Lunenburg County VA (formed 1746 from Brunswick) Early Wills of Lunenburg VA 1746-1766 WB1:178 - Jeremiah Ellis: Names wife, Priscilla Ellis; daughter Priscilla Nipper; daughter Lydia Nipper; daughter Ann Mulkey; daughter Joanna Ellis; daughter Mary Murfey; son Abraham Ellis; son Nathan Ellis; son James Ellis; youngest son Daniel Ellis. Exr: wife. Wts: Jno. Esel (Ezell) Jr., Benja. Harrison, Wm. Douglas. dated 13 Nov 1756/recorded 03 May 1757. OB2:73 - Mary Murphy: being of lawful age for that purpose, came into Court and made choice of Joseph Echols to be her guardian. He to appear at the next Court to give bond. August Court 1748. WB1:237 - James Caldwell: Inventory and appraisal of the estate of James Caldwell, deceased, made by Thomas Vernon, John Logan, James Barton and James Murphey - value 46 pounds 19 shillings 9 pence. Test: William Caldwell. Recorded 06 Jun 1758. WB1:17 - James Wakup (/s/Warkup): Names wife Ellonir Wakup. Daughters Martha and Easter. Exr: Friends John Stewart and Wm. Caldwell. Wts: David Logan, James Murphy, George Harrel. dated 23 Sep 1750/recorded 02 Oct 1750. Lunenburg Co. VA Early Wills Pg. 33. Noble, Robert Will Book 1, Pg. 72. Wife, not named in will and evidently deceased; son: Joseph Nobel, one shilling sterling; son: Robert Noble, all my lands and plantation of the south sideof the Mehearing (sic) River at the mouth of Flat Rock Creek. If son Robert dies without heirs, all my lands and plantation to my grandson Joseph Noble, Jr. Wit. John Powell, John (0) Murfe, William Parker. Executor: son, Robert Noble S/Robert (P) Nobbel. Dated 1 Sept 1750. Rec. 7 June 1752. Note: court says that executor Robert Noble is an infant under age of 20 years, adm. With will annexed is granted to Francis Wray. Lunenburg Co. VA Deeds 1746-1752 Pg. 28. (463) Sep 26, 1749 from Drury Stith, Henry Morris, & Michael Cadet Young of Brunswick Co and Parish of St. Andrew to John Thompson of L and Parish of Cumberland, 44L about 637 acres on both sides of Blewstone Creek being the same land that was formerly patented to Stith, Morris, & Young on Oct 1, 1747, & bounded by Byrd's line. S/Drury Stith, Henry Morris, M. Cadet Young. Wit. James Parrish, John O Murphey, John (+) Humphris. Recor. Oct 3, 1749. Pg. 28 (473). Oct. 23, 1749 from Armistead Burwell of the City of Williamsburg, gentleman, to John Cox of Lunenburg, planter, for and in consideration of sundry work, labor, & services done by John Cox for Armistead Burwell in saving & improving the tract of land in Lunenburg and also for and in consideration of the sum of 5 sh, 100 acres bounded according to the platt thereof hereunto annexed. S/Armistead Burwell. Wit. William Dobyns, Samuel Harris, Matthew Talbot. Nov. 14, 1748, resurveyed for John Cox, 100 acres on the south side of the south fork of Meherrin River bounded by Burwell, Finny Wood Creek. Signed. George Walton. Wit. None. Rec. Jan 2, 1749. Pg. 52. (312) Jul 26, 1751 from Thomas Lewis of Lunenburg to Ainsworth Middleton of Lunenburg, 35L 10 sh, on Ward's fork, about 190 acres, bounded by (trees). Signed Thomas (T) Lewis. Wit.: David Caldwell, William Caldwell, John Stewart, James Murphey. Recorded Oct 2, 175 1. Pg. 19. (304) Mar 9, 1747/8. "one thousand seven hundred & forty seven eight" from Alexander Spalding and John Lidderdale and Samuel Gordan, merchants, to James Anderson of L. Spalding and Lidderdale gave power of atty, dated Feb 6, 1744, to Gordon, to convey land. Hence this indenture: for 20L 3 sh 3p, about 504 acres, part of a tract of 16,993 acres on Ward's fork which was patented to Spalding & Lidderdale on Feb 18, 1744, which lot is marked and numbered 17 in a platt where the whole tract is divided into 34 lots. S/Alexander Spalding, John Lidderdale. Wit. Thomas Jones, Thomas Vernon, James Murphey. Rec. Apr 4, 1748 (8 was written over a 7) Pg. 19. (308) Mar 9, 1747 from Alex Spalding and John Lidderdale and Saml