Jonas Menefee, of Bromfield Parish

notes

DAR Ancestor #: A121808 Patriotic Service

From  Welcome to Harrison County, KYGenWeb - Family Genealogies: Menefee Family:

The Menefees are of English origin, and the spelling varies from Minifie to Manifee to Menefee, the latter being more common today. The first to arrive in Virginia was George Minifie who was there by 1625. He was a Burgess for James City, and from 1635 to 1645 was a member of the council. His will was probated on January 20, 1646, in Charles City County and also on February 25, 1646-1646, in the Preg. Court of Canterbury, England. He left his estate to his wife Mary and his daughter Elizabeth. Florence Hudson tells more of him and other Menefees in her book, We Cousins.

On May 8, 1702, John Manifee was sued by Garrat Newton in Richmond County, Virginia. (Court Order Book 1702-1704) On November 3, 1747, John Menefee helped administer the estate of Henry Rogers of Spotsylvania County.

We suspect but cannot prove that this John Menefee was the father of the Menefee sons named below.

The first known Menefee of this study was Jonas Menefee. He was born about 1726, perhaps in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. He and two of his brothers settled in Culpeper County and are mentioned in the court records there. On April 10, 1762, “Jonas Manifee of Culpeper Co.” was granted 333 acres on Maple Branch of N.R. Cacapehon River in Hampshire County. The land was surveyed by John Mauzy and was adjacent to Henry Enoch. (Va. Northern Neck Land Grants) The next day, April 11, “Gerrard Manniffee of Culpeper Co.” was granted 227 acres in Hampshire County, adjoining Henry Enock and “his bro. Jonas Manifees.” In 1765 John Menefee died and named “my brother, Jonas Menefee,” as the executor of the estate. Gerrard Menefee was a witness.

On October 19, 1777, “Jonas Manifee and Elisabeth his wife” sold 210 acres to John Francis Lucus Jacoby. The price was forty five pounds, “Virginia Money.” The land bounded the land of William Manifee, Nicholas Battail, Garriot and Jones. (Deed Book 1, pp. 66-69)

During the Revolutionary War, farmers provided the army with supplies. Then they turned in a claim for payment. In November 1780 Jonas Manifee turned in a claim for 21 bushels of rye supplied to Joseph Strother. In December 1781 he turned in a claim for 250 pounds of beef.

Jonas Menefee of Bromfield Parish wrote his will on February 23, 1779, and it was proven in the Culpeper County Court on November 18, 1782. (Will Book B, p. 533) In the will he mentioned his land in Hampshire County, named his wife Elizabeth and his son Henry. He mentioned his other children, but not by name. Witnesses were Henry Baker, Edmond Duling, Nancy Baker and Jonah Bryan. The estate was inventoried and recorded on June 20, 1783, amounting to L202.12.0. (WB C, p. 54)

Jonas Menefee’s wife is mentioned in his deed and will as Elizabeth. Some researchers have assumed that she was Elizabeth Chew, but this is unproved. They had a son named Larkin, an unusual name. Presumably Elizabeth’s father was Larkin Chew of Spotsylvania County. However, there was a Larkin family in Culpeper County, and this writer suspects this may be the source of the name. Another researcher says the wife was nee Elizabeth Vardesman, but again, no proof is given. Jonas and Elizabeth probably married about 1752.

Even though Jonas did not identify his children in his will, except for Henry, we can take an educated guess to determine who they were. Since the brothers did identify their children in their wills, the process of elimination helps to identify them. F.W. MacIntosh, a researcher of the family, says that these are the children:

• 1. Henry Menefee, was named in the will of his father. He was born on February 28, 1754, according to family records. He married Sarah Dollins on November 19, 1773, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War, and died on March 11, 1844. The Kansas City Genealogist, Vol. 8, No. 1, p. 14, records a copy of the family Bible of Henry Menefee. It lists the 13 children of Henry and Sarah: Elizabeth, Hannah, Mildred, Polly, Frances, Jonas, Henry, John William, Sallie, Larkin, Jarred, and Richard.
• 2. Larkin Menefee was born about 1756. He married Lucy Yancy in Culpeper County on March 16, 1797. He died in 1802, for on October 15 of that year his estate was listed and valued. It included “a negro boy named Stephen appraised to 100 pounds.” Anthony Hughs, William Yates and Henry Menefee were the appraisers. (WB D, pp. 440-441)
• 3. Spencer Menefee was born in 1762. More below.
• 4. John Thomas Menefee was born about 1763. He married Frances or Mariah Finnell.
• 5. Nancy Menefee married Henry Baker.
• 6. Martha Menefee married Josiah Bryan.

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GEDCOM Source

@R553271562@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

GEDCOM Source

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