William Sims, Indian Trader?
This is theory folks… that is what I do.
The nitty-gritty…
December 31-January 7, 1736
Williamsburg Gazette
By a Letter from Col. James Millikin, in North-Carolina, dated at Roanoak, December the 10th, we have the following Account, That he received a Letter from Mr. Thomas Brown, of the Cutaboes, the chief Trader there, informing him. That on the 9th of October last, Three Indians came to the House of one William Syms, on Pine tree Creek, and (in his Absence) killed his Wife, another Woman, Three Children, and a Negro Man; and then set Fire to the House, Tis suppos’d they carried a White Girl away with them alive, who liv’d at the House, but can’t be found.
They were followed the next Morning by Five White Men, upon the Track, who found they had stopp’d in the Night, near a Place called Mars-Bluff, on Pedee River, where they had shared the Plunder, and left the bloody Cloaths of the murdered People. The Indians bent their Way Northward, which makes it believ’d they were Tuskaroroes. Mr. Brown wrote the above Account to Col. Millikin, at the Request of the Governor of South-Carolina, desiring him to use his Endeavours to apprehend these horrid Murderers
15 October 1732 Edgecombe County, North Carolina deed of William Sims to James Millikin for land on the south side of Quankey Creek [DB 1:20]
On motion of Mr James Millikin in behalf of the Inhabitants of that part of Bertie Precinct that lyes on the South Side of Roanoke River that a bill for an Act to be preferred to this house for Establishing that part into a precinct by the name of Edgcombe also on the Motion of Mr Maurice Moore in behalf of the Inhabitants of Onslow and Bladen that a bill be preferred to confirm them into seperate precincts which Motions are granted. http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr04-0052 1735
??? William Syms Edgecombe County 24 Oct 1755
Will
Daughter: Sarah Whooper (plantation lying on Kehukey). Son: William.
Executor: John Whitaker. Witnesses: Thos. Taylor, Mary Tree, Xtr. Haynes.
No probate
It was not uncommon for Indian Traders to have common law Indian wives in their “trading grounds”… that was what they did. Obviously for pleasure but more importantly for business reasons. Wives could translate. Plus it demonstrated a certain “bond” (trustworthiness?) with the tribe.
The longer version:
A bit more ammunition…
The Gibson family of Oconeechee Neck (Roanoke River…aka Moratock River) were purported to be Indian Traders. Search the web for Gideon Gibson… well worth the effort. It is also my theory that the wife of Gideon Gibson was a daughter of William Browne of Oconeechee Neck who was a son of John Browne… an Indian Trader who I have chronicled here:
https://andersonnc.com/john-browne-of-kingsale-1639-1713-indian-trader/
Hubbard1 Gibson, born say 1670, was living in Charles City County on 24 March 1691/2 when he appeared in court and on 3 August 1693 when he sued John Hardiman for riding his horse to its death [Orders 1687-95, 394, 454, 463]. He purchased 200 acres on the north side of the Blackwater Swamp in Prince George County from John Poythres on 11 December 1704. He and his wife Mary Gibson and their son Edward (signing) sold this land by lease and release for £32 while residing in North Carolina on 11 and 12 December 1721 [Deeds, Etc. 1713-28, 508-9]. He may have left Prince George County by 12 February 1716/7 when the court ordered that the appraisement of his estate (on an attachment by James Thweatt) be continued to the next court [Orders 1714-20, 104]. In 1721 he was taxed on 370 acres and 1 poll in Chowan County, North Carolina [Haun, Old Albemarle County NC Miscellaneous Records, 331]. On 13 November 1727 he bought an additional 100 acres on the north side of the Roanoke River in what was then Bertie County. His daughter Mary co-signed this deed with him [DB B:324]. The land was situated on the south side of Cypress Swamp in what became Northampton County in 1741. A little over six months later on 11 July 1728 he and his sons Edward Gibson and Hubbard Gibson, Jr., sold 370 acres in Bertie County on the north side of the Roanoke River, explaining in the deed that the land had been granted to Hubbard’s deceased son John by patent of 10 August 1720 [DB C:37]. The family probably moved to South Carolina with Gideon Gibson in 1731. Hubbard probably died before 1742 when Mary Gibson of Amelia County, South Carolina, sold the 100 acres she and Hubbard had purchased in Northampton County [DB 1:58]. His children were
7 i. John1, born say 1690.
8 ii. ?Thomas1, born say 1692.
9 iii. ?Gideon1, born say 1695.
iv. Edward2, born say 1697, signed his father’s 11 December 1721 Prince George County, Virginia deed while residing in North Carolina. He was taxable in 1721 in the same Chowan County district as his father and witness to the 15 October 1732 Edgecombe County, North Carolina deed of William Sims to James Millikin for land on the south side of Quankey Creek [DB 1:20]. It was probably another Edward Gibson, “(a Mulatto) a stout well-set Man, with short black curly Hair,” who escaped from jail according to an ad placed in the South Carolina Gazette of 22 December 1766. A similar ad was placed in the 15 June 1767 issue of the Gazette which stated that he escaped on 13 May 1767 [http://accessible.com].
v. Hubbard2, Jr., born before 1706, taxed in 1721 in the same district as his father.
vi. Mary, born say 1705, cosigner of a Bertie County deed with her father on 13 November 1727 [DB B:324]. She was living in Amelia County, South Carolina, in 1742 when she sold this land in what was by then Northampton County [DB 1:58].
http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Gibson_Gowen.htm
I have more if this is comment worthy.
Nansemond map
This started as a study of the Back Swamp area of colonial Nansemond but is evolving into a bigger project. Such is the situations I find myself in. With the additional data of the NC deeds now readily available, it is just a matter of building and working the jigsaw puzzle pieces into a coherent map. The area known as “Nansemond” readily extended deep into North Carolina due to the dispute between the colony of Virginia and NC. I will see where this leads as the map evolves. It readily went as far south in NC as Bennett’s Creek, perhaps further.
