The Shocking Discovery of the Body of James McDonough of Greenwich, Connecticut

 

The Shocking Discovery of the Body of James McDonough of Greenwich, Connecticut

 

The headline read “Found Her Husband’s Body, James McDonough’s Mangled Remains Discovered by His Wife.” [1].

 

James McDonough worked as a gardener for Greenwich (Connecticut) philanthropist Robert M. Bruce. His wife, Agnes Loughran McDonough, saw him off to work the morning of  10 September 1905 and when he did not return, she went to town to look for him. Maybe thinking he stopped by the tavern after work, she re-traced his normal walking commute. Their house was near the tracks and James often took a short cut through the railroad bed.  He “was found horribly mangled by his wife, about 3 yesterday morning [September 11] , in the cut above the Greenwich station.” [1]

 

One newspaper account said “[H]e was in the habit of crossing the tracks each evening and walked on the tracks so that he could see approaching train.”[2]

 

Apparently because of a train wreck in Port Chester, NY, the trains were running that night in the opposite direction “and one coming up behind struck him with fatal results.” [2]

 

Sadly, he was only about 48 years old and left his wife and two children, James Joseph, age 6 and Mary, age 2. [3] He also left a brother, Frank McDonough, also of Greenwich and a sister Annie McDonough McSweeney also of Greenwich. Obviously, his death was quite a shock to his family. Agnes never re-married and worked most of her life as a laundress in Greenwich until her death in 1946. His surviving children remained in and around Greenwich.

 

[1] “Found Her Husband’s Body, James McDonough’s Mangled Remains Discovered by His Wife,” The Daily Advocate, 13 September 1905, p. 3, col. 3; image copy GenealogyBank (http://www.genealogybank.com : accessed June 27, 2020).

[2] James McDonough Obituary, Greenwich News & Graphic (Greenwich), 16 September 1905, clipping, Greenwich Public Library.

[3] Connecticut State Board of Health, Medical Certificate of Death in Town of Greenwich, No. 4004 (1905), James McDonough; Department of Vital Statistics, Connecticut.

 

The Confirmed Identity of the Second Wife of Spencer Lacey of Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware

 

The Confirmed Identity of the Second Wife of Spencer Lacey of Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware

The second wife of Spencer Lacey of Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware is usually identified  as Mary (or Molly), daughter of William Brittingham Ennis of Sussex County. [1,2] Indeed, Mary is the name of his wife when Spencer Lacey made out his will on 10 March 1810. [3]

 

St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River   

The primary source of evidence that Mary/Molly was the daughter of William Brittingham Ennis comes from birth entries in the St. George’s Protestant Episcopal Church in Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. [4] 

 

The church register lists the births and baptisms of eight children of William Brittingham Ennis and Kizia, his wife, namely:

1.     Molly born March 15 1764 daughter of William Brittinham Ennis and Kizia, his wife and baptized 1764

2.     Kizia born January 14 1766, daughter of Do. and baptized in 1766

3.     William born July 25 1767 and baptized 1768 Do.

4.     Nancy born November 23 1768 of Do. and baptized 1769

5.     Sarah born October 1 1771 and baptized in 1772

6.     Betty born March 11 1773, daughter of Do. and baptized in 1774

7.     Hessea born March 11 1778 and baptized 1778

8.     Levin born April 25 1784 and baptized June 29 1785

"N.B. These eight were the children of William Brittinham Ennis and Kizia his wife"

All of the entries seem to have been recorded at the same time - 1785. In the same register book and page for St. George’s, the baptism of the son of Spencer Lacey and Molly, his wife is given as William Brittingham Lacey, born 23 September 1783. [5] These entries strongly suggest that Mary/Molly, born 15 March 1764 was a daughter of William Brittingham Ennis. Although suggestive, it is not conclusive to say that Mary/Molly Ennis, the daughter of William Brittingham Ennis, was the same as the wife of Spencer Lacey.

  

The Deed of the Heirs of Levin Ennis to Perry Pool  

On 15 January 1811, the heirs of Leven [Levin] Ennis sold two pieces of land in Indian River Hundred, Sussex County to Perry Pool of Sussex County. [6] These heirs are named as Betsey, wife of John McGee; William B. Ennis; Kiziah, wife of Stephen Blizzard; and Mary, wife of Spencer Lacey.

