Andersons of Colonial N. Carolina

“Robert Flake Sr. (per Boddie-  Southside Virginia Families, Vol I)  of Isle of Wight Co. was born 1621, and died at an advanced age after April 2, 1697.  During his long life he had large grants of land in Isle of Wight and Surry Cos.  His wife was named Katherine…  A third daughter was Elizabeth Flake who married Thomas Hayes (Chapman Marriages, p. 26, D.B. 5 p. 140, G.B.p. 511) There seems to have been only one son, Robert Flake, Jr.  On Mar. 13, 1695/6 Robert Flake of Isle of Wight Co. deeded to his son Robert Flake of Surry Co. and Margaret his wife 200 acres in Surry Co. (D. & W. 1693-1709, p. 103).  On July 1, 1696 he made a deed of gift in Surry of 450 acres to William and John Gwaltney, sons of William and Alice Gwaltney, and if they should die, the land to go to Katherine daughter of William and Alice (id.) Alice Gwaltney was daughter of Robert Flake, Jr.  Robert Flake Sr. last appears in the records of Isle of Wight Co. April 2, 1697, when he deeded a mill and land to Thomas Smith of Surry (D.B. I, p. 227).”

Since Mr. Boddie stated the last appearance in the deeds for Robert Flake Sr. was April 2, 1697 he must have missed this deed of August 25, 1697, later recorded in 1722:

Isle of Wight Deeds, Wills, Great Book Vol. 2  1715-1726, Hopkins, pg. 140

(p.511) 25 Aug 1697…. Robert Flake, Sr. assigns 600 acres to his daughter Elizabeth Hayes for life and then to her three sons viz Richard Hayes, Samuel Hayes and Peter Hayes.

Wit: Peter Vasser, Robert Flake and Charles (X) Bass.

Rec. 28 Jan 1722                Robert (X) Flake

Elizabeth Flake married Thomas Hayes.  As of 1697 she had 3 sons… not mentioned is son Arthur Hayes who must be born after 1697.

IOW Deeds

p 21, Deed Book 5

“Page 140. Lease and release. Aug. 20-21, 1737 from Arthur HAIZE of Newport

Parish in IW, to Anthony Crocker of same, for 18 £, a certain tract of land

formerly bought of Thomas HAYES, being part of 600 acres given to my mother, 

Elizabeth HAYES, by her father, Robert FLAKE. The land is bounded by the west side

of the Second Swamp of the main Blackwater [Swamp], the lower end of the said

tract of land binding upon PARNAL’S land & DOOLE’S & CROCKER’S & HAYES’,

containing 200 acres. Signed – Arthur (AH his mark) HAYES. Wit – Arthur CROCKER,

Peter CROCKER. Recorded Aug 22, 1737.”

p 21-22, Deed Book 5

“Page 142. I, Peter HAZE of Bartee Precinct, North Carolina, for the natural

love I have for my brother Arthur HAZE, and for divers other good causes, and

for 20 £, grant Arthur 200 acres in the middle of that 600 acres given by

Robin FLAKE to his daughter, Elizabeth HAZE, lying between the Second and third 

Swamp of Blackwater , which was laid out and divided between the 3

brothers by Robert HAZE, John GRIFFIN, and Peter CROCKER, which said land being

equally divided, I have assigned all my right of the aforesaid 200 acres to my 

brother Arthur. Signed Aug 15, 1737 – Peter (PH his mark) CROCKER [sic]. Wit –

Matt’w JORDAN Jr, Anthony CROCKER, Peter CROCKER [sic], Arth’r CROCKER. Recorded

Aug 22, 1737.”

p 60-61, Deed Book 5

“Page 412. I, Arthur HAYES of Newport parish, for the natural love I have for

my brother, Robert HAYES, and for divers other good causes and for 5 £, have

given Robert a certain tract of 100 acres, being part of the middle of that

600 acres given by Peter HAYES to his brother, Arthur HAYES, lying between the

second and Third swamp of Blackwater , which was laid out and divided

between the 3 brothers by Robert HAYES, John GRIFFEN, and Peter CROCKER, which

land being equally divided, I have assigned all my right of the said 100 acres,

to my brother Robert. Signed Oct 19, 1739 – Arthur (AH his mark) HAYES. Wit –

John (IS his mark) STEPHENSON, Peter CROCKER, Anthony CROCKER. Recorded Nov

26, 1739.”

1748   Deed of gift from Arthur Haise (Hays) to Sampson Flake, 50 acres on the west side of the second swamp of Blackwater, adjoining Patience Jordan, Anthony Crocker, Robert Haise (Hays), Christopher Atkinson, and said Haise, plus 1 cow and calf, 1 barren cow, 3 sheep, and 3 hoggs. Dated 13 April 1748. Witnesses: Samuel Cornwell, Joseph (his “X” mark) Thomas, and James (his “X” mark) Pitman. [Isle of Wight Co., VA Deed Book 1747-52, p. 234]

ARTHUR HAYES–left 1776 will in Isle of Wight Co.; 2 daus. are

mentioned: Faithy Hayes (m. her cousin William Flake and lived in Surry

Co.) and Mary Hayes (wife of James Pittman who lived in Isle of Wight)

Virginia, Isle of Wight County Records, 1647-1917Probate recordsWills vol 8 1769-1779 Image 492,3 of 580 

familysearch.org

“Item  I give and bequeath to Sampson Pittman son of James Pittman to him one feather Bed, and Gold Ring, four pewter dishes, two pewter Basons, one pewter flagon, one pewter porager, one Tankard, and all my Cloths,

