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.
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
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.
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
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.
David Boyett
May 12, 2021 at 2:39 pm
Dear Anderson1951 —
Wow, what a fantastic resource for those of us doing family research in that part of the country! Thank you! Courtesy of you, I found the 1714 land grant to my ancestor (“Wilm Macclanee”) on the map.
My problem, now, is that I’m having some difficulty overlaying your map on a modern map in order to see where the land is located…I thought some old roads would have remained to the modern day, but am unfamiliar with the area and can’t seem to make things line up.
Do you happen to know…is the Hedgpath 450 acre property north, or south, of modern day US 58? Thanks for any orientation you may be able to offer…really appreciate all the work you’ve done!
Lee McClenny
Lee McClenny
February 28, 2025 at 12:57 pm
try here… it is more detailed…
https://andersonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/new_nan_cho_1.pdf
anderson1951
February 28, 2025 at 2:17 pm