Individual Details

There is much confusion about the James Leas that lived in Caswell Co. Two of them had wives named Ann and were quite likely first cousins. They may have arrived in Orange Co NC at approximately the same time. There are indications that both had lived in Spotsylvania Co VA prior to moving to North Carolina. They may even have both had brothers named William - there was a William Lea who died intestate in Orange Co NC, ca 1762, and Capt. William Lea who died prior to Apr 1830 in Caswell Co. Both William Leas may have lived on Cobbs Creek. This James is often seen as a son of John Lea & Ann Taylor, but I believe he is not.

As an indication of the problem: there were 19 men named Lea in Caswell Co NC in 1790. Abner, Alexander, Barnett, Capt. Lea, Carter, Gabriel, George, three Jameses, three Johns, Major [his name - not a title], Richard, three Williams, Zachariah. No Leas listed in Orange Co and Person not yet formed.

Son Major testified in his Revolutionary pension application that he was born in Spotsylvania Co VA in 1742, so certainly this James was living there at that time.
6 Aug 1745. James Lea, along with John Graves & Joseph Brock witnessed a deed from John & Frances [his wife] Pain to John Talburt for 100 acres. A second deed from John & Margaret [his wife] Talburt was for 36 acres on the Cattail Swamp of the Mattapony River, sold to Jeremiah Stevens. The land adjoined that of Joseph Brock.
In 1750, James Lea witnessed another sale in the same area.

Orange Co - formed 1752.
Caswell Co - formed 1777 from Orange and the grants to both James Leas were part of Caswell
Person Co - formed 1791 from Caswell and likely most much of the land of James Lea of Kilgore Branch was in Person Co, as well as that of his brother William Lea on the N. Hico.

3 Mar 1752. James Lea of Country Line Creek entered a claim for 600 acres, Orange Co.
Sept 1752. Edward Ball, a 16-year-old orphan was bound out to James Lea.

Early Land Grants: North Carolina.
LEA, JAMES No. 01263 Orange County 640 acres On both sides of Country Line Creek Lord Granville Grant to Richard Harper Issued 3 Nov. 1753 Transfer of Land Warrant by Robert Harper to James Lea by Deed February 19, 1754
LEA, JAMES File No. 800 Orange County 520 acres Both sides of Country Line Creek Grant No. 195 Issued 12 Nov. 1756

1755. James Lea was the only James Lea on the Tax list of Orange Co., NC

Said to be in the NC Archives, State Records A, Granville Proprietary Land Office
700 acres to James Lea, Deed 5 Mar 1762, Country Line Creek. John Graves, James Lea [no explanation for the names, unless they were property boundaries. Isabell, daughter of James, married John Graves.]

13 Aug 1761. Major Lea surveyed 135 acres for Gideon Hogg, Greens Creek of the Dan River

1773. The petition for the creation of Caswell County included many Lea signers - four were named James. Major Lea was included

9 Mar 1778 Capt. William Lea entered 630 acres on Country Line Creek, Richmond Dist, bordering James Lea, Sr., Sanders & Norton
17 Dec 1779 James Lea was a neighbor named in a state land grant to William Lea, 630 acres both side Country Line Creek, adj Will Sanders, Powell, William Holderness, Joseph Peterson

The 1790 census, Caswell Co, Richmond District, included James Lea, Major Lea, three Johns and William Lea, so it surely included the Country Line Creek area.

-James Lee wrote his will in 1771 in Orange Co, but it was proved in Caswell Co court in March of 1792. He named his wife as Anne, and well loved sons as William, John, and Major. Major Lea was to have the home land and plantation. "All" his children to share in the remaining part equally. Wit: Thomas Campbell & Henry Lea
Capt. William Lea, 23 Mar 1792, proved by deposition that he wrote the will, saw the testator sign it, and had had it in his position since then. [Capt William said to be of "South Hico" which places him near the family of the James Lea of Kilgore Branch & Cobbs Creek]
- Apr 1796 Accounting of James Lea's estate with heirs listed as: Luke Lea, Joseph Henderson [husband of daughter Delphia], Will. Lea, Joseph Peterson [husband of daughter Lucinda], Isabella Graves [daughter who had married John Graves], John Lea, Major Lea, and Paul Haralson [husband of daughter Nancy]

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Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006
Source: LEA@rootsweb.com
*James Lea of Richmond District*
*(Country Line Creek)*

13 Aug 1761: Major Lea surveyed 135 acres for Gideon Hogg on Greens Creekof Dan River.
Italics added by me - from "Caswell Co NC Deed Books, 1777-1817"


17 Dec 1779: James mentioned as a neighbor in state land grant to William Lea for 630 acres on both sides of Country Line Creek; also Will Sanders, Prowell, William Holderness, Joseph Peterson.
p.24 DB A, p.421
[I doubt this is the same William as "Capt William Lea" who lived on the N Hico in what would become Person Co. He's likely the son named in James Lea's will, dated in 1771]

p.28 DB A, p.520 19 Dec 1780 William Lea to Major Lea, 240 acres on County Line Cr adj Wm Lea's corner, a beach on Roper's Br, corner James Lea's line.

