Jerry and Linda Butler

Thomas Lacy moved to that part of Bladen Co. NC, which in 1750 became the county of Anson. He played a prominent role in the creating and establishing of the county. He was one of those selected to locate and purchase the site for a court house. They were to agree on the place and arrange for the purchase of 50 acres of land and a tax of two shillings for a three year period was to be levied to finance the purchase.

"Ordered, Lands conveyed by Thomas Lacy, Jesse Miller and Job Benton to the public for public buildings for which no consideration was paid, are hereby declared to be and to remain property in fee simple of each."

"And be if further enacted by authority of aforesaid that Thomas Lacy (and others not here enumerated) be empowered to direct, agree and contract for erecting and building a court house, prison and stock for Anson County."

Thomas, along with others, signed a petition to Gov. Tryon protesting the unreasonable requirements made by the Rulers and Governors of the Crown upon the inhabitants of this growing section and seeking relief form "this oppression and justice" to the citizens.

Their appeal to the Governor having failed to produce the requested relief, the inhabitants of Anson County appealed to the King of the British Empire, sending him a petition signed by many citizens, among which appears the name of Thomas.

He served as a Justice of the Peace and apparently some of his actions were so anti-British that he was taken prisoner by them.

"Saturday, April 26, 1783. Recommendations of the Court of Anson County were read in favor of Dd. Love, Duke Glenn, W. Thomas and Thomas Lacy, formerly Justice of the Peace for said county but who have been paroled by the enemy, which recommendation was rejected.

From "Anson Co. NC Abstracts of Early Records" by May Wilson McBee, Collection, Vol. 1, the following excerpts of interest have been taken:

"Thomas Lacy with others ordered to lay out road from the pine tree where it crosses at the province line between head of Liles Creek and Brown Creek, through Anson toward Salisbury till it shall intersect the line of Roan County. Nath'l Holly, Overseer. In the group were William Phillips, William Nelson, Reuben Phillips, William Holly, Jesse Pearse, Jospeh White, Jr., Joseph White, Sr., Thomas Lacy, William Rushing, William Johnston, John Scisco, and William Brock. (County Court Minutes.)" (p. 75, Jan. 14, 1772)

Thomas Lacy, as reported, started out in life poor but accumulated a considerable estate in lands and personal property. In his will, he bequeaths over 1643 acres of land and much livestock and many slaves. Where Thomas is buried is not known but it is probably on one of the two tracts of land willed to his wife.

• Hazel Potter Lawler, The Stephen Lacy Family of Goochland County, Virginia

The will of Thomas Lacy dated October 1, 1793, was filed in Anson County,
NC. It names sons Stephen, Thomas, Jesse, and Griffith and daughters Mary,
Sarah, Elizabeth, Anna, and Lucretia.

• From the research of David Donahue

The 1790 census shows:
1 male over 16
1 male under 16
4 females
3 slaves