Lewis Wimberly

Lewis Wimberly was either the son or grandson of Thomas Wimberly of Chatham County, North Carolina. Lewis was born ca. 1750 in Bertie Co, NC and died in August, 1817 in Smith County, Tennesse. He was married twice, first to Martha Barbee (b. abt. 1750, d. January 1799) in 1768 in Bertie Co, NC and who died in the birth of their daughter, Dicca Wimberly. Lewis and Martha had 13 children: (The age and parentage of Lewis Wimberly is in dispute. See below) The Wimberly's were an early Bertie Co, NC family. Lewis was living in Chatham Co, NC in 1790 where a man of that name had as neighbors Jesse Tatum and Solomon Smith. Lewis was enumerated in Pendleton District in 1800 along with a Moody family from Chatham Co, NC.

In the Chatham Co, NC Court Minutes, 1773-1779 on the list of Jury members to lay out a road from the Orange Co. line near Henry Beasleys, are the next named Lewis Wimberly and his brother, Jacob Wimberly.

Lewis must have moved to the Pendleton district of SC in the fall or winter of 1792. He purchased land in Pendleton Co, in January, 1793. George Salmon, of Greenville Co, SC on January 31, 1793 sold to Lewis Wimberly of Pendleton County, SC 300 acres of land for 65 lbs. Sterling, part of a tract granted Salmon on June 4, 1787 on both sides of the South Fork of 12 Mile River, bounded by Duncan Camron and Earle. Witnessed by Sarah and Wiat Anderson.

Lewis Wimberly moved from the Pendleton District of South Carolina in either 1802 or 1803 and moved to Sumner County (later Smith and Wilson Counties) Tennessee. On October 30, 1802, Lewis sold 200 acres of land on the South Fork of 12 Mile River bounded by Salmon's land to Charles Lay for the amount of $120.00 The transfer was signed by Lewis Wimberly and Polly Wimberly made her (x) mark. It was witnessed by John Field. On the same day, Lewis sold 300 acres of land on the South Fork of 12 Mile River bounded by Porter, Cannon and Earle to Charles Lay for the amount of $900.

With these transactions, Lewis Wimberly sold his holdings in South Carolina and prepared to travel to Sumner County, TN (Smith, Sumner, and Wilson Counties after 1799) in the fall of 1802 or the spring of 1803. My guess is Lewis left South Carolina the first part of November, 1802 and arrived in Smith County, TN late in November, traveling about 10 to 15 miles per day. By 1802, there were well established roads from South Carolina to Tennessee. The road Lewis probably traveled on was the one that went North into North Carolina, then over the Smokey Mountains into Knoxville, then west to either Carthage, Lebanon, or Hartsville, TN which are the county seats of Smith, Wilson and Trousdale Counties.

In 1799, Sumner County was divided into three counties, Wilson, Smith, and Sumner. In 1870, Trousdale County was formed by taking parts of Macon, Smith and Sumner Counties. Lewis' plantation could now be in Trousdale County since we do not know the exact location. Trousdale County Courthouse was burned in the late 1800's by the County Treasurer to cover his embezzlement of County funds. All records were lost.

Lewis Wimberly Second Marriage

Lewis married Mary "Polly" Baucom (b. Abt. 1770, d. Abt 1829) in about October 1799. Polly probably died in Smith County, TN. Lewis and Mary "Polly" Baucom had six children:
    1. Elijah Wimberly (b. November 14, 1800, d. September 10, 1876) in Pendleton District, SC. He married Maria Holland in 1820 in Smith Co, TN. Elijah died in Field Township, Jefferson County, Illinois.
    2. Susannah Wimberly (b. Abt 1802, d. unknown) in Pendleton District, SC. She married Steven Boren on April 19, 1821 in Sumner Co, TN. Susannah death date and location is unknown.
    3. Thomas Jefferson Wimberly (b. Abt 1804, d. October 19, 1861) in Smith Co, TN. He married Mahala M. Erwin on May 11, 1826 in Jefferson Co, AL. Thomas Jefferson died on October 19, 1861 in Fayette Co, AL.
    4. George Washington Wimberly (b. Abt. 1811, d. unknown) in Smith Co, TN. He married Nancy A. Clayton on January 20, 1850 in Henry Co, TN. George Washington's death date and location is unknown.
    5. Elizabeth Betsey Wimberly (b. Abt. 1810, d. unknown) in Smith Co, TN. She married James Parker in 1831 in Field Township, Jefferson Co, IL. Elizabeth's death date and location is unknown.
    6. Milly Wimberly (b. Abt. 1814, d. unknown) in Smith Co, TN. She married James N. Garrison in about 1830 in Field Township, Jefferson County, IL. Milly's death date and location is unknown.
Polly was living in Smith County, TN in 1820. She still had Elijah (19), Thomas Jefferson, Washington, Suzannah, Betsey, and Milly living at home (6 in all). Polly had to raise the children until Elijah was old enough to take them to Illinois.

