Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

I’m guilty.  I’ve had to eat crow lately and it has caused me to slow down and rethink things. As an example:

The 1716 James Anderson (of Occonechee Swamp near Halifax) sells out about 1722 or so and apparently moves to Bath County. Somewhere along the way I developed the theory that it was possible he wound up in Tarboro around 1754… and probably dies soon after. It all made perfect sense to me and I simply dropped the hunt for lack of evidence… in other words… “case closed” in my mind.

Now I am considering…Wait a minute… what if the 1754 in Tarboro was a young man? Duh!

The lack of evidence in Edgecombe County from say, 1750 to 1790 is frustrating. But it does not discount the fact that there were several ANDERSONS living there. Everything starts to fall in place with the 1790 US Census. It is still the usual jigsaw pieces that we have to put together.

The earliest “family lore” I have found is this account from a descendant born in the 1800s:

May 13, 1959 (Hugh B. Johnston article)

WILLIAM ANDERSON

(This traditional account of William Anderson, 1732-1789, was written by Mrs. A.C. Davis of Rocky Mount.)

“William Anderson…came to Edgecombe about 1732…by old records a Scotsman who did not want to fight England, along with more Scotch in the county, his son James having a store at Tarborough when it was only a ferry and warehouse to collect Quit Rents for the Lords Proprietors or Earl Granville.”

Hmmm… maybe she was on to something… maybe she had been told this at some point by an even older descendant? I have always discounted this because the “son” James, of this William Anderson, was born, more likely, around 1758 or so. Too young.

What if James (of Tarboro) was a brother?

William Anderson b. unknown, d. 1789

First appears in Edgecombe County, NC with a survey in 1752.

Survey-William Anderson-1752

4th april 1752

May 5th 1753. Then laid out unto William Anderson 240 Acres of Land in

Edgecomb County Joyning the Lands of Andrew Ross and Widow Pittman

beginning at a white Oak on Ross line Runing thence Et. 272 Pole

to a Pine then So. 142 Pole to a White Oak on Widow Pittman line

then along her line Wt. 80 pole to a white Oak and Gum then So. Wt. 66 pole

to hers and Price’s Corner a pine then along Prices line N. 65 W. 122 pole

to a White Oak Price’s Corner N. 25 Wt. along the Stream? to Lawrace

Corner a White Oak then the Same Course to Ross Corner 150 Pole the first

Station Containing 240 Acres as the above figure Represents

Sworn Chain Carriers Laid out pr

Arthur Anderson Jam.s Conner

James Anderson

This James in 1752 has always dumbfounded me to explain… (also the Arthur)… but my hunch was always as “brothers”.
——————————————————-

And there is no doubt that there was a James in Tarboro at this time of this document (1754-1758):

So… this William Anderson, b. unknown, d. 1789 was not on the 1790 Census… but his wife Mourning was.

And there is a James Anderson on the 1790 Census. Could this be the same James? And could he still be a merchant in Tarboro?

Anderson, James…………………………..1-0-1-0-0 (actually there are 2 James… both the same count)

1st # free white males 16 year upwards and head of families
2nd # free white males under 16 years
3rd # free white females and head of families
4th # all other free persons
5th # slaves

———————————

Consider the above “merchants of Tarboro“… one of the signatures is Edward Telfair.  I did a bit of research a while ago and realized Telfair went on to become governor of Georgia.  I did not find anything relevant at the time.

Now I find this article by Claiborne T. Smith, Jr, wherein he details some history for this guy and his brothers.

http://ncpedia.org/biography/telfair-alexander

Of particular interest is this…   “On her husband’s death, Paulina Telfair was left with five small children. She went to live with her mother-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Blair Telfair, in Scotland and eventually obtained a small pension from the British government. In 1798 she and her family returned to North Carolina and bought a small property near Tarboro. She was still living in 1816, when she sold her land in Edgecombe and moved to Pitt County.”

In the 1810 Edgecombe Census is an entry for a William Anderson… and directly above his name is Paulina Telfair.  I think that this William in 1810 is also a merchant in Tarboro.

He appears to have a lot in Tarboro…
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.
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.
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.

Consider the 1800 Census…

If the William (1) is this Town William, then he appears to be designated as a “Senior”…. meaning one of two things.  1. He is the oldest William Anderson around or possibly, 2. He also has a son William.   Note the age of this 1800 William “Sen”… to 45 (with a son to 26).   My hunch is this older William dies before 1810.  Which leaves the grandson William in 1810.

