Dennis Lark

Children
Drucilla Lark		d.	m.
Elizabeth Lark
Milley Lark	b. 1750	d.	m. William Battes
Sarah Lark
John Lark	b. 2 May 1741 Meclenburg, VA	d. 10 June (before 1783) SC	m. Rachael Blakely
Mary Lark	b. abt 1743	d. aft 1791	m. William Robinson abt 1760 (b. 1728 Brunswick Co., VA)
Robert Lark	b. abt 1745	b. perhaps by 1793 Mecklenburg Co. VA
Nuttey Lark	b. abt 1754		m. Edward Pennington 1771 VA(son of Benjamin Pennington and Lucy Baily)

1750, June 1 - Dennis Lark files a land patent on 284 acres in Lunenburg Co., N. of Miles Cr. adj. Johnson, Lucas, a Path; p. 141. 30 Shill. [Mag. of Virg. Genealogy, Vol. 31, No. 1.]

1752, December-Lunenburg County, VA records show Dennis Lark as part of a jury on three different cases.

1756, Aug 16- Dennis Lark files for 210 acres in Lunenburg Co. VA. on the East side of Dockrays [Dockery's] Creek. adj. Beard. 25 Shill. [Virginia Patent Book 33:53]

1756, Aug 16 - Dennis Lark files for 400 acres in Brunswick Co., Va in the fork of Mile's Creek joining Drews Line. adj. Drew, Dorch & Charles Evans; 40 Shill.
[Virginia Patent Book 33:222]

1757, Oct. 6. - Dennis Larke is listed as Captain along with George Elliot in Lunenburg County, Virginia militia.

[Virginia Colonial Soldiers, County Militia Records, page 22]

1759, July 4 - Dennis Larke files a land patent for 32 acres. Lunenburg Co. on the E side of Flatt Cr.; adj. Mireck, Times & his own line; p. 586, 5 Shill. [Virginia Gen. Soc. Qtrly. Vol. 32, No. 4. Land Patent Book 33. page 323]

1765, March 11- Dennis Larke is listed as Captain in the Mecklenburg County Militia in the year that it was formed. He was also a Constable and commisioner in Lunenburg County, VA. [Virginia Colonial Soldiers, County Militia Records, page 23]

1765, June 10 - Robert Lark is listed as an ensign in Mecklenburg County, Virginia militia. [Virginia Colonial Soldiers, County Militia Records, page 23]

1771, May 13 - Captain Dennis Larke is listed as Major in Mecklenberg County, Virginia militia.
[Virginia Colonial Soldiers, County Militia Records, page 23]

1773, Feb 6 - Dennis Larke's will is probated in Mecklenburg Co., VA. He gave his daughter Nettie Lark Pennington a negro woman named Nann. This same slave was later given by Edward Pennington to his son Benjamin. [Mecklenburg County Wills, book 1, page 164]

"IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, Dennis Lark, of the county of Mecklenburg in a low state of health but of sound and perfect memory, thanks be to God, and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make this my last will and testament, into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent and Christianlike manner at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same by the Mighty Power of God, and touching such worldly good or estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and disposes of in manner as follows: to-wit:

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Robert Larke, Junior, a negro boy named Ben, a negro wench named Fanney, a negro boy named Bob, and a negro girl named Beck; with their increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son John Larke a negro fellow named Tom, a negro wench named Pall, a negro boy named Jack, a negro girl named Molley; with their increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Robertson a negro fellow named Will, to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Nuttey Penington a negro girl named Nan, with her increase to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto Milley Battes (my daughter) a negro boy named Harry, to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Drucilla Lark a negro boy named Davie, but my desire is that my Executor hire the said negro yearly and the money arising from such hire together with the interest of the money arising from a proportion hereafter bequeathed be yearly allowed and paid her by my Executor aforesaid for her maintenance to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Lark a negro boy named George and a negro girl named Agy, but my desire is that my Executor hire the said negroes yearly and the money arising from such hire together with the interest of the money arising from a proportion hereafter bequeathed be yearly allowed and paid her by my said Executor for her maintenance to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Battes one shilling sterling money of Great Britain, to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Battes, son of William, a negro girl to the value of sixty-five pounds current money of Virginia to be purchased by my Executor out of the money arising from the sale of my personal estate (with her increase), to him and his heirs forever (to be purchased when the money becomes due that my personal estate sells for immediately after to be delivered the said Battes).

Item. My will and desire is that all my personal estate be sold to the highest bidder allowing two years credit to the purchasers, the money arising from such sale, after purchasing a negro girl for my grandson John Battes to the amount of sixty-five pounds current money of Virginia, make every negro given my daughters, except Sarah Battes, equal according to appraise value, the residue equally divided among my five daughters (to-wit), Mary Roberson, Nutty Pennington, Milley Battes, Drucilla Lark and Elizabeth Lark, but that the aforesaid Drucilla Lark nor Elizabeth should have in their own possession or at their disposal neither negroes nor principal money until they marry, to them and their heirs forever.

And lastly my will and desire is that my beloved son John Larke be my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament, and hereby revoking and disannulling all other wills or testaments by me made heretofore and declaring this only to be my last. In witness whereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal this sixth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-three.

Dennis Lark (Seal)

Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared in presence of Lewis Parham, Mary M (her mark) Bennett, William Jennings Burrows, William W B (his mark) Bartlett.

At a Court held for Mecklenburg county the 13th day of September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-three. This last will and testament of Dennis Larke, dec'd., was exhibited into Court, proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of John Larke Executor, therein named who made oath and entered into and acknowledge bond as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining probate thereof in due form.

Teste:

John Tabb, CMC." [Will of Mecklenburg Co., VA, book 1, page 164]

1778- John Lark is on a jury list of South Carolina on the "lower part of the Ninety-six District in the fork of Broad and Saluda Rivers." [email and records of Randy Currie 3/16/09]

1779- William Robinson is on the "Rent Role" in Mecklenburg Co., VA. [All Virginia Census, 1607-1890, page NPN]

1782, Jan 16 - John Lark seems to be delivering corn to General Pickin's troops in this document

1792- 1784 - The family of Netty Lark and Edward Pennington
        1. Sally Pennington - b. 2/22/1772
        2. Dixon Pennington - b. 3/22/1773
        3. Edward Pennington - b. 1/31/1775   m. Martha ------
        4. Dennis Lark Pennington - b. 5/19/1776 (b. Cumberland Co., VA d. Croydon, IND. Sept. 22, 1854) m. Elizabeth English (Aug. 4, 1800 Lincoln Co., KY)
        5. Walter Pennington - b. 11/6/1777   m. Poll Mabry
        6. Zachariah Pennington - b. 4 / 5/1779   m. Lety --------
        7. Polly (Mary) Pennington - b. 1/17/1781   m. George Gresham, g. F. of Walter Q. Gresham.
        8. William Pennington   - b. 11/8/1782    m. Jennie   (Virginia) English
        9. Robert Lark Pennington - b. 1 / 7/1784
                 [Boddie. Historical Southern Families. Vol. IV, page 27]