LACEY Family of Delaware from 1703 Family Sketches: Robert Lacey (~1740 - February 1780)

 LACEY Family of Delaware from 1703    

Family Sketches: Robert Lacey (~1740 - February 1780)

                                    Robert³ (Robert², John¹) Lacey

 

Robert³ Lacey was born about mid-1740s and was likely young or underage when his father Robert² Lacey died in 1753. In his will, Robert² Lacey devised that his son be bound out to Anderson Parker to learn a trade. [1]Anderson Parker was a lawyer or judge in Sussex County as his name appears on many probate records and Orphans’ Court proceedings in an official capacity. He is likely the same Anderson Parker that married John Lacey’s widow, Sarah Burton Lacey Prettyman about 1731. [2]

 

Robert Lacey also inherited land from his father, Robert Lacey in his will of 1753. The acreage was not stated, but the tract was part of the Mount Joy tract that was also bequeathed to Robert Lacey’s other son, Parker Lacey. This land eventually became known as “Lacey’s Fortune." [3] On 12 March 1754, Robert Lacey received his legacy from his father’s estate. [4]

 

On 4 September 1759 at an Orphans Court, Robert³ Lacey received payment from Ann Burton Burton Plasket, widow and admin of John Plasket Since Robert² Lacey died in 1753, likely this is referring to Robert³ Lacey as heir of Robert² Lacey. [5] Ann Plasket was sister of Sarah Burton, wife of John¹ Lacey and mother of Robert² Lacey. [6]

 

Robert³ Lacey married Mary ____ probably around 1767. Mary was baptized as an adult on 17 August 1771 in the Coolspring Presbyterian Church. [7] This record is the first to state the first name of Robert Lacey’s wife. Their marriage date is based on the supposed ages of their children in the intestate administration of the estate of Robert Lacey 1781-1783.

 

On 8 August 1770, Robert Lacey purchased 100 acres of land from William Carey (Deed Book L-11, p.109) that was bequeathed to William Carey by his father Samuel Carey. [8] This land is adjacent to the “Mount Joy” tract of Robert Lacey, the elder, and part of that tract was bequeathed to Robert Lacey, the younger. This is the 100 acres of land that Robert Lacey still possessed when he died in 1780 and was inherited by his 3 children, Hezekiah, Ann and Robert.

 

On 30 March 1774, Robert Lacey, Sr. and Robert Lacey, Jr. witnessed a bond of conveyance of 150 acres of land called “New Port” from John³ Lacey to Benjamin Bunston of Sussex Co. Robert³ Lacey, Sr. is likely the son of Robert² Lacey, the elder, and brother to John³ Lacey. Robert⁴ Lacey, Jr. is likely the son of John³ Lacey.[9]

On 22 May 1777, the land of Robert² Lacey that was surveyed in 1741 and bequeathed to son Robert³ Lacey, was re-surveyed.[10] The land is called “Lacey’s Fortune” and consists of 100 acres on North side of Indian River and South of Saw Mill Branch. This is the same land that Robert and wife Mary sold to Nathaniel Waples on 18 January 1780. [11] This deed specifically states that Robert² Lacey “the Elder” had bequeathed this land to the grantor, Robert³ Lacey, thereby confirming that Robert³ Lacey is indeed the son of Robert² Lacey and that the land was called “Lacey’s Fortune.” This land will appear prominently in the guardianships of his three children and the disposition of the land many years later. 

 

Robert Lacey evidently provided service to the fledgling Continental Congress when he loaned at least £6000 or more to the Continental Treasury in support of the Revolutionary War. Each £1000 Certificate had a value of £30 : 38 : 6. Certificate Nos: 5445 - 5450 (possibly others). [12] These Certificates were enumerated in the inventory of Robert Lacey’s estate on 2 March 1780 (RG4545.009).

 

  Robert³ Lacey died intestate in February 1780 in Sussex County.[13] His minor children were the subject of guardianship proceedings in 1781.There were three known children as shown in the Orphans’ Court records:           

          i. Robert⁴ b. about mid-1760s and apparently living in 1798. Robert was a minor under the age of 14 in 1781. He died in 1801 and his estate was handled by his older brother Hezekiah⁴ Lacey and cousin Robert⁴ Lacey, his guardian.[14] He apparently died unmarried and without issue.

        ii. Hezekiah⁴  b. about mid-1760s, was also a minor under age 14 in 1781. He married  Elenor (or Elinor) BARKER, 23 Feb. 1789.

            iii. Ann⁴. No further records. She was a minor child in 1781.