The “Town William” Anderson

——————

I think the other two William Andersons of the 1800 Census are the sons of William Anderson who died 1789.  Other siblings of Wm.1789 are James, George, Rachel and his widow Mourning (Price) Anderson.  One of these Henrys’ is probably the one who died 1801 (TR… perhaps Tar River?). The remaining Henry (Cokey)… perhaps Cokey Road is “perhaps” another son of Wm d.1789.

Comments?

source:

http://www.digitalnc.org/collections/newspapers/

The JO. P. & John Pitt in 1831 … I think this is JOAB Pitt

This is the brother of my Great Grandfather… he was a Civil War veteran.

https://archive.org/stream/familytreebookge00insmit#page/74/mode/2up/search/anderson

http://www.tngenweb.org/records/henderson/cemeteries/g-ander.htm

Sitting center of photo is Benjamin… sitting far right is Moses Brock and above him (I think) is Bart Brock (my grandfather).

My great grandfather had (I think) a grand total of 14 children…whew!… so I am at a loss to identify the other extremely well dressed participants of the photo.  My grandfather was born 1889, the year that Moses Brock moved from Tenn. to Texas (must have been fun changing those diapers in a horse/oxen? driven wagon)… so if he is perhaps 20 yrs when this photo was taken in Comanche, Texas… my guess for the photo  is about 1919… the year my father was born.

Moses Brock died 1931 if I recollect correctly… I have no idea when Benjamin died (he was born about 1841 so I would guess the 1920s)… a good run for each of them.

Bart Brock died 1951… the year I was born… so I am a bit fuzzy… the resulting families dispersed, some to California and elsewhere… mine came to Florida about 1965.  My father became an oilman after his WWII stint… and so was I for a time (just like my dad, I say proudly)… I became a Driller (again, I say proudly.. a man earns that status by pure sweat and a bit of  smarts) … in Florida of all places.

Two sons named William Jr…  from the 1789 will…

Item, I give and bequeath unto my Son William Anderson, son of my former wife Martha Anderson, five Shillings like money, to him his heirs & assigns forever————

Item, I give and bequeath unto my Son William Anderson, Son of my present wife Mourning Anderson, five Shillings of the like money, to him his heirs and assigns forever—

The son of Martha… the Rev War veteran:

A year earlier his wife had died…

DIED, In this county, on the 5th inst. aged about 70 years, Mrs. Martha Anderson, wife of Mr. William Anderson.[Tarboro Free Press, July 13, 1833]

According to his 1832 pension deposition, his age was 75.  The newspaper account is 80.  Either way he is provably born mid 1750s…

Marriages of Early Edgecombe County N.C. 1733-1868 by Williams & Griffin

Anderson, William – Mourning Price, 21 July 1763, Jonathan Coleman,  John Spendelow

Case closed.=============================================================

This is not earth shattering news but for those of us still digging in the dirt, it allows us to pinpoint details to figure out the SONS of these two men…

Each of these William Jrs’ also named a son Micajah… I know, I know, you can’t make this up.

So….. which one is it?

One Micajah is born 1782, dies unknown… the other born 1803, dies 1779.

So now we know where the older Micajah was living in 1803…

Edge. Co. Db 11, page 54, deed date 3 Aug 1803, recorded Nov Ct 1803, Elizabeth Lundy, Edge. Co to Micajah Anderson, the son of Wm. Anderson Jr, county aforesaid for $50, a tract on the south side of Tar River and near the head of Walnut Creek containing (seven and a quarter) acres beginning at a small white and red oak on the path in Charles Gray’s line then along said line a westerly course to a pine Gray’s corner then along his other line a southerly course to a pine on the path then along the path to the beginning, signed Elizabeth Lundy, wit (Lunoy Stallings), Joseph Armstrong (proved). Abstracted 11-6-06, NCA film C.037.400010, CTC.

Edge. Co. Db 11, page 174, deed date 9 Sep 1803, recorded May Ct 1804, (Elizabeth Lunday), Edge. Co to John Dilliard, county aforesaid for $60, a tract of land on the south side of Tar River containing 30 acres and (three) poles beginning at a small pine standing in Charles Gray’s line on the path that leads by Wm. Anderson’s house then along the said path south 67 east 90 poles to a red and white oak sapling in said Gray’s other line near Walnut Creek then along said line south 80 east 12 poles to a water oak in said creek said Gray’s corner then up the creek along Stephen Haywood’s line 54 poles to a pine and small white oak then south 70 east 83 poles to a red oak in George Anderson’s line then along said line 49 poles to the beginning, signed Elizabeth Lundy, wit Frederick Phillips, Jno. H. Phillips. Abstracted 11-29-04, NCA film C.037.40007, CTC.

