Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

I’ve been making a case that Tarboro was early on in Bath County… scroll down a few posts to “The Theory” for some background. Traci Thompson has a raised eyebrow at my musings but she is slowly coming around… she is a history librarian in those parts 🙂 If my little theory pans out then James Anderson could be “one of” if not “the” Founder of the town of Tarboro. Back when Bath County was cool it was all about trading with the Indians…

The recent discovery of Blackbeard’s Queen Ann’s Revenge has prompted some historical interest in the old town of Bath:

“Because Bath County was separated from Albemarle County by nearly fifty miles of swampy wilderness –this is one of the least populated and most isolated areas in the state to this day — the settlements had to communicate by water using the sounds and rivers. Bath’s economy was based on the fur trade with the Tuscarora and smaller Amerindian tribes in the region.” p9, http://www.qaronline.org/techSeries/QAR-R-07-03.pdf

“The dominance of the Indian fur trade and provisions early in the century is illustrated by Thomas Pollock’s outbound cargo to Boston in 1704. It consisted of 244 barrels of pork, deerskins, furs, and leather, plus another shipment primarily of 2690 dressed deerskins and some furs.” p10, http://www.qaronline.org/techSeries/QAR-R-07-03.pdf

“When Bath became a refugee center during the Tuscarora War, a fort was constructed near the end of the peninsula. At war’s end the ravaged county was desolate, but settlers returned to rebuild their plantations, farms, and homes. Bath experienced a moderate recovery, stimulated by the reincorporation of 1715 and a re-survey. New prominent residents were Governor Charles Eden, Maurice Moore, Edward Moseley, Thomas Pollock and Dr. Edward Travis.Christopher Gale sold his plantation and became a full-time resident. By the next year, new merchants, tradesmen, and artisans were attracted to the town by the establishment of Port Bath, the first port of entry for the colony. p13, http://www.qaronline.org/techSeries/QAR-R-07-03.pdf

Thomas Pollock did alright for himself… check out his will of 1722:    http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr22-0066#p22-290
He could also be ruthless…

Minutes of the Virginia Governor’s Council [Extracts], including correspondence between Edmund Jenings and William Glover
Virginia. Council
September 02, 1707
Volume 01, Pages 667-671

“Information was brought hither that one Collo Pollock of Carolina with about sixty armed men in an hostile manner sett upon the Maherine Indian towne makeing all the Indians that were therein prisoners and so keeping them pent up for two days in a small fort till with the straitness of the place the excessive heat of the weather and their want of Water they were almost famished, threatening further to burn their Cabbins and destroy their Corne if they did not remove from that place and to show that he meant to be as good as his word he pulled down some of their Cabbins and broke and destroyed such poor furniture as the Indians had therein, and to make that Action the more unaccountable (to give it no more name) the said Pollock had the assurance to affirm he had the Queens order for what he did.”

Christopher Gale dabbled in the trade also…    http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr22-0545

“…I cood wish Bro. Miles were w’th me Just now, for Tomorrow’s light I sett out upon an Indian Voiage, in ord’r to followe a shallop’s load off Indian goods, w’ch I sent away about 2 Months agoe for Cape Fare River, w’ch Voiage wood make him an expert Carolina Coaster, & Inure him soe far to ye Customes & language off ye Heathen, as to make him a well qualify’d Ind. Trader, by w’ch Imploym’t (si adest fortune, & fortune Comes Indubitatus Fortitudo) he may secure for himselfe a Comfortable being in ye world. Iff he comes, he shall not want Imploym’t, butt I wood advice y’u to lett him marry before he comes away, provided he can marry a Fortune that wood encounter ye dangers off ye Atlantick Ocean, one penny in England is 3 w’th us, iff well laid out, & iff he cood butt bring w’th him 2 or 300ll. w’th a wife, I cood putt him in ye way to live as happy as ye day is long. Marriage att ye best is butt a happy or unhappy chance (audaces Fortuna Juvat). All sorts of English goods are here verry valuable, Especially Nails, Carpenters’ Tools, Hows, Axes, all sorts off linings, powder & shott, hatts, stockings & what else is requisite to make a sortable store. ”