 

In the probate of Robert³ Lacey, his wife Mary Lacey and Phillip Marvel post a bond of £2,000 for the inventory of the estate or Robert³ Lacey, dated 23 February 1780. [15] An inventory of the estate was made on 2 March 1780 by Simon Kollock and George Frame amounting to £16,770.00, which includes £7,000 in “Certificates on ye Continental Treasury." [16]

The inventory indicates Robert Lacey had a considerable estate, including two slaves: 1 Negro girl @ £1600 and 1 Negro old woman @ £600. An accounting of Mary Lacey was given (no date, but must have been after the inventory on was taken on 2 March 1780 and before 1781, when she petitioned the Orphans Court for guardianship of her children).  The inventory amount of £16,770 was shown and an “Estimate value thereof according to the scale of Depreciation amounting to there [sic] sum of £447::1::6. On 18 August 1781, Mary Lacey petitions the Court to appoint for guardians for minor (under age of 14) children of Robert³ Lacey, deceased: Hezekiah⁴, Robert⁴, Ann⁴ Lacey. The Court appoints Mary Lacey as guardian. [17]

 

An interesting development occurs in 1783 regarding the guardianship of the minor children of Robert³ Lacey. On 7 Aug 1783, after their mother Mary Lacey married Claypoole Davidson, children Hezekiah Lacey and Ann Lacey (having obtained the age of 14) petitioned the Court to appoint John Morris as a new Guardian [John Morris is their cousin through the marriage of their aunt, Betty Lacey to William Morris]. [18] On the same day, Robert⁴ Lacey, son of John³ Lacey, an older cousin of the children of Robert³ Lacey, and “others” petitions the Court that “Claypool Davidson who intermaried with Mary Lacy who was appointed Guardian to Robert Lacy Son of Robert Lacy decd did not Act the part of a Guardian to said minor but on the Contrary used him very ill." [19]   The Court removed Claypool Davidson from his Guardianship of Robert⁴ Lacey, son of Robert³ Lacey and appointed the petitioner Robert⁴ Lacey [son of John³ Lacey] as Guardian of the minor child.  The Court further appointed John Morris as the Guardian of Hezekiah and Ann Lacey. Both cousins Robert Lacey and John Morris post £500 bonds as security for each of the guardianships.

 

The Settlement of the estate of Robert³ Lacey was recorded 25 Nov 1783 as an “additional Account of Mary [crossed out] Claypoole Lacey [crossed out] [inserted] Davidson, and Mary Lacey [crossed out] wife, late Mary Lacey Relict and administratrix of Robert Lacey deceased…” in the amount of 

£441 :: 8 :: 4 to be distributed.[20]

 

References 

[1] Sussex County, Delaware Register of Wills, Will of Robert Lacey, Liber B, folios 59-61.

 

[2] Hatcher, Patricia, Law. Were the Daughters of Robert Burton of Sussex County, Delaware, Really the Daughters of Comfort (Bagwell) Leatherbury? TAG, October 2000, pp250-266.

 

[3] Sussex County, Delaware Register of Wills, Will of Robert Lacey, Liber B, folios 59-61”I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Robert Lacey a Certain parcel of Land running from the before cited Indian road till Intersects with Samuel Carys Line and being a peace [sic] of Land Lying between the before cited Land and Said Carys Land and part of the same Tract afs^d Mount Joy…”

 

[4] Sussex County, Delaware Orphan’s Court, Liber 3, folio 51, 12 March 1754. Cited in Skinner, V.L. Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Orphans' Court of Sussex County, Delaware, Libers 1,2,3,4,A; 1708-1709; 1728-1777, Willow Bend Books, Westminster, MD, 2000., p.75. Orig. Liber 3, folio 51.

 

[5] Skinner, V.L. Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Orphans' Court of Sussex County, Delaware, Libers 1,2,3,4,A; 1708-1709; 1728-1777, Willow Bend Books, Westminster, MD, 2000., p.98. Orig, Liber 3, folio 158.

