Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

Many of the Anderson clan are listed…  George, John, Gary (Geraldus), Rachel & James Griffin, even Penelope.

I’m still mulling this over…

source: familysearch.org, Edgecombe Estates
—————-

NC Estate files, Edgecombe Co., 1831

————————-
Hmmm… seems Allen Jones may have been a doctor… this Belson Jones is a new player (I have no idea where this is leading)

same source: familysearch.org, Estates, Edgecombe County

This isn’t a breakthrough post… just a few more interesting clues into:

Rachel Anderson (assumed to be the daughter of William Anderson d.1789 and Mourning Price m. 1763)

1800 census

1m to 16

1f to 10

1f to 45

1810

2m to 26

1f to 26

1f over 45

1 S

Not on 1820 census…

—————————-

Holmes found this abstract recently from Watson’s “Kinfolks”…

Deed Book 17, page 246

May 1, 1820

Rachel Anderson makes a deed of gift to her daughter Elizabeth Anderson and to her grandsons Bennett Anderson, George Anderson, and Gralndes Anderson.  (sic)

“That’s all – it’s just an abstract.  Note the horrible spelling of the grandsons’ names.  Could the last one be Geraldus???”

—————————–

My buddy Floyd, conspiring with Holmes, found this deed in the Tarboro records revealing Rachal Anderson selling a parcel of land to her daughter Elizabeth in April, 1821.  The land is described as “the north side folkes branch” which is ground zero of the Anderson clan of William Anderson d.1789.

So, needless to say, all of us researching these folks are in a snit fit to obtain the deed above which mentions the grandsons of Rachael Anderson!

————————-

Which brings us to this… remember Rachel is over 45 in the 1810 census…

Griffin, James – Rachael Anderson, 29 Aug. 1825,  Burrell Hill, (w) N. Mathewson

(Marriages of Early Edgecombe County, 1733-1868, Williams & Griffin, 1958)

Note the witness above (Burrell Hill d.1846)… who lived at the time, you guessed it, within a stone’s throw of the Anderson clan…

Edge. Co. Db 18, page 490, deed date 31 Aug 1826, recorded Aug Ct

1826, David Barnes, Edge. Co to Zachariah Griffin, county aforesaid for

$200, a tract of land with all improvements containing 100 acres which

said land was sold by Spencer L. Hart, sheriff as the property of

Josiah Worrell as will more fully appear by reference to his deed to

Henry Austin and Thomas Hadley dated 8 Jan 1820, and by said Austin and

Hadley sold to the said Barnes 17 Aug 1826, the date of this indenture,

adjoining the lands of George Anderson, James S. Battle, Rachel 

Anderson, Henry Austin and Burrell Hill, and it is understood that all

part of the aforesaid premises which the said David Barnes has devisedd

from said Austin and Hadly is hereby conveyed, signed David Barnes, wit

H. Austin. Abstracted 12-20-06, NCA film C.037.400015, CTC.

Well, an observation from “Joani” brings a little clarity to this James Griffin question… she cites a reference to the will of Zachariah Griffin which seems to identify James as his son:

Griffin, Zachariah will Apr. 26, 1837, no probate date, wife & extx.
Margaret, lend tract whereon I now on lines of John Anderson, now Lot
Stallings line on east side of Grassy Branch, one negro, pot and books, Dutch
oven, pr. flat irons, griddle, skillet, mare, side saddle, bridle, china
press and contents, riding chair and harness, stone jar, 4 good sitting
chairs, trunk, chest, table, sow and 14 pigs, shoats, cow and calf or
yearling, loom and gear, 6 geese, pork, corn, wheat, 20 lbs sugar, 10 lbs
coffee, 3 bu. salt, 5 gal. molasses; dau. Maria Ruffin, wife of John
Ruffin, land whereon they live; Martha Hawkins, wife of Fredrick Hawkins,
land whereon they live; the two tracts being lands bought of David Barnes and
James Griffin; residue to be divided between dau. Elizabeth Spicer, heirs of
James Griffin, heirs of Oney Hill, Rebecca Moore, Winifred Sawyer, Mariah
Ruffin, Martha Hawkins, exr. Jesse C. Knight, wit. William Hinton, David
Matthews. Abstracts of Wills, Edgecombe Co., NC, 1733-1856, Williams &
Griffin