 

One of the pieces of land in the indenture was given to Levin Ennis by his father, William Brittingham Ennis, in his will dated 1 March 1790 and proved 30 March 1790 in Sussex County. [7]  Levin Ennis is the same as the Levin Ennis, son of William Brittingham Ennis and Kizia, in the St. George’s register and was born in 1786, very under age to be receiving land in 1790. [8] However, the will stipulates that the land, which includes “the Mill and Land I purchased of Eli Collings,” is to be held by his son William Ennis and that he should “should keep the said Mill in repair” and “pay all that is yet due for the s^d Mill and Land and have all profits of this same till he the said Levin arrives at the age of twenty one.” William Brittingham Ennis mentions he has six daughters, but none are named in the will (the six daughters would have been Mary/Molly, Kiziah, Nancy, Sarah, Betty, and Hessea. [9]

 

The deed of 15 January 1811, names Betsey, Kisiah, Mary, Nancy and Hessey, all of which, with the exception of Sarah Ennis, are names in the register of St. George’s as daughters of William Brittingham Ennis. [10]  It is noted that Nancy and Hessey are mentioned as those that the land descended to, but they are not amongst the heirs in the sale of the lands. Sarah Ennis is not mentioned at all, and may have died after her father’s will was made in 1790.

 Ennis names in the 1811 deed and St. George's Church

Name	In Perry Pool Deed, 1811	In St. George’s Register
Molly	Molly Lacey	Molly Ennis, b. 15 Mar 1764
Kizia	Kisiah Blizzard	Kizia Ennis, b. 14 January 1766
William	William B. Ennis	William Ennis, b. 25 July 1767
Nancy	Nancy Ennis	Nancy Ennis, b. 23 November 1768
Sarah	N/A	Sarah Ennis, b. 1 October 1771
Betty	Betsey McGee	Betty Ennis, b. 11 March 1773
Hessea	Hessey Ennis	Hessea Ennis, b. 11 March 1778
Levin	Levin Ennis	Levin Ennis, b. 25 April 1784

Conclusion 

Levin Ennis died intestate about 1811 (he would have been about age 26), with no wife or children, and that his father, William Brittingham Ennis "in his last will and testament devised the said Lands to Leven Ennis his son and the said Leven Ennis died without Will and of course the said Lands descended to Betsey Ennis who intermarried with John McGee William B. Ennis  Kisiah who intermarried with Stephen Blizzard and Mary who intermarried with Spencer Lacey[,] Nancy Ennis[,] and Hessey Ennis [11]. 

Therefore, the lands willed to Levin Ennis descended to his surviving siblings since Levin had no immediate heirs. The daughter Sarah Ennis, born 1771, is not mentioned in the indenture, so presumably she died before the indenture was made in 1811. Both Nancy and Hessey are not amongst the grantor heirs.

The deed of 15 January 1811 from the heirs of Levin Ennis to Perry Pool proves conclusively that Mary, the wife of Spencer Lacey, was indeed Mary Ennis, the daughter of William Brittingham Ennis and his wife Kizia. 

 

[1]  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, Spencer Lacey.

[2] Delaware Genealogical Society, ed., “Delaware Families, 1787-1800,” (Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse, 2013), 315; Spencer Lacey entry; unknown submitter.

[3]  Sussex County, Delaware Wills, 1682-1851; index to wills, 1684-1948, FamilySearch.org, database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/47102 : accessed 9 September 2021), Entry for Spencer Lacey, 1810, Will Book G #7, p 293-294. 

[4]  Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware, 1756-1855, digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/257966 : accessed 25 August 2021), St. George’s Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River. Transcription. Children of William Brittinham Ennis, 1785; LDS Film 44144; Citing Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1905, p. 79). 

[5] Ibid, baptism of William Brittingham Lacy, son of Spencer Lacy and Molly, his wife bapt Mar 1785.

[6] Deed records of Sussex County, Delaware, 1693-1886; general index, 1682-1949, FamilySearch.org, digital images, https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/296734 > Heirs of Levin Ennis to Perry Pool, 1811, Deeds, Book AF29, pp 214-216.

[7] Sussex County, Delaware Wills, 1682-1851; index to wills, 1684-1948, FamilySearch.org, database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/47102 : accessed 9 September 2021), William Brittingham Ennis, 1790, Will Book D #4, p 265.

[8] Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware, 1756-1855; Citing Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1905, p. 79). Levin Ennis was born 1784 and about 6 years old when his father died and bequeathed him the land and mill.