29 Oct 1782: James Lea & William Lea mentioned as neighbors in state land grant to John Peterson; also Holderness, Joseph Peterson, William Moore.
p.42 DB B, p.105 293 acres on Country Line Crk, also Norton is named.


DB B, p.36 16 Mar 1784 There is supposed to be a power of attorney from James Lea, son and heir of William Lea, dec'd of Caswell, when he appointed Thomas Phillips his attorney to obtain title to a tract in King & Queen Co in VA, 25 acres on the Mattapone, near Madison Mill. Reference is given to Caswell DB B, p.36, but this cannot be correct - there is no such abstract in the book of Caswell Deeds and the dates concerned in Book B are much too early for this to have been recorded in Book B - I have not found the abstract of this power of attorney. I suspect it was in the deeds of another county, or in the court records. This has been assumed by many researchers to have been the James Lea who lived on Country Line Creek. The above power of attorney said to have been witnessed by Herndon Haralson, who was a grandson of the James Lea of Country Line Creek.
FOUND above in Caswell Will Book B, p.36; differences underlined. March Court 1784. James Lea, son & heir of William Lea dec'd of Caswell to Thomas Phelps of same to "ask, demand, sue for as to obtain lawful title to tract of land in King & queen Co VA, 35 acres on waters of Matiponi River near Maddison's Mill, said land falls to me by Heirship" 16 Mar 1784. Wit: H. Haralson, William Lea

The 25 acres in King & Queen was part of a tract of 100 acres on the north side of the Mattaponi River, St Stephens Parish, King & Queen Co, granted to William Lea, 16 Dec 1714. [VA Land Grant, 10:214] See file of William Leigh.

Caswell WB B, p.454
March Court 1792 Inv of estate of James Lea, 30 Mar 1792 by Major Lea and John Lea, exec.
p.455 James Lea Will, written 28 Mar 1771, then of Orange County. Sons William, John and Major Lea to be executors. Names wife Ann and "all my children". Wit: Thomas Camp Jun. and Henry Lea. Proved by testimony of William Lea in Person Co. 23 Mar 1792. Williams was present when the testator and witnesses signed.

WB C, p.31
Apr Court 1793 Sales of estate of James Lea, 17 Jul 1792. Buyers: James Robertson, Major Lea, John Dobbin, Nathaniel Comer, Jerre Lea, John Hipworth, Obediah Sanders, John Lea, son of John, Nanney Haralson, Hearndon Lea, Joseph Peterson. John Lea & Maj. Lea, Execr.

WB C, p.157
April Court 1796 Estate of James Lea in acct with Major Lea and John Lea, exec. Division and settlement with payments to:
the clerk for recording will
for coffin and paid cryer of sale
Vouchers: #1 Jacob Miles, Jun. [I'm not sure who this is....] #2 Luke Lea [son], #3 Joseph Peterson [married to Lucinda Lea #4 Will Lea by John Lea [son] #5 Joseph Henderson [married to Delphia Lea] #6 Isabella Graves [daughter] #7 Paul Haralson [married to Nancy Lea]. John Lea, exec & legatee [son]. Major Lea, Exec. & Legatee [son]
27 Apr 1796. Commissioners: A. E. Murphey, James Sanders, William Lea.


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There are also some Caswell deeds which refer to a James Lea as son of William Lea, but it may not be the same two men given the number of James & Williams that appear with the surname Lea. These deeds on Cobbs Creek would appear to be relatives of Capt William Lea [who was very much still alive in 1785] and James Lea of Kilgore's Branch who had always lived near the Sargents. I also found that a William Lea died intestate about 1762 in Orange Co NC - before the formation of Caswell. He is obviously not the Capt William Lea whose records appear later. It is in fact impossible to tell which of these two men may have created the early Orange Co records. Mary and John Lea were administrators of the estate of this William Lea - Mary made most of the purchases at the estate sale; presumably she was the widow. Mary Lea died bef Apr 1785 and named in her will a daughter Sarah Runnels [Reynolds] and a son George and "all her children" - executors were James and George Lea and George qualified. The Caswell tax lists show George & Mary together with 268 acres on Cobb's Creek; George appeared with the same acreage after her death. Other possible children for the widow Mary, besides Sarah and George, include the James who was executor of her estate and who also had some claim to the 268 acres; a John Lea who was listed on the 1783 and 1785 tax list of Caswell as John Lea [the widow's son] and who had 100 acres of land and George Lea was reduced to 168 acres; a Barnett Lea married Mounring Roan in 1782 in Caswell Co and George Lea was bondsman and when Barnett died intestate, 1824 in Person Co, his estate sale mentioned land adjoining that of George Lea and Richard Lea. One online database suggests that the James Lea, probably the son of the William who died 1762, married Elizabeth Lea, daughter of Capt. William Lea.

