John Lyons, Sr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: Protestant
• Possessions: 04 Mar 1790, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
• Possessions: 1801, Bayou Queue de Tortue, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
• Will: 04 Sep 1834, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; inventory

Notes:

They were in Pensacola Florida when their son, Gabriel was born.This is stated in record of marriage of Gabriel to Nancy Burleigh. GC Chv 1p 6.
Bapt. record of their son John said that John and Anne Ahart were of Georgia.

writeup found in Ancestry:
JOHN LYONS, SR., was the first Lyons ancestor of which we have record. He was born about 1757. John?s father may have been Samuel Lyons but there is no proof of this.

According to one family legend, the Lyons came from Ireland and Scotland. According to another they came to this country from Nova Scotia about the time of the American Revolution.

It is not known when the first Lyons reached Louisiana. Some members of the family believe that the Lyons first settled in Georgia or Tennessee. However, it is certain that John Lyons, Sr. was in Louisiana prior to 1801 for in that year he purchased some 6000 acres of land in what is now Vermilion and Acadia Parishes. The land is situated on both the North and South sides of Bayou Queue de Tortue.

John Lyons, Sr. was the father of at least seven children:
1.MICHAEL LYONS, born about 1777.
2.John Lyons, Jr.
3.Gabriel Lyons
4.Elizabeth Lyons
5.Samuel Lyons
6.William Lyons
7.David Lyons

John Lyons, Sr. married Nancy or Ana, Ahart. It is thought that all of John?s children were born of this marriage; however, Michael, the eldest child, might have been by a previous marriage.

According to the Lyons? Family Bible, Nancy Ahart Lyons died on June 1, 1809, and John Lyons, Sr. died on August 23, 1835. He died at his home place on Bayou Queue de Tortue.


Possessions:
04 MAR 1790
(Juan de Lion an inhabitant of Pensacola) petitioned for a land concession 80 by 40 arpents at the mouth of Bayou Vermilion on the right bank descending and the last high land on the bayou to form a vacherie and to make oak timber for the construction of boats.
source:
4.Title: La Raconteur: Record Group P85-190 at Louisiana State Archives
Abbrev: Lyons, John La Raconteur
Date: 1995

Possessions:
land on the south side of the bayou "50 arpents front by the ordinary depth" (40 arpents) from Celestin la Tortue, Chief of the Attakapas, for $87
source: Title: Acadia Parish Louisiana, a History prior to 1900
Abbrev: Acadia Parish History, Vol. 1
Author: Fontenot, Mary Alice; Freeland, Paul B.
Date: 1976; Text: p. 12

Will:
The inventory of his estate was taken at "the plantation and last residence of the late John Lyons of said parish....situated on the Bayou Queue de Tortue, distant about fifty miles from the Courthouse of said Parish."

John married Nancy Anne Ahart about 1775. Nancy was born in 1761 in Georgia or Virginia; died on 1 Jun 1809 in Plaqueine Brulee, Acadia Parish, or St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A careful look at the list below will show the research on this line needs some work; the dates do not fit together very well. If you have additional info please share it!

There are 2 children John M Lyons listed and I initially thought they were probably the same person but the dates of spouses don\\\'t align.

John M Lyons is born in 1783 in GA
- He marries Marie Hayes 27 Oct 1800 in Opelousas and is listed as a Protestant
- Marie Hayes dies 17 May 1826
- yet the record shows they have a son Aborn born in 1829 (3 years after she died)
- He marries Rachael Marie Forman 30 Mar 1804, according to the notes in a Catholic church
- Rachel and he have a son David Lyons born in 1798 (5 years before the wedding)
- and their son John L Lyons III is born 5 Jul 1804 (4 months after the wedding)
- Rachel and he divorce(!) 21 May 1824
- He marries Rebecca Gilchrest 19 Jun 1826 (1 month after Marie dies and 2 years after the divorce from Rachel).

1. Elizabeth Lyons was born about 1775 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; died after 1805.
2. John Michael (Jean) Lyons, Jr. was born in 1783 in Georgia; died on 27 May 1852 in Robert Cove, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
3. John Michael Lyons, Jr was born about 1783 in Pensacola, Escambia Co, Florida (near - then Georgia); died on 27 May 1852 in Robert's Cove, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
4. Gabriel Lyons was born in 1785 in Pensacola, Florida; died before Oct 1843 in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
5. Samuel Lyons was born in 1794 in St. Martinville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana; died before Jul 1837 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
6. William Lyons was born in 1797 in St. Martinville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana; died before 21 Feb 1829 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
7. David Lyons was born on 22 Jan 1817 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; died on 10 Apr 1887 in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana; was buried in Big Woods Cem, Edgerly, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.