John McLemore, Jr.

Notes:

On September 5, 1749, a patent was issued for 100 acres on Poplar Creek to John Macklemore (Patent Book 28). This patent was probably to John Jr., however, rather than to his father, and was for land apparently adjoining that of the elder Macklemore; shortly thereafter John Macklemore Jr. and his wife Elizabeth, of newly formed Southampton County, conveyed to his father, John Sr., a tract of unspecified acreage, but apparently encompassing all of this 100 acre patent on the south side of Poplar Swamp, by deed dated and recorded January 8, 1751/2, and witnessed by Burrel Macklemore (Surry Deed Book 6 (1749-1753), p. 179). This conveyance gave John Sr. a plantation of 250 acres on Poplar Creek, on Southampton/Surry (soon to be Sussex) County line. Apparently son John no longer needed this land for himself, as his new father-in-law, William SPENCE, conveyed 80 acres, more or less (cut from a September 5, 1749 patent to him), to his daughter Elizabeth Macklemore, land which lay on the north side of "Frank's Branch", adjoining the lands of Thomas CLIFTON, William Spence and John CALTHROP, the deed therefor being dated August 28, 1750, and recorded in the Southampton County Clerk's Office on April 11, 1751 (Deed Book 1, p. 215). Shortly thereafter this same William SPENCE conveyed to his son-in-law John Macklemore (Jr.) an additional 100 acres, more of less, from the same patent, described as adjoining the aforesaid branch, CALTHROP, CLIFTON and one Capt. John RUFFIN, by deed dated October 9, and recorded October 11, 1751 (Southampton Deed Book 1, p. 266.). (James L. McLemore, III, p. 56).

John McLemore, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth witnessed the will of Simon TURNER, dated July 7, 1761, and admitted to probate in Southampton County December 10, 1762 (Southampton Will Book 1, p. 410). (James L. McLemore, Chapter IX "Simon Turner and his Southampton County Descendants, frp, an unidentified manuscript in the possesion of Rudy Leverett.

In addition to the land conveyed to John and Elizabeth by his father-in-law, he had other land holdings. In a deed dated January 14, 1762, he conveyed to William Watson GRAY 130 acres bounded by William TAYLOR and the William SPENCE Estate on the east, Thomas CLIFTON on the southeast, and Hugh NORVILL and Henry HARRIS on the north (Southampton Deed Book 3, p. 109). Thomas CLIFTON was the husband of his wife's sister, Sarah. A few years after the conveyence, the grantee William Watson GRAY died, and in 1770 John McLemore sued his executor, John GRAY. The verdict came back for GRAY on September 13, 1771 (Southampton Order Book 5, p. 457). A month earlier, John conveyed his 80 acre tract on the north side of Frank's Branch to Henry MOUNGER as security for a loan of 22 pounds (Southampton Deed Book 4, p. 347), but was able to repay the loan and MOUNGER released the 80 acres by deed of release (Southampton Deed Book 5, p. 209). (James L. McLemore, III, p. 61).

In a 1986 letter to Rudy Leverett, the author notes that John McLemore, Jr., along with his first cousin William McLemore, was a witness to a deed of "acquitaner" and a companion deed involving Thomas TURNER recorded May 9, 1776.

John McLemore's will, dated December 27, 1782, and admitted to probate in the Clerk's office of Southampton County (Will Book 4, p. 15), was transcribed by James L. McLemore III as follows:

In the name of God Amen. This 27th day of December 1782 I John McLemore of Southampton county being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory do make & ordain this my last will & testament in manner & form following: first & foremost: I recommend my soul to almighty God who gave it in hope of a joyful resurrection of the same. And as for what wordly goods it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I dispose of the as follows (to wit):

Item: I give to my sons John and Joel McLemore all my land to be equally divided between them, the division to be made by my Executors hereafter to be mentioned together with whosoever they think proper to appoint, and in case either of my above mentioned sons shall die without lawfull issue or dispose of their part of said land, then I give the whole of said land to the other son above mentioned, to him and his heirs forever, but in case both of my said sons should die without lawful issue or make sale of sd land then I give my said land to my Daughters Elizabeth, Olive & McKinna McLemore to be sold & the money equally divided between them, to them and their heirs forever.

Item: I give to my son James McLemore one bed and furniture, some pewter he has already in possesion, also all the money that he owes me except four pounds S five that he is to pay to George Ivey.

Item: I give to my daughters Martha MORGAN & Mary NORVILL to each of them ten Shillings.

Item: I give to my daughter Priscilla McLemore one Bed & furniture which she has in possession, and after her decease to her daughter Eliza. McLemore to her heirs forever.

