Frequently Asked Questions About the Family of J42-James Jasper Lance, Sr.

Where and when was James Jasper Lance, Sr., born?

Compiled by Donald Lynn "Don" Lance, December 30, 1998

Traditionally, it has been said that J42 - James Jasper Lance was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Indeed, this seems to be supported by such data as the 1850 Warren County Tennessee census, which lists James' birthplace as North Carolina. However, after an examination of other data in the Carolinas by Lentz/Lance researchers, other evidence seems to indicate that J42 - James Jasper Lance was born in Pendleton County, South Carolina, and that his family moved to Buncombe County, North Carolina sometime afterwards (probably 1798-1800). In addition, the 1860 Warren County TN census lists J42 - James Jasper Lance as being born in South Carolina, information gathered just 10 years after the census that recorded his birthplace as North Carolina.

Census records from Warren County TN indicate that J42 - James Jasper Lance was born circa 1791, when his family was definitely living in South Carolina. Another Lentz/Lance researcher has located a date of October 25, 1791, as the birth date for J42 - James Jasper Lance [LENTZ HERITAGE, Chapter VI, Page 39]. This date apparently came from the original tombstone of James Jasper Lance at Ivy Bluff Cemetery in Warren County, Tennessee, and has had no collaboration from any other source.

John Paul Lentz summarizes: "All seem to agree that James Jasper Lance was born in 1791, some have guessed it in Buncombe County, NC, but the families were in Pendleton County, S.C. at this time where they show on the 1790 census there. I have been told that the South Carolina census of 1790 was two (2) years delayed and accounts for them showing males over age 18 and those under age 18, while other states show them as over 16 and under 16" [Letter by John Paul Lentz to Robert A. Lentz and other researchers, Page 1, March 20, 1989]

The1790 Pendleton County, SC, census lists four Lince families: P3 - John Lince, P4 - Samuel Lince, J1 - Peter Lince, and J4 - Henry Lince. (Lince was used by the English recordkeepers in South Carolina for the German Lentz surname, while Lance was used in Buncombe County NC.) Additional evidence supports that J4 - Henry Lentz/Lince/Lance, the father of J42 - James Jasper Lance, was in Pendleton County, South Carolina during this time and so this Henry could only belong to J - John Lentz, Sr. (See the FAQ on J4 - Henry Lentz for this supporting evidence.) The household of J4 - Henry Lentz in 1790 according to the Pendleton County, SC, census was: 1 male over 18 (J4 - Henry Lentz), 1 under 18, and 1 female (Henry's wife).

At first impression, the child under age 18 listed on the 1790 SC census may not appear to be J42 - James Jasper Lance since he was born circa 1791. However, one must remember that the SC census was two years late, taking place in circa 1792, and that the census apparently was altered to account for children under age 18 instead of age 16 as in other states. Since his family shows on the census, this means that the family of J4 - Henry Lentz was still in Pendleton County, SC, in circa 1792 (apparently after the birth of J42 - James in 1791) and it is possible that J42 - James Jasper Lance was counted as the person under age 18. This led to the following comments by John Paul Lentz: "We must assume that the male age under 18 in 1790 is James Jasper accounted for in a census that was 2 years late and not in 1790" [Letter by John Paul Lentz to Robert A. Lentz and other researchers, Page 1, March 20, 1989]

Therefore, this data alone suggests:

Continuing the examination of the J4 - Henry Lentz family: The 1800 Buncombe County NC census lists his family. This Henry here in Buncombe County NC has to be the same one in the 1790 South Carolina census and can only belong to the family of J - John Lentz, Sr. (See the FAQ on J4 - Henry Lentz for supporting evidence.) J4 - Henry's family is then listed as:

It is believed that the "1 female age 16-26" belonged to another family, perhaps a younger sister of J4 - Henry Lentz or other relatives. (Children were often "loaned" to help with small children; remember that the above 1800 census numbers indicate that J4 - Henry and his wife had 1 more son and 5 daughters in 10 years since the 1790 SC census. They might have needed some help around the house!)

Note that J42 - James Jasper Lance would be counted as under age 10 in the 1800 census. This census does not have the rumored 2-year gap that the 1790 South Carolina census had, and J42 - James would be at most age 9 at the time of the census. The 1800 census data therefore indicates that J42 - James Jasper Lance was not the oldest son. He had an unidentified older brother who was the one counted in the 1790 census. Other research seems to indicate that this older brother was named Martin, born circa 1790. (See my notes on J41 - Martin Lance for this information.)

Also note that if Henry and his wife were married circa 1787, this would allot enough time for their first son to be born by 1790, followed by a child almost every year after that.   New couples didn't waste any time in those days, because large families had a marked economic advantage.

So - in summary, the current research supports that J42 - James Jasper Lance was J4 - Henry Lentz's second son. In addition, the evidence seems to support that J42 - James Jasper Lance was indeed born in Pendleton County, South Carolina, on October 25, 1791.

Go Back to Main James Jasper Lance, Sr., Genealogy Page

These Pages Were Constructed by Donald "Don" Lynn Lance (J42363241), a Descendant of J42-James Jasper Lance, Sr.
For more information on the family of James Jasper Lance Sr., visit the main web page at http://TheLances.org/roots/jamesjasper.html.
Questions regarding the content of these pages can be directed to me at info@TheLances.org, or visit my personal web site at http://TheLances.org.