Selected Families and Individuals

Notes


John Lanier Sr.

Known within the family as John the Emmigrant. John and Lucreece, along with infant son John, were transported to America in 1656 by Howell Pryce Colonial Abstracts, Vol II, p33). [Pryce received his patent in April, 1657, for transporting 47 persons, for which he received 2350 acres of land]. They took up residence in Charles City County, Virginia, possibly to raise tobacco.

John's brother, Robert, moved to Barbados. All of Robert's sons eventually moved to Virginia. John and Robert are credited for being the initial ancestors of nearly all the Laniers in Virginia.
John Sr. and John Jr. served as members of Bacon's Rebellion to protest Governor Berkeley's lack of protection from the Powhatan Indian attacks. John Lanier, Sr. along with John Woodlief pleaded wtih Governor Berkely but they were refused. The rebels were then led by Nathanial Bacon to defeat the Pamunky Indian tribe and lay seige on Jamestown in definace of Berkeley's lack of support. The rebellion was crushed by forces sent from England by Charles II. Lanier's fate during this rebellion is unknown.

Another death place: Charles City County, Virginia.


Lucreece (Lanier)

Last name thought to be either Bassano or Lanier.


Katherine Lanier

Died as an infant, strangled in her bed, according to the records from the judicial court of William Bird.


Clement Lanier

Listed in royal court.
Named as a court musician in 1604.
Clement was a "Gentleman of the King's Chamber" to both James I and Charles I. Initially on the sackbut, but is known as a musician and master of the recorder (musical instrument similar to a clarinet).

After the dethroning, and decapitation, of King Charles I, many of Nicholas the Younger's paintings were dispersed. Clement and his brother, Jerome, were able to purchase some of these back for the family. However, the family lost most of their wealth during the civil war while Oliver Cromwell was in power as Lord Protector. When Charles, Prince of Wales (later Charles II) came to the throne, the Lanier family regained much of their stature and fortune.

During 1658/1659, in his will Clement leaves to his oldest daughter, Hannah, his house, and forty pounds; money was gifted to Nicholas, Lionel, William and Frances; and to Elizabeth and Susanna when they became of age or married. Lucretia and Charles were dead. John and Robert, who had already left home for Virginia and Barbados, respectively, he left money, "when they shall come to demand the same of my Executrix."

November 6, 1661 in East Greenwich, England, Clement Lanier either died or was buried.
December 3, 1661 the will was proved
May 20, 1662 the will was registered.
It is from Clement Lanier and Hannah, his wife, that the Laniers of Virginia and Barbados descend.


Hannah Rebecca Collett

Death recorded in St. Alphege.


Susanna Lanier

Died young.


Nicholas Lanier

Listed in some histories as Lasnier.

In 1559, King Henri met a painful end as the result of a wound inflicted by a Scottish opponent during a tournament.

Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Supplement 1962, p. 255:
In <June or July> 1561 the Earl of Hertford was visiting in Paris, and met there, young Nicholas Laniere, who had been in the Court of the late King Henry II; he was recommended as a good flute player and also the cornet. He was considered to be sober, honest, and born at Rouen. He was engaged to serve as messenger and a replacement for Peter Guillaume, one of the Queen's flute players lately dead. Confirmation of his services under Henry II <France> is to be found in the lists of "chantres et autres Jouers d'instruments" of the French King's Chambers, which include Nicholas Lasnier for the years of 1559 and 1560. After his official appointment Nicholas found lodgings with a fellow French musician, Guillaume de Vache. He settled in St. Olave Parish, Hart Street, London. He played in the Courts of Queen Elizabeth I, and King James of England,

Nicholas Lanier moved to East Greenwich, County Kent, where he was one of the musicians to the Court until his death about 1612. He was a very wealthy man, having extensive holdings in Blackheath, and the surrounding country; this section was south of the Thames and about five miles east of the London Bridge. One of the many palaces was here, the Royal Hospital, and many other buildings of early importance. In early 1700 an old house was taken down; it was described as being fitted up for a theater, probably by the Laniers who were musicians and dramatists.

In 1561, during the Protestant persecutions he was a Huguenot, thus sent to England with safe passage arranged for him by his patroness, the widowed Queen Catherine de Medici. Nicholas arrived at the new court of Elizabeth I.
His marriage was arranged by the Queen. He had six sons, all of whom were musicians to the Queen and Kings; and four daughters, two of whom married musicians; and later eight or more grandsons became members of the Royal Orchestra, making three generations serving the royal family. In 1604 Nicholas Lanier, Sr. was named "Musician of the Flutes", and after his death his son, Andrea succeeded him "for life".

He was the founder of the Lanier family of musicians, and the ancestor of the American Laniers.

