I’ve
decided to talk about the Laniere/Lanier family. I’ll give you brief information
about the Lanier’s coming to America and what they did in America when they
arrived. They are a direct link to my
Appleby side. I think maybe this is why
we have musical talent in the family as well…..
NICHOLAS LANIERE is my 12th
great grandfather. He was born in Rouen,
France, in about 1542. He is described
as an honest person. He served in the Court of French King Henry II. He was a messenger, and was one of the Queen
of France’s flute players. Nicholas
service is confirmed in the lists of “Chantres et autres Jouers d’instruments”
of the French King’s Chambers during the years of 1559 and 1560. He was known as Nicholas the Elder
In
1561, Nicholas was recommended as a good flute and cornet player to the Earl of
Hertford, so he came to England and settled in the Parish of St. Olave in
London.
On
February 13, 1571 Nicholas married Lucreece Bassano in London. Lucreece
is the daughter of Anthony and Elena (DeNazzi) Bassano. Anthony Bassano was one of the Italian
musicians in the Royal Orchestra.
Nicholas
Lanier moved to East Greenwich, County Kent, England and was one of the
musicians to the Court. Nicholas Lanier
was known to also play in the Court of Queen Elizabeth and King James of
England. Nicholas was the founder of the
Lanier family of musicians. Nicholas and
Lucreece had six sons that became musicians to the Queen and Kings. They also had eight grandchildren that became
members of the Royal Orchestra, making three generations serving the Royal
family musically. In 1604 Nicholas
Lanier Sr. was named “Musician of the Flutes”, and after his death about 1612,
his son Andrea succeeded him “for life”.
Nicholas
had 10 children one being……..
Clement Lanier who was born 1580
and is my 11th great grandfather.
He died about 1658-1661. He too was
a musician on the recorder. He was a Gentleman of the King’s Chamber. In March
1628 he married Hannah Collet. They had 11 children. It is from Clement Lanier that the Laniers of
Virginia start. Clement Lanier was buried November 6, 1661, in East Greenwich.
His Will, proved December 3, 1661 was registered 20 May 1662.
Clement
had 11 children one being……
John Lanier my 10th
great grandfather who was born 15 Oct 1631 in Lewisham, Kent, England and died in
1719 Charles City, Prince George Co., VA. John
married Lucreece in England before moving to Virginia. Many of the Charles City County Records have
been destroyed, but there are bits and pieces still available. One such record states that John and Lucreece
Lanier were transported by Howell Pryce, Clerk and Sheriff of Charles City Co. and
the Lanier’s were in Virginia by 1656 at the latest.
John
and Lucreece Lanier were not the first Lanier’s in Virginia. Before 1638 Mark
Lanier had been transported to Norfolk, Virginia. Mark is probably the grandson
of John and Frances (Galliardello) Lanier, and the son of Mark Anthony Lanier
living in Stepney, London.
John
and Lucreece Lanier lived in Charles City County, on the south side of the
James River. In 1676, John
Lanier and John Woodlief were sent by the men of Charles City to see Governor
Berkeley about getting some help in defense against Indian raids. The Governor
refused their request for aid, and called them “fools and loggerheads”. John
claimed that Western Virginians killed both friendly and hostile Indians. Then a man named Nathaniel Bacon was asked by
the colonists to lead a force against the Indians, which was successful. Then they urged the governor again to make
reforms in colonial policies. Governor Berkeley called Bacon a rebel. Then Bacon and his followers, including John
Lanier, returned and burned Jamestown. Bacon’s Rebellion led to the removal of
the governor and lead to colonial reforms.
There is a manuscript in the Library of Congress, written by “T.M.”
(Thomas Matthews) 20 years after the Rebellion that describes it. It is believed that in the statements made
that his son, John Jr was also involved in the rebellion.
John
had two children one being……
John Lanier JR was my 9th great grandfather and
was born 1655 in England and died on 14 April 1719 in Charles City Co. (Prince
George County) VA.
Will
of John Lanier describes everything he owns, besides that land and animals, he
leaves frying pans, spoons and combs!
It
is believed that he took place in the defensive movement against the Indians
know as Bacons Rebellion and burned Jamestown along with his father. John lived in that part of James City County
which was later cut off and became Prince George County on the south side of
the James River. All of Prince George
records were stolen or destroyed when the area was overrun by the federal army
during the Civil War in 1861-1865.
John
is believed to have been married twice and had 4 children one being…..
Sampson Thomas Lanier who was born in 1682
in Charles City, VA and died on 1743 in Brunswick, VA. He is my 8th great grandfather.
Sampson married Elizabeth Washington in 1706. Elizabeth is also my connection that leads to
President George Washington. Her father,
Richard Washington had a Will, dated November 9, 1724, leaving 200 acres of
land to his daughter Elizabeth Lanier, "land where she now lives"; he
leaves to his son-in-law, Sampson Lanier, 200 acres lying in the Isle of Wight.
They eventually sold all this land and
in 1740 they had moved to Brunswick County, Virginia. Sampson was a Justice, a
Vestryman of St. Andrews, and at one time he was on the school board.
Sampson
Lanier owned slaves. In his Will he left
his son, Sampson Jr, one Negro man, named Mingo. His other son Richard gets one
Negro woman, named Juda. His daughter
Eliza gets one Negro girl named Moll,
and her children born to her for life. Son Lemuel gets one Negro girl named
Agge. His son James gets one Negro man called Randol and his heirs. And in his Will he states that his widow
should have the labor of these negros during her widowhood. His Will is extensive and to the point.
Sampson
had 7 children one being……..
