SWANN

  • William Swann was grt 1200a in James City Co Va, Nov 5, 1635, for trans 24 persons, some of whom were Richard Jones, John Swann, Nicholas Stallings, Nicholas Foster, Edward Champion, & Richard Perry. This grant was reissued to Thomas Swann, by Sir John Harvey.
  • Thomas Swann had land grant, Mar 1, 1638, 1200a (as above) on South side of James River, “to half way Neck.” Another grt, May 9, 1638, on South side of the James, “at a place called Swanns Bay.” He was a member of the House of Burgesses, from James City Co, (Surry) 1645-49, and from Surry Co, 1657-58. In Council 1660-80; d Sept 16, 1680. His home was on Swanns Point, Surry Co Va, & the English sent to suppress Bacons Rebellion, met at his house. He married five times, Miss Codd being his first wife, by whom he had, 1st Samuel, b May 11, 1653, who moved to Perq Co, N. C.
  • Maj Samuel Swann, “Eldest son of Thomas Swann Esq, of Southwarke pish, dec’d, for £30 pd by Mary Swann Widow of afsd” sold 300a in Surry Co, upon Grays Creek, “part of a grt unto my dec’d father, for 1930a, Oct 4, 1645.” Seal Feb 25, 168½. Sarah Swann Ack’ sd Deed, Mar 7, 168½. (Surry Co records.)
  • Sarah Swann, wife of Maj Samuel, (by letter) apt’ Capt Thomas Swann of James City Co, her Att’ to recover “goods, Chattels, & money due my sd husband.” April 30, 1694. Test’ Will Foster, Will Gray, Roger Williams. (Surry Co records.)
  • Samuel Swann “Sone and heir of Thomas,” for £75 s4 pd by John Tuke of Surry Co, sold “All Right in Est of my father, the late Capt Thomas Swann,” and apt’ Maj Arthur Allen Att’ Feb 8, 1704. (Surry Co records.)
  • Samuel Swann “of N. C. gent; sold to Joseph John Jackman of Surry Co Vir” for £450, land called Swanns Point, 1650a, was 300a grt by sd Samuel, by deed, to Mary Swann Relict of Thomas, which was grt sd Thomas “his father” by patent, Feb 15, 1645, in Southwarke Parish, on South side of the James River. Mar 4 1706. Elizabeth wife of Samuel Ack’ her Dower right. (Samuel Swanns 2d wife née Lillington.)
  • Samuel Swann proved rights for 13 persons, in Perq precinct 1694, & received for importing them 640a of land; himself, wife Sarah (d of Wm Drummond) & sons: William, Samuel, Sampson, Henry, & Thomas, Elizabeth Hunt, & 5 negroes.
  • He was grt by John Archdale 450a in Pasq Co, Feb 26, 1696, “at the mouth of Newbegun Creek,” which he conveyed to said Archdale, the next day.
  • On Oct 29, 1702 Samuel Swann Esq, was grt 850a, “in ye prect of perquimons, adj Mr Thomas Durant, and Roan Oak Sound, Northerly on Batemans Creek, & Easterly on lands of Geo Katchmaide (now in poss’ of Mr Jno Hawkins) being part of 3333a grt by Sir Wm Berkley, late Gov of Vir, to sd Katchmaide, late of the precinct of Perq dec’d.” April 1, 1663.
  • Hon’ble Maj Samuel Swann Sec of State. (At a Gen’l Court in Perq pre’t 1700.) The ages of his first children, can not be found in Perq. His wife Sarah, died April 18, 1696. Samuel Swann (1) m 2d Elizabeth née Lillington (d of Alex & wife Sarah née James) widow of John Fendall. (See deeds, for mar contract.) Issue: 1 Elizabeth, b June 26, 1698—2 Sarah, b Dec 29 —.
  • Maj Samuel Swann d 7 ber 14, 1707. (Berkeley Par Reg, Perq Co.)
  • Samuel (1) Swann, m Elizabeth Fendall (widow) before Oct 10, 1698.
  • John Fendall late of this County, died Dec 20, 1695, at Capt Walkers house. (Capt Henderson Walker, one time Gov of Albemarle m Ann Lillington, sister of Elizabeth, 2d wife of Samuel Swann.)
