Linah Mims1,2,3

ID# 475, (1772 - bt 1847 - 1850)
Linah Mims|b. 14 Nov 1772\nd. bt 1847 - 1850|p475.htm|John Mims|b. 1731||Sarah Horn|||John Mims|b. 3 May 1705\nd. 7 Nov 1779|||||||||||

Father John Mims1 (1731-)

Mother Sarah Horn1

Family Background
The Linah Mims - Rebeccah Davis Family
The Cobb Family
Charts
Descendants of Linah and Rebeccah (Davis) Mims
     Linah Mims was born on 14 Nov 1772 in Goochland Co., Virginia.4,5,6,7 He was baptized on 7 Feb 1773 in Goochland Co., Virginia, by Rev. William Douglass.1 He married Rebeccah Davis, daughter of John Davis and Jane Clendenin, about 23 Feb 1803 in Greenbrier Co., Virginia.2,8,9 He died between 1847 and 1850 in Kentucky.10,11,12
     Linah appeared on the 1800 tax list of Greenbrier County, Virginia, reported as a white male over 21 years old, owning two horses and two slaves over 16 years old.13 He witnessed numerous sales between other people of land and negros in Greenbrier Co., Virginia, between Nov 1800 and Aug 1810.14
     Linah received 60 acres in Greenbrier Co., Virginia in Greenbrier Co., Virginia, on 25 Mar 1801, from Thomas Arbuckle. The property was located on Burne Creek, on both sides of the road from David McCoy's to John Carrel's. Presumably it was a purchase, but the record does not show that detail. Arbuckle obtained the property as a grant 27 Jun 1800. He was probably not the Thomas Arbuckle who would in a few years be Linah's brother-in-law as he would have been only 16 years old when the warrant on which the grant was based were issued in 1796. It seems more likely he was that Thomas' uncle.15
     Linah Mims apparently formed a short-lived business partnership with Sampson Sawyers, buying and selling land in Greenbrier Co., perhaps along with other interests. In several of the deeds they are identified as "merchants," and in one as "The House of Sawyer and Mims." On 23 Feb 1802 they purchased 320 ac. from John Irwin, for 5£ according to the deed.16 On 2 Mar 1802 James Anderson assigned them his interest in the mortgage of Jacob Kuhn on two tracts, one totaling 1752 ac. for "value received."17 That Mortgage was satisfied and released by them 1 Mar 1803. 18 On 25 Aug 1802 they mortgaged two parcels totaling 491 ac. which they had purchased from Jacob Kuhn to Robert Gamble of Richmond to secure a debt of 574£ 4s 8p owed to him, with 6% interest, due 1 Oct 1803.19 On 22 Feb 1803 they sold both the Irwin and Kuhn properties to Oliver Towley Sr. for 1200£.20 No futher record of transactions by Sawyer and Mims has been found.
     Linah Mims was commissioned on 22 Apr 1805, in Greenbrier Co. as Captain of a troop of cavalry in the Third Regiment and Third Division of the Virginia State Militia.21 He appeared on the 1810 tax list of Greenbrier County, Virginia, reported as a white male over 21 years old, owning four horses and no slaves.22
     Linah Mims and Rebeccah Davis sold 122¾ acres for $1 in Greenbrier Co., Virginia, to her mother, Jane Clendenin on 25 Mar 1811. The property adjoined that of Archibald Rodgers, Lewis's old place, widow Henderick, Williams Handley, Jane Davis, and Andrew Matter, and was part of a survey granted to John Davis, dec'd., for 363 ac. It would appear to be the property Rebeccah had inherited from father in Apr 1800.23
     We know that Linah, and presumably his family, had taken up residence in Richmond by 1812, when he occupied a two-story brick house on F St., between Madison and Jefferson Sts., about a mile from the Capital. The house measured 43 by 23 ft., with a brick smoke behind and a brick stable, 24 by 10 ft., facing on E St. On 29 Feb 1812 he insured it against fire for $4,000, suggesting it was a home of some substance.24
     Linah had a remarkable political career, notable as much for its rapid raise to the top reaches of Virginia government as for its sudden and mysterious end. He served as a representative of Greenbrier Co. in the Virginia House of Delegates sessions of 1 Dec 1806 to 22 Jan 1807, 7 Dec 1807 to 10 Feb 1808, and 3 Dec 1810 to 14 Feb 1811.25
