Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

…I’m 62, Southern and I don’t like Socialism.

I like this…

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/56252399-82/obama-washington-control-gop.html.csp

And this from over the pond…

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100214789/alinsky-you-are-so-over-viva-la-revolucion/

I remember the old Bircher signs from my younger years… “Get US out of the UN”… should’a listened.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11DURyVcMyI/UYop0Ga2PNI/AAAAAAAAWTA/PXCFWmDKBpA/s1600/050813.jpg

And for a little 2nd Amendment fun…

Never give up. Never.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/05/selective_constitutional_deafness.html

The IRS lies… Well Gosh!… what a surprise…

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2013/05/irs-scandal-expands.php

Jamestown… The starving time…

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/25056

But then a half full glass can be viewed differently…

http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/private-property-saved-jamestown-it-america

… in southeastern Virginia near the Nottoway River (more precisely just east of Nottoway SWAMP).

I found several deeds referencing it but am still researching other deeds to box it into its actual area… tedious stuff.

*Note in Wm Browne’s patent the spelling of “Delight”… I’ve underlined another D and G to compare… in subsequent patents referencing this land it is mistakenly called “Anthony’s Golight”.

Here is the map…
*Notes on Wm Brown…

Evidently he acquired 640 acres perhaps near his 1702 patent or more westerly near the MeherrinRiver (if anyone can cite the deed info I would appreciate it).

There are some mistakes online concerning Brown’e will…

Grimes abstract has Chowan county instead of Albemarle… no big deal but then he leaves out a son and other folks… I don’t trust Grimes, I’ve found too many mistakes such as this.   Braswell researchers have mistakenly styled William Boon as “a brother”… that is clearly a mistake.  The will reads thusly:     “remaining land… to be Equaly devided between her and seven children excepting 100 acres to William Boon at other side mahe/ page cut off  ( maherin?) River”.  Now I’m not sure what the relationship was with Boon (if any).  Browne may have simply owed Boon some money and settled it with his bequest?  This info adds a bit of interest to my map above since Boon sold that 100 acres a within year after Wm Brown died.  The old boy was barely cold.

Here is my abstract:

Will of William Browne 1718

Dec 1718… County of arbarmarll… sick and weak…

… to wife… bed, furniture, horse “toby”…

—-fold—– illegible

… fifty acres of Land belonging to yt (?) and my Riding horse “ball”… mare, cow, bed (etc)…

… son Thomas… 150 acres joining his brother John “Siprus gutt”… horse

… son Jacob… 150 acres… “Siprus gutt” joining brother Thomas… horse

… daughter Ann… 150 acres at “head of brother John”

… to John Carver… 50 acres at ye place where his father was kild…  (The brother of the wife Martha was Richard Braswell who had illegitimate children by an Ann Carver/ coincidence?)

… daughter Martha… 150 acres… joining upon Carver

… dau Mary… 150 acres… between Martha and head Line…

… dau Sarah… 150 acres at ye ________? fort           (what fort?… I’m beside myself with curiosity)

… remaining land… to be Equaly devided between her and seven children excepting 100 acres to William Boon at other side mahe/ page cut off  ( maherin?) River  (this does not say “a brother”; it says “at other)

… Thomas Mandeu & my wife executors

… I desire “my” son John to _____? with his mother… he is of age 19… likewise “her” son Thomas live with his mother til 19… likewise “her” son Jacob… likewise her daughter Ann til 18… likewise Martha til 18… Sarah …18

… son Thomas & Jacob a gun…

Wm Brown (signed with a signature and a mark… seemingly both his)

Thomas Mandeu     (Mandue had property near Brown near Anthony’s Delight… Mandue originally lived near the Braswells in IOW proper…Mandue winds up living on Kirby’s Creek in NC about halfway between the Browne brothers; he knew them both… seems a lifetime friendship)

Thomas Smith

Martha (X) Brown   (seems like wife since daughter Martha was underage?

abstract by Marc Anderson 2013

 An online image of the will can be seen at NC Archives:

http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov/BasicSearch.aspx

———–

An aside…  In 1710 the obnoxious Philip Ludwell interviewed Richard Braswell concerning the boundary between VA & NC…  Braswell “may” have been living near Wm. Browne.

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 but the truth. But the Nottoway Indian old men being gone to gather Chinkopens We deferred the taking their Examinacons till our Return, and went to the Nansemond or Potchiak Indians Town. In our Way thither we mett one Richard Bratwell 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 36 1/2 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, wch he did by order of their Council.

The 23rd. We took the Examinacons 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 Examinacon. 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.