Since this is a bequest of property in his will it makes sense this is his son… Joani further states the wife of James Griffin was Rachel “Jones”… she calculates his birth to be between 1790 and 1800. This clue was also noted by David Gammon:

Gammon III pg 42 #176 4/26/1827 May Ct 1839 F-233
Daughter Mariah md. one of the John Ruffin, Dau Martha MD Fredrick Hawkins, dau Elizabeth md. Spicer, His will also names James Griffin’s heirs, Oney Hill’s heirs, Rebecca Moore and Winnyfred (sic) Sawyer with no relationship identified. (Winnifred Griffin md. Issac Swyer 5/12/1830, Martha Griffin md. Fredrick Hawkins 5/27/1834, Rebecca Griffin md Moses Moore 1/16/1830)

This leaves the 1825 marriage of Rachel Anderson/James Griffin another mystery.  Who are they?
—————-

Here we have Rachel and (her daughter?) Elizabeth…

Edge. Co Db 19, page 415, date of deed25 Jan 1827, date recorded Aug Ct. 1829,  Zachariah Griffin to Allen Jones, for$120 a tract of land beginning at a white oak Rachel Griffin’s corner then down the branch to George Anderson Sr’s corner gum then up the branch to James S. Battle’s corner then along said Battle’s line to a litewood stump then down the line of said Griffin and Battle to beginning white oak, signed Zachariah Griffin, wit. B. Wilkinson, Josiah (Spier or Spicer). Abstracted 10-10-00, FHC film 0018895, CTC.

Edge. Co. Db 19, page 368, date of deed 20 July 1828, date recorded

May Ct. 1829, Allen Jones, (residence not given) to Elizabeth Anderson

(residence not given) for $40, a tract of land beginning at a stake

Rachel Griffin’s line then a north course agreed line to a stake then

along a new line of marked trees to a ( ) gum in the Branch then

down the various courses of said branch to a black gum and pine in said

Griffin’s line then along said Griffin’s line to beginning, signed

Allen Jones, wit. B. Wilkinson, (Julian) Ezell. Abstracted 10-10-00,

FHC film 0018895, CTC.

This will has James Griffin dead by 1837 (assuming it is the right James). This suggests that he was not a spring chicken himself when he married the 55ish year old Rachael… He is likely in his 40s… per Joani’s notes.

Griffin, Zachariah will Apr. 26, 1837, no probate date, wife & extx.

Margaret, lend tract whereon I now on lines of John Anderson, now Lot

Stallings line on east side of Grassy Branch, one negro, pot and books, Dutch

oven, pr. flat irons, griddle, skillet, mare, side saddle, bridle, china

press and contents, riding chair and harness, stone jar, 4 good sitting

chairs, trunk, chest, table, sow and 14 pigs, shoats, cow and calf or

yearling, loom and gear, 6 geese, pork, corn, wheat, 20 lbs sugar, 10 lbs

coffee, 3 bu. salt, 5 gal. molasses;   dau. Maria Ruffin, wife of John

Ruffin, land whereon they live; Martha Hawkins, wife of Fredrick Hawkins,

land whereon they live; the two tracts being lands bought of David Barnes and

James Griffin; residue to be divided between dau. Elizabeth Spicer, heirs of 

James Griffin, heirs of Oney Hill, Rebecca Moore, Winifred Sawyer, Mariah

Ruffin, Martha Hawkins, exr. Jesse C. Knight, wit. William Hinton, David

Matthews.  Abstracts of Wills, Edgecombe Co., NC, 1733-1856, Williams &

Griffin.

(The references above place this land very close to this discussion of Rachael Anderson- unfortunately, I can’t find any estate records or will for James Griffin as yet.  So the easy assumption is that Rachael and James died prior to 1837… but it is unproven.)

