Tag: Harvey

QUAKER COMMUNITIES IN ALBEMARLE by Anne L. McCarthy

QUAKER COMMUNITIES IN ALBEMARLE

From The Hill Family of Chowan County North Carolina

By Anne L. McCarthy 

The land configurations of Albemarle made the area attractive and accessible. Laced with small streams, creeks, and deep rivers, the easy access by water into the untamed region offered ports for ocean-going ships able to take the settlers’ products directly to Caribbean ports and to the other colonies. Abundance of water also aided the farmers with their crops and for their homes. The Chowan, Perquimans, Pasquotank, and Little Rivers were linked with the smaller streams making a veritable water highway throughout the area. The source of these rivers was the Great Dismal Swamp, where the color of the water was a deep red, caused by the waters passing through the roots of the cypress trees. The water, however, was perfectly clear, tasted by no means unpleasant, and was quite wholesome. It had a diuretic effect on those who drank it, and prevented agues and fevers, or so it was claimed. Filled with the perils of virgin forests, native Indians, wild animals, insects, snakes, and reptiles, this area south of the Great Dismal Swamp was also more isolated from the English authorities.

Following the first landowners who settled along the main rivers and shores of Albemarle Sound, new arrivals were finding homesites father up near the heads of the four main rivers. When the word spread that this was a place where people were able to worship in freedom and that the Virginia government had less influence in the region, the Quakers in southern Virginia came to Albemarle in increasing numbers. They were an industrious, plain, sober, and hardy people who had already endured much hardship and privation. They were soon joined by other Quakers from the New England colonies who had heard that new Quaker settlements were being started in the south. One of these couples who came in the 1660’s was Henry and Hannah (Baskel) Phelps from Salem, Massachusetts. Among those who came from the Charlestown settlement in southern Carolina were Patrick Henley, John Culpeper, and Edward Mayo who had come originally from Barbados in the Caribbean.

On February 6, 1665, the first group of six freeholders met beneath a giant oak tree on the banks of Hall’s (Hill’s ?) Creek in Pasquotank Precinct1 to organize community affairs. William Drummond, one of those present at that meeting, had been appointed the first Governor of Albemarle in 1664 by Gov. Berkeley, acting on orders of the Lord Proprietors. George Catchmaid of Perquimans was chosen Assembly Speaker.2 Samuel Pricklove and George Durant were probably also among the original six at the meeting. Both served as local officials and were the first two settlers of the area. The isolation of Albemarle and the independent nature of it’s people were factors contributing to unstable government in the young colony in its first years of existence.

In 1676 Drummond returned to Virginia where he became actively involved in Bacon’s Rebellion. He was an ardent supporter of Nathaniel Bacon and thereby angered Governor Berkeley. When the rebellion was put down after Bacon’s death from illness, the Governor made Drummond the first of the rebels to pay the price for their disloyalty to his authority. Drummond was sentenced to be hanged. Mrs. Drummond and the children were put out of their home and were left wandering in the swamps near starvation. 

The Lord Proprietors next named Samuel Stephens as Governor of Albemarle. He served from 1667-1669. Stephens was born in Jamestown in 1629 and was the first governor of any colony to be born in America. He was married to Frances Culpeper, the sister of Lord John Culpeper. When Stephens died in1669, she married Governor William Berkeley. After Berkeley’s death in 1677, she married thirdly Phillip Ludwell, Governor of Charlestown, in ‘south’ Carolina. Stephens had owned a tract of 4,000 acres of land in Albemarle which was sold upon his death to John Hill of York County. In 1693 this same tract of land was sold by John Hill’s son, Samuel Hill of Warwick Co. and his wife, Mary, to Governor Seth Sothel (Southwell).

Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia had reverberations in Albemarle. Some of Albemarle’s residents had been active in the Virginia revolt, and they returned to Albemarle to continue stirring up discontent there. John Culpeper, who had come to Pasquotank in 1675 from the Charlestown settlement where he had been accused of inciting the people against their government, was one of these. He left Pasquotank in 1676 to become Nathaniel Bacon’s lieutenant during the rebellion in Virginia. When the revolt was put down, he escaped to Albemarle, where he continued to sow seeds of discontent.

Disagreement between the early settlers who bought their lands from the Indians and those who had received land patents from the Lord Proprietors was an underlying cause of dispute. In addition, conflict between Quakers and non-Quakers, while government attempts to restrict export of tobacco (the money crop) also resulted in discontent. Nine Friends were fined and imprisoned in 1680 for refusing to bear arms. Samuel Hill of Warwick was one of these men.

When unrest in Albemarle broke out in Culpeper’s Rebellion, in 1677, Thomas Miller, an apothecary from Pasquotank, was serving as Deputy Governor in place of Thomas Eastchurch. The rebels, led by John Culpeper, arrested Gov. Miller and Customs Collector, Timothy Biggs, and took over the government. In Pasquotank County, Culpeper is proudly claimed as America’s first governor of a free people in this country and Albemarle as the first independent colony in the new world. Culpeper’s widow, Sarah Mayo, daughter of Edward Mayo, again married in 1693 to Patrick Henley, the earliest Henley ancestor of the family that later became closely associated with the Hills.

