Some Searcy Gatherings

Some SEARCY Gatherings

Contributed by Evelyn W. Wallace

This is part of a collection of notes and genealogies put together by the late author over more than 50 years of research of many Granville Co. families and being shared here hopefully to help others in their quest for their own ancestors. There is additional info and documents on this website for many of the names included in these notes, so do a Search above, or click onto any of the underlined links included in these records.

BARTLETT SEARCY. (1730?-1784 KY) WIR00435. The Williams family of Nutbush Creek area of colonial Granville Co., NC is said to have been related to the Searcys of the same county. Lucy Williams, sister of the four brothers, John Williams, Esq. (d. 1799), William Williams (d. at Boonesborough, Dec 1775) Nathaniel Williams (d. ca 1831, Granville Co. NC WB 12-41), and Charles Williams (d. ca 1819), is said to have been married to Bartlett Searcy.   This has not been confirmed, and there seem to be no evidences of gifts of deed or purchase deeds between Bartlett Searcy and wife Lucy and the extended Williams family of Nutbush Creek area.

     Lucy was allegedly the daughter of John Williams Sr. (formerly of Goochland Co., later of Granville Co.). (This has not been verified.)

     This information comes from Alvahn Holmes in SOME FARRAR'S ISLAND DESCENDANTS (1979) (SL film 1033635). She quotes from a family Bible of Dr. William Farrar Henderson, a son of Judge Leonard Henderson, whose wife was Frances Farrar. (Source: Dec 1992 letter from Floyd R. Negley, Tucson, AZ, descendant of Nancy [Williams] Negley of Henderson Co., KY, and thus of Nancy's father, Samuel Farrar Williams, formerly of Granville Co., NC, who died in Henderson Co. after 1835.)

      There is evidence in Granville Co. will abstracts compiled by Zae Hargett Gwynn that one John Searcy, whose will was proved Feb Court 1787 had several sons, one of whom was Bartlett Searcy. The other children were William (deceased by 1783, when the will was made); John; Mary Reardon; Susanna Hayes; Reuben, Elizabeth, Sarah Linsey, and Richard Searcy. (WB 2-1).

       In the tax list of 1769, Granville Co., NC were these Searcys: John, Sr., John, Jr; Bartlett, and Reuben. Bartlett declared 1 white, 1 black. See John, Sr.'s biography.

     In 1771 in Granville Co., Bartlet Searcy and wife, Lucy, deeded property to Thomas Wiggins, 28 Oct 1771. (Zae Hargett Gwynn, KINFOLKS OF GRANVILLE CO., NC).

     See biography of Reuben Searcy, whose first wife was Susannah Henderson. The Searcys, particularly Reuben, was a frequent bondsman for the Williams and Henderson marriages.   Note that John Williams, Esq. (of Granville Co., NC), Lucy's said-t-be brother, and Reuben Searcy were co-executors of Bartlett Searcy, whose will was probated in Madison Co., KY.   Reuben held several county offices, including county clerk and constable.

Other Granville Co., NC Records

     Before migrating to Madison Co., KY, Bartlett Searcy and his extended family had long been active in the politics and social life of Granville Co. His probable father, John Searcy, Sr. had purchased land from the Williams family. Refer to his separate biography.

     Bartlett and Reuben Searcy, along with Anne Glover, were witnesses in 1751 to a deed of John Glover and wife Mary to William Searcy (Granville DB A-536 through 538). This is the first appearance of the Searcys in the Granville deed books.   There is some indication in sparse Hanover Co. VA records that the Searcys had resided in that part of Virginia in the 1733-35 time period.

     Granville Co., NC Deed Bk G-98-99 1 Aug 1762 - Grant to Bartlet Searcy for 520 acres on Reedy Branch at Hawkins' corner, Mitchell's line, Bullock's line, Pascal's line. (Gwynn, DEEDS)

     The following verifies that Searcy lived in the area of Nutbush Creek ca 1769:.