[9] Sussex County, Delaware Wills, 1682-1851; William Brittingham Ennis, 1790, Will Book D #4, p 265.

[10]  Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware, 1756-1855; Citing Collections of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1905, p. 79). Only Sarah Ennis, born 1 October 1771,  is not named as an heir in the 1811 indenture to Perry Pool.

[11] Deed records of Sussex County, Delaware, 1693-1886; Heirs of Levin Ennis to Perry Pool, 1811, Deeds, Book AF29, pp 214-216.

 

 

The Schooling of Robert Lacey of Sussex County Delaware

 

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.

The Guardianship and Administration of the Estate of Robert Lacy of Sussex County, Delaware

 

The Guardianship and Administration of the Estate of Robert Lacy of Sussex County, Delaware

 Robert Lacey (or Lacy) is a name that appears throughout Sussex County, Delaware throughout the 18^th and early 19^th centuries. The administration of the estate of one Robert Lacey 1780-1787 and the guardianship of his three children involves at least three individuals named Robert Lacey: (1) Robert Lacey, deceased, who died February 1780 and is the subject of the administration; (2) Robert Lacey, minor son of Robert Lacey (1); and, Robert Lacey, a relative and Guardian of minor Robert Lacey (2). To distinguish these individuals the following designation is used:

1. Robert Lacey^D = Robert Lacey, deceased, 1780
   
2. Robert Lacey^G = Robert Lacey, Guardian of minor son Robert Lacey.
   
3. Robert Lacey^Jr = Robert Lacy, minor son of Robert Lacey^D

Administration Account and Inventory

Robert Lacey^D, yeoman, of Sussex County Delaware died intestate in 1780. His death appears to have been recorded in the records of the Lewes, Coolspring Presbyterian Church as 20 February 1780. [1]  

On 23 February 1780, Mary Lacey and Phillip Marvel posted a bond of £2000 as Executors and Administrators of the estate of Robert Lacey, deceased. [2] An inventory of the estate of Robert Lacey was made by Simon Kollock and George Frame and reported on 2 March 1780. The estate was valued at £16,770, a considerable amount. [3] Mary Lacey, “administrartrix of all Singular good and chattels Rights and Credits that were of Robert Lacy late of the County of Sussex” makes an accounting shortly after 2 March 1780 (no date recorded) including the £16,770 from the inventory, which had been depreciated to £447:1:6.[4]

Petitions to Appoint Guardians

On 18 August 1781, Mary Lacey petitioned the Orphans Court of Sussex County, Delaware to appoint guardians for her three minor children, under the age of 14, of Robert Lacey, deceased: Hezekiah Lacey, Ann Lacey, and Robert Lacey^Jr. She “[h]umbly prays your Worships to appoint some person as to you shall seem fit to be Guardian to said Minors persons and Estates during there [sic] Minority.” Signed Mary Lacy [5]

 

The Court considered her request and appointed her, Mary Lacey, as Guardian and she accepted. She then provide and accounting as Administratrix of the estate of Robert Lacey^D in the amount of £447..1..6 less £10..3..2 for her own expenses to be disbursed to Mary Lacey.

All seems fairly straightforward until 7 August 1783. A Robert Lacey^G, a nephew of the deceased, (son of John Lacey and Ann Parker) came into the Orphans Court and stated that a Claypoole Davidson had “intermarried” with Mary Lacey who had been the Guardian of Robert Lacey^Jr, son of Robert Lacey^D, deceased. He “and others” made the case that Claypool Davidson and his wife Mary “did not Act the part of Guardian to said minor [Robert Lacy^Jr] but on the Contrary used him very ill.” The Court removed Claypool Davidson as Guardian and appointed Robert Lacey as Guardian. [6] 

In the next Orphans Court entry, also on 7 August 1783, Hezekiah Lacey and Ann Lacey, the other two minor children of Robert Lacey^D, “being above the age of fourteen years” requested that John Morris, “son of William,” be appointed their Guardian. The Court approved. [7] John Morris, as it turns out, is a first cousin of Robert Lacey^G and nephew of Robert Lacey^D through his sister’s (Elizabeth or Betty Lacey) marriage to William Morris. [8]

In other words, it appears that Mary Lacey, who had been appointed Guardian to all three children of Robert Lacey^D  in 1781, had married Claypool Davidson after 1781 and before 1783 and that they did not perform their Guardianship duties and, in fact, treated the third minor child, Robert Lacey^Jr “very ill.” Robert Lacey^G,  nephew of the deceased, stepped in to rescue Robert Lacey^Jr  from what seems a bad situation and the Court approved his as Guardian.