Now comes James Anderson in 1723…

Colonial Bertie Co., NC Deed Books 1720-1757 Mary Best Bell Deed Book A

pg. 19. James ANDERSON of Bath County to John GRAY (Capt.) March 3, 1721/22. 400 a. NS Morattock River in Occoneeche Neck. Part of 640 a. surveyed by Coll. William MAULE for William BRASWELL then sold to Matthew CAPPS, and by CAPPS sold to James ANDERSON. Adj. William BOON, John NELLSON. Wit: Patrick MAULE, Mau. MOORE. April 20, 1722. C. GALE, C/C   …hmmm… Christopher Gale is C/C

Maurice Moore from above…

Dec. 1, 1716 – Maurice MOORE, Bath Co., Gent. To Christopher GALE, Bath Co., Esq. – 10 pounds – lot and front, one-half acre in Bath Town, #16, bounded to south on Patrick MAULE’s lot and to the north on half a lot belonging to said Christopher GALE. Wit: Tho. HARDING, Jno. DRINKWATER Acknowledged Jan. Court 1716

Traci has sent several scans of deeds I am interested in which involve the sale of Elizabeth Pitman’s property in 1761/2.  The earlier sale was to Arthur Pitman and the deed copy is just unreadable and she is attempting to get better copies from the original…

In the meantime, I’m focused on this deed from Arthur Pitman to Joseph Pitman in 1762.  No one to my knowledge has figured out a connection between any of these other Pitmans to Elizabeth Pitman… hence my interest.

There is some peculiar legal terms being used that I have not ran across and am VERY curious if they relate to any sort of “inheritance” on the part of Arthur?

Note the term “hereditament”…. what are the other words in that same line of thought?

North Carolina

This Indenture made the twentyeth Day of September In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty two Between Arthur Pitman of Edgecombe County in the said Province of the One Part Planter and Joseph Pitman of the County & Province aforesaid Planter of the other Part Now this Indenture Witnesseth that the said Arthur Pittman for a valuable consideration of the sum of Twenty Pound Proclamation money of North Carolina to me in hand paid by the said Joseph Pittman before the Execution of the __? Whereof the said Arthur Pittman Doth hereby acknowledge & himself Herewith fully Satisfyed & Contented and Paid Himself and every part and Parcell thereof do Exonerate do Acquit and discharge him the said Joseph Pittman his Heirs Exors Admr and every of them for Ever by these Presents Have Given Granted Bargaind Sold Aliend Conveyed and Confirmed And by these Presents Have Given Granted Bargaind Sold Alien and Conveyed and Confirmed and by these Presents Do freely fully and absolutely Give grant bargain Sell Alien Convey and Confirm unto him the said Joseph Pittman his Heirs & Assigns for Ever One Certain Messuage and Tract of Land Situated lying on the North Side of Tar River in the aforesaid County and province beginning at a red Oak and a white Oak along Elizth Pittmans Line in her Deed and a Price Line ___? East to a Pine thence East 220 P. to the Line that John Fountain and Robert Coleman run to a Pine 220 P. to the corner? to the first Station contg? One hundred Acres be the Same more or less together with all ___ ____ Hereditaments and ______ _______ & commodities to the said belonging or in anywize Appertaining to him the said Joseph Pittman his Admin? Extr? heirs Asigns To have and to hold the said Hundred Acres of Land be the Same more or less for Ever to his and their only proper Use Benefit and behalf for Ever And I the said Arthur Pittman for me my Heirs Extors _onds Do Covenant Promise? and Present? to & with the said Joseph Pittman his Heirs & ____? that before the Ensealing hereof I am the true and Lawfull Owner of the above bargained Premises and hereby ___ Dispose of the Same in my name in Right and a good Perfect and absolute Estate of Inheritance as I have myself? Good R?ight and full Power and Lawfull Authority to Grant Bargain Sell Convey Confirm the said Bargained Premises in manner as above said and that the said Joseph Pittman his Heirs & Asigns shall & may from time to time & at all times for Ever hereafter by Virtue of these Presents Lawfully & Peaceably and Quietly have hold Use Occupy Possess & Enjoy the said Devised & bargained Premises with the Apperts thereto belonging Free and Clear freely and Clearly Acquited Exonerated & Discharged of and from all & all manner of former Grants Bargains Sales Leases Mortges Isills? Intails Iaintors? Dowrys Joynters Extors Encumberances and trouble wtsoever And I the said of all & Singular the said Granted Premises afosd & Lawfull Claims of any enquirer of Power wtsoever In Witness whereunto I have attach? my hand and fixed my Seal the Day & Year above Written
Arthur Pittman Synd Sealed and Delivered In the Presence of us