Item: I leave all the rest of my estate after my just Debts being paid to be equally divided between my wife Eliz. McLemore & three daughters Elizabeth, Olive and McKinna McLemore to them and their heirs forever.

I do hereby appoint John ROGERS and Thos. TURNER Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and year first above written.

John McLemore (Seal)

Sealed, signed and acknowledged in presence of us
John GRAY, Frederic EMMORY, Thos. (his mark) BLAKE, Thos. TURNER

At a court held for the County of Southampton on the 8th day of May 1783. This will was proved by the oaths of John Gray, Frederic Emmory, and Thos. Blake three of the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded. S. KELLO

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Spence. Elizabeth was born between 1730 and 1740; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to her father's Will, she was married to a MORGAN prior to his death in 1783.

Item: I give to my daughters Martha MORGAN & Mary NORVILL to each of them ten Shillings.

Notes:

According to her father's will, she was married to a NORVILL prior to his death in 1783.

Item: I give to my daughters Martha MORGAN & Mary NORVILL to each of them ten Shillings.

Notes:

According to her father's will "I give to my daughter Priscilla McLemore one Bed & furniture which she has in possession, and after her decease to her daughter Eliza. McLemore to her heirs forever." Therefore it appears she either married a cousin, or was unmarried at the birth of her daughter, Eliza.

Notes:

Probably the oldest of John McLemore's three sons. His father had devised his plantation to Joel and John, with the division between them to be made by his executors. No record has been found of this division, but thereafter the two appear to treat their shares separately. Joel seems to have ended up with the 80 acres, more or less, lying on the north side of Frank's Branch, while John must have received the remaining part (100 acres, more of less) lying south of the branch. (James L. McLemore, III, p. 63)

Apparently John III's only deed record was a chattel mortgage in which he conveyed certain personal property to Humphrey DREWRY to secure the latter 42 pounds in current money of Virginia. This instrument was dated April 8, 1797, and recorded October 16, 1797 (Southampton Deed Book 8, p. 681). He made no conveyance of any land during his lifetime, and apparently what he received from his father he died with. It uncertain when John died, but the same Humphrey DREWRY qualified before the Southampton County Court on February 20, 1815, on the estate of John McLemore, presumably John III (Southampton Order Book 13, p. 63); it is undoubtedly the same John McLemore who gave the chattel morgage above. (James L. McLemore, III, p. 64). James L. McLemore, III goes on to detail some conflicting, but undocumented information, that John MAY have still been alive at the time of death of his brother James, said to be dated September 17, 1820.

John married Rebecca Womack before 1788. Rebecca was born before 1768; died before 1794. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Sylvia Reese on 13 Mar 1794 in Southampton County, Virginia. Sylvia was born before 1774; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Per "1850 Census Sabine County, Texas with Added Family Information and Corrections," Edward Pye owned 21 slaves,

Joel married Elizabeth "Betsey" Thomas on 11 Jul 1793 in Southampton County, Virginia. Elizabeth was born before 1773; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Of this James little is known. A single reference entered on March 21, 1805, in Southampton County (Order Book 10, p. 446) provided that "on motion of James McLemore a witness for John HARRIS against Joseph HARRISON it is ordered that the said John HARRIS pay him fifty-three cents for on day's attendance on this court according to the law." It is probably that this refers to James, son of John Jr., rather than James the son of John III (who was too young), or James, the son of Burwell of Sussex County, even though the latter (and/or his son James) moved across the line into Southampton County sometime afterwards.

According to information on his will provided by Dorothy McLEMORE, James had a wife named Lucinda, but was survived by no children. (James L. McLemore, III, p. 65). Eldon and Ann McLemore of Derby, Kansas, also show he married a Lucinda.

Olive married Edwin Adams on 5 Feb 1789 in Greensville County, Virginia. Edwin was born before 1766 in England, United Kingdom; died about 1810 in Greensville County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

McKinna married Stephen Ragland on 6 Jan 1790 in Greensville County, Virginia. Stephen was born before 1770; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to her descendants, she was the daughter of a Judge. Southampton County records reflect that John McLemore Jr. was appointed a constable, for St. Luke's Parish (Southampton Order Book 4, p. 168; Book 7, pp. 95, 101); his duties, as such, however, were not quite those of a trial judge, and their description of him as judge is thus probably somewhat inaccurate. (James L. McLemore, III, p. 63).

Elizabeth married Michael Harris on 21 Sep 1812 in Southampton County, Virginia. Michael was born before 1790 in England, United Kingdom; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Susanna Blake. Susanna was born after 1794; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

An unidentified Mary McLEMORE married a Turner NEWTON on or about March 18, 1827 (Southampton Marriage Register, p. 371), and since "Polly" is a nickname for Mary, this could have been for John's daughter. It might also be the marriage record of a daughter of either Howell or Gilliam McLemore, both sons of Burwell McLemore of Sussex County. (James L. McLemore, III, p. 65).

