Nansemond map updated…
See the Page to the right about a half dozen titles dow,,,
I’ve been working on the Chowan “precinct” area south of Nansemond. I still find it bizarre that the county just expanded the city of Suffolk into the the new county and dissolved Nansemond. But I guess thats how modern “planners” plan. I suspect a tax base and possibly likker was involved.
Of great and miraculous aid to me is the website:
NCLandGrants.com
A goldmine of patents at your fingertips… I could not do this map without it. Of particular interest to me is the recent addition of the early patents of Chowan which includes the “precinct” when Chowan was “HUGE” as compared to the tiny modern county. Many of these early “Precinct” patents extended all the way to the Roanoke River. And vice-versa, all the way to the Dismal Swamp.
From the 1600s up to 1728 when Wm Byrd surveyed the state line, the two colonies would joust, meader, squirm and trespass in the area as they felt like… it particularly ticked off the Virginia castletrash… but thats another topic. So I generally search the Library of Virginia Patents AND the NC Land Grants when I suspect someone was from the area.
Check it out… if you disagree with my map data or can add some info feel free to comment… It takes a Village as the heinous and criminally inclined Hillary Clinton would say.
Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina 
Do you know where I can get more data on that John Rogers 1733 grant near Drum Hill, the one that borders Charles Russell?
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justinpetrone
November 17, 2022 at 11:17 am
Hi Justin
I just added a piece on how I search around… it is about a John White but it contains some ideas of other places you may have not considered.
There are two patents at NC Land Grants under Bertie County for a John Rogers.
I did quite a bit of work on the Rogers in my research of John Brown the Indian trader. try a quick search of that Page.
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anderson1951
November 17, 2022 at 11:48 am
My name is David Ralls, I just came across your Blog, and I’ve been looking around your Blog to familiarize myself with your work. Nicely done! I am in particularly interested in Nansemond County, VA and then the migration into North Carolina (Chowan then Bertie) during the 1600’s and early 1700’s. I am researching the Jernigan and Rawls/Ralls families.
Are you using Deed Mapper and if so, were you working with Dennis Hudgins (deceased)? I see the file that is loaded at Deed Mapper referenced others (with no names identified).
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David A. Ralls
November 22, 2022 at 6:38 am
Hi David
I use a mapping software called Metes and Bounds
https://www.tabberer.com/sandyknoll/index.html
All of my map work is “custom”… meaning I copy/paste the patent layout into a graphics package (Affinity Designer) and redraw the patent and add the description. I use a scale of 1 inch = 1 mile. The base map images I get from the USGS historical map site.
I have developed a “style” over the last 10-15 years and you see the results… I can crank these patents out rather quickly. Plus I suppose I am somewhat obsessive compulsive which helps.
marc
oh… I have been working with the Boyt DNA group off and on… I think the Ralls folks are on their radar also.
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anderson1951
November 22, 2022 at 7:30 am
Marc, let me repeat your steps to make sure I understand. You use “Metes and Bounds” to draw the land patent and you import the image from “Meets and Bounds” into the graphics package (Affinity Designer). It sounds like you use “Affinity Designer” because “Meets and Bounds” has limited ability for labeling, etc. I use Deed Mapper, so I assume that I could follow a similar process if I chose. Deed Mapper also has limited ability to add descriptive titles, etc.
My Ralls line is a NPE of the Jernigan line. From your work, you know they were neighbors in Nansemond Co., VA and on 1716, January 5 — Chowan Precinct, N.C. — John Rawles (C.1), ye son of Wm Rawles (D.1) purchases 200 acres of land in Chowan Precinct, N.C., from William Faulk. As part of a larger transaction, John Jernegan and Henry Jernagan each purchased 200 and 100 acres, respectfully from William Faulk. One other person John Holmes purchases 200 acres. All the land adjoined and was on the Cattawatskey Pocosin.
As I was going through my previous correspondence, a few years back a fellow genealogist had sent me a map from your Blog (the map is the one on “a Ross Aha! moment… 1761”, that has Ross labeled on the map). This map is what prompted me to reach out to you. On this map, you placed John Ralls and Thomas Jernegan’s land along the VA and NC boundary. I had this land further away from the border. When I look at your updated “Nansemond… a map …roughly prior to 1700”, those parcels of land are where I assumed they were located. This coincides with Hudgins work.