Bacon’s and Culpeper’s Rebellions came perilously close to the members of the Hill family. As Quakers they did not take active roles in the insurrection, but they were closely associated with the officials who did. 

For the first thirty years Albemarle was governed by independent men, and Quakers served in all levels of political office. While there was a steady conflict for governmental control in Albemarle between members of the established church and the Quaker faction, the Quakers dominated in early Pasquotank. John Archdale followed Culpeper as Governor from 1694-1696. He was a Quaker and a Lord Proprietor, having purchased John Berkeley’s share. When a law was passed requiring officeholders to take an oath to serve the English crown, the Quakers, who believed oaths should be made only to God, met opposition and were prohibited from holding public office. From that time on their influence waned.

In this new setting life was a constant challenge for survival. Families were more isolated and vied with the Indians for sustenance off the land. Living on lands bought from the Indians meant they were living among the natives. Early on the Quakers learned how to treat the Indians with respect and to coexist with them. In the process their children acquired the Indian skills of living with nature. In the next generation these were skills that enabled the young men to lead their people into newer untouched lands to the west. 

In Albemarle life spans were short. With little medical resources other than the remedies handed down from generation to generation and surrounded by accidental risks, fevers, poisonous snakes and wild animals, men and women often were suddenly widowed and left with small children to care for without a home-maker or protector-provider. The widowed remarried quickly and often, some having three or four wives or husbands in their lifetimes. New marriage partners often came from within the small circle of neighboring families. These families came to be linked by intermarriage many times over. Marriage occurred at a young age for girls in particular. They learned the skills of home-making as a necessity to assist their mothers. Providing food, clothing, and health care for a family in the wilderness was no easy task and required the help of every hand at an early age. Without a pair of hardworking parents, a family could not survive. Families were large and children learned early to contribute to the work.

SAMUEL PRICKLOVE: AGITATOR

Samuel Pricklove was one of the first residents of Perquimans Precinct, arriving even before settler George Durant, in 1662. Pricklove was the first known purchaser of Indian lands in Albemarle and held a grant from Governor Berkeley of Virginia for a large tract on the Perquimans River near Durant, where the two men became life-long friends. Pricklove had moved from Nansemond County in Virginia with his wife, Rachel Lawrence, whose brother, Thomas Lawrence, was one of Nathaniel Bacon’s supporters in Bacon’s Rebellion. Pricklove held the offices of Registrar of deeds and Clerk of the Inferior Court under the administrations of two early Quaker Governors of Carolina in the 1650’s: Governor William Drummond (executed by Governor Berkeley in Bacon’s Rebellion) and Governor Archdale. Both Pricklove and Durant took part in the Culpepper Rebellion of 1677 and assisted in “leading the rabble” to depose the Deputy Governor Thomas Miller. For this crime of activism, Pricklove was sentenced to have his right ear amputated and be banished from the colony. The sentence was never carried out because Miller was deposed. Samuel Pricklove died in Perquimans County in 1692. He and his wife left two sons, Samuel and John. John Pritloe and his wife, Elizabeth, had six daughters, all of whom married men of substance and influence in Albemarle:

• Priscilla married John Sanders

• Judeth married Abram Sanders, son of John Sanders of Virginia

• Rachel married Robert Wilson, son of a Virginia Burgess

• Elizabeth married William Elliott

• Rebecca married Zacariah Chancy

• Leah married Joseph Smith. Leah and Joseph Smith were the grandparents of Mary Smith, wife of William Hill. John Smith, brother of Mary Hill, was one of the founders of Richmond, Indiana. Basil Sanders, who left 860 acres of land in Chowan County to a William Hill of Antigua in 1721, was likely the son of one of the above Sanders couples. 

The early Quaker communities were models of life based on their Christian beliefs. The Quaker believed that God speaks directly to the human heart, and that no ministers or priests are needed to receive the blessings of God, which are available to every man and woman. They believed in the equality of men and women. They used no hymns or outward manifestations in their worship, keeping silent until a person felt moved by God to share a message. The Quakers tithed. They refused to take an oath of any kind, as they owed their allegiance only to God. They believed in simplicity which strips away the accretions of the centuries and used the term Thee because Jesus used Thee to His Friends. The appellation, Quaker, came from their enemies who accused them of Quaking in the presence of God, which they did.

The Quaker dissenters in England had been prohibited from attending the public schools there, leading the Friends to establish their own schools to provide their young people with the education and religious precepts of their faith. A high priority was placed on having the best teachers and schools possible in order to preserve their sect.

