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Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Notebook - North Carolina No. 1


Absher, Mrs. W.O. Stokes County, North Carolina Wills, Vols. I-IV, 1790-1864, no imprint
Page 55. 25 October 1800. Will of Richard Beasley, Planter. September Term 1804. Wife Martha, Estate during lifetime. Son Jeremiah, home plantation to share with his mother. Children: William, Peggy Cooper, Benjamin, Robert, Richard, Molly Faylor (or Taylor), Patty Harrison, James, Sally Nunn, Thomas, Sukea Coomer, 5 shillings each. Executors: Friends and neighbors, namely James Cook and Tyro Riddle. Witnesses: Isaac Pennington, Joseph Pennington, Jurat and Caleb Sumner. Signed Richard (x) Beasley. - grandpa

Page 58. 27 August 1804. Will of William Beasley. December Term 1804. His wife should keep children together and raise them (no names). Witnesses: Tyre Riddle and William (x) Burris. Signed William (x) Beasley.
Page 70. 22 October 1802. Will of James Matthews. June Term 1806. Son Tandy, home tract Townfork 248 acres; also 600 acres bought of Chas. Beasley adjoining above; also 100 acres Blues Creek (late property of John Thompson); also 900+ acres in hands of John Griffith in Virginia; also Negro Dicy and his wife Anaky, Stephen 4 years old and man named Frank . . . To Joseph Hollensworth in trust for his Son, James, 600 acres bought of Charles Beazley including mansion house "Stone Chimneys;" also Negro Silla . . . To Tandy Hollinsworth (infant son of Mary and Joseph), Negro Rachel . . . To Mary Hollinsworth, Negro Rachel's increase. To son Tandy, 900 acres known as The Walnut Cove in lower Powells Valley in trust for Betsey's children . . . To Joseph Hollinsworth, 600 acres, balance of tract bought of James Beasley and Negroes Doll and Jenny (in trust for my son William's children.) . . . To son Tandy, 200 acres Panther Crook [creek?] (in trust for James Matthews, son of my son John and his wife Polly Martin) and 230 acres in Amherst County, Virginia on pee Vine in trust for Nancy Matthews, daughter of my son and John and his wif Polly Martin . . . Son John, 500 acres Waters of little Yadkin . . . To Obediah Brannum, 235 1/2 acres known as Blackburns . . . To Irvin Brannum, 300 acres late property of James Coffey, also to Obediah and Irvin, Negro girl Courtney now in possession of Lurance Brannum. To James Matthews, son of Tandy, Negro Stephen . . . To Tandy James, son of my daughter Betsy James, Negro Adam. To James Hollinsworth, son of Mary and Joseph, 136 acres . . . 
Page 118. 19 September 1810. Will of Robert Beazley. March Term 1811. Wife Caty, estate during widowhood. Two eldest sons James and Isham, "when they come of age." Mentions "my children" but does not name them. Executors: My brother Benjamin Beasley and James Cook. Witnesses: James L. Gains and Thomas Beazley. Signed Robert Beazley.  - grandpa 
Page 164. 25 March 1815. Will of Michael Fry, Senr. June Term 1815. Children: Barbara, wife of John Tuttle; Mary, wife of John Laird; Sally, wife of Jacob Pinkley (Binkley); Caty wife of Anthony Hinkle; Elizabeth wife of Adam Butner; and Henry Fry - Bond I have on John Fry to be divided equally except Elizabeth's share to go to her children and not Adam Butner. Mentions all my children to share in sale of rest of estate after decease of wife. Mentions Negro slaves to my wife (not named - according to Salem Records, she was Dorothea). Executors: John Tuttle and William Cox. Witnesses: Thomas T. Armstrong and James Patterson. Signed: Michael (x) Fry.
Page 31. 28 December 1818. Memorandum: Manner in which Charles Beazley wishes to dispose of his estate. June Court 1819. Daughter Nancy Childress (widow of Elisha Childress, deceased), $1.00 and support from my estate. Wife Mary, lifetime estate. Son, Negroes Sal, Barbea, Hapton, Hannah, Tapney, Betty, Rachel, Sarah and Gilley. Executors: Wife Mary and son Edmond. Witness: Obadiah Dodson, Jurat. Signed: Charles Beazley. 
Page 80. 10 May 1821. Will of John Martin. June Term 1822. Wife Nancy, lifetime estate . . .  Son Joseph, land on Peters Creek adjoining Benj. Coomer and Ben Beazley. . . . 
Page 124. 10 July 1824. Will of Jeremiah Beazley. September Term 1824. Wife (not named), land where I live, 259 acres Dan River. Son John, above at death of wife. All my children (not named) except John, balance estate. No Executor named. Witnesses: Presley (x) George, Malkejah Francis, Joseph Francis and James Lyon. Signed: Jeremiah (x) Beazley. 

Briscoe, Doris. Mecklenburg County Court Minutes Book I, 1774-1780, Charlotte, NC: Doris Briscoe, 1966

