Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

In my simple quest to figure out who the Joseph Pitman was who signed the will of William Anderson in 1789 I’ve ran into the problem of figuring out the “big picture” of the Pitmans in general.  One of which is the William Pitman who “seems” to inherit some property from his father-in-law Andrew Ross next to William Anderson.

The Problem Ross…  (I added a Page to the right)

In my copy of the original survey of William Anderson’s property in 1752 is the reference to “joyning the Lands of Andrew Ross”.

Abstract Number 1083 – Page 256

Andrew Ross 25 March 1749, 200 acres in Edgecombe County. OR: Andrew Ross

Wits: Saml Williams Jr, D. Weldon. Survyed 10 March 1748. CC: David

Cooper, James Ross JOS Lane Surveyor

That seems reasonable but its not very specific…  BUT WAIT!

Abstract Number 1078 – Page 255

Andrew Ross 25 March 1749, 380 acres in Edgecombe County, joining Henry Horn and both sides of Stony Creek. OR: /s/ Andrew Ross Wits: Saml Williams Jr,

D Weldon surveyed 21 April 1749 (sic) CC: Abraham Evans, James Ross, Joseph

Lane, Surveyor

Stony Creek is just west of the Nash/Edgecombe border, just north of the town of Rocky Mount… roughly eight miles or so from the above Swift Creek property

Abstract Number 1081 – Page 255

Andrew Ross 28 February 1761, 166 acres in Edgecombe County in the Parish of

St. Mary on both sides of Stony Creek, joining Ross’s line and Jacob Barns.

OR: /s/ (mark followed by designation “William Pittman heirs”) Wit: Jno

Lesslie examined by: Dun Lamon surveyed 20 December 1752. SCC: Benja Bunn,

Samuel Skiner. Jno Haywood Dep Surveyor

…must be a son or some other relative…  but we notice that William Pitman inherited this property…   BUT WAIT!

Abstract Number 1098 – Page 259

Daniel Ross 16 March 1761, 160 acres in Edgecombe County in St. Mary Parish,

joining Stephen Batchelor and both sides of Sappony Creek OR: /s/ (mark

followed by designation “William Pittman heirs”) Wit: Geo Brown examined

by: Dun Lamon surveyed 24 May 1760 SOC: William Hendrick, William Vessler

W. Haywood Surveyor (?)

…so William Pitman inherits this property also… it is located several miles southwest of the town of Rocky Mount on Sapony Creek…

1762

pd.  The last Will & Testament of Danl. ROSS deceased was produced into Court by Willoby TUCKER and Wm. PITMAN two of the Exrs. therein named and prov’d by the Oath of Sherd. HAYWOOD Esqr. & the affermation of Mary ROSS two of the Witnesses thereto subscribed and the Exrs. took the Oath by Law required for their Qualification and took upon themselves the Burthen of the Execution thereof.

The Will of Andrew RASS (sic) decd. was produced into Court by Sarah RASS (sic) one of the Exrs. and the same is proved by the Oaths of John MOOR & Thos. PRICE two of ye. subscribing witnesses and the sd. Exx. took the necessary Quallification and  returned an Inventory of the Estate of sd. Andrew RASS.

Thomas Price was a neighbor at the Swift Creek plantation…

1763 Jan. Court

Ordred that Duncan LAMON, James RIX & “William”(crossed out) Jacob HILLIARD or any two of them meet & divide the Estate of Andrew ROSS jur. Decd. among the Proper Representative_ of sd. ROSS & return.  [6] Ibid., Vol 2

All these folks are living either at the Stony Creek property and/or at the Sapony Swamp property.

But then again. I’m really interested in the William Pitman…

1763       9 Jul. WILLIAM (X) PITMAN AND JUDETH (X) PITMAN of Edgecome Co. to John Hatcher, Junr. of same, for 33/6/8 Proc. money a tract of 160 acres on Sapony Creek adjoining Stephen Batchelor, it being the whole of a Granville grant to Daniel Ross bearing date March 17, 1761, and by said Daniel Ross given to Andrew Ross in his last will, and by said Andrew Ross given to said Judith Pitman in his last will. Wit: Artur (X) PITMAN, John Hatcher, William Defnal. DB C, p. 60.

