CAPTAIN THOMAS
CHRISTMAS
1744/45-1810
Warren County, North Carolina
By
Ginger Christmas
This is Thomas
Christmas (1744/45- 1820) who married Sarah Duke
------------------
1764 - 26 November: Marriage to Sarah "Sally" DUKE daughter of
William DUKE and Mary GREEN. Warren County, North Carolina bond
#00160223 and record #100 01 042. Green DUKE , bondsman and Jonathan
DAVIS, witness. This family very closely knit with the DUKE family
through this line and Thomas' brother John CHRISTMAS Jr. line as
both married a DUKE daughter.
The history of Captain Thomas CHRISTMAS' life shows him in Bute
County when he was born about 1744. We have the date of his marriage
in 1764, the birth of William in 1766 and the birth of his youngest
daughter Mary in 1794 the birthdays of the other children are
unknown all we have to go by is the marriage dates of the married
children and the census reports that are vague at best.
In 1770 we see Thomas purchasing land from MONTFORDT on the 24th of
January in Bute County, North Carolina. This deed tells us that
Thomas purchased one hundred and forty-three acres, for eighty-five
pounds and sixteen shillings, on Fishing Creek. This deed shows him
as Wm. Thomas CHRISTMAS and is witnessed by John CHRISTMAS, his
brother the deed is recorded the 10th day of July in 17701. On the
20th of February the same year we find a deed where William DUKE ,
his father-in-law, deeds land to Thomas in Bute County, North
Carolina this deed was witnessed by Thomas' brother John CHRISTMAS
and registered on this the 17th day of May 17712. During 1771 the
County of Bute the State of North Carolina put together a Lax list
where we find Thomas CHRISTMAS3.
Next we find Thomas CHRISTMAS involved in the Bute County Committee
On Safety in North Carolina. "At a meeting of the freeholders of
Bute County on Friday the 23rd of June 1775. There were Elected the
following persons to act as a Committee for the said County ...
Thomas CHRISTMAS. Meeting of July 8th 1775: "We the Subscribers
adop't accede to and will religiously observe & keep the Association
enter'd into by the general Congress of Philadelphia the 5th of
September last ... signed by Thomas CHRISTMAS". "At a Lodge of
Masters opened and held in Due form at the Buffalo at high 12 the
10th day of July 1776 ... Here follows the Apprentices Lodge ...
Johnson-Caswell (Buffalo, Blandford) No. 10 Warrenton ... Thomas
CHRISTMAS..."4 This same year on the 25th day of
September Thomas purchased land from Charles BURK in Bute County,
North Carolina running along Thomas' other property and along Wm.
Thomas GREEN's line. The total of six hundred acres, more or less
for two hundred thirty-eight pounds ten shillings. Witnessed by
William GREEN and John CHRISTMAS Jr.5 In 1777 Thomas is
seen in the deed transactions where he sold to John DAVIS two acres
of land along Davis' line and TANNER's line for seventy-five pounds
Virginia money, this deed witnessed by Joseph DUKE and registered
the 28th day of October 1777. Deed shows John and Jonathan as same
DAVIS6. Then he purchased fifty acres from James JOHNSON
for one hundred forty pounds current money. Land adjoining Thomas'
other property and on Hawkins Road. The land said to have been
purchased from John POWERS. Witnessed by William JOHNSON and John
WILLIS, registered the 14th day of October 1777.7 The following year
on the 29th day of February 1778 Thomas CHRISTMAS sold to Lewis
KIMBLE one hundred acres for fifty pounds current money of Virginia.
