Lavinia LEFFEW

Born: Abt 1798, North Carolina ¹
Marriage: Unknown
Died: Abt 1873, Grainger County, Tennessee ²

bullet Research Notes:

Lavinia has always been considered a likely daughter of Joseph Leffew due to her age and also due to the circumstances surrounding the disposition of the land Joseph owned.

As to the Joseph's land, Lavina bought William's interest in the land on 19 Dec 1850, probably because William was then about to move to Arkansas. William had previously purchased the interests of his sisters Nancy and Phebe and his stepmother Sarah by deed dated 11 Dec 1841 (see Events for Phebe). It appears that Lavinia kept her interest in Joseph's property and continued to live there, as probably did William as well, so that after the 1850 purchase she then had full title to Joseph's land. These intrafamily transfers of partial interests are consistent with all being heirs of Joseph. ³

bullet Death Notes:

Lavinia's year of death is based on statements appearing in the Chancery Case of John W. Bunch, administrator, vs. Armistead Bunch and Louisa Bunch, namely (i) a statement in the initial pleadings dated 26 Apr 1876 that Lavinia had died about three years earlier and (ii) a statement before a master appointed by the Court that W. Easley and Williams (his heirs) had obtained a judgment against the estate on 5 Apr 1873. An exact date of death may be part of the probate record, but that has not been examined by me.

bullet Noted events in her life were:

1. Census: 1830, Grainger County, Tennessee. ⁴

Lavina Lefew: 1 "free colored" female age 10-23, 1 "free colored" female age 24-35.

2. Census: 1850, Grainger County, Tennessee. ¹

Dwelling 4 (also 1434), Family 4 (also 1497), District 12
Laviny Leffew, age 52, female, born in NorCar

[Daughter Louisa Leffew Bunch lived in the adjacent household.]

3. Census: 1860, Grainger County, Tennessee. ⁵

Dwelling 1473, Family 1473, District 12
Lavina Leffew, age 52, female, cannot read or write

[Sister Nancy Williams lived in the next household and daughter Louisa Bunch lived nearby.]

4. Census: 1870, Grainger County, Tennessee. ⁶

Dwelling 132, Family 132, District 12
Lefew, Luvina, age 70, female, white, keeping house, R/E $300, born in North Carolina, cannot read or write

[Daughter Louisa Bunch lived nearby.]

Lavinia married.

1 1850 Census, Grainger County, Tennessee, Roll M432_880, Page 10 (Ancestry.com Census Image 12 of 21).

2 John W. Bunch, Administrator of the Estate of Lavinia Leffew, Dec'd vs. Armistead Bunch and Louisa Bunch, Chancery Court Records of Grainger County, Tenneseee (Initial Pleadings filed 26 Apr 1876). John W. Bunch was the grandson of Lavinia Leffew and the son of Armistead and Louisa (Leffew) Bunch. Louisa was the sole heir of Lavinia. The case was brought to force the sale of real property owned by Lavinia in order to pay claims against the Estate, the proceeds from the sale of her personal property having been insufficient to do so. Many thanks to Donna Miller for providing me with copies of the court proceedings in this case.

3 Grainger County, Tennessee, Deeds, 1846-1852, FHL Film No. 968,601, Book L, Page 386.

4 1830 Census, Grainger County, Tennessee, Ancestry.com Census Images 29-30 of 118.

5 1860 Census, Grainger County, Tennessee, Roll M653_1250, Page 507 (Ancestry.com Cenus Image 12 of 19).

6 1870 Census, Grainger County, Tennessee, Roll M593_1530, Page 141B (Ancestry.com Census Image 20 of 23).

Lavinia LEFFEW

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