Notes:

He was probably the John McLemore who died intestate about 1836 or 1837, and whose estate had to be committed to the sheriff for administration by order of court (Southampton Order Book 18, p. 274) entered May 15, 1837. (James L. McLemore, III, p. 65).

John married Mary W. Norvell on 15 Nov 1824 in Sussex County, Virginia. Mary was born before 1804; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Henry is nowhere else mentioned in Southampton records, and must be presumed to have died young or moved away. (James L. McLemore, III. p. 67).

Notes:

Nancy was married, according to the marriage bond issued on January 4, 1827 (Southampton Marriage Register, p. 367), to another McLemore, her cousin Joel (or perhaps John) McLemore, who was probably Joel the son of Howell McLemore, and neither subsequently appear in the records of the Southside clerk's office. (James L. McLemore, III, p. 67).

Claiborne married Sarah C. Harrison on 17 May 1826 in Southampton County, Virginia. Sarah was born before 1805; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Julia married Francis Y. Jones before 1837. Francis was born about 1800; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Believed to be the Sarah B. McLemore who married John ANDLETON on December 21, 1835. However, she was described as daughter of Sally B. McLemore; since she was apparently the only Sally around at the time, it appears the clerk repeated the bride's name in the place where her mother's (Elizabeth) should have gone, but this is by no means clear (Southampton Marriage Register, p. 4). (James L. McLemore, III, p. 67). Eldon and Ann McLemore of Derby, Kansas, instead show her husband's last name as ANBLETON.

Martha married James Epps on 18 Jul 1845 in Southampton County, Virginia. James was born before 1805; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):He died, unmarried and with issue, in 1845, and by his will dated October 27, 1845, and admitted to probate December 15, 1845, he left most of his estate, including his share of his father's estate, to his sister, Martha M. EPPS, with a few other specific bequests to an niece Martha W. SMITH. (James L. McLemore, III, p. 68).

Notes:

Shown on the 1850 U.S. Census in Nansemond County, Virginia. Apparently Eliza died within a few years of the census, and this Nansemond County James remarried, as in 1858 he gave a deed (later destroyed in the 1866 Nansemond County Court House fire), and in 1870 he gave a certificate confirming title, to Daniel BROTHERS (in which James's wife Virginia joined) for 153 acres in or near Dismal Swamp (Nansemond Deed Book 5, p. 310; recorded February 28, 1876). (James L. McLemore, III, p. 65).

(Research):Census Information:

1850 Census
Virginia, Nansemond County
Enumerated 9 Sept 1850 by Banja Reddick
HH 606-606
William W. and Frances WRIGHT

HH 607-607
James McLemore 33 M Isle of Wight Co. Laborer
Eliza McLemore 32 F Isle of Wight Co.
Mary McLemore 12 F Isle of Wight Co.
James McLemore 10 M Isle of Wight Co.

1860
Not located

1870
Virginia, Nansemond County, Post Office Suffolk
Enumerated 29 June 1870 bt Ribert N Darden
Page No. 5, Stamped 199
34-27
McLimon, James 55 M W Farmer Virginia
McLimon, Virginia 45 F W Keeping House Va
McLimon, James W Jr. 17 M W Works of Farm Va

James married Eliza Gay on 20 Dec 1837 in Isle Of Wight County, Virginia. Eliza was born about 1818 in Isle Of Wight County, Virginia; died after 1850 in Nansemond County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Lucy's father died without a will shortly after she was born. Apparently David M. MASON was initially appointed the child's legal guardian, as he filed an accounting for his tenure as such from 1828 to the mid 1830's (Greensville Will Book 5, p. 474); he had been security on Claiborne and Sarah's marriage bond. Then Clifton HARRISON (apparently Lucy's uncle) became her guardian for a brief time before his own death in the mid to late 1837; Harrison's estate was committed to the hands of the sheriff for administration, and the sheriff was order to "render before Master COBB and account of said Clifton's guardianship of Lucy Ann McLEMORE"; this order was entered November 30, 1837 (Southampton Order Book 18, p. 345). Finally Francis Y. JONES, husband of Lucy's aunt Julia, was appointed on April 4, 1842 (Greenville Will Book 6, p. 139), showing payment of the remaining funds on hand to Willam M. EVERETT to whom Lucy was married pursuant to a marriage bond issued January 17, 1842 (with JONES as security on their bond-Southampton Marriage Register, pp. 515,725). (James L. McLemore, III, pp. 67, 68).

Lucy married William M. Everett on 17 Jan 1842 in Southampton County, Virginia. William was born before 1827; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]