The Quaker Meeting House had two sides separated by partitions which could be removed for general meetings. The men had their meetings on one side and conducted their affairs with their own appointed committees. The women, treated as equals, had their own meetings and committees to deal with their own particular concerns. Each group assigned overseers to monitor the conduct of their members, arrange for disputes between members to be settled in a peaceful and fair manner, and to “look into and approve or disapprove” of the appropriateness of the intention of members to marry. The poor and orphaned children were provided for by funds set aside in each meeting from tithes for that purpose, and new homes were arranged for the orphans where they would be clothed, fed, and taught a trade.

In the frontier communities the safety and welfare of the people depended on the cooperation of all and a commitment to the good of the community. Because they lived in primitive circumstances and close proximity to the Indians from whom they had bought their land, the Quakers took care to treat the Indians fairly and to learn their ways of survival off the land. They set up schools for the native children to help them come to understand the ways of the white man. The earliest religious meetings in Albemarle were held in the homes of their leaders. 

While the Quaker communities continued to grow in North Carolina and in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia, there remained a lingering unease over the tight control of the mother country affecting both the settler’s religious and economic lives. Young men were being conscripted into the militia to fight Indians on the western borders of Virginia and North Carolina and brought home with them news of the beautiful, undeveloped lands in the western parts of those states. The Quakers were assessing their local problems and the possibility of starting new settlements in the west.

The early Quaker communities were models of life based on their Christian beliefs. The Quaker believed that God speaks directly to the human heart, and that no ministers or priests are needed to receive the blessings of God, which are available to every man and woman. They believed in the equality of men and women. They used no hymns or outward manifestations in their worship, keeping silent until a person felt moved by God to share a message. The Quakers tithed. They refused to take an oath of any kind, as they owed their allegiance only to God. They believed in simplicity which strips away the accretions of the centuries and used the term Thee because Jesus used Thee to His Friends. The appellation, Quaker, came from their enemies who accused them of Quaking in the presence of God, which they did. 

The Quaker dissenters in England had been prohibited from attending the public schools there, leading the Friends to establish their own schools to provide their young people with the education and religious precepts of their faith. A high priority was placed on having the best teachers and schools possible in order to preserve their sect.

The Quaker Meeting House had two sides separated by partitions which could be removed for general meetings. The men had their meetings on one side and conducted their affairs with their own appointed committees. The women, treated as equals, had their own meetings and committees to deal with their own particular concerns. Each group assigned overseers to monitor the conduct of their members, arrange for disputes between members to be settled in a peaceful and fair manner, and to “look into and approve or disapprove” of the appropriateness of the intention of members to marry. The poor and orphaned children were provided for by funds set aside in each meeting from tithes for that purpose, and new homes were arranged for the orphans where they would be clothed, fed, and taught a trade.

In the frontier communities the safety and welfare of the people depended on the cooperation of all and a commitment to the good of the community. Because they lived in primitive circumstances and close proximity to the Indians from whom they had bought their land, the Quakers took care to treat the Indians fairly and to learn their ways of survival off the land. They set up schools for the native children to help them come to understand the ways of the white man. The earliest religious meetings in Albemarle were held in the homes of their leaders.

While the Quaker communities continued to grow in North Carolina and in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia, there remained a lingering unease over the tight control of the mother country affecting both the settler’s religious and economic lives. Young men were being conscripted into the militia to fight Indians on the western borders of Virginia and North Carolina and brought home with them news of the beautiful, undeveloped lands in the western parts of those states. The Quakers were assessing their local problems and the possibility of starting new settlements in the west. 

Concerned with the question of slavery, they knew they could not operate their farms without slave help. They preferred living in frontier areas where they were free of the social pressures of concentrated population. Albemarle was becoming quite populated.

HENRY WHITE

One of the earliest Quakers in Pasquotank County was Henry White who had come from Isle of Wight County, Virginia, around 1670. He had purchased lands at the head of Little River where a preparatory meeting had been established as early as 1663. White served as Registrar for Little River Meeting and for the Pasquotank Monthly Meeting which included four other meetings besides Little River. He served on the North Carolina Higher court and for short periods of time on the Precinct County Court.

White gave land for the building of a school alongside the meeting house which was the first school built in North Carolina, and he taught in that school. A poem White wrote in 1698 as a teaching tool for his students came to light at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. This long poem is said to be the oldest extant work of poetry from the southern states. It apparently was used as a form of communication with other Quaker meetings in various regions and to instruct his pupils with a religious message of the Quaker faith at the same time.

As a young man White had attended school in Isle of Wight County, where his father made a living as a cooper and served as Justice of the Peace. His grandfather, Henry White, had lived on Queen’s Creek in York County, north of Williamsburg.

In 1631 Governor John Harvey determined to secure the area between the James and York Rivers by building a palisade across the peninsula between Archer’s Hope (College Creek) and Queen’s Creek. Incentives were offered to any settler who would relocate to that area to defend and protect the development of the area. Fifty acres were offered to each man who would relocate there for the first year, twenty-five acres for a second year. This may have been the incentive for families like the Whites and the Hills to spend a short period at Queen’s Creek in York county, later returning to the counties south of the James River.

