LAFON-L Archives

From: "Nelson Lafon" <>
Subject: Re: LAFON-D Digest V02 #3
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 20:38:09 -0500
References: <200201232200.g0NM0m310850@lists7.rootsweb.com>

I am interested in communicating father with the two of you who descend from
John Lafon (1775, NC - 1840, VA) and William Lafon (NC - TX). I, too, have
wondered about a relationship between the two.

John Lafon was my 4th great grandfather. I come through Zacheus (eldest
son), then William Hale, then James Harvey Lafon, your Samuel Taylor Lafon's
eldest brother. My brother and I still own the land and houses where
William Hale (your Samuel's father) and James Harvey lived from about 1870
until their death. William Hale made gunpowder during the Civil War. This
is only a few miles from the grave of John Lafon, the patriarch. His
gravestone is well preserved, and his old house nearby is mostly fallen but
still has a stone chimney standing with the following inscription: "J. L.
1813."

The only primary documents I have seen that show a birth place for John
Lafon were the 1880 census records of 2 of his children. The 1880 census
was the first one that enabled the individuals listed to name the birthplace
of their mother and father as well as themselves. One of John's daughters,
Magdalene Lafon Dollman, had South Carolina listed as the birthplace of her
father on her 1880 census record, while Enoch, a son, had North Carolina
listed as his father's birthplace on his 1880 record. This discrepancy may
have been the fault of the census taker or the children, but together, they
provide pretty good evidence of an American, more specifically, a Carolina
birth. I conjecture that John was from a SC Huguenot family, or the second
generation removed from an Eastern Virginia Lafon family who moved, like
many families, to the cheap land near the Greensboro area of NC. This is
speculation. There were several Lafon families in Tidewater VA that were
old enough to have been John's father, but I have not been able to find a
connection. There were also a couple of Lafon households in SC in the 1790
census with sons of the right age.

The first record that I think anyone has for John Lafon is his marriage with
Mary Bowen, daughter of John and Elizabeth Bowen, in Montgomery County in
1797. Interestingly, the surety on the marriage was Hezekiah Atkins, the
husband of Mary "Levan" you mention. Hezekiah and Mary married in 1786, I
believe. I can dig out photocopies of both marriage bonds if you are
interested. Interestingly, one of John Bowen's other daughters married one
of Hezekiah Atkins' sons! Some researchers have suggested that John Bowen's
wife was Elizabeth Lafon, but I have seen nothing to show that. There was
some interesting familial relationships between the Lafon-Bowen-Atkins
families, though. Hezekiah Atkins and John Bowen were neighbors in 1801
when they made a will for a dying Thomas Hale, who stayed at Bowen's house
on his way home the day he died. One caution: until we know the parents of
John and the parents of Mary, we can't say for sure that they were siblings.
The circumstantial evidence is there, however.

I have a great deal more interesting information on John and his
descendants. I might mention in closing that he died a tragic death, if
family tradition stands true. A story passed down was that he died when a
tree he was cutting fell on top of him. That he, a fairly well-to-do man
for his day, died without a will in 1840 may be a clue that he died a sudden
death, such as that described in the family story.

There is nothing I would like more than to find the parents of our John
Lafon, and William, too. I would love information about the wife and
children of William Lafon, as well as any vital info like dates you can
offer. I will be glad to do the same for John.

Thanks,

Nelson Lafon,
Powhatan, VA

P. S. - Interesting that some of us are LaFons and some of use are Lafons.
No big deal. My grandfather spelled his with a small "f," while his brother
spelled it with a large "F". John Lafon signed his marriage bond with a
small "f," but who can be sure of the right way!


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Subject: LAFON-D Digest V02 #3

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• Re: LAFON-D Digest V02 #3 by "Nelson Lafon" <>