Gordan, merchants, to Thomas Vernon Jr of L Spalding and Lidderdale gave power of atty, dated Feb 6, 1744, to Gordon, to convey land by deed. Hence this indenture: for: 2L 18sh 6p, about 573 acres, part of a tract of 16,993 acres on Ward's fork which was patented to and numbered 29 in a platt where the whole tract is divided into 34 lots. S/Alexander Spalding, John Lidderdale. Wit. Thomas Jones, James Murphey, James Anderson. Rev. Apr 4, 1748 (8 was written over a 7). Pg. 57. (378) Mar 10, 1747/8 "one thousand seven hundred & forty seven eight" from Thomas Williams of Prince George County to John McNeese of Lunenburg, planter, 65L, about 1300 acres on both sides Turnip Creek, the said land having been patented to Williams on Aug 1, 1745. S/Thomas Williams. Wit: Thomas Jones, James Murphy, Thomas Vernon. Rec. Apr 4, 1748. Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg VA 1746-1800, by Bell Pg. 204. Ellis. The Ellis name is met almost innumerable times in the early records of Lunenburg Co, Va; but to weave all the names into a connected genealogy would be a stupendous undertaking. Capt. Ellison Ellis was the first Captain recommended by the Co. Court in 1776; and he was doubtless active in the Rev. where and under what circumstances he served is not now known. His name in fact is not preserved in the lists of Rev. soldiers published by the Virginia State Library, and but for the record in the County court order book of Lunenburg County, his connection with the Revolution, would presumably be lost to history. He married Mary Zachary of Amelia Co., Va, bond dated Nov. 9, 1763. In it his name is spelled Ellyson Ellis, which is probably the correct spelling. The earliest Ellis will in Lunenburg Co. is of Jeremiah Ellis, d. Nov. 13, 1756, probated May 3, 1757. He names wife Priscilla and the following children: Abraham, Daniel, James, Nathaniel, Priscilla Nipper, Lydia Nipper, Ann Mulkey, Joanna Ellis, Mary Murfrey. Pg. 88. The Decline. Many religious persons active in the Established Church, when there were no other religious organizations in which they might find a field for their labors, found their ideas of the Christian life, and their views of faith, doctrine, and practice better interpreted by the dissenters. This fact is illustrated by the case of Rev. Samuel Harriss, who was for several years a reader in the Episcopal Church, but who with the coming of the dissenters, joined them, and became a prominent Baptist Minister. Seeds of dissent were planted in the Lunenburg territory, when about 1738, while it was yet Brunswick, John Caldwell and his associates came to the section and located in what is now Charlotte County. From there the doctines of Presbyterianism spread into so many localities, through so many channels of influence that its extent and power would be impossible to measure or adequately appraise. Rise of the dissenters seem to have taken place beginning around 1750-60. The revolt against the Established Church was a part of the broader revolt against the political and governmental domination of Great Britain which resulted in the war of Independence. Lunenburg Co. and Cumberland Parish lent no mean measure of support, contributing men such as Samuel Haniss, Joseph and William Murphy, John Williams, Elijah Baker, John King, Henry Ogbum and John Easter, to refer to but a few of the better known of the pioneers in the movement. Sunlight on the Southside - List of Tithes, Lunenburg VA Pg. 265. Wm. Murphey, John Murphey, John Murphy Sr. Pg. 266. Ben Murphey: 4 tithes, 197 acres pg. 73 Tithes for 1748: DeLoney's List: Wm. Murphey, James Nipper, Alex Nipper Pg. 77. Tithes for 1748: Wm Caldwell's List: James Murphey Pg. 78. Archibald Murphey: 1748 Caldwell's List Pg. 169. Wm. Murphey, Abraham Ellis, Jeremiah Ellis Pg. 189. For 1752. Benj. Murphey, John Lemmon Pg. 172. Benj. Murphy 4/9/02 - from the files of: Lunenberg VA Beverly Cunningham White