But to further press the likely marriage of Rachel Anderson and James Griffin note this deed reference of 1832…

Edge. Co. Db 20, page 288, deed date 25 Aug 1832, recorded Aug Ct

1832, division of the land of Allen Jones, dec’d, lot 1 to Mary Worrel

beginning at a pine in James S. Battle’s line then south 70 poles to a

black gum on the south side of Folks Branch then south 50 east 20 poles

to a black gum on said branch then south 6 west 40 poles to a hickory

then east 52 poles to a pine then north 46 poles to a holly and ash on

said branch then north 20 west 122 poles to a sassafras then to first

station, containing 39 3/4 acres; lot 2 to Nancy Jones beginning at a

stake in the field and running south 88 east 150 poles to a pine in a 

small branch then south 25 west to a small gum on said branch Rachel 

Griffis corner then north 86 west 38 poles to a stake Rachel Griffis 

other corner then south 5 east to a stake then south 87 east 16 poles

to a small hickory then south 5 west 16 poles to a ash in Folk’s Branch

then south 88 west 40 poles to a holly and ash on said branch then

north 20 west to first station containing 37 acres and pay #1 $2.75;

lot # 3 to James Griffin in right of his wife Rachel beginning at a

stake field corner of lot #2 then south 88 east 150 poles to a pine in

a small branch then north 25 east to a gum and oak on said branch then

north 74 west 128 poles along a line of marked trees in Joab S.

Battle’s line then west 67 poles to a sassafras corner of lot #1 then

south 20 east 55 poles to first station, containing 37 acres and pay to

lot #1 $2.75, signed ?. Abstracted 12-12-00, FHC film 0018895, CTC.

Hmmm… It appears James Griffin may be the brother of the above Allen Jones or just Nancy Jones (I’m not sure how to interpret this?)…  Rachel is his sister.

source:  familyserach.org, NC Estate Files, 1663-1978, Edgecombe County, J, Jones, Allen (1831)

Floyd sent me this deed of 1834… James Griffin and wife Rachel along with Nancy Jones sell to Zachariah Griffin 187 acres… part of which “fell to them by the death of the late Allen Jones”    … I still can’t figure out if it is James or Rachel that is related to Allen Jones?  Obviously Nancy Jones was.

————————

Another perplexing question… is this the daughter of Rachael?

My buddy Holmes has contributed some fascinating insights to the Henry Anderson conundrum… fortunately my ego is not so fragile that I can’t fail to laugh my ass off when he takes his genealogy scalpel to my wild theorizing.  The post below this one concerns the mystery Town William and may help to explain some of my errant writing…

He nonchalantly asks this question…

“Hmmmm….. based on that Lavina Anderson deed, her brothers William, Allen, and Frederick all died intestate by 1815  and without issue.  So if the William left two daughters in Lenoir County, he cannot be brother of Lavina.    Whatcha think?”      … that’s when I knew I was in trouble…

————————————————————————-

Well, in cases like this we have to go back to an original will or something that directs us.  And we go from there.  Let’s look at 1802 Henry Anderson’s will.

The will of Henry Anderson who died 1802 leaves a life estate in half his personal property and a life estate in half his land to his wife Charity.  Only cash is left to the daughters Polly (Mary) and Lavina.  (He does not specifically state what happens to the other half of the land, but since the wife’s half is going to the sons, we presume they got the other half as well.)

All five sons were apparently living in 1802 at the time of Henry’s death, because several subsequent references state that they all inherited the land.  Yet, in 1803, the cash from the estate was divided between Charity, Polly, Levina, John, Henry, and Frederick.  This tells us William and Allen had died between the probate of the will (1802) and 1803.  Yet, the land was not divided, most likely because some or all of those sons were still underage.

In 1807, the  estate of 1802 Henry Anderson gets divided between Charity Gatling and the children of the deceased.  I take this to mean she had married Benjamin Gatling about that time.  Remember that the will of Henry Anderson left her half of everything for her lifetime or widowhood – so her widowhood was over when she married again.  Or, it could be that the Gatling marriage had taken place much earlier, and maybe some of the children were now of age in 1807 and wanted their share.  Widows with young children tended to get married fairly quickly – waiting five years would be a bit unusual.  And if everybody was happy and underage, there was no need to go to court to have things divided.

