Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
NameDavid Lay 
, GGGG Grandfather
, GGGG GrandfatherBirthca 1754, Pittsylvania Co VA
Deathbef 1825 Age: 71
FatherDavid Lay Sr. (<1730-ca1815)
Spouses
1Susannah Gibson , GGGG Grandmother
, GGGG GrandmotherBirth26 Apr 1756, Caswell Co KY586
Death8 Dec 1832, Pulaski Co KY587 Age: 76
BurialHiggins Cemetery, Pulaski Co KY586
FatherAndrew Gibson (-1778)
MotherMary Duncan (ca1730-<1795)
Marriage11 Jan 1774, Caswell Co KY586
Notes for David Lay
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ONE BRANCH OF THE FAMILY OF LAY570
BY JOEL LAY 1899-1985
[Lay Family Genalogical Association Line 2
This is a short biographical story of the name Lay beginning with my Great-Great-Grandfather, David Lay. The material is based on my research of official and Family records. The source of any part of it is available by request. David Lay was a young Englishman who came to the Colony of Virginia about 1750, some 25 years before the beginning of the American Revolution. It seems he was married after arriving in America. He was a Farmer, as were most people at that time. He secured land by "Patent" from the Colonial Government and added more land From time to time by purchase from individuals. Records show him in Halifax County, Virginia in 1755. That area where he lived later became Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1767.
Where in England the Lays lived is not known. Others of his generation were in Virginia or North Carolina. John Lay was in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Thomas Lay and Jesse Lay were in Wilkes County North Carolina, all of whom could have been cousins or brothers of David Lay. David must have been married twice because he was the father of fifteen or more children. The name of his first wife is not known. His second wife's name was Susannah Gibson.
During the Revolutionary War, having a large family and too old for service as a soldier, he was shown by official records to have provided supplies for the army including a quantity of beef for the Continental Line of the Army. It was my privilege to have him named as a Patriot on the records of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution. I am proud to be a member of the SAR as his descendant.
David Lay sold his land in Virginia in 1787 and after a few years stay in Wilkes County, North Carolina, he moved to Caswell County, North Carolina, with his family, where he died about 1815. David and Susannah Lay were the parents of my great-grandfather, Burrell Lay, who was born in 1776 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. In 1804 Burrell Lay was married to Leannah Newell in Rockingham County, North Carolina
As was the common practice in the early years of the settlement of the nation, Burrell Lay had the urge to move further westward. Together with his wife and children and his widowed mother, Susannah Lay, he moved from Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1818 to Pulaski County, Kentucky. Along with them were other related families, including two brothers of Leannah Newell Lay, John Newell and Landing Newell. A few years later three brothers of Burrell Lay moved from Caswell County, North Carolina to Pulaski County, Kentucky. They were George Lay, Instant Lay and John Lay. The County records of Pulaski County indicate that by the 1850's all of these brothers had died. They all lived on adjoining farms or nearby. Names of the wives and of the children of each one of these can be supplied from my records.
Note from C. Heathcock: In the foregoing essay, Joel Lay seems to have assumed that the David Lay, b ca 1735 who came to the US from England was the David Lay who was father of Burrell, Instant, John Sr., etc. However, the Immigrant David Lay was probably the grandfather of Burrell, Instant, John Sr., etc. The confusion stems from, in part, the way in which Sr. and Jr. were used in these early days. For example, it seems that Sr. and Jr. did not necessarily mean father and son, but the older and the younger, whether or not they had a father-son relationship. For example, there is evidence that the father of Burrell, Instant, John Sr., etc. was known as David Lay Jr. when he lived in Virginia but as David Lay Sr. after he moved to Kentucky. I believe that David Lay who was born in Pittsylvania Co VA was the son of David Lay the immigrant and that Joel Lay has merged the two into one David Lay.]
BY JOEL LAY 1899-1985
[Lay Family Genalogical Association Line 2
This is a short biographical story of the name Lay beginning with my Great-Great-Grandfather, David Lay. The material is based on my research of official and Family records. The source of any part of it is available by request. David Lay was a young Englishman who came to the Colony of Virginia about 1750, some 25 years before the beginning of the American Revolution. It seems he was married after arriving in America. He was a Farmer, as were most people at that time. He secured land by "Patent" from the Colonial Government and added more land From time to time by purchase from individuals. Records show him in Halifax County, Virginia in 1755. That area where he lived later became Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1767.
Where in England the Lays lived is not known. Others of his generation were in Virginia or North Carolina. John Lay was in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Thomas Lay and Jesse Lay were in Wilkes County North Carolina, all of whom could have been cousins or brothers of David Lay. David must have been married twice because he was the father of fifteen or more children. The name of his first wife is not known. His second wife's name was Susannah Gibson.