     Many sources tell us that Linah served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, some adding such interesting, though fanciful, details as "to fill an expired term."26 But he doesn't appear in any state records as Lt. Governor, because there was actually no such office under the 1776 Constitution, which was in effect until 1851. The framers of that constitution, reacting to the extensive power of colonial governors, created a weak office of governor, elected by the General Assembly. He was to be "advised" by an eight member Council of State (sometimes called Privy Council) who were also elected by the legislature. There was no office of Lt. Governor, but the President of the Council of State acted in that role during vacancies in the Governor's office, or when the Governor was absent from the seat of government (Richmond).27,28
     Linah was elected to be one of the eight members of the Council of State in Richmond on 8 Jan 1811. The Council was charged with "advising" the Governor, and advise him they did. The Governor met daily, Monday through Saturday, with the Council, except in the hot summer months. The Council approved appointment of local officials such as justices of the peace, sheriffs, and surveyors as proposed by the counties, approved payments for military and administrative supplies, heard appeals of major court cases, and "advised" the Governor on many other matters. Some of these matters today seem minor. For example, on 20 Jun 1811 the Council approved the use of two kegs of gunpowder to celebrate the anniversary of the independence of the United States.29,30
     Oral history passed down one branch of the family says Linah was Lt. Governor as a result of a "tragic opera house fire." In fact, Gov. George William Smith died in a major fire at the Richmond theater the evening of 26 Dec 1811. But Linah did not serve as Lt. Governor at that time. Peyton Randolph, president of the Council, acted as Governor until 4 Jan 1812, when James Barbour was elected as Governor. Linah, as one of the two most junior members of the Council at the time, would have been far down the line of succession.31,32,33
     Linah was elected President of the Council on 28 Jan 1814 replacing Charles Mallory who had resigned two weeks after starting his third term as President.34 There was no vacancy in the office of Governor while Linah was President of the Council, so he does not appear as the "Acting Governor" in the state's record of governors. But he did preside over the Council as Lt. Governor during periods when the Governor was "absent from the seat of government" on four occasions in 1814: 26 Feb - 11 Mar, 16 May - 28 May, 25 Jun - 2 Jul, and 16 Aug - 22 Aug.35 Presumably he carried out other duties of the Governor during those periods as well. We have record of "Lt. Gov. Linah Mims" commissioning George Blow as a justice of the Sussex County Court on 2 Jul 1814.36
     The War of 1812 was in full bloom in Linah's first term as Council President. On 20 Aug 1814, during his forth period as Lt. Governor, he "called the attention of the Board to the formidable fleet of the enemy now within our waters from which it is evident that they might make a descent on our shores with a force of from six to twelve thousand man regular troops, and asked whether it is deemed expedient under existing circumstances to call out a larger force for the protection of the Capital and its vicinity." Whereupon the Council "advised that two thousand men be ordered forthwith to take the field and rendezvous at Richmond with all speed" A few days later the Governor had returned and was asking about the wisdom of moving all un-mounted cannon to a point of greater safety "above the falls." The Council was largely preoccupied with military matters through out the year.37
     On 6 Jan 1815 Linah was unanimously re-elected President of the Council. He served as Lt. Governor during the Governor's absence on five occasions in 1815: 27 Feb - 18 Mar, 2 May - 20 May, 21 Jun - 6 Jul, 12 Sep - 10 Oct, and 15 Nov.38 On 24 Jan 1816 he was unanimously re-elected to his third term as President of the Council. He served as Lt. Governor on two occasions in 1816: 15 Apr - 17 Apr and 11 Dec. On this second occasion he presided at the Council after James Preston was elected Governor, on 10 Dec, and before his installation 12 Dec.39 On 9 Jan 1817 he was unanimously re-elected to his fourth term as President of the Council. That year he served as Lt. Governor on two occasions: 18 Mar - 8 May, and 18 Sep & 1 Oct.40