Item  I give the remainder of my Estate to be equally divided between William Flake, and Faithy Flake, and Mary Pittman, the wife of James Pittman, James Pittman Senr. I likewise Constitute make and Ordain my only and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament”

“This will was presented in Court by James Pittman the executor therein named who made Oath thereto according to law and the same being proved by the Oaths of James Stringfield, William Flake and James Pittman the Witnesses thereto and is Ordered to be Recorded, And on the motion of the said Executor who together with James Pittman junr. and William Flake his Securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond…”

Again quoting Boddie, ” Robert Flake, Jr. married Margaret, daughter of Matthias Marriot of Surry Co. and his wife Alice, daughter of Thomas Warren of Surry (cf. Va. Mag. 47, pp.369-70).  His will, dated Aug. 18, 1722 and probated in Surry Co. April 15, 1724, mentions his daughter Elizabeth Flake, son-in-law William Gwaltney, and “the rest of my children” (Surry D. & W. 1715-30, p. 528). The statement is made that William Gwaltney, the executor, refused to act, and that administration was granted to William Braddy and Katherine his wife as next of kin April 15, 1724.  Katherine, wife of William Braddy, was another daughter of Robert Flake, Jr. (cf. Chapman, Marriages, p. 59, Isle of Wight G.B. p. 191, D.B 6, p. 240).”

Isle of Wight County Deed Book, 1741-1744 by Wm. Lindsay Hopkins

Deed bk. 6 (p240) 23 Apr 1743…. Willam Braddy to Benjamin Ward…. 50 acres on Blackwater (being land given on 21 Jul 1718 by Robert Flake to his daughter Katherine Braddy who was then the wife of William Braddy the father of the above William Braddy).

Rec: 25 Apr 1743 William Braddy

Above is the son of Wm Braddy Sr. and Katherine (Flake) Braddy.

WOMBWELL, John: Leg.- Of Isle of Wight Co. To sons, Benjamin, Joseph, John each one shilling. Daughters, Martha and Mary Wombwell. Wife, Mary, Exerx. 21 Jan, 1746. Wit: Wm. Brady, Edward Pittman, Wm. Flake, John Giles, Matthew Jordan. Book 9, p.543

Edward Pittman must be in the neighborhood…

Edward Pitman, on 26 Nov 1739 purchased from Joshua Hayes for “natural love that I have for my friend” 200 acres on the second Swamp on the Blackwater at the head of Cooks Branch.

Joshua Hayes was perhaps related to the wife of James Pittman Jr., the nephew of Edward.

From the research of Bob Baird, Bob’s Genealogy Filing Cabinet,  http://www.genfiles.com/hayes/Joshua_Hayes.htm:

“Joshua Hayes first appears on 8 June 1746 when he purchased 210 acres on the south side of the Meherrin River from Benjamin Wilson, as a resident of Northampton County, North Carolina. The land was described as being on the “new county line”…and adjoined a Samuel Hayes, probably a relative. Joshua and his wife “Silvah” sold this land on 20 February 1753 to Howell Edmonds. The same day, he purchased 150 acres on Wildcat Swamp and bought another 200 acres adjoining on 16 May 1761. Joshua and his wife “Selvah” Hayes sold the combined 350 acres on 28 December 1762 to Edward Davis.”

“Samuel Hayes, the adjoining landowner, was probably a relative, perhaps his father. Joshua Hayes, Edward Davis, and Samuel Hayes appear consecutively on a muster roll of Northampton County militia, undated but apparently dated roughly 1755. Samuel Hayes had sold part of that adjoining land in 1746, describing it as “joining the county line on the riverbank”. An article in Historical Southern Families appears to identify Samuel Hayes as a son of Peter Hayes and Elizabeth Flake of Isle of Wight County, Virginia.”

Per Forrest King’s research (Compiled Genealogy, Descendants of Thomas Pitman (1614 – about 1686) of Surry County, Virginia  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaschsm/ForrestKing.html):

“Edward Pitman sold 100 acres of this land to brother James Pitman on 23 May 1741.  He sold another 60 acres to Mathew Jordan on 21 Dec 1741.  Two of his neighboring properties are owned by Thomas Pitman and James Pitman.  He sold the last 50 (sic) acres on 6 May 1745 to “friend” Sampson Flake.  His estate is recorded on 12 Jun 1746, with wife Martha (—) being the administratrix.”

In 1742 one James Pitman shows up in Edgecombe County, NC.  He makes multiple lands deals, promptly sells them and is gone by 1746.   Mystery man or traveling man?

In 1748 this deed pops up in Isle of Wight… 

1748 Deed of gift from Arthur Haise (Hays) to Sampson Flake, 50 acres on the west side of the second swamp of Blackwater, adjoining Patience Jordan, Anthony Crocker, Robert Haise (Hays), Christopher Atkinson, and said Haise, plus 1 cow and calf, 1 barren cow, 3 sheep, and 3 hoggs. Dated 13 April 1748. Witnesses: Samuel Cornwell, Joseph (his “X” mark) Thomas, and James (his “X” mark) Pitman. [Isle of Wight Co., VA Deed Book 1747-52, p. 234]

——————————–

Since we seem to have one errant Pitman wandering aimlessly around Edgecombe County in the 1740s, I may as well bring down the whole marauding horde of Pitmans…

This inventory was taken in Surry County and notes “Lawnes Creek”… my hunch is it was near “Greye’s Creek” also which is the stomping grounds of Thomas Pitman the immigrant, or Capt. Thomas if you prefer. My hunch is further that his son William Pitman got the old man’s property. The reference below may not be this elder William Pitman but a son named William…

Boddie, Southside Virginia Families, Vol I. p. 128

“Benjamin Champion made his Will April 6, 1735, of Lawne’s Creek Parish, ‘sick & weak’; to son JOHN my plantation where I now live; son CHARLES my troopers saddle and arms, my Camblet coate; son BENJAMIN, dau. ELIZABETH, dau. ANNE, dau, MARY, personalty; Wife extrx. to have rest of estate.  Wits: Charles Binns, Samuel Lancaster Jr.; John Wall (Bk. 1730-38, p. 314). Elizabeth Champion, his wife, died in 1736 as her inventory was appraised in that year by Robert and Samuel Lancaster and Thomas Bell.”

