LACEY Family of Delaware from 1703: John Lacey (~1728 - 1777)

 LACEY Family of Delaware from 1703  

Family Sketches: John Lacey (~1728 - 1777)

John³ (Robert², John¹) LACEY

 

 

John³ Lacey, son of Robert² Lacey (probably the eldest) was born probably around 1728 or earlier. He died before 18 October 1777 when his wife, Ann, and George Frame posted a £500 bond to administer the estate. [1] John³ married Ann [probably Parker?] likely about 1750. [2] Many online Lacey genealogies refer to the C.H.B. Turner Collection, which states, without any sources, that John³ Lacey married Ann Parker. [3]

John³ Lacey inherited the land called “Strife” from his father, Robert² Lacey, as stipulated in his will: “….I give an bequeath to my well beloved son John Lacey…..all and Singular the Land Called Strife being one Hundred & Ninety acres more or Less Lying on the west side of the Old Indian River Road…” [4] John³ Lacey later sold this land to Gabriel West, Sr. on 4 Feb 1756 (Deed Book I-9, p. 114. [5]

Earlier, John³ Lacey had bought 190 acres of land in Indian River Hundred from Mary Smith (widow) on 17 Nov 1753 (Deed Book L-11, pp. 390-391. [6] This parcel, called  "Newport", was conveyed by John³ Lacey through a Bond of Conveyance for “two hundred and thirty pounds Common Money” containing “One Hundred and Fifty Acres” on the west side of John Williams Land to Benjamin Bunston,  in 1774. [7]

This bond was witnessed  by Robert Lacey Sr. and Robert Lacey, Jr.  Robert Lacey, Sr. is likely the son of Robert² Lacey, the Elder and also brother to John Lacey. Robert Lacey, Jr. is likely the son of John³ Lacey.

At an Orphans Court for 3 March 1761, Bridget Lacey and John Lacey receive payments from the estate of Ann Carey by Thomas Carey. [8] On 4 June 1773, John Lacey and Eunice (Unicey) Carey, widow, put up bond of £300 for  estate of John Carey. John Lacey and William Johnson, on 18 June 1773, take inventory of the estate of John Carey in the amount of £211-10-3 including unnamed Negro woman and unnamed Negro boy. The inventory was recorded 26 Nov 1774. Eunice Carey, widow, is admin of estate. Payments are made to relatives of the Lacey family including Abraham Harris and Levin Ennis. [9]

John³ Lacey apparently bought part of the tract called “Crooked Tract,” which was in possession of his brother William Baggs³ Lacey when he died in 1773. The land was surveyed on 19 Match 1776. Betty Lacey, the widow of William Baggs³ Lacey, petitioned the Court to sell Crooked Tract to pay his debts and for the maintenance of herself and crippled daughter. There is no deed or Orphan’s Court record to validate the sale of the land, but Betty Lacey (now wife of Stephen Mitchell in 1783) claims that the land was sold. From the survey, it appears that John Lacey did purchase at least 100 acres of the land. [10] See the sketch for William Baggs³ Lacey.

An inventory of John³ Lacey’s estate was taken on 22 October 1777 by Robert Prettyman and Abel Nottingham and posted 13 October 1778. It was valued at over 489 pounds and included 6 named slaves. [11] The estate of John³ Lacey is taxed in the 1782 and 1785 Tax Assessment for Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. [12]

Apparently, John³ Lacey died before the land transaction was completed as his wife Ann Lacey petitioned the court to convey the land to Benjamin Bunston on 6 August 1789. [13]

The children of John and Ann are said to be (birth order uncertain): [14]                 

     i.           John⁴ (born about 1750, died about 1787) married Naomi ____. Had son Anderson,                             baptized 2 April 1769

ii.               Spencer⁴ (born about 1752, died about 29 June 1823). Married (1) Jinny Mills, (2) Molly Brittingham Ennis, (3) Elizabeth Lewis.

iii.             Robert⁴ (born about 1752, died about 13 Nov 1826), Married Sukey Stephenson.

iv.            William⁴  (born about 1764, died 17 May 1828 in Ohio. Married (1) Elizabeth Stincen, (2) Mary Jones (widow). Relocated to Ohio before 1810.

 

The source of the information about the birth of Spencer⁴ and William⁴ to John³ and Ann Lacey likely originated with the C.H.B. Turner Collection source as many DAR family application records quote the same information, without verification. There are no public records through deeds, probate, court, or church records as to the children of John³ and Ann Lacey, but these are the likely children as shown in their individual sketches. The Turner Collection also names a John S. Lacey and a Parker Lacey as sons of John³ and Ann. As shown in their sketches, there is no evidence at all that these individuals were children of John³ and Ann. John S. Lacey is named as a son of Robert⁵ Lacey and Parker Lacey is named as a son of Robert² Lacey. 

 

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, John Lacey, (dec’d) 1777; 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 74-77. Ann Lacey is administratrix along with George Frame. See also petition of wife Ann Lacey Sussex County, Delaware Deed Book O#14, pp. 82-83. Petition of Ann Lacey on 6 Aug 1789, administratrix of estate of John Lacey to convey unto Benjamin Bunston a tract of land. John Lacey had given bond on 30 March 1774. She asks the court if she can convey the bond since John Lacey is deceased and had not conveyed land. Sussex Co. Deed Book O #14 p. 82-83. Recorded 12 Feb. 1789. See Deed Book B-2 (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 >  image 482) for bond of conveyance to Benjamin Bunston for 230 pounds from John Lacey (Planter). Tract of land is called "New port".