The full account is here:

TTT John Browne of Kingsale, 1639-1713, Indian Trader

Browne evidently had quite a bit of property in the area…

(p.29)  20 Oct 1716…. William Brown, Yeoman, and wife, Martha Brown, of Chowan Parish in Albemarle County in North Carolina to Anthony Lewis, Sr., Yeoman, of the lower parish of Isle of Wight… 366 acres in two surveys (being all of two patents except 50 acres) in the lower parish on the south side of the main Blackwater at a Branch called “Anthonys Delight”.  106 acres was granted to said William Brown on 28 Oct 1702 and 260 acres was granted him on 16 Jun 1714.  50 acres has already been sold by said Brown to Henry Applewhaite.

Wit: William (X) Hukman and Thomas (X) Lush.

William Brown

interesting that both of these deeds refer to Browne as “of Chowan Precinct/Parish” and not “lower parish of isle of Wight”

#412 pg. 201 WILLIAM BROWNE of Chowan Prect., planter and MARTHA his wife to MATTHEW RUSHEN of the sd. Prect., planter  21 Apr. 17–  8 L.  150 acres on ye west side of Meherrin river, joining Dividing Run and ye River  part of 640 acres surveyed by ye aforsd. BROWN   Wit., GEORGE SMITH, JOHN SMITH  Reg. 2 Feb. 1714/15

———————

Brother Thomas (my assumption is brother from circumstantial evidence… no hard proof yet) lived near the Chowan River at his death… I have mistakenly assumed for years he lived near the Roanoke River near William Browne…. his will clearly shows otherwise:

Will of Thomas Brown 1718

April 1718… Albermar County… sick & weak

… to Christian… my wife… plantation whereon I now live beginning at the corner tree above the inden parth so running down the Line to potocati Creeke and so including six hunderd ackers of Land and Like wise six hunderd ackers of Litwood Land for the use of the sd plantation and for the maintanance of his children beginning? at Thomas Conners corner tree and Line and so running to bells branch and so up ye sd…

—-fold—- illegible

… wife c all my moveabel estate within and withoute untell hirr children come of age or marries then if can be spend_______? to have to cowes and calfs a peace Except my son Thomas brown when he is of age or maners? marries? the to him three cowes and calfs if they can be spard

and my dafter Sarah mackdaniel I give unto her twenty shilings

and every one of my children _______? or ______? as they come of age if (any?)(they?) can be spend

… unto son Thomas… to hunderd eakers and twenty eakers of land being and lying upon potacati Creeke

… son William the half of the upper sirveys beginning at the ____? tree swamp

… son Thomas… other half of ye sd sirveye

… son John and Edward Brown my Land that Lies on ye South side of meharin Creeke and (land that is left of the Land that I sould to George Stevins)

… son Howell and James… the sd plantation and all the land belonging after my wifes deses…

Thomas (X) Brown

Judeth (X) Perry

Thomas (X) Perry

abstract by Marc Anderson 2013

 This area seems to be Potocasi Creek near where it meets the Meherrin River and Chowan River.

—————-

The “litwood” reference in Thomas Brown’s will probably hints that he was manufacturing Turpentine and Tar & Pitch…

As early as 1717, Virginia passed a law stating that anyone manufacturing naval stores from crown lands
for which they had no intention to patent and pay quitrents would be guilty of trespass.  The problem
arose in North carolina as well, especially after 1730, when small producers, who owned little land, began
production in the Albemarle area.   Tapping the pines: the naval stores industry in the American South
 By Robert B. Outland p. 33

This is perhaps why many left the area…

As North Carolina followed the rule and method of the adjoyning Colony of Virginia by settleing ye Quit Rents of Lands therein to be paid at 2s for each hundred acres (which does not exceed 4d English money) it’s reasonable to believe that if such Quitt Rents are advanced so as to exceed the rates paid in Virginia, the Inhabitants must of course judge themselves rather oppressed than relieved, which will deterr them from cultivating an increase of Lands, when they must be more expensively obteyned than by their Neighbours, which will certainly prevent them from engaging as they flattered themselves to doe, on the Province becomeing the property of the British Crown.