     There were weeks in which there were no meetings of the Council in the summer and fall of 1817, but Linah missed almost all the meetings that were held. After the 7 Jul meeting, he missed all meetings until 11 Dec, except for returning to preside over the 18 Sep and 1 Oct meetings (there were none in between, but Linah may well have assumed other duties of the absent Governor). It appears he returned specifically because of the Governor's absence. The Governor announced his expected absence at the 16 Aug meeting, and Mr. Daniel, the "senior member of the Council" presided over the 30 Aug meeting, the only one before Linah's return. Once the Governor returned Linah missed all meetings until 11 Dec.41 On 10 Jan 1818 he was unanimously re-elected to a fifth term as President of the Council "and to act as Lieutenant Governor," the first time those terms appear in the Journal. Eleven days later Linah announced to the Council that he would "be absent from the seat of government for some weeks," the first time I found such an announcement by any Council President. He is never listed as attending another meeting.42
     When the Governor was absent at the on 12 Mar 1818 meeting, Mr. Daniels, "senior member of the Council" presided. The Governor announced an absence of "a few weeks" 14 Oct 1818, and no meetings were held until 24, 26, and 27 Oct, when the Council, with "the Governor and Lieut. Governor being both absent from the seat of government," declared an emergency to permit payment of funds to three prisoners just released from prison. A similar issue arose 29 Oct when there was a need to authorize blankets for 13 Indians visiting the city. In each case, no one is shown as presiding at the meetings.43 Finally, on 31 Oct 1818 the Council acted on a letter dated 1 Oct from Linah resigning both his Presidency and as a Member of the Council, and elected Peter Daniel to replace him. There is no record of where the letter was written.44
     Linah and Rebeccah moved to about one mile west of Means' Spring, Christian Co., Kentucky, from Virginia, according to one source, as about 1816 or 1817. Since Linah was regularly in Richmond into the summer of 1817, it would have been at least the latter part of this period. Clearly he was conducting business in Kentucky by the middle of 1818.45,46,47 He sold to Samuel and Thomas Arbuckle in Christian Co., Kentucky, on 25 Jul 1818, for $941 one Negro man Solomand, age about 32 years, and one Negro woman Mary, age about 21 years, and child about 6 months.48 He appears in the tax list of Christian Co., Kentucky, in 1819, 1820, and 1828. In each record there is one white male over 21, with three Blacks in 1819, one in 1820, and none in 1823. The number of horses is four, two, and three, respectively. There is no acreage listed, which seems to indicate that the family lived in town.49
     Linah appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Kentucky, including a household consisting of one white male under age 10, two between 10 and 16 (John and another), one over 45 (Linah); three females under 10 (Julia, Cornelia, and Sarah), one between 10 and 16, and one between 26 and 45 (Rebecca);and one female slave. Three persons were engaged in agriculture.3 He appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Christian Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of on white male between ages 5 and 10 (Rufus), one between 15 and 20, one between 50 and 60 (Linah); and one female between 5 and 10, two between 10 and 15 (Cornelia and Sarah), and one between 15 and 20 (Julia); and one female slave.50
     Linah Mims was sent by General Jackson as agent to the Northwestern Indians in 1832.51 When he returned to Kentucky he moved near his son John, as he appears in the tax list of Caldwell Co., Kentucky, in each year from 1838 to 1847, except 1842. In each record there is one white male over 21, with no slaves or horses, and no acreage listed.52 He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives representing Caldwell Co. for the 1838-39 term. between 1838 and 1839 in Caldwell Co.53 He is probably the male age 60 to 70 who appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., Kentucky, in the household of his son, John Harrison Mims.54

