Lemuel Lanier (abt. 1722 - bef. 1786)

Born about 1722 in Surry, Surry, Virginia, Colonial America

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 23 Mar 1786 before about age 64 in Henry County, Virginia

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Revolutionary War Soldier

Biography

Lemuel Lanier was born in Virginia.

Major Lemuel Lanier served with Virginia during the American Revolution.

Lemuel Lanier is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A069092.

Lemuel Lanier, son of Sampson and Elizabeth (Washington) Lanier, was born in Surry County, Virginia in about 1720, and moved with his parents to eastern Brunswick County (now Greensville County) sometime before 1740. His family was well-off, and he "lived the comfortable life of a planter of Southside Virginia, of mid-eighteenth century." ^[1]

When he was about 50 years old, Lemuel and his family moved west to the recently formed county of Pittsylvania where he bought land in April 1772. In 1777, that section of Pittsylvania County was sliced off to become Henry County. ^[2] He died there in 1785 or 1786.

Lemuel Lanier is mentioned in the "January 1742/3" will of his father, Sampson Lanier of Saint Andrews Parish, Brunswick County, Virginia. Of the seven children listed - six sons and one daughter - he was listed sixth. The birth order was not specified in the will, but given how it was written, it seems likely that the children were listed in order by age. Lemuel was to receive "one Negro girl called Agge, . . . one feather bed and bolster, a pair of sheets, a rugg and a blankett, two pewter dishes and three pewter plates, two cows and calves, one heifer, one young mare, bridle and saddle and all the hoggs that is called his, and a gang of hoggs that yoused[?] with the same, one iron pot and frying pann." According to the will, Lemuel's youngest sibling, James, had not yet reached the age of twenty-one, and so was born sometime after January 1722. ^[3]

There is no record of Lemuel's marriage to his first wife, but it is thought that her name was Molly. Evidence that her maiden name was Peebles comes from a 1765 deed in which "Lemuel Lanier of Meherrin Parish and Brunswick County," in order to benefit his "Daughters Molly Lanier and Sally Lanier," gave two slaves, named Beck and Cate, in trust to Jehu Peebles, "grandfather to the said Molly and Sally," with the stipulation that the profit from their labor would be used "towards the maintenance and Education of the said Molly and Sally Lanier " until they reached the age of twenty-one, at which time they were to receive ownership of the slaves outright. ^[4] Lemuel remarried about this time, and the deed would have protected his daughters interest in their mother's estate. ^[5]

On 10 June 1740, Lemuel Lanier and James Lanier (probably Lemuel's younger brother, although according to Louise Ingersoll, he would have been under age 16 at the time) paid 35 shillings for a 350 acre land grant in Brunswick County, Virginia, lying on the south side of the Three Creeks. At that time, Three Creeks was in the easternmost portion of Brunswick County, but in 1781, that area was split off to become Greensville County. ^[6]

Lemuel Lanier gave service during the Revolutionary War in the Colony of Virginia. ^[7]

Lemuel Lanier died sometime after 29 January 1785, when he signed his will, and before 23 March 1786, when it was proved. ^[8] In his will he mentions his wife Elizabeth, and his six children David Lanier, Molley King, Salley Williams, Nancy Armstrong, Washington Lanier and Benjamin Lanier. He left much of his estate to his widow, Elizabeth, during her lifetime; after her death it was to be divided equally among his children. ^{[9] [10]} She was much younger and outlived him by more than forty years. When she died in 1829, there was a great deal of legal action around her estate, particularly in Henry County, Virginia; Rockingham County, North Carolina; Cumberland County, Kentucky; and Williamson County, Tennessee; leaving a nice genealogical record. ^[11] For example, George Lanier, of Jefferson County, Kentucky, stated that he was the son of Benjamin Lanier, grandson of David Lanier, and great-grandson of Lemuel Lanier. ^[12]

Lemuel was a slave owner. In 1830, after the death of his widow, Elizabeth, twenty-two slaves were divided among his six children. ^[13]

Excerpt from LANIER, by Louise Ingersoll: "Lemuel Lanier, from his father's will, was the sixth child, born about 1722 in Surry Co. Va., moved with his parents to Brunswick Co. before 1740. He married in Brunswick Co. about 1746 Miss Peebles, the daughter of Jehu and Mary Peebles, and thought to be named Molly, but no record has been found to prove it. She died before 1761, leaving three children. He married second 1761 Elizabeth, born about 1746, who survived him forty-five years, dying June 1829 at the age of eighty-four; she married second before November 1788 Lieut. John France, a Revolutionary Soldier; her will was dated Feb. 19, 1810, and probated July 13, 1829, Henry Co. Va. In April 1772 Lemuel Lanier bought land in the newly formed county of Pittsylvania, and in 1777, that section became Henry Co. His will was dated Jan. 29, 1785 in Henry Co. and probated Mar. 23, 1786. His children were David, Molly, and Sally; and by Elizabeth, —Washington, Nancy, and Benjamin." ^[14]

Research Notes

Lemuel Lanier's service during the Revolutionary War needs closer scrutiny. He would have been about 55 years old in 1776, fairly old for fighting. It's more likely that his service entailed providing the government with supplies (willingly or not) when they were impressed from him. He would have been issued a certificate noting the date and value of the property, and been able to redeem the certificate at the end of the war.

Lanier-404 and Lanier-315 are both named Lemuel Lanier, but they are two different persons with different parents, siblings, and children. In fact, they are first cousins. DO NOT MERGE

Sources

1. ↑ Lanier: Her Name, by Maud Carter Clement, page 26.
2. ↑ Lanier: A Genealogy of the family who came to Virginia and their French ancestors in London, by Louise Ingersoll, 1970 (FamilySearch.org). Page 312.
3. ↑ Brunswick County, Virginia, Will Book 2, page 52. The inventory is on page 69.
4. ↑ Brunswick County, Virginia, Deed Book 8, pages 29-30.
5. ↑ Lanier: Her Name, by Maud Carter Clement, page 26.
6. ↑ Land Grant 10 June 1740, Colonial Land Office, Library of Virginia Archives, pages 690-692.
7. ↑ Public Service Claims Index, Roll 76.3; Service Description: 1) Received Certificate for Services
8. ↑ Lanier: A Genealogy of the family who came to Virginia and their French ancestors in London, by Louise Ingersoll, 1970 (FamilySearch.org). Page 312.
9. ↑ Henry County, Virginia, Will Abstracts, Volume I & II, 1777-1820, by Lela Adams, (Southern Historical Press, 1985), Page 18.
10. ↑ Lanier: Her Name, by Maud Carter Clement. A transcription of Lemuel Lanier's will can be found on pages 27-28.
11. ↑ Lanier: A Genealogy of the family who came to Virginia and their French ancestors in London, by Louise Ingersoll, 1970 (FamilySearch.org). Page 322.
12. ↑ Cumberland County, Kentucky, Deed Book G, page 47 (FamilySearch.org film #007896974, image 598 of 765).
13. ↑ Lanier: Her Name, by Maud Carter Clement, page 28.
14. ↑ Lanier: A Genealogy of the family who came to Virginia and their French ancestors in London, by Louise Ingersoll, 1970 (FamilySearch.org). Page 312.

See also:

• 'The Lanier Family,' Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Volume III, Number 2 (October, 1921), pages 126-147.
• Lanier family history linked here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fairbanks/lanier/history.htm
• Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, AL; Alabama Surname Files; Box or Film Number: M85.0714
• Alabama, Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970