1774
A Deed from Abraham Cook & Mary his wife to Michael Ligget for 300 acres of Land Dated 19th August 1774 was prov'd in open Court by the oath of William Young, a subscribing witness thereto. Ordered to be Registered.  - maybe a son of John Young
A deed from Michel Goodnight & Mary his wife to John Pfifer for 190 acres of Land Dated 20th May 1774 was proved in open Court by the oath of Samuel Patton a subscribing witness thereto. Ordered to be Registered. - grandparents
A Deed from James McClean & Ruth his wife to Christopher Landys and Michael Goodnight for 190 Acres of Land dated (3) May 1764 was proved in Open Court by the oath of (Martin Pfifer) a subscribing Witness thereto. Ordered to be Registered. - grandpas
1775
Ordered by the Court that George Davis, Michael Goodnight, and Robert Moffat, go from House to House within their several Districts and warn every Master & Mistress of Families & Overseers of Every Plantation within the same Districts to appear before Robert Harris Esqr. and there give in upon oath a List of Taxables of all those in his, her, or their Families - for the Present Year. - grandpa
1777
. . . on and commensurate with each and Every Captain Company within this County, and that each and every Constable appointed for this County shall have his Duty separately & within the bounds and Limits of the same, and that the following named persons be appointed Assessors and Constables, Viz. . . .
Captn.  Companies - Zacheus Wilson; Assessors: David Wilson, Michael Goodnight & Joseph Rogers; Constable - William Hays - grandpa
1778
Ordered that the following named persons be appointed Justices Assessors and Constables in the several Districts for the Year 1778 (to wit) Note in left margin "Captains Districts." . . .
District - Zacheus Wilson; Justice - David Reese; Assessors - John Paterson, Geo. Goodnight, Saml. Patton; Constable - Will: Hays. - not sure who Geo. Goodnight is
Ordered that . . . Joseph Young [among 30 names] . . . be appointed to attend at next July Court as Viniri Men [veniremen which person summoned for jury duty under venire facias] that a summons issue to the Sheriff that they have proper notice.
Viniri List Returned - includes Joseph Young's name
Grand Jury appointed - includes Joseph Young
One from Samuel Young to James Morrow for 300 acres dated 6th August 1777 by Robert Morrow. - not sure who this is.
1774
A Deed from Daniel England and Martha England his wife to Joseph Young for 214 Acres of Land dated 16th December 1773 proved in Open Court by the Oath of John McKnitt Alexander an Evidence thereto Ordered to be Registered.
A Deed from George Denny and Jane Denny his wife to Francis Bailey for 305 Acres of Land Dated 27th December 1770 proved in open Court by the oath of Martha McClure and Evidence thereto Ordered to be Registered. - may be some relation to Elizabeth Denny
1779
The following entry had the word "Error" in two places. One from Arthur Dobbs & Wife to John Young (error) for 115 Acres dated 16th Nov. 1764 (Error).  - probably grandfather

Grimes, J. Bryan. North Carolina Wills & Inventories, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967

Holcomb, Brent. Marriages of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1753-1868, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1981 - available on Ancestry

  • Booe, Daniel & Fanar March, 5 Dec. 1812; John Nail, Jr., bondsman; Jno. March Sr., wit.
  • Dial, Joshua & Susannah March, 10 Jan. 1814; Benjamin March, bondsman; Jn. March Sr., wit.
  • Elston, Elias & Jemh. McCartney, 12 Nov. 1796; Robt. Bartley, bondsman; Jno. Rogers, wit.
  • Elston, Jonathan & Barbara Smith, 18 April 1791; Alston Campbell, bondsman; Jos. Chambers, wit.
  • Elston, Jonathan & Mary Floyd, 26 March 1800, Ruben Homes, bondsman; Edwin J. Osborn, wit.
  • Elston, Josiah & Rebecca Lewis, 20 Sept. 1789; Daniel Mcguier, bondsman; Evan Alexander, wit.
  • Elston, William & Hay Doty, 5 May 1797; William Grist, bondsman; Jno. Rogers, wit.
  • Goodnight, Jacob & Betsy Cauble, 19 May 1812; Michael Goodnight, bondsman; Jno. Giles, CC, wit.
  • Fisher, John & Polly Gentle, 6 Feb. 1821; Peter Potts, bondsman; Ja. Hanes, J.P., wit.
  • Groeaf, Abraham & Mary Adam, 23 1779; John Adam, bondsman; B. Booth Boote, wit.
  • Groff, George Davidson & Easter Figgins, 10 Mar. 1821; Archibald Fegin, bondsman; Hy. Giles, wit.
  • Groves, Joseph md. Margaret Eller, 4 Sep. 1796; Jacob Utzman, bondsman; Jno. Rogers, wit.
  • Hampton, Robert & Polley March, 18 July 1808; John March Jr., bondsman; Jn. March 24., wit.
  • Hinkle, Benjamin & Maryan Harwood, 16 June 1812; Jacob March bondsman; Jn. March Sr., wit.
  • Hinkle, Charles & Susana March, 13 May 1797; Jacob March, bondsman; Jno. Rogers, wit. - grandparents
  • Hinkle, George & Frances Shaffer, 17 Sept. 1795; John Mull, bondsman; J. Troy, wit.
  • Hinkle, John & Mary Rosenbum, 26 Feb. 1790; Jacob Hinkle, bondsman; Jno. Monro, wit.
  • Hinkle, Michael & Sarah Beecham, 26 Nov. 1787; Cornelius Howard, bondsman; Mat. Troy, wit.
  • Hinkle, William & Elenda Hunter, 11 Dec. 1793; Joseph Dial, bondsman; B. John Pinchback, Lydia Pinchback, wit.
  • March, Abraham & Elizabeth Booe, 5 June 1815; Wm. Glascock, bondsman; Jn. March Sr., wit.
  • March, George & Mary Leneer, 6 July 1804; Hezekiah Smith, bondsman; Jn. March, JP; Moses Nelson, wit.
  • March, Jacob & Margaret Hinkle, 26 Aug. 1797; Peter Ruford bondsman; Jno. Rogers, wit.
  • March, Jacob & Fanny Booe, 19 Aug. 1816; Thomas Bailey, bondsman; Jn. March Sr., wit.
  • March, John & Elizabeth Peeler, 30 Aug. 177(?); Anthony Peeler, bondsman; Ad Osborn, wit.
  • March, John & Caty Hinkle, 18 Feb. 1802; Jno. Brem, bondsman
  • March, John, Jr. & Elizabeth Gather, 18 Jan. 1810; Richmond Hughes, bondsman; Jn. March Sr., wit.
  • March, Rudolph & Agnes Roberts, 27 Sep. 1779; Ad. Osborn, CC, wit.
  • Marche George & Amelia Gardner, 27 Sep. 1779; Rudolph Marche, bondsman; Jo Brevard, wit. - grandparents
  • Misser, Ase & Dianah Philips, 2 Aug. 1803; Samuel Gentle, bondsman; Jn. March, J.P., wit.
  • Nail, John & Clowe March, 27 March 1809; Jacob Hinkle, bondsman; Jn. March Sr., wit.
  • Philips, Jonas & Phirlebe Gurley, 12 July 1778; John Phillps, bondsman; Spruce Macay, wit.
  • Potts, Jeremiah & Philendar Jentle, 6 Jan. 1808; Humphrey Mullikin, bondsman; Jn. March Sr., wit.
  • Rutledge, Joseph & Elizabeth Speer, 11 Aug. 1772; Oliver Wallis, bondsman; Ad. Osborn, wit. consent from Jacob Speer, 10 Aug. 1772.
  • Sapp, Emanuel & Charity Gentle (no date, during admin. of Samuel Ashe); William Harper, bondsman; Ad. Osborn, wit.
  • Shepherd, William & Ann Fensen, 19 June 1790; Joseph Roland, bondsman; Basil Gaither, wit.
  • Shepperd, Roland & Barbary Hedrick, 4 May 1798; Gasper Hedrick, bondsman; Edwin J. Osborn, D.D., wit.
  • Stephens, William & Nancy March, 31 Oct. 1795; James Ellis, bondsman; John Eccles, wit.
  • Vandeveer, John & Amelia Speer, 9 Jan. 1773; Aaron Speer, bondsman; Ad. Osborn, wit.
  • Wright, Isom & Lane Parrish, 21 Dec. 1820; Ezekiel Parrish, bondsman; P. Copple, J.P. wit.
  • Wright, James A. & Mary D. Overcash, 9 Feb. 1858, married 2 March 1858 by John S. Heilig.
  • Wright, James J. & Bethsheba Dickson, 26 Dec. 1844; Jno. L. Pinkston, bondsman; Jno. H. Hardie, wit.
  • Wright, James J. & Francerine R. Wright, 14 Nov. 1848; Benjamin Wright, bondsman; Jno. H. Hardie Jr., wit.
  • Wright, John & [blank], 180(?); [blank] Kreiter (German signature), bondsman.
  • Wright, John & Sarah Richards, 27 July 1815; John Johnson, bondsman; Sol. Davis, J.P., wit.
  • Wright, John L. & Mary Shoaf, 7 June 1849; Thos. C. McNeely, bondsman; John H. Hardie Jr., wit.
  • Wright, John M. & Mary C. Powles, 11 Jan. 1841; Jacob Rary, bondsman, Susan T. Giles, wit.
  • Wright, Jordan & Barbara Fox, 25 Feb. 1819; Ezl. Brown, bondsman; C. Brown, wit.
  • Wright, Philburt & Mary Sear, 15 Aug. 1793; William Bodenhamer, bondsman; Jno. Monroe, wit.
  • Wright, Richardson & Mary Haworth, 24 Aug. 1805; William Leach, bondsman; William Piggatt, J.P., wit.
  • Wright, William & Sarah Kirk, 17 Feb. 1809; Joseph Standley, bondsman; S. Davis, J.P., wit.
  • Wright, Williams M. & Adelade Smith, 19 April 1855; Henry Moore, bondsman; J.S. Myers, wit. married 19 April 1855 by J.M. Brown, J.P.


