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The Lester and Orsburn Families
Notes for Lewis Lester & his father Jacob Lester
Deanna Spears has found the following:
I have information of Jacob Lester, the father of Lewis Lester. Jacob Lester and his first wife are the oldest known ancestors of this family history. They were probably born in Virginia sometime in the first half of the 1700's. The name of Jacob's first wife is not known but it is believed to that here maiden name was "Lewis" a name given to Lester men in each generation since.
Jacob Lester lived in Chesterfield County, Virginia, this is southwest of Richmond in a rural area. He was on the census of Chesterfield County in 1783 and 1790.
The revolutionary war records of Chesterfield County show that Jacob Lester had 33 bushels of corn taken by the United States Army in 1781 and 275 pounds of beef in September 1781. No military record of Jacob has been found.
Jacob Lester was married for the second time about 1781 in Chesterfield County, Virginia to Martha Miles, there were no children.
Excepts from: William "Bill" L. Lester's research
Will of Jacob Lester
Chesterfield County, Virginia
In the name of God, Amen. I, JACOB LESTER, in Manchester Parish in the County of Chesterfield, being in perfect health and of sound mind and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I do acknowledge this to be my last Will and Testament. And I leave to my beloved wife MARTHA LESTER, two negros, Cato and Jane, during her life or widowhood and at her death or remarriage, to return to two sons. Cato to LEWIS LESTER and Jane to JEREMIH LESTER, to them and their heirs forever.
ITEM: I give and bequeath to my son LEWIS LESTER two negros, Sam and Bartley, to him and his heirs forever.
ITEM: I give and bequeath to my son JEREMIH LESTER, three negros, Samuel, John and Fan to him and his heirs forever.
ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter, ELIZABETH WALTHAL, one negro named Edee and her increase and one negro boy named Isam to her and her heirs forever.
ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter, ANN CLACK, one negro woman named Patt, she and her increase, one negro girl named Agg, to her and her heirs forever.
ITEM: I give to my grand-son, JAIB Lester, one feather bed.
ITEM: I give and bequeath to my grand-daughter MEALY LESTER one cow and one calf.
ITEM: I leave my crop and stock to be equally divided between my wife MARTHA LESTER and my sons LEWIS LESTER and JEREMIH LESTER.
ITEM: I leave to my wife MARTHA LESTER, all the rest of my household goods during her life or widowhood and at her death to be equally divided between my two sons LEWIS LESTER and JEREMIH LESTER, and my desire is that all my wife makes or raises shall be her own property.
In witness thereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal on this seventh day of December one thousand, seven hundred and ninety.
Signed;Jacob Lester
Witness: Isham Cheatham, George Patman (his mark), Edith Patman (her mark)
Elizabeth Lester (wife of George Whitsell born in Georgia in 1796) was the daughter of Lewis Lester and Rhoda Russell. Lewis Lester was born in 1755 in Chesterfield County, VA and died 1/23/1823 in Oglethorpe County, GA. He was the son of Jacob Lester and Martha ?.
Will of Lewis Lester:
I, Lewis Lester of the county of Oglethorpe and state of Georgia, being of sound mind and memory, through the mercy of God, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say).
I leave unto my beloved wife Rhoady, two negroes known by the names of Wile and Fib, one horse and saddle of the value of sixty dollars, one cow and calf, one bed and furniture, together with the use of so much of the buildings as she may need and land at her will to work her hands upon the plantation during her life, one sow and pig as part of my estate.
I also give unto my son Josiah Lester, one negro by the name of Long and one by the name of Dinar, which he has received, also the tract of land lying in the county of Oglethorpe adjoining Dillard and others, which he has received as part of my estate.
I give in like manner unto my daughter Polly Short, two negroes by the names of John and Jim, formerly given to me. Also fifty dollars to be paid the year after my death as her part of my estate.
I give in like manner unto my son Lewis Lester, one hundred and forty acres of land whereon he now lives joining Whitsell and others, one negro by the name of Henry and one by the name of Jim as his part of my estate.
I also give unto my son Pleasant Lester, two hundred acres of land lying in Madison County where he now lives, also two negroes by the name of Abraham and Mosiah, as his part of my estate.
I give in like manner to my son, William Lester, two hundred and two and one-half acres of land in the county Morgan now in his possession, likewise one negro girl named Lissy and one boy by the name of Jack as his part of my estate.
I give in like manner to my son, Isom Lester, one negro man by the name ofAtar and one by the name ofArchy. Also, two hundred and forty acres of land on Cloud Creek, it being one half of the tract I now live on, on the east side of said tract, as his part of my estate.
I give to my son, Jacob Lester, one negro boy named Flemin and one negro boy named Sam, the other half of the tract that I live on, on the west side of said tract two hundred and forty acres, one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf, one sow and pig as his part of my estate. Also, Sarah, I will to Jacob Lester.
I also give to my daughter Elizabeth Whitsell, two negroes by the name of Caroline and Bile, as her part of my estate.
After all my just debts being paid, the remainder of my estate to be divided between my children and after the death of my wife, her dower also equally divided between my children. I also appoint and nominate my wife, Rhoadie, Lewis Lester and William Lester my joint executors.
Lewis Lester
Signed and sealed and acknowledged in the presence of:Thomas Yancy, John Felton, Richard McDonald.
Notes on Elizabeth Lester
Elizabeth Lester was born in 1797 in Oglethorpe County, GA.
