George Lumsden (abt. 1719 - 1785)

Descendants

Died 1785 at about age 66 in Louisa County, VA

Biography

The Senior George Lumsden and wife [name unknown]of Louisa County, VA.

Records show that the Senior George Lumsden was living in Louisa County before 1763, but to date we do not know where the senior George Lumsden was born, or when he was born. We have found no marriage record for him, yet when he is first seen it seems that he has a family. We believe he lived in a neighboring county before moving to Louisa County to make his home. We will record what we have found that proves that he lived in Louisa County and about his family. :

Augt. 3, 1765. Wm. Brooks, Senr., of Spts. Co., to Johnston & Co., ofCity of Glasgow. £21 curr. Mortgage. 300 a., whereon sd. Brooks lives,etc. Witnesses, John Garrett, Geo. Lumsden, John Brooks. Octr. 7, 1765.

From the Louisa County Land deeds, the first record of ownership was for 50 acres of land that the senior George purchased from Walter Goldsmith and wife, Elizabeth on November 14, 1766. This is recorded in Deed Book "D1/2" pages 14-15. There is no listing of a wife for George. {Copy of the deed is enclosed in Alice Lumsden Browns book, "The George Lumsden Family" published 2000.

In 1767 The Spotsylvania County records show that on July 28, 1766, John Davenport of Spotsylvania, conveyed to George Lumsden of Trinity Parish, Louisa County, for 200 pounds currency, a mortgage on 300 acres in St George Parish. Witness were Jacob Higgins, William Pettus, and William Waller. This was recorded on February 2, 1767. [Source: Virginia County Records of Spotsylvania County, By Crozier, page 253]

In this same book by Crozier, another entry shows George Lumsden was a witness to a mortgage between William Brooks, SR., of Spotsylvania County and Johnson and Company of Glasgow, Scotland. This mortgage recorded August 3, 1765.

A record of "The Louisa County Tithables and Census records for 1743-1785" Abstracted and Compiled by Rosalie Edith Davis, has an entry showing that Tithes for 1767 were taken in St Martin's Parish by Samuel Ragland, Sheriff, and returned August 10, 1767, and George Lumsden tithed for [1] person and that he had [50] acres of land. The children of the Senior George Lumsden were not quite old enough to be counted for Tithing.

In 1768, Samuel Ragland, Sheriff posted this notice for the residents of St Martin's Parish. "Notis is hereby given that I intend to meet at Mr George Lumsdens on Saturday next to take the list of tithes in St Martin's Parish, from the Little River to the North Anna River, likewise the land and Chere carriages, where I hope to meet a majority of the gentlemen of this Precinct".

By this notice we see that the senior George Lumsden was living in and providing a Tithing place for the residents of Louisa County by 1768. The senior George Lumsden took the office of Sub-Sheriff [deputy] and Tax-Collector on September 13, 1763. On 13 August 1770 he renewed his license to keep an "Ordinary", [a tavern where regular meals were served]. It would seem from these entries that the senior George Lumsden had lived in Louisa County for quite some time. Page 28 of Mrs Davis book lists the tithes for 1769 taken by Nathaniel Pope and George Lumsden, who again tithes for one person and 50 acres of land. By 1770 when Samuel Ragland again took the tithes in St Martins Parish, George Lumsden is shown with [3] persons and [50] acres of land These records were returned august 14, 1770 and listed on page 4. In 1772 George Lumsden declared a tithe of [4] persons and [50] acres of land [listed on page 56], but in 1773 he only declared a tithe of [1] and no acreage, [page 64]. This could have been Captain George Lumsden,son of the older George.

By 1774 when tithes were taken George declared [2] persons and no acreage. This was probably Captain George Lumsden, because by this time Captain George Lumsden had married Elizabeth Duke.. The other sons of the senior George Lumsden, John, William and Thomas Lumsden would not have been required to be counted as tithables because they were all under 21 years of age, but son John, born in 1758 would not have been quite sixteen years old on the date the tithes were taken. In 1775 when tithes were taken by Saamuel Ragland [page 96 of Mrs Davis book] the senior GeorgeIn 1780 when tithes were taken by Samuel Ragland[page 96 of Mrs Davis' book] George tithes for three persons and 50 acres of land. In the year 1780 tithes were taken by Nathaniel Garland and returned 11 September 1780, George Lumsden declared [7] persons in household [page 130]. In 1781 George Lumsden declared [11] persons in household. In 1781 he declared [11] persons in household. Since the senior George Lumsden died in 1785, it is probable that the person giving the tithing was Capt George Lumsden, who had married Elizabeh Duke May 15 1773. The senior George Lumsdens sons could have been living with Capt George Lumsden and his wife Elizabeth Duke, plus household help, to make up the eleven.

No dated list remains for 1782, but the following undated list is given because the internal evidence for a combined list of tithes and enumerated articles in which Elizabeth Smith was shown to be a resident of St Martin's parish in 1781, but she had died by 1783. We believe this to be the tithes taken in 1782. For the first time columns were shown. [1] Person to whom tax charged [2] Tithes for persons over 21 years. In this year George Lumsden tithes for himself and William Lumsden, and for slaves York, Hannah, Winney, Fan and Cicely. William Lumsden would have been seventeen if born in 1765. John Lumsden [over 21] is listed in a separate household.

In the 1784 titables list, the senior George Lumsden was not listed in this census. Since he died in 1785, he could have been away from home at this time. There were military conflicts on the western frontier in Kentucky and both the senior George Lumsden and Captn George Lumsden could have been involved. There are two entries for grants of land in KY found in the book "Old Kentucky Entries and Deeds" by Willard Rouse Jillison, sec D. Lumsden, Geo, 6,800 acres, book 4, page 273, entry date 2-15-1786, Sandy River. Lumsden, Geo, 6,800 acres, book 4, page 295, entry date 4-20-1786, Sandy River.

In the book, "A History of Louisa County, VA", by Malcolm H. Harris, there is a section called "Highways and Homes". In this section is listed several of the pioneer families for Louisa County. Quoting from the book, page 127, "Old Michaels Road", Turning up at Elk Creek passing the Boxley place and Elk Creek Meeting House, we pass Aspen Hill, the plantation where once lived Henry Harris and his wife Susannah Harris. This has now been the home of the Harrises for a century and a half. Above Aspen Hill is Laurel Hill, where the late W.S. Harris resided. Long this was the home of the Misses Garland, attractive and wealthy, made so by the benevolence of their uncle, Col. David Bullock, their mother,s brother.

On beyond this place, were other homes and habitations, now gone, and no vestige of their past is left to mark them. In this vicinity lived the family of Raglands, Bronaughs [on the river where now resides M.B. Quiseberry] Great House, the old Boxley home, LUMSDEN, and others. The old Michaels road bears toward Mineral and there loses itself in the other highways. The senior George Lumsden owned and operated an "Ordinary", a tavern where meals were served. The following notice appeared while Samuel Ragland was Sheriff, "Notis is heare given that I intend to meet at Mr George Lumsden's on Saturday next to take the list of Tiths in Saint Martains parrish from the little River to the North Anna River likewise the land and chere carriages where I hope to meet a majority of the gentlemen of this Precints." June 19, 1768, Saml Ragland.

This notice was published through the neighborhood, and there were probably not a few gentlemen who came to Mr Lumsden's on the day appointed to make returns to the Major.

The senior George Lumsden died in 1785. ^[1]

Sources

"The George Lumsden Family" by Alice Lumsden Brown pub. 2000

1. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by Anonymous Lumsden, Saturday, January 4, 2014. Replace this citation if there is another source.

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