     "Oct. 20, 1769. "Order'd that Bartlett Searcy & the Hands that Work's under him turn the Road from Nutbush Bridge, by the School House, thr'o Daniel William's Plantation the best & most & most (sic) convenient way into the other Road, & that He keep in repair, that part which Len. Henley Bullock Esq. has opened." "First reference to schoolhouse on the Ct. Minutes."

       (Thomas McAdory Owen, HISTORY AND GENEALOGIES OF OLD GRANVILLE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, 1746-1800 [Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1993] p. 205.

     Court minutes of] April 19, 1770, "Ordered that Bartlett Searcy be released from the payment of one Levy for the Year 1769, having acted as Constable that Year." (Owen, p. 237)

     The following patents, grants by Lord Granville, show the close association of the Searcy and the Williams families. Charles and Nathaniel Williams were the younger sons of John Williams, Sr., as indicated by deeds. Possibly they were brothers of Lucy Williams Searcy. John Williams, Jr. (later called Esq.) is so-called because his father, John Williams, Sr. did not die until ca 1768-1770, as indicated by Granville Co. records. Later, John Williams, Jr. was called in the records "John Williams, Esq." as he was a noted jurist of colonial and later North Carolina.:

    Patent Bk. 14, p. 2783, pg. 90 John Williams 28 November 1760. 600 acres in Granville Co. in the Par. of St. John on both sides of Flat Creek, joining Joseph Glover, Nathaniel Doughorty, and Nathaniel Norwood. OR /s/ John Williams Jr. Wits: Will Hurst, Reuben Searcy examined by Tho Jones and William Hurst surveyed 9 June 1755. SCC: Charles Williams, Nathl Williams   Sherd Haywood D. Sur

(Charles and Nathaniel Williams were younger brothers of older brothers of John Williams, Jr/. and of William Williams.)

     Patent Bk 14, No. 2787, pg 91, grant from Lord Granville to John Williams, 24 Jul 1761. 690 acres in Granville County on both sides of Hatchers run. OR [original record] /s/ John Williams Jr. Wits: Thomas Lowe, Bartlet Searcy surveyed 20 Aug 1760. SCC Thos Bradford, Robt Poire (?), Thos Person, surveyor.

     (Margaret M. Hofmann,THE GRANVILLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA 1748-1763, ABSTRACTS OF LAND GRANTS, V. 2)

     On the same date, 2 Aug 1775, at Granville Co. court, both Bartlett Searcy and Daniel Williams (probable son of Daniel I who had died in 1759) petitioned to build grist mills on great Nutbush. These cases were continued. By Feb. 6, 1776, the court granted leave to Wm. Bullock to build a grist mill on little Nutbush [as opposed to great Nutbush] on his own land. (Owen, op. cit., p. 161)

     Owen notes that Bartlett Searcy was Justice for the county court, as indicated by the years' court minutes: 1781, 1782, 1783, 1784. (Owen, p. 177)

     On 3 May 1780 Bartlett Searcy applied for a license for ordinary at his dwelling. (Owen, 188)

     According to ROSTER OF NORTH CAROLINA SOLDIERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, Bartlet Searsey [sic] was captain of a company raised under "the present Act of Assembly..." 25 May 1778. It is noted that another captain was Richard Searsey who commanded, among others, Asa Searsey, planter. Another captain was Thomas "Saleswhite," who probably is Thomas Satterwhite (qv). Asa Searcey and Thomas Satterwhite were of Granville Co. as records indicate. (A Thomas Satterwhite married daughter of ... Williams**, but he is believed to have been of a later generation; there were several generations of Thomas Satterwhites, who came from Virginia.)

     Apparently Bartlet Searcy was in the military during the Revolution. He was awarded a land grant by North Carolina in Tennessee, but he apparently did not claim it. The indication in the records is that he was in the Continental line. His name appears in the list of 1782 for Davidson County, which later became Tennessee:

          "85. Bartelet Searsey [sic] 640 [A] on Stones Creek, Eastise of Stones River."