During the Revolutionary War, having a large family and too old for service as a soldier, he was shown by official records to have provided supplies for the army including a quantity of beef for the Continental Line of the Army. It was my privilege to have him named as a Patriot on the records of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution. I am proud to be a member of the SAR as his descendant.
David Lay sold his land in Virginia in 1787 and after a few years stay in Wilkes County, North Carolina, he moved to Caswell County, North Carolina, with his family, where he died about 1815. David and Susannah Lay were the parents of my great-grandfather, Burrell Lay, who was born in 1776 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. In 1804 Burrell Lay was married to Leannah Newell in Rockingham County, North Carolina
As was the common practice in the early years of the settlement of the nation, Burrell Lay had the urge to move further westward. Together with his wife and children and his widowed mother, Susannah Lay, he moved from Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1818 to Pulaski County, Kentucky. Along with them were other related families, including two brothers of Leannah Newell Lay, John Newell and Landing Newell. A few years later three brothers of Burrell Lay moved from Caswell County, North Carolina to Pulaski County, Kentucky. They were George Lay, Instant Lay and John Lay. The County records of Pulaski County indicate that by the 1850's all of these brothers had died. They all lived on adjoining farms or nearby. Names of the wives and of the children of each one of these can be supplied from my records.
Note from C. Heathcock: In the foregoing essay, Joel Lay seems to have assumed that the David Lay, b ca 1735 who came to the US from England was the David Lay who was father of Burrell, Instant, John Sr., etc. However, the Immigrant David Lay was probably the grandfather of Burrell, Instant, John Sr., etc. The confusion stems from, in part, the way in which Sr. and Jr. were used in these early days. For example, it seems that Sr. and Jr. did not necessarily mean father and son, but the older and the younger, whether or not they had a father-son relationship. For example, there is evidence that the father of Burrell, Instant, John Sr., etc. was known as David Lay Jr. when he lived in Virginia but as David Lay Sr. after he moved to Kentucky. I believe that David Lay who was born in Pittsylvania Co VA was the son of David Lay the immigrant and that Joel Lay has merged the two into one David Lay.]
Notes for David Lay
David Lay is mentioned several times in the Caswell County, NC Will Books, 1777-1843; 1784 Tax List; and Guardians' Accounts, 1794-1819:589
Book F, page 116: David Lay was one of the buyers in the sale of the estate of Joel McDaniel in Jan & Feb 1809.
Book F, page 123: David Lay was one of the buyers in the sale of the estate of Eppe Stone on 3 Oct 1811.
Book H, page 23: David Lay mentioned as holding a bond on the property inventory in estate of Meaadith Price, sold 7 Feb 1817.
Book H, page 47: David Lay one of the buyers in sale of property of Peggy Nealy on 28 July 1820.
Book H, page 55: David Lay one of the buyers in sale of property of John Trigg who died 2 Nov 1821.
[Note: There were quite a few Leas in these records; James, John, John Sr., Lawrence, Mary, William Sr., Zachariah, Nathaniel.]
David Lay is listed in the 1810 census of Caswell Co NC with 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-26, 1 male >45, 1 female 15-26 and 1 female 26-45.
David Lay is listed in the 1820 census of Caswell Co NC with 1 male 10-16, 1 male >45, 1 female <10 and 1 female >45. Neighboring listings are Instant Lay and George Lay.
Book F, page 116: David Lay was one of the buyers in the sale of the estate of Joel McDaniel in Jan & Feb 1809.
Book F, page 123: David Lay was one of the buyers in the sale of the estate of Eppe Stone on 3 Oct 1811.
Book H, page 23: David Lay mentioned as holding a bond on the property inventory in estate of Meaadith Price, sold 7 Feb 1817.
Book H, page 47: David Lay one of the buyers in sale of property of Peggy Nealy on 28 July 1820.
Book H, page 55: David Lay one of the buyers in sale of property of John Trigg who died 2 Nov 1821.
[Note: There were quite a few Leas in these records; James, John, John Sr., Lawrence, Mary, William Sr., Zachariah, Nathaniel.]
David Lay is listed in the 1810 census of Caswell Co NC with 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-26, 1 male >45, 1 female 15-26 and 1 female 26-45.
David Lay is listed in the 1820 census of Caswell Co NC with 1 male 10-16, 1 male >45, 1 female <10 and 1 female >45. Neighboring listings are Instant Lay and George Lay.
Notes for Susannah (Spouse 1)
Susannah’s death is also given as 8 Dec 1857, in Frankfort KY.586