Edge. Co. Db 11, page 226, deed date 20 Sep 1803, recorded Aug Ct 1804, Elizabeth Lundy, Edge. Co to Lott Stallings, county aforesaid for $125, a tract on the south side of Tar River and on the head of Walnut Creek containing 74 acres, beginning at a pine and rad oak Wm Dancy’s corner then south (80) west 56 poles to a pine in Phillips corner pine then along the dividing line south 7 east 192 poles to a pine in John Dilliard’s line then easterly 52 poles to a pine Dilliard’s corner near the head of Walnutt Creek then along the dividing line between Stephen Haywood and the line of Jno Haywood(Dec’d) south 7 west 200 poles to the beginning, signed Elizabeth Lundy, wit Frederick Phillips, Mason Hearn (X). Abstracted 11-8-06, NCA film C.037.400010, CTC.

This is the area of “Walnut Creek” to get some bearings…

Micajah Anderson to Ruben Johnston 1827

Edgecombe County Deeds (I transcribed this but lost the reference book… sue me, Marc)

This Indenture made and entered into this fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and twenty Seven between Micajah Anderson of the State of North Carolina and County of Edgecombe of the one part, and Ruben Johnston of the same State and County aforesaid of the other part, Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of Forty one Dollars to him in hand paid by the said Ruben Johnston the receipy whereof is hereby acknowledged, and myself fully Satisfied Contented and paid have bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain and sell unto him the said Ruben Johnston his heirs and assigns forever, one certain Tract or parcel of Land Situate lying and being in the County of Edgecombe and bounded as follows (to wit) Beginning at a pine standing on the path Ruben Johnstons corner running then along the Path and said Johnstons line to a red and white Oak sapling Corner in James S. Battles line, then alond said Battles line to a black Jack and pine standing in said Battles line then along said Battles line near a South course to the Beginning, Containing Twelve Acres more or less which includes the dwelling Housing and Housing Etc where Lu*y [Lovey] Anderson and Henry Anderson now lives, and I the said Micajah Anderson doth bind myself my heirs Executors administrators and assigns forever to warrant and defend the above mentioned Land and improvements to him the said Ruben Johnston his heirs and assigns forever in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the date above Written signed sealed and delivered in preesents of }

S.L. Hart     Micajah X Anderson

Edgecombe County February Court 1827

… Recorded Mich. Hearn C. C.

——————————————————–

The Star 8 Jan 1829

Married In Edgecombe County on the 25th, Mr. Joshua L. Anderson to Miss Catharine Bradley

Edgecombe Deed Book 20 Pages 56-57

This Indenture made this ___ day of September 1830 Between William Anderson of the first part and Jarrot Bell of the second part and Aaron Coleman and David Pitman of the third part, Witnesseth that whereas Joshua Anderson son of William Anderson the party of the first part hath been arrested on a charge of Petit Larceny and is bound for his appearance and the parties of the third part have entered into Recognizance in the sum of $100 for the appearance of the said Joshua Anderson at the Superior Court to be holden for the County of Edgecombe on the second monday in March 1831 and whereas the said William Anderson wishes and desires to save the sd. parties of the third part harmless and to indemnify them against any loss at which they may sustain by reason of said Recognizance for the appearance of the said Joshua for and in consideration of the sum ***? and in further consideration of the sum of one dollar paid to the party of the first part (the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged) the party of the first part hath given, granted, bargained and sold and by these presents doth give grant bargain and sell unto the party of the second part his Executors and administrators the following personal property viz. twenty hogs, one mare and all the household and Kitchen furniture of the said William Anderson- To have and to hold all the said personal property to him the party of the second part his executors and administrators Never thereby in Trust and confidence to sell the same whenever the parties of the third part shall have suffered a loss by reason of the said Recognizance by paying the same or any part thereof and out the proceeds of said sale to pay the costs and charges attending the conveyance and __so much to the parties of the third part as they shall have paid interest thereon and the balance of any to refund to the party of the first part and party of the second part covenants to perform said trust in good faith. In testimony whereof the party of the first part Hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day & date first above written in presence of

