More interesting things turning up in some of our family’s DNA matches over at Ancestry… a few matches to descendants of Harriet MORRIS (specifically through her daughter, Alvana MORRIS). There aren’t enough for me to say that Harriet is a daughter of Laban, although based on her age, she certainly could be. She might be […]
Anyone know about “Durgantown” as original name of Swift Creek / Vanceboro area?
There is a story that’s been told over the years, though I’m unsure of where it started, that what is today known as Vanceboro was originally founded as Durgantown and it was known by that name from the 1750s until it became known as Swift Creek in 1850. This is an excerpt from the Town […]
Family Tree Fact Check: Richard Furney Gaskins & Saphronia “Fanny” Venters
This new series will attempt to correct records, one family branch at a time, that have mushroomed across the online genealogical communities. Ok… I’m not going to claim that I don’t have any mistakes in my enormous tree on Ancestry. I’ve been working on it for many years now and I have a number of “working theory” […]
There were TWO Rocksolanah Carruthers. Here are the records to prove it. (For both of them!)
Yes, there were, indeed, two Rocksolanah CARRUTHERS. I used to think there were two Rocksolanahs, but then because of some dates that were discussed in the old W’ton List (probably close to 15 years ago!), I began to think that there was only one. It was generally accepted that it was the same woman who […]
If your people come from the Craven/Pitt/Beaufort County area, please read this!
Surnames mentioned: KING, FORNES, BOYD, HODGES, WILLIAMS, MORRIS, WITHERINGTON, RIGGS, LEE, KEMP, MCCAFFERTY, SMITH, DRAKE, BARTLETT, SUMMERELL, ROBERTSON, HOLLAND & MORE Have you tested yet at either AncestryDNA or FamilyTreeDNA? If so, please comment below with your name (or the name associated with your kit), or if you prefer, you can send a private message […]
Craven County Bastardy Bonds & related items in County Court Minutes (1764-1791)
I have the complete set of Craven County Court Minutes books by the late Weynette Parks Haun, and while I LOVE them— and I recognize them as an amazing resource — there are some index items that I wish she would have included, for instance, bastardy items. There are plenty of them in the court […]
Mystery: Who is Mary Fornes?
Alright, we have yet another mystery on our hands. I’m hoping some of you might actually have some pieces of information that can fill in the blanks for me. Below are two deeds from Pitt County. The first item below is a deed in which Mary FORNES gives land to her son, John FORNES. The […]
Dove family of Craven County
The following query is from Margaret Llorens. Who are the parents of Nancy Dove, born in Craven County, 1806. Married William Valentine in Craven County on May 22, 1820. If you have information about Nancy Dove or the Dove family, please comment below. Thank you.
Griffin family of Craven County and Pitt County (Elisha Griffin)
The following query is from Anne Wilson. I am researching Elisha Griffin (b. about 1780) who appears to be related to the Griffin families of Pitt Co but is not named on any trees. He appears on a tax list for Capt. Pope’s District in 1816, sells 150 acres on East Black Swamp in 1818, […]
Hazelton, Morris families of Craven County
The following query is from Justin Hazelton. I’m trying to find out more about my family the Hazeltons .my father was James Hazelton 1935-2013 his grandparents were Fleda and Herman Hazelton of 120 Goldsboro St. His mother was Henrietta Hazelton. I’m not sure who his father was and he never met his father, but census records […]