Children of Linah Mims and Rebeccah Davis

Citations

  1. [S1326] Lynah Mims baptism, 1772, Parish Register of Goochland.
  2. [S898] Greenbrier Co. loose papers, marriage bond, Linah Mims and Richard Tyree, 23 Feb 1803.
  3. [S584] Linah Mimms household, 1820 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky.
  4. [S1326] Lynah Mims baptism, 1772, Parish Register of Goochland, shows date.
  5. [S584] Linah Mimms household, 1820 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky, shows only adult male as 45 or above, indicating he was born in 1775 or before.
  6. [S585] Linah Mims household, 1830 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky, shows only adult male as age 50 but under 60, indicating he was born between 1770 and 1780.
  7. [S1798] Jns. H. Mims household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows a white male age 60 to 70 that is apparently him.
  8. [S898] Greenbrier Co. loose papers, marriage permission, Jane Davis, 23 Feb 1803.
  9. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, shows married, but citing Greenbriar Co. Virginia Deed Book 3, pg 33, reports in Jan 1804 "Rebecca Mims, wife of Linah Mims, relinquished her right of dower to land sold ..." Although not perfectly clear, this appears to relate to a sale recorded 22 Feb 1803 in Deed Book 2, pp 601-2.
  10. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, shows after 1830, apparently based on 1830 being the last census in which he is head of household.
  11. [S587] The Caldwell County Kentucky Genealogy Home Page, online, "Mims Tax Records," apparently an extract of Caldwell Co. tax records by an unidentified transcriber, shows Linah on list through 1847.
  12. [S225] Linah not found in 1850 census.
  13. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, citing the 1800 tax list of Greenbrier County, Virginia.
  14. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, citing the Deed Books of Greenbrier County, Virginia.
  15. [S1475] Thomas Arbuckle (1800), Virginia State Land Office Grants, 44:607-8, shows grant issued 27 Jun 1800 based on warrant issued 22 Feb 1796, with notation that Arbuckle delivered it to Lina Mims 25th Mar 1801.
  16. [S1958] John Irwin to Sampson Sawyers and Linah Mims merchants deed, 23 Feb 1802.
  17. [S1959] James Anderson to Sampson Sawyers and Linah Mims mortgage assignment, 2 Mar 1802.
  18. [S1961] Sawyers and Mims to Jacob Kuhn mortgage release, 1 Mar 1803.
  19. [S1962] Sampson Sawyers and Linah Mimms to Allen Taylor and Robert Gamble mortgage, 25 Aug 1802.
  20. [S1960] Sampson Sawyers and Linah Mims merchants and partners to Oliver Towley Sr. deed, 22 Feb 1803, release of dower by Rebecca, wife of Linah Mimms, recorded at 3:33.
  21. [S898] Greenbrier Co. loose papers, certificate by Thomas Creigh, 22 Apr 1805.
  22. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, citing the 1810 tax list of Greenbrier County, Virginia.
  23. [S1956] Linah Mims and Rebekah his wife to Jane Davis deed, 25 Mar 1811.
  24. [S1474] Lina Mimms, Insurance Policy, 29 Feb 1812, Library of Virginia.
  25. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, citing Cynthia Miller Leonard, compiler, The General Assembly of Virginia: July 30, 1619 - January 11, 1978; A Bicentennial Register of Members (Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1978).
  26. [S645] W. P. Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 266, shows he was Lieutenant-Governor Mimms, of Virginia.
  27. [S586] The Library of Virginia, online, "Using Virginia Governors' Records, 1776-1998 (Research Notes Number 11)," describes Governor's office and Council of State.
  28. [S733] William Waller Hening, Statutes at Large; the Laws of Virginia, vol. I, pp 53-54, contains section XI of the Constitution of Virginia, which defines the "Privy Council or Council of State and it's duties.
  29. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 10 Dec 1810-5 Dec 1811, pg 32, shows Linah, having been elected and taken his oath before a justice of the peace, took his seat on the council 8 Jan 1811, and pg 194, show approval of use of gun powder.
  30. [S1035] Sam Mims, "Leaves From The Mims Family Tree", citing Virginia State Papers, vol 10, pg 97, shows Linah and Charles M. Mallory elected to Council of State by General Assembly, took oaths before Dan Z. Hylton, JP, and took their seats, and date.
  31. [S320] Gynger Cook, "Richmond Theater Fire, December 26, 1811," , describes events of theater fire and lists casualties.
  32. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 6 Dec 1811-2 Dec 1812, entry for 28 Dec 1811, shows Resolution proclaiming 30 days mourning for Governor Smith and other citizens lost in the Theater fire. The Council did not meet again until Governor Barbour was seated 4 Jan 1812.
  33. [S734] Scott Haun, "Re: Mims of KY," e-mail to author, 13 Jul 2003, shows "There is a family story that has been passed generation to generation about Lynah Mims as being a acting Gov. of VA for few months due tragic fire at the Opera House in Richmond."
  34. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 9 Dec 1813 - 12 Oct 1814, p 56, 28 Jan 1814.
  35. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 9 Dec 1813 - 12 Oct 1814.
  36. [S648] "Colonel George Blow", shows George Blow's commission as county justice by Lt. Gov. Mims.
