Darby Lux I

Lux Coat of Arms

Capt. Darby Lux I (1695–1750) was a mariner, merchant, and Justice of Baltimore County, Maryland.

Capt. Lux was the son of an English clergyman. Capt. Lux was born in Kenton Parish, Devonshire, England on June 15, 1695. He was christened on June 30, 1696 in Kenton. Darby immigrated in the early 1720s, and settled in Anne Arundel County. He was a mariner by occupation from 1720-1742.

Marriage

Darby married Ann Saunders (1700-1785) on May 16, 1722. Ann was born May 16, 1700 and died October 30, 1784. Ann was the daughter of Robert Saunders (d. 1755) and Rebeckath Groom (d. 1752).

Career

Darby became a member of the South River Club, and was termed a Gentleman by 1743. Lux was commander of several ships involved in transporting tobacco from Anne Arundel County to Great Britain on general consignment of specifically consigned to Jonathan Forward, merchant of London. These ships included: Gilbert, 1720-1722; Jonathan, 1723-1724; Patapsco Merchant, 1732; and Genoa Galley, 1738. On March 17, 1730 he arrived in Baltimore with 106 prisoners from the Newgate Prison, London, Middlesex Co., England. He moved to Baltimore Town in 1743, becoming a prominent merchant, and being commissioned a captain. Lux acted as attorney in Maryland for other mariners and for Jonathan and James Forward of London, merchants.

Lux became a merchant importing goods from England and shipping Maryland products from his wharf on Light Street in Baltimore Town, which was named in his honor (Lux is Latin for light). He may have also owned a ropewalk in Baltimore. Lux owned the ship “Baltimore Town”, the first Baltimore owned ship to sail from that port. In 1733 he sailed to London aboard the sloop “Baltimore Town”, which carried twenty guns and a crew of forty. His house which was located at 43-44 Light Street, and ship are shown in the contemporary sketch "Baltimore In 1752" painted by Lt. Col. John Moale, Jr., Esq. (1731-1798), in 1752, and engraved in 1817 by William Strickland.

Baltimore in 1752. Engraved in 1851 by William Strickland, from contemporary sketch by John Moale (1731-1798)

Darby was a vestryman of St. Paul’s Parish, and was a Commissioner of Baltimore town from 1744-1747, and again in 1750. Lux was also a Justice in Baltimore County, and at the same time served as a member of the Lower House of the General Assembly from 1749-1750. Capt.

Death

Lux died October 14, 1750 of pleurley, in his 53rd year having served as a Magistrate and Representative of Baltimore County. At this time, Darby had accumulated 1,252 acres (5 km²) of land in Baltimore, Frederick, and Dorchester counties, plus 2 lots in Baltimore Town. Included in this were: 10 acres (40,000 m²) of “Mactington”; 450 acres (1.8 km²) of “Derbyshire”; 100 acres (0.40 km²) of “Groome’s Chance”; and “Lux’s Conveniency”. His estate was valued at 555.9.1 pounds sterling, 3,489.16.0 pounds current money, and 1,683 pounds of tobacco, including 4 servants, 11 slaves, “sundry European goods”, books, the sloop Baltimore Town, the schooner Polly, and a vessel under construction. The Lux coat of arms included three mullets with a beast rampant in the base.

Children

1. Mary Lux (ca. 1723).

2. Elizabeth Lux (1725-1793), who married Capt. Daniel Bowley (1715-1745).

3. Sarah Lux (ca. 1727-ca. 1734), who died young.

4. Capt. William Lux, Sr., Esq. (1730-1778), who married Agnes Walker (1731-1785), daughter of George Walker and Mary Price.

5. Ann Lux (1736), who married Nicholas Ruxton Gay (died 1770), a surveyor of Baltimore, Maryland.

6. Lt. Col. Darby Lux II (1737-1795), who married Rachel Ridgely (1734-1813), daughter of Col. Charles Ridgely II, "Charles The Merchant" (1702-1772) of "Ridgely’s Whim", and his first wife, Rachel Howard (ca. 1696-1750).

7. Sarah Lane Lux (1738-1817) of "Furley Hall", Baltimore, Maryland. Sarah married Capt. Alexander Stewart (died 1769).

8. Robert Lux (ca. 1739-1796).

9. Rebecca Lux (d.ca. 1780), who married Col. Daniel Hughes (died 1818).

10. Frances Lux (1748-1793), who married William Russell.

11. Jane Lux, no further information.

Ancestry

Capt. Darby Lux I, was the son of William Lux II, Vicar (ca. 1657-1714) and his wife Elizabeth. At the age of 18, William matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, England. He received his B.A. in 1678 and his M.A. in 1682. William served as Vicar of Kenton, Devonshire, England.

William II, was the son of William Lux I and his wife Wilmot ? (d. 1703). William resided at his estate “Ippleden”, located in Devonshire, England.

References

Persondata
Name	Lux I, Darby
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1695
Place of birth
Date of death	1750
Place of death