     (Goldene Fuller Burgner, NORTH CAROLINA LAND GRANTS IN TENNESSEE [Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, ....] p. 124)

     On the suceeding page, a John Searsey, apparently also of the Continental line, was also awarded 640 acres, same county, "near Auhers [?] Station."

Madison County, KY Records

      Bartlett Searcy's will was probated in both Madison Co., KY, where he probably died (made his will 28 Jul 1780, recorded 3 Mar 1795) and in Granville Co., NC, where he and his survivors owned land (WB 1-409, rec 1784). If the will were indeed made in 1780, then this refutes a list of "Pioneers at Boonesborough" which states that Bartlett Searcy was killed in 1775.

      (William E. Ellis, H. E. Everman, Richard D. Sears, MADISON COUNTY: 200 YEARS IN RETROSPECT [Richmond, KY: The Madison County Historical Society, 1985], p. 423).

     In May 1786, WB 1-479, "Inventory of estate of Bartlet Searcy by Reuben and Sam'l Searcy"

     (Zae Hargett Gwynn, ABSTRACTS OF THE WILLS AND ESTATE RECORDS OF GRANVILLE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, 1746-1808, p 106)

     Ironically, apparently a short time before Bartlett Searcy made his will, he signed a petition addressed to the General Assembly of Virginia. It was from "the inhabitants north of the Kentucky River (at Boons Station, on 10 Jun 1780) petitioning for "a division of the County of Kentucky." (This information was researched by Col. George C. Chadwick and published in KENTUCKY ANCESTORS V. 27, vol. 4, p. 223. The original document is said to be at the Virginia State Library, Richmond. VA.)

     Bartlett Searcy's will made 28 July 1780, was filed in Madison Co., KY, although Searcy was "of Granville Co., NC," as stated in the will.   It appears in Madison Co., KY mixed probate records, Vols A-B 1787-1819.   Executors were "Lucy, my wife," "Samuel, my son," John Williams, Esq., Reuben Searcy. Witnesses were Elizabeth (X-her mark) Searcy, Leonard (X-his mark) Hays, Thomas Searcy, and Reuben Searcy. When the youngest child was fifteen years old, the property was to be sold and divided. The will was proved Granville Co., NC, Nov. 1784 and probated in Madison Co., KY 1795.

     (Question: Was Leonard Hays the nephew of Bartlett Searcy?)

    (Source: Ardery, KENTUCKY COURT AND OTHER RECORDS, V. II, p. 68 The will as filed in Madison Co., KY appears on film FHL 183,266, Madison County, KY Mixed Probate Records Vols A-B 1787-1819).

     Confusing this genealogy, however, is another abstract by Ardery on p. 99 showing will dated 17 Sep 1784, filed in Woodford Co., KY of Bartlett Searcy of "Fiat Co., VA" with another wife and other children. No doubt this was a namesake, who died at a later time. His executors were his wife Ann, Col. Daniel Boone, W. Flanders Calloway. Further reference to this Searcy's estate is found in Woodford Deed Bk B, March Ct, 1793 (Ardery, p. 163-64). Reference is made to Robert Burton of Greenville Co., NC [Granville Co., NC?]. It is probably this Bartlett Searcy who is listed on the list of Virginia Land Grants in Kentucky :

Searcy apparently received three grants, all in Fayette Co., KY. These were in 1783, 1785 and 1786. This may have been for military duty for Virginia during the American Revolution. More research needs to be conducted.

     Refer to the biography of John Williams I of Hanover Co., VA for reference to the marriage of Bartlett Searcy to the eldest daughter of Col. John Williams (b. 1704), reportedly of Hanover Co., VA. These statements made by Mrs. Frances Fouler, Chapel Hill, NC, in a letter dated 1 May 1947 to Worth S. Ray ("Ray Collection," Special Collections, Family History Library, Salt Lake City) can be verified. She indicates there was another sister who was married to William Farrar, and that Mrs. Searcy's brothers were: Judge John Williams, Nathaniel Williams, Charles Williams, and William Williams, who died at Boonesborough. This coincides with the information found in Holmes' work cited above. (This information should be checked against official records. John Williams, of early Hanover Co., VA, has not found to be referred to as "Col." Also, to date, Lucy Searcy the widow, seems to have had no connection with the Williams family of the Nutbush Creek area of colonial Granville Co., NC.)

