Andrew Yancey

Stith married Melvina Doureath Lydick in 1805/1860. Melvina was born in 1798/1825; died in 1850/1913. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Zachariah married Elizabeth Mayes in 1784 in Mecklenburg County, VA. Elizabeth was born on 10 Nov 1766 in Dinwiddie County, VA; died in 1850 in Mecklenburg County, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Batch #: 7322516, Sheet #: 64, Source Call #: 822844

BIOGRAPHY: Richard Yancey, son of Charles of King William County and Mary Bartlett, was born in the early 1700's in Virginia. In the mid 1730's, Richard is found living in Hanover County, Virginia. It is here that Richard probably met his wife. He and Mary were most likely married about 1735. It is believed that Mary may have been Mary Bolling, although no documentation is known to exist to confirm her maiden name. Their home in Hanover County would have been in the area that would become Louisa County in 1742.

The principal source of support for the family was the farm. Mary blessed Richard with ten children. This was of great importance to the yeoman planter, for a large family would translate into "free" farm labor. Land was easily acquired in America compared to the difficulty small farmers would have in England and Europe. In 1753 Richard sold their plantation of 250 acres to John Snelson and bought lands around and on Grassy Creek. The purchases were a part of the land granted to Drury Stith, Henry Morris, and Michael Cadet Young. Grassy Creek was located on the Virginia-North Carolina border in Lunenburg County but would become Mecklenburg County in 1764. Richard, Mary, eight sons and one daughter relocated and settled in their new home. They apparently settled quickly as Richard appears in the Vestry records of Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, in 1754 and their tenth child, Zachariah was born June 25, 1754 in the same county.

The late 1770's and early 1780's would have been a most difficult time for this pioneer family. The Revolutionary War was upon them and five of their sons are known to have been involved in the conflict. Their son Lewis was a private in the 8th Virginia Regiment and is thought to have been killed in action in 1777. Absalom was a private in the 14th Virginia Regiment in 1777 and in 1779 he is recorded with the 10th Virginia Regiment. In 1779, Richard transferred land on Beaver Creek to his son Charles. This may have been at a time when Richard was in ill health as his will was probated in 1780 in Mecklenburg County. Mary and all ten of their children were mentioned in the will. Two years after the death of her husband, Mary lost another son. The cause of Hezekiah's death in 1782 is unknown. He had served the Patriot cause in the Revolutionary War and was a member of Caldwell's Rangers in South Carolina in 1775. In Hezekiah's will he mentioned his brother Rueben (not one of the sons listed in the will of Richard). This has caused some confusion as to the exact make-up of the family. However, it is generally believed that Richard's son Joseph and this Rueben are the same person. Perhaps his name was Joseph Rueben Yancey. In 1779, Joseph (Rueben?) was a Quartermaster Sergeant, 3rd Regiment in South Carolina. He seems to have died before 1790. Zachariah's military record suggests he was a surveyor.

Mary continued to lived in Mecklenburg for several years after Richard's death. In 1782, records indicate Mary also supported the patriots of the Revolutionary War by supplying beef to the militia. She died in 1795 in Mecklenburg County and her last will and testament is recorded there. In her will Mary refers to all of her children except Lewis, Hezekiah, and Joseph.

Sources:
1. Early Wills 1765-1800 Mecklenburg County Virginia. See page 97. A copy of this book can be found at the State Archives, Atlanta GA.
2. The Early Yanceys in America; by Dennis J. Yancey
3. Early Virginia public land records.

Richard married Mary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]