Individual Details

Laughlin said to have come from County Down, Ireland about 1718 with his father and brothers. Five ships came from Ireland to the Colonies in 1718, bringing something less than a thousand people all from County Down, Ulster, Ireland. They lived first in Kent Co MD, then many of them moved on to Prince George Co VA; then Lunenburg Co VA. Laughlin is said to have been born between 1690-1708. A patent taken out in 1727 would seem to indicate he certainly was of age by that time or born by say 1705 or earlier - I suspect the 1690 date the more plausible year.

The following is too late for the Flynns in America but wonders about the similarities in names that have been associated with this family in earlier unproved relationships - Thomas, Edmond, Patrick, Collumb...
Found the following said to be available at the National Archives, Bishop Street.
Privy Council Office Proclamations 1652-1875
Proclamation dated 10 Dec 1744 offering reward for apprehending persons connected in forcibly carrying away Mary Dermott, City of Dublin, Spinster, from the house of her uncle, Edmund O'Flyn, Turlogh, County Galway by Laughlin O'Flyn son of Edmund who had ceremonies of marriage performed by Thomas O'Flyn, otherwise Richardson, a Popish Friar or priest in the presence of
Edmund O'Flyn
Patrick Muldoon
John Kelly
Mary Keely
John Elwood
Edmond O'Flyn, Collum O'Flynn and Patrick O'Flynn have surrendered themselves.
£200 Reward for apprehending others.


I have not as yet found any proof that Elizabeth Stokes was indeed the wife of the second Laughlin, although her given name was apparently Elizabeth as noted in a dower release. It is true that Laughlin received his first Virginia land patent in 1727 for the importation of two persons, Robert Stoker and Elizabeth Stoker. Some believe this is who Laughlin married soon after her arrival. Any wife was apparently deceased prior to his writing of his Will.

"Some Amelia County, Virginia, Colonists, 1737-1745 by Lloyd D. Bockstruck lists Flinn as immigrating in 1718. This was from the first court order book of Amelia Co, containing the names of those who claimed their headrights, specifying their place of origin and year of arrival.
Laughland Flyn applied 15 Feb 1739/40. He had come from Ireland in 1718.
Also listed was Stephen Neale Jr., Roger Neale, Katherine Neale, and Ann Marshall, all coming from Ireland in 1718 - they applied the same day. Another Stephen Neale applied 16 May 1740 and had come from Ireland in 1730.
William Marshall's wife Ann had come from Ireland in 1718, William in 1719. They applied on 15 Jan 1741/41.
[Note: Some have assumed that Laughlin above was the first immigrant. However there was already a Laughlin Flinn in Maryland [1719 - died there in 1731] and there are indications that this second Laughlin inherited some of his property. Likely they were father and son..]
In 1743, Roger Neale would claim importation of Katherine Neale and Laughland Flyn for his patent in Brunswick Co. Virginia PB 23, p.660

The Bristol Parish vestry records have two entries in November of 1726:
10 Nov 1726 Loflain Flin was paid by the Parish for services to Catherine Irvin, p.30
There was a second entry To Laughlin Flyn, unspecified - perhaps tithables due, p.32
The Vestry Book and Register of Bristol Parish, Virginia, 1720-1789 - full text is at Archive.org

Virginia Land Patents:
17 Aug 1725 Abraham Cocke, 216 acres Prince George Co. South side Otterdam Run adj Samuel Harrowell. PB 12, p.273 [By 1736, Laughlin will have 800 acres, adjacent to lands of Abraham Cocke, by then in Amelia Co, formed from Prince George in 1735.]
13 Oct 1727 Laughlin Flyn. 300 acres both sides of Leadbiters Creek in Prince George Co. PB 13, p.278 [The only Ledbetter Creek found in VA today is South of the Nottoway in the NE corner of Lunenburg Co] For the importation of two persons, Robert Stoker and Elizabeth Stoker
This land ended up in the hands of one Abraham Jones, was never cultivated and taken up by Frederick Jones in 1749.
28 Sep 1728 Thomas Clemmonds. Prince George Co. 400 acres adj Samuel Harrowell, George Bolling, Abraham Cock. PB 13, p.369
20 Jun 1733 William Crawley patent for 884 acres in Prince George Co on South side Otterdam & Nedums Quarter Brs, on Otterdam Swamp & Wolfpit Branch. Adj. Thomas Clemmonds, Laughlan Flyn & Thomas Williams. PB 15, p.89

Although Laughlin Jr. seems to have been living in Prince George Co at this time, he apparently inherited part of the plantation that had belonged to Laughlin Sr in Kent Co, MD:
Laughlin Flinn, Innkeeper, purchased 200 acres "part of a tract called Sewel adjoining Garrentts Cree" 22 Jun 1726 from Isaac and Temperance Caulk of Cecil County. Walter Dougherty, one of the executors of Laughlin's estate purchased this land from Laughlin Flinn [Junior] by 1736.

