Charles Yancey-1; James-2; Bartlett-3; Thomas-4, Yancy Turner-5
James Yancey-4, was born about 1768 and Yanceyville was named for him in 1833. He was a local politician and chairman of the county courts from 1808 to 1829. He, apparently, was a peace maker and assisted the progress of the county in spite of the many factions. His wives were Lucy Kerr and Zilpha Johnson.
John Yancey-4, was born about 1769, married Elizabeth L. Moore, and moved to Giles, Tennessee, where he died in 1819.
Bartlett Yancey-4 was born February 19, 1875, after his father's death. He married a cousin, Nancy Graves-8, the daughter of John Herndon Graves. They had several children, including Bartlett-5. Bartlett-4 was a famous legislator and a member of the United States Congress who worked hard for progress of the state and nation. His home stands today [1997] and is located west of Yanceyville on U. S. Highway 158. According to a real estate flyer, it “sits well back from the road on 15 acres surrounded by gently rolling terrain with productive fields and dense groves of mixed hardwoods. The home retains its original dependencies, unrestored, including his law office, a smoke house, restored as a work shop, and an early tobacco house with diamond notched logs.” It was built between 1808 and 1814, with a Greek Revival ell added in 1856 by his daughter, Ann Elizabeth Yancey-5 Womack, which defines the appearance of the house today. He served in both the United States House of Representatives and the North Carolina Senate. His family Bible also survived and lists the dates of birth for himself and his wife, who died about 1855. The family Bible also contained the dates of birth and names of about 150 slaves born between the early- and mid-1850s.
Mary [Polly] Yancey-4, married John Graves, February 13, 1794, and moved to Giles, Tennessee. In Giles, she later married a Mr. Riddle and was mentioned as both Mary Riddle and Mary Graves in her mother’s will.
Nancy Yancey-4, married Isaac Johnson December 10, 1795. Her legacy from ANNE was placed in trust with her brothers for her benefit.
Isabella Yancey-4, first married Jim [John?] Kimbrough, Jr. [probably a cousin], and then James [Joseph?] Collier. She was listed in her mother’s will as Collier.
Elizabeth Perry Yancey-4, married Nathaniel Slade June 26, 1792.
Sally Yancey-4 married Isaac [Archibald?] Rice July 6, 1811. Her daughter, Sally Rice-5, was given a bequest in the will of her grandmother, ANNE YANCEY, in 1816, so Sally Yancey Rice may have been dead by that time.
Frances V. Yancey-4 married Alexander Wiley on October 2, 1804, and she died about 1807. They were probably the parents of Yancey Wiley-5, who received one-eighth of the estate of his grandmother, ANNE GRAVES YANCEY.
THOMAS GRAVES YANCEY-4, born circa 1765, was probably the oldest child. He was the father of YANCY TURNER-5, by SUSANNAH TURNER, though they were never married. After that, he married Kesiah Simmons on February 24, 1789. She was the daughter of Thomas Simmons. They had four children: Priscilla-5, Tyron-5, James Jr.-5, and Nancy-5. Kesiah died sometime before 1802, and he then married Elizabeth Tait. She bore Arteitia Yancey-5, his youngest child.
Will of Ann Graves-7 Yancey
[1740-1812]
Captain Thomas Graves-1; John-2; Thomas-3; John-4; Thomas-5; John-6; Ann-7
In the name of God, Amen, I ANN YANCEY of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina, this 29th day of April 1816, being of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body do recommend my spririt to God that gav it, and as touching such worldy estates as it hath pleased God to belss me with. I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, that is to say:
In the first place I give and bequeath to my son Bartlett Yancey a negro man named Isaac. I have heretofore given to him and the right and title to which I do hereby confirm.
Item, I give and bequeath to my granddaughter NancyYancey One bed and furniture, One cow and calf and one ewe and lamb.
Item, I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Priscilla Howard one bed and furniture which I have heretofore [advanced?] to her one cow and calf, and one ewe and lamb.
Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Slade one walnut [?] and table.
Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Isabell Collier one large arm chair and my trunk.
Item, I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Sally Rice a sum of money to be raised out of my estate sufficient to purchase her a__?__ suitable for her at the discression of my executors.
I give and bequeath to my sons John, James, and Bartlett Yancey a negro girl named Milly and a negro boy named Squire upon the special trust and confidence however, that they, the said John and James and Bartlett or a majority of them, all annually appropriate to the use of my daughter Nancy Johnston or to her children all the profit and benefit arising from the hire or other use of the said Negroes for and during her lifetime of the said Nancy Johnston leaving it in the power and authority of the said John, James and Bartlett or a majority of them to permit said negores to be and remain in the possession and use of the said Nancy Johnston if they shall think it prudent to do so. And I hereby __ ?__ it upon them to do so if it shall appear to be the most convenient and safe for her the said Nancy and she shall request it.
After the death of the said Nancy Johnston I do hereby give and bequeath the aforesaid negores: Milly and Squire and the increas of Milly to the children of the said Nancy which bequest and gift as aforesaid I do in time and well as a full share or portion of all my estate to the said Nancy or any other person or persons claiming under her.
Item, my will is that the residue of my estate of every kind shall be divided between the following persons and in the following manner. To my grandson Yancey Wiley and my grandaughter Salley Rice I give and bequeath one eighth part of the residue of my estate to be raised out of the same in money. If they shall arise to the full age of twenty one years to be paid to them by my executors with interest there from and after two years from and after my decease and if they or either of them shall die before they arrive to that age the aforesaid one eighth part thus given to each of them shall be divided between all of my children or their representatives.
To my sons, John, James, and Bartlett Yancey I give and bequeath one eighth part of the residue of my estate to be raised in money upon this special trust and confidence that they the said John, James and Bartlett Yancey or a majority of them shall annually from and after two years after my decease appropriate to the use and benefit of my daughter Mary Graves otherwise Mary Riddle or to her children all the profit and benefit arising from the interest of the said money for and during the life term of said Mary and after the death of the said Mary, I do hereby give and bequeath the sum of money aforesaid to the children of the said Mary which bequest and gift as aforesaid I intend as her full share of all my estate.
To each of my sons John, James and Bartlett yancey and to my daughter Elizabeth Slade I give and bequeath the one eighth part of my said estate.
To my daughter Isabell Collier I loan the one eighth part of my said estate during her lifetime and the lifetime of her husband and after their decease to be equally divided between the children of the said Isabell Collier.
Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons John, James and Bartlett Yancey to be the whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all others in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day.
ANN X YANCEY [Her Mark
Published in the presence of Solomon Graves and Barzalai Graves
At the October, 1818, Court, the will was presented for probate. She obviously didn’t trust several of her daughters or their husbands not to squander the estate she was leaving them, so she placed it in trust with her sons John, James, and Bartlett. By giving the daughters only a “life interest” in the property, the property or slaves could not be sold during the life of the person. “Loaning” someone property or money for their lives was also a way to protect it from a husband, or anyone else, who might try to take it away for debts.