Henry B. Permenter William (B his mark) Anderson

Edgecombe County The foregoing Deed in trust was exhibited in open Court November Court 1830 and acknowledged by William Anderson the Grantor— ordered to be Recorded

Test Michl Hearn C.C.

transcribed Marc Anderson 2011

Edgecombe Deed Book 20, pg 76

This Indenture made the 7th day of September in the year One Thousand Eighteen & thirty between Joshua L. Anderson of the one part & Aaron Coleman of the other part each of the State of No. Carolina Edgecombe County [obscured]_ _ _ the sum of Sixty? dollars where? in hand paid by the sd. Aaron Coleman before the Sealing & delivery *** the receipt whereof the sd. Anderson doth hereby acknowledge & himself therewith fully satisfied contented & paid have granted, sold, bargained & doth hereby convey unto sd. Coleman his heirs & assigns during my natural life one certain tract or parcel of Land situate lying & being in the County of Edgecombe & on the North side of Tar River & in the fork of Fishing Creek & sd. River containing ninety eight acres two Roods? & thirty two pole Bounded as follows Beginning at a sweet gum standing in a line at the tract of Land formerly belonging to James Hilliard decd. on the Edge of the swamp then along a line of marked trees No. 3? e. 175 pole to the center of a White oak & a red oak Then No 75 E 28 pole to a Small pine Then South ?7 Wt 118 pole to two Myrtiles & a gum on sd. swamp Then up the swamp the various courses thereof to the first station It being the tract of Land formerly belonged to Agy Bradly dec’d & decended to his daughter Catharine Bradley & by marriage to me during my natural life To have & to hold the sd. tract or parcel of Land together with all & Singular the appertenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining to him the sd. Aaron Coleman his heirs & assigns during my natural life I Joshua L. Anderson for my part doth hereby bind myself & every of them always to support & forever defend unto the sd. Aaron Coleman during my natural life the above described? and bargained premises who shall & may from time to time & at all times heresfter have hold use & *** enjoy & Lawfully possess the same freely & clearly against the Lawful claim or claims of every other person or persons whatsoever during my natural life. In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand & Seal the day & date above written-

Signed sealed & delivered in presence of us

L.B. Bradley Elias Bradley

Joshua L. Anderson seal

Edgecombe County November Court 1830

The foregoing Deed of Sale was exhibited in Open Court and acknowledged by Joshua L. Anderson the Grantor–

Test Michl Hearn C.C.

transcribed Marc Anderson 2011
Edge. Co Db 21, page 130, date of deed 25 Aug 1834, date recorded Aug Ct. 1834, Catherine Anderson, wife of Joshua Anderson, Aaron Coleman, all of Edge. Co. for $110 a tract of land on the north side of Tar River adjoining the lands of (Alexander) Bradley and others beginning at a gum in said Bradley’s corner in a swamp then with his line north 88 east 36 poles to a small post oak on the side of the road in said Bradley’s line then down the center of road 62 poles to a red oak at the foot of a path then and along said path as follows, north 84 east 27 ½ poles to a small black gum then north 76 east 32 poles to a small red oak then south 89 east 36 poles to a pine then south 53 ½ poles to a red oak in Joshua Lawrance’s line then with his line south 88 west 130 poles to a gum and maple in a swamp then up the meanders of said swamp to the beginning containing 55 acres, it being a part of a tract of land which descended to me by the death of my father, (Agy) Bradley and my husband Joshua Anderson having previously disposed of his life estate in said land bearing date 7 Sept. 1830, signed Catherine Anderson (X), wit. (W) Bradley, Micajah B. Bradly (sic). Acknowledged by Catherine Anderson. Abstracted 9-15-01, FHC film 0370237, CTC.

Joshua L. Anderson m. Catherine Bradley, Dec.25, 1828 in Edgecombe Co., Catherine was daughter of Agy Bradley and Honour Dillard. Catherine was born in NC. Joshua and Catherine’s children: Mary A.,b. ABT.1831, Zedekiah, b. ABT.1836, James, b. ABT. 1838, Jerrmaria, b.ABT. 1840, Emelizoo, b. ABT. 1843, Joshway, b. ABT. 1846, Lorenzi, b. ABT. 1850, Richard A., b. ABT. 1852, John H., b. ABT. 1856.

Around 1850, Zedekiah , along with his parents, Joshua and Catherine, moved to Lauderdale Co. TN. Sometime between 1850 and 1860, they moved to Shelby Co. TN.

