notes on Beal Brown…
…and others…
I’m still working the area of Maherrin River in NC and where it extends to the Chowan River. This Post is primarily in response to some comments posted by Stephen. I will put some asterisks on the map and add some comments or additional info.
As usual… click the blue filename above for the best image.
Firstly… the blue asterisk is where I think the John Browne (missing) patent of 1706 is located… roughly. It is still up in the air where it was.
The John Cheser patent has been added between Braswell and Dew (this is getting to be very accurate).
The Beal Brown patent has been added… (thanks Stephen, I missed that one).
The Powers patent has been confusing on several levels… I will add a file for those interested.
Lastly note the 3 William Maule patents dated 1714… they just seem to get lost in the mix… my guess is that they simply never came to fruition. Your guess is as good as mine where they may have been intended… it was this area though (I am pretty sure). Perhaps some historian will look into whether William Little and William Maule were stepping on each other’s corrupt toes?
The Edward Powers file… this land was conveyed several times between Powers, Bonde and Little… the area where it is located was actually on Meherrin Indian land (in my opinion).
Below is a study concerning another piece of the puzzle of the William Browne (missing) patent of 1706. I do not know where the “Dividing Run” is… as first referenced in the Matthew Russian deed.
Perhaps it is the “second branch” as referenced in this deed to John Bryant… which begs the question “the second branch of the “Run”… where is the Run? I have this tentatively placed at a creek which runs up to the Virginia Line… and it “seems” to have a second branch at the tip of Russian’s deed.
Another clue would be nice… this is agonizingly close… Or mayhaps I am missing something obvious.
To any budding detectives who want to join in the fun…I have a search button half way down the right side of the page… I have to use it often myself… it is the only way I can find anything.
_______________________________________________________________
An aside concerning Beale Browne, Edward Powers, et al…
“
At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Edenton the 3d day of August Anno Dom 1726
Read the Petition of the Meherron Indians Complaining against divers of the Inhabitants of this Government for molesting them in their settlements and taking up their Lands And at the same time was Read also the Petition of Beal Browne Edwd Powers in behalf of themselves and others living near the said Indians for molesting them
Ordered That the Parties on each side Do attend this Board at their Sitting in October next And that in the mean time Neither of the sd Parties give one another any Disturbance in their Settlements.
…….
August the 26 1726. This Council met again ut supra Mr Chief Justice laying before this Board a Copy of the Judgement against George Senecca an Indian for Murthering an English Woman and her Two Children in hac Verba Vizt
North Carolina—ss.
At a Special Court of Oyer and Terminer held at the Court house in Edenton on Thursday the 25th day of August An Dom 1726, A Bill of Indictment was found by the Grand Jury against George Senecca an Indian Man of Bertie Precinct for having feloniously Murthered Catherine Groom Wife of Thomas Groom of Bertie precinct aforesd planter and Two Infants Children Daughter of the said Thomas and Catherine who upon his Arraignment Pleaded Guilty and he was thereupon sentance to be hanged
Given under my hand this 26th day of August 1726
C GALE C J “
http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr02-0292
__________________________________________________________
Editorially speaking… I find it a reoccurring tactic of, lets say, Colonists vs Indians, that it often happened that an account of murder or other horrendous acts were commonly brought up in conjunction to a squabble about, oh, I don’t know…”Land Rights” lets say. That is not to imply that I think there was a conspiracy against the Indians… it is to verify it. MA
Just out of curiosity… I may have to try to “map” where one Thomas Groom lived at the time of this Land Dispute… 1726. I have not ran across him so far in my mapping…
For the curious…
my dad’s negro bootlegger…
Snyder, Texas… ca. 1960…
Dad liked his whiskey…he served in the Navy in the Pacific…. on the USS Chandelier (I probably butchered the spelling… it was pronounced Shan de Lou) the ship was built close to New Orleans or nearby… it was then sailed to California. My dad boarded in California… then off to war they went… 1942 or so. The ship was a sea plane tender… (not an aircraft carrier). He was a machinist. When I was very very young I asked him if he killed anyone in the war… he said no. I watched 12 0’clock High on tv… and the Rat Patrol… so I was very knowledgeable about everything about wars and such… he put up with me. My dad and I parted ways about 1970 or so… I got drafted to the Viet Nam War and he got his 4th DWI… so off to Louisiana he went. They sell whiskey in drive up windows in New Iberia… or at least they used to… by the glass.