Which should certainly be avoyded for that North Carolina has vast tracts of Land not improveable by the Power of man some part thereof being Pine barren Land which can never redound to the least advantage of the Owners (except once in 20. or 30. years) when they gather there from a small quantity of light wood to make pitch and tarr, and many vast tracts there are very low and exceeding wett, in soe much that noe place thereon can be found to raise the least structure to dwell in, and attended with the great illconvenience of the overflux of the Rivers almost thro’ out the Country, which terryfy all from any attempt of seetleing there which occasions a just fear of perishing by water and that in some places even for 30 miles together, as particularly on Roanoak River and soe in generall tho’ in different degrees.

http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.html/document/csr03-0041

This probably accounts for the short ownership of properties and then the folks move on… these guys weren’t dummies… it also helps me to understand the “lapsed” patents which frequently show up in the records…

This is perhaps the other 600 ackers Thomas Brown left in his will…  “and Like wise six hunderd ackers of Litwood Land for the use of the sd plantation and for the maintanance of his children”

Minutes of the North Carolina Governor’s Council

North Carolina. Council

April 02, 1724 – April 17, 1724

Read the Petition of William Brown Shewing that some time agoe —— Browne Senr took up and patented a tract of Land lying on the old Tree Swamp which is not Cultivated as the Law directs prays a Lapse for the same &c

Ordered That a Patent Issue as prayed for

uh hum… plus the tobacco of course…

Deed Book B #1, Chowan Co., NC

#1184 pg. 644 CHRISTIAN BROWN of Albemarle Co., widow to JOHN ROGERS (residence not given) 21 8ber 1718
for 1000 pounds of good Merchantable Tobacco 118 acres more or less, joining ye River pocoson and WILLIAM BROWN
Wit: (not given) Reg. 27 Feb. 1718

very few care what they built until the time runs out.

Me

(and a hat tip to my bud David Gammon)

And as an old boy stated to me years ago… “Son, I didn’t ask you how to build a clock… I just asked what time it is.”   So… whaddayado?

There is an old saying… “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see”.  The more I play “genealogist”, the more I ponder that old saying.

Danny Brown, one of my commenters, keeps me on my toes with these guys… I say that with respect because I value criticism with what in many cases are clashes of theories.  His theory goes somewhat like this…

Immigrant William Boddie (Body) arrives in Isle of Wight and shortly thereafter imports a John Browne who shortly thereafter marries Boddie’s daughter.  In Boddie’s will he names two grandsons- William and Thomas Browne.  All this is a PROVEN FACT.

Some researchers have chosen to extrapolate those facts and declare that the above mentioned William and Thomas Browne were the two men who left wills in North Carolina in 1718.  There are scads of family histories online merrily stitching the NC Brownes to the Boddies and on down the line to Aunt Agnes in Cleveland.

Undaunted by mere facts, I have a problem with those two NC Brownes… I think they may have been sons of another John Browne… the Indian Trader.

It can be proven, beyond a reasonable doubt in my opinion, that William Browne (of NC, d.1719) married Martha Braswell of IOW (granddaughter of Robert Braswell the minister).  Braswell researchers have done an admirable job of establishing those, dare I say,  facts.

Now prepare to get confused… my commenting bud Danny Brown has some impressive facts to back up his theory-

“It is to be noted that JohnBrowne, Shipwright,[son-in-law of Boddie] was also a headright of Captain Anthony Fulgham in 1664 and was his nearby neighbor on Pagan’s shore.On 23 Nov 1675 Robert Smyth, Mariner, paid John Browne, Shipwright, 10,000 lbs. of tobacco for the hull of a new Bark lately built called “Isabella” of 40 tons then riding at PaganCreek. Robert Smyth, here listed, appears to have been a Robt.Smyth, Sr., and was noted in John Fulgham’s quit claim deed to Anthony Fulgham in 1669 as being his deceased father, Capt.Anthony’s, tenant on Pagan’s shore. Isle of Wight Countyrecords document that the bark Isabella, belonging the Robert Smyth, aged about 22 years, was pressed into his Majesties service 9 April 1677 (during Bacon’s Rebellion) and was castaway.”

The minister Robert Braswell lived nearby.  It seems almost certain that the granddaughter of Braswell and the son of John Browne would have known each other.  Ponder some Braswell notes here…  https://sites.google.com/site/braswellgenealogy/1719—william-browne-s-will

To date, I have not found a “smoking gun” proof to back up my theory… but then, I’m half blind and can’t hear.

Note the signature “mark” of a John Browne who appears to be the son-in-law of William Boddie:

Note the sig mark of Jown Browne of IOW (Nansemond) (the Indian Trader):

I’m still trying to dig up a signature for William Browne of NC… in the meantime here is his brother Thomas while still in Isle of Wight…

Like father, like son?  Chip off the old T, er block? What do you think?     A nagging question I have… if a skilled tradesman like a shipwright had sons, wouldn’t it make sense to pass on the trade to the boys….  and, like, hang around shipyards?

The dirty details are here…

TTT John Browne of Kingsale, 1639-1713, Indian Trader

———————————-

Some thoughts on who and where the son-in-law of William Boddie may have wound up…

William Boddie, father-in-law of John Browne, patented land in 1661 in Isle of Wight.  John Browne probably arrived in Virginia about that time.