1870 SHELBY COUNTY TN CENSUS District No. 6

Joshua ANDERSON 63 m w Farming         (from web post)

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The Edgecombe 1830 census (reference page 308) has a grouping of 4 Andersons for District 14.

> Joshua L. Anderson

> Micajah Anderson

> Benjamin Anderson

> Josia Anderson

The marriage bond for Josiah Anderson and Eliza H. Freeman was dated Dec. 3, 1829, in Edgecombe.

From the research of David Gammon:

“Josiah Anderson died intestate in Edgecombe in 1868. His widow refused to administer the estate, and his brother Micajah Anderson was appointed his administrator, Oct. 21, 1868. According to these papers, Josiah Anderson died without issue, leaving only his wife. Accordingly, his wife received her dower right, and the rest of the estate went to his surviving siblings, or their heirs if they were deceased. These papers indicate the siblings of Josiah Anderson were:”

1. Micajah Anderson

2. Charlotte Anderson

3. Elizabeth Anderson m. David Pittman…  Martha Hyde and Jane Alford were also heirs. Based on the death certificate of Jane Alford, these two ladies were daughters of  Elizabeth Anderson Pittman

Several of us are nitpicking the 1959 article by “Mrs. Davis” and her recollections of the Anderson clan… (in a post below)…

per David Gammon:

Mrs. Lena Bullock Davis (wife of Arthur St. Clair Davis) wrote that article back in 1959, when she was eighty or more. Some of the parts are true, some are false. We can prove definitively she was the granddaughter of Lizzina Worsley and Jesse Barnes Bullock. That part is very clear. But then Mrs. Davis says Lizzina Worsley was the daughter of Nanthan Guilford Worsley and Evalina Anderson. Not true.

Lizzina Worsley Bullock, according to family records, was born in 1830 and died in 1908. She married Jesse B. Bullock, Aug. 13, 1847.

Evalina Anderson was born about 1824 or so, according to census records. Impossible for her to be Lizzina’s mother! Evalina Anderson married Nathan G. Worsley in 1845. So they were contemporaries rather than mother and daughter.

Truth is, Lizzina Worsley Bullock and Nathan G. Worsley were brother and sister. They were children of William Worsley who died in Edgecombe in 1863. His estate papers tell us that Lizzina was his daughter, and they also tell us that his son Nathan had predeceased him, leaving issue Georgina Worsley, Lucy Worsley, Charles Worsley, and Levi Pitt Worsley.

But back to the Charlotte Anderson above… who is the sister of Micajah Anderson (b.1803-d.1879)  per the estate papers of 1868.

Some older notes of David Gammon:

In the 1850 Edgecombe Census, she is shown as age 50, living with N.G. Wausley

(Worsley), age 35, Evelina Wausley (27), G.A. Wausley (5), Charles Wausley (3),

and Levi Wausley (1).

In the 1860 Edgecombe Census, she is shown as head of the house, still age 50,

and in the same house are Evalina Worsley (36), Georgiana Worsley (13), Charles

D. Worsley (12), Pitt W. Worsley (10), and Lucey S. Worsley (8).

In the 1870 Edgecombe Census, she is shown as age 70, in the house with Evelina

Worsley (47), Georgiana Worsley (23), Levi P. Worsley (21), Lucy S.S. Worsley

(18), and David Dillard, age 65, a farm laborer.

Interestingly enough, there is an Edgecombe marriage bond for Nathorn (sic) G.

Worsley to Evelina Anderson, dated Jan. 1, 1845. Could she be a daughter of

Charlotte?

A super nitpicky point is that Mrs. Davis (in the article) refers to Scotland Neck?

“My great-grandmother Evalina Anderson was said to be the child of one who lived Scotland Neck, and Nathan Guilford Worsley was of the Worsleys near the head of Conetoe Creek.”

I think it is generally assumed that the only men of that name in Edgecombe County from 1756 or so until the 1830s or so was George Sr b. 1756 and his son George Jr b. 1798.  I have always assumed they remained on their properties near Walnut Creek until they packed up and moved to Henderson County, Tenn. about 1837… evidently not.

Either the father or the son George was in business as a storekeeper in the town of Halifax at least by 1824.  The only other culprit by the name of George to reasonably be in Halifax was a grandson of Peter Anderson d. 1801. But he was b.1812 and hence would only be 12 years old in 1824.

