Back Swamp study (colonial Nansemond County VA, Somerton Creek area)
The Boyt (numerous spellings) Boyett folks have asked me to look into their folks from Nansemond County. Folks somewhat familiar with my methodology realize that I come and go not dissimilar to a mental patient. Comments have distinct motivational jolts to my fragile neurons. What tantalizing tidbits are you folks interested in?
Use your Command key and +or- to enlarge or reduce the size after clicking. Control key for you Windows losers.(smiling)

Commenter David Boyett sent me a handy dandy link from the Library of Virginia featuring 18 instances of the mention of “Back Swamp” which I have dutifully consulted…
Keen observers of my rants might realize that I have somewhat covered this area… but my methods have improved a bit with time. Perhaps I am a bit more “accurate” now. Wishful thinking on my part… as always this is generally guesswork on my part and I always stand ready to be corrected with a rational alternative… facts are nice.
An accurate map of North and South Carolina, with their Indian frontier, shewing in a distinct manner all the mounta]ins, rivers, swamps, marshes, bays, creeks, harbours, sandbanks and soundings on the coasts; with the roads and Indian paths; as well as the boundary or provincial lines, the several townships, and other divisions of the land in both the provinces;
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3900.ar139404/?r=0.133,-0.318,0.947,0.721,0
Quit Rents 1704 Nansemond
A Compleat List of the Rent Roll of the Land in Nansemond County In Anno 1704 source: The Planters of Colonial Virginia, by Thomas J. Wertenbaker John Murdaugh 300 Jno Duke 113 Thomas Duke Jun 930 Edward Roberts 250 Paul Pender 240 Thomas Duke 400 James Fowler 440 Robert Baker 50 Isaac Sketto 100 Edward Sketto 200 Antho Gumms 50 Francis Sketto. 100 Wm Parker 100 Francis Parker 170 Thomas Parker 300 Jno Small 100 Moses Hall 95 Edward Beamond 550 Richard Parker 514 Capt James Jessey 550 Wm Sanders 200 Jno Sanders 165 Thomas Mansfield 60 Wm Woodley 350 Andrew Bourne 200 Gilbert Owen 120 Wm Sanders Jun 165 Capt John Speir 500 Capt James Reddick 943 James Griffin 500 Nicholas Stallings 965 John Stallings 250 Richard Stallings 165 Elias Stallings Jun 250 Joseph Baker 740 Wm Jones 500 Robert Roundtree 245 John Roundtree 475 George Spivey 200 James Spivey 600 James Knight 300 Jno Gorden 330 Edward Arnold 80 James Mulleny 500 Thomas Docton 200 Wm Britt 400 Nath Newby 850 Elias Stalling 470 Robert Lassiter 850 Patrick Wood 200 Wm Thompson 133 Jonathan Kitterell 300 Adam Rabey 586 Jno Powell 758 John Reddick 300 Henry Copeland 150 Thomas Davis 250 Jno Smith 100 Thomas Harrald 652 Richard Baker 40 Samuell Smith 230 Wm Hood 200 Thomas Roundtree 350 Henry Hill 175 Jno Larkhum 500 Wm Vann 100 Joseph Cooper 267 John Harris 600 Francis Copeland 513 Elizabeth Price 150 Wm Hill 150 Thomas Spivey 200 Jno Campbell 400 Jno Morley 100 Jos Rogers 15 Jno Cole 814 Thomas Harrald 100 Christopher Gawin Jun 20 Daniell Horton 200 Wm Bruin 300 Peter Eason 400 Anne Pugh 2300 Benj Blanchard 130 Thomas Norfleet 500 John Odum 50 Thomas Gough 150 Hugh Gough 150 Epapap Boyne 100 Henry Baker 375 Christopher Gwin 1010 James Speirs 200 Epaphra Benton 250 Wm Eason 180 Andrew Brown 25 Wm Horne 100 Robert Reddick 200 Henry Hackley 210 Thomas Roberts 30 Abr Reddick 400 Jno Parker 240 Richard Barefield 900 John Benton 660 Jno Pipkin 100 Jos Brady 250 Christopher Dudley 200 Thomas Norris 100 Thomas