My Genealogy Home Page:Information about James "Country Line" Lea
James "Country Line" Lea (b. 1706, d. Abt. Mar 1792)
Notes for James "Country Line" Lea:
SOURCE:http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=anom&id=I04831&ti=5519
In his book, Report of Research of the Lea Family, In Virginia & North Carolina Before 1800, Ben L. Rose wrote:
"1. James Lea of Country Line Creek. This was the first James Lea to settle in this section of North Carolina. We can identify him when, on Mar 3rd, 1752, he entered a claim for 520 acres of land "on both sides of Country Line Creek" (The grant was not issued until Nov 12, 1758, which was not unusual). In Sep. 1752 the court of Orange Co NC bound Edw. Ball, an orphan of 16 years, to James Lea, indicating that he (James Lea) was a respected citizen of the community by then. In 1754 Robert Harper assigned to him right and title in 600 more acres "on both sides of Country Line Creek". In 1755 he is the only James Lea to appear on the Tax List of Orange Co. When John Graves was granted 396 acres in 1762, the tract he received was described as "on Country Line Creek adjacent to the lines of James Lea and Dobbins". This James Lea's will was proved in Caswell Co court in Mar 1792. In his will, which was written in 1771, he mentioned his wife, Anne, and his sons: William, John and Major. He left to his son, Major, "the land and plantation whereon I now live". The will was proved in court on a deposition by Capt. William Lea in which he declared that he saw the testator sign the will and that the will had been in his possession since then. In Apr 1796 the court admitted to record an accounting of James Lea's estate, in which his heirs are shown as: Luke Lea, Joseph Henderson, Will Lea, Joseph Paterson, Isabella Graves, John Lea, Major Lea and Paul Haralson. We learn from other sources that Joseph Henderson had married James Lea's daughter Delphia, that Joseph Paterson had married daughter Lucinda, that Isabella Graves was his daughter who married John Graves, and Paul Haralson had married his daughter Nancy. (Ref: Graves, Twelve Generations, by Louise Graves, Addendum No. 1, page 6).
On page 125 of his book, Mr. Rose also notes: "I conclude that James Lea of Country Line Creek was the same person as James Lea, planter, of King & Queen Co and Spotsylvania Co VA. The Revolutionary War pension claim of Major Lea, son of James Lea of Country Line Creek (in which Major Lea declared that he was born in Spotsylvania Co VA in 1742), places James Lea of Country Line Creek in Spotsylvania Co VA in 1742. He was the first James Lea to leave Spotsylvania Co and the first to settle in Orange Co NC. There was another James Lea in Spotsylvania Co VA when James Lea of Country Line Creek left there around 1751 or 1752.
"Because of the frequently recorded relationships between James Lea of Country Line and the Graves family in Virginia and in North Carolina, it is my guess that he was related to, perhaps a brother of, William Lea of Orange County Virginia, whom the records show also to have had many connections with the Graves family of Virginia. (Orange Co VA adjoins Spotsylvania Co VA).
"In my opinion, James Lea of Country Line Creek was not brother to Capt William Lea of South Hico. The fact that James Lea left his will in the keeping of Capt William Lea proves that there was a trusting relationship between the two, but does not prove that there was a blood relationship between them. Capt. William Lea left his own will in the keeping of Lloyd Vanhook who was no kin to him."
[NOTE: INTERESTING DOCUMENT WHICH MAY GIVE CLUES TO PARENTAGE OF JAMES LEA. --There is an entry dated Mar. 16, 1784, recorded in Book B, p. 36, Caswell Co., NC records of a letter of attorney of James Lea (who describes himself as the son and heir of William Lea, dec'd) of Caswell Co. to Thomas Phelps of said county to "ask, demand, sue for as to obtain lawful title to tract of land in King & Queen County, Va., 35 acres on waters of Matiponi River near Maddison's Mill, said land falls to me by Heirship." The letter is witnessed by H. Haralson and William Lea.] [THIS DOES NOT SQUARE WITH THE IDEA THAT THE JAMES LEA WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS NOTE WAS THE SON OF JOHN LEA AS CURRENTLY SET FORTH.]
Louise Graves, in a pamphlet entitled "Addendum No. 1 to GRAVES: Twelve Generations - 1608-1977" states on page 5 thereof:
"Now we come to the all important documentation that James Lea of Country Line Creek [d. in Caswell Co., NC in 1792] and William Lea of South Hico [d. in Person Co., NC in 1804] were brothers:
1. Will of James Lea:
The original will of James Lea, dated March 18, 1771, is in the Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, NC, filed "Caswell County Estate Papers, 1776-1864, Vol 1, page 59, Folio 1. JAMES LEA." In this will he names his wife Ann Lea. Sons William Lea, John Lea and Major Lea are appointed executors.
2. Execution of will of James Lea proved by testimony of William Lea:
Testimony of Wm. Lea, March 23, 1792, is that he wrote the will of James Lea, that he witnessed the signatures of Thos. Camp and Henry Lea; and that he had kept the aforesaid will or testament in his possession until the death of the testator and that no alterations had been made.
[Original in same file as mentioned above: "Caswell County Estate Papers, 1776-1864, Vol. I, page 59, Folio 1, James Lea".
3. Bible of Alexander Rose, son-in-law of Capt. William Lea, given by Dr. Rose to the NC State Archives:
A page of this Bible has the penned statement:
"James Lea brother of Captn. William
departed this life at his son W
at Caswell Court House, the..." (blurred)
This information also appears on page 166 of Dr. Ben L. Rose's book, ALEXANDER ROSE OF PERSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.
The foregoing three items provide conclusive proof that Captain William Lea and James Lea of Caswell Court House (later named Yanceyville), Caswell County, NC, were brothers.