 

ABRAHAM SANDERS – Deed Abstracts

Abraham Sanders Deed Abstracts–Perquimans County

Book B, No. 85: James Thigpen, Jun. for £50 pd. by Abraham Sanders, assigns Right to Land. April 10, 1721. Test’ Samuel Philips, Rich’d Leary.

              No. 159: Abraham Sanders of Perq. for £60 pd by Benjamin Sanders , of afore’ sold 100a on S.W. side of the “narrows” of Perq.    

River, & Cypress swamp, at the mouth of “Chinquepin Orchard” branch, to Ralph Bosmans line. Aug 19, 1723. Test’ Robert Wilson, Nathan Newby.

          No. 240: Christopher Gale, John Lovick, & William Little, Esquires; Exors, & Trustees Apt’ in the last will of Henry Clayton, late of Chowan Pre’ct, Esq; said will Jan 20, 1725/26, “did bequeath to them” his Plan’ in Perq, called the “Vineyard”, for the use of his Dau’ Sarah Clayton & did empower them to sell same: One Abraham Sanders being the Highest Bidder do sell same for £400 “where Henry Clayton formerly lived”, being two thirds of 640a Patented Feb 6 —- One Half bought by Major James Coles Dec’d of Wm Fryley, & Grace his wife, & by said James Coles in his will “divided between his dau’ Elizabeth & his wife Mary’ & was by Henry Clayton purchased of Wm Hall of Perq. Planter—“also heir of said  Mary Dec’d.” July 12, 1726. Test’ Jo Jenure, Robert Foster, Wm Badham.

Book C, No. 165: Francis Newby, for £150 pd by Josiah Gilbert, of Perq, sold 125a on So Wt Side of Perq River, called “Benj Gidings Old Field’ adj Abraham Sanders, & Isaac Wilson, “now in possession of John Pettiver.” Dec 6, 1736. Test’ Thomas Gilbert, Wm Townsend.    

Book D, No. 101: Thomas Houghton, of Chowan, & Elizabeth, his wife, dau of Jonathan Evans dec, for £100 paid by Richard Skinner, Abram Sanders & Zachariah Nixon, (all of Perq), planter–, & John Wilcocks, of said Co., Millwright–sold 150a on Southeast side of “Castletons Creek,” up Creek Swamp, between Thomas & his brother William Houghton, “a dividing line between Peter Joses Jun, & the Orphans of John Williams dec,” over a Branch called “Beaver dam Swamp” formerly belonging to “Jonathan Evans, father of said Elizabeth,” April 18, 1743. Test’ Samuel Swann, Samuel Standin.

              No. 143: Abraham Sanders, Zachariah Nixon, of Perq, Planters—& John Wilcocks, of same, Millright—to Richard Skinner, of said Co., Planter—for £75 assigned “our right in a plan” on Southeast side of Castletons Creek, which we bought of Thomas and Elizabeth Haughton, adj Peter Jones Jun, & John Williams dec, 150 a part of a tract “formerly Jonathan Wvans.” Jan 17, 1743. Test’ Nathan Pearson, Malichi Salter Jun, John Pierce.

Book D, No. 26: Abraham Sanders, Sr. & Abraham Sanders Jr, of Perq for £10 pd by Wm Townsend, of afsd–sold ten a adj sd Townsen, & Phelps, part of a tract I had of my “father-in-law John Pritlaw” of same. Jan 25, 1744/45. test’ William Phelps, Samuel Sitterson, James Sitterson.

          No. 133: Zachariah Chancey of Perq sold unto Abraham Sanders, of afore’ one negro boy named Cato, aged two years, for £100 “in open market.” Jan 7, 1746. Test’ Rt Wilson, Stephen Chancey.

          No. 134: N.C. July Court 1748. Present his Majesties Justices. “Bill of sale of a negro boy Cato was assigned over by Abraham Sanders, to Mr. Luke Sumner.” Edmund Hatch Clk Ct.

          No: 135: Abraham Sanders, assigns the right of one negro boy Cato unto Luke Sumner. April 19, 1748. Test’ Samuel Moore, Jeremiah Pratt, John Parish. 

Book F, No. 155: Moses Elliott, & Judith his wife, of Perq, for £20 pd by Moses Barber , of afsd–sold 98a. 47 of which was grt to Abraham Sanders dec’d & 41a a new patent , sd land “bequeathed to sd Judah Boice.” April 22, 1755. Test’ Francis Robbins, William Skinner.

          No. 176: Abraham Sanders of Bladen Co. NC for £33 pd by William Lamb of Perq, sold 190a on So Wt side of perq River, between lands of Charles Jordan & Col John Harvey, to line of John Pritlow. Oct 13, 1755. Test’ Joseph White, Jno Sanders, Jno White. (note: This Abraham was the son of Abraham Sanders & Judith Pritlow of Perquimans County.)