 

[6]  Hatcher, Patricia, Law. Were the Daughters of Robert Burton of Sussex County, Delaware, Really the Daughters of Comfort (Bagwell) Leatherbury? TAG, October 2000, pp250-266.

 

[7] Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware, 1756-1855, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/257966 : accessed 25 August 2021), Mary Lacey Adult, baptized, 17 Aug 1771; Film 441441, image 263); Citing Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1905, p. 363).

 

[8] Sussex County, Delaware, Deeds, 1693-1886; general index, 1682-1949; https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 > Deeds, book K10-L11, 1763-1774 > Deed Book L-11, p. 109 > image 275.

 

[9] Deed records of Sussex County, Delaware, 1693-1886; general index, 1682-1949; https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 > Deeds, book A1-B2, 1693-1698 > Deed Book B#2, p. 432 > image 482.

 

[10] Sussex County, Delaware Land warrants and surveys, books A1-W6, browsable images (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/50154 : accessed 4 August 2021), Re-Survey of Robert Lacey Land, 22 May 1777, Shankland’s Survey, No. 2, p.270.

 

[11] Sussex County, Delaware Deed records 1693-1886; general index, 1682-1949; https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 > Deeds, book M12-N13, 1774-1789 > Book M12, p. 302 >  image 161.

 

[12] Register of Loan Office Certificates Issued in the State of Delaware; National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 53: Records of the Bureau of Public Debt, Film M1008, T784; Records of the Delaware Loan Office, 53.3.8. 

 

[13] Delaware, Sussex County, Records of Lewes, Indian River, Cool Spring Presbyterian Church 1759-1855; Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware. MS929.L58. “Robert Lassee [sic], Carpenter, a Rake reform’d d. Sunday at his work, February 20, 1780.”

[14] Sussex County Probate, RG4545.009, Robert Lacey, Jr. 1801-1804. The administration includes a final accounting of the guardianship of Robert Lacey by his cousin Robert Lacey. 

 

[15] Sussex County Probate, RG4545.009, Robert Lacey 1780-1783, Administration Account on the Estate of Robert Lacey, 23 February 1780.

 

[16]   Ibid, Inventory 2 March 1780. The inventory is substantial and consists of 2 1/2 pages.

 

[17] Orphan's Court dockets and minute dockets, 1728-1802, browsable images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/43210 : accessed 3 August 2021) > Minute Docket No. 1, 1773 to 1784, Petition to appoint guardian to Hezekiah, Anne, and Robert Lacey, 1781,  p. 88, image 381. Recorded in Liber C #3, p. 183-184.  

 

[18] Orphans' Court dockets, 1770-1847; general index, 1728-1847, images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/48605 : accessed ) > Orphans' Court dockets, books A, D-E 1770-1796, Lacey, Hezekiah & Ann, minors,  Petition to appoint Guardian, 7 Aug 1783, Orphans Court Docket D, p. 193-194, image 352-352.

 

[19] Orphans' Court dockets, 1770-1847; general index, 1728-1847, images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/48605 : accessed ) > Orphans' Court dockets, books A, D-E 1770-1796, Lacey, Robert, minor, Petition to appoint guardian, 7 Aug 1783, Orphans Court Docket D, p. 193-194, image 352-353.

 

[20] Orphans' Court dockets, 1770-1847; general index, 1728-1847, images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/48605 : accessed ) > Orphans' Court dockets, books A, D-E 1770-1796, Lacey, Robert, deceased Account on his estate, 25 November 1783, Orphans Court Docket D, p. 224-225, image 368-369.

 

 

 

 

 

LACEY Family of Delaware from 1703 Family Sketches: William Baggs Lacey (~1740 - 1773)

 LACEY Family of Delaware from 1703    

Family Sketches: William Baggs Lacey (~1740 - 1773)

                                        William Baggs³ (Robert², John¹) Lacey

William Baggs³ (or Boggs) Lacey, son of Robert² Lacey, was born about 1740. He died before 27 February 1773 when letters of Administration were granted to his wife Betty Lacey. [1] He married Elizabeth (Betty) Harris, daughter of Abraham Harris and Director Dickenson, born 22 May 1754 in Maryland. [2] Elizabeth Harris Lacey married (2) Stephen Mitchell about 1783. [3] She is mentioned in her father’s will as Elizabeth Mitchell (will of Abraham Harris, Sussex Co. Wills Liber E-5 p. 197. 26 June 1798).

