Youngest child of Joseph E. Payne and Sarah A. C. Long. Lelia, like sibling Lydia/Lawrence Payne, had incompletely developed male reproductive organs and was raised as a female. This condition became an issue when in a habeas corpus suit by a former brother-in-law, she was accused of sleeping with her sister Bettie and harboring "passions" towards her. Dr. McGuire, who had medically examined Lydia/Lawrence also, diagnosed the siblings as "spurious hermaphrodites." Lelia denied that she had confided in her aged grandmother Jane about her condition. She was legally absolved of any wrongdoing.
Lelia is not with mother Sarah A. C. Long Payne and sister Angeline in the 1870 Census. Lelia is with sister Bettie L. Payne, a teacher, and is attending school.[1]
1880 Census: the household includes Bessie Merritt, who was the object of the custody battle.
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Sarah Payne Self Female 62 Virginia, United States
Lelia Payne Daughter Female 21 Virginia, United States
Bessie Merritt Granddaughter Female 7 Ohio, United States
1920 Census: Lelia was living in Frederick County, Maryland.[3]
Lelia continued to live as a woman, never marrying, and living out her final years as a boarding house owner (and occasional bootlegger) in Brunswick, Maryland, with her sister Anna T. Payne.
See Vince Brooks, "'The Mystic Chords of Memory': The Payne Family of Frederick County," https://uncommonwealth.virginiamemory.com/blog/2015/10/28/the-mystic-chords-of-memory/
↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC5Q-SFC : 15 July 2017), Lelia Payne in household of Sarah Payne, Stonewall, Frederick, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 42, sheet 346A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,366.
↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6QG-DSV : accessed 24 August 2020), Lelia A J Payne, Petersville, Frederick, Maryland, United States; citing ED 79, sheet 1B, line 68, family 15, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 673; FHL microfilm 1,820,673.
"United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP1M-1GFS : 18 July 2020), Miss Lelia A Payne in entry for Mrs Angelina A Smoke, 1927.
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X34J-T5F : accessed 24 August 2020), Lelia Payne, Petersville, Frederick, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 33, sheet 11B, line 85, family 229, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 874; FHL microfilm 2,340,609.
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