Holcomb, Brent.  Marriages of Surry County, North Carolina, 1779-1868, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1982 - available on Ancestry

  • Speer, Andrew & Elizabeth Murphy, 29 July 1788; Richd. Speer, bondsman
  • Speer, John & Elizabeth Steelmon, 12 Oct. 1784; Matthias Steelmon, bondsman
  • Speer, Leavan & Mary Martin, 27 April 1802; William Chanler, bondsman
  • Speer, Richard & Ruth Richards, 19 Dec. 1785; Leonard Richards bondsman
  • Speers, George & Charlot Ingram, 9 July 1795; John Speer bondsman


Huggins, Edith. Burke County, North Carolina Land Records 1779-1790 & Important Miscellaneous Records 1777-1800, Vol. II, no imprint. 
#1808 p. 600 Moses Speon (?) [Speer?] 200 acres Walker Gap of South Mountains including improvements Thomas Bradly did formerly live on. "Entered May 1779."  Warrant ordered. 

Tavern Bonds 1784-1800 - John Davidson, Jan. 30, 1794; John Spears, Jas. McDowell, J.E. Erwin
Miscellaneous Papers, Promissory Notes, Also Bills of Sale, 1782-1800 - Many promissory notes will also be found in Civil and Criminal Cases papers. The following are not arranged in any order but are as taken from the files. Names of witnesses or other officials, if shown, follow after date of note.
Michael Grindstaff to Charles McDowell, June 1, 1785. Will Johnson
Advertisment April 1, 1775 by John Bowman for any person indebted to him to pay before May 1 or be dealt with: William Bean, William Rikes, John Batkenson, Dollan R. Rid Dunken, "Streng Woman," John Cooper, John Gilliam, Joseph Cloud.  Arthur Codey sold John Bowman a bay mare on April 30, wit. by Jesse Spears and Robert Been. Items purchased by people listed in small booklet. 
Apprentice Bonds:
William Hicks, 5 orphan; Mordecai Morgan, April 30, 1779. Faithe Hicks, 12 orphan; John Ballew, July 16, 1782. Thomas Hicks, 12, orphan; Alexander Bailey, April 22, 1788. Faithe assigned to Capt. John Harden on April 17, 1784; Charles McDowell, Alex. Erwin. 
Henrietta Peirson, spinster; John Forsythe, April 24, 1784. John Hardin, Charles McDowell, William Morrison. Charles Peirson, 4, orphan; John Forsythe; to learn weaving April 24, 1784.
Philip Pitts, 12, orphan; John Speer "taylor" April 24, 1789. James Davidson, Alexander Erwin. 
Road Papers, Petitions, Orders 1787-1795:
July 1794. The following petitioners possessed land on South Upper Creek where wagon road runs through from Wilks to North Cove "which may be injuring": Charles Baker, John White, David Beck, Joshua Penley, John Penland, J. McGimsey, Thomas Smith, John Simpson, Samuel Alexander, William Penland, Benjamin Parks, Noble Alexander, John Trammel, Reuben White, Nimrod Brewer, Jonathan Penly, Thomas White, Bartlett Henson, John Jones, James Harbison, WIlliam Harbison, John Penley, James Penland, Christian Sheffler, John Fox, Peter Lyons. On reverse: John Mackey, Walter Smith, Jos. Fort, Patrick Onell, James West, Jno. Tate, Jno. Spear, Will Walton, Jo . . . (not legible), Will Welch, Jos. Greenlea, Jo. Morgan, Philip Brittain, John H. Stevile, James Mackey, Wm. Whoot. 

