|
Return to Woodward Home Page Return to John and Charity Mendenhall Mills Page Return to John and Sarah Millikan Mills Page Return to William Brazelton Page Return to Abraham and Elizabeth Elmore Woodward Page Return to the Mercer County, Illinois, Lawrence/Larrance Page John and Nancy Needham Larrance Family
John Larrance was son of Edward Lawrence of Fauquier County, Virginia. The name is seen variously as Larrance, Larance,Larrence, Lawrence, Lowrence, Laurens in different records. For more on the family see Carol Vidales's Lawrence/Larrance Family Home Page.
|
|
John Larrance born 9/27/1725 Fauquier Co, Va died 10/28/1800 Randolph Co, NC |
Nancy Ann Needham born 3/6/1744 Pasquotank Co, Nc died 5/22/1829 Randolph Co, NC |
|
Married: About 1762 Orange County, North Carolina Children: Edward Larrance born 6/24/1763 Orange County, NC William Larrance born 12/30/1764 Orange County, NC Sarah Larrance born 5/20/1767 Orange County, NC John Larrance born 11/15/1769 Orange Co, NC; died about 1781 Richard Larrance born 12/31/1771 Guilford County, NC; married Jane Hammond Peter Larrance born 6/2/1774 Guilford County, NC; married (1) Abigail Hadock (2)Abigail Hinshaw (3)Sarah Hinshaw Martha Larrance born 12/18/1776 Guilford County, NC Needham Larrance born 11/28/1778 Randolph County, NC Jonathan Larrance born 3/22/1781 Randolph County, NC Nancy Larrance born 11/21/1782 Randolph County, NC Jesse Larrance born 1/1/1786 Randolph County, NC |
Sources Used for the Larrance/Lawrence FamilyFor the above information we have used Jefferson County, Tennessee Families and History 1792-1996 , page 136. We have modified the information slightly as John's last name is given as Lawrence in the History but we know his will shows variations of the name as Larrance. We have also modified the place of marriage and births to coincide with the creation of Guilford and Randolph Counties from the original Orange County in order to be consistent with our practice throughout these pages (See About Places).The Jefferson County History gives the mother of John Larrance as Jeannie Tullos. We believe this to be an error and that his mother's name was probably Sarah. (See Carol Vidales's Web Site lined above for more on this.) John Larrance may be the John Lowrence who obtained land in Rowan/Orange County (later Guilford County) in 1761 (see Guilford County Map.) More on the Children of John and Nancy Needham LarranceTwo of John and Nancy's children are of further interest to us in this study, Richard and Peter.Richard and Jane Hammond LarranceSon Richard Larrance and Jane Hammond Larrance had children who connect with our families.Richard Larrance was received by request at Lost Creek Monthly Meeting in Jefferson County, Tennessee on 9/30/1809. Jane was received by request on 10/28/1809. On 12/30/1809 children John, Sarah, Ann, Jonathan & David were received at the request of their father, Richard. Richard joining the Quakers is interesting considering his father kept slaves and operated a still. Richard & Jane's children John, Sarah, and Jonathan are of further interest to us as they connect with some of our families. John Larrance, son of Richard born 12/27/1796 in Randolph County, married Ruth Mills 3/26/1816 in a civil ceremony in Jefferson County, Tennessee. They were both members of the Lost Creek Monthly Meeting. Ruth was daughter of John and Charity Mendenhall Mills and granddaughter of John and Sarah Millikan Mills. John Larrance was dismissed for his marriage contrary to discipline on 5/25/1816, and Ruth (formerly Mills) was dismissed on 6/29/1816. Two of the children of John and Ruth (Edith and Leroy) married descendants of William Brazelton II in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Sarah Larrance, daughter of Richard, born 11/3/1804, married Nathan Mills 2/2/1818 in a civil ceremony in Jefferson County. Nathan Mills born 9/30/1799 is recorded as a son of Samuel & Mary Ballinger Mills. He was also a grandson of John and Sarah Millikan Mills. Sarah Larrance Mills was dismissed for her marriage contrary to discipline on 5/30/1818 from Lost Creek Monthly Meeting. Nathan & Sarah Larrance Mills had children Branson, Nancy, Mary Jane, Elihu, Jessee, John, Richard, Samuel, Alice, Sarah, and Nathan Mills. The Jefferson County History contains an article about Branson Mills. Jonathan Larrance son of Richard, born 12/29/1805 at Lost Creek, married Ann Woodward 10/24/1827 in a civil ceremony in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Jonathan was dismissed for his marriage contrary to discipline on 6/28/1828 from Lost Creek Monthly Meeting. Ann Woodward Larrance was daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Elmore Woodward and grandaughter of Abraham and Hannah Thornbrough Woodward. (For photos of Ann & Jonathan {click}.) Jonathan and Ann Woodward Larrance had children William Andrew, Mary