This is my guess of where that property was … on the Blackwater River in Surry County…

Seems reasonable to me a man with a trade of “shipwright” would be comfortable living by a river… hell, he might even make a living building boats to haul tobacco and such up and down said river?

Rent Roll of all the Lands held of her Majtie In Surry County Anno Domini 1704

B

Baker Henry Coll 850

Bruton James 500

Bennett James 200

Bland Sarah 1455

Browne Jno 600

Benbridge George 200

Bighton Richard 590

John Bell 180

Berham Robert 650

Blake Wm 200

Browne Edward 200

Bincham Jno 100

Bennett Richard 200

Baker Sarah 50

Briggs Sarah 300

Baxter Joell 100

Briggs Samuel 300

Blico Christopher 50

Brigs Charles 331

Brigs Henry 100

Bentley 180

Blackbun Wm 150

Blunt Thomas 1355

Bookey, Edward 180

Browne Wm Coll 2510

Browne Wm Capt 398

Bineham James 157

Bullock Mary 100

Barker Jno 1160

Bagley Peter 100

Barker Jery 420

Bunell Hezichiah 150

Bougher Phill 100

Baile Jno 250

Bagley Edward 350

——————

A List of her Majtys Qt Rents For the Isle Wighte County in the Year 1704

Wm Brown 150

Jno Browne 100

——————

misc note of a John Browne of Surry County…1695ish… (note all the folks involved in this case)

source of notes:   http://www.lamartin.com/genealogy/nicholas_sessoms.htm

Source: Surry County, Virginia Order Book 1671-1691 p: 453. 7br. 2d. 1684:
“Nicholas Sessums bringing to this Court agt. Tho. Mather for severall abusive words he had spoaken agt. the said Sessums & his wife, and the said Mather appearing in Court and acknowledomg a wrighting under his hand whereby it appeares what he had spoaken was false and that he was sorry for it, with which the said Sessums being satisfied, with his Consent the accon. is dismist the said Mather paying costs als. Excn.”

Source: Surry County, Virginia Order Book 1691-1713 p: 20:

“Judgment is granted Ni. Sessums against Thomas MATHARS for seven hundred & Eighty pds of tobo. being the ballance of a bond dated the 28th. of 8br. 1687, It is therefore Ordered that the said MATHARS (sic) pay the same with Costs als Exo.”

p: 31: Mar 1691: “Nicho. Sessums and John Hold Churchwardens of Lawnes Creeke Pish haveing Caused Jno. Phillips to be sumoned to give security to save the said Pish harmless from any Charge should arise by reason of his Entertaineing Roger Puliston & his wife in his house, and the said Phillip makeing it appeare he hath sent them out of the Pish, he is discharged from the sd. Sumons pay all Costs als. Exo.”

p: 76: July 1693: “Nicho Sessums and Tho. Smith presenting themselves security for Tho. Floods payment of the Estate of Geo. Avery deced. to John Avery they are accepted and Ordered to give bond accordingly.”

p: 77: July 1693: “Exit. Corp. Jnry. 1st. 93. Nicholas Sessums haveing brought his accon to this Court against Joseph Rogers set forth that the said Rogers in the moneth of June last in this County did most Maliciously falsely and Scandalously report publish declare in the heareing of severall that he burnt Wm. Cockerhams house thereby endeavouring what in him lyeth to ruine the petr. in his good name fame and reputation and to cause him to loose (sic) that good repute and Esteem he hath hither to alwaies had amongst all his Neighbours and others to his damage at least 10000 lbs of tobe. He therefore prayed Judgment against the said Rogers for the said tenn thousand pounds of tobo., with Costs & c. to which the said Rogers appeared & pleaded not Gilty (sic) and for tryal put himselfe upon his Country soe likewise the plt. who vizt: Mr. Thompson, Mr. Wm. Pittman, Mr. Thomas Davis, Mr. Wm. Handcock, Mr. Jos. Seate, Mr. Cha. Savage, Mr. Wm. Goodman, Mr. Wm. Chambers, Mr. Tho. Jarrell, Mr. Edward Moreland, Mr. Henry Norton & Mr. Thomas Flood return for Virdt. We finde for the defdt. upon the defdts. Motion the Jurys Virdt. is Confirmed and a Nonsuite is granted him against the plt. It is therefore Ordered that the said Sessums pay damage according to Law with Costs als Exn.”