Brantleys, Halls and Braswells, oh my, all together like
Eagle-eyed Traci has me digging… she spotted some errors in various transcripts of the will of one Henry Shadock of Chatham Co. NC d 1778.
The analysis is completely open right now… here are her clues:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/chatham/wills/henshawi.txt
http://www.ncgenweb.us/chatham/court/wills_s.html
Both transcripts above have errors, as she observed.
http://braswellgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/henry-shadock-chatham-co-nc-1778.html
Note the Braswell connection above.
The actual will of Henry Shadock:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8987-3HQF?cat=403727
The Brantley connection:
https://www.brantleyassociation.com/pages/key_progenitors.htm
From the Joshua Brantley section above:
” James married Easter Shaddock. In 1777, James Brantley & wife Esther and Benjamin Braswell & wife Mary sold land on the Deep River in Chatham County, NC. That same year they both appeared on a petition in Wilkes County, Georgia to remove General McIntosh from his command. James and Esther also sold land in 1774 to Valentine Braswell. He too would later reside near Joshua in Walton County, Georgia.”
Hester Hall and one Pattey Brantley are missing from the transcripts.
I have a 67 step DNA match to one Benjamin Hall of Chatham Co (this same era). Remember that my DNA is BRANTLEY. What gives???
Marc
——————————
As an aside which may just be my overly excitable imagination concerning the Hill name reference from the will …
this is a snippet from one of my posts:
“
There is a 1831 marriage certificate for Zachariah Griffin and Margaret BRAKE so this seems to be a later marriage… (first wife unknown to me)Griffin, Zachariah will Apr. 26, 1837, no probate date, wife & extx. Margaret, lend tract whereon I now on lines of John Anderson, now Lot Stallings line on east side of Grassy Branch, one negro, pot and books, Dutch oven, pr. flat irons, griddle, skillet, mare, side saddle, bridle, china press and contents, riding chair and harness, stone jar, 4 good sitting chairs, trunk, chest, table, sow and 14 pigs, shoats, cow and calf or yearling, loom and gear, 6 geese, pork, corn, wheat, 20 lbs sugar, 10 lbs coffee, 3 bu. salt, 5 gal. molasses; dau. Maria Ruffin, wife of John Ruffin, land whereon they live; Martha Hawkins, wife of Fredrick Hawkins, land whereon they live; The land I Bequeth to Mariah Ruffin and Martha Hawkins are the two tracts being lands bought of David Barnes and James Griffin residue to be divided between dau. Elizabeth Spicer, heirs of James Griffin, heirs of Oney Hill, Rebecca Moore, Winifred Sawyer, Mariah Ruffin, Martha Hawkins, exr. Jesse C. Knight, wit. William Hinton, David Matthews. Abstracts of Wills, Edgecombe Co., NC, 1733-1856, Williams & GriffinNote the statement “heirs of James Griffin”… apparently he also is dead…I have found no will or inventory for a James Griffin… he just vanished. But if he moved, who are the “heirs of James Griffin” mentioned in Zachariah’s will?…Question- did Oney (Aney, Annah, etc) Griffin remarry a ____ HILL and have children? …And of course… adding to the confusion… a William Griffin sells 40 acres to a Henry Anderson in 1838… (the consensus of researchers is that Henry Anderson/Lovey Staton have removed from Edgecombe County by this time)Edge. Co Db 22, page 415, deed date 24 Feb 1838, recorded Nov Ct 1839,
William Griffin, Edge. Co to Henry Anderson, county aforesaid for $110
all his right to the tract said Griffin is now possessed of containing
40 acres beginning at a pine in the run of the branch then nearly a
north course along the fence to a pine corner then nearly east along
James S. Battle’s line to a black gum then south along Elizabeth
Griffin’s line to a post oak in said E. Griffin’s line then nearly
south to a sassafras stake then nearly west to a hickory then nearly
south to an ash a corner then up the various courses of said branch to
a pine beginning, it being a part of the land where I now live, signed
William Griffin, wit Robt. Bryan, J.W. Calhoon, proved by Jno. W.
Cahoon. Abstracted 9 Oct 08, NCA film C.037.40018, CTC.__________________________________Sticking in my craw at this point is another odd reference of the Zachariah will of 1837 (above)…“heirs of Oney Hill”
Peter Anderson, Halifax, NC, d 1801
Traci the Librarian has consulted with me (rather I consult with her) and she has posited an idea on a possible new descendant of Peter. But before I venture into the details I am curious if any folks related to his line might be willing to share their DNA data… or better yet, is there a group specifically researching that line? I remember Dr. Cary Anderson cited his known lineage. I am not a DNA guru by any stretch of the imagination so if any of you care to share any info it would behoove all of us in the several ANDERSON lines to differentiate those old bones. Unfortunately if my theory of William Anderson d 1789 is correct then that ANDERSON line (my line) is essentially corrupted do to his being a bastard son of an unknown BRANTLEY ca 1725. I use the term “bastard” not to mince words and more to its original meaning. I can use the term illegitimate if any Karens out there get “triggered”. (smiling)
What that fact means is that my line is useless to determine the male line prior to the birth of Wm Anderson d 1789. His grandfather however, is the true ANDERSON line which I theorize may include Carolus Anderson (who is noted on the Moseley map 1733).
What all that means is that the DNA line of Carolus Anderson is yet to be determined. He had no known sons that lived. His known brother James Anderson is also yet to be determined, if you catch my drift.
Traci has been a “certified” genealogist for a number of years and I welcome any of her contributions. She has guided and coached me for over 20 years. When she speaks, I listen.
Another mentor of mine is David Gammon (you know… “that” Gammon what wrote all the NC abstract books). (smiling again) Traci, David and myself are working this lead that Traci has brought to the table. We just need the DNA ammunition, which is what this post is about. Capich?
Peter Anderson left his will in 1801. A strong case has been provided by Traci that he had a son named Charles who had issue. This son died before 1801 and hence he was not included in Peter’s will. Traci has given permission to post her documentation.