Surry Co VA (p. 48) 21 Mar 1738 . . . Account current of Estate of Elizabeth Champion, decd., by Charles Champion, administrator, lists “Col. Allen for Probation of my father’s will”, “for my mother”, Capt. Ruffin, Benjamin Champion, Benjamin Bell, John Wall, Sr., Absolan Atkinson, Mary Champion, Joseph King, John Bynum, Charles Kea, Nicholas Valentine, Samuel Lancaster, Jr., Lemuel Hargrove, Jr., Augustus Hargove, Anselm Baily, Henry Atkins, William Lancaster, Lawrence Lancaster, William Nettle, William Coker, John Coker, William George, Robert Mercer, Robert Lancaster, Jr., Thomas Lyles, WILLIAM PITMAN, James Stringfield, Benjamin Baily, BENJAMIN PITMAN, Richard Blow, Elizabeth Champion, John Waller, Jr., Thomas Riggon, William Barrow, Thomas Hardyman, Francis Riggon, William Davidson, JOSEPH PITMAN, Thomas Holiman, Jr., William Little, Thomas Bell, Samuel Person, Allen Warrin, Jr., James Bennit, Jr., John Judkins, Robert Landcaster (sic), James Washington and John Clarke (Surry Co VA).

1732 Feb 2, Surry Co VA; William Phillips to BENJAMIN CHAMPION Jr, both of Lawnes Creek Parish…150 acres in Lawnes Creek Parish bounded by John Walls, the main Blackwater Swamp, James Walls, Samuel Hargrave’s Mill Branch and Richard Mills

–1738 Jan 2, Surry Co VA; Recd March 21, 1738 Surry Co VA; BENJAMIN CHAMPION of Edgecombe Precinct in North Carolina to Charles Holt of Surry County for 23 pounds current money…150 acres (being the land BENJAMIN CHAMPION formerly lived on) on south side Blackwater Swamp and bounded by John Wall, James Wall and Lemuel Hargrave.

–1738 March 25 Edgecombe Precinct NC; WILLIAM WHITEHEAD to BENJAMIN CHAMPION of Edgecombe precinct, planter, for 20 pounds silver money 380 acres more or less on the south side Moratock River on Looking Glass Swamp, joining the Rainbow Branch and 100 acres the said CHAMPION purchased of ELIAS FORT, part of a patent for 560acres granted to the said WHITEHEAD Feb 19, 1737.

–1738 May 25 Edgecombe Precinct NC; ELIAS FOORT to BENJAMIN CHAMPION of Edgecombe precinct for 20 pounds silver money 100 acres more or less on the south side Morratock River on Looking Glass Creek, as by patent to HENRY CRAWFORD Nov 7, 1723.

–Will of BENJAMIN CHAMPION II written June 8, 1763, probated Nov Court 1769 Halifax Co (previously Edgecombe Co) NC. To son WILLIAM CHAMPION, plantation whereon he now lives with 160 acres joining Nathan Brown and Looking Glass Swamp; dishes, etc. To son BENJAMIN CHAMPION 160 acres joining WILLIAM CHAMPION; bed, furniture, etc. To son JOHN CHAMPION plantation whereon I now livewith remainder of my land, my still cow etc, when he is 21 and he is to have schooling and afterward he is to be under the tuition of GEORGE BELL. To daughter SELAH CHAMPION, furniter etc. Residue of my estate is to be divided among all my children (names not given). Robert Whitaker and John Norwood to look after my land. Witnessed: Dempsey Dawson, John Whitaker, John Norwood. Executors: son-in-law JOHN BELL and son WILLIAM CHAMPION.

And I think it likely that this is the William Pitman that married Judith Ross.  There, I said it.

A little known Nansemond and Isle of Wight source I visit on occassion is found here:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/mtjser8.html

Series 8: Virginia Records, 1606-1737

The Virginia Records volumes were part of Jefferson’s personal library. These volumes were very fragile when Jefferson first collected them, can only be handled with the greatest care today, and are generally not made available for researchers except in microfilm format. Their presentation here, online, makes this unacknowledged treasure widely available to the public for the first time in an easily accessible format.

Scroll down to “Manuscript Volume 19”
This book is entitled “Virginia. Foreign Business and Inquisitions. 1665-76.” And indeed, the first part is “foreign business” involving dealings of Wm Berkeley and his other castletrash buddies… however, beginning about Image 321 you will find assorted “Escheate Patent” entries. These are patents where the colonist has died and a jury is impanelled to decide whether the land reverts to the Colony to be re-patented or if a family member can be found to take up the land. I find the time period to be generally mid 1660s to early 1670s and involved the “counties” of that time… Prince George County did not exist yet and was still known as Charles Citty. The wave of settlers had not yet reached the Blackwater River. North Carolina was only populated by a few indian trader types…

Since Nansemond “county” and Isle of Wight are “burned records” areas, I find these obscure records rather remarkable. The entries begin at “image” 321… somewhat of an index can be found at Image 460. While you may not find an escheate record for your ancestor, you may find him listed in the “jury” which follows the “inquiry”. Lots of familiar names popped up for my own research. The formula for the text usually follows along these lines as an example I transcribed:

An Inquisition Indented taken this seaventh day of June in ye yeare our Lord God 1670 before me Wm Alford Gent: Deputy Escheator of ye County aforesd by testes: of a Writt to me directed from ye Rt Honble William Berkeley Knt Genle & Capt Genll of Virginia __? __?__? in ye Country dated ye first of March last past first makeing ye present (patent?) Inquisition, In obedience where unto I have caused a Jury of yt Neighborhood to be impannelled and given them in Charge to inquier what lands John Garrett of ye County aforesd was at ye time of his death seazed of whether hee had [to any of their Certaine knowledge][crossed out] disposed of any of his sd lands by Will or otherwise, as whether hee had to any of their Certaine knowledge any heire in ye Country or whether hee was an Alien or freeborn subject to wch upon their oathes they have brought in this verdict first wee of ye Jury whose names are hereunto subscribed with our hands & seales doe declare according to ye best of our Judgmtt & according to ye Charge layd before us wch we have carefully pased? doe find yt ye sd John Garrett dyed seized of four hundred acres of land granted to him by pattent dated ye five & twentieth day of July 1640: wch land ye sd John Garrett did by his will dated ye twentieth day of September 1655 devised unto Margarett his wife who afterwards married unto Coll Thomas Colley & hee since dyeing as (well?) (and was?) intestate and finding noe heir in ye Country to our Certaine knowledge ye sd land being now in ye possession of Edward Dyson? (Edward Ison perhaps-see margin note) who purchased ye same? in his owne- wrong of ye sd Coll Colley of right (sic) doe therefore give verdict yt ye sd land doth Escheatee to his Sacred Ma:tie to wch verdict doe hereby Confirme ye same & together wth ye sd Jury have signed & sealed two of this present date & contents? and doe hereby Certifie ye same unto his ___? treasurer according to ye terms? of ye sd Writt into ye secretaryes offices

It is tedious to search but you may just find a jewel for your ancestor… here is an example where one “Robert Stoke” of Isle of Wight shows up in a jury. The guy was hanged after Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676 and not suprisingly did not leave very many records.

See my Page for the Isle of Wight Map and many of these folks will show up…

I’ve added a new Page for this guy…
I’m a bit excited because he could easily explain the William who shows up in Edgecombe county in the 1740s. He could also be a son of Thomas Pitman who died in 1730 and is not listed as a son in his will. Not enough proof to nail him down… if this William stayed around the Blackwater River where IOW and Surry counties meet then perhaps he was a brother of that Thomas? Grrr….

see this post for a map… http://andersonnc.com/2012/03/01/more-map-musings/ this is the general area where these Pitmans were living.

I decided to go out on a limb with my theories… go ahead and criticize… I dare ya!

Is anyone familiar with this bible reference?

http://digital.ncdcr.gov/u?/p15012coll1,4672

This must be Hugh B. Johnston’s take…

24 pages of the Job Braddy (1825) estate here… https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-26253-9512-82?cc=1911121&wc=MMBQ-4FT:1791818538
(no mention of any Pitmans)

See here where we discuss this mystery William Pitman… http://andersonnc.com/andrew-ross-will/#comments
—————————–
This can get REALLY interesting… I have not seen Mr. Johnston’s article on this William Pitman before today. All of my research on the guy has him being born AT LEAST by 1738 or earlier (he was present in the 1754 militia and he would need to be at least 16).

So…. not only am I interested in him but also the Joseph b1757 who (I assume) is related… or is he?
—————————–

I ran this by my buddy Holmes and he is skeptical of Mr. Johnston’s take on the William Pitman. I agree… we just don’t see a connection to the daughter of Andrew Ross. Mr. Johnston writes, “Consequently the disposal of the land received by the one remarried to William Pitman should establish her exact identity in the Edgecombe County Deeds at Tarboro.” That “one” would be Judith Ross. Unfortunately I still am at a loss to identify this William (although I offer a hunch).

Those of us that track back to NC can’t seem to shake the tar off our heels…. can we? My buddy Floyd sends in this article from his local paper…

Edgecombe County, NC, Court Minutes, 1786-1792, BK 4, Haun

[238]  May 1790

The Last Will & Testament of William ANDREWS decd. was proved by the Oaths of Elijah HORN & Joseph PITMAN & Elijah PRICE the exor therein qualified and at the same time took out Letters Testamty.

There is no question that the above man was William Anderson.   Immediately following is this entry…

[239]  May 1790

Inventory of the estate of William ANDERSON deceased returned an Oath by the exor.

————————————————–

See here for the reverse mistake… http://andersonnc.com/2011/02/07/misleading-deed-micajah-anderson-1768/#comments

In that case an ANDREWS was mistaken in the records for an ANDERSON.

It happened…

—————————————————

Marriages of Early Edgecombe County N.C.  1733-1868 by Williams & Griffin

Anderson, Henry – Lovey Staton, ———–1799, George Anderson, (w) S. Wren.

It seems Henry Anderson has also been subjected to the indignity of slander and been labeled with the horrible appendage of ANDREWS…. Gasp!

—————————————————-

A new contributing correspondent… “Joani” has decided to weigh in with some observations concerning this minor conundrum… (among my many conundrums)… She asks:

Am I nuts?

Gammon Vol II

(362) JESSE (X) STATON    8 Oct 1812    May Ct 1813    O    E/58

Wife REBECAH STATON – lend 120 acres of land, Negroes Pompy, Charlot and her son Stephen, horses, table, bofat, looking glass, etc., all for her lifetime

or widowhood.  Son FREDERICK STATON – Negro Reuben which he already has,

bed, etc.  Son THOMAS STATON – reversion of fire dogs at my wife’s death.