Snyder at that time was a dry county. It was like a checker board in West Texas… dry county/ wet county… I went with my dad one time when he drove to Big Springs, Texas… right at the county line was a liquor store. He was bootlegging for the VFW… you recall I mentioned he was a Vet of the Pacific War. These guys did not give a shit about dry counties and such… they went to the VFW to get drunk. When you needed a few bucks you bootlegged to Big Springs to keep the well stocked at the VFW.
In 1980 or so Vernon Jones from Mississippi broke me out as a Driller in Southwest Florida… He said, and I quote, “if you are half the man your old man was, drunk or sober, then you will do ok.” I did ok until the United States Government decided that drilling for oil was not to it’s liking. Vernon is 83 now and lives just a mile or so from me… he has recently stopped drinking Old Charter which he had to special order. Like I mentioned… I prefer Old Crow… maybe its an Oil Field thing… Hughe’s bits, National Iron and Folger’s coffee… that’s the the oil field stud… and there ain’t no carpenters in the oil field.
I’m kind of a sissy by their standards… but then I have the internet…
My orange Old Fashioned…
a squeezed orange quarter
2 oz Old Crow Kentucky Bourbon
1/2 oz Demerara syrup
Ice… stirred
Veterans of Foreign Wars were veterans of an era when they did not put sugar in their whiskey. They treated their negro bootleggers with respect.
I did not know my dad’s bootlegger… he was, after all, a negro. And this was 1960.
standing up to the crowd…
David Gammon doesn’t like BS any more than I do… particularly when it comes to genealogy. I also add my friend Traci the Librarian… hell, they both have called me out on occasion, and rightly so. David, Jennifer from California and I have been “rooting out” what roots we can find on the Bryan family from Isle of Wight / Nansemond.
David just had to share this guy with me… this fella is a Clint Eastwood of genealogy in my book… “Go ahead, make my day”…
…from 23 years ago…
I quote…
“
Jill,
Sorry if my original post caused you any problems in documenting your genealogy.The Needham site didn’t work because they changed the address to the site.Also, my original post was not meant to be a serious documentation of Alice Needham.I had seen for months that the Bryan Research Group was claiming that it was an absolute fact that Alice MacLand married William Bryan.In my post I was playing devil’s advocate to find out how much information and proof this group really had.I put everything that is known or imagined about Alice Needham into my post, whether I believed it or not.I personally really doubt that Lady Alice Needham ever married William Bryan and she probably never existed.Not one document has ever been found that has both William Bryan and his wife’s names on the same document.What I found out is that this group has very little real information on the spouse of William Bryan, just a lot of opinions and assumptions.As you can see by Carla Tate’s answers to my post, she’s mostly just guessing.Your guesses or mine are just as valid as hers.Anyone that knows anything about the International Genealogical Index (IGI) knows that it is absolutely worthless for doing research in Isle of Wight and Nansemond Counties in Virginia.This index is what Carla was using to validate this line in Isle of Wight County.
I have been researching this MacLand connection for the last couple of years and there are some real problems with the 1705 John MacLand will in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.It also doesn’t get any better even if you view the original will in its entirety, instead of just the will abstract.You are correct in mentioning the “t” at the end of the name making it Bryant.All members of this family line, from John Bryan of Nansemond Co. on down, have spelled their name Bryan.This is not getting picky, the descendants of this line are not related to the Bryant family.But that isn’t the biggest problem with the John MacLand will, the patriarch of our family, William Bryan, isn’t even mentioned in the will.I personally would never attach myself to a will where my ancestor wasn’t even mentioned.This is very sloppy genealogy.I have examined thousands of wills in my time and almost all wills where the spouse isn’t mentioned and the grandchildren received an inheritance, the spouse is dead.We all know that William Bryan lived long after 1705.
Many individuals using this will are attaching themselves to the children in the will without any documented proof.They are attaching to these children by name because they look like they may be William Bryan’s children, there is absolutely no proof or evidence that they are his children.I’ve seen Mary Bryant, mentioned in this will, with 4 or 5 different husbands even though no spouses are mentioned for the children of Alice Bryant.This is also a very poor genealogical practice, you never attach purely by name without documented evidence.This is very a dangerous practice with the Bryan family in that they named their children the same for generations, even in family lines which are very distantly related or not related at all.
