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Descendants of William Senr. Lax

Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM JUNR.² LAX (WILLIAM SENR.¹) was born Abt. 1722 in VA (probably Goochland Co.)², and died Bet. July 1778 - April 1783 in Halifax Co., VA ³. He married SUSANNAH CHANDLER 1756 in Lunenburg Co., VA ^4,⁵.

Notes for WILLIAM JUNR. LAX:
Undocumented reference to William found online (Genserv) :

      Lax, William, born 1722, died 18 Apr 1783 , married Chandler, Susann
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The noun "tithable" when it appears in the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century records of Virginia refers to a person who paid, or for whom someone else paid, one of the taxes that the General Assembly imposed for the support of the civil government in the colony.

The terms "tithe" and "tithable" had ancient roots in English law and referred to the tax of the tenth portion of the livestock and certain other agricultural products for the support of the church. The term "tithable" developed a different and restricted meaning in seventeenth-century Virginia, where it came to apply to persons on whom the colony's tax laws assessed a poll tax or capitation tax, literally a tax on each "head."

By 1658, when the assembly passed a law defining "What Persons are Tithable," a "tithable" was a member of the potentially productive labor force: free caucasian males age sixteen or older plus "all negroes imported whether male or female, and Indian servants male or female however procured, being sixteen years of age" (Hening, Statutes at Large, 1:454-455). Subsequent laws made the immigrants' descendants tithable, too. Slaves and servants did not pay their own taxes; their owners or masters were therefore "tithable" for themselves and for the taxes on their servants and slaves.

Lists of tithables for a county or a household, then, do not enumerate anyone under the age of sixteen or any adult white woman unless they were heads of households.

[Daphne Gentry, Copyright by The Library of Virginia]
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Lax and related tithables living in Lunenburg County, Virginia, taken from Bell's "Sunlight on the South Side" (transcribed by Thomas Walter Duda):

(Part 4)
(Tithables) For 1750 -- List taken by Richd. Witton
page 158
      Nicholas Gentry ............................................ Tithes: 1
(3 entries down is the following:)
      James Cunningham
      Wm. Lax ....................................................... Tithes: 2
(next entry down is:)
      Joseph Chandler
      Wm. Chandler ............................................... Tithes: 2
(9 entries down is:)
      John Chandler .............................................. Tithes: 1

[Also found in this list of 1750 tithables are Hix, Lucas, Crews, Hawkins, Cobbs, "Ryell", "Childus", and "Childres"]
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(Part 5)
[Tithables] For 1751 -- List taken by Richd. Witton
page 175
      John Chandler
      John Ragsdale, Bricklayer
      John Ragsdale ............................................ Tithes: 3
page 176
      Wm. Lax ......................................................... Tithes: 1
page 177
(next 3 entries listed in order)
      Wm. Chandler ................................................. Tithes: 1
      Joel Chandler ................................................. Tithes: 2
      Joel Chandler .................................................. Tithes: 1