Book G, No. 5: Robert Avery for £25 pd by Zachariah Jones, sold 50a, on “the main road that goeth to Edenton” along line of land bought by Moses Baker, of Moses Elliott, & land formerly Abraham Sanders. Jan 20, 1761. Test’ Joshua Skinner, Sam’l Standin, Zepaniah Jones. 

Booh I, No. 50: William Baker of Perq. for £50 pd by Benjamin Sanders , of afsd—sold 50a pt of land given by Abraham Sanders, to Judith Boyce, & by sd. Judith & Moses Elliott, her then husband, conveyed to Moses Barber, adj land pat’ by sd Abraham in 1749. Seal Jan 19, 1778. Test’ John Stafford. 

 

MATTHEW JORDAN (1763 Will)

Will of 

MATTHEW JORDAN 

1763

North Carolina

Perquimans County

Be it known to all men by these presents that I Matthew Jordan of the county and province aforesaid being sick and weak in body but sound in mind and disposing memory thanks be to God and calling to mind its uncertainity of this life and knowing that is once appointed for all men to die and the time where is uncertain there I make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say — Principally and first I recommend my soul to the hand of God that gave it and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried I give devise and dispose of my estate in the following manner and ??? after all my just debts be paid.

ITEM  I give and bequeath to my beloved brother Gabriel Newby my ??? which belonged to my father Matthew Jordan.

ITEM  I give and bequeath to my beloved sister Anne Jordan my Negro woman named Rose and my Negro girl named Sue after my mother’s death.

ITEM  I give and bequeath to my beloved mother Patience Newby ten pounds  ??.

ITEM  I give and bequeath to my beloved sister Mary Clay five shillings sterling.

ITEM  I give and bequeath to my beloved sister Elizabeth Newby twenty pounds ??.

ITEM  I give and bequeath to my beloved brothers Francis Newby, Gabriel Newby, Joseph Newby, & Benj Newby all my wearing apparel to be equally divided amongst them. Also it is my will and desire that my land and my Negro man named Peter and all my other estate to be sold for six months credit. Likewise I desire after my mother’s death that my Negro man named Sam be sold also and all the monies arising from the said estate to be divided as followests.

ITEM  I give and bequeath to my beloved sisters and brothers — namely Dorothy Skinner, Elizabeth Newby, Gabriel Newby, Benj Newby, Joseph Newby, and Josiah Newby all the money arising from the said estate which is to be sold and equally divided amongst them & is to be sold by my exors– I do nominate and appoint my loving mother Patience Newby, Anne Jordan and John Skinner to be my exex and exors of this my last will and testament and I do by these presents ??? revoke and disavow all and every other will by me before made and no other to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty three.

Matthew Jordan   (seal)

Signed in the presence of us as

my last will and testament                       

Robt Jordan          John Hensley

Elizth Carver

__________________________________

July Court 1763. This certifies that the foregoing will was proved in court by the affirmation of Robert Jordan and at the same time appeared Patience Newby, Ann Jordan and John Skinner and qualified as exex and exors according to law.

Test  Miles Harvey  C   Crt

December the 4th 1764  this was the said will recorded according to law.

Miles Harvey   C   Crt

__________________________________

NOTES: Matthew was the son of Matthew Jordan and Patience  Jordan of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He died without issue. Patience Darden Jordan married 2. Joseph Newby of Perquimans County, North Carolina.

__________________________________

NEGLECTED RECORDS by Walter Pool Wood

Source: Year Book – Volume 2 – Pasquotank Historical Society – Elizabeth City, N.C. Edited by John Elliott Wood (1958).

 

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).