Please note that these docs are copyrighted and not to be used without permission for other than personal use.
Permission must come from the Braswell Memorial Library.
Likewise here is her timeline on Benjamin Eaton Williams and wife Susannah Anderson.
Please note that I am careful to separate my “theories” from Traci’s work. With that caveat being stated I have some thoughts:
The mother of Peter Anderson arrived in Halifax about 1745 with son in tow. I think it possible she “may” have been the widow of James Anderson, the son noted in this will of Elizabeth Anderson d 1732:
Elizabeth Anderson
Will
Recorded 24 Dec 1733
In the Name of God Amen: I Elisebth Anderson widow, on the South Side of Meherig River, In Bertie Precinct, In North Carrolina being weak in Body, But in perfect Sence and Memorey Praised be to God for the Sences Considering the Uncertainty of This Life Do make This my Last Will & Testement, As followeth
I do Bequeat my Soul to God who gave it and my Body to be Decently buryed at The discretion of my Exectrs, Hoping to Receive a Joyfull Resurrection at the Last Day Through Jesus Christ my Saviour.
Item
I give to my Son James Anderson one Shilling
Item
I give to my Son Carrolus Anderson one Breeding Mare and one Set of Iron wedges, a set of Harrow Hones
Item
I give to my Daughter Elisebeth Pitman, one paire of Small Mill Stones
Item
I give to my Grandaughter Elisebeth Anderson Two Cows and Calves and one Breeding Mare and one Feather Bed and one paire Sheets and one Blanket and one Iron Pot, and pott Hooks, and one Puter Dish and one Frying Pan and one Ewe Sheep and two Glass Bowles & Ten Spoons.
Item
I give my Daughter Elisebeth Pitmans Son William Anderson one Hiefer.
Item
I give to my Grandaughter Sarah Anderson Two Cows and Calves, and one Mare, and one Pot, and pot Hoocks, Two Puter Basons. And my own Bed where on I Lie with Furniture belonging there ontoo and one Ewe Sheep and one Chest
Item
I give to my Sd. Grandaughter, Elisebeth Anderson one Bread Tray, and one parlor, and paire of Fire Tonges.
And all the Rest of my Maiables within Doors and without Doors, I Doe Give to my afore Said Sarah Anderson my Grandaughter.
And I doe Appoint my Grandaughter, Sarah Anderson To be my Whole, and Sole, Execetess of This, my Last will and Tesements whatsoever as witness hand and Seal this fifth Day of November 1732.
Tess by Wss Before Sig’d my Daughter
Inter Lined
Elias EF Fort (his mark) Jurat
Ealen Fort (her mark) Elisebeth (her mark) Anderson
Hen. Crompton (signed)
Bertie Precinct August Court 1733
The Afore Written will was Proved by the Oath of Elias Fort One of the Evidences thereto. Test (signature)?
(transcribed /MA)
digital image available online at North Carolina State Archives MAR
Note that it is obvious that James was still kicking and seemingly “at hand” in 1733 since she left him one shilling.
Note the will of Carolus Anderson in 1753. Note also I defer to the work of Sadie Greening Sparks. I bow to her work, it was an inspiration to me, although I obviously have some disagreements. I also wish to highlight her work to offer an alternative viewpoint.
http://www.sadiesparks.com/canderson.htm
Nowhere in the two wills above is the name Susannah or Susan mentioned. I think that the James Anderson that Ms Sparks chronicled above was the son of Elizabeth Anderson d1733. This James Anderson who hailed from Halifax, NC in 1716 had a wife Elizabeth. I find it plausible she died and James remarried to Susanna.
The same time that Susanna Anderson proved her Rights in 1743/4, likewise did Carolus.
Did Peter Anderson name a son Charles after his “possible” uncle Carolus. Did James Anderson, brother of Carolus die before 1744? I think it is a rational question. He also named a son James… but consider that he was born prior to 1744. He died 1801.
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
1760s smallpox outbreak
I ran across a couple of families whose circumstances surrounding the deaths of both fathers and sons at about the same time puzzled me. Andrew Ross and sons and also the Gay family caught my attention. Just use my search button and use “smallpox” for the search term for details. (my articles will show up)
Here is a link to an article, which while it is specific to Charleston, SC, may also pertain to Edgecombe County, NC as well. If anyone has more specific info to contribute please comment with details. I suspect the disease may have worked its way up the coast during this time period.
the 1668 Deal…
It is difficult to wrap your head around 400 years ago. My mind does it thusly… my Grandfather, Moses Brock Anderson was born in 1849. His son Bart Brock was born 1889. My father was born 1919. I was born 1951.
The father of Moses Brock Anderson was in Tennessee during the Civil War in 1865.
I can remember seeing images of Civil War Veterans who were living at the same time as me. Think about that a moment… I watched film as a kid of actual Civil War Veterans marching down a street in Washington D.C. In other words the Civil War was not that long ago.
Allow me to sidetrack into a bit of psychology… Eric Berne translated the esoteric crap of Sigmund Freud and made it simple enough for dumb asses like us to understand. Freud is a good example of how elitists exercise their “upper hand” for lack of a better term. The language he spoke was only understood by “specialists”.
Allow me to sidetrack again to explain something I read by Adler or Will Durant in “the Story of Philosophy” in which was said, my paraphrase, “when the boys were taken off the farms of America and exposed to where their ancestors came from”… in the World War in 1918… When the boys returned from WW II in 1945/6 they were looking at the world with different eyes.
And so it is now in February 2021. Our government is being run by the same sort of misfits as ran the joint in 1668
Backtracking to my man Eric Berne ( I hate the term “my man” but it is a current “cool” term so I used it to suck in the cool people) anyway… Eric Berne said that Sigmund Freud said that there are 3 personalities.
The SuperEgo, the Ego, and the Id. Eric Berne, to me, implied that Sigmund Freud was full of himself. (A pompous asshole, my take on his mindset).
