Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

Well I just got soaked for another $30 in genealogy bucks. I visited an obscure site looking for an obscure person and up pops this petition of “maybe” 1732 showing 2 Andersons for that obscure time (1730s).  I’ve yet to find another hard reference for a “Henry” Anderson in Edgecombe Precinct in the 1730s (the “County” came a decade later) .

My point is that in order for these two “petitioners” to be “of age” (21), then they would be born at least 1712… this makes them very early “Edgecombe” Andersons.

Note: The following petition is undated, but appears in the volume containing records from 1664 to 1734; and follows an entry dated November 11, 1732. A similar petition was filed by the citizens of Bertie Precinct.

Read the Petition of the Inhabitants of Edgecombe precinct which is in these words Videlicet

Petition of the Gentlemen of Edgecombe Precinct to alter the Seat of Government
To George Burrington Esqr. His Majestys Capt. General Governour and Commander in chief of the Province of North Carolina

We the Gentlemen and Freeholders of Edgecombe precinct think ourselves Extremely happy under your wise and prudent Administration the good order and peace we see now Established throughout this Province is a most convincing proof of your Excellencys Care and wisdom and deserves the thanks and gratefull Acknowledgment of all men in North Carolina

We are sencible Edenton is for many Reasons a very Inconvenient place for the Seat of Government and almost as much may be said against the settling it on Cape Fear River

Therefore we humbly desire and hope your Excellency will take proper measures for fixing the Seat of Government near the Center of the Province which we suppose is between Tar and Neuse River which will give a general Satisfaction to almost all the whole Province and greatly promote the speedy peopling the unsettled part of this Country increase the King’s Quitt Rents and Encourage Trade and Industry and be an Everlasting Demonstration of Goverour Burringtons Kindness to the Inhabitants of North Carolina

That you Sir may in health and happiness long Govern this Province are the Prayers of

Your Excellency most humble and most Obliged Servants

Tranker, James Simons, Will Williams, Pines Welding, Laurence Simcock, Edwd Robinson, Thos. Hodges, John Tapley, John Cotton, Willm. First, John Carpenter, Thos. Tapley, Willm. Reeves, John Robinson, Wm. Hamilton, Alexr. Beane, John Cor, Morris Orane, John Glover, Wm. Cullender, Joseph Richardson, Lewis Elliot, Silvester Estridge, John Gill, Jno. Doron, William Rusil, Chas. Merrit, Samll Murry, John Lew, Henry Anderson, Christ. Beane, James Moor, Benja. Joyner, Geo. Woodliff, Ricd Washington, John Mulkey, Philip Mulkey, Geo. Pace, Rodk. Pearce, Abrah. Ante, Thos. Perry, Danl. Kindal, Henry Jenning, Phil. Murray, Will. Williams Junior, William Paule, Wm. Bauldwin, Jno. Bobbett, William Dennis, Watkin Davis, Robt. Surloe, John Taylor, Thos. Goodson, Henry Guston, James Millikin, Jams. Thomspson, Thos. Jones, John Pratt, Jas. Dyal, Mathew Ruphen, Phillip Jackson, Lewis Davit, Robt. Humphreys, Robt. Humphreys Jr., Wm. Anderson, Thoms. Arrento, Richd Hainsworth Jr., Seth Vatcher, Thomas Hart, Jas. Brogden, John Smith, Robt. Ellis, Thoms. Riggin, Richd. Hill, Rob. Long Junior, Robt Warring, Jonathn. Wright, Will. Norwood, Berry Melton, Chas. McCulloe, Thos. Hicks, John Green, William Fish, Wm. Sturbidge, John Turner Senior, John Tayler, Edward Simons, Small Swaringham, Geo. Bollingson, Wm. Rushen, John Brooke, Wm. Hodges, Robt. Hodges, Danl Crawley,James Smith, John Rogers, Roger Case, Bat. Cheavers, John Branch, Thos. Bradford, W. Bulliloes, Thomas Blackman, Jno. Baldwin, Richd Merrick, Joseph Mechamp, Jas. Moore Junior, Alexr. Wright, William Moore, Walter Turburwell, Isheim Randolph, Nathan Joyner, Joseph Joyner, Gilbert Murray, Peter Ivey, Edward George, James Murray.

(A footnote states that another copy of the petition includes the names of William Whitehead, George Norris and Taphel Dyal.)

Source: Records of the Executive Council, 1664-1734, Vol. 7, (1984) pp. 298 – 299.

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So here went my $20 +plus shipping… to verify the above and perhaps find more clues…

http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/colonial-records-of-nc–2nd-series-.html

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There are actually 2 petitions in the records… one for Edgecombe “Precinct” shown above and the second from Bertie Precinct.  The Edgecombe lists Henry Anderson and William Anderson.  The Bertie list contains another William Anderson. So there are 2 Williams at this time of 1732(?).