So at the death of ANY of those sons without issue, their undivided share of the father’s land would go to ALL the surviving siblings or their heirs.  This is when Lavina and Mary/Polly get in on the act, even though their father Henry did not leave them any land.  And as it happened, THREE of the sons had died without issue by 1815 — William and Allen by 1803, and Frederick sometime between 1803 and 1815.  And still the land was not divided, and I still believe this to be because there were minor heirs.

Let’s look at the acreage.  It seems that the entire tract of land that Henry Anderson had owned contained 259 acres.  If it went to five sons, each would have 1/5 or about 51 or 52 acres.  This means that the total acreage of William, Allen, and Frederick would have been anywhere between 153 and 156 acres.  (we multiply three times 51 or 52.  Now at the death of Frederick you have four siblings remaining  — John, Henry, Mary/Polly, and Levina.  Let’s see what they owned:

John – his original 51 or 52 acres plus a fourth of 153 or 156, or 38/39 acres  (total about 89 or so acres)

Henry – his original 51 or 52 acres plus a fourth of 153 or 156, or 38/39 acres  (total about 89 or so acres)

Mary/Polly – her one-fourth of the 153 or 156, or 38/39 acres

Levina – her one-fourth of the 153 or 156, or 38/39 acres

Look at the deeds I abstracted below.  There is Mary Anderson, now of Craven County, bold as brass, selling exactly 39 acres, God bless her.  The 1815 deed from Levina does not state 38 or 39 acres, but it would have been the same.

So when we see that 1815 deed from Henry Anderson to Isaac Norfleet (below) we must presume it was for 89 acres or so.

…have the reference.

Note that everyone is selling to Isaac Norfleet .  We can’t account for John, but I suspect he also sold to Norfleet, because all the shares were undivided, and it would have been very messy otherwise.

All this to say that William (son of 1802) Henry was dead by 1803, and without issue.  And I suspect he was underage.    We have several references to prove this William died without issue by 1803 – so the Town William is someone else.

DB 15/425       29 Dec 1815

Henry (X) Anderson to Isaac Norfleet

For $276, 259 acres, which was the bequest of Anderson’s late father Henry Anderson, deceased, at the death of his three brothers William, Allen, and Frederick Anderson.  This was an undivided tract of land on the west side of the Tar River adj. James Garrett, said Norfleet, Henry Shirley, James Waller, Josiah Pender, Sterling Waller, and JosiahFreeman.

Wit.  Rhetorick Lawrence, H. Austin

DB 16/64        3 Feb 1818

Mary (X) Anderson of Craven County to Henry Anderson of Edgecombe

For $100, 39 acres, being part of the lands of Henry Anderson, deceased,. Given by the said Henry to his then living sons, and this land fell to Mary by the death of three of his sons.  Mary Anderson is sister of the grantee Henry Anderson.

Wit.  Austin (X) Andleton

DB 16/90        24 Feb 1818

Henry Anderson to Isaac Norfleet

For $125, 39 acres , being the land that formerly belonged to Henry Anderson, deceased, which fell to Mary Anderson at the death of three of the sons of the said Henry Anderson.

Wit.  Starling Waller

——————————————–

So all this throws some serious doubts on the speculation of the son of Henry Sr d.1801 (Henry Jr) moving to Georgia around 1804  (as I have in my “Page” on Henry).

I also speculate that son John may have served in the war of 1812….. all of which can now be re-examined… ya gotta love this hobby…

——————————————–

Inventory of Ann Gatling in 1814….Edgecombe

This is the mother of Benjamin Gatling who married Charity Anderson (relict of Henry Anderson d.1801)

Note the buyers… this places them in Edgecombe in 1814…

Mary Anderson

Lavina Anderson

John Anderson

Benjamin Gatling

(I don’t see a Henry Anderson)

————————–
Since all the sons are accounted for except John and Henry Jr, I have to speculate even with Holmes lurking about and sharpening his scalpel (its what I do)…

Noted in the Will of Henry Sr d.1801 are 2 “executors” …
Edgecombe County Will Abstracts 1793-1823 by David Gammon

(7) HENRY ANDERSON 24 Nov 1801 Feb Ct 1802 O D/137

“…being very sick…”

wife CHARITY ANDERSON – lend half of my land of my personal estate for her lifetime or widowhood. At her death or marriage her share shall be divided between my five sons WILLIAM ANDERSON, ALLEN ANDERSON, JOHN ANDERSON, HENRY ANDERSON and FREDERICK ANDERSON.