p: 78: July 1693: “Exied ___ Janry 1st. 93

Nicholas Sessums haveing brought his accon. to this Court against Will. Cockerham and Hannah his wife set forth that the said Hannah in the Moneth of June last in this County, did most Maliciously falsely and Scandalously report and declare in the heareing of severall people that he burnt her husbands house, thereby indeavouring what in he lyeth to Ruine him in his good Name Fame and Reputation and to cuase him to loose that good repute and Esteeme he hath hitherto alwaies had among all his Neighbours & others to his damage at least tenn thousand pounds of tobo. he therefore prayed Judgment against the said Will Ceckerham and Hannah his wife for the said tenn thousand pounds of tobo. with Costs &c. to which the deFdts. appeared and pleaded not Gilty and for tryal put themselves upon their County so likewise the plt. who vizt: (same jury as on p:77). Return for Virdt. we Finde For the defdts upon the defdts. Motion the Jurys Virdict is Confirmed and A Nonsuite granted them against the plt. It is therefore Ordered that the said Sessums pay damage according to law with Costs als. Exo.”

p: 110: Sept 1694: “Nicholas Sessums haveing caused Roger Squire to be arrested to this Court & set Forth that notwithstanding his wife Catherine hath alwaies demeaned and behaved herselfe Civilly Orderly & Modestly & never was accounted a Whore nor ever gave the least occasion to be subjected, but hath lived in good name & reputation all her days, yet ye sd. Squire ye. deFdt. hath made it his endeavour to take away her good Name Fame & reputation & to cause her to be disesteemed & slighted & to Effect his Malicious Intentions had at divers places before several p:sons as he more P:ticularly did at the house oF John Browne in Lawnes Creeke P:ish the beginning of August last before a great many people there mett on an Invitation utter publish & declare these Malicious Falce & scandilous Words Vizt: that shee was a Whore & he would prove her a Whore & he would prove her a Whore & to make the same as publick as he could thereby to render her as Odious as possible very often said Kate (speaking to ye. plts. sd. wife) you are a Whore & I will prove you a Whore which was to his damage at least one hundred pds. Sterl. For which he prayed Judgment with Costs to which the Oefdt. appeared & pleaded not Guilty a Jury was therefore sworne to try the same, who Vizt: Walter Flood, Tho.Warren, Tho. Orew, Jno. Browne. Robert Hart, Jos. Wall, Augt Hunicutt, Roger Potter, Edwd. Rowell, Robt. Lancaster & Cha. Savage returne for Virdt. we findefFor the defdt. upon ye. defdts. motion the Jurys Virdt. is Confirmed and an Nonsuite granted him agt. the plt. It is therefore Ordered that the plt. pay damage according to Law with Costs als. exon.”

p: 143: Xbr. 1695: “Joseph Rogers haveing caused Nicholas Sessums to be arrested to this Court set forth that the sd. Sessums did this Sumer to sundry people in many places more p:ticulerly in Lawnes Creek P:ish in this County report that ye. sd. Rogers starved his apprentices & Jornymen feeding them with nothing but bull beefe & bores, & broath made of tripes & such likes & yt. by such & other his Wicked & malce scandilous & Malicious words diswaded severall Jornymen shoemakers from workeing with him & several P:sons from bindeing their sons apprentices which was to his damage fifty pounds sterl. for which he prayed Judgment with Costs, to which ye defendt appeared & pleaded not guilty a Jury was therefore Impanelled to trye the same who vizt: Jer. Ellis, James Stanton, Wm. Chambers, Wm. Pettway Anthony Evans, Thomas Edwards, Wm. Newsom, Wm. Rose, David Andrews, John Browne, Tho. Collier & Saml. Alsobrooke returne for Virdt. wee finde for the defendt. upon the defendts. motion ye. Jurys Virdt. is ConFirmed & a Nonsuite is granted him against the plaintiff. It is therefore ordered that the said Joseph Rogers pay damage according to Law with Costs Exon.

p: 144: Xbr. 1695: “Joseph Rogers haveing caused Nicholas Sessums to be arrested to this Court set forth that the said Sessums did at the house of Gea. Morell in Lawnes Creek P:ish in County in June or July last on a Sabbath day most maliciously scandelously & Falcely report that ye. said Rogers was a hog-stealer & that he would prove it, that he was an old Rogue and that he would prove him one with many other Malicious falce and scandilous words which was to his damage fifty pounds Sterl. for which he prayed judgment with Costs to which ye. defendt. appeared & pleaded not guilty, A Jury was therefore Impanelled to try the same who Vizt: (same jury as p. 143). returne for virdt. wee finde for ye. Plaintiff fifty pounds of tobo. upon the plantiffs motion the jurys verdict is Confirmed & said Sessums ordered to pay him the said fifty pounds of tobo. with Costs als. Exon.”

p: 224: May 1702: “Nicholas Sessums and Sarah Backer (Barker?) being presented by the grand jury for Adultery Ordered that they bee sumoned to appeare at the next Court to answr. the same.”

p: 233: Jan 1702: “Sarah Barker appeareing in Court and confessing herself guilty of adultery for wch. shee is now presented by the grandiury is fined according to Law.