Page 7 of Louise Graves's Addendum No. 1: " On motion of John Key that he might be guardian to James Lea, Orphan of John Lea Deced, is granted, the said Key having Entered into Bond with Zachary Taylor his Security & acknowledged the same in Court as the Law Directs." [Spot. Co., VA Order Book 2, p.89, Oct. 7,1731].
Page 7 of Louise Graves's Addendum no. 1: "The proof that James Lea and William Lea, the subjects of this article, were the orphan sons of John Lea and Ann Lea, both deceased by 1731, lies in the transfer of 100 acres in Spotsylvania County, Virginia from Thomas Crethers to William Lea, a minor on October 5, 1731, and the subsequent sale of this property by William Lea and wife, Frances, September 1752 to Thomas White.
A situation had developed in the lives of this family, which is revealed by the following:
"On petition of Richard Shackleford & Catherine his wife extx. of George Priddy Late of King &Queen Co.,Deced, &c to have Thomas Creathers attached to give an account and security for the Estate of John Lea Late of King and Queen County, Deced: he having intermarried with Ann Lea Relict of the said John & removed the said Lea's Deced Estate out of the County of King & Queen into this, and is going out of the Country &c the said Creathers appearing and having proved that he has paid & Satisfied two of the said Lea's Deced Orphans & that he was ready to give Security for the payments of the Third. It is therefore Ordered that the said petiton be Dismist with Costs, and that the said Creathers pay the said Shackleford &c the same, and it is Likewise Considered that the Said Creathers (charge) the said Costs against the said Orphans Estate. November The Second 1731." [Spots. Co. VA Order Book 2, p. 91.]
His will dated March 28, 1771, and was probated during March Ct. in Caswell County in 1792. In it, he names his 'well loved sons William Lea & John Lea & Major Lea, my executors'; ..."Item, I give & bequeath to my true & well loved Wife Ann Lea all my whole estate during her life or widowhood & after her death I give and bequeath to my son Major Lea the land and Plantation where on I now Live & two Cows and one yearling & one gilding and one Mare and his Choise of all the Negroes that is or may be at his mother's death & one feather bed & furniture and further more the said Major Lea is to have his eqile [equal] part with the rest of my Children exclusive of what is above mentioned & the whole of the remaining part of my Estate to be equilly divided among
all my Children. [Signed] James Lea. Wit: Thos Campbell and Henry Lea.'
There is an accounting filed for settlement of the estate. The accounting was filed in April Ct. term, 1796 and lists the following as recipients of the estate: Luke Lea, Joseph Henderson, Will Lea, Joseph Peterson, Isabella Graves, Paul Haralson, John Lea, and Major Lea. [Isabella Lea Graves husband must have been died at the time of the settlement, otherwise her share would have been paid to him.]
According to Jan Knowlton's notes, this James was called James of Country Line to distinguish him form his cousin, James Lea of Kilgore Branch.
Jan Knowlton has another child named James attached to James' children. I did not add this James as there is no mention of him in James' will.
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Early Records of Georgia vol 1 and 2
Page 251
LEA, WILLIAM dec'd. est. Return of Jos. Henderson, excr Mar. 7, 1809.
"In the lifetime of Aquilla Burroughs, (the other excr.), and after
the death of Nancy Lea the wid of the testator, towit on 28th, day
of Jan. 1809 a certain negro woman and her two children which by
the will belonged to the wid for life, final division to two grandchildren,
were exposed to public sale, Richard Peteet became the
purchaser. He paid half the price to Aquilla Burroughs before his
death and the other half belongs to said Richard as a legatec. Returns
Mar. 1810 expenses to courts of Jackson and Clark counties for the
est. Legacies paid Jonathan and Nancy Lea. Receipt of Nancy Lee
Jan. 1, 1811, for her part of the land. Receipts of Philip and Wm.
Jane or Janes (Gean?) Dec. 1811.....Jan. 1812 for their legacies in
full. Amounts received for Solomon, Nancy and Noah Lee and Southey
Littleton. Receipt of John Dyson, C. C. O. for pay for Noah Lee's
bond as admr on est of Wm. Lee dec'd, Dec. 19, 1823. Returns 1825
Paid Solomon Lee a certain slave, his distributive share. Paid
Mathias Mauck certain slaves in right of his wife Frances Mauck
under the will of her grandfather Wm. Lea, dec'd. Letters dismissory
granted Noah Lee Feb. 6, 1827. Wilkes Co. Inferior Court July 1799.
A. Burroughs and Jos. Henderson, excrs. vs Thos. Lee. Thos. Lee on
Jan. 1, 1793 was indebted to Wm. Lee for L30, and whereas Wm. Lee
in his time before Jan. 1, 1793 paid one Frederick Sims in his
life time L10. Said Thos. is possessed of a tract of land whereon he
lives bought from said Wm. Lee in his life time and not paid for.
Thomas ordered to appear at next term of court. July Term. 1799.
LEE, NANNY (NANCY, ANNY), Returns of Jos. Henderson, gdn for
Page 252
1800, 1801, 1802, paid tax etc. Return of Christopher Irvin, gdn of
Nanny Lee no date, for supplies.
LEE, JAMES dec'd. Petition for dower of Nancy Lisle, formerly Nancy
Lee, wid. of said James, dec'd, for dower in two tracts on Little river,
containing 300 acres each. Feb. 21, 1821. Bond of Jos. C. Foster
as gdn for Wm. S. and John B. Lee, Nov. 2, 1829, both over 14 years
old. Receipt of Henry B. Lee to Henry G. Lyle, gdn for $2650.00 in
full of Margaret B. Lee's legacy in est of Jas. Lee, dec'd Oct. 4,
1829.
More About James "Country Line" Lea and <Unnamed>:
Marriage: Abt. 1731, King & Queen Co, VA.