Sixty dollars of my estate shall be kept out, to be shared by my daughters VINEY ANDERSON and POLLY ANDERSON.

Ex. friends DRURY MAY, JOHN ANDERSON

Wit. JOHN LITTLE, P. SUGG

The term “friends” is used and it is “plural”…. does that mean that this John is not a son but a friend? The sale of the Estate is “executed” by Drury May(o) and John Anderson.

Another thought I have is that these two sons (John and Henry Jr) obviously appear to be of age (at least 21) and since the other sons who are demonstrably deceased seem to be underage perhaps the wife Charity was not the mother of these 2?

I have a blurb showing that a John Anderson of Edgecombe served in the War of 1812 (on my Henry 1801 Page)… other than that I have nothing else.

With the time spans involved it also seems unlikely that the Henry Anderson who wound up in Georgia (on my Page) is related.

EDGECOMBE COUNTY KINFOLKS by Joseph W. Watson
DB 8-686 SARAH ANDERSON, wife of HENRY ANDERSON was formerly SARAH COX, widow of ROBERT COX, dec’d., Aug. 6, 1796.

Edgecombe Co. N.C. Deeds Vol. 5: 1794-1798 by Stephen E. Bradley Jr
680-(686) Henry Anderson & his wife Sary (Sarah) of Edgecombe Co to Jesse Knight of same. 6 Aug 1796. £20. A tract which sd Sarah Cox now the wife of Henry Anderson has as right of dower at the death of her former husband Robert Cox dec’d. Wit: Allen Hardy, Frank Knight.
——————————

This deed seems to place Henry Anderson Jr still in Edgecombe in 1845…

Edge. Co Db 23, page 570, date of deed 17 Jan 1845, date recorded Feb
Ct. 1845, Isaac Norfleet estate to his wife, Christina Norfleet by
order of Nov. Ct. 1844, commissioners lay off to Christina Norfleet,
her legal dower in the land her late husband died seized and possessed
of, beginning at the fork of the road near the Garret House then south
59 east (305) poles to some small oaks in Josiah Pender’s line then
along said line north 71 poles to a pine Pender’s corner then north 80
east 120 poles to a pine Pender’s corner then north 41 poles to a black
oak then north 45 east 30 poles to a pine stump then north 12 ½ west 8
poles to Foxhall’s line then north 85 west 19 ½ poles to a stake then
north 13 west 78 poles to the creek then up the creek to the center of
two pines then north 22 west 37 poles to Eli Porter’s corner a white
oak and black oak then north 79 west 100 poles to a pine on the road
then along the road 56 poles to a branch then up the various courses of
said branch to the dam at some bay stumps Henry Austin’s corner then
along said Austin’s line north 117 ½ poles to a pine on the south side
of the pocoson then north 87 west 15 poles to a stake Austin’s other
corner then south 48 west 89 poles to two small pines Austin’s other
corner then north 132 poles to a pine L.C. Pender’s corner in Austin’s
line then along Pender’s line south 51 west 150 poles to a small
persimmon tree on the east side of Teat’s Road Pender’s other corner
standing in a small branch then along the various courses of said road
298 poles to the first station on the Raleigh Road, containing 661
acres, including dwelling houses, outhouses and where the said dec’d
most generally dwelt next before his death, signed Wm. S. Baker, L.C.
Pender, Robert Johnson, Amos Walston, David Hollon (D), Joseph Statting
(mark), Thomas Griffin (mark), Henry Anderson (mark), James Edge, R.B.
Sasnett, Henry Morgan, (L.W. Walker). Abstracted 4-10-02, Copy from
deed book, CTC.

