Lyle family : the ancestry and posterity of Matthew, John, Daniel and Samuel Lyle, pioneer settlers in Virginia

1912·17.5 MB·English

by  Lyle, Oscar Kennett, b. 1839

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Lyle Family
The Ancestry and Posterity of Matthew-
John, Daniel and Samuel Lyle, Pioneer
Settlers in Virginia
Illustrated
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By Oscar K. Lyle
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112 South Portland Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Printed By
Lecouver Press Company
51 Vesey Street
New York City.
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Dedication
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this book is to preserve to posterity facts of interest per-
taining to the Lyle family. That the book has errors is more than
probable, since much of the information received in correspondence
was variable in dates and in the spelling of proper names. For such
my
errors as appear, the explanation lies in "telling the tale as told to
me." It has taken years to gather what the book contains. But a few
years of delay would have made almost impossible of discovery many
of the facts that are presented. In successful effort, in obliging pos-
terity, and in the appreciation of the existing family, lie my only
reward.
OSCAR K. LYLE.
ABBREVIATIONS
b-born; d-died; d, y, died young; m, married; n, m, never married;
unm', unmarried; ex, out of; C. S. A., Confederate States Army;
U. S. A., United States Army.

LYLE ARMS.
GULES: A fret; or,
crest: a crowing cock.
mctto: ax may (if like).
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LYLE FAMILY
This history of the Lyle family treats of the ancestors and posterity
of four immigrant pioneers from Ireland who became settlers in the
Valley of Virginia between the years 1740 and 1750. Their homes in
Ireland were near Larne, on the Irish coast, in the County of Antrim
in Virginia, on Timber Ridge, in what is now Rockbridge County.
These four settlers of the colonial period were Matthew, John, Daniel
and Samuel Lyle. The first three of mention were brothers and pater-
nal uncles of Samuel, who was a son of a Robert Lyle,
Samuel Lyle, who was a farmer in Ireland, married, about 1680,
Janet Knox, of Knoxtown. The names of his parents have not been
ascertained. Janet Knox was a daughter of John Knox, the second
husband of Sally Locke. Her first husband was Ephraim Knox, of no
kindred to her second. Sally Locke was a daughter of David Locke,
whose wife was Mary Wylie, and granddaughter of William Wylie,
whose wife was Janet Black. From Samuel Lyle came six children
Mary, Isabella, Janet, James, Robert and one that died young.
James Lyle, son of Samuel Lyle of mention, married, about 1700,
Margaret Snoddy, of Ballyrickard-beg, a daughter of William Snoddy,
whose wife was Jane Adams, of Ballysnodd. The Snoddys were a
family from Scotland to Ireland about 1652. James Lyle had seven
children: Elizabeth, Jenny, Matthew, John, Robert, Daniel and
William.
The surname Lyle, varied in orthography, is a territorial one. In
its earliest form the ancestors of those now bearing it were denomi-
nated "de Insula," which means "of the island." So far back as the
eleventh century this "de Insula" attached to families living in the Isle
of Wight and Isle of Ely in England and the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
That any connection existed between the several families is question-
able.
In the train of William the Conqueror, and among those enrolled
on the famous Roll of Battle Abbey, appear names from which the
Lyle surname could be derived. In point of fact this is positively as-
serted. The Normans introduced surnames into England. Their
conquest dates from 1066. The term "de Insula" antedates the Nor-
man period so far as borne by the family in the Western Isles of Scot-
land. A change in the language employed in the records from Latin
to Norman-French is explanation of how the name "de Insula" became
"de risle." With Norman rule ended, the "de" was dropped, and from
the remainder easily came the surname as it now appears. The differ-
ing ways of spelling the name have little significance against a com-
mon origin so long as the sound is preserved. Education was limited
among the people even so late as two hundred years ago.
4 Lyle Family
The time of the passage of the Lyles into Ireland from Scotland is
in doubt, but it is probable some of the first of the name were of those
colonists who were obliged to leave their settlements in Cantire, on the
west coast of Scotland, about 1606, and accepted the generous proffer
of Sir Randal MacDonnell, Earl of Antrim, to make homes on his large
estates in County Antrim. These estates exceeded 300,000 acres.
The distance across the channel is short. On clear days opposite
shores are visible.
Sir Randal MacDonnell was a Roman Catholic, but none the less
extended a generous welcome to the Scotch Presbyterians that went
to Ireland. Investigation locates the earliest of the Lyles in Ireland
on Lord Antrim's estates. From that area the family spread and be-
came numerous in other parts of the county. At one time there were
many of the name in Dervock, Ballymena and Coleraine.
The family in Ireland was generally in the farmer class. Some en-
gaged in the linen industry. About the time of their early movement
to America there was a scarcity in Ireland from several crop failures,
and much trouble with landlords over leases. In the case of Matthew
Lyle, the latter was the main cause of his emigrating to Virginia.
Lands in Antrim were inadequate for the population and rentals dear.
In preference to going into parts of Ireland where were none of their
countrymen, the Scotch-Irish elected to come to America where lands
were plentiful and cheap, and a religious liberty existed. In Ireland
their religion was tolerated rather than encouraged by the govern-
ment.
Samuel Lyle was a landholder in Ireland and possessed a farm in
an eligible location about two and one-half miles from Larne in a
southwesterly direction. It was in the townland of Browndodd, one
of the four townlands of the parish of Larne. His residence was to
A
the right of the road in going from Larne to Raloo, near Raloo.
lane leads to the house, which is still standing and occupied by one of
his descendants. It is of stone, two stories in height and has now a
slate roof. In earlier days the roof was thatched, as was the method
of the Scotch. After the death of Samuel Lyle his son James became
the occupant of the family home. In it his children were born. It is
the old home in Ireland of the Lyle family of this book and is among
the illustrations presented in it.
The proximity of Raloo Presbyterian church and the family burials
in its church-yard suggest their place of worship. The church of their
time was destroyed by fire. Another was built and is now in use. No
records of the early church have been found. Of the illustrations in
this book is one of the cradle that was made for James Lyle. In this
cradle all of his children, and many since, were rocked to sleep. To
its substantiality is due its long existence.
When Matthew Lyle married Esther Blair in 1731, his father, James
Lyle, was the lessee of some lands near by. On these leased lands
Matthew Lyle made his home and lived some years. On expiration