Heritage Book of Morgan County, TN
Rick Llewellyn - Apr 6, 2014
I thought I would bring out a source that was published in 1999, now 15 years ago. Here is the first of several articles contributed to the heritage book. I have typed it verbatim.
Genealogical research of the Lewallen family in early records of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee demonstrates the family surname spelling has varied widely. The original Welsh spelling is Llewellyn, however, many of the documents from the 1600's to the 1800's show Lewelling, Lewellin, and Luallen as being the most common variances although there are many others. It should be noted that most of our ancestors could not read or write and signed their documents with an "X". Therefore they could not have purposely changed the spelling of the family name. There are several family legends relating to the "Llewellyns" leaving Wales because of wars or problems with the authorities then changing the spelling of the family name to become anonymous. This appears to be unfounded. They simply could not spell the name and depended upon local court stenographers to sign their names for them. As the family changed locations so did the name. The spelling of our family name in this genealogy reflects the time and location of the referenced location and time in history.
A study of Anderson Lewelling starts with marriage, court and land records in Prince Edward County Virginia. Anderson's first documented record is of his marriage to Lucy Rice June 8, 1784 by Rev. Robert Foster, the pastor of the Sailors Creek Baptist Church, in Prince Edward County VA. Sailors Creek is a short distance east of Farmville, VA, the county seat of Prince Edward County.
The absence of Anderson's presence on legal documents prior to 1784 and his legal participation on and after that date would indicate he was around 20 years old at his marriage date.
A 1785 Prince Edward County tax list shows Anderson with a household of 3 people which would indicate Anderson, Lucy and their first child. Also in the same tax list was Jesse Lewelling, Wm. Lewelling and Dan Lewelling. In 1786, Wm. Lewelling of Prince Edward County buys land in Prince Edward County from Matthew Rice. Witnesses were Anderson Lewelling, Jesse Lewelling and John Lewelling. There is a 1786 Prince Edward County deed that mentions Anderson Lewelling with John Lewelling, Richard Lewelling, Jesse Lewelling and Moses Lewelling.
Anderson's records continue in Prince Edward County, VA until 1789 after which he relocates to Wake Co., NC. A Prince Edward County deed dated August 3, 1789 states "Jesse Lewelling of Wake County, NC sells land in Prince Edward County, Va. " Witnessed by Anderson Lewelling.
Anderson's records continue in Wake County NC until 1807 when Anderson Lewellin, Jesse Lewellin, and Claibourne Lewellin are listed insolvent in a tax list.
The next record of Anderson Lewallen appears in "The History of East Tennessee" by Goodspeed Publishing. In a genealogy of John Lewallen, a grandson of Anderson Lewallen, John states that his father William Lewallen came from North Carolina to Tennessee in 1811 with his parents. William Lewallen was a son of Anderson and Lucy Rice Lewallen.
The location in Tennessee where Anderson relocated at that time (1811) was Roane County, an area on Wolf Creek that would become Morgan County TN in 1817. The first record for Anderson found in Tennessee is in the Anderson County court records, "On October 13, 1817, a bill of sale from Richard G. Dunlap, Atto in Fact for Nathaniel Taylor to Anderson Luallen for 50 acres of land, proved in court by Wiley Luallen and Jacob Gray was duly ordered." This identical parcel of land is listed in the Morgan County TN register of deeds office as being sold by Anderson Luallen to Andrew Luallen May 12, 1821. Andrew Luallen was a son of Anderson and Lucy Rice Luallen.
Anderson's records continue in Morgan County until 1828 after which there are no records found by this researcher. Anderson Lewallen and Lucy Rice Lewallen are buried in Old Lewallen Family Cemetery off Shannon Rd., commonly known as the old Brandau Place, in Scott County, TN, an area that was in Morgan County before 1849.
It should be noted that the lineage prior to Anderson Lewelling has not been proven as of this writing, 1998. Theories of Alexander, Moses or Edmond Lewelling being the father of Anderson appear to be "theories" and lack documentation.
Anderson was born ca. 1764 in Virginia, died ca 1829 in Morgan County TN. Married Lucy Rice June 8, 1784 in Prince Edward County, Va. Children: 1. Wiley, born ca. 1786 Prince Edward County, VA 2. Thomas b. ca. 1788 Prince Edward County VA 3. Daughter b. ca 1791 Stirrup Iron Creek, Wake County, NC 4. Daughter b. ca 1792 Stirrup Iron Creek, Wake County NC 5. Andrew L. b. October 7, 1793 Stirrup iron Creek, Wake County NC Married Malinda Elizabeth Davis, Nov. 30, 1814, TN 6. Daughter b. ca. 1784 Stirrup iron Creek, Wake County, NC 7. Son b. ca 1795 Stirrup Iron Creek, Wake County, NC 8.Polly b. ca 1802 Stirrup iron Creek, Wake County, NC Married Michael Robbins, in TN 9. Joel b. June 10, 1803 Stirrup Iron Creek, Wake County, NC Married Racheal Taylor, ca. 1828, in TN 10. William L. b. August 3, 1809 Stirrup Iron Creek, Wake County, NC. Married Nancy Wallace ca. 1832, in TN. 11. John b. February 12, 1812, Morgan County TN, Married #1 Delilah Reed, in TN. # Emily Reed, December 9 1865 in TN.
The Morgan County records, 1820 - 1840. shows Anderson, Andrew, Joel, Jesse, John (b. before 1800), Zachariah, Herod, Emanuel, Henry, Wiley, Matthew, John (b. 1811), William, Robert and Jackson Luallen as local residents and neighbors. All were probable [sic] related. There are very good genealogies written for Anderson, Andrew, Zechariah, William, Joel, John (b. 1812) and Herod Luallen. Jesse and Mayyhew relocated to Wayne County, KY in the 1830's then to Arkansas. There is little known about the other Luallen's in this paragraph, however, they appear to be closely related based on available records.Submitted by: Wayne F. Lewallen, 5th Great grandson, 914 Camborne Pl. NC 28210
Billie Harris - Apr 9, 2014
Thanks for typing and posting that. Wayne was a good researcher.
My ancestor was Wiley, however, I'm not sure he was Anderson's son, Wiley. The census for "my" Wiley indicates he was born about 1795, but as we know, census records weren't always accurate. So my question is, was Wiley a son of Anderson's or of Jesse's?
Rick Llewellyn - Apr 12, 2014
Wayne and I talked several times and he became frustrated because he (we) seemed to hit a brick wall. We will probably never know until we have exhausted the records. The Heritage Book is more of a family history and Wayne was more of a genealogist (show me the facts).