Mary (Armistead) Lightfoot
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Mary (Armistead) Lightfoot (abt. 1696 - 1775)

Mary Lightfoot formerly Armistead aka Burwell
Born about in King George, King George County, Virginiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married 1711 in Virginiamap
Wife of — married about 1719 in York county, Virginia Colonymap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 79 in Yorktown, York County, Virginiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 6 Aug 2010
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Contents

Biography

Mary Armistead was born about 1696, possibly in King George County, Virginia. Mary was the daughter of William Armistead and Anna Lee. She died in 1775. [1]

Mary married James Burwell sometime before 1716 based on the tentative year of birth of their son Nathaniel Bacon Burwell. No marriage record has been located.

Mary's husband James Burwell made his last will and testament on the 6th of September, 1718, and his will was proved the 15th of September, 1718 in open court in York county, Virginia. Mary was included in the list of executors named by her husband to handle his estate.[2]

Mary acted as Executrix of her late husband's will and entered into bond on the 15th of December, 1718. The bond reads as follows: "Know all men by these presents that we Mary Burwell Joseph Walker & Thomas Nelson of the County of York are held & firmly bound unto the worshipfull the Justices of the county aforesaid in the sum of four thousand pounds sterling payable to the said Justices their heirs & sucessors or some of them to the which payment well & truly to be made we bind ourselves & every of us our & every of our heirs Exer'rs & admin'rs jontly & severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals dated this 15th day of December 1718. The condition of this obligation is such that if the above bounden Mary Burwell Exer'tx of the last Will & Testament of James Burwell dec'd do make or cause to be made a true & perfect Inventory of all & singular the goods chattles & credits of the said James Burwell dec'd which have or shall come to the hands possession or knowledge of her the said Mary Burwell or into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for her & the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the County Court of York at such time as she shall be thereunto required by the said court & the same goods chattles & credits & all other the goods chattles & credits of the said James Burwell dec'd at the time of his death which at any time after shall come to the hands or possession of her the said Mary Burwell or into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for her do well & truly administer according to Law & farther do make a true & just account of her actings & doings therein when thereto required by the said court & also to pay & deliver all the legacys contained & specified in the said Testament as far as the said goods chattles & credits will thereunto extend according to the value thereof & the Law shall charge her the this obligation to be void & of none affect or else to remain in full force & vertue [signed] Mary Burwell [signed] J Walker [signed] Thos Nelson At a Court held for York County December 16th 1718 This bond was presented & acknowledged in court by the partys thereto & admitted to Record Test Phi: Lightfoot Cl Cur"[3]

Mary and James Burwell were the parents of:

Nathaniel Bacon Burwell c.1715
Lucy Burwell c.1716 - 1717-1719

Mary married second Philip Lightfoot II sometime about 1719. No marriage record has been located. The year of marriage is based on Mary and Philip appearing in York county, Virginia court on the 21st of March, 1719 to obtain administration of the estate of Mary's deceased daughter Lucy Burwell. The court record reads as follows: "At a Court held for York County March the 21st 1719/20 . . . Philip Lightfoot & Mary his wife Exer'tx of the last Will & Testament of James Burwell dec'd come into court & made oath that Lucy Burwell daughter & legatee of the said James Burwell dec'd departed this life without making any will so far as they know or believe & he the said Philip Lightfoot having together with Thomas Nelson & Henry Hayward his securitys entered into an acknowledged their bond to the Court for his just & faithful admin on the said Lucy Burwells estate (which bond is admitted to Record) on his motion Certificate is granted him for a comission of admin on the said estate in due form."[4]

Mary gave two slaves by gift of deed on the 20th of February, 1758, to her granddaughters, Mary and Mildred Lightfoot, daughters of Mary's son William Lightfoot. The deed reads as follows: "Know all men by these presents that I Mary Lightfoot of York county for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have and bear unto my son William Lightfoot an also unto his Daughters Mary Lightfoot and Mildred Lightfoot and also for other good causes and considerations me thereunto moving have given and granted and by these presents do give grant and confirm unto my aforesaid grand daughter Mary one negro girl commonly called known by the name of Ritter and to my granddaughter Mildred one negro girl called and known by the name Phillis to have and to hold the said slaves and their increase to them and their heirs but in case of the death of either of my said granddaughters then I give the said slaves to my son William and his heirs forever Witness my hand and seal this 20th day of February in the year of our Lord 1758 [signed] Mary Lightfoot Sealed and delivered in the presence of} John Ridlehurst, Frederick Bryan At a Court held for York county the 20th day of February 1758 This deed Poll was proved by the oaths of John Ridlehurst and Frederick Bryan the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded Teste Thos Edward Clk Court"[5]

Mary and Philip Lightfoot II were the parents of:

William Lightfoot
John Lightfoot
Philip Lightfoot
Armistead Lightfoot

Disputed Spouse

This Mary Armistead has been previously listed as a wife of John Morehouse/Moorhouse. Mary has been removed as a wife of John Morehouse/Moorhouse as Mary was never married to him,  :Links: http://www.ronulrich.com/rfuged/fam01098.htm

Mary's will and the two codicils to her will names her children by James Burwell and her children by Philip Lightfoot. Mary names her grandchildren, and great grandchildren from her children of her marriages to James Burwell and Philip Lightfoot. No Morehead children or grandchildren are mentioned in her will.