E., Sarah E., Frazier, Nancy, Richard, and Joseph S. Barbara Brown is a descendant of William Andrew Lawrence and would be happy to share information. John Lorrance's son Peter is also of interest to us. Peter had a total of 20 children by his three wives. He had a son Jonathan Lawrence by his first wife, Abigail Haddock Lawrence, born 8/30/1806 in Randolph County, North Carolina. Jonathan Lawrence married Elizabeth Swafford (probably of the Randolph County Swaffords) in Henry County, Indiana on 4/25/1830. Descendants went to Mercer County, Illinois, as did Nadine Holder and Jill Martin's Woodward relatives. Jill Martin and Nadine have a Web Site up for New Boston & Eliza Townships in Mercer County where the Larrance/Lawrence saga is continued. Also see Carol Vidales' Web Site (at top of page) for more information on this family. Will of John LarranceJohn Larrance died 28 Oct 1800. There is a good photo of his tombstone up on Carol Vidales's Web Site and we have added his will below.John Larrance was evidently a very wealthy man as he mentions nearly 2000 acres of land and seven slaves. Typically he leaves his home place to his youngest son to assure that his wife will be taken care of. Also, typically for the time there are variances in the name throughout the will. We are constantly trying to show evidence that no attention was paid to spelling at all until the 1900s. People who research based on a single spelling prior to that time are often doomed to disappointment. (off my soap box now!) WillIn the name of God amen, I John Larence of Randolph County, State of N. Carolina being in a low state of health and weak of body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be unto god calling to mind the mortallity of my body and know that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament that is to say principaly and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto almighty god and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Cristian burial at the discression of my Executors and as touching such worldly estate which it has please god to bless me with I do give devise and dispose of the same in the manner and form following (viz) first I do give unto my beloved wife Ann Larrence the plantation where on I now live for her to possess freely during her natural life also with all my household goods debts and movable effects horses, cattle, hogs, sheep and also all my negro slaves as follows Charles, Betty, Moses, Harry, Jane John and Dick for her freely to possess during her natural life and then to be equally divided between my seven sons and three girls for them freely to possess I do also give unto my daughter Nancy one feather bed one cow and calf two sheep and a sow and pigs also I give unto my said daughter Nancy five dollars in cash to be levied and paid out of my estate. Item I do give to my two daughters Sally and Patty each ten dollars to be levied and paid out of my estate. Item I do give unto my three sons Needham, Jonathan and Jesse each one horse bridle and saddle also to each a feather bed and furniture a cow and calf two sheep and a sow and pigs to be paid of estate when they come of age. Item I do give unto my son Edward two hundred acres of land where on he now lives beginning upon the east line retracing west. Item I do give to my son William two hundred acres of land where he now lives beginning on the north line running south. Item I give unto my son Richard two hundred acres of land on the south of Edwards tract running west. Item I do give to my son Peter the tract of land where he now lives. Item I give unto my two sons Needham and Jonathan three hundred and twenty four acres of land to be equally divided. Blairs old place Jonathan to take the plantation. I do will and it my desire that my son Jesse shall have the land and plantation containing four and twenty five acres where on I now live for him freely to possess after the death of my wife Ann and I also give unto him the said Jesse one still and its implements and I do also appoint my wife Ann Larrence and my son Edward Larrence and William Larrence the sole executors of this my last and will and testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disavow all and every other former testament bequest and exeutors by me (several words unclear)Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of September one thousand eight hundred. signed John Larance (seal) Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said John Larrence as his last will and testament in his presence and in the presence of William Smitherman, Robert Cunningham, Thomas Haydick. Randolph County November term 1800 - the Last Will & Testament of John Larrance was confirmed in open court by William Smitherman, Robert Cunningham and ordered to be resolved at the same term the executors qualified. Copy J. Harper, Clerk |