      Joseph Royal and
      Brother John ................................................. Tithes: 2
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(Part 6)
For 1752 -- List taken by Richd. Witton
page 209
      John Chandler ............................................... Tithes: 1
page 210
      Wm. Lax ....................................................... Tithes: 2
      John Hicks .................................................... Tithes: 1
page 211
      Joseph Chandler
      James Chandler ............................................. Tithes: 2
      Joel Chandler, Junr. ....................................... Tithes:1
      Joel Chandler ................................................. Tithes: 1
      Wm. Chandler, Sr. Carpenter
      Wm. Chandler, Junr. ...................................... Tithes: 2
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(Part 7)
Charles Allen, Gent. -- List of Tithes for 1764, Cornwall Parish
page 213
      Stephen Cock
      William Chandler, overseer ...................... Tithes: 7       Land: 300
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Thos. Bedford, Gent. -- List of Tithes, land and wheel carriages for 1764, Cornwall Parish
page 221
      Moses Swinney ........................................ Tithes: 1
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Henry Blagrave, Gent. --List of Tithes for 1764 , Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, June 10, 1764
page 234
      Chandler, William, Junr. ............................ Tithes: 1       Land: 375
page 235
      Chandler, John .......................................... Tithes: 1       Land: 294
page 237
      Lax, William ............................................. Tithes: 2       Land: 175
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List of Tythes taken by Thos. Tabb for June 10th, 1764, Cumberland Parish
page 240
      John Chandler ......................................... Tithes: 2       Land: 200
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The list of Tithables taken by Edmund Taylor in Lunenbg. County, St. James Parish, for the year, 1764
page 248
      John Childress ....................................... Tithes: 1
page 250
      Owin Franklin
      Jessey Chandler .................................... Tithes: 5 Land: 200
page 259
      Joel Chandler
      Saml. Chandler ....................................... Tithes: 5 Land: 250
      James Chandler ..................................... Tithes: 1 Land: 497
page 260
      Henry Lax [?] ........................................ Tithes: 1
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Richd. Witton, Gent. -- List of Tithes for 1764, "St. Jas. Parish"
page 263
      Wm. Chandler ................................. Tithes: 1 Land: 375
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Also listed:
9 Hix, 1 (John) Childress, 6 Lucas, 4 Cooper, 1 Ryall or Royall, 3 Lewis (1 James Lewis, with 1351 acres)
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(Part 8)
1769 Tythables
page 281
      William Lax .................................... Tithes: 3 Land: 50
Note: nearby are Hawkins (John Sr., and John Jr.), also Crews (Josiah, Peter and Richard)
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(Part 9)
List of Tithables for Lunenburg County Taken in 1772 by Elisha Betts
page 288
      Lax, William, Senr.
      Wm. Lax, Jun. ................................ Tithes: 4 Land: 50
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(Part 10)
List of Tythes for the year 1773 -- JOHN RAGSDALE, GENT.
page 319
      John Hix
      John Hix ................................................. Tithes: 4
page 320
      William Lax ................................................ Tithes: 3
(Also entered are 5 Crews, 3 Chandler, 3 Cooper, 2 Lucas, 1 Lewis, and 1 Murphey)
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(Part 11)
1774 Tythables
page 339
      William Lax ................................................ Tithes: 3
(Also found are 5 Crews, 1 Chandler, 5 Hix, 2 Cooper, 1 Lucas, 1 Murphey (Edward)
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1783 Tythables
A List of Taxable Property Taken by Christopher Robertson, Gent. For the Year 1783
page 411
      Lax, William, Junr.
      William Lax ............................. Tithes: 4 Land: 3
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Virginia land grant from George II in 1760:

GEORGE the Second etc. TO ALL etc. KNOW YE that for divers good Causes and Considerations but more Especially for & in Consideration of the sum of FORTY SHILLINGS of good and Lawful Money for our use paid to our Receiver General of our Revenues in this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia WE HAVE Given Granted and Confirmed and by these presents for us our Heirs and Successors DO Give Grant and confirm unto William Lax Junior One Certain Tract or Parcel of Land containing Four Hundred Acres lying and being in the County of Halifax on a branch of Difficult Creek and bounded as followeth to wit BEGINNING at Ephraim Hill's Corner Pine thence a new line North Twenty Degrees East one hundred and sixteen poles to pointers South Twenty Degrees East two hundred and forty eight poles Crossing two Branches to a pine in Sparronds? Line thence on his Line South one hundred and sixty Poles to a white oak South twenty five Degrees West one hundred and fifty two pose to pointers in Seymores" Line thence on the same North fifty Degrees West Hundredt and Ninety six poles to pointers in Hills Line Thence on his line North forty five Degrees East thirty six poles to a white oak North forty two Degrees West One Nundred and forty poles to the first Station, WITH ALL etc. TO HAVE HOLD etc. TO BE HELD etc. YIELDING AND PAYING etc. PROVIDED etc. IN WITNESS etc. WITNESS our Trusty and Welbeloved Francis Fauquier Esquire our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburgh Under the Seal of our said Colony the Fifteenth Day of July One Thousand seven hundred and sixty in the thirty fourth year of our Reign.

                              Fran. Fauquier

Note: The use of "etc." was to replace standard phrasing employed in these documents, thus eliminating wordy passages unnecessary to their purport.
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Sometime after the 1760 Halifax Co. land grant and before 1782, William moved his place of residence from his property in Lunenburg on Difficult Creek to Halifax Co., VA:

1782 Halifax County (VA) Heads of Household

name (last, first) of head of household, number of whites, number of blacks
(first two entries are found side by side)
Lax            John            8            0
Lax            Benjamin             3            0

Lax            William            6            0

--From Rootsweb (www. rootsweb.com), copied from an transcription
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Unrecorded marriages of Halifax Co., VA

--From Rootsweb (www. rootsweb.com)

Lax, William married Chandler, Susanna
per Will of William Chandler, 1779. Will Book 1, p. 260.

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Will of William Lax, 1778

Halifax County Virginia, Will Book No. 1, Inventories, Accounts, etc., 1773-1782, page 432.