Of course now I have to figure out who this Artur Pitman is…..

…and some people wonder why I drink…

A couple of quotes I find interesting…

Report by George Burrington concerning general conditions in North Carolina

Burrington, George, 1680-1759

January 01, 1733

Colonial and State Records of North Carolina  Volume 03, Pages 429-437

…Plantations continue to sell very cheap, those with Houses, Barns, Orchards, Gardens, Pasture, and Tillage grounds fenced: yield about thirty or forty pistoles; Notwithstanding the work done upon them, oft’ times has cost four times as much. The reason why they yield no more is, that several People chuse to remove into fresh Places, for the Benefit of their Cattle, and Hogs, which is a great convenience to new Comers, who may always buy convenient settlements; for less mony then the buildings, and other improvements could be made.

A few years past a Planter removed from Virginia into this Government, he bought eleven inhabited Plantations, adjoyning each other in the old settlements; on the said Plantations lived almost one hundred white People when I was here formerly, now all removed into new settlements, this Purchaser has no white Person in his family except a wife, and not more then ten Negroes, yet keeps all the Plantations in his own management; by this and many other instances I am able to give, it appears how easy a man that has a little mony may purchase much Land in North Carolina.

…Land is not wanting for men in Carolina, but men for land.

_________________________________

http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/SECTIONS/hp/Colonial/Bookshelf/murray/preface.htm

Letters of James Murray, Loyalist

JAMES MURRAY TO WILLIAM ELLISON,  BRUNSWICK, 14th Febry, 1735/6.

“…If he can find land, he may have 10 times that quantity; if not, he will get none that is worth while, nor no body else, for people that are aquaint with ye country only know where ye vacant land is, so they get a warrant survey & patents & then screw as much as they can from a stranger for it, who in his turn serves others the same way.”

James Murray (1713-1781) emigrated to the Cape Fear region of North Carolina as a young Scot in 1736. For the next 29 years Murray was a moderately successful merchant, planter, and government official in the colony.

Murray was appointed to several minor offices almost as soon as he arrived in North Carolina. By 1739 he was a member of the provincial council, of which he became president in 1754, and at various times served as secretary and associate justice of the General Court. His conflict with Governor Arthur Dobbs and disappointed hopes of himself becoming chief justice moved him to quit the colony in 1765. Murray joined relatives in Boston and remained there until 1776, spending the few remaining years of his life as a loyalist refugee in Nova Scotia.

LETTER FROM JOHN EGAN TO COL. JAMES BLOUNT, COL. OF CHOWAN MILITIA.

Mrs. Parsons, Apl. the 2nd, 1779.

Dear Colonel, I am very much surprised at the delay of these men that you should have sent over to me. I have been here now a whole week and not a man yett. I am much afraid you leave it to Some Body Else to Doe—while you Doe you never will gett them to gether for the are a sett of lazy Raskalls that hate to leave the fire side. You promised me you would turn out in search of them vr self for if you Doe not you never will get them together. All the troops on this side is a marching every day, the last of them is gone this Day for Kingston. Consider Colonel I am a poor young fellow and am all this time at my own expence in a tavern. I can’t afford it any longer and hope you will take my case into Consideration. Pray Sir if you can’t gett anney more men pray Lett me Know that T may if you think proper sett off without anny.

Yr. Humble Servt.,

JOHN EGAN. To James Blount, Esq.,

Col. of the Militia in Chowan.

……………………………..

TABLE OF RATES FOR ORDINARIES, 1746.

North Carolina, Ju\y Chowan Court 1746.

Chowan County—Ss.

Present His Majesty’s Justices.