And since Henry was associated with Isaac Norfleet I checked the Estate papers of Norfleet and Henry shows up once as a buyer…

I would shout from the rooftops at this point that lo and behold, the Henry Jr mystery is SOLVED!… except that there is another known Henry in Edgecombe at the same time (1845) so I can’t rule out that this is not him.    Plus, Holmes has me gun-shy with my theories.   He can be brutal.

——————————

a tidbit…   I suspect this may be the possible Henry Jr…  the other Henry at this time is Henry R. Anderson which may be my line.  This deed prompted me to look at the Estate papers of David Holland mentioned in the deed.  Henry served on the jury concerned with the disposition of some estate matters.  This Henry has a signature mark “A” which I will show below.

Edge. Co. Db 24, page 542, date of deed 16 Nov. 1848, date recorded

Nov. Ct. 1848, David Holland estate to Patsy Holland, by commissioners,

her dower in the lands her husband died seized and possessed of,

beginning at a black gum in the long branch then north 35 east 98 poles

to a small pine Richd. Harrison’s corner then along Harrison’s line

south 81 ½ east 66 ½ poles to a small post oak in or near said

Harrison’s line then south 35 west 105 poles to a black gum in the long

branch then down the various courses of said branch to the first

station, containing 40 acres, William W. Armstrong, L.L. Dancy, Henry

Lloyd (MI either L or S), William Peel, Henry R. Johnson, William T.

Bryan, Thomas Norfleet, James Sherrod (X), Josiah Walston (X), William

Lodge (X), Henry Anderson (X), D.W. Bullock, wit. H. Hyman, Dpy

Sheriff. Abstracted 5-1-02, NC State Archives film C.037.40018, CTC.

source:  familysearch.org  Edgecombe Estates  1848

—————–

Bingo!…  I found another signature to compare…

This is from the 1849 Estate papers of Reuben Johnston and his widow Elizabeth. This is Henry R. Anderson:      (source: familysearch.org, Estate Papers, Reuben Johnston, 1849)

Below are other papers from the Reuben Johnston estate to add more info… Henry R. Anderson was an adjoining landholder…

So… my thoughts are these signatures match (the capital A in both) and Henry R. Anderson is the only guy left standing in regard to the 1845 Isaac Norfleet deed, the 1848 estate of David Holland, and the 1849 estate of Reuben Johnston.

Henry Anderson “Jr”, the son of Henry d.1801 has apparently disappeared after this 1818 reference:

DB 16/90 24 Feb 1818

Henry Anderson to Isaac Norfleet

For $125, 39 acres , being the land that formerly belonged to Henry Anderson, deceased, which fell to Mary Anderson at the death of three of the sons of the said Henry Anderson.

Wit. Starling Waller
——————
See my Page “George Anderson (b.1756) Edgecombe property” to get a map reference on the Henry R. Anderson and Reuben Johnston referenced above. This is why I think he was connected to the William Anderson d.1789 family. I cannot place him convincingly however. The son of 1789 William (the Henry who married Lovey Staton) seems to have died around 1830 but details are still sketchy and not worked out.

Town William

Deed Book 9   Edgecombe Co

253-(199)  William Anderson of the town of Tarborough to John Womble of same.  23 Oct 1798.  £75.  A fourth of lot 15 in the town of Tarborough, fronting St Georges Street.

Wit: John Turner, William Davidson.  Proved May Ct 1799.  Edward Hall CC

262-(205) Sally(x)Patterson & Sukey(x)Patterson, both of the town of Tarborough in Edgecome Co, to William Anderson of same.  23 Jan 1798.  35 silver dollars.  Lot 15 in the town of Tarborough.

Wit: John Turner, Josiah Ives.  Proved May Ct. 1799.  Edward Hall CC

438-(365) John Womble of Edgecombe Co to William Anderson of same.  6 Apr 1799.  150£.  140 acres which was part of the tract granted to sd Womble

“for his services as a private in the Continental line of the State of North Carolina as pr No 1981” dated 20 May 1793,  in Davidson Co Tennessee; sd Anderson to lay it off “in a four Square at either of the corners” of the sd tract.