Daughter SARAH MANNING – ten dollars.  Daughter LOVEY ANDREWS – reversion of Negroes Charlot and her son Stephen at my wife’s death, but if LOVEY dies without issue these Negroes shall be divided among my three sons FREDERICK STATON, THOMAS STATON and BYTHEL STATON.  Son BYTHEL STATON – my land, except for the portion loaned my wife, and he may have it all at my wife’s death, but if he dies without issue this property shall be divided between

my sons FREDERICK and THOMAS.  Residue of estate to be divided between sons FREDERICK and THOMAS.

Ex. MICAJAH MAYO, sons THOMAS and BYTHEL

Wit. WILLIAM (X) BARFELL, JAMES STATON

I can’t, in all truthfulness, vouch for Joani’s sanity… but I CAN understand her exasperation…

I mean REALLY… how many folks are named “LOVEY”… AND married to a HENRY in 1799?

Joani and I are not the only ones to be acquainted with this blasphemed Henry…  A researcher from 1999 (at least)  “weighed in”” even before we contemplated this conundrum…

To make it simple she says this..

” Although I feel all STATON researchers are indebted to him for all his hard work, I am not blind to the fact that the book contains lots of errors. I am now going

through the long, laborious and expensive task of trying to document what

was in his book and find answers to questions he was unable to answer. One

thing I found is that the name of Lovey’s husband is Henry ANDERSON, not

ANDREWS, as is in the book.

I love this woman… I understand her.

Read it yourself: 

http://www.jenforum.net/staton/messages/1161.html

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/STATEN/1999-01/0915898477

———————————

Dear Henry
If you can talk from the grave… are you the son of William Anderson d1789 or not?
Thank you,
Marc Anderson

Many of the Anderson clan are listed…  George, John, Gary (Geraldus), Rachel & James Griffin, even Penelope.

I’m still mulling this over…

source: familysearch.org, Edgecombe Estates
—————-

NC Estate files, Edgecombe Co., 1831

————————-
Hmmm… seems Allen Jones may have been a doctor… this Belson Jones is a new player (I have no idea where this is leading)

same source: familysearch.org, Estates, Edgecombe County

This isn’t a breakthrough post… just a few more interesting clues into:

Rachel Anderson (assumed to be the daughter of William Anderson d.1789 and Mourning Price m. 1763)

1800 census

1m to 16

1f to 10

1f to 45

1810

2m to 26

1f to 26

1f over 45

1 S

Not on 1820 census…

—————————-

Holmes found this abstract recently from Watson’s “Kinfolks”…

Deed Book 17, page 246

May 1, 1820

Rachel Anderson makes a deed of gift to her daughter Elizabeth Anderson and to her grandsons Bennett Anderson, George Anderson, and Gralndes Anderson.  (sic)

“That’s all – it’s just an abstract.  Note the horrible spelling of the grandsons’ names.  Could the last one be Geraldus???”

—————————–

My buddy Floyd, conspiring with Holmes, found this deed in the Tarboro records revealing Rachal Anderson selling a parcel of land to her daughter Elizabeth in April, 1821.  The land is described as “the north side folkes branch” which is ground zero of the Anderson clan of William Anderson d.1789.

So, needless to say, all of us researching these folks are in a snit fit to obtain the deed above which mentions the grandsons of Rachael Anderson!

————————-

Which brings us to this… remember Rachel is over 45 in the 1810 census…

Griffin, James – Rachael Anderson, 29 Aug. 1825,  Burrell Hill, (w) N. Mathewson

(Marriages of Early Edgecombe County, 1733-1868, Williams & Griffin, 1958)

Note the witness above (Burrell Hill d.1846)… who lived at the time, you guessed it, within a stone’s throw of the Anderson clan…

Edge. Co. Db 18, page 490, deed date 31 Aug 1826, recorded Aug Ct

1826, David Barnes, Edge. Co to Zachariah Griffin, county aforesaid for

$200, a tract of land with all improvements containing 100 acres which

said land was sold by Spencer L. Hart, sheriff as the property of

Josiah Worrell as will more fully appear by reference to his deed to

Henry Austin and Thomas Hadley dated 8 Jan 1820, and by said Austin and

Hadley sold to the said Barnes 17 Aug 1826, the date of this indenture,

adjoining the lands of George Anderson, James S. Battle, Rachel 

Anderson, Henry Austin and Burrell Hill, and it is understood that all

part of the aforesaid premises which the said David Barnes has devisedd

from said Austin and Hadly is hereby conveyed, signed David Barnes, wit

H. Austin. Abstracted 12-20-06, NCA film C.037.400015, CTC.

Well, an observation from “Joani” brings a little clarity to this James Griffin question… she cites a reference to the will of Zachariah Griffin which seems to identify James as his son:

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 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 &
Griffin

Since this is a bequest of property in his will it makes sense this is his son… Joani further states the wife of James Griffin was Rachel “Jones”… she calculates his birth to be between 1790 and 1800. This clue was also noted by David Gammon:

Gammon III pg 42 #176 4/26/1827 May Ct 1839 F-233
Daughter Mariah md. one of the John Ruffin, Dau Martha MD Fredrick Hawkins, dau Elizabeth md. Spicer, His will also names James Griffin’s heirs, Oney Hill’s heirs, Rebecca Moore and Winnyfred (sic) Sawyer with no relationship identified. (Winnifred Griffin md. Issac Swyer 5/12/1830, Martha Griffin md. Fredrick Hawkins 5/27/1834, Rebecca Griffin md Moses Moore 1/16/1830)

This leaves the 1825 marriage of Rachel Anderson/James Griffin another mystery.  Who are they?
—————-

Here we have Rachel and (her daughter?) Elizabeth…

Edge. Co Db 19, page 415, date of deed25 Jan 1827, date recorded Aug Ct. 1829,  Zachariah Griffin to Allen Jones, for$120 a tract of land beginning at a white oak Rachel Griffin’s corner then down the branch to George Anderson Sr’s corner gum then up the branch to James S. Battle’s corner then along said Battle’s line to a litewood stump then down the line of said Griffin and Battle to beginning white oak, signed Zachariah Griffin, wit. B. Wilkinson, Josiah (Spier or Spicer). Abstracted 10-10-00, FHC film 0018895, CTC.