Landholders and Tracts in Kent County Debt Books, 1733-1769:
A Laughlon Fling is on the tax books in Kent Co, for the properties called Sewell alias Ulrick, and Rioerden, for 1733-1735. The senior Laughlin had died in 1731. One of the two younger Daniels of Kent Co, on 30 Oct 1750, testified he was age 43, and was deposing regarding the bounds of a tract called Utrick alias Sewell. Daniel was a schoolmaster. It would seem this younger Laughlin and Daniel had definite ties to this property.
Another part of the plantation called Ruerden was at the same time in the hands of Thomas Husbands. The tax rolls show Husband had Husbands Lott, and Ruerden, from 1733 to 1752. Thomas Husbands was married to Eleanor Flinn, oldest daughter of the elder Daniel Flinn who died in Kent Co in 1738, as identified in Daniel's will.

1735 - Amelia Co was formed from Prince George Co.

Virginia Land Patents
9 Feb 1738 Henry Fitz patent for 400 acres Prince George Co on head of Leadbiter's Run to the bridge in Butterwood Road. Adj. Laughlin Flyn & Crawley.
12 Sep 1738 Abraham Cocke. 2698 acres Amelia County on north side Great Nottoway and both sides of Little Nottaway River. PB 18, p.125
22 Sep 1739 Laughlin Flyn, 800 acres Amelia Co, N side Nottoway River at head of fork of Bear Branch and head of a branch of Horsepen Creek. Adj. Abraham Cock PB 18, p.400

PRINCE GEORGE CO VA RECORDS 1733-1792; Benjamin B. Weisiger III, 1975
Abstracts of the 1737-1740 Court Order Book
p.25 Court held at Fitzgerralds on 14 Nov 1738. p.201 Laughlin Flyn acknowledged deed of land to Thomas Jordan. Elizabeth, wife of Flyn, relinquished dower right.
[Prince George is a burned county - Weisiger has compiled four books of extant records - this is the only Flynn entry.]

Amelia Co Court Orders.
Book 1, p.178
Nov 20, 1741, court orders Amelia County VA. Ordered that Laughland Flyn be excused from working on the roads he being old and infirm.
Book 1, p.213
16 Jul 1742 Nichola Durnen pay Laughlin Flynn for one day's attendance as an evidence in a suit....
Book 1A, p.175 (and Order Book 2, p.75)
March 1747 Court, Amelia County VA. On the pet. of Thomas Sorbain it is ordered he be levy free. Laughlan Flyn on his pet. is levy free.
1749, Amelia County VA, on the list of Irby & Watson are John Flyn 2, Tho. Flyn 1, Laugh Flyn 6. This appears to be a list of Titheables (see last entry on previous image). Order Book 1A, no page number.

Virginia Land Patent, PB 23, p.660
1 Mar 1743. Roger Neale received a patent for 104 acres, Brunswick Co on the North side of the Staunton River. Begin on a point of Rocks on the river at the lower end of the low grounds. In consideration of the import of 2 persons: Laughland Flyn and Katherine Neale. [this was, of course, several years after the fact]

PB 27, p. 586
20 Jun 1749 Frederick Jones, 300 acres, patent in Prince George Co, both sides of Leadbiter Creek by the Poplar Branch. 13 Oct 1727 a patent was granted Laughland Flynn [PB 13, p.278]. Peter Jones, son and heir of Abraham Jones dec'd in whom the right & title is vested hath failed to pay quit rents and make improvements. Frederick Jones has made suit and obtained a grant for same.

16 Jan 1751 Amelia DB 3, p.539
Laughlin Flinn, Blacksmith, to Moses Hurt of Caroline Co, Planter for 250 £. All land in Amelia County belonging to Laughlin Flinn, description matches the grant of 800 acres. Signed: Laughlin (x) Flyn. Wit: John White, Dens. Burch, John Wells, Elizabeth, wife of Laughland, relinquished her right of dower.

20 Aug 1751 Amelia DB 4, p.119
John Ragsdale of Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg sold to Laughlin Flinn of Nottaway Parish, Amelia Co, 200 acres for 18 £, both sides of the little Hurricane; Hugh Williams corner, his line; John Hughes corner, his line, part of a tract of 600 acres granted Ragsdale 25 Jun 1747. Proved 22 Aug 1751.

