Lewellyns of York and Warwick counties, VA
Billie Harris - Apr 30, 2011
York Co., Virginia
The earliest mention of a Llewellyn in York County was of Robert Llewelling , September 1655 1 , Robert was a merchant who was ordered to pay five pounds sterling to Mr. Anthony Wyatt, both of Jordan’s parish. On 31 March 1659, he was apparently living around Martin’s hundred 2 as he owed 1700 pounds of tobacco. Robert died about 24 February 1691/92 3 . Also noteworthy is the mention of a merchant named Robert Llewellin who whose estate was ordered by the Charles City County court to pay for the burial of his agent4 . These were perhaps one in the same person. Also of York County was Mr. John Lewellin, who inventoried the estate of Gabriel Jones, 29 March 16715 .
Alexander Lewelling died in Warwick County sometime after 7 March 1698/96 . His wife Francis Lench7 was left to address the claims against his estate. The marriage between Alexander and Francis was implied in court records. In the 1704 Quit Rent Roll of Virginia, she was identified as “Widdow Lewelling8 ”. It is possible that Alexander had a brother or father named Richard who was accused of receiving stolen goods9 (a horse). There are no records that suggest Alexander is a descendant of Robert Lewelling.
John, a son of Alexander and Frances, was identified in a 1705 deed10 . John also was recorded in a failure to appear in court11 case.. John was active in county court, serving on a grand jury, surveyor of the Main [sic] road, and appointed as a guardian of an orphan. In the Warwick County Minutes 1748 – 1762 the following individuals were named in the minutes; Alexander, Steeley & John.
The relationships among fathers and sons is quite ambiguous. Unfortunately, the records only reveal a few facts. It is clear that Steeley was deceased12 by about 1755. Also we find that Alexander Lewelling has a son named Alexander Lewelling – “on the motion of Alexander Leweliing he is appointed guardian to his son”13 . This at least clarifies that there were three Alexander Lewellings but it is possible that the second Alexander was a son of John. Steeley therefore could have been a son of Alexander that died at an old age or a son of John who died at an early age.
The son of Alexander in the Warwick County Minutes was likely the same of Charles Parish, York County. Parish records14 show his wife to be a woman named Elizabeth who bore the following children; Fanny (born 3 June 1779), James (born 15 August 1772), John (twin to James), Mary (born 26 March 1770), Nancy (born 30 May 1769), and Simon (born 10 December 1776). His will is recorded in Edgecombe County, NC, 20 June 179115 .
Also mentioned in Warwick County Minutes was Mary Lewelling who was plaintiff in a trespassing case16 . The entry was around 1753 and therefore could not have been the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth whose daughter Mary was born in 1770.
Parish records suggest other complications to understanding this family group. The original parish was St. Peter’s Parish that covered New Kent. In 1704 St. Paul’s Parish was split off to cover the western portions of the area. In 1726, Martin’s Parish was split off from St. Paul’s. Therefore, any Lewellins found in these records could be relatives.
From St. Peter’s Parish Vestry, there is a record of the birth of Lydia Lewellin, daughter of James and Agnes Lewellin, born 8 November 1726 and was baptized 11 December 172617 . It is unclear how James is related to the Alexander who died in 1698, but possibly he was a son.
Also of note was a John and Elizabeth Llewellin that appeared in the records of New Kent County, specifically in the registry of St. Peter’s Parish. The vestry record specifically records the birth of David, son of John and Elizabeth Lewellin, 15 August 175518 . Also recorded is the birth of another son Jonathan, born 17 May 1753 and baptized in 24 June 175319 .
Charles Parish records mention Lucy Fluellin was born 23 September 171920 but the parents are not recorded.
1.The Colonial Churches of Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties, Virginia, by George Carrington Mason, William and Mary Quarterly Historical Magazine, 2nd Ser., Vol. 23, No. 3, July 1943, pp. 249 – 271 ?
2.Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Series 2, Vol. 5, Wills, Deeds & Orders of York County, Virginia ?
3.The Library of Virginia ?
4.The Prince George – Hopewell Story, p. 35 ?
5.York Co., Wills and Inventories 4, 1664/5 – 1671/2 ?
6.SWEM Library, College of William and Mary, Box 1, Folder 5, p. 71 ?
7.SWEM Library, College of William & Mary, Box 1, Folder 5, p. 68, implied marriage ?
8.Virginia tax Records, Genealogical Publishing Co. ?
9.Warwick County Court Orders 1697 – 1698 ?
10.SWEM Library, College of William & Mary, Box 1, Folder 5, p. 71 ?
11.Warwick County Order Book 1713 – 1714 ?
12.Warwick County Minutes, 1748 – 1762, p. 386. ?
13.Warwick County Minutes, 1748 – 1762, p. 529 ?
14.Charles Parish Records, York County, 1648 – 1789 ?
15.Abstracts of the Will of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, 1733 – 1856, p. 208 ?
16.Warwick County Minutes, 1748 – 1762, p. 385 ?
17.Charles Parish, York Co History & Register, page not noted. ?
18.Register of St. Peter’s Parish, p. 584 ?
19.Register of St. Peter’s Parish, p. 570 ?
20.Register of St. Peter’s Parish, p. 463 ?