Another problem with the John MacLand will, the original hand written will doesn’t even contain the name Needham.The name in the original hand written will is Woodham.I guess someone decided that Woodham and Needham are the same person, there’s no proof or evidence that they are, and started replacing the name Woodham with the name Needham in all of their subsequent transcriptions of the will.I guess people just see what they want to see.
Another final problem with this will, I found another family that claims they descended from the individuals that are named in the John MacLand will.This family actually has the surname of Bryant and came from Smithfield, Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.They’re family history is totally different than ours and they have different descendants named for the Bryant children named in the John MacLand will.They also use the original name in the will, Woodham Bryant.Now we have a conflict, two families claiming to be descendants from the same family with totally different and conflicting genealogies.They probably have a better claim to this family than we do, they’re surname is actually Bryant.
Albert Nason’s ideas presented here previously are probably closer to the truth than what I’ve seen so far.At least it’s based on real people who existed in history.So far, the assumptions I’ve seen concerning this Bryan families early history leave a lot to be
desired.This is also true of the early Bryan family history going back to Guy de Bryan in the 1200’s.This line back to Guy de Bryan has been pretty well proven to have been fabricated.There are at least a couple of Bryan’s in this line that have been proven to have died without male heirs.It’s very smart that you resolved to leave this family line open for discussion indefinitely on the books, I certainly have.
Kenneth Barker
Golden, Colorado”
One must assume you have your ducks in a row if you take on a guy like that…. smiling
He kind of slices throats in a nice way… ‘charming’ almost…
Refreshing.
David asks an interesting question:
“I was idly reading some online posts. Something came up I had not considered, but should have. John Macland’s will named daughter Alice, five Bryan grandchildren, and three Perry grandchildren. It did not name a Perry daughter, And I had assumed she was dead. Someone wondered if Alice was the mother of all of them, having first married a Perry and second a Bryan. I had not considered this. “
Thomas Brookes study…
I am not a BROOKES researcher… other that identifying him on my map. So think of this as a place to discuss him… I will contribute what I can, but probably not much.
He shows up as a comment in my Post in “John Rogers notes”:
Here is where I run across him in Nansemond near the NC border at Somerton Creek… note that there are Rogers all over the place. Realize that he was there (Thomas Brookes, Sr) in 1672… so my hunch is that this property might have been “absorbed” away in sales… (but I do not know that). I will give a breakdown (including a major sale of 500 acres to Richard Barefield at some point)…
Here are my raw notes on Brookes… note the reference to “John Odom” (which is the reason I placed him where he is). Also note in the deed Richard Barefield to Abraham Hill that it is indicated that “at some point” Barefield acquired the bulk of the property of Brookes (500 acres)…
The 3 patents as is are awkward to my map and do not fit… so I will likely have to consolidate the mess…
…as usual, click on the blue filename below for a better view…
Assignment… as in say, a deed
My friend David Gammon and I were ruminating about some property that a person had acquired and we could not find a source for where he had gotten it… David speculated he may have inherited it via primogeniture and there simply was no record. Then we further speculated he may have been assigned the property… all of which got me curious about the machinations of “assignment”. I looked around a bit but was disappointed… way too much legalese presented itself, much like an irksome rash. I thought of consulting my trusty sidekick Jennifer from California but rethought that because well…her mind has been “washed” by her having attended law school. Yes indeed, I figured, better not open that Pandora’d Box unless I have to.
So I consulted the calm and studied Traci the Librarian… she promptly responded with this:
“ASSIGNMENT – A transfer in writing of all or any part of an interest in property.”
Helen F.M. Leary, editor, North Carolina Research: Genealogy and Local History, 2nd edition (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1996), Appendix A, “Selected Terms and Abbreviations,”, p. 571.
Traci is a Certified Genealogist…therefore she slings footnotes around as if they were confetti at a parade… can’t help herself. But then, in her thoroughness, she just has to go that extra mile…
“ASSIGNMENT – A transfer or making over to another of the whole of any property, real or personal, in possession or in action, or of any estate or right therein…The transfer of the interest one has in lands and tenements…It includes transfers of all kinds of property, but is ordinarily limited to transfers of choses in action and to rights in or connected with property, as distinguished from the particular item of property…The transfer of interest one has in lands and tenements, more particularly applied to the unexpired residue of a term or estate for life or years…The distinction between an ‘assignment’ and a ‘sublease’ is that an assignment transfers the entire unexpired term…The deed by which the transfer is made.” (Under this are many subtopics for more specific situation, such as “assignment for the benefit of creditors,” etc.)
