Lewis Davis Yancey of Jasper County, Georgia and family

One of the most confusing "Last Will and Testaments" of the Yancey family is that of one Lewis Davis Yancey of Jasper County, Georgia - dated 1843 and probated in 1852. He came from Culpeper County, Virginia in the late 1700's and is thought to be a possible son of Philemon Yancey Sr. of Culpeper. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and has a pension file on record in the National Archives.

In his will dated 1843 he mentions a wife Phoebe and 21 other persons who appear to be either children or "step-children". The exact relationship of all these Yanceys is confusing and not always clear. A summary is made here to help analyze the Yanceys mentioned. More detailed Information concerning Ancestors & Descendants.

Lewis Davis Yancey of Jasper County, Georgia is known to have been married twice and it is thought he may have had children by possibly two other women whom he was possibly not actually married to. The women are as follows:

One Polly Powell, alias Polly Foster, alias Polly Yancey - found on various records of both Laurens County, South Carolina as well as Jasper County, Georgia. No marriage record has been found for Lewis & Polly - and it would seem she had previously been married, or at least had children by a Mr. William Foster - by which she had various children. (When (if?) she left (divorced/separated?) Mr. Foster is not clear). Polly appears to have died about 1814 in Jasper County. Polly appears to have had various problems with the law and one actual court citation refers to her as " a person of evil and corrupt mind".

There may have been another women (married or not) who mothered Lewis' children who were born in the late 1700's - or this could have been the same Polly above.

A woman by the name of Rachel Hall who Lewis Davis Yancey married 16 August 1816 in Jasper County, Georgia. What became of her is uncertain. Either she died soon after the marriage - or they separated. Lewis D mentions two children in his will referring to them with the last name of "Yancey alias Hall". Could these have been children, born to Rachel, fathered by Lewis, out of wedlock, before they got married? There is a record of a son of Lewis D. (Sr.) also named Lewis who was legitimized in 1839 - being born about 1804.

A woman by the name of Phoebe Pate, married Lewis D. Yancey the 27th of June 1820 in Jasper County, Georgia. She and Lewis had various children. She was alive in 1852 and is mentioned in Lewis Davis Yancey's will.

The Following is a list of all the persons mentioned in the will of Lewis Davis Yancey of Jasper County.

Lewis D Yancey Sr of Jasper County

He first mentions his wife Pheba

He mentions "three daughters" in a single paragraph and then mentions them again in later paragraphs - Winny, Lucy, Sarah Walker Yancy.

He then mentions in succeeding paragraphs the following persons:
"son" Richard Yancey
"son" Benjamin Yancey
"son" Layton Yancey
"daughter" Mary Horton
"daughter" Drucilla Baynes "widow" of John Howard Baynes
"daughter" Unity Akins

[The two groups above seem to be children from his last wife, Phoebe Pate - that is, except Unity]

Then toward the end of his will, all in a single paragraph, he mentions the following persons as if they were children but not using such a phrase. He bequests to them $5 each with the phrase "that is all I ever intend to give to them".

James Hall alias James Yancy
Delphy Kitchens, wife of Benjamin Kitchens
Lewis D Yancy, Jr
Nancy Boyd, wife of Elias Boyd
Elizabeth Wester, wife of Edward Wester
Hany Johnson, wife of Johnson
Sanford W. Yancy

In the next paragraph he mentions the following group - all with the phrase "Yancy alias Foster". They are not referred to specifically as children - but it is almost implied. This group of children also receive the $5 each.

Ludwell Yancy alias Ludwell Foster
Harrison Yancy, alias Harrison Foster
Thomas Yancy, alias Thomas Foster
William Yancy, alias William Foster
Angaline Jester, formerly, Angaline Yancey, alias Angaline Foster

 

John Horton and Pheba Yancy are appointed Executors by Lewis D Yancey.

The Family Of Lewis D Yancey summarized

A recently found document of Laurens District, South Carolina making reference to one Samuel Yancey and Lewis D Yancey. The identity of Samuel is unknown.

Laurens County, South Carolina Court Records

Inquisition taken on view of the body of William Leake, Filed 17th October 1812.

Laurens District - An Inquisition held at Briant Leakes in the District and state [aforesaid?] before me William Irby coroner for the District aforesaid upon the view of the [body of?] William Leake Junr, then and there laying dead upon the [____?] of Burrel Leake, [______] Waldrop, Samuel Leak, and James A. Young of the said District who being examined [_________] their oaths we the Juror of said inquest do say upon our oathes that the said William Leake Junr. came to his death on the sixteenth day of October one thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve, hen on his way from his fathers house to school near the House of [Lewis?] Yancys he then and their received a stab in the left thigh with a large knife by [Samuel?] Yancy of which wound he instantly deceased and we do further say that the [said] Samuel Yancy did mailiciously and willfuly purpetrate the said murder on the body of said decd against the peace of this state. Given under our hand this 17th day of Oct. 1812. Wm. Dendy Foreman, J. A. Young, [Whited?] Wilks, Joshua Teague, Wm. Sa[____?] Cunant, James Clardy, John Brysome, Wm. Dunlap, George Leake, Wm. Leake, [_____?] Harden.

Laurens District - Warrant to the Constable and Keeper of the Goal of said District do convey and deliver unto the custody of the keeper of the goal, the body of Lewis D Yancy, charged with being an accesory or [misprision?] of a felony of murder of Wm. Leake. Dates 17 Oct 1812. Wm. Dendy J. T.

Laurens District - Warrant to Andrew Wilson, constable and goaler of said district [_______?] John Hall to the keeper of the goal for not giving secuirty to appear and give [_____?] against Lewis D. Yancy in behalf of the State. Dates 17 Oct 1812. Wm. Dendy