Will

Mary made her will in York County, Virginia on the 9th of November, 1771, and the will was proved in York County Court on the 21st of August, 1775. Mary added two codicil's to her will, the first codicil is dated the 12th of May 1773, and the second codicil is dated the 12th of May, 1775. Mary's will and codicil's read as follows: "In the name of God Amen I Mary Lightfoot of the Town and County of York, widow being in health of body and of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all my former or wills in manner and form following. Imprimis I bequeath my soul to God in humble hope of his mercy through the merits of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ and my body to the earth to be decently buried by my Executors hereafter named, and as to what worldly estate God has been pleased to bless me with (after all my just debts are fully paid) my will and desire is that the same be disposed of as followeth, Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law Mildred Lightfoot five guineas to buy a mourning ring. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law Anne Lightfoot five guineas to buy a mourning ring. Item I give and bequeath to my grandson James Burwell the sum of ten pounds. Item I give and bequeath unto Anne Burwell daughter of my grandson James the sum of one hundred pounds. Item I give and bequeath to Sarah Chatt for her long and faithful services the sum of one hundred pounds. Item I give and bequeath to Miss Mary Phillips the sum of ten pounds. Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Hewitt my grand daughter and wife of the Reverend Richard Hewitt the sum of two hundred pounds. Item I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Burwell Hewitt and Mary Hewitt, daughters of the Reverend Richard Hewitt the sum of one hundred pounds to each of them. Item I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Mary Allen the sum of five hundred pounds an also one negro wench named Amoretta with all the children she has had (names not known) and all her future increase to her and her heirs. Item I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Mildred Coles the sum of five hundred pounds an also one negro wench named Phillis with all her future increase to her and her heirs. Item I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Elizabeth Coles the sum of five hundred pounds and one negro wench named Rose with all her future increase to her and her heirs. Item I give and bequeath to my grand daughter, Anne Lightfoot the sum of five hundred pounds but if she dies before she arrives to the age of twenty one years or marries then it is my desire that it be equally divided among the surviving daughters of my son William Lightfoot deceased. Item I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Mary Lightfoot daughter of my son Armistead Lightfoot lately deceased the sum of five hundred pounds, to be paid her by my Exors when she arrives to the age of twenty one years or marries but is she should die before she is twenty one years old or marries then my will and desire is that it shall be equally divided among the surviving daughters of my son William Lightfoot deceased. Item I give and bequeath to my grandson William Lightfoot five hundred pounds and my old silver candle cup which I bought of the Estate of John Lightfoot decd. Item I give and bequeath to my grandson Philip Lightfoot the sum of three thousand pounds. Item I give and bequeath to the poor people in the town of York the sum of twenty pounds to be laid out in such charitable uses, and purposes as my Executors shall think best answering my intentions. Item I give and bequeath to Lewis Burwell of Kings Mill, William Allen of Surry and the Reverend Richard Hewitt the sum of twenty pounds each. Item all the residue and remainder of my estate of what kind so ever it be, I give and bequeath and my will and desire is that is shall be equally divided among the daughters of my son William Lightfoot deceased. Ano Lastly I constitute and appoint Lewis Burwell of Kings Mill, William Allen of Surry and the Reverend Richard Hewitt Executors of this my last will and testament to see it executed according to my true intent and meaning In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this ninth day of November one thousand seven hundred and seventy one [signed]Mary Lightfoot (LS) Signed and sealed in the presence of us William Barrom, Charles Menningun, Callohil Mennis

[First Codicil]

It is my intention and I do hereby direct that my grand daughter Mary Allen, Mildred and Elizabeth Coles and Ann Lightfoot shall receive no more than three hundred pounds each from the residue of my estate more than the five hundred pounds already given them and should there be a larger sum remaining after paying the several legacys mentioned in my will her unto annexed than will be sufficient to pay the above three hundred pounds to each grand daughter it is my will and desire and I do hereby give the remainder to my grandson William Lightfoot given under my hand and seal this 12th day of May 1773 [signed] Mary Lightfoot (LS) In presence of William Barrom, Ann her X mark Williams

A further Codicil to the will of Mary Lightfoot - I give and bequeath to my beloved grandson William Lightfoot and his heirs one negro man named Dick which I purchased of the Honble William Nelson Esq. I do hereby appoint Fielding Lewis Esq. an Executor to my will [signed Mary Lightfoot] The above Codicil signed and sealed by Mary Lightfoot and by her desired to be taken as and for part of her will this 12th day of May 1775 In presence of David Jameson, David Jameson Junr, William Barrom

At a Court held for York County the 21st day of August 1775 - This will and the two Codicils annexed were proved according to Law by the oaths of the several witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of William Allen Esq. one of the Executors who made oath thereto and together with Joseph Hornsby his security entered into and acknowledged bond as the law directs Certificate was granted him for obtaining a Probate in due form, liberty being reserved for the other Executors to join in the Probate when they shall think fit."[6]