October 29, 1794. Petitioners for road crossing the Catawba at John Henesy, to Bradford's Blacksmith Shop, crossing the lower creek at Hugh Macays, falling into the Wilks road near Powell's Meeting House; Thom. Welcher, James Henesy, Wm. Gibson, Conrod Winkler, Abr. Copeny, Esq., John Tate, Capt. Tompson, Jacob Baldon, John Henisey, Edmond Fears, James Fears, Wm. Welch, Jacob Tips, Hugh McCoy, Frederick Cryder, John Spier, Daniel Ingland, John Ingland, Joseph Baker, John Clarke, Benjamin Coffey, William Sumter, R.Q. Milles (Miller?), G. . . app B. . . , Albert Corpening, Thos. James, John Spear, John Cooper, Benjamin Parks, Philip Brittain, Robt. Logan, John Williams, Edmund Fears, John Tate, Wm. Welch, Thos. Welcher. 
October 1794. Jury viewed and laid out road from Dobson's Creek to Russells Creek: Allen Fox, Titus Fox, William Penland, James Penland, Alexander Harbison, James Alexander, Benjamin Parks, Thos. Parks, Christian Sheffler, Henry Wakefield, Bartlet Henson, Thomas White, Samuel Alexander, Noble Alexander.  On reverse: Mrs. McEntire, Walton Spencer, Speer, Stevilus, Dowell, Erwin, Caldwell, A. Erwin, Avery, Murphy, Chas. McDowell, Miller, Miss Polly B., Betsy, Hannah, Poley, Malisser, Mira (appears to be a memo of a social affair - EWH). 
Land Papers & Deeds 1778-1794:
Grants suspended by James Glasgow on November 27, 1788: Nathan Dever suspended the execution of a grant to John McDowell Sr., and Joseph Smith suspended one to Samuel Hughey and James Murphy; William Porter versus John McClure, 18 tracts, Sept. 14, 1794. Alexander Erwin, witness.
Thomas Young vs. John Speers, Sept. 2, 1791. Promissory note of Speer for 25 bushels good salt in Morganton, Oct. 1st; wit: Hezekiah Oneill. A. Wood for pltff. Note for £18.10.0, 1790 at Oct. Court and "1 coat pattern of light blue color, some pewter, tinns, linning."

Ingmire, Frances. Surry County North Carolina Marriage Records 1783-1868, Vol. II, Females Only, no imprint

  • Speer, Betsy md. Joshua Primm, 12/21/1807
  • Speer, Catharine md. James Jones 5/13/1797
  • Speer, Eliza md. John Smith 8/9/1797
  • Speer, Elizabeth md. Joseph Hagoman 4/14/1796
  • Speer, Elizabeth md. Job Felton 9/15/1786
  • Speer, Elizabeth md. Maner Lakey 10/22/1800
  • Speer, Fanny md. Benjamin Head 1/13/1816
  • Speer, Lethey md. William Sparks 8/1/1816
  • Speer, Margaret md. William Stevens 7/10/1790
  • Speer, Nancy md. John Romyeu 10/21/1799
  • Speer, Nancy md. William Smith 10/8/1800
  • Speer, Priscilla md. Jesse Truitt 9/10/1787
  • Speer, Rhody md. John Hunter 12/13/1799
  • Speer, Sarah md. Jacob Dobbins 4/24/1808


