Lanier Family Wills
St. Andrews Parish, VA
Brunswick County, VA
Submitted by Audrey Pool

Source:  Will Book 2, Brunswick Co, VA 
by Dr. Stephen E. Bradley, Jr
 
“Will of Sampson LANIER   8 Jan 1742/3   5 May 1743
Of St Andrews Parish.
   To my son Thomas – all my 150 acres where I now live, 
& my wife to have the use of the plantation where I now 
live with the land on the east side of the branch during 
her lifetime ‘making no waist (waste) on the same.’
   To my son Sampson – Negro man Mingo but my wife to have his 
labor during her widowhood.
   To my son Richard – 2 cows & calves, 2 sows & pigs (sic), etc; 
Negro woman Juda but my wife to have her labor during her widowhood.
   To my daughter Eliza BURCH – Negro girl Moll.
   To my son Lamuel - Negro girl Agge, certain personal property.
   To my son James – 2 cows & calves, etc; Negro man Randol but my 
son Lamuel to have the labor of said Negro until my son James comes 
to age 21.
   To my wife – L20, the use of the remainder of my estate during her 
lifetime or wodowhood, & after her death or marriage, this part of my 
estate to be divided among my 5 sons.

Other Legacies.
Ex:  my sons Thomas LANIER & Sampson LANIER
Wit:  James MACLIN, Peter (x) ADAMS, Richard LANIER.”
 
“Will of Thomas LANIER   23 Aug 1745   7 Nov 1745
‘very sick and in a very low condition’
To my son Jacob – 75 acres where my mother now lives.
To my son William – 235 acres on both sides of Shining Creek 
joining William MACLIN.
To my Drury – 75 acres where I now live; I have an entry for a larger 
piece of waste land & if the entry is good, my executors to survey 
the land & to divide it so that the swamp is the line between 
Jacob & Drury & from the head of the same to HARRISON’S line.
To my son Benjamin LANIER – all that part of the said entry joining 
John RAINS’ corner on Lanes Swamp (someone’s name?), COCK, HARRISON.
To my wife Anne – the remainder of my estate; ‘and whereas there is a 
headstrong Negro Wench the Excr may if they think fit sell the said 
Negro and purchase another for her.

Ex:  James MACLIN, John MACLIN.
Wit:  John DENTON, Micajah PERRY, Samuel (x) HUCABY (HUCKABE).”

  *Note:  The MACLIN family is numerous in Southside and think wife, 
Anne was a MACLIN.  (Audrey)
 
1783-1785
 
“Lemuel LANIER of Henry Co to Lawrance ASSELIN (is this OSLIN?) of 
Brunswick Co.  2 Feb 1778.  140 VA.  158 acres, joining Robert HICKS, 
Benjamin SEWARD, RAVENSCRAFT, Beverly BROWN.  Wit:  John HICKS, 
Beverly BROWN, Benjamin IVY, Lawrance HOUSE.  Proved 22 June 1778.  
27 Oct 1783.  John DILLARD & David LANIER examined Elizabeth LANIER 
wife of said Lamuel LANIER & she gave up her dower rights.”
 
“Lemuel LANIER of Brunswick Co to *Robert LANIER of same.  28 Feb 1785.  
L100 cas(?).  160 acres, joining the east side of Beech Lick Creek, at 
the mouth of Saw Scaffold Branch, Cheslee CURTIS, James HICKS.  
Also signed by his wife Lucy LANIER.  Proved 28 Feb 1785.”
 *Note:  The Robert LANIER family and the JACKSON family of 
Brunswick County intermarried; several JACKSON wills with LANIER 
involved.  (Audrey)
 
“Clement LANIER planter of Brunswick Co to Robert MORRISS 
planter of same.  24 Jan 1784.  L47-s10.  90 acres, joining 
Thomas MORRISS, George AVARY/AVERY, William SINGLETON, George PIKE. 
 Also signed by his wife Hannah (x) LANIER.  Wit:  William K. SAMFORD, 
John LANIER, Joseph SAMFORD.  Proved 26 Apr 1784.”
 
“Clement LANIER planter of Brunswick Co to William SINGLETON of same.  
24 Jan 1784.  L52. s1-.  90 acres, joining William SINGLETON, Jesse SISSON,
 George PIKE, Robert MORRISS, George AVARY.  Also signed by his 
wife Hannah (x) LANIER.  Wit:  William K. SAMFORD, John LANIER, 
Joseph SAMFORD.  Proved 26 Apr 1784.”


 
“Will of John (x) LANIER   10 Jan 1783   28 Feb 1785
  To my sister Sarah LANIER – 60 acres, 1 cow.
  To my brother Burwell LANIER – 1 horse, a couple of cows, 
  1 sow & pigs.
  To my mother – 1 guinea in Charles HARRISON’S hands & in 
Buckner HARWELL’S hands L3s, & in aaron STACEY’S hands L2s18, 
2 sows & pigs & bull.

Wit:  Benjamin STACEY, Nanny (x) STACEY.”
 

Source:  Will Book 5, Brunswick Co, VA by Dr Stephen E. Bradley
 
“Will of John LANIER   13 Feb 1794   23 June 1794
Of St Andrews Parish.
   Negro man Primus, a mare & colt, a gun, 4 or 5 cattle, to be sold & the 
money used to purchase land & a Negro girl for the use of my wife & children.
   To my wife Selah – Negro boy Harry, 1 horse, 3 cattle, & all the residue of 
my estate during her life or widowhood to support & school the children; after 
her death or marriage, the said Harry, horses & Cattle & all the residue of my 
estate to be sold & the money divided among my 3 children Clemment LANIER, 
Edward LANIER & Sindh (Lindh?) LANIER.
Ex:  Samuel HUDGIN, William OGBURN, Selah LANIER.
Wit:  James OGBURN, David MAYTON, Benja WHITEHEAD, Daniel TAYLOR, Benja OGBURN.”