It's always a good idea to look at original records yourself. More than once, I've seen a transcription that gets a name wrong and seeing the original document winds up solving a mystery. If you haven't already seen them, there are plenty of tax list images over at NC Digital Collections. To go to the main category, go here: … [Read more...] about NC Tax Lists at NC Digital Collections
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.
1779 Craven County Tax List
Below is a transcription of names found on the 1779 Tax List. These original scans can be found here at the NC Digital Collections Site. I am not transcribing all of the property values, only the names. If you see a name that is of interest to you, just find the corresponding page in the gallery below and you will be able to see that individual's record in … [Read more...] about 1779 Craven County Tax List
John Vendrick, his wife, and his mother
About a week ago, I was poking around in Currituck County land records. I don't even remember why. While skimming through the index, I stumbled over something, or someone, unexpected. John Vindrick! That's right! A Vendrick in Currituck. I was every bit as astonished as you are now. You better believe I immediately navigated to the book and page indicated. Currituck County … [Read more...] about John Vendrick, his wife, and his mother
The Muddle that is John Vendrick, Sr.
The Reverend Joshua Kocherthal baptized John Vendrick in New York on 25 Aug 1710 (The Book of Names: Especially Relating to the Early Palatines and the First Settlers in the Mohawk Valley by Lou D. MacWethy, p. 23). He may have been born there or on the voyage. His parents were Benedictus and Christina. Sometime after Sep 1712, the family moved from New York to … [Read more...] about The Muddle that is John Vendrick, Sr.
Family Tree Fact Check: Cason and Averilla Scott
Too many researchers conclude Cason and Averilla Scott were husband and wife. I have lost count of the number of trees, forum posts and other media to make this claim. In fact, they were brother and sister. This misapprehension may have begun with a hurricane. The Second Great Hurricane of 1752 On 30 Sep 1752, a major hurricane hit Charlestown, South Carolina. It, … [Read more...] about Family Tree Fact Check: Cason and Averilla Scott
West Craven Highlights now digitized and searchable online
If your family is from the Vanceboro area, you will certainly remember the paper that was produced by the Cannon family, West Craven Highlights. I'm not sure when this was done, but the whole project has now been digitized. You can browse all of the issues or search for specific names or topics. To browse the whole collection, go here: … [Read more...] about West Craven Highlights now digitized and searchable online
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
An Odd Turn of Phrase
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
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