“Nicholas Sessums being presented by the grandjury for adultery but not sufficient proofs appeareing agt. him hee is discharged payeing Fees.”

————–

Is this a son of the above John Browne?

Isle of Wight Co., VA, Deed Book 1 (1688-1704)

1721: Browne, John. Leg. son James, my land on Timothy Walker’s road in Surry County; son Thomas land on the same road; daughter Elizabeth; daughter Mary; daughter Ann Camerine, daughter Bridgett Wresbury. Exs. sons James and Thomas Browne, D. January 1720/21 R. July 24, 1721. Wit: Thomas Nickson, Geroge Goodson, Peter Green [ Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County, Virginia 1647-1800 by Blanche Adams Chapman page 90]

 Well CRAP! (sorry)… I just found another John Brown that throws a monkey wrench into all this…

http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=447&last=&g_p=P7&collection=LO Patent

Williams, John. grantee.

Land grant 20 April 1685.

Surry County.

Grantee(s): Williams, John and Browne, John.

Description: 1200 acres on and amongst black water branches adjoins land of Nicholas Sessum, Robert Savage, Charles Savage, and extending.

(deed too faded to read online)

WILL ABSTRACT: John Williams Sr., Isle of Wight Co., VA, March 9,

1691-92:WILL ABSTRACT: Isle of Wight Co., VA, March 9, 1691-92:

Eldest sonn John, youngest son, Theophilus Williams…son, William

Williams, Thomas, Richard, Nicholas Williams…daughters, Mary and

Jane Williams, granddaughters, Ann Bridgett and Mary Browne…

BROWN, JOHN AND _______WILLIAMS. daughter of John Williams,

Sr. 1692, W & D. B. 2. p. 318. G.B. 2. p.90

Marriages of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, 1628-1800:   By Blanche A. Chapman

According to the Chapman book the above Browne is marrying his wife only ten years after Browne married the daughter of William Boddie… and his property adjoined Nicholas Sessums, so he could be the one referred to in the court case…     I need a drink…

BROWN, JOHN and MARY BODDIE, daughter of William Boddie.

1682.  W.&D. B. 2, p. 231

Marriages of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, 1628-1800:   By Blanche A. Chapman

—————–

Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County Virginia 1647-1800

JOHN BROWN

28Jan1715

Estate appraised by ROBERT BROCK, JOHN FRISSELL (FRIZZELL), THOMAS SUMMERELL, and THOMAS CALCOTE.

Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County Virginia 1647-1800

THOMAS DANIEL

ca1710

Estate appraised by ROBERT BROCK, JOHN BROWNE, JOHN FRIZZELL, and THOMAS CALCOTE.

I think all the folks above were in Newport Parish (Isle of Wight, near the Surry County border)

notes on Surry Co, VA

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It is significant that if John Browne married Mary Boddie in 1682 then common sense dictates that any sons would not be 21 years of age until 1703.  The William and Thomas Browne who died 1718/19 in North Carolina were obviously much older than a birth date of 1682.  

Considerable hubbub on the web whether he was black or white… he was mixed evidently.  I’m curious if any descendants have done the DNA thing and the “African” marker shows up.  Personally, I’m suspicious he may have been Indian.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/black-or-white/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/secret/famous/gibsonfamily.html

Paul Heinegg’s research…   http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Gibson_Gowen.htm

I am still tracking William Browne here….    http://andersonnc.com/john-browne-of-kingsale-1639-1713-indian-trader/    I’ve updated the Page with a map which supports my, admittedly, “circumstantial” evidence.

A recent commenter has rattled my cage concerning my posts on Daniel McDaniel, John Browne (Indian Trader), Richard Booth of Nansemond… and a new character (one John Rogers of Nansemond/Surry County).

There were just too many shiny objects of interest in his comments… so I took the bait and started researching this John Rogers…. SHAZAM! … up pops a primary candidate for my mystery John Anderson of Occoneechee Neck, NC ca. 1726 to 1730s.

See my update to the Page… John Anderson of NC/Daniel McDaniel.

This has to be one of the best comic parodies I have ever read…

I can’t stop laughing…  you folks in NC have a great sense of humor.

The key to figuring out this guy may be William Wray.  Since William Pitman married Wray’s sister it seems patently obvious they may be about the same age.  Or so it would seem…

I’m mostly using this record source:  Surry County Records, Surry County Virginia, 1652-1684, Eliza Timberlake Davis

1660… Matthew Battell, cooper, of Surry County, sells to Thos. Busby, planter, in Surry County, one young horse.  Wit. Thos. Pittman, Barth. Owen.