Wit: B. Jourdan, John Turner.  Proved 29 May 1799.  Edward Hall CC

544-(474)  James Ferguson of Edgecombe Co to William Anderson of same.  15 Mar 1800.  £20.   Lot 4 in the town of Tarborough, half of the sd lot fronting on St Georges Street.

Wit: B. Jourdan, John Turner.  Proved Aug Ct 1800.  E. Hall CC

561-(489) William Anderson of Edgecombe Co to John Womble of same.  24 Nov 1800.  100£.  140 acres in Davidson Co Tennessee which was part of a tract granted to sd Womble for his services as a private In the Continental Line of North Carolina as per no. 1981 dated 20 May 1793,  which sd Anderson had purchased from the sd grantee 6 Apr 1799.

Wit: Enos Scarborough, John Turner.  Proved Nov Ct 1800.  Edward Hall CC

Edge. Co. Db 13, page 197, deed date 1 Sep 1809, recorded Feb Ct 1810,

John Womble, Edge. Co. to William Anderson, (      ), NC for $500, a

tract of land surveyed & (       ) for my by Robert (       ) in the

state of Tenn. And formerly in the County of Davidson but now

supposedly in the County of Williamson on the waters of West (Harpe

), designated 1901, containing 640 acres, signed John Womble, wit. Jo.

Jon. Sumner, proved, Robert Austin.  Abstracted 10-29-03, NCA film

C.037.40011.

Records of Estates Edgecombe Co. N.C. 1761-1825  by David B. Gammon

(12)  WILLIAM ANDERSON

Petition by John Womble (Sept 1819), stating he had been the owner of 640 acres of land in Tennessee, Granted him for his service in the Revolution.  This land was originally located in Davidson County, Tennessee but later fell in Williamson County, known as lot #1981.  In September, 1809, he sold this Land to the said William Anderson, who later deeded it back to Womble, mailing the deed to Tenn.

Womble states he never received the deed , and that Anderson has since died leaving two minor Daughters Nancy Ann Anderson and Betsy Anderson, both of Lenoir County.  Womble petitioned The said daughters for the land.

Edgecombe Co

Court Minutes

1793-1800

AUGUST, 1796: Thomas TAYLOR, son of Mary RANDOLPH, aged 14 the 4th of May next is ordered bound apprentice to William ANDERSON

to learn trade of shoemaker.  (If this is an apprentice to the Town William then it perhaps 1. shows his occupation and 2. perhaps explains the teenage male on the census)

I’ve been perplexed by this guy for years… see my Page “Edgecombe Census 1790-1810” for a bit of background and an interesting court case involving him and John Womble. (My thoughts are that Womble was a manumitted slave due to his service during the Rev War).

The  court case can be found here:     https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-26249-2939-54?cc=1911121&wc=MMT6-BRB:148301963   (copy/paste into your browser)

Well, my buddy Holmes has chimed in with an email and pretty much annihilates my theory and premises about this guy being a son of Henry Anderson d.1801.  The son (William) has died prior to 1810… so without further ado I shall do some editing:

I’m convinced this William was a son of Henry Anderson Sr. d.1801.  There is no “smoking gun” proof that jumps out in the research but there are several compelling clues:

Edgecombe County Will Abstracts  1793-1823  by David Gammon

(7)     HENRY ANDERSON   24 Nov 1801   Feb Ct 1802   O   D/137

“…being very sick…”

wife CHARITY ANDERSON – lend half of my land of my personal estate for her lifetime or widowhood.  At her death or marriage her share shall be divided between my five sons WILLIAM ANDERSON, ALLEN ANDERSON, JOHN ANDERSON, HENRY ANDERSON and FREDERICK ANDERSON.

Sixty dollars of my estate shall be kept out, to be shared by my daughters VINEY ANDERSON and POLLY ANDERSON.