[2] John’s wife, Ann may have been a Parker. More research is needed. Evidence comes from a will of John Parker, Sr. of Accomack County, Virginia, dated 25 August 1754 and proved 1 January 1755 where he mentions a daughter Ann Lacey and another daughter Rachel Bogs (or Bags). [Accomack Wills 1752-1757, p. 261]

[3] C.H.B. Turner, Genealogical notes, Manuscript, Sussex County and Kent County, Delaware, Somerset County and Worcester County, Maryland: Surnames Lacey, familysearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2686366: accessed 15 April 2021), Lacey Family, John Lacey m. Ann Parker.

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

[5] Sussex County, Delaware Deed records, 1693-1886, browsable images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 : accessed 1 August 2021) John Lacey to Gabriel West, Jr., 6 February 1756, Deed Book I, #9, pp. 114-115; image 473-474.

[6] Sussex County, Delaware Deed records, 1693-1886; general index, 1682-1949; https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 > Deeds, Book L, #5, pp. 390-391, Deed of Mary Smith to John Lacey, 17 Nov 1753.

[7] Sussex County, Delaware Deed records, 1693-1886; general index, 1682-1949; https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 > Deeds, book A1-B2, 1693-1698 >  image 482. Bond of Conveyance from John Lacey to Benjamin Bunston, Jr., 30 March 1774. Benjamin Bunston, “the heir” and Ann Burton, “his wife” assigns over all rights to “Benjamin Burton, the younger” on January 30, 1789.  Signed by Benjamin Burton and Ann Burton, witnessed by William Bucher, Senr and William Harris. In 1789, Robert Lacey, Jnr appears before the Court of Common Pleas and made an oath validating the John Lacey’s instrument: “..at a Court of Common Pleas held at Lewes for the County of the dec[?] Execution of the written Bond was proved in Open Court in due form of Law by the Oath of Robert Lacey, Junr One of the Subscribing witnesses thereto in Testimonial hereof I have set my hand and Seal of Office at Sussex 12t^h Day of February in the year 1789.”

[8] 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.103. Original: Liber 4, folio 5.

[9] Delaware, Sussex County, probate records : estate case files, 1680-1925, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2778558 : accessed 6 January 2022), John Carey 1773-1774; Delaware, Sussex County, probate records; Case files, Carey, Cornelius P. - Carey, John H., RG4545.009, roll 39, 1680-1925; Delaware. Orphans Court, Sussex County, Delaware Public Archives. [Original]; DGS: 104348219; images 765-771.

[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. Survey of John Lacey, 100 acres on the south side of the head of Indian River between Morris’s Mill and  the old Cow Bridge including improvements.

John Lukens, Surveyor-General, Sussex Co. Signed by John Penn.

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. Land is called “Crooked Tract,” which is the same name as the land bequeathed to William Baggs Lacey (his brother) by Robert Lacey by his will 1753. John Lacey, brother of William Baggs Lacey, may have ended up with some of Crooked Tract land after William Baggs Lacey died in 1774 and his wife Betty wanted to sell lands. 

[11] Administration of the estate of John Lacey by Ann Lacey, widow and George Frame, yeoman. Dated 18 Oct 1777, Ann Lacey and George Frame, administers to estate of John Lacey. Delaware Public Archives Probate File RG 4545.009. The six named slaves are: Negro woman called Fine, Negro boy called Larey, Negro girl called Rose, Negro boy called Mose, Negro boy called Shadrock, Negro boy called Jack. It is perhaps coincidence that the boy called Shadrock is the same name as the slave given to Ann Lacey in the will of John Parker, Sr. of Accomack County, Virginia.

[12] Ralph D. Nelson, Jr., et al., eds. Delaware - 1782 Tax Assessment and Census List, 2nd ed., Delaware Genealogical Society, 2002.; Sussex Co., Indian River & Angola Hundred; assed £1; J. Thomas Scharf, “History of Delaware, 1609-1888, (Philadelphia, L.J. Richards and Co: 1888), Volume 2, Tax List of 1785, Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, p. 1271.

[13] Sussex County, Delaware Deed records, 1693-1886; general index, 1682-1949; https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 > Deeds, book O#14, Petition of wife Ann Lacey (administrix), 6 Aug 1789, pp. 82-83.  

[14]  C.H.B. Turner, Genealogical notes, Manuscript, Sussex County and Kent County, Delaware, Somerset County and Worcester County, Maryland: Surnames Lacey, familysearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2686366: accessed 15 April 2021), Lacey Family. Turner only names sons Spencer and William without sources. Robert⁴ Lacey and John⁴ Lacey are likely also sons of John³ Lacey and Ann Parker. There were probably other children not named.

[15] 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), Baptism of Anderson Lacey, 1769; Film 441441, image 258); Citing Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1905, p. 355).(accessible only at FHL).