PHELPS

  • William Phelps came to America, from Tewksbury England in Mary & John, 1630. Tradition has it that Jonathan Phelps, who settled in Perq Co N. C. was an Englishman, but no record has been found, to prove that fact, and where he came from to Perq, can not be certified by any legal papers. The Land books however give the fact that he took up 400a “in ye pre’ct of Perq, on West side of Perq River, and South side of Wilsons Creek, running down the River 116 perches,” 1684. Robert Wilson in a grant to him (same year) names the same Creek, and calls it a “branch” so it was probably a very small stream. This grant is of especial interest, from the fact that it was exactly where the town of Hertford is now located. Seth Phelps was grt “240a in Perq pre’ct, June 24, 1704,” on So side of Albemarle Sound, adj Richard Buttenshall. Cuthbert Phelps had land grt him, 300a in Perq prec’t, on So side of Albemarle Sound, adj John Jennett. (same date). Samuel Phelps took up 150a of land Feb 10, 1718, on S. W. side of Perq River adj Sarah, & Hannah Lilly. It is a well known fact that Henry Phillips lived on the “Point” and Hannah his wife m 2d John Lilly, leaving several children. Old papers in Perq, show that Jonathan Phelps held land in the same locality, and he sold to the Directors of Hertford land to build a town, called Hertford. Jonathan Phelps petitioned the Court July 1755, for “Lycence to keep an Ordinary at his now Dwelling house” which was granted. An Act of Assembly was passed the same year, for “Establishing A public Ferry, from Phelps point, to Newby’s point, whereon the Courthouse Now Stands, on Perq Rier,” and agreed to pay said Jonathan “one of said ferry men £4, and Nathan Newby the Other Ferry man,” the same, for “setting over ferry free Inhabitants of said County at Court times, Elections, Members of Assembly, Vestry men, & Musters, In said County” Security; James Sitterson, Joseph Ratcliff. Jonathan Phelps, and Nathan Newby prayed for their pay, “for Maintaining a Publick ferry, from Phelps Point to Newby’s Point” April 1759, Granted. Jonathan Phelps was dead, July 1759. (Auditors Act.) Dorothy Phelps was granted Admix on Estate of her dec’d husband Jonathan Phelps, April 1759. (Minute book Perq Co.) His Inventory was presented in Court, by Dorothea Phelps, widow, May 20, 1759. Benjamin & Dorothy Phelps Orphans of Jonathan dec’d, in Act with their Guar John Skinner, who intermarried with Dorothy, Relict of sd Jonathan Mar 13, 1761. (Auditors Act.) This Jonathan Phelps was the third in descent, from Jonathan (1) in Perq, whose will was p April 4, 1689. His children are given in Berkeley Parish Reg as follows:
  • Phelps, Jonathan (1) m Hannah — & had issue: 1 Sarah, b Jan 15, 1671—2 Elizabeth, b Apl 2, 1679—3 Jonathan, b Nov 6, 1681—4 Samuell, b Aug 6, 1684 (the first Jonathan evidently died, at what date is not given, but he had a second son) Jonathan (s of Jonathan and Hannah), b April 13, 1687. Jonathan Phelps d Feb 21, 1688/9. His will on date above, is much faded and only the son Jonathan, and wife Hannah names are legible. The son Samuel certainly survived him however many years.
  • (2) Phelps, Jonathan (2) Jonathan (1), m Elizabeth Toms (d of Francis Toms Jr, & wife Margaret Bogue), issue: 1 Henry, b Mch 5, 1724/5—2 Elizabeth, b Aug 29, 1728. His will Perq, p Jan 1732. Sons: Henry, & Jonathan, to whom he left, “my manner plantation” & second, 300a “on Perq River,” dau Elizabeth, wife Elizabeth.
  • (3) Phelps, Jonathan (3) Jonathan (2) Jonathan (1) m Dorothy Jordan (d of Matthew Jordan & wife Dorothy née Newby, of Isle of Wight Co Va) Dorothy Jordans mother, was sister of Gabriel, William, & Nathan Newby, who came to Perq from Nansemond Co Va. She m 2d John Skinner before 1761. (See Auditors Act.) Loose papers, & Minute books in Perq, state plainly Jonathan (3) and wife Dorothy had issue: Benjamin, & Dorothy.
  • (4) Phelps, Henry, (s of Jonathan (2) m Margaret Nixon (d of Zachariah) issue: Jonathan and Elizabeth, named in his will, p in Perq July 1752. These children were still under age Mar 1758, when Elizabeth chose for her Guar, Robert Newby, and Jonathan (s of Henry) made choice of Mark Newby in the same capacity.
  • (4) Phelps, Benjamin, m Sarah, & had according to his will, p in Perq, Jan 1785: Dorothy, Margaret, Sarah, & Mary Phelps.
  • (2) Phelps, Samuel (1), Jonathan (1) will p in Perq, July 1728, Sons: Jonathan, John, William, James. Ex brother Jonathan.
  • Phelps, Samuel (s of Samuel & Hannah, m Elizabeth Toms d of Francis) b Nov 17, 1706—2 John, b Jan 13, 1716/17. John Phelps was of age Jan 1739, and made petition for his Est out of the hands of Zachariah Elton on that date.
  • Phelps, William (1) Samuel (1) Jonathan (1) d. s. p. will probated April 1752. Leg: John, Harvey, & James Sitterson (cousins) William Barker, Sarah Eliot, & Samuel Sitterson.
  • Phelps, Benjamin, petitioned the Court July 1774, for leave to “keep an Ordinary at his now Dwelling house in Hertford,” Which was granted. He served as Justice of Peace in Perq Co, 1778.
Source: History of Perquimans County by Ellen Goode Rawlings Winslow, (1931).

