Researcher Sherry Mirkovic had done extensive research on Rowland Ledbetter and his parentage several years ago. My cousin Mike Morris and I both wound up with a document she had prepared with all of her Rowland data and it strongly suggested that John Ledbetter was Rowland's father rather than Drury Ledbetter or Henry Ledbetter, both of whom had been previously floated by … [Read more...] about Rowland Ledbetter’s father was most likely John Ledbetter
Deeds, Grants and Patents
Some Eastern North Carolina counties now have their deeds (or at least their deed indices) online.
- Beaufort County - Index to real estate conveyances, 1696-1959; deeds & mortgages, 1700-1960
- Carteret County (No historic deeds yet)
- Craven County - Index, Deeds, and Land Grants from 1739
- Duplin County - Deeds, Land Grants, Maps, Marriage Records, Slave Records, Co-Habitation Records
- Edgecombe County - Sign in as guest, then click on Online Index Books. That will let you search index for 1759-1920.
- Johnston County - Index, Deeds, Co-Habitation records
- Jones County (No historic deeds yet)
- Lenoir County (No historic deeds yet)
- Martin County - Index, Deeds, and Land Grants from 1771 (Index books mention date range beginning with 1762, but county wasn't formed until 1774)
- Onslow County - Index, Deeds and Land Grants from 1734
- Pitt County - Old Index Books and Deeds dating back to 1762
The Brother-in-Law Conundrum
The word "brother-in-law" is becoming the bane of my research. In earlier times, the term "in-law" had a broader scope than is now the case. Pretty much anyone related to you by marriage was an in-law. Therefore, a brother-in-law could be one in the modern sense, a stepbrother, or even the brother of your brother's wife/sister's husband! Unfortunately for me, this word has … [Read more...] about The Brother-in-Law Conundrum
Duplin County Register of Deeds Land Grant Maps
A really cool feature of the Duplin County Register of Deeds site, duplinrod.com, is the land grant map. How many times have you read a grant or deed and tried to figure out where the land was located? Well, when it comes to grants made in Duplin County and are now Sampson and Wayne Counties, you don't have to. These maps were not drawn by a professional surveyor and are not … [Read more...] about Duplin County Register of Deeds Land Grant Maps
A Deed of Gift from James McIntosh to his Children
I found this deed proving that Leta McIntosh Averitt, my possible 5th great-grandmother, and Lovey McIntosh Hendricks, wife of my 5th great-uncle, James Hendricks, were his daughters. This relationship makes Lovey my 6th great-aunt as well as my 5th. From Craven County Deed Book 52, pg. 253 State of North Carolina Craven Know all men by these presents that I James … [Read more...] about A Deed of Gift from James McIntosh to his Children
Spear, Speir, Spire, Spyers, Spears Deeds (Craven and Beaufort Counties)
The following are Craven County Spear deeds(and all related spellings). This is not a comprehensive list. The following are Beaufort County JOHN SPEIR deeds. … [Read more...] about Spear, Speir, Spire, Spyers, Spears Deeds (Craven and Beaufort Counties)