Henry Campbell Black, Black’s Law Dictionary, rev. 4th Ed. (St. Paul, MN: West Publishing, 1968), p. 153.
My understanding is that the 4th edition was the last one that included historic terms – “Editions of Black’s Law Dictionary more recent than the Fourth are much less useful to genealogists than earlier ones. To make room for new material, more modern editions have dropped the very words the genealogist may need to interpret old documents–the archaic and obsolete terms that haven’t been used for a century or more.” Donn Devine, CG, CGI” https://www.familyrootspublishing.com/store/product_view.php?id=1743
_____________________________________________
But as is my want, I simply could not resist running this by Jennifer from California… she replied surprisingly in agreement with Traci’s first inclination:
From a historical view, in the most simple explanation of use;
A transfer in writing of all or any part of an interest in property. Aha! I thought, there can be a simple answer!
But then and there she lost control and just HAD to opine …
Assignment
The first thing that came to mind (modernly) was in the context of Secured Transactions.
There are scholarly papers that address Secured Transactions in Colonial times (i.e. Harvard Law Review).
Interpreting the use of a word (Assignment) takes into consideration the time and place (jurisdiction) it was written and the context in which it was used.
Example; 1647, Upon her husband’s death, her estate was to be assigned to her by her husband’s heir or other person interested [records of Mass. 169-170 (1854).
Or, in the context of a Secured Transaction (Colonial)
A suit of debt may have been brought for the sole purpose of publishing a transaction or memorializing a transactional event. Property of 100 ac is sold by Marc to David. David promises to make a payment or payments on said property to Marc. Marc files suit against David stating David must pay him $100 on a certain future date (condition of the obligation) and when payment is made (or a final payment made) the said property will be deeded to David (David is likely living on said property during this time). Now Marc, who is in need of money to buy beaver skins from Traci, assigns to Traci the right to receive said future payment/payments.
This transaction is secured because Marc gave notice in a court of law of the debt.
The transfer of the interest
What is the interest being transferred? It may be the transfer of ownership to a particular property. Personal or Real. (PP personal property, RP real property). It may be the transfer of a debt.
Modernly
An obligation is a legal transaction in which parties bind themselves to either act or refrain from acting. An obligation is a legal relationship between two or more persons. An obligation exists when: (1) an obligor (debtor) owes a performance in favor of an obligee (creditor); and (2) the performance or duty is legally enforceable.
The obligee is entitled to judicial enforcement of the obligor’s duty to perform, and to recover damages if the obligor fails to perform
“ASSIGNMENT – A transfer in writing of all or any part of an interest in property.”
Note: this is where the law school comes out… old coots like me know weasel words when we hear them… no offense… again, she just kaint help herself…
Stated broadly, yes. But in the world of Contracts, the word “Legal” interest might be inserted.
I cannot legally assign my interest to Marc if I owe David money on the purchase of said property. I would need to secure the written permission from David.
‘Course if I run in to a problem with David… who do you think I’m gonna call?
_______________________________________
Shame on law schools! and damn them to hell! A perfectly good mind twisted and turned beyond all reasonableness. This is her Cliff Notes version… can you imagine if I cut her loose…
I’m kidding of course… this just goes to show the complexities that are involved. But in the sense that I was looking for, I think that an “assignment” in colonial times (which was very much English Common Law) can be viewed by way of an analogy to the title of a car. You sell Joe your car and sign over the title…he goes on a drunken binge, gets waylayed and thrown into jail for two years… he emerges from jail and needs a car… but! he must jump thru hoops and get the damn car “registered” by the state.
Similarly an assignment of property had to be recognized by a court to be further dealt with… my point being this can explain the delays seen in some property transactions. Joe may have been living on his property and all of a sudden (twenty years later, he runs in to court and registers the property).
I think this also explains the occasional “and written on the back of the deed” was shazam! an assignment.
It all depends on what the meaning of IS is…
Good Lord… I do go on incessantly… here is a recent example of what I am talking about with “assignments”… this patent was assigned “on the back of the patent” in 1695 (but it did not really “ripen” until 1735)… 40 years…
Now I am trying to figure out where the other half of the Scott patent went… I think it was perhaps assigned to Richard Barefield… now to prove it.