Berne simplified it… he said the 3 personalities are manifested as the Parent, the Adult , and the Child.
That is like the Rosetta Stone!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
I shall try to make an analogy… Let us say we have a tribe of “farmer kids” … they know how to grow corn very well. Take them to a big city like say, Paris in 1944, let them roam around . Feed them some good likker and see what happens.
They are not happy on the farm anymore. In a way they had become “enlightened” to re-use an old term.
In 1668 very few people were literate. Most people were ignorant. That is not a slur anyone should be offended by. They could not communicate the way the “literate” people could communicate. Think about that. The Literate folks had an advantage in 1668 in North Carolina. And they used it.
The Egyptians’ Priests had the same advantage in 6000 BC that the British Royalists had in 1668. Do you understand? If you take a newborn baby and explain to it for 12 years that black is not white and dogs are named cats then they will be confused. That is what Freud was doing with his Id, Ego and Superego claptrap.
Abraham Lincoln explained it thusly: you can fool all the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.
You see… the people in Washington DC now… are no different that the people in 1668.
They are no different that the people in Israel during a certain crucifiction 2000 years ago.
All you have to do to understand what I am saying is read the extant records. While we are busy trying to make a living, literate people are living the good life. We have become so stupid a complete idiot has become president of the United States and a communist is his vice president.
The word I have concocted is “awareness”. And here I have a hard time explaining it…
This historical account illustrates the difference between the common people and the elite in the early 1700s.
https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr01-0397
Journal of Philip Ludwell and Nathaniel Harrison during the survey of the North Carolina/Virginia boundaryLudwell, Philip, 1638?-1723?; Harrison, NathanielApril 18, 1710 – November 04, 1710Volume 01, Pages 735-746
——————– page 735 ——————–[B. P. R. O. B. T. Virginia. Vol: 13. O. 65.]
A JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF PHILIP LUDWELL AND NATHANIEL HARRISON COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED FOR SETTLING THE BOUNDARYS BETWEEN HER MAJESTYS COLONY AND DOMINION OF VIRGINIA AND THE PROVINCE OF CAROLINA.
Before we enter upon the Narrative of our proceedings it will be necessary to observe that on the arrival of Her Majestys Letters Mandatory directing the appointment of Commrs for settling the Boundarys between Virginia & Carolina, the President & Councill thought fitt to appoint us on the 18th of Aprill last to be the Commissioners for that purpose, & on the 27th of the same month our Instructions were agreed on in Council. Thereupon Mr President (after having discoursed Mr Lawson one of the Commissioners of Carolina) writt to the sd Commrs on the 5th of May notifying our being ready, & named the 9th of June as a proper time for a meeting of both Commissioners at Williamsburgh to concert & adjust the method of proceeding in this affair, In anwer to wch letter, Mr Lawson writt to the President that he had not seen Mr Moseley (the other Commr) that he was then very busy in settling the Palatines (in wch he expected to meet with much difficulty by reason of the distractions of that Government) and that therefore they the Commrs of Carolina could not meet us according to that appointment, but hoped they should be able to do it in July, & Mr Moseley in a letter of the 5th of June excused his attending the Meeting as not having then seen Mr Lawson nor the powers given them by the Lords Proprietors, but that when he had, he would give timely notice when they the Commrs of Carolina could meet.
Thus this matter stood at the arrival of the Lieutt Governor who having thought it necessary to have our Instructions re-examined & considered before himself in Council, was pleased on the sixth of July to sign our Commission, & Instructions according as they had been agreed on.
On the 18th of July we received our Commission at Williamsburgh, & there hearing no farther of the intentions of the Commrs of Carolina, We writt the following Letter to them.——————– page 736 ——————–
Williamsburgh July 18th 1710.
“Gentlemen
“Having received a Commission from Her Majesty’s Lieutenant Governor to Act in conjunction with you for settling the Boundarys between this Her Majestys Colony of Carolina we were in hopes that according to what you were pleased to writt to Mr President Jenings, you would have signifyed to us when you could conveniently have met us, for adjusting the proper methods of carrying on this work, but having heard nothing from you since Yr Answer to the Presidents Letter, We think ourselves obliged very earnestly to desire you will let us know your last resolution, whether wee may expect to meet you at Williamsburgh any time this month; or if you do not think fitt to meett us there, we desire you to appoint some other place where we may meet you this month because the season of the year will not admitt of any longer delay.We are
Gent
Your most humble servantsPHIL: LUDWELLNATT: HARRISONSuperscribe“To Edwd Moseley & Jno Lawson Esqrs
Commrs appointed by the Lords
Proprietors of Carolina, for settling
the Limits thereof or either of them
in North Carolina.
We communicated this letter to the Governor, who was pleased to desire we would press the Commissioners of Carolina to give the most expeditous dispatch that could be to this affair, whereupon we writt the following postscript to this letter.
“July the 19th 1710. Coll: Spotswood our Governor being very pressing to have this affair expedited as much as possible, we are obliged once more to desire you will please to appoint us the shortest day of meeting that can be, and that you will give this messenger the quickest dispatch with yor Answer, which will very much obligeGent
Yr most humble servantsP LN H
On the 1st of August I (Nath : Harrison) received the following letter from Mr Moseley by the same Messenger that carryed our letter to him.——————– page 737 ——————–
North Carolina July 25th 1710.
“Gent
“This day I received yours of the 18th instant relating to the Boundarys between this Governmt and Virginia, I think myself obliged to acquaint you that I have taken all the necessary measures I possibly could to bring it to some issue, for immediately after my receipt of Mr President Jening’s Letter (which came from Mr Lawson) I dispatched a Letter to Neus desiring Mr Lawson to inform me when he could be at Leasure from his concerns with the Palatines lately arrived, that we might attend this business; Since which on the nineteenth of the last month I pressed him to a speedy Determination, but to this time have received no answer which I ascribe to the great Distance he is from me, at least an hundred miles, and three Large and difficult Ferrys in the way. However I have adventured to appoint the one and twentieth of August next for our meeting you at Williamsburgh agreeable to Mr President Jening’s request and yours, being desirous to shew my ready complyance to anything that may make evident my willingness to retrieve the passed time.