So… unless someone can counter my assumption… I take the following to be my ancestor…

DRAT!… I proved myself wrong.  There is a George Anderson in Halifax in 1820… he could easily be a son of either the James or William in 1810.  I was suspicious of this guy because I cannot believe ANY of my clan can carry a tune.   I’ll just leave my ramblings in place without editing and bear the embarassment.    The guy WAS a Mason tho’ if that helps anyone else….. (smiling).

Scattered throughout the Tarboro newspaper accounts are “Lists of Letters” which sit idle in the Post Office which must perturb the postmaster… George evidently did not care much for mail as he is constantly cited… but this one caught my eye because this is in the town of Halifax in 1824…

And then this…

Sept 12, 1824… The business drops a partner (Henry Mason) and re-emerge a few days later as Anderson and Loudon… next door to the Bank. Note the byline is Halifax.

Henry Mason is still a mystery to me.. here he is in 1825 trying to collect from the dead beat Governor (from the Govs papers)…    not sure if he collected?

http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/ead/id/97690

H. G. (Hutchins Gordon) Burton was a United States representative (1819-1824) from and governor (1824-1827) of North Carolina. The collection includes family, political, and business papers of Burton, including letters pertaining chiefly to North Carolina and national politics, including the 1824 presidential election, economic conditions, and horse racing.

Robert Loudon was a Mason… more of interest because he was of the Royal White Hart Lodge #2 of Halifax…

Royal White Hart was established 1767 and is the second oldest lodge in NC. A colorful history is online…….. But this caught my interest…

So George was also a Mason, which does not surprise me… one of the extant tombstones in Henderson, Tenn has a Masonic emblem prominently displayed.

My hunch is that this is George Anderson Jr. If so, the old boy could sing… which does surprise me.

And the old boy kept his ties to Edgecombe County… here he is in a Grand Jury, 1834, voicing a few concerns and trashing a Senator they did not agree with one whit, thank you.

All fun stuff to research… and all new to me. An old family account from 1959 has some Andersons apparently living near Scotland Neck which has always perplexed me… perhaps this can lead to some new revelations?

May 13, 1959 (Hugh B. Johnston article)

WILLIAM ANDERSON

(This traditional account of William Anderson, 1732-1789, was written by Mrs. A.C. Davis of Rocky Mount.)

William Anderson…came to Edgecombe about 1732…by old records a Scotsman who did not want to fight England, along with more Scotch in the county, his son James having a store at Tarborough when it was only a ferry and warehouse to collect Quit Rents for the Lords Proprietors or Earl Granville.

His sons and daughters wed mostly in a near-by section and his old home is, I feel sure, where I was brought home a month-old baby to the old home of my grandfather, as his holdings reached from the north side of Tar River.

…But 12 children caused some of them not to have much land and to go back where they probably came from, on the Halifax line where many more Andersons probably lived.

Two wives, and he does not say that the first died, gave him 12 children (last wife is also “Uncle Sam” Davis great-great aunt). My great-grandmother Evalina Anderson was said to be the child of one who lived Scotland Neck, and Nathan Guilford Worsley was of the Worsleys near the head of Conetoe Creek. They came to live where her grandfather William Anderson had probably early in the 1700’s built on Cokey Road high on a red hill top, where oaks and sycamores grew; his house had a great room, smaller room, two shed-rooms, an attic upstairs, basement, small coluned front porch at the chimney (not there now) in slavery times, log kitchen some distance away, and a small back porch used as a dining room on occasion.

Boxwoods in the vegetable garden walk and crepe myrtles among oaks, it was typical of a Scotch Highlander and his descendants, even to those old phlox, of sweet smell, in the vegetable garden as I knew it as a child, for I had this very house as my first home, father living with old Aunts Worsley, sisters of my grandmother, about five miles out from Rocky Mount beyond West Edgecombe School, and it has been in continuous possession of Anderson descendants. Grandmother Lizzina Worsley Bullock was born there, and it was on the Old Stage Coach Road (Cokey) before anyone had even thought of a war with England, when this home of Andersons was built.

These Andersons…were strong Old Side Baptists who believed in predestination, as most Highland Scotch did, and many left Scotland for North Ireland and America for their Campbellistic belief, but still did not want to fight England. Many of my kin were stingy and thrifty as Scotch and just as eccentric. Possibly I am wrong about it, even his house. It has taken me seventy-six years to study out the origin of this place, my first home, and I expect some will say I am just day dreaming…as to just who once lived on that hill.

