03/14/2026
This document from 1769 is a heavy and significant find for your research. It appears to be an advertisement or a legal notice for a "lottery" to dispose of the estate of Bernard Moore, a prominent Virginia planter.
What makes this specific page remarkable—and likely why you've highlighted it—is the intersection of the Lyons name with a detailed list of enslaved individuals.
The Highlighted Individuals
The document lists people not just by name, but often by their skills and family connections. This level of detail is rare for the 18th century and is invaluable for tracing lineages:
Kate, Judy, Aggy, and Nat: A mother and her children.
York: Noted as a "good sawyer."
Cesar: About 40 years old, a "very good blacksmith," with his wife Nanny and children Tab and Jane.
Edom: About 25 years old, also a blacksmith.
Moses: About 33 years old, described as a "very good planter," with Phebe and their child Nell.
Dorah: Wife of "carpenter Jemmy."
The Connection to Peter Lyons
At the bottom, you’ve highlighted a list of "Managers" for this lottery. Among names like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry, you will see:
"Peter Lyons"
Peter Lyons (c. 1734–1809) was a very influential figure in colonial Virginia. He was a prominent attorney and later became the President of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He was also the administrator for the estate of John Robinson, which involved settling massive debts that led to the sale of property and enslaved people belonging to Robinson's associates, like Bernard Moore.
Genealogical Implications
If your research into the Lyons line connects back to Virginia (specifically the Hanover or King William County areas), Peter Lyons is a central figure to investigate.
