Samuel Lawson received a deed of gift from his stepfather, John James, 25 May 1770. In the deed, Mr. James uses a phrase that, both baffles and intrigues me. From Craven County Deed Book 18, p. 1 and 2 (emphasis mine). What did he mean by “as I stile him”? At the time, son-in-law was the correct term for stepson, so I doubt that that is to what he referred. Samuel was … [Read more...] about An Odd Turn of Phrase
Craven County Genealogy
The Craven County Genealogy category contains posts and various records, including deeds, wills, land records, census records, tax lists, bastardy bonds, Bible records, apprenticeship bonds, estate records, and more.
For even more information on Craven County Genealogy, check out the East Carolina Roots Forum, where you'll find surname-specific forums, as well as a General Discussion forum.
Everton Miscellany
Here are some bits and pieces I've collected concerning the Everton surname in Craven County. I am fairly confident that John Everton (d. 1754) was the father of Ezekiel. However, proving it is a different matter. Whether or not this family connects to those of Pasquotank and/or Tyrrell Counties, I don't know. It is also unclear on just how, or if, the James Everton (1754 … [Read more...] about Everton Miscellany
Laughinghouse Mythology
It's time for some myth-busting. There are a couple of persistent ones that surround this family. "Thomas Laughinghouse came to America about 1750..." The first comes down to us via Henry T. King's Sketches of Pitt County: There are several problems with this statement: "…Thomas Laughinghouse came to America about 1750 he left his brothers engaged in the wholesale … [Read more...] about Laughinghouse Mythology
The Family of Boaz Squires
Boaz Squires is a rather enigmatic figure. Appropriate, wouldn't you say, for a man legend says was a wizard? Local stories claim he was a rather lazy fellow who made demons build boats while he lounged beneath the pines smoking his pipe. He even fought the Devil, on occasion, when Satan objected to Boaz's use of his minions. His end came when his wife opened an old chest … [Read more...] about The Family of Boaz Squires
William Bright of Craven: There Were Two
There were, demonstrably, two William Brights living within, what was then, Craven County during the mid 1700s. Look at the Petition to Change the Seat of Government of 1733. Among the signatories of this document were William Brite and William Bright. So, how do we differentiate between them? When examining records, read them carefully. Pay attention to details like dates, … [Read more...] about William Bright of Craven: There Were Two
Family Tree Fact Check: Miranda Ross Gaskins
While Ancestry is notorious for spreading false information, you should also be wary of Find-a-Grave (link to her page). Remember, both sites depend on users, who are human, to create family trees/bios. Always, always, always check the facts against contemporary documents. Take, for example, my 4th great-grandmother, Miranda Ross Gaskins. Her Personal Profile Let's begin … [Read more...] about Family Tree Fact Check: Miranda Ross Gaskins
The Williams/Grinder Connection
A couple of years ago, I posted this on the forum under with Williams surname: I'm not at all sure about this one, but it's a possibility. I am descended from Andrew Grinder and his wife, Elizabeth, through their daughter Ann Sevilla who married Esau Tingle. In the Court Records of Craven County, I found that Andrew was the administrator of the Estate of an Edward Williams … [Read more...] about The Williams/Grinder Connection
Marriage Bond of Laban Morris & Kitty Williams
When you have a brick wall in your family tree, what else can you do but chase down every lead of anyone who had any relation to your mystery relative? This annotated marriage bond serves that purpose for me. On Thursday, August 22, 1805, John KING (son of Joel KING) and John Williams (parents unknown) put themselves forth as bondsmen for Laban MORRIS to marry Kitty … [Read more...] about Marriage Bond of Laban Morris & Kitty Williams
Is Harriet Morris a relative of Laban Morris?
(This article was originally published July 25, 2018. It was most recently updated June 6, 2019.) It's now worth investigating the possibility that Harriet Morris is a daughter of Thomas Morris of Beaufort County and granddaughter of Elisha Morris. While Laban descendants undoubtedly share some kind of DNA with Harriet Morris descendants, I'm doubtful it's enough to suggest … [Read more...] about Is Harriet Morris a relative of Laban Morris?
Who was Nancy MORRIS?
(This article was originally published January 22, 2014. It was most recently updated June 6, 2019.) Nancy MORRIS shows up in the household of Laban MORRIS in 1850 and 1860, and best I can tell from ages on census records, she was living with the family as early as 1830. Many years ago, before I realized how census records worked, I had assumed that Nancy was another of Laban … [Read more...] about Who was Nancy MORRIS?
Brick Walls: Jesse P. Vendrick, Sr.
My 5th great-grandfather, Jesse P. Vendrick, was probably born in Craven County circa 1760. The identities of his parents and the mother of his children are mysteries. Why? Because there were two Jesse Vendricks in this generation. I think. Thought? I don't know! And there are two, possibly three, more Jesse Vendricks in the next generation. So, what do I know? The … [Read more...] about Brick Walls: Jesse P. Vendrick, Sr.
Brick Walls: Dewitt Sumberlin/Sumrell
Dewitt Sumrell was born circa 1825 in Lenoir County. This date is a guessimate based upon the birth dates of his two known sons in the mid to late 1840s. The place, though, comes from the death certificate of his son, James Henry Sumrell. According to James's son, the informant, both James and Dewitt were born in "Lanor" County. Henry Atlas Sumrell did not, apparently, … [Read more...] about Brick Walls: Dewitt Sumberlin/Sumrell
