Meherrin Neck
Not sure if this is a correct term … but it works to generally describe the area of the Meherrin River where it borders Northampton and Hertford Counties in North Carolina and Southampton Virginia. I have discovered and mapped three patents from 1706. None of these patents can be found… but they were referenced in later deeds. That begs the question of if there were any more missing patents. My assumption is that they were probably burned in the courthouse fires of Northampton.
This is the general area I am focused on…
Note the 640 acre patent for Thomas Britt in 1723. It seems that no way in hell can I make that patent fit. The patent behind it is one of those 1706 patents (James Gee). But now note the two 1714 patents for Wm Maule in my notes below. This seems to be a conundrum. I am desperate for a clue.
The Wm Maule patent of 1714 is obviously the same land as the Thomas Britt patent of 1723… there is a missing piece of the puzzle here???
Here is some background I have compiled…
I have numerous other notes if anyone is interested.
Sure. I wonder where Lemuel Collins’ 50 acres were in 1782. He’s not there in 1779 or 1784, but just in 1782. In later censuses, there is a Sally Collins in this area (a widow?) Neighbors are Benjamin Britt, William Williams, James Gatling, Benjamin Hatfield, James Bagnall.
https://dividedplace.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/lamuel.jpg
justinpetrone
June 27, 2023 at 8:25 am
Just to try to stay focused…
These BRITTS are (or have been) unknown to me before the map. But it seems they were major property owners… and there seems to be no “history” for them.
I find this curious and interesting.
I will add a couple ‘small’ patents for a Britt along the NC/VA border.
anderson1951
June 27, 2023 at 9:23 am
Love the work you have done with the mapping project. Yes, the Britt/Brett family were some of the early pioneer land owners in NC. I’ve been researching them for many years.
John Britt (though he always signed his name as John Brett) came from Isle of Wight Co., VA. He and his son Thomas Brett, along with Alexander Shirer (Sherrer), bought land from John Council and moved across the border in into NC in 1719. There is information that John Brett was a Quaker . He owned substantial lands (for the time) in both Isle of Wight and NC. I have much info on the family (my ancestors) and am willing to help you any way I can. My info would probably be better shared over email. You probably already know that Col. Wm. Maule was granted (two) 640-acre tracts in 1714. In 1723, Thomas Brett was granted one of these 640 acres of land because Maule failed to cultivate it, which was one of the stipulations of receiving a grant of land.
gbritt62
September 17, 2023 at 10:57 am
https://nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.32.47&qid=939945&rn=42
Bertie Co. File No. 47, Thomas Britt
Issued 04 Aug 1723 for 640 acres “”
Patent Book image; Loose Documents not linked to images
dboyett
June 27, 2023 at 10:51 am
That is the same one I have in the notes above.
Compare the notes of the Maule 1714 patent… they are for the same land. And also note that the 2 patents join at a place called “the Mill Creek” on the Meherrin River.
I want to identify the “Mill Creek”.
anderson1951
June 27, 2023 at 10:56 am
The database has 49 Britt’s and I think many may have been Boyt before and after these dates. Thanks for the map and information our group will review what you found. Very interesting.
dboyett
June 27, 2023 at 11:06 am
I have not looked at the Southampton VA records… they may show up there also.
anderson1951
June 27, 2023 at 11:11 am