Capt. Richard l'On

Capt. Richard l'On is a man of mystery! His date and place of birth are unknown, other than he is believed to be English. His date and placed of death are unknown, but we can guess that it was in South Carolina and that it was after 1757, when he was last mentioned in the records of Christ Church parish. No will or account settlement has been found. It is believed that he is buried at l'On Cemetery, in Charleston County, where a plaque commemorates his life.

Even the spelling of his name is unclear. Is it small "L" or capital I before the apostrophe? Capital "O" or small "o" after the apostrophe. Records show all combination of i's and l's and capital. One source leaves out the apostrophe and another lists him as Pon. Later generations clearly spelled it with a capital "L."

Capt. Richard I'On first appears in South Carolina in October 1743, when he arrives aboard his ship, the 'Eagle', a privateer sloop, which he sailed against the Spaniards.

The South Carolina Gazette from 1743 up to 1745 mentions Capt Richard I'On several times. In the Gazette for July 1, 1745, we find I'On commanding the Ship 'Neptune' for London. The papers for the next year or two have many accounts of the Privateers and their engagements, but Capt .Richard I'On is not mentioned.

Richard l'On married Elizabeth Bond, daughter of Jacob Bond and Susannah Maybank, on April 29, 1745. Elizabeth was born 21 Jan. 1723; died in Christ Church Parish 28 Oct 1780; buried at Hobcaw. Three children are known to have reached maturity.

He chose to become a planter after his marriage. On 27 Mar. 1748, he purchased 500 acres in Christ Church Parish from George Bennison. The family "tradition" is that he was an officer in the British Navy. He was a vestry man for Christ Church Parish in 1750 and is mentioned in that record as late as March 23, 1757.

The commemorative plaque at l'On Cemetery gives a brief genealogy of his family. It reads: RICHARD L'ON An officer of the British Navy, married with ELIZABETH, eldest daughter of JACOB BOND. She was born May 10th, 1745, and died a widow October 28th, 1780. Their son JACOB L'ON BOND was born December 21st, 1746, and was married to MARY ASHBY Dec. 31st 1774 by the REV JAMES STUART of Georgetown. Of six children, the fruit of this marriage, Namely, SARAH BOND who was born December 21st 1777 was married to THOMAS LOWNDES, of Charleston, and died October1839 having been the mother of a large family. MARY ASHBY and her twin brother JACOB BOND L'ON were born July 6th, 1782, and still survive at the advance age of seventy two. MARY ASHBY married SAMUEL WRAGG of Georgetown, So.Ca. and is the mother of a numerous family.

Links to additional material:

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2098613&GRid...
• The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine Vol. XXV January, 1924 No. 1 pages 6-7
• http://www.townofmountpleasant.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/565