Benjamin Hill…. merchant
I figure I might try to redeem myself after my previous scathing Post concerning William Litlle. I think I have captured the gist of where Benjamin Hill lived west of the Chowan River…
This guy got rich and successful the old fashioned way… he earned it …(as the old TV commercial went). That is to say that one did not have to cheat widows, orphans, cripples and Indians out of their land. (Sorry, I could not pass up the dig).
Hill is in the center of the map… note the location on his property of “Hill’s Ferry”. According to Sally, that ferry was in continuous operation until 1940 when it finally washed away and was not rebuilt. (evidently there is a bridge there now…who’dathunkit). Just Google “Sally’s Family Place” for her interesting research on Hill (her clues helped with my map.)
____________________________________________________
This guy married a daughter of Hill… I will try to map him later…
Evidently a Progressive Democrat absconded with his wife and pissed off Mr. Hill…he sued the snake in the grass… this could be interesting to follow up…I know how some of you people are.
John Campbell
In 1743 John Campbell, a Captain in the British navy purchased 800 acres of land on the west side of the Chowan River near Webbs Ferry. This ferry operated across Chowan River to Bandon in Chowan County. The settlement grew and Campbell named it Colerain after his hometown in Ireland. Campbell brought seine fishing to America. His beautiful estate he named Lazy Hill.He became known as the “Merchant Prince of Lazy Hill.” Involved in fishing, farming, and shipping, he was responsible for shipment of Bertie County Clay to the factory at Bow in England for manufacture of pottery for export back to America. His brother there was a stockholder in that manufacturing. In 1740 he married Mary Hill, daughter of Benjamin Hill (one of the Northern faction who opposed Gov. Gabriel Johnston’s representation proposal). They had two sons, James and John; a daughter, Sarah, who married 1)Richard Brownrigg of Chowan 2)Capt. David Merideth.An epidemic of fever broke out all along the river settlements. Many of the people died, others discouraged, moved away or farther inland. John Campbell moved to Halifax County near Weldon.When his estate was sold it was listed as follows: “One tract of land known as “Lazy Hill” lying in Bertie County on the west side of Chowan River, containing 800 acres. It is a beautiful situation well watered, on its premises are a good dwelling house, kitchen store, warehouse, workhouse, barns milk and meat house, stables. Together with a good shad and herry fishery, a good apple and peach orchard and two vegetable gardens.”Campbell worshiped at St. Paul’s Church in Edenton. It is said he was a loyal patriot, devoted heart and soul to the American cause. Sanders rates him in ability to Joseph Hewes. He was known as the leading merchant of the province. He served and represented Bertie County in the General Assembly in 1744, 1745, also 1754- 1760; again 1769-1775. He served in four provincial Congresses at New Bern in 1744- 45; Hillsborough in 1775 and Halifax in 1776.Campbell was made famous (or infamous) for the sordid affair termed “The Bear and the Evil Genius,” published by Dr. Thomas Parramore, now professor Emeritus of Meridith College in Raleigh NC. It involved that era’s most widely publicized court case between John Campbell and a Dr. Lennox from Windsor, Bertie County who attempted to flee the country with John’s wife. The lawsuit was for Alienation of Affections (in the early 1700’s.) Dr. Lennox cross sued for Defamation of Character!John Campbell’s will (Will Bk C page 4) was written Apr 19, 1777 and probated in Bertie County, Feb Court 1781. This will mentions his wife, Mary; Grandsons, John Campbell, Thomas, John, Jane and Sarah Brownrigg (children of daughter Sarah); daughter Sarah [Brownrigg] Merideth ; also his brother, James, and sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. He gave Lazy Hill to his grandson, John Campbell (“son of my son James”)
Resource: Harry Thompson, HistorianJohn Johnston John Johnston was a member of the Colonial Assembly 1773, 1773-1774, 1775. He represented Bertie County in the 2nd Provincial Convention – New Bern, Apri 1775. He was also a member of the Provinical Congress 1775, April-May 1776, and Nov-Dec 1776. In 1788, 1789 represented Bertie Co in the Senate – voting for ratification. He was the brother of Samuel Johnston of Perquimans, who was the President of both Conventions. He became a citizen of Hertford Co. He died too young (1791) to attain the traditional prominence. He was of the same name as the nephew of Gov Johnston of Chowan and is often confused.His son, John Scrymoure Johnston, married Betsy Cotten, daughter of Godwin Cotton of Mulberry Grove (Hertford County) and resided near there. They had two children: Rev, Sam J. Johnston, DD for years rector of St. Pauls’ Edenton and Sallie Anne, who married James D. Wynns.
source:
Meherrin Indians vs William Little… 0-1
I really can’t find a kind thing to say about William Little… even the obnoxious William Byrd II could not keep from lambasting the elitist prick in his “secret” Dividing Line Twixt Virginia and North Carolina.