 

It appears from these two entries in the Orphans Court of 7 August 1783 that of the three children of Robert Lacey^D, that Robert Lacey^Jr was the youngest child and under fourteen in 1783. Hezekiah and Ann are now over 14, but only two years earlier were under 14. Hezekiah appears to be the eldest, followed by Ann.

Both Robert Lacey, Guardian of Robert Lacey^Jr and John Morris, Guardian of Hezekiah and Ann Lacey, children of Robert Lacey^D posted bonds on 7 August 1783 at £200 and £500, respectively. [9] Robert Lacey^G was the first signature on the former and John Morris the first signature on the later.

Accounting of Estate of Robert Lacey, deceased

An additional account of Claypool Davidson and Mary his wife, “late Mary Lacey Relict and administratrix of Robert Lacey, deceased” was produced. The accountants charge themselves with a balance of the estate settled in August 1781 at £441 : 8 : 4. The accountants claim that mistakes were made in the last settlement in the amount of £41 :0 : 9 [10]

Also on 25 November 1783, Claypoole Davidson and his wife, the late Mary Lacey widow of Robert Lacey^D produced an accounting of their administration of the estate of Robert Lacey^D with a distribution of £82..19..5^1/2 to each of the children: Hezekiah, Ann, and Robert. The transcribed record in the Orphans Court Docket D recorded Hezekiah Lacey twice and the clerk meant the minor Robert Lacey^Jr [11]

Accounting of Lands of Robert Lacey, deceased

On 4 February 1784 the Court was informed by both Robert Lacey^G and John Morris, Guardians, that the children of Robert Lacey^D were “seized of Lands and tenements” in Indian River Hundred and that free holders of the Court were sent to evaluate and set an annual valuation.  A separate valuation was made for the lands of Robert Lacey^Jr, minor of Robert Lacey^D and the lands of Hezekiah and Ann Lacey. [12]

The Court appointed three free holders: Simon Kollock, Esquire; Nathaniel Waples, Esquire; and Captain William Newbold and they reported separately on the lands of Robert Lacey^D and the lands of Hezekiah and Ann Lacey. For Robert Lacey’s^Jr valuation, the land in Indian River Hundred was worth one pound, thirteen shillings, and four pence [13]; the same land was valued at three pounds sixteen shillings and eight pence for Hezekiah and Ann Lacy. They further described that the land contained a dwelling house, twenty feet by sixteen feet that was made of “Hughed” logs, a pine board floor and brick chimney. There was also a small log “Chitchen,” 567 pannels of fencing and thirteen fruit trees. [14]

And there things stood until three years later on 8 March 1787 when Hezekiah Lacey appeared in Court to request that five free holders go onto the lands of Robert Lacey^D, deceased and to divide and partition the lands amongst the three heirs, namely himself, Ann Lacey and Robert Lacey^Jr, all children of Robert Lacey^D .[15]

The five free holders, namely Simon Kollock, Thomas Burbagge, William Brittingham Ennis, George Mislick, and Joshua Morris employed a skilled Surveyor, William Butcher, to survey the land for division and partition among the three heirs. [16]

 

On 5 May 1787 the free holders and Surveyor returned a report that the land, 100 acres in Indian River Hundred, would not divide amongst the heirs without “marring or spoiling” the property. [17]

On 6 June 1787, the report on the division of Robert Lacey’s land was delivered. Also, Hezekiah Lacey came into the Court and acknowledged that John Morris, his late Guardian, had fully satisfied and paid him the whole of his Estate and discharges the  Guardian from his Guardianship. [18]

Presumably, Hezekiah Lacey had reached the age of 21. Hezekiah Lacey returned to Court on 7 June 1787 and asked the Court to appoint three free holders to make a “just estimate of the intrinsic value of the lands.” [19] There are no other entries in the Orphans Court regarding the matter. No record in the Orphans Court has been located as to whether the Court appointed the requested free holders and no report was recorded on the value of the lands. There are no records after 1787 that mention Ann Lacey. She apparently passed away or married as only Hezekiah Lacey appears in Court on 7 June 1787 to ask for value of the lands. No other records are found in the Orphans Court or other Courts of Sussex County, so it was assumed that the 100 acres remained undivided amongst the heirs.