Linn, Jo. Abstracts of Wills & Estates Records of Rowan County, North Carolina 1753-1805 & Tax Lists of 1759 & 1778, Salisbury, NC: Jo Linn, 1980
A:31. William Denny. 13 Aug. 1766, prb. May 1770. Wife, Ann, has use of negro wench Dina who will then go to son James. Son James gets homeplace and negro Tom, his mother to have life estate. Son Williams to have land in Orange Co., NC. Married daus. each to get £30: Hannah, Agness, Jane. Daus: Cathrine and Margaret. Exrs: wife Ann, sons James and William. Wit: Thos. Donnell, John Rankin, Elizabeth Denny (x).
A:99. Joseph McDowell. 16 Mar. 1770. prb. Nov. 1771. Wife, Margaret. Sons: Hugh, Charles, John, Joseph. John and Joseph are under age. Son Joseph to have land on Silver Creek. Daus: Elizabeth McKinnie and Hannah Chrisman to have £5 each. Exrs: wife Margaret and sons Hugh & Charles. Wit: Philip Price, Abraham Scott, Joseph Dobson.
A:217. Peter (x) Hinkle. 19 Oct. 1775, prvd. Nov. 1775. Wife, Solomy, Son Anthony to have home plantation which he is to share with unborn child if it is male. Dau., Mary. Unborn child. Cousin: Peter Conrod. Widow is to let Peter Conrod have feeding for his colts this winter. Exrs: wife Solomy, brother Charles Hinkle. Wit: Wm. Spurgen, Philip Carr, Michael Hinkle. Henerey Davis is mentioned.
B:123. Hugh Parks. n.d., prb. 1781. Will was accidentally burned. Margaret Parks, John Parks who is to have 2/3 of home plantation, Hugh Parks who is to have 1/3 of home plantation, John McDowel who is to have a plantation. 4 grandsons: Jeames Berd, John McDowel, Jeames McDowel, Hugh McDowel. Remainder of estate to be divided into 4 equal parts among Margaret Parks, Hugh Parks, John Parks and John McDowel. Exrs: John Parks, Hugh Parks. Wit: John Braly, Robert Cochran. Proved by latter.
C:138. Thomas Fox. 25 Sep. 1783. prb. 1786. Dau. Elizabeth Fox and her daus. Other children already have their part. No exrs. Wit: Benjamin (x) Ward, Mary Ward.
C:207. Richard (x) Wright Sr. 3 Sep. 1784. prb. 1785. Wife, not named, to have 200 acre homeplace on Deep River where I formerly used to live in Randolph County. Son Benjamin to have 200 acres on Deep River in Randolph County. Son Peter to have 20 shillings. Son Richard. Son William to have 226 acres on Uwharrie waters in Randolph County. Son Amos to have 100 acres in Rowan where he now lives. Son John. Son Philburd, under 21. No exrs. Wit: Wm. (x) Wright, Evans (x) Wright, Richard Wright, James Morgan.
D:43. William (x) Stephen(s). 13 Sep 1803. prb. 1803. Wife Alesey to have all the property her father gave her after our marriage. Son Joseph to have all my land. Daus: Sarah Stephens and Polly Stephens. Exrs: John March Sr. and Spenser Stephens. Wit: David Railsbach, Jacob March.
D:233. Abraham Wildy (Weldy). 17 July 1787. prb. 1787. Wife Mary. He mentions 2 horses in possession of Samuel Bailey. All my children, not named, John Hendricks to have land bough from George March. Exrs: friends Jacob Krons and Jacob Booe. Wit: Peter Letshaw, Evan Ellis, Wllm Krans.
E:155. Elizabeth (x) Fitzgarrell. 7 July 1798. no prb. date. Dau. Cisiah Booth to have 100 acre homeplace. John Booth. Grandson, Zachariah Booth. Granddaus: Betsey Green, Polly Green, Darkes Booth. 2 great-grandchildren: Betsey Green and Rachel Green. Exrs: dau. Ciziah Booth and friend Thomas Carson. Wit: Labon Henteley, Darkis (x) Booth.
E:157.  Garret (x) Fitzgarell. 18 April 1798. prb. 1798. Wife Elizabeth to have all real and personal property and to serve as extrx with George Reed. Wit: Jeremiah Green, Mary Green.
E:167.  Philip Fox. 23 July 1792. prb. 1796. Son Jacob to have £50. Son Philip to have £40. Son John to have 640 acre home plantation on Muddy Creek and the residue of my moveable estate, he to maintain my wife Amelia.  Dau. Susannah, wife of John Grover [sic], to have £27.10.0. Dau. Elizabeth, wife of Wintel Hinckel, to have £27.10.0. Dau. Mary Koster's five children. Exrs: wife Amelia and son John. Wit: Adam Lemaman, Lorenz Ungar, Henry Davis. - grandpa
G:45. George Gentle. 10 April 1795. prb. 1796. Wife, Firlender Gentle. Sons: Thomas (land adjoining Abraham Hawkins, Jacob Hanelys, and Richard Pick) and Joseph. Daus: not named. Exr: wife, Felender Gentle. Wit: Nathan Sap, Ralph Ford.
Loose Estate Papers - At the North Carolina Archives there are 153 boxes of loose estate papers for Rowan County.  The following list consists of the names of people for whom there is a folder prior to 1805.  The folder may contain an administration, an inventory, an account of the sale, a petition, an allowance for the widow, the appointment of guardians for minor children, guardian accounts, a division, or a final settlement. The date is from the earliest document in the folder.

  • Adams, Daniel, 1804
  • Adams, John, 3 Aug. 1785, Admin. bond Sarah (x) Adams, Jacob Adams, Abram Lowrance
  • Adams, John 1796. Petition for division of land by Wm. Adams, orphan of John Adams
  • Adams, John 1762. Admin. bond Eve (x) Adams & George Smith
  • Adams, Philip 25 Sep. 1782 Petition for his orphans
  • Adams, Winney admin. 1784
  • Adams, Isabell for [blank] Adams
  • Fitzgarel, Elizabeth 1799
  • Gentle, George, 1808
  • Graves, Robert 1805
  • Hinkle, Robert 1790

1795 Rowan Co. Tax List

  • March, Rudolph

1778 Tax List of Rowan County - this list is transcribed from originals at the North Carolina State Archives.
Capt. Lopp's District:

  • Charles Hinkle 333.0.
  • Thomas Fox 116.0

Capt. Davis' District:

  • Michl. Hinkle 255
  • Alexander Rozenboom 485 
  • George Hinkle 253


  • Poles: Jacob Hinkle

Capt. Lyons' District:

  • George March 157
  • Rudolph March 500
  • John March 501
  • Poles Subject Fourfold Tax - Jacob March

Capt. Mooris' District:

  • Garret Fitzgerrell 169
  • Benjamin Hinkle £1.16.11

Capt. Purviance's District:

  • James Fox 151


Linn, Jo. Rowan County North Carolina Will Abstracts, Vol. II 1805-1850 Abstracts of Books G-K 1850, Salisbury, NC: Jo Linn, 1971.
G:111. Nicolaus Copple. Dec. 15, 1807. Probated 1808. Sons: Nicolaus (Maryland currency), Jacob, Philip and John. Daughter: Mary Fox. Children of William Copple; Philip Copple and Susanna Lambeth. Heirs of Christina Young. Heirs of my daughter Barbary Staner. Exrs: sons Nicolaus and Philip Copple. Wit: E. Morgan, Philipert Wright. 