Even the rather conservative NCpedia… had a bit of difficulty finding compliments:
https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/little-william
Being that it was obvious from Little’s crony connections with the hot shots of Edenton, I find it rather blatant that Little did not even wait for the ink to dry on the worthless document that was written for the “Indian Land” in 1729. Hell, he just “grabbed” it.
I had no intention of doing a hatchet job on William Little… my motives were to map the colonial settlers in the area. In particular, I was having a difficult time locating the land for one John Cheshire. I think I am on the right track with where I have him placed and also the Mosely map of 1733 has him about where I do.
Here is some of the research I did on the 3,000 acres of Land allotted for the Meherrin Indians… William Little. His patent in 1728 is an exact match to the 1729 boundaries…
click the blue filename below for a larger view…
Note- I am not some “woke” mental deficient racist nor am I interested in using “critical race theory” to destroy actual history and replace it with bullsh*t history. I do however, have a devilish satisfaction with exposing corrupt politicians. I find equal delight in exposing non-white pricks when I find them… there are just more whites.
__________________________________________________
Shining a bit more light on a confusing area…
The research below is about two “Jernigan” men and where their properties were located. One Thomas “Jernagoon” was mentioned infamously in 1742 as “molesting” the Meherrin Indians by squatting on their land. (He had been there since 1717 according to my research). I find it curious they did not notice him for 13 years (since 1729).
The other man, David Jernagan, purchased property from Richard Holland near the Virginia line in 1728… interestingly, the deed matter of factly mentions “Nansemond Indian Town” and “at the fort”. At he time, the term “fort” also meant a “trading place” in addition to the military term. I do not see a connection between the two Indian “settlements”… other than them trying their best to avoid harassment.
And to show that I can be objective… here is a tear-jerker petition of the Nansemond Indians at “Nansemond Town” in 1723. If this does not strike an emotion… then you have no heart… Jeez!
I am still trying to unravel and map this area… it is… challenging.
____________________________________
It is purported the Meherrin Indians relocated near Potacasi Creek… but I have found no evidence as yet. This map supposedly shows them about 1795… but since this map does not show the word “Indian” I can see where it could show the Meherrin “Creek”, which is the older term before Potacasi “Creek”. A possible case might be made from this reference to “Dancing Neck”, which was on the property of Benjamin Hill.
https://www.ncpedia.org/meherrin-people-of-the-water
The Samuel Lewis map of 1795…
Here is my map of Hill’s property near the Potacasi Creek… see at very bottom. Other than some likker drink’n Square Dancers, it seems to me this may refer to …wait for it…. Indians.
a Commenter…
This is in reference to a Beale Browne of the early Chowan Precinct.. and I just the last few days have been working that section of my map… so this is fresh in my mind. Here is the comment and then I will add the section of my map…
“First, Really appreciate and enjoy your work here. I’m a long time student of the Jenkins who were lurking near some of the people you are chasing and have been some what an enigma themselves. Your maps have been crucial in bringing clearer focus on the subject.
Beale Brown was one of the persons that the Jenkins interacted with and is there any evidence counter to saying that Beale Brown was most likely the son of William Brown that married Martha Braswell? By your calculus, the father of Beale Brown was probably born before 1660 as the William, brother of Thomas Brown (b.c. 1659 by deposition) was. I don’t know the birth year of Martha Braswell, but some on the internet say c.1675. There appears to be a fairly good gap in ages and appears she would be too young to have been mother of Beale, but perhaps William was married to say a “Beale” girl before Martha and gave birth to Beale.
