Robert Lilly Sr.
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Robert D. Lilly Sr. (abt. 1742 - 1818)

Robert D. Lilly Sr. aka Lilli
Born about in Albemarle County, Virginia, Colonial Americamap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 1767 in Monroe, Virginiamap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 76 in Lilly on Blueston, Giles County, Virginia, United Statesmap
Profile last modified | Created 6 Aug 2010
This page has been accessed 6,634 times.
The Birth Date is a rough estimate. See the text for details.

Contents

Biography

U.S. Southern Colonies Project logo
Robert Lilly Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Robert was born about 1742. He is the son of Edmund Lilly and Ann Flippen.

Robert Lilly who married Mary Frances "Fanny" Moody and died after March 1, 1817 at Giles County, Virginia (later West Virginia).

LILLY PLAQUE AT LILLY BRIDGE PIPESTEM
James Graham and Robert Lilly


Note of Caution

Gustav Anjou published "research" on this family, so some otherwise credible sources may have copied Anjou's "work."[1] For instance, a DAR application was found for Robert Lilly with birth date as 1719, death date as 1788.[1] These are completely wrong and match ones given by Anjou.[1] Remarkably the DAR approved the application. So they're out there!

For the record, this is the information which came from the invented Anjou ancestry (ie: Albemarle County, father Robert Lilly) and ended up in user-contributed data bases.[1] What follows was from the false information:

Robert Lilly was the child of Robert Lilly born in 1719 at Gloucester Co., Va. died at Albermarle CO., Va., on 1788/9 and his (first) wife Frances ? born on ? at ? died at Albermarle, Co, Va. on ? married 1740[1]

Uncertain Origin

There are no known documents of Robert's birth. He was probably born before 1745 at Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia, where the family lived.[1] This birth date, 1745, is a guess, based on other historical dates and children's birth dates.

It is generally assumed that Robert was a son of John Lilly III and an unknown mother.[2] Many descendants believe the wife of John Lilly III was Dorothy Billups, but this is not proven.[3]

However, John Lilly III died by 1710, when his son, John Lilly IV, asked the York County court that he might choose his guardian.[2][4] Robert Lilly probably was not born that early (before 1710). He had a child born in 1782, so this would make a very long generation. Some believe there was a Robert Lilly born 1696 who married Frances and also a son Robert Lilly who married Fanny.[5]

According to June Byrne, there is a DNA connection between descendants of Edmund Lilly and Robert Lilly. Now that we know the early dates were in error, Edmund Lilly might have been Robert's father.

Note: This profile was disconnected from John Lilly III as father and Dorothy Billups as mother - impossible - dates do not work.

Note: This profile was disconnected from Jane Chisman, NOT the wife of John Lilly III or mother of Robert Lilly.[2]

Birth date October 1, 1742 is reported (without evidence or citation) at Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia. Problem with the validity of this birth date is the extant Kingston Parish Register begins in 1749.[6]

Family

Robert married to Mary Frances "Fannie" Moody, daughter of Robert Moody and Ann Ashton Moody.[7]

Children:[7][8]

  1. Robert Lilly b 1776 Bedford Co.; mar 1801 Obedience Conley
  2. Edmond Lilly b betw 1764 and 1774; mar Mar 20, 1795 Edith Meador - Evidence Birth Record of LILLY Edmund born 1772 s/o Robert/Mary Fanny Moody taken from Monroe County Vital Statistics Early Birth Records
  3. Thomas Lilly b betw 1770 and 1774; mar Aug 22, 1798 Rosana Meador also my Grandparental lineage.
  4. William Lilly b July 18, 1780 Franklin Co.; mar 1) Margaret Burke, 2) ? Miss Crawford, 3) Frances Margaret Sumate
  5. Jane Lilly b c. 1780; mar Nov 1797 Poindexter Toney
  6. Frances Katherine Lilly b 1782/3 Franklin Co., mar Matthew Pack [9][10]
  7. Judith Lilly b betw 1765 and 1770; mar Josiah Meador

Others, including the Lilly Historical Society, claim two additional children:[11] Evidence for these is needed.

  • Mary Polly married John Moody
  • Nancy married Robert Richardson

Montgomery County (later Summers), Virginia (later West Virginia)

June Byrne found Robert in 1782 at Albemarle County, Virginia, but then on 23 August 1784, Robert signed a deed in Bedford County (later Summers County).[1][12][13] Note: Albemarle was originally much larger, but never included or bordered Montgomergy.