Wiggins 100 Patrick Lawley 50 Robert Warren 100 Richard Odium 50 Thomas Davis 340 Thomas Barefield 100 John Eason 150 Jerimiah Arlin 250 Jno Perry 870 Jno Drury 87 Joseph Booth 987 Cresham Cofield 350 Richard Sumner 600 Edward Norfleet 200 Jno Norfleet 600 Edward Moore 250 Thomas Moore 200 James Lawry 40 James Daughtie 400 John Wallis 150 Richard Sanders Jun 100 Wm Byrd 300 James Howard 700 John Brinkley 430 Robert Horning 80 Wm Speirs 200 Sarah Exum 150 Jno Larrence 175 Nicholas Perry 200 Sampson Merridith 400 Coll Thomas Milner 1484 Joseph Merridith 250 Thomas Kinder 160 Henry King 300 Joseph Hine 150 Wm King 140 Julian King 700 Mich King 80 Capt Tho Godwin Jun 697 Henry Lawrence 200 Jno King 1000 Richard Hyne 200 Capt Francis Milner 479 Benj Nevill 475 Elizabeth Marler 80 Wm Keene 200 Jno Symmons 678 Hen: Johnson 150 Jno Darden 500 Wm Everett 150 Wm Pope 890 Joseph Worrell 270 Thomas Jemegan Jun 135 Richard Lawerence 200 Jonathan Robinson 400 Robert Yates 150 Thomas Odium 20 John Barefield 300 John Raules 600 Thomas Boyt 400 Thomas Vaughan 200 Jno Parker 300 Richard Green 200 Elizabeth Ballard 300 Samuell Watson 200 Francis Spight 400 Joseph Ballard 200 John Oxley 100 Benj Rogers 600 Robert Rogers 300 Henry Jerregan 200 Jno Hansell 500 Henry Jenkins 400 Capt William Hunter 800 Jno Moore 200 Richard Moore 250 Edward Homes 300 Fra Cambridge 100 Wm Ward 200 Jno Rice 140 Wm Battaile 800 Wm Spite 500 Abr Oadham 20 Jacob Oadam 20 Jno Lee 100 Wm Macklenny 200 Robert Coleman 1400 Jno Bryan 200 Wm Daughtree 100 Jno Copeland 600 Jno Butler 200 James Butler 75 Thomas Roads 75 Wm Collins 1220 Jno Hedgpath 700 Jno Holland 700 Robert Carr 200 Wm Waters 600 Robert Lawrence 400 Wm Bryon 350 Lewis Bryon 400 James Lawrence 100 Wm Gatlin 100 Joseph Gutchins 250 George Lawrence 400 Lewis Daughtree 100 Thomas Rogers 50 Jno Rogers 200 Henry Core 50 Edward Cobb 100 Richard Taylor 300 Robert Brewer 200 Wm Osburne 200 Thomas Biswell 400 Jno Gatlin 200 Richard Folk 100 Thomas Parker 100 Peter Parker 140 Wm Parker 140 Richard Hine Jun 200 Stephen Archer 200 Charles Roades 800 Henry Roades 100 James Collings 300 Henry Holland 400 Wm Kerle 325 Joseph Holland 100 Jno Thomas Jun 100 Jno Thomas 275 Thomas Mason 350 Edward Mason 150 Jno Sanders 150 Mich Brinkley 200 James Moore 400 Henry Blumpton 1500 Jno Symmons 100 Jeremiah Edmunds 70 John Gay 200 Philip Aylsberry 100 James Copeland 390 Jno Brothers 460 Richard Creech 200 Richard Bond 90 Thomas Handcock 30 James Knott 1050 Wm Edwards 150 Robert Elkes 175 Edward Price 140 Jane Belson 100 Wm Staples 210 Robert Mountgomery 150 John Moore 100 Capt Edmund Godwin 800 Thomas Wakefield 150 Godfrey Hunt 360 Henery Wilkinson 250 Nicholas Dixon 200 George Keeley 650 Richard Taylor 300 Anne Coefield 300 Joseph Hollyday 1000 Mr Jno Braisseur 400 Thomas Best 160 Alexander Campbell 500 Capt Charles Drury 570 Thomas Drury 75 Luke Shea 650 John Babb 500 Abraham Edwards 400 Richard Sanders 500 Antho Wallis 80 Daniell Sullivan 100 Joseph Ellis 290 Nicholas Hunter 190 Richard Webb 200 John Hare 190 Christopher Norfleet 400 Jno Heslop 148 Francis Benton 200 Capt Wm Sumner 275 Elizabeth Syrte 100 Anne Hare 600 Jno Porter 450 Edward Welsh 100 Jno Winbourne 400 Paul Pender 200 Mich Cowling 100 John Cowling 100 Rowland Gwyn 75 Andrew Ross 150 Jno Ballard 400 Benjamin Montgomery 910 Thomas Corbell 200 Jno Yates 400 Jno White 150 George White 50 Jno Bond 150 Wm Hay 100 Henry Bowes 600 Wm Sevill 85 Jno Hambleton 200 Robert Jordan 850 James Howard 