We are assuming Polly was 30 years old when Lewis married her in 1799, so her birthdate would be about 1769 or 1770. In 1820, she was 50 years old, being at the end of her child-bearing years. She probably died at the age of 60, or 1830, because she does not appear in the 1830 census of Smith County, TN nor does she appear in the 1830 census of Jefferson County, IL. Elijah and all of his sisters and brothers do appear, however, in the 1830 census of Jefferson County, IL. Polly is not buried in any of the cemeteries in Jefferson County, IL where other Wimberly's are buried [Jordan Chapel Cemetery]. She must be buried in Smith Co, TN.

Lewis Wimberly's Last Will and Testament

Lewis Wimberly made his will on March 3, 1817 and it was proved in August, 1817.
    BE IT KNOWN TO ALL MEN, that I, Lewis Wimberly, of the County of Smith, [State of Tennessee] being in low state of body but in perfect mind do make and ordain this Instrument of writing to be my last Will and Testament.

    First: I give and bequeath or rather lend unto my beloved wife Polly Wimberly my plantation being on a three hundred acre tract where I now live with all priviledges belonging thereof during her natural life of widowhood also including farming utensils, household and kitchen furniture including every pieces of property that I am now in possession of except some articles that I shall hereafter name:

    Secondly: The property that I give my Daughter Polly Yates I consider it is to be her full portion of my estate.

    Thirdly: I consider the property that I have given unto my daughter Sally Bird to be her full portion of my estate.

    Fourthly: I consider the property that I have already gave unto my daughter Betsey Yates to be her full portion of my estate.

    Fifthly: The property that I have already gave unto my son Isaac Wimberly I consider to be his Faull portion of my estate.

    Sixthly: The property that I have before gave unto my son Noah Wimberly I consider it to be his full portion of my estate.

    Sevently: The property that I have already gave unto my daughter Winney Winfrey I consider it to be her full portion of my estate.

    Eightly: The property that I have allready gave unto my son Hardy Wimberly I consider it to be his full portion of my estate.

    Ninithly: The property that I have allready gave unto my daughter Edy Baren I consider to be her full portion of my estate.

    Tenthly: My daughter Roady Miller I give and bequeath unto her Ten Dollars worth of property to be her full legacy in my estate.

    Eleventhly: I give and bequeath unto my son Enock Wimberly Ten Dollars worth of property to be his full portion of estate.

    Twelvethly: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Patsy Barker one bed as she has already received to be her full portion of my estate.

    Thirteenth: I give and bequeath unto my son Lewis (Luke) Wimberly Ten Dollars worth of property to be his full portion of my estate.

    Fourteenthly: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Dicca Wimberly Ten Dollars worth of property to be her full portion of my estate.

    Fifteenthly: I give and bequeath unto my son Elijah Wimberly my land & plantation as before mentioned after the death of his mother is to full possession of on condition that he takes good care of his younger brothers and sisters in providing for their natural support until such time as they may become of full age, also to furnish my sons Thomas Wimberly and Washington Wimberly with one hundred Dollars each in property when they may become of lawful age, also my daughters Susannah Wimberly, Betsey Wimberly, and Milly Wimberly I give and bequeath unto each of them ten Dollars worth of property to be made out of my estate wherever they are either of them may marry or become lawful age on condition that Elijah Wimberly my son shall or fail to stay with his mother & provided & take good sufficient care of the family before named according to the times meaning as before inserted he is to have only an equal part of said Land with his other two brothers Thomas Wimberly & Washington Wimberly.