Robert's whereabouts are shown by the personal property tax lists, collected by county and stored centrally at the Virginia State Archives.[7] According to James Richardson, these lists show Robert Lilly at Montgomery County in 1797, but not before.[7] (this is not a primary source, and those should be checked to confirm)

Death and Legacy

Robert died between 1817 and 1820,[7] or certainly after March 1, 1817. On that date, Robert Lilly, Sr., of Giles County, Virginia, made provisions for his and his wife's care in their remaining years. A deed on February 28, 1817 conveyed his personal property to his son, William Lilly, for the "maintenance of the said Robert Lilly and Fanny Lilly during life." Another deed on March 1, 1817, conveyed 50 acres on the north side of Big Bluestone River for the "personal maintenance of himself, the said Robert Lilly, Sr., and his wife, Fanny Lilly during life."[1]

Robert and Fanny Lilly's original graves were moved during construction of the Bluestone Dam, and they now are said to rest beneath the Lilly Monument at the old Lilly Reunion Grounds, Flat Top, Mercer County, West Virginia.[14][15]

Research Notes

The Army Corps of Engineers found a headstone, and reported the birth was 1696 and the death 1810, but we know those cannot be correct; other original documents place the dates differently.[16] Those dates may be the ones which Jack Lilly's grandmother scratched on a stone and placed on the spot she called the grave for Robert Lilly.[17][7]

It seems there is a missing generation (or two). The work of James E. Richardson, using primary documents, has dis-proved much of the dating assigned by writers of early published works (including Anjou).[7] We know Robert Lilly was living in 1814, when he divided land he held jointly with Josiah Meador; this deed is on file at Giles County.[7] We know he was living on March 1, 1817, when he conveyed 50 acres to his son William.[1]

Miller, in History of Summers County ..., makes conflicting claims: that Robert was born in 1696 and lived to be 108 (page 462) , and that he lived to be 114 (page 464). Miller also states that Robert's wife, Frances, died at age 117.[16] Using the Giles County death records for several of the children of Robert Lilly, Richardson is able to show that a birth date of 1696 is too early, especially if his wife, Frances, was about the same age.[7] To have a child born in 1782, Frances was probably not born much before about 1745 at the earliest.

Mission Generation(s): The Lilly Historical and Genealogical Society of West Virginia addressed the missing generations problem and printed the new findings in the newsletter, "The Lilley, Lillie, Lilly, Lylle Quest."[18]

Chronology of county formation:[19]

Albemarle formed from Goochland in 1744
Bedford formed from Albemarle and Lunenburg 1753-1754
Montgomery from Fincastle 1776-1777
Franklin from Bedford 1785-1786
Giles formed from Montgomery in 1806
Mercer formed 1837
Summers formed 1871
West Virginia was formed in 1861

Name: Robert D. Lilly, I. Given Name: Robert D. Surname: Lilly, I. Taking Lilly as the last name from Lilly, I. A Given name was found in addition to a first name in the NAME tag. Buried AFT 13 MAR 1818. Lilly Cemetery - Moved to the Lilly Monument, #F-17, Flat Top, Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. File Format: jpg. File: https:/www.myheritageimages.com/R/storage/site784138761/files/50/04/45500445_9253615ca5lta5fpwc8b6t.jpg. 81212 PARENTRIN MH:P500374. PERSONALPHOTO Y. Format: jpg. File: https:/www.myheritageimages.com/R/storage/site784138761/files/50/03/74500374_391364w57cp3iaj45bfb17.jpg. 84779 1810_robert_and_fannie_lilly_monument_large PRIM_CUTOUT Y. PARENTPHOTO Y. Position: 7 7 632 472.