I had told the Aunt whom I last visited, Mrs. Frank Bullock that it was at least 150 years old. Now I am sure I underestimated it by fifty years. The basement was filled in by my Uncle Frank’s family, the front porch made longer after 1912 and a kitchen built on, but for many years it was as first built, 150 years ago at least, and might even be 250 years now from my memory of it.

My friend David Gammon has weighed in with some thoughts.  He is from the area and is a wealth of genealogy trivia that never ceases to amaze me.

I just re-read this. I think you can read it two ways. As usual, there is a grain of truth in it, but it got distorted with the passage of time. I am pulling out the facts as she presents them, and I can’t resist an editorial comment or two:

1. Evelina Anderson was the granddaughter of the 1789 William Anderson.
2. The father of Evelina Anderson was from near Scotland Neck.
3. 1789 William was born in 1732, and came to America from Scotland that same year because he did not want to fight England. (Now that’s one hell of a baby.)
4. Some of the children of 1789 William did not inherit much, so they went back to near the Halifax County line where they had lived before. (what happened to the Scotland story?)
5. Other Andersons lived up near the Halifax County line.

At first hearing, this seems to be the ramblings of a very old woman, who remembers some things she heard, and has confused some others. The part about Evelina forward I believe – it’s the earlier part that I don’t believe.

Here’s what we can prove that seems to relate:

1. Evelina Anderson was daughter of Charlotte Anderson, who can be proved to be a sibling of Old Man Micajah Anderson, Josiah Anderson, and Elizabeth Anderson Pittman. If there were other siblings, then they died without issue prior to Josiah in the late 1860s, and were thus not heirs to his estate. The census indicates Charlotte Anderson never married, so Evelina was illegitimate. And we know that she was not the granddaughter of 1789 William – most likely a great-granddaughter, however.

2. Old Man Micajah (Evelina’s uncle) did indeed live over near Scotland Neck for a while. In his autobiography, he states that he and his first wife Nancy lived first on the Avington farm. This is a misspelling of Abbington. The Abbington farms were in Halifax County near the Cow Haul Swamp, south of Scotland Neck. Likewise, Elizabeth Anderson Pittman lived in that area. But we cannot prove that Josiah or Charlotte ever lived in that area. So the part about Scotland Neck is true, but for a different person. An example of a true fact getting twisted with time. One might theorize that Micajah, who was perhaps the oldest child, married Nancy and his sister Elizabeth moved with them to the Abbington farm. Josiah and Charlotte may have stayed behind, with other relatives. I am presuming the parents had already died.

3. Old Man Micajah eventually moved to Township 5 (Lower Fishing Creek) in Edgecombe, which, as the crow flies, was not far from the Abbington farm where he started out his married life. The farm where he eventually lived was about three miles or so south of the Halifax County line. There were no other Andersons in this part of the world. So I presume this tale was indeed based in some truth but got distorted with time.

4. The red hill top was on Cokey Road, according to this account. Cokey Road still exists, and is Highway 43, coming southwest out of Rocky Mount heading towards West Edgecombe School. The land in that area is mostly flat, but occasionally there is a slight hill.

Here are a few things worth exploring, however:

1. The heirs of Charlotte Anderson, which appear to be ONLY the children of Evelina Anderson Worsley.
3. The identity of “Uncle Sam Davis,” who the author says was great-great-nephew of the second wife of 1789 William Anderson. May not pan out – but worth exploring. The author is a Mrs. Davis – so he must be on her husband’s side of the family.

DG

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Could it be that George Anderson moved near Scotland Neck and is the genesis of her “fuzzy” recollections?

But here he is “apparently”  near the Walnut Creek area in 1834 (Battle had property adjoining both Georges’). In debt in 1834 and leaves in 1837… still unanswered questions.

The George Anderson property in Edgecombe County…

George Anderson (b. 1756), Edgecombe property

Revolutionary War account… George Jr. states his father made it to Henderson County, Tenn and dies August, 1837…

Click to access s46684.pdf

A little math… 1833- 70yrs = 1763.

This has to be one of the 2 sons of William Anderson who died 1789.  But after we laugh because the old man had TWO sons named William [Jr]… which one was this?  The old man married his second wife- Mourning Price- at about the same time this woman was born.

One William Jr. left a pension record of his service in the Rev War… the pensions were a big deal when they were enacted in 1832… no mention of a wife.  (But I suppose that does not mean this CANNOT be his wife?)