Wm (his mark) Anderson Handover (his mark) Hatcher John Fountaine

Edgecombe County September Inferior Court 1762
The Within Deed from Arthur Pittman to Joseph
Pittman was Proved to be his Act & Deed of the said Arthur
by the Oath of Wm Anderson a Wits thereto And Admitted
to Record
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hereditament n. any kind of property which can be inherited. This is old-fashioned language still found in some wills and deeds.

Anything that can be passed by an individual to heirs.

There are two types of hereditaments: corporeal and incorporeal.

A corporeal hereditament is a permanent tangible object that can be seen and handled and is confined to the land. Materials, such as coal, timber, stone, or a house are common examples of this type of hereditament.

An incorporeal hereditament is an intangible right, which is not visible but is derived from real or Personal Property. An Easement is a classic example of this type of hereditament, since it is the right of one individual to use another’s property and can be inherited.

West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

My flamboyant and somewhat effeminate bud William Byrd II, I think in his book of the “Dividing Line” 1728, quips about eating a bird boiled, fried, baked and possibly otherwise but never finding it very appetizing… I’m pretty sure it was buzzard.  So I think I can handle a savory crow…  Anyway, I think it wise to warn folks that my prior postings and pages concerning Joseph Pitman(s) et al may appear to be the rantings of a deranged lunatic.  The actual truth may take longer to figure out than I realized… probably due to the fact that I am cutting severely into my alcohol budget with genealogy expenses.

I was convinced there were 2 Joseph Pitmans… each with a son Abner…. why? you ask.

Because the Joseph Pitman Sr. d.1763 was repeatedly associated with a Joseph Pitman Jr which I took to be his son… my current theory is that this was 2 different families.  These 2 Josephs were uncle/nephew…. the son and grandson of Thomas Pitman of VA d.1730.   For them to be father/son the Joseph d.1787 HAD to be a Quaker WITH a son Abner.  Hence the dilemma… 2 Abners. Remember Robert Pitman with son Abner.  But this is a good thing for my sanity but not for my conundrum… still… who was the Joseph Pitman that witnessed the will of William Anderson d.1789?

Also the question of Elizabeth Pitman who had the grant in 1749 is still open… was she a widow or a spinster?  The elusive James Pitman who had property next to her and refuses to die before 1749 is still hiding.

See bottom of Page list.

I’m still pondering the “problem” Pitman.  In previous posts Traci challenged many of my assumptions and left me pretty much as bewildered as ever.  Her major contribution to the conundrum is uncovering a will of one Amy Pitman in 1799… this appears to be a daughter of the mystery Joseph Pitman who was chronicled in the Rich Square MM Quaker books.

So… there appears to be 2 dead, and distinctly different, Joseph Pitmans by 1763.  Neither of which can account for the 3rd adult Joseph at the time of their deaths. Who was he?

I can’t get a handle on whether this 3rd Joseph could actually write his signature… see under the John Gay Page and check the Moses Pitman will… also see the Guardian book of 1769… is the “scrawling” initials his “mark”…   Grrr…. (the obvious question is this the same Joseph as the 1787 will?)