In the Name of God Amen, I William Lax of Halifax County Va. being this the abundant mercy and goodness of God tho weak in body yet of a sound and perfect memory and understanding, do constitute this my last will and Testament, and do desire it to be received by all as such. Imprimis, I most humbly bequeath my Soul to God my maker beseeching his most Gracious Acceptance of it. this the all sufficient merits and meditation of my most Compasionate Redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to be an attonement for my sins and is to save to the uttemost all that come? into God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them and who I trust will not reject me a returning penitent sinner when I come to him for mercy in this hope and confidence. I render up my soul to God with comfort humbly beseeching the most mercifull and Gracious God to prepare me for the time of my Dessolution, and then to take me to himself into peace and rest and incomparible felicity which he has prepared for those that love him and fear his Holy Name Amen. Blessed be God. Imprimis I give my Body to the Earth from whence it was taken in full assurance of its Resurrection from thence at the last day, as for my Burial I desire it may be decent without pomp or state, at the Discretion of my dear wife and my Executors hereafter named who I doubt not will manage it with all requisite prudence? As to my worldly estate I will and positively order that all my Debts be paid __, Item I give unto my Only son John Lax his Heirs and assigns forever one hundred acres of land lying and being on the waters of Difficult Creek, Item I give and bequeath unto my Son William Lax his Heirs and assigns forever one hundred acres of land being of the same tract, Item I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Lax his heirs and assigns two hundred acres of land being part of the same tract, Item I give and bequeath unto my two only sons Timothy Lax and Joel, and to each of their heirs and assigns one hundred fifty acres of land whereon I now dwell, to be equally between them and if either of them should die without an heir the one living shall take full possession to have and to hold forever, Also I give and bequeath unto my son Timothy Lax two cows. Item I give and bequeath unto my only Friend John Lewis one horse and cow for him to receive by my executors. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Robert Lax one pound current money of Virginia. Item I give and bequeath unto my only daughter Elisabeth Lewis one pound current of Virginia. Item I give and bequeath unto my only daughter Susannah Childress one pound current money of Virginia to be paid by my executors. Item, I give and bequeath unto my only two Daughters, and Son, Obediance Lax, and Tabitha Lax and Joel Lax all my living that remains at my Death and my only wife Death (this is what says), then to be divided equally between them, Hereon I have set my hand and affixed my seal this Twenty First day of July One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Eight.

William (his x mark) Lax
Signd of Seald an Deliverd
In the Presents of us
Wm Keeling, John (his x mark) Piles
Timothy Chandler, Peter Crews

I appoint John Lax & Benjamin Lax and Susannah Lax, my wife. Executors of this my Will and Testament

At about held for Halifax County the 13 (18?) day of April 1783. This last will & Testament of William Lax deceased was Exhibited into Court by John Lax, one of the Executors herein named, and the same was proved by the oaths of two of the subscribing witnesses hereto, and ordered to be recorded and Benjamin Lax one other of the Executors herein named came into Court & refused to take on him the burden of the Execution, hereof, and on the motion of the said John Lax who made oath hereto according to Law Certificate was granted him for obtaining Probate here of in due form beginning Security whereupon he together with William Chandler & Benjamin Lax his Securities entered into and acknowledged bond for the same according to Law.

Terte(?) Geo. Carrington, ___
truly recorded test. Geo. Carrington

Persuant to an order of the Court of Halifax County. We being first sworn have appraised the Estate of William Lax Dec'd.
17 head of neet cattle l. 28.15
1 horse 18
2 mare & colts 22
3 feather beds & furniture 22
12 head of sheep 4
5 head of hogs 3
3 sows 13 stotes(?) 2.166
1 mans saddle 1
a parcel of wool .7
a parcel of cotton .8
a parcel of puter 1.10
a parcel of wooden ware .3
a parcel of knives & forks .4
aflan? wheel .10
a parcel of pott iron 1.4
a parcel of old iron 1.4
1 stone jug .16
1 wooling wheel of 3 __ cards .12
8 cyder casks 2.
a weavers loom and gear 2.
4 old Benillss(Berrills) .12
2 washing tubs & pail .9
bar iron & shoe nippers .16
3 sickles .5
a parcel of carpenters tools .5
4 raw cow hides 1.10
2 chairs & table .5
a parcel of flax? .3
17 Gees 1.10
_____

116.16:6
James Rice, Edmund Tucker, Stephen (his mark) Pucket

At a court held for Halifax County the 15th day of May 1783. This inventory & appraisement of the estate of Wm. Lax Deceas'd was returned of the same was ordered to be recorded.