I design to-morrow to send a Messenger directly to Mr Lawson to advertise him hereof. In the meantimeI am
Gent
Your most humble servant EDWd MOSELEY
August 21st We went to Williamsburgh expecting to have meett the Commrs of Carolina, but they did not come. August 25th Being informed that Mr Hyde (Governor of North Carolina) was come to Williamsburgh, and expecting the Commrs were come with him I (Philip Ludwell) went thither where I understood Mr. Lawson had been there, and was gone to Captain Jones’ with design to return home speedily there being no news of Mr Moseley. I immediately waited on the Governor to receive the Direc̄ons how to proceed who was pleased to direct me to dispatch a Messenger early next morning to Mr Mosely to desire his Company as soon as possible at Wmsburgh and in the mean time he was pleased to engage Mr Lawson to stay for the return of the Messenger. August 26th Early in the morning I sent away the following letter to Mr Nathaniel Harrison to be by him sent to Mr Moseley.
Virginia August 25th 1710. Conformable to your appointment in your letter of the 25th of July. We mett at Wmsburgh on the 21st instant where——————– page 738 ——————–
we flattered ourselves we should have had the honour of your Company but being disappointed of it that day without hearing from you and also being informed that several Carolina gentlemen designed to wait on Mr Hyde that very day at Norfolk We concluded we should see you at Williamsburgh in two or three days Our Conjecture proved not altogether wrong for Mr Lawson arrived on Wednesday or Thursday (having been hindered a day or two in his passage) but not finding you here resolved to return home speedily Our Governor Coll. Spotswood being desirous to bring this affair to as speedy a Conclusion as may be (and being apprehensive that if we fail of a meeting while Mr Lawson is here it will be in vain to expect any further proceedings in Concert with you this year) commands us to desire yr Company at Wmsburgh as soon as possible because Mr Lawson’s affairs are very urgent and his Honr has undertaken to engage Mr Lawson to stay three or four days longer
We send this by an Express & hope to have the Honour of your Company at Williamsburgh by Wednesday next where we shall be always ready to do everything that can be expected for expediting this good Work and in the meantime, We are SrYour most humble servantsPHILIP LUDWELLNATH: HARRISONTo Edward Moseley Esqre one of
the Commissioners appointed for
setting the bounds betwixt Virginia
& Carolina, at his house in
North Carolina
As soon as this Letter was dispatched I sent a letter to Mr Lawson Inviting him to my house & to inform him that We had sent to Mr Moseley and expected he would come in four or five days, In answer to which he writt that he had already promised the Governor to stay for the return of the Messenger.
Augt 30. We mett the Carolina Commissioners in the Conference room in the Capitol. As soon as our Commissions on both sides were read Mr Moseley objected that we could not treat of this affair because there was a variance in our Commissions. For their Coms impowered them only to Act in Conjunction with us and by the preamble of our Commrs it seemed that the Queen designed no more & yet our Commission impowered us to Act separately. This he insisted on very much questioning the Governors power to give such a Commission. We argued that it could be no objection that a Commission had too full a power given him to treat——————– page 739 ——————–That our Commission appointed us to Act in in Conjunction if they would, & to that end we were mett and if our Commission did go further to impower us to act seperately in case of disagreement that could be no objection till we had treated & tryed whether we could agree or not besides We thought that what we were appointed to do in case of Disagreement could not properly be called acting seperately since it was nothing but what was necessary for giving Her Majesty a full information of the Case whereby she might be enabled to make a Determination of it & as to the Governors power since he had given it under his hand that it was in pursuance of Her Majestys commands we should not doubt his power nor our own if she did not agree. At last Mr Lawson being satisfied Mr Moseley was forced to quitt the argument and then we proceeded as the Minuts taken by Mr Robertson will shew, but we must remark that Mr Moseley started all the captious Arguments and Exceptions that could be.
This Conference ended without coming to any other agreement than that we would proceed to take more Affidavits on both sides & then make a Tryal of the Latitude at both the contested places. In order to which Mr Moseley agreed to come to Green Spring the next day, from whence we were to sett out to take the Virginia Affidavits first, but I (Nathaniel Harrison) being taken very ill of an Ague that night, I (Philip Ludwell) went to the Governor’s next day to meet Mr Moseley & endeavour to put off our Survey for two days, but I found Mr Moseley very urgent to delay it much longer, for he said his horse was gravelled, & he had such urgent business that he must go home at last (the Governor pressing him very much) he came to this resolution that on Tuesday the 19th he would come to the house of Mr Nath: Harrison to proceed in taking our evidences in Virginia, and from thence we should go with him to Carolina to take their evidences, which we hoped might be done by the 28th, against which time he was to give Mr Lawson (whom he expected to see that night) notice to meet us with his Instruments to go & try the Latitude.
September 21st Having waited in vain these two days for Mr Moseleys coming We proceeded to Coll. Harrison’s, where we mett with Thomas Cotton & took his Affidavit From thence we went to Henry Brigg’s, where we mett Richd Washington & took his Affidavit from whence we proceeded in our way to Nottoway.
The 22nd We went to the Nottoway Indian Town, where we had appointed Henry Wych to meet Us to give his Deposition, but he did not come. Here we took the Examinations of three Wyanoake Indian women that live here; having given them strict Charge to tell nothing——————– page 740 ——————–but the truth. But the Nottoway Indian old men being gone to gather Chinkopens We deferred the taking their Examinac̄ons till our Return, and went to the Nansemond or Potchiak Indians Town. In our way thither we mett one Richard Bratwell [Braswell] who told us that he had entered for about 1000 acres of land with Mr Moseley and had it surveyed upon Maherine River, being persuaded to it by the sd Moseley, who assured him it was in the Carolina Government and that Nottoway River was Wyanoake and he pretended to read a copy of the Carolina Charter which express’d that they were to begin at the North end of Carotuck Inlett, & to go to Weyanoake River or Creek being in 36½ Deg Lat; & that Mr Moseley did take the Latitude of Nottoway River’s mouth, & told him & others then present that it agreed, and from thence he run a due West Course to Maharine River, and we afterwards had ye same accot from others. But Mr Moseley on our asking him, denyed that he had ever tried the lattitude of Nottoway River, tho’ he owned he had run a line from the mouth of it due West to Maharine River, weh he did by order of their Council.
The 23rd. We took the Examinac̄ons of Great Peter the Nansemond Indian after his Examination he told us, that sometime before, he was sent for to Coll: Pollocks, where were Governor Hyde, Mr Lawson, Coll : Pollock & others, they examined him concerning the Wyanoake Indians and Weyanoke Creek that he gave them the same relation he has given us, and that thereupon Coll. Pollock was angry with him & said, such storys would do the Proprietors a mischief; he answered that he did not come of himself to tell any storys, but was sent for, & if he desired to hear it, he would tell him the truth, but if that would not please him he would not tell him a lye. That Mr Hyde said he was in the right, he said Coll. Pollock urged him very much to drink, but he thought they had a design upon him & would not.
Then we proceeded to the Maherine Indian Town and took their Examinac̄on. At this place there was one John Beverley, who reckons himself an inhabitant of Carolina, whom we desired to take notice of the manner of our proceeding in taking the Examinations and of the questions asked them. This man had been all up Wicocon Creek & had taken up some land in the Fork of the Creek where the Weyanoake Town stood and when we made the Indians mark out upon the ground, the Creek & Swamps, & the places where the Weyanoake Indians had Corn fields he confessed the Creek Swamps & old fields were as they described them.
The 24th we set out for Mr Moseley’s.——————– page 741 ——————–
The 25th we arrived at Mr Moseleys, who seemed surprized at our coming having as he told us sent a Messenger to excuse his not meeting us at Mr Harrison’s and prevent our disappointment, here we stayed this day & the next in expectation of Edward Smethwick & Francis Tomms two witnesses wch Mr Moseley sent for, but they both made excuses that they were not able to come. While we were here Mr Moseley showed us a Letter from Mr Lawson dated from Little River the sixth of September wherein he complains of the shortness of the time for taking the Latitude (tho much later than he had formerly agreed on at our meeting at Wmsburgh his pinnace not being come for him, however he promised to meet or get his Instruments at the place appointed if possible, and recommending to Mr Moseley a brass semi circle that was in that neighborhood in case his did not come—but amongst the rest he writt that he thought it would be of very ill consequence for them to submit to our appointments. This Semi Circle Mr Moseley showed us, but said he did not think fit to carry it to the place appointed to try the Latitude, it being so small that it could not be certainly determined thereby; for the Radius was but 6 inches, & was not capable of being graduated to less than 10 minutes, wherefore he would depend upon Mr Lawson bringing or sending his Instrument.
The 27th. We proposed to Mr Moseley to go to his Evidences but Smethwick living at a great distance up Morattuck River, & Mr Moseley not desiring us to go thither we went to Francis Tomm’s house and took his declarac̄ons being a Quaker, and here we must observe that Mr Moseley acted very disengenuously, for when Thom’s answered some of our questions to wch Mr Moseley had made no objection, tho he answered the same things over several times we could not without quarrelling prevail with him to set down the answers in ye same terms that Tomms spoke them, but would be putting other words of a different signification into his mouth, and endeavouring to prevail with him to speak them.
The 28th. We went to James Farlows to take his affidavit but Mr Moseley having given him no notice of our coming, he was gone 12 or 15 mile from home towards Mr Moseleys home, which was directly back again, and Mr Moseley not insisting upon him as a material evidence (for he told us he did not know what he could say, but that having lived in Appomatux he supposed he could say something) We proceeded to Maherine River to meet Mr Beverley & Mr Allen the Surveyors with whom we had appointed to meet Mr Moseley and Mr Lawson the next day at Wicocon or Wyanoake Creek.——————– page 742 ——————–
The 29th. We went to Wycocon Creek where we mett Mr Moseley but Mr Lawson sent an Excuse & and one to act in his room; They had no sort of Instrument with them. He took the Latitude at noon with Mr Beverleys Sea Quadrant, the Radius whereof was two foot 3 inches, & well graduated to two Minutes & a good plumb & fine thread. We found the Zenith distance of the sun to be 43deg: 16m the Declination of the Sun we allowed to be 6d: 33m. The Parallax we allowed to be two min: By wch observac̄on the Latitude appeared to be 36d: 41m. The day being very clear, this observation was taken at the window Earlis about 2 miles up the Creek, there being no firm land nearer but all sunken marsh & Pocoson. Our horses getting from us last night, we could not reach this place till a quarter after eleven, so that we had not time to fix the quadrant to stand by itself, but held it by hand rested by a stake of a fence & standing on another stake: To this Mr Moseley objected that it was lyable to error & not so nice & certain as it ought to be, wherefore we resolved to stay till next day and take another observac̄on. This day we examined Jno Smith Wm Bush Rich Booth & Charles Merrit.