B: 250 Beale Brown to John Power. Nov. 10, 1726. 150 pds. for 320a. According to patent dated Nov. 6, 1706. Assigned to Sarah Brown wife of William Brown. Wit: James Jenkins, Fran. Benton. March Ct. 1727. Henry West by power of atty. from Brown ack. within deed of sale to John Power in open court..…
This is a copy and paste record I have and the “Assigned to Sarah Brown wife of William Brown” puzzles me. I thought Sarah is the wife of Beale. An alternate source on the internet has name William Brown also (abstract error?). Also, I can not locate any patent referencing the Nov. 6, 1706 date. The location of the deed is not mentioned, but James Jenkins and John Power are witnesses to a May 15, 1727 deed between Edward Powers and John Bonde on NS Merherrin river in the fork of the Horse Pasture Creek.
To speculate some more, I will throw in this Richard Brown:
E:59 4 Nov. 1736 Edward Tidmon & wife Margaret to Daniel Brown 100a on Chinkapin Cr. adj. John Young, William Downing, Francis Brown. Being plantation lately belonging to Rich’d Brown, dec’d. Wit: John Wynns, jurat, James Jenkins, Sarah Wynns. Nov. Court 1736
Perhaps Richard and Beale were brothers named after a grandfather Richard Beale?
Richard Brown; will Apr 8, 1734 Bertie Co., Daniel and Margaret are named children, but Francis was not and perhaps a cousin. Francis Brown; will Nov. 7, 1748 Bertie Co.
In my overall analysis of the Jenkins, James Jenkins’ was probably father of Francis Jenkins who was recorded in Edgecombe as alias “Rogers” and in some deeds, he went by Rogers Jenkins. He was called a “mustee” in court by Elisha Battle. My prime Rogers suspect as a potential grandfather, at this time, it the Thomas Rogers that you have written about who had land at Summerton VA. (Dr Henry Jenkins had land at Summerton who I believe was an uncle to James). Thomas Rogers appears to had a son Thomas whose will is recorded Aug court, 1749 Bertie Co.
Chowan #449 pg. 30 Mary Williamson of Chowan Prect. To William Crawford 15 Apr. 1720 power of attorney to acknowledge sale of 100 acres to Thomas Rogers son of Thomas Rogers, decd. Which was sold by my husband William Williamson Wit.: Jane Rogers X her mark, Richard Mallpass RM his mark Reg. Chowan Ct. 3rd Tuesday in Apr. 1720 Test.: Thomas Henman, Clerk
William Crawford noted was probably the grandfather of James Jenkins and father-in-law of Aaron Oliver who was mentioned in the Charity Brown/Thomas Rogers issue.”
Stephen
April 6, 2023 at 7:19 pm
I don’t think I have updated my Chowan map to include this area yet… so this is raw and still ongoing… but the map just speaks for itself with clues…
I have not researched Beal Brown much… so was intrigued to find him in this patch of the Meherrin River… also I had no idea Thomas Brown had ventured into this area.
Here is one reason this comment interested me… and as Stephen (the commenter) also caught… this may indicate that William Browne had an earlier wife than Martha Braswell, named Sarah.
Note that there is a reference to an earlier deed dated 1706. And what particularly dumbfounds me is that it seems the patent was”assigned” to Sarah. And into the details of the deed…it explains Henry Wythe assignd the patent to Sarah. And of course there are no metes and bounds for me to plot the boundaries.
I can’t explain how confused I am…
Also of interest to folks following my theory of John Browne “the Indian Trader”… the deed below is the first instance I have ran across in NC where William and Thomas Browne are shown together. (There was an instance in Virginia where they were together…along with Anthony Lewis). And also of surprise was the mention of Thomas Browne and wife Christian and William Browne with this early wife Sarah… Sarah was in reference to the 1706 deed). The question of the age of William Browne’s later wife Martha Braswell can be partly answered by the fact that after his death in 1718 or 19 she went on the marry William Murphy.
I may as well drag out the 1706 William Browne patent…I have been chasing this shadow for probably 15 years or more. I “think” I have found “about” where it is. My strategy now is to find the pieces of it and put the pieces together… I think I have about 250 of the 640 acres… got it? The hard clue to be found here is a mystery creek? called the “Dividing Run”…
Here is the area I “think” is the 1706 William Browne patent… I would love to nail down this enigma…
I have updated the Chowan Precinct map…
Misc…for Stephen
Mr. Clapton
Yeah…but you may think… what if Clapton got with MCcartney…
It almost happened…
Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina 