What sources did you use?  The name Lynum invites many varied spellings,
which adds to the difficulties of research. I would suggest that you
search Westmoreland County since his name shows up there as shown by the
entries below. Properties often straddled county lines or the owner
owned land in one other county outside of his county of residence.
Lynum's name did not show up in York Co. (from which Northumberland Co.
was formed), but might be listed in Lancaster County. I have scanned
only a few sources for both Northumberland and Westmoreland Counties
during my lunch break, and at the risk of repeating what you may already
know, am repeating the information. Hope this will help direct you for
future research in Westmoreland County, etc.

Northumberland:

1. Beverley Fleet, "Virginia Colonial Abstracts: Vol. XIX, Northumbria
Collectanea 1645-1720," p. 31: A deed of Alexander Cumins and others
dated 7 Apirl 1707, referred to the history of the land ownership, which
included a sale of the land from Paul Littlefield who assigned it to
John Lyinum (Lenham? Lynum?), 19 Feb. 1678/9.  John Lyinum and his wife
Jane sold the same on 9 Feb. 1685/6 to John Multon /Muttoone...
Page 114 mentioned that John Lyinum (Lenham? Lynum?)and Jane  were
living 19 Feb. 1678/9 and on 9 Feb. 1685/6.  

2. Lindsay O. Duvall, "Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Series II, Vol. I,
Northumberland County Orders 1678-1713," p. 36: Court 16 May 1694, Jno.
Lynum, impotent and por, freed from levy.

3. W. Preston Haynie, "Records of Indentured Servants and of
Certificates for Land: Northumberland County, Virginia 1650-1795," p.
170: 22 April 1697, John Webb in suit against William Wood who was a
servant of a John Lenham by convenant ca. November 1694...Wood then a
runaway from Lenham...and recaptured...Webb wants satisfaction for the
charges...Wood promised to serve six more months after conclusion of his
contract to pay for these charges...Webb then paid Lenham but so far
Wood has not kept his promise to pay Webb.  This is found in the
original order book, OB 1678-98, Par 2, p. 768.

Westmoreland:

1. John F. Dorman, "Westmoreland County, Virginia Order Book
1675/6-1688/9, Part 2, 1679-1682," p. 83: William Wood, orphan,
consented to be bound to John Lenham in the trade of a bricklayer for
eight years.

2. Same source, Part 4, 1684/5-1685/6, has entries about Lenham vs.
other parties in unspecified lawsuits.

3. John F. Dorman, "Westmoreland County, Virginia, Deeds & Wills No. 2
1691-1699," p. 22, the Lamkins describe neighbors along the branches of
Youcomoco in parish...the lands of John Lenham, William Walker and
others.

Page 87: John Lenham of Cople Parish, sick and weak, made will dated 4
Oct. 1692. The tract he now lives on, 50 acres, to loving wife Joshan
[sic] as well as personal estate.  Witnesses Henry Rosse, John Selfe.
Proved 29 March 1699 and probate given to Josham [sic] Lenham,
executrix.

Page 89: 24 June 1699, Robert Isles of Cople Parish, weaver, and Joshuan
[sic], his wife, to Rodger Tilson of same, bricklayer... Sold 65 acres
which was laid out between Robert Bennett and John Lenham, deceased,
former husband of said Joshuan...and by John Lenham bought of Robert
Bennet...ner te head of Boice his swmp in the forest of Youcomoco in the
parish of Cople.  Acknowledged 28 June 1699.

It would appear that Jane was his first wife and then Joshuan unless
"Jane" was an English version of Joshuan...

Katharine E. Harbury
The Dictionary of Virginia Biography
The Library of Virginia
Richmond, VA 
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Keith Josef Adkins
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 7:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: LYNHAM HOUSE of NORTHUMBERLAND

Hello. I'm desperately trying to unearth facts about a John Lynum of
Northumberland County circa 1680. 
The historic Lynham House was built on his land.  

Is there any specific tool or route I can use to unearth John Lynum in
17th century Virginia?
I've been looking under and behind every record and I can't find him [or
his wife Jane].

There was a large clan of Lynams in Delaware, but it's not clear if they
were in Delaware during or before John Lynum's tenure. And these Lynams
were allegedly Swedish and Quaker.

Thank you,

Keith Josef Adkins
Ayers-Lynem Family Historian/Screenwriter