James Yancey
B: 14 Nov 1794
D: 1779
Father: Charles Yancey
Mother: Mary Bartlett
Married: Elizabeth Thorton
Our Child: Bartlett Yancey

The following information is courtesy of Joyce Hetrick

JAMES YANCEY-2, was born about 1712, lived in Hanover County, Virginia, prior to 1753, and married ANN THORNTON in the 1730s. CHARLES-1 transferred land to him about 1734. About 1752, JAMES-2 moved just over the state line to Granville County, North Carolina. He served in various capacities in Granville County including Justice of the Peace in 1769, and Sheriff in 1774. He, or his son by the same name, was Captain of Militia in the regiment commanded by Colonel Richard Henderson. JAMES-2 was the executor of his brother Richard-2’s estate. JAMES-2 lived in the northeast part of the county. JAMES-2 bought 1,280 acres of land for 70 pounds from Robert Jones in 1752. Later, he bought an additional 1,280 acres and took up additional lands in Surrey County, Virginia, which he transferred to his son, Thomas Yancey-3. His land was located on the border of the two states, and about 25 or 30 miles from the county seat.

JAMES YANCEY-2 took his oath of allegiance to the Revolution on May 22, 1778, as an elderly man in County Line District, along with James Yancey, Jr., Lewis Yancey, Philip Yancey, and William Yancey. In 1769, he owned eight black polls. [North Carolina Colonial and State Records, Vol. 5 page 592.] William Howard Norwood, in his Genealogy of Yancey-Medearis and Related Lines, says on page 109, that “James Yancey, was a Captain under Colonel Richard Henderson of Granville County, NC. He was mentioned in Muster Roll of 1771 along with Joseph, Charles, James, and Lewis Yancey under command of Colonel Richard Henderson. ” The “List of Officers from Granville Co.,” lists “General Thomas Person from Granville, along with Colonel Thornton Yancey and Captain James Yancey.” This author is not sure if the “Captain” was James Yancey, Jr., or JAMES YANCEY, Sr. If it were JAMES YANCEY, Sr., then he would have been quite old, or at least in his mid-60s.

Children of James-2 & Ann Thornton Yancey

Charles Yancey-1; James-2; Bartlett-3; Thomas Graves-4

  1. BARTLETT YANCEY-3, was born in 1734 in Hanover County, Virginia, and died in Caswell County, North Carolina. He married ANNE GRAVES [7th Generation from CAPTAIN THOMAS GRAVES], the daughter of JOHN GRAVES, Sr. [6th generation from CAPTAIN THOMAS GRAVES.]

  1. Major Thornton Yancey-3 was a Revolutionary veteran and born about 1740. He died between 1792 and 1810. His wife was Elizabeth Williams [one source says Mitchell.] He was a “gallant officer” in the Revolution and a member of the North Carolina Assembly from 1778 until 1792, and in the Provincial Congress in 1776. He was one of the “movers and shakers” of the Revolution in Granville County. [Military Records, Wheeler’s History, page 85, of first series, North Carolina Records, Vol. 7, pages 702, 1768, Vol. 23, page 993, 1776, Vol. 19, page 531.]

  1. Philip Yancey-3, married Dura Hester.

  1. Thomas Yancey-3, to whom William and Elizabeth Clayton deeded 100 acres, retaining a life estate in the property for themselves.

  1. Ann Yancey-3, married Jesse Saunders, October 19, 1765, in Granville, North Carolina.

  1. Mary Yancey-3, married John Baynes and had a daughter, Nancy Baynes-4.

  1. Lewis Yancey-3, was born in 1736, married Mary Graves, and was executor of JAMES’ estate. He was not mentioned for a bequest in the will, however. He died 1819.

  1. Elizabeth Yancey-3, married James Moore, proven by the fact that James Moore bought a slave at the “family” slave auction.

  1. James Yancey, Jr.-3, is one son about whom there is some confusion. James Yancey, Jr.-3, was not mentioned in the will of his father, but the estate sale of the slaves was limited to only the children [and sons-in-law] of JAMES-2. James, Jr.-3, was at that sale and bidding; therefore, he must have been a son. In 1769, James, Jr., owned six black polls. He married Mary Ann Elizabeth Bracey, August 15, 1765.

ANN THORNTON YANCEY must have died before 1761, when two deeds list JAMES YANCEY, [Sr.-2,] and his wife, Elizabeth, relinquishing her dower on the property being sold. There is a marriage record in 1765 for a James Yancey and Elizabeth Ann Bracy. James, Jr.-3 may have been the man who married this Elizabeth Ann Bracy, however, so we don’t know the surname of JAMES-2’s second wife.

Will of James Yancey-2, 1777

In the name of God Amen, I James Yancey, being very sick and weak, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, calling unto mind the mortality of the body and knowing it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament.

I give and recommend my soul into the hand of almighty God, that gave it, and my body unto the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors—nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again, by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate, wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give demise and dispose in the following manner.

Item 1. I give to my son, Bartlet Yancey my tract of land lying on Lawson’s fork, a branch of the Pacolet in South Carolina, containing 300 acres.

Item 2. I give to my son-in-law Jesse Saunders, forty pound proc. Money.

Item 3. I give to my son, Philip Yancey 200 acres of land I now live on. When cleared out of the office at the expense of my estate to run parallel with his upper line south, beginning at the county line.

Item 4. I give the remaining tract of land I now live on to my son Thomas Yancey. To be cleared out of the office agreeable to an entry made by me with Robert Jones in the year 1763 at the expense of the estate also the best bed I have and the furniture thereto belonging.

Item 5. I give unto my daughter Jenny Saunders, one bay horse that I bought from the Edward Saunders estate.

Item 6 I give unto my granddaughter Nancy Baynes, ten pounds proc money.

Item 7 I give to my son Thornton Yancey a negroe woman named Kate, provided he pay unto my estate the sum of twenty pounds.

All negores I have now in my possession to be sold to the highest bidder among my children, no other person to be bidder.

The most valuable negroe to be set up and sold first, then the next and so on, until all are sold, all children to have equal parts. The residue of the other estate to be set up to the public at twelve months credit with bond and approved security with interest, to be applied to my just debts, the residue to be equally divided among my children.

It is my desire that the expense of my burial be allowed my executors out of my estate. I witness and hereunto set my seal this 30th day of December 1777.

James Yancey, seal.

Recorded Granville, North Carolina, dated 30 December 1777, proved November Court 1779, Will Book 1, page 252.

JAMES-2’s sons Lewis-3 and Philip-3 were appointed sole executors of the estate though Lewis-3 did not receive bequests in the will. In reading the will, it appears interesting to note that he did not apparently want his slaves sold outside the family, but wanted them to stay with his children. His method of dividing the slaves appears to have been very fair and well thought out. All the children could bid, and the proceeds of the sale were then divided equally among all the children.


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