LONG

  • Richard Longe came to Virginia in “London Merchant” with Alice his wife, age 23 and had Richard (2) b in Va. Among the living “Att Elizabeth Cittye” after the Indian massacre, Feb 16, 1623; Richard Long, wife, & infant. (Hotten) William Longe was living at same time “in Elizabeth Cittye.”
  • James Long first in Perq Co N. C. came from Nansemond Co Va. His will p in Albemarle Oct 7, 1680, Names sons: James (2) Thomas, and Giles, wife, (not named).
  • (2) Longe, James, (2) James (1) was grt 450a in “ye princinct of Berkley, at ye mouth of Beaver Cove, along Yawpim Creek, thence along Yawpim River.” 1681. His will p in Chowan Co, July 29, 1712, Names sons: James, Thomas, (to whom he left his “brick house plantation”) John “my plantation at Moratock” dau’s: Mary, & Elizabeth, wife Elizabeth. James Long had a former wife Ales (Alice) by whom he had son John, b Sept — 1673.
  • (2) Longe, Thomas, (1) James (1) “Departed this Life Apl 4, 1688. (untraced)
  • (2) Longe, Giles, (1) James (1) died before Feb 12, 1691/2. In his will proven on that date he gave all Estate to “Wife and child” but as they are not named, no data can be ascertained about them.
  • (3) Longe, Thomas, (2) James (2) James (1), m Rabaky Waite (White), Mar 7, 1688/9, issue: 1 Sarah, b Jan 28, 1692—2 William, b Aug 13, 1695—3 Joshua, b Oct 30, 1698. Thomas Long made his will in Perq Co, p Oct 10, 1721. Son: William “land on mill swamp,” Joshua, “land on Major Harves Quarter,” Thomas “plantation whereon I now live” 470a, dau Sarah Leary (dau-in-law), wife Rebeckah.
  • (3) Longe, William, (1) James (2) James (1) “son of James, & Ales” m Sarah Johnson, Jan 6, 1697/8 (relict of John Johnson, née Gunfallis d. s. p. will July 1712, wife Sarah, brothers John, & Thomas Long, Nephews: James, & William Long. Sarah Long (wife of William) made her will, proven Perq Precinct, July 8, 1718, naming bro-in-law Thomas Long, sister Mary Perce, bro-in-law Thomas Perce, Cornelius Leary (s of Richard) John Wiatt (cousin) Jonathan, & William Taylor, Joshuway Long, to whom she bequeathed “plantation at creeks mouth” William Long to whom “plantation whereon I now dwell.”
  • (3) Longe, John, (1) James (2) James (1), m Elizabeth Charles, Aug 11, 1687. As he made no will, his line is untraced.
  • Longe (3) James (2) James (1) made his will in Chowan Co, p April 1734. Sons: James (4) Giles (2) Joshua, John, Andrew, dau Elizabeth. His wife is not named (untraced).
  • (4) Longe, Joshua, (1) Thomas (2) James (2) James (1), m Elizabeth — issue: according to his will, p in Perq Co, July 1741, Sons: Thomas, Joshua (2). He appointed his brother Thomas Long Ex. Joshua Long (2) moved to Tyrrell Co, where his will was p June 1754.
  • (4) Longe, Thomas, (3) Thomas (2) James (2) Will April 1754. Sons: Joshua, Thomas, wife Sarah. She m 2d Richard Leary.
  • (4) Longe, William, (2) Thomas (2) James (2) James (1) m 1st Mary — issue: 1 Sarah, b Nov — 1720—2 Thomas, b Nov 5, 1723—3 William, b Aug 20, 1725—4 Joshua, (s of William, & Ann), b Nov 30, 1733—5 Thomas (second by name) b Sept 23, 1736—6 Elizabeth, b Dec 13, 1742—7 James, b Mch 3, 1745—8 Thomas (third by name) b Feby 22, 1748/9—9 Reuben, b Apl 17, 1752. William (2) Long died before April 1759. Will p on that date. Sons: Simeon, “manor plantation” Thomas “part of manor Plantation” Reuben “land on Franks Creek” sons William, & James “100a on West side of Minses Creek. gr-sons: Lemuel, & Ichabod Long, & Joshua Wyatt, gr-dau Mary Wyatt, wife Ann Extrix. (Ann Long m 2d Thomas McNider.)

The loose papers in Perq give some further data about the Long family, & leave no doubt that Ann Long (widow of William) m 2d Thomas McNider. It seems also very clear that “daughter Sarah Leary” spoken of in Thomas Longs Will 1721, was a dau-in-law, and not a blood relation, as the Minute book in Perq, gives the fact; “Sarah Lerry, her former husband Thomas Long,” Apl 1757. Joshua, & Thomas, Orphans of Thomas dec’d, Jan 1756. Sarah was widow of Richard Leary, July 1757, who “died very much in debt,” (Auditors Act Oct 1757). Richard Leary, & Mrs. Sarah Long were m Nov 15, 1756. Thomas Long (a minor) dec’d Sept 10, 1761. His inventory shows a Bible & one Prayer book. William Long Jr dec’d (no date), Wm Wyatt, & Miles Harvey Exors.James Long Division, Feb 5, 1762; part to William Long, Reubin Long, Simeon Long, representatives of Sarah Wyatt dec’d, William McNider, in right of his mother.