This is undoubtedly Capt Thomas Pitman, the father of William Pitman.  (lived near Gray’s Creek early on)

1662… Bartholomew Owen, of Gray’s Creek, Southwark Parish, Gent., to Christopher Lewis, wine cooper, certain livestock … Christopher Lewis and wife, Jane, sold 200 acres to Owen. The land was located on the upper west side of Grayes Creeke,  nearby was the land of Jno. Watkins and John Whitson.  Owen died intestate before 31 Jan 1677/8, when his wife, Johanna was granted administration on the estate. An inventory was filed on 14 Feb 1677/8.

1670… Barth. Owen to Richard Welbeck. 3 Jan. 1670.  Geo. Proctor, Henry Brigs, Johannah Owen.

1672…  Rich Welbeck assigns title to certain conveyance to John Whitson.  Wit.: Nic. Meriweather, Geo. Proctor, John Salway.

By 1673… Barth. Owen patents 648 acres on the SW side of John Chehawkins Swamp about 10 miles or so SW of Gray’s Creek.  In 1689, Robert Owen re-patents and adds a bit of land to his father’s land on JonChehocon Swamp.

1689…  William Ray patents 314 acres just south (if not adjoining) to the Owen property.

1690…  Patent Book 8

Whereas JOHN WHITSON, of Surry Co., purchased of RICHARD WELBECK 200

acs. in sd. county, near head of GREYE’s Cr., 14 Sept. 1672, to be held by

him & his heirs forever; & whereas sd. WHITSON was seized in his demesne

as of fee of & in sd. 200 acs., & being so seized committed rebellion & high

treason & was for the same legally convicted & executed & also legally at-

tained, as appears by Act of Assembly of 1680. whereby all his estate both

real & personal became forfeited to his Majesty; & whereas WM. WRAY, &

MARY, his wife, the only dau. of sd. WHITSON, hath made composition for

sd. land & payed what by the Charter, Law & Custome of Virga. is required in

such cases; know ye, therefore, &c. give & grant unto sd. WM. WRAY &

MARTHA, his wife, all the aforesd. 200 acs, &c. 23 Oct. 1690, p. 88.

1698… Robert OWEN of Southwarke Parish to Wm Ray 50 ac of land.

Witness: Richard HAM and John X Karsie   Recorded 3 Jan 1698 (Surry Co, VA

Bk 5 p 159, 6 Sep)

So we seem to have 2 different William Wrays’ living on 2 different properties about 10 miles apart.  I previously thought that the one living near Gray’s Creek remained and died there in 1731.  Now I’m not so sure after tracking the property and in particular the witnesses to his will.

Wills and Administrations of Surry County, Virginia, 1671-1750, Eliza Timberlake Davis

RAYE, William: Leg.- (Too illegible and torn to read) Eldest son…William Ray…

wife…Makes brother-in-law Wm. Pitman, Exer. William Ray, one of the Exrs.,

presents will in Court. Wit: Howell Briggs, Wm. Clary, Rich. Parker, Made:

1 June, 1731. Prob.: 20 Oct., 1731.

ALL of the above witnesses were close neighbors to the property near the Blackwater River and Johnchecohunk Swamp… which is not proof that they did not travel the 10 miles to Gray’s Creek but makes one pause to consider.  I do think this is sufficient circumstantial evidence to conclude the 2 William Wrays were father and son.  Perhaps the old man spent his final days at the son’s plantation… or had moved.

1735… the will of the other William Wray…

RAY, William: Leg.-To wife, Marthy, ye Plantation at Coporhonk, for her life,

and at her death to my son, Lenard Ray. Rest of est. to wife, and makes her Exerx. Made: 9 Dec, 1735. Prob.: 21 July, 1736. Wit: Henry Sowerby, Benjamin Sowerby.

Book 8, p. 613 (Wills and Administrations of Surry County, Virginia, 1671-1750, Eliza Timberlake Davis)

I try not to overanalyze this stuff and keep it common sense… the “1731 will” mentions one of the executors as “Eldest son”… and since it can be proven the wife was 60 years old it seems to me this is the father and the “1735 will” was the son.  Apparently both men were married to a Martha.

All of which brings me back to focus on William Pitman… he probably met and wed the sister of William Wray near Gray’s Creek… and it also seems reasonable to conclude he also was perhaps in his 60’s at the death of Wray in 1731.  To re-hash the obvious, since the wife of William Wray was an only child she could not have a sister… therefore William Pitman could only marry a sister of Wray in order to be a brother-in-law.