  • For the will of Maj Samuel Swann, see Grimes N. C. Wills, p 368, which was p April 20, 1708. He bequeathed to s William “a Bible, & seal ring,” to sons: Sampson, Henry, & Thomas, “land between Muddy Creek, & Marshy Gutt” sons: Samuel, & John, dau’s Elizabeth, & Sarah; wife Elizabeth.
  • Henry Swann of Perq, Merchant: apt’ Mr William, & Thomas Swann his Att’ Sept 21 1709.
  • Thomas Swann of Pasq Co, conveyed 127a in sd Co, “to his cousin Wm Drummond of Vir, to him & his heirs forever” Oct 18, 1726. (Pasq County Records.)
  • Samuel Swann of Perq was dec’d 1704. Mary widow & Admix. (Col Rec Vol I.) This could not be Maj Samuel’s son, as he names a son Samuel in his will, 1708. If the Samuel who died 1704, left any issue, there is no record of it in Perq.
  • (3) Samuel (s of Maj Samuel & Sarah née Drummond) m Mary — (Widow Vail) issue: Mary, b Mch 5, 1726/7, m Richard Clayton—2 Sarah, b Sept 3, 1729—3 Samuel, b Dec 8, 1731.
  • Samuel Swann (3) will Perq, p April 1753, names his dau Mary “wife of Richard Clayton,” to whom he left “land on the Sound side,” other dau’s Sarah, Ann, Elizabeth, Martha, Jane, Margaret. Exrs John, & Jeremiah Vail (brothers). Test’ Susannah Vail, William Woolard.
  • Thomas Swann (s of Maj Samuel & Sarah Drummond) lived in Pasq Co, where his will was p Aug 9, 1733. Sons: Samuel, & William. He made bequest to Dau’s Rebecca, & Elizabeth, “land at Moyock, in Currituck Co,” wife Elizabeth.
  • John & Thomas Swann moved to Hyde County, where their descendants are now living. The county seat of Hyde, Swan Quarter, was probably named for this branch of the family.
  • (3) Samuel Swann, was Speaker of the Assembly in 1715. Samuel Swann Gent, was sworn in by George Nichols, Att’ Gen’l, for the Counties of Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans, & Chowan, Oct 3, 1752.
  • Samuel Swann, & son John were Exrs of the will of Thomas Snowden, p in Perq Oct 1736.
  • One of Maj Samuel Swanns dau’s m John Baptista Ashe, another m Frederick Jones, of Chowan County, Chief Justice of N. C. 1720.
  • Major Samuel Swanns record in Perq, is without a blemish. The family adhered faithfully to the faith of their fathers, & Samuel Swann was instrumental in establishing a Church according to his belief, the Church of England, believed to be “old Nags Head Chapel” which has long since disappeared. This Chapel, not far from his home, was still unfinished at his death, but it served the people of “Durants Neck” for many generations, finally falling into decay, it was turned over to the Methodist congregation, and it is said the present New Hope Church rests upon the old foundations of Nags Head Chapel. This Methodist Church, is the oldest in the county, so it seems. Here New Hope took root upon “old hope” buried in the past.
  • At the present time there is not a living representative of this influential family in Perq, the last to be found, being Samuel, who was dec’d June 13, 1771, without heirs. Like so many other families, once numerous in our county, they have drifted away, & only the records are a reminder that they at one time wielded a strong hand in the public affairs of this section.
  • The New Hanover Land Grants, in N. C. show that Samuel Swann, was grt 320a in said county, on East side of the road, from Wilmington, to Brunswick, below his line, Feb 23, 1754, and 300a on same day, same runnings, and 200a on Long Creek, all same date. Thus we see the Swann family continued to migrate ever southward. The Counties of Hyde, Beaufort, & New Hanover, would probably yield valuable information, about this splendid family.