The Death of Robert Lacey, Jr.

In 1801, Hezekiah Lacey appears as an administrator of the estate of Robert Lacey, Jr as apparently Robert Lacey^Jr, son of Robert Lacey^D had died [20]. The administration includes a final accounting of the Guardian Robert Lacey. [21] Both Robert Lacey^G and Hezekiah Lacey post $500 bond for the administration of the estate of Robert Lacey, Jr. [22] No mention is made in the final guardian account or in the administration accounting of any land in possession of Robert Lacey^Jr.

 Hezekiah Lacey appears on the 1820 Census for Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex County, but disappears from the records after that date. His name appears on the 1828 Tax Assessment for Dagsboro Hundred,  but the entry is crossed out indicating he moved from the area or passed away. [23] There are no probate, census or deed records in any of the surrounding counties are states for Hezekiah Lacey.

 

What Happened to the 100 Acres of Undivided Land?

After Robert Lacey^Jr died in 1801, only Hezekiah Lacey seems to be the sole heir of the 100 acres of land.  On the Indian River Tax Assessment for 1801, Robert Lacey^G, Sen^r, the guardian of Robert Lacey^Jr, minor, received 100 acres of land transferred from John Morris. [24] There is no deed recorded in Sussex County nor an Orphans Court record, but recall that John Morris was the guardian of Hezekiah and Ann Lacey and responsible for the 100 acres of land that would not divide amongst the now remaining heirs, Hezekiah and Ann Lacey, which by 1801 appears to be only Hezekiah Lacey. Apparently, the heirs no longer wanting the land, John Morris transfers the land to Robert Lacey^G.   

In a deed dated 22 November 1817, Robert Lacey^G and his current wife, Rhoda sell two pieces of land to John Sharp: one at 154 ½ acres in Indian River Hundred and another 2 acres, 70 perches, also in Indian River Hundred. The deed notes in particular that these lands are part of a larger tract of land “which was originally surveyed & taken up by a certain Robert Lacey grandfather to this grantor in pursuance of a Proprietaries Warrant dated at Philadelphia twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty one and is called and known by the name of Lacy’s Fortune. [25]

This was land owned by Robert Lacey, father of Robert Lacey^D (and grandfather of Robert Lacey^G ) [26] who, in a will dated 13 March 1753, bequeathed this land his son Robert Lacey^D [27]. This land was not sold during Robert Lacey’s^D lifetime and was likely the 100 acres of land that passed to his children and that would not divide and was transferred to Robert Lacey^G by John Morris about 1801.

There are other complications with the lands of the Robert Laceys, but that is another story.

 

[1] F. Edward Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties Delaware, 1686-1800. Lewes and Coolspring Presbyterian Church, Lewes, Delaware. (Silver Spring, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1986), 116. “Robert Lassee [sic], Carpenter, a Rake reform’d d. (Sunday at his work), February 26(?), 1780”

[2]  Sussex County Probates, RG4545.009, Robert Lacey^D (1780-1783). 

[3] Ibid. The inventory is three pages and notes the value of a Negro girl at £1600 and a Negro old woman at £600. The inventory notes that Robert Lacey^D has £7500 in Certificates “of ye Continental Treasury.” In the Register of Loan Office Certificates Issued in the State of Delaware (January 1780), Robert Lacey^D took several certificates of debt for financing of the Revolutionary War (National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 53: Records of the Bureau of Public Debt; Microfilm Publications: M1008, T784; Records of the Delaware Loan Office, 53.3.8).  

[4] Sussex County Probates, RG4545.009, Robert Lacey^D (1780-1783).

[5] Delaware, Sussex County, probate records : estate case files, 1700-1956, browsable images, FamilySearch.org, (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2778558 : accessed 7 July 2021), Mary Lacy petition for guardian for Hezekiah, Ann and Robert Lacy, 28 Aug 1781; 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; Orphans Court, Sussex County, Delaware Public Archives; image 396.

[6] Orphans' Court dockets, 1770-1847; general index, 1728-1847, browsable images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/48605 : accessed 1 September 2021) > 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.

[7] Ibid. John Morris is the son of William Morris and Betty Lacey, brother of Robert Lacey. John Morris was therefore a nephew of Robert Lacey (deceased 1780) and first cousin to Hezekiah, Ann and Robert as well as first cousin to Robert Lacey (m. Sukey), son of John Lacey.