 

William Baggs³ Lacey and his wife Betty had one child:

            i.  Director⁴ (born before 1774). Her grandfather Abraham HARRIS was appointed guardian in 1779. [4]  Director⁴ Lacey was lame and unable to take care of herself. [5] No further records.

Upon his father’s death in 1753, William Baggs³ Lacey received 200 acres of land called “Crucked Tract." [5] The name “Baggs” is undoubtedly a family name. According to the inventory of Robert² Lacey’s estate on 12 March 1754 (Orphans’ Court Liber 3 1751-1760, folio 51) William Bagg [sic] Lacey received payment “on present from his uncle Bagg." [7]

The name Bagg[s] or Bogg[s] appears connected with the PARKER family of Virginia. Evidence comes from a will of John Parker of Accomack County, Virginia, 1 January 1755 where he mentions a daughter Ann Lacey (likely wife of John³ Lacey) and another daughter Rachel Bogs (or Bags). [Accomack Wills 1752-1757, p. 261]. There is also a Baggs family in nearby Maryland. Alternatively, the name could refer to the Bagwell family, also in Maryland and Sussex County, Delaware.

After William Baggs³ Lacey’s death, his widow, Betty Lacey and administratrix of his estate, on 28 May 1774, petitioned the Orphans Court of Sussex County to sell his land “being in the County afsd containing by estimation two hundred acres be the same more or less called & known by the name of the ‘Crooked Tract’.” Her claim was that “the said intestate  died considerably indebted to sundry persons for the discharge inventory of the said personal estate and also by the List of  debts due and owing by the said intestate herewith which so far as has already come to your Petitioner’s knowledge.” Betty Lacey wanted a ruling to sell the land “for the payment of the said intestate’s debts and also for the support and maintenance of the said intestate’s child and your Petion^r. [8]

From the original documents, Betty Lacey signed her own name. The Court granted the Order and for Betty Lacey to report the sale of the land to the Court.

As shown in the Orphans Court proceedings of 7 May 1783, Betty Lacey evidently did sell the land called “Cruked Tract” for £50.[9] The land was likely sold to William Baggs³

Lacey’s brother, John³ Lacey, because in 1776 that land was surveyed as part of the estate of John³ Lacey:

On 19 March 1776, 100 acres of land of John³ Lacey was surveyed on the south side of the head of Indian River between Morris’s Mill and the old Cow Bridge including improvements. [10]  This land was re-surveyed 20 March 1776 at the request of John³ Lacey because of an error in the survey of 19 March 1776: Warrants Book C, p. 515-517. [11]

This land is called “Crooked Tract,” which is the same name as the land bequeathed to William Baggs³ Lacey (his brother) by Robert² Lacey by his will of 1753. John³ Lacey, brother of William Baggs³ Lacey, may have ended up with some of Crooked Tract land after William Baggs³ Lacey died in 1774 when his wife Betty wanted to sell lands to pay his debts.

 On 4 August 1779, Abraham Harris, guardian of Director⁴ Lacey, daughter of William Baggs³ Lacey,  asks the Orphans Court to appoint three freeholders to value the land of Director⁴ Lacey (presumably she inherited land when her father died). They valued the land at 40 pounds and noted that there were no structures on the land. Apparently, this land is not the same as the 200-acre “Crooked Tract” parcel that William Baggs³ Lacey inherited from his father. [12]

On 15 June 1783, Stephen Mitchell and his wife Betty (late Betty Lacey) administrators of the estate of William Baggs³ Lacey sell 100 acres of land for £99 called Hogg Quarter in Broadkill Hundred, granted by various conveyances to “Wm Baggs Lacey who died leaving a widow (now Betty Mitchell, adminx) & 1 lame child called Director.” The Orphans Court permits them to sell land (the small part of the whole tract) for maintenance of crippled child & settlement of debts, excepting 1/3 for the widow’s dower. [13]

References 

[1] Delaware, Sussex County, probate records : estate case files, 1680-1925, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2778558 : accessed 7 July 2021), Folder RG4840.009, William Baggs Lacey, (dec’d) 1773-1783; Delaware, Sussex County, probate records; Case files, Kunsman, John M. - Lank, Levin, RG4545.009, roll 140, 1680-1925; Delaware. Orphans Court, Sussex County, Delaware Public Archives. [Original]; DGS: 104373237; images 221-230.

