Archive for December 2022
a political rant… forgive me
Now that the odious and despicable Democrats have foolishly violated the Fourth Amendment right of Donal Trump by illegally…
and unconstitutionally exposing his tax returns…
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things …
I want to see the tax returns of:
Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnel, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and the sitting oaf in office Joe Biden.
Let the fun begin… yeehaw!
Phillip Raiford… died South Carolina 1748
I have been interested in this guy for 20 years. My main theory is that a George Anderson of Isle of Wight, VA is the progenitor of my “line”. The father of this Phillip Raiford had property in IOW near to that George Andrewson (Anderson).
This Post is about the “son” of the Wrayford on the below map.
I have it in my head… that the son of Phillip Wrayford and a son of George Anderson (James Anderson) grew up together in Isle of Wight.
To strengthen that theory… I have tracked both men to Occoneechee Swamp, NC to ca 1720.
To continue the theory… I have tracked both men to Saxe Gotha on the Congaree River in South Carolina.
I am getting more and more impressed with the simple WIKITREE web pages… my “quick” down and dirty searches lead me there.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Raiford-2
I am driven to find copies of the “original” documents… I get perturbed by typewritten copies. With that said, and also because the name “Raisford” is bastardized in the typewritten version… it is lamentable not to be able to see the original.
And to see for myself if the witness to the will “James Henderson” might possibly be James “Anderson”. Just sayin’.
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Traci the Librarian kindly forwarded a copy of Raiford’s will… (which looks like a copy of the original to me… the “tell” is in the second sentence where they add the “eight” to the date “Seven Hundred and forty Seven Eight” that is pretty sophisticated stuff). But the name seems to be Henderson and not Anderson… bummer.
a Hoax?
So Jennifer from California and myself have been researching the Bryans of “all over the damn place”… seemingly from Isle of Wight/Nansemond to Chowan River and then down to New Bern… they “got around” lets say. And they bred like rabbits.
We run across a reference to this tombstone…
This just smells fishy to me. By all means it is exciting. I mean, hell!, 1663! But…
Reading the newspaper account…
Roy Cahoon and his buds, Wallace and Thad in 1993 run across the thing and use heavy equipment to right the heavy stone… cool. Cahoon remembers some 45-50 years ago (would be WWII era of the 40s) seeing the stone face down.
But Cahoon clearly remembered what his bud Wallace told him [as kids in the 40s, I presume]... “He said that two ladies came here from New York and had the stone put at the grave site”.
I’m just curious who the two ladies from New York were. And how, exactly did Wallace get that info? Did he see them? How did a kid know they were from New York?
I love a good conspiracy… were the two ladies DAR types? If you think about it the inscription reads as “genealogy” and not a bereaved remembrance from grieving family. I’m not an expert but the impressively chiseled letters of the engraving on the stone do not look to me like something that could have been accomplished in remote colonial North Carolina ca 1740s.
I just can’t swallow this pill.
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My friend David Gammon (you know… the guy who penned 40 or so abstract books) chimed in with this comment…
“I suspect that the tombstone was carved many years after the fact.
In Eastern North Carolina, most early tombstones that still exist were made of marble. Even at that, most people in those days could not afford such a thing, and it had to be shipped in from somewhere else.
Of course, there are other early stones that were made of sandstone or something soft like that, but they usually ended up disintegrating.
…sometimes our ancestors simply put up a wooden stake, or a wooden cross to mark a grave. Of course, these rotted over time.
Or they put a simple field stone over the grave. Sometimes they were able to chisel out the initials of the deceased into the stone, and sometimes not.
But these were not lasting memorials, of course.
I have been in old cemeteries and seen rows of rocks, perfectly lined up, marking graves, without any real idea whose graves they were.
When I read what was carved on that stone, I knew it was not a contemporary stone. Those early stones didn’t have much more than a name and a date. This one had too much info.