Ex.     friends DRURY MAY, JOHN ANDERSON

Wit.  JOHN LITTLE, P. SUGG

Edge. Co. Db 15, page 269, deed date 10 Sep 1814, recorded Aug Ct1815, Lavina Anderson, Edge. Co to Isaac Norfleet, county aforesaid for$100, all her right in a tract on the west side of Tar River beginningat a pine James Garrett’s corner then along said Norfleet’s line toAreah Shirley’s line then along Shirley’s line to Josiah Pender’s linethen along Pender’s line to Starling Waller’s line then along Waller’sline to Josiah Freeman’s line then along Freeman’s line to JamesGarrett’s line to the beginning, containing 259 acres, which land wasdevised to the said Lavina Anderson by the death of her three brothers, William Anderson, Allen Anderson & Frederick Anderson, signed LavinaAnderson (X), wit (John L. Stacy) (proved), David Loyd. NOTE: TWO PAGES

NUMBERED 269.  Abstracted 28 Feb 07, NCA film C.037.40011, CTC

 So… that’s all well and good, you may ask, but what leads to the connection to Henry Anderson Sr. d.1801?

 

Note the above daughter of George Patterson… “Sukey Patterson”. The Henry Anderson who is the Administrator of the Patterson estate is Henry Anderson, brother of William (both sons of Henry d.1801).

Note in the above Estate document of Henry Anderson Sr. that money is paid to “Patersons Estate”.

Now I just connect the dots…

Brother Henry Anderson was connected to the Pattersons. (Administrator)
Father Henry Sr was connected to Patterson. (paid money to the Estate)

And here is the connection to William:

Deed Book 9 Edgecombe Co

253-(199) William Anderson of the town of Tarborough to John Womble of same. 23 Oct 1798. £75. A fourth of lot 15 in the town of Tarborough, fronting St Georges Street.

Wit: John Turner, William Davidson. Proved May Ct 1799. Edward Hall CC

262-(205) Sally(x)Patterson & Sukey(x)Patterson, both of the town of Tarborough in Edgecome Co, to William Anderson of same. 23 Jan 1798. 35 silver dollars. Lot 15 in the town of Tarborough.

Like I said, its not a “smoking gun” but it provides some clues for further research.

———————————-

With Traci’s comment about finding a William Anderson (with 2 daughters) in the 1810 Lenoir County census, I reconsider the Edgecombe census…

1800  (Town of Tarborough)

William Anderson    1M to 26

1M to 45

1F to 26

1F over 45

So we have an older couple, seemingly with 2 kids…  the kids being between 16 and 26 yrs.  The fact that the wife is OVER 45 and William is under makes me think that 45 is a reasonable “ballpark” age for each…. making his birth roughly 1755ish. IF it is the same man on the Lenoir census of 1810 and he dies roughly 1815 then he would be perhaps 60 yrs which is reasonable.   All this begs the question, of course, is who is the younger William on the 1810 Edgecombe census:

1810  Bullucks District

William Anderson     1M to 10

1M to 26

1F to 16

1f to 26

I have “assumed” that this is a “town” of Tarboro guy… but perhaps not… can anyone comment about the “Bullock’s District”? (did it encompass the town of Tarboro?).  The 1800 William has a son at least 16 so this 1810 guy would fit… he would be right at 26 yrs old in 1810.  But he would have to also die prior to 1819 (which is the date of the Womble vs Wm Anderson court case which states the only heirs are the 2 daughters).  He is not on the 1820 census (at least not in Edgecombe).

Any Lenoir County researchers out there?   Unfortunately I think Lenoir is a “burned” county so there may not be anything available.

——————-

My newfound cousin Penny Fischer engaged Traci Thompson a while back to track the Pattersons in an attempt to identify the wife of George Anderson (my and Penny’s ancestor). I was baffled at the time in the possible association of Henry and William Anderson with our ancestor George… now it appears to be just a coincidence.  I still have not found a link between the William Anderson d.1789 family and the Henry Anderson d.1801. So this guy is still a mystery.

Traci’s report (used with permission):

Mary Polly Patterson for Penny Fischer

Some new items submitted by Kristen Anderson… thanks Kristen!