Levin Gayle (1763 - 1827)

Born 26 Jan 1763 in Kingston Parish, Gloucester County, Virginia Colony

Died 9 Jun 1827 at age 64 in Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia

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Biography

Levin Gayle was a Virginia colonist.

Col Levin Gayle served with Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Levin Gayle (Also spelled Leaven)

Origin

Levin was born January 26, 1763 and was baptized on January 9, 1776 at Kingston Parish, Gloucester (Mathews formed in 1790-1791) County, Virginia.^[1] He was a son of John and Susannah (Davis) Gayle.^[1]

Note: Kingston Parish records show that Levin and his wife, Margaret Williams were baptized there on the same day.

Marriage and Children

Levin married on June 12, 1790 to Margaret Esther Williams, daughter of Samuel Williams and Sarah Dunton Williams.^[1]

Children of Leaven and Margaret:^[1]

1. Peggy Gayle (1 of 2)
2. Frances Dunton Gayle
3. Peggy Gayle (2 of 2)
4. John Matthias Gayle
5. Nathaniel Goffegon Gayle
6. Salenia Frances Gayle
7. Edeth Esther Gayle
8. Levin Gayle Gayle

Property

Leaven acquired 123 acres of his father's property and first appeared on the tax list in 1788 with 205 acres. He continued to own this land after his father's death in 1790.^[1]

In December of 1794, Leaven and George Gayle (unclear which George Gayle) were sued by Philip Sansum [Ransom?].

The Commonwealth of Virginia, to the Sherriff of Mathews County, greeting---We command you, that of the Goods and Chattels of Leaven Gayle and George Gayle late in your bailiwick, you cause to be made the Sum of Thirty Seven pounds twelve Shillings which John Seawell Exectr in the same court were adjudged for his Damages, as well as by reason of detaining the said Debt as for his costs in that suit expended, whereof he is convicted." (Lilly, Billups, Stoakes Family Papers)^[1]

On December 18, 1794 Levin and Margaret sold the 123 acres to Richard Billups:

... certain tract or parcel of land, in Mathews County, formerly the property of John Gayle Dec'd containing by survey one hundred and twenty three acres beginning at the mouth of a cove adjoining Walt James, south, to a corner in Henry Knights Line, to a corner in Johnsons Line, near a _____shop, to the Creek, for the valuable consideration of (torn) - [witnesses]John Lewis, John D. Jarvis, Henry Rispess, Richard Gregory, John Patterson {as to Mrs. Gayle} - (Lilly, Billups, Stoakes Family Papers).^[1]

By 1820, Leaven and his family had moved to Portsmouth, Virginia where they were living at the corner of Court and Middle Streets.^[1]

Positions

Leaven was a shipbuilder by trade.^[1]

First in 1806 and again in 1808 and 1812, Leaven served as a Justice for Mathews County.^[1]

Leaven served during the Revolutionary War during the siege of Yorktown. He also company of the Gloucester Militia. In 1804, he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Regimental Command of the Mathews County, Virginia Militia, 61st Reg. Brigade 14, Division 4, and the record shows him with this regiment on July 26, 1809.^[1]

Leaven also served during the War of 1812 with the King and Queen County, 9th Regiment, as Acting Brigade commander of Major Thomas Hill's Detachment at Camp Jones, Urbanna and Aylette's Warehouse, King William County. He also served with the 61st Regiment of Mathews County, as Colonel under Captain Thomas James during the years of 1813 and 1814 and later as Colonel under his brother-in-law, Captain Gabriel Hughes. Many of the Gayle men served with him.^[1]

Death and Legacy

Levin died on June 9, 1827 at Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia.^[1] His obituary read:

Another Revolutionary soldier gone. Departed this life on the 9th inst. At the advanced age of 64 years, at his residence in Portsmouth, Col. Leven (sic) Gayle, formerly an eminent ship builder in the county of Mathews. Col. Gayle was actively employed as a soldier during the revolutionary war, particularly so during the siege of Yorktown, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. In the last struggle with England, he commanded a highly respectable force of Virginia troops in and about the county of Mathews, adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay. He was a man of sterling worth and integrity. The greatest panegyric that can be offered in remembrance of his virtues is that he was the noblest workmanship of his Creator, 'an honest man'. (The Palladium, Portsmouth, Va., 6/15/1827)^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13} Mandell, Gayle N., Chapter 10: Early Gayle Families of Gloucester County, VA The Gale & Gayle Families, accessed November 18, 2015

See also:

Acknowledgments

• Many thanks to Gayle N.Mandell for her generous publication of "Gale/Gayle Families of Great Britain & Ireland."