And as for the London part…… it reminds me of something I used to tell the students in my genealogy classes ….. the person who writes the check to pay for the tombstone gets to dictate what is carved into the stone.
I recently saw an old friend. Her mother had actually taught her father in high school, so her mother was at least four or five years older than her father. She was embarrassed by the age difference, so she always lied to say she was several years younger. Her daughter told me at a gathering recently that when her mother died, she made sure her mother’s fabricated birth date was carved into the stone. And not the real birth date.
She wrote the check, she decides the dates!”
a Tale, a question and a rant…
A disappearing swamp. So I am working some very early deeds on my Occoneechee Neck map with Jennifer from California who also seems to have ancestors among the rouges of that era.
I was/am attempting to platt a survey of Emperour Wheeler from a Bertie deed of 1728… lo’ and behold the patent discloses the “oddity” of a “first and second” Cypress Swamp. I scratched my head violently at that time.. it still hurts.
A Cypress Swamp for that area is NOT to be found on modern maps (to my knowledge). So if you run across this weird swamp in your research keep this in mind.
Bottom line- Occoneechee Swamp (on modern maps) in Occoneechee Neck was aka Cypress Swamp (for a time).
Now for the question… it seems I have developed a “style” of mapping patents over the last decade or so that is easy for me but difficult to simply explain to others. Hence, I have become somewhat of a lone “expert” if I may be so arrogant. The problem with being your own expert is that you have no one to ask a question of. Capeesh?
Below is what I call a “data sheet”… I hunt down my target (generally from the NC Land Grant and Data) website for North Carolina, an awesome asset by the way, and I find the Metes and Bounds of the patent. The “magic” of what happens then is that those 300 year old survey directions work “precisely” today. Notwithstanding my numerous mistakes. The modern maps of today show “exactly” where the old guys lived. And I do mean “precisely”, you can find old cemeteries and dig up the bones if you call yourself and achaelogist or God forbid, an anthropologist. (See the latest exploits where they merrily are digging up Jamestown, VA old guys. It gives me the creeps.
So here is the question… is there a competent surveyor in my reading audience who I might ask a few technical questions of? They should have some patience because I use a computer program to do the mapping and do not whip out a compass, protractor, ruler and pen and paper, (Metes and Bounds by Sandy Knoll).
The patent above… with the princely name of Emperour Wheeler has the obvious problem that the metes and bounds probably have been corrupted and misinterpreted over the years. I have learned by trial and error over the years to do “minor” corrections to make the patents work. I am however, very hesitant and cautious to do so. I don’t like to mess with the old guys directions! However, I realize that many of these old documents have been re-copied by court house folks over the centuries… and therein can be found unintentional errors. In the above case I find myself clueless to find the errors, which are obvious. Most times I can surround the patent with neighbors and detect the error.
I simply do not have the expertise to “fix” the above patent. A keen observer will realize that (when compared to neighbor patents) it clearly does NOT represent 700 acres… it is a very PUNY 700 acres if correct.
Here is the expanded version with my need to “fix” the Emperour patent. I sent this map to Jennifer from California in our search for her Bryans of that area. Note the John Ha[w]thorn patent (which also has errors)…now look at the neighbor patents which refer to this Hawthorn fella… in a perfect world all these pieces should fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. However… this onslaught of defective patents is severely cramping my style! This whole area of Cypress Creek is NOT fitting together and I am getting extremely irritated with my inability to get on with this THING… hell, I have work to do on my damn Chowan map! smiling…
The Big Kahuna…
But back to the point of this Post… the above patent can be used to “generally” describe an area well enough to do mere genealogy… of which I find interesting. Hopefully this will help to explain why some of my maps have odd “gaps”. Some areas of my maps fit so well that I literally sit back and marvel! at the work of the old surveyors. Hence, the little phrase at the top of my blog page “meant what they said and said what they meant“.