It was then and there ordered, That the Several Ordinary Keepers ‘1 ake out a Copy of ye following Rates and Keep the same up according to Law, viz as each is to take and receive for. £ s d

Maderia wine p Quart & so in proportion 12 6

Vidonia Wine p Quart & so in proportion 10

Carolina Cyder per Quart 2 6

Northern Cyder per Quart 5 0

Strong Malt Beer of America p Quart or bottle 50

A diet of fresh meat, wheat Bread & small Beer 60

Lodging p. night 2 6

A Gallon of Oats or Corn 26

Pasturage or stabling a horse p. night 1 5 0

Claret p. bottle 1 5 0

A Breakfast 50

Rum p. gallon & so in proportion 2 10 0

A Quart of Flip with half pint of Rum on it 50

Strong Malt Beer or Porter of Great Britain, Quart or bottle 7 6 A Quart of Punch with Loaf Sugar, Lime Juice & -^ Pint

Rum 76

A Quart of Punch with Brown Sugar 5 0

British Ale or Beer Bottled or wired in Great. Britain. … 10 0

N. B. Tf any person or persons presume to take any higher or greater price for Liquors than above rated, on complaint and proof thereof made before any two Justices of ye peace within the said County, shall forfeit their Lycences and further be Lyable to the Penalties by Law prescribed.

By order. JAS. CRAVEN, Clk. Cur.

(One has to sympathize with the poor fellow… with the war surrounding him and all the quality likker obviously embargoed by this time, he must have been grievously struggling to down the sorry Carolina swill then available.)

This seems to be him in 1797:

Edge. Co. Db 9, page 335, deed date 25 Mar 1797, recorded Feb Ct 1800, John Haywood, Raleigh, NC to Michael Williams, Edge. Co for $250, a tract on the west side of Deloachs Branch containing (220) acres being part of a tract which Joseph Pitman presently lives & being the whole of the land belonging to the said Haywood on the west side of Deloachs Branch except that part where Joseph Pitman lives, containing 25 acres, signed John Haywood, wit S. Haywood, John Hudson. Abstracted 9-27-06, NCA film C.037.40009, CTC.

This area was a mile or three from where William Anderson moved in 1787 from the Swift Creek plantation (which he evidently left to his son William).

An old email friend has joined in the comments…W Cary Anderson. Welcome to this motley group of Anderson orphans :).   He descends from Nathan, a son of Peter.

Concerning one of his questions:

These 2 records pretty much dispel a connection between the John Anderson and Susannah Anderson of this time period.  I can’t even say that this John is the same as the Roanoke River area because there was another John in what was to become Martin County (son of Robert Anderson…unproven), who could easily have witnessed the deed.

A George Cockburn of Bertee Co. NC bought 299 acres from Robert Anderson of Tyrrell joining Samuel Taylor. Witnesses wereFrancis Hobson and John Anderson. It was probated or registered in Jun court of 1744. Another deed on pg 249 from Robert Anderson planter of Tyrrell Co. to George Cockburn planter of same is dated 3 Sep 1744. It too is for 299 acres which had been a patent to said Anderson 20 Nov 1739, on north side of Flat Swamp.

Any connection of this John to Carolus Anderson is tenuous at best because Carolus had only one son who died early.

1745 Susannah Anderson

State Records

Secretary of State Record Group

Land Office: Land Warrants, Plats of Survey, and Related Records

Edgecombe County

200 Acres

Apr. 11, 1745

………………………….

May 27, 1745 William Baker of Nans. Co., Va. to Carolus Anderson of N/H Co, NC 10 pds. of Va. currency, 460 A S/S Meh. Riv., N/S Little Swamp, Adj. Thomas Liles, part of patent to John Nelson for 500 A Apr 1, 1723 Wit: Arthur Whitehead, John Anderson

But there I go “assuming” again… the John of Roanoke last shows up in 1738 which leaves a possibility of a connection to Susannah…. a gap from 1738 to 1745 exists, unexplained, between these 2 Johns.   Did he die or show up around the Nuese River?