Georgia: Wilkes County: Lawrence Bankston Will 10 April 1834 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Vold Forde rebjar@direcway.com ==================================================================== BIRTH: Lawrence Bankston was my fifth great grandfather. He was born in 1754 to Peter Bankston and Priscilla? in Orange County, NC. He served in the Revolutionary War as a private in the Georgia Continental Line. (This info comes from the DAR: Vol. 51, page 66. Ms. Isabelle Davis Thomason, DAR ID # 50142.) My DAR Membership # 804758 was approved July 7, 2001; Brenham, Texas Chapter, Jabez Deming. MARRIAGE: Lawrence Bankston and Delphia Nancy Henderson, daughter of Joseph Henderson (Rev. War Soldier) and Adelphia Lea, were married Abt.1777; they were parents of six daughters and one son. Their daughter, Martha Bankston Sappington, was my fourth great grandmother BANKSTON RESEARCH: The bulk of the Bankston research has been completed by others. Books abound on the Bankston lineage. One book that has impressed me is Bankston Cousins, by Anne Haigler of St. Louis, MO. A great deal of my data is from descendants, Mona Herrin and Patrick Stevens IV, both Bankston researchers. Dr. Peter Craig, of The Swedish Colonial Society, has been of tremendous value in clarifying issues related to the confusion over the identity of Lawrence Bankston's parents. There was confusion over Lawrence Bankson/Bankston because there were two persons named Lawrence Bankston, Jr. Edna Vacher, author of old Bankston research, thought that he was the son of Lawrence Bankston (Sr.). The confusion ended with the research of historian, Dr. Peter Craig of the Swedish Colonial Society. Lawrence, b. 1754 was Lawrence Bankston, Sr.'s grandson, and not his son by Ann Majors. Instead, Lawrence Bankston b. 1754 was the son of Peter Bankston and Priscilla? . One of the many proofs offered by Dr. Craig is that Lawrence, born 1754, inherited a child's portion along with Priscilla in Peter's will. He did not inherit from Lawrence (Sr.). There are those who followed Edna Vacher's research, which is unsubstantiated, regarding Lawrence b. 1754 as the son of Lawrence Bankston, Sr. b. 1700-1704. There was another Lawrence Bankson, JR. b. 1748. This Lawrence (in NC) could not read or write. Lawrence b. 1754 could read and write. That prompted the discernment that Lawrence b. . 1748 and Lawrence b 1754 were two different men. (This is from the notes of Ramond Mozley. He obtained his copy from the GA Archives.) Lawrence Bankston, Jr. b. 1754, died on Friday, November 15th, 1844 in his 90th year of age. This is in agreement with the death date on the DAR record. It also concurs with the birth date of 1754 (Haigler) s/o Peter Bankson and Priscilla ? ( not 1748 attributed to Lawrence Bankston, Jr., possible son of Lawrence Bankson/Bankston and Ann Majors). MIGRATION TO GEORGIA: It appears that Lawrence and his wife, Delphia Nancy Henderson, moved to in Wilkes County, GA in 1782. They were members of the Sardis Baptist Church according to their church records. Lawrence received his first land grant of 28.5 acres on Kettle Creek on March 31, 1784. He also received a land grant of 200 acres in Washington Co., Ga in 1784, 200 acres in Wilkes County, GA in 1785. He received 200 acres on Kettle Creek in 1806. Other records follow: _________________________________ WILL: July 31. 1830. RECORD: Wilkes County, GA, Court Of Ordinary Wills, 1837-1877. Following is the will of Lawrence Bankston: In the name of God, Amen, I LAWRENCE BANKSTON of the County and State aforesaid being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the form following viz. First. I give and bequeath my soul to God who gave to me and my body to be Buried in a Christian manner, agreeably to the will of my friends, and such worldly effects as it has pleased God to bless me with, I will it be disposed of in the following manner. 2nd Item. I will to my beloved wife NANCY BANKSTON the tract of land whereon I now live and also three Negroes, Jordan, a man; Hannah a woman, and Aggy a Girl, also the household and Kitchen furniture and one Sorrell mare and one Black Mare, two Plows and plow gears, Twelve Stock Hogs, three Cows and Calves, one Side Saddle and also a moderate supply of Provision for the term of twelve months, and I will that the above named property after the death of my wife NANCY BANKSTON be sold and equally divided between my four daughters ISABELLA IRVIN, PRISCILLA MATHEWS, ELIZABETH MOSLEY and MARTHA SAPPINGTON. 3rd Item. I will to my son in law ISAAC WHITAKER one dollar to be paid by my Executors after my death. 4th Item. I will to my grand daughter SARAH TRUITT, wife of JOHN TRUITT five dollars to be paid by my executors after my death. 5th Item. I will to my grand son ALFORD SHORTER the sum of five dollars to be paid by my Executors after my death. 6th Item. I will that all the rest of my property both real and personal be sold and equally divided between my four daughters ISABELLA IRVIN, PRISCILLA MATHIS, ELIZABETH MOSELY & MARTHA SAPPINGTON and the lawful heirs of HYRAM BANKSTON, deceased, with this exception, I will that my grand son WELDEN L. BANKSTON draw one half of the distribution share coming to the said orphans, and the other half to be equally divided between the rest of the children of the said HYRAM BANKSTON deceased, which will be the one fifth part of the above named property including WELDON L. BANKSTON and the other four fifths to be equally divided between my four daughters above named. 7th Item. I will that my two beloved sons in law ISAIAH T. IRVIN and CALEB SAPPINGTON be my Executors to this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal. Lawrence (x his mark) Bankston In presence of us this 10 of April 1834, GEO. W. JOHNSON, DANIEL WOOLBRIGHT, WILLIAM SHORTER. Sworn before court on 22 Nov. 1844. Codicil: I LAWRENCE BANKSTON of the state and county do for divers good reasons make and constitute this as an alteration in my last will and testament which was made and executed on the 10th day of April in the year of Our Lord 1834 that is to say whereas I did convey in said will to my daughter, PRISCILLA MATHEWS an equal share with my other three daughters which said gift I do hereby absolutely and entirely revoke and make void to all intents and purposes whatsoever and in stead thereof I do hereby of my good will place my said daughters full share as given in my said former will into the possession of my grandson GRIFFIN MATHEWS and ISAAC MOORE for them or either of them to act as agent or trustee for my daughter aforesaid for her sole benefit during her life and at her death to descend or to go to & belong to the heirs of her body. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and placed my seal this 11th day of September 1838. Signed in presence of CHARLES SMITH, WILLIAM SHERRER, JOSEPH A. FARRELL. Signed: LAWRENCE (x his mark) BANKSTON NOTE: Will of Lawrence Bankston, 11 Sept. 1838, recorded EARLY GEORGIA RECORDS WILLS - 22 Nov. 1844 pages 108, 109, 110 Lawrence Bankston He was a slave holder as he made a gift of certain slaves to his daughters on July 31. 1830. RECORD: Wilkes County, GA, Court Of Ordinary Wills, 1837-1877.