I could do another post on some corruption that I have found in patents, generally by the castletrash bastards that were rampant in colonial government but I prefer to hold my tongue and not waste my time. I do however point it out in my research when they are so reckless and stupid as to expose themselves… i.e. Edward Moseley (he stole the data for his 1733 map. or perhaps I should be more kindly and say “plagiarized” the data). See the patents on my Occoneechee Neck map for Thomas Pollock, the war governor. I find there was a mindset then, and very much today, that this breed of scum that live off our taxes “expect” to be rewarded handsomely simply for sucking vigorously on a hind teet. Sorry… lost my mind for a moment.
Saxe Gotha… 1751
This is more of an example of my fascination with history than my interest in genealogy. I have a theory, which I am researching, that a possible ancestor of mine lived in this place and was more than likely an Indian Trader. I chronicle what I can of him in several Pages on this site… one James Anderson who can be found at Oconeechee Neck, NC in 1716. Also at Saxe Gotha in this time period was on Philip Raiford, and Robert Long, Sr and Jr. They also can be found at Oconeechee Neck.
But on to the historical account which is the point of this Post.
click the filename/ not the download
source:
the modern day map of South Carolina
the 1730 map
https://dc.statelibrary.sc.gov/handle/10827/7842
my GOTO map for the Indian Paths:
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3900.ar139404/
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Martin Friday’s property in Saxe Gotha … 1737
… Martin Friday a tract of Land in Saxegotha Township als Congrees
on the Southwest side of Santee river in Berkley County Cont-
aining fifty acres butting and bounding to the Northwestward
on Santee river to the Southeastward on land belonging to the
said Martin Friday to the Southwestward on Land not laid out
and to the Northwestward on Land laid out to Henry Scone
and hath such shape form used marks and appears by the above
platt certified … 1737…. Geo. Haig
… George Haig was later murdered by Indians…
…contributed by Jennifer from California
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UPDATE
My trusty and well beloved friend and now contributing Sidekick, Jennifer from California, has surprised and delighted me with an email containing a reference to one John Bryan[t] (sic) of whom I have identified as an Indian Trader to the Cherokees. Not only did she supply the quote, but also the whole damn context of historical data surrounding it. But me, being somewhat of a reasonable person, realize that in this day and age, we live under the new rule of TMTR ( too much to read). I will forthwith produce the quote for the ravenously busy people to glance at. I shall also produce the link provided by Jennifer from California for the more genteel readers of my blog whose thirst for facts can only be alleviated by details.
DEPOSITION OF JOHN BRYANT
page 37
Memorandom [sic]
May 4, 1751
That John Byant personally came before me and made Oath (being duely sworn) that he was in Timossy, a lower Town of the Cherokee Nation, when he was informed of Mr. Maxwell’s making his Escape from Kewoche, with several white Men in his Company. Considerably before Day, he says he was credibly informed of the Affair as follows, viz.: Mr. Beamer sent one of his Men to Hioree for Corn, who going to Kewoche aforesaid was stop’t by an Indian Fellow of that Town who, when he knew where the said white Man was going, told him not to proceed, for there was four white Men killed, naming them to the said white Man, viz., Daniel Murphey, Barnard Hughs, Charles G_ _ and Thomas Langley, and further told him that Mr. Maxwell was gone off before Day with several white Men in his Company, and that there was no white Man left where he was going. The said Indian Fellow kept the said white Man at Kewoche that Night, and sent him off the next Morning, telling him to go whome [sic] and tell the white People not to stir for they should not be hurt. The Day following, the head Men of three Towns, viz., Tymossey, Chewee and Ustostee, had a Meeting and proposed the Day fol-
lowing to have another, intending to have Mr. Beamer to hear their Talks, and also to write to the beloved Men (as they said) Below. But the Night proceeding, Mr. Beamer came to Tymossey, wherein was this John Byant afore- said and three more white Men. Mr. Beamer, as he went by, sent in Jas. Baldridge about an Hour before Day, warning thim to make what Haste he could and follow him. Mr. Beamer, being known to be [thoroughly] ac- quainted with Indian Affairs, and Humours, put them to a great Surprize and caused them forthwith to hurry off, as fast as possible.