Research Notes:
SEE: Research notes for George /Whitsell/Jr
1860 Webster Co, KY Mortality Schedule
WHITSELL, Elizabeth, age 57, female, white, married, born NC, died Sep of dropsy of breast, housekeeper, ill 300 days.
WHITSELL, W.Z., age 6/12, male, white, born KY, died Jul of cholera infantum, ill 28 days.(not sure who this child belongs to).
Elizabeth married George Whitsell Jr. (SEE: Descendants of George Whitsell, Sr. above), son of George Whitsell Sr. and Unknown. George was born in 1796 in Oglethorpe County, GA. They had seven children: William George, Jonathan L., Pleasant W., Nancy Susan (Sidney), Jacob, James L., and Andrew I..
Notes for Nancy Susan Whitsell and John W. Orsburn
Notes for Nancy Susan Whitsell:
Her husband, JOHN W. ORSBURN was born in what is now Webster County, KY on 7/5/1828, son of Randolph and Frances (Mooney) Orsburn. He is one of a numerous family and is of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was a North Carohnian, born in Rutherford County on 0/13/1795, and his mother was born in the same county in 1799. The Orsburns came originally from Scotland. Subject's father emigrated from North Carolina to Henderson County, KY in 1818 and died in 1868. The mother of our subject died four years before his father's death. Mr. Orsburn, on coming of age, began farming for himself, and has since continued that occupation, save a short time when he resided in Sebree. His farm, which is one of the finest in Webster County, is located about three miles west of Sebree, and contains 550 acres. He was married April 24, 1851 to Miss Nancy S. Whitsell, a native of Hopkins County, KY, born 7/23/1832. The Whitsell family came from Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Orsburn are members of the Christian Church. For fifty-six years, Mr. Orsburn has resided near where he was born, and is one of the few men, now living, who have resided in Webster County for more than a half century. He is a Democrat.
Descendants of Arthur Orsburn
First Generation
1. Arthur Orsburn .1
Arthur married (name unknown).1
The child from this marriage was:
+ 2 M i. Randolph Orsburn1 was born on 13 Oct 1795 in Randolph County, NC and died on 10 Jan 1868 in Henderson County, KY, at age 72.
Arthur married Susan Simms.1
Second Generation (Children)
2. Randolph Orsburn1 (Arthur 1) was born on 13 Oct 1795 in Randolph County, NC and died on 10 Jan 1868 in Henderson County, KY, at age 72.
Randolph married Frances (Franey) Mooney.1 Frances was born in 1799 in Rutherford County, NC and died in 1872 in Henderson County, KY, at age 73.
The child from this marriage was:
+ 3 M i. John W. Orsburn1 was born on 5 Jul 1828 in Webster County, KY and died on 18 May 1902 in Webster County, KY, at age 73.
Third Generation (Grandchildren)
3. John W. Orsburn1 (Randolph 2, Arthur 1) was born on 5 Jul 1828 in Webster County, KY and died on 18 May 1902 in Webster County, KY, at age 73.
John married Nancy Susan (Sidney) Whitsell, daughter of George Jr. Whitsell and Elizabeth "Betsy" Lester, on 24 Apr 1851.1 Nancy was born on 23 Jul 1832 in Hopkins County, KY and died on 8 Feb 1901 in Webster County, KY, at age 68.
Children from this marriage were:
4 F i. Arbelia Orsburn .1
5 F ii. Mary F. Orsburn .1
6 F iii. Anna F. Orsburn .1
7 F iv. Lynn F. Orsburn .1
8 F v. Sallie E. Orsburn .1
9 F vi. Donia E. Orsburn .1
First Generation
1. Arthur Orsburn .1
Arthur married (name unknown).1
The child from this marriage was:
+ 2 M i. Randolph Orsburn1 was born on 13 Oct 1795 in Randolph County, NC and died on 10 Jan 1868 in Henderson County, KY, at age 72.
Arthur married Susan Simms.1
Second Generation (Children)
2. Randolph Orsburn1 (Arthur 1) was born on 13 Oct 1795 in Randolph County, NC and died on 10 Jan 1868 in Henderson County, KY, at age 72.
Randolph married Frances (Franey) Mooney.1 Frances was born in 1799 in Rutherford County, NC and died in 1872 in Henderson County, KY, at age 73.
The child from this marriage was:
+ 3 M i. John W. Orsburn1 was born on 5 Jul 1828 in Webster County, KY and died on 18 May 1902 in Webster County, KY, at age 73.
Third Generation (Grandchildren)
3. John W. Orsburn1 (Randolph 2, Arthur 1) was born on 5 Jul 1828 in Webster County, KY and died on 18 May 1902 in Webster County, KY, at age 73.
John married Nancy Susan (Sidney) Whitsell, daughter of George Jr. Whitsell and Elizabeth "Betsy" Lester, on 24 Apr 1851.1 Nancy was born on 23 Jul 1832 in Hopkins County, KY and died on 8 Feb 1901 in Webster County, KY, at age 68.
Children from this marriage were:
4 F i. Arbelia Orsburn .1
5 F ii. Mary F. Orsburn .1
6 F iii. Anna F. Orsburn .1
7 F iv. Lynn F. Orsburn .1
8 F v. Sallie E. Orsburn .1
9 F vi. Donia E. Orsburn .1
10 M vii. Luke T. Orsburn .1
11 M viii. John G. Orsburn .1
12 M ix. Charles M. Orsburn .1
13 M x. William R. Orsburn .1
14 M xi. James M. Orsburn .1