On November 21, 1789 North Carolina became the twelth state to ratify the  Constitution.  In 1840, it completed the state capitol building in Raleigh, still  standing today.  Unlike many other Southern states, North Carolina never developed a  dominant slaveholding aristocracy, and middle-class yeomen tended to control the  state government.  While slaveholding was less concentrated than in some Southern  states, the 1860 census showed 33% of the population was African American who lived and worked chiefly in the eastern Tidewater.  Until the 1860's, North Carolina  had more small farms and fewer plantations than adjacent South Carolina and  Virginia.  (More information available Wikipedia)

During the 1800's in Sandy Ridge township, North Carolina, Lewis (Louis) Lilly and  his wife Ann Wilson sired many children.  As far as we can substantiate they were  named as follows:  Daisy, Walter, Mary, Amy, Pansy (Panzie), Will, Henry, Marshal,  Sam, Frances, Annie, and George.

We are centering this tree on George Lilly as a result of  information gathered at  family reunions over the past 8 years.

George Lilly worked the farm along with his father,  He chose as his bride, Roseanna  Summers, the daughter of Martin and Lucybelle Summers.  It is said that Roseanna's   father Martin Summers, ethnicity listed as American, (which referred to the Indians  already in this country), wed Lucybelle, Who as far as we know was an  Indian squaw.  Roseanna's siblings were Hannah Summers-(Davis)-Davidson, Charlie  Summers, Will Johnson, Frances Summers Johnson, Mary Summers Johnson-Clyburn, Frank  Summers Johnson, Ed Summers, Hattie (Tiny) Summers-Ingram, Mattie Summers-Alsobrooks  and Bertha Daniels-Cuthbertson

It is not clear when or how Martin Summers left the picture, nor is it clear as to  when Lucybelle married Will "Sloop" Joihnson, but Roseanna and George  were married in 1891 and a copy of their marriage license is in our photo file.  This  license shows her name as Roseanna Johnson of Monroe Township with her parents named  as William Johnson and Lucy Johnson. Meanwhile, her brother Will Johnson married in  1898 and listed his parents as Martin Summers and Lucy Summers of Monroe Township.   Both licenses are in the album.
 We are certain of our indian roots and are working on finding more information on our  roots in slavery.

According to George's sister, Annie Lilly Cown, in a conversation August 15, 1995  with JC Lilly, she said her grandmother was a "tall white looking woman" and her  grandfather was an indian.  She also said she was named after her grandmother,Annie.

Further, while researching early census records, we find a variation in the spelling  of our surname, notably the census of 1880, LILLEY, and in later records , LILLY.

With more good research and with your help, we will be able to expand this  tree to reflect our large, beautiful, colorful family and really enjoy our family   history.

I am looking forward to hearing from all of you.

Connie