Further the said John Bryant saith not. Sworn this 4th Day of May, 1751 before me.
]AS. FRANCIS
The area of South Carolina discussed above is generally of Ninety Six and to Saxe Gotha which may be referenced by the links provided for MAPS.
But more to the point of discussion of John Bryan above… I think he is the son of Edward Bryan, originally of Isle of Wight and perhaps more specifically of Nansemond, VA, who relocated in the early 1700s to the West Side of Chowan River. Either the father Edward Bryan or his son of the same name became a “marriner” from the Chowan River and later out of New Bern on the Pamlico River.
DISCOVERY IN PAMLICO COUNTY, N.C.
While logging just off Muddy Landing Road (Scott’s Store Road) in the Scottstown aread near Goose Creek in Pamlico County in March of this year, William Cahoon uncovered a 600 to 800 pound granite slab from an abandoned cemetery. The information on this huge stone reads:
Edward Bryan, Born in London 1663, Emigrated to Nansemond County, Virginia 1690, Moved to Craven County 1700 — Died 1739.
Christiana, his wife dau. of Hodges Council, died 1743
This impressive headstone and the headstone of William B. Perkins (d.1853) are the only two headstones bearing the inscriptions in this cemetery. However, there appear to be at least ten other burial sites marked with ballast stones.
[from THE PAMLICO NEWS, Vol. 26, No.12, March 24, 1993, in an article by Nancy Winfrey] This Edward Bryan is thought by some genealogists to be the father of another Edward Bryan who died in 1825, a Hardy Bryan who married Sarah Bonner, and a Lewis Bryan who married Eliz. Hunter.
quoted from the website of Melinda Gardner
More later … as Jennifer from California and I are diligently researching facts as to the case at hand.
William Sims 1760s… who IS this guy?
I’ve chronicled several SIMS guys who seem to have removed from the early Granville County (now Franklin or Johnston) and wound up on the Cape Fear River…
This map shows the area … roughly. Note in particular the neighbor Benjamin Cooper… this pretty much proves the location. Cooper also witnessed the deed in my notes below.
Below are my “notes” on this guy. The deed of William Sims selling land to one James McDaniel reveals some interesting details…
He married the daughter of William Gray Junr. … was this the son of the Surveyor General of NC?
Is this the same William Sims who was the Deputy Surveyor in 1766?
Wm Sims seems to have removed to Craven County South Carolina?
Again, who IS this guy?
a “new” McDaniels to ponder…
A commenter (Cori), rattled my cage, and I remember I have been remiss in Posting this tidbit. While updating my Nansemond/Chowan map I ran across a McDaniels chap I studied a bit from Edgecombe County.
Owen McDaniels… I could never associate him with any other McDaniels on my radar. I did manage to track him down but did not know what to do with him. I leave that up to you McDaniel researchers.
see here for some background…
Here is the reason for this Post. While updating my Nansemond/Chowan map I ran across a Owen McDonnel Hmmm, I thought, wonder if that could be the fella I found in Edgecombe County who left a will in 1742/3 or so? Could he be a hitherto unknown immigrant who arrived in NC or VA around 1719?
a Tall Tale… er, Tail
I’ve started mapping an area of the Cape Fear River at the county borders of Bladen and Cumberland, NC. I’m researching some SIMS and ANDERSONS who migrated from Granville County, NC in the 1760s or so. I noticed some semi-circular oddities in the land around the area. So I took off my Genealogy hat and put on my Sciency Hat… and made a beer run.
Click the filename… not the download
https://www.pilotonline.com/news/article_cd753838-02c9-5f88-8cca-a50bcaa9d38b.html