The will of Nicholas Lanier Gent. was dated January 28, 1611/12, and proved July 1612, Rochester XIX, folia 514.
"To Lucreece my wife, all my lands, and goods; to sons John, Alphonse, Innocent, Jerome, Clement, 12 shillings; to Andrea 20 pounds if he does not have my place; my four daughters, three of whom are unmarried, I leave to the discretion of my wife Lucreece, my sole executrix." (LANIER by Louise Ingersoll)
Note: A ship arrested en route for Spain loaded with "prohibited goods" was the "Lanier" of Rouen.


Nicholas Lanier

Listed in some histories as Lasnier.

In 1559, King Henri met a painful end as the result of a wound inflicted by a Scottish opponent during a tournament.

Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Supplement 1962, p. 255:
In <June or July> 1561 the Earl of Hertford was visiting in Paris, and met there, young Nicholas Laniere, who had been in the Court of the late King Henry II; he was recommended as a good flute player and also the cornet. He was considered to be sober, honest, and born at Rouen. He was engaged to serve as messenger and a replacement for Peter Guillaume, one of the Queen's flute players lately dead. Confirmation of his services under Henry II <France> is to be found in the lists of "chantres et autres Jouers d'instruments" of the French King's Chambers, which include Nicholas Lasnier for the years of 1559 and 1560. After his official appointment Nicholas found lodgings with a fellow French musician, Guillaume de Vache. He settled in St. Olave Parish, Hart Street, London. He played in the Courts of Queen Elizabeth I, and King James of England,

Nicholas Lanier moved to East Greenwich, County Kent, where he was one of the musicians to the Court until his death about 1612. He was a very wealthy man, having extensive holdings in Blackheath, and the surrounding country; this section was south of the Thames and about five miles east of the London Bridge. One of the many palaces was here, the Royal Hospital, and many other buildings of early importance. In early 1700 an old house was taken down; it was described as being fitted up for a theater, probably by the Laniers who were musicians and dramatists.

In 1561, during the Protestant persecutions he was a Huguenot, thus sent to England with safe passage arranged for him by his patroness, the widowed Queen Catherine de Medici. Nicholas arrived at the new court of Elizabeth I.
His marriage was arranged by the Queen. He had six sons, all of whom were musicians to the Queen and Kings; and four daughters, two of whom married musicians; and later eight or more grandsons became members of the Royal Orchestra, making three generations serving the royal family. In 1604 Nicholas Lanier, Sr. was named "Musician of the Flutes", and after his death his son, Andrea succeeded him "for life".

He was the founder of the Lanier family of musicians, and the ancestor of the American Laniers.

The will of Nicholas Lanier Gent. was dated January 28, 1611/12, and proved July 1612, Rochester XIX, folia 514.
"To Lucreece my wife, all my lands, and goods; to sons John, Alphonse, Innocent, Jerome, Clement, 12 shillings; to Andrea 20 pounds if he does not have my place; my four daughters, three of whom are unmarried, I leave to the discretion of my wife Lucreece, my sole executrix." (LANIER by Louise Ingersoll)
Note: A ship arrested en route for Spain loaded with "prohibited goods" was the "Lanier" of Rouen.


Jerome Lanier

Listed in royal court. Also an artist of great ability, in sketching and painting, as well as carving many beautiful objects from sardonyx, one being a very delicate and fine likeness of the Queen. Evelyn, in his "Memoirs", writes of seeing Jerome Lanier in the household of Queen Elizabeth, a "man skilled in painting and carving".
Writes in his will of his "poor little estate". During the Civil War, the fortunes of the Laniers, and others loyal to the Crown declined; they lost their appointments, suffered privation, even starvation, and often imprisonment.
After the dethroning, and decapitation, of King Charles I, many of Nicholas the Younger's paintings were dispersed. Jerome and his brother, Clement, were able to purchase some of these back for the family.


Andrea Lanier

Listed in royal court.
Appointed in 1612 musician to court of Elizabeth I. Succeeded his father, Nicholas as Master of the Flutes for Life.


Mary Lanier

Proved October 16, 1676.


Alphonse Lanier

Listed in royal court. Instrumentalist for Elizabeth I and James I. Played at Queen Elizabeth's funeral. Captain Alphonse Lanier was in the Irish Naval Service, and was often away.


Innocent Lanier

Listed in royal court. Flute Instructed and provided room and board to apprentices of the Earl of Salisbury.


John Lanier

Based on the son, Nicholas' stats (for which confidence is high), if "John" is correct, he moved to England with the rest of the family as they fled during the religious persecution.


John Lanier

Followed Nicholas to England and joined the royal service.


Anthony Bassano

Another possible father is Santo Bassano.
This is the Bassano family of musicians who came to England to serve Henry VIIIl.
Five Bassanos are listed at the funeral of Henry VIII in 1547.

At the coronation of Elizabeth in 1558 their number had increased to six, with the same number present at her funeral in 1603. At that time, the fabulous Renaissance courts of the Medici were winding down and the artists and musicians of those courts were seeking work elsewhere.