I have a few more details on my Page… William Pitman of Surry… also see my Surry County map Page…

Oh, and if you view my map you will find a William Pitman just a few miles SW of the William Wray who died 1735… this William Pitman received his patent in 1724.  I don’t think this is the brother in law of Wray primarily because I think this guy on Coppahaunk Creek is the one who is recorded in the Newport Vestry book of Isle of Wight among other reasons… I think this is the smoking gun proof to substantiate my theory:

Isle of Wight Deed Book 9, page 116

5 April 1753

William (x) Pittman to his son James PIttman, for love and affection – all my estate, that my son will maintain me for the rest of my natural life.

Wit.  Jordan Thomas, William Braddy

 Simply stated, I don’t think the brother in law of William Wray lived until 1753.

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A bit of speculation…

Surry, Book 7, page 341 27 Apr 1720 William Wray (Ray) of Southwarke Parish to Thomas Goodwynne of the same for 25 pounds current money….175 acres on south side of Three Creeks and bounded by Francis Mallory, decd., the Kings land and Richard Acock. (Elizabeth Wray, wife of William Wray, relinquished her Right of Dower.)   Wit. Edward Goodrich, Arthur Kavanaugh and Marmaduke Johnson.

Is this a grandson of the William Wray who died in 1731?  Purely a hunch on my part, but I think a couple grandsons may have become Indian Traders… (if it can be proven?).  This Wm Wray seems to obtain some property near modern Emporia, VA near Arthur Kavanaugh and Robert Hicks (both Indian Traders).   And to further extend the speculation, perhaps a son of one of the William Pitmans’ may have been a Trader also…

See here…

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~genbel/augsep/listof1746amelia.html

Partial List of Tithables

Deep and Flatt Creeks Amelia County Virginia, 1746

Transcibed by Gayl Wells, 2007

… from long list…

William Pittman

William Pitman Jun.

John Pilman (sic)

…

Leonard Ray  * note that a Leonard Ray was listed in the will of William Ray of Surry County in 1735

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update…. scratch this William Pittman in Amelia County… they were in the tithable 1746, 47, 48…. also William Pittman was referenced in a deed in 1749…. So… these folks can’t be the same as the one in Edgecombe County, NC in 1746….

Early colonists of Virginia styled small rivers and creeks as “swamps”.  I get a chuckle at that because I live in SW Florida and have worked in the south side of Alligator Alley in my younger days as an oilfield “Driller”.  That’s not to deride Virginians or Carolinians of their choice of terminology for I know all too well what all those crosshatches are about on topographic maps. (They are about ‘skeeters).

I ran across this deed (patent, grant) of 1648 and it caused me to pause and consider what I was looking at…

The old boys didn’t have much of a clue what was on the other side of the Blackwater River. There were Indians sure… the colonists had their asses handed to them in 1622 and again in 1644. They just did not know what was “beyond”. Some gutsy folks those pre Americans. Here is the actual patent of John Seward…

Note that his land was located “on a branch”… “of a branch”… of the “Roynoak river”. Of course now we actually know where the Roanoke is. They. did. not. I’ve tried to locate that piece of property if you are interested… see my Surry County map “page”. At about that same time period (nearing 1650), and a couple mile away, Robert Flacke (Flake) patented a couple hundred acres near “the Second Swamp” and near “John a. Poughs” “Indian Quarter”. That was a trading post to trade with, well, Indians. If you look carefully at the base map (which is old itself) note the name of the swamp where I have (guessed at) Robert Flake’s patent… Pouches Creek. Coincidence?
Fascinating stuff to me. In 1650…

“The earliest exploration, of which we have a record, by white men into this section of Virginia, was by members of Edward Bland’s and Captain (later, General) Abraham Wood’s party. The purpose was presumably to contact the Tuscarora Indians in Carolina in order to establish trade relations. Wood had come to Virginia about 1620 at the age of ten, as an indentured servant. He was a factor and explorer rather than a planter, and soon had caravans making periodic visits southward. He was the foremost explorer of British America, often being compared to La Salle. In 1644 he was given command of Fort Henry (the present Petersburg) where he lived. He and Edward Bland, an English merchant, who came to Virginia in 1643, left Fort Henry August 27, 1650, on horseback and travelled about a hundred miles between the James and Roanoke Rivers, crossing the Meherrin River, it is thought, near the present site of Emporia, and ending somewhere near Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Becoming aware that they were being viewed with suspicion by the Indians, the party retraced its journey and arrived safely at Fort Henry.” Sketches of Greensville County, Virginia, 1650-1967 pg 42

I can’t resist this bit of nostalgia from the now maligned youngster Henry Ford…

“Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him had better take a closer look at the American Indian.”

chuckling…..