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The Joseph Pitman “problem” may not be as big a deal as I thought it was. These Josephs are hidden in plain sight, as they say. I was convinced that the 1763 and the 1786 were father and son. NOPE, now I don’t think so… here’s why: If the jigsaw puzzle piece does not fit look for another piece… don’t try to trim the piece to fit.

Joseph Sr dies 1763. leaves will, known Quaker………. son of Thomas Pitman of VA, d.1730

Joseph (Jr/the younger) dies about the same time, no will, known Quaker……. son of Thomas Pitman d.1754, grandson of Thomas Pitman of VA, d.1730
………… this man leaves orphan Thomas Pitman, legatee of John Gay
………… daughter Amy leaves will 1799

Joseph, guardian of the legatee of John Gay was the son of Robert Pitman
………. this is the “constable” of Edgecombe County, dies 1787…… father of Abner

The above works… but I had convinced myself that one of the Josephs had to be a brother of Benjamin (this could be the Craven County Joseph who died 1752) ???

Oh and… TRACI WINS THE JOSEPH PITMAN GAME!…YAY!…. I think…

Cousin Penny has engaged Traci Thompson to look into the wife of George Anderson jr (1798-1864). The wife being Mary “Polly” Patterson.

I stumbled across this…

Note the name “Sukey” Patterson in the estate papers… scroll down to “The Town William” at this link…

Census Edgecombe 1790-1810

I’ve pondered if this William was the brother of George Anderson Sr. or perhaps another family altogether that lived closer to the town of Tarboro (the Henry Anderson d.1801 family… perhaps his son)???

I found his will which is rather remarkable as he relates many relationships of family members and his considerable property holdings. Mention is made in the will of his son to them being Quakers. His son Daniel predeceased him and another son James is mentioned as deceased… all of which makes me wonder if there was some sort of disease outbreak such as smallpox around 1760/61? John Gay, if I remember correctly, also had a son who predeceased him about this same time. (all Quakers)… odd.

I’ve chronicled a John Anderson of the Bridger’s Creek area who died around 1733… I propose that he was the son of Henry Anderson of Henrico Co. VA…

Another John Anderson of VA partnered with Robert Munford and was (as noted in his will) an Indian trader.    Munford was associated with some of the Occoneechee folks.

I’ve looked to VA as a possible source for the James I research in Occoneechee Neck…. see this link for an interesting account of the difficulty with dealing with the Virginia colonial boys…. whew…

https://mattocks2.wordpress.com/category/generation-11/001554-james-anderson/

I love cliches… they are very practicable as Southerners gone by used to say. Sometimes the obvious is the most inobvious.  The name Peter, in reference to an Anderson, in colonial eastern NC is rare.  I don’t find the name reflected in any other Anderson families in eastern colonial NC.  For that reason I look to Virginia.

Two men set the course of a large enterprise of Indian Trade in the late 1600s- Abraham Wood and William Byrd I.  The Wood faction centered around Petersburg, VA.  Get That?  Oh come on, you might ask, you can’t be serious from a genealogical aspect that that could have anything to do with a guy in NC who died in 1801?  Indeed I do.  A neighbor of Peter Anderson in NC was one Biggins Sturdivant…  trace his family back and you will find John Sturdivant…

Death of John Sturdivant, Adventures of Purse and Person, P 351.   John Sturdivant seems to have been an Indian trader in the employ of William Byrd I of Westover, who wrote April 29, 1684 from James City to Thomas Grendon in England.“Old Sturdivant, his son, Millner, Shipy, Womacke and Hugh Cassell were all killed by the Indians in their returne from the westward, about 30 miles beyond Ochanechee, what prejudice it is to mee you may guesse, they having (had they come well in) made a very advantagious journey.”