This land on a branch of Fishing Creek and along Thomas GREEN's
line, deed registered this 5th day of April 1780.8 Thomas' father
left his will dated the 11th of August 1783 in Orange County, North
Carolina9. In this
will we see that Thomas CHRISTMAS along with his brother, Richard,
was to divide the estate according to his father's desire. His
father left to him five shillings as his father states Thomas has
"moved from me". Thomas was about forty years old at this time and a
well-to-do man in his own right. A tax list was put together from
1784-1787 in Warren County, North Carolina in Captain WHITE's
District, on this list we find Thomas CHRISTMAS with 1 white male
[over 20 under 60], 3 white males [under 21 over 60] and 5 white
females [all ages]. This tax list would show that Thomas had three
sons and four daughters. There are two sons unaccounted for in the
research. There are one or two records on a John CHRISTMAS and a
Thomas CHRISTMAS that are not documented to be his sons but this
researcher feels that they must be his sons. We know that the oldest
child of Thomas and Sarah DUKE, William was born in 1766 and would
have been 17 years old at this time.10
In 1786 we find Thomas CHRISTMAS purchasing 100 acres from Benjamin
LEAWELL in Franklin County, North Carolina. The deed appears to have
registered that same day.11 In 1790 in the Halifax District, Warren
County Thomas is listed having 1 white male [10-16]; 1 white male
[18-26]; 1 white male [45 and over]; and 1 white female [45 and
over].12 Here again we find record of two sons unaccounted for in
any records commonly known. In 1800 the Warren County census shows
Thomas CHRISTMAS as head of household.13 The 1810 census shows
Thomas CHRISTMAS head of household and his son Thomas CHRISTMAS Jr.
also a head of household14.
On August 1st 1788 Thomas is one of the Yeas votes on the
Declaration of Rights at the North Carolina Convention. A
"Declaration of Rights, asserting and securing from incroachment the
great Principles of civil and religious Liberty, and the unalienable
Rights of the People ..."
The death of Thomas CHRISTMAS was in the "Raleigh Register" Thursday
the 6th of September 1810. "Captain Thomas CHRISTMAS, in the 67th
year of his age ... wife and a train of descendants ..."15.
There is a division of the estate of Thomas CHRISTMAS in Warren
County, North Carolina records starting in 1811. Division of estate
between the four legatees, to wit, ...
Lot No. 1 to Thomas POWER and Alice his wife ...
Lot No. 2 to Edward TANNER and Nancy his wife ...
Lot No. 3 to Sarah GREEN and Thomas GREEN children of Martha GREEN
...
Lot No. 4 to Polly CHRISTMAS.
This portion witnessed
by William PERSON and Benjamin DAVIS and registered the 23rd day of
August 1811. Then by 1813 we see more division of the estate of
Thomas CHRISTMAS, deceased: The division of Negroes to Sarah
CHRISTMAS, deceased widow of said Thomas; William CHRISTMAS; John
GREEN's children; Thomas POWER and Richard POWER. William CHRISTMAS
state to pay to D. POWER ... John GREEN to pay to Thomas POWER ...
January 5th 1813. On 5th January 1813 we see that John POWER and
Thomas POWER are bonded to Henry POTTS "whereas Thomas CHRISTMAS,
administrator of Thomas CHRISTMAS, deceased, has delivered over to
the above mentioned heirs ..." ... "Richard and Thomas POWER are
held firmly bound ... whereas Thomas CHRISTMAS, administrator of
Thomas CHRISTMAS, deceased, has delivered ... Test Joseph TANNER and
witnessed by Edward WORTHAM and Richard POWER Warren County May Term
1814" ... "that Henry YANCEY, administrator of William CHRISTMAS,
deceased ... whereas Thomas CHRISTMAS, administrator of Thomas
CHRISTMAS, deceased, has delivered ... Warren County May Term 1814"16
The second Thomas CHRISTMAS mentioned here could have been the
youngest son who is in the Tax lists and census reports and would be
the head of household as his sister, Polly wasn't married when this
division started. By the time the division was completed Polly had
married Richard POWER.
1 The first son William CHRISTMAS [1766-1804] was born in 1766 in
Bute [now Warren] County, North Carolina, in 1784 we see a deed
where William purchased 420 acres from Joel PARISH in Franklin [was
Bute] County. William married Jane YANCEY in 1790 and lived his life
not far from his father's home. William and Jane had six children:
Lewis Yancey CHRISTMAS, Thomas H. CHRISTMAS, William "Duke" D.
