Monday, April 5, 2010

John Lynch - An Irishman in Virginia


It is not precisely known when John Lynch (my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather) came from Galway, Ireland to America, but most family history researchers agree that it was sometime between 1650 and 1700. All I can say for certain that this important ancestor of mine was one of the first settlers of our great nation. Life in Virginia during colonial times was not easy, but John Lynch obtained land grants and settled in the area that is today Brunswick County. According to the book "The Lynch Mob", John Lynch obtained a patent for 290 acres of land in February of 1723, in Surrey County. Three years later he added another 30 acres. Within another 3 months, his increased his land holdings by another 230 acres. By 1733 John Lynch owned 1,070 acres of land in Brunswick County, Virginia.

But in time he began selling off his land, eventually selling his entire estate. He then moved to Granville County, North Carolina in 1748, though he still traveled back to Virginia on occassion for court proceedings. He lived the remainder of his life in North Carolina with his wife Elizabeth. His will was probated in December 1757. According to his will, John and Elizabeth Lynch had 4 children - Elizabeth, Nellie, John, and William.

5 comments:

  1. Where did you find this information? I would like to do more research with John and his further family history.

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  2. My ancestors go back to a William lynch born bef 1765 and died bet 1789&1805.He was married to Elizabeth crane. Children john 1780,william and ann twins 1784 and joseph 1795.They lived and died in upper island cove newfoundland Canada.I am at a road block as to where they came from.I was told they might have came from USA.
    Anybody can help me?
    Everett lynch
    709-589-3017
    upper island cove
    newfoundland

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you talking about William Lynch Jr. or Sr.?

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  3. Just sats his name was William lynch,got his girlfriend pregnant when he was only 15.He married the girl and they had 4 children,his name dosnt appear on the 1805 census,Did he die or move to the states?

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  4. Laxton Lynch (13 of 34 children of william jr)
    Born 4/19/1776 died 9/8/1856
    buried in Rock Springs cemetary- ruthorford co. NC

    ReplyDelete