I would love help on sorting out this rather complex proposed Lankford family – linking the Stovall, Wiles, Dupree and Walker families. I’ll start by outlining the major conclusions and then trying to fill in the justifications:
Thomas Lankford & Martha West m 1700, New Kent, Virginia (quakers)
Proposed children:
b c1700 Elizabeth m George Stovall
b c1706 Margaret m Luke Wiles
b c1713 James
b c1714 Susanna m Thomas Dupree
b c1716 Judith m Tandy Walker
[This Lankford family developed here – https://adupree.com/wp/g/getperson.php?personID=I7083&tree=adupree
This emerges from the perennial quest for the origins of Susanna, wife of Thomas Deupree. So, I suppose it is good to start from there.
SUSANNAH (LANKFORD?) DUPREE
In 1752 Thomas Dupree is directed by Juday Walker to care for some of her children, “Joel, Lankford and Elizabeth to THOMAS DEPREE,” after the passage of her husband in Lunenburg, Virginia. Lankford Walker is a witness for Thomas Dupree on a 1770 deed in Lunenburg. Susannah’s daughter Mary also names a son Lankford Brizendine.
Given this, it seems fair to say that Susannah and Juday are likely sisters and that the name Lankford is important in some way.
JAMES (LANKFORD) “SANFORD”
A James “Sanford” is a witness on the 1784/1786 will of Thomas Dupree. Sanford could easily be a misreading of Lanford, in turn a variation on Lankford.
As a witness to a will, there is no reason this James need be related to the family or, specifically, be a brother-in-law, but let’s continue and take it into consideration with other facts.
JUDITH (LANKFORD?) WALKER
Judith is often thought to be a Stovall because Tandy Walker, her husband, was granted letters of administration on Hannah Stovall in 1749. This could be Hannah Stovall, daughter of George Stovall and Elizabeth (possibly Lankford).
William Stovall, brother of George Stovall, who died in 1736 was married to a Judith. She has often been identified as Judith “Twitty” with the addition of a tentative question mark. I have not been able to locate the origin of this. However, if this Judith, the sister of Susannah, were also the wife of William Stovall who died in 1736, later married Tandy Walker, that would explain how Tandy came to handle the letters of administration on Judith’s niece, Hannah Stovall. Judith also names a son Lankford, which many have used to posit that this could have been her maiden name.
My conclusion so far is that Judith and Susannah are likely Lankford sisters.
ELIZABETH (LANKFORD) STOVALL AND MARGARET (STOVALL) WILES
George Stovall, the brother of William above, is married to an Elizabeth. Some people give her the maiden name “Cooper.” However, a 1726 deed transfer clearly names Luke Wiley (Luke Wiles) as the brother-in-law of George Stovall. One way of sorting this out is that George Stovall and Margaret, wife of Luke Wiles, are siblings (as has been long asserted). But another, that I pursue here is that George and Luke’s wives are sisters, that is Elizabeth and Margaret. This would explain why Thomas Dupree and Tandy Walker (the husbands of Susanna and Judith) are securities for Luke’s will — if Elizabeth Stovall and Margaret Wiles are sisters, that means that Margaret is the sister of Susanna and Judith, making their husbands her brothers in law.
George Stovall lives on Deep Creek as does Warham Easley (related to Thomas Dupree, husband of Susannah). There are also deeds and a will that connect Thomas Dupree to John Stovall, brother of George, husband of Dorcas.
Luke Wiles, the husband of Margaret, mentions his land on Deep Creek in his 1749 will. As I mentioned, the securities for this will are Thomas Deupree (husband of Susannah) and Tandy Walker (husband of Judith). The Wiles family continues to live near and be associated with the Walker and Deupree families in Lunenburg.
My conclusion is that Elizabeth is a possible sister of Judith and Susannah and so, following this logic would be another Lankford. Lankford is their inferred family (based on Lankford Walker, Lankford Brizendine and James Sanford, I realize this is still speculative but it is not baseless.)