CHRISTMAS, Mary L. CHRISTMAS, Sally "Sarah Duke" D. CHRISTMAS and
Jane Yancey CHRISTMAS. William and his sister Martha CHRISTMAS-GREEN
both died in 1804 and their widow and widower married 12 October
1805. William has many descendants that can be traced to the 1990's
these descendants will follow in another chapter.
2 Martha CHRISTMAS [abt 1768-1804] , married John GREEN in 1787 in
Warren County, North Carolina and where she died same time as her
brother. Martha and John dad two children: Thomas E. GREEN who
married Nancy WILLIS and Susan "Sarah" GREEN who married Henry
YANCEY they had three sons. Not much is known about Martha and John
GREEN's life although we can trace the family through deeds and the
estate of Captain Thomas CHRISTMAS, her father. More on the children
can be found in the chapter of John GREEN and Jane YANCEY-CHRISTMAS.
3 Nancy CHRISTMAS [aft 1768], married Edwin "Edward" TANNER on March
20th, 1797 in Orange County, North Carolina. Nancy and Edwin had
four children: Susan TANNER , Martha TANNER , John TANNER and
William TANNER . Not much is known at this time on this family.
4 Alice D. CHRISTMAS ,
married Thomas POWER , the son of Capt. John POWER and Henrietta
CHRISTMAS [sister to Captain Thomas CHRISTMAS Alice's father making
then cousins], on 2nd day of September 1807 in Orange County, North
Carolina. Not much is known at this time on this line.
5 Mary "Polly" G. CHRISTMAS , married Richard C. POWER , son of
Capt. John POWER and Henrietta CHRISTMAS [sister of Captain Thomas
CHRISTMAS making them cousins], on the 28th of October in 1811 in
Warren County, North Carolina. Polly and Richard had four children:
Mary POWER , who married Benjamin W. COLLIER August 16th, 1837;
Edward POWER ; John POWER and Amanda POWER , who married her
brother-in-law Benjamin W. COLLIER in 1853 after her sisters death
in 1851.
[6] [John CHRISTMAS] unknown
[7] [Thomas CHRISTMAS Jr. Administrator of his father's will]
unknown
The list of Children was derived from the DUKE family history by
George
WORTHAM written in 1877 from his notes and letters and the writings
of
Lewis Yancey CHRISTMAS, the grandson of Thomas and Sarah [DUKE]
CHRISTMAS.
This list doesn't include the two younger sons but they can be found
in the
tax lists and census reports of this family and Thomas Jr. is
administrator
of his father's estate.
Sources:
1 Warren County,
NC Deed Book 3 p-12-14
2 Warren County, NC Deed Book 3 p-229-230
3 The North Carolinian Vol VII #4 Dec 1961 #28 p-900.
4 Bute County Committee on Safety Minutes 1775-76 p-19, 20, 25, 26,
54,75.
5 Warren County, NC Deed Book 6 p-9,10.
6 Warren County, NC Deed Book 6 p-212.
7 Warren County, NC Deed Book 6-193-194.
8 Warren County, NC Deed Book 7-152,153.
9 Orange County, NC Will Book A p-261-268.
10 1784-87 NC State Census Warren Co. p-161 Capt WHITE's Dist. p-1.
11 Franklin County, NC Deed Book p-132.
12 Warren County, NC Tax List Halifax Dist roll T498 #2 p-78.
13 Warren County NC Census roll 32 p-796.
14 Warren County NC Census roll M253 p-764 & p-763.
15 Abstracts of Vital Records from Raleigh, NC Newspapers 1799-1819
Vol I p-93.
16 Warren County NC Will Book 18 p-48, 66, 162-167.
©
Ginger Beattie-Christmas
2001 All rights reserved.
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