  37. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 9 Dec 1813 - 12 Oct 1814, p 315, 20 Aug 1814.
  38. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 13 Oct 1814 - 8 Dec 1815; p 97, 6 Jan 1815 shows election.
  39. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 9 Dec 1815 - 9 Nov 1816; p 32, 24 Jan 1816 shows election.
  40. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 12 Nov 1816 - 8 Dec 1817; p 47, 9 Jan 1817 shows election.
  41. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 12 Nov 1816 - 8 Dec 1817.
  42. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 9 Dec 1817 - 16 Dec 1818: p 35, 10 Jan 1818 shows election; p 44, 21 Jan 1818 shows announcement of impending absence.
  43. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 9 Dec 1817 - 16 Dec 1818.
  44. [S662] Virginia Council of State, Journals, 9 Dec 1817 - 16 Dec 1818; p 239, 31 Oct 1818 show receipt of resignation letter. It appears the letter was "dated the 1st inst." or 1 Oct, though the copy is not good and my reading of the date may be wrong.
  45. [S2030] William Henry Perrin, County of Christian, Kentucky, pg 281, shows Mr. Mimms came from Virginia about 1816-17, and settled about one mile west of Means' Spring.
  46. [S575] Diana Gale Matthiesen, Diana's Genealogy Home Page, citing Christian County Genealogical Society, Christian County, Kentucky, Deed Abstracts of Books G-H-I (1816-1819) (1101 Bethel St., Hopkinsville, KY 42240: Christian Co. Gen. Soc. 1977), pg 128, provides extract of deed dated Jul 1818 in Christian County.
  47. [S575] Diana Gale Matthiesen, Diana's Genealogy Home Page, citing A.B. Willhite. Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1819-1823 (Self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY, n.d.), pp 40, 99, and 228, shows entries from tax list for Linah starting in 1819.
  48. [S575] Diana Gale Matthiesen, Diana's Genealogy Home Page, citing Christian County Genealogical Society, Christian County, Kentucky, Deed Abstracts of Books G-H-I (1816-1819) (1101 Bethel St., Hopkinsville, KY 42240: Christian Co. Gen. Soc. 1977), pg 128, provides extract of deed.
  49. [S575] Diana Gale Matthiesen, Diana's Genealogy Home Page, citing A.B. Willhite. Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1819-1823 (Self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY, n.d.), pp 40, 99, and 228, shows entries from tax list and conclusion that lack of land ownership indicates a city dweller.
  50. [S585] Linah Mims household, 1830 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky.
  51. [S2030] William Henry Perrin, County of Christian, Kentucky, pg 281.
  52. [S587] The Caldwell County Kentucky Genealogy Home Page, online, "Mims Tax Records," an extract of Caldwell Co. tax records by Willis P. (Pat) Oliver, webmaster of the site.
  53. [S1979] Letter, Hardin to Mrs. Newman Smith, 18 Sep 1946.
  54. [S1798] Jns. H. Mims household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  55. [S2021] Jane Davis will, Christian Co. Wills D:181-3, names a grandchild Addison Mims as heir.
  56. [S2030] William Henry Perrin, County of Christian, Kentucky, pg 281, shows Mr. Mimms was the father of Addison Mimms.
  57. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998.
  58. [S2030] William Henry Perrin, County of Christian, Kentucky, pg 281, shows Mr. Mimms was the father of John Mimms.
  59. [S736] Joseph Ord Cresap and Bernarr Cresap, History of the Cresaps, pg 321.
  60. [S2021] Jane Davis will, Christian Co. Wills D:181-3, names a grandson Davis Mims as heir.
  61. [S2030] William Henry Perrin, County of Christian, Kentucky, pg 281, shows Mr. Mimms was the father of David Mimms.
  62. [S2021] Jane Davis will, Christian Co. Wills D:181-3, names a grandchild Juliann Mims as heir.
  63. [S1017] "Dr. Joshua Cobb," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, quoting from the [Louisville] Courier-Journal, shows she was daughter of Lieutenant-Governor Mimms, of Virginia.
  64. [S645] W. P. Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 266, shows she was daugther of Lieutenant-Governor Mimms, of Virginia.
  65. [S2021] Jane Davis will, Christian Co. Wills D:181-3, names a grandchild Cornelia Mims as heir.
  66. [S1042] William Elsey Connelley and E. M. Coulter, History of Kentucky, pg 497.
  67. [S374] Deborah (Cobb) Manley, "RE: The Logan Material," e-mail to Terrence W. Reigel, 20 Feb 2000, citing 10 July 1860 census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, Robert L. Cobb household listing Sarah P. Tyler; Scott Haun, email 12 Jul 1998, citing Ila Earle Fowler, compiler, Kentucky Pioneers and Their Descendants (Kentucky Society, Daughters of Colonial Wars, 1998) listing the marriage of Sarah Jane Mims to Marcus M. Tyler; and E. Dean Savoini, email3 Feb 2000, reporting the 1850 census of Trigg Co., Kentucky, pg 130 shows household of M.M. and Sarah J. Tyler and includes several children with surnames Mimms and Cobb; concluding that the three reports of Sarah are the same person and that she was the daughter of Col. Linah Mins.
  68. [S2021] Jane Davis will, Christian Co. Wills D:181-3, names a granddaughter Sarah Jane Mims as heir.
  69. [S2021] Jane Davis will, Christian Co. Wills D:181-3, names a grandchild Rufus Mims as heir.
  70. [S700] "Marriage Index: KY, NC, TN, VA, WV 1728-1850," Genealogy.com, shows name as R. E. Mims.

 

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