THOMAS AND MARTHA WEST
Connecting these siblings to Thomas Lankford and Martha West, is a matter of proximity and finding a family that could have been big enough for all these children but also have a good reason to be absent from wills and deeds. Thomas and Martha seem good candidates. Married as Quakers in 1700 in Henrico County, Thomas died in 1719 leaving children who were later known as the Lankford Orphans. West, John, Thomas, William James, and Edward are also asserted as children by various folks, although I have not found any other assertions of Susannah, Elizabeth, Margaret and Judith. Of these daughters Martha Wiles is apparently identified as a quaker in the will of Henry Atkinson.
So in summary, it looks to me like the Wiles, Dupree, Stovall and Walker families all married into these four possible Lankford sisters. As the use of a surname as a given name in the proceeding generation is an interesting custom here, I find:
* Dupree – grandson of Susannah (Lankford) Dupree is Lankford Brizendine
* Walker – son of Juday (Lankford) Walker is Lankford Walker
* Wiles – a (poss) great grandson of Margaret (Lankford) Wiles is Lankford Wiles
* Stovall – none found
I am aware that the complex strands of this web can easily be torn asunder and would love to get comments.
Here are the records referenced above. They are scavenged from many sources and I have not seen the original of any of them.
1700
Here followeth a Copy of Thomas Lankford marriage certificate.Whereas THOMAS LANKFORD of New Kent County and MARTHA WEST daughter of GILES WEST of the same county have proposed their intentions of marriage before two severall meetings of the people ——– called Quakers who after due inquiry of their clearness . It appearing to them that the relation of the said Martha West were consenting to this marriage did give their give their consent that the sd parties should accomplish their sd intentions. Wee therefore whose names are underwritten do certifie all ————– that the sd Thomas Lankford and Martha West did at a meeting —————————————– aforesaid county the 25th day of 2nd mo 1700 ——–.And there take each other he the sd Thos Lankford taking her the sd Martha West by the hand declaring that in the presence of God and this congregation I take Martha West to be my lawfull wife – till death shalle part us and she the sd Martha West then and there declaring that in the presence of God and this congregation I take Thomas Lankford to be my lawfull husband till my death and for confirmation the sd Thomas and Martha did set to their friends and — which names are underwritten are witnesses.
THOMAS LANKFORD
MARTHA LANKFORD
GILES WEST [father in law]
Charles Fleming [brother in law?]
G. R. Elyson
Robt. Hughes
Ricc Hughes
Peter Massey
Wm Beales
Thos Standley
Michal Jonsen
Christifr Clark
Francis Amos
Richd Melten
Edwd Clark
John Madox
Ann Call
Sarah Hughes
Eliz Clark
Silfania Fleming
Sarah Ellyson
Sarah Jonson
Margaret Madox
Mary Amos
Elizabeth Watkins
[The Record Book Belonging to the Monthly Meeting of Friends Henrico County beginning from the year 1699 to the year 1757 Inclusive. From FHL #0031762.]1710 – New Kent County
Processioner’s report mentions THOMAS LANGFORD and John Turner among others.1716 – New Kent
THOMAS LANKFORD in possession of Thomas Graham’s land. JA:[James] TURNER’S ORPHANS, grandchildren of James Blackwell.1718 – New Kent
Will of SAMUEL JORDAN of New Kent ment: CHARLES FLEMING, his will is for JOHN FLEMING to have the plantation of THOMAS LANKFORD, DEC “& the management of his estate and the bringing up his son THOMAS LANGFORD as wholely to himself”
[Samuel Jordan is possibly the brother in law of Charles Fleming and may thus be a brother in law of his brother in law?]1726
27 Oct 1726 George Stovall of the Parish of St. James sold to “Luke Wiley my brother-in-law and Margaret his wife” a tract on the south side of James River.