Edge. Co. Db 19, page 368, date of deed 20 July 1828, date recorded

May Ct. 1829, Allen Jones, (residence not given) to Elizabeth Anderson

(residence not given) for $40, a tract of land beginning at a stake

Rachel Griffin’s line then a north course agreed line to a stake then

along a new line of marked trees to a ( ) gum in the Branch then

down the various courses of said branch to a black gum and pine in said

Griffin’s line then along said Griffin’s line to beginning, signed

Allen Jones, wit. B. Wilkinson, (Julian) Ezell. Abstracted 10-10-00,

FHC film 0018895, CTC.

This will has James Griffin dead by 1837 (assuming it is the right James). This suggests that he was not a spring chicken himself when he married the 55ish year old Rachael… He is likely in his 40s… per Joani’s notes.

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 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 &

Griffin.

(The references above place this land very close to this discussion of Rachael Anderson- unfortunately, I can’t find any estate records or will for James Griffin as yet.  So the easy assumption is that Rachael and James died prior to 1837… but it is unproven.)

But to further press the likely marriage of Rachel Anderson and James Griffin note this deed reference of 1832…

Edge. Co. Db 20, page 288, deed date 25 Aug 1832, recorded Aug Ct

1832, division of the land of Allen Jones, dec’d, lot 1 to Mary Worrel

beginning at a pine in James S. Battle’s line then south 70 poles to a

black gum on the south side of Folks Branch then south 50 east 20 poles

to a black gum on said branch then south 6 west 40 poles to a hickory

then east 52 poles to a pine then north 46 poles to a holly and ash on

said branch then north 20 west 122 poles to a sassafras then to first

station, containing 39 3/4 acres; lot 2 to Nancy Jones beginning at a

stake in the field and running south 88 east 150 poles to a pine in a 

small branch then south 25 west to a small gum on said branch Rachel 

Griffis corner then north 86 west 38 poles to a stake Rachel Griffis 

other corner then south 5 east to a stake then south 87 east 16 poles

to a small hickory then south 5 west 16 poles to a ash in Folk’s Branch

then south 88 west 40 poles to a holly and ash on said branch then

north 20 west to first station containing 37 acres and pay #1 $2.75;

lot # 3 to James Griffin in right of his wife Rachel beginning at a

stake field corner of lot #2 then south 88 east 150 poles to a pine in

a small branch then north 25 east to a gum and oak on said branch then

north 74 west 128 poles along a line of marked trees in Joab S.

Battle’s line then west 67 poles to a sassafras corner of lot #1 then

south 20 east 55 poles to first station, containing 37 acres and pay to

lot #1 $2.75, signed ?. Abstracted 12-12-00, FHC film 0018895, CTC.

Hmmm… It appears James Griffin may be the brother of the above Allen Jones or just Nancy Jones (I’m not sure how to interpret this?)…  Rachel is his sister.

source:  familyserach.org, NC Estate Files, 1663-1978, Edgecombe County, J, Jones, Allen (1831)

Floyd sent me this deed of 1834… James Griffin and wife Rachel along with Nancy Jones sell to Zachariah Griffin 187 acres… part of which “fell to them by the death of the late Allen Jones”    … I still can’t figure out if it is James or Rachel that is related to Allen Jones?  Obviously Nancy Jones was.

————————

Another perplexing question… is this the daughter of Rachael?

My buddy Holmes has contributed some fascinating insights to the Henry Anderson conundrum… fortunately my ego is not so fragile that I can’t fail to laugh my ass off when he takes his genealogy scalpel to my wild theorizing.  The post below this one concerns the mystery Town William and may help to explain some of my errant writing…

He nonchalantly asks this question…

“Hmmmm….. based on that Lavina Anderson deed, her brothers William, Allen, and Frederick all died intestate by 1815  and without issue.  So if the William left two daughters in Lenoir County, he cannot be brother of Lavina.    Whatcha think?”      … that’s when I knew I was in trouble…

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Well, in cases like this we have to go back to an original will or something that directs us.  And we go from there.  Let’s look at 1802 Henry Anderson’s will.

The will of Henry Anderson who died 1802 leaves a life estate in half his personal property and a life estate in half his land to his wife Charity.  Only cash is left to the daughters Polly (Mary) and Lavina.  (He does not specifically state what happens to the other half of the land, but since the wife’s half is going to the sons, we presume they got the other half as well.)

All five sons were apparently living in 1802 at the time of Henry’s death, because several subsequent references state that they all inherited the land.  Yet, in 1803, the cash from the estate was divided between Charity, Polly, Levina, John, Henry, and Frederick.  This tells us William and Allen had died between the probate of the will (1802) and 1803.  Yet, the land was not divided, most likely because some or all of those sons were still underage.

In 1807, the  estate of 1802 Henry Anderson gets divided between Charity Gatling and the children of the deceased.  I take this to mean she had married Benjamin Gatling about that time.  Remember that the will of Henry Anderson left her half of everything for her lifetime or widowhood – so her widowhood was over when she married again.  Or, it could be that the Gatling marriage had taken place much earlier, and maybe some of the children were now of age in 1807 and wanted their share.  Widows with young children tended to get married fairly quickly – waiting five years would be a bit unusual.  And if everybody was happy and underage, there was no need to go to court to have things divided.