Notice of Death

Notice of Mary's death appeared in The Virginia Gazette as follows: "Deaths - Mrs. Mary Lightfoot, at York, relict of the late Hon. Philip Lightfoot, Esq; one of his Majesty's Council of this Colony, in the 79th year of her age. Her corpse passed through town this morning, to be deposited in the family vault at Sandy Point."[7]

Sources

  1. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 27 December 2022), memorial page for Mary Armistead Lightfoot (1696–29 Jun 1775), Find A Grave: Memorial #191229917, citing Lightfoot Graveyard at Tettington, Tettington, Charles City County, Virginia, USA; maintained by vcudean (contributor 48669187), portrait photo.
  2. York County, Virginia Orders Wills, etc. No. 15 Part 1, pages 331, 332, 333; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92Z-Z93J-S
  3. York county, Virginia Orders Wills, etc. No. 15 Part 2 (1716-1720) pages 371 & 372; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92Z-Z93K-B
  4. York County, Virginia Orders Wills, etc. No. 15 Part 2 (1716-1720) page 565; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92Z-Z93J-5
  5. York County, Virginia Deed Book 6 (1755-1763) page 123; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-1S4P-9
  6. York County, Virginia Wills & Inventories Book 22 (1771-1783) pages 299 to 303; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSSC-C9Y5-8
  7. Newspapers.com: Citing: The Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg, Virginia) 30 Jun 1775, Fri Page 5;https://www.newspapers.com/image/40483331/?terms=Lightfoot&match=1

See also:





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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Mary by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Mary:

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Comments: 17

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The Mary Armistead who m1 Burwell, m2 Lightfood did NOT marry John Morehead or have children by him. See: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1914585?seq=3#page_scan_tab_contents
posted by Jillaine Smith
Hi again!

I found an Ancestry page I could view that showed Mary Armistead m Morehead with children born from 1714 to 1749 & her death in 1768 in (John Morehead b Fauquier County, died Halifax County): http://www.motherbedford.com/Muirhead405.htm

Not the same Mary (but I'm not an Ancestry member, so I couldn't see who Ancestry thinks her parents are; additional spouses are not shown).

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Hi again!

I found an Ancestry page I could view that showed Mary Armistead m Morehead with children born from 1714 to 1749 & her death in 1768 in (John Morehead b Fauquier County, died Halifax County): http://www.motherbedford.com/Muirhead405.htm

Not the same Mary (but I'm not an Ancestry member, so I couldn't see who Ancestry thinks her parents are; additional spouses are not shown).

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Jennifer - I posted to the two duplicates who are also married to Morehead. One needs to stay behind to be Mrs. Morehead, but the other should merge with this profile.

I just found an Ancestry page I could view that showed Mary Armistead m Morehead with children born from 1714 to 1749 & her death in 1768 in (John Morehead b Fauquier County, died Halifax County): http://www.motherbedford.com/Muirhead405.htm

Not the same Mary (but I'm not an Ancestry member, so I couldn't see who Ancestry thinks her parents are; additional spouses are not shown).

I'll post this info on their page also.

Cheers, Liz

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
ok. I just looked at descendants for William Armistead & I see the problem.

One of the Mary Armisteads needs to remain unmerged to be mother of all the Moreheads (which she couldn't be if she never was with a Morehead/Morehouse - see note on Armistead-96).

We need a separate "Mrs. Morehead" profile so she can be moved when her home is discovered.

Let me know if you object to this plan, since making this profile "Mrs. Morehead" will mean that she'll need to drop Burwell & Lightfoot husbands. I suppose she could stay with her parents if we change her given name to Unknown? She can't stay Mary, daughter of William & Miss Lee, m Burwell & Lightfoot AND stay as wife of Morehead/mother of his children.

Thanks!

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Hi! Think that we need to have on profile for the wife of Burwell who then married Lightfoot and another for the wife of Morehead.

Armistead-1 is all Morehead children; this profile has just one Morehead child attached; Armistead-96 has no Morehead connection (and a note "This Mary Armistead never married a John Morehouse/Moorhouse." - assuming Morehead stemmed from same source as Morehouse?)

I think best bet is to disconnect the Moreheads from this profile (merging them if needed with the ones attached to Armistead-1) and merge this profile with Armistead-96.

Is that ok with you?

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
ps - disputed husband does not alter the fact that these are duplicates that should be merged (Armistead-1 & Armistead-96, Armistead-1141).
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Armistead-96 and Armistead-1 appear to represent the same person because: same dates, attached to same parents, with same husbands. whatever research was pending that had them in an unmerged match appears to have been completed. Please merge (or explain what's still needed). Thanks!
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Armistead-1 and Armistead-1141 appear to represent the same person because: Duplicate
Armistead-96 and Armistead-1 are not ready to be merged because: There is some duplication between the data of these 2 individuals that should be cleaned up before merging.

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