(“The American Genealogist, Vol 38, 1962).1727 – New Kent
LANGFORD’S ORPHANS in (precinct number not listed & most of 1727 is missing.) In land with Capt. Cha Hudson, Alex Cock, John Hudson, Cornelius Dabney, John Wingfield, David Lewis, Wm Harris, Philip Joiner, John Joiner, William Hill, Cornelius Tinsley, LANGFORD’S ORPHANS. Return
of 7 Feb 1727/8 – nobody appeared for LANGFORD’S ORPHANS.1727 – Will of Thomas Atkinson
6 Feb Wife: Sarah. Witnesses: John Quin, John Atkinson, Stephen Hughes and MARGARET WILES (Quaker). Henrico Co., VA.1731 – New Kent
precinct #6 – Capt. Cha Hudson, Alex Cock, John Hudson, Cornelius Dabney, John Wingfield, David Lewis, Wm Harris, Philip Joiner, John
Joiner, William Hill, Cornelius Tinsley, LANGFORD’S ORPHANS. Report for 26 Feb 1731/2 – the line between Wm Bird esq. & Alex Cock cannot be found, Edward Hundley present for Wm Bird, present Henry Hix for Mr. Sam’l Welden, Daniel Patrick, William Harris, Jr.. William Ford hath got ye LANDS OF LANGFORDS ORPHANS.1735
William Stovall died 16 March 1735/6 when his widow was granted letters of administration of his estate, with George2 Stovall as surety on her bond,[42] m. Judith — , living 4 March 1736/7
[The Family of Bartholomew Stovall (Eight Generations of Stovalls in England and America]1735. Will (?) of JOHN STOVALL witnessed by THOMAS DUPRAY. (Goochland Co., Va., Deed Book 2, p. 178, )
1749
October Court. On the ntion of TANDY WALKER, who made oath according to law, certificate is granted him obtaining letters of administration of the Estate of HANNAH STOVALL, decd., giving security whereupon he, together with SYLVANUS WALKER his security, entered into and acknowledged their bond for the due adminstration of said estate. Court Order Book 2, 1748-52:211.1749/1750
Will of LUKE WILES – TANDY WALKER and THOMAS DUPREE provide the securities for his widow MARGARET WILES.1752
1752 From “Early Wills 1746-1765 Lunenburg Co., VA”, compiled by Katherine B. Elliott. Pg 31 Will Book 1, Pg 61. TANDY WALKER I desire that all real and personal property be sold at Public Dandue (sic) Vendue, and money to be divided among my seven sons and daughters, namely, Silvanus Walker, Tandy Walker, William Walker, Joel Walker, LANKFORD WALKER, Ann Walker and Elizabeth Walker. My sons to be of age at 20 and receive their part, and my daugters to be of age at 18 years. They to receive their part or on day of marriage. Executors: Friends Ludwill Bacon, Sylvanus Walker and THOMAS DUPREE all of Lunenburg Co. Witnesses: Jas. Scott, Henry Hatcher, Thos. Williamson. /s/JUDAY (x) WALKER Codicil: I earnestly request that this last desire of mine may be fulfilled, that Henry Fowlkes [Stokes?] take Tandy, Sylvanus Walker take William and Joel, THOMAS DEPREE take LANKFORD and ELIZABETH and that TYREE GLENN take Ann. Witnesses: Jas. Scott, Henry Hatcher, Thos. Williamson. /s/ Juday (x) Walker Dated: 29 February 1752 and Recoreded 7 April 1752. 1753 1753 Sept. Court. ordered that the church wardens of the parish of Cumberland in this county do bind out Silvanus Walker, Tandy Walker and William Walker, Joal Walker, Lanford Walker, Ann Walker, Elizabeth Walker, orphans of Tandy Walker dec’d according to law. IBID:370
1784
WILLS, Book 3, p. 239 (1778-1791). 10 May 1784; probated 9 Feb. 1786. Will of THOMAS DUPREE, Lunenburg County Wife: SUSANNA Dupree. Daughters: Wlisabeth Whitlock, wife of Thomas Whitlock; Margaret Stokes, wife of David Stokes, Sr; MARY BRIZENDINE wife of William Brizendine. Son: Lewis Dupree. Son: Joseph Dupree. Grandson : Bartlet Stokes, son of David and Margaret. Grandson: William Stokes , son of David and Margaret.
Executors: Wife Susanna Dupree, and son, Lewis Dupree,
Witnesses: JAMES SANFORD
William T[ucker] (?) Thomas x Dupree (seal )
Rich. Ingram
According to some family members, 