Col. George Lydell
1625-1705
Born: England
Died: New Kent, New Kent, Virginia, United States
<p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-size: medium"> The will of Sir Robert Peake, Knight, citizen and goldsmith, of London, dated 15 May 1666, proved at London 26 Jul 1667, includes a legacy to ‘my cousin and sometime servant’ George Lyddall, of Virginia, gentleman, in the amount of 300 pounds. Note that ‘servant’ here designates anyone employed by another and that ‘gentleman’ could mean a near relation. The will is valuable for identifying George Lyddall. He was the fifth son of Thomas Lyddall and younger brother of Sir Thomas Lyddall (who married Bridget Woodward). He patented lands along the Pamunkey River in New Kent County in 1654. The family was Royalist, and the move to Virginia during the Commonwealth may have been in order to avoid persecution from Cromwell. The Virginia settlers came over in families or groups of connections. George Lyddall was one of his executors of William Bassett (along with Bassett’s ’my deare brother Nathaniel Bacon Esquire’!). In a later affidavit related to the terms of the will, both Col. Nathaniel Bacon Esq. and Mr. George Lyddall are mentioned. Capt. George Lyddall was commander of the Fort on the Mattaponi River during Bacon’s Rebellion in 1679. After that time he lived in the Black Creek area in New Kent County until his death. In 1682 he established a marriage contract between his daughter Ann and Edmund Bacon. In this contract he gave Edmund 1700 acres of land on Black Creek ‘in the narrowes of York River.’ (this land became the home of the Bacon family in New Kent Co. for many years). The contract was signed on 12 May, and the marriage took place on 19 May 1682. He died with a will (made out on 15 Nov 1703 and proved 28 Jan 1705). Note that he had at least two other daughters, one married to a Capt. Joseph Harwood (a name that appears later in the Bacon line) and another to George Wilkinson; both of those families have the name Lyddall in subsequent generations. George Lyddall died in New Kent Co. 19 Jan 1705/06. Wm. & Mary Quarterly (1914-15), Vol. 23:175ff. Harris, Malcolm, Old New Kent County, Vol. I, pp. 172ff. Valentine Papers, Vol. IV, pp. 2241f.] </span></p> <p style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial; margin: 0px"><span style="font-size: medium"> From Cavaliers and Pioneers, we have the following: A George Lyddall is mentioned as one of 20 persons having been transported by Capt. John West, esqr (the latter was awarded a patent of 1000 acres for this service on 27 May 1654), p. 232. In Jun 1655 George Lyddall is noted as having land in New Kent Co., p. 310. On 27 Dec 1657 he purchased 2390 acres in New Kent Co., part bounding Capt. West’s land, and renewed a patent for 1750 acres granted him 25 Nov 1654 and 640 acres for transporting 13 persons (p. 359). On 12 Oct 1662 a number of additional transactions were recorded, including 3306 acres in New Kent Co among others (p. 403). On 22 Mar 1665/6 he bought 2000 acres of land in New Kent Co. on the south side of the York River which bordered land of Capt. Wm. Bassett and Capt. Phillip Ludwell. This included land for transporting 40 persons, including one Thomas Hancock (pp. 547f.).</span></p>
<!--StartFragment--> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">The marriage of Ann Lyddall and Edumnd Bacon on 19</span></font><sup><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">th</span></font></sup><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium"> May, 1682, is established by the marriage contract which was among the Clopton papers:</span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">May 12, 1682, New Kent County, Virginia</span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Legal document in form of a marriage agreement or contract reciting that a marriage has been solemnized between Mr. Edmd Bacon and Ann Lyddall, daughter of George Lyddall makes over to the said Bacon 1700 acres of land on Black Creek, in the narrowes of York River.</span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Signed: George Lyddall</span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Acknowledged in New Kent County Court by Lt. Cl. George Lyddall unto his son, Mr. Edmd Bacon. Job Howes, Deputy Clerk to Thomas Claiborne, Clerk.”</span></font></p><p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">This conveyance posits the land of Edmund Bacon on Black Creek and the 700 acres conveyed was probably the same land which was held by the family for many years.</span></font></p><p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">The marriages of the daughters of George Lyddall to Capt. Joseph Harwood and George Wilkinson explain the use of the name Lyddall in these two families in New Kent County in future generations. </span></font></p><p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">[The material above is copied from Harris, Malcolm H., Old New Kent County: Some Account of Planters, Plantations, and Places in New Kent County. Vol. I. 1977, citing the Clopton Papers in Duke University holdings]</span></font></p> <!--EndFragment-->
<!--StartFragment--> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Capt. George Lyddall made a will on 15 Nov 1703, and it was proven on 28 Jan 1705 at the New Kent Court: </span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">In the name of God Amen: I, George Lyddal of ye Parish of St. Peter’s in ye County of Ne Kent in Virga, Gent: doe & imprimis, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son in law Capt. Joseph Harwood and his wife, my father and mother’s pictures in Little, they have in their possession</span></font><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium"></span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson George Wilkinson my mare Benny, ye first mare foul she brings maybe and remain to his sister Judith Wilkinson,</span></font><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium"></span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Item, I give and bequeath unto my grandson Thomas Harwood, son of Capt. Joseph Harwood my Black Rapier,</span></font><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium"></span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Item I give and bequeath unto my deare and loving wife Jane Lyddall my two negroes by name Harry & Hannah & all their future increase and I hereby ordain and appoint my Beloved wife Jane Lyddall Full and & sole Executrix of this my last will and testament giving & bequeathing unto her all my whole Estate that Remains after ye payment of ye above Legacies. I say all my Estate that remaineth both Real & Personal whether here or in England, and in Witness whereof I have here (Revoking all other wills) sett my hand & Seale this fifteenth day of November 1703.</span></font><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium"></span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Proved January 28</span></font><sup><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">th</span></font></sup><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium"> 1705 by ye oaths of Thomas Henrson and James Melons. Witnesses Thos. Henderson, Sarah Henderson, James Melons and Stephen Sunter.</span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">[Copied from: Harris, Malcolm H. (compiler), Old New Kent County: Some account of the planters, plantations, …, Volume I. West Point, VA: M.H. Harris, 1977. Harris source is cited as the Clopton Papers [I am unable to verify this as of May 2010. JAS]</span></font><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium"></span></font></p> <p><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium">Per this will, George Lyddall was married to “Jane ---“ at his death. Other than this definite spouse, I have not been able to confirm his earlier marriage(s?) to either Barbara Bowker or Barbara Strangeways. The source above, Harris, indicates that Barbara Bowker was in fact the wife of George’s son John Lyddall, again a possibility that I have not been able to confirm.</span></font></p><p> </p> <!--EndFragment-->