Test. Geo. Carrington CHC

Truly recorded

Test. Geo. Carrington CHC
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According to a statement written by by Willis W. Lake (2400 Brook Run, Birmingham, AL 35244 (205) 988-3093) in a letter dated Dec. 7 1984, William Lax, Junr.'s land was near the town of Clover (at the conjunction of Hwys. 46 and 92 in the eastern part of the county):

"The bottom land along Difficult Creek was in the vicinity of the community known then, and now, as Clover. The descendants of William Lax II who still live there have spelled the name Lacks since about 1840. Since 1864 the freed slaves have done the same."

Difficult Creek crosses State Route 360 about halfway between Clover and South Boston.
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I have listed the children of William Lax in the order his will names them, however, I have no corroboration that this is the correct order of their birth.

Notes for SUSANNAH CHANDLER:
Register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia.
Births and Baptisms
p. 82
Sussannah ye Dat of Wm. & Elizth. Chandler born Oct. ye 10th and bapt Novr 12th, 1727.


Children of WILLIAM LAX and SUSANNAH CHANDLER are:

JOHN³ LAX⁶.

Notes for JOHN LAX:
Executor of his father's will, April 1783.

VA records:

1782 Halifax County, VA Heads of Families
[Last name, first name, whites, blacks)
Lax, John 8, 0

1785 Halifax County, VA Heads of Families
[Last name, first name, white souls, dwellings, other buildings]
Lax, John, 8, 1, 0
--Living next door to his brother "Joell"

3.	ii.		WILLIAM 3RD LAX, b. Bet. 1745 - 1750, VA (estimated).
	iii.		BENJAMIN LAX⁶.

Notes for BENJAMIN LAX:
Undocumented reference found online(Genserv):
Lax, Benjamin; spouse -- Crews, Rebecca

We know from various records (including the marriage of Susannah Lax Childress to Peter Crews) that the Crews and the Laxes were well acquainted with one another.
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I find the following family listing in my notes, source unmarked:

William Lax

1. Benjamin Lax
2. Benjamin Lax b. 1776 m. 26 Nov. 1821 Elizabeth Cobbs b. 1784 (dau. of Robert Cobbs d. 24 Feb. 1823, grand-dau. of Ambrose Cobbs, gr.grand-dau. of Robert Cobbs)
3. Paulina Susan Lax b. 21 Jun 1825 d. 26 May 1906 m. 2 Feb 1852 Henery Covington b. 26 Dec 1827 d. 10 May 1864 Battle of Petersburg, Henery's father was Thomas Covington b. 1793, m. 26 Oct 1821 to Henery's mother Mary K. Nichols b. 1801, Mary was the dau. of Jeremiah Nichols d. 22 Oct 1829 m. 1 Dec 1787 Sarah Parker Owen, Sarah was the dau. of Ambrose Owen and Sarah Parker
4. Henery Walter Covington b. 11 Dec. 1863 d. 13 Aug. 1950 m. 11 Dec. 1889 Nannie Kate Tucker b. 11 Nov 1871 d. 21 Feb. 1950, Nannie was the dau. of Robert Elijah Tucker b. 4 Jul. 1837 d. 28 Nov. 1921 (Robert was the son of Samuel Tucker and Nancy O. Clarke) m. 6 Jan 1869 to Nannie's mother Nancy Catherine Blanks b. 1850 d. 1 Dec. 1837, Nancy Catherine was the dau. of Richard Blanks and Catherine Owen, m. 6 Dec 1834
5. Nancy Sue (Susie) Covington b. 3 Jun 1893 d. 16 Nov 1982 m. 5 Aug. 1914 Hugh Hamilton Bugg b. 13 Apr 1879 d. 25 Jun 1940
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	iv.	TIMOTHY LAX⁶.
	v.	JOEL LAX⁶, m. MARY LUCAS, 03 March 1808, Madison Co., KY ⁷.
4.	vi.	ROBERT LAX, b. Bet. 1760 - 1765, Halifax or Lunenburg Co., VA; d. Bet. 1817 - 1820, Estill Co., KY.
	vii.	ELIZABETH LAX⁸.

Notes for ELIZABETH LAX:
The will of Susannah's father, William, names a "friend", John Lewis. Perhaps this is Susannah's husband or father-in-law.

viii.

SUSANNAH LAX⁸, m. (1) PETER CREWS; m. (2) ABRAHAM CHILDRESS^9,^10,¹¹, 18 December 1781¹¹.

Notes for PETER CREWS:
1782 Halifax County Virginia Heads of Households

head of household, number of whites, number of blacks

Crews Peter 7 0

	ix.		OBEDIENCE LAX¹².
	x.		TABITHA LAX¹².

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