The 30th. We took the affidavit of William Hooker, and Mr Moseley took the affidavit of Lewis Williams Then we proceeded again to take the latitude at the same place as yesterday having fixed the quadrant very firm & nicely, & used a horse hair to the plumb instead of the thread, and according to the best of our observation we found the zenith distance to be 43d: 29m The Declination we allowed to be 6d. 57m the Paralax 2m. By which observation the latitude appeared to be 36d 40m. But some flying clouds intercepting the sun for some few minutes, this observation could not be depended upon to a minute, yet Mr Beverly was positive he was within 4 or 5 minutes at ye utmost, & we verily believe it was not above 5 or 6 minutes betwixt the last fair observation, & the time we found the sun was considerably fallen: but Mr Moseley being dissatisfyed we resolved to stay another day & take a new observation for his satisfaction. This day we went down the Creek by water to the mouth of it, & took ye Courses & Distances of the meanders, & found the Creeks mouth to be 20 Poles to ye southward of the place where we took the observation. Here Chowan River is about a quarter of a mile wide and the Creek near 100 yards. It may not be improper in this place to observe a true reason for Mr Moseleys leaving behind him his Brass Instrument for trying the latitude, that what he was pleased to Give, of its being too small: For he owned he had with the same Instrument taken the latitude of his own house, & afterwards showed us a map——————– page 743 ——————–of that part of Carolina wch he had made from his own surveys; by wch he must certainly know what course & distance Weyanoake or Wicocon Creek was from his house, and thereby could tell within 10 minutes in what latitude the Creek lay according to that Instrument But if by bringing that Instrument he should have discovered to us that the said Creek was in the latitude of their charter, or perhaps to the Northward of it (as it appeared to be by our Quadrant) it might have been difficult for him with all the subtlety whereof he is Master, to have found a specious excuse against so plain a Demonstration, whereas by bringing no Instrument of his own he left himself at full liberty to find fault with ours.
The 1st of October was very cloudy, so that we could take no observation, and the sky threatening bad weather, we resolved to stay no longer, but to go back to the Maherine Indians to examine them again in Mr Moseley’s presence, & in our way thither we took the examination of John Brown.
The 2nd The Maherine Indians not being at home we proceeded to the Nansemond Indian Town, in order to take the latitude at Nottoway Rivers mouth, & to examine those Indians; but when we came there, most of the Indians were gone abroad to get Chincopens & it being a rainy day we could take no observation.
I (Philip Ludwell) came up Chowan River almost from Wicocon Creek by water with Mr Beverley & set the Courses of the River as we came up, & guessed the distances, by wch we might be enabled to compute how near our observations at the two places agreed, & we found them to agree very near.
At the Nansemond Town the Interpreter told us that when he went down to Wicocon Creek with a Nansemond Indian called Robin Tucker who was sent by the Indians to shew us the Creek on wch the Wyanoakes formerly lived, he called at one William Williams’s house, where he met with one Mr Maul (who is ye same person appointed by Mr Lawson to supply his place at our taking the Latitude) and that being sometime in the House and the Indian left without, as soon as he (the Interpreter) came out, the Indian told him, That man (meaning Mr Maul) was not good for he had been (persuading) him to deny that the Weyanoakes had lived on Wicocon Creek, & promised him two bottles of powder and a thousand shott to do it. Upon wch we examined the Indian charging him not to tell a ly of the Gentleman, & he assured us it was very ture. This Mr Maul is Mr Lawson’s Deputy Surveyor.
The 23rd. We went to the mouth of Nottoway River and in an old field on ye North East side of Chowan just opposite to the Lower side of——————– page 744 ——————–Nottoway River, called by the people of Carolina Weyonoake Creek, We cutt off the logs of a small tree, and fixed the Quadrant very nicely to the stumps of it, & the day being very clear we had a good observation. We found the zenith distance to be d45: m6. the Declination we allowed for that day to be d8: m4 the Parralax m2 by which observation the latitude of the place appeared to be just 37 Deg: But the Gentlemen were not satisfyed yet, tho they stood continually looking on ye Instrument at Mr Beverleys elbow, the pretence for their cavilling here was on this occasion Mr Beverley while he perceived the sun still rising let the Instrument stay a considerable time, and when he thought the sun at the highest, he then moved it, by which means it altered about 10 min: from what it was before, and we did not perceive the sun to rise any more afterwards. Upon which they agreed it was all uncertain, & that this could not be taken for the sun’s true latitude; we endeavoured to continue there, & Mr Beverly desired Mr Moseley to try it himself: but they would allow no Instrument to be fitt for taking the Latitude except Mr Lawson’s, wch they design to have some time or other, and then they expect we should meet them again. We think the observac̄ons wery exact, but they cavill at every thing, for no other reason (as we can find) but only to delay for we understand Mr Moseley has pursuaded people to take up & has already survey’d almost all the land in dispute near the mouth of the rivers that is of any value, telling them that they need be in no doubt, that Nottoway River lay exactly in the Latitude of their Charter & that he ran a West line from thence to Maherine River and the people on this accot believe themselves very safe.
That he has himself taken up a great deal of land there, part of wch he has sold & there are yet no patents issued for any of those lands but he hopes to procure them (as we suppose) upon the arrival of a Governor or other settlement of their Government) yet fears he shall not only lose his own land but be forced to refund what the poor people have paid him if it be determined to belong to Virginia before he can obtain patents in Carolina, so that t’is not to be wondered he has fished for so many pretences to obstruct a work upon the Determination whereof his own Interest is like to suffer.
The 4th After a very hard journey we arrived at Nath1 Harrison’s where we found Mr Moseley’s letter of excuse dated Sunday September the 17th with a Copy of Smethwicks Affidavit. The messenger that brought this letter returned to Mr Moseleys while we were there. We asked him when he arrived at Mr Harrisons? he answered on the Friday after we set out, and being asked what made him so long on his——————– page 745 ——————–journey as from Sunday to Friday, he answered he did not set out on his Journey till Tuesday, wch was the day we were to meet.
To the Honble Alexander Spotswood Esqre Her Majestys Lieutenant Governor of Virginia—
May it please yor Honr
Having in the preceding Journal given yor Honr a full account of our proceedings hitherto in this affair. We humbly beg leave to offer yor Honr our thoughts upon the state of the Case, which from the best observations we have made appears to us to stand thus.On the part of Virginia
1st There are two positive Evidences of good fame to the place & name of Weyano-ake Creek.
2nd Several Evidences corroborating the Indians account of the Weyanoak Indians having bought land & lived upon the said Creek and very near it for several years, not long before the Grant of the Carolina Charter: from whence probably the Creek took its name, having no name before that we heard of.
