John Livesay Sr. (abt. 1640 - 1720)

Born about 1640 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1720 at about age 80 in Prince George County, VA.

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Biography

In 1704 John Livesay appears on the Quit Rent Roll of Prince George Co. VA. He owned 300 ac. on Hog Pen Run of Blackwater Swamp(Creek)in Prince George Co. VA. He signed his name indicating he was an educated person. John Livesay dated his will Mar. 30, 1719, naming wife Joan and sons, John Livesay and Thomas Livesay who divided the home tract, William Livesay, daughters Elizabeth Ledbetter who received 1 shilling, Mary Livesay, Rebecca Livesay, Sarah Livesay, Hannah Livesay, & Susannah Livesay. Will probated Aug. 9, 1720. The inventory was taken Dec. 5, 1720. Joan Livesay opts "No value given." Son William Livesay had 225 ac. on Jones Hole Swamp in Prince George Co. VA. where his nephew Richard Ledbetter had 116 ac. Richard's father John Ledbetter had 100 ac. on nearby Warwick Swamp. Additional information on the Livesay family is given in the book, "Prince George County Virginia Miscellany 1711-1814", by Weisiger. The name of their plantation was called simply "Livesays". Like the Ledbetters the Livesays had the name "Drury" in their family. I've wondered if they or their ancestors might have been crypto-Jews because the surname appears as Levi say.

Sources

• "Early Virginia Lifsey Family Volume I of VI The Descendants of John Livesay Through The First Five Generations", by John R. Lifsey of Flintstone, GA., pub. 2012. *"Ledbetters Revisited", by Haughton & Huddleston. *"Prince George County, Virginia Wills & Deeds 1713-1728", by Weisiger.
• The Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers, Vol. III [database on-line].