I suspect the father of Peter Anderson of NC was a grandson of Reynard Anderson of Virginia.  That story begins on the South side of the James River…

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~anderson/virginia.html

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I dug up some old notes…

Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume XXI, Number 3 (01-JUL-1983)

Prince George Co., Court Orders and Returns of Executions

 p. 113

At A Court Held at Merchants Hope for Prince George County 9 April 1717 Present: Robert Hall,James Thweatt, John Hardyman, Lewis Green, Jr, John Peterson, Gent., Justices

p. 114

Elizabeth Cooper, relict of John Cooper, dec’d, makes oath that her husband died intestate and she is appointed Administratrix with James Bell and PETER ANDERSON her security.

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So, this Peter in Virginia, 1717, doesn’t leave any tracks I can find… he is too early to have died in 1801 but what if he moved to NC and died.  In 1745 “a” widow Susannah Anderson received a grant in NC…  see my Page for some notes on her… (I’ve not had the chance to view her grant which may furnish some clues)

For new folks perusing my Pages to the right, TTT means I am Tracking The Traders… Indian Traders.  The area of modern Halifax Co., NC and particularly Occoneechee Neck was full of them.  Half of them came from the Petersburg, VA area… many were from Isle of Wight and Nansemond Co. VA.  Some were home grown NC folks.  I have a theory that James Anderson 1716-1727 or so was a trader.  I’m working the theory that he was the son of George Anderson who sold out his 175 acres in IOW in 1710 and they relocated to NC by 1716. George dies prior to 1732 when his widow leaves a will naming sons James and Carolus.

Another character at this time is Daniel McDaniel who dies by 1732. A witness to his will was a John Anderson who I speculate may be a son of James and grandson of George. (all this is theory… let me make that clear).  A fascinating account of one Daniel McDaniel is found in the Colonial Records where a preacher dies while in the company of McDaniel near Bath Town.  Listed in the Inventory of McDaniel after his death is a “perri auger”… a boat.  The McDaniel that I chronicle lived on the Roanoke River perhaps near modern Scotland Neck (very roughly and east to the river).  Therein is a conundrum… the Roanoke does not grant access to Bath Town… the Tar River does however.  Look at a map.  McDaniel had his run-in with the authorities in 1720.  Around 1723 James Anderson is identified as residing in Bath County.  In 1709 an unfortunate fellow by the name of John Lawson drew a map showing Bath County and what would “become” Tar River.  (Lawson used the term “Pamptecough” River).  On Lawson’s map if you look at the “B” in the word Bath you find what will become Tarboro, NC.  Coincidence?

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An historical aside…

Minutes of the North Carolina Governor’s Council
North Carolina. Council
April 02, 1724 – April 17, 1724
Volume 02, Pages 520-530

Upon Complaint of the Meherine Indians setting forth that their Lands were all taken up and Surveyed by the English their Neighbours and that they were forwarned from off their clear Grounds and forbid to plant Corne thereon
Ordered That Coll William Maule the late Surveyr General attend this Board at Edenton next General Court and that in the mean while the said Indians have Liberty to plant their Lands as formerly without molestations from any person whatsoever

…
April ye 16th mett againe

Present as before

The order of Council appointing a Fee to the Govr for signing patents being sent to the lower house of Assembly for their allowance was returned this day with following endorsement on the back of it vizt

The within order being read it is allowed that the Fee of Twenty five Shillings within mentioned may be taken till the setting of the next Biennial Assembly

per order of the House
R HICKS Cler Dom Comd
…
The following adress from the lower house was presented by Mr Patrick Maule and Richard Graves and ordered that the Consideration thereof be referred till to morrow

Adjourned till to Morrow Morning

April ye 17th met againe Present as before

Read the aforegoing Address in the following words Vizt

North Carolina—ss.
To the Honoble George Burrington Esqr Governor and Com̄ander in Chief of North Carolina and to the Honoble Council

The Address of the Lower house of Assembly of North Carolina

It Apearing to this House that most of the Lands of Albemarle County being already taken up the Growth and encrease of this Government is much obstructed for want of such Instructions concerning the sales of Land in this Government as might be complyed with by which means many who have removed hither from foreign parts have been oblidged to return and others are dayly removeing to the great weakening of the Government by the loss of so many Inhabitants as well as to the deminuition of the Lords proprietors Revenue, wherefore that such an expedient may be found to retain such of the Inhabitants as are designed to remove and to encourage others to settle in this Government untill the Lords proprietors shall be pleased to give Instructions for the sales of Lands as the Inhabitants of this Government can comply with concerning which we intend to address their Ldps and pray your Honours Concurrance.