I suspect the William Anderson of Bertie may be a son of Robert Anderson who lived around Cashy River. But that is a guess.

Two William Andersons that I can identify are the William who dies by 1762 (from Halifax) and my ancestor William who dies in 1789 (Edgecombe). So I have an obvious interest in the two men of that 1732? Edgecombe petition.

My “gut” is telling me the above William Anderson of the petition”may” be the guy who died in 1762.  I have another theory for my guy of 1789. But I am open to any comments..

The “obscure” guys I was searching for were Henry Guston and James Millikin… who also show up in that petition. Millikin and perhaps Guston each become Justices of the Peace in that odd period of time when Chowan, Bertie and Edgecombe Counties were evolving and being chopped up into separate counties proper.  Millikin is mentioned in other historical documents and very involved with the actual implementation of the future Edgecombe County.

Milliken and Guston were both Indian Traders and as I will show were not averse to travel to South Carolina and beyond to trade with the Cherokees.  The unfortunate lack of info concerning James Millikin may be due to the fact that both he and his son of the same name both died before 1754… it may be that the line ended there? Any descendants may only be from the daughter Millikin.

Researcher Tommy Colbert transcribed this very telling deed…

Edge. Co. (Halifax) Db 6, page 140, deed date 29 Dec 1756, recorded

Feb Ct 1757, William Richmond, Esq, Edge. Co and Ann, his wife, to Jos.

Montfort, Gentleman, for 200 pds, a tract on the south side of

Conocanary Swamp containing 250 acres, being one half the land commonly

called the “old courthouse land” beginning at the mouth of Barneys

Branch then up the meanders of the said branch along the line of the

land which said Joseph Montford purchased of Simon Wade to three red

oaks then south 60 west along the head line of said line across the

said Barneys Branch to the dividing line between the said Wm. Richmond

and Paul Patrick then along the dividing line to Conocanary Swamp then

down the various courses of the said swamp to the beginning, which said

land was formerly sold by Dr. James Thompson and Mary, his wife, to

(Colo James Millikne), late of Edge. Co, deceased who died intestate 

and thereby said land amongst other lands descended to the said (James 

Killikne) the younger and after his decease to Paul Patrick and Agness 

his wife and Ann Milliken sister and coheirs unto the said James 

Millikin the younger and was by deed date 19 Nov 1754 among other lands

to Paul Patrick and Agness his wife and Wm. Richmond who intermarried

with the said Ann Millikin and Ann his wife copartners in the lands

aforesaid James unto (Wm K??) Jr of Edge. Co, Esq and afterwards by

deed bearing date 9 Dec 1754 was conveyed by the said Wm. Kinchell to

the said Wm Richmond, signed Wm. Richmond, Ann Richmond (mark), wit

George Gibson, John Cotton (mark).  Abstracted 4-30-06, NCA film

C.047.40002, CTC.

Millikin died about 1737 …  I found his estate records at NC Archives online     http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov/BasicSearch.aspx

Nathan Joyner was listed as one of his administrators. He married a Joyner.

He had to have came directly from Scotland as he is shown sending money back to his mother in Scotland. See about halfway below:

But back to the early James Millikin and Henry Guston…

COLONEL CHICKEN’S JOURNAL TO THE CHEROKEES, 1725

Thursday the 15 day of July 1725.
Arrived here from Tuccaseegee Samuel Brown and John Hewet who I sent for by an Order of the 8th Instant. And having Examined the said Hewet in relation to his being among the Indians without my leave, I found that he was Employed by Mr. Marr and that after he had left the said Marrs Employ that James Millikin Indian Trader Employed him and gave him Orders to Trade by two Letters from the said Millikin which the said Hewet produced to me and having Considered the aforesd Information, I gave Orders to the said Hewet to Stay at Keewohee til the said Milikin Arrived here from the Catawbaws at which time I informed him I should give him further Orders.