Here are two deeds which refer to the Widow Lea, probably Mary.
20 Dec 1779: Widow Lea mentioned as a neighbor in state land grant toThomas Wilson on North Hico, also Robert McFarland, Samuel Johnston.
p.24 DB A, p.419 [The widow Lea is mentioned again in the same deed with James Lea, DB B, p.188, in 1783. I believe she is likely Mary Lea, who administered the estate of William Lea who died intestate in Orange Co NC, ca 1762.]

p.46 DB B, p.188 13 Oct 1783 State of NC to Richard Escridge 195 acres on Cobb Cr adj James Lea, John McFarland, Thomas Wilson, widow Lea's line.

Compare with the following names and neighbors:

p.67 DB C, p.107 16 Jul 1785 James Lea son of William Lea Dec'd to George Lea, 268 acres both sides Cobbs Crk adj Stafford's line. Wit: James Lea, Stephen Sargent
p.67 DB C, p.116 16 Jul 1785 James Lea son of William dec'd to Barnet Lea, 112 acres east side Cobbs Crk. Wit: James Lea, Stephen Sargent
p.67 DB C, p.117 16 Jul 1785 George Lea to James Lea, for 5sh, 1/2 acres, West side Cobb Crk. Wit: Jno McFarland, Richard Eskridge

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13 Aug 1789: James Lea mentioned as neighbor in John Lea's sale of 158 acres to Charnel Hightower on Country Line Creek; also Thomas Lea, Harralson. Major Lea witnessed.
p.145 DB H, p.225 tract adj Thomas Lea, James Lea, Harralson. Wit: Thos. Vanhook, Major Lea, J. Campbell. Proved Oct Court 1793
[I suspect this John Lea to be the John Lea who lived on Canebrake Creek]

11 May 1796: James Lea purchased 157 acres on south side of Country Line Creek, neighbors Alex Miles, Hightower.
p.176 DB K, p.62 Holloway Pass to James Lea. Wit: Thos. Jeffreys, J. Carter


p.177 DB K, p.81 25 Jul 1797 John Lea to James Lea for 45 #'s, 255 1/2 acres on Cane Brake Br adj Stephens.
There were also several John Leas - this one seems to referenced here: p.296 DB Q, p. 32 25 Sep 1809 Hugh Shaw of Person Co to Samuel Henderson of Caswell, 193 1/2 acres adjacent Canebrake John Lea, Donoho Brach. Wit: H. Haralson, Thos Harrison. A deed from DB O suggests that Canebrake was a branch of Country Line Creek.


31 Aug 1798: James Lea purchased from John Barnett 115 ½ acres on southside of Country Line Creek adjacent Eppy Hightower.
p.196 DB L, p.36 John Barnett of Pittsylvania Co VA. Wit: Robert Payne, John Payne, Thos Gatewood

21 Feb 1800: James Lea purchased 500 acres from Thomas Miles and John Miles, on south side of Country Line Creek, to what had formerly been known as John Dobin's corner, next to David Shelton. William Lea & L. Lea witnessed.
p.214, DB L, p.365 Begin Lea's corner, formerly called John Dobins.

p.235, DB M, p.349 5 Apr 1802 Charnal Hightower to Thomas Lea, 100 acres adj Thomas Lea, John Lea. Wit: James Lea, John Lea.

p.260, DB O, p.80 1 May 1805 James and Jeremiah Lea, exec. of John Lea, Dec'd to Thomas Donoho, 50 acres on Country Line Cr at lower end of John Lea dec'd plantation on Canebrake Branch.

p.318 DB Q, p.412 14 Feb 1812 Epaphroditus Hightower to James Lea for $2362.50; 630 acres S side Country Line Cr adj Smith, H. Farly, Jesse Carter, Raney, at Swann's Br, James Lea, Nathaniel Comer, Samuel Smith. Wit: Tho. Jeffreys, Philip J. Echols.

p.325 DB Q, p.543 25 Dec 1812 Samuel Smith to James Lea for $1205.50, 241.1 acres N side Country Line Crk adj Lea, Jesse Carter, McCain, Robt Willson, Thomas Jeffreys, land Smith purchased of James Willson. Wit: Charles Willson, E. Graves

Death	Bef 23 Mar 1792	Caswell County, North Carolina
Marriage		Anne Herndon
Birth		King and Queen County, Virginia

Spouse	Anne Herndon (1707 - 1777)
Child	William Lea ( - )
Child	Nancy Lea ( - )
Child	Isabell Lea ( - 1796)
Child	Delphia Lea ( - )
Child	Luke Lea (1734 - )
Child	John Lea ( - 1803)
Child	Living
Child	Major Lea (1742 - )

Father

William Lea ( - )