——————– page 529 ——————–
We humbly propose to your Honrs that you would be pleased to give such orders and Instructions that persons may enter survey take up and occupy the vacant Lands on the annual payments of such rents as your Honrs shall think proper untill such time as their Lordps shall declare after what manner the purchase money shall be paid in this Government after which Declaration so made by the proprietors the Possessrs of such Lands may have a Limitted time to accept of their Lordships Tearms of Purchase

And this we are humbly of Opinion will be a great means to Retain many of the Inhabitants otherwise designed to remove encourage others to Settle among us and cause a very great addition to their Ldps Revenues

By order of the Lower house
THOMAS SWANN, Speaker
The Governor and Council taking unto Consideration the address of the lower house of Assembly which was presented yesterday and was this day read and several of the Members of the Council representing that sundry person are already seated on the vacant Lands for which purchase money has not been paid nor any rents, and the Governor and Council being unanimously of Opinion that the permitting people to occupy the vacant Lands on the payment of a certian rent untill the Lords proprietors pleasure be further known will not only very much strengthen and encrease the Settlement of this Government but also cause a very great addition to the Lords proprietors annual Revenue

It is ordered That Permission be given for any person or persons to take out warrt signed by the Governor and Council directed to the surveyor General or his Deputy to lay out Lands in Bath County after the same manner they are usually laid out in Albemarle County To hold and occupy the same on the annual payment of three shilling per hundred Acres untill the Lords proprietors pleasure be further known provided always that unless the Taker up of Lands according to this order do within two years after the survey of the Land enter upon the clearing and Seating thereof in such manner as is provided for the Settling Land in Albemarle County then all and every such Survey shall be Void and ineffectual and such Lands ffree for any person or persons to enter upon and Seat according to the rules hereby declared

And it is further ordered that when the Lords Proprietors shall be please to give direction for the granting Lands in Bath County then all and every such Possessors of Lands so Surveyed who shall have actually paid their rents aforementioned or secured the same to be paid shall have

——————– page 530 ——————–
the preference to take up the same Lands (so possessed and for which the rents shall have been paid or secured to be paid) upon such Terms as their Lordps shall please to signify for the Granting Lands provided they comply with such Term within one year after notice is given by proclamation
It is also Ordered That the Governor and secretary shall have take and recieve the like ffee for all such Lands so taken up as is appointed for warrant and patents in Albemarle County and that the Surveyor General do make out a Catalogue of all such Lands so taken up and deliver the same to the Lords Proptr Receiver General that the same may be entered on the rent Roll for which entry It shall be Lawfull for the Reciever General to have and take of each person whose Lands shall be so entered the sum of five shillings

Mr Chief Justice having represented to this Board that it was customary in their Ldps Government of South Carolina for the Reciever General out of their Ldps Revenue to defray the expences of a Dinner on the sessions day of each Genl Court

Ordered That Arthur Goffe Esqr Recer Genl do pay the sum of fifteen pound to Mr Thomas Parris it being what was expended on a dinner on the sessions day last past and charge the same on his accompt

By Order

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With the mention of Patrick Maule in the record above, note this fascinating deed for James Anderson:

Bertie Deed Book A

19  No 12          Jas. Anderson to Jno. Grey

North Carolina_  To all of whom these presents shall come James Anderson of the County of Bath send Greeting Know ye that I the said James Anderson for and in Consideration of the Sum of twelve pounds current money of North Carolina to me in hand paid by Capt. John Grey of the County of Albermarl in the Province aforesaid before the Insealing and Delivery of these presents the Receipt thereof I do hereby Acknowledge and thereof and of every part and parcel thereof do fully Clearly and Absolutely asign_ exonerate & Discharge the said John Grey his Exers. & Admrs. in and by their presents and for Divers other good causes and Considerations me thereunto move especially moving Have Granted Bargained Sold Aliened enfeoffed and Confirmed and Confirm unto the said John Gray and to his Heirs and Assigns forever a Certain Tract or parcell of Land lying on the North side of Morattock River in Occoneechee Neck in Albermarle County containing ffour Hundred Acres the same being part of a Larger Tract of Six Hundred and forty Acres formerly Surveyed or laid out by Collo. William Maule for William Braswell and by the said Braswell conveyed to Matthew Capps and by the sd Capps conveyed to me James Anderson which said Tract or parcell of Land lyes upon the Cypress Swamp joyning upon William Boons Land to the Southward and upon John Nellsons Land to the Northward And also all and Singular the wood waters and Rivers together with all priviledges of Hunting Hawking Fishing & Fowling to have and to Hold the said Tract or parcell of Land and all and Singular other premisses herein before mentioned and Intended to be hereby Granted with their and every of their apperten unto the said John Gray his Heirs and assigns forever to the only use and behoof of him the said John Gray his Heirs and Assigns forevermore and I the said James Anderson for myself and my heirs the said Tract or parcell of Land and all and Singular the Premises with their and every of their appertces unto him the said John Gray his Heirs and Assigns against me the said James Anderson my Heirs & Assigns and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever Lawfully me Claiming or which shall and may Lawfully claim by from or under me them or any of them shall and will warrant and forever Defend by these presents In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal this 3rd day of March Anno_ Domini 1721/22

James (I with horizontal slash) Anderson & a Seal, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of us Patt; Maule   Mau: Moore   No. Carolina March Matt?

the above Deed was proved by the Oaths of Pat Maule & Mau Moore Evidences thereto this 20th Day of April Anno Dom 1722, Let it be Registered  C Gale Cl_

Transcribed Marc Anderson, 2011

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I don’t think it would be inappropriate to at least “insinuate” that William Maule and his brother Patrick were crooks… while not mentioned in this historical document, they would seem to be inferred:

Letter from Gabriel Johnston to the Board of Trade of Great Britain, Johnston, Gabriel, ca. 1698-1752, May 25, 1735

…”As the Proprietors of these Blank patents have troubled your Board with a representation in their Favour I must in Duty to his Majesty declare unto your Lordships that after a very nice and important enquiry I can see no reason to confirm one of them and that in Justice every patent issued since the land office was shut up, was a cheat from the beginning and ought to be declared null and void, and as they have promised to submit to your Lordships opinion without repining I must acquaint you that if your Lordships make any the least concession or destraction there will be no end of their Quibbling and this matter wont be determined for years to come whereas if you think proper to condemn all patents issued on any pretence whatever since the land office was shutt up by the Lords Proprietors and oblige them to take out new patents from the Crown, it is no hardship to them it will much encrease the only Revenue the Crown has here and it will finish the affair at once. I must once more putt your Lordships in mind that these patents take place in the County of Bath only, which however contains three parts of four of the whole province.”

http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr04-0007#p4-9

Scandals and accusations of corruption were rampant in the 1720s and afterwards… in this 1735 account one ex-governor defends himself:

Memorandum from George Burrington to the Board of Trade of Great Britain concerning blank land patents, Burrington, George, 1680-1759, October 13, 1735, Volume 04, Pages 299-307