Click to access s6512.pdf

The other son William just makes my head hurt over the mystery… I personally think he was perhaps a bastard  son of Mourning Price from a possible “dalliance” shall we say?… all speculation of course on my part.

So……… what do you think?

And who in hell was ARTHUR Anderson?

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an aside…

The brother of each of these Williams moved to Henderson County Tenn. about 1837.  His son George is mentioned in an 1850 census…

GEORGE ANDERSON, 52, North Carolina, real estate valued at $900;    [born 1798]
MARY ANDERSON, 47, North Carolina;
JOHN ANDERSON, 22, North Carolina;
DELILAII ANDERSON, 16, North Carolina;
ROBERT ANDERSON, 15, North Carolina;
HENRY ANDERSON, 13, North Carolina;
JOSHUA ANDERSON, 11, Tennessee;
BENJAMIN ANDERSON, 9, Tennessee;
GABRILLAS ANDERSON, 8, Tennessee;
CORNELIUS ANDERSON, 5, Tennessee;
MOSES ANDERSON, 1, Tennessee;        [my great grandfather]
NANCY BILBRA, 63, North Carolina.

I have never figured out who that Nancy BILBRA was?   And in the 1832 pension record of William Anderson above,  a BILBRY is mentioned?

http://www.tngenweb.org/records/henderson/cemeteries/g-ander.htm

In the post below I got all excited because I found a newspaper account that “may” be my ancestor.  As a mere mortal searching deeds and trying to find any and all tidbits of facts and clues and such… this just blows my socks off and I have to share.

Scroll down to    Tarboro Free Press… and search…

http://www.digitalnc.org/collections/newspapers/

I’m like a giddy little pig in….  well… whatever…

Note… the Tarboro link is not “exactly” accurate… it says the papers start in 1832 but a “general” search has led me to some earlier papers… 1824 era… just sayn’

Kudos to the good folks that put this site together!

About the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center

About
The North Carolina Digital Heritage Center is a statewide digitization and digital publishing program housed in the North Carolina Collection at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Digital Heritage Center works with cultural heritage institutions across North Carolina to digitize and publish historical materials online. The Digital Heritage Center provides libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other cultural heritage institutions with the opportunity to promote and increase access to their collections through digitization. The Center is supported by the State Library of North Carolina with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, and by the UNC-Chapel Hill University Library.

http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/search/pages/results/?sort=relevance&rows=20&searchType=basic&proxtext=anderson&page=1225

I have no idea what this is about… I did search for the Alabama guy…. nothing to hang a clue on…

Interesting newspaper site… I am still searching…

This is my ancestor in 1825… George Anderson of Edgecombe County… born about 1756… Rev War veteran. (Or more likely his son George b. 1798)

If I remember correctly, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams each die on July 4th… a year after this article. And the folks in Texas are getting stirred up about General Santa Anna (sorry… I’m a Texan by birth.. great grandpa Moses Brock moved there in 1889)……  smiling.

I’ll climb out on a limb… this is where his property was when he died about 3 years after his 1710 deposition by Philip Ludwell.  There is no record of his deed… only a reference by his granddaughters selling the land later.  I simply put the puzzle pieces together…

Now that we have a “reasonably certain” location of his property then it makes it easier to search his neighbor’s records for relationships.

This 1863 Civil War map is not correct by modern standards… but it is close… the Brook’s Creek still exists.  (Bear in mind the “modern” 1863 map is about 150 years newer than the period I discuss)       (smiling)

See another post below for more clues…

John Browne (Indian Trader) c. 1639 – d. 1713?

And the whole enchilada here:

TTT John Browne of Kingsale, 1639-1713, Indian Trader

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This reference is John Browne selling his property near Kingsale Swamp (Virginia) in 1706… he is about 67 years of age and may be living near Petty Shore on the Chowan River in North Carolina…

9 Aug 1706…. John Browne and wife, Bridgett Browne, to Samuel Canidy…. 220 acres (being a patent dated 29 Apr 1692 in the lower parish on the south side of Kingsale Swamp and bounded by Jonathan Robinson and William Stott (Scott?).

Wit: Richard Exum and William Murray.

John (X) Browne

Rec: 10 Jun 1706

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The case for the wife of John Browne…  Bridgette Lewis.

correction… Daniel McDaniel is son in law of Thomas Browne… he married daughter Sarah.