3rd All our Evidences are unanimous as to the name of Nottoway River which with the Indians account, corroborated by English Evidences of the Weyanoaks paying an acknowledgement to the Nottoways (who lived there long before) for living on that River, makes it seem improbable the name of that River should be changed from their living a few years upon it, at least twenty five miles from the mouth, when they lived much longer upon Blackwater without altering the name of it.
4th The Evidences on the part of Virginia are all men of good Credit and agree very well in their relation.
5th The Latitude of Weyanoak or Weycocon Creek appears to agree very near with the Carolina Grant whereas Nottoway River appears to be thirty minutes to the Northward of it.On the part of Carolina
1st They have no Evidences that speak to the name of Weyanoak or Weycocon Creek at the time of their Grant.
2nd All their Evidence runs to the name of Weyanoak River & not one calls it a Creek & indeed Nottoway River seems to be the main branch of Chowan River, & it is Navigable (if it were cleared) as high as the head of Blackwater Swamp, whereas there Charter runs expressly to Weyanoak Creek & that is called a Creek to this day.——————– page 746 ——————–
3rd Their Witnesses are all very ignorant men & most of them men of ill fame that have run away from Virginia & some of them concerned in Interest & we plainly discover several of them did not understand what they swore in their Affidavits & we observe that all of them contradict themselves or one another.
Upon Consideration of the whole Case as the Circumstances have appeared to be in the whole Course of our Progress, we are clearly convinced that the place call’d Weycocon is the place called Weyanoak Creek in the Carolina Charter, & from the backwardness of the Carolina Commrs to meet us & to bring this business to a conclusion, together with the frivolous objections they make upon all occasions to retard our proceedings, & some other Observations we have made, which are too tedious to insert here, we cannot choose but believe that they or one of them at least is convinced of this in his own Judgt (if he would be so ingenuous as to own it) but either for private interest or some other reason to themselves best known they hope to put off the Decision for some time.
Signed.PHILIP LUDWELL.N. HARRISON.Vera CopiaWil: Robertson St. Com
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For my personal amusement I refer to these long dead elitists as “castletrash”. They were arrogant, treacherous and corrupt. They used their ability to read and write (as clumsy as it sometimes was), to control the “serfs” as it were. Remember that the goal of colonization was to “populate” the new colonies of Britain with “taxpayers”. Once you populate the new land with serfs and set up a bureaucracy of toadies then the elite sit back and realize what Mel Brooks so brilliantly mused… “It’s good to be king”.
I like to think of Philip Ludwell as a slightly more feminized Nancy Pelosi. The twit actually governed our Beloved North Carolina for a while. He probably also had a better wardrobe than Pelosi. She seems to be more preoccupied with botox and exercising her pitiful little bit of power.
________
_____________________________________________________________________________
But something was brewing in the minds of those early North Carolina colonists… independance. They were steadily becoming self sufficient. And they were not quite as ignorant as the castletrash thought. Here is an example of where the castletrash screwed up. A hilarious bit of history is when the Colony of North Carolina was literally carved up and given to the Lords Proprietors. In 1668 was issued what was to be known as the Great Deed of 1668.
The colonists began insisting on and referring to the “Great Deed”. By the time the castletrash had figured it out it was too late.
Simply put, there was an entirely common sense reason that these early settlers made reference to “The Great Deed of 1668″… they saved money on their quit rents (Tax!).
Whitehall Thursday June 22. 1732
Mr Shelton Secretary to the late Lords Proprietors of Carolina attending he was desired to give the Board an account of the Grand Deed from the said Lords Proprietors in 1668 under which the inhabitants pretend a right of paying but 2 shgs per hundred acres for land in North Carolina which he promised to do accordingly.
Minutes of the Board of Trade of Great Britain
Great Britain. Board of Trade
June 07, 1732 – December 06, 1732
Volume 03, Pages 394-398
In a larger sense, I think that due to the “Internet” and its appending communication tools, the general population have been let off the farm and we are exploring new territories. Pandora’s Box has been opened and the elites do not know how to control it. It is now a world phenomenon. Cancel your Cable and tune in to YouTube… observe the New Enlightenment. We may be ignorant but we are not stupid. Now go read the history of North Carolina with your blinders removed.
Something to think about…
An honest educator
I was born in Abilene, TX in 1951. That is roughly at the bottom of the Texas Panhandle. It seems that the timing of my entrance into these worldly affairs coincided with a fortuitous Oil Boom very close to a little town called Snyder. It just so happened that a philanthropic old West Texas farmer/rancher hit it big in the Oil Biz and threw more money to the local school board than said school board knew what to do with. In short order 6 years later I entered the First Grade in Central Elementary in Snyder, Texas to what would be recognized in educational parlance as a AAA school… as opposed to say merely a mediocre A school. The result was that I had a host of exceptional teachers who educated me in the “old school”. I learned “how” to learn.
I was feeling nostalgic the other day and googled Youtube for “Mortimer Adler”… one of the finest Educators of his day. This is William F. Buckley, Jr. interviewing Mortimer Adler…
If you find yourself interested enough to watch the above… note how nowadays people like Buckley and Adler are ridiculed and attacked for many, to me, incomprehensible reasons. I do not get it.
It seems the only choice a concerned parent has is home schooling. I have six grandkids… it is all I can do to penetrate the brainwashing… and I usually lose.
An article I read this morning over coffee expands on what I just said and offers some advice. Quoting from the article, “The current iteration of the American Ruling Class has not only embraced dictatorial methods as a means to their ends but are astonishingly ill-educated thanks to decades of indoctrination rather than education at America’s universities. This ill-education encompasses not only an inability by the vast majority to reason and generate an original thought but also a breathtaking ignorance of the history of mankind, and a profound inability to comprehend the American experience and citizenry.”
I admire the author’s optimism and hope he is correct. I needed a dose of hope this morning.
This is the sort of situation that happens when lunatics are allowed to run the asylum. Apparently the entire school system should be considered “the asylum”.