I am familiar Boyt DNA Project. David Boyett has reached out to me regrading technical questions. I manage both the Ralls and Jernigan Y DNA Projects. Most of my work of late has been with the Jernigan’s. Just recently, through the BigY (we have almost 100 Jernigan’s who have taken the BigY) I was able to confirm that John “Meherrin Creek” Jernigan (c1670 – 1733) who married Temperance Moore. This is the John referenced in the above land transaction with William Faulk.
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David A. Ralls
November 23, 2022 at 5:32 am
I should have mentioned in the previous message that I assumed the “a Ross Aha! moment… 1761” was a prior post and the your map was an updated version, as the title describes.
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David A. Ralls
November 23, 2022 at 7:05 am
David… you are correct with my process of graphics. I only use the deed plotting software to craft an accurate outline of the patent then I copy/paste it into a more robust program (Affinity Designer) to add the bells and whistles. I keep everything in line, so to speak, with the scale of 1 inch = 1 mile. I also have a master base map set to 1 inch = 1 mile… all of which combined equals a “working” live map. Lastly I make a PDF or JPG copy and upload it to my website. I have only recently started to make what I call a “data sheet” where I have all the components of each patent saved and easily accessed. Basically the metes and bounds software is only a means to my ends… the basic “free” version meets my needs… I pay him the 30 or 40 dollars for the “pro” version merely because I understand American capitalism.
As I have perfected my technique (or style?) of these graphic maps, my confidence has improved and with the aid of Google “search” to aid with individual patent “info” these maps are becoming reasonably accurate even by modern standards, Bear in mind that the base maps of 250 years ago were rubbish and useless. But!, the metes and bounds were quite accurate even as the years have passed. I simply rediscovered that if you take the old boys surveys and put them on a modern map…voila! true history is awakened.
I am in the process of recreating a “burnt colonial county”… aka Nansemond. I recon I am about 25 percent complete… and the more patents I add the more accurate the map becomes. Hence, my interest in that county.
Once in a while folks such as yourself take note and offer critical observations to keep me in line…smiling. Think of it as a crossword puzzle on steroids. It is all seriously “geeky”.
marc
perhaps a case can be made that the Faulk you reference made his way to Edgecombe County… do a “search” on my site for “faulk”.
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anderson1951
November 23, 2022 at 7:23 am
You are correct with the “Ross” Post vs the map… I am haunted by old Posts and my newer facts, theories and revised conclusions…. generally folks realize I am an active researcher and allow for my idiosyncrasies. I find it all amusing and just try to keep up best I can. I do occasionally burn out and drop things mid-sentence and run out the door.
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anderson1951
November 23, 2022 at 7:32 am
I searched for Faulk as you suggested. Unfortunately, I have not researched William Faulk. I am just aware of the land sale in 1717 from him to Rawls and Jernigan’s. The entries I have, show he was the original land grant holder, but I could not find a land grant for him. I did locate where he obtained a land grant in 1739 for 500 acres. I believe this is the land you have mapped on the page “William Boon’s magic patent”? My assumption is this not the same land? I spent a couple of hours (I need to go back and spend additional time researching) looking to see if I could find adjacent landowners for the Jernigan’s and Rawls, but no avail. Is the map on the “William Boon’s magic patent” page?
On a side note, there were Rawls and Jernigan’s who moved to Edgecombe County as well. My current research plan is to develop a timeline from the mid 1650’s to the 1750’s for Rawls and Jernigan’s and allied families, including Bass, Vann, Moore and Speight. Then place them on the map. I am currently going through the “North Carolina, Chowan County, civil action papers, 1730-1744” microfilm. I noticed a Joseph Anderson and Robert Anderson. I made note of the image number and I am happy to send these to you if you do not have them.
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David A. Ralls
November 27, 2022 at 3:11 pm
I am familiar with the two Andersons you mention… Joseph was a lawyer for the colonial govt… Robert hailed from Martin County. Neither seems to have anyone interested in them.
Good hunting…
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anderson1951
November 27, 2022 at 3:29 pm