Mark Anthony Bassano

Musician to court of Henry VIII of England.


Arthur Bassano

Musician to court of Henry VIII of England.


Edward Bassano

Musician to court of Henry VIII of England.


Andrea Bassano

Musician to court of Henry VIII of England.


Jeronimo Bassano

Musician to court of Henry VIII of England.


John Collett

John Collett married Suzanne Ferrar. They resided at of Little Gidding, Huntingdonshire, England. They possibly are the parents of Hannah Collett.


Thomas Byrd

Thomas Bird, inherited the mill from his father and bought more land from Thomas Busby in 1680.

Thomas Bird left three daughters, as shown by a March 4, 1728 deed from Elizabeth Lanier (wife of John Lanier) which conveyed to Richard Jones and his wife Tabitha, daughter of Thomas Bird, who by his will dated January 21, 1680, devised land to his three daughters, Mary, "now deceased", and Elizabeth and Tabitha, 300 acres on the South Branch of Upper Chippokes Creek.


William Byrd

Theresa M. Stirbis stated that this William is a son of William Byrd (b: 1652, Braxton, Cheshire, England and d: 12/4/1704 Charles City Co, VA) and Maria Horsemanden....there is no record of this being their son, the dates don't match. The William that she refers to as being thier son was b: 3/28/1674 in VA d: 8/25/1744 Charles City Co, VA and married Susan (maiden name unknown) I think this is a different William. I think this is William, son of Thomas Byrd pf Surry Co, VA and Mary Madison. I also think their son William was married to another spouse besides Ann Bloomfield. John H. Goebel (jgobel@ricochet.net states that he has only 2)wives for William Byrd III ....1) Elizabeth Carter Hill and 2) Mary Willing.... This could be the same William that is married to Susan Davis, prior to his marriage to Elizabeth...


William Byrd

William Bird succeeded Captain Charles Sparrow as the Virginia representative of the London merchants, John Sadler and Thomas Quiney. He arrived in Virginia in 1657 on the ship "Seven Sisters".
In 1661, the Charles City court records:
Ordered that William Bird rest in the sherriffs custody during pleasure of the Co'rt for his affront given in open Co'rt.
Willm Bird upon his his submission and recantacon is released from his imprisonment paying the fees thereof.
He was made Justice in the same county that year. Several court cases where he either gave testimony or heard the complaints give vivid glimpses of life in early colonial life: the theft of a hammock and wine from a ship in harbor; a man accused of being an Athicke[atheist] and not believing in the Resurreccion; and a quarrel between neighbors in which a fence is torn down and rootes of tobacco are thrown at a woman.
On July 4, 1671, William Bird purchased from Thomas Busby a grist mill and appurtenances at head of Chippokes Creek in Surry, 150 adjoining acres, and another tract of 300 acres adjacent to William Shorte.

Another source:
Martins Brandon Parish, Charles City County, was changed to Prince George County, not far from Westover on the north bank of the James River. He was a miller. Arrived in Virginia in 1635. He resided in Martins Brandon, Charles City County, Virginia.
Prince George Co, Va Colonial Abstracts page 1 © copyright 1999 by Linda L Chandler 1. John MAISE s/o William MAISE dec'd, 293 acres southside of Appomattox River, 125 acres, part thereof, being a former patent of 250 acres granted to Ed. TOWNSTALL & by him sold. Bounded by a great sw.(swamp?) being at the head of the said MAISE. Patent…along Samill(Samuel?) WOODWARDS side line, to the end of the great sw…to The beginning. 168 acres, part thereof due for transporting Of 4 persons: 29 Apr 1668

1. Sarzel BERRY
2. Jeremy RIGHT
3. William BELNETT
4. Jno BIRD

Prince George Co,Va Personal Property Tax Roll 1787 © copyright 1999 by Linda L Chandler
BAIRD, Thomas
BAIRD, Hanah
BAIRD, Isham
BAIRD, John
BAIRD, David

Prince George Co, Va 1810 Census © copyright 1999 by Linda L Chandler
BAIRD, Ephriam...9 persons and 20 slaves
BAIRD, James H...3 persons and 2 slaves BAIRD, Thomas...2 persons and 13 slaves
BAIRD, William...19 persons and 89 slaves


William Thomas Byrd

Thomas and Elizabeth are first cousins. They had three children.

Although, well-off and respectable, the Byrds were considered middle class. William knew the rigid heirarchy of 17th century England would be difficult to climb socially if he remained in London.

William apprenticed to Henry Sacheverall - a vintner. Admitted into the Freedom of the Vintner's Company Jeweler/Vintner Co, London, England---unbound to freedom July 3, 1616.

Around 1619 he sailed to America at the age of 17 in the rough winter.


Elizabeth Burgh Byrd

I'm confused about the three marriages different sources have for Elizabeth.