[2] Coventry parish, Somerset, Maryland computer printout; births or christenings, 1736-1828, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/464995 : accessed 27 August 2021) Betty Harris Birth, 22 May 1754; Coventry Parish Births 1736-1828, image 351.

[3] 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, William Baggs Lacey, (dec’d) 1774-1784, #6; Delaware, Sussex County, probate records; Case files, Colic, A. - Lafferty, Wm., ca. 1 Jan 1700–31 Dec 1956; Delaware. Orphans Court, Sussex County, Delaware Public Archives. [Original]; DGS: 104017941; images 522-523. Stephen Mitchell and his wife, the late Bettty Lacey widow of William Baggs Lacey petition the Orphans Court to sell land of Wm Baggs Lacey.

[4] Sussex County, Delaware, Orphans' Court records, Liber B #2, p. 283, 290, 368. On 3 August 1779 Abraham Harris was appointed guardian to "Pircilla Lacey," daughter of Wm Baggs Lacey. Her name is also referred to as "Director" or “Directa,” which was the name of Betty Harris' mother.

 [5] Sussex County, Delaware Deed Book N #13 p. 9. In a deed dated 15 June 1783, Stephen Mitchell and Betty his wife (late Betty LACEY) adminrs of Wm Baggs LACEY, states that Wm Baggs Lacey died intestate and left widow Betty and one lame child named Director.

 [6] Sussex County, Delaware Register of Wills, Will of Robert Lacey, Liber B, folios 59-61, “I Give and bequeath unto my Son William Baggs Lacey a Parcel of Land Called Crucked Tract being Two Hundred Acres more or less.”

 [7] Skinner, V.L. Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Orphans' Court of Sussex County, Delaware, Libers 1,2,3,4,A; 1708-1709; 1728-1777, Willow Bend Books, Westminster, MD, 2000., p.75. Orig, Liber 3, folio 51.

[8] 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, William Baggs Lacey, (dec’d) 1774-1784, #6; 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. [Original]; images 518-519.

 [9] Delaware, Sussex County, Orphans Court Records from 1784-1797, Volume D&E, RG4840, 7 May 1783, Volume D. p. 88, CD, Delaware Genealogical Society, Wilmington, Delaware, 2004; citing Delaware State Archives, Dover, Delaware. Original documents in 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, William Baggs Lacey, (dec’d) 1774-1784, #6; Delaware, Sussex County, probate records; Case files, Colic, A. - Lafferty, Wm., ca. 1 Jan 1700–31 Dec 1956; Delaware. Orphans Court, Sussex County, Delaware Public Archives. [Original]; DGS: 104017941; images 522-523.

 [10] Land warrants and surveys of Sussex County, Delaware, books A1-W6, browsable images (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/50154 : accessed 4 August 2021), Survey of John Lacey Land, 19 March 1776, Book L1-32, p.517-518.  

 [11] Ibid. This land was re-surveyed 20 March 1776 at the request of John Lacey because of an error in the survey of 19 March 1776: Warrants Book C, p. 515-517. 

 [12] Delaware, Sussex County, Orphans Court Records from 1784-1797, Volume B, RG4840, 3 August 1779, p. 283, 290, 368, CD, Delaware Genealogical Society, Wilimington, Delaware, 2004; citing Delaware State Archives, Dover, Delaware.

 [13] Sussex County, Delaware Deed records, 1693-1886, browsable images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 : accessed 1 August 2021) Stephen Mitchell and Betty Lacey Mitchell to Robert Watson McCalley, Deed Book N #13, pp. 93. The court deed record image is unreadable but is abstracted in Elaine Hastings Mason & F. Edward Wright, Land records of Sussex County, Delaware 1782-1789, Deed Book N No. 13 (Willow Bend Books, Westminster, Maryland, 2002), p. 13.