So at the death of ANY of those sons without issue, their undivided share of the father’s land would go to ALL the surviving siblings or their heirs.  This is when Lavina and Mary/Polly get in on the act, even though their father Henry did not leave them any land.  And as it happened, THREE of the sons had died without issue by 1815 — William and Allen by 1803, and Frederick sometime between 1803 and 1815.  And still the land was not divided, and I still believe this to be because there were minor heirs.

Let’s look at the acreage.  It seems that the entire tract of land that Henry Anderson had owned contained 259 acres.  If it went to five sons, each would have 1/5 or about 51 or 52 acres.  This means that the total acreage of William, Allen, and Frederick would have been anywhere between 153 and 156 acres.  (we multiply three times 51 or 52.  Now at the death of Frederick you have four siblings remaining  — John, Henry, Mary/Polly, and Levina.  Let’s see what they owned:

John – his original 51 or 52 acres plus a fourth of 153 or 156, or 38/39 acres  (total about 89 or so acres)

Henry – his original 51 or 52 acres plus a fourth of 153 or 156, or 38/39 acres  (total about 89 or so acres)

Mary/Polly – her one-fourth of the 153 or 156, or 38/39 acres

Levina – her one-fourth of the 153 or 156, or 38/39 acres

Look at the deeds I abstracted below.  There is Mary Anderson, now of Craven County, bold as brass, selling exactly 39 acres, God bless her.  The 1815 deed from Levina does not state 38 or 39 acres, but it would have been the same.

So when we see that 1815 deed from Henry Anderson to Isaac Norfleet (below) we must presume it was for 89 acres or so.

…have the reference.

Note that everyone is selling to Isaac Norfleet .  We can’t account for John, but I suspect he also sold to Norfleet, because all the shares were undivided, and it would have been very messy otherwise.

All this to say that William (son of 1802) Henry was dead by 1803, and without issue.  And I suspect he was underage.    We have several references to prove this William died without issue by 1803 – so the Town William is someone else.

DB 15/425       29 Dec 1815

Henry (X) Anderson to Isaac Norfleet

For $276, 259 acres, which was the bequest of Anderson’s late father Henry Anderson, deceased, at the death of his three brothers William, Allen, and Frederick Anderson.  This was an undivided tract of land on the west side of the Tar River adj. James Garrett, said Norfleet, Henry Shirley, James Waller, Josiah Pender, Sterling Waller, and JosiahFreeman.

Wit.  Rhetorick Lawrence, H. Austin

DB 16/64        3 Feb 1818

Mary (X) Anderson of Craven County to Henry Anderson of Edgecombe

For $100, 39 acres, being part of the lands of Henry Anderson, deceased,. Given by the said Henry to his then living sons, and this land fell to Mary by the death of three of his sons.  Mary Anderson is sister of the grantee Henry Anderson.

Wit.  Austin (X) Andleton

DB 16/90        24 Feb 1818

Henry Anderson to Isaac Norfleet

For $125, 39 acres , being the land that formerly belonged to Henry Anderson, deceased, which fell to Mary Anderson at the death of three of the sons of the said Henry Anderson.

Wit.  Starling Waller

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So all this throws some serious doubts on the speculation of the son of Henry Sr d.1801 (Henry Jr) moving to Georgia around 1804  (as I have in my “Page” on Henry).

I also speculate that son John may have served in the war of 1812….. all of which can now be re-examined… ya gotta love this hobby…

——————————————–

Inventory of Ann Gatling in 1814….Edgecombe

This is the mother of Benjamin Gatling who married Charity Anderson (relict of Henry Anderson d.1801)

Note the buyers… this places them in Edgecombe in 1814…

Mary Anderson

Lavina Anderson

John Anderson

Benjamin Gatling

(I don’t see a Henry Anderson)

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Since all the sons are accounted for except John and Henry Jr, I have to speculate even with Holmes lurking about and sharpening his scalpel (its what I do)…

Noted in the Will of Henry Sr d.1801 are 2 “executors” …
Edgecombe County Will Abstracts 1793-1823 by David Gammon

(7) HENRY ANDERSON 24 Nov 1801 Feb Ct 1802 O D/137

“…being very sick…”

wife CHARITY ANDERSON – lend half of my land of my personal estate for her lifetime or widowhood. At her death or marriage her share shall be divided between my five sons WILLIAM ANDERSON, ALLEN ANDERSON, JOHN ANDERSON, HENRY ANDERSON and FREDERICK ANDERSON.

Sixty dollars of my estate shall be kept out, to be shared by my daughters VINEY ANDERSON and POLLY ANDERSON.

Ex. friends DRURY MAY, JOHN ANDERSON

Wit. JOHN LITTLE, P. SUGG

The term “friends” is used and it is “plural”…. does that mean that this John is not a son but a friend? The sale of the Estate is “executed” by Drury May(o) and John Anderson.

Another thought I have is that these two sons (John and Henry Jr) obviously appear to be of age (at least 21) and since the other sons who are demonstrably deceased seem to be underage perhaps the wife Charity was not the mother of these 2?

I have a blurb showing that a John Anderson of Edgecombe served in the War of 1812 (on my Henry 1801 Page)… other than that I have nothing else.

With the time spans involved it also seems unlikely that the Henry Anderson who wound up in Georgia (on my Page) is related.