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Byrne, June C., Robert Lilly 3 May 2014, accessed June 28, 2015
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Byrne, June C. "Jane Chisman was not the wife of John Lilly III ", April 22, 2013, Web accessed August 8, 2014
  3. Unfortunately the Kingston Parish Records burned, so this county's records begin in 1749.
  4. We do not know why John Lilly IV was in York County; maybe he was staying with relatives. There is no record of any other children, but they may have been in Gloucester County (where the records did not survive).
  5. Lilly, Robert, "I have Documented proof to show all the Lilly's Back to John Lilly the immagrant [sic."] Lilly Family Message Board and Forum, October 19, 2004, accessed January 30, 2016.
  6. Family Search.org, (modified on 23 December 2015) Kingston Parish Virginia.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Richardson, James E., Lillys (Pg 1) "Corrections to Published Sources for the Family of Robert Lilly of West Virginia," Cherie Clark, 1980, Scribd.com accessed June 28, 2015
  8. US GenWeb, Lilly Birth Records, "Monroe Co. WV Births, L."
  9. Note: Frances is sometimes called "Frances Margaret" and "Frances Katherine" (without evidence)
  10. LILLY Frances Katey Born 1782 d/o Robert/Mary Francis Moody Taken from the Monroe County Vital Statistic Early Records and she has never been called Frances Margaret.
  11. Lilly Historical Society
  12. 1782 Albemarle Co., Va. Court Booklet Page 39 Year 1782, Robert Lilly furnished supplies to the military.
  13. 1784 Bedford County, Virginia Deed Book 7: 1780-1787 dated Robert Lilly 23 Aug 1784.
  14. Miller, Butch, Bluestone Cemetery Relocations (Official Listing), Summers Co. WV: Huntington District - Corps of Engineers USGenWeb, May 19, 1998, accessed June 28, 2015
  15. Graves Moved from the Robert Lilly Cemetery in Lilly, Summers County WV.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Miller, James H., History of Summers County from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. (Page 462) [Hinton? W. Va.], 1908, Archive.org accessed September 20, 2015 CAUTION: contains errors about the early Lilly family
  17. Remembered by Mr. Jack Lilly of Canton Ohio, and recorded by James Richardson.
  18. Lilly, C. R., All Lillies Read This February 7, 2002, accessed January 30, 2016.
  19. Germanna Colonies, History of County Formations in Virginia 1617-1995. Germanna Colonies Family History: The State of Virginia, accessed July 14, 2015

See also:

Robert Lilly Deeds

  • Henning, Elma & Merle Rummel, The Toney Family History, 1979, Gateway Press, pg 302
  • Source: S500010 WikiTree Publication: MyHeritage <a href='http://www.wikitree.com' target='wikitree'>www.wikitree.com</a> Collection Media: 10109https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10109-1503935/robert-lilly-lilli-lilly-sr-in-wikitree Certainty: 4 Robert Lilly Lilli, Lilly, Sr.<br>Gender: Male<br>Birth: 1742 - Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia Colony<br>Marriage: 1767 - Monroe Va<br>Death: Mar 13 1818 - Giles County, Virginia<br>Father: Edmund Lilly Lilley, 1st<br>Mother: Ann Lilly (born Flippen)<br>Wife: Mary Frances Fannie Lilly (born Moody)<br>Children: Jane Polly Toney (born Lilly)Pvt Edmund Lilly LillieJudah Judith Meador (born Lilly Meadow)William Selargrit LillyFrances Katherine Katey Pack (born Lilly)Robert Lilly, Jr.Thomas Lilly, SrNancy Lilly<br>Siblings: Rev Edmund Fleming Lilly, IIWilliam LillyArmiger Lilly Lillie, Sr.John LillyThomas LillyMary Ann Shepherd (born Lilly)<br>Photos: Event: Record Role: 10109:1503935:
  • Source: S500024 Geni World Family Tree Publication: MyHeritage The Geni World Family Tree is found on <A href="http://www.geni.com" target="_blank">www.Geni.com</A>. Geni is owned and operated by MyHeritage. Collection Media: 40000https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-40000-35497559/robert-d-lilly-i-in-geni-world-family-tree Certainty: 4 Robert D. Lilly, I<br>Gender: Male<br>Birth: Dec 9 1732 - Albemarle County, Virginia, Colonial America<br>Marriage: Spouse: Mary Frances Lilly (born Moody) - 1767 - VA, United States<br>Death: Mar 13 1818 - Lilly on Blueston, Giles County, Virginia, United States<br>Burial: After Mar 13 1818 - Lilly Cemetery - Moved to the LillyMonument, #F-17, Flat Top, Mercer County, West Virginia, United States<br>Father: <a>Edmund Lilly</a><br>Mother: <a>Annie Flemming</a><br>Wife: <a>Mary Frances Lilly (born Moody)</a><br>Children: <a>Polly Lilly</a>, <a>Judith Meador (born Lilly)</a>, <a>Thomas Edmond Lilly, I</a>, <a>Robert Jr. Lilly</a>, <a>Jane P Toney (born Lilly)</a>, <a>William Selargrit Lilly</a>, <a>Frances Katherine Pack (born Lilly)</a> Event: Record Role: 40000:35497559:

DNA Confirmed

DNA Confirmation can be made between: SB-M811138 with: (Atkinson) Clark-A331227 with 12.7 cM + 1 Matching Segment, Samuels-A758204 with 9.8 cM + 1 Matching Segment, Elwood Cox-T866493 with 23.0 cM + 2 Matching Segments, James Atkinson-G959233 with 20.3 cM + 1 Matching Segment, Joseph Pack-H161862 with 15.0 cM + 1 Matching Segment, Walter Pack-H120547 with 24.1 cM + 1 Marching Segment, (Pettry)Pack-H955491 with 24.1 cM + 1 Matching Segment, Rickey Pack-H955187 with 16.0 cM + 1 Matching Segment.

All DNA Confirmed Profiles with two or more DNA Relatives for this person or family. For Privacy Reasons, others may not want such information listed or shared with public. Therefore I will not list Others DNA here for security purposes. If you are a Descendant, please Upload your DNA to WikiTree. DNA matches at GedMatch or 23andme.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to June C. Byrne for the transcriptions of records, and more importantly, for you thorough well-documented research on these families.





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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Robert by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Robert:

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Comments: 21

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Lilly-2778 and Lilly-12 appear to represent the same person because: duplicate
posted by Elizabeth W
Lilly-2778 and Lilly-12 do not represent the same person because: Not a match
posted by Andrea (Stawski) Pack
The fact a grave stone found would make him 114 years old at time of death is odd but not impossible. There are several Pleasant Lilly's that lived over 100 years.
posted by Tracy Frazier
Lilly-2574 and Lilly-12 are not ready to be merged because: Needs work on the merge more research.
posted by Andrea (Stawski) Pack
Lilly-2574 and Lilly-12 appear to represent the same person because: Same name, same parents, same death date
posted by Neal Parker
Lilly-2573 and Lilly-12 do not represent the same person because: Birth dates are a generation apart.
posted by Diana (King) Marable
Lilly-2574 and Lilly-12 appear to represent the same person because: Same person please merge thank you
posted by Andrea (Stawski) Pack
Through DNA connections above it is confirmed that Edmund Lilly I is the father of Robert Lilly born 1742 and Ann Flippen is Robert Lilly's mother
posted by Andrea (Stawski) Pack
Robert Lilly- Bought property in Albermarle Co. Va. 1776. Then moved to Bedford & Franklin & Others. Many deed transfers. This was a large family that own much land.

The Lilly Family in Southern WVa were Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers, Merchants, Businessmen, Ministers, Educators, Farmers. See- Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Lilly

The Lilly family were of Sweden orgins. Came from France. They moved all over & owned many businesses & properties.

I received emails many years ago from the Lowery Family that makes a statement of connection to Eli. But no DNA Match found yet. Looks like we did find many Family here. I will keep looking.

posted by [Living B]
Lilly-760 and Lilly-12 appear to represent the same person because: Possible duplicate
posted by Andrea (Stawski) Pack
Lilly-1395 and Lilly-12 appear to represent the same person because: they appear to be the same person.
posted by Diana (King) Marable
Lilly-1395 and Lillie-29 appear to represent the same person because: So I'm not sure this person existed, but whether he did or not, he seems to be the same :)
posted by Diana (King) Marable
About deeds of Robert Lilly[[1]]
posted by Walter Pack Sr.
Look what I found on Family Search saying Robert Lilly Married Frances Cadle

FAMILY SEARCH Josiah Meador[[1]]

posted by Walter Pack Sr.
L Births in Monroe VA[[1]]
posted by Walter Pack Sr.
Have dis-connected this profile from John Lilly III and Dorothy Billups as parents. Just on the basis of dates, these are impossible as his parents. (Left a note in the bio)

June Byrne mentions a DNA connection between descendants of this Robert Lilly and Edmund Lilly. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cullember/otherfam/robertwv.html Not sure whether we have the evidence to make that connection (yet?) Do we? Anyone been tested, or know about this?

posted by Cynthia (Billups) B