     Mrs. Fouler stated to Ray that she was the great granddaughter of Frances Henderson and Dr. Wm. Vannah Taylor (1790-1873), but she seems to have eliminated the earlier generations of Hendersons from her letter.

     The Searcys were associated with the Bullocks in Hanover Co., VA. Several documents remain which confirm this.

     RICHARD BULLOCK, JUNR., 400 acs. (N.L.), Hanover Co., adj. Benjamin Brown, Robert Kindle, Mr. Crighill (Craighill); Robert Sercey; Charles Snelson; & Cock's line; 11 Apr 1732. p. 409 [VA Patent Book 14]

     (Source: Nell Marion Nugent, CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS, V. III, p. 414.)

Other Kentucky Records for Searcys

Fayette Co., KY Tax Records for 1788

Searcy, Bartlett 1 tithable; 3 horses
Searcy, Richard 2 tithables; 3 horses

Madison Co., KY Tax List for 1788:

Searcy Charles   1 tithable; 1 black over 16; 9 horses & cattle

     The following probably refers to some of the children of Bartlett Searcy, who died in Madison Co., KY. His wife, as stated, was Lucy.

     Granville Co. NC Will Book 4-94-95, 29 Oct 1796 - Richard Searcey of Madison County, Kentucky appoints William Williams Searcey of Madison County, Kentucky attorney to convey his land in Granville Co., NC on Tarr River. Wits: none

      (Zae Hargett Gwynn, ABSTRACTS OF THE WILLS AND ESTATE RECORDS OF GRANVILLE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA 1746-1808 [Rocky Mount, NC: 1973], p. 204)

     A compilation of Madison County, KY marriages indicates that Lucy Searcy and some of her children, who were married in that county, continued to remain in Kentucky after the death of Bartlett.

From Searcy list- e-mail from Debra 16 Dec 2001 (d3nmb@earthlink.net)
Reported children of Bartlett Searcy: Samuel, John, Richard, Charles, Reuben, Robert, Anderson, Levicy, William Williams, Sally

**From: Thomas McAdory Owen, "History and Genealogies of Old Granville County, North Carolina, 1746-1800", Copyright 1993 (Southern Historical Press Inc.,P.O.Box 1267,Greenville,SC 29202-1267), Pg. 74-ABSTRACTS OF MARRIAGE LICENSE BONDS, ISBN 0-89308-487-5.
THOMAS SATTERWHITE to ANNE KEELING. Bond dated: Oct. 15, 1772. Signed by Thomas SATTERWHITE & Reuben SEARCY.
[This was the step-daughter of John Williams, Esq. d.1799, a.k.a. Judge John Williams; he married in Nov. 1759, Agnes Bullock-Keeling, widow of George Keeling, who had left a will in Halifax Co.,NC, probated September 1759, where he named his children: John, Elizabeth, Anne, Frances, and Agatha Keeling.]

Also:
CEMETERY CENSUS- Vance County North Carolina:
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Location - in Williamsboro on Thomas Rd (SR-1329) just west of NC Hwy 39.
Coordinates: 36d 25m 46.6s N; 78d 26m 02.6s W

# Satterwhite, Anne Keeling (b. 1752 - d. 1788)
wife of Thomas Satterwhite

# Satterwhite, Thomas (Col.) (b. 15 Feb 1732 - d. Jul 1797)
husband of Anne Keeling Satterwhite. S.A.R. emblem "A Revolutionary Soldier". By Fred B. Satterwhite in March 2005.

See listing & photo #53, #54: http://cemeterycensus.com/nc/vanc/cem008.htm

(Notes by D. Williams)