[8] Sussex County, Delaware Wills, 1682-1851; index to wills, 1684-1948, FamilySearch.org, database with images (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/47102 : accessed 23 August 2021), William Morris, 1797, Will Book E, p 151); image 88-89. In the will of her father, Robert lacey, Betty Morris is bequeathed 5 shillings (Sussex County, Delaware Wills, 1682-1851, Entry for Robert Lacey, 1753, Will Book B, p 59); image 36-38).

[9] 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; image 407 and 409.

[10]  Sussex County Probate, RG4545.009, Robert Lacey (1780-1783).

[11] Orphans Court Docket D, p. 224-225, image 368-369. The account in the original Orphans Court Minute Dockets for 25 November 1783, correctly records that Robert Lacey, Jn^r received his share of £82..9..5^1/2: Sussex County, Delaware, Orphans Court Dockets and minutes, 1728-1802, FamilySearch.org, browsable images, (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/43210 : 1 September 2021) > Minute Docket Book No. 1, 1773-1784, Account of Estate of Robert Lacey, deceased 25 November 1783, p. 161-162, image 420-421.

[12] Orphans Court Docket D, p. 238, image 375.

[13] Delaware, Sussex County, probate records : estate case files, 1700-1956, Folder RG4840.009, Lacy, Robert (dec’d) 1781-1787, image 397.

[14]  Delaware, Sussex County, probate records : estate case files, 1700-1956, Folder RG4840.009, Lacy, Robert (dec’d) 1781-1787, image 401.

[15]  Orphans Court Docket E, p. 166-167, image 545-546. Original copies of these reports by the free holders are found in the Probate file of Robert Lacey: Delaware, Sussex County, probate records : estate case files, 1700-1956, Folder RG4840.009, Lacy, Robert (dec’d) 1781-1787, images 413, 415.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Sussex County, Delaware, Orphans Court Dockets and minutes, 1728-1802, FamilySearch.org, browsable images, (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/43210 : 1 September 2021) > March 1786-August 1789, Hezekiah Lacey-release of guardian, John Morris, 6 June 1787, p. 113, image 499. This record appears in the original O.C. Minute dockets, but not in the recorded/transcribed Orphans Court records.

[19]  Sussex County Orphan’s Court Records, Docket E, p. 167, image 546

[20] Sussex County, Delaware, Probate Records, Probate File for Robert Lacey, Jr. 1801-1804; RG4545.009; Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware.

[21] Sussex County, Delaware, Guardian Accounts, FamilySearch.org, browsable image (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/41301 : 1 September 2021) > Ingram – McIlvain > image 291, Robert Lacey, minor, final Guardian Account, 7 August 1804. A copy is also attached to the administration records: Sussex County, Delaware, Probate Records, Probate File for Robert Lacey, Jr. 1801-1804.

[22] Sussex County, Delaware, Probate Records, Probate File for Robert Lacey, Jr. 1801-1804.

[23] Delaware, Sussex County, Assessment Records, 1801-1902, browsable images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2845825 : accessed 20 June 2021), 1828 Tax Assessment, Broadkill Hundred, Hezekiah Lacey; Assessment Records (Amended), Broad Creek Hundred no date Section B to Broadkill Hundred,1801 to 1828, Turkin Wright, RG4535.000 Roll#009, 1 Jan 1801–31 Dec 1992; 105624375. Hezekiah Lacey, Person Tax $134.00. Entry is crossed out, possibly indicating that he either left Sussex County or passed away.

[24] Tax lists of Sussex County, Delaware, before 1767-1850, FamilySearch.org, browsable images, (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/53423 : accessed 9 September 2021) > Tax lists, #31-75 before 1767-1801 > Indian River Hundred > 1801, Robert Lacey, image 930.

[25] Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61025/) > Sussex > 008, Image 388, Robert Lacey to John Sharp, Deed Book AQ39, p. 88-89, image 61.

[26] The statement that Robert Lacey is the grandfather of Robert Lacey^G provides a clue as to Robert Lacey’s^G relationship. From the 1753 will, Robert Lacey had four sons that he bequeathed substantial amounts of land: John Lacey, Parker Lacey, Robert Lacey^D, and William Baggs Lacey. Robert Lacey^G could only be the son of John Lacey. This relationship would indicate that Robert Lacey^G was a nephew of Robert Lacey^D and first cousin to Robert Lacey^Jr.

[27] 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), Entry for Robert Lacey, 1753, Will Book B, p 59); image 36-38.