Lemuel Lanier who was my 7th
great grandfather, was born about 1710 in Surry Co.,Virginia. He died in 1786 in Henry Co.,Virginia. It is believed he married Elizabeth Molly
Peebles. In April 1772, Lemuel bought
land in the newly formed county of Pittsylvania, and in 1777, that section
became part of Henry County, Virginia. Lemuel was a man of wealth and station,
owning many slaves.
This
is just a look into the line of Lanier’s. Shows what they did once they got to
America. I have to say, I enjoy what
they did in England over what they did in America! I prefer the musicians and
artists to the slave owners! Though one
doesn’t enjoy finding a past family member owned slaves, as a research point,
it is interesting that they were specifically named. Many times when they were named in Wills,
they usually were close with the family then – treated better (from what I’ve
read about slavery). That helps a little
to know.
---------------------
Nicholas Lanier - a cousin in the line above was born September 10, 1588, was sometimes Laniere was an
English composer, singer, lutenist and painter. Nicholas Lanier was the son of
John Lanier, who was the son of Nicholas Lanier the Elder (Who is the person I
wrote of first).
Nicholas was another
artistic person I wanted to mention because I find it fascinating considering
my son loves orchestra and playing the Cello.
Songs that Nicholas wrote are still played and sung today.
Some being:
"No More Shall Meads be Deck'd with Flow'rs", "Thought I am Young", "Mark how Blushful Morn".
Here is a link to hear one
of the songs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9lC3C61vec
-----------------------------------
Will of John Lanier
(1655-1719)
(Deeds etc. 1713-28,
page 304, Prince George Co. VA.)
In The Name of God, Amen. I John Lanier in
the County of Prince George, being verry weak and ailling in Body, but in
perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God therefore, it is appointed
for all men once to dye. I do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament
that is to say, principally and first of all, I give and bequeath my soul into
the hands of God that gave it and for my Body, I commend it to the Earth to be
buried in a Christian Like and Decent manner, to the Discretion of my Executor
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 hath pleased God to bless in this Life, I give Devise and Dispose
of the same in the following manner and form.
First. I give to my son Robert
Lanier one shilling. 2'ly. I give to my son John Lanier one shilling. 3'ly.
I give to my son Sampson Lanier
twelve shillings. 4'ly.
I give to __ Daughter Sarah Brewer
one cow or heifer of three years old. 5'ly.
I give to my grandson John Lanier,
the son of Nicholas Lanier, my son,a feather bed and bolster, and blankets and
Rugg, all new and good, and a small Gunn well fixt, and I give to him two
pewter Dishes and Bason, and one chest with Lock and Key, and six spoons, one
Iron pott and potthooks, and frying pan, and a small pair of Hillyards, and two
combs, and a young calfe of three years old, and three sheep.
Lastly. I give to my son Nicholas
Lanier, all the Land which I now live upon, and all my Land on the otter dams,
to him and his heirs for ever, and I give to my son Nicholas, all my moveables
and unmoveables. I do make my son Nicholas Lanier my whole and sole Exr. of
this my Last Will and Testament, to see that it is performed.
As witness my hand and seal this
5th of Janry. of 1717.
John Lanier Sealed
wth.red wax.
William(hisWPmarke)Peebles
Henry Peebles
Thomas(hisxmarke)Burrow
----------------
(wrote how was)
Brunswick Co. Virginia,
Will Book 2, Page 52
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN: I Sampson Lanier
of the Parish of Saint Andrew in the County of Brunswick calling to mind the
mortality of man do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament
revoking all former wills by me made and this only to be my last Will and
Testament to wit I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Lanier all the tract of
land whereon I now live containing one hundred and fifty acres to him and his
heirs forever but it is my desire that my wife should have the use of the
Plantation whereon I now live with the land on the east side of branch during
her natural life making no waist on the same I also give unto my said son
Thomas Five pounds cash and all my Coopers tools I give unto my son Sampson
Lanier one Negroe man named Mingo my wife to have the labour of the said negro
during her widowhood I give unto my son Richard Lanier two cows and calves two
cows and pigs one feather bed bolster a blankett and rugg and a pair of sheets
two pueter dishes three peuter plates one good chest one iron pott also negro
woman named Juda my wife having the labour of the said negro woman during her
widowhood I give unto my Daughter Eliza Burch one negro girl called Mou the
said negro girl and her increase to the use of my said daughter and the heirs
of her body forever I give to my son Lemuel Lanier one negro girl called Agge
to him and his heirs also one feather bed and bolster a pair of sheets a rugg
and a blankett two pueter dishes and three pueter plates two cows and calves
one heifer one young mare bridle and saddle and all the hoggs that is called
his and a gang of hoggs that yoused with the same one iron pot and frying pann
I give my son James Lanier two cows and calves two sows and piggs two pueter
dishes two pueter plates one iron pott or kettle one young mare one small
saddle and bridle one feather bed bolster a pair of sheets a rugg and a blanket and one negro man called Randol to him and his heirs but Lemuel Lanier
to have the labour of the said negro till my son James come to the age of
twenty one years I give unto my beloved wife Twenty Pounds cash which she hath
in her possession to her and her disposal and also let the use of all the
remainder part of my Estate to my beloved wife during her natural life or
widowhood and after her death or marriage I give all that part of my estate to
my five sons to be equally divided among them to them and their heirs my will
and desire that my estate may not be brought to an appeasement I also
constitute and appoint my two sons Thomas Lanier and Sampson Lanier Exor's of
this my last will and testament IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and afficed my seal this Eighth day of January, 1742 / 3
Sampson Lanier (Seal)
Signed and delivered in
presence of us as his alst will and testament
James Maclin his marke
Peter Adams
Richard Lanier
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