. Ann Arbor, MI: Edward Brothers, Inc, 1936, p. 660.)
15. ↑ “The Family Bible of Perquimans County.” In History of Perquimans County, As Compiled from Records Found There and Elsewhere, by Mrs. Watson Winslow, p. 373. Raleigh, NC: Edwards & Broughton Co, 1931. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/13772
16. ↑ Rowan, North Carolina. Wills and estate papers, 1663-1978. Lambe, Henry (1761). https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9G4-39JV-R?i=789&cat=457207
17. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147658004/henry-lamb: accessed 08 August 2022), memorial page for Henry Lamb (1697–10 Feb 1761), Find a Grave Memorial ID 147658004; Maintained by Tim Adams (contributor 48715378)Burial Details Unknown.
18. ↑ Personal files of Chester A. Hockett and Steven P. Hockett (Apr 2009).
19. ↑ The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia. The Parish Register of Saint Peter’s, New Kent County, Virginia, 1680-1787. Richmond, VA: Wm. Ellis Jones, 1904. Reprint, Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc, 1988. https://archive.org/details/parishregisterof00stpe
20. ↑ Styles, Marshall L. Descendants of Henry and Elizabeth Lamb of North Carolina: A Quaker Family Legacy, 1697-2000. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Co, 2000, pp. 5, 15-16, 20-21.
21. ↑ FamilySearch. Henry Lamb, LX47-3DS, Memories, “Henry Clover Lamb -- Will.” Accessed 08 Aug 2022. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LX47-3DS Note: No record can be located to demonstrate Henry’s middle name as being “Clover,” as suggested by this file.
22. ↑ Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Vol. II. Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1899. p. 1001.
23. ↑ Winslow, Jr., Raymond A. “Henry Lamb Special Report,” in “The Family of Benjamin and Vashti Lamb.” Files of Guilford College, NC. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LX47-3DS
24. ↑ Lamb, Isaac, and Marshall Styles (trans.). “Letter to unidentified nephew, a grandson of Barnabus Lamb.” Lamb Family Files. Greensboro, NC: Guilford College Library, 1878.