G:204. Philip Hinkle. Dec. 26, 1810. Probated 1811. Cousin: Benjamin Hinkle. Exr: cousin Benjamin Hinkle. wit: John C. Armsworthy, Richard Whitaker. 
G:327. Jacob Hinkle. Jan. 29, 1814. No Probate date. "This is my wish for Jacob March to satisfy himself for his trouble, and for what is left to be divided between Jacob March, James* and his Brother William and Caty March a daughter of John March Esquire. I have wrote these few lines for to let you know what is my wish if I never return." Wit: William Crouse. This is the entire will.  
G:387. Frainey Crouse. Oct. 13, 1815. Probated 1815. Son: William. Daughters: Caty March, Mary Hendricks, Frainery Crouse and Barbary Crouse. Grandson: James Cavendar. Grandau: Caty Crouse, daughter of William Crouse, money that Robert Foster owes me. Exrs: son William and Haley Tatum, Wit: Joshua Hendrix, Robert Foster. 
G:511. Elizabeth Pruitt. March 11, 1818. Probated 1818. Sons: Harrison Pruitt and John Bailey. Daughter: Sally Bailey - one half claim on the estate of my late husband H.B. Pruitt. Exrs: brother John March and Robert . . . 
H:571. Benjamin March. July 6, 1832. prb. Nov. 1832. Planter, wife Sarah. Nephew: Harrison Cruitt - land purchased from my bro. John March. Sister Mary Hampton. William March and Benjamin March - sons of Jacob March. Sister Susanna Dial. Exr: John Clement. wit: Will F. Kelly, Braxton Baily . . .