    I also nominate & appoint James Montgomery & Josiah Howell my executors in this my last Will & Testament.

    In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 3rd day of March, AD 1817.

    Lewis Wimberly -L-C

    Enter lined before assigned. John Dorris, Feilding Hankins. Test - Elijah (his X mark) Wimberly.

Karen Neuforth of Kansas doesn't agree with me about the age or parentage of Lewis Wimberly. She has submitted the following "evidence" which she claims shows Lewis Wimberly was the son of Thomas Wimberly.

(1) In "a Division of the personal Estate of Thomas Wimberley Deed between the Children" [NCDA&H, Bertie Co, NC, Original Estates], dated Feb 1755, are named: Charles King (apparently husband of eldest dau Judith), Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Susannah, Malachi, Thomas, William, LEWIS, Mary and Sarah.

(2) All of this matches the will of Thomas Wimberley [NCDA&H, SS 879:56-57], dated 27 Jan 1751, proved Feb 1752, which named: "Mary my dearly and beloved Wife"; "Elder Son Abraham"; "my tother Six sons"; "Elder Daughter Judith"; "son Isaac"; "son Jacob"; and "my tother Children."

(3) County court minutes of 9 Nov 1742 [Weynette P. Haun: Bertie County, NC, Court Minutes, Book II, 1740-1743, 1758-1762 (publ. 1977), p. 31] show that "Thomas Wimberley proved his Rights Vizt: Thos. Wimberley, Mary Wimberley, Judy Wimberly, Abraham Wimberly, Jacok [i.e., Isaac] Wimberley, Jacob Wimberley, Susannah Wimberley, Malachy Wimberley, Selfey Wimberley, Thomas Wimberley, Junr., Whites & Moll, Pomp, Ben, Cate & Lucy, blacks." This exactly matches the family in paragraphs (1) and (2), above, except that William, LEWIS, Mary and Sarah were apparently born after this date and Selfey had apparently died prior to the division of 1755.

(4) Three of the younger sons of Thomas and Mary Wimberley sold land to James Reid during a four-year period, probably soon after the said sons reached legal age. First, Thomas in 1761 [Bertie Co, NC, Deeds K:98], next "Malia" (i.e., Malachi) in 1763 [Bertie Co, NC, Deeds K:378] and third LEWIS in 1765 [Bertie Co, NC, Deeds K:476]. This leads to the conclusion that Thomas should therefore have been born in or before 1740, Malachi in or before 1742 and LEWIS in or before 1744. This also agrees with paragraph (3), above, as both Malachi and Thomas are listed in 1742, but LEWIS is not.

(5) Examination of other Wimberley families shows that the family described in paragraphs (1) through (4) is the only one to have both a Jacob and a LEWIS named among the sons. And, it is a Jacob and a LEWIS who begin to appear in the land and court records of Chatham Co, NC, in 1779, frequently owning adjoining parcels of land. The identification of this LEWIS Wimberley as the one who married Martha, daughter of Christopher Barbee, is reinforced by the fact that many of his neighbors were members or relatives of the Barbee family, including: Mark Patterson, John Morgan, Mark Morgan Sr., Wm. Yates, Wm. Yates Jr., Barbee Kelly, Francis Jones, Sanford Jenkins, Henry Kelly, Wm. Merritt and Wm. King. This information is gleaned from Chatham Co, NC, deeds and land grants (transcripts in my possession).

Karen Neuforth's Conclusion:

For the above reasons, I believe there can be no doubt that the LEWIS Wimberley who married Martha Barbee is identical with the LEWIS Wimberley, son of Thomas and Mary Wimberley of Bertie Co, NC. Furthermore, it is evident that this LEWIS Wimberley was probably born in or about 1744 in Bertie Co, NC

If you want to contact Karen, please click here.

I do not support Karen Neuforth's conclusion based on the unlikelihood of women to have babies over the age of 50. (Thomas L. Wimberly)

Lets take a look at ages in a real timeline setting.

