Cynthia (Lucas) Lester (abt. 1743 - aft. 1821)

Born about 1743 in South Carolina [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Lester — married about 1762 in Virginia [uncertain]

Wife of John Ballinger — married 1 Mar 1789 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died after 1821 after about age 78 in Pittsylvania, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Wanda Richards [send private message], Denny Lester [send private message], and Maria Britton [send private message]

Biography

Sytha was born in 1743. Sythia Lucas ... She passed away in 1858. ^[1]

Using the same sources, where I found data on Thomas, her husband, Sytha was born in South Carolina (1743) and she married Thomas Lester in 1760, age listed as 17. I have not been able to confirm this with primary documentation. It goes on to say they had 13 children in 19 years. I cannot confirm all thirteen that are listed in this data base and I cannot find a documented source for her information. Census records in Pittsylvania County list 11 individuals residing (not counting slaves) and two may be Thomas Lester's brother's (William) children that are listed Thomas' estate inventory.

Their first child probably was Jesse, b. in 1762, which is probably correct based on indenture made in Pittsylvania Co. Va. between Jesse and William Easley, married to sister Sara Ann Lester. I cannot prove with documentation that Thomas had a son with Sytha named Jesse, because I wasn’t sure about his mother and speculated that Thomas may have been married prior to his marriage to Sytha (not proven). Some of the dates for the births of the listed children are incorrect and some are correct.

I have documented evidence that her second husband, John Ballenger, left her 1/3 of his estate when he died in 1821, so she lived to be quite old for this era. So far no primary documentation has been found to prove the surname "Lucas", no birth, marriage or death date has been found. (Note-Wood-140} The John Ballinger of SC is still in SC in 1790, while the one married to the widow of Thomas Lester is in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

^[2] As for the early Lester's, it's sort of complicated. Thomas Lester died in 1787 in Pittsylvania County Virginia, leaving a widow and a number of children. The widow was Sytha possibly Lucas Lester.

After Thomas Lester's death, Sytha Lester, widow, married 2. John BALLINGER 1789 in Pittsylvania Co VA. ^[3]

A daughter of Thomas Lester (and probably Sytha'_) named Elizabeth, married Benjamin Ballinger, said to be the brother of John. The age difference has me sort of confused, unless Sytha was a young second wife of an older Thomas Lester and her marriage to John Ballinger was to an older man or someone closer to her age. If the later is the case, then the Elizabeth who married Benjamin Ballinger, is most likely a daughter of Thomas Lester through a previous marriage.

In a 1716 will of John West in Fairfax Co VA, a Francis Ballinger is relieved of half his debt to John WEST. Oddly, in this will there are 3 females named Seith (Sytha).They were Seith Anderson (Or Henderson), Seith Harrison, wife of Capt Thomas Harrison (nee Sitha Elizabeth Short) and Seith LUCAS.I believe that Sytha _ Lester Ballinger may have been Sytha Lucas as a granddaughter bears that names (Sytha Lucas Hines m. Coleman C. Simpson). Note the Simpson name. In the same 1716 will, there is a John Simpson mentioned. That John Simpson is the great great grandfather of Coleman Simpson who married Sytha Lucas Hines.(Confused yet).

We know that Thomas Lester's brother, William, died in Fairfax Co VA in 1776. Thomas was his executor. There is a later suit from the children of William Lester gain a portion of Willam's estate.

Back to the 1716 will of John West. forty years later, there is ongoing litigation invovling this will, and who are the "sworn chain carriers" for the survey and giving depositions.. Willam Lester and John Lester, most likely the father and brother of Thomas, or two brother's of Thomas. No age is given.

So from 1716 will of John West, we know that Francis Ballinger was in Fairfax and somehow acquainted with John Simpson and 3 women named Seith (sytha). We also know that later in time, the grandson of this John West, also called John, engages the two Lester's in Fairfax Co VA. Apparently the Lesters did not own land through 1767, although they are found as tenants. The Simpsons and Ballingers, and Wests however all are land owners and are all found in Pittsylvania Co later in time.

I'm trying to sort out the relationships between these families. I am directly descended from the Simpson's and Thomas Lester, with John Ballinger as a StepGGGGgrndfather. John Ballinger died in 1821 in Pittsylvania Co VA testate He was sued by Benjamin Ballinger on behalf of Ben's wife in 1817 for her part of Thomas Lester's estate. It's an interesting parcel of people. By then, Ben and his wife, Elizabeth Lester, and a number of her siblings were in Adair Co KY, while my Sytha Lester Hines (daughter of Thomas Lester and Sytha) remained in Pittsylvania Co VA.

Don't know that this helps sort out anyone. More likely it confuses the issue. It does, however, make me fairly sure of the relationship between Francis Ballinger and John Ballinger.Time is right for him to be the grandfather of John and Benjamin.

The Joseph that's also in Pittsylvania Co almost has to be related to John and Benjamin as John is surety on one of Joseph's daughter's marriages.

Other John Ballengers To confuse the issue further, there are two John Ballengers approximately the same age, who appear in Pittsylvania County Virginia at the same period of time..

There is a John Ballinger in the 1820 Federal Census, but it may or may not be this John Ballinger. IF it is, he's got younger children in the household, but there are a male over 45 and a female over 45^[4]. I believe the John Ballinger she married was the one listed in the Rev. War files, which would mean he was born in the 1750's-1760's and probably would not have children under 10 in the 1820 census, along with a number of other males and females. ^[5]

John Ballenge's, Sytha's (spelled Sithey/Lythe/Sithe/Syntha) second husband, will dated 2 July 1821 in Pittsylvania Co., VA. probated 20 Aug. 1821. Will mentions Lytha (sic) [Lester] Hines, step-daughter. John Ballenger, left her 1/3 of his estate to "to his beloved wife Sytha and 2/3 to his step-daughter, Sytha Hines [dau of Thomas and Sytha Lester.

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Maria Lester, Saturday, November 2, 2013.
2. ↑ Another genealogist's opinion: [Weitz-140]
3. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HV37-B4W2
4. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YY6-SC7N?i=60&cc=1803955&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHLJ-NM1
5. ↑ Karen Wood[Wood-140]

• 1770 Pittsylvania Co. VA Court Records, Book 1, p. 260,
• http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=26&last=&g_p=PA&collection=LO Grant Title Mason, William. Publication 12 October 1779. Other Format Available on microfilm. Virginia State Land Office. Grants A-Z, 1-124, reels 42-190; Virginia State Land Office. Grants 125- , reels 369-. Note Location: Pittsylvania County.
• Source: Land Office Grants A, 1779-1780 (v.1 & 2 p.1-685), p. 26 (Reel 42). Part of the index to the recorded copies of grants issued by the Virginia Land Office. The collection is housed in the Archives at the Library of Virginia. Subject - Personal Mason, William. grantee. Ballinger, John. Subject - Topical Land titles. -- Registration and transfer -- Virginia -- Pittsylvania County
• 1774 Tax List Surry Co. NC: Auston, John 1775 Tax List Surry Co. NC: John Austin one Taxable1 1 John Austin Sener Two Taxable Jonah[?] Austin 2
• Virginia Marriage Records
• 1820 Pittsylvania census
• Family history

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Maria Lester for creating Lucas-2386 on 2 Nov 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Maria and others.