Mitchell, Thornton. North Carolina Wills: A Testator Index, 1665-1900, Raleigh, NC: Mitchell, 1987
5 - Anson County - formed 1750 from Bladen County. Wills in the county apparently were not recorded on a regular basis until about 1822, although surviving original wills probated prior to 1822 were registered much later in Will Books 1 and 2 in rough alphabetical order. In April 1868, fire destroyed the Anson County courthouse, although will books and original wills survived. In 1906, Will Books 1, A and B were recopied. Many wills probated after 1760 are recorded in the will books and most of the original wills from which they were copied have survived.
14 - Burke County - formed 1777 from Rowan County. In April, 1865, a detachment of Union troops from General Stoneman's command threw records from the courthouse and burned them. Will books and original wills were included. Some original wills probated prior to 1865 survived and are in the State Archives; included are copies of wills from other sources such as North Carolina Supreme Court original case papers. As of June 1, 1986, original wills proved after 1868 remained in the custody of the county clerk of superior court.
15 - Bute County - formed 1764 from Granville County; abolished 1779 when the county was divided between Franklin and Warren counties. Wills were recorded in record books that contained inventories, accounts, and other estate data. Bute County Record Book 1 is in the State Archives; Records Books 2 and 3 became Warren County Will Books 1 and 2. Surviving original wills are in the State Archives as records of Bute County. Some original wills probated in Warren County after 1779 are in the Bute County records in the Archives.
16 - Cabarrus County - formed 1792 from Mecklenburg County. Recording of wills in Will Book 1 began in 1843, although wills had been copied into the minutes of the county court of pleas and quarter sessions beginning in 1830.  In 1875, a courthouse fire destroyed some records, including most of the original wills. The surviving original wills are principally for testators with surnames beginning with the letters H, M, W and Y. At a later date, these surviving wills were copied into Will Book A. Many of the original wills are missing.
32 - Davidson County - formed 1822 from Rowan County. Recording of wills began in 1823. The first two will books were not numbered but they were usually referred to as Will Books 1 and 2; they were so cited at the time the wills were recorded. Although some original wills are missing, there has been no significant loss of records.
35 - Duplin County - formed 1750 from New Hanover County. Recording of wills in separate will books began in 1830. The record book containing wills for the period 1835-1845 is missing, although approximately 50 original wills for that period have survived.  At a later date, surviving unrecorded wills proved before 1830 and filed in the clerk's office were entered in a record book identified as Will Book A. These generally include wills proved before the county court between about 1760 and 1830, although a few wills probated later than 1830 were included.  Some very early wills (1750-1766) were recorded in early registers which remained in Sampson County when it was created from Duplin in 1784; these record books are now identified as Sampson County Deed Books 1, 2 and 3 and are so noted in entries for Duplin County.
39 - Franklin County - formed 1779 from Bute County. Although recording of wills appears to have started with formation of the county, neither the registered copy nor the original will, in many instances, show the probate date. Until 1868 wills were recorded with other estate documents such as inventories, reports of sale, and division of real and personal property in registers that are now identified as will books. Will Books O and P were relabeled "Record of Accounts" after they were copied; the originals of these two volumes are in the State Archives in the estates classification of records of the county. Will Book P contains no wills; there is no Will Book T. Although there has been no significant loss of records of the county, some of the original wills are missing.
51 - Hertford County - formed 1759 from Chowan, Bertie and Northampton counties. In March 1830, the courthouse burned, destroying most of the clerk's records, including will books and original wills. By Chapter 68, laws of the 1830-1831 General Assembly , filing of copies of wills in Hertford County was allowed; thus some of the wills recorded in Will Book 1, which was started with the next term of court, show a probate date prior to 1830. Chapter 96, laws of 1831-1832 General Assembly, strengthened the authority of the county to replace records destroyed in the fire. In February 1862, the town of Winton, the county seat, was captured by Union army and naval forces during the course of which the courthouse again burned. Most of the original wills proved between 1830 and 1862 were destroyed, but the will books (of which there were two in 1862) survived.
56 - Johnston County - formed 1746 from Craven County. In 1758 Dobbs County was formed from the eastern portion of Johnston County and the county court moved westward to Hinton's Quarter, leaving its records in Dobbs. The volume was not great, but with the exception of a grantee index to deeds all early records of Johnston County were destroyed when the courthouse in Lenoir, which had succeeded to the records of Dobbs, burned in 1878 and 1880. Although existing Will Book 1 begins in 1787, Johnson began to record wills as early as 1759; in the State Archives a s fragment of a record book containing wills has been mounted and bound into Deed Book D.  This fragment is in very poor condition and is obviously not complete; it does, however, include four wills not otherwise recorded. Reference to wills bound with Deed Book D is to the leaf (L) on which four pages of the original volume has been mounted. There is some evidence that Will Books I and 2 were copied at a later date; an original will recorded in Will Book 1 at page 430 contains a notation that it was recorded in book 10, page 12. Johnston County also maintained record books bearing varying titles but usually referred to as "Record of Estates."  These have been indexed by the staff of the State Archives. At least eleven wills not otherwise recorded were entered in these estate books which are cited as "Est" followed by the volume and page number.  Only one of the original wills so recorded has survived. Will Book 1 begins with wills proved in 1787; after recording wills proved in 1860, the same volume included wills proved between 1760 and 1770. Will Book 2 includes wills proved from 1860 to 1868, then wills probated in the period 1892-1896, followed by wills proved in the 1770s and later. Except for the early record books of wills, there has been no significant loss of records of the county.
60 - Lincoln County - formed 1779 from Tryon County, the records of which were turned over to Lincoln. Lincoln County began to record wills in 1824. In 1899, following ratification of an act by the General Assembly requiring the indexing of all wills filed in the clerk's office and an order on June 5, 1899, by the Lincoln County board of commissioners, a cross index of all wills was prepared. Included were all surviving original wills probated prior to September term, 1824, as well as those proved at a later date. A total of 1,201 wills were indexed, including 455 proved through 1824. A few of the pre-1824 wills that were indexed are now missing. Several wills that have been out of public custody have been included in the Lincoln County listing are are indicated by the symbol AR/CRX. Some original wills probated by the Tryon County court are included with the Lincoln County wills in the State Archives.
65 - Mecklenburg County - formed 1762 from Anson County. About 1850 the county began to record wills as they were proved. With the exception of some pages in Will Book I, beginning in the 1840s, the first nine will books appear to have been copied at a later date. Will Books A-I are in the State Archives. There appears to have been no significant loss of records.
68 - Moore County - formed 1785 from Cumberland County. Recording of wills did not begin until 1794. Will Book A also contains court minutes, bonds and other data; the page numbers in the record volume were assigned at a later date. The book appears to consist of several separate volumes that were combined and bound together. After 1868 original wills were placed in special proceedings files; in September 1889, the courthouse burned and virtually all loose records, including original wills proved prior to 1868 as well as special proceedings files, were destroyed. The will books survived, as did other records in bound form. Surviving original wills after 1889 are in the special proceedings files and may be located by means of a probate docket in the office of the Moore County clerk of superior court. Many of the original wills are missing. A few wills are in the State Archives and some are in the custody of the county clerk of probated to Moore County have survived.
70 - New Hanover County - formed 1729 from Craven County. Some wills were recorded to deed books as early as 1737, but that practice was discontinued about 1763.  Recording in will books began about 1798. In September, 1845, the court of pleas and quarter sessions found that there were in the office of the clerk "a number of wills and partitions of real estate which have not been duly registered." The court ordered that such documents be recorded "forthwith."  Those previously unrecorded wills were registered in the first 472 pages of what is now identified as Will Book C.  If an original will contained any indication that it had previously been registered, it was not copied at that time. The remainder of Will Book C contains copies of wills probated beginning in 1848.  Will Books A and B were subsequently copied into a single record book which is now identified as Will Book AB; the originals of Will Books A and B are now in the State Archives. The New Hanover County courthouse burned in 1840, following earlier fires in 1798 and 1819.  Most of the records survived, although some were damaged by fire and water.
76 - Pender County - formed 1875 from New Hanover County. Recording of wills began immediately, and there has been no significant loss of records.
77 - Perquimans County - originally formed as a precinct of Albemarle County. The first recorded will was proved in 1762 and was registered in a record volume identified as Will Book C. Will Book C was copied at a later date, and the copy remains in the county. Fragments of the original Will Book C, with many pages missing, are in the State Archives. Part of it is mounted and bound with pages of the original Deed Book B and identified as "Deeds and Wills;" and parts are in the CRX materials for Perquimans County.
85 - Rowan County - formed 1753 from Anson County. Recording of wills began in 1760, and there has been no significant loss of records. From about 1780 to about 1800, the county appears to have recorded wills in blocks arranged by first letter of the surname but not in alphabetical order. Several of the Rowan County original wills are in German and unless they were translated at the time of probate, the contents were not recorded in the will books. Ute-Ingrid Seidler translated and abstracted German language wills of Rowan County in the State Archives in North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, Vol. 1, No. 3 (July, 1975), pp. 136-140.
90 - Stokes County - formed 1789 from Surry County. The first will was recorded in 1790. In Will Books 1 and 2, only the left-sided pages are numbered sequentially with the right side pages numbered "1/2."  In the listing for Stokes County, only the left-sided page numbers are used. The first twenty-five pages of Will Book consists of an index. There has been not significant loss of records. It should be noted that many of the wills proved in Stokes County prior to 1849 are from the part of the county that subsequently became Forsyth County.
92 - Surry County - formed 1771 from Rowan County. Recording wills began in 1772, and the will books are complete. Many of the original wills are missing.
100 - Warren County - formed 1779 from Bute County. Warren County Will Book 1 and 2 were actually created by the Bute County clerk of county court, and wills recorded therein are cited as records of Bute County. Warren County Will Books 45, 46, 47 and 48 contain only inventories, reports of sale, and accounts.  About 1856 the county began to separate estate data from wills, and Will Books 49 and 50 contain only wills. There has been no significant loss of records although some of the original wills are missing. A few of the original wills probated in Warren County are in the records of Bute County in the State Archives.
104 - Wilkes County - formed 1777 from Rowan County and the District of Washington. Recording of wills began in 1778. Will Book 1, identified as "Wills, Bonds, Inventories, Bills of Sale," is in the State Archives. Because of an error in numbering the pages in Will Book 1, the pages after 489 repeat numbers beginning with 450.
Columns: Name, County #, Date, Recorded Copy[Will Book # & page, or other record], Original [state archives or other location]