We assume John, the immigrant, was born about 1635. That would have made John 37 years old when he immigrated to Virginia and of legal age. If John married immediately upon arriving in 1673 to a woman who was 23 years old, then here is her timeline:

    1. Unknown wife born in 1650..................................... age 0
    2. Unknown wife gives birth to John in 1674................. age 24 yrs
    3. Unknown wife gives birth to Thomas in 1685............ age 35 yrs
If we use Karen's reasoning for age, then Thomas would have been born in 1702 which would have made his mother over 52 years old when she gave birth to Thomas. Thomas also would have been only 50 years old when he died in 1752, a young age considering how long other Wimberly's lived in that time.

If Neuforth's timeline is correct, then Jacob, one of Thomas' children, would have been only 46 years old when he lived in Marion County, TN and didn't pay taxes in 1774 because of his advanced age! If my timeline is used, then Jacob would have been 61 years of age in 1774.

If Thomas is the son of the immigrant John, and was born in Virginia, then he would have had to been born after 1673. Let's assume Thomas was born in 1685.

Lets take a look at the timeline of Thomas...

    1. Thomas born in 1685.............................age 0
    2. Thomas married in 1705........................ age 20 yrs
    3. Thomas 1st child............................. .....age 22 yrs
    4. Thomas last child (Lewis) if born 1731.... age 46 yrs
    5. Thomas last child (Lewis) if born 1744.... age 59 yrs
    6. Thomas dies in 1752............................. age 67 yrs
Assuming a child was born every two years....

Lets take a look at the timeline of Mary, his wife...

    1. Mary born in 1687 (assuming)............... age 0
    2. Mary married in 1705........................... age 18 yrs
    3. Mary's first child.................................. age 20 yrs
    4. Mary's last child (Lewis) if born 1731..... age 46 yrs
    5. Mary's last child (Lewis) if born 1744..... age 57 yrs
Now, I don't know much about women but I do know that nature is very hard on women who try to have babies after they are 40-45 years old. I doubt very much if Mary had a baby at 57 years old. The years can be adjusted slightly backwards or forwards but it still puts Mary at having a baby in her 50's which is highly unusual. Women generally quit having babies in their early 40's and that hasn't changed since man and women stood up on their hind legs and walked.

Let's take a look at Lewis Wimberly's timeline...

    1. Lewis Wimberly born in 1744.......................... age 0
    2. Lewis Wimberly married in 1768..................... age 22 yrs (1st wife)
    3. Lewis' first child born in 1769.......................... age 23 yrs (1st wife)
    4. Lewis' last child born in 1799.......................... age 55 yrs (1st wife)
    5. Lewis' first child born in 1800.......................... age 56 yrs (2nd wife)
    6. Lewis' last child born in 1812.......................... age 68 yrs (2nd wife)
    7. Lewis died in 1817......................................... age 73 yrs old
Now let's set the timeline on Lewis based on a birthdate of 1750...
    1. Lewis Wimberly born in 1750........................... age 0
    2. Lewis Wimberly married in 1768...................... age 18
    3. Lewis' first child born in 1769........................... age 19
    4. Lewis' last child born in 1799........................... age 49 (1st wife)
    5. Lewis' first child born in 1800........................... age 50 (2nd wife)
    6. Lewis' last child born in 1812........................... age 62 (2nd wife)
    7. Lewis died in 1817.......................................... age 67
I am saying there MUST have been another generation between Thomas Wimberly's son Lewis who must have been born in 1831 and the Lewis that died in Smith Co, TN in 1817 who should be listed as being born in 1751 or somewhere near that date. A woman doen't generally have children when in her fifties. There could be another scenario. There could be another generation between John, the immigrant, and Thomas. We need more evidence of who the immigrant is and the names and ages of the immigrant's children.

There is something wrong with the time line and generation connection on the Lewis Wimberly who died in Smith County, TN in 1817. I do not think Lewis was born in 1744 and there must have been another generation (and it might well be another Lewis) between Thomas and Lewis who died in 1817.

Disclaimer: The above information on Lewis Wimberly was gathered from many sources and are too numerous to list. It is accurate to the best of my knowledge but is subject to change with the acquisition of additional genealogical information about the family.

This page was last updated on: February 6, 1999