…”In the first paragraph and part of the 2nd Mr Johnston affirms that before the year 1724 the Land Office for the County of Bath was shut up &c This is very true and after the Late Lord Proprietors signified their Pleasures to Charles Eden Esqr their then Govr of North Carolina (to whome I succeeded) on that head: there were no more purchase warrants issued, but as that Province had been many years grievously harrassed by long and dangerous Warrs, with the Indians; Some Persons who had taken out warrants for Lands, were afraid to fix in Bath County during the said Warr; but when Peace and Quiet times succeeded to wars and Tumult part of the Proprietors of those Warrants required patents for the Quantity of Land Specified in their respective warrants, which was Unanimously consented to by Mr Eden then Govr and the rest of the Proprietors deputies the rest of the Possessors of these sort of Warrants were by different Motives deterred from Settling their Familys in Bath County, and therefore transferred them to others more Adventurous; who always obtained patents on those Warrants When a Survey was returned into the Secretary Office all this was well known to the Lords Proprietors; they had Yearly accounts of it; Yet they never forbid nor found fault with their Govr and Deputies for providing in that manner during the time I was their Governour I signed about twenty such Patents. Sr Richard Everard the last Governour the Proprietors had in No Carolina Acted in the same Manner, as Mr Eden and myself had done before him I cannot Imagine that either of us betrayed our Trust or Committed a fault in what wee did in this particular, but if any man differs in opinion from me he will find that all the Deputies and Councillors of the proprietors will fall under his Censure all the time the Proprietors held North Carolina the Governour and at least one half of the Council signed the Warrants and Patents I cannot help observing to your Lordship that MrJohnston in the remaining part of the second paragraph doth not proceed with the Truth, and Candour, necessary in a matter of so great consequence which will appear by my Stateing the matter rightly. to illustrate and prove what he asserted in the first Paragraph and beginning of this he writes that in the Year 1724 &c Your Lordships may be pleased to Observe, that when the Lords Proprietors altered the ancient custom, and manner of Selling their Lands in Bath County, there never appeared any Purchaser to deal with them, on the terms they proposed because the price they fixed was double or Treble what land then and long since sold for, from one man to another in Bath County which I can prove by many Scores of Sales. In the Year 1724 I was Governour of North Carolina Mr Johnston must know this, but what reasons he may have for not taking notice of it, am yet to learn….”

http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr04-0114

I hazard a guess that if James Anderson set up an Indian Trading Post at what would become Tarboro then he would fit in that peculiar category of men referred to above as:

“others more Adventurous”.   Could not James Anderson have been one of those patents referred to above where the governor states: “during the time I was their Governour I signed about twenty such Patents”.

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Letter from William Gordon to John Chamberlain, Gordon, William, May 13, 1709

…”Bath county contains most of that land which lies to the southward of Albemarle Sound to Pamplico River, and about thirty or forty miles more southerly to Neuse River, which (being but lately peopled with a few French who left Virginia) is not laid down in the draft.  They have divided the whole into three precincts or parishes, though the inhabitants of all are but equal in number to any one of the other, most of which are seated on Pamplico River and its branches. Here is no church, though they have begun to build a town called Bath. It consists of about twelve houses, being the only town in the whole province.

http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr01-0378#p1-715

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Another reference to Bath… in an indictment against a man James Anderson quite possibly knew in 1727, offers this statement which apparently infers the government folks thought perhaps some parts of Bertie “precinct” may also be in Bath “county”:

The presentment of the grand Jury against John Brown was read in these words Vizt

Wee of the Grand Jury do present John Brown of Bertie precinct alias Bath Severall amongst us Say that they know him to have left his Wife the daughter of Barnaby Mackinne & cohabits with another which he acknowledges to be his lawfull Wife both of the Sayd Women Within this Government

Endorsed

THOs PARRIS Foreman.

Minutes of the General Court of North Carolina, North Carolina. General Court, July 28, 1727 – August 02, 1727

http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr02-0308#p2-705

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I did not intend for this post to be long and drawn out but I can’t help but keep adding to it (I’m building evidence as I go).  My initial point being that I think Tarboro was considered to be in Bath County at the time James Anderson moved there in 1722/3.  The below account should remove any doubts and I solicit any challenges to the assumption…  the entire document centers around the disputed patents issued for Bath County by the ex governor Burrington ( these were probably some heated arguments and some irritated landowners who felt cheated… as they probably were in some cases)…