Source: History of Perquimans County by Ellen Goode Rawlings Winslow, (1931).

LILLINGTON

No history of Perquimans would be complete without mention of this prominent family, who took such an active part in the early official activities of the colony, and Perq Precinct in particular. Their marriages are found among the highest, and best families, and they wielded a strong hand in the early government of Albemarie. Where they emigrated from to N. C. the records do not make plain, but from the name, one would naturally think from old England. They disappeared from Perquimans almost as mysteriously as they appeared, and only a few deeds are left to give any clue to where they migrated.

  • Lillington, Alexander (1) m 1st Sarah James, June 11, 1668, “by Mr Taylor Minister,” according to Berkeley Par Reg, and had issue: 1 James, b June 5, 1671, d Apl 15, 1692—2 Alexander, b Aug 3, 1674. He m 2d Elizabeth Cooke, June 13, 167— issue: 3 Ann, b June 1, 1679—4 Sarah, b Jany 20, 1681, d last of February 169 —5 Mary, b April 22, 1683—6 John, b June 14, 1687, m Sarah Porter of Beaufort Co N. C. dau of John—7 Sarah (2d by name) b Aug 16, 1690. (Berkeley Par Reg.)
  • Elizabeth wife of Alexander Lillington, died Mch 29, 1695. 
  • Alexander Lillington died Sept 11, 1697. He m for his 3d wife Mrs. Ann Steward ,— 19, 1695, by whom no issue.
  • Lillington, Alexander (2) Alexander (1) m Sarah — issue: George, b Aug 10, 1693.
  • Lillington, Elizabeth, (d of Maj Alex Lillington, & wife Elizabeth) m 1st John Fendall, (s of Josiah, & Mary) Apl 3, 1694, by whom one son Robert Fendall. John Fendall died Dec 20, 1695, “at the house of Capt Walker” who was his bro-in-law, having m Ann Lillington sister of Elizabeth. Elizabeth Fendall née Lillington, m 2d Samuel Swann of Perq, 1698. (See marriage contract, Deeds in Perq Co.) 
  • Lillington, John, of Bath, made a deed in Perq Co, April 9, 1715, naming his “father Alex Lillington” and sold 640a on a Branch of Yeopim Creek, to line of Thomas Carey. (Deed book B, 101.) This land was taken up by said Alexander Lillington (1) Mar 30, 1694, and descended to his son John. 
  • Maj Alex Lillington was born 1643, died 1697.
  • John Lillington served as Treasurer of Beaufort Precinct, 1719. 
  • Major Lillington had other grants in Perquimans, as follows: 400a “at Bentleys Creeque, fronting ye Sound, at ye mouth of said Creeque, in Berkeley precinct.” 1681. (Land book I, p 103) and 49a on Eastermost side of Indian Creek. Mar 31, 1694. (Land book I, p 4.) (See “Grimes N. C. Wills,” and deeds in this book.)

Source: History of Perquimans County by Ellen Goode Rawlings Winslow, (1931).

JOHN FENDALL (1696 Will)

Will of

JOHN FENDALL

1696

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I, John Fendall, of Pequimons Prcinct, being very Sick and weake in body tut of perfect mind and memory, God be praysed, doe make and Ordeyne this my last Will and Testament in forme following:

First, I surrender my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my maker & unto Jesus Christ my only Saviour & redeemer trusting in his merritts and prcious Death to have pardon of all my Sins; & my Body to the Earth from whence it came to be decently Interred according to the Discretion of my Executor; And for the Worldly Estate God bath given me, I bequeath as followeth:

Imprimis. I give unto my Brother, Robert Fendall, all my wearing Cloathes; And all the rest of my Estate whatsoever, be it real or personall, in any kind whatsoever, I give to my loving Wife Elizabeth Fendall, and to her heyrs forever.

And I make & Ordayne my loving Father in Law, Alexander Lillington, Executor of this my last will and Testament. And I revoake all former Wills by me in any wise made.

In wittness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand & Seal, the Seventeenth Day of December, 1695.                                              

JOHN  X  FENDALL

Signed, Sealed, published &

declared (after the word Lillington interlyned) in Presence of:

JOHN DIX.

ANN WALKER.

HENDERSON WALKER.

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Att a Court held for the prcinct of Chowan, the first Monday in April, 1696, this will of Capt. John Fendall was proved by the Oathes of Captn. Henderson Walker, Mrs. Ann Walker & John Dix.

                                                                         Attested by NATH. CHOWIN Cler.

No. CAROLINA. The Hono’ble the Palatines Court.

Whereas, Captn. John Fendall, of Pequimons, is Deceased having made by his Last Will and Testament, Major Alexander Lillington, his Exec- utor, a true Coppy whereof is hereunto annexed, These are to impower the said Alexander Lillington, to Enter in and upon all and Singular the Goods & Chattles, Rights and Creditts of the sd. John Fendall, and a True Inventory thereof to return, & within one year after the Date hereof, and the Same to dispose of as by the sd. Will. Dated the Eighth Day of April, 1696.

THOS. HARVEY,

DANIEL ABELHURST.

FRANCIS TOMES

SAM’L SWANN.

Recorded in Will Book 1, page 81, Office of the Secretary of State.

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Contributed by Nola Duffy

Edited and proofed by Mary Maarbjerg

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