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

GREGORY

Rev. John Gregory appears as Rector, of Upper Parish, Nansemond County, Va, in June 1680. It is thought that he was an ancestor of Maj John Gregory, and his brother James. From Duke Creek vestry book said county, the knowledge is gained that Maj John Gregory, James (Gregorie) and his two sons, John, & Thomas were living in that part of the county, on east side of Nansemond River, “Upper Parish,” which was added to Suffolk Parish, and the opinion is advanced that Maj John Gregorie was certainly the father of James, before mentioned. He sent in his resignation as vestryman of said Parish, Nov 17, 1757, which was accepted. It is thought he was at this date old, and feeble, and he certainly died soon after. Upper Parish records, and loose papers in Perq, show that he was dead in 1760. John Gregorie’s name appears as one of the trustees who by Act of Assembly, were appointed to select a site, and establish a town called Suffolk, May 1742. (5 Henning Statutes 199.) 

Mary Gregorie (sister of James) whose will was p in Chowan Co, Nov 25, 1761, made bequest to the children of her brother James, and names her “bro-in-law’s” Rev Daniel Earl, and Josiah Granbery, his wife Christian, her niece Ann Gregory and nephews: William, James, Thomas, & John Gregory, children of brother James. This will proves that James Gregory had sisters, Mary, died unmarried, as before seen, Elizabeth, who m Rev Daniel Earl, and Christian who m Josiah Granbery. John Gregory lived in Nansemond Co Va. He was Chairman of the Co Committee of Safety, 1776, and Capt in Continental line, 15 Va Reg. (See Records Land Office Richmond Va.) 

James Gregory b Mar 10, 1752, m Mary Wynns d of Col Benjamin, & Margaret (Pugh) and moved to Gates Co, N. C. She was b Nov 8, 1775, which made him 23 years her senior. Margaret Pugh was dau of Col Francis Pugh, & wife Pheribe Savage of Bertie Co, N. C. She m 2d Thomas Barker of Edenton, N. C. after 1736. 

James Gregory was Senator from Gates Co. and in the Gen’l Assembly of N. C. 1780-81. He died 1802, leaving wife Mary, and children: Ann, b Mar 3, 1782, m Dr Charles Worth Harvey Oct 28, 1800, d May 28, 1805, issue one son James G. Harvey, who died without issue. 2 Margaret, b Jan 1, 1785, m— Dickerson, m 2d Dr Isaac Pipkin, and had one daughter Eleanor, who m William Muse. 3 Mary Wynns Gregory, b Mar 17, 1787, m Dr John Burgess Baker of Gates Co, (s of Lawrence Baker, & Maria Burgess, d of Rev Thomas Burgess, of Halifax Co, N. C.)

James Gregory, m Patience Godwin, and had 1st William, m Sarah Moore of Perq Co, N. C. (d of Maj Charles Moore, of the Rev, and wife Sarah Hunter) 2d Thomas, m Mary Benton, July 4, 1767, issue: one son, and two daughters. 3d Ann, m Josiah Granbery (thought to be nephew of Josiah who m Christian Gregory) issue: son George, and dau’s: Bathsheba, m Jacob Gordon of Gates Co, N. C. issue: James, George, Joseph, & Jacob Gordon. 4th Elizabeth, m George A. Harvey. 5 Jenny, 6 Mary Hunter Gordon, m Isaac Hunter of Gates Co, N. C.  

John Gregory of 15 Va Reg died intestate, d. s. p. Heirs: James G. Harvey, John J. Granbery, George W. Granbery Sr, Mary G. Gordon, Joseph G. Granbery, Thomas J. Granbery, George W. Granbery Jr, Bathsheba A. Granbery, Elizabeth E. Granbery, Ann Wood, Elizabeth Smith, Thomas W. Gregory, Jr., Mary Gregory, Thomas Gregory Jr, John Gregory, Margaret Pipkin, Mary W. Baker, Josiah T. Granbery, Mary Elizabeth Goodman, Jane A. Hodges, Margaret Ann Gregory, & Joseph A. Granbery. The brothers of said John were: James, Thomas, and William.

Other Gregorys in Perquimans, are probably descendants of this same line, but no data bearing on their family has appeared.

Excursus Earl.

“Parson Earl” as the Rev Daniel Earl, Episcopal minister was familiarly called by his many parishioners who loved him very much, officiated in the Churches of Perq as well as Chowan Co. He rode the entire district baptizing the children, performing marriage ceremonies in all the adjacent counties, and ministered to those bereaved by death. He lived in Chowan, where he died before May 31, 1785, will on that date, married first Elizabeth Gregory, sister of Mary (as above) and second Charity Jones, sister of Thomas, who he names in his will, Aug 2, 1775, nieces: Elizabeth, & Ann Earl, “dau’s of Rev Daniel Earl.”

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