Source Information: Notable Southern Families, Volumes I-II. Richmond, VA: n.p., 1918.

JOHN LYLE.

John Lyle, second of the emigrant brothers and second son of James Lyle and Margaret Snoddy, of County Antrim, Ireland, was born about 1720, in Ireland. He married in Ireland, Jean Owens, a daughter of William Owens, and his wife, Matilda Knox, (of the same family of Janet Knox, who was John Lyle's grandmother by her marriage to Samuel Lyle in 1680, or about that date). John Lyle and his wife emigrated to Virginia about 1745. They settled on Timber Ridge, now Rockbridge County, Virginia, adjoining the property of his brother, Matthew Lyle. Like all the Lyles, John was a Presbyterian and helped to establish the faith in Virginia. He worked on the Presbyterian Church of Timber Ridge, which was built on lands given by his brother, Mathew. He died in 1758 and was survive for forty years by his widow. Their children were:

(1) John Lyle.
(2) William Lyle.
(3) Martha Lyle.
(4) Elizabeth Lyle.
(5) Sarah Lyle.
(6) Esther Lyle.

Of the foregoing:

John Lyle married Flora Reid, and had children; William Lyle married Nancy Agnes Gilmore and had children; Martha Lyle was left in Ireland with her maternal grand-parents, Owens, when John Lyle and his wife emigrated to Virginia, she married in Ireland, Robert Russell and emigrated with him to Virginia. She returned to Ireland, however, and died there; she had children; Elizabeth Lyle married Samuel Ramsey and had children; Sarah Lyle married her cousin, James Lyle, son of Daniel Lyle, the emigrant, and had children; Esther Lyle married Samuel Keys and had children.
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His will was proven in Court August 16, 1758. His wife outlived him 49 years, and died August 29, 1807. The will of John Lyle reads as follows:
"In the name of God, Amen. This 14th day of February, Anno Domini 1758, I, John Lyle, of Augusta County, and Colony of Virginia, Yeoman, being sick and weak of body, but of a perfect mind and memory, thanks Almighty God therefor, calling to mind my mortality, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. That is to say, principally and first of all, I recommend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the dust, to be decently interred, not doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and, for such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me, I leave, bequeathe and dispose of the same in manner and form following:
"FIRST, I order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my Executors. Imprimis, I give and bequeathe unto my beloved wife, Jean, one-third of all my movable estate, and her maintenance, or living, on my plantation during her life. I give ; and bequeathe unto my two sons, John and William, my plantation containing 524 acres, to be divided betwixt them as a line shall be drawn by my direction; that is to say, that my son John shall have all my improvements, except a small draught of meadow, which shall be in my son William's part, and that side of the plantation more or less from said line, and that my son William shall have the other end of the plantation from said line Westward, more or less, where no improvement is made, except said meadow. I order also that my son John shall bear one-half the cost of building a convenient dwelling house for my son William, and also one-half the cost of clearing and fencing a field of ten acres, for my said son William. I also order that my above sons, John and William, pay ten pounds currency, each of them, out of their estate, to be equally divided amongst my four daughters, viz: Martha, Elizabeth, Sarah and Esther, that each have an equal share thereof. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my beloved wife, Jean, with Daniel Lyle and Archibald Alexander, as executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all other Wills heretofore made by me, and hereby confirming this as my last Will and Testamen
JOHN LYLE (Seal).
Published and pronounced in the presen
MATTHEW LYL
SAMUEL LYL
ROBERT (his) LUS

(mark)
Entered for record Aug' 16, 1758.
Pursuant to order of Court the estate of John Lyle was appraised Nov. 15, 1758, by John Lapsley, Robert Lusk, John Mackey, and Robert Houston. Total 108 pounds, 1 shilling and 3 pence. No slaves. John Lyle was a man of considerable force, and character, and highly esteemed. Was a signer to the call on Rev. John Brown in 1753, and a subscriber to his support. Was prominent in establishing the Presbyterian Church in Virginia, and an Elder in the church on Timber Ridge that he helped to build. His lands were processioned in 1755 as 524 acres. Asc' issue: John, see 2; William, see 88; Martha, see 173; Elizabeth, see 177; Sarah, see 358; Esther, see 359.