  • Cagle, Henry 68, 1802, WB-A/224
  • Cagle, John 68, 1799 WB-A/199
  • Fox, Aaron 72, ca. 1780 RW/L30, AR - Onslow County, not likely related
  • Fox, James 96, SS 880/180, AR - Tyrrell County, not likely related
  • Fox, John 28 1799 WB-B/77, AR - Craven County, not like related
  • Fox, Moses 72, ca. 1780 RW/L34 AR - Onslow County, not likely related
  • Fox, Nicholas 70 1744 DB-C/26 - not likely related
  • Fox, Philip 85 ca. 1792 WB-E/167 AR - grandpa
  • Fox, Thomas 85 ca. 1783 WB-C/138 AR
  • Groves, William 9 ca. 1792 OWB/274, CTY - Beaufort County, not likely related
  • Groves, William 60 1805 Orig. Only, AR
  • Gurley, Arthur 56 1761 WB-1/764, AR
  • Gurley, Benjamin 70, 1771 WB-C/123 AR
  • Gurley, Edwards 56, 1795, WB-1/86 AR
  • Gurley, Jacob 5 ca. 1820 WB-2/49 AR
  • Gurley, John 56 ca. 1794 WB-1/88 AR
  • Gurley, John 56 1760 orig. only, AR
  • Gurley, Mary 56, 1792 WB-1/62 AR
  • Gurley, Nathan 56, 1777 WB-1/765 AR
  • Gurley, William 5, 1804 WB-2/47 AR
  • Hinkle, Jacob 85 1814 WB-G/327 AR
  • Hinkle, Peter 85, 1775 WB-A/217 AR
  • Hinkle, Philip 85 1811 WB-G/204 AR
  • March, Frederick 86 1806 WB-B/192 AR - Rutherford County
  • March, John 41 1821 WB-2/176 AR - Gates County, too far east
  • March, Mary 33 1839 WB-1/13 AR - Davie County
  • McDowell, Charles 5 ca. 1754 WB-1/2 AR copy
  • McDowell, John 65 1795 WB-B/139 AR
  • McDowell, John 70 1735 SS 877/200 SS/AR - probably not related
  • McDowell, Joseph 85 1771 WB-A/99 AR
  • McDowell, Robert 65 1780 WB-B/61
  • McDowell, Robert 65 1771 WB-B/47 AR
  • McDowell, William 65 1782 WB-B/61 AR
  • McDowell, William 82 1811 WB-1/146 AR - Richmond County, probably not related
  • Speer, Aaron 92 1816 WB-3/122 AR
  • Speer, Jacob 92 1796 WB-3/20 AR
  • Speer, Jacob 92 1802 WB-3/48 AR
  • Speer, Thomas 92 1797 WB-3/26


Olds, Fred. An Abstract of North Carolina Wills from about 1760 to about 1800, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968, available on Ancestry.

Anson County:
1754 McDowell, Charles. Rachel (wife; John; Rachel Eagan (daughter); Joseph McDowell (brother); Ann Evans, Elizabeth Barnes, Mary McPeters and Hannah Calloe (daughters)
Johnston County:
1792 Gurley, Mary. William, Jacob, Tron, Rebecca, Lida, John and Polly
1760 Gurley, John. Keziah (wife); Joseph, Nathan, Lucy, Rachel, Miles, Winea, Sunow and Esther.
1774 Gurley, John. Elizabeth (wife), Louis, Lazarus, Jeremiah, George, Joel and Edward
New Hanover County:
1771 Gurley, Benjamin. Mary, Elizabeth
Rowan County:
1770 Denny, William. Ann (wife), James, William, Hannah, Agnes, Jane, Catherine, Margaret
1796 Fox, Peter. Jacob, Philip, John
1771 McDowell, Joseph. Margaret, Hugh, Charles, John, Joseph
Surry County:
1780 Cook, Robert. Mary (wife); John, Abel, William, Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth, Israel and John. 
1801 Cook, William. Samuel, Elizabeth and Frances
1796 Spear, Jacob. Catherine (wife); Thomas and Jacob
1797 Spear, Thomas. Rebecca (wife); Robert, William, Drury and Reuben

Philbeck, Miles & Grace Turner. Burke County North Carolina Surviving Will & Probate Abstracts, 1777-1910, Chapel Hill, NC: Turner / Philbeck, 1983.
Burke County was formed in 1777 from old Rowan County and presents a variety of research problems due to the destruction of a large number of records by Union forces during the 1860's. Some records did survive however, including a few wills, a substantial series of court minutes, some estate files, and a series of tax lists.
323. Charles McDowell, 21 June 1856, November 1859. Wife Annie. To John W. Woodfin as trustees for my dau. Eliza Woodfin wife of N.W. Woodfin. To N.W. Woodfin as trustee for my dau. Mira wife of J.W. Woodfin. To Charles McD. Dickson as trustee for my dau. Mary Bynum wife of J.G. Bynum. Grandchildren Charles McKesson and Annie McKesson children of my dec'd. dau. Margaret wife of W.F. McKeeson. Son James S. McDowell. To Julia McDowell wife of my son James McDowell. Exec. Tod R. Caldwell, wit: John Pearson, John Collett. Copy filed with petition that Charles McDowell died in October 1859 in Burke County, that original records were destroyed.
324. John McDowell, 28 May 1796, October 1798. Edge of original is missing. Wife Ann, I also beque--- John McDowell Jr., my grandson. Son Joseph, Grandson William Whitson. To my beloved ---- sons John & Thomas Whitson. To my beloved grand--- Joseph Whitson. To my ----- daughter Ann Whitson. Granddau. Sally Whitson. Granddau. Rebecka and Sally Carson. Granddau. Ann McDowell. Exec. John McDowell, John Carson, and William ---- Wit: Robt. Logan, J. Burgin, Ben Burgin.
325. Joseph McDowell, 19 March 1795, April 1795. Copy of a copy. Wife Mary McDowell. Sons John, George, James. Dau. Ann. Land granted to my father and me. Exec. Joseph McDowell, John Carson, James Murphy. Wit. Catherine Arthurs, John M. Wilson, Robt. Logan.
326. Joseph McDowell. 16 March 1801. July 1801. Wife Margaret McDowell. My two sons Hugh Harvey McDowell and Joseph Jefferson. Lotts in the city of Raleigh. Lands in Tennessee and Kentucky. Exec. wife Margaret, Henry Hilard, William W. Erwin. Wit: John Erwin, Henry Hilard, W.W. Erwin.

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