Tithables for Lunenburg Co in 1752; Taken by Cornelius Cargill.
Lofflen Fline, James Fline, and George Fline - 4 tithes.

28 Nov 1753 Amelia DB 5, p.164
Laughlin Flinn of Lunenburg sold the above 200 acres to John Durham of Nottaway Parish, Amelia Co. for 33 £. Witnesses were Greenham Dodson, John Hightower Jr, Alexander Scurlock, William Morgan. Signed: Laughlin (x) Flinn. Proved 22 May 1754.


Lunenburg DB 5, p.149 8 Mar 1758 Samuel Harris of Halifax Co VA to Willim Byrd, 1350 acres patented by Harris 2 Feb 1757. Adj lines of Byrd, Harris, Thomas Denby, Thompson, Laughlin Flins, Thomas Flynn.
...p.471 8 Sep 1759 Samuel Harris of Halifax Co to James Flyn of Lunenburg, 450 acres on S side great Bluestone Creek [BlueStone now in Mecklenburg Co]


His Will dated 24 Sep 1758; probated 1 May 1759 lists four sons: James, George, John, and Thomas; and godson Lauflin Flinn [Is this his grandson, son of Thomas? Many have interpreted it in this way]. John and Thomas had already received part of their inheritance and were to be Executors. James & George were to divide the land Loflin was presently living on. Witnesses: Benjamin Ragsdale, John Ragsdale, John Tomson, Augustine Roland. Thomas relinquished execution and John Flinn was granted certificate for obtaining probate and posted his bond with Thomas Flinn & John Cox as securities. The Will is recorded in the Lunenburg Co VA Will Book 1; p.252.

Will Book 1, Lunenburg Co VA
Page 252. Will. Sep 24, 1758. I, Loflin Flinn of L, being
sick in body -
First, I want all my just debts paid.
To my sons James and George Flinn - my land I now live on,
to be equally divided between them as they can agree,
one of them to lay it off, and the other to take choice
of the parts. Also, after my wife's death, as much out
of my personal estate as will equal what I gave my
son[s] John and Thomas Flinn, and the rest to be
equally divided between all my children.
To my god-son Lawfflin Flinn - the servitude of Thomas
Geffus.
I want my son Thomas Flinn to pay my estate by acct that I
have against him, £ 5.12.9, to be divided among them.
Likewise, I want my son George Flinn to pay to my estate an
acct I have against him of £ 7, and that to be equally
divided between them all.
To my son[s] John Flinn and Thomas Flinn - my personal
estate, and John and Thomas do agree to sell the same,
and to equally divide it.
Executors - my sons John Flinn and Thomas Flinn.
Signed - Lawflin Flin (X his mark).
Witnesses - Benjamin Ragsdale, John Ragsdale, John Tomson
(+his mark), Augustins Roland.
At May 1, 1759 Court, the within will of the deceased was
exhibited by both executors, and was proved by the oath of
John Ragsdale and Augustine Roland, 2 of the witnesses, and
the same was ordered to be recorded, whereupon executor
Thomas Flinn relinquished execution (here in Court).
Therefore, on the motion of executor John Flinn, certificate
is granted him for obtaining a probate of the will,
whereupon he, with Thomas Flinn and John Cox, his
securities, entered into bond.

Laughlin's Will is dated 24 Sep 1758, and proved 1 May 1759. He died therefore sometime between those two dates.

Another son of Laughlin & Elizabeth is listed in the FAR FLUNG FLINNS as William, born 1720-32. Spouse unknown. One child Jane, b. 1760-1770 who married Thomas Littell in 1790 in Bourbon Co KY. No such son, nor heir of such son, was named in the Will above, and yet there is the possibility of other sons or daughters, since the phrase "all my children" was included. However, he was so specific about debts owed by Thomas and George, I believe he would named any other living children. The book Far Flung Flinns contains numerous errors and appears to be founded on assumptions as much as fact.

Marriage	Abt 1720	Prince George County, Virginia - ELIZABETH ?STOKES or STOKER
Death	Bef May 1759	Lunenburg County, Virginia
Birth		Ireland

Spouse	ELIZABETH ?STOKES or STOKER ( - )
Child	THOMAS FLYNN (1720 - 1783)
Child	George Flynn (1725 - )
Child	John Flynn (1730 - 1782)
Child	James Flynn (1738 - 1791)

Father	LAUGHLIN FLINN (1679 - 1731)
Mother	MARGARET [FLINN] ( - )
Sibling	Daniel FLYNN (1707 - 1759)