EDGECOMBE COUNTY KINFOLKS by Joseph W. Watson
DB 8-686 SARAH ANDERSON, wife of HENRY ANDERSON was formerly SARAH COX, widow of ROBERT COX, dec’d., Aug. 6, 1796.

Edgecombe Co. N.C. Deeds Vol. 5: 1794-1798 by Stephen E. Bradley Jr
680-(686) Henry Anderson & his wife Sary (Sarah) of Edgecombe Co to Jesse Knight of same. 6 Aug 1796. £20. A tract which sd Sarah Cox now the wife of Henry Anderson has as right of dower at the death of her former husband Robert Cox dec’d. Wit: Allen Hardy, Frank Knight.
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This deed seems to place Henry Anderson Jr still in Edgecombe in 1845…

Edge. Co Db 23, page 570, date of deed 17 Jan 1845, date recorded Feb
Ct. 1845, Isaac Norfleet estate to his wife, Christina Norfleet by
order of Nov. Ct. 1844, commissioners lay off to Christina Norfleet,
her legal dower in the land her late husband died seized and possessed
of, beginning at the fork of the road near the Garret House then south
59 east (305) poles to some small oaks in Josiah Pender’s line then
along said line north 71 poles to a pine Pender’s corner then north 80
east 120 poles to a pine Pender’s corner then north 41 poles to a black
oak then north 45 east 30 poles to a pine stump then north 12 ½ west 8
poles to Foxhall’s line then north 85 west 19 ½ poles to a stake then
north 13 west 78 poles to the creek then up the creek to the center of
two pines then north 22 west 37 poles to Eli Porter’s corner a white
oak and black oak then north 79 west 100 poles to a pine on the road
then along the road 56 poles to a branch then up the various courses of
said branch to the dam at some bay stumps Henry Austin’s corner then
along said Austin’s line north 117 ½ poles to a pine on the south side
of the pocoson then north 87 west 15 poles to a stake Austin’s other
corner then south 48 west 89 poles to two small pines Austin’s other
corner then north 132 poles to a pine L.C. Pender’s corner in Austin’s
line then along Pender’s line south 51 west 150 poles to a small
persimmon tree on the east side of Teat’s Road Pender’s other corner
standing in a small branch then along the various courses of said road
298 poles to the first station on the Raleigh Road, containing 661
acres, including dwelling houses, outhouses and where the said dec’d
most generally dwelt next before his death, signed Wm. S. Baker, L.C.
Pender, Robert Johnson, Amos Walston, David Hollon (D), Joseph Statting
(mark), Thomas Griffin (mark), Henry Anderson (mark), James Edge, R.B.
Sasnett, Henry Morgan, (L.W. Walker). Abstracted 4-10-02, Copy from
deed book, CTC.

And since Henry was associated with Isaac Norfleet I checked the Estate papers of Norfleet and Henry shows up once as a buyer…

I would shout from the rooftops at this point that lo and behold, the Henry Jr mystery is SOLVED!… except that there is another known Henry in Edgecombe at the same time (1845) so I can’t rule out that this is not him.    Plus, Holmes has me gun-shy with my theories.   He can be brutal.

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a tidbit…   I suspect this may be the possible Henry Jr…  the other Henry at this time is Henry R. Anderson which may be my line.  This deed prompted me to look at the Estate papers of David Holland mentioned in the deed.  Henry served on the jury concerned with the disposition of some estate matters.  This Henry has a signature mark “A” which I will show below.

Edge. Co. Db 24, page 542, date of deed 16 Nov. 1848, date recorded

Nov. Ct. 1848, David Holland estate to Patsy Holland, by commissioners,

her dower in the lands her husband died seized and possessed of,

beginning at a black gum in the long branch then north 35 east 98 poles

to a small pine Richd. Harrison’s corner then along Harrison’s line

south 81 ½ east 66 ½ poles to a small post oak in or near said

Harrison’s line then south 35 west 105 poles to a black gum in the long

branch then down the various courses of said branch to the first

station, containing 40 acres, William W. Armstrong, L.L. Dancy, Henry

Lloyd (MI either L or S), William Peel, Henry R. Johnson, William T.

Bryan, Thomas Norfleet, James Sherrod (X), Josiah Walston (X), William

Lodge (X), Henry Anderson (X), D.W. Bullock, wit. H. Hyman, Dpy

Sheriff. Abstracted 5-1-02, NC State Archives film C.037.40018, CTC.

source:  familysearch.org  Edgecombe Estates  1848

—————–

Bingo!…  I found another signature to compare…

This is from the 1849 Estate papers of Reuben Johnston and his widow Elizabeth. This is Henry R. Anderson:      (source: familysearch.org, Estate Papers, Reuben Johnston, 1849)

Below are other papers from the Reuben Johnston estate to add more info… Henry R. Anderson was an adjoining landholder…

So… my thoughts are these signatures match (the capital A in both) and Henry R. Anderson is the only guy left standing in regard to the 1845 Isaac Norfleet deed, the 1848 estate of David Holland, and the 1849 estate of Reuben Johnston.

Henry Anderson “Jr”, the son of Henry d.1801 has apparently disappeared after this 1818 reference:

DB 16/90 24 Feb 1818

Henry Anderson to Isaac Norfleet

For $125, 39 acres , being the land that formerly belonged to Henry Anderson, deceased, which fell to Mary Anderson at the death of three of the sons of the said Henry Anderson.

Wit. Starling Waller
——————
See my Page “George Anderson (b.1756) Edgecombe property” to get a map reference on the Henry R. Anderson and Reuben Johnston referenced above. This is why I think he was connected to the William Anderson d.1789 family. I cannot place him convincingly however. The son of 1789 William (the Henry who married Lovey Staton) seems to have died around 1830 but details are still sketchy and not worked out.