Untangling the Llewellyn Families in Southside Virginia - Part 1

There have been many Llewellyns who have arrived and departed in the ghostly pages of history and genealogy but none have been as elusive as the early Llewellyn families of Virginia.

Records show several Llewellyns immigrated during the mid to late 17th century. They arrived for many different reasons, some escaping religious oppression, some seeking to capitalize on the tobacco trade, and others who were being released from the jails of London.

Daniel Lewellin (Sr. and Jr.)

It is certain that the most documented Llewellyn was Daniel Lewellin, of Chelmsford, Essex, England. His immigration was recorded in 1637. Although his birth date and age were unknown, his business activities were very well known, documented through countless deeds and letters. He left a will that begins a trail of descendants that clutter the Virginia swamps in Colonial times and later spreads across the United States as the nation takes shape.

Daniel settled in Charles City Co. He was a planter, a militia captain, a justice of the peace, and a member of the House of Burgesses for Henrico Co^[1]. There are facts of genealogical interest in these documents and in Daniel’s will.

Daniel married Anne, widow of Robert Hallam in 1647. Daniel’s will was proven 11 March 1663/64. He gave his land, tenements, & hereditaments in Charles City Co, in the upper part of the James River to his wife Anne, then to his son Daniel. He had at least two daughters, Martha Jones and Margaret Cruse. There is a deed recorded to a David Lewellin for 636 acres of land^[2] in Charles City Co. that might lead researchers to conclude David was another son of Daniel. Upon reading the deed it appears that the land is clearly deeded to the son Daniel.

Therefore we have a Daniel Sr. and a Daniel Jr, both of whom were militia Captains. The son Daniel was born in 1647 according to records of Henrico Co. He was married to Jane Stith but we have not found a marriage bond for them^[3]. Daniel (Jr.) died 19 June 1712 at an age of 65 years^[4].

Did Daniel Lewellin (Jr.) Have a Son?

Some sources say Daniel (Jr.) Lewellin had no sons, probably because he left his plantation to Lewellin Eppes, his grandson.

I can understand that people say that but have they considered these facts?

We must remember that according to Virginia law, the eldest male heir did not have to be named in a will, nor did the wife. Primogeniture applied only when the deceased was intestate. This practice continued in Virginia until 1784 when primogeniture was repealed. Comprehensive explanation

• Living adjacent to Drury Stith we find a Richard Lewellin. As stated, Stith being the surname of Daniel's wife Jane.

• Richard was born before 1689. This is evidenced by several Charles City County court orders.

• Richard's land activities are of interest in this discussion. He witnessed^[5] a deed on 12 January 1713 in Prince George County. 16 June 1714 he obtained 278^[6] acres adjoining the land of Drury Stith in Charles City Co. Another grant was made on 21 February 1722 for 296^[7] acres adjacent to his old land. He again obtained a grant for 209^[8] acres on the south side of Warwick Swamp on 5 September 1723, this grant being recorded in Prince George County. On 9 April 1728 Richard witnessed the will of Abraham Odium. On 14 May 1728, Richard witnessed the will of Hannah Gee.

So could Richard have been a child of Daniel Jr.'s?

Since Richard first appears in records around 1689, one might safely assume he at least of age 21. That assumption fixes his birth around 1668. In 1668, Daniel Jr. would have been 41 years old when Richard was born. That seems a bit old but certainly possible.

It is interesting that this Richard, who is about 44 years old in 1712 begins buying land. Is it a coincidence that Richard starts buying land once Daniel (Jr.), who was wealthy and influential, dies? I will remind the reader that all of this land buying activity is in the general vicinity and adjacent to the plantation given to Lewellin Eppes by Daniel.

However there is one additional bit of information that also supports this theory, a sale of land by Richard's son, Thomas Lewellin. According to the will of Major John Stith, (Daniel Lewellin Jr.'s father‐in‐law) Drury Stith was left the land on the eastern branch of Herring Creek. And, we know that later, in 1730, Thomas^[9] Lewellin sells his father's land on the west side of Herring Creek Swamp. This land is in Charles City County in the vicinity 7 miles east of the Shirley Hundred plantation.

In summary, Daniel Lewellin Jr. leaves a plantation to his grandson Lewellin Eppes while Richard, now 44 years old is not mentioned in the will. But, Richard within a year begins buying land around land owned by the Stith family. It appears to me to be highly unlikely that Richard appears from nowhere yet buys lands adjacent to the lands of Stith and Daniel Lewellin!