Lessley Family Records
Samuel Lessley Of The Carolina Waxhaws And Descendants
By
Samuel B. Lessley
Our Carolina Beginnings
The following information is a very short summary of the recorded history of our first Lessley generation, taken from the book "Lessley Family Records", covering the principal points, mainly, Samuel and Sarah Hutchinson Lessley and the names of their children that can be documented.
From legal documents and other printed sources in the Carolinas, four men named Lessley were identified in this area. Based on available evidence these men appeared in this area about the same time, after immigrating from Scot settlements in County Antrim, Coloraine of County Londonderry of North Ireland. They are the subject of this book, although Samuel Lessley of the Waxhaws is the principal subject.
There were six sisters, who had great influence on our genealogy of that area. They were the Hutchinson sisters who originated from the same area of North Ireland.
The Four Lessley Men
Chapters 2 through 7
1. Samuel Lessley married Sarah Hutchinson in North Ireland. They immigrated to America about 1760-1765. Samuel purchased land located on the north side of Waxhaw Creek in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He was born about 1734 and died in 1786.
Chapter 8
2. John Lessley married Mary Hutchinson. John received a grant of land located on Camp Creek in Lancaster County, South Carolina. He was born about 1730 and died about 1790.
Chapter 9
3. George Lessley is buried in the Beersheba Cemetery, about five miles west of York County, South Carolina. George died Sept. 15th, 1775 in the 41st year of his age. His wife, Mary, is buried beside him. Mary died July 1st, 1800 in the 65th year of her age.
Chapter 10
4. James Lessley, was born in 1724 and died Nov. 20th, 1804, age 80 years. His wife, Nancy, was born in 1730 and died June 28th, 1821, age 91 years. They are buried in the old Bethany Churchyard Cemetery, located at Bethany, York County, South Carolina. Their son, Robert Lessley, was born 1769 and died in 1813. His wife Hannah is buried beside him.