25 Ruth Coefield 110 Jno Chilcott 100 Jno Rutter 80 Thomas Rutter 75 Wm Rutter 75 Capt Barnaby Kerney 460 Thomas Cutchins 150 Robert Lawrence 130 Samuell Cahoone 240 Jno Iles 220 Thomas Sawyer 180 Wm Outland 400 Coll George Northworthy 650 Coll Thomas Godwin 810 Caleb Taylor 200 Thomas Carnell 320 Richard Bradley 250 Jno Corbin 300 Wm Sykes 150 Major Thomas Jorden 700 Richard Lovegrove 150 Thomas Davis 144 Samuell Farmer 160 Henry Bradley 500 Jno Clarke 25 Margarett Jorden 200 Wm Elkes 100 Humphrey Mires 150 James Ward 100 Widdow Hudnell 45 Wm Grandberry 300 Israell Shepherd 200 Benj. Small 100 Anne Crandberry 75 Charles Roberts 50 Richard Sclator 300 Robert Murrow 320 Elizabeth Peters 334 Thomas Jones 200 Elizabeth Butler 200 Coll Samuell Bridger 500 Jno Lawrence 100 Thomas Jarregan 165 Thomas Jarregan Jun 600 Wm Drury 80 Wm Butler 120 Henry Jenkins 860 Edward Bathurst 250 Thomas Houffler 200 Edward Streater 200 Wm Duffield 50 Charles Thomas Jun 50 Jno Blessington 150 Ursula Goodwin 100 Thomas Acwell 440 Wm Peale 180 John Lambkin 50 James Murphice 160 Robert Peale 275 John Peters 368 James Peters 340 John Wakefield 50 Richard Wynn 890 James Lockhart 800 John Keeton 2000 ------ 117024 Jno Murrow 200 ------ 117224 Added to make up equll 13850 the last year list ------ which may be supposed 131074 to be held by persons that have not made both Persons living out of the County and other that will not pay or give account. Viz: Capt Thomas Lovett Capt Jno Wright Fra Parker Jun Tho Martin Jno Wright Wm Lapiter Jno Lapiter Capt Luke Haffield Mrs Elizabeth Swann Errors excepted per me Henry Jenkins
Thank you for doing this.
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Wendy Bebout Elliott
May 9, 2021 at 5:20 pm
My pleasure…
I’m not done yet… intrigue me with some ideas. I have about a half dozen apps open when on
one of these excursions… now is the time for questions. (I think you guys are interested in Ballards? Langston?) One I did not list yet is the Ralls patent… a real nightmare I haven’t figured out yet.
Marc
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anderson1951
May 9, 2021 at 5:52 pm
My ancestor Thomas Collins acquired land around what is now Drum Hill, NC, in about 1805-1805. It seems a number of associated also moved into the area at that time. The land bordered Wiggins Bird, Smith, according to the tax lists. I would be curious if you have anything farther east along Somerton. The swamp there is Mill Swamp, also called Beach Swamp.
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justinpetrone
May 12, 2021 at 8:33 am
Hi Justin
I am working the map now as time permits.
Note any hot names I should include close to this area
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anderson1951
May 12, 2021 at 9:00 am
Early IOW and Nansemond was certainly a melting pot of indentured servants, gentry for their “adventure” and others tagging along. With missing records in Nansemond, about the only thing we have to connect the families are these land patents and the new YDNA BigY “who’s your daddy” DNA testing. Lets see, some Ballards are Boyt, some Boyt are Ballard: not done, some Rawls are Boyt, some Rawls are Jernigan. The list goes on, such the “adventure” to the Virginia Colony. YDNA is not the same as Ancestry DNA which is Autosomal DNA, and then of course we have mtDNA. All are different testing to find different information.
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David Boyett
May 12, 2021 at 2:39 pm