Was John HOLMES of Beaufort County the son of George FISHER of Craven County? If not, what was their relationship? I’m not sure, but I’m collecting evidence and I welcome any ideas or suggestions you might have! John and Esther HOLMES are my fifth-great grandparents, and since I descend from them twice, I certainly am […]
Is Harriet Morris a relative of Laban Morris?
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 County, Pitt County, or 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, Craven County Bastardy Bonds. There are plenty of them in […]
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 […]
Jones, Carter, Savage, Whitfield from counties near Wilmington, NC
The following query is from Wanda Geller. I am working on the maternal side of our family. My great grandmother Alice Elizabeth “Libby” Carter and great-grandfather Charles Alan Jones, Sr. had 15 children 11 in Wilmington NC and the last four in Macon Ga. My great grandparents live at the Cool Waters Plantation. Solomon and […]
Harvey family of Perquimans County
The following query was submitted by John O’Donnell. Seeking information about the Last Will & Testament of (Col) Miles Harvey, 1777 (?), Testator b/o Thomas, John & Benj Harvey & H of Eliz Baker. Please contact John O’Donnell via the form below if you have information or would like to communicate about this family. Also, […]
Who was Nancy MORRIS?
(This article was originally published January 22, 2014. It was updated May 3, 2017.) 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 […]
John Chapman vs. Joel Wall (1810) – Civil action papers (C.R.028.325.6)
The following is a collection of civil action papers from a suit involving John Chapman and Joel Wall, both of Craven County. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find anything else about this case so I’m not sure exactly what it was about other than that Chapman was suing Wall. Witnesses summoned to appear as […]
The Mystery of Jemima Mills
Who knew Jemima was such a popular name in Craven and Pitt Counties in the 18th century? Turns out it apparently was! While trying to figure out who Jemima Mills Pettit is, and who her children were, I kept coming across entries that claim she died in Craven County in 1816 because a Jemima Mills left […]
The strange tale of the Craven County woman who gave birth AND signed a deed in Pitt County in the years after her 1816 death
According to publicly-accessible family trees at Ancestry.com, a Craven County woman named Jemima MILLS, said to be a daughter of Nasby MILLS and Keziah HUNTER or Keziah WALLACE or Keziah Hunter WALLACE, was born about 1760, then married a Craven County man named Gideon PETTIT. Some trees record this happened sometime around 1812, while others do […]
Query relating to TYRE of Craven County
I have information that Jacob TYRE b.1800 married a Mary (LAST NAME UNKNOWN) b. 1797. Is this fact correct? Also, what was Mary’s maiden name and who were Jacob and Mary’s parents? Please contact Sruallen@hotmail.com if you have any information. (Also please comment below for the benefit of other researchers who might also be researching the TYRE Family.)
Who’s the Daddy? Patsey MITCHELL of Craven County puts a man on notice for child support, but is it really who it seems to be?
I found the following item in page 3 of the estate records for LEWIS WARREN of Craven County (1867). It says: Mr. Lewis Warren Take Notice that I shall move the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of Craven County at their term in december next for execution against you for two years in arrear of […]
Surls/Searles family of Beaufort County (Chocowinity) / Craven County area
This query was submitted August 30, 2016: As of the 1850 Beaufort County Census (Chocowinity), his widow “Lucretia Surls” age 50 appears with her children: Son “Mential” (Marshall) 20-21 (my great grandfather) Daughter Jemsesy/Jamesy 18 Daughter – Ellen 15 Boarder/laborer – Robert Whitley 50. Lucretia and her husband show as “Covenant and Litia Searls” on Marshall’s […]
