The Schooling of Robert Lacey of Sussex County Delaware
When Robert Lacey of the Indian River Hundred area of Sussex County Delaware died in 1753, he left legacies to his five sons and four daughters. In the case of his son Robert Lacey, he was bequeathed a parcel of land in Indian River Hundred and “also I devise that he may be Bound Out to Anderson Parker to Learn his Trade, and further I Give him all my wearing apparel.” [1]
Robert Lacey, the elder, was a planter and owned a considerable amount of property on and near the Indian River in Sussex County, Delaware. He parceled out pieces of land to all is sons, but only Robert was given the opportunity to learn a trade.
Anderson Parker, it turns out, is the stepfather of Robert Lacey, the elder. Robert Lacey's mother, Sarah Burton Lacey Prettyman, had married Anderson Parker (about 1731) as her third husband after her first husband (John Lacey, before 1721) and second husband (Robert Prettyman, about 1721) died. Anderson Parker was also a prominent land owner in the Indian River Hundred area of Sussex County. He was, in addition to being a planter with sizable property, Justice of the Peace for Sussex County and his name appears on many legal documents, such as probates and deeds and as a sitting Justice of the Orphans Court. Because of his trade, one can assume that Robert Lacey, the elder, expected great things from his son, to be bound out to a man like Anderson Parker and his trade.
In
the mid-1700s, formal schooling was not the norm, especially in rural Sussex County,
Delaware. A young man (usually) learned a trade from his father or relative or
tradesmen in the area. In this case, Robert Lacey, the younger, is bound to
Anderson Parker, making him an apprentice to learn something of the law. It is
not known how old Robert Lacey, the younger, was when he was bound out, but
typical ages for apprentices were between 14-17 years old. It is also not known
how long Robert was an apprentice. He does not appear in the records as a Justice
or holding any office, but does appear as the person taking the roll of taxables
in 1790 and 1797 in Indian River Hundred in Sussex County Delaware. [2] He was
called a shipjoiner in a deed of sale with his wife Mary in January 1780.[3]
Robert Lacey married Mary ____ and they had three children: Hezekiah, Ann, and Robert. All were under the age of 14 when Robert Lacey died intestate in February 1780 and his estate was probated through the Orphans Court 1781-1787. [4]
See: https://grmgenes.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-guardianship-and-administration-of.html
Several sons of the descendants of Robert Lacey, the elder, were named Anderson Lacey.
References
[1] Sussex County, Delaware Wills, 1682-1851; index to wills, 1684-1948, FamilySearch.org, database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/47102 : accessed 26 July 2021), Robert Lacey, Will, 1753; Will Book B, p. 59; image 36-38.
[2] Tax lists of Sussex County, Delaware, before 1767-1850, FamilySearch.org, database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/53432 : accessed 30 July 2021), Robert Lacey, Tax, 1790; Tax lists, #1-30, no dates given; image 514.
Tax lists of Sussex County, Delaware, before 1767-1850, FamilySearch.org, database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/53432 : accessed 30 July 2021), Robert Lacey, Tax, 1797; Tax lists, #31-75 before 1767-1801; image 705.
[3] Deed records of Sussex County, Delaware, 1693-1886; general index, 1682-1949; https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 > Deeds, book M12-N13, 1774-1789 > Robert and Mary Lacey to Nathaniel Waples, 1780, Deed Book M-12, p. 302; image 161.
[4] Delaware, Sussex County, probate records : estate case files, 1700-1956, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2778558 : accessed 7 July 2021), Folder RG4840.009, Lacy, Robert (dec’d) 1781-1787, #10 (minors-Anna, Hezekiah, Robert); Delaware, Sussex County, probate records; Case files, Kollock, A. - Lafferty, Wm., ca. 1 Jan 1700–31 Dec 1956; Delaware. Orphans Court, Sussex County, Delaware Public Archives.