…

Wednesday the 3d day of August 1725.
This Morning appeared before me Ja: Millikin and Henry Guston to Answer a Complt agt them pursuant to my Orders of the 18th of July last in Relation to their Employing one John Hewet for one whole Year in the Indian Trade without my leave or Lycence which I proved before them by Two Letters from them to the said Hewet, wherein they Charge him not to Trade in the presence of any White Man for fear of his being discovered.
And the said Gustin and Millikin pleading that they Employed the said Hewet out of Charity and without any design of defrauding the Country or in Contempt of the Governnfent and hoping that I would take their Case under Consideration and to Shew them as much favour as the Circumstance of the Case would Admitt of, and as would seem mett with me, Promiseing for the future to take care of any further Complt against them, And on Considering the above Complt I Ordered them to give me a Note for the Sum of Thirty pounds payable to the Country it being there due from the said Hewet who Traded for them a whole Year without any Lycence and they having given me their Note accordingly on Mr. Saml. Eveleigh Mercht I then dismist them of the Complt agt them giving them in Charge to take care for the future how they behaved themselv’s, which they Promised to do.
…
Munday the 6th day of September 1725. This Morning came to me King Crow and some of his head men to Enquire w[ha]t was done with the boy they promised to redeem last Year. I told them that he was among the English learning to make Shoes and that according to their desire he would not be sent over the Great Water and that as soon as they had made a gathering among themselv’s of Skines to pay for him that they might then have him again as soon as they pleased, at which they went away well Satisfyed, the King and head men having heard that I designed to goe to Togelo parts informed me that he with some of his head Men would Accompany me there. Memorand : That John Facey and Wm. Collins are Allowed as Pack- horse Men to James Millikin Indian Trader, he having given an Order on Samuel Eveleigh Mercht in Charles Town payable to the Publick for the Sum of £20, it being required by Law for the Endorsement of the said Pack horse men. Given under my hand and Seal the date above written.

…Tuesday the 12 day of October 1725.
… Came in here from Great Terriquo Ja: Millikin Indian Trader who Informed me that the person (who lately brougt into the saidTown two Womens Scalps) with Eight more were gone out to Warr agt the Upper Creeks and that they had been out Six dales and that they were to return in Twenty dales from their sitting out. He likewise gave us an Accot that their Conjurer had given them Assurance of Success. I must remark that this is the Town that the Cowsaw fellow was reed in by the head Warriour there and by no other of the Town and I am very well Satisfyed that, that Town would never come into a peace (Assurance of wch) We have had since we have been here by their going out to Warr daily against the Creeks.

There are also instances back in North Carolina to undoubtedly link the association to the two Traders…

undated…

NC STATE WIDE – COURT – Colonial Court Papers, Group 2:
Freedom of slaves, Commissions for Edenton, Other papers related to slaves

Bond by James MILLLIKEN with Henry GUSTON, bondsman for a caveat
against anyone obtaining a writ to dispossess him a slave Jack, purchased from
Thomas CLEMENS and now in dispute with Robert WILLSFORD and Thomas BRYANT.
Witnesses: James CRAVEN, David ONEAL. n.d.

unsourced…  I’m lazy today…

In 1727 James Castellaw went into business with Henry Guston and James Milikin at the confluence of the Cashie and Roanoke Rivers.

and my personal favorite…

December 31-January 7, 1736
 Williamsburg Gazette
By a Letter from Col. James Millikin, in North-Carolina, dated at Roanoak, December the 10th, we have the following Account, That he received a Letter from Mr. Thomas Brown, of the Cutaboes, the chief Trader there, informing him. That on the 9th of October last, Three Indians came to the House of one William Syms, on Pine tree Creek, and (in his Absence) killed his Wife, another Woman, Three Children, and a Negro Man; and then set Fire to the House, Tis suppos’d they carried a White Girl away with them alive, who liv’d at the House, but can’t be found.
They were followed the next Morning by Five White Men, upon the Track, who found they had stopp’d in the Night, near a Place called Mars-Bluff, on Pedee River, where they had shared the Plunder, and left the bloody Cloaths of the murdered People. The Indians bent their Way Northward, which makes it believ’d they were Tuskaroroes. Mr. Brown wrote the above Account to Col. Millikin, at the Request of the Governor of South-Carolina, desiring him to use his Endeavours to apprehend these horrid Murderers

15 October 1732 Edgecombe County, North Carolina deed of William Sims to James Millikin for land on the south side of Quankey Creek [DB 1:20]

On motion of Mr James Millikin in behalf of the Inhabitants of that part of Bertie Precinct that lyes on the South Side of Roanoke River that a bill for an Act to be preferred to this house for Establishing that part into a precinct by the name of Edgcombe also on the Motion of Mr Maurice Moore in behalf of the Inhabitants of Onslow and Bladen that a bill be preferred to confirm them into seperate precincts which Motions are granted.        http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr04-0052  1735

???  William Syms Edgecombe County 24 Oct 1755
Will
Daughter: Sarah Whooper (plantation lying on Kehukey). Son: William.
Executor: John Whitaker. Witnesses: Thos. Taylor, Mary Tree, Xtr. Haynes.
No probate

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So… since we have a couple of die hard Indian Traders from North Carolina leaving their footprints all over South Carolina I figure I may not be totally off base by thinking that a James Anderson from NC may have been doing the same…

https://andersonnc.wordpress.com/?s=james+anderson